SurinameFirst explored by the Spaniards in the 16th century andthen settled by the English in the mid-17th century, Suriname becamea Dutch colony in 1667. With the abolition of slavery in 1863,workers were brought in from India and Java. Independence from theNetherlands was granted in 1975. Five years later the civiliangovernment was replaced by a military regime that soon declared asocialist republic. It continued to exert control through asuccession of nominally civilian administrations until 1987, wheninternational pressure finally forced a democratic election. In1990, the military overthrew the civilian leadership, but ademocratically elected government - a four-party New Front coalition- returned to power in 1991 and has ruled since; the coalitionexpanded to eight parties in 2005.
SvalbardFirst discovered by the Norwegians in the 12th century, theislands served as an international whaling base during the 17th and18th centuries. Norway's sovereignty was recognized in 1920; fiveyears later it officially took over the territory.
SwazilandAutonomy for the Swazis of southern Africa was guaranteedby the British in the late 19th century; independence was granted in1968. Student and labor unrest during the 1990s pressured KingMSWATI III, the world's last absolute monarch, to grudgingly allowpolitical reform and greater democracy, although he has backslid onthese promises in recent years. A constitution came into effect in2006, but political parties remain banned. The African UnitedDemocratic Party tried unsuccessfully to register as an officialpolitical party in mid 2006. Talks over the constitution broke downbetween the government and progressive groups in 2007. Swazilandrecently surpassed Botswana as the country with the world's highestknown HIV/AIDS prevalence rate.
SwedenA military power during the 17th century, Sweden has notparticipated in any war in almost two centuries. An armed neutralitywas preserved in both World Wars. Sweden's long-successful economicformula of a capitalist system interlarded with substantial welfareelements was challenged in the 1990s by high unemployment and in2000-02 by the global economic downturn, but fiscal discipline overthe past several years has allowed the country to weather economicvagaries. Sweden joined the EU in 1995, but the public rejected theintroduction of the euro in a 2003 referendum.
SwitzerlandThe Swiss Confederation was founded in 1291 as adefensive alliance among three cantons. In succeeding years, otherlocalities joined the original three. The Swiss Confederationsecured its independence from the Holy Roman Empire in 1499. Aconstitution of 1848, subsequently modified in 1874, replaced theconfederation with a centralized federal government. Switzerland'ssovereignty and neutrality have long been honored by the majorEuropean powers, and the country was not involved in either of thetwo World Wars. The political and economic integration of Europeover the past half century, as well as Switzerland's role in many UNand international organizations, has strengthened Switzerland's tieswith its neighbors. However, the country did not officially become aUN member until 2002. Switzerland remains active in many UN andinternational organizations but retains a strong commitment toneutrality.
SyriaFollowing the breakup of the Ottoman Empire during World WarI, France administered Syria until its independence in 1946. Thecountry lacked political stability, however, and experienced aseries of military coups during its first decades. Syria united withEgypt in February 1958 to form the United Arab Republic. InSeptember 1961, the two entities separated, and the Syrian ArabRepublic was reestablished. In November 1970, Hafiz al-ASAD, amember of the Socialist Ba'th Party and the minority Alawite sect,seized power in a bloodless coup and brought political stability tothe country. In the 1967 Arab-Israeli War, Syria lost the GolanHeights to Israel. During the 1990s, Syria and Israel heldoccasional peace talks over its return. Following the death ofPresident al-ASAD, his son, Bashar al-ASAD, was approved aspresident by popular referendum in July 2000. Syrian troops -stationed in Lebanon since 1976 in an ostensible peacekeeping role -were withdrawn in April 2005. During the July-August 2006 conflictbetween Israel and Hizballah, Syria placed its military forces onalert but did not intervene directly on behalf of its ally Hizballah.
TaiwanIn 1895, military defeat forced China to cede Taiwan toJapan. Taiwan reverted to Chinese control after World War II.Following the Communist victory on the mainland in 1949, 2 millionNationalists fled to Taiwan and established a government using the1946 constitution drawn up for all of China. Over the next fivedecades, the ruling authorities gradually democratized andincorporated the local population within the governing structure. In2000, Taiwan underwent its first peaceful transfer of power from theNationalist to the Democratic Progressive Party. Throughout thisperiod, the island prospered and became one of East Asia's economic"Tigers." The dominant political issues continue to be therelationship between Taiwan and China - specifically the question ofeventual unification - as well as domestic political and economicreform.
TajikistanThe Tajik people came under Russian rule in the 1860s and1870s, but Russia's hold on Central Asia weakened following theRevolution of 1917. Bolshevik control of the area was fiercelycontested and not fully reestablished until 1925. Much ofpresent-day Sughd province was transferred from the Uzbekistan SSRto newly formed Tajikistan SSR in 1929. Ethnic Uzbeks form asubstantial minority in Sughd province. Tajikistan becameindependent in 1991 following the breakup of the Soviet Union, andit is now in the process of strengthening its democracy andtransitioning to a free market economy after its 1992-97 civil war.There have been no major security incidents in recent years,although the country remains the poorest in the former Sovietsphere. Attention by the international community in the wake of thewar in Afghanistan has brought increased economic development andsecurity assistance, which could create jobs and increase stabilityin the long term. Tajikistan is in the early stages of seeking WorldTrade Organization membership and has joined NATO's Partnership forPeace.
TanzaniaShortly after achieving independence from Britain in theearly 1960s, Tanganyika and Zanzibar merged to form the nation ofTanzania in 1964. One-party rule came to an end in 1995 with thefirst democratic elections held in the country since the 1970s.Zanzibar's semi-autonomous status and popular opposition have led totwo contentious elections since 1995, which the ruling party wondespite international observers' claims of voting irregularities.
ThailandA unified Thai kingdom was established in the mid-14thcentury. Known as Siam until 1939, Thailand is the only SoutheastAsian country never to have been taken over by a European power. Abloodless revolution in 1932 led to a constitutional monarchy. Inalliance with Japan during World War II, Thailand became a US allyfollowing the conflict. Thailand is currently facing separatistviolence in its southern ethnic Malay-Muslim provinces.
Timor-LesteThe Portuguese began to trade with the island of Timorin the early 16th century and colonized it in mid-century.Skirmishing with the Dutch in the region eventually resulted in an1859 treaty in which Portugal ceded the western portion of theisland. Imperial Japan occupied Portuguese Timor from 1942 to 1945,but Portugal resumed colonial authority after the Japanese defeat inWorld War II. East Timor declared itself independent from Portugalon 28 November 1975 and was invaded and occupied by Indonesianforces nine days later. It was incorporated into Indonesia in July1976 as the province of Timor Timur (East Timor). An unsuccessfulcampaign of pacification followed over the next two decades, duringwhich an estimated 100,000 to 250,000 individuals lost their lives.On 30 August 1999, in a UN-supervised popular referendum, anoverwhelming majority of the people of Timor-Leste voted forindependence from Indonesia. Between the referendum and the arrivalof a multinational peacekeeping force in late September 1999,anti-independence Timorese militias - organized and supported by theIndonesian military - commenced a large-scale, scorched-earthcampaign of retribution. The militias killed approximately 1,400Timorese and forcibly pushed 300,000 people into western Timor asrefugees. The majority of the country's infrastructure, includinghomes, irrigation systems, water supply systems, and schools, andnearly 100% of the country's electrical grid were destroyed. On 20September 1999 the Australian-led peacekeeping troops of theInternational Force for East Timor (INTERFET) deployed to thecountry and brought the violence to an end. On 20 May 2002,Timor-Leste was internationally recognized as an independent state.In late April 2006, internal tensions threatened the new nation'ssecurity when a military strike led to violence and a near breakdownof law and order in Dili. At the request of the Government ofTimor-Leste, an Australian-led International Stabilization Force(ISF) deployed to Timor-Leste in late May. In August, the UNSecurity Council established the UN Integrated Mission inTimor-Leste (UNMIT), which included an authorized police presence ofover 1,600 personnel. In subsequent months, many of the ISF soldierswere replaced by UN police officers; approximately 80 ISF officersremained as of January 2008. From April to June 2007, the Governmentof Timor-Leste held presidential and parliamentary elections in alargely peaceful atmosphere with the support and assistance of UNMITand international donors.
TogoFrench Togoland became Togo in 1960. Gen. Gnassingbe EYADEMA,installed as military ruler in 1967, ruled Togo with a heavy handfor almost four decades. Despite the facade of multiparty electionsinstituted in the early 1990s, the government was largely dominatedby President EYADEMA, whose Rally of the Togolese People (RPT) partyhas maintained power almost continually since 1967 and maintains amajority of seats in today's legislature. Upon EYADEMA's death inFebruary 2005, the military installed the president's son, FaureGNASSINGBE, and then engineered his formal election two monthslater. Democratic gains since then allowed Togo to hold its firstrelatively free and fair legislative elections in October 2007.After years of political unrest and fire from internationalorganizations for human rights abuses, Togo is finally beingre-welcomed into the international community.
TokelauOriginally settled by Polynesian emigrants from surroundingisland groups, the Tokelau Islands were made a British protectoratein 1889. They were transferred to New Zealand administration in1925. Referenda held in 2006 and 2007 to change the status of theislands from that of a New Zealand territory to one of freeassociation with New Zealand did not meet the needed threshold forapproval.
TongaTonga - unique among Pacific nations - never completely lostits indigenous governance. The archipelagos of "The FriendlyIslands" were united into a Polynesian kingdom in 1845. Tonga becamea constitutional monarchy in 1875 and a British protectorate in1900; it withdrew from the protectorate and joined the Commonwealthof Nations in 1970. Tonga remains the only monarchy in the Pacific.
Trinidad and TobagoFirst colonized by the Spanish, the islands cameunder British control in the early 19th century. The islands' sugarindustry was hurt by the emancipation of the slaves in 1834.Manpower was replaced with the importation of contract laborers fromIndia between 1845 and 1917, which boosted sugar production as wellas the cocoa industry. The discovery of oil on Trinidad in 1910added another important export. Independence was attained in 1962.The country is one of the most prosperous in the Caribbean thankslargely to petroleum and natural gas production and processing.Tourism, mostly in Tobago, is targeted for expansion and is growing.The government is coping with a rise in violent crime.
TunisiaRivalry between French and Italian interests in Tunisiaculminated in a French invasion in 1881 and the creation of aprotectorate. Agitation for independence in the decades followingWorld War I was finally successful in getting the French torecognize Tunisia as an independent state in 1956. The country'sfirst president, Habib BOURGUIBA, established a strict one-partystate. He dominated the country for 31 years, repressing Islamicfundamentalism and establishing rights for women unmatched by anyother Arab nation. In November 1987, BOURGUIBA was removed fromoffice and replaced by Zine el Abidine BEN ALI in a bloodless coup.BEN ALI is currently serving his fourth consecutive five-year termas president; the next elections are scheduled for October 2009.Tunisia has long taken a moderate, non-aligned stance in its foreignrelations. Domestically, it has sought to defuse rising pressure fora more open political society.
TurkeyModern Turkey was founded in 1923 from the Anatolian remnantsof the defeated Ottoman Empire by national hero Mustafa KEMAL, whowas later honored with the title Ataturk or "Father of the Turks."Under his authoritarian leadership, the country adopted wide-rangingsocial, legal, and political reforms. After a period of one-partyrule, an experiment with multi-party politics led to the 1950election victory of the opposition Democratic Party and the peacefultransfer of power. Since then, Turkish political parties havemultiplied, but democracy has been fractured by periods ofinstability and intermittent military coups (1960, 1971, 1980),which in each case eventually resulted in a return of politicalpower to civilians. In 1997, the military again helped engineer theouster - popularly dubbed a "post-modern coup" - of the thenIslamic-oriented government. Turkey intervened militarily on Cyprusin 1974 to prevent a Greek takeover of the island and has sinceacted as patron state to the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus,"which only Turkey recognizes. A separatist insurgency begun in 1984by the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) - now known as the People'sCongress of Kurdistan or Kongra-Gel (KGK) - has dominated theTurkish military's attention and claimed more than 30,000 lives.After the capture of the group's leader in 1999, the insurgentslargely withdrew from Turkey mainly to northern Iraq. In 2004, KGKannounced an end to its ceasefire and attacks attributed to the KGKincreased. Turkey joined the UN in 1945 and in 1952 it became amember of NATO. In 1964, Turkey became an associate member of theEuropean Community; over the past decade, it has undertaken manyreforms to strengthen its democracy and economy enabling it to beginaccession membership talks with the European Union.
TurkmenistanEastern Turkmenistan for centuries formed part of thePersian province of Khurasan; in medieval times Merv (today known asMary) was one of the great cities of the Islamic world and animportant stop on the Silk Road. Annexed by Russia between 1865 and1885, Turkmenistan became a Soviet republic in 1924. It achievedindependence upon the dissolution of the USSR in 1991. Extensivehydrocarbon/natural gas reserves could prove a boon to thisunderdeveloped country if extraction and delivery projects were tobe expanded. The Turkmenistan Government is actively seeking todevelop alternative petroleum transportation routes to breakRussia's pipeline monopoly. President for Life Saparmurat NYYAZOWdied in December 2006, and Turkmenistan held its firstmulti-candidate presidential electoral process in February 2007.Gurbanguly BERDIMUHAMEDOW, a vice premier under NYYAZOW, emerged asthe country's new president.
Turks and Caicos IslandsThe islands were part of the UK's Jamaicancolony until 1962, when they assumed the status of a separate crowncolony upon Jamaica's independence. The governor of The Bahamasoversaw affairs from 1965 to 1973. With Bahamian independence, theislands received a separate governor in 1973. Although independencewas agreed upon for 1982, the policy was reversed and the islandsremain a British overseas territory.
TuvaluIn 1974, ethnic differences within the British colony of theGilbert and Ellice Islands caused the Polynesians of the ElliceIslands to vote for separation from the Micronesians of the GilbertIslands. The following year, the Ellice Islands became the separateBritish colony of Tuvalu. Independence was granted in 1978. In 2000,Tuvalu negotiated a contract leasing its Internet domain name ".tv"for $50 million in royalties over a 12-year period.
UgandaThe colonial boundaries created by Britain to delimit Ugandagrouped together a wide range of ethnic groups with differentpolitical systems and cultures. These differences prevented theestablishment of a working political community after independencewas achieved in 1962. The dictatorial regime of Idi AMIN (1971-79)was responsible for the deaths of some 300,000 opponents; guerrillawar and human rights abuses under Milton OBOTE (1980-85) claimed atleast another 100,000 lives. The rule of Yoweri MUSEVENI since 1986has brought relative stability and economic growth to Uganda. Duringthe 1990s, the government promulgated non-party presidential andlegislative elections.
UkraineUkraine was the center of the first eastern Slavic state,Kyivan Rus, which during the 10th and 11th centuries was the largestand most powerful state in Europe. Weakened by internecine quarrelsand Mongol invasions, Kyivan Rus was incorporated into the GrandDuchy of Lithuania and eventually into the Polish-LithuanianCommonwealth. The cultural and religious legacy of Kyivan Rus laidthe foundation for Ukrainian nationalism through subsequentcenturies. A new Ukrainian state, the Cossack Hetmanate, wasestablished during the mid-17th century after an uprising againstthe Poles. Despite continuous Muscovite pressure, the Hetmanatemanaged to remain autonomous for well over 100 years. During thelatter part of the 18th century, most Ukrainian ethnographicterritory was absorbed by the Russian Empire. Following the collapseof czarist Russia in 1917, Ukraine was able to bring about ashort-lived period of independence (1917-20), but was reconqueredand forced to endure a brutal Soviet rule that engineered twoartificial famines (1921-22 and 1932-33) in which over 8 milliondied. In World War II, German and Soviet armies were responsible forsome 7 to 8 million more deaths. Although final independence forUkraine was achieved in 1991 with the dissolution of the USSR,democracy remained elusive as the legacy of state control andendemic corruption stalled efforts at economic reform,privatization, and civil liberties. A peaceful mass protest "OrangeRevolution" in the closing months of 2004 forced the authorities tooverturn a rigged presidential election and to allow a newinternationally monitored vote that swept into power a reformistslate under Viktor YUSHCHENKO. Subsequent internal squabbles in theYUSHCHENKO camp allowed his rival Viktor YANUKOVYCH to stage acomeback in parliamentary elections and become prime minister inAugust of 2006. An early legislative election, brought on by apolitical crisis in the spring of 2007, saw Yuliya TYMOSHENKO, ashead of an "Orange" coalition, installed as a new prime minister inDecember 2007.
United Arab EmiratesThe Trucial States of the Persian Gulf coastgranted the UK control of their defense and foreign affairs in 19thcentury treaties. In 1971, six of these states - Abu Zaby, 'Ajman,Al Fujayrah, Ash Shariqah, Dubayy, and Umm al Qaywayn - merged toform the United Arab Emirates (UAE). They were joined in 1972 byRa's al Khaymah. The UAE's per capita GDP is on par with those ofleading West European nations. Its generosity with oil revenues andits moderate foreign policy stance have allowed the UAE to play avital role in the affairs of the region.
United KingdomAs the dominant industrial and maritime power of the19th century, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland playeda leading role in developing parliamentary democracy and inadvancing literature and science. At its zenith, the British Empirestretched over one-fourth of the earth's surface. The first half ofthe 20th century saw the UK's strength seriously depleted in twoWorld Wars and the Irish republic withdraw from the union. Thesecond half witnessed the dismantling of the Empire and the UKrebuilding itself into a modern and prosperous European nation. Asone of five permanent members of the UN Security Council, a foundingmember of NATO, and of the Commonwealth, the UK pursues a globalapproach to foreign policy; it currently is weighing the degree ofits integration with continental Europe. A member of the EU, itchose to remain outside the Economic and Monetary Union for the timebeing. Constitutional reform is also a significant issue in the UK.The Scottish Parliament, the National Assembly for Wales, and theNorthern Ireland Assembly were established in 1999, but the latterwas suspended until May 2007 due to wrangling over the peace process.
United StatesBritain's American colonies broke with the mothercountry in 1776 and were recognized as the new nation of the UnitedStates of America following the Treaty of Paris in 1783. During the19th and 20th centuries, 37 new states were added to the original 13as the nation expanded across the North American continent andacquired a number of overseas possessions. The two most traumaticexperiences in the nation's history were the Civil War (1861-65), inwhich a northern Union of states defeated a secessionist Confederacyof 11 southern slave states, and the Great Depression of the 1930s,an economic downturn during which about a quarter of the labor forcelost its jobs. Buoyed by victories in World Wars I and II and theend of the Cold War in 1991, the US remains the world's mostpowerful nation state. The economy is marked by steady growth, lowunemployment and inflation, and rapid advances in technology.
United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges All of the following US Pacific island territories except Midway Atoll constitute the Pacific Remote Islands National Wildlife Refuge Complex and as such are managed by the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior. Midway Atoll NWR has been included in a Refuge Complex with the Hawaiian Islands NWR and also designated as part of Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument. These remote refuges are the most widespread collection of marine- and terrestrial-life protected areas on the planet under a single country's jurisdiction. They sustain many endemic species including corals, fish, shellfish, marine mammals, seabirds, water birds, land birds, insects, and vegetation not found elsewhere. Baker Island: The US took possession of the island in 1857, and its guano deposits were mined by US and British companies during the second half of the 19th century. In 1935, a short-lived attempt at colonization began on this island but was disrupted by World War II and thereafter abandoned. The island was established as a National Wildlife Refuge in 1974. Howland Island: Discovered by the US early in the 19th century, the uninhabited atoll was officially claimed by the US in 1857. Both US and British companies mined for guano deposits until about 1890. In 1935, a short-lived attempt at colonization began on this island, similar to the effort on nearby Baker Island, but was disrupted by World War II and thereafter abandoned. The famed American aviatrix Amelia EARHART disappeared while seeking out Howland Island as a refueling stop during her 1937 round-the-world flight; Earhart Light, a day beacon near the middle of the west coast, was named in her memory. The island was established as a National Wildlife Refuge in 1974. Jarvis Island: First discovered by the British in 1821, the uninhabited island was annexed by the US in 1858, but abandoned in 1879 after tons of guano had been removed. The UK annexed the island in 1889, but never carried out plans for further exploitation. The US occupied and reclaimed the island in 1935 until it was abandoned in 1942 during World War II. The island was established as a National Wildlife Refuge in 1974. Johnston Atoll: Both the US and the Kingdom of Hawaii annexed Johnston Atoll in 1858, but it was the US that mined the guano deposits until the late 1880s. Johnston and Sand Islands were designated wildlife refuges in 1926. The US Navy took over the atoll in 1934, and subsequently the US Air Force assumed control in 1948. The site was used for high-altitude nuclear tests in the 1950s and 1960s, and until late in 2000 the atoll was maintained as a storage and disposal site for chemical weapons. Munitions destruction, cleanup, and closure of the facility was completed by May 2005. The Fish and Wildlife Service and the US Air Force are currently discussing future management options; in the interim, Johnston Atoll and the three-mile Naval Defensive Sea around it remain under the jurisdiction and administrative control of the US Air Force. Kingman Reef: The US annexed the reef in 1922. Its sheltered lagoon served as a way station for flying boats on Hawaii-to-American Samoa flights during the late 1930s. There are no terrestrial plants on the reef, which is frequently awash, but it does support abundant and diverse marine fauna and flora. In 2001, the waters surrounding the reef out to 12 nm were designated a US National Wildlife Refuge. Midway Islands: The US took formal possession of the islands in 1867. The laying of the trans-Pacific cable, which passed through the islands, brought the first residents in 1903. Between 1935 and 1947, Midway was used as a refueling stop for trans-Pacific flights. The US naval victory over a Japanese fleet off Midway in 1942 was one of the turning points of World War II. The islands continued to serve as a naval station until closed in 1993. Today the islands are a National Wildlife Refuge and are the site of the world's largest Laysan albatross colony. Palmyra Atoll: The Kingdom of Hawaii claimed the atoll in 1862, and the US included it among the Hawaiian Islands when it annexed the archipelago in 1898. The Hawaii Statehood Act of 1959 did not include Palmyra Atoll, which is now partly privately owned by the Nature Conservancy with the rest owned by the Federal government and managed by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. These organizations are managing the atoll as a wildlife refuge. The lagoons and surrounding waters within the 12 nm US territorial seas were transferred to the US Fish and Wildlife Service and designated as a National Wildlife Refuge in January 2001.
UruguayMontevideo, founded by the Spanish in 1726 as a militarystronghold, soon took advantage of its natural harbor to become animportant commercial center. Claimed by Argentina but annexed byBrazil in 1821, Uruguay declared its independence four years laterand secured its freedom in 1828 after a three-year struggle. Theadministrations of President Jose BATLLE in the early 20th centuryestablished widespread political, social, and economic reforms thatestablished a statist tradition. A violent Marxist urban guerrillamovement named the Tupamaros, launched in the late 1960s, ledUruguay's president to cede control of the government to themilitary in 1973. By yearend, the rebels had been crushed, but themilitary continued to expand its hold over the government. Civilianrule was not restored until 1985. In 2004, the left-of-center FrenteAmplio Coalition won national elections that effectively ended 170years of political control previously held by the Colorado andBlanco parties. Uruguay's political and labor conditions are amongthe freest on the continent.
UzbekistanRussia conquered Uzbekistan in the late 19th century.Stiff resistance to the Red Army after World War I was eventuallysuppressed and a socialist republic set up in 1924. During theSoviet era, intensive production of "white gold" (cotton) and grainled to overuse of agrochemicals and the depletion of water supplies,which have left the land poisoned and the Aral Sea and certainrivers half dry. Independent since 1991, the country seeks togradually lessen its dependence on agriculture while developing itsmineral and petroleum reserves. Current concerns include terrorismby Islamic militants, economic stagnation, and the curtailment ofhuman rights and democratization.
VanuatuMultiple waves of colonizers, each speaking a distinctlanguage, migrated to the New Hebrides in the millennia precedingEuropean exploration in the 18th century. This settlement patternaccounts for the complex linguistic diversity found on thearchipelago to this day. The British and French, who settled the NewHebrides in the 19th century, agreed in 1906 to an Anglo-FrenchCondominium, which administered the islands until independence in1980, when the new name of Vanuatu was adopted.
VenezuelaVenezuela was one of three countries that emerged from thecollapse of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others being Ecuador and NewGranada, which became Colombia). For most of the first half of the20th century, Venezuela was ruled by generally benevolent militarystrongmen, who promoted the oil industry and allowed for some socialreforms. Democratically elected governments have held sway since1959. Hugo CHAVEZ, president since 1999, seeks to implement his"21st Century Socialism," which purports to alleviate social illswhile at the same time attacking globalization and underminingregional stability. Current concerns include: a weakening ofdemocratic institutions, political polarization, a politicizedmilitary, drug-related violence along the Colombian border,increasing internal drug consumption, overdependence on thepetroleum industry with its price fluctuations, and irresponsiblemining operations that are endangering the rain forest andindigenous peoples.
VietnamThe conquest of Vietnam by France began in 1858 and wascompleted by 1884. It became part of French Indochina in 1887.Vietnam declared independence after World War II, but Francecontinued to rule until its 1954 defeat by Communist forces under HoChi MINH. Under the Geneva Accords of 1954, Vietnam was divided intothe Communist North and anti-Communist South. US economic andmilitary aid to South Vietnam grew through the 1960s in an attemptto bolster the government, but US armed forces were withdrawnfollowing a cease-fire agreement in 1973. Two years later, NorthVietnamese forces overran the South reuniting the country underCommunist rule. Despite the return of peace, for over a decade thecountry experienced little economic growth because of conservativeleadership policies. However, since the enactment of Vietnam's "doimoi" (renovation) policy in 1986, Vietnamese authorities havecommitted to increased economic liberalization and enactedstructural reforms needed to modernize the economy and to producemore competitive, export-driven industries. The country continues toexperience protests from various groups - such as the ProtestantMontagnard ethnic minority population of the Central Highlands andthe Hoa Hao Buddhists in southern Vietnam over religiouspersecution. Montagnard grievances also include the loss of land toVietnamese settlers.
Virgin Islands During the 17th century, the archipelago was divided into two territorial units, one English and the other Danish. Sugarcane, produced by slave labor, drove the islands' economy during the 18th and early 19th centuries. In 1917, the US purchased the Danish portion, which had been in economic decline since the abolition of slavery in 1848.
Wake IslandThe US annexed Wake Island in 1899 for a cable station.An important air and naval base was constructed in 1940-41. InDecember 1941, the island was captured by the Japanese and helduntil the end of World War II. In subsequent years, Wake wasdeveloped as a stopover and refueling site for military andcommercial aircraft transiting the Pacific. Since 1974, the island'sairstrip has been used by the US military, as well as for emergencylandings. All operations on the island were suspended and allpersonnel evacuated in August 2006 with the approach of supertyphoon IOKE (category 5), which struck the island with sustainedwinds of 250 kph and a 6 m storm surge inflicting major damage. A USAir Force assessment and repair team returned to the island inSeptember and restored limited function to the airfield andfacilities. The future status of activities on the island will bedetermined upon completion of the survey and assessment.
Wallis and FutunaThe Futuna island group was discovered by theDutch in 1616 and Wallis by the British in 1767, but it was theFrench who declared a protectorate over the islands in 1842. In1959, the inhabitants of the islands voted to become a Frenchoverseas territory.
West BankThe September 1993 Israel-PLO Declaration of Principles onInterim Self-Government Arrangements provided for a transitionalperiod of Palestinian self-rule in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.Under a series of agreements signed between May 1994 and September1999, Israel transferred to the Palestinian Authority (PA) securityand civilian responsibility for Palestinian-populated areas of theWest Bank and Gaza. Negotiations to determine the permanent statusof the West Bank and Gaza stalled following the outbreak of anintifada in September 2000, as Israeli forces reoccupied mostPalestinian-controlled areas. In April 2003, the Quartet (US, EU,UN, and Russia) presented a roadmap to a final settlement of theconflict by 2005 based on reciprocal steps by the two partiesleading to two states, Israel and a democratic Palestine. Theproposed date for a permanent status agreement was postponedindefinitely due to violence and accusations that both sides had notfollowed through on their commitments. Following Palestinian leaderYasir ARAFAT's death in late 2004, Mahmud ABBAS was elected PApresident in January 2005. A month later, Israel and the PA agreedto the Sharm el-Sheikh Commitments in an effort to move the peaceprocess forward. In September 2005, Israel unilaterally withdrew allits settlers and soldiers and dismantled its military facilities inthe Gaza Strip and withdrew settlers and redeployed soldiers fromfour small northern West Bank settlements. Nonetheless, Israelcontrols maritime, airspace, and most access to the Gaza Strip. ANovember 2005 PA-Israeli agreement authorized the reopening of theRafah border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt under jointPA and Egyptian control. In January 2006, the Islamic ResistanceMovement, HAMAS, won control of the Palestinian Legislative Council(PLC). The international community refused to accept the HAMAS-ledgovernment because it did not recognize Israel, would not renounceviolence, and refused to honor previous peace agreements betweenIsrael and the PA. HAMAS took control of the PA government in March2006, but President ABBAS had little success negotiating with HAMASto present a political platform acceptable to the internationalcommunity so as to lift economic sanctions on Palestinians. The PLCwas unable to convene throughout most of 2006 as a result ofIsrael's detention of many HAMAS PLC members and Israeli-imposedtravel restrictions on other PLC members. Violent clashes took placebetween Fatah and HAMAS supporters in the Gaza Strip in 2006 andearly 2007, resulting in numerous Palestinian deaths and injuries.ABBAS and HAMAS Political Bureau Chief MISHAL in February 2007signed the Mecca Agreement in Saudi Arabia that resulted in theformation of a Palestinian National Unity Government (NUG) headed byHAMAS member Ismail HANIYA. However, fighting continued in the GazaStrip, and in June, HAMAS militants succeeded in a violent takeoverof all military and governmental institutions in the Gaza Strip.ABBAS dismissed the NUG and through a series of presidential decreesformed a PA government in the West Bank led by independent SalamFAYYAD. HAMAS rejected the NUG's dismissal and has called forresuming talks with Fatah, but ABBAS has ruled out negotiationsuntil HAMAS agrees to a return of PA control over the Gaza Strip andrecognizes the FAYYAD-led government. FAYYAD and his PA governmentinitiated a series of security and economic reforms to improveconditions in the West Bank. ABBAS participated in talks withIsrael's Prime Minister OLMERT and secured the release of somePalestinian prisoners and previously withheld customs revenue.During a November 2007 international meeting in Annapolis Maryland,ABBAS and OLMERT agreed to resume peace negotiations with the goalof reaching a final peace settlement by the end of 2008.
Western SaharaMorocco virtually annexed the northern two-thirds ofWestern Sahara (formerly Spanish Sahara) in 1976, and the rest ofthe territory in 1979, following Mauritania's withdrawal. Aguerrilla war with the Polisario Front contesting Rabat'ssovereignty ended in a 1991 UN-brokered cease-fire; a UN-organizedreferendum on final status has been repeatedly postponed. In April2007, Morocco presented an autonomy plan for the territory to theUN, which the U.S. considers serious and credible. The Polisarioalso presented a plan to the UN in 2007. Since June 2007,representatives from the Government of Morocco and the PolisarioFront have met four times to negotiate the status of Western Sahara.
WorldGlobally, the 20th century was marked by: (a) two devastatingworld wars; (b) the Great Depression of the 1930s; (c) the end ofvast colonial empires; (d) rapid advances in science and technology,from the first airplane flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina (US) tothe landing on the moon; (e) the Cold War between the Westernalliance and the Warsaw Pact nations; (f) a sharp rise in livingstandards in North America, Europe, and Japan; (g) increasedconcerns about the environment, including loss of forests, shortagesof energy and water, the decline in biological diversity, and airpollution; (h) the onset of the AIDS epidemic; and (i) the ultimateemergence of the US as the only world superpower. The planet'spopulation continues to explode: from 1 billion in 1820, to 2billion in 1930, 3 billion in 1960, 4 billion in 1974, 5 billion in1988, and 6 billion in 2000. For the 21st century, the continuedexponential growth in science and technology raises both hopes(e.g., advances in medicine) and fears (e.g., development of evenmore lethal weapons of war).
YemenNorth Yemen became independent of the Ottoman Empire in 1918.The British, who had set up a protectorate area around the southernport of Aden in the 19th century, withdrew in 1967 from what becameSouth Yemen. Three years later, the southern government adopted aMarxist orientation. The massive exodus of hundreds of thousands ofYemenis from the south to the north contributed to two decades ofhostility between the states. The two countries were formallyunified as the Republic of Yemen in 1990. A southern secessionistmovement in 1994 was quickly subdued. In 2000, Saudi Arabia andYemen agreed to a delimitation of their border.
ZambiaThe territory of Northern Rhodesia was administered by the[British] South Africa Company from 1891 until it was taken over bythe UK in 1923. During the 1920s and 1930s, advances in miningspurred development and immigration. The name was changed to Zambiaupon independence in 1964. In the 1980s and 1990s, declining copperprices and a prolonged drought hurt the economy. Elections in 1991brought an end to one-party rule, but the subsequent vote in 1996saw blatant harassment of opposition parties. The election in 2001was marked by administrative problems with three parties filing alegal petition challenging the election of ruling party candidateLevy MWANAWASA. The new president launched an anticorruptioninvestigation in 2002 to probe high-level corruption during theprevious administration. In 2006-07, this task force successfullyprosecuted four cases, including a landmark civil case in the UK inwhich former President CHILUBA and numerous others were found liablefor USD 41 million. MWANAWASA was reelected in 2006 in an electionthat was deemed free and fair.
ZimbabweThe UK annexed Southern Rhodesia from the [British] SouthAfrica Company in 1923. A 1961 constitution was formulated thatfavored whites in power. In 1965 the government unilaterallydeclared its independence, but the UK did not recognize the act anddemanded more complete voting rights for the black African majorityin the country (then called Rhodesia). UN sanctions and a guerrillauprising finally led to free elections in 1979 and independence (asZimbabwe) in 1980. Robert MUGABE, the nation's first prime minister,has been the country's only ruler (as president since 1987) and hasdominated the country's political system since independence. Hischaotic land redistribution campaign, which began in 2000, caused anexodus of white farmers, crippled the economy, and ushered inwidespread shortages of basic commodities. Ignoring internationalcondemnation, MUGABE rigged the 2002 presidential election to ensurehis reelection. The ruling ZANU-PF party used fraud and intimidationto win a two-thirds majority in the March 2005 parliamentaryelection, allowing it to amend the constitution at will and recreatethe Senate, which had been abolished in the late 1980s. In April2005, Harare embarked on Operation Restore Order, ostensibly anurban rationalization program, which resulted in the destruction ofthe homes or businesses of 700,000 mostly poor supporters of theopposition. President MUGABE in June 2007 instituted price controlson all basic commodities causing panic buying and leaving storeshelves empty for months. General elections held in March 2008contained irregularities but still amounted to a censure of theZANU-PF-led government with significant gains in opposition seats inparliament. MDC opposition leader Morgan TSVANGIRAI won thepresidential polls, and may have won an out right majority, butofficial results posted by the Zimbabwe Electoral Committee did notreflect this. In the lead up to a run-off election in late June2008, considerable violence enacted against opposition party membersled to the withdrawal of TSVANGIRAI from the ballot. Extensiveevidence of vote tampering and ballot-box stuffing resulted ininternational condemnation of the process, and calls for thecreation of a power-sharing government have been ignored.
This page was last updated on 18 December 2008
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@2030 Airports - with paved runways
Afghanistan total: 12 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2007)
Albania total: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 (2007)
Algeriatotal: 52over 3,047 m: 102,438 to 3,047 m: 271,524 to 2,437 m: 10914 to 1,523 m: 4under 914 m: 1 (2007)
American Samoa total: 3 over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2007)
Angolatotal: 31over 3,047 m: 52,438 to 3,047 m: 81,524 to 2,437 m: 12914 to 1,523 m: 5under 914 m: 1 (2007)
Anguilla total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)
Antigua and Barbuda total: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2007)
Argentina total: 154 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 26 1,524 to 2,437 m: 65 914 to 1,523 m: 50 under 914 m: 9 (2007)
Armeniatotal: 10over 3,047 m: 22,438 to 3,047 m: 21,524 to 2,437 m: 4914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2007)
Aruba total: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2007)
Australiatotal: 317over 3,047 m: 112,438 to 3,047 m: 121,524 to 2,437 m: 138914 to 1,523 m: 143under 914 m: 13 (2007)
Austriatotal: 25over 3,047 m: 12,438 to 3,047 m: 51,524 to 2,437 m: 1914 to 1,523 m: 3under 914 m: 15 (2007)
Azerbaijantotal: 27over 3,047 m: 22,438 to 3,047 m: 61,524 to 2,437 m: 13914 to 1,523 m: 4under 914 m: 2 (2007)
Bahamas, The total: 24 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 12 914 to 1,523 m: 7 (2007)
Bahrain total: 3 over 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)
Bangladesh total: 15 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 5 (2007)
Barbados total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2007)
Belarustotal: 36over 3,047 m: 22,438 to 3,047 m: 221,524 to 2,437 m: 4914 to 1,523 m: 1under 914 m: 7 (2007)
Belgiumtotal: 27over 3,047 m: 62,438 to 3,047 m: 71,524 to 2,437 m: 4914 to 1,523 m: 1under 914 m: 9 (2007)
Belizetotal: 41,524 to 2,437 m: 1914 to 1,523 m: 1under 914 m: 2 (2007)
Benintotal: 11,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)
Bermudatotal: 12,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2007)
Bhutantotal: 11,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)
Boliviatotal: 16over 3,047 m: 42,438 to 3,047 m: 41,524 to 2,437 m: 5914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2007)
Bosnia and Herzegovinatotal: 82,438 to 3,047 m: 41,524 to 2,437 m: 1under 914 m: 3 (2007)
Botswanatotal: 112,438 to 3,047 m: 21,524 to 2,437 m: 7914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2007)
Braziltotal: 718over 3,047 m: 72,438 to 3,047 m: 251,524 to 2,437 m: 167914 to 1,523 m: 467under 914 m: 52 (2007)
British Indian Ocean Territory total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2007)
British Virgin Islands total: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2007)
Brunei total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2007)
Bulgariatotal: 131over 3,047 m: 22,438 to 3,047 m: 181,524 to 2,437 m: 15914 to 1,523 m: 1under 914 m: 95 (2007)
Burkina Fasototal: 2over 3,047 m: 12,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2007)
Burmatotal: 25over 3,047 m: 82,438 to 3,047 m: 101,524 to 2,437 m: 5914 to 1,523 m: 1under 914 m: 1 (2007)
Burundi total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2007)
Cambodia total: 6 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2007)
Cameroontotal: 11over 3,047 m: 22,438 to 3,047 m: 41,524 to 2,437 m: 3914 to 1,523 m: 1under 914 m: 1 (2007)
Canadatotal: 509over 3,047 m: 182,438 to 3,047 m: 161,524 to 2,437 m: 149914 to 1,523 m: 248under 914 m: 78 (2007)
Cape Verde total: 8 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 1 (2007)
Cayman Islands total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2007)
Central African Republic total: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2007)
Chadtotal: 7over 3,047 m: 22,438 to 3,047 m: 31,524 to 2,437 m: 1under 914 m: 1 (2007)
Chiletotal: 79over 3,047 m: 52,438 to 3,047 m: 81,524 to 2,437 m: 22914 to 1,523 m: 25under 914 m: 19 (2007)
Chinatotal: 403over 3,047 m: 582,438 to 3,047 m: 1281,524 to 2,437 m: 130914 to 1,523 m: 20under 914 m: 67 (2007)
Christmas Islandtotal: 11,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)
Cocos (Keeling) Islandstotal: 11,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)
Colombiatotal: 103over 3,047 m: 22,438 to 3,047 m: 81,524 to 2,437 m: 39914 to 1,523 m: 42under 914 m: 12 (2007)
Comoros total: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2007)
Congo, Democratic Republic of the total: 26 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 17 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 1 (2007)
Congo, Republic of the total: 5 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2007)
Cook Islands total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2007)
Costa Rica total: 36 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 21 under 914 m: 11 (2007)
Cote d'Ivoire total: 7 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 (2007)
Croatiatotal: 23over 3,047 m: 22,438 to 3,047 m: 61,524 to 2,437 m: 2914 to 1,523 m: 4under 914 m: 9 (2007)
Cubatotal: 70over 3,047 m: 72,438 to 3,047 m: 91,524 to 2,437 m: 18914 to 1,523 m: 5under 914 m: 31 (2007)
Cyprustotal: 132,438 to 3,047 m: 71,524 to 2,437 m: 2914 to 1,523 m: 3under 914 m: 1 (2007)
Czech Republictotal: 45over 3,047 m: 22,438 to 3,047 m: 101,524 to 2,437 m: 13914 to 1,523 m: 2under 914 m: 18 (2007)
Denmarktotal: 28over 3,047 m: 22,438 to 3,047 m: 71,524 to 2,437 m: 4914 to 1,523 m: 12under 914 m: 3 (2007)
Djibouti total: 3 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)
Dominica total: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2007)
Dominican Republictotal: 15over 3,047 m: 32,438 to 3,047 m: 41,524 to 2,437 m: 4914 to 1,523 m: 3under 914 m: 1 (2007)
Ecuadortotal: 104over 3,047 m: 42,438 to 3,047 m: 31,524 to 2,437 m: 17914 to 1,523 m: 26under 914 m: 54 (2007)
Egypttotal: 72over 3,047 m: 152,438 to 3,047 m: 361,524 to 2,437 m: 16under 914 m: 5 (2007)
El Salvador total: 4 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2007)
Equatorial Guinea total: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (2007)
Eritrea total: 4 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 (2007)
Estoniatotal: 12over 3,047 m: 12,438 to 3,047 m: 71,524 to 2,437 m: 1914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2007)
Ethiopiatotal: 15over 3,047 m: 32,438 to 3,047 m: 51,524 to 2,437 m: 5914 to 1,523 m: 1under 914 m: 1 (2007)
European Uniontotal: 1,991over 3,047m: 1102,438 to 3,047m: 3471,524 to 2,437m: 545914 to 1,523m: 420under 914m: 569 (2007)
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)total: 22,438 to 3,047 m: 1914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)
Faroe Islandstotal: 1914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)
Fijitotal: 3over 3,047 m: 11,524 to 2,437 m: 1914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)
Finlandtotal: 76over 3,047 m: 22,438 to 3,047 m: 271,524 to 2,437 m: 10914 to 1,523 m: 22under 914 m: 15 (2007)
Francetotal: 292over 3,047 m: 142,438 to 3,047 m: 271,524 to 2,437 m: 97914 to 1,523 m: 80under 914 m: 74 (2007)
French Polynesiatotal: 37over 3,047 m: 21,524 to 2,437 m: 5914 to 1,523 m: 27under 914 m: 3 (2007)
Gabontotal: 10over 3,047 m: 12,438 to 3,047 m: 11,524 to 2,437 m: 7914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)
Gambia, Thetotal: 1over 3,047 m: 1 (2007)
Gaza Striptotal: 1over 3,047 m: 1 (2007)
Georgiatotal: 19over 3,047 m: 12,438 to 3,047 m: 71,524 to 2,437 m: 5914 to 1,523 m: 4under 914 m: 2 (2007)
Germanytotal: 331over 3,047 m: 142,438 to 3,047 m: 521,524 to 2,437 m: 58914 to 1,523 m: 72under 914 m: 135 (2007)
Ghanatotal: 7over 3,047 m: 11,524 to 2,437 m: 4914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2007)
Gibraltartotal: 11,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)
Greecetotal: 66over 3,047 m: 52,438 to 3,047 m: 151,524 to 2,437 m: 20914 to 1,523 m: 17under 914 m: 9 (2007)
Greenland total: 9 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 5 (2007)
Grenadatotal: 32,438 to 3,047 m: 11,524 to 2,437 m: 1under 914 m: 1 (2007)
Guamtotal: 4over 3,047 m: 22,438 to 3,047 m: 1914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)
Guatemala total: 12 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 3 (2007)
Guernsey total: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2007)
Guineatotal: 5over 3,047 m: 12,438 to 3,047 m: 11,524 to 2,437 m: 3 (2007)
Guinea-Bissautotal: 3over 3,047 m: 11,524 to 2,437 m: 1914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)
Guyanatotal: 91,524 to 2,437 m: 3under 914 m: 6 (2007)
Haititotal: 42,438 to 3,047 m: 1914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2007)
Honduras total: 12 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 3 (2007)
Hong Kong total: 2 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)
Hungarytotal: 20over 3,047 m: 22,438 to 3,047 m: 81,524 to 2,437 m: 4914 to 1,523 m: 4under 914 m: 2 (2007)
Iceland total: 5 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)
Indiatotal: 250over 3,047 m: 182,438 to 3,047 m: 521,524 to 2,437 m: 75914 to 1,523 m: 84under 914 m: 21 (2007)
Indonesiatotal: 158over 3,047 m: 42,438 to 3,047 m: 151,524 to 2,437 m: 51914 to 1,523 m: 49under 914 m: 39 (2007)
Irantotal: 129over 3,047 m: 402,438 to 3,047 m: 281,524 to 2,437 m: 24914 to 1,523 m: 32under 914 m: 5 (2007)
Iraqtotal: 76over 3,047 m: 192,438 to 3,047 m: 371,524 to 2,437 m: 5914 to 1,523 m: 6under 914 m: 9 (2007)
Irelandtotal: 15over 3,047 m: 12,438 to 3,047 m: 11,524 to 2,437 m: 4914 to 1,523 m: 4under 914 m: 5 (2007)
Isle of Mantotal: 11,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)
Israeltotal: 30over 3,047 m: 22,438 to 3,047 m: 51,524 to 2,437 m: 7914 to 1,523 m: 10under 914 m: 6 (2007)
Italytotal: 101over 3,047 m: 72,438 to 3,047 m: 321,524 to 2,437 m: 15914 to 1,523 m: 34under 914 m: 13 (2007)
Jamaicatotal: 112,438 to 3,047 m: 2914 to 1,523 m: 4under 914 m: 5 (2007)
Japantotal: 145over 3,047 m: 72,438 to 3,047 m: 411,524 to 2,437 m: 40914 to 1,523 m: 28under 914 m: 29 (2007)
Jerseytotal: 11,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)
Jordantotal: 15over 3,047 m: 72,438 to 3,047 m: 6914 to 1,523 m: 1under 914 m: 1 (2007)
Kazakhstantotal: 65over 3,047 m: 92,438 to 3,047 m: 271,524 to 2,437 m: 17914 to 1,523 m: 4under 914 m: 8 (2007)
Kenyatotal: 15over 3,047 m: 42,438 to 3,047 m: 11,524 to 2,437 m: 4914 to 1,523 m: 5under 914 m: 1 (2007)
Kiribati total: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 (2007)
Korea, Northtotal: 36over 3,047 m: 22,438 to 3,047 m: 221,524 to 2,437 m: 8914 to 1,523 m: 1under 914 m: 3 (2007)
Korea, Southtotal: 68over 3,047 m: 32,438 to 3,047 m: 211,524 to 2,437 m: 14914 to 1,523 m: 11under 914 m: 19 (2007)
Kosovototal: 62,438 to 3,047 m: 11,524 to 2,437 m: 1under 914 m: 4 (2008)
Kuwaittotal: 4over 3,047 m: 12,438 to 3,047 m: 21,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)
Kyrgyzstan total: 18 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 11 under 914 m: 3 (2007)
Laostotal: 92,438 to 3,047 m: 21,524 to 2,437 m: 4914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2007)
Latviatotal: 212,438 to 3,047 m: 71,524 to 2,437 m: 3914 to 1,523 m: 2under 914 m: 9 (2007)
Lebanontotal: 5over 3,047 m: 12,438 to 3,047 m: 2914 to 1,523 m: 1under 914 m: 1 (2007)
Lesotho total: 3 over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2007)
Liberia total: 2 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)
Libyatotal: 60over 3,047 m: 232,438 to 3,047 m: 61,524 to 2,437 m: 23914 to 1,523 m: 6under 914 m: 2 (2007)
Lithuaniatotal: 30over 3,047 m: 32,438 to 3,047 m: 11,524 to 2,437 m: 7914 to 1,523 m: 2under 914 m: 17 (2007)
Luxembourgtotal: 1over 3,047 m: 1 (2007)
Macautotal: 1over 3,047 m: 1 (2007)
Macedonia total: 10 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 under 914 m: 8 (2007)
Madagascar total: 27 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 17 under 914 m: 1 (2007)
Malawitotal: 6over 3,047 m: 11,524 to 2,437 m: 1914 to 1,523 m: 4 (2007)
Malaysiatotal: 36over 3,047 m: 52,438 to 3,047 m: 91,524 to 2,437 m: 8914 to 1,523 m: 8under 914 m: 6 (2007)
Maldives total: 3 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)
Malitotal: 82,438 to 3,047 m: 41,524 to 2,437 m: 4 (2007)
Malta total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2007)
Marshall Islandstotal: 41,524 to 2,437 m: 3914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)
Mauritaniatotal: 82,438 to 3,047 m: 31,524 to 2,437 m: 5 (2007)
Mauritiustotal: 2over 3,047 m: 1914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)
Mayottetotal: 11,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)
Mexicototal: 231over 3,047 m: 122,438 to 3,047 m: 291,524 to 2,437 m: 84914 to 1,523 m: 77under 914 m: 29 (2007)
Micronesia, Federated States oftotal: 61,524 to 2,437 m: 4914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2007)
Moldovatotal: 6over 3,047 m: 12,438 to 3,047 m: 21,524 to 2,437 m: 2under 914 m: 1 (2007)
Mongolia total: 13 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 10 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2007)
Montenegro total: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)
Montserrat total: 2 under 914 m: 2 (2007)
Moroccototal: 27over 3,047 m: 112,438 to 3,047 m: 61,524 to 2,437 m: 7914 to 1,523 m: 1under 914 m: 2 (2007)
Mozambiquetotal: 22over 3,047 m: 12,438 to 3,047 m: 31,524 to 2,437 m: 10914 to 1,523 m: 3under 914 m: 5 (2007)
Namibiatotal: 21over 3,047 m: 32,438 to 3,047 m: 21,524 to 2,437 m: 13914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2007)
Naurutotal: 11,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)
Nepaltotal: 10over 3,047 m: 1914 to 1,523 m: 8under 914 m: 1 (2007)
Netherlandstotal: 20over 3,047 m: 22,438 to 3,047 m: 91,524 to 2,437 m: 3914 to 1,523 m: 4under 914 m: 2 (2007)
Netherlands Antillestotal: 5over 3,047 m: 12,438 to 3,047 m: 11,524 to 2,437 m: 1914 to 1,523 m: 1under 914 m: 1 (2007)
New Caledonia total: 12 over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 9 under 914 m: 2 (2007)
New Zealand total: 41 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 11 914 to 1,523 m: 26 under 914 m: 1 (2007)
Nicaragua total: 11 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 3 (2007)