Sri Lankaunicameral Parliament (225 seats; members elected bypopular vote on the basis of an open-list, proportionalrepresentation system by electoral district to serve six-year terms)elections: last held on 2 April 2004 (next to be held by 2010)election results: percent of vote by party or electoral alliance -SLFP and JVP (no longer in formal UPFA alliance) 45.6%, UNP 37.8%,TNA 6.8%, JHU 6%, SLMC 2%, UPF 0.5%, EPDP 0.3%, other 1%; seats byparty - UNP 68, SLFP 57, JVP 39, TNA 22, CWC 8, JHU 7, SLMC 6, SLMCdissidents 4, Communist Party 2, JHU dissidents 2, LSSP 2, MEP 2,NUA 2, UPF 2, EPDP 1, UNP dissident 1
Sudanbicameral National Legislature consists of a Council of States(50 seats; members indirectly elected by state legislatures to servesix-year terms) and a National Assembly (450 seats; memberspresently appointed, but in the future 75% of members to be directlyelected and 25% elected in special or indirect elections; to servesix-year terms)elections: last held 13-22 December 2000 (next to be held 2009)election results: NCP 355, others 5; note - replaced by appointmentsunder the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement
Surinameunicameral National Assembly or Nationale Assemblee (51seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)elections: last held on 25 May 2005 (next to be held in 2010)election results: percent of vote by party - NF 39.7%, NDP 22.2%,VVV 13.8%, A-Com 7.2%, A-1 5.9%, other 11.2%; seats by party - NF23, NDP 15, VVV 5, A-Com 5, A-1 3
Swazilandbicameral Parliament or Libandla consists of the Senate(30 seats; 10 members appointed by the House of Assembly and 20appointed by the monarch; to serve five-year terms) and the House ofAssembly (65 seats; 10 members appointed by the monarch and 55elected by popular vote; to serve five-year terms)elections: House of Assembly - last held 19 September 2008 (next tobe held in 2013)election results: House of Assembly - balloting is done on anonparty basis; candidates for election are nominated by the localcouncil of each constituency and for each constituency the threecandidates with the most votes in the first round of voting arenarrowed to a single winner by a second round
Swedenunicameral Parliament or Riksdag (349 seats; members areelected by popular vote on a proportional representation basis toserve four-year terms)elections: last held on 17 September 2006 (next to be held inSeptember 2010)election results: percent of vote by party - Social Democrats 37.2%,Moderates 27.8%, Center Party 8.3%, Liberal People's Party 8.0%,Christian Democrats 6.9%, Left Party 6.3%, Greens 5.4%; seats byparty - Social Democrats 130, Moderates 97, Center Party 29, LiberalPeople's Party 28, Christian Democrats 24, Left Party 22, Greens 19
Switzerlandbicameral Federal Assembly or Bundesversammlung (inGerman), Assemblee Federale (in French), Assemblea Federale (inItalian) consists of the Council of States or Standerat (in German),Conseil des Etats (in French), Consiglio degli Stati (in Italian)(46 seats; membership consists of 2 representatives from each cantonand 1 from each half canton; to serve four-year terms) and theNational Council or Nationalrat (in German), Conseil National (inFrench), Consiglio Nazionale (in Italian) (200 seats; members areelected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representationto serve four-year terms)elections: Council of States - last held in most cantons on 19October 2003 (each canton determines when the next election will beheld); National Council - last held on 21 October 2007 (next to beheld in October 2011)election results: Council of States - percent of vote by party - NA;seats by party - CVP 15, FDP 14, SVP 8, SPS 6, other 3; NationalCouncil - percent of vote by party - SVP 29%, SPS 19.5%, FDP 15.6%,CVP 14.6%, Greens 9.6%, other 11.7%; seats by party - SVP 62, SPS43, FDP 31, CVP 31, Green Party 20, other small parties 13; note -seating for the Council of States as of December 2007 is CVP 16, FDP12, SVP 7, SPS 9, other 2
Syriaunicameral People's Council or Majlis al-Shaab (250 seats;members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)elections: last held on 22-23 April 2007 (next to be held in 2011)election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -NPF 172, independents 78
Taiwanunicameral Legislative Yuan (113 seats - 73 district memberselected by popular vote, 34 at-large members elected on basis ofproportion of islandwide votes received by participating politicalparties, 6 elected by popular vote among aboriginal populations; toserve four-year terms); parties must receive 5% of vote to qualifyfor at-large seatselections: Legislative Yuan - last held 12 January 2008 (next to beheld in January 2012)election results: Legislative Yuan - percent of vote by party - KMT53.5%, DPP 38.2%, NPSU 2.4%, PFP 0.3%, others 1.6%, independents 4%;seats by party - KMT 81, DPP 27, NPSU 3, PFP 1, independent 1
Tajikistanbicameral Supreme Assembly or Majlisi Oli consists of theNational Assembly (upper chamber) or Majlisi Milliy (34 seats; 25members selected by local deputies, 8 appointed by the president; 1seat reserved for the former president; to serve five-year terms)and the Assembly of Representatives (lower chamber) or MajlisiNamoyandagon (63 seats; members are elected by popular vote to servefive-year terms)elections: National Assembly - last held 25 March 2005 (next to beheld in February 2010); Assembly of Representatives 27 February and13 March 2005 (next to be held in February 2010)election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA;seats by party - PDPT 29, CPT 2, independents 3; Assembly ofRepresentatives - percent of vote by party - PDPT 74.9%, CPT 13.6%,Islamic Revival Party 8.9%, other 2.5%; seats by party - PDPT 51,CPT 5, Islamic Revival Party 2, independents 5
Tanzaniaunicameral National Assembly or Bunge (274 seats; 232members elected by popular vote, 37 allocated to women nominated bythe president, 5 to members of the Zanzibar House ofRepresentatives; to serve five-year terms); note - in addition toenacting laws that apply to the entire United Republic of Tanzania,the Assembly enacts laws that apply only to the mainland; Zanzibarhas its own House of Representatives to make laws especially forZanzibar (the Zanzibar House of Representatives has 50 seats electedby universal suffrage to serve five-year terms)elections: last held 14 December 2005 (next to be held in December2010)election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA;seats by party - CCM 206, CUF 19, CHADEMA 5, other 2, womenappointed by the president 37, Zanzibar representatives 5 ZanzibarHouse of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats byparty - CCM 30, CUF 19; 1 seat was nullified with a rerun to takeplace soon
Thailandbicameral National Assembly or Rathasapha consisted of theSenate or Wuthisapha (150 seats; 76 members elected by popular voterepresenting 76 provinces, 74 appointed by judges and independentgovernment bodies; all serve six-year terms) and the House ofRepresentatives or Sapha Phuthaen Ratsadon (480 seats; 400 memberselected from 157 multi-seat constituencies and 80 elected onproportional party-list basis of 10 per eight zones or groupings ofprovinces; all serve four-year terms)elections: Senate - last held on 2 March 2008 (next to be held inMarch 2014); House of Representatives - last election held on 23December 2007 (next to be held in December 2011)election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats byparty - NA; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party -NA; seats by party - PPP 233, DP 164, TNP 34, Motherland 24, MiddleWay 11, Unity 9, Royalist People's 5note: 74 senators were appointed on 19 February 2008 by aseven-member committee headed by the chief of the ConstitutionalCourt; 76 senators were elected on 2 March 2008; elections to theSenate are non-partisan; registered political party members aredisqualified from being senators
Timor-Lesteunicameral National Parliament (number of seats can varyfrom 52 to 65; members elected by popular vote to serve five-yearterms)elections: last held on 30 June 2007 (next elections due by June2012)election results: percent of vote by party - FRETILIN 29%, CNRT24.1%, ASDT-PSD 15.8%, PD 11.3%, PUN 4.5%, KOTA-PPT (DemocraticAlliance) 3.2%, UNTERDIM 3.2%, others 8.9%; seats by party -FRETILIN 21, CNRT 18, ASDT-PSD 11, PD 8, PUN 3, KOTA-PPT 2, UNDERTIM2
Togounicameral National Assembly (81 seats; members are elected bypopular vote to serve five-year terms)elections: last held on 14 October 2007 (next to be held in 2012)election results: percent of vote by party - RPT 39.4%, UFC 37.0%,CAR 8.2%, independents 2.5%, other 12.9%; seats by party - RPT 50,UFC 27, CAR 4
Tokelauunicameral General Fono (20 seats; based upon proportionalrepresentation from the three islands elected by popular vote toserve three-year terms; Atafu has seven seats, Fakaofo has sevenseats, Nukunonu has six seats); note - the Tokelau Amendment Act of1996 confers limited legislative power on the General Fonoelections: last held 17-19 January 2008 (next to be held in 2011)election results: independents 20
Tongaunicameral Legislative Assembly or Fale Alea (32 seats - 14reserved for cabinet ministers sitting ex officio, nine for noblesselected by the country's 33 nobles, and nine elected by popularvote; members serve three-year terms)elections: last held on 23-24 April 2008 (next to be held in 2011)election results: Peoples Representatives: percent of vote -independents 54%, THRDM 28%, PDP 14%; seats - THRDM 4, independents3, PDP 2
Trinidad and Tobagobicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (31seats; 16 members appointed by the ruling party, nine by thePresident, six by the opposition party to serve a maximum term offive years) and the House of Representatives (41 seats; members areelected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)elections: House of Representatives - last held on 5 November 2007(next to be held in 2012)election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote - PNM46%, UNC 29.7%; seats by party - PNM 26, UNC 15note: Tobago has a unicameral House of Assembly with 12 membersserving four-year terms; last election held in January 2005; seatsby party - PNM 11, DAC 1
Tunisiabicameral system consists of the Chamber of Deputies orMajlis al-Nuwaab (189 seats; members elected by popular vote toserve five-year terms) and the Chamber of Advisors (126 seats; 85members elected by municipal counselors, deputies, mayors, andprofessional associations and trade unions; 41 members arepresidential appointees; members serve six-year terms)elections: Chamber of Deputies - last held on 24 October 2004 (nextto be held in October 2009); Chamber of Advisors - last held on 3July 2005 (next to be held in July 2011)election results: Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party -NA; seats by party - RCD 152, MDS 14, PUP 11, UDU 7, Al-Tajdid 3,PSL 2; Chamber of Advisors - percent of vote by party - NA; seats byparty - RCD 71 (14 trade union seats vacant (due to boycott))
Turkeyunicameral Grand National Assembly of Turkey or Turkiye BuyukMillet Meclisi (550 seats; members are elected by popular vote toserve five-year terms)elections: last held on 22 July 2007 (next to be held on November2012)election results: percent of vote by party - AKP 46.7%, CHP 20.8%,MHP 14.3%, independents 5.2%, and other 13.0%; seats by party - AKP341, CHP 112, MHP 71, independents 26; note - seats by party as of17 December 2007 - AKP 340, CHP 87, MHP 70, DTP 20, DSP 13,independents 6, other 12, vacant 2 (DTP entered parliament asindependents; DSP entered parliament on CHP's party list); onlyparties surpassing the 10% threshold are entitled to parliamentaryseats
Turkmenistantwo parliamentary bodies, a People's Council or HalkMaslahaty (supreme legislative body of about 2,500 delegates, someelected by popular vote and some appointed; meets at least yearly)and a National Assembly or Mejlis (50 seats; members are elected bypopular vote to serve five-year terms)elections: People's Council - last held in April 2003 (next to beheld in December 2008); National Assembly - last held 19 December2004 (next to be held in December 2008)election results: People's Council - percent of vote by party - DPT100%; seats by party - DPT 2,507; National Assembly - percent ofvote by party - DPT 100%; seats by party - DPT 50; note - allelected officials are members of the Democratic Party ofTurkmenistan and are preapproved by the presidentnote: in late 2003, a law was adopted reducing the powers of theNational Assembly and making the People's Council the supremelegislative organ; the People's Council can now legally dissolve theNational Assembly, and the president is now able to participate inthe National Assembly as its supreme leader; the National Assemblycan no longer adopt or amend the constitution or announcereferendums or its elections; since the president is both thechairman of the People's Council and the supreme leader of theNational Assembly, the 2003 law has the effect of making him thesole authority of both the executive and legislative branches ofgovernment
Turks and Caicos Islandsunicameral House of Assembly (21 seats ofwhich 15 are popularly elected; members serve four-year terms)elections: last held 9 February 2007 (next to be held in 2011)election results: percent of vote by party - PNP 60%, PDM 40%; seatsby party - PNP 13, PDM 2
Tuvaluunicameral Parliament or Fale I Fono, also called House ofAssembly (15 seats; members elected by popular vote to servefour-year terms)elections: last held 3 August 2006 (next to be held in 2010)election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 15
Ugandaunicameral National Assembly (332 seats; 215 members electedby popular vote, 104 nominated by legally established specialinterest groups [women 79, army 10, disabled 5, youth 5, labor 5],13 ex officio members; to serve five-year terms)elections: last held 23 February 2006 (next to be held in 2011)election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -NRM 191, FDC 37, UPC 9, DP 8, CP 1, JEEMA 1, independents 36, other49
Ukraineunicameral Supreme Council or Verkhovna Rada (450 seats;members allocated on a proportional basis to those parties that gain3% or more of the national electoral vote; to serve five-year terms)elections: last held 30 September 2007 (next to be held in 2012)election results: percent of vote by party/bloc - Party of Regions34.4%, Yuliya Tymoshenko Bloc 30.7%, Our Ukraine-People's SelfDefense 14.2%, CPU 5.4%, Lytvyn bloc 4%, other parties 11.3%; seatsby party/bloc - Party of Regions 175, Yuliya Tymoshenko Bloc 156,Our Ukraine-People's Self Defense 72, CPU 27, Lytvyn bloc 20
United Arab Emiratesunicameral Federal National Council (FNC) orMajlis al-Ittihad al-Watani (40 seats; 20 members appointed by therulers of the constituent states, 20 members elected to servetwo-year terms)elections: elections for one half of the FNC (the other half remainsappointed) held in the UAE on 18-20 December 2006; the new electoralcollege - a body of 6,689 Emiratis (including 1,189 women) appointedby the rulers of the seven emirates - were the only eligible votersand candidates; 456 candidates including 65 women ran for 20contested FNC seats; one female from the Emirate of Abu Dhabi won aseatnote: reviews legislation but cannot change or veto
United Kingdombicameral Parliament consists of House of Lords (618seats; consisting of approximately 500 life peers, 92 hereditarypeers, and 26 clergy) and House of Commons (646 seats since 2005elections; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-yearterms unless the House is dissolved earlier)elections: House of Lords - no elections (note - in 1999, asprovided by the House of Lords Act, elections were held in the Houseof Lords to determine the 92 hereditary peers who would remainthere; elections are held only as vacancies in the hereditarypeerage arise); House of Commons - last held 5 May 2005 (next to beheld by May 2010)election results: House of Commons - percent of vote by party -Labor 35.2%, Conservative 32.3%, Liberal Democrats 22%, other 10.5%;seats by party - Labor 355, Conservative 198, Liberal Democrat 62,other 31; seats by party in the House of Commons as of 4 June 2008 -Labor 351, Conservative 192, Liberal Democrat 63, Scottish NationalParty/Plaid Cymru 9, Democratic Unionist 9, Sinn Fein 5, other 17note: in 1998 elections were held for a Northern Ireland Assembly(because of unresolved disputes among existing parties, the transferof power from London to Northern Ireland came only at the end of1999 and has been suspended four times, the latest occurring inOctober 2002 and lasting until 8 May 2007); in 1999, the UK held thefirst elections for a Scottish Parliament and a Welsh Assembly, themost recent of which were held in May 2007
United Statesbicameral Congress consists of the Senate (100 seats,2 members are elected from each state by popular vote to servesix-year terms; one-third are elected every two years) and the Houseof Representatives (435 seats; members are directly elected bypopular vote to serve two-year terms)elections: Senate - last held 7 November 2006 (next to be heldNovember 2008); House of Representatives - last held 7 November 2006(next to be held November 2008)election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats byparty - Democratic Party 49, Republican Party 49, independent 2;House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats byparty - Democratic Party 233, Republican Party 202
Uruguaybicameral General Assembly or Asamblea General consists ofChamber of Senators or Camara de Senadores (30 seats; members areelected by popular vote to serve five-year terms; vice president hasone vote in the Senate) and Chamber of Representatives or Camara deRepresentantes (99 seats; members are elected by popular vote toserve five-year terms)elections: Chamber of Senators - last held 31 October 2004 (next tobe held October 2009); Chamber of Representatives - last held 31October 2004 (next to be held October 2009)election results: Chamber of Senators - percent of vote by party -NA; seats by party - EP-FA 16, Blanco 11, Colorado Party 3; Chamberof Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -EP-FA 52, Blanco 36, Colorado Party 10, Independent Party 1
Uzbekistanbicameral Supreme Assembly or Oliy Majlis consists of anupper house or Senate (100 seats; 84 members are elected by regionalgoverning councils and 16 appointed by the president; to servefive-year terms) and a lower house or Legislative Chamber (120seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)elections: last held 26 December 2004 and 9 January 2005 (next to beheld December 2009)election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats byparty - NA; Legislative Chamber - percent of vote by party - NA;seats by party - LDPU 41, NDP 32, Fidokorlar 17, MTP 11, Adolat 9,unaffiliated 10note: all parties in the Supreme Assembly support President KARIMOV
Vanuatuunicameral Parliament (52 seats; members elected by popularvote to serve four-year terms)elections: last held 2 September 2008 (next to be held 2012)election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - VP11, NUP 8, UMP 7, VRP 7, PPP 4, GC 2, MPP 1, NA 1, NAG 1, PAP 1,Shepherds Alliance 1, VFFP 1, VLP 1, VNP 1, VPRFP 1, and independent4; note - political party associations are fluidnote: the National Council of Chiefs advises on matters of cultureand language
Venezuelaunicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional (167seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms;three seats reserved for the indigenous peoples of Venezuela)elections: last held 4 December 2005 (next to be held in 2010)election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -pro-government 167 (MVR 114, PODEMOS 15, PPT 11, indigenous 2, other25), opposition 0; total seats by party as of 1 January 2008 -pro-government 152 (PSUV 114, PPT 11, indigenous 2, other 25),PODEMOS 15
Vietnamunicameral National Assembly or Quoc Hoi (500 seats; memberselected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)elections: last held 20 May 2007 (next to be held in May 2012)election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -CPV 450, non-party CPV-approved 42, self-nominated 1; note - 493candidates were elected; CPV and non-party CPV-approved delegateswere members of the Vietnamese Fatherland Front
Virgin Islandsunicameral Senate (15 seats; members are elected bypopular vote to serve two-year terms)elections: last held 7 November 2006 (next to be held November 2008)election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -Democratic Party 8, ICM 4, independent 3note: the Virgin Islands elects one non-voting representative to theUS House of Representatives; election last held 7 November 2006(next to be held November 2008)
Wallis and Futunaunicameral Territorial Assembly or AssembleeTerritoriale (20 seats; members are elected by popular vote to servefive-year terms)elections: last held 11 March 2002 (next to be held 22 April 2007)election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -RPR and affiliates 13, Socialists and affiliates 7note: Wallis and Futuna elects one senator to the French Senate andone deputy to the French National Assembly; French Senate -elections last held 26 September 2004 (next to be held by September2010); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats - RPR (nowUMP) 1; French National Assembly - elections last held 17 June 2007(next to be held by 2012); results - percent of vote by party - NA;seats - PS 1
Yemena bicameral legislature consisting of a Shura Council (111seats; members appointed by the president) and a House ofRepresentatives (301 seats; members elected by popular vote to servesix-year terms)elections: last held on 27 April 2003 (next to be held in April 2009)election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -GPC 228, Islah 47, YSP 7, Nasserite Unionist Party 3, National ArabSocialist Ba'th Party 2, independents 14
Zambiaunicameral National Assembly (158 seats; 150 members areelected by popular vote, 8 members are appointed by the president,to serve five-year terms)elections: last held 28 September 2006 (next to be held in 2011)election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -MMD 72, PF 44, UDA 27, ULP 2, NDF 1, independents 2; seats notdetermined 2
Zimbabwebicameral Parliament consists of a Senate (93 seats - 60elected by popular vote for a five-year term, 10 provincialgovernors nominated by the president, 16 traditional chiefs electedby the Council of Chiefs, 2 held by the president and deputypresident of the Council of Chiefs, and 5 appointed by thepresident) and a House of Assembly (210 seats - all elected bypopular vote for five-year terms)elections: last held 28 March 2008 (next to be held in 2013)election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - MDC 51.6%,ZANU-PF 45.8%, other 2.6%; seats by party - MDC 30, ZANU-PF 30;House of Assembly - percent of vote by party - MDC 51.3%, ZANU-PF45.8%, other 2.9%; seats by party - MDC 109, ZANU-PF 97, other 4
This page was last updated on 18 December 2008
======================================================================
@2102 Life expectancy at birth (years)
Afghanistantotal population: 44.21 yearsmale: 44.04 yearsfemale: 44.39 years (2008 est.)
Albaniatotal population: 77.78 yearsmale: 75.12 yearsfemale: 80.71 years (2008 est.)
Algeriatotal population: 73.77 yearsmale: 72.13 yearsfemale: 75.49 years (2008 est.)
American Samoatotal population: 73.47 yearsmale: 70.55 yearsfemale: 76.56 years (2008 est.)
Andorratotal population: 82.67 yearsmale: 80.35 yearsfemale: 85.14 years (2008 est.)
Angolatotal population: 37.92 yearsmale: 36.99 yearsfemale: 38.9 years (2008 est.)
Anguillatotal population: 80.53 yearsmale: 78.01 yearsfemale: 83.12 years (2008 est.)
Antigua and Barbudatotal population: 74.25 yearsmale: 72.33 yearsfemale: 76.26 years (2008 est.)
Argentinatotal population: 76.36 yearsmale: 73.11 yearsfemale: 79.77 years (2008 est.)
Armeniatotal population: 72.4 yearsmale: 68.79 yearsfemale: 76.55 years (2008 est.)
Arubatotal population: 75.06 yearsmale: 72.03 yearsfemale: 78.14 years (2008 est.)
Australiatotal population: 81.53 yearsmale: 79.16 yearsfemale: 84.02 years (2008 est.)
Austriatotal population: 79.36 yearsmale: 76.46 yearsfemale: 82.41 years (2008 est.)
Azerbaijantotal population: 66.31 yearsmale: 62.2 yearsfemale: 71 years (2008 est.)
Bahamas, Thetotal population: 65.72 yearsmale: 62.5 yearsfemale: 69 years (2008 est.)
Bahraintotal population: 74.92 yearsmale: 72.41 yearsfemale: 77.5 years (2008 est.)
Bangladeshtotal population: 63.21 yearsmale: 63.14 yearsfemale: 63.28 years (2008 est.)
Barbadostotal population: 73.21 yearsmale: 71.2 yearsfemale: 75.24 years (2008 est.)
Belarustotal population: 70.34 yearsmale: 64.63 yearsfemale: 76.4 years (2008 est.)
Belgiumtotal population: 79.07 yearsmale: 75.9 yearsfemale: 82.38 years (2008 est.)
Belizetotal population: 68.19 yearsmale: 66.39 yearsfemale: 70.08 years (2008 est.)
Benintotal population: 58.56 yearsmale: 57.42 yearsfemale: 59.76 years (2008 est.)
Bermudatotal population: 78.3 yearsmale: 76.15 yearsfemale: 80.48 years (2008 est.)
Bhutantotal population: 65.53 yearsmale: 64.75 yearsfemale: 66.35 years (2008 est.)
Boliviatotal population: 66.53 yearsmale: 63.86 yearsfemale: 69.33 years (2008 est.)
Bosnia and Herzegovinatotal population: 78.33 yearsmale: 74.74 yearsfemale: 82.19 years (2008 est.)
Botswanatotal population: 50.16 yearsmale: 51.28 yearsfemale: 49.02 years (2008 est.)
Braziltotal population: 71.71 yearsmale: 68.15 yearsfemale: 75.45 years (2008 est.)
British Virgin Islandstotal population: 77.07 yearsmale: 75.88 yearsfemale: 78.32 years (2008 est.)
Bruneitotal population: 75.52 yearsmale: 73.32 yearsfemale: 77.83 years (2008 est.)
Bulgariatotal population: 72.83 yearsmale: 69.22 yearsfemale: 76.66 years (2008 est.)
Burkina Fasototal population: 52.55 yearsmale: 50.67 yearsfemale: 54.49 years (2008 est.)
Burmatotal population: 62.94 yearsmale: 60.73 yearsfemale: 65.28 years (2008 est.)
Burunditotal population: 51.71 yearsmale: 50.86 yearsfemale: 52.6 years (2008 est.)
Cambodiatotal population: 61.69 yearsmale: 59.65 yearsfemale: 63.83 years (2008 est.)
Cameroontotal population: 53.3 yearsmale: 52.54 yearsfemale: 54.08 years (2008 est.)
Canadatotal population: 81.16 yearsmale: 78.65 yearsfemale: 83.81 years (2008 est.)
Cape Verdetotal population: 71.33 yearsmale: 67.99 yearsfemale: 74.76 years (2008 est.)
Cayman Islandstotal population: 80.32 yearsmale: 77.68 yearsfemale: 83 years (2008 est.)
Central African Republictotal population: 44.22 yearsmale: 44.14 yearsfemale: 44.29 years (2008 est.)
Chadtotal population: 47.43 yearsmale: 46.4 yearsfemale: 48.5 years (2008 est.)
Chiletotal population: 77.15 yearsmale: 73.88 yearsfemale: 80.59 years (2008 est.)
Chinatotal population: 73.18 yearsmale: 71.37 yearsfemale: 75.18 years (2008 est.)
Christmas Islandtotal population: NAmale: NAfemale: NA (2008 est.)
Cocos (Keeling) Islandstotal population: NAmale: NAfemale: NA (2008 est.)
Colombiatotal population: 72.54 yearsmale: 68.71 yearsfemale: 76.5 years (2008 est.)
Comorostotal population: 63.1 yearsmale: 60.72 yearsfemale: 65.55 years (2008 est.)
Congo, Democratic Republic of thetotal population: 53.98 yearsmale: 52.22 yearsfemale: 55.8 years (2008 est.)
Congo, Republic of thetotal population: 53.74 yearsmale: 52.52 yearsfemale: 55 years (2008 est.)
Cook Islandstotal population: NAmale: NAfemale: NA (2008 est.)
Costa Ricatotal population: 77.4 yearsmale: 74.79 yearsfemale: 80.14 years (2008 est.)
Cote d'Ivoiretotal population: 54.64 yearsmale: 53.95 yearsfemale: 55.35 years (2008 est.)
Croatiatotal population: 75.13 yearsmale: 71.49 yearsfemale: 78.97 years (2008 est.)
Cubatotal population: 77.27 yearsmale: 75.02 yearsfemale: 79.64 years (2008 est.)
Cyprustotal population: 78.15 yearsmale: 75.75 yearsfemale: 80.67 years (2008 est.)
Czech Republictotal population: 76.62 yearsmale: 73.34 yearsfemale: 80.08 years (2008 est.)
Denmarktotal population: 78.13 yearsmale: 75.8 yearsfemale: 80.59 years (2008 est.)
Djiboutitotal population: 43.31 yearsmale: 41.89 yearsfemale: 44.77 years (2008 est.)
Dominicatotal population: 75.33 yearsmale: 72.39 yearsfemale: 78.41 years (2008 est.)
Dominican Republictotal population: 73.39 yearsmale: 71.61 yearsfemale: 75.24 years (2008 est.)
Ecuadortotal population: 76.81 yearsmale: 73.94 yearsfemale: 79.84 years (2008 est.)
Egypttotal population: 71.85 yearsmale: 69.3 yearsfemale: 74.52 years (2008 est.)
El Salvadortotal population: 72.06 yearsmale: 68.45 yearsfemale: 75.84 years (2008 est.)
Equatorial Guineatotal population: 61.23 yearsmale: 60.36 yearsfemale: 62.13 years (2008 est.)
Eritreatotal population: 61.38 yearsmale: 59.35 yearsfemale: 63.46 years (2008 est.)
Estoniatotal population: 72.56 yearsmale: 67.16 yearsfemale: 78.3 years (2008 est.)
Ethiopiatotal population: 54.99 yearsmale: 52.54 yearsfemale: 57.51 years (2008 est.)
European Uniontotal population: 77.32 yearsmale: 74 yearsfemale: 80.84 years (2008 est.)
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)total population: NAmale: NAfemale: NA (2008 est.)
Faroe Islandstotal population: 79.29 yearsmale: 76.86 yearsfemale: 81.89 years (2008 est.)
Fijitotal population: 70.44 yearsmale: 67.9 yearsfemale: 73.1 years (2008 est.)
Finlandtotal population: 78.82 yearsmale: 75.31 yearsfemale: 82.46 years (2008 est.)
Francetotal population: 80.87 yearsmale: 77.68 yearsfemale: 84.23 years (2008 est.)
French Polynesiatotal population: 76.51 yearsmale: 74.07 yearsfemale: 79.08 years (2008 est.)
Gabontotal population: 53.52 yearsmale: 52.5 yearsfemale: 54.57 years (2008 est.)
Gambia, Thetotal population: 54.95 yearsmale: 53.06 yearsfemale: 56.9 years (2008 est.)
Gaza Striptotal population: 73.16 yearsmale: 71.6 yearsfemale: 74.83 years (2008 est.)
Georgiatotal population: 76.51 yearsmale: 73.21 yearsfemale: 80.26 years (2008 est.)
Germanytotal population: 79.1 yearsmale: 76.11 yearsfemale: 82.26 years (2008 est.)
Ghanatotal population: 59.49 yearsmale: 58.65 yearsfemale: 60.35 years (2008 est.)
Gibraltartotal population: 80.06 yearsmale: 77.17 yearsfemale: 83.09 years (2008 est.)
Greecetotal population: 79.52 yearsmale: 76.98 yearsfemale: 82.21 years (2008 est.)
Greenlandtotal population: 69.46 yearsmale: 66.81 yearsfemale: 72.25 years (2008 est.)
Grenadatotal population: 65.6 yearsmale: 63.74 yearsfemale: 67.47 years (2008 est.)
Guamtotal population: 78.93 yearsmale: 75.86 yearsfemale: 82.19 years (2008 est.)
Guatemalatotal population: 69.99 yearsmale: 68.22 yearsfemale: 71.86 years (2008 est.)
Guernseytotal population: 80.65 yearsmale: 77.64 yearsfemale: 83.76 years (2008 est.)
Guineatotal population: 56.58 yearsmale: 55.12 yearsfemale: 58.08 years (2008 est.)
Guinea-Bissautotal population: 47.52 yearsmale: 45.71 yearsfemale: 49.39 years (2008 est.)
Guyanatotal population: 66.43 yearsmale: 63.81 yearsfemale: 69.18 years (2008 est.)
Haititotal population: 57.56 yearsmale: 55.83 yearsfemale: 59.35 years (2008 est.)
Hondurastotal population: 69.37 yearsmale: 67.81 yearsfemale: 71.01 years (2008 est.)
Hong Kongtotal population: 81.77 yearsmale: 79.07 yearsfemale: 84.69 years (2008 est.)
Hungarytotal population: 73.18 yearsmale: 69 yearsfemale: 77.62 years (2008 est.)
Icelandtotal population: 80.55 yearsmale: 78.43 yearsfemale: 82.76 years (2008 est.)
Indiatotal population: 69.25 yearsmale: 66.87 yearsfemale: 71.9 years (2008 est.)
Indonesiatotal population: 70.46 yearsmale: 67.98 yearsfemale: 73.07 years (2008 est.)
Irantotal population: 70.86 yearsmale: 69.39 yearsfemale: 72.4 years (2008 est.)
Iraqtotal population: 69.62 yearsmale: 68.32 yearsfemale: 70.99 years (2008 est.)
Irelandtotal population: 78.07 yearsmale: 75.44 yearsfemale: 80.88 years (2008 est.)
Isle of Mantotal population: 78.8 yearsmale: 75.46 yearsfemale: 82.32 years (2008 est.)
Israeltotal population: 80.61 yearsmale: 78.54 yearsfemale: 82.79 years (2008 est.)
Italytotal population: 80.07 yearsmale: 77.13 yearsfemale: 83.2 years (2008 est.)
Jamaicatotal population: 73.59 yearsmale: 71.88 yearsfemale: 75.38 years (2008 est.)
Japantotal population: 82.07 yearsmale: 78.73 yearsfemale: 85.59 years (2008 est.)
Jerseytotal population: 79.65 yearsmale: 77.15 yearsfemale: 82.35 years (2008 est.)
Jordantotal population: 78.71 yearsmale: 76.19 yearsfemale: 81.39 years (2008 est.)
Kazakhstantotal population: 67.55 yearsmale: 62.24 yearsfemale: 73.16 years (2008 est.)
Kenyatotal population: 56.64 yearsmale: 56.42 yearsfemale: 56.87 years (2008 est.)
Kiribatitotal population: 62.85 yearsmale: 59.79 yearsfemale: 66.06 years (2008 est.)
Korea, Northtotal population: 72.2 yearsmale: 69.45 yearsfemale: 75.08 years (2008 est.)
Korea, Southtotal population: 78.64 yearsmale: 75.34 yearsfemale: 82.17 years (2008 est.)
Kuwaittotal population: 77.53 yearsmale: 76.38 yearsfemale: 78.73 years (2008 est.)
Kyrgyzstantotal population: 69.12 yearsmale: 65.12 yearsfemale: 73.33 years (2008 est.)
Laostotal population: 56.29 yearsmale: 54.19 yearsfemale: 58.47 years (2008 est.)
Latviatotal population: 71.88 yearsmale: 66.68 yearsfemale: 77.35 years (2008 est.)
Lebanontotal population: 73.41 yearsmale: 70.91 yearsfemale: 76.04 years (2008 est.)
Lesothototal population: 40.17 yearsmale: 40.97 yearsfemale: 39.34 years (2008 est.)
Liberiatotal population: 41.13 yearsmale: 39.85 yearsfemale: 42.46 years (2008 est.)
Libyatotal population: 77.07 yearsmale: 74.81 yearsfemale: 79.44 years (2008 est.)
Liechtensteintotal population: 79.95 yearsmale: 76.38 yearsfemale: 83.52 years (2008 est.)
Lithuaniatotal population: 74.67 yearsmale: 69.72 yearsfemale: 79.89 years (2008 est.)
Luxembourgtotal population: 79.18 yearsmale: 75.91 yearsfemale: 82.67 years (2008 est.)
Macautotal population: 84.33 yearsmale: 81.36 yearsfemale: 87.45 years (2008 est.)
Macedoniatotal population: 74.45 yearsmale: 71.95 yearsfemale: 77.13 years (2008 est.)
Madagascartotal population: 62.52 yearsmale: 60.58 yearsfemale: 64.51 years (2008 est.)
Malawitotal population: 43.45 yearsmale: 43.74 yearsfemale: 43.15 years (2008 est.)
Malaysiatotal population: 73.03 yearsmale: 70.32 yearsfemale: 75.94 years (2008 est.)
Maldivestotal population: 73.72 yearsmale: 71.55 yearsfemale: 76.01 years (2008 est.)
Malitotal population: 49.94 yearsmale: 48 yearsfemale: 51.94 years (2008 est.)
Maltatotal population: 79.3 yearsmale: 77.08 yearsfemale: 81.64 years (2008 est.)
Marshall Islandstotal population: 70.9 yearsmale: 68.88 yearsfemale: 73.03 years (2008 est.)
Mauritaniatotal population: 53.91 yearsmale: 51.61 yearsfemale: 56.28 years (2008 est.)
Mauritiustotal population: 73.75 yearsmale: 70.28 yearsfemale: 77.4 years (2008 est.)
Mayottetotal population: 62.54 yearsmale: 60.3 yearsfemale: 64.85 years (2008 est.)
Mexicototal population: 75.84 yearsmale: 73.05 yearsfemale: 78.78 years (2008 est.)
Micronesia, Federated States oftotal population: 70.65 yearsmale: 68.79 yearsfemale: 72.61 years (2008 est.)
Moldovatotal population: 70.5 yearsmale: 66.81 yearsfemale: 74.41 years (2008 est.)
Monacototal population: 79.96 yearsmale: 76.14 yearsfemale: 83.97 years (2008 est.)
Mongoliatotal population: 67.32 yearsmale: 64.92 yearsfemale: 69.84 years (2008 est.)
Montserrattotal population: 72.6 yearsmale: 74.66 yearsfemale: 70.44 years (2008 est.)
Moroccototal population: 71.52 yearsmale: 69.16 yearsfemale: 74 years (2008 est.)
Mozambiquetotal population: 41.04 yearsmale: 41.62 yearsfemale: 40.44 years (2008 est.)
Namibiatotal population: 49.89 yearsmale: 50.39 yearsfemale: 49.38 years (2008 est.)
Naurutotal population: 63.81 yearsmale: 60.2 yearsfemale: 67.6 years (2008 est.)
Nepaltotal population: 60.94 yearsmale: 61.12 yearsfemale: 60.75 years (2008 est.)
Netherlandstotal population: 79.25 yearsmale: 76.66 yearsfemale: 81.98 years (2008 est.)
Netherlands Antillestotal population: 76.45 yearsmale: 74.15 yearsfemale: 78.87 years (2008 est.)
New Caledoniatotal population: 74.75 yearsmale: 71.76 yearsfemale: 77.88 years (2008 est.)
New Zealandtotal population: 80.24 yearsmale: 78.33 yearsfemale: 82.25 years (2008 est.)
Nicaraguatotal population: 71.21 yearsmale: 69.08 yearsfemale: 73.44 years (2008 est.)
Nigertotal population: 44.28 yearsmale: 44.3 yearsfemale: 44.26 years (2008 est.)
Nigeriatotal population: 46.53 yearsmale: 45.78 yearsfemale: 47.32 years (2008 est.)
Niuetotal population: NAmale: NAfemale: NA (2008 est.)
Norfolk Islandtotal population: NAmale: NAfemale: NA (2008 est.)
Northern Mariana Islandstotal population: 76.5 yearsmale: 73.89 yearsfemale: 79.26 years (2008 est.)
Norwaytotal population: 79.81 yearsmale: 77.16 yearsfemale: 82.6 years (2008 est.)
Omantotal population: 73.91 yearsmale: 71.64 yearsfemale: 76.29 years (2008 est.)
Pakistantotal population: 64.13 yearsmale: 63.07 yearsfemale: 65.25 years (2008 est.)
Palautotal population: 71 yearsmale: 67.82 yearsfemale: 74.36 years (2008 est.)
Panamatotal population: 76.88 yearsmale: 74.08 yearsfemale: 79.81 years (2008 est.)
Papua New Guineatotal population: 66 yearsmale: 63.76 yearsfemale: 68.35 years (2008 est.)
Paraguaytotal population: 75.56 yearsmale: 72.99 yearsfemale: 78.26 years (2008 est.)
Perutotal population: 70.44 yearsmale: 68.61 yearsfemale: 72.37 years (2008 est.)
Philippinestotal population: 70.8 yearsmale: 67.89 yearsfemale: 73.85 years (2008 est.)
Pitcairn Islandstotal population: NAmale: NAfemale: NA (2008 est.)
Polandtotal population: 75.41 yearsmale: 71.42 yearsfemale: 79.65 years (2008 est.)
Portugaltotal population: 78.04 yearsmale: 74.78 yearsfemale: 81.53 years (2008 est.)
Puerto Ricototal population: 78.58 yearsmale: 74.64 yearsfemale: 82.73 years (2008 est.)
Qatartotal population: 75.19 yearsmale: 73.5 yearsfemale: 76.98 years (2008 est.)
Romaniatotal population: 72.18 yearsmale: 68.69 yearsfemale: 75.89 years (2008 est.)
Russiatotal population: 65.94 yearsmale: 59.19 yearsfemale: 73.1 years (2008 est.)
Rwandatotal population: 49.76 yearsmale: 48.56 yearsfemale: 51 years (2008 est.)
Saint Helenatotal population: 78.27 yearsmale: 75.36 yearsfemale: 81.33 years (2008 est.)
Saint Kitts and Nevistotal population: 72.94 yearsmale: 70.08 yearsfemale: 75.98 years (2008 est.)
Saint Luciatotal population: 76.25 yearsmale: 73.59 yearsfemale: 79.05 years (2008 est.)
Saint Pierre and Miquelontotal population: 78.91 yearsmale: 76.55 yearsfemale: 81.4 years (2008 est.)
Saint Vincent and the Grenadinestotal population: 74.34 yearsmale: 72.42 yearsfemale: 76.31 years (2008 est.)
Samoatotal population: 71.58 yearsmale: 68.76 yearsfemale: 74.55 years (2008 est.)
San Marinototal population: 81.88 yearsmale: 78.43 yearsfemale: 85.64 years (2008 est.)
Sao Tome and Principetotal population: 68 yearsmale: 66.35 yearsfemale: 69.69 years (2008 est.)
Saudi Arabiatotal population: 76.09 yearsmale: 74.04 yearsfemale: 78.25 years (2008 est.)
Senegaltotal population: 57.08 yearsmale: 55.7 yearsfemale: 58.5 years (2008 est.)
Serbiatotal population: 75.29 yearsmale: 72.7 yearsfemale: 78.09 years (2008 est.)
Seychellestotal population: 72.6 yearsmale: 67.27 yearsfemale: 78.1 years (2008 est.)
Sierra Leonetotal population: 40.93 yearsmale: 38.64 yearsfemale: 43.28 years (2008 est.)
Singaporetotal population: 81.89 yearsmale: 79.29 yearsfemale: 84.68 years (2008 est.)
Slovakiatotal population: 75.17 yearsmale: 71.23 yearsfemale: 79.32 years (2008 est.)
Sloveniatotal population: 76.73 yearsmale: 73.04 yearsfemale: 80.66 years (2008 est.)
Solomon Islandstotal population: 73.44 yearsmale: 70.9 yearsfemale: 76.1 years (2008 est.)
Somaliatotal population: 49.25 yearsmale: 47.43 yearsfemale: 51.12 years (2008 est.)
South Africatotal population: 48.89 yearsmale: 49.63 yearsfemale: 48.15 years (2008 est.)
Spaintotal population: 79.92 yearsmale: 76.6 yearsfemale: 83.45 years (2008 est.)
Sri Lankatotal population: 74.97 yearsmale: 72.95 yearsfemale: 77.08 years (2008 est.)
Sudantotal population: 50.28 yearsmale: 49.38 yearsfemale: 51.23 years (2008 est.)
Surinametotal population: 73.48 yearsmale: 70.76 yearsfemale: 76.39 years (2008 est.)
Svalbardtotal population: NAmale: NAfemale: NA (2008 est.)
Swazilandtotal population: 31.99 yearsmale: 31.69 yearsfemale: 32.3 years (2008 est.)
Swedentotal population: 80.74 yearsmale: 78.49 yearsfemale: 83.13 years (2008 est.)
Switzerlandtotal population: 80.74 yearsmale: 77.91 yearsfemale: 83.71 years (2008 est.)
Syriatotal population: 70.9 yearsmale: 69.53 yearsfemale: 72.35 years (2008 est.)
Taiwantotal population: 77.76 yearsmale: 74.89 yearsfemale: 80.89 years (2008 est.)
Tajikistantotal population: 64.97 yearsmale: 61.95 yearsfemale: 68.15 years (2008 est.)
Tanzaniatotal population: 51.45 yearsmale: 50.06 yearsfemale: 52.88 years (2008 est.)
Thailandtotal population: 72.83 yearsmale: 70.51 yearsfemale: 75.27 years (2008 est.)
Timor-Lestetotal population: 66.94 yearsmale: 64.6 yearsfemale: 69.39 years (2008 est.)
Togototal population: 58.28 yearsmale: 56.2 yearsfemale: 60.43 years (2008 est.)
Tokelautotal population: NAmale: NAfemale: NA (2008 est.)
Tongatotal population: 70.44 yearsmale: 67.9 yearsfemale: 73.1 years (2008 est.)
Trinidad and Tobagototal population: 67 yearsmale: 66.07 yearsfemale: 67.98 years (2008 est.)
Tunisiatotal population: 75.56 yearsmale: 73.79 yearsfemale: 77.46 years (2008 est.)
Turkeytotal population: 73.14 yearsmale: 70.67 yearsfemale: 75.73 years (2008 est.)
Turkmenistantotal population: 68.6 yearsmale: 65.53 yearsfemale: 71.82 years (2008 est.)
Turks and Caicos Islandstotal population: 75.19 yearsmale: 72.91 yearsfemale: 77.59 years (2008 est.)
Tuvalutotal population: 68.97 yearsmale: 66.7 yearsfemale: 71.36 years (2008 est.)
Ugandatotal population: 52.34 yearsmale: 51.31 yearsfemale: 53.4 years (2008 est.)
Ukrainetotal population: 68.06 yearsmale: 62.24 yearsfemale: 74.24 years (2008 est.)
United Arab Emiratestotal population: 75.89 yearsmale: 73.35 yearsfemale: 78.56 years (2008 est.)
United Kingdomtotal population: 78.85 yearsmale: 76.37 yearsfemale: 81.46 years (2008 est.)
United Statestotal population: 78.14 yearsmale: 75.29 yearsfemale: 81.13 years (2008 est.)
Uruguaytotal population: 76.14 yearsmale: 72.89 yearsfemale: 79.51 years (2008 est.)
Uzbekistantotal population: 71.69 yearsmale: 68.69 yearsfemale: 74.87 years (2008 est.)
Vanuatutotal population: 63.61 yearsmale: 62.04 yearsfemale: 65.27 years (2008 est.)
Venezuelatotal population: 73.45 yearsmale: 70.4 yearsfemale: 76.65 years (2008 est.)
Vietnamtotal population: 71.33 yearsmale: 68.52 yearsfemale: 74.33 years (2008 est.)
Virgin Islandstotal population: 78.92 yearsmale: 75.9 yearsfemale: 82.11 years (2008 est.)
Wallis and Futunatotal population: NAmale: NAfemale: NA (2008 est.)
West Banktotal population: 74.29 yearsmale: 72.32 yearsfemale: 76.38 years (2008 est.)
Western Saharatotal population: 53.92 years NAmale: 51.64 years NAfemale: 56.31 years NA (2008 est.)
Worldtotal population: 66.26 yearsmale: 64.3 yearsfemale: 68.35 years (2008 est.)
Yementotal population: 62.9 yearsmale: 60.96 yearsfemale: 64.94 years (2008 est.)
Zambiatotal population: 38.59 yearsmale: 38.49 yearsfemale: 38.7 years (2008 est.)
Zimbabwetotal population: 44.28 yearsmale: 45.08 yearsfemale: 43.46 years (2008 est.)
This page was last updated on 18 December 2008
======================================================================
@2103 Literacy (%)
Afghanistandefinition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 28.1%male: 43.1%female: 12.6% (2000 est.)
Albaniadefinition: age 9 and over can read and writetotal population: 98.7%male: 99.2%female: 98.3% (2001 census)
Algeriadefinition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 69.9%male: 79.6%female: 60.1% (2002 est.)
American Samoadefinition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 97%male: 98%female: 97% (1980 est.)
Andorradefinition: NAtotal population: 100%male: 100%female: 100%
Angoladefinition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 67.4%male: 82.9%female: 54.2% (2001 est.)
Anguilladefinition: age 12 and over can read and writetotal population: 95%male: 95%female: 95% (1984 est.)
Antigua and Barbudadefinition: age 15 and over has completed fiveor more years of schoolingtotal population: 85.8%male: NA%female: NA% (2003 est.)
Argentinadefinition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 97.2%male: 97.2%female: 97.2% (2001 census)
Armeniadefinition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 99.4%male: 99.7%female: 99.2% (2001 census)
Arubadefinition: NAtotal population: 97.3%male: 97.5%female: 97.1% (2000 census)
Australiadefinition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 99%male: 99%female: 99% (2003 est.)
Austriadefinition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 98%male: NAfemale: NA
Azerbaijandefinition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 98.8%male: 99.5%female: 98.2% (1999 census)
Bahamas, Thedefinition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 95.6%male: 94.7%female: 96.5% (2003 est.)
Bahraindefinition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 86.5%male: 88.6%female: 83.6% (2001 census)
Bangladeshdefinition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 43.1%male: 53.9%female: 31.8% (2003 est.)
Barbadosdefinition: age 15 and over has ever attended schooltotal population: 99.7%male: 99.7%female: 99.7% (2002 est.)
Belarusdefinition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 99.6%male: 99.8%female: 99.4% (1999 census)
Belgiumdefinition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 99%male: 99%female: 99% (2003 est.)
Belizedefinition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 76.9%male: 76.7%female: 77.1% (2000 census)
Benindefinition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 34.7%male: 47.9%female: 23.3% (2002 census)
Bermudadefinition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 98%male: 98%female: 99% (2005 est.)
Bhutandefinition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 47%male: 60%female: 34% (2003 est.)
Boliviadefinition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 86.7%male: 93.1%female: 80.7% (2001 census)
Bosnia and Herzegovinadefinition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 96.7%male: 99%female: 94.4% (2000 est.)
Botswanadefinition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 81.2%male: 80.4%female: 81.8% (2003 est.)
Brazildefinition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 88.6%male: 88.4%female: 88.8% (2004 est.)
British Virgin Islandsdefinition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 97.8% (1991 est.)male: NA%female: NA%
Bruneidefinition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 92.7%male: 95.2%female: 90.2% (2001 census)
Bulgariadefinition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 98.2%male: 98.7%female: 97.7% (2001 census)
Burkina Fasodefinition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 21.8%male: 29.4%female: 15.2% (2003 est.)
Burmadefinition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 89.9%male: 93.9%female: 86.4% (2006 est.)
Burundidefinition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 59.3%male: 67.3%female: 52.2% (2000 est.)
Cambodiadefinition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 73.6%male: 84.7%female: 64.1% (2004 est.)
Cameroondefinition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 67.9%male: 77%female: 59.8% (2001 est.)
Canadadefinition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 99%male: 99%female: 99% (2003 est.)
Cape Verdedefinition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 76.6%male: 85.8%female: 69.2% (2003 est.)
Cayman Islandsdefinition: age 15 and over has ever attended schooltotal population: 98%male: 98%female: 98% (1970 est.)
Central African Republicdefinition: age 15 and over can read andwritetotal population: 48.6%male: 64.8%female: 33.5% (2000 est.)