United Kingdom1.66 children born/woman (2008 est.)
United States2.1 children born/woman (2008 est.)
Uruguay1.94 children born/woman (2008 est.)
Uzbekistan2.01 children born/woman (2008 est.)
Vanuatu2.57 children born/woman (2008 est.)
Venezuela2.52 children born/woman (2008 est.)
Vietnam1.86 children born/woman (2008 est.)
Virgin Islands1.88 children born/woman (2008 est.)
Wallis and FutunaNA (2008 est.)
West Bank3.31 children born/woman (2008 est.)
Western SaharaNA 5.69 children born/woman (2008 est.)
World2.61 children born/woman (2008 est.)
Yemen6.41 children born/woman (2008 est.)
Zambia5.23 children born/woman (2008 est.)
Zimbabwe3.72 children born/woman (2008 est.)
This page was last updated on 18 December 2008
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@2128 Government type
AfghanistanIslamic republic
Albaniaemerging democracy
Algeriarepublic
American SamoaNA
Andorraparliamentary democracy (since March 1993) that retains asits chiefs of state a coprincipality; the two princes are thepresident of France and bishop of Seo de Urgel, Spain, who arerepresented locally by coprinces' representatives
Angolarepublic; multiparty presidential regime
AnguillaNA
Antarctica Antarctic Treaty Summary - the Antarctic Treaty, signed on 1 December 1959 and entered into force on 23 June 1961, establishes the legal framework for the management of Antarctica; the 30th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting was held in Delhi, India in April/May 2007; at these periodic meetings, decisions are made by consensus (not by vote) of all consultative member nations; at the end of 2007, there were 46 treaty member nations: 28 consultative and 18 non-consultative; consultative (decision-making) members include the seven nations that claim portions of Antarctica as national territory (some claims overlap) and 21 non-claimant nations; the US and Russia have reserved the right to make claims; the US does not recognize the claims of others; Antarctica is administered through meetings of the consultative member nations; decisions from these meetings are carried out by these member nations (with respect to their own nationals and operations) in accordance with their own national laws; the years in parentheses indicate when a consultative member-nation acceded to the Treaty and when it was accepted as a consultative member, while no date indicates the country was an original 1959 treaty signatory; claimant nations are - Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, NZ, Norway, and the UK. Nonclaimant consultative nations are - Belgium, Brazil (1975/1983), Bulgaria (1978/1998) China (1983/1985), Ecuador (1987/1990), Finland (1984/1989), Germany (1979/1981), India (1983/1983), Italy (1981/1987), Japan, South Korea (1986/1989), Netherlands (1967/1990), Peru (1981/1989), Poland (1961/1977), Russia, South Africa, Spain (1982/1988), Sweden (1984/1988), Ukraine (1992/2004), Uruguay (1980/1985), and the US; non-consultative members, with year of accession in parentheses, are - Austria (1987), Belarus (2006), Canada (1988), Colombia (1989), Cuba (1984), Czech Republic (1962/1993), Denmark (1965), Estonia (2001), Greece (1987), Guatemala (1991), Hungary (1984), North Korea (1987), Papua New Guinea (1981), Romania (1971), Slovakia (1962/1993), Switzerland (1990), Turkey (1996), and Venezuela (1999); note - Czechoslovakia acceded to the Treaty in 1962 and separated into the Czech Republic and Slovakia in 1993; Article 1 - area to be used for peaceful purposes only; military activity, such as weapons testing, is prohibited, but military personnel and equipment may be used for scientific research or any other peaceful purpose; Article 2 - freedom of scientific investigation and cooperation shall continue; Article 3 - free exchange of information and personnel, cooperation with the UN and other international agencies; Article 4 - does not recognize, dispute, or establish territorial claims and no new claims shall be asserted while the treaty is in force; Article 5 - prohibits nuclear explosions or disposal of radioactive wastes; Article 6 - includes under the treaty all land and ice shelves south of 60 degrees 00 minutes south and reserves high seas rights; Article 7 - treaty-state observers have free access, including aerial observation, to any area and may inspect all stations, installations, and equipment; advance notice of all expeditions and of the introduction of military personnel must be given; Article 8 - allows for jurisdiction over observers and scientists by their own states; Article 9 - frequent consultative meetings take place among member nations; Article 10 - treaty states will discourage activities by any country in Antarctica that are contrary to the treaty; Article 11 - disputes to be settled peacefully by the parties concerned or, ultimately, by the ICJ; Articles 12, 13, 14 - deal with upholding, interpreting, and amending the treaty among involved nations; other agreements - some 200 recommendations adopted at treaty consultative meetings and ratified by governments include - Agreed Measures for Fauna and Flora (1964) which were later incorporated into the Environmental Protocol; Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Seals (1972); Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (1980); a mineral resources agreement was signed in 1988 but remains unratified; the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty was signed 4 October 1991 and entered into force 14 January 1998; this agreement provides for the protection of the Antarctic environment through six specific annexes: 1) environmental impact assessment, 2) conservation of Antarctic fauna and flora, 3) waste disposal and waste management, 4) prevention of marine pollution, 5) area protection and management and 6) liability arising from environmental emergencies; it prohibits all activities relating to mineral resources except scientific research; a permanent Antarctic Treaty Secretariat was established in 2004 in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Antigua and Barbuda constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system of government
Argentinarepublic
Armeniarepublic
Arubaparliamentary democracy
Australiafederal parliamentary democracy
Austriafederal republic
Azerbaijanrepublic
Bahamas, Theconstitutional parliamentary democracy
Bahrainconstitutional monarchy
Bangladeshparliamentary democracy
Barbadosparliamentary democracy
Belarusrepublic in name, although in fact a dictatorship
Belgiumfederal parliamentary democracy under a constitutionalmonarchy
Belizeparliamentary democracy
Beninrepublic
Bermudaparliamentary; self-governing territory
Bhutanin transition to constitutional monarchy; special treatyrelationship with India
Boliviarepublic
Bosnia and Herzegovinaemerging federal democratic republic
Botswanaparliamentary republic
Brazilfederal republic
British Virgin IslandsNA
Bruneiconstitutional sultanate
Bulgariaparliamentary democracy
Burkina Fasoparliamentary republic
Burmamilitary junta
Burundirepublic
Cambodiamultiparty democracy under a constitutional monarchy
Cameroonrepublic; multiparty presidential regime
Canadaconstitutional monarchy that is also a parliamentarydemocracy and a federation
Cape Verderepublic
Cayman IslandsBritish crown colony
Central African Republicrepublic
Chadrepublic
Chilerepublic
ChinaCommunist state
Christmas IslandNA
Cocos (Keeling) IslandsNA
Colombiarepublic; executive branch dominates government structure
Comorosrepublic
Congo, Democratic Republic of therepublic
Congo, Republic of therepublic
Cook Islandsself-governing parliamentary democracy
Costa Ricademocratic republic
Cote d'Ivoirerepublic; multiparty presidential regime established1960note: the government is currently operating under a power-sharingagreement mandated by international mediators
Croatiapresidential/parliamentary democracy
CubaCommunist state
Cyprusrepublicnote: a separation of the two ethnic communities inhabiting theisland began following the outbreak of communal strife in 1963; thisseparation was further solidified after the Turkish intervention inJuly 1974 that followed a Greek junta-supported coup attempt gavethe Turkish Cypriots de facto control in the north; Greek Cypriotscontrol the only internationally recognized government; on 15November 1983 Turkish Cypriot "President" Rauf DENKTASH declaredindependence and the formation of a "Turkish Republic of NorthernCyprus" (TRNC), which is recognized only by Turkey
Czech Republicparliamentary democracy
Denmarkconstitutional monarchy
Djiboutirepublic
Dominicaparliamentary democracy
Dominican Republicdemocratic republic
Ecuadorrepublic
Egyptrepublic
El Salvadorrepublic
Equatorial Guinearepublic
Eritreatransitional governmentnote: following a successful referendum on independence for theAutonomous Region of Eritrea on 23-25 April 1993, a NationalAssembly, composed entirely of the People's Front for Democracy andJustice or PFDJ, was established as a transitional legislature; aConstitutional Commission was also established to draft aconstitution; ISAIAS Afworki was elected president by thetransitional legislature; the constitution, ratified in May 1997,did not enter into effect, pending parliamentary and presidentialelections; parliamentary elections were scheduled in December 2001,but were postponed indefinitely; currently the sole legal party isthe People's Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ)
Estoniaparliamentary republic
Ethiopiafederal republic
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)NA
Faroe IslandsNA
Fijirepublic
Finlandrepublic
Francerepublic
French PolynesiaNA
Gabonrepublic; multiparty presidential regime
Gambia, Therepublic
Georgiarepublic
Germanyfederal republic
Ghanaconstitutional democracy
GibraltarNA
Greeceparliamentary republic
Greenlandparliamentary democracy within a constitutional monarchy
Grenadaparliamentary democracy
GuamNA
Guatemalaconstitutional democratic republic
Guernseyparliamentary democracy
Guinearepublic
Guinea-Bissaurepublic
Guyanarepublic
Haitirepublic
Holy See (Vatican City)ecclesiastical
Hondurasdemocratic constitutional republic
Hong Konglimited democracy
Hungaryparliamentary democracy
Icelandconstitutional republic
Indiafederal republic
Indonesiarepublic
Irantheocratic republic
Iraqparliamentary democracy
Irelandrepublic, parliamentary democracy
Isle of Manparliamentary democracy
Israelparliamentary democracy
Italyrepublic
Jamaicaconstitutional parliamentary democracy
Japanconstitutional monarchy with a parliamentary government
Jerseyparliamentary democracy
Jordanconstitutional monarchy
Kazakhstanrepublic; authoritarian presidential rule, with littlepower outside the executive branch
Kenyarepublic
Kiribatirepublic
Korea, NorthCommunist state one-man dictatorship
Korea, Southrepublic
Kosovorepublic
Kuwaitconstitutional emirate
Kyrgyzstanrepublic
LaosCommunist state
Latviaparliamentary democracy
Lebanonrepublic
Lesothoparliamentary constitutional monarchy
Liberiarepublic
LibyaJamahiriya (a state of the masses) in theory, governed by thepopulace through local councils; in practice, an authoritarian state
Liechtensteinconstitutional monarchy
Lithuaniaparliamentary democracy
Luxembourgconstitutional monarchy
Macaulimited democracy
Macedoniaparliamentary democracy
Madagascarrepublic
Malawimultiparty democracy
Malaysiaconstitutional monarchynote: nominally headed by paramount ruler and a bicameral Parliamentconsisting of a nonelected upper house and an elected lower house;all Peninsular Malaysian states have hereditary rulers except Melakaand Pulau Pinang (Penang); those two states along with Sabah andSarawak in East Malaysia have governors appointed by government;powers of state governments are limited by federal constitution;under terms of federation, Sabah and Sarawak retain certainconstitutional prerogatives (e.g., right to maintain their ownimmigration controls); Sabah holds 25 seats in House ofRepresentatives; Sarawak has 31 seats
Maldivesrepublic
Malirepublic
Maltarepublic
Marshall Islandsconstitutional government in free association withthe US; the Compact of Free Association entered into force 21October 1986 and the Amended Compact entered into force in May 2004
MauritaniaDemocratic Republic
Mauritiusparliamentary democracy
MayotteNA
Mexicofederal republic
Micronesia, Federated States of constitutional government in free association with the US; the Compact of Free Association entered into force 3 November 1986 and the Amended Compact entered into force May 2004
Moldovarepublic
Monacoconstitutional monarchy
Mongoliamixed parliamentary/presidential
Montenegrorepublic
MontserratNA
Moroccoconstitutional monarchy
Mozambiquerepublic
Namibiarepublic
Naururepublic
Nepaldemocratic republic
Netherlandsconstitutional monarchy
Netherlands Antillesparliamentary
New CaledoniaNA
New Zealandparliamentary democracy
Nicaraguarepublic
Nigerrepublic
Nigeriafederal republic
Niueself-governing parliamentary democracy
Norfolk IslandNA
Northern Mariana Islands commonwealth; self-governing with locally elected governor, lieutenant governor, and legislature
Norwayconstitutional monarchy
Omanmonarchy
Pakistanfederal republic
Palauconstitutional government in free association with the US; theCompact of Free Association entered into force 1 October 1994
Panamaconstitutional democracy
Papua New Guineaconstitutional parliamentary democracy
Paraguayconstitutional republic
Peruconstitutional republic
Philippinesrepublic
Pitcairn IslandsNA
Polandrepublic
Portugalrepublic; parliamentary democracy
Puerto Ricocommonwealth
Qataremirate
Romaniarepublic
Russiafederation
Rwandarepublic; presidential, multiparty system
Saint HelenaNA
Saint Kitts and Nevisparliamentary democracy
Saint Luciaparliamentary democracy
Saint Pierre and MiquelonNA
Saint Vincent and the Grenadinesparliamentary democracy
Samoaparliamentary democracy
San Marinorepublic
Sao Tome and Principerepublic
Saudi Arabiamonarchy
Senegalrepublic
Serbiarepublic
Seychellesrepublic
Sierra Leoneconstitutional democracy
Singaporeparliamentary republic
Slovakiaparliamentary democracy
Sloveniaparliamentary republic
Solomon Islandsparliamentary democracy
Somaliano permanent national government; transitional,parliamentary federal government
South Africarepublic
Spainparliamentary monarchy
Sri Lankarepublic
SudanGovernment of National Unity (GNU) - the National CongressParty (NCP) and Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) formed apower-sharing government under the 2005 Comprehensive PeaceAgreement (CPA); the NCP, which came to power by military coup in1989, is the majority partner; the agreement stipulates nationalelections in 2009
Surinameconstitutional democracy
SvalbardNA
Swazilandmonarchy
Swedenconstitutional monarchy
Switzerlandformally a confederation but similar in structure to afederal republic
Syriarepublic under an authoritarian military-dominated regime
Taiwanmultiparty democracy
Tajikistanrepublic
Tanzaniarepublic
Thailandconstitutional monarchy
Timor-Lesterepublic
Togorepublic under transition to multiparty democratic rule
TokelauNA
Tongaconstitutional monarchy
Trinidad and Tobagoparliamentary democracy
Tunisiarepublic
Turkeyrepublican parliamentary democracy
Turkmenistanrepublic; authoritarian presidential rule, with littlepower outside the executive branch
Turks and Caicos IslandsNA
Tuvaluconstitutional monarchy with a parliamentary democracy
Ugandarepublic
Ukrainerepublic
United Arab Emiratesfederation with specified powers delegated tothe UAE federal government and other powers reserved to memberemirates
United Kingdomconstitutional monarchy
United StatesConstitution-based federal republic; strong democratictradition
Uruguayconstitutional republic
Uzbekistanrepublic; authoritarian presidential rule, with littlepower outside the executive branch
Vanuatuparliamentary republic
Venezuelafederal republic
VietnamCommunist state
Virgin IslandsNA
Wallis and FutunaNA
Western Saharalegal status of territory and issue of sovereigntyunresolved; territory contested by Morocco and Polisario Front(Popular Front for the Liberation of the Saguia el Hamra and Rio deOro), which in February 1976 formally proclaimed agovernment-in-exile of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR),led by President Mohamed ABDELAZIZ; territory partitioned betweenMorocco and Mauritania in April 1976, with Morocco acquiringnorthern two-thirds; Mauritania, under pressure from Polisarioguerrillas, abandoned all claims to its portion in August 1979;Morocco moved to occupy that sector shortly thereafter and has sinceasserted administrative control; the Polisario's government-in-exilewas seated as an Organization of African Unity (OAU) member in 1984;guerrilla activities continued sporadically until a UN-monitoredcease-fire was implemented on 6 September 1991 (Security CouncilResolution 690) by the United Nations Mission for the Referendum inWestern Sahara or MINURSO
Yemenrepublic
Zambiarepublic
Zimbabweparliamentary democracy
This page was last updated on 18 December 2008
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@2129 Unemployment rate (%)
Afghanistan40% (2005 est.)
Albania13.2% official rate, but may exceed 30% due to preponderanceof near-subsistence farming (2007 est.)
Algeria11.8% (2007 est.)
American Samoa29.8% (2005)
Andorra0% (1996 est.)
Angolaextensive unemployment and underemployment affecting morethan half the population (2001 est.)
Anguilla8% (2002)
Antigua and Barbuda11% (2001 est.)
Argentina8.5% (2007 est.)
Armenia7.1% (2007 est.)
Aruba6.9% (2005 est.)
Australia4.4% (2007 est.)
Austria4.4% (2007 est.)
Azerbaijan1% official rate (2007 est.)
Bahamas, The7.6% (2006 est.)
Bahrain15% (2005 est.)
Bangladesh2.5% (includes underemployment) (2007 est.)
Barbados10.7% (2003 est.)
Belarus1.6% officially registered unemployed; large number ofunderemployed workers (2005)
Belgium7.5% (2007 est.)
Belize9.4% (2006)
BeninNA%
Bermuda2.1% (2004 est.)
Bhutan2.5% (2004)
Bolivia7.5% in urban areas; widespread underemployment (2007 est.)
Bosnia and Herzegovina 45.5% official rate; grey economy may reduce actual unemployment to 25-30% (31 December 2004 est.)
Botswana7.5% (2007 est.)
Brazil9.3% (2007 est.)
British Virgin Islands3.6% (1997)
Brunei4% (2006)
Bulgaria7.7% (2007 est.)
Burkina Faso77% (2004)
Burma5.2% (2007 est.)
BurundiNA%
Cambodia2.5% (2000 est.)
Cameroon30% (2001 est.)
Canada6% (2007 est.)
Cape Verde21% (2000 est.)
Cayman Islands4.4% (2004)
Central African Republic8% (23% for Bangui) (2001 est.)
ChadNA%
Chile7% (2007 est.)
China4% unemployment in urban areas; substantial unemployment andunderemployment in rural areas (2007 est.)
Cocos (Keeling) Islands60% (2000 est.)
Colombia11.2% (2007 est.)
Comoros20% (1996 est.)
Congo, Democratic Republic of theNA%
Congo, Republic of theNA%
Cook Islands13.1% (2005)
Costa Rica4.6% (2007 est.)
Cote d'Ivoireunemployment may have climbed to 40-50% as a result ofthe civil war
Croatia11.8% (2007 est.)
Cuba1.8% (2007 est.)
Cyprus3.9% (2007 est.)
Czech Republic6.6% (2007 est.)
Denmark2.8% (2007 est.)
Djibouti59% in urban areas, 83% in rural areas (2007 est.)
Dominica23% (2000 est.)
Dominican Republic15.6% (2007 est.)
Ecuador8.8% (2007 est.)
Egypt9.1% (2007 est.)
El Salvador6.2% official rate; but the economy has muchunderemployment (2007 est.)
Equatorial Guinea30% (1998 est.)
EritreaNA%
Estonia4.7% (2007 est.)
EthiopiaNA%
European Union8.5% (2006 est.)
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) full employment; labor shortage (2001)
Faroe Islands2.1% (2006)
Fiji7.6% (1999)
Finland6.9% (2007 est.)
France7.9% (2007 est.)
French Polynesia11.7% (2005)
Gabon21% (2006 est.)
Gambia, TheNA%
Gaza Strip34.8% (2006)
Georgia13.6% (2006 est.)
Germany9%note: this is the International Labor Organization's estimated ratefor international comparisons; Germany's Federal Employment Officeestimated a seasonally adjusted rate of 10.8% (2007 est.)
Ghana11% (2000 est.)
Gibraltar3% (2005 est.)
Greece8.3% (2007 est.)
Greenland9.3% (2005 est.)
Grenada12.5% (2000)
Guam11.4% (2002 est.)
Guatemala3.2% (2005 est.)
Guernsey0.9% (March 2006 est.)
GuineaNA%
Guinea-BissauNA%
Guyana9.1% (understated) (2000)
Haitiwidespread unemployment and underemployment; more thantwo-thirds of the labor force do not have formal jobs (2002 est.)
Honduras27.8% (2007 est.)
Hong Kong4% (2007 est.)
Hungary7.3% (2007 est.)
Iceland1% (2007 est.)
India7.2% (2007 est.)
Indonesia9.1% (2007 est.)
Iran12% according to the Iranian government (2007 est.)
Iraq18% to 30% (2006 est.)
Ireland4.6% (2007 est.)
Isle of Man1.5% (December 2006 est.)
Israel7.3% (2007 est.)
Italy6.2% (2007 est.)
Jamaica9.9% (2007 est.)
Japan3.8% (2007 est.)
Jersey2.2% (2006 est.)
Jordan13.5% official rate; unofficial rate is approximately 30%(2007 est.)
Kazakhstan7.3% (2007 est.)
Kenya40% (2001 est.)
Kiribati2% official rate; underemployment 70% (1992 est.)
Korea, NorthNA%
Korea, South3.3% (2007 est.)
Kosovo43% (2007 est.)
Kuwait2.2% (2004 est.)
Kyrgyzstan18% (2004 est.)
Laos2.4% (2005 est.)
Latvia5.7% (2007 est.)
Lebanon20% (2006 est.)
Lesotho45% (2002)
Liberia85% (2003 est.)
Libya30% (2004 est.)
Liechtenstein1.3% (September 2002)
Lithuania3.5%note: based on survey data, official registered unemployment of 5.7%(2007 est.)
Luxembourg4.4% (2007 est.)
Macau3.1% (2006)
Macedonia34.9% (2007 est.)
MalawiNA%
Malaysia3.2% (2007 est.)
MaldivesNEGL% (2003 est.)
Mali30% (2004 est.)
Malta6.4% (2007 est.)
Marshall Islands30.9% (2000 est.)
Mauritania20% (2004 est.)
Mauritius8.8% (2007 est.)
Mayotte25.4% (2005)
Mexico3.7% plus underemployment of perhaps 25% (2007 est.)
Micronesia, Federated States of22% (2000 est.)
Moldova2.1%; note - roughly 25% of working age Moldovans areemployed abroad (2007 est.)
Monaco0% (2005)
Mongolia3% (2007)
Montenegro14.7% (2007 est.)
Montserrat6% (1998 est.)
Morocco9.8% (2007 est.)
Mozambique21% (1997 est.)
Namibia5.2% (2007 est.)
Nauru90% (2004 est.)
Nepal42% (2004 est.)
Netherlands4.6% (2007 est.)
Netherlands Antilles17% (2002 est.)
New Caledonia17.1% (2004)
New Zealand3.6% (2007 est.)
Nicaragua4.9% plus underemployment of 46.5% (2007 est.)
NigerNA%
Nigeria4.9% (2007 est.)
Niue12% (2001)
Northern Mariana Islands3.9% (2001)
Norway2.5% (2007 est.)
Oman15% (2004 est.)
Pakistan5.6% plus substantial underemployment (2007 est.)
Palau4.2% (2005 est.)
Panama6.4% (2007 est.)
Papua New Guinea1.9% up to 80% in urban areas (2004)
Paraguay5.6% (2007 est.)
Peru6.9% in metropolitan Lima; widespread underemployment (2007est.)
Philippines7.3% (2007 est.)
Poland12.8% (2007 est.)
Portugal8% (2007 est.)
Puerto Rico12% (2002)
Qatar0.7% (2007 est.)
Romania4.1% (2007 est.)
Russia6.2% (2007 est.)
RwandaNA%
Saint Helena14% (1998 est.)
Saint Kitts and Nevis4.5% (1997)
Saint Lucia20% (2003 est.)
Saint Pierre and Miquelon10.3% (1999)
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines15% (2001 est.)
SamoaNA%
San Marino3.8% (2004)
Sao Tome and PrincipeNA%
Saudi Arabia13% among Saudi males only (local bank estimate; someestimates range as high as 25%) (2004 est.)
Senegal48% (2007 est.)
Serbia18.8% (2007 est.)
Seychelles2% (2006 est.)
Sierra LeoneNA%
Singapore2.1% (2007 est.)
Slovakia8.4% (2007 est.)
Slovenia7.7% (2007 est.)
Solomon IslandsNA%
SomaliaNA%
South Africa24.3% (2007 est.)
Spain8.3% (2007 est.)
Sri Lanka6% (2007 est.)
Sudan18.7% (2002 est.)
Suriname9.5% (2004)
Swaziland40% (2006 est.)
Sweden6.1% (2007 est.)
Switzerland2.8% (2007 est.)
Syria9% (2007 est.)
Taiwan3.9% (2007 est.)
Tajikistan2.4% official rate; actual unemployment is higher (2007est.)
TanzaniaNA%
Thailand1.4% (2007 est.)
Timor-Leste50% estimated; note - unemployment in urban areasreached 20%; data do not include underemployed (2001 est.)
TogoNA%
TokelauNA%
Tonga13% (FY03/04 est.)
Trinidad and Tobago4.5% (2007 est.)
Tunisia14.1% (2007 est.)
Turkey9.9% plus underemployment of 4% (2007 est.)
Turkmenistan60% (2004 est.)
Turks and Caicos Islands10% (1997 est.)
TuvaluNA%
UgandaNA%
Ukraine2.3% officially registered; large number of unregistered orunderemployed workers; the International Labor Organizationcalculates that Ukraine's real unemployment level is nearly 7% (2007est.)
United Arab Emirates2.4% (2001)
United Kingdom5.3% (2007 est.)
United States4.6% (2007 est.)
Uruguay9.2% (2007 est.)
Uzbekistan0.8% officially by the Ministry of Labor, plus another20% underemployed (2007 est.)
Vanuatu1.7% (1999)
Venezuela8.5% (2007 est.)
Vietnam4.3% (2007 est.)
Virgin Islands6.2% (2004)
Wallis and Futuna15.2% (2003)
West Bank18.6% (2006)
Western SaharaNA%
World30% combined unemployment and underemployment in manynon-industrialized countries; developed countries typically 4%-12%unemployment (2007 est.)
Yemen35% (2003 est.)
Zambia50% (2000 est.)
Zimbabwe80% (2005 est.)
This page was last updated on 18 December 2008
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@2137 Military - note
AkrotiriAkrotiri has a full RAF base, Headquarters for BritishForces on Cyprus, and Episkopi Support Unit
American Samoadefense is the responsibility of the US
Andorradefense is the responsibility of France and Spain
Anguilladefense is the responsibility of the UK
Antarcticathe Antarctic Treaty prohibits any measures of a militarynature, such as the establishment of military bases andfortifications, the carrying out of military maneuvers, or thetesting of any type of weapon; it permits the use of militarypersonnel or equipment for scientific research or for any otherpeaceful purposes
Argentinathe Argentine military is a well-organized forceconstrained by the country's prolonged economic hardship; thecountry has recently experienced a strong recovery, and the militaryis implementing a modernization plan aimed at making the groundforces lighter and more responsive (2008)
Arubadefense is the responsibility of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Ashmore and Cartier Islandsdefense is the responsibility ofAustralia; periodic visits by the Royal Australian Navy and RoyalAustralian Air Force
Barbadosthe Royal Barbados Defense Force includes a land-basedTroop Command and a small Coast Guard; the primary role of the landelement is to defend the island against external aggression; theCommand consists of a single, part-time battalion with a smallregular cadre that is deployed throughout the island; itincreasingly supports the police in patrolling the coastline toprevent smuggling and other illicit activities (2007)
Bermudadefense is the responsibility of the UK
Bouvet Islanddefense is the responsibility of Norway
British Indian Ocean Territorydefense is the responsibility of theUK; the US lease on Diego Garcia expires in 2016
British Virgin Islandsdefense is the responsibility of the UK
Cayman Islandsdefense is the responsibility of the UK
Christmas Islanddefense is the responsibility of Australia
Clipperton Islanddefense is the responsibility of France
Cocos (Keeling) Islandsdefense is the responsibility of Australia;the territory has a five-person police force
Cook Islandsdefense is the responsibility of New Zealand, inconsultation with the Cook Islands and at its request
Coral Sea Islandsdefense is the responsibility of Australia
Cubathe collapse of the Soviet Union deprived the Cuban Army of itsmajor economic and logistic support, and had a significant impact onequipment numbers and serviceability; the army remains well trainedand professional in nature; while the lack of replacement parts forits existing equipment and the current severe shortage of fuel haveincreasingly affected operational capabilities, Cuba remains able tooffer considerable resistance to any regional power (2008)
Dhekeliaincludes Dhekelia Garrison and Ayios Nikolaos Stationconnected by a roadway
European Unionthe five-nation Eurocorps - created in 1992 byFrance, Germany, Belgium, Spain, and Luxembourg - has deployedtroops and police on peacekeeping missions to Bosnia-Herzegovina,Macedonia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo and assumedcommand of the ISAF in Afghanistan in August 2004; Eurocorpsdirectly commands the 5,000-man Franco-German Brigade, theMultinational Command Support Brigade, and EUFOR in Bosnia andHerzegovina; in November 2004, the EU Council of Ministers formallycommitted to creating 13 1,500-man battle groups by the end of 2007,to respond to international crises on a rotating basis; 22 of theEU's 25 nations have agreed to supply troops; France, Italy, and theUK formed the first of three battle groups in 2005; Norway, Sweden,Estonia, and Finland established the Nordic Battle Group effective 1January 2008; nine other groups are to be formed; a rapid-reactionnaval EU Maritime Task Group was stood up in March 2007 (2007)
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) defense is the responsibility of the UK
Faroe Islandsdefense is the responsibility of Denmark
French Polynesiadefense is the responsibility of France
French Southern and Antarctic Landsdefense is the responsibility ofFrance
Georgiaa CIS peacekeeping force of Russian troops is deployed inthe Abkhazia region of Georgia together with a UN military observergroup; a Russian peacekeeping battalion is deployed in South Ossetia
Gibraltardefense is the responsibility of the UK; the RoyalGibraltar Regiment replaced the last British regular infantry forcesin 1992
Greenlanddefense is the responsibility of Denmark
Guamdefense is the responsibility of the US
Guernseydefense is the responsibility of the UK
Heard Island and McDonald Islandsdefense is the responsibility ofAustralia; Australia conducts fisheries patrols
Holy See (Vatican City) defense is the responsibility of Italy; ceremonial and limited security duties performed by Pontifical Swiss Guard
Hong Kongdefense is the responsibility of China
IcelandIceland has no standing military force; under a 1951bilateral agreement - still valid - its defense was provided by theUS-manned Icelandic Defense Force (IDF) headquartered at Keflavik;however, all US military forces in Iceland were withdrawn as ofOctober 2006; although wartime defense of Iceland remains a NATOcommitment, in April 2007, Iceland and Norway signed a bilateralagreement providing for Norwegian aerial surveillance and defense ofIcelandic airspace (2008)
Isle of Mandefense is the responsibility of the UK
Jan Mayendefense is the responsibility of Norway
Jerseydefense is the responsibility of the UK
KiribatiKiribati does not have military forces; defense assistanceis provided by Australia and NZ
Laosserving one of the world's least developed countries, the LaoPeople's Armed Forces (LPAF) is small, poorly funded, andineffectively resourced; its mission focus is border and internalsecurity, primarily in countering ethnic Hmong insurgent groups;together with the Lao People's Revolutionary Party and thegovernment, the Lao People's Army (LPA) is the third pillar of statemachinery, and as such is expected to suppress political and civilunrest and similar national emergencies, but the LPA also hasupgraded skills to respond to avian influenza outbreaks; there is noperceived external threat to the state and the LPA maintains strongties with the neighboring Vietnamese military (2008)
LesothoLesotho's declared policy is maintenance of its independentsovereignty and preservation of internal security; in practice,external security is guaranteed by South Africa; restructuring ofthe Lesotho Defense Force (LDF) and Ministry of Defense and PublicService over the past five years has focused on subordinating thedefense apparatus to civilian control and restoring the LDF'scohesion; the restructuring has considerably improved capabilitiesand professionalism, but the LDF is disproportionately large for asmall, poor country; the government has outlined a reduction to aplanned 1,500-man strength, but these plans have met with vociferousresistance from the political opposition and from inside the LDF(2008)
LiechtensteinLiechtenstein has no military forces, but isinterested in European security policy and is an active member ofthe Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)
Macaudefense is the responsibility of China
Maldivesthe Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF), with its smallsize and with little serviceable equipment, is inadequate to preventexternal aggression and is primarily tasked to reinforce theMaldives Police Service (MPS) and ensure security in the exclusiveeconomic zone (2008)
Marshall Islandsdefense is the responsibility of the US
Mayottedefense is the responsibility of France; a small contingentof French forces is stationed on the island
Micronesia, Federated States ofdefense is the responsibility of theUS
Monacodefense is the responsibility of France
MontenegroMontenegrin plans call for the establishment of a fullyprofessional armed forces
Montserratdefense is the responsibility of the UK
NauruNauru maintains no defense forces; under an informalagreement, defense is the responsibility of Australia
Navassa Islanddefense is the responsibility of the US
Netherlands Antilles defense is the responsibility of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
New Caledoniadefense is the responsibility of France
Niuedefense is the responsibility of New Zealand
Norfolk Islanddefense is the responsibility of Australia
Northern Mariana Islandsdefense is the responsibility of the US
Palaudefense is the responsibility of the US; under a Compact ofFree Association between Palau and the US, the US military isgranted access to the islands for 50 years, but it has not stationedany military forces there (2008)
Panamaon 10 February 1990, the government of then President ENDARAabolished Panama's military and reformed the security apparatus bycreating the Panamanian Public Forces; in October 1994, Panama'sLegislative Assembly approved a constitutional amendment prohibitingthe creation of a standing military force but allowing the temporaryestablishment of special police units to counter acts of "externalaggression"
Paracel Islandsoccupied by China
Pitcairn Islandsdefense is the responsibility of the UK
Puerto Ricodefense is the responsibility of the US
Saint Barthelemydefense is the responsibility of France
Saint Helenadefense is the responsibility of the UK
Saint Martindefense is the responsibility of France
Saint Pierre and Miquelondefense is the responsibility of France
SamoaSamoa has no formal defense structure or regular armed forces;informal defense ties exist with NZ, which is required to considerany Samoan request for assistance under the 1962 Treaty of Friendship
San Marinodefense is the responsibility of Italy
Sao Tome and PrincipeSao Tome and Principe's army is a tiny forcewith almost no resources at its disposal and would be whollyineffective operating unilaterally; infantry equipment is consideredsimple to operate and maintain but may require refurbishment orreplacement after 25 years in tropical climates; poor pay, workingconditions, and alleged nepotism in the promotion of officers havebeen problems in the past, as reflected in the 1995 and 2003 coups;these issues are being addressed with foreign assistance aimed atimproving the army and its focus on realistic security concerns;command is exercised from the president, through the Minister ofDefense, to the Chief of the Armed Forces staff (2005)
South Africawith the end of apartheid and the establishment ofmajority rule, former military, black homelands forces, andex-opposition forces were integrated into the South African NationalDefense Force (SANDF); as of 2003 the integration process wasconsidered complete
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islandsdefense is theresponsibility of the UK
Spratly IslandsSpratly Islands consist of more than 100 smallislands or reefs of which about 45 are claimed and occupied byChina, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam
SvalbardSvalbard is a territory of Norway, demilitarized by treatyon 9 February 1920
Tokelaudefense is the responsibility of New Zealand
Turkeya "National Security Policy Document" adopted in October 2005increases the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) role in internal security,augmenting the General Directorate of Security and GendarmerieGeneral Command (Jandarma); the TSK leadership continues to play akey role in politics and considers itself guardian of Turkey'ssecular state; in April 2007, it warned the ruling party about anypro-Islamic appointments; despite on-going negotiations on EUaccession since October 2005, progress has been limited inestablishing required civilian supremacy over the military; primarydomestic threats are listed as fundamentalism (with the definitionin some dispute with the civilian government), separatism (theKurdish problem), and the extreme left wing; Ankara strongly opposedestablishment of an autonomous Kurdish region; an overhaul of theTurkish Land Forces Command (TLFC) taking place under the "Force2014" program is to produce 20-30% smaller, more highly trainedforces characterized by greater mobility and firepower and capableof joint and combined operations; the TLFC has taken on increasinginternational peacekeeping responsibilities, and took charge of aNATO International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) command inAfghanistan in April 2007; the Turkish Navy is a regional navalpower that wants to develop the capability to project power beyondTurkey's coastal waters; the Navy is heavily involved in NATO,multinational, and UN operations; its roles include control ofterritorial waters and security for sea lines of communications; theTurkish Air Force adopted an "Aerospace and Missile Defense Concept"in 2002 and has initiated project work on an integrated missiledefense system; Air Force priorities include attaining a moderndeployable, survivable, and sustainable force structure, andestablishing a sustainable command and control system (2008)