Religions(%)
AfghanistanSunni Muslim 80%, Shia Muslim 19%, other 1%
AlbaniaMuslim 70%, Albanian Orthodox 20%, Roman Catholic 10%note: percentages are estimates; there are no available currentstatistics on religious affiliation; all mosques and churches wereclosed in 1967 and religious observances prohibited; in November1990, Albania began allowing private religious practice
AlgeriaSunni Muslim (state religion) 99%, Christian and Jewish 1%
American SamoaChristian Congregationalist 50%, Roman Catholic 20%,Protestant and other 30%
AndorraRoman Catholic (predominant)
Angolaindigenous beliefs 47%, Roman Catholic 38%, Protestant 15%(1998 est.)
AnguillaAnglican 29%, Methodist 23.9%, other Protestant 30.2%,Roman Catholic 5.7%, other Christian 1.7%, other 5.2%, none orunspecified 4.3% (2001 census)
Antigua and BarbudaAnglican 25.7%, Seventh Day Adventist 12.3%,Pentecostal 10.6%, Moravian 10.5%, Roman Catholic 10.4%, Methodist7.9%, Baptist 4.9%, Church of God 4.5%, other Christian 5.4%, other2%, none or unspecified 5.8% (2001 census)
Argentinanominally Roman Catholic 92% (less than 20% practicing),Protestant 2%, Jewish 2%, other 4%
ArmeniaArmenian Apostolic 94.7%, other Christian 4%, Yezidi(monotheist with elements of nature worship) 1.3%
ArubaRoman Catholic 80.8%, Evangelist 4.1%, Protestant 2.5%,Jehovah's Witnesses 1.5%, Methodist 1.2%, Jewish 0.2%, other 5.1%,none or unspecified 4.6%
AustraliaCatholic 25.8%, Anglican 18.7%, Uniting Church 5.7%,Presbyterian and Reformed 3%, Eastern Orthodox 2.7%, other Christian7.9%, Buddhist 2.1%, Muslim 1.7%, other 2.4%, unspecified 11.3%,none 18.7% (2006 Census)
AustriaRoman Catholic 73.6%, Protestant 4.7%, Muslim 4.2%, other3.5%, unspecified 2%, none 12% (2001 census)
AzerbaijanMuslim 93.4%, Russian Orthodox 2.5%, Armenian Orthodox2.3%, other 1.8% (1995 est.)note: religious affiliation is still nominal in Azerbaijan;percentages for actual practicing adherents are much lower
Bahamas, TheBaptist 35.4%, Anglican 15.1%, Roman Catholic 13.5%,Pentecostal 8.1%, Church of God 4.8%, Methodist 4.2%, otherChristian 15.2%, none or unspecified 2.9%, other 0.8% (2000 census)
BahrainMuslim (Shia and Sunni) 81.2%, Christian 9%, other 9.8%(2001 census)
BangladeshMuslim 83%, Hindu 16%, other 1% (1998)
BarbadosProtestant 63.4% (Anglican 28.3%, Pentecostal 18.7%,Methodist 5.1%, other 11.3%), Roman Catholic 4.2%, other Christian7%, other 4.8%, none or unspecified 20.6% (2008 est.)
BelarusEastern Orthodox 80%, other (including Roman Catholic,Protestant, Jewish, and Muslim) 20% (1997 est.)
BelgiumRoman Catholic 75%, other (includes Protestant) 25%
BelizeRoman Catholic 49.6%, Protestant 27% (Pentecostal 7.4%,Anglican 5.3%, Seventh-Day Adventist 5.2%, Mennonite 4.1%, Methodist3.5%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.5%), other 14%, none 9.4% (2000)
BeninChristian 42.8% (Catholic 27.1%, Celestial 5%, Methodist 3.2%,other Protestant 2.2%, other 5.3%), Muslim 24.4%, Vodoun 17.3%,other 15.5% (2002 census)
BermudaAnglican 23%, Roman Catholic 15%, African MethodistEpiscopal 11%, other Protestant 18%, other 12%, unaffiliated 6%,unspecified 1%, none 14% (2000 census)
BhutanLamaistic Buddhist 75%, Indian- and Nepalese-influencedHinduism 25%
BoliviaRoman Catholic 95%, Protestant (Evangelical Methodist) 5%
Bosnia and HerzegovinaMuslim 40%, Orthodox 31%, Roman Catholic 15%,other 14%
BotswanaChristian 71.6%, Badimo 6%, other 1.4%, unspecified 0.4%,none 20.6% (2001 census)
BrazilRoman Catholic (nominal) 73.6%, Protestant 15.4%,Spiritualist 1.3%, Bantu/voodoo 0.3%, other 1.8%, unspecified 0.2%,none 7.4% (2000 census)
British Virgin IslandsProtestant 86% (Methodist 33%, Anglican 17%,Church of God 9%, Seventh-Day Adventist 6%, Baptist 4%, Jehovah'sWitnesses 2%, other 15%), Roman Catholic 10%, other 2%, none 2%(1991)
BruneiMuslim (official) 67%, Buddhist 13%, Christian 10%, other(includes indigenous beliefs) 10%
BulgariaBulgarian Orthodox 82.6%, Muslim 12.2%, other Christian1.2%, other 4% (2001 census)
Burkina FasoMuslim 50%, indigenous beliefs 40%, Christian (mainlyRoman Catholic) 10%
BurmaBuddhist 89%, Christian 4% (Baptist 3%, Roman Catholic 1%),Muslim 4%, animist 1%, other 2%
BurundiChristian 67% (Roman Catholic 62%, Protestant 5%),indigenous beliefs 23%, Muslim 10%
CambodiaBuddhist 96.4%, Muslim 2.1%, other 1.3%, unspecified 0.2%(1998 census)
Cameroonindigenous beliefs 40%, Christian 40%, Muslim 20%
CanadaRoman Catholic 42.6%, Protestant 23.3% (including UnitedChurch 9.5%, Anglican 6.8%, Baptist 2.4%, Lutheran 2%), otherChristian 4.4%, Muslim 1.9%, other and unspecified 11.8%, none 16%(2001 census)
Cape VerdeRoman Catholic (infused with indigenous beliefs),Protestant (mostly Church of the Nazarene)
Cayman IslandsChurch of God 26%, United Church 11.8% (Presbyterianand Congregational), Roman Catholic 11%, Baptist 8.7%, Seventh DayAdventist 8.2%, Anglican 5.7%, Pentecostal 5.3%, other Christian2.7%, non-denominational 5.8%, other 3.8%, none 9.8%, unspecified1.1% (1999 census)
Central African Republicindigenous beliefs 35%, Protestant 25%,Roman Catholic 25%, Muslim 15%note: animistic beliefs and practices strongly influence theChristian majority
ChadMuslim 53.1%, Catholic 20.1%, Protestant 14.2%, animist 7.3%,other 0.5%, unknown 1.7%, atheist 3.1% (1993 census)
ChileRoman Catholic 70%, Evangelical 15.1%, Jehovah's Witness 1.1%,other Christian 1%, other 4.6%, none 8.3% (2002 census)
ChinaDaoist (Taoist), Buddhist, Christian 3%-4%, Muslim 1%-2%note: officially atheist (2002 est.)
Christmas IslandBuddhist 36%, Muslim 25%, Christian 18%, other 21%(1997)
Cocos (Keeling) IslandsSunni Muslim 80%, other 20% (2002 est.)
ColombiaRoman Catholic 90%, other 10%
ComorosSunni Muslim 98%, Roman Catholic 2%
Congo, Democratic Republic of theRoman Catholic 50%, Protestant20%, Kimbanguist 10%, Muslim 10%, other (includes syncretic sectsand indigenous beliefs) 10%
Congo, Republic of theChristian 50%, animist 48%, Muslim 2%
Cook IslandsCook Islands Christian Church 55.9%, Roman Catholic16.8%, Seventh-Day Adventists 7.9%, Church of Latter Day Saints3.8%, other Protestant 5.8%, other 4.2%, unspecified 2.6%, none 3%(2001 census)
Costa RicaRoman Catholic 76.3%, Evangelical 13.7%, Jehovah'sWitnesses 1.3%, other Protestant 0.7%, other 4.8%, none 3.2%
Cote d'IvoireMuslim 38.6%, Christian 32.8%, indigenous 11.9%, none16.7% (2008 est.)note: the majority of foreigners (migratory workers) are Muslim(70%) and Christian (20%)
CroatiaRoman Catholic 87.8%, Orthodox 4.4%, other Christian 0.4%,Muslim 1.3%, other and unspecified 0.9%, none 5.2% (2001 census)
Cubanominally 85% Roman Catholic prior to CASTRO assuming power;Protestants, Jehovah's Witnesses, Jews, and Santeria are alsorepresented
CyprusGreek Orthodox 78%, Muslim 18%, other (includes Maronite andArmenian Apostolic) 4%
Czech RepublicRoman Catholic 26.8%, Protestant 2.1%, other 3.3%,unspecified 8.8%, unaffiliated 59% (2001 census)
DenmarkEvangelical Lutheran 95%, other Christian (includesProtestant and Roman Catholic) 3%, Muslim 2%
DjiboutiMuslim 94%, Christian 6%
DominicaRoman Catholic 61.4%, Seventh Day Adventist 6%, Pentecostal5.6%, Baptist 4.1%, Methodist 3.7%, Church of God 1.2%, Jehovah'sWitnesses 1.2%, other Christian 7.7%, Rastafarian 1.3%, other orunspecified 1.6%, none 6.1% (2001 census)
Dominican RepublicRoman Catholic 95%, other 5%
EcuadorRoman Catholic 95%, other 5%
EgyptMuslim (mostly Sunni) 90%, Coptic 9%, other Christian 1%
El SalvadorRoman Catholic 57.1%, Protestant 21.2%, Jehovah'sWitnesses 1.9%, Mormon 0.7%, other religions 2.3%, none 16.8% (2003est.)
Equatorial Guineanominally Christian and predominantly RomanCatholic, pagan practices
EritreaMuslim, Coptic Christian, Roman Catholic, Protestant
EstoniaEvangelical Lutheran 13.6%, Orthodox 12.8%, other Christian(including Methodist, Seventh-Day Adventist, Roman Catholic,Pentecostal) 1.4%, unaffiliated 34.1%, other and unspecified 32%,none 6.1% (2000 census)
EthiopiaChristian 60.8% (Orthodox 50.6%, Protestant 10.2%), Muslim32.8%, traditional 4.6%, other 1.8% (1994 census)
European UnionRoman Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox, Muslim, Jewish
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)Christian 67.2%, none 31.5%, other1.3% (2006 census)
Faroe IslandsEvangelical Lutheran 83.8%, other and unspecified16.2% (2006 administrative data)
FijiChristian 64.5% (Methodist 34.6%, Roman Catholic 9.1%, Assemblyof God 5.7%, Seventh Day Adventist 3.9%, Anglican 0.8%, other10.4%), Hindu 27.9%, Muslim 6.3%, Sikh 0.3%, other or unspecified0.3%, none 0.7% (2007 census)
FinlandLutheran Church of Finland 82.5%, Orthodox Church 1.1%,other Christian 1.1%, other 0.1%, none 15.1% (2006)
FranceRoman Catholic 83%-88%, Protestant 2%, Jewish 1%, Muslim5%-10%, unaffiliated 4%overseas departments: Roman Catholic, Protestant, Hindu, Muslim,Buddhist, pagan
French PolynesiaProtestant 54%, Roman Catholic 30%, other 10%, noreligion 6%
GabonChristian 55%-75%, animist, Muslim less than 1%
Gambia, TheMuslim 90%, Christian 8%, indigenous beliefs 2%
Gaza StripMuslim (predominantly Sunni) 99.3%, Christian 0.7%
GeorgiaOrthodox Christian 83.9%, Muslim 9.9%, Armenian-Gregorian3.9%, Catholic 0.8%, other 0.8%, none 0.7% (2002 census)
GermanyProtestant 34%, Roman Catholic 34%, Muslim 3.7%,unaffiliated or other 28.3%
GhanaChristian 68.8% (Pentecostal/Charismatic 24.1%, Protestant18.6%, Catholic 15.1%, other 11%), Muslim 15.9%, traditional 8.5%,other 0.7%, none 6.1% (2000 census)
GibraltarRoman Catholic 78.1%, Church of England 7%, otherChristian 3.2%, Muslim 4%, Jewish 2.1%, Hindu 1.8%, other orunspecified 0.9%, none 2.9% (2001 census)
GreeceGreek Orthodox 98%, Muslim 1.3%, other 0.7%
GreenlandEvangelical Lutheran
GrenadaRoman Catholic 53%, Anglican 13.8%, other Protestant 33.2%
GuamRoman Catholic 85%, other 15% (1999 est.)
GuatemalaRoman Catholic, Protestant, indigenous Mayan beliefs
GuernseyAnglican, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Baptist,Congregational, Methodist
GuineaMuslim 85%, Christian 8%, indigenous beliefs 7%
Guinea-BissauMuslim 50%, indigenous beliefs 40%, Christian 10%
GuyanaHindu 28.4%, Pentecostal 16.9%, Roman Catholic 8.1%, Anglican6.9%, Seventh Day Adventist 5%, Methodist 1.7%, Jehovah Witness1.1%, other Christian 17.7%, Muslim 7.2%, other 4.3%, none 4.3%(2002 census)
HaitiRoman Catholic 80%, Protestant 16% (Baptist 10%, Pentecostal4%, Adventist 1%, other 1%), none 1%, other 3%note: roughly half of the population practices voodoo
Holy See (Vatican City)Roman Catholic
HondurasRoman Catholic 97%, Protestant 3%
Hong Kongeclectic mixture of local religions 90%, Christian 10%
HungaryRoman Catholic 51.9%, Calvinist 15.9%, Lutheran 3%, GreekCatholic 2.6%, other Christian 1%, other or unspecified 11.1%,unaffiliated 14.5% (2001 census)
IcelandLutheran Church of Iceland 80.7%, Roman Catholic Church2.5%, Reykjavik Free Church 2.4%, Hafnarfjorour Free Church 1.6%,other religions 3.6%, unaffiliated 3%, other or unspecified 6.2%(2006 est.)
IndiaHindu 80.5%, Muslim 13.4%, Christian 2.3%, Sikh 1.9%, other1.8%, unspecified 0.1% (2001 census)
IndonesiaMuslim 86.1%, Protestant 5.7%, Roman Catholic 3%, Hindu1.8%, other or unspecified 3.4% (2000 census)
IranMuslim 98% (Shia 89%, Sunni 9%), other (includes Zoroastrian,Jewish, Christian, and Baha'i) 2%
IraqMuslim 97% (Shia 60%-65%, Sunni 32%-37%), Christian or other 3%
IrelandRoman Catholic 87.4%, Church of Ireland 2.9%, otherChristian 1.9%, other 2.1%, unspecified 1.5%, none 4.2% (2006 census)
Isle of ManAnglican, Roman Catholic, Methodist, Baptist,Presbyterian, Society of Friends
IsraelJewish 76.4%, Muslim 16%, Arab Christians 1.7%, otherChristian 0.4%, Druze 1.6%, unspecified 3.9% (2004)
ItalyRoman Catholic 90% (approximately; about one-thirdpracticing), other 10% (includes mature Protestant and Jewishcommunities and a growing Muslim immigrant community)
JamaicaProtestant 62.5% (Seventh-Day Adventist 10.8%, Pentecostal9.5%, Other Church of God 8.3%, Baptist 7.2%, New Testament Churchof God 6.3%, Church of God in Jamaica 4.8%, Church of God ofProphecy 4.3%, Anglican 3.6%, other Christian 7.7%), Roman Catholic2.6%, other or unspecified 14.2%, none 20.9%, (2001 census)
JapanShintoism 83.9%, Buddhism 71.4%, Christianity 2%, other 7.8%note: total adherents exceeds 100% because many people belong toboth Shintoism and Buddhism (2005)
JerseyAnglican, Roman Catholic, Baptist, Congregational New Church,Methodist, Presbyterian
JordanSunni Muslim 92%, Christian 6% (majority Greek Orthodox, butsome Greek and Roman Catholics, Syrian Orthodox, Coptic Orthodox,Armenian Orthodox, and Protestant denominations), other 2% (severalsmall Shia Muslim and Druze populations) (2001 est.)
KazakhstanMuslim 47%, Russian Orthodox 44%, Protestant 2%, other 7%
KenyaProtestant 45%, Roman Catholic 33%, Muslim 10%, indigenousbeliefs 10%, other 2%note: a large majority of Kenyans are Christian, but estimates forthe percentage of the population that adheres to Islam or indigenousbeliefs vary widely
KiribatiRoman Catholic 52%, Protestant (Congregational) 40%, other(includes Seventh-Day Adventist, Muslim, Baha'i, Latter-day Saints,Church of God) 8% (1999)
Korea, Northtraditionally Buddhist and Confucianist, some Christianand syncretic Chondogyo (Religion of the Heavenly Way)note: autonomous religious activities now almost nonexistent;government-sponsored religious groups exist to provide illusion ofreligious freedom
Korea, SouthChristian 26.3% (Protestant 19.7%, Roman Catholic6.6%), Buddhist 23.2%, other or unknown 1.3%, none 49.3% (1995census)
KosovoMuslim, Serbian Orthodox, Roman Catholic
KuwaitMuslim 85% (Sunni 70%, Shia 30%), other (includes Christian,Hindu, Parsi) 15%
KyrgyzstanMuslim 75%, Russian Orthodox 20%, other 5%
LaosBuddhist 67%, Christian 1.5%, other and unspecified 31.5% (2005census)
LatviaLutheran 19.6%, Orthodox 15.3%, other Christian 1%, other0.4%, unspecified 63.7% (2006)
LebanonMuslim 59.7% (Shia, Sunni, Druze, Isma'ilite, Alawite orNusayri), Christian 39% (Maronite Catholic, Greek Orthodox, MelkiteCatholic, Armenian Orthodox, Syrian Catholic, Armenian Catholic,Syrian Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Chaldean, Assyrian, Copt,Protestant), other 1.3%note: 17 religious sects recognized
LesothoChristian 80%, indigenous beliefs 20%
LiberiaChristian 40%, Muslim 20%, indigenous beliefs 40%
LibyaSunni Muslim 97%, other 3%
LiechtensteinRoman Catholic 76.2%, Protestant 7%, unknown 10.6%,other 6.2% (June 2002)
LithuaniaRoman Catholic 79%, Russian Orthodox 4.1%, Protestant(including Lutheran and Evangelical Christian Baptist) 1.9%, otheror unspecified 5.5%, none 9.5% (2001 census)
LuxembourgRoman Catholic 87%, other (includes Protestant, Jewish,and Muslim) 13% (2000)
MacauBuddhist 50%, Roman Catholic 15%, none or other 35% (1997 est.)
MacedoniaMacedonian Orthodox 64.7%, Muslim 33.3%, other Christian0.37%, other and unspecified 1.63% (2002 census)
Madagascarindigenous beliefs 52%, Christian 41%, Muslim 7%
MalawiChristian 79.9%, Muslim 12.8%, other 3%, none 4.3% (1998census)
MalaysiaMuslim 60.4%, Buddhist 19.2%, Christian 9.1%, Hindu 6.3%,Confucianism, Taoism, other traditional Chinese religions 2.6%,other or unknown 1.5%, none 0.8% (2000 census)
MaldivesSunni Muslim
MaliMuslim 90%, Christian 1%, indigenous beliefs 9%
MaltaRoman Catholic 98%
Marshall IslandsProtestant 54.8%, Assembly of God 25.8%, RomanCatholic 8.4%, Bukot nan Jesus 2.8%, Mormon 2.1%, other Christian3.6%, other 1%, none 1.5% (1999 census)
MauritaniaMuslim 100%
MauritiusHindu 48%, Roman Catholic 23.6%, Muslim 16.6%, otherChristian 8.6%, other 2.5%, unspecified 0.3%, none 0.4% (2000 census)
MayotteMuslim 97%, Christian (mostly Roman Catholic) 3%
MexicoRoman Catholic 76.5%, Protestant 6.3% (Pentecostal 1.4%,Jehovah's Witnesses 1.1%, other 3.8%), other 0.3%, unspecified13.8%, none 3.1% (2000 census)
Micronesia, Federated States ofRoman Catholic 50%, Protestant 47%,other 3%
MoldovaEastern Orthodox 98%, Jewish 1.5%, Baptist and other 0.5%(2000)
MonacoRoman Catholic 90%, other 10%
MongoliaBuddhist Lamaist 50%, Shamanist and Christian 6%, Muslim4%, none 40% (2004)
MontenegroOrthodox 74.2%, Muslim 17.7%, Catholic 3.5%, other 0.6%,unspecified 3%, atheist 1% (2003 census)
MontserratAnglican, Methodist, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal,Seventh-Day Adventist, other Christian denominations
MoroccoMuslim 98.7%, Christian 1.1%, Jewish 0.2%
MozambiqueCatholic 23.8%, Muslim 17.8%, Zionist Christian 17.5%,other 17.8%, none 23.1% (1997 census)
NamibiaChristian 80% to 90% (Lutheran 50% at least), indigenousbeliefs 10% to 20%
NauruNauru Congregational 35.4%, Roman Catholic 33.2%, NauruIndependent Church 10.4%, other 14.1%, none 4.5%, unspecified 2.4%(2002 census)
NepalHindu 80.6%, Buddhist 10.7%, Muslim 4.2%, Kirant 3.6%, other0.9% (2001 census)note: only official Hindu state in the world
NetherlandsRoman Catholic 30%, Dutch Reformed 11%, Calvinist 6%,other Protestant 3%, Muslim 5.8%, other 2.2%, none 42% (2006)
Netherlands AntillesRoman Catholic 72%, Pentecostal 4.9%,Protestant 3.5%, Seventh-Day Adventist 3.1%, Methodist 2.9%,Jehovah's Witnesses 1.7%, other Christian 4.2%, Jewish 1.3%, otheror unspecified 1.2%, none 5.2% (2001 census)
New CaledoniaRoman Catholic 60%, Protestant 30%, other 10%
New ZealandAnglican 14.9%, Roman Catholic 12.4%, Presbyterian10.9%, Methodist 2.9%, Pentecostal 1.7%, Baptist 1.3%, otherChristian 9.4%, other 3.3%, unspecified 17.2%, none 26% (2001 census)
NicaraguaRoman Catholic 58.5%, Evangelical 21.6%, Moravian 1.6%,Jehovah's Witness 0.9%, other 1.7%, none 15.7% (2005 census)
NigerMuslim 80%, other (includes indigenous beliefs and Christian)20%
NigeriaMuslim 50%, Christian 40%, indigenous beliefs 10%
NiueEkalesia Niue (Niuean Church - a Protestant church closelyrelated to the London Missionary Society) 61.1%, Latter-Day Saints8.8%, Roman Catholic 7.2%, Jehovah's Witnesses 2.4%, Seventh-DayAdventist 1.4%, other 8.4%, unspecified 8.7%, none 1.9% (2001 census)
Norfolk IslandAnglican 31.8%, Roman Catholic 11.5%, Uniting Churchin Australia 10.6%, Seventh-Day Adventist 3.2%, other Christian5.6%, none 19.9%, unspecified 16.6% (2006 census)
Northern Mariana IslandsChristian (Roman Catholic majority,although traditional beliefs and taboos may still be found)
NorwayChurch of Norway 85.7%, Pentecostal 1%, Roman Catholic 1%,other Christian 2.4%, Muslim 1.8%, other 8.1% (2004)
OmanIbadhi Muslim 75%, other (includes Sunni Muslim, Shia Muslim,Hindu) 25%
PakistanMuslim 95% (Sunni 75%, Shia 20%), other (includes Christianand Hindu) 5%
PalauRoman Catholic 41.6%, Protestant 23.3%, Modekngei 8.8%(indigenous to Palau), Seventh-Day Adventist 5.3%, Jehovah's Witness0.9%, Latter-Day Saints 0.6%, other 3.1%, unspecified or none 16.4%(2000 census)
PanamaRoman Catholic 85%, Protestant 15%
Papua New GuineaRoman Catholic 27%, Evangelical Lutheran 19.5%,United Church 11.5%, Seventh-Day Adventist 10%, Pentecostal 8.6%,Evangelical Alliance 5.2%, Anglican 3.2%, Baptist 2.5%, otherProtestant 8.9%, Bahai 0.3%, indigenous beliefs and other 3.3% (2000census)
ParaguayRoman Catholic 89.6%, Protestant 6.2%, other Christian1.1%, other or unspecified 1.9%, none 1.1% (2002 census)
PeruRoman Catholic 81.3%, Evangelical 12.5%, other 3.3%,unspecified or none 2.9% (2007 Census)
PhilippinesRoman Catholic 80.9%, Muslim 5%, Evangelical 2.8%,Iglesia ni Kristo 2.3%, Aglipayan 2%, other Christian 4.5%, other1.8%, unspecified 0.6%, none 0.1% (2000 census)
Pitcairn IslandsSeventh-Day Adventist 100%
PolandRoman Catholic 89.8% (about 75% practicing), Eastern Orthodox1.3%, Protestant 0.3%, other 0.3%, unspecified 8.3% (2002)
PortugalRoman Catholic 84.5%, other Christian 2.2%, other 0.3%,unknown 9%, none 3.9% (2001 census)
Puerto RicoRoman Catholic 85%, Protestant and other 15%
QatarMuslim 77.5%, Christian 8.5%, other 14% (2004 census)
RomaniaEastern Orthodox (including all sub-denominations) 86.8%,Protestant (various denominations including Reformate andPentecostal) 7.5%, Roman Catholic 4.7%, other (mostly Muslim) andunspecified 0.9%, none 0.1% (2002 census)
RussiaRussian Orthodox 15-20%, Muslim 10-15%, other Christian 2%(2006 est.)note: estimates are of practicing worshipers; Russia has largepopulations of non-practicing believers and non-believers, a legacyof over seven decades of Soviet rule
RwandaRoman Catholic 56.5%, Protestant 26%, Adventist 11.1%, Muslim4.6%, indigenous beliefs 0.1%, none 1.7% (2001)
Saint BarthelemyRoman Catholic, Protestant, Jehovah's Witness
Saint HelenaAnglican (majority), Baptist, Seventh-Day Adventist,Roman Catholic
Saint Kitts and NevisAnglican, other Protestant, Roman Catholic
Saint LuciaRoman Catholic 67.5%, Seventh Day Adventist 8.5%,Pentecostal 5.7%, Rastafarian 2.1%, Anglican 2%, Evangelical 2%,other Christian 5.1%, other 1.1%, unspecified 1.5%, none 4.5% (2001census)
Saint MartinRoman Catholic, Jehovah's Witness, Protestant, Hindu
Saint Pierre and MiquelonRoman Catholic 99%, other 1%
Saint Vincent and the GrenadinesAnglican 47%, Methodist 28%, RomanCatholic 13%, other (includes Hindu, Seventh-Day Adventist, otherProtestant) 12%
SamoaCongregationalist 34.8%, Roman Catholic 19.6%, Methodist 15%,Latter-Day Saints 12.7%, Assembly of God 6.6%, Seventh-Day Adventist3.5%, Worship Centre 1.3%, other Christian 4.5%, other 1.9%,unspecified 0.1% (2001 census)
San MarinoRoman Catholic
Sao Tome and PrincipeCatholic 70.3%, Evangelical 3.4%, NewApostolic 2%, Adventist 1.8%, other 3.1%, none 19.4% (2001 census)
Saudi ArabiaMuslim 100%
SenegalMuslim 94%, Christian 5% (mostly Roman Catholic), indigenousbeliefs 1%
SerbiaSerbian Orthodox 85%, Catholic 5.5%, Protestant 1.1%, Muslim3.2%, unspecified 2.6%, other, unknown, or atheist 2.6% (2002 census)
SeychellesRoman Catholic 82.3%, Anglican 6.4%, Seventh DayAdventist 1.1%, other Christian 3.4%, Hindu 2.1%, Muslim 1.1%, othernon-Christian 1.5%, unspecified 1.5%, none 0.6% (2002 census)
Sierra LeoneMuslim 60%, Christian 10%, indigenous beliefs 30%
SingaporeBuddhist 42.5%, Muslim 14.9%, Taoist 8.5%, Hindu 4%,Catholic 4.8%, other Christian 9.8%, other 0.7%, none 14.8% (2000census)
SlovakiaRoman Catholic 68.9%, Protestant 10.8%, Greek Catholic4.1%, other or unspecified 3.2%, none 13% (2001 census)
SloveniaCatholic 57.8%, Muslim 2.4%, Orthodox 2.3%, other Christian0.9%, unaffiliated 3.5%, other or unspecified 23%, none 10.1% (2002census)
Solomon IslandsChurch of Melanesia 32.8%, Roman Catholic 19%, SouthSeas Evangelical 17%, Seventh-Day Adventist 11.2%, United Church10.3%, Christian Fellowship Church 2.4%, other Christian 4.4%, other2.4%, unspecified 0.3%, none 0.2% (1999 census)
SomaliaSunni Muslim
South AfricaZion Christian 11.1%, Pentecostal/Charismatic 8.2%,Catholic 7.1%, Methodist 6.8%, Dutch Reformed 6.7%, Anglican 3.8%,Muslim 1.5%, other Christian 36%, other 2.3%, unspecified 1.4%, none15.1% (2001 census)
SpainRoman Catholic 94%, other 6%
Sri LankaBuddhist 69.1%, Muslim 7.6%, Hindu 7.1%, Christian 6.2%,unspecified 10% (2001 census provisional data)
SudanSunni Muslim 70% (in north), Christian 5% (mostly in south andKhartoum), indigenous beliefs 25%
SurinameHindu 27.4%, Protestant 25.2% (predominantly Moravian),Roman Catholic 22.8%, Muslim 19.6%, indigenous beliefs 5%
SwazilandZionist 40% (a blend of Christianity and indigenousancestral worship), Roman Catholic 20%, Muslim 10%, other (includesAnglican, Bahai, Methodist, Mormon, Jewish) 30%
SwedenLutheran 87%, other (includes Roman Catholic, Orthodox,Baptist, Muslim, Jewish, and Buddhist) 13%
SwitzerlandRoman Catholic 41.8%, Protestant 35.3%, Muslim 4.3%,Orthodox 1.8%, other Christian 0.4%, other 1%, unspecified 4.3%,none 11.1% (2000 census)
SyriaSunni Muslim 74%, other Muslim (includes Alawite, Druze) 16%,Christian (various denominations) 10%, Jewish (tiny communities inDamascus, Al Qamishli, and Aleppo)
Taiwanmixture of Buddhist and Taoist 93%, Christian 4.5%, other 2.5%
TajikistanSunni Muslim 85%, Shia Muslim 5%, other 10% (2003 est.)
Tanzaniamainland - Christian 30%, Muslim 35%, indigenous beliefs35%; Zanzibar - more than 99% Muslim
ThailandBuddhist 94.6%, Muslim 4.6%, Christian 0.7%, other 0.1%(2000 census)
Timor-LesteRoman Catholic 98%, Muslim 1%, Protestant 1% (2005)
TogoChristian 29%, Muslim 20%, indigenous beliefs 51%
TokelauCongregational Christian Church 70%, Roman Catholic 28%,other 2%note: on Atafu, all Congregational Christian Church of Samoa; onNukunonu, all Roman Catholic; on Fakaofo, both denominations, withthe Congregational Christian Church predominant
TongaChristian (Free Wesleyan Church claims over 30,000 adherents)
Trinidad and TobagoRoman Catholic 26%, Hindu 22.5%, Anglican 7.8%,Baptist 7.2%, Pentecostal 6.8%, Muslim 5.8%, Seventh Day Adventist4%, other Christian 5.8%, other 10.8%, unspecified 1.4%, none 1.9%(2000 census)
TunisiaMuslim 98%, Christian 1%, Jewish and other 1%
TurkeyMuslim 99.8% (mostly Sunni), other 0.2% (mostly Christiansand Jews)
TurkmenistanMuslim 89%, Eastern Orthodox 9%, unknown 2%
Turks and Caicos IslandsBaptist 40%, Anglican 18%, Methodist 16%,Church of God 12%, other 14% (1990)
TuvaluChurch of Tuvalu (Congregationalist) 97%, Seventh-DayAdventist 1.4%, Baha'i 1%, other 0.6%
UgandaRoman Catholic 41.9%, Protestant 42% (Anglican 35.9%,Pentecostal 4.6%, Seventh Day Adventist 1.5%), Muslim 12.1%, other3.1%, none 0.9% (2002 census)
UkraineUkrainian Orthodox - Kyiv Patriarchate 50.4%, UkrainianOrthodox - Moscow Patriarchate 26.1%, Ukrainian Greek Catholic 8%,Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox 7.2%, Roman Catholic 2.2%,Protestant 2.2%, Jewish 0.6%, other 3.2% (2006 est.)
United Arab EmiratesMuslim 96% (Shia 16%), other (includesChristian, Hindu) 4%
United KingdomChristian (Anglican, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian,Methodist) 71.6%, Muslim 2.7%, Hindu 1%, other 1.6%, unspecified ornone 23.1% (2001 census)
United StatesProtestant 51.3%, Roman Catholic 23.9%, Mormon 1.7%,other Christian 1.6%, Jewish 1.7%, Buddhist 0.7%, Muslim 0.6%, otheror unspecified 2.5%, unaffiliated 12.1%, none 4% (2007 est.)
UruguayRoman Catholic 47.1%, non-Catholic Christians 11.1%,nondenominational 23.2%, Jewish 0.3%, atheist or agnostic 17.2%,other 1.1% (2006)
UzbekistanMuslim 88% (mostly Sunnis), Eastern Orthodox 9%, other 3%
VanuatuPresbyterian 31.4%, Anglican 13.4%, Roman Catholic 13.1%,Seventh-Day Adventist 10.8%, other Christian 13.8%, indigenousbeliefs 5.6% (including Jon Frum cargo cult), other 9.6%, none 1%,unspecified 1.3% (1999 Census)
Venezuelanominally Roman Catholic 96%, Protestant 2%, other 2%
VietnamBuddhist 9.3%, Catholic 6.7%, Hoa Hao 1.5%, Cao Dai 1.1%,Protestant 0.5%, Muslim 0.1%, none 80.8% (1999 census)
Virgin IslandsBaptist 42%, Roman Catholic 34%, Episcopalian 17%,other 7%
Wallis and FutunaRoman Catholic 99%, other 1%
West BankMuslim 75% (predominantly Sunni), Jewish 17%, Christianand other 8%
Western SaharaMuslim
WorldChristians 33.32% (of which Roman Catholics 16.99%,Protestants 5.78%, Orthodox 3.53%, Anglicans 1.25%), Muslims 21.01%,Hindus 13.26%, Buddhists 5.84%, Sikhs 0.35%, Jews 0.23%, Baha'is0.12%, other religions 11.78%, non-religious 11.77%, atheists 2.32%(2007 est.)
YemenMuslim including Shaf'i (Sunni) and Zaydi (Shia), smallnumbers of Jewish, Christian, and Hindu
ZambiaChristian 50%-75%, Muslim and Hindu 24%-49%, indigenousbeliefs 1%
Zimbabwesyncretic (part Christian, part indigenous beliefs) 50%,Christian 25%, indigenous beliefs 24%, Muslim and other 1%
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Field Listing :: Suffrage
This entry gives the age at enfranchisement and whether the right to vote is universal or restricted. Country
Suffrage
Afghanistan18 years of age; universal
Albania18 years of age; universal
Algeria18 years of age; universal
American Samoa18 years of age; universal
Andorra18 years of age; universal
Angola18 years of age; universal
Anguilla18 years of age; universal
Antigua and Barbuda18 years of age; universal
Argentina18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Armenia18 years of age; universal
Aruba18 years of age; universal
Australia18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Austria16 years of age; universal; note - reduced from 18 years ofage in 2007
Azerbaijan18 years of age; universal
Bahamas, The18 years of age; universal
Bahrain20 years of age; universal
Bangladesh18 years of age; universal
Barbados18 years of age; universal
Belarus18 years of age; universal
Belgium18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Belize18 years of age; universal
Benin18 years of age; universal
Bermuda18 years of age; universal
Bhutan18 years of age; universal
Bolivia18 years of age, universal and compulsory (married); 21years of age, universal and compulsory (single)
Bosnia and Herzegovina18 years of age, 16 if employed; universal
Botswana18 years of age; universal
Brazilvoluntary between 16 and 18 years of age and over 70;compulsory over 18 and under 70 years of age; note - militaryconscripts do not vote
British Virgin Islands18 years of age; universal
Brunei18 years of age for village elections; universal
Bulgaria18 years of age; universal
Burkina Faso18 years of age; universal
Burma18 years of age; universal
Burundi18 years of age; universal (adult)
Cambodia18 years of age; universal
Cameroon20 years of age; universal
Canada18 years of age; universal
Cape Verde18 years of age; universal
Cayman Islands18 years of age; universal
Central African Republic21 years of age; universal
Chad18 years of age; universal
Chile18 years of age; universal and compulsory
China18 years of age; universal
Christmas Island18 years of age
Cocos (Keeling) Islands18 years of age
Colombia18 years of age; universal
Comoros18 years of age; universal
Congo, Democratic Republic of the 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Congo, Republic of the18 years of age; universal
Cook Islands18 years of age; universal (adult)
Costa Rica18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Cote d'Ivoire18 years of age; universal
Croatia18 years of age; universal (16 years of age, if employed)
Cuba16 years of age; universal
Cyprus18 years of age; universal
Czech Republic18 years of age; universal
Denmark18 years of age; universal
Djibouti18 years of age; universal
Dominica18 years of age; universal
Dominican Republic18 years of age, universal and compulsory;married persons regardless of age; note - members of the armedforces and national police cannot vote
Ecuador18 years of age; universal, compulsory for literate personsages 18-65, optional for other eligible voters
Egypt18 years of age; universal and compulsory
El Salvador18 years of age; universal
Equatorial Guinea18 years of age; universal
Eritrea18 years of age; universal
Estonia18 years of age; universal for all Estonian citizens
Ethiopia18 years of age; universal
European Union18 years of age; universal
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)18 years of age; universal
Faroe Islands18 years of age; universal
Fiji21 years of age; universal
Finland18 years of age; universal
France18 years of age; universal
French Polynesia18 years of age; universal
Gabon21 years of age; universal
Gambia, The18 years of age; universal
Georgia18 years of age; universal
Germany18 years of age; universal
Ghana18 years of age; universal
Gibraltar18 years of age; universal; and British citizens who havebeen residents six months or more
Greece18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Greenland18 years of age; universal
Grenada18 years of age; universal
Guam18 years of age; universal; US citizens but do not vote in USpresidential elections
Guatemala18 years of age; universal; note - active duty members ofthe armed forces may not vote and are restricted to their barrackson election day
Guernsey16 years of age; universal
Guinea18 years of age; universal
Guinea-Bissau18 years of age; universal
Guyana18 years of age; universal
Haiti18 years of age; universal
Holy See (Vatican City)limited to cardinals less than 80 years old
Honduras18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Hong Kongdirect election - 18 years of age for half the legislatureand a majority of seats in 18 district councils; universal forpermanent residents living in the territory of Hong Kong for thepast seven years; indirect election - limited to about 220,000members of functional constituencies and an 800-member electioncommittee drawn from broad regional groupings, central governmentbodies, and municipal organizations
Hungary18 years of age; universal
Iceland18 years of age; universal
India18 years of age; universal
Indonesia17 years of age; universal and married persons regardlessof age
Iran18 years of age; universal
Iraq18 years of age; universal
Ireland18 years of age; universal
Isle of Man16 years of age; universal
Israel18 years of age; universal
Italy18 years of age; universal (except in senatorial elections,where minimum age is 25)
Jamaica18 years of age; universal
Japan20 years of age; universal
Jersey16 years of age; universal
Jordan18 years of age; universal
Kazakhstan18 years of age; universal
Kenya18 years of age; universal
Kiribati18 years of age; universal
Korea, North17 years of age; universal
Korea, South19 years of age; universal
Kosovo18 years of age; universal
Kuwait21 years of age; universal (adult); note - males in themilitary or police are not allowed to vote; adult females wereallowed to vote as of 16 May 2005; all voters must have beencitizens for 20 years
Kyrgyzstan18 years of age; universal
Laos18 years of age; universal
Latvia18 years of age; universal for Latvian citizens
Lebanon21 years of age; compulsory for all males; authorized forwomen at age 21 with elementary education; excludes militarypersonnel
Lesotho18 years of age; universal
Liberia18 years of age; universal
Libya18 years of age; universal and technically compulsory
Liechtenstein18 years of age; universal
Lithuania18 years of age; universal
Luxembourg18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Macaudirect election 18 years of age for some non-executivepositions, universal for permanent residents living in Macau for thepast seven years; indirect election limited to organizationsregistered as "corporate voters" (257 are currently registered) anda 300-member Election Committee drawn from broad regional groupings,municipal organizations, and central government bodies
Macedonia18 years of age; universal
Madagascar18 years of age; universal
Malawi18 years of age; universal
Malaysia21 years of age; universal
Maldives21 years of age; universal
Mali18 years of age; universal
Malta18 years of age; universal
Marshall Islands18 years of age; universal
Mauritania18 years of age; universal
Mauritius18 years of age; universal
Mayotte18 years of age; universal
Mexico18 years of age; universal and compulsory (but not enforced)
Micronesia, Federated States of18 years of age; universal
Moldova18 years of age; universal
Monaco18 years of age; universal
Mongolia18 years of age; universal
Montenegro18 years of age; universal
Montserrat18 years of age; universal
Morocco18 years of age; universal (as of January 2003)
Mozambique18 years of age; universal
Namibia18 years of age; universal
Nauru20 years of age; universal and compulsory
Nepal18 years of age; universal
Netherlands18 years of age; universal
Netherlands Antilles18 years of age; universal
New Caledonia18 years of age; universal
New Zealand18 years of age; universal
Nicaragua16 years of age; universal
Niger18 years of age; universal
Nigeria18 years of age; universal
Niue18 years of age; universal
Norfolk Island18 years of age; universal
Northern Mariana Islands 18 years of age; universal; indigenous inhabitants are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections
Norway18 years of age; universal
Oman21 years of age; universal; note - members of the military andsecurity forces are not allowed to vote
Pakistan18 years of age; universal; joint electorates and reservedparliamentary seats for women and non-Muslims
Palau18 years of age; universal
Panama18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Papua New Guinea18 years of age; universal
Paraguay18 years of age; universal and compulsory up to age 75
Peru18 years of age; universal and compulsory until the age of 70;note - for the first time in recent elections, members of themilitary and national police were eligible to vote in the 2006elections
Philippines18 years of age; universal
Pitcairn Islands 18 years of age; universal with three years residency
Poland18 years of age; universal
Portugal18 years of age; universal
Puerto Rico18 years of age; universal; island residents are UScitizens but do not vote in US presidential elections
Qatar18 years of age; universal
Romania18 years of age; universal
Russia18 years of age; universal
Rwanda18 years of age; universal
Saint Barthelemy18 years of age, universal
Saint HelenaNA
Saint Kitts and Nevis18 years of age; universal
Saint Lucia18 years of age; universal
Saint Martin18 years of age, universal
Saint Pierre and Miquelon18 years of age; universal
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines18 years of age; universal
Samoa21 years of age; universal
San Marino18 years of age; universal
Sao Tome and Principe18 years of age; universal
Saudi Arabia21 years of age; male
Senegal18 years of age; universal
Serbia18 years of age; universal
Seychelles17 years of age; universal
Sierra Leone18 years of age; universal
Singapore21 years of age; universal and compulsory
Slovakia18 years of age; universal
Slovenia18 years of age; universal (16 years of age, if employed)
Solomon Islands21 years of age; universal
Somalia18 years of age; universal
South Africa18 years of age; universal
Spain18 years of age; universal
Sri Lanka18 years of age; universal
Sudan17 years of age; universal
Suriname18 years of age; universal
Swaziland18 years of age
Sweden18 years of age; universal
Switzerland18 years of age; universal
Syria18 years of age; universal
Taiwan20 years of age; universal
Tajikistan18 years of age; universal
Tanzania18 years of age; universal
Thailand18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Timor-Leste17 years of age; universal
Togo18 years of age; universal (adult)
Tokelau21 years of age; universal
Tonga21 years of age; universal
Trinidad and Tobago18 years of age; universal
Tunisia18 years of age; universal except for active governmentsecurity forces (including the police and the military), people withmental disabilities, people who have served more than three monthsin prison (criminal cases only), and people given a suspendedsentence of more than six months
Turkey18 years of age; universal
Turkmenistan18 years of age; universal
Turks and Caicos Islands18 years of age; universal
Tuvalu18 years of age; universal
Uganda18 years of age; universal
Ukraine18 years of age; universal
United Arab Emiratesnone
United Kingdom18 years of age; universal
United States18 years of age; universal
Uruguay18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Uzbekistan18 years of age; universal
Vanuatu18 years of age; universal
Venezuela18 years of age; universal
Vietnam18 years of age; universal
Virgin Islands18 years of age; universal; island residents are UScitizens but do not vote in US presidential elections
Wallis and Futuna18 years of age; universal
Western Saharanone; a UN-sponsored voter identification campaignnot yet completed
Yemen18 years of age; universal
Zambia18 years of age; universal
Zimbabwe18 years of age; universal
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Field Listing :: Telephone system
This entry includes a brief general assessment of the system with details on the domestic and international components. The following terms and abbreviations are used throughout the entry: Arabsat - Arab Satellite Communications Organization (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia). Autodin - Automatic Digital Network (US Department of Defense). CB - citizen's band mobile radio communications. Cellular telephone system - the telephones in this system are radio transceivers, with each instrument having its own private radio frequency and sufficient radiated power to reach the booster station in its area (cell), from which the telephone signal is fed to a telephone exchange. Central American Microwave System - a trunk microwave radio relay system that links the countries of Central America and Mexico with each other. Coaxial cable - a multichannel communication cable consisting of a central conducting wire, surrounded by and insulated from a cylindrical conducting shell; a large number of telephone channels can be made available within the insulated space by the use of a large number of carrier frequencies. Comsat - Communications Satellite Corporation (US). DSN - Defense Switched Network (formerly Automatic Voice Network or Autovon); basic general-purpose, switched voice network of the Defense Communications System (US Department of Defense). Eutelsat - European Telecommunications Satellite Organization (Paris). Fiber-optic cable - a multichannel communications cable using a thread of optical glass fibers as a transmission medium in which the signal (voice, video, etc.) is in the form of a coded pulse of light. GSM - a global system for mobile (cellular) communications devised by the Groupe Special Mobile of the pan-European standardization organization, Conference Europeanne des Posts et Telecommunications (CEPT) in 1982. HF - high frequency; any radio frequency in the 3,000- to 30,000-kHz range. Inmarsat - International Maritime Satellite Organization (London); provider of global mobile satellite communications for commercial, distress, and safety applications at sea, in the air, and on land. Intelsat - International Telecommunications Satellite Organization (Washington, DC). Intersputnik - International Organization of Space Communications (Moscow); first established in the former Soviet Union and the East European countries, it is now marketing its services worldwide with earth stations in North America, Africa, and East Asia. Landline - communication wire or cable of any sort that is installed on poles or buried in the ground. Marecs - Maritime European Communications Satellite used in the Inmarsat system on lease from the European Space Agency. Marisat - satellites of the Comsat Corporation that participate in the Inmarsat system. Medarabtel - the Middle East Telecommunications Project of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) providing a modern telecommunications network, primarily by microwave radio relay, linking Algeria, Djibouti, Egypt, Jordan, Libya, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, and Yemen; it was initially started in Morocco in 1970 by the Arab Telecommunications Union (ATU) and was known at that time as the Middle East Mediterranean Telecommunications Network. Microwave radio relay - transmission of long distance telephone calls and television programs by highly directional radio microwaves that are received and sent on from one booster station to another on an optical path. NMT - Nordic Mobile Telephone; an analog cellular telephone system that was developed jointly by the national telecommunications authorities of the Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden). Orbita - a Russian television service; also the trade name of a packet-switched digital telephone network. Radiotelephone communications - the two-way transmission and reception of sounds by broadcast radio on authorized frequencies using telephone handsets. PanAmSat - PanAmSat Corporation (Greenwich, CT). SAFE - South African Far East Cable Satellite communication system - a communication system consisting of two or more earth stations and at least one satellite that provide long distance transmission of voice, data, and television; the system usually serves as a trunk connection between telephone exchanges; if the earth stations are in the same country, it is a domestic system. Satellite earth station - a communications facility with a microwave radio transmitting and receiving antenna and required receiving and transmitting equipment for communicating with satellites. Satellite link - a radio connection between a satellite and an earth station permitting communication between them, either one-way (down link from satellite to earth station - television receive-only transmission) or two-way (telephone channels). SHF - super high frequency; any radio frequency in the 3,000- to 30,000-MHz range. Shortwave - radio frequencies (from 1.605 to 30 MHz) that fall above the commercial broadcast band and are used for communication over long distances. Solidaridad - geosynchronous satellites in Mexico's system of international telecommunications in the Western Hemisphere. Statsionar - Russia's geostationary system for satellite telecommunications. Submarine cable - a cable designed for service under water. TAT - Trans-Atlantic Telephone; any of a number of high-capacity submarine coaxial telephone cables linking Europe with North America. Telefax - facsimile service between subscriber stations via the public switched telephone network or the international Datel network. Telegraph - a telecommunications system designed for unmodulated electric impulse transmission. Telex - a communication service involving teletypewriters connected by wire through automatic exchanges. Tropospheric scatter - a form of microwave radio transmission in which the troposphere is used to scatter and reflect a fraction of the incident radio waves back to earth; powerful, highly directional antennas are used to transmit and receive the microwave signals; reliable over-the-horizon communications are realized for distances up to 600 miles in a single hop; additional hops can extend the range of this system for very long distances. Trunk network - a network of switching centers, connected by multichannel trunk lines. UHF - ultra high frequency; any radio frequency in the 300- to 3,000-MHz range. VHF - very high frequency; any radio frequency in the 30- to 300-MHz range. Country