hydropower potential, timber, salt
Syria
petroleum, phosphates, chrome and manganese ores, asphalt,
iron ore, rock salt, marble, gypsum, hydropower
Taiwan
small deposits of coal, natural gas, limestone, marble, and
asbestos
Tajikistan
hydropower, some petroleum, uranium, mercury, brown coal,
lead, zinc, antimony, tungsten, silver, gold
Tanzania
hydropower, tin, phosphates, iron ore, coal, diamonds,
gemstones, gold, natural gas, nickel
Thailand
tin, rubber, natural gas, tungsten, tantalum, timber, lead,
fish, gypsum, lignite, fluorite, arable land
Timor-Leste
gold, petroleum, natural gas, manganese, marble
Togo
phosphates, limestone, marble, arable land
Tokelau
NEGL
Tonga
fish, fertile soil
Trinidad and Tobago
petroleum, natural gas, asphalt
Tunisia
petroleum, phosphates, iron ore, lead, zinc, salt
Turkey
coal, iron ore, copper, chromium, antimony, mercury, gold,
barite, borate, celestite (strontium), emery, feldspar, limestone,
magnesite, marble, perlite, pumice, pyrites (sulfur), clay, arable
land, hydropower
Turkmenistan
petroleum, natural gas, sulfur, salt
Turks and Caicos Islands
spiny lobster, conch
Tuvalu
fish
Uganda
copper, cobalt, hydropower, limestone, salt, arable land
Ukraine
iron ore, coal, manganese, natural gas, oil, salt, sulfur,
graphite, titanium, magnesium, kaolin, nickel, mercury, timber,
arable land
United Arab Emirates
petroleum, natural gas
United Kingdom
coal, petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, lead, zinc,
gold, tin, limestone, salt, clay, chalk, gypsum, potash, silica
sand, slate, arable land
United States
coal, copper, lead, molybdenum, phosphates, uranium,
bauxite, gold, iron, mercury, nickel, potash, silver, tungsten,
zinc, petroleum, natural gas, timber
note: the US has the world's largest coal reserves with 491 billion
short tons accounting for 27% of the world's total
United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges
terrestrial and
aquatic wildlife
Uruguay
arable land, hydropower, minor minerals, fisheries
Uzbekistan
natural gas, petroleum, coal, gold, uranium, silver,
copper, lead and zinc, tungsten, molybdenum
Vanuatu
manganese, hardwood forests, fish
Venezuela
petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, bauxite, other
minerals, hydropower, diamonds
Vietnam
phosphates, coal, manganese, bauxite, chromate, offshore oil
and gas deposits, forests, hydropower
Virgin Islands
sun, sand, sea, surf
Wake Island
none
Wallis and Futuna
NEGL
West Bank
arable land
Western Sahara
phosphates, iron ore
World
the rapid depletion of nonrenewable mineral resources, the
depletion of forest areas and wetlands, the extinction of animal and
plant species, and the deterioration in air and water quality
(especially in Eastern Europe, the former USSR, and China) pose
serious long-term problems that governments and peoples are only
beginning to address
Yemen
petroleum, fish, rock salt, marble; small deposits of coal,
gold, lead, nickel, and copper; fertile soil in west
Zambia
copper, cobalt, zinc, lead, coal, emeralds, gold, silver,
uranium, hydropower
Zimbabwe
coal, chromium ore, asbestos, gold, nickel, copper, iron
ore, vanadium, lithium, tin, platinum group metals
This page was last updated on 18 December 2008
======================================================================
@2112 Net migration rate (migrant(s)/1,000 population)
Afghanistan
21 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Albania
-4.41 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Algeria
-0.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
American Samoa
-7.17 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Andorra
13.99 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Angola
1.72 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Anguilla
14.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Antigua and Barbuda
2.41 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Argentina
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Armenia
-4.95 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Aruba
9.85 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Australia
6.34 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Austria
1.88 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Azerbaijan
-1.97 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Bahamas, The
-2.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Bahrain
0.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Bangladesh
-0.65 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Barbados
-0.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Belarus
0.38 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Belgium
1.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Belize
NA (2008 est.)
Benin
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Bermuda
2.28 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Bhutan
NA (2008 est.)
Bolivia
-1.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Bosnia and Herzegovina
6.38 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Botswana
5.41 migrant(s)/1,000 population
note: there is an increasing flow of Zimbabweans into South Africa
and Botswana in search of better economic opportunities (2008 est.)
Brazil
-0.09 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
British Virgin Islands
8.44 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Brunei
2.74 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Bulgaria
-3.41 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Burkina Faso
NA (2008 est.)
Burma
NA (2008 est.)
Burundi
5.62 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Cambodia
NA (2008 est.)
Cameroon
NA (2008 est.)
Canada
5.62 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Cape Verde
-11.74 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Cayman Islands
16.88 migrant(s)/1,000 population
note: major destination for Cubans trying to migrate to the US (2008
est.)
Central African Republic
NA (2008 est.)
Chad
-3.27 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Chile
NA (2008 est.)
China
-0.39 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Christmas Island
NA (2008 est.)
Cocos (Keeling) Islands
NA (2008 est.)
Colombia
-0.28 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Comoros
NA (2008 est.)
Congo, Democratic Republic of the
1.24 migrant(s)/1,000 population
(2008 est.)
Congo, Republic of the
-2.52 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Costa Rica
0.48 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Cote d'Ivoire
NA (2008 est.)
Croatia
1.58 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Cuba
-1.57 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Cyprus
0.42 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Czech Republic
0.97 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Denmark
2.49 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Djibouti
NA (2008 est.)
Dominica
-5.46 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Dominican Republic
-2.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Ecuador
-7.98 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Egypt
-0.21 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
El Salvador
-3.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Equatorial Guinea
NA (2008 est.)
Eritrea
NA (2008 est.)
Estonia
-3.24 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Ethiopia
NA
note: repatriation of Ethiopian refugees residing in Sudan is
expected to continue for several years; some Sudanese, Somali, and
Eritrean refugees, who fled to Ethiopia from the fighting or famine
in their own countries, continue to return to their homes (2008 est.)
European Union
1.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
NA (2008 est.)
Faroe Islands
-0.82 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Fiji
-2.62 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Finland
0.73 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
France
1.48 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
French Polynesia
2.77 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Gabon
-3.62 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Gambia, The
0.61 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Gaza Strip
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Georgia
-4.36 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Germany
2.19 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Ghana
-0.55 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Gibraltar
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Greece
2.33 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Greenland
-5.99 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Grenada
-11.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Guam
NA (2008 est.)
Guatemala
-2.26 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Guernsey
3.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Guinea
-1.63 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Guinea-Bissau
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Guyana
-7.45 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Haiti
-0.61 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Honduras
-1.33 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Hong Kong
4.55 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Hungary
0.86 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Iceland
1.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
India
-0.05 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Indonesia
-1.25 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Iran
-3.28 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Iraq
NA (2008 est.)
Ireland
4.76 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Isle of Man
5.25 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Israel
2.52 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Italy
2.06 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Jamaica
-5.88 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Japan
NA (2008 est.)
Jersey
2.73 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Jordan
5.97 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Kazakhstan
-3.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Kenya
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Kiribati
NA (2008 est.)
Korea, North
NA (2008 est.)
Korea, South
NA (2008 est.)
Kuwait
16.39 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Kyrgyzstan
-2.55 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Laos
NA (2008 est.)
Latvia
-2.29 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Lebanon
NA (2008 est.)
Lesotho
-0.78 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Liberia
15.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Libya
NA (2008 est.)
Liechtenstein
4.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Lithuania
-0.72 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Luxembourg
8.54 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Macau
26.21 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Macedonia
-0.57 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Madagascar
NA (2008 est.)
Malawi
NA (2008 est.)
Malaysia
NA
note: does not reflect net flow of an unknown number of illegal
immigrants from other countries in the region (2008 est.)
Maldives
NA (2008 est.)
Mali
-5.97 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Malta
2.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Marshall Islands
-5.52 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Mauritania
NA (2008 est.)
Mauritius
-0.09 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Mayotte
2.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Mexico
-3.84 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Micronesia, Federated States of
-21.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population
(2008 est.)
Moldova
-1.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Monaco
7.62 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Mongolia
NA (2008 est.)
Montserrat
NA (2008 est.)
Morocco
-0.77 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Mozambique
NA (2008 est.)
Namibia
0.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Nauru
NA (2008 est.)
Nepal
NA (2008 est.)
Netherlands
2.55 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Netherlands Antilles
-0.39 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
New Caledonia
NA
note: there has been steady emigration from Wallis and Futuna to New
Caledonia (2008 est.)
New Zealand
2.62 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Nicaragua
-1.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Niger
-0.57 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Nigeria
-0.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Niue
NA (2008 est.)
Norfolk Island
NA (2008 est.)
Northern Mariana Islands
7.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Norway
1.71 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Oman
0.33 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Pakistan
-0.51 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Palau
0.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Panama
-0.53 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Papua New Guinea
NA (2008 est.)
Paraguay
-0.07 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Peru
-0.97 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Philippines
-1.36 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Pitcairn Islands
NA (2008 est.)
Poland
-0.46 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Portugal
3.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Puerto Rico
-1.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Qatar
-2.28 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Romania
-0.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Russia
0.28 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Rwanda
2.29 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Saint Helena
NA (2008 est.)
Saint Kitts and Nevis
-2.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Saint Lucia
-4.33 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Saint Pierre and Miquelon
-4.97 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008
est.)
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
-7.56 migrant(s)/1,000 population
(2008 est.)
Samoa
-9.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
San Marino
10.44 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Sao Tome and Principe
-1.97 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Saudi Arabia
-6.82 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Senegal
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Seychelles
-5.11 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Sierra Leone
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population
note: refugees currently in surrounding countries are slowly
returning (2008 est.)
Singapore
6.88 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Slovakia
0.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Slovenia
0.64 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Solomon Islands
NA (2008 est.)
Somalia
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
South Africa
4.98 migrant(s)/1,000 population
note: there is an increasing flow of Zimbabweans into South Africa
and Botswana in search of better economic opportunities (2008 est.)
Spain
0.99 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Sri Lanka
-1.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Sudan
0.67 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Suriname
-0.52 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Svalbard
NA (2008 est.)
Swaziland
NA (2008 est.)
Sweden
1.66 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Switzerland
2.21 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Syria
NA (2008 est.)
Taiwan
0.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Tajikistan
-1.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Tanzania
-1.48 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Thailand
NA (2008 est.)
Timor-Leste
NA (2008 est.)
Togo
NA (2008 est.)
Tokelau
NA (2008 est.)
Tonga
NA (2008 est.)
Trinidad and Tobago
-11.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Tunisia
-0.44 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Turkey
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Turkmenistan
-3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Turks and Caicos Islands
9.48 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Tuvalu
NA (2008 est.)
Uganda
0.21 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Ukraine
-0.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
United Arab Emirates
24.41 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
United Kingdom
2.17 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
United States
2.92 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Uruguay
-0.18 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Uzbekistan
-3.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Vanuatu
NA (2008 est.)
Venezuela
-0.84 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Vietnam
-0.39 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Virgin Islands
-5.72 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Wallis and Futuna
NA
note: there has been steady emigration from Wallis and Futuna to New
Caledonia (2008 est.)
West Bank
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Yemen
NA (2008 est.)
Zambia
-2.63 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Zimbabwe
NA
note: there is an increasing flow of Zimbabweans into South Africa
and Botswana in search of better economic opportunities (2008 est.)
This page was last updated on 18 December 2008
======================================================================
@2113 Geography - note
Afghanistan
landlocked; the Hindu Kush mountains that run northeast
to southwest divide the northern provinces from the rest of the
country; the highest peaks are in the northern Vakhan (Wakhan
Corridor)
Akrotiri
British extraterritorial rights also extended to several
small off-post sites scattered across Cyprus; of the Sovereign Base
Area land, 60% is privately owned and farmed, 20% is owned by the
Ministry of Defense, and 20% is SBA Crown land
Albania
strategic location along Strait of Otranto (links Adriatic
Sea to Ionian Sea and Mediterranean Sea)
Algeria
second-largest country in Africa (after Sudan)
American Samoa
Pago Pago has one of the best natural deepwater
harbors in the South Pacific Ocean, sheltered by shape from rough
seas and protected by peripheral mountains from high winds;
strategic location in the South Pacific Ocean
Andorra
landlocked; straddles a number of important crossroads in
the Pyrenees
Angola
the province of Cabinda is an exclave, separated from the
rest of the country by the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Anguilla
the most northerly of the Leeward Islands in the Lesser
Antilles
Antarctica
the coldest, windiest, highest (on average), and driest
continent; during summer, more solar radiation reaches the surface
at the South Pole than is received at the Equator in an equivalent
period; mostly uninhabitable
Antigua and Barbuda
Antigua has a deeply indented shoreline with
many natural harbors and beaches; Barbuda has a large western harbor
Arctic Ocean
major chokepoint is the southern Chukchi Sea (northern
access to the Pacific Ocean via the Bering Strait); strategic
location between North America and Russia; shortest marine link
between the extremes of eastern and western Russia; floating
research stations operated by the US and Russia; maximum snow cover
in March or April about 20 to 50 centimeters over the frozen ocean;
snow cover lasts about 10 months
Argentina
second-largest country in South America (after Brazil);
strategic location relative to sea lanes between the South Atlantic
and the South Pacific Oceans (Strait of Magellan, Beagle Channel,
Drake Passage); diverse geophysical landscapes range from tropical
climates in the north to tundra in the far south; Cerro Aconcagua is
the Western Hemisphere's tallest mountain, while Laguna del Carbon
is the lowest point in the Western Hemisphere
Armenia
landlocked in the Lesser Caucasus Mountains; Sevana Lich
(Lake Sevan) is the largest lake in this mountain range
Aruba
a flat, riverless island renowned for its white sand beaches;
its tropical climate is moderated by constant trade winds from the
Atlantic Ocean; the temperature is almost constant at about 27
degrees Celsius (81 degrees Fahrenheit)
Ashmore and Cartier Islands
Ashmore Reef National Nature Reserve
established in August 1983; Cartier Island Marine Reserve
established in 2000
Atlantic Ocean
major chokepoints include the Dardanelles, Strait of
Gibraltar, access to the Panama and Suez Canals; strategic straits
include the Strait of Dover, Straits of Florida, Mona Passage, The
Sound (Oresund), and Windward Passage; the Equator divides the
Atlantic Ocean into the North Atlantic Ocean and South Atlantic Ocean
Australia
world's smallest continent but sixth-largest country;
population concentrated along the eastern and southeastern coasts;
the invigorating sea breeze known as the "Fremantle Doctor" affects
the city of Perth on the west coast, and is one of the most
consistent winds in the world
Austria
landlocked; strategic location at the crossroads of central
Europe with many easily traversable Alpine passes and valleys; major
river is the Danube; population is concentrated on eastern lowlands
because of steep slopes, poor soils, and low temperatures elsewhere
Azerbaijan
both the main area of the country and the Naxcivan
exclave are landlocked
Bahamas, The
strategic location adjacent to US and Cuba; extensive
island chain of which 30 are inhabited
Bahrain
close to primary Middle Eastern petroleum sources; strategic
location in Persian Gulf, through which much of the Western world's
petroleum must transit to reach open ocean
Bangladesh
most of the country is situated on deltas of large rivers
flowing from the Himalayas: the Ganges unites with the Jamuna (main
channel of the Brahmaputra) and later joins the Meghna to eventually
empty into the Bay of Bengal
Barbados
easternmost Caribbean island
Belarus
landlocked; glacial scouring accounts for the flatness of
Belarusian terrain and for its 11,000 lakes
Belgium
crossroads of Western Europe; most West European capitals
within 1,000 km of Brussels, the seat of both the European Union and
NATO
Belize
only country in Central America without a coastline on the
North Pacific Ocean
Benin
sandbanks create difficult access to a coast with no natural
harbors, river mouths, or islands
Bermuda
consists of about 138 coral islands and islets with ample
rainfall, but no rivers or freshwater lakes; some land was leased by
US Government from 1941 to 1995
Bhutan
landlocked; strategic location between China and India;
controls several key Himalayan mountain passes
Bolivia
landlocked; shares control of Lago Titicaca, world's highest
navigable lake (elevation 3,805 m), with Peru
Bosnia and Herzegovina
within Bosnia and Herzegovina's recognized
borders, the country is divided into a joint Bosniak/Croat
Federation (about 51% of the territory) and the Bosnian Serb-led
Republika Srpska or RS (about 49% of the territory); the region
called Herzegovina is contiguous to Croatia and Montenegro, and
traditionally has been settled by an ethnic Croat majority in the
west and an ethnic Serb majority in the east
Botswana
landlocked; population concentrated in eastern part of the
country
Bouvet Island
covered by glacial ice; declared a nature reserve
Norway
Brazil
largest country in South America; shares common boundaries
with every South American country except Chile and Ecuador
British Indian Ocean Territory
archipelago of 55 islands; Diego
Garcia, largest and southernmost island, occupies strategic location
in central Indian Ocean; island is site of joint US-UK military
facility
British Virgin Islands
strong ties to nearby US Virgin Islands and
Puerto Rico
Brunei
close to vital sea lanes through South China Sea linking
Indian and Pacific Oceans; two parts physically separated by
Malaysia; almost an enclave within Malaysia
Bulgaria
strategic location near Turkish Straits; controls key land
routes from Europe to Middle East and Asia
Burkina Faso
landlocked savanna cut by the three principal rivers of
the Black, Red, and White Voltas
Burma
strategic location near major Indian Ocean shipping lanes
Burundi
landlocked; straddles crest of the Nile-Congo watershed; the
Kagera, which drains into Lake Victoria, is the most remote
headstream of the White Nile
Cambodia
a land of paddies and forests dominated by the Mekong River
and Tonle Sap
Cameroon
sometimes referred to as the hinge of Africa; throughout
the country there are areas of thermal springs and indications of
current or prior volcanic activity; Mount Cameroon, the highest
mountain in Sub-Saharan west Africa, is an active volcano
Canada
second-largest country in world (after Russia); strategic
location between Russia and US via north polar route; approximately
90% of the population is concentrated within 160 km of the US border
Cape Verde
strategic location 500 km from west coast of Africa near
major north-south sea routes; important communications station;
important sea and air refueling site
Cayman Islands
important location between Cuba and Central America