Rank code: 2128
Country Comparison :: Government type
This entry gives the basic form of government. Definitions of the
major governmental terms are as follows. (Note that for some
countries more than one definition applies.):
Absolute monarchy - a form of government where the monarch rules
unhindered, i.e., without any laws, constitution, or legally
organized opposition.
Anarchy - a condition of lawlessness or political disorder brought
about by the absence of governmental authority.
Authoritarian - a form of government in which state authority is
imposed onto many aspects of citizens' lives.
Commonwealth - a nation, state, or other political entity founded on
law and united by a compact of the people for the common good.
Communist - a system of government in which the state plans and
controls the economy and a single - often authoritarian - party
holds power; state controls are imposed with the elimination of
private ownership of property or capital while claiming to make
progress toward a higher social order in which all goods are equally
shared by the people (i.e., a classless society).
Confederacy (Confederation) - a union by compact or treaty between
states, provinces, or territories, that creates a central government
with limited powers; the constituent entities retain supreme
authority over all matters except those delegated to the central
government.
Constitutional - a government by or operating under an authoritative
document (constitution) that sets forth the system of fundamental
laws and principles that determines the nature, functions, and
limits of that government.
Constitutional democracy - a form of government in which the
sovereign power of the people is spelled out in a governing
constitution.
Constitutional monarchy - a system of government in which a monarch
is guided by a constitution whereby his/her rights, duties, and
responsibilities are spelled out in written law or by custom.
Democracy - a form of government in which the supreme power is
retained by the people, but which is usually exercised indirectly
through a system of representation and delegated authority
periodically renewed.
Democratic republic - a state in which the supreme power rests in
the body of citizens entitled to vote for officers and
representatives responsible to them.
Dictatorship - a form of government in which a ruler or small clique
wield absolute power (not restricted by a constitution or laws).
Ecclesiastical - a government administrated by a church.
Emirate - similar to a monarchy or sultanate, but a government in
which the supreme power is in the hands of an emir (the ruler of a
Muslim state); the emir may be an absolute overlord or a sovereign
with constitutionally limited authority.
Federal (Federation) - a form of government in which sovereign power
is formally divided - usually by means of a constitution - between a
central authority and a number of constituent regions (states,
colonies, or provinces) so that each region retains some management
of its internal affairs; differs from a confederacy in that the
central government exerts influence directly upon both individuals
as well as upon the regional units.
Federal republic - a state in which the powers of the central
government are restricted and in which the component parts (states,
colonies, or provinces) retain a degree of self-government; ultimate
sovereign power rests with the voters who chose their governmental
representatives.
Islamic republic - a particular form of government adopted by some
Muslim states; although such a state is, in theory, a theocracy, it
remains a republic, but its laws are required to be compatible with
the laws of Islam.
Maoism - the theory and practice of Marxism-Leninism developed in
China by Mao Zedong (Mao Tse-tung), which states that a continuous
revolution is necessary if the leaders of a communist state are to
keep in touch with the people.
Marxism - the political, economic, and social principles espoused by
19th century economist Karl Marx; he viewed the struggle of workers
as a progression of historical forces that would proceed from a
class struggle of the proletariat (workers) exploited by capitalists
(business owners), to a socialist "dictatorship of the proletariat,"
to, finally, a classless society - Communism.
Marxism-Leninism - an expanded form of communism developed by Lenin
from doctrines of Karl Marx; Lenin saw imperialism as the final
stage of capitalism and shifted the focus of workers' struggle from
developed to underdeveloped countries.
Monarchy - a government in which the supreme power is lodged in the
hands of a monarch who reigns over a state or territory, usually for
life and by hereditary right; the monarch may be either a sole
absolute ruler or a sovereign - such as a king, queen, or prince -
with constitutionally limited authority.
Oligarchy - a government in which control is exercised by a small
group of individuals whose authority generally is based on wealth or
power.
Parliamentary democracy - a political system in which the
legislature (parliament) selects the government - a prime minister,
premier, or chancellor along with the cabinet ministers - according
to party strength as expressed in elections; by this system, the
government acquires a dual responsibility: to the people as well as
to the parliament.
Parliamentary government (Cabinet-Parliamentary government) - a
government in which members of an executive branch (the cabinet and
its leader - a prime minister, premier, or chancellor) are nominated
to their positions by a legislature or parliament, and are directly
responsible to it; this type of government can be dissolved at will
by the parliament (legislature) by means of a no confidence vote or
the leader of the cabinet may dissolve the parliament if it can no
longer function.
Parliamentary monarchy - a state headed by a monarch who is not
actively involved in policy formation or implementation (i.e., the
exercise of sovereign powers by a monarch in a ceremonial capacity);
true governmental leadership is carried out by a cabinet and its
head - a prime minister, premier, or chancellor - who are drawn from
a legislature (parliament).
Presidential - a system of government where the executive branch
exists separately from a legislature (to which it is generally not
accountable).
Republic - a representative democracy in which the people's elected
deputies (representatives), not the people themselves, vote on
legislation.
Socialism - a government in which the means of planning, producing,
and distributing goods is controlled by a central government that
theoretically seeks a more just and equitable distribution of
property and labor; in actuality, most socialist governments have
ended up being no more than dictatorships over workers by a ruling
elite.
Sultanate - similar to a monarchy, but a government in which the
supreme power is in the hands of a sultan (the head of a Muslim
state); the sultan may be an absolute ruler or a sovereign with
constitutionally limited authority.
Theocracy - a form of government in which a Deity is recognized as
the supreme civil ruler, but the Deity's laws are interpreted by
ecclesiastical authorities (bishops, mullahs, etc.); a government
subject to religious authority.
Totalitarian - a government that seeks to subordinate the individual
to the state by controlling not only all political and economic
matters, but also the attitudes, values, and beliefs of its
population.
Rank country Government type Date of Information
======================================================================
Rank code: 2129
Country Comparison :: Unemployment rate
This entry contains the percent of the labor force that is without
jobs. Substantial underemployment might be noted.
Rank country (%) Date of Information
1 Andorra 0.00 2007
2 Monaco 0.00 2005
3 Qatar 0.40 2008 est.
4 Azerbaijan 0.90 2008 est.
5 Guernsey 0.90 March 2006 est.
6 Uzbekistan 1.00 2008 est.
7 Faroe Islands 1.40 2007
8 Thailand 1.40 2008 est.
9 Isle of Man 1.50 December 2006 est.
10 Moldova 1.50 2008 est.
11 Liechtenstein 1.50 31 December 2007
12 Belarus 1.60 2005
13 Cuba 1.60 2008 est.
14 Iceland 1.60 2008 est.
15 Vanuatu 1.70 1999
16 Denmark 1.80 2008 est.
17 Papua New Guinea 1.90 2004
18 Kiribati 2.00 1992 est.
19 Seychelles 2.00 2006 est.
20 Bermuda 2.10 2004 est.
21 Jersey 2.20 2006 est.
22 Singapore 2.20 2008 est.
23 Kuwait 2.20 2004 est.
24 Tajikistan 2.30 2008 est.
25 United Arab Emirates 2.40 2001
26 Laos 2.40 2005 est.
27 Bangladesh 2.50 2008 est.
28 Bhutan 2.50 2004
29 Norway 2.60 2008 est.
30 Switzerland 2.60 2008 est.
31 Mongolia 2.80 2008
32 Gibraltar 3.00 2005 est.
33 Macau 3.00 2008
34 Ukraine 3.00 2008 est.
35 San Marino 3.10 2008
36 Guatemala 3.20 2005 est.
37 Korea, South 3.20 2008 est.
38 Malaysia 3.30 2008 est.
39 Cambodia 3.50 2007 est.
40 Honduras 3.50 2008 est.
41 Hong Kong 3.50 2008 est.
42 Cyprus 3.60 2008 est.
43 British Virgin Islands 3.60 1997
44 Brunei 3.70 2008
45 Austria 3.90 2008 est.
46 China 4.00 2008 est.
47 Mexico 4.00 2008 est.
48 Netherlands 4.00 2008 est.
49 Japan 4.00 2008 est.
50 Taiwan 4.10 2008 est.
51 Australia 4.20 2008 est.
52 Palau 4.20 2005 est.
53 New Zealand 4.20 2008 est.
54 Cayman Islands 4.40 2004
55 Luxembourg 4.40 2008 est.
56 Romania 4.40 2008 est.
57 Saint Kitts and Nevis 4.50 1997
58 Trinidad and Tobago 4.60 2008 est.
59 Vietnam 4.70 2008 est.
60 Costa Rica 4.90 2008 est.
61 Nigeria 4.90 2007 est.
62 Burma 5.00 2008 est.
63 Namibia 5.00 2008 est.
64 Sri Lanka 5.20 2008 est.
65 Czech Republic 5.40 2008 est.
66 Paraguay 5.40 2008 est.
67 Nicaragua 5.60 2008 est.
68 Panama 5.60 2008 est.
69 United Kingdom 5.60 2008 est.
70 Estonia 5.70 2008 est.
71 Lithuania 5.80 2008 est.
72 United States 5.80 2008 est.
73 Montserrat 6.00 1998 est.
74 Malta 6.00 2008 est.
75 Israel 6.10 2008 est.
76 Canada 6.20 2008 est.
77 Sweden 6.20 2008 est.
78 Virgin Islands 6.20 2004
79 Bulgaria 6.30 2008 est.
80 Ireland 6.30 2008 est.
81 Finland 6.40 2008 est.
82 Russia 6.40 2008 est.
83 Kazakhstan 6.60 2008 est.
84 Slovenia 6.70 2008 est.
85 Italy 6.80 2008 est.
86 Aruba 6.90 2005 est.
87 El Salvador 6.90 2008 est.
88 Belgium 7.00 2008 est.
89 Armenia 7.10 2007 est.
90 European Union 7.20 2008 est.
91 Mauritius 7.20 2008 est.
92 Ecuador 7.30 2008 est.
93 France 7.40 2008 est.
94 Philippines 7.40 2008 est.
95 Venezuela 7.40 2008 est.
96 Botswana 7.50 2007 est.
97 Latvia 7.50 2008 est.
98 Bolivia 7.50 2008 est.
99 Bahamas, The 7.60 2006 est.
100 Fiji 7.60 1999
101 Uruguay 7.60 2008 est.
102 Portugal 7.60 2008 est.
103 Greece 7.70 2008 est.
104 Slovakia 7.70 2008 est.
105 Chile 7.80 2008 est.
106 Germany 7.80 2008 est.
107 Hungary 7.80 2008 est.
108 Argentina 7.90 2008 est.
109 Brazil 7.90 2008 est.
110 Anguilla 8.00 2002
111 Central African Republic 8.00 2001 est.
112 Northern Mariana Islands 8.00 2005 est.
113 Belize 8.10 2008
114 Peru 8.10 2008 est.
115 Indonesia 8.40 2008 est.
116 Syria 8.60 2008 est.
117 Egypt 8.70 2008 est.
118 India 9.10 2008 est.
119 Lebanon 9.20 2007 est.
120 Greenland 9.30 2005 est.
121 Morocco 9.50 2008 est.
122 Suriname 9.50 2004
123 Poland 9.80 2008 est.
124 Turks and Caicos Islands 10.00 1997 est.
125 Saint Pierre and Miquelon 10.30 1999
126 Barbados 10.70 2003 est.
127 Antigua and Barbuda 11.00 2001 est.
128 Ghana 11.00 2000 est.
129 Jamaica 11.00 2008 est.
130 Turkey 11.00 2008 est.
131 Guyana 11.00 2007
132 Colombia 11.30 2008 est.
133 Spain 11.30 2008 est.
134 French Polynesia 11.70 2005
135 Saudi Arabia 11.80 2008 est.
136 Niue 12.00 2001
137 Puerto Rico 12.00 2002
138 Albania 12.50 2008 est.
139 Iran 12.50 2008 est.
140 Grenada 12.50 2000
141 Jordan 12.60 2008 est.
142 Algeria 12.80 2008 est.
143 Tonga 13.00 FY03/04 est.
144 Cook Islands 13.10 2005
145 Georgia 13.60 2006 est.
146 Pakistan 13.60 2008 est.
147 Croatia 13.70 2008 est.
148 Saint Helena 14.00 1998 est.
149 Dominican Republic 14.10 2008 est.
150 Tunisia 14.10 2008 est.
151 Maldives 14.40 2006 est.
152 Montenegro 14.70 2007 est.
153 Bahrain 15.00 2005 est.
154 Oman 15.00 2004 est.
155 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 15.00 2001 est.
156 Wallis and Futuna 15.20 2003
157 Netherlands Antilles 15.50 2002 est.
158 West Bank 16.30 2008 est.
159 New Caledonia 17.10 2004
160 Kyrgyzstan 18.00 2004 est.
161 Iraq 18.20 2008 est.
162 Sudan 18.70 2002 est.
163 Serbia 18.80 2007 est.
164 Comoros 20.00 1996 est.
165 Timor-Leste 20.00 2006 est.
166 Saint Lucia 20.00 2003 est.
167 Cape Verde 21.00 2000 est.
168 Gabon 21.00 2006 est.
169 Mozambique 21.00 1997 est.
170 Micronesia, Federated States of 22.00 2000 est.
171 South Africa 22.90 2008 est.
172 Dominica 23.00 2000 est.
173 Mayotte 25.40 2005
174 Bosnia and Herzegovina 29.00 2007 est.
175 American Samoa 29.80 2005
176 Cameroon 30.00 2001 est.
177 Mauritania 30.00 2008 est.
178 World 30.00 2007 est.
179 Mali 30.00 2004 est.
180 Libya 30.00 2004 est.
181 Equatorial Guinea 30.00 1998 est.
182 Macedonia 33.80 2008 est.
183 Yemen 35.00 2003 est.
184 Marshall Islands 36.00 2006 est.
185 Afghanistan 40.00 2008 est.
186 Swaziland 40.00 2006 est.
187 Kosovo 40.00 2007 est.
188 Kenya 40.00 2008 est.
189 Gaza Strip 41.30 June 2008
190 Lesotho 45.00 2002
191 Nepal 46.00 2008 est.
192 Senegal 48.00 2007 est.
193 Zambia 50.00 2000 est.
194 Djibouti 59.00 2007 est.
195 Cocos (Keeling) Islands 60.00 2000 est.
196 Turkmenistan 60.00 2004 est.
197 Burkina Faso 77.00 2004
198 Zimbabwe 80.00 2005 est.
199 Liberia 85.00 2003 est.
200 Nauru 90.00 2004 est.
======================================================================
Rank code: 2137
Country Comparison :: Military - note
This entry includes miscellaneous military information of
significance not included elsewhere.
Rank country Military - note Date of Information
======================================================================
Rank code: 2138
Country Comparison :: Communications - note
This entry includes miscellaneous communications information of
significance not included elsewhere.
Rank country Communications - note Date of Information
======================================================================
Rank code: 2140
Country Comparison :: Government - note
This entry includes miscellaneous government information of
significance not included elsewhere.
Rank country Government - note Date of Information
======================================================================
Rank code: 2141
Country Comparison :: Group
Rank country Group Date of Information
======================================================================
Rank code: 2142
Country Comparison :: Country name
This entry includes all forms of the country's name approved by the
US Board on Geographic Names (Italy is used as an example):
conventional long form (Italian Republic), conventional short form
(Italy), local long form (Repubblica Italiana), local short form
(Italia), former (Kingdom of Italy), as well as the abbreviation.
Also see the Terminology note.
Rank country Country name Date of Information
======================================================================
Rank code: 2144
Country Comparison :: Location
This entry identifies the country's regional location, neighboring
countries, and adjacent bodies of water.
Rank country Location Date of Information
======================================================================
Rank code: 2145
Country Comparison :: Map references
This entry includes the name of the Factbook reference map on which
a country may be found. Note that boundary representations on these
maps are not necessarily authoritative. The entry on Geographic
coordinates may be helpful in finding some smaller countries.
Rank country Map references Date of Information
======================================================================
Rank code: 2146
Country Comparison :: Irrigated land
This entry gives the number of square kilometers of land area that
is artificially supplied with water.
Rank country (sq km) Date of Information
1 India 558,080.00 2003
2 China 545,960.00 2003
3 United States 223,850.00 2003
4 Pakistan 182,300.00 2003
5 European Union 168,050.00 2003 est.
6 Iran 76,500.00 2003
7 Mexico 63,200.00 2003
8 Turkey 52,150.00 2003
9 Thailand 49,860.00 2003
10 Bangladesh 47,250.00 2003
11 Russia 46,000.00 2003
12 Indonesia 45,000.00 2003
13 Uzbekistan 42,810.00 2003
14 Spain 37,800.00 2003
15 Kazakhstan 35,560.00 2003
16 Iraq 35,250.00 2003
17 Egypt 34,220.00 2003
18 Romania 30,770.00 2003
19 Vietnam 30,000.00 2003
20 Brazil 29,200.00 2003
21 Italy 27,500.00 2003
22 Afghanistan 27,200.00 2003
23 Japan 25,920.00 2003
24 Australia 25,450.00 2003
25 Ukraine 22,080.00 2003
26 Chile 19,000.00 2003
27 Burma 18,700.00 2003
28 Sudan 18,630.00 2003
29 Turkmenistan 18,000.00 2003
30 Saudi Arabia 16,200.00 2003
31 Argentina 15,500.00 2003
32 Philippines 15,500.00 2003
33 South Africa 14,980.00 2003
34 Korea, North 14,600.00 2003
35 Azerbaijan 14,550.00 2003
36 Greece 14,530.00 2003
37 Morocco 14,450.00 2003
38 Syria 13,330.00 2003
39 Peru 12,000.00 2003
40 Nepal 11,700.00 2003
41 Madagascar 10,860.00 2003
42 Kyrgyzstan 10,720.00 2003
43 Colombia 9,000.00 2003
44 Korea, South 8,780.00 2003
45 Cuba 8,700.00 2003
46 Ecuador 8,650.00 2003
47 Canada 7,850.00 2003
48 Sri Lanka 7,430.00 2003
49 Tajikistan 7,220.00 2003
50 Portugal 6,500.00 2003
51 Bulgaria 5,880.00 2003
52 Venezuela 5,750.00 2003
53 Algeria 5,690.00 2003
54 Netherlands 5,650.00 2003
55 Yemen 5,500.00 2003
56 Germany 4,850.00 2003
57 Libya 4,700.00 2003
58 Georgia 4,690.00 2003
59 Denmark 4,490.00 2003
60 Tunisia 3,940.00 2003
61 Malaysia 3,650.00 2003
62 Albania 3,530.00 2003
63 Moldova 3,000.00 2003
64 Ethiopia 2,900.00 2003
65 Armenia 2,860.00 2003
66 New Zealand 2,850.00 2003
67 Nigeria 2,820.00 2003
68 Dominican Republic 2,750.00 2003
69 Cambodia 2,700.00 2003
70 Mali 2,360.00 2003
71 Hungary 2,300.00 2003
72 Uruguay 2,100.00 2003
73 Somalia 2,000.00 2003
74 Israel 1,940.00 2003
75 Tanzania 1,840.00 2003
76 Slovakia 1,830.00 2003
77 Laos 1,750.00 2003
78 Zimbabwe 1,740.00 2003
79 United Kingdom 1,700.00 2003
80 Zambia 1,560.00 2003
81 Guyana 1,500.00 2003
82 Bolivia 1,320.00 2003
83 Belarus 1,310.00 2003
84 Guatemala 1,300.00 2003
85 Norway 1,270.00 2003
86 Senegal 1,200.00 2003
87 Mozambique 1,180.00 2003
88 Sweden 1,150.00 2003
89 Costa Rica 1,080.00 2003
90 Timor-Leste 1,065.00 NA
91 Lebanon 1,040.00 2003
92 Kenya 1,030.00 2003
93 Poland 1,000.00 2003
94 Guinea 950.00 2003
95 Haiti 920.00 2003
96 Mongolia 840.00 2003
97 Angola 800.00 2003
98 Honduras 800.00 2003
99 United Arab Emirates 760.00 2003
100 Jordan 750.00 2003
101 Cote d'Ivoire 730.00 2003
102 Niger 730.00 2003
103 Oman 720.00 2003
104 Paraguay 670.00 2003
105 Finland 640.00 2003
106 Nicaragua 610.00 2003
107 Malawi 560.00 2003
108 Macedonia 550.00 2003
109 Suriname 510.00 2003
110 Swaziland 500.00 2003
111 Mauritania 490.00 2002
112 El Salvador 450.00 2003
113 Panama 430.00 2003
114 Belgium 400.00 2003
115 Bhutan 400.00 2003
116 Puerto Rico 400.00 2003
117 Cyprus 400.00 2003
118 Ghana 310.00 2003
119 Chad 300.00 2003
120 Sierra Leone 300.00 2003
121 Cameroon 260.00 2003
122 Jamaica 250.00 2002
123 Guinea-Bissau 250.00 2003
124 Switzerland 250.00 2003
125 Burkina Faso 250.00 2003
126 Czech Republic 240.00 2003
127 Mauritius 220.00 2003
128 Burundi 210.00 2003
129 Eritrea 210.00 2003
130 Latvia 200.00 2003
131 Kuwait 130.00 2003
132 Qatar 130.00 2002
133 Benin 120.00 2003
134 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 110.00 2003
135 Croatia 110.00 2003
136 New Caledonia 100.00 2003
137 Sao Tome and Principe 100.00 2003
138 Rwanda 90.00 2003
139 Uganda 90.00 2003
140 Namibia 80.00 2003
141 Gabon 70.00 2003
142 Togo 70.00 2003
143 Lithuania 70.00 2003
144 Barbados 50.00 2003
145 Austria 40.00 2003
146 Bahrain 40.00 2003
147 Trinidad and Tobago 40.00 2003
148 Estonia 40.00 2003
149 Belize 30.00 2003
150 Saint Lucia 30.00 2003
151 Slovenia 30.00 2003
152 Lesotho 30.00 2003
153 Liberia 30.00 2003
154 Fiji 30.00 2003
155 Cape Verde 30.00 2003
156 Bosnia and Herzegovina 30.00 2003
157 Congo, Republic of the 20.00 2003
158 Malta 20.00 2003
159 Hong Kong 20.00 1998 est.
160 Gambia, The 20.00 2003
161 Central African Republic 20.00 2003
162 Botswana 10.00 2003
163 Brunei 10.00 2003
164 French Polynesia 10.00 2003
165 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 10.00 2003
166 Djibouti 10.00 2003
167 Bahamas, The 10.00 2003
168 Aruba 0.01 1998 est.
169 Ashmore and Cartier Islands 0.00 NA
170 Heard Island and McDonald Islands 0.00 NA
171 British Indian Ocean Territory 0.00 NA
172 Jan Mayen 0.00 NA
173 Spratly Islands 0.00 NA
174 Wake Island 0.00 NA
175 Holy See (Vatican City) 0.00 NA
176 South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands0.00 NA
177 Marshall Islands 0.00 NA
178 Paracel Islands 0.00 NA
179 Clipperton Island 0.00 NA
180 Isle of Man 0.00 NA
181 French Southern and Antarctic Lands0.00 NA
182 Faroe Islands 0.00 NA
183 Coral Sea Islands 0.00 NA
184 Bouvet Island 0.00 NA
======================================================================
Rank code: 2147
Country Comparison :: Area
This entry includes three subfields. Total area is the sum of all
land and water areas delimited by international boundaries and/or
coastlines. Land area is the aggregate of all surfaces delimited by
international boundaries and/or coastlines, excluding inland water
bodies (lakes, reservoirs, rivers). Water area is the sum of the
surfaces of all inland water bodies, such as lakes, reservoirs, or
rivers, as delimited by international boundaries and/or coastlines.
Rank country (sq km) Date of Information