total: 867 km
border countries: Oman 410 km, Saudi Arabia 457 km
United Kingdom:
total: 360 km
border countries: Ireland 360 km
United States:
total: 12,248 km
border countries: Canada 8,893 km (including 2,477 km with Alaska),
Cuba 29 km (US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay), Mexico 3,326 km
note: Guantanamo Naval Base is leased by the US and thus remains
part of Cuba
Uruguay:
total: 1,564 km
border countries: Argentina 579 km, Brazil 985 km
Uzbekistan:
total: 6,221 km
border countries: Afghanistan 137 km, Kazakhstan 2,203 km,
Kyrgyzstan 1,099 km, Tajikistan 1,161 km, Turkmenistan 1,621 km
Vanuatu:
0 km
Venezuela:
total: 4,993 km
border countries: Brazil 2,200 km, Colombia 2,050 km, Guyana 743 km
Vietnam:
total: 4,639 km
border countries: Cambodia 1,228 km, China 1,281 km, Laos 2,130 km
Virgin Islands:
0 km
Wake Island:
0 km
Wallis and Futuna:
0 km
West Bank:
total: 404 km
border countries: Israel 307 km, Jordan 97 km
Western Sahara:
total: 2,046 km
border countries: Algeria 42 km, Mauritania 1,561 km, Morocco 443 km
World:
the land boundaries in the world total 251,480.24 km (not
counting shared boundaries twice)
Yemen:
total: 1,746 km
border countries: Oman 288 km, Saudi Arabia 1,458 km
Yugoslavia:
total: 2,246 km
border countries: Albania 287 km, Bosnia and Herzegovina 527 km,
Bulgaria 318 km, Croatia (north) 241 km, Croatia (south) 25 km,
Hungary 151 km, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 221 km,
Romania 476 km
Zambia:
total: 5,664 km
border countries: Angola 1,110 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo
1,930 km, Malawi 837 km, Mozambique 419 km, Namibia 233 km, Tanzania
338 km, Zimbabwe 797 km
Zimbabwe:
total: 3,066 km
border countries: Botswana 813 km, Mozambique 1,231 km, South
Africa 225 km, Zambia 797 km
Taiwan:
0 km
======================================================================
@Land use
Afghanistan:
arable land: 12%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 46%
forests and woodland: 3%
other: 39% (1993 est.)
Albania:
arable land: 21%
permanent crops: 5%
permanent pastures: 15%
forests and woodland: 38%
other: 21% (1993 est.)
Algeria:
arable land: 3%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 13%
forests and woodland: 2%
other: 82% (1993 est.)
American Samoa:
arable land: 5%
permanent crops: 10%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 70%
other: 15% (1993 est.)
Andorra:
arable land: 4%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 45%
forests and woodland: 35%
other: 16% (1998 est.)
Angola:
arable land: 2%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 23%
forests and woodland: 43%
other: 32% (1993 est.)
Anguilla:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 100% (mostly rock with sparse scrub oak, few trees, some
commercial salt ponds)
Antarctica:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 100% (ice 98%, barren rock 2%)
Antigua and Barbuda:
arable land: 18%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 9%
forests and woodland: 11%
other: 62% (1993 est.)
Argentina:
arable land: 9%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 52%
forests and woodland: 19%
other: 19% (1993 est.)
Armenia:
arable land: 17%
permanent crops: 3%
permanent pastures: 24%
forests and woodland: 15%
other: 41% (1993 est.)
Aruba:
arable land: 7% (including aloe 0.01%)
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 93% (1993 est.)
Ashmore and Cartier Islands:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 100% (all grass and sand)
Australia:
arable land: 6%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 54%
forests and woodland: 19%
other: 21% (1993 est.)
Austria:
arable land: 17%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 23%
forests and woodland: 39%
other: 20% (1996 est.)
Azerbaijan:
arable land: 18%
permanent crops: 5%
permanent pastures: 25%
forests and woodland: 11%
other: 41% (1993 est.)
Bahamas, The:
arable land: 1%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 32%
other: 67% (1993 est.)
Bahrain:
arable land: 1%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 6%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 92% (1993 est.)
Baker Island:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 100%
Bangladesh:
arable land: 73%
permanent crops: 2%
permanent pastures: 5%
forests and woodland: 15%
other: 5% (1993 est.)
Barbados:
arable land: 37%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 5%
forests and woodland: 12%
other: 46% (1993 est.)
Bassas da India:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 100% (all rock)
Belarus:
arable land: 29%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 15%
forests and woodland: 34%
other: 21% (1993 est.)
Belgium:
arable land: 24%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 20%
forests and woodland: 21%
other: 34%
Belize:
arable land: 10%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 2%
forests and woodland: 84%
other: 3% (2000 est.)
Benin:
arable land: 13%
permanent crops: 4%
permanent pastures: 4%
forests and woodland: 31%
other: 48% (1993 est.)
Bermuda:
arable land: 6%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 94% (55% developed, 39% rural/open space) (1997 est.)
Bhutan:
arable land: 2%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 6%
forests and woodland: 66%
other: 26% (1993 est.)
Bolivia:
arable land: 2%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 24%
forests and woodland: 53%
other: 21% (1993 est.)
Bosnia and Herzegovina:
arable land: 14%
permanent crops: 5%
permanent pastures: 20%
forests and woodland: 39%
other: 22% (1993 est.)
Botswana:
arable land: 1%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 46%
forests and woodland: 47%
other: 6% (1993 est.)
Bouvet Island:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 100% (93% ice)
Brazil:
arable land: 5%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 22%
forests and woodland: 58%
other: 14% (1993 est.)
British Indian Ocean Territory:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: NA%
other: NA%
British Virgin Islands:
arable land: 20%
permanent crops: 7%
permanent pastures: 33%
forests and woodland: 7%
other: 33% (1993 est.)
Brunei:
arable land: 1%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 1%
forests and woodland: 85%
other: 12% (1993 est.)
Bulgaria:
arable land: 43%
permanent crops: 2%
permanent pastures: 14%
forests and woodland: 38%
other: 3% (1999 est.)
Burkina Faso:
arable land: 13%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 22%
forests and woodland: 50%
other: 15% (1993 est.)
Burma:
arable land: 15%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 1%
forests and woodland: 49%
other: 34% (1993 est.)
Burundi:
arable land: 44%
permanent crops: 9%
permanent pastures: 36%
forests and woodland: 3%
other: 8% (1993 est.)
Cambodia:
arable land: 13%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 11%
forests and woodland: 66%
other: 10% (1993 est.)
Cameroon:
arable land: 13%
permanent crops: 2%
permanent pastures: 4%
forests and woodland: 78%
other: 3% (1993 est.)
Canada:
arable land: 5%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 3%
forests and woodland: 54%
other: 38% (1993 est.)
Cape Verde:
arable land: 11%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 6%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 83% (1993 est.)
Cayman Islands:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 8%
forests and woodland: 23%
other: 69% (1993 est.)
Central African Republic:
arable land: 3%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 5%
forests and woodland: 75%
other: 17% (1993 est.)
Chad:
arable land: 3%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 36%
forests and woodland: 26%
other: 35% (1993 est.)
Chile:
arable land: 5%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 18%
forests and woodland: 22%
other: 55% (1993 est.)
China:
arable land: 10%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 43%
forests and woodland: 14%
other: 33% (1993 est.)
Christmas Island:
arable land: NA%
permanent crops: NA%
permanent pastures: NA%
forests and woodland: NA%
other: NA%
note: mainly tropical rainforest of which 60%-70% is in a national
park
Clipperton Island:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 100% (all coral)
Cocos (Keeling) Islands:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 100% (1993 est.)
Colombia:
arable land: 4%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 39%
forests and woodland: 48%
other: 8% (1993 est.)
Comoros:
arable land: 35%
permanent crops: 10%
permanent pastures: 7%
forests and woodland: 18%
other: 30% (1993 est.)
Congo, Democratic Republic of the:
arable land: 3%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 7%
forests and woodland: 77%
other: 13% (1993 est.)
Congo, Republic of the:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 29%
forests and woodland: 62%
other: 9% (1993 est.)
Cook Islands:
arable land: 9%
permanent crops: 13%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 78% (1993 est.)
Coral Sea Islands:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 100% (mostly grass or scrub cover)
Costa Rica:
arable land: 6%
permanent crops: 5%
permanent pastures: 46%
forests and woodland: 31%
other: 12% (1993 est.)
Cote d'Ivoire:
arable land: 8%
permanent crops: 4%
permanent pastures: 41%
forests and woodland: 22%
other: 25% (1993 est.)
Croatia:
arable land: 21%
permanent crops: 2%
permanent pastures: 20%
forests and woodland: 38%
other: 19% (1993 est.)
Cuba:
arable land: 24%
permanent crops: 7%
permanent pastures: 27%
forests and woodland: 24%
other: 18% (1993 est.)
Cyprus:
arable land: 12%
permanent crops: 5%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 13%
other: 70% (1993 est.)
Czech Republic:
arable land: 41%
permanent crops: 2%
permanent pastures: 11%
forests and woodland: 34%
other: 12% (1993 est.)
Denmark:
arable land: 60%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 5%
forests and woodland: 10%
other: 25% (1993 est.)
Djibouti:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 9%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 91% (1993 est.)
Dominica:
arable land: 9%
permanent crops: 13%
permanent pastures: 3%
forests and woodland: 67%
other: 8% (1993 est.)
Dominican Republic:
arable land: 21%
permanent crops: 9%
permanent pastures: 43%
forests and woodland: 12%
other: 15% (1993 est.)
Ecuador:
arable land: 6%
permanent crops: 5%
permanent pastures: 18%
forests and woodland: 56%
other: 15% (1993 est.)
Egypt:
arable land: 2%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 98% (1993 est.)
El Salvador:
arable land: 27%
permanent crops: 8%
permanent pastures: 29%
forests and woodland: 5%
other: 31% (1993 est.)
Equatorial Guinea:
arable land: 5%
permanent crops: 4%
permanent pastures: 4%
forests and woodland: 46%
other: 41% (1993 est.)
Eritrea:
arable land: 12%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 49%
forests and woodland: 6%
other: 32% (1998 est.)
Estonia:
arable land: 25%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 11%
forests and woodland: 44%
other: 20% (1996 est.)
Ethiopia:
arable land: 12%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 40%
forests and woodland: 25%
other: 22% (1993 est.)
Europa Island:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 100%
other: 0%
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas):
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 99%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 1% (1993 est.)
Faroe Islands:
arable land: 6%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 94% (1996)
Fiji:
arable land: 10%
permanent crops: 4%
permanent pastures: 10%
forests and woodland: 65%
other: 11% (1993 est.)
Finland:
arable land: 8%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 76%
other: 16% (1993 est.)
France:
arable land: 33%
permanent crops: 2%
permanent pastures: 20%
forests and woodland: 27%
other: 18% (1993 est.)
French Guiana:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 90%
other: 10% (1996 est.)
French Polynesia:
arable land: 1%
permanent crops: 6%
permanent pastures: 5%
forests and woodland: 31%
other: 57% (1993 est.)
French Southern and Antarctic Lands:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 100%
Gabon:
arable land: 1%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 18%
forests and woodland: 77%
other: 3% (1993 est.)
Gambia, The:
arable land: 18%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 9%
forests and woodland: 28%
other: 45% (1993 est.)
Gaza Strip:
arable land: 24%
permanent crops: 39%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 11%
other: 26% (1993 est.)
Georgia:
arable land: 9%
permanent crops: 4%
permanent pastures: 25%
forests and woodland: 34%
other: 28% (1993 est.)
Germany:
arable land: 33%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 15%
forests and woodland: 31%
other: 20% (1993 est.)
Ghana:
arable land: 12%
permanent crops: 7%
permanent pastures: 22%
forests and woodland: 35%
other: 24% (1993 est.)
Gibraltar:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 100% (1993 est.)
Glorioso Islands:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 100% (all lush vegetation and coconut palms)
Greece:
arable land: 19%
permanent crops: 8%
permanent pastures: 41%
forests and woodland: 20%
other: 12% (1993 est.)
Greenland:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 1%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 99% (1998 est.)
Grenada:
arable land: 15%
permanent crops: 18%
permanent pastures: 3%
forests and woodland: 9%
other: 55% (1993 est.)
Guadeloupe:
arable land: 14%
permanent crops: 4%
permanent pastures: 14%
forests and woodland: 39%
other: 29% (1993 est.)
Guam:
arable land: 11%
permanent crops: 11%
permanent pastures: 15%
forests and woodland: 18%
other: 45% (1993 est.)
Guatemala:
arable land: 12%
permanent crops: 5%
permanent pastures: 24%
forests and woodland: 54%
other: 5% (1993 est.)
Guernsey:
arable land: NA%
permanent crops: NA%
permanent pastures: NA%
forests and woodland: NA%
other: NA%
Guinea:
arable land: 2%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 22%
forests and woodland: 59%
other: 17% (1993 est.)
Guinea-Bissau:
arable land: 11%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 38%
forests and woodland: 38%
other: 12% (1993 est.)
Guyana:
arable land: 2%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 6%
forests and woodland: 84%
other: 8% (1993 est.)
Haiti:
arable land: 20%
permanent crops: 13%
permanent pastures: 18%
forests and woodland: 5%
other: 44% (1993 est.)
Heard Island and McDonald Islands:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 100%
Holy See (Vatican City):
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 100% (urban area)
Honduras:
arable land: 15%
permanent crops: 3%
permanent pastures: 14%
forests and woodland: 54%
other: 14% (1993 est.)
Hong Kong:
arable land: 6%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 1%
forests and woodland: 20%
other: 72% (1997 est.)
Howland Island:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 5%
other: 95%
Hungary:
arable land: 51%
permanent crops: 3.6%
permanent pastures: 12.4%
forests and woodland: 19%
other: 14% (1999)
Iceland:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 23%
forests and woodland: 1%
other: 76% (1993 est.)
India:
arable land: 56%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 4%
forests and woodland: 23%
other: 16% (1993 est.)
Indonesia:
arable land: 10%
permanent crops: 7%
permanent pastures: 7%
forests and woodland: 62%
other: 14% (1993 est.)
Iran:
arable land: 10%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 27%
forests and woodland: 7%
other: 55% (1993 est.)
Iraq:
arable land: 12%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 9%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 79% (1993 est.)
Ireland:
arable land: 13%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 68%
forests and woodland: 5%
other: 14% (1993 est.)
Israel:
arable land: 17%
permanent crops: 4%
permanent pastures: 7%
forests and woodland: 6%
other: 66% (1993 est.)
Italy:
arable land: 31%
permanent crops: 10%
permanent pastures: 15%
forests and woodland: 23%
other: 21% (1993 est.)
Jamaica:
arable land: 14%
permanent crops: 6%
permanent pastures: 24%
forests and woodland: 17%
other: 39% (1993 est.)
Jan Mayen:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 100%
Japan:
arable land: 11%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 2%
forests and woodland: 67%
other: 19% (1993 est.)
Jarvis Island:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 100%
Jersey:
arable land: 66%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 34%
Johnston Atoll:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 100%
Jordan:
arable land: 4%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 9%
forests and woodland: 1%
other: 85% (1993 est.)
Juan de Nova Island:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 90%
other: 10%
Kazakhstan:
arable land: 12%
permanent crops: 11%
permanent pastures: 57%
forests and woodland: 4%
other: 16% (1996 est.)
Kenya:
arable land: 7%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 37%
forests and woodland: 30%
other: 25% (1993 est.)
Kingman Reef:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 100%
Kiribati:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 51%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 3%
other: 46% (1993 est.)
Korea, North:
arable land: 14%
permanent crops: 2%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 61%
other: 23% (1993 est.)
Korea, South:
arable land: 19%
permanent crops: 2%
permanent pastures: 1%
forests and woodland: 65%
other: 13% (1993 est.)
Kuwait:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 8%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 92% (1993 est.)
Kyrgyzstan:
arable land: 7%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 44%
forests and woodland: 4%
other: 45% (1993 est.)
note: Kyrgyzstan has the world's largest natural growth walnut
forest
Laos:
arable land: 3%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 3%
forests and woodland: 54%
other: 40% (1993 est.)
Latvia:
arable land: 27%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 13%
forests and woodland: 46%
other: 14% (1993 est.)
Lebanon:
arable land: 18%
permanent crops: 9%
permanent pastures: 1%
forests and woodland: 8%
other: 64% (1996 est.)
Lesotho:
arable land: 11%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 66%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 23% (1993 est.)
Liberia:
arable land: 1%
permanent crops: 3%
permanent pastures: 59%
forests and woodland: 18%
other: 19% (1993 est.)
Libya:
arable land: 1%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 8%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 91% (1993 est.)
Liechtenstein:
arable land: 24%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 16%
forests and woodland: 35%
other: 25% (1993 est.)
Lithuania:
arable land: 39%
permanent crops: 9%
permanent pastures: 6%
forests and woodland: 31%
other: 15% (2001 est.)
Luxembourg:
arable land: 24%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 20%
forests and woodland: 35%
other: 20%
Macau:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 2%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 98% (1998 est.)
Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of:
arable land: 24%
permanent crops: 2%
permanent pastures: 25%
forests and woodland: 39%
other: 10% (1993 est.)
Madagascar:
arable land: 4%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 41%
forests and woodland: 40%
other: 14% (1993 est.)
Malawi:
arable land: 34%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 20%
forests and woodland: 39%
other: 7% (1993 est.)
Malaysia:
arable land: 3%
permanent crops: 12%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 68%
other: 17% (1993 est.)
Maldives:
arable land: 10%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 3%
forests and woodland: 3%
other: 84% (1993 est.)
Mali:
arable land: 2%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 25%
forests and woodland: 6%
other: 67% (1993 est.)
Malta:
arable land: 32%
permanent crops: 3%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 4%
other: 61% (2000 est.)
Man, Isle of:
arable land: 9%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 46%
forests and woodland: 6%
other: 39% (includes 25% mountain and heathland)
Marshall Islands:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 60%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 40%
Martinique:
arable land: 8%
permanent crops: 8%
permanent pastures: 17%
forests and woodland: 44%
other: 23% (1993 est.)
Mauritania:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 38%
forests and woodland: 4%
other: 58% (1993 est.)
Mauritius:
arable land: 49%
permanent crops: 3%
permanent pastures: 3%
forests and woodland: 22%
other: 23% (1993 est.)
Mayotte:
arable land: NA%
permanent crops: NA%
permanent pastures: NA%
forests and woodland: NA%
other: NA%
Mexico:
arable land: 12%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 39%
forests and woodland: 26%
other: 22% (1993 est.)
Micronesia, Federated States of:
arable land: NA%
permanent crops: NA%
permanent pastures: NA%
forests and woodland: NA%
other: NA%
Midway Islands:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 100%
Moldova:
arable land: 53%
permanent crops: 14%
permanent pastures: 13%
forests and woodland: 13%
other: 7% (1993 est.)
Monaco:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 100% (urban area)
Mongolia:
arable land: 5.7%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 81%
forests and woodland: 11.4%
other: 1.9% (2000 est.)
Montserrat:
arable land: 20%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 10%
forests and woodland: 40%
other: 30% (1993 est.)
Morocco:
arable land: 21%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 47%
forests and woodland: 20%
other: 11% (1993 est.)
Mozambique:
arable land: 4%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 56%
forests and woodland: 18%
other: 22% (1993 est.)
Namibia:
arable land: 1%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 46%
forests and woodland: 22%
other: 31% (1993 est.)
Nauru:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 100% (1993 est.)
Navassa Island:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 10%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 90%
Nepal:
arable land: 17%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 15%
forests and woodland: 42%
other: 26% (1993 est.)
Netherlands:
arable land: 25%
permanent crops: 3%
permanent pastures: 25%
forests and woodland: 8%
other: 39% (1996 est.)
Netherlands Antilles:
arable land: 10%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 90% (1993 est.)
New Caledonia:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 12%
forests and woodland: 39%
other: 49% (1993 est.)
New Zealand:
arable land: 9%
permanent crops: 5%
permanent pastures: 50%
forests and woodland: 28%
other: 8% (1993 est.)
Nicaragua:
arable land: 9%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 46%
forests and woodland: 27%
other: 17% (1993 est.)
Niger:
arable land: 3%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 7%
forests and woodland: 2%
other: 88% (1993 est.)
Nigeria:
arable land: 33%
permanent crops: 3%
permanent pastures: 44%
forests and woodland: 12%
other: 8% (1993 est.)
Niue:
arable land: 19%
permanent crops: 8%
permanent pastures: 4%
forests and woodland: 19%
other: 50% (1993 est.)
Norfolk Island:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 25%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 75% (1993 est.)
Northern Mariana Islands:
arable land: 21%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 19%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 60%
Norway:
arable land: 3%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 27%
other: 70% (1993 est.)
Oman:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 5%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 95% (1993 est.)
Pakistan:
arable land: 27%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 6%
forests and woodland: 5%
other: 61% (1993 est.)
Palau:
arable land: NA%
permanent crops: NA%
permanent pastures: NA%
forests and woodland: NA%
other: NA%
Palmyra Atoll:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 100%
other: 0%
Panama:
arable land: 7%
permanent crops: 2%
permanent pastures: 20%
forests and woodland: 44%
other: 27% (1993 est.)
Papua New Guinea:
arable land: 0.1%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 92.9%
other: 6% (1993 est.)
Paracel Islands:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 100%
Paraguay:
arable land: 6%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 55%
forests and woodland: 32%
other: 7% (1993 est.)
Peru:
arable land: 3%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 21%
forests and woodland: 66%
other: 10% (1993 est.)
Philippines:
arable land: 19%
permanent crops: 12%
permanent pastures: 4%
forests and woodland: 46%
other: 19% (1993 est.)
Pitcairn Islands:
arable land: NA%
permanent crops: NA%
permanent pastures: NA%
forests and woodland: NA%
other: NA%
Poland:
arable land: 47%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 13%
forests and woodland: 29%
other: 10% (1993 est.)
Portugal:
arable land: 26%
permanent crops: 9%
permanent pastures: 9%
forests and woodland: 36%
other: 20% (1993 est.)
Puerto Rico:
arable land: 4%
permanent crops: 5%
permanent pastures: 26%
forests and woodland: 16%
other: 49% (1993 est.)
Qatar:
arable land: 1%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 5%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 94% (1993 est.)
Reunion:
arable land: 17%
permanent crops: 2%
permanent pastures: 5%
forests and woodland: 35%
other: 41% (1993 est.)
Romania:
arable land: 41%
permanent crops: 3%
permanent pastures: 21%
forests and woodland: 29%
other: 6% (1993 est.)
Russia:
arable land: 8%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 4%
forests and woodland: 46%
other: 42% (1993 est.)
Rwanda:
arable land: 35%
permanent crops: 13%
permanent pastures: 18%
forests and woodland: 22%
other: 12% (1993 est.)
Saint Helena:
arable land: 6%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 6%
forests and woodland: 6%
other: 82% (1993 est.)
Saint Kitts and Nevis:
arable land: 22%
permanent crops: 17%
permanent pastures: 3%
forests and woodland: 17%
other: 41% (1993 est.)
Saint Lucia:
arable land: 8%
permanent crops: 21%
permanent pastures: 5%
forests and woodland: 13%
other: 53% (1993 est.)
Saint Pierre and Miquelon:
arable land: 13%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 4%
other: 83% (1993 est.)
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines:
arable land: 10%
permanent crops: 18%
permanent pastures: 5%
forests and woodland: 36%
other: 31% (1993 est.)
Samoa:
arable land: 19%
permanent crops: 24%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 47%
other: 10%
San Marino:
arable land: 17%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 83% (1993 est.)
Sao Tome and Principe:
arable land: 2%
permanent crops: 36%
permanent pastures: 1%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 61% (1993 est.)
Saudi Arabia:
arable land: 2%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 56%
forests and woodland: 1%
other: 41% (1993 est.)
Senegal:
arable land: 12%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 16%
forests and woodland: 54%
other: 18% (1993 est.)
Seychelles:
arable land: 2%
permanent crops: 13%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 11%
other: 74% (1993 est.)
Sierra Leone:
arable land: 7%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 31%
forests and woodland: 28%
other: 33% (1993 est.)
Singapore:
arable land: 2%
permanent crops: 6%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 5%
other: 87% (1993 est.)
Slovakia:
arable land: 31%
permanent crops: 3%
permanent pastures: 17%
forests and woodland: 41%
other: 8% (1993 est.)
Slovenia:
arable land: 12%
permanent crops: 3%
permanent pastures: 24%
forests and woodland: 54%
other: 7% (1996 est.)
Solomon Islands:
arable land: 1%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 1%
forests and woodland: 88%
other: 9% (1993 est.)
Somalia:
arable land: 2%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 69%
forests and woodland: 26%
other: 3% (1993 est.)
South Africa:
arable land: 10%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 67%
forests and woodland: 7%
other: 15% (1993 est.)
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 100% (largely covered by permanent ice and snow with some
sparse vegetation consisting of grass, moss, and lichen)
Spain:
arable land: 30%
permanent crops: 9%
permanent pastures: 21%
forests and woodland: 32%
other: 8% (1993 est.)
Spratly Islands:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 100%
Sri Lanka:
arable land: 14%
permanent crops: 15%
permanent pastures: 7%
forests and woodland: 32%
other: 32% (1993 est.)
Sudan:
arable land: 5%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 46%
forests and woodland: 19%
other: 30% (1993 est.)
Suriname:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 96%
other: 4% (1993 est.)
note: there are 94,927 hectares of arable land, 7,195 hectares of
permanent crops, and 15,000 hectares of permanent pastures
Svalbard:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 100% (no trees, and the only bushes are crowberry and
cloudberry)
Swaziland:
arable land: 11%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 62%
forests and woodland: 7%
other: 20% (1993 est.)
Sweden:
arable land: 7%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 1%
forests and woodland: 68%
other: 24% (1993 est.)
Switzerland:
arable land: 10%
permanent crops: 2%
permanent pastures: 28%
forests and woodland: 32%
other: 28% (1993 est.)
Syria:
arable land: 28%
permanent crops: 4%
permanent pastures: 43%
forests and woodland: 3%
other: 22% (1993 est.)
Tajikistan:
arable land: 6%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 25%
forests and woodland: 4%
other: 65% (1993 est.)
Tanzania:
arable land: 3%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 40%
forests and woodland: 38%
other: 18% (1993 est.)
Thailand:
arable land: 34%
permanent crops: 6%
permanent pastures: 2%
forests and woodland: 26%
other: 32% (1993 est.)
Togo:
arable land: 38%
permanent crops: 7%
permanent pastures: 4%
forests and woodland: 17%
other: 34% (1993 est.)
Tokelau:
arable land: 0% (soil is thin and infertile)
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 100% (1993 est.)
Tonga:
arable land: 24%
permanent crops: 43%
permanent pastures: 6%
forests and woodland: 11%
other: 16% (1993 est.)
Trinidad and Tobago:
arable land: 15%
permanent crops: 9%
permanent pastures: 2%
forests and woodland: 46%
other: 28% (1993 est.)
Tromelin Island:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 100% (scattered bushes)
Tunisia:
arable land: 19%
permanent crops: 13%
permanent pastures: 20%
forests and woodland: 4%
other: 44% (1993 est.)
Turkey:
arable land: 32%
permanent crops: 4%
permanent pastures: 16%
forests and woodland: 26%
other: 22% (1993 est.)
Turkmenistan:
arable land: 3%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 63%
forests and woodland: 8%
other: 26% (1993 est.)
Turks and Caicos Islands:
arable land: 2%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 98% (1993 est.)
Tuvalu:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 100% (1993 est.)
Uganda:
arable land: 25%
permanent crops: 9%
permanent pastures: 9%
forests and woodland: 28%
other: 29% (1993 est.)
Ukraine:
arable land: 58%
permanent crops: 2%
permanent pastures: 13%
forests and woodland: 18%
other: 9% (1993 est.)
United Arab Emirates:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 2%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 98% (1993 est.)
United Kingdom:
arable land: 25%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 46%
forests and woodland: 10%
other: 19% (1993 est.)
United States:
arable land: 19%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 25%
forests and woodland: 30%
other: 26% (1993 est.)
Uruguay:
arable land: 7%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 77%
forests and woodland: 6%
other: 10% (1997 est.)
Uzbekistan:
arable land: 9%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 46%
forests and woodland: 3%
other: 41% (1993 est.)
Vanuatu:
arable land: 2%
permanent crops: 10%
permanent pastures: 2%
forests and woodland: 75%
other: 11% (1993 est.)
Venezuela:
arable land: 4%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 20%
forests and woodland: 34%
other: 41% (1993 est.)
Vietnam:
arable land: 17%
permanent crops: 4%
permanent pastures: 1%
forests and woodland: 30%
other: 48% (1993 est.)
Virgin Islands:
arable land: 15%
permanent crops: 6%
permanent pastures: 26%
forests and woodland: 6%
other: 47% (1993 est.)
Wake Island:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 100%
Wallis and Futuna:
arable land: 5%
permanent crops: 20%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 75% (1993 est.)
West Bank:
arable land: 27%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 32%
forests and woodland: 1%
other: 40%
Western Sahara:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 19%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 81%
World:
arable land: 10%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 26%
forests and woodland: 32%
other: 31% (1993 est.)
Yemen:
arable land: 3%
permanent crops: 13%
permanent pastures: 33.5%
forests and woodland: 4%
other: 46.5% (1999)
Yugoslavia:
arable land: 40%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 20.7%
forests and woodland: 17.3%
other: 22% (1998 est.)
Zambia:
arable land: 7%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 40%
forests and woodland: 39%
other: 14% (1993 est.)
Zimbabwe:
arable land: 7%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 13%
forests and woodland: 23%
other: 57% (1993 est.)
Taiwan:
arable land: 24%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 5%
forests and woodland: 55%
other: 15%
======================================================================
@Languages
Afghanistan:
Pashtu 35%, Afghan Persian (Dari) 50%, Turkic languages
(primarily Uzbek and Turkmen) 11%, 30 minor languages (primarily
Balochi and Pashai) 4%, much bilingualism
Albania:
Albanian (Tosk is the official dialect), Greek
Algeria:
Arabic (official), French, Berber dialects
American Samoa:
Samoan (closely related to Hawaiian and other
Polynesian languages), English
note: most people are bilingual
Andorra:
Catalan (official), French, Castilian
Angola:
Portuguese (official), Bantu and other African languages
Anguilla:
English (official)
Antigua and Barbuda:
English (official), local dialects
Argentina:
Spanish (official), English, Italian, German, French
Armenia:
Armenian 96%, Russian 2%, other 2%
Aruba:
Dutch (official), Papiamento (a Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch,
English dialect), English (widely spoken), Spanish
Australia:
English, native languages
Austria:
German
Azerbaijan:
Azerbaijani (Azeri) 89%, Russian 3%, Armenian 2%, other
6% (1995 est.)
Bahamas, The:
English, Creole (among Haitian immigrants)
Bahrain:
Arabic, English, Farsi, Urdu
Bangladesh:
Bangla (official, also known as Bengali), English
Barbados:
English
Belarus:
Byelorussian, Russian, other
Belgium:
Dutch 58%, French 32%, German 10%, legally bilingual (Dutch
and French)
Belize:
English (official), Spanish, Mayan, Garifuna (Carib), Creole
Benin:
French (official), Fon and Yoruba (most common vernaculars in
south), tribal languages (at least six major ones in north)
Bermuda:
English (official), Portuguese
Bhutan:
Dzongkha (official), Bhotes speak various Tibetan dialects,
Nepalese speak various Nepalese dialects
Bolivia:
Spanish (official), Quechua (official), Aymara (official)
Bosnia and Herzegovina:
Croatian, Serbian, Bosnian
Botswana:
English (official), Setswana
Brazil:
Portuguese (official), Spanish, English, French
British Virgin Islands:
English (official)
Brunei:
Malay (official), English, Chinese
Bulgaria:
Bulgarian, secondary languages closely correspond to
ethnic breakdown
Burkina Faso:
French (official), native African languages belonging
to Sudanic family spoken by 90% of the population
Burma:
Burmese, minority ethnic groups have their own languages
Burundi:
Kirundi (official), French (official), Swahili (along Lake
Tanganyika and in the Bujumbura area)
Cambodia:
Khmer (official) 95%, French, English
Cameroon:
24 major African language groups, English (official),
French (official)
Canada:
English 59.3% (official), French 23.2% (official), other
17.5%
Cape Verde:
Portuguese, Crioulo (a blend of Portuguese and West
African words)
Cayman Islands:
English
Central African Republic:
French (official), Sangho (lingua franca
and national language), Arabic, Hunsa, Swahili
Chad:
French (official), Arabic (official), Sara and Sango (in
south), more than 100 different languages and dialects
Chile:
Spanish
China:
Standard Chinese or Mandarin (Putonghua, based on the Beijing
dialect), Yue (Cantonese), Wu (Shanghaiese), Minbei (Fuzhou), Minnan
(Hokkien-Taiwanese), Xiang, Gan, Hakka dialects, minority languages
(see Ethnic groups entry)
Christmas Island:
English, Chinese, Malay
Cocos (Keeling) Islands:
English, Malay
Colombia:
Spanish
Comoros:
Arabic (official), French (official), Comoran (a blend of
Swahili and Arabic)
Congo, Democratic Republic of the:
French (official), Lingala (a
lingua franca trade language), Kingwana (a dialect of Kiswahili or
Swahili), Kikongo, Tshiluba
Congo, Republic of the:
French (official), Lingala and Monokutuba
(lingua franca trade languages), many local languages and dialects
(of which Kikongo has the most users)
Cook Islands:
English (official), Maori
Costa Rica:
Spanish (official), English spoken around Puerto Limon
Cote d'Ivoire:
French (official), 60 native dialects with Dioula the
most widely spoken
Croatia:
Croatian 96%, other 4% (including Italian, Hungarian,
Czech, Slovak, and German)
Cuba:
Spanish
Cyprus:
Greek, Turkish, English
Czech Republic:
Czech
Denmark:
Danish, Faroese, Greenlandic (an Inuit dialect), German
(small minority)
note: English is the predominant second language
Djibouti:
French (official), Arabic (official), Somali, Afar
Dominica:
English (official), French patois
Dominican Republic:
Spanish
Ecuador:
Spanish (official), Amerindian languages (especially
Quechua)
Egypt:
Arabic (official), English and French widely understood by
educated classes
El Salvador:
Spanish, Nahua (among some Amerindians)
Equatorial Guinea:
Spanish (official), French (official), pidgin
English, Fang, Bubi, Ibo
Eritrea:
Afar, Amharic, Arabic, Tigre and Kunama, Tigrinya, other
Cushitic languages
Estonia:
Estonian (official), Russian, Ukrainian, English, Finnish,
other
Ethiopia:
Amharic, Tigrinya, Oromigna, Guaragigna, Somali, Arabic,
other local languages, English (major foreign language taught in
schools)
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas):
English
Faroe Islands:
Faroese (derived from Old Norse), Danish
Fiji:
English (official), Fijian, Hindustani
Finland:
Finnish 93.4% (official), Swedish 5.9% (official), small
Lapp- and Russian-speaking minorities
France:
French 100%, rapidly declining regional dialects and
languages (Provencal, Breton, Alsatian, Corsican, Catalan, Basque,
Flemish)
French Guiana:
French
French Polynesia:
French (official), Tahitian (official)
Gabon:
French (official), Fang, Myene, Bateke, Bapounou/Eschira,
Bandjabi
Gambia, The:
English (official), Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, other
indigenous vernaculars
Gaza Strip:
Arabic, Hebrew (spoken by Israeli settlers and many
Palestinians), English (widely understood)
Georgia:
Georgian 71% (official), Russian 9%, Armenian 7%, Azeri 6%,
other 7%
note: Abkhaz is the official language in Abkhazia
Germany:
German
Ghana:
English (official), African languages (including Akan,
Moshi-Dagomba, Ewe, and Ga)
Gibraltar:
English (used in schools and for official purposes),
Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Russian
Greece:
Greek 99% (official), English, French
Greenland:
Greenlandic (East Inuit), Danish, English
Grenada:
English (official), French patois
Guadeloupe:
French (official) 99%, Creole patois
Guam:
English, Chamorro, Japanese
Guatemala:
Spanish 60%, Amerindian languages 40% (more than 20
Amerindian languages, including Quiche, Cakchiquel, Kekchi, Mam,
Garifuna, and Xinca)
Guernsey:
English, French, Norman-French dialect spoken in country
districts
Guinea:
French (official), each ethnic group has its own language
Guinea-Bissau:
Portuguese (official), Crioulo, African languages
Guyana:
English, Amerindian dialects, Creole, Hindi, Urdu
Haiti:
French (official), Creole (official)
Holy See (Vatican City):
Italian, Latin, French, various other
languages
Honduras:
Spanish, Amerindian dialects
Hong Kong:
Chinese (Cantonese), English; both are official
Hungary:
Hungarian 98.2%, other 1.8%
Iceland:
Icelandic
India:
English enjoys associate status but is the most important
language for national, political, and commercial communication,
Hindi the national language and primary tongue of 30% of the people,
Bengali (official), Telugu (official), Marathi (official), Tamil
(official), Urdu (official), Gujarati (official), Malayalam
(official), Kannada (official), Oriya (official), Punjabi
(official), Assamese (official), Kashmiri (official), Sindhi
(official), Sanskrit (official), Hindustani (a popular variant of
Hindi/Urdu spoken widely throughout northern India)
note: 24 languages each spoken by a million or more persons;
numerous other languages and dialects, for the most part mutually
unintelligible
Indonesia:
Bahasa Indonesia (official, modified form of Malay),
English, Dutch, local dialects, the most widely spoken of which is
Javanese
Iran:
Persian and Persian dialects 58%, Turkic and Turkic dialects
26%, Kurdish 9%, Luri 2%, Balochi 1%, Arabic 1%, Turkish 1%, other 2%
Iraq:
Arabic, Kurdish (official in Kurdish regions), Assyrian,
Armenian
Ireland:
English is the language generally used, Irish (Gaelic)
spoken mainly in areas located along the western seaboard
Israel:
Hebrew (official), Arabic used officially for Arab minority,
English most commonly used foreign language
Italy:
Italian (official), German (parts of Trentino-Alto Adige
region are predominantly German speaking), French (small
French-speaking minority in Valle d'Aosta region), Slovene
(Slovene-speaking minority in the Trieste-Gorizia area)
Jamaica:
English, Creole
Japan:
Japanese
Jersey:
English (official), French (official), Norman-French dialect
spoken in country districts
Jordan:
Arabic (official), English widely understood among upper and
middle classes
Kazakhstan:
Kazakh (Qazaq, state language) 40%, Russian (official,
used in everyday business) 66%
Kenya:
English (official), Kiswahili (official), numerous indigenous
languages
Kiribati:
English (official), I-Kiribati
Korea, North:
Korean
Korea, South:
Korean, English widely taught in junior high and high
school
Kuwait:
Arabic (official), English widely spoken
Kyrgyzstan:
Kirghiz (Kyrgyz) - official language, Russian - official
language
note: in May 2000, the Kyrgyzstani legislature made Russian an
official language, equal in status to Kirghiz
Laos:
Lao (official), French, English, and various ethnic languages
Latvia:
Latvian or Lettish (official), Lithuanian, Russian, other
Lebanon:
Arabic (official), French, English, Armenian
Lesotho:
Sesotho (southern Sotho), English (official), Zulu, Xhosa
Liberia:
English 20% (official), some 20 ethnic group languages, of
which a few can be written and are used in correspondence
Libya:
Arabic, Italian, English, all are widely understood in the
major cities
Liechtenstein:
German (official), Alemannic dialect
Lithuania:
Lithuanian (official), Polish, Russian
Luxembourg:
Luxembourgish (national language), German
(administrative language), French (administrative language)
Macau:
Portuguese, Chinese (Cantonese)
Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of:
Macedonian 70%, Albanian
21%, Turkish 3%, Serbo-Croatian 3%, other 3%
Madagascar:
French (official), Malagasy (official)
Malawi:
English (official), Chichewa (official), other languages
important regionally
Malaysia:
Bahasa Melayu (official), English, Chinese dialects
(Cantonese, Mandarin, Hokkien, Hakka, Hainan, Foochow), Tamil,
Telugu, Malayalam, Panjabi, Thai; note - in addition, in East
Malaysia several indigenous languages are spoken, the largest of
which are Iban and Kadazan
Maldives:
Maldivian Dhivehi (dialect of Sinhala, script derived from
Arabic), English spoken by most government officials
Mali:
French (official), Bambara 80%, numerous African languages
Malta:
Maltese (official), English (official)
Man, Isle of:
English, Manx Gaelic
Marshall Islands:
English (universally spoken and is the official
language), two major Marshallese dialects from the Malayo-Polynesian
family, Japanese
Martinique:
French, Creole patois
Mauritania:
Hasaniya Arabic (official), Pular, Soninke, Wolof
(official), French
Mauritius:
English (official), Creole, French, Hindi, Urdu, Hakka,
Bojpoori
Mayotte:
Mahorian (a Swahili dialect), French (official language)
spoken by 35% of the population
Mexico:
Spanish, various Mayan, Nahuatl, and other regional
indigenous languages
Micronesia, Federated States of:
English (official and common
language), Trukese, Pohnpeian, Yapese, Kosrean
Moldova:
Moldovan (official, virtually the same as the Romanian
language), Russian, Gagauz (a Turkish dialect)
Monaco:
French (official), English, Italian, Monegasque
Mongolia:
Khalkha Mongol 90%, Turkic, Russian (1999)
Montserrat:
English
Morocco:
Arabic (official), Berber dialects, French often the
language of business, government, and diplomacy
Mozambique:
Portuguese (official), indigenous dialects
Namibia:
English 7% (official), Afrikaans common language of most of
the population and about 60% of the white population, German 32%,
indigenous languages: Oshivambo, Herero, Nama
Nauru:
Nauruan (official, a distinct Pacific Island language),
English widely understood, spoken, and used for most government and
commercial purposes
Nepal:
Nepali (official; spoken by 90% of the population), about a
dozen other languages and about 30 major dialects; note - many in
government and business also speak English (1995)
Netherlands:
Dutch
Netherlands Antilles:
Dutch (official), Papiamento (a
Spanish-Portuguese-Dutch-English dialect) predominates, English
widely spoken, Spanish
New Caledonia:
French (official), 33 Melanesian-Polynesian dialects
New Zealand:
English (official), Maori
Nicaragua:
Spanish (official)
note: English and indigenous languages on Atlantic coast
Niger:
French (official), Hausa, Djerma
Nigeria:
English (official), Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo (Ibo), Fulani
Niue:
Polynesian closely related to Tongan and Samoan, English
Norfolk Island:
English (official), Norfolk a mixture of 18th
century English and ancient Tahitian
Northern Mariana Islands:
English, Chamorro, Carolinian
note: 86% of population speaks a language other than English at home
Norway:
Norwegian (official)
note: small Sami- and Finnish-speaking minorities
Oman:
Arabic (official), English, Baluchi, Urdu, Indian dialects
Pakistan:
Punjabi 48%, Sindhi 12%, Siraiki (a Punjabi variant) 10%,
Pashtu 8%, Urdu (official) 8%, Balochi 3%, Hindko 2%, Brahui 1%,
English (official and lingua franca of Pakistani elite and most
government ministries), Burushaski, and other 8%
Palau:
English and Palauan official in all states except Sonsoral
(Sonsorolese and English are official), Tobi (Tobi and English are
official), and Angaur (Angaur, Japanese, and English are official)
Panama:
Spanish (official), English 14%
note: many Panamanians bilingual
Papua New Guinea:
English spoken by 1%-2%, pidgin English
widespread, Motu spoken in Papua region
note: 715 indigenous languages
Paraguay:
Spanish (official), Guarani (official)
Peru:
Spanish (official), Quechua (official), Aymara
Philippines:
two official languages - Filipino (based on Tagalog)
and English, eight major dialects - Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocan,
Hiligaynon or Ilonggo, Bicol, Waray, Pampango, and Pangasinense
Pitcairn Islands:
English (official), Pitcairnese (mixture of an
18th century English dialect and a Tahitian dialect)
Poland:
Polish
Portugal:
Portuguese
Puerto Rico:
Spanish, English
Qatar:
Arabic (official), English commonly used as a second language
Reunion:
French (official), Creole widely used
Romania:
Romanian, Hungarian, German
Russia:
Russian, other
Rwanda:
Kinyarwanda (official) universal Bantu vernacular, French
(official), English (official), Kiswahili (Swahili) used in
commercial centers
Saint Helena:
English
Saint Kitts and Nevis:
English
Saint Lucia:
English (official), French patois
Saint Pierre and Miquelon:
French
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines:
English, French patois
Samoa:
Samoan (Polynesian), English
San Marino:
Italian
Sao Tome and Principe:
Portuguese (official)
Saudi Arabia:
Arabic
Senegal:
French (official), Wolof, Pulaar, Jola, Mandinka
Seychelles:
English (official), French (official), Creole
Sierra Leone:
English (official, regular use limited to literate
minority), Mende (principal vernacular in the south), Temne
(principal vernacular in the north), Krio (English-based Creole,
spoken by the descendants of freed Jamaican slaves who were settled
in the Freetown area, a lingua franca and a first language for 10%
of the population but understood by 95%)
Singapore:
Chinese (official), Malay (official and national), Tamil
(official), English (official)
Slovakia:
Slovak (official), Hungarian
Slovenia:
Slovenian 91%, Serbo-Croatian 6%, other 3%
Solomon Islands:
Melanesian pidgin in much of the country is lingua
franca, English spoken by 1%-2% of population
note: 120 indigenous languages
Somalia:
Somali (official), Arabic, Italian, English
South Africa:
11 official languages, including Afrikaans, English,
Ndebele, Pedi, Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu
Spain:
Castilian Spanish (official) 74%, Catalan 17%, Galician 7%,
Basque 2%
Sri Lanka:
Sinhala (official and national language) 74%, Tamil
(national language) 18%, other 8%
note: English is commonly used in government and is spoken
competently by about 10% of the population
Sudan:
Arabic (official), Nubian, Ta Bedawie, diverse dialects of
Nilotic, Nilo-Hamitic, Sudanic languages, English
note: program of "Arabization" in process
Suriname:
Dutch (official), English (widely spoken), Sranang Tongo
(Surinamese, sometimes called Taki-Taki, is native language of
Creoles and much of the younger population and is lingua franca
among others), Hindustani (a dialect of Hindi), Javanese
Svalbard:
Russian, Norwegian
Swaziland:
English (official, government business conducted in
English), siSwati (official)
Sweden:
Swedish
note: small Lapp- and Finnish-speaking minorities
Switzerland:
German (official) 63.7%, French (official) 19.2%,
Italian (official) 7.6%, Romansch 0.6%, other 8.9%
Syria:
Arabic (official); Kurdish, Armenian, Aramaic, Circassian
widely understood; French, English somewhat understood
Tajikistan:
Tajik (official), Russian widely used in government and
business
Tanzania:
Kiswahili or Swahili (official), Kiunguju (name for
Swahili in Zanzibar), English (official, primary language of
commerce, administration, and higher education), Arabic (widely
spoken in Zanzibar), many local languages
note: Kiswahili (Swahili) is the mother tongue of the Bantu people
living in Zanzibar and nearby coastal Tanzania; although Kiswahili
is Bantu in structure and origin, its vocabulary draws on a variety
of sources, including Arabic and English, and it has become the
lingua franca of central and eastern Africa; the first language of
most people is one of the local languages
Thailand:
Thai, English (secondary language of the elite), ethnic
and regional dialects
Togo:
French (official and the language of commerce), Ewe and Mina
(the two major African languages in the south), Kabye (sometimes
spelled Kabiye) and Dagomba (the two major African languages in the
north)
Tokelau:
Tokelauan (a Polynesian language), English
Tonga:
Tongan, English
Trinidad and Tobago:
English (official), Hindi, French, Spanish,
Chinese
Tunisia:
Arabic (official and one of the languages of commerce),
French (commerce)
Turkey:
Turkish (official), Kurdish, Arabic, Armenian, Greek
Turkmenistan:
Turkmen 72%, Russian 12%, Uzbek 9%, other 7%
Turks and Caicos Islands:
English (official)
Tuvalu:
Tuvaluan, English
Uganda:
English (official national language, taught in grade
schools, used in courts of law and by most newspapers and some radio
broadcasts), Ganda or Luganda (most widely used of the Niger-Congo
languages, preferred for native language publications in the capital
and may be taught in school), other Niger-Congo languages,
Nilo-Saharan languages, Swahili, Arabic
Ukraine:
Ukrainian, Russian, Romanian, Polish, Hungarian
United Arab Emirates:
Arabic (official), Persian, English, Hindi,
Urdu
United Kingdom:
English, Welsh (about 26% of the population of
Wales), Scottish form of Gaelic (about 60,000 in Scotland)
United States:
English, Spanish (spoken by a sizable minority)
Uruguay:
Spanish, Portunol, or Brazilero (Portuguese-Spanish mix on
the Brazilian frontier)
Uzbekistan:
Uzbek 74.3%, Russian 14.2%, Tajik 4.4%, other 7.1%
Vanuatu:
English (official), French (official), pidgin (known as
Bislama or Bichelama)
Venezuela:
Spanish (official), numerous indigenous dialects
Vietnam:
Vietnamese (official), English (increasingly favored as a
second language), some French, Chinese, and Khmer; mountain area
languages (Mon-Khmer and Malayo-Polynesian)
Virgin Islands:
English (official), Spanish, Creole
Wallis and Futuna:
French, Wallisian (indigenous Polynesian language)
West Bank:
Arabic, Hebrew (spoken by Israeli settlers and many
Palestinians), English (widely understood)
Western Sahara:
Hassaniya Arabic, Moroccan Arabic
Yemen:
Arabic
Yugoslavia:
Serbian 95%, Albanian 5%
Zambia:
English (official), major vernaculars - Bemba, Kaonda, Lozi,
Lunda, Luvale, Nyanja, Tonga, and about 70 other indigenous languages
Zimbabwe:
English (official), Shona, Sindebele (the language of the
Ndebele, sometimes called Ndebele), numerous but minor tribal
dialects
Taiwan:
Mandarin Chinese (official), Taiwanese (Min), Hakka dialects
======================================================================
@Legal system
Afghanistan:
a new legal system has not been adopted but all
factions tacitly agree they will follow Shari'a (Islamic law)
Albania:
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Algeria:
socialist, based on French and Islamic law; judicial review
of legislative acts in ad hoc Constitutional Council composed of
various public officials, including several Supreme Court justices;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
American Samoa:
NA
Andorra:
based on French and Spanish civil codes; no judicial review
of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Angola:
based on Portuguese civil law system and customary law;
recently modified to accommodate political pluralism and increased
use of free markets
Anguilla:
based on English common law
Antarctica:
Antarctica is administered through meetings of the
consultative member nations. Decisions from these meetings are
carried out by these member nations (within their areas) in
accordance with their own national laws. US law, including certain
criminal offenses by or against US nationals, such as murder, may
apply extra-territorially. Some US laws directly apply to
Antarctica. For example, the Antarctic Conservation Act, 16 U.S.C.
section 2401 et seq., provides civil and criminal penalties for the
following activities, unless authorized by regulation of statute:
the taking of native mammals or birds; the introduction of
nonindigenous plants and animals; entry into specially protected
areas; the discharge or disposal of pollutants; and the importation
into the US of certain items from Antarctica. Violation of the
Antarctic Conservation Act carries penalties of up to $10,000 in
fines and one year in prison. The National Science Foundation and
Department of Justice share enforcement responsibilities. Public Law
95-541, the US Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978, as amended in
1996, requires expeditions from the US to Antarctica to notify, in
advance, the Office of Oceans and Polar Affairs, Room 5801,
Department of State, Washington, DC 20520, which reports such plans
to other nations as required by the Antarctic Treaty. For more
information, contact Permit Office, Office of Polar Programs,
National Science Foundation, Arlington, Virginia 22230; telephone:
(703) 292-8030, or see their website at www.nsf.gov.
Antigua and Barbuda:
based on English common law
Argentina:
mixture of US and West European legal systems; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Armenia:
based on civil law system
Aruba:
based on Dutch civil law system, with some English common law
influence
Ashmore and Cartier Islands:
the laws of the Northern Territory of
Australia, where applicable, apply
Australia:
based on English common law; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction, with reservations
Austria:
civil law system with Roman law origin; judicial review of
legislative acts by the Constitutional Court; separate
administrative and civil/penal supreme courts; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Azerbaijan:
based on civil law system
Bahamas, The:
based on English common law
Bahrain:
based on Islamic law and English common law
Baker Island:
the laws of the US, where applicable, apply
Bangladesh:
based on English common law
Barbados:
English common law; no judicial review of legislative acts
Bassas da India:
the laws of France, where applicable, apply
Belarus:
based on civil law system
Belgium:
civil law system influenced by English constitutional
theory; judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction, with reservations
Belize:
English law
Benin:
based on French civil law and customary law; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Bermuda:
English law
Bhutan:
based on Indian law and English common law; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Bolivia:
based on Spanish law and Napoleonic Code; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Bosnia and Herzegovina:
based on civil law system
Botswana:
based on Roman-Dutch law and local customary law; judicial
review limited to matters of interpretation; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Bouvet Island:
the laws of Norway, where applicable, apply
Brazil:
based on Roman codes; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
British Indian Ocean Territory:
the laws of the UK, where
applicable, apply
British Virgin Islands:
English law
Brunei:
based on English common law; for Muslims, Islamic Shari'a
law supersedes civil law in a number of areas
Bulgaria:
civil law and criminal law based on Roman law; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Burkina Faso:
based on French civil law system and customary law
Burma:
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Burundi:
based on German and Belgian civil codes and customary law;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Cambodia:
primarily a civil law mixture of French-influenced codes
from the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC)
period, royal decrees, and acts of the legislature, with influences
of customary law and remnants of communist legal theory; increasing
influence of common law in recent years
Cameroon:
based on French civil law system, with common law
influence; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Canada:
based on English common law, except in Quebec, where civil
law system based on French law prevails; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction, with reservations
Cape Verde:
derived from the legal system of Portugal
Cayman Islands:
British common law and local statutes
Central African Republic:
based on French law
Chad:
based on French civil law system and Chadian customary law;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Chile:
based on Code of 1857 derived from Spanish law and subsequent
codes influenced by French and Austrian law; judicial review of
legislative acts in the Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction
China:
a complex amalgam of custom and statute, largely criminal
law; rudimentary civil code in effect since 1 January 1987; new
legal codes in effect since 1 January 1980; continuing efforts are
being made to improve civil, administrative, criminal, and
commercial law
Christmas Island:
under the authority of the governor general of
Australia and Australian law
Clipperton Island:
the laws of France, where applicable, apply
Cocos (Keeling) Islands:
based upon the laws of Australia and local
laws
Colombia:
based on Spanish law; a new criminal code modeled after US
procedures was enacted in 1992-93; judicial review of executive and
legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with
reservations
Comoros:
French and Muslim law in a new consolidated code
Congo, Democratic Republic of the:
based on Belgian civil law system
and tribal law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Congo, Republic of the:
based on French civil law system and
customary law
Cook Islands:
based on New Zealand law and English common law
Coral Sea Islands:
the laws of Australia, where applicable, apply
Costa Rica:
based on Spanish civil law system; judicial review of
legislative acts in the Supreme Court; has accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Cote d'Ivoire:
based on French civil law system and customary law;
judicial review in the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Croatia:
based on civil law system
Cuba:
based on Spanish and American law, with large elements of
Communist legal theory; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Cyprus:
based on common law, with civil law modifications
Czech Republic:
civil law system based on Austro-Hungarian codes;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; legal code modified to
bring it in line with Organization on Security and Cooperation in
Europe (OSCE) obligations and to expunge Marxist-Leninist legal
theory
Denmark:
civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts;
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Djibouti:
based on French civil law system, traditional practices,
and Islamic law
Dominica:
based on English common law
Dominican Republic:
based on French civil codes
Ecuador:
based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Egypt:
based on English common law, Islamic law, and Napoleonic
codes; judicial review by Supreme Court and Council of State
(oversees validity of administrative decisions); accepts compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
El Salvador:
based on civil and Roman law, with traces of common
law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court;
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Equatorial Guinea:
partly based on Spanish civil law and tribal
custom
Eritrea:
operates on the basis of transitional laws that incorporate
pre-independence statutes of the Eritrean People's Liberation Front,
revised Ethiopian laws, customary laws, and post independence
enacted laws
Estonia:
based on civil law system; no judicial review of
legislative acts
Ethiopia:
currently transitional mix of national and regional courts
Europa Island:
the laws of France, where applicable, apply
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas):
English common law
Faroe Islands:
Danish
Fiji:
based on British system
Finland:
civil law system based on Swedish law; Supreme Court may
request legislation interpreting or modifying laws; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
France:
civil law system with indigenous concepts; review of
administrative but not legislative acts
French Guiana:
French legal system
French Polynesia:
based on French system
French Southern and Antarctic Lands:
the laws of France, where
applicable, apply
Gabon:
based on French civil law system and customary law; judicial
review of legislative acts in Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme
Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Gambia, The:
based on a composite of English common law, Koranic
law, and customary law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with
reservations
Georgia:
based on civil law system
Germany:
civil law system with indigenous concepts; judicial review
of legislative acts in the Federal Constitutional Court; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Ghana:
based on English common law and customary law; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Gibraltar:
English law
Glorioso Islands:
the laws of France, where applicable, apply
Greece:
based on codified Roman law; judiciary divided into civil,
criminal, and administrative courts
Greenland:
Danish
Grenada:
based on English common law
Guadeloupe:
French legal system
Guam:
modeled on US; US federal laws apply
Guatemala:
civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Guernsey:
English law and local statute; justice is administered by
the Royal Court
Guinea:
based on French civil law system, customary law, and decree;
legal codes currently being revised; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Guinea-Bissau:
NA
Guyana:
based on English common law with certain admixtures of
Roman-Dutch law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Haiti:
based on Roman civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Heard Island and McDonald Islands:
the laws of Australia, where
applicable, apply
Holy See (Vatican City):
NA
Honduras:
rooted in Roman and Spanish civil law with increasing
influence of English common law; recent judicial reforms include
abandoning Napoleonic legal codes in favor of the oral adversarial
system; accepts ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Hong Kong:
based on English common law
Howland Island:
the laws of the US, where applicable, apply
Hungary:
rule of law based on Western model
Iceland:
civil law system based on Danish law; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
India:
based on English common law; limited judicial review of
legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with
reservations
Indonesia:
based on Roman-Dutch law, substantially modified by
indigenous concepts and by new criminal procedures code; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Iran:
the Constitution codifies Islamic principles of government
Iraq:
based on Islamic law in special religious courts, civil law
system elsewhere; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Ireland:
based on English common law, substantially modified by
indigenous concepts; judicial review of legislative acts in Supreme
Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Israel:
mixture of English common law, British Mandate regulations,
and, in personal matters, Jewish, Christian, and Muslim legal
systems; in December 1985, Israel informed the UN Secretariat that
it would no longer accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Italy:
based on civil law system; appeals treated as new trials;
judicial review under certain conditions in Constitutional Court;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Jamaica:
based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction
Jan Mayen:
the laws of Norway, where applicable, apply
Japan:
modeled after European civil law system with English-American
influence; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court;
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Jarvis Island:
the laws of the US, where applicable, apply
Jersey:
English law and local statute
Johnston Atoll:
the laws of the US, where applicable, apply
Jordan:
based on Islamic law and French codes; judicial review of
legislative acts in a specially provided High Tribunal; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Juan de Nova Island:
the laws of France, where applicable, apply
Kazakhstan:
based on civil law system
Kenya:
based on English common law, tribal law, and Islamic law;
judicial review in High Court; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction,
with reservations; constitutional amendment of 1982 making Kenya a
de jure one-party state repealed in 1991
Kingman Reef:
the laws of the US, where applicable, apply
Kiribati:
NA
Korea, North:
based on German civil law system with Japanese
influences and Communist legal theory; no judicial review of
legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Korea, South:
combines elements of continental European civil law
systems, Anglo-American law, and Chinese classical thought
Kuwait:
civil law system with Islamic law significant in personal
matters; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Kyrgyzstan:
based on civil law system
Laos:
based on traditional customs, French legal norms and
procedures, and Socialist practice
Latvia:
based on civil law system
Lebanon:
mixture of Ottoman law, canon law, Napoleonic code, and
civil law; no judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Lesotho:
based on English common law and Roman-Dutch law; judicial
review of legislative acts in High Court and Court of Appeal; has
not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Liberia:
dual system of statutory law based on Anglo-American common
law for the modern sector and customary law based on unwritten
tribal practices for indigenous sector
Libya:
based on Italian civil law system and Islamic law; separate
religious courts; no constitutional provision for judicial review of
legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Liechtenstein:
local civil and penal codes; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction, with reservations
Lithuania:
based on civil law system; no judicial review of
legislative acts
Luxembourg:
based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Macau:
based on Portuguese civil law system
Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of:
based on civil law
system; judicial review of legislative acts
Madagascar:
based on French civil law system and traditional
Malagasy law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Malawi:
based on English common law and customary law; judicial
review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court of Appeal; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Malaysia:
based on English common law; judicial review of
legislative acts in the Supreme Court at request of supreme head of
the federation; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Maldives:
based on Islamic law with admixtures of English common law
primarily in commercial matters; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Mali:
based on French civil law system and customary law; judicial
review of legislative acts in Constitutional Court (which was
formally established on 9 March 1994); has not accepted compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction
Malta:
based on English common law and Roman civil law; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Man, Isle of:
English common law and Manx statute
Marshall Islands:
based on adapted Trust Territory laws, acts of the
legislature, municipal, common, and customary laws
Martinique:
French legal system
Mauritania:
a combination of Shari'a (Islamic law) and French civil
law
Mauritius:
based on French civil law system with elements of English
common law in certain areas
Mayotte:
French law
Mexico:
mixture of US constitutional theory and civil law system;
judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction, with reservations
Micronesia, Federated States of:
based on adapted Trust Territory
laws, acts of the legislature, municipal, common, and customary laws
Midway Islands:
the laws of the US, where applicable, apply
Moldova:
based on civil law system; Constitutional Court reviews
legality of legislative acts and governmental decisions of
resolution; it is unclear if Moldova accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction but accepts many UN and Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) documents
Monaco:
based on French law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Mongolia:
blend of Russian, Chinese, Turkish, and Western systems of
law that combines aspects of a parliamentary system with some
aspects of a presidential system; constitution ambiguous on judicial
review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Montserrat:
English common law and statutory law
Morocco:
based on Islamic law and French and Spanish civil law
system; judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional
Chamber of Supreme Court
Mozambique:
based on Portuguese civil law system and customary law
Namibia:
based on Roman-Dutch law and 1990 constitution
Nauru:
acts of the Nauru Parliament and British common law
Navassa Island:
the laws of the US, where applicable, apply
Nepal:
based on Hindu legal concepts and English common law; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Netherlands:
civil law system incorporating French penal theory;
constitution does not permit judicial review of acts of the States
General; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Netherlands Antilles:
based on Dutch civil law system, with some
English common law influence
New Caledonia:
the 1988 Matignon Accords grant substantial autonomy
to the islands; formerly under French law
New Zealand:
based on English law, with special land legislation and
land courts for Maoris; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with
reservations
Nicaragua:
civil law system; Supreme Court may review administrative
acts
Niger:
based on French civil law system and customary law; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Nigeria:
based on English common law, Islamic Shariah law (only in
some northern states), and traditional law
Niue:
English common law
Norfolk Island:
based on the laws of Australia, local ordinances and
acts; English common law applies in matters not covered by either
Australian or Norfolk Island law
Northern Mariana Islands:
based on US system, except for customs,
wages, immigration laws, and taxation
Norway:
mixture of customary law, civil law system, and common law
traditions; Supreme Court renders advisory opinions to legislature
when asked; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Oman:
based on English common law and Islamic law; ultimate appeal
to the monarch; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Pakistan:
based on English common law with provisions to accommodate
Pakistan's status as an Islamic state; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction, with reservations
Palau:
based on Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature,
municipal, common, and customary laws
Palmyra Atoll:
the laws of the US, where applicable, apply
Panama:
based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative
acts in the Supreme Court of Justice; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction, with reservations
Papua New Guinea:
based on English common law
Paraguay:
based on Argentine codes, Roman law, and French codes;
judicial review of legislative acts in Supreme Court of Justice
Peru:
based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Philippines:
based on Spanish and Anglo-American law; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Pitcairn Islands:
local island by-laws
Poland:
mixture of Continental (Napoleonic) civil law and holdover
communist legal theory; changes being gradually introduced as part
of broader democratization process; limited judicial review of
legislative acts although under the new constitution, the
Constitutional Tribunal ruling will become final as of October 1999;
court decisions can be appealed to the European Court of Justice in
Strasbourg
Portugal:
civil law system; the Constitutional Tribunal reviews the
constitutionality of legislation; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction, with reservations
Puerto Rico:
based on Spanish civil code
Qatar:
discretionary system of law controlled by the amir, although
civil codes are being implemented; Islamic law is significant in
personal matters
Reunion:
French law
Romania:
former mixture of civil law system and communist legal
theory; is now based on the constitution of France's Fifth Republic
Russia:
based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative
acts
Rwanda:
based on German and Belgian civil law systems and customary
law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; has
not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Saint Helena:
NA
Saint Kitts and Nevis:
based on English common law
Saint Lucia:
based on English common law
Saint Pierre and Miquelon:
French law with special adaptations for
local conditions, such as housing and taxation
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines:
based on English common law
Samoa:
based on English common law and local customs; judicial
review of legislative acts with respect to fundamental rights of the
citizen; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
San Marino:
based on civil law system with Italian law influences;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Sao Tome and Principe:
based on Portuguese legal system and
customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Saudi Arabia:
based on Islamic law, several secular codes have been
introduced; commercial disputes handled by special committees; has
not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Senegal:
based on French civil law system; judicial review of
legislative acts in Constitutional Court; the Council of State
audits the government's accounting office; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Seychelles:
based on English common law, French civil law, and
customary law
Sierra Leone:
based on English law and customary laws indigenous to
local tribes; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Singapore:
based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction
Slovakia:
civil law system based on Austro-Hungarian codes; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; legal code modified to comply
with the obligations of Organization on Security and Cooperation in
Europe (OSCE) and to expunge Marxist-Leninist legal theory
Slovenia:
based on civil law system
Solomon Islands:
English common law
Somalia:
NA
South Africa:
based on Roman-Dutch law and English common law;
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands:
the laws of the UK,
where applicable, apply
Spain:
civil law system, with regional applications; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Sri Lanka:
a highly complex mixture of English common law,
Roman-Dutch, Muslim, Sinhalese, and customary law; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Sudan:
based on English common law and Islamic law; as of 20 January
1991, the now defunct Revolutionary Command Council imposed Islamic
law in the northern states; Islamic law applies to all residents of
the northern states regardless of their religion; some separate
religious courts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with
reservations
Suriname:
based on Dutch legal system incorporating French penal
theory
Svalbard:
NA
Swaziland:
based on South African Roman-Dutch law in statutory
courts and Swazi traditional law and custom in traditional courts;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Sweden:
civil law system influenced by customary law; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Switzerland:
civil law system influenced by customary law; judicial
review of legislative acts, except with respect to federal decrees
of general obligatory character; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction, with reservations
Syria:
based on Islamic law and civil law system; special religious
courts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Tajikistan:
based on civil law system; no judicial review of
legislative acts
Tanzania:
based on English common law; judicial review of
legislative acts limited to matters of interpretation; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Thailand:
based on civil law system, with influences of common law;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Togo:
French-based court system
Tokelau:
British and local statutes
Tonga:
based on English law
Trinidad and Tobago:
based on English common law; judicial review of
legislative acts in the Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction
Tromelin Island:
the laws of France, where applicable, apply
Tunisia:
based on French civil law system and Islamic law; some
judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court in joint
session
Turkey:
derived from various European continental legal systems;
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Turkmenistan:
based on civil law system
Turks and Caicos Islands:
based on laws of England and Wales, with a
small number adopted from Jamaica and The Bahamas
Tuvalu:
NA
Uganda:
in 1995, the government restored the legal system to one
based on English common law and customary law; accepts compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Ukraine:
based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative
acts
United Arab Emirates:
federal court system introduced in 1971; all
emirates except Dubayy (Dubai) and Ra's al Khaymah have joined the
federal system; all emirates have secular and Islamic law for civil,
criminal, and high courts
United Kingdom:
common law tradition with early Roman and modern
continental influences; no judicial review of Acts of Parliament;
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations; British
courts and legislation are increasingly subject to review by
European Union courts
United States:
based on English common law; judicial review of
legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with
reservations
Uruguay:
based on Spanish civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Uzbekistan:
evolution of Soviet civil law; still lacks independent
judicial system
Vanuatu:
unified system being created from former dual French and
British systems
Venezuela:
based on organic laws as of July 1999; open, adversarial
court system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Vietnam:
based on communist legal theory and French civil law system
Virgin Islands:
based on US laws
Wake Island:
the laws of the US, where applicable, apply
Wallis and Futuna:
French legal system
World:
all members of the UN plus Switzerland are parties to the
statute that established the International Court of Justice (ICJ) or
World Court
Yemen:
based on Islamic law, Turkish law, English common law, and
local tribal customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Yugoslavia:
based on civil law system
Zambia:
based on English common law and customary law; judicial
review of legislative acts in an ad hoc constitutional council; has
not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Zimbabwe:
mixture of Roman-Dutch and English common law
Taiwan:
based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction, with reservations
======================================================================
@Legislative branch
Afghanistan:
non-functioning as of June 1993
Albania:
unicameral People's Assembly or Kuvendi Popullor (155
seats; most members are elected by direct popular vote and some by
proportional vote for four-year terms)
elections: last held 29 June 1997 (next held 24 June 2001, 2nd
round 8 July 2001)
election results: percent of vote by party - PS 53.36%, PD 25.33%,
PSD 2.5%, PBDNJ 2.78%, PBK 2.36%, PAD 2.85%, PR 2.25%, PLL 3.09%,
PDK 1.00%, PBSD 0.84%; seats by party - PS 101, PD 27, PSD 8, PBDNJ
4, PBK 3, PAD 2, PR 2, PLL 2, PDK 1, PBSD 1, PUK 1, independents 3
Algeria:
bicameral Parliament consists of the National People's
Assembly or Al-Majlis Ech-Chaabi Al-Watani (380 seats; members
elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and the Council of
Nations (144 seats; one-third of the members appointed by the
president, two-thirds elected by indirect vote; members serve
six-year terms; the constitution requires half the council to be
renewed every three years)
elections: National People's Assembly - last held 5 June 1997 (next
to be held NA 2002); Council of Nations - last held 30 December 2000
(next to be held NA 2003)
election results: National People's Assembly - percent of vote by
party - RND 40.8%, MSP 18.2%, FLN 16.8%, Nahda Movement 8.9%, FFS
5%, RCD 5%, PT 1.1%, Progressive Republican Party 0.8%, Union for
Democracy and Liberty 0.3%, Social Liberal Party 0.3%, independents
2.8%; seats by party - RND 155, MSP 69, FLN 64, Nahda Movement 34,
FFS 19, RCD 19, PT 4, Progressive Republican Party 3, Union for
Democracy and Liberty 1, Social Liberal Party 1, independents 11;
Council of Nations - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party
- RND 79, FLN 12, FFS 4, MSP 1 (remaining 48 seats appointed by the
president, party breakdown NA)
American Samoa:
bicameral Fono or Legislative Assembly consists of
the House of Representatives (21 seats - 20 of which are elected by
popular vote and 1 is an appointed, nonvoting delegate from Swains
Island; members serve two-year terms) and the Senate (18 seats;
members are elected from local chiefs and serve four-year terms)
elections: House of Representatives - last held 7 November 2000
(next to be held NA November 2002); Senate - last held 7 November
2000 (next to be held NA November 2004)
election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote by
party - NA%; seats by party - NA; Senate - percent of vote by party
- NA%; seats by party - NA; note - only independents elected
note: American Samoa elects one delegate to the US House of
Representatives; election last held 7 November 2000 (next to be held
NA November 2002); results - Eni F. H. FALEOMAVAEGA (Democrat)
reelected as delegate for a sixth term
Andorra:
unicameral General Council of the Valleys or Consell
General de las Valls (28 seats; members are elected by direct
popular vote, 14 from a single national constituency and 14 to
represent each of the 7 parishes; members serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 16 February 1997 (next to be held NA February
2001)
election results: percent of vote by party - UL 57%, AND 21%, IDN
7%, ND 7%, other 8%; seats by party - UL 16, AND 6, ND 2, IDN 2, UPO
2
Angola:
unicameral National Assembly or Assembleia Nacional (220
seats; members elected by proportional vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 29-30 September 1992 (next to be held NA)
election results: percent of vote by party - MPLA 54%, UNITA 34%,
others 12%; seats by party - MPLA 129, UNITA 70, PRS 6, FNLA 5, PLD
3, others 7
Anguilla:
unicameral House of Assembly (11 seats total, 7 elected by
direct popular vote, 2 ex officio members and 2 appointed; members
serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 3 March 2000 (next to be held NA March 2005)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
UF 4, AUM 2, independent 1
Antigua and Barbuda:
bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate
(17-member body appointed by the governor general) and the House of
Representatives (17 seats; members are elected by proportional
representation to serve five-year terms)
elections: House of Representatives - last held 9 March 1999 (next
to be held NA March 2004)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
ALP 12, UPP 4, independent 1
Argentina:
bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists
of the Senate (72 seats; formerly, three members appointed by each
of the provincial legislatures; presently transitioning to one-third
of the members being elected every two years to six-year terms) and
the Chamber of Deputies (257 seats; one-half of the members elected
every two years to four-year terms)
elections: Senate - transition phase will begin in the 2001
elections when all seats will be fully contested; winners will
randomly draw to determine whether they will serve a two-year,
four-year, or full six-year term, beginning a rotating cycle
renovating one-third of the body every two years; Chamber of
Deputies - last held 24 October 1999 (next to be held NA October
2001)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by bloc or party - NA%;
seats by bloc or party - Peronist 40, UCR 20, Frepaso 1, other 11;
Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by bloc or party - NA%; seats
by bloc or party - Alliance 124 (UCR 85, Frepaso 36, others 3),
Peronist 101, AR 12, other 20
Armenia:
unicameral National Assembly (Parliament) or Azgayin
Zhoghov (131 seats; members serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 30 May 1999 (next to be held in the spring of
2003)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
unity bloc 61 (Republican Party 41, People's Party of Armenia 20),
Stability Group (independent Armenian deputies who have formed a
bloc) 21, ACP 10, ARF (Dashnak) 8, Law and Unity Party 7, NDU 6,
Law-Governed Party 6, independents 10, unfilled 2; note - seats by
party change frequently
Aruba:
unicameral Legislature or Staten (21 seats; members elected
by direct, popular vote to serve four-year terms)