earthquakes, most severe in south and southwest; geologic
structure and climate promote landslides
Russia
permafrost over much of Siberia is a major impediment to
development; volcanic activity in the Kuril Islands; volcanoes and
earthquakes on the Kamchatka Peninsula; spring floods and
summer/autumn forest fires throughout Siberia and parts of European
Russia
Rwanda
periodic droughts; the volcanic Virunga mountains are in the
northwest along the border with Democratic Republic of the Congo
Saint Helena
active volcanism on Tristan da Cunha, last eruption in
1961
Saint Kitts and Nevis
hurricanes (July to October)
Saint Lucia
hurricanes and volcanic activity
Saint Pierre and Miquelon
persistent fog throughout the year can be
a maritime hazard
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
hurricanes; Soufriere volcano on
the island of Saint Vincent is a constant threat
Samoa
occasional typhoons; active volcanism
San Marino
NA
Sao Tome and Principe
NA
Saudi Arabia
frequent sand and dust storms
Senegal
lowlands seasonally flooded; periodic droughts
Serbia
destructive earthquakes
Seychelles
lies outside the cyclone belt, so severe storms are rare;
short droughts possible
Sierra Leone
dry, sand-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara
(December to February); sandstorms, dust storms
Singapore
NA
Slovakia
NA
Slovenia
flooding and earthquakes
Solomon Islands
typhoons, but rarely destructive; geologically
active region with frequent earth tremors; volcanic activity
Somalia
recurring droughts; frequent dust storms over eastern plains
in summer; floods during rainy season
South Africa
prolonged droughts
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
the South Sandwich
Islands have prevailing weather conditions that generally make them
difficult to approach by ship; they are also subject to active
volcanism
Southern Ocean
huge icebergs with drafts up to several hundred
meters; smaller bergs and iceberg fragments; sea ice (generally 0.5
to 1 meter thick) with sometimes dynamic short-term variations and
with large annual and interannual variations; deep continental shelf
floored by glacial deposits varying widely over short distances;
high winds and large waves much of the year; ship icing, especially
May-October; most of region is remote from sources of search and
rescue
Spain
periodic droughts
Spratly Islands
typhoons; numerous reefs and shoals pose a serious
maritime hazard
Sri Lanka
occasional cyclones and tornadoes
Sudan
dust storms and periodic persistent droughts
Suriname
NA
Svalbard
ice floes often block the entrance to Bellsund (a transit
point for coal export) on the west coast and occasionally make parts
of the northeastern coast inaccessible to maritime traffic
Swaziland
drought
Sweden
ice floes in the surrounding waters, especially in the Gulf
of Bothnia, can interfere with maritime traffic
Switzerland
avalanches, landslides, flash floods
Syria
dust storms, sandstorms
Taiwan
earthquakes and typhoons
Tajikistan
earthquakes and floods
Tanzania
flooding on the central plateau during the rainy season;
drought
Thailand
land subsidence in Bangkok area resulting from the
depletion of the water table; droughts
Togo
hot, dry harmattan wind can reduce visibility in north during
winter; periodic droughts
Tokelau
lies in Pacific typhoon belt
Tonga
cyclones (October to April); earthquakes and volcanic activity
on Fonuafo'ou
Trinidad and Tobago
outside usual path of hurricanes and other
tropical storms
Tromelin Island
NA
Tunisia
NA
Turkey
severe earthquakes, especially in northern Turkey, along an
arc extending from the Sea of Marmara to Lake Van
Turkmenistan
NA
Turks and Caicos Islands
frequent hurricanes
Tuvalu
severe tropical storms are usually rare, but, in 1997, there
were three cyclones; low level of islands make them sensitive to
changes in sea level
Uganda
NA
Ukraine
NA
United Arab Emirates
frequent sand and dust storms
United Kingdom
winter windstorms; floods
United States
tsunamis, volcanoes, and earthquake activity around
Pacific Basin; hurricanes along the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico
coasts; tornadoes in the midwest and southeast; mud slides in
California; forest fires in the west; flooding; permafrost in
northern Alaska, a major impediment to development
United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges
Baker, Howland, and
Jarvis Islands: the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can
be a maritime hazard
Kingman Reef: wet or awash most of the time, maximum elevation of
less than 1 m makes Kingman Reef a maritime hazard
Midway Islands, Johnston, and Palmyra Atolls: NA
Uruguay
seasonally high winds (the pampero is a chilly and
occasional violent wind that blows north from the Argentine pampas),
droughts, floods; because of the absence of mountains, which act as
weather barriers, all locations are particularly vulnerable to rapid
changes from weather fronts
Uzbekistan
NA
Vanuatu
tropical cyclones or typhoons (January to April); volcanic
eruption on Aoba (Ambae) island began 27 November 2005, volcanism
also causes minor earthquakes; tsunamis
Venezuela
subject to floods, rockslides, mudslides; periodic droughts
Vietnam
occasional typhoons (May to January) with extensive
flooding, especially in the Mekong River delta
Virgin Islands
several hurricanes in recent years; frequent and
severe droughts and floods; occasional earthquakes
Wake Island
occasional typhoons
Wallis and Futuna
NA
West Bank
droughts
Western Sahara
hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind can occur
during winter and spring; widespread harmattan haze exists 60% of
time, often severely restricting visibility
World
large areas subject to severe weather (tropical cyclones),
natural disasters (earthquakes, landslides, tsunamis, volcanic
eruptions)
Yemen
sandstorms and dust storms in summer
Zambia
periodic drought, tropical storms (November to April)
Zimbabwe
recurring droughts; floods and severe storms are rare
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
======================================================================
@2022 People - note
Afghanistan
of the estimated 4 million refugees in October 2001, 2.3
million have returned
Ashmore and Cartier Islands
the landing of illegal immigrants from
Indonesia's Rote Island has become an ongoing problem
Cook Islands
2001 census counted a resident population of 15,017
Cuba
illicit migration is a continuing problem; Cubans attempt to
depart the island and enter the US using homemade rafts, alien
smugglers, direct flights, or falsified visas; Cubans also use
non-maritime routes to enter the US including direct flights to
Miami and over-land via the southwest border
Greece
women, men, and children are trafficked to and within Greece
for the purposes of sexual exploitation and forced labor
Rwanda
Rwanda is the most densely populated country in Africa
Turks and Caicos Islands
destination and transit point for illegal
Haitian immigrants bound for the Turks and Caicos Islands, The
Bahamas, and US
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
======================================================================
@2023 Area - comparative
Afghanistan
slightly smaller than Texas
Akrotiri
about 0.7 times the size of Washington, DC
Albania
slightly smaller than Maryland
Algeria
slightly less than 3.5 times the size of Texas
American Samoa
slightly larger than Washington, DC
Andorra
2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Angola
slightly less than twice the size of Texas
Anguilla
about half the size of Washington, DC
Antarctica
slightly less than 1.5 times the size of the US
Antigua and Barbuda
2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Arctic Ocean
slightly less than 1.5 times the size of the US
Argentina
slightly less than three-tenths the size of the US
Armenia
slightly smaller than Maryland
Aruba
slightly larger than Washington, DC
Ashmore and Cartier Islands
about eight times the size of The Mall
in Washington, DC
Atlantic Ocean
slightly less than 6.5 times the size of the US
Australia
slightly smaller than the US contiguous 48 states
Austria
slightly smaller than Maine
Azerbaijan
slightly smaller than Maine
Bahamas, The
slightly smaller than Connecticut
Bahrain
3.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Baker Island
about 2.5 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Bangladesh
slightly smaller than Iowa
Barbados
2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Bassas da India
about one-third the size of The Mall in Washington,
DC
Belarus
slightly smaller than Kansas
Belgium
about the size of Maryland
Belize
slightly smaller than Massachusetts
Benin
slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
Bermuda
about one-third the size of Washington, DC
Bhutan
about half the size of Indiana
Bolivia
slightly less than three times the size of Montana
Bosnia and Herzegovina
slightly smaller than West Virginia
Botswana
slightly smaller than Texas
Bouvet Island
about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC
Brazil
slightly smaller than the US
British Indian Ocean Territory
land area is about 0.3 times the size
of Washington, DC
British Virgin Islands
about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC
Brunei
slightly smaller than Delaware
Bulgaria
slightly larger than Tennessee
Burkina Faso
slightly larger than Colorado
Burma
slightly smaller than Texas
Burundi
slightly smaller than Maryland
Cambodia
slightly smaller than Oklahoma
Cameroon
slightly larger than California
Canada
somewhat larger than the US
Cape Verde
slightly larger than Rhode Island
Cayman Islands
1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Central African Republic
slightly smaller than Texas
Chad
slightly more than three times the size of California
Chile
slightly smaller than twice the size of Montana
China
slightly smaller than the US
Christmas Island
about three-quarters the size of Washington, DC
Clipperton Island
about 12 times the size of The Mall in Washington,
DC
Cocos (Keeling) Islands
about 24 times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC
Colombia
slightly less than twice the size of Texas
Comoros
slightly more than 12 times the size of Washington, DC
Congo, Democratic Republic of the
slightly less than one-fourth the
size of the US
Congo, Republic of the
slightly smaller than Montana
Cook Islands
1.3 times the size of Washington, DC
Coral Sea Islands
NA
Costa Rica
slightly smaller than West Virginia
Cote d'Ivoire
slightly larger than New Mexico
Croatia
slightly smaller than West Virginia
Cuba
slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
Cyprus
about 0.6 times the size of Connecticut
Czech Republic
slightly smaller than South Carolina
Denmark
slightly less than twice the size of Massachusetts
Dhekelia
about three-quarters the size of Washington, DC
Djibouti
slightly smaller than Massachusetts
Dominica
slightly more than four times the size of Washington, DC
Dominican Republic
slightly more than twice the size of New Hampshire
East Timor
slightly larger than Connecticut
Ecuador
slightly smaller than Nevada
Egypt
slightly more than three times the size of New Mexico
El Salvador
slightly smaller than Massachusetts
Equatorial Guinea
slightly smaller than Maryland
Eritrea
slightly larger than Pennsylvania
Estonia
slightly smaller than New Hampshire and Vermont combined
Ethiopia
slightly less than twice the size of Texas
Europa Island
about 0.16 times the size of Washington, DC
European Union
less than one-half the size of the US
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
slightly smaller than Connecticut
Faroe Islands
eight times the size of Washington, DC
Fiji
slightly smaller than New Jersey
Finland
slightly smaller than Montana
France
slightly less than twice the size of Colorado
French Guiana
slightly smaller than Indiana
French Polynesia
slightly less than one-third the size of Connecticut
French Southern and Antarctic Lands
slightly less than 1.3 times the
size of Delaware
Gabon
slightly smaller than Colorado
Gambia, The
slightly less than twice the size of Delaware
Gaza Strip
slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC
Georgia
slightly smaller than South Carolina
Germany
slightly smaller than Montana
Ghana
slightly smaller than Oregon
Gibraltar
about 11 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Glorioso Islands
about eight times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC
Greece
slightly smaller than Alabama
Greenland
slightly more than three times the size of Texas
Grenada
twice the size of Washington, DC
Guadeloupe
10 times the size of Washington, DC
Guam
three times the size of Washington, DC
Guatemala
slightly smaller than Tennessee
Guernsey
about one-half the size of Washington, DC
Guinea
slightly smaller than Oregon
Guinea-Bissau
slightly less than three times the size of Connecticut
Guyana
slightly smaller than Idaho
Haiti
slightly smaller than Maryland
Heard Island and McDonald Islands
slightly more than two times the
size of Washington, DC
Holy See (Vatican City)
about 0.7 times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC
Honduras
slightly larger than Tennessee
Hong Kong
six times the size of Washington, DC
Howland Island
about three times the size of The Mall in Washington,
DC
Hungary
slightly smaller than Indiana
Iceland
slightly smaller than Kentucky
Iles Eparses
Bassas da India: land area about one-third the size of
The Mall in Washington, DC
Europa Island: about one-sixth the size of Washington, DC
Glorioso Islands: about eight times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC
Juan de Nova Island: about seven times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC
Tromelin Island: about 1.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington,
DC
India
slightly more than one-third the size of the US
Indian Ocean
about 5.5 times the size of the US
Indonesia
slightly less than three times the size of Texas
Iran
slightly larger than Alaska
Iraq
slightly more than twice the size of Idaho
Ireland
slightly larger than West Virginia
Isle of Man
slightly more than three times the size of Washington, DC
Israel
slightly smaller than New Jersey
Italy
slightly larger than Arizona
Jamaica
slightly smaller than Connecticut
Jan Mayen
slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC
Japan
slightly smaller than California
Jarvis Island
about eight times the size of The Mall in Washington,
DC
Jersey
about two-thirds the size of Washington, DC
Johnston Atoll
about 4.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Jordan
slightly smaller than Indiana
Juan de Nova Island
about seven times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC
Kazakhstan
slightly less than four times the size of Texas
Kenya
slightly more than twice the size of Nevada
Kingman Reef
about 1.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Kiribati
four times the size of Washington, DC
Korea, North
slightly smaller than Mississippi
Korea, South
slightly larger than Indiana
Kuwait
slightly smaller than New Jersey
Kyrgyzstan
slightly smaller than South Dakota
Laos
slightly larger than Utah
Latvia
slightly larger than West Virginia
Lebanon
about 0.7 times the size of Connecticut
Lesotho
slightly smaller than Maryland
Liberia
slightly larger than Tennessee
Libya
slightly larger than Alaska
Liechtenstein
about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC
Lithuania
slightly larger than West Virginia
Luxembourg
slightly smaller than Rhode Island
Macau
less than one-sixth the size of Washington, DC
Macedonia
slightly larger than Vermont
Madagascar
slightly less than twice the size of Arizona
Malawi
slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
Malaysia
slightly larger than New Mexico
Maldives
about 1.7 times the size of Washington, DC
Mali
slightly less than twice the size of Texas
Malta
slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC
Marshall Islands
about the size of Washington, DC
Martinique
slightly more than six times the size of Washington, DC
Mauritania
slightly larger than three times the size of New Mexico
Mauritius
almost 11 times the size of Washington, DC
Mayotte
slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC
Mexico
slightly less than three times the size of Texas
Micronesia, Federated States of
four times the size of Washington,
DC (land area only)
Midway Islands
about nine times the size of The Mall in Washington,
DC
Moldova
slightly larger than Maryland
Monaco
about three times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Mongolia
slightly smaller than Alaska
Montenegro
slightly smaller than Connecticut
Montserrat
about 0.6 times the size of Washington, DC
Morocco
slightly larger than California
Mozambique
slightly less than twice the size of California
Namibia
slightly more than half the size of Alaska
Nauru
about 0.1 times the size of Washington, DC
Navassa Island
about nine times the size of The Mall in Washington,
DC
Nepal
slightly larger than Arkansas
Netherlands
slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey
Netherlands Antilles
more than five times the size of Washington, DC
New Caledonia
slightly smaller than New Jersey
New Zealand
about the size of Colorado
Nicaragua
slightly smaller than the state of New York
Niger
slightly less than twice the size of Texas
Nigeria
slightly more than twice the size of California
Niue
1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Norfolk Island
about 0.2 times the size of Washington, DC
Northern Mariana Islands
2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Norway
slightly larger than New Mexico
Oman
slightly smaller than Kansas
Pacific Ocean
about 15 times the size of the US; covers about 28% of
the global surface; larger than the total land area of the world
Pakistan
slightly less than twice the size of California
Palau
slightly more than 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Palmyra Atoll
about 20 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Panama
slightly smaller than South Carolina
Papua New Guinea
slightly larger than California
Paracel Islands
NA
Paraguay
slightly smaller than California
Peru
slightly smaller than Alaska
Philippines
slightly larger than Arizona
Pitcairn Islands
about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC
Poland
slightly smaller than New Mexico
Portugal
slightly smaller than Indiana
Puerto Rico
slightly less than three times the size of Rhode Island
Qatar
slightly smaller than Connecticut
Reunion
slightly smaller than Rhode Island
Romania
slightly smaller than Oregon
Russia
approximately 1.8 times the size of the US
Rwanda
slightly smaller than Maryland
Saint Helena
slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC
Saint Kitts and Nevis
1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Saint Lucia
3.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Saint Pierre and Miquelon
1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
twice the size of Washington, DC
Samoa
slightly smaller than Rhode Island
San Marino
about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC
Sao Tome and Principe
more than five times the size of Washington, DC
Saudi Arabia
slightly more than one-fifth the size of the US
Senegal
slightly smaller than South Dakota
Serbia
slightly larger than South Carolina
Seychelles
2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Sierra Leone
slightly smaller than South Carolina
Singapore
slightly more than 3.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Slovakia
about twice the size of New Hampshire
Slovenia
slightly smaller than New Jersey
Solomon Islands
slightly smaller than Maryland
Somalia
slightly smaller than Texas
South Africa
slightly less than twice the size of Texas
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
slightly larger than
Rhode Island
Southern Ocean
slightly more than twice the size of the US
Spain
slightly more than twice the size of Oregon
Spratly Islands
NA
Sri Lanka
slightly larger than West Virginia
Sudan
slightly more than one-quarter the size of the US
Suriname
slightly larger than Georgia
Svalbard
slightly smaller than West Virginia
Swaziland
slightly smaller than New Jersey
Sweden
slightly larger than California
Switzerland
slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey
Syria
slightly larger than North Dakota
Taiwan
slightly smaller than Maryland and Delaware combined
Tajikistan
slightly smaller than Wisconsin
Tanzania
slightly larger than twice the size of California
Thailand
slightly more than twice the size of Wyoming
Togo
slightly smaller than West Virginia
Tokelau
about 17 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Tonga
four times the size of Washington, DC
Trinidad and Tobago
slightly smaller than Delaware
Tromelin Island
about 1.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington,
DC
Tunisia
slightly larger than Georgia
Turkey
slightly larger than Texas
Turkmenistan
slightly larger than California
Turks and Caicos Islands
2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Tuvalu
0.1 times the size of Washington, DC
Uganda
slightly smaller than Oregon
Ukraine
slightly smaller than Texas
United Arab Emirates
slightly smaller than Maine
United Kingdom
slightly smaller than Oregon
United States
about half the size of Russia; about three-tenths the
size of Africa; about half the size of South America (or slightly
larger than Brazil); slightly larger than China; almost two and a
half times the size of the European Union
United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges
Baker Island: about
two and a half times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Howland Island: about three times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC
Jarvis Island: about eight times the size of The Mall in Washington,
DC
Johnston Atoll: about four and a half times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC
Kingman Reef: a little more than one and a half times the size of
The Mall in Washington, DC
Midway Islands: about nine times the size of The Mall in Washington,
DC
Palmyra Atoll: about 20 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Uruguay
slightly smaller than the state of Washington
Uzbekistan
slightly larger than California
Vanuatu
slightly larger than Connecticut
Venezuela
slightly more than twice the size of California
Vietnam
slightly larger than New Mexico
Virgin Islands
twice the size of Washington, DC
Wake Island
about 11 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Wallis and Futuna
1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
West Bank
slightly smaller than Delaware
Western Sahara
about the size of Colorado
World
land area about 16 times the size of the US
Yemen
slightly larger than twice the size of Wyoming
Zambia
slightly larger than Texas
Zimbabwe
slightly larger than Montana
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
======================================================================
@2024 Military service age and obligation (years of age)
Afghanistan
22 years of age; inductees are contracted into service
for a 4-year term (2005)
Albania
19 years of age (2004)
Algeria
19-30 years of age for compulsory military service;
conscript service obligation - 18 months (6 months basic training,
12 months civil projects) (2006)
Angola
17 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript
service obligation - two years plus time for training (2001)
Antigua and Barbuda
18 years of age (est.); no conscript military
service (2001)
Argentina
18 years of age for voluntary military service; no
conscription (2001)
Armenia
18 to 27 years of age for compulsory military service,
conscript service obligation - 12 months; 18 years of age for
voluntary military service (2004)
Australia
16 years of age for voluntary service; women allowed to
serve in Army combat units in non-combat support roles (2001)
Austria
18 years of age for compulsory military service; 16 years of
age for voluntary service; from 2007, at the earliest, compulsory
military service obligation will be reduced from eight months to six
(2005)
Azerbaijan
men between 18 and 35 are liable for military service; 18
years of age for voluntary military service; length of military
service is 18 months and 12 months for university graduates (2006)
Bahamas, The
18 years of age (est.); no conscription (2001)
Bahrain
18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)
Bangladesh
18 years of age for voluntary military service; no
conscription (2005)
Barbados
18 years of age for voluntary military service; volunteers
at earlier age with parental consent; no conscription (2001)
Belarus
18-27 years of age for compulsory military service;
conscript service obligation - 18 months (2005)
Belgium
16 years of age for voluntary military service; women
comprise approx. 7% of the Belgian armed forces (2001)
Belize
18 years of age for voluntary military service; laws allow
for conscription only if volunteers are insufficient; conscription
has never been implemented; volunteers typically outnumber available
positions by 3:1 (2001)
Benin
21 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service;
in practice, volunteers may be taken at the age of 18; both sexes
are eligible for military service; conscript tour of duty - 18
months (2004)
Bhutan
18 years of age for voluntary military service; no
conscription (2001)
Bolivia
18 years of age for voluntary military service; when annual
number of volunteers falls short of goal, compulsory recruitment is
effected, including conscription of boys as young as 14; one
estimate holds that 40% of the armed forces are under the age of 18,
with 50% of those under the age of 16; conscript tour of duty - 12
months (2002)
Bosnia and Herzegovina
18 years of age for compulsory military
service in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina; 16 years of age
in times of war; 18 years of age for Republika Srpska; 17 years of
age for voluntary military service in the Federation and in the
Republika Srpska; by law, military obligations cover all healthy men
between the ages of 18 and 60, and all women between the ages of 18
and 55; service obligation is four months (July 2004)
Botswana
18 is the apparent age of voluntary military service; the
official qualifications for determining minimum age are unknown
(2001)
Brazil
21-45 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript
service obligation - nine to 12 months; 17-45 years of age for
voluntary service; an increasing percentage of the ranks are
"long-service" volunteer professionals; women were allowed to serve
in the armed forces beginning in early 1980s when the Brazilian Army
became the first army in South America to accept women into career
ranks; women serve in Navy and Air Force only in Women's Reserve
Corps (2001)
Brunei
18 years of age (est.) (2004)
Bulgaria
18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military
service; conscript service obligation - 9 months; as of May 2006,
67% of the Bulgarian Army comprised of professional soldiers;
conscription into the Army to end as of 1 January 2008; Air and Air
Defense Forces and Naval Forces will become fully professional by
end of 2006 (2006)
Burkina Faso
18 years of age for compulsory military service; 20
years of age for voluntary military service (2001)
Burma
18 years of age for voluntary military service for both sexes
(2004)
Burundi
16 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military
service (2001)
Cambodia
conscription law made effective in October 2006 requires
all males between 18-30 to register for military service; service
obligation is 18 months (2006)
Cameroon
18 years of age for voluntary military service; no
conscription (1999)
Canada
16 years of age for voluntary military service; women
comprise approximately 11% of Canada's armed forces (2001)
Central African Republic
18 years of age for voluntary and
compulsory military service; conscript service obligation is two
years (2005)
Chad
20 years of age for conscripts, with three-year service
obligation; 18 years of age for volunteers; no minimum age
restriction for volunteers with consent from a guardian; women are
subject to one year of compulsory military or civic service at age
of 21 (2004)
Chile
all male citizens 18-45 are obligated to perform military
service; conscript service obligation - 12 months for Army, 24
months for Navy and Air Force (2004)
China
18-22 years of age for compulsory military service, with
24-month service obligation; no minimum age for voluntary service
(all officers are volunteers); 18-22 years of age for women who meet
requirements for specific military jobs (2006)
Colombia
18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military
service; conscript service obligation - 24 months (2004)
Congo, Democratic Republic of the
18-45 years of age for military
service
Congo, Republic of the
18 years of age for voluntary military
service (2001)
Costa Rica
18 years of age (2004)
Cote d'Ivoire
18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military
service; conscript service obligation - 18 months (2004)
Croatia
18 years of age for compulsory military service, with
six-month service obligation; 16 years of age with consent for
voluntary service (December 2004)
Cuba
17 years of age; both sexes are eligible for military service
(2004)
Cyprus
18 years of age (2004)
Czech Republic
18-50 years of age for voluntary military service;
on-going transformation of military service into a fully
professional, all-volunteer force no longer dependent on
conscription began in January 2004 and is scheduled to be completed
by 2007 (2005)
Denmark
18 years of age for compulsory and volunteer military
service; conscripts serve an initial training period that varies
from four to 12 months according to specialization; reservists are
assigned to mobilization units following completion of their
conscript service; women eligible to volunteer for military service
(2004)
Djibouti
18 years of age (est.); no conscription (2001)
Dominican Republic
18 years of age for voluntary military service
(2001)
East Timor
18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)
Ecuador
20 years of age for conscript military service; 12-month
service obligation (2004)
Egypt
18 years of age for conscript military service; three-year
service obligation (2001)
El Salvador
18 years of age for compulsory military service, with
12-month service obligation; 16 years of age for volunteers (2002)
Equatorial Guinea
18 years of age (est.) (2004)
Eritrea
18 years of age for voluntary and compulsory military
service; conscript service obligation - 16 months (2004)
Estonia
compulsory military service for men between 19 and 28;
conscription lasts 11 months for junior NCOs and reserve platoon
leaders; reserve officers and designated specialists have a
different conscript service obligation; Estonia has committed to
retaining conscription for men up to 2010 and, unlike Latvia and
Lithuania, has no plan to transition to a contract armed forces; 17
years of age for volunteers; reserve commitment up to the age of 60
(2006)
Ethiopia
18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military
service (2001)
Fiji
18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)
Finland
18 years of age for voluntary and compulsory military
service (October 2004)
France
17 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription
ended in the 1990s; women serve in non-combat military posts (2001)
Gabon
18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service
(2001)
Gambia, The
18 years of age for voluntary military service; no
conscription (2001)
Georgia
18 to 34 years of age for compulsory and voluntary active
duty military service; conscript service obligation - 18 months
(2005)
Germany
18 years of age (conscripts serve a nine-month tour of
compulsory military service) (2004)
Ghana
18 years of age for compulsory and volunteer military service
(2001)
Greece
18 years of age for compulsory military service; during
wartime the law allows for recruitment beginning January of the year
of inductee's 18th birthday, thus including 17 year olds; 17 years
of age for volunteers; conscript service obligation - 12 months for
the Army, Air Force; 15 months for Navy; women are eligible for
military service (2005)
Guatemala
all male citizens between the ages of 18 and 50 are liable
for military service; conscript service obligation varies from 12 to
24 months (2005)
Guinea
18 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript
service obligation - 24 months (2004)
Guinea-Bissau
18 years of age for compulsory military service (2001)
Haiti
18 years of age for voluntary recruitment into the police
force (2001)
Honduras
18 years of age for voluntary two-three year military
service (2004)
Hong Kong
18 years of age (2004)
Hungary
18 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription
abolished in June 2004 (2004)
India
16 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)
Indonesia
18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military
service; conscript service obligation - two years (2002)
Iran
18 years of age for compulsory military service; 16 years of
age for volunteers; soldiers as young as 9 were recruited
extensively during the Iran-Iraq War; conscript service obligation -
18 months (2004)
Iraq
all volunteer force; the Iraqi Government is creating a new
professional Iraqi military force of men aged 18 to 40 to defend
Iraq from external threats and the current insurgency (2006)
Ireland
17 years of age for voluntary military service; enlistees
under the age of 17 can be recruited for specialist positions (2001)
Israel
17 years of age for compulsory (Jews, Druzes) and voluntary
(Christians, Muslims, Circassians) military service; both sexes are
eligible for military service; conscript service obligation - 36
months for men, 21 months for women (2004)
Italy
voluntary military service; conscription abolished January
2005 (2006)
Jamaica
18 years of age for voluntary military service; younger
recruits may be conscripted with parental consent (2001)
Japan
18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)
Jordan
17 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription
at age 18 was suspended in 1999, although all males under age 37 are
required to register; women not subject to conscription, but can
volunteer to serve in non-combat military positions (2004)
Kazakhstan
18 years of age for compulsory military service;
conscript service obligation - two years; minimum age for volunteers
NA (2004)
Kenya
18 years of age (est.) (2004)
Korea, North
17 years of age (2004)
Korea, South
20-30 years of age for compulsory military service;
conscript service obligation - 24-28 months, depending on the
military branch involved; 18 years of age for voluntary military
service; some 4,000 women serve as commissioned and noncommissioned
officers, approx. 2.3% of all officers; women, in service since
1950, are admitted to seven service branches, including infantry,
but excluded from artillery, armor, anti-air, and chaplaincy corps
(2005)
Kuwait
18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military
service; 1 month annual training to age 40; women have served in
police forces since 1999 (2001)
Kyrgyzstan
18 years of age for compulsory military service (2001)
Laos
15 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript
service obligation - minimum 18 months (2004)
Latvia
19 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript
service obligation - 12 months; 18 years of age for volunteers;
plans are to phase out conscription, tentatively moving to an
all-professional force by 2007; under current law, every citizen is
entitled to serve in the armed forces for life (2004)
Lebanon
18-30 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military
service; conscript service obligation - 12 months (2004)
Lesotho
18 years of age (est.); no conscription (2001)
Liberia
18 years of age for voluntary military service; no
conscription (2001)
Libya
17 years of age (2004)
Lithuania
19-45 years of age for compulsory military service,
conscript service obligation - 12 months; 18 years of age for
volunteers (2004)
Luxembourg
a 1967 law made the Army an all-volunteer force; 17 years
of age for voluntary military service; soldiers under 18 are not
deployed into combat or with peacekeeping missions (2004)
Macedonia
conscription to be phased out by 2007; current tour of
conscript duty is six months; 18 years of age for voluntary military
service (2005)
Madagascar
18-50 years of age; conscript service obligation - 18
months (either military or equivalent civil service) (2004)
Malawi
18 years of age for voluntary military service; no
conscription (2001)
Malaysia
18 years of age for voluntary military service (2005)
Maldives
18 years of age (est.) (2004)
Mali
18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service;
conscript service obligation - two years (2004)
Malta
18 years of age for voluntary military service; no
conscription (2001)
Mauritania
18 years of age (est.); conscript service obligation -
two years; majority of servicemen believed to be volunteers; service
in Air Force and Navy is voluntary (April 2005)
Mexico
18 years of age for compulsory military service, conscript
service obligation - 12 months; 16 years of age with consent for
voluntary enlistment (2004)
Moldova
18 years of age for compulsory military service; national
service obligation - 12 months (2004)
Mongolia
18-25 years of age for compulsory military service;
conscript service obligation - 12 months in land or air defense
forces or police; a small portion of Mongolian land forces (2.5
percent) is comprised of contract soldiers (2004)
Montenegro
compulsory national military service abolished August 2006
Morocco
18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military
service; conscript service obligation - 18 months (2004)
Namibia
18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)
Nepal
18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)
Netherlands
20 years of age for an all-volunteer force (2004)
Netherlands Antilles
16 years of age for National Guard recruitment;
no conscription (2004)
New Zealand
17 years of age for voluntary military service; soldiers
cannot be deployed until the age of 18 (2001)
Nicaragua
17 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)
Niger
18 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript
service obligation - two years (2004)
Nigeria
18 years of age for voluntary military service (2006)
Norway
18 years of age for compulsory military service; 16 years of
age in wartime; 17 years of age for male volunteers; 18 years of age
for women; 16 years of age for volunteers to the Home Guard;
conscript service obligation - 12 months (2004)
Oman
18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)
Pakistan
16 years of age for voluntary military service; soldiers
cannot be deployed for combat until age of 18; the Pakistani Air
Force has inducted its first female combat pilot (2006)
Papua New Guinea
18 years of age (est.); no conscription (2001)
Paraguay
18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military
service; conscript service obligation - 12 months for Army, 24
months for Navy (2004)
Peru
18 years of age for compulsory military service (1999)
Philippines
18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military
service (2001)
Poland
17 years of age for compulsory military service after January
1st of the year of 18th birthday; 17 years of age for voluntary
military service; in 2005, Poland plans to shorten the length of
conscript service obligation from 12 to 9 months; by 2008, plans
call for at least 60% of military personnel to be volunteers; only
soldiers who have completed their conscript service are allowed to
volunteer for professional service; as of April 2004, women are only
allowed to serve as officers and noncommissioned officers (2004)
Portugal
18 years of age for voluntary military service; compulsory
military service was ended in 2004; women serve in the armed forces,
on naval ships since 1993, but are prohibited from serving in some
combatant specialties (2005)
Qatar
18 years of age for voluntary military service; land forces
enlisted personnel are largely unprofessional foreign nationals
(2005)
Reunion
18 years of age (2004)
Romania
all military inductees (including women) are volunteers who
contract for an initial five-year term of service; subsequent
voluntary service contracts are for successive three-year terms
until the age of 36; minimum age for voluntary military service is
18 (2006)
Russia
Russia has adopted a mixed conscript-contract force; 18-27
years of age; males are registered for the draft at 17 years of age;
length of compulsory military service is two years; plans call for
reduction in mandatory service to 18 months in 2007 and to one year
by 2008; 30% of Russian army personnel were contract servicemen at
the end of 2005; planning calls for volunteer servicemen to compose
70% of armed forces by 2010, with the remaining servicemen
consisting of conscripts; as of November 2006, the Armed Forces had
more than 60 units manned with contract personnel totalling over
78,000 contract privates and sergeants; 88 Ministry of Defense units
have been designated as permanent readiness units and are expected
to become all-volunteer by end 2007; these include most air force,
naval, and nuclear arms units, as well as all airborne and naval
infantry units, most motorized rifle brigades, and all special
forces detachments (2006)
Rwanda
16 years of age for voluntary military service; no
conscription (2001)
Saint Kitts and Nevis
18 years of age (est.) (2004)
Sao Tome and Principe
18 years of age (est.) (2004)
Saudi Arabia
18 years of age (est.); no conscription (2004)
Senegal
18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military
service; conscript service obligation - two years (2004)
Serbia
peacetime service obligation begins at age 17 and lasts until
age 60 for men and 50 for women; under a state of war or impending
war, the obligation can begin at age 16 and be extended beyond 60
(2006)
Seychelles
18 years of age (est.); no conscription (2001)
Sierra Leone
18 years of age (est.); no conscription (2001)
Singapore
18 years of age for compulsory military service; 16 years
of age for volunteers; conscript service obligation reduced to 24
months beginning December 2004 (2004)
Slovakia
complete transition to an all-volunteer professional force
went into effect at the beginning of 2006 after 140 years of
mandatory army service; volunteers include women, with minimum age
of 17 years (2005)
Slovenia
17 years of age for voluntary military service;
conscription abolished in 2003 (2004)
Somalia
18 years of age (est.) (2001)
South Africa
18 years of age for voluntary military service; women
have a long history of military service in noncombat roles, dating
back to World War I (2004)
Spain
20 years of age (2004)
Sri Lanka
18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)
Sudan
18-30 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript
service obligation - three years (August 2004)
Suriname
18 years of age (est.); no conscription
Swaziland
18-30 years of age for voluntary military service; both
sexes are eligible for military service (2005)
Sweden
19 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript
service obligation - 7-17 months depending on conscript role; after
completing initial service, soldiers have a reserve commitment until
age of 47 (2004)
Switzerland
the Swiss Constitution states that "every Swiss male is
obliged to do military service"; every Swiss male has to serve for
at least 260 days in the armed forces; 19 years of age for
compulsory military service; 17 years of age for voluntary military
service; conscripts receive 15 weeks of compulsory training,
followed by 10 intermittent recalls for training over the next 22
years; women are accepted on a voluntary basis but are not drafted
(2005)
Syria
18 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript
service obligation - 30 months (18 months in the Syrian Arab Navy);
women are not conscripted but may volunteer to serve (2004)
Taiwan
19-35 years of age for military service; service obligation
16 months (to be shortened to 12 months in 2008); women in Air Force
service are restricted to noncombat roles (2005)
Tajikistan
18 years of age for compulsory military service;
conscript service obligation - two years (2004)
Tanzania
15 years of age for voluntary military service; 18 years of
age for compulsory military service upon graduation from secondary
school; conscript service obligation - two years (2004)
Thailand
21 years of age for compulsory military service; males are
registered at 18 years of age; conscript service obligation - two
years; 18 years of age for voluntary military service (2004)
Togo
18 years of age for voluntary and compulsory military service
(2001)
Tonga
18 years of age (est.) (2004)
Trinidad and Tobago
18 years of age for voluntary military service;
no conscription (2001)
Tunisia
20 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript
service obligation - 12 months; 18 years of age for voluntary
military service (2004)
Turkey
20 years of age (2004)
Turkmenistan
18 years of age for compulsory military service;
conscript service obligation - two years (2004)
Uganda
18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military duty;
the government has stated that recruitment below that age could
occur with proper consent and that "no person under the apparent age
of 13 years shall be enrolled in the armed forces"
Ukraine
18-25 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military
service; conscript service obligation - 18 months for Army and Air
Force, 24 months for Navy (2004)
United Arab Emirates
18 years of age (est.); no conscription (2001)
United Kingdom
16 years of age for voluntary military service; women
serve in military services, but are excluded from ground combat
positions and some naval postings (2004)
United States
18 years of age; 17 years of age with written parental
consent (2006)
Uruguay
18 years of age for voluntary and compulsory military
service (2001)
Uzbekistan
18 years of age for compulsory military service;
conscript service obligation - 12 months (2004)
Venezuela
18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military
service; conscript service obligation - 30 months (2004)
Vietnam
18 years of age (male) for compulsory military service;
females may volunteer for active duty military service; conscript
service obligation - 2 years (3-4 years in the navy); 18-45 years of
age (male) or 18-40 years of age (female) for Militia Force or Self
Defense Forces (2006)
Yemen
in May 2001, Yemen's National Defense Council abolished
compulsory military service and authorized a voluntary program for
military service (2004)
Zambia
18 years of age (est.) (2004)
Zimbabwe
18 years of age (est.) (2004)
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
======================================================================
@2025 Manpower fit for military service
Afghanistan
males age 22-49: 2,662,946
females age 22-49: 2,508,574 (2005 est.)
Albania
males age 19-49: 668,526
females age 19-49: 648,334 (2005 est.)
Algeria
males age 19-49: 6,590,079
females age 19-49: 6,711,285 (2005 est.)
Andorra
males age 18-49: 14,721 (2005 est.)
Angola
males age 17-49: 1,282,195
females age 17-49: 1,256,390 (2005 est.)
Anguilla
males age 18-49: 2,986 (2005 est.)
Antigua and Barbuda
males age 18-49: 14,859
females age 18-49: 14,947 (2005 est.)
Argentina
males age 18-49: 7,316,038
females age 18-49: 7,442,589 (2005 est.)
Armenia
males age 18-49: 551,938
females age 18-49: 656,493 (2005 est.)
Aruba
males age 18-49: 13,219 (2005 est.)
Australia
males age 16-49: 4,092,717
females age 16-49: 3,983,447 (2005 est.)
Austria
males age 18-49: 1,550,441
females age 18-49: 1,515,365 (2005 est.)
Azerbaijan
males age 18-49: 1,314,955
females age 18-49: 1,676,408 (2005 est.)
Bahamas, The
males age 18-49: 44,309 (2005 est.)
Bahrain
males age 18-49: 161,372
females age 18-49: 125,488 (2005 est.)
Bangladesh
males age 18-49: 26,841,255 (2005 est.)
Barbados
males age 18-49: 54,510
females age 18-49: 54,889 (2005 est.)
Belarus
males age 18-49: 1,657,984
females age 18-49: 2,102,793 (2005 est.)
Belgium
males age 16-49: 1,998,003
females age 16-49: 1,940,918 (2005 est.)
Belize
males age 18-49: 44,238
females age 18-49: 43,633 (2005 est.)
Benin
males age 21-49: 749,774
females age 21-49: 751,329 (2005 est.)
Bermuda
males age 18-49: 12,165 (2005 est.)
Bhutan
males age 18-49: 314,975
females age 18-49: 296,833 (2005 est.)
Bolivia
males age 18-49: 1,311,414
females age 18-49: 1,502,177 (2005 est.)
Bosnia and Herzegovina
males age 18-49: 910,539
females age 18-49: 881,446 (2005 est.)
Botswana
males age 18-49: 136,322
females age 18-49: 136,315 (2005 est.)
Brazil
males age 19-49: 33,119,098
females age 19-49: 38,079,722 (2005 est.)
British Virgin Islands
males age 18-49: 5,295 (2005 est.)
Brunei
males age 18-49: 85,045
females age 18-49: 77,436 (2005 est.)
Bulgaria
males age 18-49: 1,302,037
females age 18-49: 1,365,126 (2005 est.)
Burkina Faso
males age 18-49: 1,530,324 (2005 est.)
Burma
males age 18-49: 7,946,701
females age 18-49: 8,543,705 (2005 est.)
Burundi
males age 16-49: 955,616
females age 16-49: 932,767 (2005 est.)
Cambodia
males age 18-49: 1,955,141
females age 18-49: 2,048,611 (2005 est.)
Cameroon
males age 18-49: 1,946,767
females age 18-49: 1,834,600 (2005 est.)
Canada
males age 16-49: 6,740,490
females age 16-49: 6,580,868 (2005 est.)
Cape Verde
males age 18-49: 65,614
females age 18-49: 73,662 (2005 est.)
Cayman Islands
males age 18-49: 8,600 (2005 est.)
Central African Republic
males age 18-49: 416,091
females age 18-49: 383,056 (2005 est.)
Chad
males age 20-49: 794,988
females age 20-49: 849,500 (2005 est.)
Chile
males age 18-49: 3,123,281
females age 18-49: 3,128,277 (2005 est.)
China
males age 18-49: 281,240,272
females age 18-49: 269,025,517 (2005 est.)
Colombia
males age 18-49: 6,986,228
females age 18-49: 8,794,465 (2005 est.)
Comoros
males age 18-49: 98,792
females age 18-49: 106,415 (2005 est.)
Congo, Democratic Republic of the
males age 18-49: 6,464,223 (2005
est.)
Congo, Republic of the
males age 18-49: 406,016
females age 18-49: 394,745 (2005 est.)
Costa Rica
males age 18-49: 829,874
females age 18-49: 809,343 (2005 est.)
Cote d'Ivoire
males age 18-49: 1,973,265
females age 18-49: 1,911,777 (2005 est.)
Croatia
males age 18-49: 725,914
females age 18-49: 823,611 (2005 est.)
Cuba
males age 17-49: 2,441,927
females age 17-49: 2,396,741 (2005 est.)
Cyprus
Greek Cyriot National Guard (GCNG):
males age 18-49: 150,750
females age 18-49: 144,344 (2005 est.)
Czech Republic
males age 18-49: 1,996,631
females age 18-49: 1,923,508 (2005 est.)
Denmark
males age 18-49: 955,168
females age 18-49: 935,643 (2005 est.)
Djibouti
males age 18-49: 46,020
females age 18-49: 42,181 (2005 est.)
Dominica
males age 18-49: 15,136 (2005 est.)
Dominican Republic
males age 18-49: 1,671,493
females age 18-49: 1,536,257 (2005 est.)
East Timor
males age 18-49: 179,422
females age 18-49: 184,533 (2005 est.)
Ecuador
males age 20-49: 2,338,428
females age 20-49: 2,380,327 (2005 est.)
Egypt
males age 18-49: 15,540,234
females age 18-49: 14,939,378 (2005 est.)
El Salvador
males age 18-49: 960,315
females age 18-49: 1,310,466 (2005 est.)
Equatorial Guinea
males age 18-49: 56,462
females age 18-49: 59,260 (2005 est.)
Eritrea
males age 18-49: 555,553
females age 18-49: 562,426 (2005)
Estonia
males age 18-49: 200,382 (in 2004, 51% of the young men
called up for service were determined to be unfit; main obstacles to
conscription were psychiatric and behavioral)
females age 18-49: 250,351 (2005 est.)
Ethiopia
males age 18-49: 8,072,755
females age 18-49: 7,902,660 (2005 est.)
Faroe Islands
males age 18-49: 8,852 (2005 est.)
Fiji
males age 18-49: 163,960
females age 18-49: 178,714 (2005 est.)
Finland
males age 18-49: 913,617
females age 18-49: 875,689 (2005 est.)
France
males age 17-49: 11,262,661
females age 17-49: 11,079,472 (2005 est.)
French Guiana
males age 18-49: 38,676 (2005 est.)
French Polynesia
males age 18-49: 55,305 (2005 est.)
Gabon
males age 18-49: 159,198
females age 18-49: 156,122 (2005 est.)
Gambia, The
males age 18-49: 183,057
females age 18-49: 194,551 (2005 est.)
Gaza Strip
males age 18-49: 221,530 (2005 est.)
Georgia
males age 18-49: 827,281
females age 18-49: 903,791 (2005 est.)
Germany
males age 18-49: 15,258,931
females age 18-49: 14,443,412 (2005 est.)
Ghana
males age 18-49: 3,011,081
females age 18-49: 2,991,551 (2005 est.)
Gibraltar
males age 18-49: 4,893 (2005 est.)
Greece
males age 18-49: 2,018,557
females age 18-49: 2,000,650 (2005 est.)
Greenland
males age 18-49: 10,199 (2005 est.)
Grenada
males age 18-49: 17,483 (2005 est.)
Guadeloupe
males age 18-49: 92,834 (2005 est.)
Guatemala
males age 18-49: 1,911,412
females age 18-49: 2,070,806 (2005 est.)
Guinea
males age 18-49: 1,034,006
females age 18-49: 1,032,885 (2005 est.)
Guinea-Bissau
males age 18-49: 152,681
females age 18-49: 161,033 (2005 est.)
Guyana
males age 18-49: 137,964 (2005 est.)
Haiti
males age 18-49: 948,320
females age 18-49: 931,972 (2005 est.)
Honduras
males age 18-49: 1,100,991
females age 18-49: 1,121,649 (2005 est.)
Hong Kong
males age 18-49: 1,403,088
females age 18-49: 1,527,278 (2005 est.)
Hungary
males age 18-49: 1,780,513
females age 18-49: 1,864,580 (2005 est.)
Iceland
males age 18-49: 56,777 (2005 est.)
India
males age 16-49: 219,471,999
females age 16-49: 209,917,553 (2005 est.)
Indonesia
males age 18-49: 48,687,234
females age 18-49: 50,252,911 (2005 est.)
Iran
males age 18-49: 15,665,725
females age 18-49: 15,005,597 (2005 est.)
Iraq
males age 18-49: 4,930,074
females age 18-49: 4,771,105 (2005 est.)
Ireland
males age 17-49: 814,768
females age 17-49: 813,981 (2005 est.)
Israel
males age 17-49: 1,255,902
females age 17-49: 1,212,394 (2005 est.)
Italy
males age 18-49: 10,963,513
females age 18-49: 10,452,189 (2005 est.)
Jamaica
males age 18-49: 478,761
females age 18-49: 504,541 (2005 est.)
Japan
males age 18-49: 22,234,663
females age 18-49: 21,494,947 (2005 est.)
Jordan
males age 17-49: 1,348,076
females age 17-49: 1,158,011 (2005 est.)
Kazakhstan
males age 18-49: 2,473,529
females age 18-49: 3,168,048 (2005 est.)
Kenya
males age 18-49: 3,963,532
females age 18-49: 3,471,926 (2005 est.)
Kiribati
males age 18-49: 14,231 (2005 est.)
Korea, North
males age 17-49: 4,810,831
females age 17-49: 4,853,270 (2005 est.)
Korea, South
males age 20-49: 10,115,817
females age 20-49: 9,721,914 (2005 est.)
Kuwait
males age 18-49: 737,292
females age 18-49: 405,207 (2005 est.)
Kyrgyzstan
males age 18-49: 871,493
females age 18-49: 1,024,568 (2005 est.)
Laos
males age 15-49: 954,816
females age 15-49: 1,006,082 (2005 est.)
Latvia
males age 19-49: 361,098
females age 19-49: 422,913 (2005 est.)
Lebanon
males age 18-49: 821,762
females age 18-49: 865,770 (2005 est.)
Lesotho
males age 18-49: 180,797
females age 18-49: 160,681 (2005 est.)
Liberia
males age 18-49: 267,430
females age 18-49: 286,231 (2005 est.)
Libya
males age 17-49: 1,291,624
females age 17-49: 1,230,824 (2005 est.)
Liechtenstein
males age 18-49: 6,250 (2005 est.)
Lithuania
males age 19-49: 590,606
females age 19-49: 676,102 (2005 est.)
Luxembourg
males age 17-49: 90,279
females age 17-49: 88,638 (2005 est.)
Macau
males age 18-49: 91,299 (2005 est.)
Macedonia
males age 18-49: 411,156
females age 18-49: 397,839 (2005 est.)
Madagascar
males age 18-49: 2,218,662
females age 18-49: 2,408,810 (2005 est.)
Malawi
males age 18-49: 1,226,802 (2005 est.)
Malaysia
males age 18-49: 4,574,854
females age 18-49: 4,613,321 (2005 est.)
Maldives
males age 18-49: 56,687
females age 18-49: 54,454 (2005 est.)
Mali
males age 18-49: 1,244,176
females age 18-49: 1,226,226 (2005 est.)
Malta
males age 18-49: 74,525
females age 18-49: 71,333 (2005 est.)
Marshall Islands
males age 18-49: 10,792 (2005 est.)
Martinique
males age 18-49: 90,868 (2005 est.)
Mauritania
males age 18-49: 370,513
females age 18-49: 384,269 (2005 est.)
Mexico
males age 18-49: 19,058,337
females age 18-49: 21,966,796 (2005 est.)
Micronesia, Federated States of
males age 18-49: 18,914 (2005 est.)
Moldova
males age 18-49: 693,913
females age 18-49: 911,568 (2005 est.)
Monaco
males age 18-49: 4,971 (2005 est.)
Mongolia
males age 18-49: 570,435
females age 18-49: 607,918 (2005 est.)
Montserrat
males age 18-49: 1,899 (2005 est.)
Morocco
males age 18-49: 6,484,787
females age 18-49: 6,675,729 (2005 est.)
Mozambique
males age 18-49: 1,751,223 (2005 est.)
Namibia
males age 18-49: 217,118 (2005 est.)
Nepal
males age 18-49: 4.193 million
females age 18-49: 3,853,102 (2005 est.)
Netherlands
males age 20-49: 2,856,691
females age 20-49: 2,786,495 (2005 est.)
Netherlands Antilles
males age 16-49: 45,273
females age 16-49: 47,166 (2005 est.)
New Caledonia
males age 18-49: 40,822 (2005 est.)
New Zealand
males age 17-49: 809,519
females age 17-49: 802,069 (2005 est.)
Nicaragua
males age 17-49: 1,051,425
females age 17-49: 1,129,649 (2005 est.)
Niger
males age 18-49: 1,349,863
females age 18-49: 1,256,569 (2005 est.)
Nigeria
males age 18-49: 15,052,914
females age 18-49: 13,860,806 (2005 est.)
Norway
males age 18-49: 827,016
females age 18-49: 801,358 (2005 est.)
Oman
males age 18-49: 581,444
females age 18-49: 435,107 (2005 est.)
Pakistan
males age 16-49: 29,428,747
females age 16-49: 28,391,887 (2005 est.)
Palau
males age 18-49: 4,087 (2005 est.)
Panama
males age 18-49: 591,604 (2005 est.)
Papua New Guinea
males age 18-49: 902,432
females age 18-49: 894,759 (2005 est.)
Paraguay
males age 18-49: 1,109,166
females age 18-49: 1,135,046 (2005 est.)
Peru
males age 18-49: 4,938,417
females age 18-49: 5,278,511 (2005 est.)
Philippines
males age 18-49: 15,170,096
females age 18-49: 16,931,191 (2005 est.)
Poland
males age 17-49: 7,739,472
females age 17-49: 7,859,165 (2005 est.)
Portugal
males age 18-49: 1,952,819
females age 18-49: 1,977,264 (2005 est.)
Qatar
males age 18-49: 238,566
females age 18-49: 116,595 (2005 est.)
Reunion
males age 18-49: 142,578
females age 18-49: 154,273 (2005 est.)
Romania
males age 20-49: 3,932,579
females age 20-49: 4,076,288 (2005 est.)
Russia
males age 18-49: 21,049,651
females age 18-49: 29,056,021 (2005 est.)
Rwanda
males age 16-49: 1,103,823
females age 16-49: 1,096,644 (2005 est.)
Saint Kitts and Nevis
males age 18-49: 7,119
females age 18-49: 7,645 (2005 est.)
Saint Lucia
males age 18-49: 33,539 (2005 est.)
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
males age 18-49: 25,787 (2005 est.)
Samoa
males age 18-49: 45,294 (2005 est.)
San Marino
males age 18-49: 5,107 (2005 est.)
Sao Tome and Principe
males age 18-49: 25,950
females age 18-49: 28,660 (2005 est.)
Saudi Arabia
males age 18-49: 6,592,709
females age 18-49: 4,659,347 (2005 est.)
Senegal
males age 18-49: 1,558,175
females age 18-49: 1,642,533 (2005 est.)
Seychelles
males age 18-49: 16,122
females age 18-49: 18,777 (2005 est.)
Sierra Leone
males age 18-49: 539,697 (2005 est.)
Singapore
males age 18-49: 982,368 (2005 est.)
Slovakia
males age 18-49: 1,089,645
females age 18-49: 1,093,077 (2005 est.)
Slovenia
males age 17-49: 405,593
females age 17-49: 397,167 (2005 est.)
Solomon Islands
males age 18-49: 92,796 (2005 est.)
Somalia
males age 18-49: 1,022,360
females age 18-49: 1,038,697 (2005 est.)
South Africa
males age 18-49: 4,927,757
females age 18-49: 4,609,071 (2005 est.)
Spain
males age 20-49: 7,623,356
females age 20-49: 7,434,465 (2005 est.)
Sri Lanka
males age 18-49: 3,789,627
females age 18-49: 4,281,043 (2005 est.)
Sudan
males age 18-49: 5,427,474
females age 18-49: 5,649,566 (2005 est.)
Suriname
males age 18-49: 77,793
females age 18-49: 72,943 (2005 est.)
Swaziland
males age 18-49: 89,609 (2005 est.)
Sweden
males age 19-49: 1,493,668
females age 19-49: 1,441,257 (2005 est.)
Switzerland
males age 19-49: 1,375,889
females age 19-49: 1,342,945 (2005 est.)
Syria
males age 18-49: 3,453,888
females age 18-49: 3,421,558 (2005 est.)
Taiwan
males age 19-49: 4,749,537
females age 19-49: 4,644,607 (2005 est.)
Tajikistan
males age 18-49: 1,244,941
females age 18-49: 1,297,891 (2005 est.)
Tanzania
males age 18-49: 3,879,630 (2005 est.)
Thailand
males age 21-49: 10,396,032
females age 21-49: 11,487,690 (2005 est.)
Togo
males age 18-49: 696,933
females age 18-49: 707,821 (2005 est.)
Tonga
males age 18-49: 19,840
females age 18-49: 21,342 (2005 est.)
Trinidad and Tobago
males age 18-49: 202,958
females age 18-49: 173,797 (2005 est.)
Tunisia
males age 20-49: 2,035,431
females age 20-49: 2,000,757 (2005 est.)
Turkey
males age 20-49: 13,905,901
females age 20-49: 13,335,812 (2005 est.)
Turkmenistan
males age 18-49: 759,978
females age 18-49: 940,179 (2005 est.)
Uganda
males age 18-49: 2,889,808
females age 18-49: 2,780,135 (2005 est.)
Ukraine
males age 18-49: 7,376,050
females age 18-49: 9,313,385 (2005 est.)
United Arab Emirates
males age 18-49: 526,671
females age 18-49: 419,975 (2005 est.)
United Kingdom
males age 16-49: 12,046,268
females age 16-49: 11,555,893 (2005 est.)
United States
males age 18-49: 54,609,050
females age 18-49: 54,696,706 (2005 est.)
Uruguay
males age 18-49: 637,445
females age 18-49: 631,046 (2005 est.)
Uzbekistan
males age 18-49: 4,609,621
females age 18-49: 5,383,233 (2005 est.)
Vanuatu
males age 18-49: 33,837 (2005 est.)
Venezuela
males age 18-49: 4,907,947
females age 18-49: 5,151,843 (2005 est.)
Vietnam
males age 18-49: 16,032,358
females age 18-49: 17,921,241 (2005 est.)
Yemen
males age 18-49: 2,790,705
females age 18-49: 2,792,406 (2005 est.)
Zambia
males age 18-49: 1,043,702
females age 18-49: 953,328 (2005 est.)
Zimbabwe
males age 18-49: 1,304,424
females age 18-49: 1,115,096 (2005 est.)
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
======================================================================
@2026 Manpower reaching military service age annually
Afghanistan
males age 18-49: 275,362
females age 22-49: 259,935 (2005 est.)
Albania
males age 18-49: 37,407
females age 19-49: 34,587 (2005 est.)
Algeria
males age 18-49: 374,639
females age 19-49: 369,021 (2005 est.)
Andorra
males age 18-49: 369 (2005 est.)
Angola
males age 18-49: 126,694
females age 17-49: 123,586 (2005 est.)
Anguilla
males age 18-49: 120 (2005 est.)
Antigua and Barbuda
males age 18-49: 507
females age 18-49: 494 (2005 est.)
Argentina
males age 18-49: 344,575
females age 18-49: 334,649 (2005 est.)
Armenia
males age 18-49: 31,774
females age 18-49: 31,182 (2005 est.)
Aruba
males age 18-49: 520 (2005 est.)
Australia
males age 18-49: 142,158
females age 16-49: 135,675 (2005 est.)
Austria
males age 18-49: 48,967
females age 18-49: 46,633 (2005 est.)
Azerbaijan
males age 18-49: 82,358
females age 18-49: 78,067 (2005 est.)
Bahamas, The
males age 18-49: 2,804 (2005 est.)
Bahrain
males age 18-49: 6,013
females age 18-49: 5,852 (2005 est.)
Belarus
males age 18-49: 85,202
females age 18-49: 82,037 (2005 est.)
Belgium
males age 18-49: 64,263
females age 16-49: 61,402 (2005 est.)
Belize
males age 18-49: 3,213
females age 18-49: 3,100 (2005 est.)
Benin
males age 18-49: 76,661
females: 75,068 (2005 est.)
Bermuda
males age 18-49: 408 (2005 est.)
Bhutan
males age 18-49: 23,939
females age 18-49: 21,979 (2005 est.)
Bolivia
males age 18-49: 101,101
females age 18-49: 98,671 (2005 est.)
Bosnia and Herzegovina
males age 18-49: 32,942
females age 18-49: 31,466 (2005 est.)
Botswana
males age 18-49: 21,103
females age 18-49: 21,379 (2005 est.)
Brazil
males age 18-49: 1,785,930
females age 19-49: 1,731,648 (2005 est.)
British Virgin Islands
males age 18-49: 201 (2005 est.)
Brunei
males age 18-49: 3,478
females age 18-49: 3,342 (2005 est.)
Bulgaria
males age 18-49: 51,023
females age 18-49: 48,651 (2005 est.)
Burma
males age 18-49: 469,841
females: 455,689 (2005 est.)
Burundi
males age 18-49: 91,331
females age 16-49: 90,685 (2005 est.)
Cambodia
males age 18-49: 175,497
females age 18-49: 172,788 (2005 est.)
Cameroon
males age 18-49: 191,619
females age 18-49: 187,082 (2005 est.)
Canada
males age 18-49: 223,821
females age 16-49: 212,900 (2005 est.)
Cayman Islands
males age 18-49: 257 (2005 est.)
Chad
males age 18-49: 94,536
females age 20-49: 93,521 (2005 est.)
Chile
males age 18-49: 140,084
females age 18-49: 134,518 (2005 est.)
China
males age 18-49: 13,186,433
females age 18-49: 12,298,149 (2005 est.)
Colombia
males age 18-49: 389,735
females age 18-49: 383,146 (2005 est.)
Congo, Republic of the
males age 18-49: 38,464
females age 18-49: 38,082 (2005 est.)
Costa Rica
males age 18-49: 41,097
females age 18-49: 39,243
Cote d'Ivoire
males age 18-49: 189,354
females age 18-49: 192,600 (2005 est.)
Croatia
males age 18-49: 29,020
females age 18-49: 27,897 (2005 est.)
Cuba
males age 18-49: 91,901
females: 87,500 (2005 est.)
Cyprus
Greek Cyriot National Guard (GCNG):
males age 18-49: 6,578
females age 18-49: 6,200 (2005 est.)
Czech Republic
males age 18-49: 66,583
females age 18-49: 63,363 (2005 est.)
Denmark
males age 18-49: 31,317
females age 18-49: 29,558 (2005 est.)
Dominica
males age 18-49: 602 (2005 est.)
Dominican Republic
males age 18-49: 91,699
females age 18-49: 87,550 (2005 est.)
East Timor
males age 18-49: 12,740
females age 18-49: 12,438 (2005 est.)
Ecuador
males age 18-49: 133,922
females age 20-49: 129,758 (2005 est.)
Egypt
males age 18-49: 802,920
females age 18-49: 764,176 (2005 est.)
El Salvador
males age 18-49: 70,286
females age 18-49: 69,526 (2005 est.)
Eritrea
males age 18-49: 50,156
females age 18-49: 49,746 (2005 est.)
Estonia
males: 11,146
females age 18-49: 10,605 (2005 est.)
Ethiopia
males age 18-49: 803,777
females age 18-49: 801,789 (2005 est.)
Faroe Islands
males age 18-49: 366 (2005 est.)
Fiji
males age 18-49: 9,266
females age 18-49: 8,916 (2005 est.)
Finland
males age 18-49: 32,040
females age 18-49: 30,519 (2005 est.)
France
males age 18-49: 389,204
females age 17-49: 372,719 (2005 est.)
French Polynesia
males age 18-49: 2,747 (2005 est.)
Gabon
males age 18-49: 15,325
females age 18-49: 15,367 (2005 est.)
Gaza Strip
males age 18-49: 15,196 (2005 est.)
Georgia
males age 18-49: 38,857
females age 18-49: 38,238 (2005 est.)
Germany
males age 18-49: 497,048
females age 18-49: 470,537 (2005 est.)
Ghana
males age 18-49: 251,056
females age 18-49: 247,777 (2005 est.)
Gibraltar
males age 18-49: 187 (2005 est.)
Greece
males age 18-49: 58,399
females age 18-49: 55,571 (2005 est.)
Greenland
males age 18-49: 440 (2005 est.)
Grenada
males age 18-49: 1,274 (2005 est.)
Guadeloupe
males age 18-49: 3,364 (2005 est.)
Guatemala
males age 18-49: 134,032
females age 18-49: 130,641 (2005 est.)
Haiti
males age 18-49: 98,554
females age 18-49: 97,690 (2005 est.)
Honduras
males age 18-49: 82,105
females age 18-49: 78,971 (2005 est.)
Hong Kong
males age 18-49: 40,343
females age 18-49: 38,234 (2005 est.)
Hungary
males age 18-49: 63,847
females age 18-49: 61,037 (2005 est.)
India
males age 18-49: 11,446,452
females age 16-49: 10,665,877 (2005 est.)
Indonesia
males age 18-49: 2,201,047
females age 18-49: 2,139,573 (2005 est.)
Iran
males age 18-49: 862,056
females age 18-49: 808,044 (2005 est.)
Iraq
males age 18-49: 198,518
females age 18-49: 289,879 (2005 est.)
Ireland
males age 18-49: 29,327
females age 17-49: 28,139 (2005 est.)
Israel
males age 18-49: 53,760
females: 51,293 (2005 est.)
Italy
males age 18-49: 286,344
females age 18-49: 270,099 (2005 est.)
Jamaica
males age 18-49: 27,923
females age 18-49: 27,889 (2005 est.)
Japan
males age 18-49: 683,147
females age 18-49: 650,157 (2005 est.)
Jordan
males age 18-49: 60,625
females age 17-49: 58,218 (2005 est.)
Kazakhstan
males age 18-49: 173,129
females age 18-49: 168,697 (2005 est.)
Kiribati
males age 18-49: 1,128 (2005 est.)
Korea, North
males age 18-49: 194,605
females age 17-49: 187,846 (2005 est.)
Korea, South
males age 18-49: 344,943
females age 20-49: 312,720 (2005 est.)
Kuwait
males age 18-49: 18,743
females age 18-49: 20,065 (2005 est.)
Kyrgyzstan
males age 18-49: 61,091
females age 18-49: 59,784 (2005 est.)
Laos
males age 18-49: 73,167
females age 15-49: 71,432 (2005 est.)
Latvia
males age 18-49: 19,137
females age 19-49: 18,505 (2005 est.)
Libya
males age 18-49: 62,034
females age 17-49: 59,533 (2005 est.)
Liechtenstein
males age 18-49: 208 (2005 est.)
Lithuania
males age 18-49: 29,689
females age 19-49: 28,543 (2005 est.)
Luxembourg
males age 18-49: 2,775
females age 17-49: 2,703 (2005 est.)
Macedonia
males age 18-49: 16,686
females age 18-49: 15,664 (2005 est.)
Madagascar
males age 18-49: 187,000
females age 18-49: 184,833 (2005 est.)
Malaysia
males age 18-49: 244,418
females age 18-49: 231,896 (2005 est.)
Marshall Islands
males age 18-49: 726 (2005 est.)
Martinique
males age 18-49: 3,105 (2005 est.)
Mexico
males age 18-49: 1,063,233
females age 18-49: 1,043,816 (2005 est.)
Micronesia, Federated States of
males age 18-49: 1,305 (2005 est.)
Moldova
males age 18-49: 43,729
females age 18-49: 42,354 (2005 est.)
Monaco
males age 18-49: 148 (2005 est.)
Mongolia
males age 18-49: 34,674
females age 18-49: 34,251 (2005 est.)
Montserrat
males age 18-49: 84 (2005 est.)
Morocco
males age 18-49: 353,377
females age 18-49: 341,677 (2005 est.)
Mozambique
males age 18-49: 185,314 (2005 est.)
Nepal
males age 18-49: 308,031
females age 18-49: 286,604 (2005 est.)
Netherlands
males age 18-49: 99,934
females age 20-49: 95,818 (2005 est.)
Netherlands Antilles
males age 18-49: 1,720
females age 16-49: 1,657 (2005 est.)
New Caledonia
males age 18-49: 1,907 (2005 est.)
New Zealand
males age 18-49: 29,738
females age 17-49: 28,523 (2005 est.)
Nicaragua
males age 18-49: 65,170
females age 17-49: 63,133 (2005 est.)
Niger
males age 18-49: 129,045
females age 18-49: 121,230 (2005 est.)
Nigeria
males age 18-49: 1,353,180
females age 18-49: 1,329,267 (2005 est.)
Norway
males age 18-49: 29,179
females age 18-49: 28,023 (2005 est.)
Oman
males age 18-49: 26,391
females age 18-49: 25,466 (2005 est.)
Pakistan
males age 18-49: 1,969,055
females age 16-49: 1,849,254 (2005 est.)
Palau
males age 18-49: 142 (2005 est.)
Panama
males age 18-49: 29,724
Paraguay
males age 18-49: 63,058
females age 18-49: 62,217 (2005 est.)
Peru
males age 18-49: 277,105
females age 18-49: 269,799 (2005 est.)
Philippines
males age 18-49: 907,542
females age 18-49: 878,712 (2005 est.)
Poland
males age 18-49: 275,446
females age 17-49: 265,164 (2005 est.)
Portugal
males age 18-49: 67,189
females age 18-49: 60,626 (2005 est.)
Qatar
males age 18-49: 7,851
females age 18-49: 7,040 (2005 est.)
Reunion
males age 18-49: 7,339
females age 18-49: 7,007 (2005 est.)
Romania
males age 18-49: 172,093
females age 20-49: 165,547 (2005 est.)
Russia
males age 18-49: 1,286,069
females age 18-49: 1,244,264 (2005 est.)
Saint Kitts and Nevis
males age 18-49: 357
females age 18-49: 347 (2005 est.)
Saint Lucia
males age 18-49: 1,651 (2005 est.)
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
males age 18-49: 1,204 (2005 est.)
Samoa
males age 18-49: 2,306 (2005 est.)
San Marino
males age 18-49: 135 (2005 est.)
Saudi Arabia
males age 18-49: 247,334
females age 18-49: 234,500 (2005 est.)
Senegal
males age 18-49: 129,331
females age 18-49: 129,398 (2005 est.)
Slovakia
males age 18-49: 41,544
females age 18-49: 40,183 (2005 est.)
Slovenia
males age 18-49: 12,816
females age 17-49: 12,178 (2005 est.)
Solomon Islands
males age 18-49: 6,033 (2005 est.)
South Africa
males age 18-49: 512,407
females age 18-49: 506,078 (2005 est.)
Spain
males age 18-49: 233,384
females age 20-49: 221,805 (2005 est.)
Sri Lanka
males age 18-49: 174,049
females age 18-49: 167,201 (2005 est.)
Sudan
males age 18-49: 442,915
females age 18-49: 426,320 (2005 est.)
Sweden
males age 18-49: 58,724
females age 19-49: 55,954 (2005 est.)
Switzerland
males age 18-49: 46,319
females age 19-49: 43,829 (2005 est.)
Syria
males age 18-49: 225,113
females age 18-49: 211,829 (2005 est.)
Taiwan
males age 18-49: 174,173
females age 19-49: 163,683 (2005 est.)
Tajikistan
males age 18-49: 87,846
females age 18-49: 85,869 (2005 est.)
Thailand
males age 18-49: 526,276
females age 21-49: 514,396 (2005 est.)
Tonga
males ag3 18-49: 1,586
females age 18-49: 1,538 (2005 est.)
Tunisia
males age 18-49: 108,817
females age 20-49: 103,087 (2005 est.)
Turkey
males age 18-49: 679,734
females age 20-49: 659,090 (2005 est.)
Turkmenistan
males age 18-49: 56,532
females age 18-49: 55,413 (2005 est.)
Ukraine
males age 18-49: 382,751
females age 18-49: 365,599 (2005 est.)
United Arab Emirates
males: 30,706
females age 18-49: 29,617 (2005 est.)
United States
males age 18-49: 2,143,873
females age 18-49: 2,036,201 (2005 est.)
Uzbekistan
males age 18-49: 324,722
females age 18-49: 317,062 (2005 est.)
Venezuela
males age 18-49: 252,396
females age 18-49: 237,300 (2005 est.)
Vietnam
males age 18-49: 915,572
females age 18-49: 864,161 (2005 est.)
Yemen
males age 18-49: 236,517
females age 18-49: 230,641 (2005 est.)
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
======================================================================
@2028 Background
Afghanistan
Ahmad Shah DURRANI unified the Pashtun tribes and
founded Afghanistan in 1747. The country served as a buffer between
the British and Russian empires until it won independence from
notional British control in 1919. A brief experiment in democracy
ended in a 1973 coup and a 1978 Communist counter-coup. The Soviet
Union invaded in 1979 to support the tottering Afghan Communist
regime, but withdrew 10 years later under relentless pressure by
internationally supported anti-Communist mujahedin rebels. A civil
war between mujahedin factions erupted following the 1992 fall of
the Communist regime. The Taliban, a hardline Pakistani-sponsored
movement that emerged in 1994 to end the country's civil war and
anarchy, seized Kabul in 1996 and most of the country outside of
opposition Northern Alliance strongholds by 1998. Following the 11
September 2001 terrorist attacks, a US, Allied, and Northern
Alliance military action toppled the Taliban for sheltering Osama
BIN LADIN. In late 2001, a conference in Bonn, Germany, established
a process for political reconstruction that included the adoption of
a new constitution and a presidential election in 2004, and National
Assembly elections in 2005. On 7 December 2004, Hamid KARZAI became
the first democratically elected president of Afghanistan. The
National Assembly was inaugurated on 19 December 2005.
Akrotiri
By terms of the 1960 Treaty of Establishment that created
the independent Republic of Cyprus, the UK retained full sovereignty
and jurisdiction over two areas of almost 254 square kilometers -
Akrotiri and Dhekelia. The southernmost and smallest of these is the
Akrotiri Sovereign Base Area, which is also referred to as the
Western Sovereign Base Area.
Albania
Between 1990 and 1992 Albania ended 46 years of xenophobic
Communist rule and established a multiparty democracy. The
transition has proven challenging as successive governments have
tried to deal with high unemployment, widespread corruption, a
dilapidated physical infrastructure, powerful organized crime
networks, and combative political opponents. Albania has made
progress in its democratic development since first holding
multiparty elections in 1991, but deficiencies remain. International
observers judged elections to be largely free and fair since the
restoration of political stability following the collapse of pyramid
schemes in 1997. In the 2005 general elections, the Democratic Party
and its allies won a decisive victory on pledges of reducing crime
and corruption, promoting economic growth, and decreasing the size
of government. The election, and particularly the orderly transition
of power, was considered an important step forward. Although
Albania's economy continues to grow, the country is still one of the
poorest in Europe, hampered by a large informal economy and an
inadequate energy and transportation infrastructure. Albania has
played a largely helpful role in managing inter-ethnic tensions in
southeastern Europe, and is continuing to work toward joining NATO
and the EU. Albania, with troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, has been a
strong supporter of the global war on terrorism.
Algeria
After more than a century of rule by France, Algerians
fought through much of the 1950s to achieve independence in 1962.
Algeria's primary political party, the National Liberation Front
(FLN), has dominated politics ever since. Many Algerians in the
subsequent generation were not satisfied, however, and moved to
counter the FLN's centrality in Algerian politics. The surprising
first round success of the Islamic Salvation Front (FIS) in the
December 1991 balloting spurred the Algerian army to intervene and
postpone the second round of elections to prevent what the secular
elite feared would be an extremist-led government from assuming
power. The army began a crack down on the FIS that spurred FIS
supporters to begin attacking government targets. The government
later allowed elections featuring pro-government and moderate
religious-based parties, but did not appease the activists who
progressively widened their attacks. The fighting escalated into an
insurgency, which saw intense fighting between 1992-98 and which
resulted in over 100,000 deaths - many attributed to indiscriminate
massacres of villagers by extremists. The government gained the
upper hand by the late-1990s and FIS's armed wing, the Islamic
Salvation Army, disbanded in January 2000. However, small numbers of
armed militants persist in confronting government forces and
conducting ambushes and occasional attacks on villages. The army
placed Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA in the presidency in 1999 in a
fraudulent election but claimed neutrality in his 2004 landslide
reelection victory. Longstanding problems continue to face
BOUTEFLIKA in his second term, including the ethnic minority
Berbers' ongoing autonomy campaign, large-scale unemployment, a
shortage of housing, unreliable electrical and water supplies,
government inefficiencies and corruption, and the continuing -
although significantly degraded - activities of extremist militants.
Algeria must also diversify its petroleum-based economy, which has
yielded a large cash reserve but which has not been used to redress
Algeria's many social and infrastructure problems.
American Samoa
Settled as early as 1000 B.C., Samoa was "discovered"
by European explorers in the 18th century. International rivalries
in the latter half of the 19th century were settled by an 1899
treaty in which Germany and the US divided the Samoan archipelago.
The US formally occupied its portion - a smaller group of eastern
islands with the excellent harbor of Pago Pago - the following year.
Andorra
For 715 years, from 1278 to 1993, Andorrans lived under a
unique co-principality, ruled by French and Spanish leaders (from
1607 onward, the French chief of state and the Spanish bishop of
Urgel). In 1993, this feudal system was modified with the titular
heads of state retained, but the government transformed into a
parliamentary democracy. Long isolated and impoverished, mountainous
Andorra achieved considerable prosperity since World War II through
its tourist industry. Many immigrants (legal and illegal) are
attracted to the thriving economy with its lack of income taxes.
Angola
Angola is slowly rebuilding its country after the end of a
27-year civil war in 2002. Fighting between the Popular Movement for
the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), led by Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS, and
the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA), led
by Jonas SAVIMBI, followed independence from Portugal in 1975. Peace
seemed imminent in 1992 when Angola held national elections, but
UNITA renewed fighting after being beaten by the MPLA at the polls.
Up to 1.5 million lives may have been lost - and 4 million people
displaced - in the quarter century of fighting. SAVIMBI's death in
2002 ended UNITA's insurgency and strengthened the MPLA's hold on
power. DOS SANTOS has pledged to hold legislative elections in 2006.
Anguilla
Colonized by English settlers from Saint Kitts in 1650,
Anguilla was administered by Great Britain until the early 19th
century, when the island - against the wishes of the inhabitants -
was incorporated into a single British dependency, along with Saint
Kitts and Nevis. Several attempts at separation failed. In 1971, two
years after a revolt, Anguilla was finally allowed to secede; this
arrangement was formally recognized in 1980, with Anguilla becoming
a separate British dependency.
Antarctica
Speculation over the existence of a "southern land" was
not confirmed until the early 1820s when British and American
commercial operators and British and Russian national expeditions
began exploring the Antarctic Peninsula region and other areas south
of the Antarctic Circle. Not until 1840 was it established that
Antarctica was indeed a continent and not just a group of islands.
Several exploration "firsts" were achieved in the early 20th
century. Following World War II, there was an upsurge in scientific
research on the continent. A number of countries have set up
year-round research stations on Antarctica. Seven have made
territorial claims, but not all countries recognize these claims. In
order to form a legal framework for the activities of nations on the
continent, an Antarctic Treaty was negotiated that neither denies
nor gives recognition to existing territorial claims; signed in
1959, it entered into force in 1961.
Antigua and Barbuda
The Siboney were the first to inhabit the
islands of Antigua and Barbuda in 2400 B.C., but Arawak Indians
populated the islands when Columbus landed on his second voyage in
1493. Early settlements by the Spanish and French were succeeded by
the English who formed a colony in 1667. Slavery, established to run
the sugar plantations on Antigua, was abolished in 1834. The islands
became an independent state within the British Commonwealth of
Nations in 1981.
Arctic Ocean
The Arctic Ocean is the smallest of the world's five
oceans (after the Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, and
the recently delimited Southern Ocean). The Northwest Passage (US
and Canada) and Northern Sea Route (Norway and Russia) are two
important seasonal waterways. A sparse network of air, ocean, river,
and land routes circumscribes the Arctic Ocean.
Argentina
In 1816, the United Provinces of the Rio Plata declared
their independence from Spain. Eventually, Bolivia, Paraguay, and
Uruguay went their own way, but the area that remained became
Argentina. The country's population and culture were subsequently
heavily shaped by immigrants from throughout Europe, but most
particularly Italy and Spain, which provided the largest percentage
of newcomers from 1860 to 1930. Up until about the mid-20th century,
much of Argentina's history was dominated by periods of internal
political conflict between conservatives and liberals and between
civilian and military factions. After World War II, an era of
Peronist authoritarian rule and interference in subsequent
governments was followed by a military junta that took power in
1976. Democracy returned in 1983, and has persisted despite numerous
challenges, the most formidable of which was a severe economic
crisis in 2001-02 that led to violent public protests and the
resignation of several interim presidents. Successful negotiations
with the IMF allowed Argentina to sidestep some fiscal discipline
measures normally imposed in such circumstances. Since 2003, the
government's efforts to stem the crisis have led to rapid economic
recovery.
Armenia
Armenia prides itself on being the first nation to formally
adopt Christianity (early 4th century). Despite periods of autonomy,
over the centuries Armenia came under the sway of various empires
including the Roman, Byzantine, Arab, Persian, and Ottoman. During
World War I in the western portion of Armenia, Ottoman Turkey
instituted a policy of forced resettlement coupled with other harsh
practices that resulted in an estimated 1 million Armenian deaths.
The eastern area of Armenia was ceded by the Ottomans to Russia in
1828; this portion declared its independence in 1918, but was
conquered by the Soviet Red Army in 1920. Armenian leaders remain
preoccupied by the long conflict with Muslim Azerbaijan over
Nagorno-Karabakh, a primarily Armenian-populated region, assigned to
Soviet Azerbaijan in the 1920s by Moscow. Armenia and Azerbaijan
began fighting over the area in 1988; the struggle escalated after
both countries attained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.
By May 1994, when a cease-fire took hold, Armenian forces held not
only Nagorno-Karabakh but also a significant portion of Azerbaijan
proper. The economies of both sides have been hurt by their
inability to make substantial progress toward a peaceful resolution.
Turkey imposed an economic blockade on Armenia and closed the common
border because of the Armenian occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh and
surrounding areas.
Aruba
Discovered and claimed for Spain in 1499, Aruba was acquired
by the Dutch in 1636. The island's economy has been dominated by
three main industries. A 19th century gold rush was followed by
prosperity brought on by the opening in 1924 of an oil refinery. The
last decades of the 20th century saw a boom in the tourism industry.
Aruba seceded from the Netherlands Antilles in 1986 and became a
separate, autonomous member of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Movement toward full independence was halted at Aruba's request in
1990.
Ashmore and Cartier Islands
These uninhabited islands came under
Australian authority in 1931; formal administration began two years
later. Ashmore Reef supports a rich and diverse avian and marine
habitat; in 1983, it became a National Nature Reserve. Cartier
Island, a former bombing range, is now a marine reserve.
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second largest of the
world's five oceans (after the Pacific Ocean, but larger than the
Indian Ocean, Southern Ocean, and Arctic Ocean). The Kiel Canal
(Germany), Oresund (Denmark-Sweden), Bosporus (Turkey), Strait of
Gibraltar (Morocco-Spain), and the Saint Lawrence Seaway (Canada-US)
are important strategic access waterways. The decision by the
International Hydrographic Organization in the spring of 2000 to
delimit a fifth world ocean, the Southern Ocean, removed the portion
of the Atlantic Ocean south of 60 degrees south latitude.
Australia
Aboriginal settlers arrived on the continent from
Southeast Asia about 40,000 years before the first Europeans began
exploration in the 17th century. No formal territorial claims were
made until 1770, when Capt. James COOK took possession in the name
of Great Britain. Six colonies were created in the late 18th and
19th centuries; they federated and became the Commonwealth of
Australia in 1901. The new country took advantage of its natural
resources to rapidly develop agricultural and manufacturing
industries and to make a major contribution to the British effort in
World Wars I and II. In recent decades, Australia has transformed
itself into an internationally competitive, advanced market economy.
It boasted one of the OECD's fastest growing economies during the
1990s, a performance due in large part to economic reforms adopted
in the 1980s. Long-term concerns include pollution, particularly
depletion of the ozone layer, and management and conservation of
coastal areas, especially the Great Barrier Reef.
Austria
Once the center of power for the large Austro-Hungarian
Empire, Austria was reduced to a small republic after its defeat in
World War I. Following annexation by Nazi Germany in 1938 and
subsequent occupation by the victorious Allies in 1945, Austria's
status remained unclear for a decade. A State Treaty signed in 1955
ended the occupation, recognized Austria's independence, and forbade
unification with Germany. A constitutional law that same year
declared the country's "perpetual neutrality" as a condition for
Soviet military withdrawal. Following the Soviet Union's collapse in
1991 and Austria's entry into the European Union in 1995, some
Austrians have called into question this neutrality. A prosperous,
democratic country, Austria entered the Economic and Monetary Union
in 1999.
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan - a nation with a Turkic and majority-Muslim
population - was briefly independent from 1918 to 1920; it regained
its independence after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.
Despite a 1994 cease-fire, Azerbaijan has yet to resolve its
conflict with Armenia over the Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh enclave
(largely Armenian populated). Azerbaijan has lost 16% of its
territory and must support some 528,000 internally displaced persons
as a result of the conflict. Corruption is ubiquitous, and the
promise of widespread wealth from Azerbaijan's undeveloped petroleum
resources remains largely unfulfilled.
Bahamas, The
Lucayan Indians inhabited the islands when Christopher
Columbus first set foot in the New World on San Salvador in 1492.
British settlement of the islands began in 1647; the islands became
a colony in 1783. Since attaining independence from the UK in 1973,
The Bahamas have prospered through tourism and international banking
and investment management. Because of its geography, the country is
a major transshipment point for illegal drugs, particularly
shipments to the US, and its territory is used for smuggling illegal
migrants into the US.
Bahrain
In 1782, the Al Khalifa family captured Bahrain from the
Persians. In order to secure these holdings, it entered into a
series of treaties with the UK during the 19th century that made
Bahrain a British protectorate. The archipelago attained its
independence in 1971. Bahrain's small size and central location
among Persian Gulf countries require it to play a delicate balancing
act in foreign affairs among its larger neighbors. Facing declining
oil reserves, Bahrain has turned to petroleum processing and
refining and has transformed itself into an international banking
center. Sheikh HAMAD bin Isa Al Khalifa, who came to power in 1999,
has pushed economic and political reforms and has worked to improve
relations with the Shia community. In February 2001, Bahraini voters
approved a referendum on the National Action Charter - the
centerpiece of Sheikh HAMAD's political liberalization program. In
February 2002, Sheikh HAMAD pronounced Bahrain a constitutional
monarchy and changed his status from amir to king. In October 2002,
Bahrainis elected members of the lower house of Bahrain's
reconstituted bicameral legislature, the National Assembly.
Baker Island
The US took possession of the island in 1857, and its
guano deposits were mined by US and British companies during the
second half of the 19th century. In 1935, a short-lived attempt at
colonization was begun on this island - as well as on nearby Howland
Island - but was disrupted by World War II and thereafter abandoned.
Presently the island is a National Wildlife Refuge run by the US
Department of the Interior; a day beacon is situated near the middle
of the west coast.
Bangladesh
Europeans began to set up trading posts in the area of
Bangladesh in the 16th century; eventually the British came to
dominate the region and it became part of British India. In 1947,
West Pakistan and East Bengal (both primarily Muslim) separated from
India (largely Hindu) and jointly became the new country of
Pakistan. East Bengal became East Pakistan in 1955, but the awkward
arrangement of a two-part country with its territorial units
separated by 1,600 km left the Bengalis marginalized and
dissatisfied. East Pakistan seceded from its union with West
Pakistan in 1971 and was renamed Bangladesh. About a third of this
extremely poor country floods annually during the monsoon rainy
season, hampering economic development.
Barbados
The island was uninhabited when first settled by the
British in 1627. Slaves worked the sugar plantations established on
the island until 1834 when slavery was abolished. The economy
remained heavily dependent on sugar, rum, and molasses production
through most of the 20th century. The gradual introduction of social
and political reforms in the 1940s and 1950s led to complete
independence from the UK in 1966. In the 1990s, tourism and
manufacturing surpassed the sugar industry in economic importance.
Bassas da India
This atoll is a volcanic rock surrounded by reefs
and is awash at high tide. A French possession since 1897, it was
placed under the administration of an Administrateur Superieur of
the French Southern and Antarctic Lands.
Belarus
After seven decades as a constituent republic of the USSR,
Belarus attained its independence in 1991. It has retained closer
political and economic ties to Russia than any of the other former
Soviet republics. Belarus and Russia signed a treaty on a two-state
union on 8 December 1999 envisioning greater political and economic
integration. Although Belarus agreed to a framework to carry out the
accord, serious implementation has yet to take place. Since his
election in July 1994 as the country's first president, Alexander
LUKASHENKO has steadily consolidated his power through authoritarian
means. Government restrictions on freedom of speech and the press,
peaceful assembly, and religion continue.
Belgium
Belgium became independent from the Netherlands in 1830; it
was occupied by Germany during World Wars I and II. The country
prospered in the past half century as a modern, technologically
advanced European state and member of NATO and the EU. Tensions
between the Dutch-speaking Flemings of the north and the
French-speaking Walloons of the south have led in recent years to
constitutional amendments granting these regions formal recognition
and autonomy.
Belize
Belize was the site of several Mayan city states until their
decline at the end of the first millennium A.D. The British and
Spanish disputed the region in the 17th and 18th centuries; it
formally became the colony of British Honduras in 1854. Territorial
disputes between the UK and Guatemala delayed the independence of
Belize until 1981. Guatemala refused to recognize the new nation
until 1992. Tourism has become the mainstay of the economy. Current
concerns include high unemployment, growing involvement in the South
American drug trade, and increasing urban crime.
Benin
Present day Benin was the site of Dahomey, a prominent West
African kingdom that rose in the 15th century. The territory became
a French Colony in 1872 and achieved independence on 1 August 1960,
as the Republic of Benin. A succession of military governments ended
in 1972 with the rise to power of Mathieu KEREKOU and the
establishment of a government based on Marxist-Leninist principles.
A move to representative government began in 1989. Two years later,
free elections ushered in former Prime Minister Nicephore SOGLO as
president, marking the first successful transfer of power in Africa
from a dictatorship to a democracy. KEREKOU was returned to power by
elections held in 1996 and 2001, though some irregularities were
alleged.
Bermuda
Bermuda was first settled in 1609 by shipwrecked English
colonists headed for Virginia. Tourism to the island to escape North
American winters first developed in Victorian times. Tourism
continues to be important to the island's economy, although
international business has overtaken it in recent years. Bermuda has
developed into a highly successful offshore financial center.
Although a referendum on independence from the UK was soundly
defeated in 1995, the present government has reopened debate on the
issue.
Bhutan
In 1865, Britain and Bhutan signed the Treaty of Sinchulu,
under which Bhutan would receive an annual subsidy in exchange for
ceding some border land to British India. Under British influence, a
monarchy was set up in 1907; three years later, a treaty was signed
whereby the British agreed not to interfere in Bhutanese internal
affairs and Bhutan allowed Britain to direct its foreign affairs.
This role was assumed by independent India after 1947. Two years
later, a formal Indo-Bhutanese accord returned the areas of Bhutan
annexed by the British, formalized the annual subsidies the country
received, and defined India's responsibilities in defense and
foreign relations. A refugee issue of some 100,000 Bhutanese in
Nepal remains unresolved; 90% of the refugees are housed in seven
United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
camps. In March 2005, King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK unveiled the
government's draft constitution - which would introduce major
democratic reforms - and pledged to hold a national referendum for
its approval. A referendum date has yet to be named.
Bolivia
Bolivia, named after independence fighter Simon BOLIVAR,
broke away from Spanish rule in 1825; much of its subsequent history
has consisted of a series of nearly 200 coups and countercoups.
Democratic civilian rule was established in 1982, but leaders have
faced difficult problems of deep-seated poverty, social unrest, and
illegal drug production. In December 2005, Bolivians elected
Movement Toward Socialism leader Evo MORALES president - by the
widest margin of any leader since the restoration of civilian rule
in 1982 - after he ran on a promise to change the country's
traditional political class and empower the nation's poor majority.
However, since taking office, his controversial strategies have
exacerbated racial and economic tensions between the Amerindian
populations of the Andean west and the non-indigenous communities of
the eastern lowlands.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina's declaration of
sovereignty in October 1991 was followed by a declaration of
independence from the former Yugoslavia on 3 March 1992 after a
referendum boycotted by ethnic Serbs. The Bosnian Serbs - supported
by neighboring Serbia and Montenegro - responded with armed
resistance aimed at partitioning the republic along ethnic lines and
joining Serb-held areas to form a "Greater Serbia." In March 1994,
Bosniaks and Croats reduced the number of warring factions from
three to two by signing an agreement creating a joint Bosniak/Croat
Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. On 21 November 1995, in
Dayton, Ohio, the warring parties initialed a peace agreement that
brought to a halt three years of interethnic civil strife (the final
agreement was signed in Paris on 14 December 1995). The Dayton Peace
Accords retained Bosnia and Herzegovina's international boundaries
and created a joint multi-ethnic and democratic government charged
with conducting foreign, diplomatic, and fiscal policy. Also
recognized was a second tier of government comprised of two entities
roughly equal in size: the Bosniak/Croat Federation of Bosnia and
Herzegovina and the Bosnian Serb-led Republika Srpska (RS). The
Federation and RS governments were charged with overseeing most
government functions. The Office of the High Representative (OHR)
was established to oversee the implementation of the civilian
aspects of the agreement. In 1995-96, a NATO-led international
peacekeeping force (IFOR) of 60,000 troops served in Bosnia to
implement and monitor the military aspects of the agreement. IFOR
was succeeded by a smaller, NATO-led Stabilization Force (SFOR)
whose mission was to deter renewed hostilities. European Union
peacekeeping troops (EUFOR) replaced SFOR in December 2004; their
mission is to maintain peace and stability throughout the country.
Botswana
Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana
adopted its new name upon independence in 1966. Four decades of
uninterrupted civilian leadership, progressive social policies, and
significant capital investment have created one of the most dynamic
economies in Africa. Mineral extraction, principally diamond mining,
dominates economic activity, though tourism is a growing sector due
to the country's conservation practices and extensive nature
preserves. Botswana has one of the world's highest known rates of
HIV/AIDS infection, but also one of Africa's most progressive and
comprehensive programs for dealing with the disease.
Bouvet Island
This uninhabited volcanic island is almost entirely
covered by glaciers and is difficult to approach. It was discovered
in 1739 by a French naval officer after whom the island was named.
No claim was made until 1825, when the British flag was raised. In
1928, the UK waived its claim in favor of Norway, which had occupied
the island the previous year. In 1971, Bouvet Island and the
adjacent territorial waters were designated a nature reserve. Since
1977, Norway has run an automated meteorological station on the
island.
Brazil
Following three centuries under the rule of Portugal, Brazil
became an independent nation in 1822 and a republic in 1889. By far
the largest and most populous country in South America, Brazil
overcame more than half a century of military intervention in the
governance of the country when in 1985 the military regime
peacefully ceded power to civilian rulers. Brazil continues to
pursue industrial and agricultural growth and development of its
interior. Exploiting vast natural resources and a large labor pool,
it is today South America's leading economic power and a regional
leader. Highly unequal income distribution remains a pressing
problem.
British Indian Ocean Territory
Established as a territory of the UK
in 1965, a number of the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT)
islands were transferred to the Seychelles when it attained
independence in 1976. Subsequently, BIOT has consisted only of the
six main island groups comprising the Chagos Archipelago. The
largest and most southerly of the islands, Diego Garcia, contains a
joint UK-US naval support facility. All of the remaining islands are
uninhabited. Former agricultural workers, earlier residents in the
islands, were relocated primarily to Mauritius but also to the
Seychelles, between 1967 and 1973. In 2000, a British High Court
ruling invalidated the local immigration order that had excluded
them from the archipelago, but upheld the special military status of
Diego Garcia.
British Virgin Islands
First inhabited by Arawak and later by Carib
Indians, the Virgin Islands were settled by the Dutch in 1648 and
then annexed by the English in 1672. The islands were part of the
British colony of the Leeward Islands from 1872-1960; they were
granted autonomy in 1967. The economy is closely tied to the larger
and more populous US Virgin Islands to the west; the US dollar is
the legal currency.
Brunei
The Sultanate of Brunei's influence peaked between the 15th
and 17th centuries when its control extended over coastal areas of
northwest Borneo and the southern Philippines. Brunei subsequently
entered a period of decline brought on by internal strife over royal
succession, colonial expansion of European powers, and piracy. In
1888, Brunei became a British protectorate; independence was
achieved in 1984. The same family has ruled Brunei for over six
centuries. Brunei benefits from extensive petroleum and natural gas
fields, the source of one of the highest per capita GDPs in the
developing world.
Bulgaria
The Bulgars, a Central Asian Turkic tribe, merged with the
local Slavic inhabitants in the late 7th century to form the first
Bulgarian state. In succeeding centuries, Bulgaria struggled with
the Byzantine Empire to assert its place in the Balkans, but by the
end of the 14th century the country was overrun by the Ottoman
Turks. Northern Bulgaria attained autonomy in 1878 and all of
Bulgaria became independent from the Ottoman Empire in 1908. Having
fought on the losing side in both World Wars, Bulgaria fell within
the Soviet sphere of influence and became a People's Republic in
1946. Communist domination ended in 1990, when Bulgaria held its
first multiparty election since World War II and began the
contentious process of moving toward political democracy and a
market economy while combating inflation, unemployment, corruption,
and crime. The country joined NATO in 2004 and is slated to join the
EU in 2007.
Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso (formerly Upper Volta) achieved
independence from France in 1960. Repeated military coups during the
1970s and 1980s were followed by multiparty elections in the early
1990s. Burkina Faso's high population density and limited natural
resources result in poor economic prospects for the majority of its
citizens. Recent unrest in Cote d'Ivoire and northern Ghana has
hindered the ability of several hundred thousand seasonal Burkinabe
farm workers to find employment in neighboring countries.
Burma
Britain conquered Burma over a period of 62 years (1824-1886)
and incorporated it into its Indian Empire. Burma was administered
as a province of India until 1937 when it became a separate,
self-governing colony; independence from the Commonwealth was
attained in 1948. Gen. NE WIN dominated the government from 1962 to
1988, first as military ruler, then as self-appointed president, and
later as political kingpin. Despite multiparty legislative elections
in 1990 that resulted in the main opposition party - the National
League for Democracy (NLD) - winning a landslide victory, the ruling
junta refused to hand over power. NLD leader and Nobel Peace Prize
recipient AUNG SAN SUU KYI, who was under house arrest from 1989 to
1995 and 2000 to 2002, was imprisoned in May 2003 and subsequently
transferred to house arrest, where she remains virtually
incommunicado. In November 2005, the junta extended her detention
for at least another six months. Her supporters, as well as all
those who promote democracy and improved human rights, are routinely
harassed or jailed.
Burundi
Burundi's first democratically elected president was
assassinated in October 1993 after only 100 days in office,
triggering widespread ethnic violence between Hutu and Tutsi
factions. Over 200,000 Burundians perished during the conflict that
spanned almost a dozen years. Hundreds of thousands of Burundians
were internally displaced or became refugees in neighboring
countries. An internationally brokered power-sharing agreement
between the Tutsi-dominated government and the Hutu rebels in 2003
paved the way for a transition process that led to an integrated
defense force, established a new constitution in 2005, and elected a
majority Hutu government in 2005. The new government, led by
President Pierre NKURUNZIZA, signed a South African brokered
ceasefire with the country's last rebel group in the summer of 2006
but still faces many challenges.
Cambodia
Most Cambodians consider themselves to be Khmers,
descendants of the Angkor Empire that extended over much of
Southeast Asia and reached its zenith between the 10th and 13th
centuries. Attacks by the Thai and Cham (from present-day Vietnam)
weakened the empire ushering in a long period of decline. The king
placed the country under French protection in 1863. Cambodia became
part of French Indochina in 1887. Following Japanese occupation in
World War II, Cambodia gained full independence from France in 1953.
In April 1975, after a five-year struggle, Communist Khmer Rouge
forces captured Phnom Penh and evacuated all cities and towns. At
least 1.5 million Cambodians died from execution, forced hardships,
or starvation during the Khmer Rouge regime under POL POT. A
December 1978 Vietnamese invasion drove the Khmer Rouge into the
countryside, began a 10-year Vietnamese occupation, and touched off
almost 13 years of civil war. The 1991 Paris Peace Accords mandated
democratic elections and a ceasefire, which was not fully respected
by the Khmer Rouge. UN-sponsored elections in 1993 helped restore
some semblance of normalcy under a coalition government. Factional
fighting in 1997 ended the first coalition government, but a second
round of national elections in 1998 led to the formation of another
coalition government and renewed political stability. The remaining
elements of the Khmer Rouge surrendered in early 1999. Some of the
remaining leaders are awaiting trial by a UN-sponsored tribunal for
crimes against humanity. Elections in July 2003 were relatively
peaceful, but it took one year of negotiations between contending
political parties before a coalition government was formed.
Cameroon
The former French Cameroon and part of British Cameroon
merged in 1961 to form the present country. Cameroon has generally
enjoyed stability, which has permitted the development of
agriculture, roads, and railways, as well as a petroleum industry.
Despite a slow movement toward democratic reform, political power
remains firmly in the hands of an ethnic oligarchy headed by
President Paul BIYA.
Canada
A land of vast distances and rich natural resources, Canada
became a self-governing dominion in 1867 while retaining ties to the
British crown. Economically and technologically the nation has
developed in parallel with the US, its neighbor to the south across
an unfortified border. Canada's paramount political problem is
meeting public demands for quality improvements in health care and
education services after a decade of budget cuts. Canada also faces
questions about integrity in government following revelations
regarding a corruption scandal in the federal government that has
helped revive the fortunes of separatists in predominantly
francophone Quebec.
Cape Verde
The uninhabited islands were discovered and colonized by
the Portuguese in the 15th century; Cape Verde subsequently became a
trading center for African slaves and later an important coaling and
resupply stop for whaling and transatlantic shipping. Following
independence in 1975, and a tentative interest in unification with
Guinea-Bissau, a one-party system was established and maintained
until multi-party elections were held in 1990. Cape Verde continues
to exhibit one of Africa's most stable democratic governments.
Repeated droughts during the second half of the 20th century caused
significant hardship and prompted heavy emigration. As a result,
Cape Verde's expatriate population is greater than its domestic one.
Most Cape Verdeans have both African and Portuguese antecedents.
Cayman Islands
The Cayman Islands were colonized from Jamaica by the
British during the 18th and 19th centuries, and were administered by
Jamaica after 1863. In 1959, the islands became a territory within
the Federation of the West Indies, but when the Federation dissolved
in 1962, the Cayman Islands chose to remain a British dependency.
Central African Republic
The former French colony of Ubangi-Shari
became the Central African Republic upon independence in 1960. After
three tumultuous decades of misrule - mostly by military governments
- civilian rule was established in 1993 and lasted for one decade.
President Ange-Felix PATASSE's civilian government was plagued by
unrest, and in March 2003 he was deposed in a military coup led by
General Francois BOZIZE, who established a transitional government.
Though the government has the tacit support of civil society groups
and the main parties, a wide field of candidates contested the
municipal, legislative, and presidential elections held in March and
May of 2005 in which General BOZIZE was affirmed as president. The
government still does not fully control the countryside, where
pockets of lawlessness persist.
Chad
Chad, part of France's African holdings until 1960, endured
three decades of civil warfare as well as invasions by Libya before
a semblance of peace was finally restored in 1990. The government
eventually drafted a democratic constitution, and held flawed
presidential elections in 1996 and 2001. In 1998, a rebellion broke
out in northern Chad, which sporadically flares up despite several
peace agreements between the government and the rebels. In 2005 new
rebel groups emerged in western Sudan and have made probing attacks
into eastern Chad. Power remains in the hands of an ethnic minority.
In June 2005, President Idriss DEBY held a referendum successfully
removing constitutional term limits.
Chile
Prior to the coming of the Spanish in the 16th century,
northern Chile was under Inca rule while Araucanian Indians
inhabited central and southern Chile; the latter were not completely
subjugated by Spain until the early 1880s. Although Chile declared
its independence in 1810, decisive victory over the Spanish was not
achieved until 1818. In the War of the Pacific (1879-84), Chile
defeated Peru and Bolivia and won its present northern lands. A
three-year-old Marxist government of Salvador ALLENDE was overthrown
in 1973 by a dictatorial military regime led by Augusto PINOCHET,
who ruled until a freely elected president was installed in 1990.
Sound economic policies, maintained consistently since the 1980s,
have contributed to steady growth and have helped secure the
country's commitment to democratic and representative government.
Chile has increasingly assumed regional and international leadership
roles befitting its status as a stable, democratic nation.
China
For centuries China stood as a leading civilization, outpacing
the rest of the world in the arts and sciences, but in the 19th and
early 20th centuries, the country was beset by civil unrest, major
famines, military defeats, and foreign occupation. After World War
II, the Communists under MAO Zedong established an autocratic
socialist system that, while ensuring China's sovereignty, imposed
strict controls over everyday life and cost the lives of tens of
millions of people. After 1978, his successor DENG Xiaoping and
other leaders focused on market-oriented economic development and by
2000 output had quadrupled. For much of the population, living
standards have improved dramatically and the room for personal
choice has expanded, yet political controls remain tight.
Christmas Island
Named in 1643 for the day of its discovery, the
island was annexed and settlement began by the UK in 1888. Phosphate
mining began in the 1890s. The UK transferred sovereignty to
Australia in 1958. Almost two-thirds of the island has been declared
a national park.
Clipperton Island
This isolated island was named for John
CLIPPERTON, a pirate who made it his hideout early in the 18th
century. Annexed by France in 1855, it was seized by Mexico in 1897.
Arbitration eventually awarded the island to France, which took
possession in 1935.
Cocos (Keeling) Islands
There are 27 coral islands in the group.
Captain William KEELING discovered the islands in 1609, but they
remained uninhabited until the 19th century. Annexed by the UK in
1857, they were transferred to the Australian Government in 1955.
The population on the two inhabited islands generally is split
between the ethnic Europeans on West Island and the ethnic Malays on
Home Island.
Colombia
Colombia was one of the three countries that emerged from
the collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others are Ecuador and
Venezuela). A 40-year conflict between government forces and
anti-government insurgent groups and illegal paramilitary groups -
both heavily funded by the drug trade - escalated during the 1990s.
The insurgents lack the military or popular support necessary to
overthrow the government, and violence has been decreasing since
about 2002, but insurgents continue attacks against civilians and
large swaths of the countryside are under guerrilla influence.
Paramilitary groups challenge the insurgents for control of
territory and the drug trade. Most paramilitary members have
demobilized since 2002 in an ongoing peace process, although their
commitment to ceasing illicit activity is unclear. The Colombian
Government has stepped up efforts to reassert government control
throughout the country, and now has a presence in every one of its
municipalities. However, neighboring countries worry about the
violence spilling over their borders.
Comoros
Comoros has endured 19 coups or attempted coups since
gaining independence from France in 1975. In 1997, the islands of
Anjouan and Moheli declared independence from Comoros. In 1999,
military chief Col. AZALI seized power. He pledged to resolve the
secessionist crisis through a confederal arrangement named the 2000
Fomboni Accord. In December 2001, voters approved a new constitution
and presidential elections took place in the spring of 2002. Each
island in the archipelago elected its own president and a new union
president took office in May 2002.
Congo, Democratic Republic of the
Established as a Belgian colony in
1908, the Republic of the Congo gained its independence in 1960, but
its early years were marred by political and social instability.
Col. Joseph MOBUTU seized power and declared himself president in a
November 1965 coup. He subsequently changed his name - to MOBUTU
Sese Seko - as well as that of the country - to Zaire. MOBUTU
retained his position for 32 years through several subsequent sham
elections, as well as through the use of brutal force. Ethnic strife
and civil war, touched off by a massive inflow of refugees in 1994
from fighting in Rwanda and Burundi, led in May 1997 to the toppling
of the MOBUTU regime by a rebellion led by Laurent KABILA. He
renamed the country the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), but
in August 1998 his regime was itself challenged by an insurrection
backed by Rwanda and Uganda. Troops from Angola, Chad, Namibia,
Sudan, and Zimbabwe intervened to support the Kinshasa regime. A
cease-fire was signed in July 1999 by the DRC, Congolese armed rebel
groups, Angola, Namibia, Rwanda, Uganda, and Zimbabwe but sporadic
fighting continued. Laurent KABILA was assassinated in January 2001
and his son, Joseph KABILA, was named head of state. In October
2002, the new president was successful in negotiating the withdrawal
of Rwandan forces occupying eastern Congo; two months later, the
Pretoria Accord was signed by all remaining warring parties to end
the fighting and establish a government of national unity. A
transitional government was set up in July 2003; Joseph KABILA
remains as president and is joined by four vice presidents
representing the former government, former rebel groups, and the
political opposition. The transitional government held a successful
constitutional referendum in December 2005, and plans to hold a
series of elections in 2006 to determine the presidency and National
Assembly seats.
Congo, Republic of the
Upon independence in 1960, the former French
region of Middle Congo became the Republic of the Congo. A quarter
century of experimentation with Marxism was abandoned in 1990 and a
democratically elected government took office in 1992. A brief civil
war in 1997 restored former Marxist President Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO,
and ushered in a period of ethnic and political unrest.
Southern-based rebel groups agreed to a final peace accord in March
2003, but the calm is tenuous and refugees continue to present a
humanitarian crisis. The Republic of Congo was once one of Africa's
largest petroleum producers, but with declining production it will
need to hope for new offshore oil finds to sustain its oil earnings
over the long term.
Cook Islands
Named after Captain COOK, who sighted them in 1770, the
islands became a British protectorate in 1888. By 1900,
administrative control was transferred to New Zealand; in 1965
residents chose self-government in free association with New
Zealand. The emigration of skilled workers to New Zealand and
government deficits are continuing problems.
Coral Sea Islands
Scattered over more than three-quarters of a
million square kilometers of ocean, the Coral Sea Islands were
declared a territory of Australia in 1969. They are uninhabited
except for a small meteorological staff on the Willis Islets.
Automated weather stations, beacons, and a lighthouse occupy many
other islands and reefs.
Costa Rica
Although explored by the Spanish early in the 16th
century, initial attempts at colonizing Costa Rica proved
unsuccessful due to a combination of factors, including: disease
from mosquito-infested swamps, brutal heat, resistance by natives,
and pirate raids. It was not until 1563 that a permanent settlement
of Cartago was established in the cooler, fertile central highlands.
The area remained a colony for some two and a half centuries. In
1821, Costa Rica became one of several Central American provinces
that jointly declared their independence from Spain. Two years later
it joined the United Provinces of Central America, but this
federation disintegrated in 1838, at which time Costa Rica
proclaimed its sovereignty and independence. Since the late 19th
century, only two brief periods of violence have marred the
country's democratic development. Although it still maintains a
large agricultural sector, Costa Rica has expanded its economy to
include strong technology and tourism industries. The standard of
living is relatively high. Land ownership is widespread.
Cote d'Ivoire
Close ties to France since independence in 1960, the
development of cocoa production for export, and foreign investment
made Cote d'Ivoire one of the most prosperous of the tropical
African states, but did not protect it from political turmoil. In
December 1999, a military coup - the first ever in Cote d'Ivoire's
history - overthrew the government. Junta leader Robert GUEI
blatantly rigged elections held in late 2000 and declared himself
the winner. Popular protest forced him to step aside and brought
runner-up Laurent GBAGBO into power. Ivorian dissidents and
disaffected members of the military launched a failed coup attempt
in September 2002. Rebel forces claimed the northern half of the
country, and in January 2003 were granted ministerial positions in a
unity government under the auspices of the Linas-Marcoussis Peace
Accord. President GBAGBO and rebel forces resumed implementation of
the peace accord in December 2003 after a three-month stalemate, but
issues that sparked the civil war, such as land reform and grounds
for citizenship, remain unresolved. The central government has yet
to exert control over the northern regions and tensions remain high
between GBAGBO and opposition leaders. Several thousand French and
West African troops remain in Cote d'Ivoire to maintain peace and
facilitate the disarmament, demobilization, and rehabilitation
process.
Croatia
The lands that today comprise Croatia were part of the
Austro-Hungarian Empire until the close of World War I. In 1918, the
Croats, Serbs, and Slovenes formed a kingdom known after 1929 as
Yugoslavia. Following World War II, Yugoslavia became a federal
independent Communist state under the strong hand of Marshal TITO.
Although Croatia declared its independence from Yugoslavia in 1991,
it took four years of sporadic, but often bitter, fighting before
occupying Serb armies were mostly cleared from Croatian lands. Under
UN supervision, the last Serb-held enclave in eastern Slavonia was
returned to Croatia in 1998.
Cuba
The native Amerindian population of Cuba began to decline after
the European discovery of the island by Christopher COLUMBUS in 1492
and following its development as a Spanish colony during the next
several centuries. Large numbers of African slaves were imported to
work the coffee and sugar plantations, and Havana became the
launching point for the annual treasure fleets bound for Spain from
Mexico and Peru. Spanish rule, marked initially by neglect, became
increasingly repressive, provoking an independence movement and
occasional rebellions that were harshly suppressed. It was US
intervention during the Spanish-American War in 1898 that finally
overthrew Spanish rule. The subsequent Treaty of Paris established
Cuban independence, which was granted in 1902 after a three-year
transition period. Fidel CASTRO led a rebel army to victory in 1959;
his iron rule has held the regime together since then. Cuba's
Communist revolution, with Soviet support, was exported throughout
Latin America and Africa during the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. The
country is now slowly recovering from a severe economic recession in
1990, following the withdrawal of former Soviet subsidies, worth $4
billion to $6 billion annually. Cuba portrays its difficulties as
the result of the US embargo in place since 1961. Illicit migration
to the US - using homemade rafts, alien smugglers, air flights, or
via the southwest border - is a continuing problem. The US Coast
Guard intercepted 2,712 individuals attempting to cross the Straits
of Florida in fiscal year 2005.
Cyprus
A former British colony, Cyprus became independent in 1960
following years of resistance to British rule. Tensions between the
Greek Cypriot majority and Turkish Cypriot minority came to a head
in December 1963, when violence broke out in the capital of Nicosia.
Despite the deployment of UN peacekeepers in 1964, sporadic
intercommunal violence continued forcing most Turkish Cypriots into
enclaves throughout the island. In 1974, a Greek
Government-sponsored attempt to seize control of Cyprus was met by
military intervention from Turkey, which soon controlled more than a
third of the island. In 1983, the Turkish-held area declared itself
the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus," but it is recognized only
by Turkey. The latest two-year round of UN-brokered talks - between
the leaders of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities to
reach an agreement to reunite the divided island - ended when the
Greek Cypriots rejected the UN settlement plan in an April 2004
referendum. The entire island entered the EU on 1 May 2004, although
the EU acquis - the body of common rights and obligations - applies
only to the areas under direct Republic of Cyprus control, and is
suspended in the areas administered by Turkish Cypriots. At present,
every Cypriot carrying a Cyprus passport has the status of a
European citizen; however, EU laws do not apply to north Cyprus.
Nicosia continues to oppose EU efforts to establish direct trade and
economic links to north Cyprus as a way of encouraging the Turkish
Cypriot community to continue to support reunification.
Czech Republic
Following the First World War, the closely related
Czechs and Slovaks of the former Austro-Hungarian Empire merged to
form Czechoslovakia. During the interwar years, the new country's
leaders were frequently preoccupied with meeting the demands of
other ethnic minorities within the republic, most notably the
Sudeten Germans and the Ruthenians (Ukrainians). After World War II,
a truncated Czechoslovakia fell within the Soviet sphere of
influence. In 1968, an invasion by Warsaw Pact troops ended the
efforts of the country's leaders to liberalize Communist party rule
and create "socialism with a human face." Anti-Soviet demonstrations
the following year ushered in a period of harsh repression. With the
collapse of Soviet authority in 1989, Czechoslovakia regained its
freedom through a peaceful "Velvet Revolution." On 1 January 1993,
the country underwent a "velvet divorce" into its two national
components, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The Czech Republic
joined NATO in 1999 and the European Union in 2004.
Denmark
Once the seat of Viking raiders and later a major north
European power, Denmark has evolved into a modern, prosperous nation
that is participating in the general political and economic
integration of Europe. It joined NATO in 1949 and the EEC (now the
EU) in 1973. However, the country has opted out of certain elements
of the European Union's Maastricht Treaty, including the European
Economic and Monetary Union (EMU), European defense cooperation, and
issues concerning certain justice and home affairs.
Dhekelia
By terms of the 1960 Treaty of Establishment that created
the independent Republic of Cyprus, the UK retained full sovereignty
and jurisdiction over two areas of almost 254 square kilometers -
Akrotiri and Dhekelia. The larger of these is the Dhekelia Sovereign
Base Area, which is also referred to as the Eastern Sovereign Base
Area.
Djibouti
The French Territory of the Afars and the Issas became
Djibouti in 1977. Hassan Gouled APTIDON installed an authoritarian
one-party state and proceeded to serve as president until 1999.
Unrest among the Afars minority during the 1990s led to a civil war
that ended in 2001 following the conclusion of a peace accord
between Afar rebels and the Issa-dominated government. In 1999,
Djibouti's first multi-party presidential elections resulted in the
election of Ismail Omar GUELLEH; he was re-elected to a second and
final term in 2005. Djibouti occupies a strategic geographic
location at the mouth of the Red Sea and serves as an important
transshipment location for goods entering and leaving the east
African highlands. The present leadership favors close ties to
France, which maintains a significant military presence in the
country, but is also developing stronger ties with the US. Djibouti
hosts the only US military base in sub-Saharan Africa and is a
front-line state in the global war on terrorism.