text:
Islamic Republic of Afghanistan › Asia -- Southern Asia, north and west of Pakistan, east of Iran

Kabul • 652,230 sq km • pop. 32,564,342 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Afghan Persian or Dari (official) 50%, Pashto (official) 35%, Turkic languages (primarily Uzbek and Turkmen) 11%, 30 minor languages (primarily Balochi and Pashai) 4%, much bilingualism, but Dari functions as the lingua franca
**Major cities** KABUL (capital) 4.635 million (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Pashtun, Tajik, Hazara, Uzbek, other (includes smaller numbers of Baloch, Turkmen, Nuristani, Pamiri, Arab, Gujar, Brahui, Qizilbash, Aimaq, Pashai, and Kyrghyz)
**Religions** Sunni Muslim 80%, Shia Muslim 19%, other 1%
**Independence** 19 August 1919 (from UK control over Afghan foreign affairs)

**Internet** `.af` • 1.9 million • 5.9% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 23.4 million • 74 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Albania • Shqiperia

Republic of Albania › Europe -- Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea and Ionian Sea, between Greece to the south and Montenegro and Kosovo to the north

Tirana (Tirane) • 28,748 sq km • pop. 3,029,278 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Albanian 98.8% (official - derived from Tosk dialect), Greek 0.5%, other 0.6% (including Macedonian, Roma, Vlach, Turkish, Italian, and Serbo-Croatian), unspecified 0.1% (2011 est.)
**Major cities** TIRANA (capital) 454,000 (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Albanian 82.6%, Greek 0.9%, other 1% (including Vlach, Roma (Gypsy), Macedonian, Montenegrin, and Egyptian), unspecified 15.5% (2011 est.)
**Religions** Muslim 56.7%, Roman Catholic 10%, Orthodox 6.8%, atheist 2.5%, Bektashi (a Sufi order) 2.1%, other 5.7%, unspecified 16.2%
**Independence** 28 November 1912 (from the Ottoman Empire)

**Internet** `.al` • 1.7 million • 56.5% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 3.4 million • 111 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Algeria • Al Jaza'ir

People's Democratic Republic of Algeria › Africa -- Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Morocco and Tunisia

Algiers • 2,381,741 sq km • pop. 39,542,166 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Arabic (official), French (lingua franca), Berber dialects: Kabylie Berber (Tamazight), Chaouia Berber (Tachawit), Mzab Berber, Tuareg Berber (Tamahaq)
**Major cities** ALGIERS (capital) 2.594 million; Oran 858,000 (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Arab-Berber 99%, European less than 1%
**Religions** Muslim (official; predominantly Sunni) 99%, other (includes Christian and Jewish)

**Independence** 5 July 1962 (from France)

**Internet** `.dz` • 6.5 million • 16.7% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 37.3 million • 96 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Andorra

Principality of Andorra › Europe -- Southwestern Europe, Pyrenees mountains, on the border between France and Spain

Andorra la Vella • 468 sq km • pop. 85,580 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Catalan (official), French, Castilian, Portuguese
**Major cities** ANDORRA LA VELLA (capital) 23,000 (2014)
**Ethnic groups** Andorran 49%, Spanish 24.6%, Portuguese 14.3%, French 3.9%, other 8.2% (2012 est.)
**Religions** Roman Catholic (predominant)
**Independence** 1278 (formed under the joint sovereignty of the French Count of Foix and the Spanish Bishop of Urgell)

**Internet** `.ad` • 76,300 • 89.3% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 66,200 • 78 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Angola

Republic of Angola › Africa -- Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Namibia and Democratic Republic of the Congo

Luanda • 1,246,700 sq km • pop. 19,625,353

**Languages** Portuguese (official), Bantu and other African languages
**Major cities** LUANDA (capital) 5.506 million; Huambo 1.269 million (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Ovimbundu 37%, Kimbundu 25%, Bakongo 13%, mestico (mixed European and native African) 2%, European 1%, other 22%
**Religions** indigenous beliefs 47%, Roman Catholic 38%, Protestant 15% (1998 est.)
**Independence** 11 November 1975 (from Portugal)

**Internet** `.ao` • 3.7 million • 19.4% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 14.1 million • 74 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Antigua and Barbuda

\- › Central America and the Caribbean -- Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east-southeast of Puerto Rico

Saint John's • 442.6 sq km (Antigua 280 sq km; Barbuda 161 sq km) • pop. 92,436 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** English (official), Antiguan creole
**Major cities** SAINT JOHN'S (capital) 22,000 (2014)
**Ethnic groups** black 87.3%, mixed 4.7%, hispanic 2.7%, white 1.6%, other 2.7%, unspecified 0.9% (2011 est.)
**Religions** Protestant 68.3% (Anglican 17.6%, Seventh Day Adventist 12.4%, Pentecostal 12.2%, Moravian 8.3%, Methodist 5.6%, Wesleyan Holiness 4.5%, Church of God 4.1%, Baptist 3.6%), Roman Catholic 8.2%, other 12.2%, unspecified 5.5%, none 5.9% (2011 est.)
**Independence** 1 November 1981 (from the UK)

**Internet** `.ag` • 81,900 • 89.7% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 109,100 • 120 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Argentina

Argentine Republic › South America -- Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Chile and Uruguay

Buenos Aires • 2,780,400 sq km • pop. 43,431,886 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Spanish (official), Italian, English, German, French, indigenous (Mapudungun, Quechua)
**Major cities** BUENOS AIRES (capital) 15.18 million; Cordoba 1.511 million; Rosario 1.381 million; Mendoza 1.009 million; San Miguel de Tucuman 910,000; La Plata 846,000 (2015)
**Ethnic groups** white (mostly Spanish and Italian) 97%, mestizo (mixed white and Amerindian ancestry), Amerindian, or other non-white groups 3%
**Religions** nominally Roman Catholic 92% (less than 20% practicing), Protestant 2%, Jewish 2%, other 4%
**Independence** 9 July 1816 (from Spain)

**Internet** `.ar` • 25.7 million • 59.7% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 66.4 million • 154 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Armenia • Hayastan

Republic of Armenia › Asia -- Southwestern Asia, between Turkey (to the west) and Azerbaijan

Yerevan • 29,743 sq km • pop. 3,056,382 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Armenian (official) 97.9%, Kurdish (spoken by Yezidi minority) 1%, other 1% (2011 est.)
**Major cities** YEREVAN (capital) 1,044 (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Armenian 98.1%, Yezidi (Kurd) 1.1%, other 0.7% (2011 est.)
**Religions** Armenian Apostolic 92.6%, Evangelical 1%, other 2.4%, none 1.1%, unspecified 2.9% (2011 est.)
**Independence** 21 September 1991 (from the Soviet Union)

**Internet** `.am` • 1.3 million • 43.6% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 3.5 million • 113 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Australia

Commonwealth of Australia › Oceania -- Oceania, continent between the Indian Ocean and the South Pacific Ocean

Canberra • 7,741,220 sq km • pop. 22,751,014 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** English 76.8%, Mandarin 1.6%, Italian 1.4%, Arabic 1.3%, Greek 1.2%, Cantonese 1.2%, Vietnamese 1.1%, other 10.4%, unspecified 5% (2011 est.)
**Major cities** Sydney 4.505 million; Melbourne 4.203 million; Brisbane 2.202 million; Perth 1.861 million; Adelaide 1.256 million; CANBERRA (capital) 423,000 (2015)
**Ethnic groups** English 25.9%, Australian 25.4%, Irish 7.5%, Scottish 6.4%, Italian 3.3%, German 3.2%, Chinese 3.1%, Indian 1.4%, Greek 1.4%, Dutch 1.2%, other 15.8% (includes Australian aboriginal .5%), unspecified 5.4%
**Religions** Protestant 30.1% (Anglican 17.1%, Uniting Church 5.0%, Presbyterian and Reformed 2.8%, Baptist, 1.6%, Lutheran 1.2%, Pentecostal 1.1%, other Protestant 1.3%), Catholic 25.3% (Roman Catholic 25.1%, other Catholic .2%), other Christian 2.9%, Orthodox 2.8%, Buddhist 2.5%, Muslim 2.2%, Hindu 1.3%, other 1.3%, none 22.3%, unspecified 9.3% (2011 est.)
**Independence** 1 January 1901 (from the federation of UK colonies)

**Internet** `.au` • 20.2 million • 89.6% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 31 million • 138 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Austria • Oesterreich

Republic of Austria › Europe -- Central Europe, north of Italy and Slovenia

Vienna • 83,871 sq km • pop. 8,665,550 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** German (official nationwide) 88.6%, Turkish 2.3%, Serbian 2.2%, Croatian (official in Burgenland) 1.6%, other (includes Slovene, official in South Carinthia, and Hungarian, official in Burgenland) 5.3% (2001 est.)
**Major cities** VIENNA (capital) 1.753 million (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Austrians 91.1%, former Yugoslavs 4% (includes Croatians, Slovenes, Serbs, and Bosniaks), Turks 1.6%, German 0.9%, other or unspecified 2.4% (2001 census)
**Religions** Catholic 73.8% (includes Roman Catholic 73.6%, other Catholic .2%), Protestant 4.9%, Muslim 4.2%, Orthodox 2.2%, other 0.8% (includes other Christian), none 12%, unspecified 2% (2001 est.)
**Independence** 12 November 1918 (republic proclaimed); notable earlier dates: 976 (Margravate of Austria established); 17 September 1156 (Duchy of Austria founded); 11 August 1804 (Austrian Empire proclaimed)

**Internet** `.at` • 7.2 million • 83.7% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 13 million • 150 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Azerbaijan • Azarbaycan

Republic of Azerbaijan › Asia -- Southwestern Asia, bordering the Caspian Sea, between Iran and Russia, with a small European portion north of the Caucasus range

Baku (Baki, Baky) • 86,600 sq km • pop. 9,780,780 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Azerbaijani (Azeri) (official) 92.5%, Russian 1.4%, Armenian 1.4%, other 4.7% (2009 est.)
**Major cities** BAKU (capital) 2.374 million (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Azerbaijani 91.6%, Lezgian 2%, Russian 1.3%, Armenian 1.3%, Talysh 1.3%, other 2.4%
**Religions** Muslim 93.4%, Russian Orthodox 2.5%, Armenian Orthodox 2.3%, other 1.8% (1995 est.)
**Independence** 30 August 1991 (declared from the Soviet Union); 18 October 1991 (adopted by the Supreme Council of Azerbaijan)

**Internet** `.az` • 5.8 million • 60.3% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 10.6 million • 109 (2014 est.) subs./100

### The Bahamas

Commonwealth of The Bahamas › Central America and the Caribbean -- chain of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Florida, northeast of Cuba

Nassau • 13,880 sq km • pop. 324,597

**Languages** English (official), Creole (among Haitian immigrants)
**Major cities** NASSAU (capital) 267,000 (2014)
**Ethnic groups** black 90.6%, white 4.7%, black and white 2.1%, other 1.9%, unspecified 0.7% (2010 est.)
**Religions** Protestant 69.9% (includes Baptist 34.9%, Anglican 13.7%, Pentecostal 8.9% Seventh Day Adventist 4.4%, Methodist 3.6%, Church of God 1.9%, Brethren 1.6%), Roman Catholic 12%, other Christian 13% (includes Jehovah's Witness 1.1%), other 0.6%, none 1.9%, unspecified 2.6% (2010 est.)
**Independence** 10 July 1973 (from the UK)

**Internet** `.bs` • 247,200 • 76.8% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 273,300 • 85 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Bahrain • Al Bahrayn

Kingdom of Bahrain › Middle East -- Middle East, archipelago in the Persian Gulf, east of Saudi Arabia

Manama • 760 sq km • pop. 1,346,613

**Languages** Arabic (official), English, Farsi, Urdu
**Major cities** MANAMA (capital) 411,000 (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Bahraini 46%, Asian 45.5%, other Arabs 4.7%, African 1.6%, European 1%, other 1.2% (includes Gulf Co-operative country nationals, North and South Americans, and Oceanians) (2010 est.)
**Religions** Muslim 70.3%, Christian 14.5%, Hindu 9.8%, Buddhist 2.5%, Jewish 0.6%, folk religion

**Independence** 15 August 1971 (from the UK)

**Internet** `.bh` • 1.3 million • 96.5% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 2.3 million • 177 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Bangladesh

People's Republic of Bangladesh › Asia -- Southern Asia, bordering the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and India

Dhaka • 148,460 sq km • pop. 168,957,745 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Bangla 98.8% (official, also known as Bengali), other 1.2% (2011 est.)
**Major cities** DHAKA (capital) 17.598 million; Chittagong 4.539 million; Khulna 1.022 million; Rajshahi 844,000 (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Bengali at least 98%, ethnic groups 1.1%
**Religions** Muslim 89.5%, Hindu 9.6%, other 0.9% (includes Buddhist .5%, Christian .3%) (2004 est.)
**Independence** 16 December 1971 (from West Pakistan)

**Internet** `.bd` • 11.4 million • 6.9% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 120.4 million • 72 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Barbados

\- › Central America and the Caribbean -- Caribbean, island in the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela

Bridgetown • 430 sq km • pop. 290,604 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** English (official), Bajan (English-based creole language, widely spoken in informal settings)
**Major cities** BRIDGETOWN (capital) 90,000 (2014)
**Ethnic groups** black 92.4%, white 2.7%, mixed 3.1%, East Indian 1.3%, other 0.2%, unspecified 0.2% (2010 est.)
**Religions** Protestant 66.3% (includes Anglican 23.9%, other Pentecostal 19.5%, Adventist 5.9%, Methodist 4.2%, Wesleyan 3.4%, Nazarene 3.2%, Church of God 2.4%, Baptist 1.8%, Moravian 1.2%, other Protestant .8%), Roman Catholic 3.8%, other Christian 5.4% (includes Jehovah's Witness 2.0%, other 3.4%), Rastafarian 1%, other 1.5%, none 20.6%, unspecified 1.2% (2010 est.)
**Independence** 30 November 1966 (from the UK)

**Internet** `.bb` • 227,400 • 78.5% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 305,500 • 105 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Belarus • Byelarus'/Belarus'

Republic of Belarus › Europe -- Eastern Europe, east of Poland

Minsk • 207,600 sq km • pop. 9,589,689 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Russian (official) 70.2%, Belarusian (official) 23.4%, other 3.1% (includes small Polish- and Ukrainian-speaking minorities), unspecified 3.3% (2009 est.)
**Major cities** MINSK (capital) 1.915 million (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Belarusian 83.7%, Russian 8.3%, Polish 3.1%, Ukrainian 1.7%, other 2.4%, unspecified 0.9% (2009 est.)
**Religions** Eastern Orthodox 80%, other (including Roman Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, and Muslim) 20% (1997 est.)
**Independence** 25 August 1991 (from the Soviet Union)

**Internet** `.by` • 5 million • 52.2% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 11.4 million • 119 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Belgium • Belgique/Belgie/Belgien

Kingdom of Belgium › Europe -- Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between France and the Netherlands

Brussels • 30,528 sq km • pop. 11,323,973 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Dutch (official) 60%, French (official) 40%, German (official) less than 1%
**Major cities** BRUSSELS (capital) 2.045 million; Antwerp 994,000 (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Fleming 58%, Walloon 31%, mixed or other 11%
**Religions** Roman Catholic 75%, other (includes Protestant) 25%
**Independence** 4 October 1830 (a provisional government declared independence from the Netherlands); 21 July 1831 (King LEOPOLD I ascended to the throne)

**Internet** `.be` • 9.5 million • 84.7% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 12.7 million • 113 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Belize

\- › Central America and the Caribbean -- Central America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and Mexico

Belmopan • 22,966 sq km • pop. 347,369 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** English 62.9% (official), Spanish 56.6%, Creole 44.6%, Maya 10.5%, German 3.2%, Garifuna 2.9%, other 1.8%, unknown 0.3%, none 0.2% (cannot speak)
**Major cities** BELMOPAN (capital) 17,000 (2014)
**Ethnic groups** mestizo 52.9%, Creole 25.9%, Maya 11.3%, Garifuna 6.1%, East Indian 3.9%, Mennonite 3.6%, white 1.2%, Asian 1%, other 1.2%, unknown 0.3%
**Religions** Roman Catholic 40.1%, Protestant 31.5% (includes Pentecostal 8.4%, Seventh Day Adventist 5.4%, Anglican 4.7%, Mennonite 3.7%, Baptist 3.6%, Methodist 2.9%, Nazarene 2.8%), Jehovah's Witness 1.7%, other 10.5% (includes Baha'i, Buddhist, Hindu, Morman, Muslim, Rastafarian), unknown 0.6%, none 15.5% (2010 est.)
**Independence** 21 September 1981 (from the UK)

**Internet** `.bz` • 91,200 • 26.8% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 172,300 • 51 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Benin

Republic of Benin › Africa -- Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Nigeria and Togo

Porto-Novo (official capital); note - Cotonou (seat of government) • 112,622 sq km • pop. 10,448,647

**Languages** French (official), Fon and Yoruba (most common vernaculars in south), tribal languages (at least six major ones in north)
**Major cities** PORTO-NOVO (capital) 268,000 (2014); COTONOU (seat of government) 682,000; Abomey-Calavi 757,000 (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Fon and related 39.2%, Adja and related 15.2%, Yoruba and related 12.3%, Bariba and related 9.2%, Peulh and related 7%, Ottamari and related 6.1%, Yoa-Lokpa and related 4%, Dendi and related 2.5%, other 1.6% (includes Europeans), unspecified 2.9% (2002 census)
**Religions** Catholic 27.1%, Muslim 24.4%, Vodoun 17.3%, Protestant 10.4% (Celestial 5%, Methodist 3.2%, other Protestant 2.2%), other Christian 5.3%, other 15.5% (2002 census)
**Independence** 1 August 1960 (from France)

**Internet** `.bj` • 441,000 • 4.3% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 10.8 million • 106 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Bhutan • Druk Yul

Kingdom of Bhutan › Asia -- Southern Asia, between China and India

Thimphu • 38,394 sq km • pop. 741,919

**Languages** Sharchhopka 28%, Dzongkha (official) 24%, Lhotshamkha 22%, other 26% (includes foreign languages) (2005 est.)
**Major cities** THIMPHU (capital) 152,000 (2014)
**Ethnic groups** Ngalop (also known as Bhote) 50%, ethnic Nepalese 35% (includes Lhotsampas - one of several Nepalese ethnic groups), indigenous or migrant tribes 15%
**Religions** Lamaistic Buddhist 75.3%, Indian- and Nepalese-influenced Hinduism 22.1%, other 2.6% (2005 est.)
**Independence** 1907 (became a unified kingdom under its first hereditary king)

**Internet** `.bt` • 203,100 • 27.7% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 628,300 • 86 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Bolivia

Plurinational State of Bolivia › South America -- Central South America, southwest of Brazil

La Paz (administrative capital); Sucre (constitutional capital) • 1,098,581 sq km • pop. 10,800,882 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Spanish (official) 60.7%, Quechua (official) 21.2%, Aymara (official) 14.6%, foreign languages 2.4%, Guarani (official) 0.6%, other native languages 0.4%, none 0.1%
**Major cities** Santa Cruz 2.107 million; LA PAZ (capital) 1.816 million; Cochabamba 1.24 million; Sucre (constitutional capital) 372,000 (2015)
**Ethnic groups** mestizo (mixed white and Amerindian ancestry) 68%, indigenous 20%, white 5%, cholo/chola 2%, black 1%, other 1%, unspecified 3% ; 44% of respondents indicated feeling part of some indigenous group, predominantly Quechua or Aymara
**Religions** Roman Catholic 76.8%, Evangelical and Pentecostal 8.1%, Protestant 7.9%, other 1.7%, none 5.5% (2012 est.)
**Independence** 6 August 1825 (from Spain)

**Internet** `.bo` • 3.9 million • 36.6% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 10.5 million • 98 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Bosnia and Herzegovina • Bosna i Hercegovina

\- › Europe -- Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea and Croatia

Sarajevo • 51,197 sq km • pop. 3,867,055 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Bosnian (official), Croatian (official), Serbian (official)
**Major cities** SARAJEVO (capital) 318,000 (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Bosniak 48.4%, Serb 32.7%, Croat 14.6%, other 4.3%
**Religions** Muslim 40%, Orthodox 31%, Roman Catholic 15%, other 14%
**Independence** 1 March 1992 (from Yugoslavia; referendum for independence completed on 1 March 1992; independence declared on 3 March 1992)

**Internet** `.ba` • 2.6 million • 67.5% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 3.5 million • 90 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Botswana

Republic of Botswana › Africa -- Southern Africa, north of South Africa

Gaborone • 581,730 sq km • pop. 2,182,719

**Languages** Setswana 78.2%, Kalanga 7.9%, Sekgalagadi 2.8%, English (official) 2.1%, Sesarwa 1.9%, Sempukushu 1.7%, other 5.1%, unspecified 0.2% (2001 est.)
**Major cities** GABORONE (capital) 247,000 (2014)
**Ethnic groups** Tswana (or Setswana) 79%, Kalanga 11%, Basarwa 3%, other, including Kgalagadi and white 7%
**Religions** Christian 71.6%, Badimo 6%, other 1.4% (includes Baha'i, Hindu, Muslim), unspecified 0.4%, none 20.6% (2001 est.)
**Independence** 30 September 1966 (from the UK)

**Internet** `.bw` • 283,500 • 13.2% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 3.4 million • 158 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Brazil • Brasil

Federative Republic of Brazil › South America -- Eastern South America, bordering the Atlantic Ocean

Brasilia • 8,515,770 sq km • pop. 204,259,812 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Portuguese (official and most widely spoken language)
**Major cities** Sao Paulo 21.066 million; Rio de Janeiro 12.902 million; Belo Horizonte 5.716 million; BRASILIA (capital) 4.155 million; Fortaleza 3.88 million; Recife 3.739 million (2015)
**Ethnic groups** white 47.7%, mulatto (mixed white and black) 43.1%, black 7.6%, Asian 1.1%, indigenous 0.4% (2010 est.)
**Religions** Roman Catholic 64.6%, other Catholic 0.4%, Protestant 22.2% (includes Adventist 6.5%, Assembly of God 2.0%, Christian Congregation of Brazil 1.2%, Universal Kingdom of God 1.0%, other Protestant 11.5%), other Christian 0.7%, Spiritist 2.2%, other 1.4%, none 8%, unspecified 0.4% (2010 est.)
**Independence** 7 September 1822 (from Portugal)

**Internet** `.br` • 108.2 million • 53.4% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 280.7 million • 139 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Brunei

Brunei Darussalam › Southeast Asia -- Southeastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and Malaysia

Bandar Seri Begawan • 5,765 sq km • pop. 429,646 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Malay (official), English, Chinese dialects
**Major cities** BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN (capital) 241,000
**Ethnic groups** Malay 65.7%, Chinese 10.3%, other indigenous 3.4%, other 20.6% (2011 est.)
**Religions** Muslim (official) 78.8%, Christian 8.7%, Buddhist 7.8%, other (includes indigenous beliefs) 4.7% (2011 est.)
**Independence** 1 January 1984 (from the UK)

**Internet** `.bn` • 277,200 • 65.6% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 465,800 • 110 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Bulgaria • Balgariya

Republic of Bulgaria › Europe -- Southeastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Romania and Turkey

Sofia • 110,879 sq km • pop. 7,186,893 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Bulgarian (official) 76.8%, Turkish 8.2%, Roma 3.8%, other 0.7%, unspecified 10.5% (2011 est.)
**Major cities** SOFIA (capital) 1.226 million (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Bulgarian 76.9%, Turkish 8%, Roma 4.4%, other 0.7% (including Russian, Armenian, and Vlach), other (unknown) 10% (2011 est.)
**Religions** Eastern Orthodox 59.4%, Muslim 7.8%, other (including Catholic, Protestant, Armenian Apostolic Orthodox, and Jewish) 1.7%, none 3.7%, unspecified 27.4% (2011 est.)
**Independence** 3 March 1878 (as an autonomous principality within the Ottoman Empire); 22 September 1908 (complete independence from the Ottoman Empire)

**Internet** `.bg` • 4.1 million • 57.0% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 9.9 million • 137 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Burkina Faso

\- › Africa -- Western Africa, north of Ghana

Ouagadougou • 274,200 sq km • pop. 18,931,686

**Languages** French (official), native African languages belonging to Sudanic family spoken by 90% of the population
**Major cities** OUAGADOUGOU (capital) 2.741 million (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Mossi over 40%, other approximately 60% (includes Gurunsi, Senufo, Lobi, Bobo, Mande, and Fulani)
**Religions** Muslim 60.5%, Catholic 19%, animist 15.3%, Protestant 4.2%, other 0.6%, none 0.4% (2006 est.)
**Independence** 5 August 1960 (from France)

**Internet** `.bf` • 782,400 • 4.3% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 12.5 million • 68 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Burma • Myanma Naingngandaw

Union of Burma › Southeast Asia -- Southeastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal, between Bangladesh and Thailand

Rangoon (Yangon); note - Nay Pyi Taw is the administrative capital • 676,578 sq km • pop. 56,320,206

**Languages** Burmese (official)
**Major cities** RANGOON (Yangon) (capital) 4.802 million; Mandalay 1.167 million; Nay Pyi Taw 1.03 million (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Burman 68%, Shan 9%, Karen 7%, Rakhine 4%, Chinese 3%, Indian 2%, Mon 2%, other 5%
**Religions** Buddhist 89%, Christian 4% (Baptist 3%, Roman Catholic 1%), Muslim 4%, Animist 1%, other 2%
**Independence** 4 January 1948 (from the UK)

**Internet** `.mm` • 646,700 • 1.2% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 26.6 million • 48 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Burundi

Republic of Burundi › Africa -- Central Africa, east of Democratic Republic of the Congo

Bujumbura • 27,830 sq km • pop. 10,742,276

**Languages** Kirundi 29.7% (official), Kirundi and other language 9.1%, French (official) and French and other language 0.3%, Swahili and Swahili and other language 0.2% (along Lake Tanganyika and in the Bujumbura area), English and English and other language 0.06%, more than 2 languages 3.7%, unspecified 56.9% (2008 est.)
**Major cities** BUJUMBURA (capital) 751,000 (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Hutu (Bantu) 85%, Tutsi (Hamitic) 14%, Twa (Pygmy) 1%, Europeans 3,000, South Asians 2,000
**Religions** Catholic 62.1%, Protestant 23.9% (includes Adventist 2.3% and other Protestant 21.6%), Muslim 2.5%, other 3.6%, unspecified 7.9% (2008 est.)
**Independence** 1 July 1962 (from UN trusteeship under Belgian administration)

**Internet** `.bi` • 144,500 • 1.4% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 3.2 million • 31 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Cambodia • Kampuchea

Kingdom of Cambodia › Southeast Asia -- Southeastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, between Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos

Phnom Penh • 181,035 sq km • pop. 15,708,756

**Languages** Khmer (official) 96.3%, other 3.7% (2008 est.)
**Major cities** PHNOM PENH (capital) 1.731 million (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Khmer 90%, Vietnamese 5%, Chinese 1%, other 4%
**Religions** Buddhist (official) 96.9%, Muslim 1.9%, Christian 0.4%, other 0.8% (2008 est.)
**Independence** 9 November 1953 (from France)

**Internet** `.kh` • 831,700 • 5.4% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 23.9 million • 155 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Cameroon • Cameroun/Cameroon

Republic of Cameroon › Africa -- Central Africa, bordering the Bight of Biafra, between Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria

Yaounde • 475,440 sq km • pop. 23,739,218

**Languages** 24 major African language groups, English (official), French (official)
**Major cities** YAOUNDE (capital) 3.066 million; Douala 2.943 million (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Cameroon Highlanders 31%, Equatorial Bantu 19%, Kirdi 11%, Fulani 10%, Northwestern Bantu 8%, Eastern Nigritic 7%, other African 13%, non-African less than 1%
**Religions** indigenous beliefs 40%, Christian 40%, Muslim 20%
**Independence** 1 January 1960 (from French-administered UN trusteeship)

**Internet** `.cm` • 1.5 million • 6.5% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 17.3 million • 75 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Canada

\- › North America -- Northern North America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean on the east, North Pacific Ocean on the west, and the Arctic Ocean on the north, north of the conterminous US

Ottawa • 9,984,670 sq km • pop. 35,099,836 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** English (official) 58.7%, French (official) 22%, Punjabi 1.4%, Italian 1.3%, Spanish 1.3%, German 1.3%, Cantonese 1.2%, Tagalog 1.2%, Arabic 1.1%, other 10.5% (2011 est.)
**Major cities** Toronto 5.993 million; Montreal 3.981 million; Vancouver 2.485 million; Calgary 1.337 million; OTTAWA (capital) 1.326 million; Edmonton 1.272 million (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Canadian 32.2%, English 19.8%, French 15.5%, Scottish 14.4%, Irish 13.8%, German 9.8%, Italian 4.5%, Chinese 4.5%, North American Indian 4.2%, other 50.9%
**Religions** Catholic 40.6% (includes Roman Catholic 38.8%, Orthodox 1.6%, other Catholic .2%), Protestant 20.3% (includes United Church 6.1%, Anglican 5%, Baptist 1.9%, Lutheran 1.5%, Pentecostal 1.5%, Presbyterian 1.4%, other Protestant 2.9%), other Christian 6.3%, Muslim 3.2%, Hindu 1.5%, Sikh 1.4%, Buddhist 1.1%, Jewish 1%, other 0.6%, none 23.9% (2011 est.)
**Independence** 1 July 1867 (union of British North American colonies); 11 December 1931 (recognized by UK per Statute of Westminster)

**Internet** `.ca` • 32.4 million • 92.9% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 29.5 million • 85 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Cabo Verde

Republic of Cabo Verde › Africa -- Western Africa, group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Senegal

Praia • 4,033 sq km • pop. 545,993 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Portuguese (official), Crioulo (a blend of Portuguese and West African words)
**Major cities** PRAIA (capital) 145,000 (2014)
**Ethnic groups** Creole (mulatto) 71%, African 28%, European 1%
**Religions** Roman Catholic 77.3%, Protestant 3.7% (includes Church of the Nazarene 1.7%, Adventist 1.5%, Universal Kingdom of God 0.4%, and God and Love 0.1%), other Christian 4.3% (includes Christian Rationalism 1.9%, Jehovah's Witness 1%, Assembly of God 0.9%, and New Apostolic 0.5%), Muslim 1.8%, other 1.3%, none 10.8%, unspecified 0.7% (2010 est.)
**Independence** 5 July 1975 (from Portugal)

**Internet** `.cv` • 213,900 • 39.7% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 613,400 • 114 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Central African Republic

Central African Republic › Africa -- Central Africa, north of Democratic Republic of the Congo

Bangui • 622,984 sq km • pop. 5,391,539

**Languages** French (official), Sangho (lingua franca and national language), tribal languages
**Major cities** BANGUI (capital) 794,000 (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Baya 33%, Banda 27%, Mandjia 13%, Sara 10%, Mboum 7%, M'Baka 4%, Yakoma 4%, other 2%
**Religions** indigenous beliefs 35%, Protestant 25%, Roman Catholic 25%, Muslim 15%
**Independence** 13 August 1960 (from France)

**Internet** `.cf` • 181,000 • 3.4% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 1.5 million • 28 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Chad • Tchad/Tshad

Republic of Chad › Africa -- Central Africa, south of Libya

N'Djamena • 1.284 million sq km • pop. 11,631,456 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** French (official), Arabic (official), Sara (in south), more than 120 different languages and dialects
**Major cities** N'DJAMENA (capital) 1.26 million (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Sara 27.7%, Arab 12.3%, Mayo-Kebbi 11.5%, Kanem-Bornou 9%, Ouaddai 8.7%, Hadjarai 6.7%, Tandjile 6.5%, Gorane 6.3%, Fitri-Batha 4.7%, other 6.4%, unknown 0.3% (1993 census)
**Religions** Muslim 53.1%, Catholic 20.1%, Protestant 14.2%, animist 7.3%, other 0.5%, unknown 1.7%, atheist 3.1% (1993 census)
**Independence** 11 August 1960 (from France)

**Internet** `.td` • 273,900 • 2.4% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 5.3 million • 46 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Chile

Republic of Chile › South America -- Southern South America, bordering the South Pacific Ocean, between Argentina and Peru

Santiago; note - Valparaiso is the seat of the national legislature • 756,102 sq km • pop. 17,508,260 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Spanish 99.5% (official), English 10.2%, indigenous 1% (includes Mapudungun, Aymara, Quechua, Rapa Nui), other 2.3%, unspecified 0.2%
**Major cities** SANTIAGO (capital) 6.507 million; Valparaiso 907,000; Concepcion 816,000 (2015)
**Ethnic groups** white and non-indigenous 88.9%, Mapuche 9.1%, Aymara 0.7%, other indigenous groups 1% (includes Rapa Nui, Likan Antai, Quechua, Colla, Diaguita, Kawesqar, Yagan or Yamana), unspecified 0.3% (2012 est.)
**Religions** Roman Catholic 66.7%, Evangelical or Protestant 16.4%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1%, other 3.4%, none 11.5%, unspecified 1.1% (2012 est.)
**Independence** 18 September 1810 (from Spain)

**Internet** `.cl` • 11.4 million • 65.8% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 23.7 million • 136 (2014 est.) subs./100

### China • Zhongguo

People's Republic of China › Asia -- Eastern Asia, bordering the East China Sea, Korea Bay, Yellow Sea, and South China Sea, between North Korea and Vietnam

Beijing • 9,596,960 sq km • pop. 1,367,485,388 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Standard Chinese or Mandarin (official; Putonghua, based on the Beijing dialect), Yue (Cantonese), Wu (Shanghainese), Minbei (Fuzhou), Minnan (Hokkien-Taiwanese), Xiang, Gan, Hakka dialects, minority languages (see Ethnic groups entry)
**Major cities** Shanghai 23.741 million; BEIJING (capital) 20.384 million; Chongqing 13.332 million; Guangdong 12.458 million; Tianjin 11.21 million; Shenzhen 10.749 million (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Han Chinese 91.6%, Zhuang 1.3%, other (includes Hui, Manchu, Uighur, Miao, Yi, Tujia, Tibetan, Mongol, Dong, Buyei, Yao, Bai, Korean, Hani, Li, Kazakh, Dai and other nationalities) 7.1%
**Religions** Buddhist 18.2%, Christian 5.1%, Muslim 1.8%, folk religion 21.9%, Hindu
note: officially atheist (2010 est.)

**Independence** 1 October 1949 (People's Republic of China established); notable earlier dates: 221 B.C. (unification under the Qin Dynasty); 1 January 1912 (Qing Dynasty replaced by the Republic of China)

**Internet** `.cn` • 626.6 million • 46.0% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 1.3 billion • 94 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Colombia

Republic of Colombia › South America -- Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Panama and Venezuela, and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between Ecuador and Panama

Bogota • 1,138,910 sq km • pop. 46,736,728 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Spanish (official)
**Major cities** BOGOTA (capital) 9.765 million; Medellin 3.911 million; Cali 2.646 million; Barranquilla 1.991 million; Bucaramanga 1.215 million; Cartagena 1.092 million (2015)
**Ethnic groups** mestizo and white 84.2%, Afro-Colombian (includes multatto, Raizal, and Palenquero) 10.4%, Amerindian 3.4%, Roma

**Religions** Roman Catholic 90%, other 10%
**Independence** 20 July 1810 (from Spain)

**Internet** `.co` • 24.3 million • 52.4% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 55.3 million • 120 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Comoros • Komori (Comorian); Comores (French); Juzur al Qamar (Arabic)

Union of the Comoros › Africa -- Southern Africa, group of islands at the northern mouth of the Mozambique Channel, about two-thirds of the way between northern Madagascar and northern Mozambique

Moroni • 2,235 sq km • pop. 780,971 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Arabic (official), French (official), Shikomoro (official; a blend of Swahili and Arabic) (Comorian)
**Major cities** MORONI (capital) 56,000 (2014)
**Ethnic groups** Antalote, Cafre, Makoa, Oimatsaha, Sakalava
**Religions** Sunni Muslim 98%, Roman Catholic 2%
**Independence** 6 July 1975 (from France)

**Internet** `.km` • 50,200 • 6.6% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 383,000 • 50 (2014 est.) subs./100

### DRC • RDC

Democratic Republic of the Congo › Africa -- Central Africa, northeast of Angola

Kinshasa • 2,344,858 sq km • pop. 79,375,136

**Languages** French (official), Lingala (a lingua franca trade language), Kingwana (a dialect of Kiswahili or Swahili), Kikongo, Tshiluba
**Major cities** KINSHASA (capital) 11.587 million; Lubumbashi 2.015 million; Mbuji-Mayi 20.007 million; Kananga 1.169 million; Kisangani 1.04 million; Bukavu 832,000 (2015)
**Ethnic groups** over 200 African ethnic groups of which the majority are Bantu; the four largest tribes - Mongo, Luba, Kongo (all Bantu), and the Mangbetu-Azande (Hamitic) make up about 45% of the population
**Religions** Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 20%, Kimbanguist 10%, Muslim 10%, other (includes syncretic sects and indigenous beliefs) 10%
**Independence** 30 June 1960 (from Belgium)

**Internet** `.cd` • 290,000 • less than 1% (2008)
**Telephones - mobile** 37.1 million • 48 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Congo (Brazzaville) • Congo

Republic of the Congo › Africa -- Central Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Angola and Gabon

Brazzaville • 342,000 sq km • pop. 4,755,097

**Languages** French (official), Lingala and Monokutuba (lingua franca trade languages), many local languages and dialects (of which Kikongo is the most widespread)
**Major cities** BRAZZAVILLE (capital) 1.888 million; Pointe-Noire 969,000 (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Kongo 48%, Sangha 20%, M'Bochi 12%, Teke 17%, Europeans and other 3%
**Religions** Roman Catholic 33.1%, Awakening Churches/Christian Revival 22.3%, Protestant 19.9%, Salutiste 2.2%, Muslim 1.6%, Kimbanguiste 1.5%, other 8.1%, none 11.3% (2010 est.)
**Independence** 15 August 1960 (from France)

**Internet** `.cg` • 89,500 • 1.9% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 4.9 million • 106 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Costa Rica

Republic of Costa Rica › Central America and the Caribbean -- Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Nicaragua and Panama

San Jose • 51,100 sq km • pop. 4,814,144 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Spanish (official), English
**Major cities** SAN JOSE (capital) 1.17 million (2015)
**Ethnic groups** white or mestizo 83.6%, mulato 6.7%, indigenous 2.4%, black of African descent 1.1%, other 1.1%, none 2.9%, unspecified 2.2% (2011 est.)
**Religions** Roman Catholic 76.3%, Evangelical 13.7%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.3%, other Protestant 0.7%, other 4.8%, none 3.2%
**Independence** 15 September 1821 (from Spain)

**Internet** `.cr` • 2.4 million • 50.9% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 7.1 million • 149 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Cote d'Ivoire

Republic of Cote d'Ivoire › Africa -- Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Ghana and Liberia

Yamoussoukro; note - although Yamoussoukro has been the official capital since 1983, Abidjan remains the commercial and administrative center; the US, like other countries, maintains its Embassy in Abidjan • 322,463 sq km • pop. 23,295,302

**Languages** French (official), 60 native dialects of which Dioula is the most widely spoken
**Major cities** YAMOUSSOUKRO (capital) 259,000 (2014); ABIDJAN (seat of government) 4.86 million; Bouake 762,000 (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Akan 42.1%, Voltaiques or Gur 17.6%, Northern Mandes 16.5%, Krous 11%, Southern Mandes 10%, other 2.8% (includes 130,000 Lebanese and 14,000 French) (1998)
**Religions** Muslim 38.6%, Christian 32.8%, indigenous 11.9%, none 16.7% (2008 est.)
**Independence** 7 August 1960 (from France)

**Internet** `.ci` • 621,500 • 2.7% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 22.1 million • 97 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Croatia • Hrvatska

Republic of Croatia › Europe -- Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea, between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Slovenia

Zagreb • 56,594 sq km • pop. 4,464,844 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Croatian (official) 95.6%, Serbian 1.2%, other 3% (including Hungarian, Czech, Slovak, and Albanian), unspecified 0.2% (2011 est.)
**Major cities** ZAGREB (capital) 687,000 (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Croat 90.4%, Serb 4.4%, other 4.4% (including Bosniak, Hungarian, Slovene, Czech, and Roma), unspecified 0.8% (2011 est.)
**Religions** Roman Catholic 86.3%, Orthodox 4.4%, Muslim 1.5%, other 1.5%, unspecified 2.5%, not religious or atheist 3.8% (2011 est.)
**Independence** 25 June 1991 (from Yugoslavia)

**Internet** `.hr` • 2.9 million • 65.1% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 4.5 million • 100 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Cuba

Republic of Cuba › Central America and the Caribbean -- Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, 150 km south of Key West, Florida

Havana • 110,860 sq km • pop. 11,031,433 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Spanish (official)
**Major cities** HAVANA (capital) 2.137 million (2015)
**Ethnic groups** white 64.1%, mestizo 26.6%, black 9.3% (2012 est.)
**Religions** nominally Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant, Jehovah's Witnesses, Jewish, Santeria
**Independence** 20 May 1902 (from Spain 10 December 1898; administered by the US from 1898 to 1902); not acknowledged by the Cuban Government as a day of independence

**Internet** `.cu` • 3 million • 27.5%
**Telephones - mobile** 2.5 million • 23 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Cyprus • Kypros/Kibris

Republic of Cyprus › Middle East -- Middle East, island in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Turkey

Nicosia (Lefkosia/Lefkosa) • 9,251 sq km (of which 3,355 sq km are in north Cyprus) • pop. 1,189,197 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Greek (official) 80.9%, Turkish (official) 0.2%, English 4.1%, Romanian 2.9%, Russian 2.5%, Bulgarian 2.2%, Arabic 1.2%, Filippino 1.1%, other 4.3%, unspecified 0.6% (2011 est.)
**Major cities** NICOSIA (capital) 251,000 (2014)
**Ethnic groups** Greek 77%, Turkish 18%, other 5% (2001)
**Religions** Orthodox Christian 89.1%, Roman Catholic 2.9%, Protestant/Anglican 2%, Muslim 1.8%, Buddhist 1%, other (includes Maronite, Armenian Church, Hindu) 1.4%, unknown 1.1%, none/atheist 0.6% (2011 est.)
**Independence** 16 August 1960 (from the UK); note - Turkish Cypriots proclaimed self-rule on 13 February 1975 and independence in 1983, but these proclamations are recognized only by Turkey

**Internet** `.cy` • 738,900 • 63.0% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 1.1 million • 95 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Czech Republic • Cesko

Czech Republic › Europe -- Central Europe, between Germany, Poland, Slovakia, and Austria

Prague • 78,867 sq km • pop. 10,644,842 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Czech (official) 95.4%, Slovak 1.6%, other 3% (2011 census)
**Major cities** PRAGUE (capital) 1.314 million (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Czech 64.3%, Moravian 5%, Slovak 1.4%, other 1.8%, unspecified 27.5% (2011 est.)
**Religions** Roman Catholic 10.4%, Protestant (includes Czech Brethren and Hussite) 1.1%, other and unspecified 54%, none 34.5% (2011 est.)
**Independence** 1 January 1993 (Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia); note - although 1 January is the day the Czech Republic came into being, the Czechs commemorate 28 October 1918, the day the former Czechoslovakia declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, as their independence day

**Internet** `.cz` • 8.2 million • 77.5% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 14 million • 131 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Denmark • Danmark

Kingdom of Denmark › Europe -- Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and the North Sea, on a peninsula north of Germany (Jutland); also includes several major islands (Sjaelland, Fyn, and Bornholm)

Copenhagen • 43,094 sq km • pop. 5,581,503 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Danish, Faroese, Greenlandic (an Inuit dialect), German (small minority)
**Major cities** COPENHAGEN (capital) 1.268 million (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Scandinavian, Inuit, Faroese, German, Turkish, Iranian, Somali
**Religions** Evangelical Lutheran (official) 80%, Muslim 4%, other (denominations of less than 1% each, includes Roman Catholic, Jehovah's Witness, Serbian Orthodox Christian, Jewish, Baptist, and Buddhist) 16% (2012 est.)
**Independence** ca. 965 (unified and Christianized under HARALD I Gormson); 5 June 1849 (became a constitutional monarchy)

**Internet** `.dk` • 5.4 million • 96.1% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 7.1 million • 128 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Djibouti • Djibouti/Jibuti

Republic of Djibouti › Africa -- Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, between Eritrea and Somalia

Djibouti • 23,200 sq km • pop. 828,324 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** French (official), Arabic (official), Somali, Afar
**Major cities** DJIBOUTI (capital) 529,000 (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Somali 60%, Afar 35%, other 5% (includes French, Arab, Ethiopian, and Italian)
**Religions** Muslim 94%, Christian 6%
**Independence** 27 June 1977 (from France)

**Internet** `.dj` • 73,500 • 9.1% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 287,000 • 35 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Dominica

Commonwealth of Dominica › Central America and the Caribbean -- Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, about halfway between Puerto Rico and Trinidad and Tobago

Roseau • 751 sq km • pop. 73,607 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** English (official), French patois
**Major cities** ROSEAU (capital) 15,000 (2014)
**Ethnic groups** black 86.6%, mixed 9.1%, indigenous 2.9%, other 1.3%, unspecified 0.2% (2001 est.)
**Religions** Roman Catholic 61.4%, Protestant 20.6% (inclues Evangelical 6.7%, Seventh Day Adventist 6.1%, Pentecostal 5.6%, Baptist 4.1%, Methodist 3.7%, Church of God 1.2%, other 1.3%), Rastafarian 1.3%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.2%, other 0.3%, none 6.1%, unspecified 1.1% (2001 est.)
**Independence** 3 November 1978 (from the UK)

**Internet** `.dm` • 43,400 • 59.1% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 92,200 • 126 (2014 est.) subs./100

### The Dominican • La Dominicana

Dominican Republic › Central America and the Caribbean -- Caribbean, eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Haiti

Santo Domingo • 48,670 sq km • pop. 10,478,756 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Spanish (official)
**Major cities** SANTO DOMINGO (capital) 2.945 million (2015)
**Ethnic groups** mixed 73%, white 16%, black 11%
**Religions** Roman Catholic 95%, other 5%
**Independence** 27 February 1844 (from Haiti)

**Internet** `.do` • 5 million • 48.2% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 8.3 million • 80 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Ecuador

Republic of Ecuador › South America -- Western South America, bordering the Pacific Ocean at the Equator, between Colombia and Peru

Quito • 283,561 sq km • pop. 15,868,396 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Spanish (Castillian) 93% (official), Quechua 4.1%, other indigenous 0.7%, foreign 2.2%
**Major cities** Guayaquil 2.709 million; QUITO (capital) 1.726 million (2015)
**Ethnic groups** mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 71.9%, Montubio 7.4%, Amerindian 7%, white 6.1%, Afroecuadorian 4.3%, mulato 1.9%, black 1%, other 0.4% (2010 est.)
**Religions** Roman Catholic 74%, Evangelical 10.4%, Jehovah's Witness 1.2%, other 6.4% (includes Mormon Buddhist, Jewish, Spiritualist, Muslim, Hindu, indigenous religions, African American religions, Pentecostal), atheist 7.9%, agnostic 0.1%
**Independence** 24 May 1822 (from Spain)

**Internet** `.ec` • 5.9 million • 37.6% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 16.6 million • 106 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Egypt • Misr

Arab Republic of Egypt › Africa -- Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Libya and the Gaza Strip, and the Red Sea north of Sudan, and includes the Asian Sinai Peninsula

Cairo • 1,001,450 sq km • pop. 88,487,396 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Arabic (official), English and French widely understood by educated classes
**Major cities** CAIRO (capital) 18.772 million; Alexandria 4.778 million (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Egyptian 99.6%, other 0.4% (2006 census)
**Religions** Muslim (predominantly Sunni) 90%, Christian (majority Coptic Orthodox, other Christians include Armenian Apostolic, Catholic, Maronite, Orthodox, and Anglican) 10% (2012 est.)
**Independence** 28 February 1922 (from UK protectorate status; the revolution that began on 23 July 1952 led to a republic being declared on 18 June 1953 and all British troops withdrawn on 18 June 1956); note - it was ca. 3200 B.C. that the Two Lands of Upper (southern) and Lower (northern) Egypt were first united politically

**Internet** `.eg` • 42 million • 48.3% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 95.3 million • 110 (2014 est.) subs./100

### El Salvador

Republic of El Salvador › Central America and the Caribbean -- Central America, bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between Guatemala and Honduras

San Salvador • 21,041 sq km • pop. 6,141,350 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Spanish (official), Nahua (among some Amerindians)
**Major cities** SAN SALVADOR (capital) 1.098 million (2015)
**Ethnic groups** mestizo 86.3%, white 12.7%, Amerindian 0.2% (includes Lenca, Kakawira, Nahua-Pipil), black 0.1%, other 0.6% (2007 est.)
**Religions** Roman Catholic 57.1%, Protestant 21.2%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.9%, Mormon 0.7%, other religions 2.3%, none 16.8% (2003 est.)
**Independence** 15 September 1821 (from Spain)

**Internet** `.sv` • 1.7 million • 27.3% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 9.2 million • 150 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Equatorial Guinea • Guinea Ecuatorial/Guinee Equatoriale

Republic of Equatorial Guinea › Africa -- Central Africa, bordering the Bight of Biafra, between Cameroon and Gabon

Malabo • 28,051 sq km • pop. 740,743 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Spanish (official) 67.6%, other (includes French (official), Fang, Bubi) 32.4% (1994 census)
**Major cities** MALABO (capital) 145,000 (2014)
**Ethnic groups** Fang 85.7%, Bubi 6.5%, Mdowe 3.6%, Annobon 1.6%, Bujeba 1.1%, other 1.4% (1994 census)
**Religions** nominally Christian and predominantly Roman Catholic, pagan practices
**Independence** 12 October 1968 (from Spain)

**Internet** `.gq` • 115,100 • 15.9% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 516,500 • 72 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Eritrea • Ertra

State of Eritrea › Africa -- Eastern Africa, bordering the Red Sea, between Djibouti and Sudan

Asmara (Asmera) • 117,600 sq km • pop. 6,527,689 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Tigrinya (official), Arabic (official), English (official), Tigre, Kunama, Afar, other Cushitic languages
**Major cities** ASMARA (capital) 804,000 (2015)
**Ethnic groups** nine recognized ethnic groups: Tigrinya 55%, Tigre 30%, Saho 4%, Kunama 2%, Rashaida 2%, Bilen 2%, other (Afar, Beni Amir, Nera) 5% (2010 est.)
**Religions** Muslim, Coptic Christian, Roman Catholic, Protestant
**Independence** 24 May 1993 (from Ethiopia)

**Internet** `.er` • 58,100 • 0.91% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 417,400 • 7 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Estonia • Eesti

Republic of Estonia › Europe -- Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and Gulf of Finland, between Latvia and Russia

Tallinn • 45,228 sq km • pop. 1,265,420 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Estonian (official) 68.5%, Russian 29.6%, Ukrainian 0.6%, other 1.2%, unspecified 0.1% (2011 est.)
**Major cities** TALLINN (capital) 391,000 (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Estonian 68.7%, Russian 24.8%, Ukrainian 1.7%, Belarusian 1%, Finn 0.6%, other 1.6%, unspecified 1.6% (2011 est.)
**Religions** Lutheran 9.9%, Orthodox 16.2%, other Christian (including Methodist, Seventh-Day Adventist, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal) 2.2%, other 0.9%, none 54.1%, unspecified 16.7% (2011 est.)
**Independence** 20 August 1991 (declared); 6 September 1991 (recognized by the Soviet Union)

**Internet** `.ee` • 1 million • 81.6% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 2.1 million • 162 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Ethiopia • Ityop'iya

Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia › Africa -- Eastern Africa, west of Somalia

Addis Ababa • 1,104,300 sq km • pop. 99,465,819

**Languages** Oromo (official working language in the State of Oromiya) 33.8%, Amharic (official national language) 29.3%, Somali (official working language of the State of Sumale) 6.2%, Tigrigna (Tigrinya) (official working language of the State of Tigray) 5.9%, Sidamo 4%, Wolaytta 2.2%, Gurage 2%, Afar (official working language of the State of Afar) 1.7%, Hadiyya 1.7%, Gamo 1.5%, Gedeo 1.3%, Opuuo 1.2%, Kafa 1.1%, other 8.1%, English (major foreign language taught in schools), Arabic (2007 est.)
**Major cities** ADDIS ABABA (capital) 3.238 million (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Oromo 34.4%, Amhara (Amara) 27%, Somali (Somalie) 6.2%, Tigray (Tigrinya) 6.1%, Sidama 4%, Gurage 2.5%, Welaita 2.3%, Hadiya 1.7%, Afar (Affar) 1.7%, Gamo 1.5%, Gedeo 1.3%, Silte 1.3%, Kefficho 1.2%, other 10.5% (2007 est.)
**Religions** Ethiopian Orthodox 43.5%, Muslim 33.9%, Protestant 18.5%, traditional 2.7%, Catholic 0.7%, other 0.6% (2007 est.)
**Independence** oldest independent country in Africa and one of the oldest in the world - at least 2,000 years (may be traced to the Aksumite Kingdom, which coalesced in the first century B.C.)

**Internet** `.et` • 1.6 million • 1.7% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 30.5 million • 32 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Fiji • Fiji/Viti

Republic of Fiji › Oceania -- Oceania, island group in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand

Suva (on Viti Levu) • 18,274 sq km • pop. 909,389 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** English (official), Fijian (official), Hindustani
**Major cities** SUVA (capital) 176,000 (2014)
**Ethnic groups** iTaukei 56.8% (predominantly Melanesian with a Polynesian admixture), Indian 37.5%, Rotuman 1.2%, other 4.5% (European, part European, other Pacific Islanders, Chinese)
**Religions** Protestant 45% (Methodist 34.6%, Assembly of God 5.7%, Seventh Day Adventist 3.9%, and Anglican 0.8%), Hindu 27.9%, other Christian 10.4%, Roman Catholic 9.1%, Muslim 6.3%, Sikh 0.3%, other 0.3%, none 0.8% (2007 est.)
**Independence** 10 October 1970 (from the UK)

**Internet** `.fj` • 331,700 • 36.7% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 876,200 • 97 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Finland • Suomi/Finland

Republic of Finland › Europe -- Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, and Gulf of Finland, between Sweden and Russia

Helsinki • 338,145 sq km • pop. 5,476,922 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Finnish (official) 89%, Swedish (official) 5.3%, Russian 1.3%, other 4.4% (2014 est.)
**Major cities** HELSINKI (capital) 1.18 million (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Finn 93.4%, Swede 5.6%, Russian 0.5%, Estonian 0.3%, Roma (Gypsy) 0.1%, Sami 0.1% (2006)
**Religions** Lutheran 78.4%, Orthodox 1.1%, other Christian 1.1%, other 0.2%, none 19.2% (2010 est.)
**Independence** 6 December 1917 (from Russia)

**Internet** `.fi; note - Aland Islands assigned .ax` • 5.1 million • 94.0% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 7.6 million • 139 (2014 est.) subs./100

### France

French Republic ›  --

Paris • 643,801 sq km; 551,500 sq km (metropolitan France) • pop. 66,553,766

**Languages** French (official) 100%, rapidly declining regional dialects and languages (Provencal, Breton, Alsatian, Corsican, Catalan, Basque, Flemish)
**Major cities** PARIS (capital) 10.843 million; Lyon 1.609 million; Marseille-Aix-en-Provence 1.605 million; Lille 1.027 million; Nice-Cannes 967,000; Toulouse 938,000 (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Celtic and Latin with Teutonic, Slavic, North African, Indochinese, Basque minorities
**Religions** Christian (overwhelmingly Roman Catholic) 63-66%, Muslim 7-9%, Jewish .5-.75%, Buddhist .5-.75%, other .5-1.0%, none 23-28%
**Independence** no official date of independence: 486 (Frankish tribes unified under Merovingian kingship); 10 August 843 (Western Francia established from the division of the Carolingian Empire); 14 July 1789 (French monarchy overthrown); 22 September 1792 (First French Republic founded); 4 October 1958 (Fifth French Republic established)

**Internet** `metropolitan France - .fr; French Guiana - .gf; Guadeloupe - .gp; Martinique - .mq; Mayotte - .yt; Reunion - .re` • 56.8 million • 85.8% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 64.9 million • 98 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Gabon

Gabonese Republic › Africa -- Central Africa, bordering the Atlantic Ocean at the Equator, between Republic of the Congo and Equatorial Guinea

Libreville • 267,667 sq km • pop. 1,705,336

**Languages** French (official), Fang, Myene, Nzebi, Bapounou/Eschira, Bandjabi
**Major cities** LIBREVILLE (capital) 707,000 (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Bantu tribes, including four major tribal groupings (Fang, Bapounou, Nzebi, Obamba); other Africans and Europeans, 154,000, including 10,700 French and 11,000 persons of dual nationality
**Religions** Christian 55%-75%, animist, Muslim less than 1%
**Independence** 17 August 1960 (from France)

**Internet** `.ga` • 164,800 • 9.9% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 3.6 million • 215 (2014 est.) subs./100

### The Gambia

Republic of The Gambia › Africa -- Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and Senegal

Banjul • 11,300 sq km • pop. 1,967,709 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** English (official), Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, other indigenous vernaculars
**Major cities** BANJUL (capital) 504,000 (2015)
**Ethnic groups** African 99% (Mandinka 42%, Fula 18%, Wolof 16%, Jola 10%, Serahuli 9%, other 4%), non-African 1% (2003 census)
**Religions** Muslim 90%, Christian 8%, indigenous beliefs 2%
**Independence** 18 February 1965 (from the UK)

**Internet** `.gm` • 274,000 • 14.2% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 2.3 million • 119 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Georgia • Sak'art'velo

\- › Asia -- Southwestern Asia, bordering the Black Sea, between Turkey and Russia, with a sliver of land north of the Caucasus extending into Europe; note - Georgia views itself as part of Europe

Tbilisi • 69,700 sq km • pop. 4,931,226 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Georgian (official) 71%, Russian 9%, Armenian 7%, Azeri 6%, other 7%
**Major cities** TBILISI (capital) 1.147 million (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Georgian 83.8%, Azeri 6.5%, Armenian 5.7%, Russian 1.5%, other 2.5% (2002 est.)
**Religions** Orthodox Christian (official) 83.9%, Muslim 9.9%, Armenian-Gregorian 3.9%, Catholic 0.8%, other 0.8%, none 0.7% (2002 census)
**Independence** 9 April 1991 (from the Soviet Union); notable earlier date: A.D. 1008 (Georgia unified under King BAGRAT III)

**Internet** `.ge` • 2.5 million • 50.6% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 5.4 million • 109 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Germany • Deutschland

Federal Republic of Germany › Europe -- Central Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and the North Sea, between the Netherlands and Poland, south of Denmark

Berlin • 357,022 sq km • pop. 80,854,408 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** German (official)
**Major cities** BERLIN (capital) 3.563 million; Hamburg 1.831 million; Munich 1.438 million; Cologne 1.037 million (2015)
**Ethnic groups** German 91.5%, Turkish 2.4%, other 6.1% (made up largely of Greek, Italian, Polish, Russian, Serbo-Croatian, Spanish)
**Religions** Protestant 34%, Roman Catholic 34%, Muslim 3.7%, unaffiliated or other 28.3%
**Independence** 18 January 1871 (establishment of the German Empire); divided into four zones of occupation (UK, US, USSR, and France) in 1945 following World War II; Federal Republic of Germany (FRG or West Germany) proclaimed on 23 May 1949 and included the former UK, US, and French zones; German Democratic Republic (GDR or East Germany) proclaimed on 7 October 1949 and included the former USSR zone; West Germany and East Germany unified on 3 October 1990; all four powers formally relinquished rights on 15 March 1991; notable earlier dates: 10 August 843 (Eastern Francia established from the division of the Carolingian Empire); 2 February 962 (crowning of OTTO I, recognized as the first Holy Roman Emperor)

**Internet** `.de` • 70.3 million • 86.8% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 99.5 million • 123 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Ghana

Republic of Ghana › Africa -- Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Cote d'Ivoire and Togo

Accra • 238,533 sq km • pop. 26,327,649

**Languages** Asante 16%, Ewe 14%, Fante 11.6%, Boron (Brong) 4.9%, Dagomba 4.4%, Dangme 4.2%, Dagarte (Dagaba) 3.9%, Kokomba 3.5%, Akyem 3.2%, Ga 3.1%, other 31.2%
**Major cities** Kumasi 2.599 million; ACCRA (capital) 2.277 million (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Akan 47.5%, Mole-Dagbon 16.6%, Ewe 13.9%, Ga-Dangme 7.4%, Gurma 5.7%, Guan 3.7%, Grusi 2.5%, Mande 1.1%, other 1.4% (2010 est.)
**Religions** Christian 71.2% (Pentecostal/Charismatic 28.3%, Protestant 18.4%, Catholic 13.1%, other 11.4%), Muslim 17.6%, traditional 5.2%, other 0.8%, none 5.2% (2010 est.)
**Independence** 6 March 1957 (from the UK)

**Internet** `.gh` • 5 million • 19.6% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 30.4 million • 118 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Greece • Ellas or Ellada

Hellenic Republic › Europe -- Southern Europe, bordering the Aegean Sea, Ionian Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea, between Albania and Turkey

Athens • 131,957 sq km • pop. 10,775,643 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Greek (official) 99%, other (includes English and French) 1%
**Major cities** ATHENS (capital) 3.052 million (2015)
**Ethnic groups** population: Greek 93%, other (foreign citizens) 7% (2001 census)
**Religions** Greek Orthodox (official) 98%, Muslim 1.3%, other 0.7%
**Independence** 1830 (from the Ottoman Empire)

**Internet** `.gr` • 6.2 million • 57.9% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 12.8 million • 119 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Grenada

\- › Central America and the Caribbean -- Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago

Saint George's • 344 sq km • pop. 110,694 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** English (official), French patois
**Major cities** SAINT GEORGE'S (capital) 38,000 (2014)
**Ethnic groups** African descent 89.4%, mixed 8.2%, East Indian 1.6%, other 0.9% (includes indigenous) (2001 est.)
**Religions** Roman Catholic 44.6%, Protestant 43.5% (includes Anglican 11.5%, Pentecostal 11.3%, Seventh Day Adventist 10.5%, Baptist 2.9%, Church of God 2.6%, Methodist 1.8%, Evangelical 1.6%, other 1.3%), Jehovah's Witness 1.1%, Rastafarian 1.1%, other 6.2%, none 3.6%
**Independence** 7 February 1974 (from the UK)

**Internet** `.gd` • 49,600 • 45.1% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 134,500 • 122 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Guatemala

Republic of Guatemala › Central America and the Caribbean -- Central America, bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between El Salvador and Mexico, and bordering the Gulf of Honduras (Caribbean Sea) between Honduras and Belize

Guatemala City • 108,889 sq km • pop. 14,918,999 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Spanish (official) 60%, Amerindian languages 40%
**Major cities** GUATEMALA CITY (capital) 2.918 million (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Mestizo (mixed Amerindian-Spanish - in local Spanish called Ladino) and European 59.4%, K'iche 9.1%, Kaqchikel 8.4%, Mam 7.9%, Q'eqchi 6.3%, other Mayan 8.6%, indigenous non-Mayan 0.2%, other 0.1% (2001 census)
**Religions** Roman Catholic, Protestant, indigenous Mayan beliefs
**Independence** 15 September 1821 (from Spain)

**Internet** `.gt` • 2.5 million • 17.1% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 16.9 million • 115 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Guinea • Guinee

Republic of Guinea › Africa -- Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone

Conakry • 245,857 sq km • pop. 11,780,162 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** French (official)
**Major cities** CONAKRY (capital) 1.936 million (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Peuhl 40%, Malinke 30%, Soussou 20%, smaller ethnic groups 10%
**Religions** Muslim 85%, Christian 8%, indigenous beliefs 7%
**Independence** 2 October 1958 (from France)

**Internet** `.gn` • 195,100 • 1.7% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 8.7 million • 76 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Guinea-Bissau • Guine-Bissau

Republic of Guinea-Bissau › Africa -- Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea and Senegal

Bissau • 36,125 sq km • pop. 1,726,170 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Crioulo 90.4%, Portuguese 27.1% (official), French 5.1%, English 2.9%, other 2.4%
**Major cities** BISSAU (capital) 492,000 (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Fula 28.5%, Balanta 22.5%, Mandinga 14.7%, Papel 9.1%, Manjaco 8.3%, Beafada 3.5%, Mancanha 3.1%, Bijago 2.1%, Felupe 1.7%, Mansoanca 1.4%, Balanta Mane 1%, other 1.8%, none 2.2% (2008 est.)
**Religions** Muslim 45.1%, Christian 22.1%, animist 14.9%, none 2%, unspecified 15.9% (2008 est.)
**Independence** 24 September 1973 (declared); 10 September 1974 (from Portugal)

**Internet** `.gw` • 56,100 • 3.3% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 1.1 million • 65 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Guyana

Cooperative Republic of Guyana › South America -- Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Suriname and Venezuela

Georgetown • 214,969 sq km • pop. 735,222

**Languages** English (official), Guyanese Creole, Amerindian languages (including Caribbean and Arawak languages), Indian languages (including Caribbean Hindustani, a dialect of Hindi), Chinese (2014 est.)
**Major cities** GEORGETOWN (capital) 124,000 (2014)
**Ethnic groups** East Indian 43.5%, black (African) 30.2%, mixed 16.7%, Amerindian 9.1%, other 0.5% (includes Portuguese, Chinese, white) (2002 est.)
**Religions** Protestant 30.5% (Pentecostal 16.9%, Anglican 6.9%, Seventh Day Adventist 5%, Methodist 1.7%), Hindu 28.4%, Roman Catholic 8.1%, Muslim 7.2%, Jehovah's Witness 1.1%, other Christian 17.7%, other 1.9%, none 4.3%, unspecified 0.9% (2002 est.)
**Independence** 26 May 1966 (from the UK)

**Internet** `.gy` • 270,200 • 36.7% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 566,900 • 77 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Haiti • Haiti/Ayiti

Republic of Haiti › Central America and the Caribbean -- Caribbean, western one-third of the island of Hispaniola, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, west of the Dominican Republic

Port-au-Prince • 27,750 sq km • pop. 10,110,019

**Languages** French (official), Creole (official)
**Major cities** PORT-AU-PRINCE (capital) 2.44 million (2015)
**Ethnic groups** black 95%, mulatto and white 5%
**Religions** Roman Catholic (official) 54.7%, Protestant 28.5% (Baptist 15.4%, Pentecostal 7.9%, Adventist 3%, Methodist 1.5%, other .7%), voodoo (official) 2.1%, other 4.6%, none 10.2%
**Independence** 1 January 1804 (from France)

**Internet** `.ht` • 1.2 million • 11.6% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 6.8 million • 68 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Honduras

Republic of Honduras › Central America and the Caribbean -- Central America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and Nicaragua and bordering the Gulf of Fonseca (North Pacific Ocean), between El Salvador and Nicaragua

Tegucigalpa • 112,090 sq km • pop. 8,746,673

**Languages** Spanish (official), Amerindian dialects
**Major cities** TEGUCIGALPA (capital) 1.123 million; San Pedro Sula 852,000 (2015)
**Ethnic groups** mestizo (mixed Amerindian and European) 90%, Amerindian 7%, black 2%, white 1%
**Religions** Roman Catholic 97%, Protestant 3%
**Independence** 15 September 1821 (from Spain)

**Internet** `.hn` • 1.7 million • 19.4% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 7.7 million • 90 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Hungary • Magyarorszag

\- › Europe -- Central Europe, northwest of Romania

Budapest • 93,028 sq km • pop. 9,897,541 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Hungarian (official) 99.6%, English 16%, German 11.2%, Russian 1.6%, Romanian 1.3%, French 1.2%, other 4.2%
**Major cities** BUDAPEST (capital) 1.714 million (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Hungarian 85.6%, Roma 3.2%, German 1.9%, other 2.6%, unspecified 14.1%
**Religions** Roman Catholic 37.2%, Calvinist 11.6%, Lutheran 2.2%, Greek Catholic 1.8%, other 1.9%, none 18.2%, unspecified 27.2% (2011 est.)
**Independence** 16 November 1918 (republic proclaimed); notable earlier dates: 25 December 1000 (crowning of King STEPHEN I, traditional founding date); 30 March 1867 (Austro-Hungarian dual monarchy established)

**Internet** `.hu` • 7.4 million • 74.4% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 11.7 million • 118 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Iceland • Island

Republic of Iceland › Arctic Region -- Northern Europe, island between the Greenland Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, northwest of the United Kingdom

Reykjavik • 103,000 sq km • pop. 331,918 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Icelandic, English, Nordic languages, German widely spoken
**Major cities** REYKJAVIK (capital) 184,000 (2014)
**Ethnic groups** homogeneous mixture of descendants of Norse and Celts 94%, population of foreign origin 6%
**Religions** Evangelical Lutheran Church of Iceland (official) 73.8%, Roman Catholic 3.6%, Reykjavik Free Church 2.9%, Hafnarfjorour Free Church 2%, The Independent Congregation 1%, other religions 3.9% (includes Pentecostal and Asatru Association), none 5.6%, other or unspecified 7.2% (2015 est.)
**Independence** 1 December 1918 (became a sovereign state under the Danish Crown); 17 June 1944 (from Denmark; birthday of Jon SIGURDSSON leader of Iceland's 19th Century independence movement)

**Internet** `.is` • 316,400 • 96.5% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 370,000 • 113 (2014 est.) subs./100

### India • India/Bharat

Republic of India › Asia -- Southern Asia, bordering the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and Pakistan

New Delhi • 3,287,263 sq km • pop. 1,251,695,584 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Hindi 41%, Bengali 8.1%, Telugu 7.2%, Marathi 7%, Tamil 5.9%, Urdu 5%, Gujarati 4.5%, Kannada 3.7%, Malayalam 3.2%, Oriya 3.2%, Punjabi 2.8%, Assamese 1.3%, Maithili 1.2%, other 5.9%
**Major cities** NEW DELHI (capital) 25.703 million; Mumbai 21.043 million; Kolkata 11.766 million; Bangalore 10.087 million; Chennai 9.62 million; Hyderabad 8.944 million (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Indo-Aryan 72%, Dravidian 25%, Mongoloid and other 3% (2000)
**Religions** Hindu 79.8%, Muslim 14.2%, Christian 2.3%, Sikh 1.7%, other and unspecified 2% (2011 est.)
**Independence** 15 August 1947 (from the UK)

**Internet** `.in` • 237.3 million • 19.2% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 944 million • 76 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Indonesia

Republic of Indonesia › Southeast Asia -- Southeastern Asia, archipelago between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean

Jakarta • 1,904,569 sq km • pop. 255,993,674 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Bahasa Indonesia (official, modified form of Malay), English, Dutch, local dialects (of which the most widely spoken is Javanese)
**Major cities** JAKARTA (capital) 10.323 million; Surabaya 2.853 million; Bandung 2.544 million; Medan 2.204 million; Semarang 1.63 million; Makassar 1.489 million (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Javanese 40.1%, Sundanese 15.5%, Malay 3.7%, Batak 3.6%, Madurese 3%, Betawi 2.9%, Minangkabau 2.7%, Buginese 2.7%, Bantenese 2%, Banjarese 1.7%, Balinese 1.7%, Acehnese 1.4%, Dayak 1.4%, Sasak 1.3%, Chinese 1.2%, other 15% (2010 est.)
**Religions** Muslim 87.2%, Christian 7%, Roman Catholic 2.9%, Hindu 1.7%, other 0.9% (includes Buddhist and Confucian), unspecified 0.4% (2010 est.)
**Independence** 17 August 1945 (declared)

**Internet** `.id` • 42.4 million • 16.7% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 319 million • 126 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Iran

Islamic Republic of Iran › Middle East -- Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman, the Persian Gulf, and the Caspian Sea, between Iraq and Pakistan

Tehran • 1,648,195 sq km • pop. 81,824,270 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Persian (official), Azeri Turkic and Turkic dialects, Kurdish, Gilaki and Mazandarani, Luri, Balochi, Arabic, other
**Major cities** TEHRAN (capital) 8.432 million; Mashhad 3.014 million; Esfahan 1.88 million; Karaj 1.807 million; Shiraz 1.661 million; Tabriz 1.572 million (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Persian, Azeri, Kurd, Lur, Baloch, Arab, Turkmen and Turkic tribes
**Religions** Muslim (official) 99.4% (Shia 90-95%, Sunni 5-10%), other (includes Zoroastrian, Jewish, and Christian) 0.3%, unspecified 0.4% (2011 est.)
**Independence** 1 April 1979 (Islamic Republic of Iran proclaimed); notable earlier dates: ca. 550 B.C. (Achaemenid (Persian) Empire established); A.D. 1501 (Iran reunified under the Safavid Dynasty); 12 December 1925 (modern Iran established under the PAHLAVI Dynasty)

**Internet** `.ir` • 22.9 million • 28.3% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 68.9 million • 85 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Iraq • Al Iraq/Eraq

Republic of Iraq › Middle East -- Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iran and Kuwait

Baghdad • 438,317 sq km • pop. 37,056,169 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Arabic (official), Kurdish (official), Turkmen (a Turkish dialect) and Assyrian (Neo-Aramaic) are official in areas where they constitute a majority of the population), Armenian
**Major cities** BAGHDAD (capital) 6.643 million; Mosul 1.694 million; Erbil 1.166 million; Basra 1.019 million; As Sulaymaniyah 1.004 million; Najaf 889,000 (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Arab 75%-80%, Kurdish 15%-20%, Turkoman, Assyrian, or other 5%
**Religions** Muslim (official) 99% (Shia 60%-65%, Sunni 32%-37%), Christian 0.8%, Hindu
note: while there has been voluntary relocation of many Christian families to northern Iraq, recent reporting indicates that the overall Christian population may have dropped by as much as 50 percent since the fall of the Saddam HUSSEIN regime in 2003, with many fleeing to Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon (2010 est.)

**Independence** 3 October 1932 (from League of Nations mandate under British administration); note - on 28 June 2004 the Coalition Provisional Authority transferred sovereignty to the Iraqi Interim Government

**Internet** `.iq` • 2.8 million • 7.8% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 33 million • 92 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Ireland • Eire

\- › Europe -- Western Europe, occupying five-sixths of the island of Ireland in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Great Britain

Dublin • 70,273 sq km • pop. 4,892,305 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** English (official, the language generally used), Irish (Gaelic or Gaeilge) (official, spoken by approximately 38.7% of the population as a first or second language in 2011; mainly spoken in areas along the western coast)
**Major cities** DUBLIN (capital) 1.169 million (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Irish 84.5%, other white 9.8%, Asian 1.9%, black 1.4%, mixed and other 0.9%, unspecified 1.6% (2011 est.)
**Religions** Roman Catholic 84.7%, Church of Ireland 2.7%, other Christian 2.7%, Muslim 1.1%, other 1.7%, unspecified 1.5%, none 5.7% (2011 est.)
**Independence** 6 December 1921 (from the UK by treaty)

**Internet** `.ie` • 3.9 million • 81.6% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 4.9 million • 101 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Israel • Yisra'el

State of Israel › Middle East -- Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and Lebanon

Jerusalem: note - Israel proclaimed Jerusalem as its capital in 1950, but the US, like all other countries, maintains its embassy in Tel Aviv • 20,770 sq km • pop. 8,049,314 (includes populations of the Golan Heights of Golan Sub-District and East Jerusalem, which was annexed by Israel after 1967) (July 2014 est.)

**Languages** Hebrew (official), Arabic (used officially for Arab minority), English (most commonly used foreign language)
**Major cities** Tel Aviv-Yafo 3.608 million; Haifa 1.097 million; JERUSALEM (capital) 839,000 (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Jewish 75% (of which Israel-born 74.4%, Europe/America/Oceania-born 17.4%, Africa-born 5.1%, Asia-born 3.1%), non-Jewish 25% (mostly Arab) (2013 est.)
**Religions** Jewish 75%, Muslim 17.5%, Christian 2%, Druze 1.6%, other 3.9% (2013 est.)
**Independence** 14 May 1948 (from League of Nations mandate under British administration)

**Internet** `.il` • 6 million • 75.8% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 9.5 million • 120 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Italy • Italia

Italian Republic › Europe -- Southern Europe, a peninsula extending into the central Mediterranean Sea, northeast of Tunisia

Rome • 301,340 sq km • pop. 61,855,120 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Italian (official), German (parts of Trentino-Alto Adige region are predominantly German-speaking), French (small French-speaking minority in Valle d'Aosta region), Slovene (Slovene-speaking minority in the Trieste-Gorizia area)
**Major cities** ROME (capital) 3.718 million; Milan 3.099 million; Naples 2.202 million; Turin 1.765 million; Palermo 853,000; Bergamo 840,000 (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Italian (includes small clusters of German-, French-, and Slovene-Italians in the north and Albanian-Italians and Greek-Italians in the south)
**Religions** Christian 80% (overwhelmingly Roman Catholic with very small groups of Jehovah's Witnesses and Protestants), Muslim (about 800,000 to 1 million), Atheist and Agnostic 20%
**Independence** 17 March 1861 (Kingdom of Italy proclaimed; Italy was not finally unified until 1870)

**Internet** `.it` • 37 million • 59.9% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 94.2 million • 153 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Jamaica

\- › Central America and the Caribbean -- Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, south of Cuba

Kingston • 10,991 sq km • pop. 2,950,210 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** English, English patois
**Major cities** KINGSTON (capital) 588,000 (2015)
**Ethnic groups** black 92.1%, mixed 6.1%, East Indian 0.8%, other 0.4%, unspecified 0.7% (2011 est.)
**Religions** Protestant 64.8% (includes Seventh Day Adventist 12.0%, Pentecostal 11.0%, Other Church of God 9.2%, New Testament Church of God 7.2%, Baptist 6.7%, Church of God in Jamaica 4.8%, Church of God of Prophecy 4.5%, Anglican 2.8%, United Church 2.1%, Methodist 1.6%, Revived 1.4%, Brethren .9%, and Moravian .7%), Roman Catholic 2.2%, Jehovah's Witness 1.9%, Rastafarian 1.1%, other 6.5%, none 21.3%, unspecified 2.3% (2011 est.)
**Independence** 6 August 1962 (from the UK)

**Internet** `.jm` • 1.5 million • 49.8% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 2.9 million • 98 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Japan • Nihon/Nippon

\- › Asia -- Eastern Asia, island chain between the North Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Japan, east of the Korean Peninsula

Tokyo • 377,915 sq km • pop. 126,919,659 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Japanese
**Major cities** TOKYO (capital) 38.001 million; Osaka-Kobe 20.238 million; Nagoya 9.406 million; Kitakyushu-Fukuoka 5.51 million; Shizuoka-Hamamatsu 3.369 million; Sapporo 2.571 million (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Japanese 98.5%, Koreans 0.5%, Chinese 0.4%, other 0.6%
**Religions** Shintoism 79.2%, Buddhism 66.8%, Christianity 1.5%, other 7.1%
**Independence** 3 May 1947 (current constitution adopted as amendment to Meiji Constitution); notable earlier dates: 660 B.C. (traditional date of the founding of the nation by Emperor JIMMU); 29 November 1890 (Meiji Constitution provides for constitutional monarchy)

**Internet** `.jp` • 109.3 million • 86.0% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 152.7 million • 120 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Jordan • Al Urdun

Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan › Middle East -- Middle East, northwest of Saudi Arabia, between Israel (to the west) and Iraq

Amman • 89,342 sq km • pop. 8,117,564

**Languages** Arabic (official), English (widely understood among upper and middle classes)
**Major cities** AMMAN (capital) 1.155 million (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Arab 98%, Circassian 1%, Armenian 1%
**Religions** Muslim 97.2% (official; predominantly Sunni), Christian 2.2% (majority Greek Orthodox, but some Greek and Roman Catholics, Syrian Orthodox, Coptic Orthodox, Armenian Orthodox, and Protestant denominations), Buddhist 0.4%, Hindu 0.1%, Jewish

**Independence** 25 May 1946 (from League of Nations mandate under British administration)

**Internet** `.jo` • 3.6 million • 45.0% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 11.1 million • 140 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Kazakhstan • Qazaqstan

Republic of Kazakhstan › Asia -- Central Asia, northwest of China; a small portion west of the Ural (Zhayyq) River in easternmost Europe

Astana • 2,724,900 sq km • pop. 18,157,122 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Kazakh (official, Qazaq) 64.4%, Russian (official, used in everyday business, designated the "language of interethnic communication") 95% (2001 est.)
**Major cities** Almaty 1.523 million; ASTANA (capital) 759,000 (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Kazakh (Qazaq) 63.1%, Russian 23.7%, Uzbek 2.9%, Ukrainian 2.1%, Uighur 1.4%, Tatar 1.3%, German 1.1%, other 4.4% (2009 est.)
**Religions** Muslim 70.2%, Christian 26.2% (mainly Russian Orthodox), other 0.2%, atheist 2.8%, unspecified 0.5% (2009 est.)
**Independence** 16 December 1991 (from the Soviet Union)

**Internet** `.kz` • 10.6 million • 59.3% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 28 million • 156 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Kenya

Republic of Kenya › Africa -- Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between Somalia and Tanzania

Nairobi • 580,367 sq km • pop. 45,925,301

**Languages** English (official), Kiswahili (official), numerous indigenous languages
**Major cities** NAIROBI (capital) 3.915 million; Mombassa 1.104 million (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Kikuyu 22%, Luhya 14%, Luo 13%, Kalenjin 12%, Kamba 11%, Kisii 6%, Meru 6%, other African 15%, non-African (Asian, European, and Arab) 1%
**Religions** Christian 82.5% (Protestant 47.4%, Catholic 23.3%, other 11.8%), Muslim 11.1%, Traditionalists 1.6%, other 1.7%, none 2.4%, unspecified 0.7% (2009 census)
**Independence** 12 December 1963 (from the UK)

**Internet** `.ke` • 16.5 million • 36.7% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 33.6 million • 75 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Kiribati

Republic of Kiribati › Oceania -- Oceania, group of 33 coral atolls in the Pacific Ocean, straddling the Equator; the capital Tarawa is about halfway between Hawaii and Australia

Tarawa • 811 sq km • pop. 105,711 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** I-Kiribati, English (official)
**Major cities** TARAWA (capital) 46,000 (2014)
**Ethnic groups** I-Kiribati 89.5%, I-Kiribati/mixed 9.7%, Tuvaluan 0.1%, other 0.8% (2010 est.)
**Religions** Roman Catholic 55.8%, Kempsville Presbyterian Church 33.5%, Mormon 4.7%, Baha'i 2.3%, Seventh Day Adventist 2%, other 1.5%, none 0.2%, unspecified 0.05% (2010 est.)
**Independence** 12 July 1979 (from the UK)

**Internet** `.ki` • 12,200 • 11.7% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 18,100 • 17 (2014 est.) subs./100

### North Korea • Choson

Democratic People's Republic of Korea › Asia -- Eastern Asia, northern half of the Korean Peninsula bordering the Korea Bay and the Sea of Japan, between China and South Korea

Pyongyang • 120,538 sq km • pop. 24,983,205 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Korean
**Major cities** PYONGYANG (capital) 2.863 million (2015)
**Ethnic groups** racially homogeneous; there is a small Chinese community and a few ethnic Japanese
**Religions** traditionally Buddhist and Confucianist, some Christian and syncretic Chondogyo (Religion of the Heavenly Way)
**Independence** 15 August 1945 (from Japan)

**Internet** `.kp` •  •
**Telephones - mobile** 2.8 million • 11 (2014 est.) subs./100

### South Korea • Han'guk

Republic of Korea › Asia -- Eastern Asia, southern half of the Korean Peninsula bordering the Sea of Japan and the Yellow Sea

Seoul • 99,720 sq km • pop. 49,115,196 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Korean, English (widely taught in junior high and high school)
**Major cities** SEOUL (capital) 9.774 million; Busan (Pusan) 3.216 million; Incheon (Inch'on) 2.685 million; Daegu (Taegu) 2.244 million; Daejon (Taejon) 1.564 million; Gwangju (Kwangju) 1.536 million (2015)
**Ethnic groups** homogeneous (except for about 20,000 Chinese)
**Religions** Christian 31.6% (Protestant 24%, Roman Catholic 7.6%), Buddhist 24.2%, other or unknown 0.9%, none 43.3% (2010 survey)
**Independence** 15 August 1945 (from Japan)

**Internet** `.kr` • 44.9 million • 91.5% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 57.2 million • 117 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Kosovo • Kosova (Kosovo)

Republic of Kosovo › Europe -- Southeast Europe, between Serbia and Macedonia

Pristina (Prishtine, Prishtina) • 10,887 sq km • pop. 1,870,981 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Albanian (official) 94.5%, Bosnian 1.7%, Serbian (official) 1.6%, Turkish 1.1%, other 0.9% (includes Romani), unspecified 0.1%
**Major cities** PRISTINA (capital) 207,062 (2014)
**Ethnic groups** Albanians 92.9%, Bosniaks 1.6%, Serbs 1.5%, Turk 1.1%, Ashkali 0.9%, Egyptian 0.7%, Gorani 0.6%, Roma 0.5%, other/unspecified 0.2%
**Religions** Muslim 95.6%, Orthodox 1.5%, Roman Catholic 2.2%, other 0.07%, none 0.07%, unspecified 0.6% (2011 est.)
**Independence** 17 February 2008 (from Serbia)

**Internet** `` •  •
**Telephones - mobile** 562,000 • 31 (2007) subs./100

### Kuwait • Al Kuwayt

State of Kuwait › Middle East -- Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iraq and Saudi Arabia

Kuwait City • 17,818 sq km • pop. 2,788,534

**Languages** Arabic (official), English widely spoken
**Major cities** KUWAIT (capital) 2.779 million (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Kuwaiti 31.3%, other Arab 27.9%, Asian 37.8%, African 1.9%, other 1.1% (includes European, North American, South American, and Australian) (2013 est.)
**Religions** Muslim (official) 76.7%, Christian 17.3%, other and unspecified 5.9%
**Independence** 19 June 1961 (from the UK)

**Internet** `.kw` • 2.4 million • 86.9% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 7.6 million • 277 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyz Republic › Asia -- Central Asia, west of China, south of Kazakhstan

Bishkek • 199,951 sq km • pop. 5,664,939 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Kyrgyz (official) 71.4%, Uzbek 14.4%, Russian (official) 9%, other 5.2% (2009 est.)
**Major cities** BISHKEK (capital) 865,000 (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Kyrgyz 70.9%, Uzbek 14.3%, Russian 7.7%, Dungan 1.1%, other 5.9% (includes Uyghur, Tajik, Turk, Kazakh, Tatar, Ukrainian, Korean, German) (2009 est.)
**Religions** Muslim 75%, Russian Orthodox 20%, other 5%
**Independence** 31 August 1991 (from the Soviet Union)

**Internet** `.kg` • 1.4 million • 24.2% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 7.6 million • 135 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Laos • Pathet Lao (unofficial)

Lao People's Democratic Republic › Southeast Asia -- Southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand, west of Vietnam

Vientiane (Viangchan) • 236,800 sq km • pop. 6,911,544 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Lao (official), French, English, various ethnic languages
**Major cities** VIENTIANE (capital) 997,000 (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Lao 54.6%, Khmou 10.9%, Hmong 8%, Tai 3.8%, Phuthai 3.3%, Leu 2.2%, Katang 2.1%, Makong 2.1%, Akha 1.6%, other 10.4%, unspecified 1% (2005 est.)
**Religions** Buddhist 66.8%, Christian 1.5%, other 31%, unspecified 0.7% (2005 est.)
**Independence** 19 July 1949 (from France)

**Internet** `.la` • 300,000 • 5.8% (2009)
**Telephones - mobile** 4.6 million • 68 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Latvia • Latvija

Republic of Latvia › Europe -- Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Estonia and Lithuania

Riga • 64,589 sq km • pop. 1,986,705 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Latvian (official) 56.3%, Russian 33.8%, other 0.6% (includes Polish, Ukrainian, and Belarusian), unspecified 9.4%
**Major cities** RIGA (capital) 621,000 (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Latvian 61.1%, Russian 26.2%, Belarusian 3.5%, Ukrainian 2.3%, Polish 2.2%, Lithuanian 1.3%, other 3.4% (2013 est.)
**Religions** Lutheran 19.6%, Orthodox 15.3%, other Christian 1%, other 0.4%, unspecified 63.7% (2006)
**Independence** 4 May 1990 (declared); 6 September 1991 (recognized by the Soviet Union)

**Internet** `.lv` • 1.5 million • 76.5% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 2.5 million • 126 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Lebanon • Lubnan

Lebanese Republic › Middle East -- Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Israel and Syria

Beirut • 10,400 sq km • pop. 6,184,701 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Arabic (official), French, English, Armenian
**Major cities** BEIRUT (capital) 2.226 million (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Arab 95%, Armenian 4%, other 1%
**Religions** Muslim 54% (27% Sunni, 27% Shia), Christian 40.5% (includes 21% Maronite Catholic, 8% Greek Orthodox, 5% Greek Catholic, 6.5% other Christian), Druze 5.6%, very small numbers of Jews, Baha'is, Buddhists, Hindus, and Mormons
**Independence** 22 November 1943 (from League of Nations mandate under French administration)

**Internet** `.lb` • 4 million • 67.2% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 4.4 million • 75 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Lesotho

Kingdom of Lesotho › Africa -- Southern Africa, an enclave of South Africa

Maseru • 30,355 sq km • pop. 1,947,701

**Languages** Sesotho (official) (southern Sotho), English (official), Zulu, Xhosa
**Major cities** MASERU (capital) 267,000 (2014)
**Ethnic groups** Sotho 99.7%, Europeans, Asians, and other 0.3%,
**Religions** Christian 80%, indigenous beliefs 20%
**Independence** 4 October 1966 (from the UK)

**Internet** `.ls` • 102,000 • 5.3% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 2.1 million • 110 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Liberia

Republic of Liberia › Africa -- Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Cote d'Ivoire and Sierra Leone

Monrovia • 111,369 sq km • pop. 4,195,666 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** English 20% (official), some 20 ethnic group languages few of which can be written or used in correspondence
**Major cities** MONROVIA (capital) 1.264 million (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Kpelle 20.3%, Bassa 13.4%, Grebo 10%, Gio 8%, Mano 7.9%, Kru 6%, Lorma 5.1%, Kissi 4.8%, Gola 4.4%, other 20.1% (2008 Census)
**Religions** Christian 85.6%, Muslim 12.2%, Traditional 0.6%, other 0.2%, none 1.4% (2008 Census)
**Independence** 26 July 1847

**Internet** `.lr` • 177,600 • 4.3% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 3.2 million • 79 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Libya • Libiya

\- › Africa -- Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt, Tunisia, and Algeria

Tripoli (Tarabulus) • 1,759,540 sq km • pop. 6,411,776

**Languages** Arabic (official), Italian, English (all widely understood in the major cities); Berber (Nafusi, Ghadamis, Suknah, Awjilah, Tamasheq)
**Major cities** TRIPOLI (capital) 1.126 million (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Berber and Arab 97%, other 3% (includes Greeks, Maltese, Italians, Egyptians, Pakistanis, Turks, Indians, and Tunisians)
**Religions** Muslim (official; virtually all Sunni) 96.6%, Christian 2.7%, Buddhist 0.3%, Hindu
note: non-Sunni Muslims include native Ibadhi Muslims (

**Independence** 24 December 1951 (from UN trusteeship)

**Internet** `.ly` • 1.4 million • 21.8% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 10.1 million • 161 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Liechtenstein

Principality of Liechtenstein › Europe -- Central Europe, between Austria and Switzerland

Vaduz • 160 sq km • pop. 37,624 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** German 94.5% (official) (Alemannic is the main dialect), Italian 1.1%, other 4.3% (2010 est.)
**Major cities** VADUZ (capital) 5,000 (2014)
**Ethnic groups** Liechtensteiner 65.6%, other 34.4% (2000 census)
**Religions** Roman Catholic (official) 75.9%, Protestant Reformed 6.5%, Muslim 5.4%, Lutheran 1.3%, other 2.9%, none 5.4%, unspecified 2.6% (2010 est.)
**Independence** 23 January 1719 (Principality of Liechtenstein established); 12 July 1806 (independence from the Holy Roman Empire); 24 August 1866 (independence from the German Confederation)

**Internet** `.li` • 34,500 • 92.4% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 38,800 • 104 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Lithuania • Lietuva

Republic of Lithuania › Europe -- Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Latvia and Russia

Vilnius • 65,300 sq km • pop. 2,884,433

**Languages** Lithuanian (official) 82%, Russian 8%, Polish 5.6%, other 0.9%, unspecified 3.5% (2011 est.)
**Major cities** VILNIUS (capital) 517,000 (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Lithuanian 84.1%, Polish 6.6%, Russian 5.8%, Belarusian 1.2%, other 1.1%, unspecified 1.2% (2011 est.)
**Religions** Roman Catholic 77.2%, Russian Orthodox 4.1%, Old Believer 0.8%, Evangelical Lutheran 0.6%, Evangelical Reformist 0.2%, other (including Sunni Muslim, Jewish, Greek Catholic, and Karaite) 0.8%, none 6.1%, unspecified 10.1% (2011 est.)
**Independence** 11 March 1990 (declared); 6 September 1991 (recognized by the Soviet Union); notable earlier dates: 6 July 1253 (coronation of MINDAUGAS, traditional founding date), 1 July 1569 (Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth created), 16 February 1918 (independence from Soviet Russia)

**Internet** `.lt` • 2 million • 70.3% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 4.4 million • 152 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Luxembourg

Grand Duchy of Luxembourg › Europe -- Western Europe, between France and Germany

Luxembourg • 2,586 sq km • pop. 570,252 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Luxembourgish (official administrative language and national language (spoken vernacular)) 88.8%, French (official administrative language) 4.2%, Portuguese 2.3%, German (official administrative language) 1.1%, other 3.5% (2011 est.)
**Major cities** LUXEMBOURG (capital) 107,000 (2014)
**Ethnic groups** Luxembourger 57%, Portuguese 16.1%, French 6.1%, Italian 3.5%, Belgian 3.3%, German 2.4%, British 1.1%, other 10.5%
**Religions** Roman Catholic 87%, other (includes Protestant, Jewish, and Muslim) 13% (2000)
**Independence** 1839 (from the Netherlands)

**Internet** `.lu` • 530,400 • 95.0% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 796,400 • 143 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Macedonia • Makedonija

Republic of Macedonia › Europe -- Southeastern Europe, north of Greece

Skopje • 25,713 sq km • pop. 2,096,015 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Macedonian (official) 66.5%, Albanian (official) 25.1%, Turkish 3.5%, Roma 1.9%, Serbian 1.2%, other 1.8% (2002 est.)
**Major cities** SKOPJE (capital) 503,000 (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Macedonian 64.2%, Albanian 25.2%, Turkish 3.9%, Roma (Gypsy) 2.7%, Serb 1.8%, other 2.2% (2002 est.)
**Religions** Macedonian Orthodox 64.8%, Muslim 33.3%, other Christian 0.4%, other and unspecified 1.5% (2002 est.)
**Independence** 8 September 1991 (referendum by registered voters endorsed independence from Yugoslavia)

**Internet** `.mk` •  •
**Telephones - mobile** 2.3 million • 110 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Madagascar • Madagascar/Madagasikara

Republic of Madagascar › Africa -- Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Mozambique

Antananarivo • 587,041 sq km • pop. 23,812,681 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** French (official), Malagasy (official), English
**Major cities** ANTANANARIVO (capital) 2.61 million (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Malayo-Indonesian (Merina and related Betsileo), Cotiers (mixed African, Malayo-Indonesian, and Arab ancestry - Betsimisaraka, Tsimihety, Antaisaka, Sakalava), French, Indian, Creole, Comoran
**Religions** indigenous beliefs 52%, Christian 41%, Muslim 7%
**Independence** 26 June 1960 (from France)

**Internet** `.mg` • 17 million • 73.5% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 9 million • 39 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Malawi

Republic of Malawi › Africa -- Southern Africa, east of Zambia, west and north of Mozambique

Lilongwe • 118,484 sq km • pop. 17,964,697

**Languages** English (official), Chichewa (common), Chinyanja, Chiyao, Chitumbuka, Chilomwe, Chinkhonde, Chingoni, Chisena, Chitonga, Chinyakyusa, Chilambya
**Major cities** LILONGWE (capital) 905,000; Blantyre-Limbe 808,000 (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Chewa 32.6%, Lomwe 17.6%, Yao 13.5%, Ngoni 11.5%, Tumbuka 8.8%, Nyanja 5.8%, Sena 3.6%, Tonga 2.1%, Ngonde 1%, other 3.5%
**Religions** Christian 82.6%, Muslim 13%, other 1.9%, none 2.5% (2008 est.)
**Independence** 6 July 1964 (from the UK)

**Internet** `.mw` • 387,500 • 2.2% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 5.1 million • 30 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Malaysia

\- › Southeast Asia -- Southeastern Asia, peninsula bordering Thailand and northern one-third of the island of Borneo, bordering Indonesia, Brunei, and the South China Sea, south of Vietnam

Kuala Lumpur; note - Putrajaya is referred to as an administrative center not the capital; Parliament meets in Kuala Lumpur • 329,847 sq km • pop. 30,513,848 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Bahasa Malaysia (official), English, Chinese (Cantonese, Mandarin, Hokkien, Hakka, Hainan, Foochow), Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Panjabi, Thai
**Major cities** KUALA LUMPUR (capital) 6.837 million; Johor Bahru 912,000 (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Malay 50.1%, Chinese 22.6%, indigenous 11.8%, Indian 6.7%, other 0.7%, non-citizens 8.2% (2010 est.)
**Religions** Muslim (official) 61.3%, Buddhist 19.8%, Christian 9.2%, Hindu 6.3%, Confucianism, Taoism, other traditional Chinese religions 1.3%, other 0.4%, none 0.8%, unspecified 1% (2010 est.)
**Independence** 31 August 1957 (from the UK)

**Internet** `.my` • 12.1 million • 40.3% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 44.9 million • 149 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Maldives • Dhivehi Raajje

Republic of Maldives › Asia -- Southern Asia, group of atolls in the Indian Ocean, south-southwest of India

Male • 298 sq km • pop. 393,253 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Dhivehi (official, dialect of Sinhala, script derived from Arabic), English (spoken by most government officials)
**Major cities** MALE (capital) 156,000 (2014)
**Ethnic groups** South Indians, Sinhalese, Arabs
**Religions** Sunni Muslim (official)
**Independence** 26 July 1965 (from the UK)

**Internet** `.mv` • 18,600 • 4.7% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 665,800 • 169 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Mali

Republic of Mali › Africa -- interior Western Africa, southwest of Algeria, north of Guinea, Cote d'Ivoire, and Burkina Faso, west of Niger

Bamako • 1,240,192 sq km • pop. 16,955,536 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** French (official), Bambara 46.3%, Peul/foulfoulbe 9.4%, Dogon 7.2%, Maraka/soninke 6.4%, Malinke 5.6%, Sonrhai/djerma 5.6%, Minianka 4.3%, Tamacheq 3.5%, Senoufo 2.6%, unspecified 0.6%, other 8.5%
**Major cities** BAMAKO (capital) 2.515 million (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Mande 50% (Bambara, Malinke, Soninke), Peul 17%, Voltaic 12%, Songhai 6%, Tuareg and Moor 10%, other 5%
**Religions** Muslim 94.8%, Christian 2.4%, Animist 2%, none 0.5%, unspecified 0.3% (2009 Census)
**Independence** 22 September 1960 (from France)

**Internet** `.ml` • 12.4 million • 75.2% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 23.5 million • 143 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Malta

Republic of Malta › Europe -- Southern Europe, islands in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Sicily (Italy)

Valletta • 316 sq km • pop. 413,965 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Maltese (official) 90.1%, English (official) 6%, multilingual 3%, other 0.9% (2005 est.)
**Major cities** VALLETTA (capital) 197,000 (2014)
**Ethnic groups** Maltese (descendants of ancient Carthaginians and Phoenicians with strong elements of Italian and other Mediterranean stock)
**Religions** Roman Catholic (official) more than 90% (2011 est.)
**Independence** 21 September 1964 (from the UK)

**Internet** `.mt` • 166,000 • 40.2% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 546,200 • 132 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Marshall Islands

Republic of the Marshall Islands › Oceania -- Oceania, two archipelagic island chains of 29 atolls, each made up of many small islets, and five single islands in the North Pacific Ocean, about halfway between Hawaii and Australia

Majuro • 181 sq km • pop. 72,191 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Marshallese (official) 98.2%, other languages 1.8% (1999 census)
**Major cities** MAJURO (capital) 31,000 (2014)
**Ethnic groups** Marshallese 92.1%, mixed Marshallese 5.9%, other 2% (2006)
**Religions** Protestant 54.8%, Assembly of God 25.8%, Roman Catholic 8.4%, Bukot nan Jesus 2.8%, Mormon 2.1%, other Christian 3.6%, other 1%, none 1.5% (1999 census)
**Independence** 21 October 1986 (from the US-administered UN trusteeship)

**Internet** `.mh` • 1,700 • 2.4% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 15,500 • 22 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Mauritania • Muritaniyah

Islamic Republic of Mauritania › Africa -- Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Senegal and Western Sahara

Nouakchott • 1,030,700 sq km • pop. 3,596,702 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Arabic (official and national), Pulaar, Soninke, Wolof (all national languages), French, Hassaniya (a variety of Arabic)
**Major cities** NOUAKCHOTT (capital) 968,000 (2015)
**Ethnic groups** black Moors (Haratines - Arab-speaking slaves, former slaves, and their descendants of African origin, enslaved by white Moors) 40%, white Moors (of Arab-Berber descent, known as Bidhan) 30%, black Africans (non-Arabic speaking, Halpulaar, Soninke, Wolof, and Bamara ethnic groups) 30%
**Religions** Muslim (official) 100%
**Independence** 28 November 1960 (from France)

**Internet** `.mr` • 402,000 • 11.4% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 3.8 million • 107 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Mauritius

Republic of Mauritius › Africa -- Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, about 800 km (500 mi) east of Madagascar

Port Louis • 2,040 sq km • pop. 1,339,827 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Creole 86.5%, Bhojpuri 5.3%, French 4.1%, two languages 1.4%, other 2.6% (includes English, the official language, which is spoken by less than 1% of the population), unspecified 0.1% (2011 est.)
**Major cities** PORT LOUIS (capital) 135,000 (2014)
**Ethnic groups** Indo-Mauritian 68%, Creole 27%, Sino-Mauritian 3%, Franco-Mauritian 2%
**Religions** Hindu 48.5%, Roman Catholic 26.3%, Muslim 17.3%, other Christian 6.4%, other 0.6%, none 0.7%, unspecified 0.1% (2011 est.)
**Independence** 12 March 1968 (from the UK)

**Internet** `.mu` • 81,700 • 6.1% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 1.7 million • 124 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Mexico

United Mexican States › North America -- North America, bordering the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, between Belize and the United States and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between Guatemala and the United States

Mexico City (Distrito Federal) • 1,964,375 sq km • pop. 121,736,809 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Spanish only 92.7%, Spanish and indigenous languages 5.7%, indigenous only 0.8%, unspecified 0.8%
**Major cities** MEXICO CITY (capital) 20.999 million; Guadalajara 4.843 million; Monterrey 4.513 million; Puebla 2.984 million; Toluca de Lerdo 2.164 million; Tijuana 1.987 million (2015)
**Ethnic groups** mestizo (Amerindian-Spanish) 62%, predominantly Amerindian 21%, Amerindian 7%, other 10% (mostly European)
**Religions** Roman Catholic 82.7%, Pentecostal 1.6%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.4%, other Evangelical Churches 5%, other 1.9%, none 4.7%, unspecified 2.7% (2010 est.)
**Independence** 16 September 1810 (declared); 27 September 1821 (recognized by Spain)

**Internet** `.mx` • 49.5 million • 41.1% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 102.2 million • 85 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Federated States of Micronesia

Federated States of Micronesia › Oceania -- Oceania, island group in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Indonesia

Palikir • 702 sq km • pop. 105,216 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** English (official and common language), Chuukese, Kosrean, Pohnpeian, Yapese, Ulithian, Woleaian, Nukuoro, Kapingamarangi
**Major cities** PALIKIR (capital) 7,000 (2014)
**Ethnic groups** Chuukese/Mortlockese 49.3%, Pohnpeian 29.8%, Kosraean 6.3%, Yapese 5.7%, Yap outer islanders 5.1%, Polynesian 1.6%, Asian 1.4%, other 0.8% (2010 est.)
**Religions** Roman Catholic 54.7%, Protestant 41.1% (includes Congregational 38.5%, Baptist 1.1%, Seventh Day Adventist 0.8%, Assembly of God .7%), Mormon 1.5%, other 1.9%, none 0.7%, unspecified 0.1% (2010 est.)
**Independence** 3 November 1986 (from the US-administered UN trusteeship)

**Internet** `.fm` • 29,900 • 28.3% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 31,400 • 30 (2013) subs./100

### Moldova

Republic of Moldova › Europe -- Eastern Europe, northeast of Romania

Chisinau in Romanian (Kishinev in Russian) • 33,851 sq km • pop. 3,546,847 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Moldovan 58.8% (official; virtually the same as the Romanian language), Romanian 16.4%, Russian 16%, Ukrainian 3.8%, Gagauz 3.1% (a Turkish language), Bulgarian 1.1%, other 0.3%, unspecified 0.4%
**Major cities** CHISINAU (capital) 725,000 (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Moldovan 75.8%, Ukrainian 8.4%, Russian 5.9%, Gagauz 4.4%, Romanian 2.2%, Bulgarian 1.9%, other 1%, unspecified 0.4%
**Religions** Orthodox 93.3%, Baptist 1%, other Christian 1.2%, other 0.9%, atheist 0.4%, none 1%, unspecified 2.2% (2004 est.)
**Independence** 27 August 1991 (from the Soviet Union)

**Internet** `.md` • 1.6 million • 44.8% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 3.7 million • 104 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Monaco

Principality of Monaco › Europe -- Western Europe, bordering the Mediterranean Sea on the southern coast of France, near the border with Italy

Monaco • 2 sq km • pop. 30,535

**Languages** French (official), English, Italian, Monegasque
**Major cities** MONACO (capital) 38,000 (2014)
**Ethnic groups** French (official) 47%, Monegasque 16%, Italian 16%, other 21%
**Religions** Roman Catholic 90% (official), other 10%
**Independence** 1419 (beginning of permanent rule by the House of GRIMALDI)

**Internet** `.mc` • 27,400 • 89.9% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 33,700 • 110 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Mongolia • Mongol Uls

\- › Asia -- Northern Asia, between China and Russia

Ulaanbaatar • 1,564,116 sq km • pop. 2,992,908 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Khalkha Mongol 90% (official), Turkic, Russian (1999)
**Major cities** ULAANBAATAR (capital) 1.377 million (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Khalkh 81.9%, Kazak 3.8%, Dorvod 2.7%, Bayad 2.1%, Buryat-Bouriates 1.7%, Zakhchin 1.2%, Dariganga 1%, Uriankhai 1%, other 4.6% (2010 est.)
**Religions** Buddhist 53%, Muslim 3%, Christian 2.2%, Shamanist 2.9%, other 0.4%, none 38.6% (2010 est.)
**Independence** 11 July 1921 (from China)

**Internet** `.mn` • 527,100 • 17.9% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 3 million • 103 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Montenegro • Crna Gora

\- › Europe -- Southeastern Europe, between the Adriatic Sea and Serbia

Podgorica; note - Cetinje retains the status of "Old Royal Capital" • 13,812 sq km • pop. 647,073 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Serbian 42.9%, Montenegrin (official) 37%, Bosnian 5.3%, Albanian 5.3%, Serbo-Croat 2%, other 3.5%, unspecified 4% (2011 est.)
**Major cities** PODGORICA (capital) 165,000 (2014)
**Ethnic groups** Montenegrin 45%, Serbian 28.7%, Bosniak 8.7%, Albanian 4.9%, Muslim 3.3%, Roma 1%, Croat 1%, other 2.6%, unspecified 4.9% (2011 est.)
**Religions** Orthodox 72.1%, Muslim 19.1%, Catholic 3.4%, atheist 1.2%, other 1.5%, unspecified 2.6% (2011 est.)
**Independence** 3 June 2006 (from the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro)

**Internet** `.me` • 381,700 • 58.7% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 1 million • 156 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Morocco • Al Maghrib

Kingdom of Morocco › Africa -- Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Western Sahara

Rabat • 446,550 sq km • pop. 33,322,699 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Arabic (official), Berber languages (Tamazight (official), Tachelhit, Tarifit), French (often the language of business, government, and diplomacy)
**Major cities** Casablanca 3.515 million; RABAT (capital) 1.967 million; Fes 1.172 million; Marrakech 1.134 million; Tangier 982,000 (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Arab-Berber 99%, other 1%
**Religions** Muslim 99% (official; virtually all Sunni,

**Independence** 2 March 1956 (from France)

**Internet** `.ma` • 19.9 million • 60.3% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 44.1 million • 134 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Mozambique • Mocambique

Republic of Mozambique › Africa -- Southeastern Africa, bordering the Mozambique Channel, between South Africa and Tanzania

Maputo • 799,380 sq km • pop. 25,303,113

**Languages** Emakhuwa 25.3%, Portuguese (official) 10.7%, Xichangana 10.3%, Cisena 7.5%, Elomwe 7%, Echuwabo 5.1%, other Mozambican languages 30.1%, other 4% (1997 census)
**Major cities** MAPUTO (capital) 1.187 million; Matola 937,000 (2015)
**Ethnic groups** African 99.66% (Makhuwa, Tsonga, Lomwe, Sena, and others), Europeans 0.06%, Euro-Africans 0.2%, Indians 0.08%
**Religions** Roman Catholic 28.4%, Muslim 17.9%, Zionist Christian 15.5%, Protestant 12.2% (includes Pentecostal 10.9% and Anglican 1.3%), other 6.7%, none 18.7%, unspecified 0.7% (2007 est.)
**Independence** 25 June 1975 (from Portugal)

**Internet** `.mz` • 1.4 million • 5.5% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 18.4 million • 75 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Namibia

Republic of Namibia › Africa -- Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Angola and South Africa

Windhoek • 824,292 sq km • pop. 2,212,307

**Languages** Oshiwambo languages 48.9%, Nama/Damara 11.3%, Afrikaans 10.4% (common language of most of the population and about 60% of the white population), Otjiherero languages 8.6%, Kavango languages 8.5%, Caprivi languages 4.8%, English (official) 3.4%, other African languages 2.3%, other 1.7%
**Major cities** WINDHOEK (capital) 368,000 (2015)
**Ethnic groups** black 87.5%, white 6%, mixed 6.5%
**Religions** Christian 80% to 90% (at least 50% Lutheran), indigenous beliefs 10% to 20%
**Independence** 21 March 1990 (from South African mandate)

**Internet** `.na` • 325,400 • 14.8% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 2.7 million • 121 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Nauru

Republic of Nauru › Oceania -- Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, south of the Marshall Islands

 • 21 sq km • pop. 9,540 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Nauruan 93% (official, a distinct Pacific Island language), English 2% (widely understood, spoken, and used for most government and commercial purposes), other 5% (includes I-Kiribati 2% and Chinese 2%)
**Major cities**
**Ethnic groups** Nauruan 58%, other Pacific Islander 26%, Chinese 8%, European 8%
**Religions** Protestant 60.4% (includes Nauru Congregational 35.7%, Assembly of God 13%, Nauru Independent Church 9.5%, Baptist 1.5%, and Seventh Day Adventist .7%), Roman Catholic 33%, other 3.7%, none 1.8%, unspecified 1.1% (2011 est.)
**Independence** 31 January 1968 (from the Australia-, NZ-, and UK-administered UN trusteeship)

**Internet** `.nr` •  •
**Telephones - mobile** 6,800 • 73 (2012) subs./100

### Nepal

Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal › Asia -- Southern Asia, between China and India

Kathmandu • 147,181 sq km • pop. 31,551,305 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Nepali (official) 44.6%, Maithali 11.7%, Bhojpuri 6%, Tharu 5.8%, Tamang 5.1%, Newar 3.2%, Magar 3%, Bajjika 3%, Urdu 2.6%, Avadhi 1.9%, Limbu 1.3%, Gurung 1.2%, other 10.4%, unspecified 0.2%
**Major cities** KATHMANDU (capital) 1.183 million (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Chhettri 16.6%, Brahman-Hill 12.2%, Magar 7.1%, Tharu 6.6%, Tamang 5.8%, Newar 5%, Kami 4.8%, Muslim 4.4%, Yadav 4%, Rai 2.3%, Gurung 2%, Damai/Dholii 1.8%, Thakuri 1.6%, Limbu 1.5%, Sarki 1.4%, Teli 1.4%, Chamar/Harijan/Ram 1.3%, Koiri/Kushwaha 1.2%, other 19%
**Religions** Hindu 81.3%, Buddhist 9%, Muslim 4.4%, Kirant 3.1%, Christian 1.4%, other 0.5%, unspecifed 0.2% (2011 est.)
**Independence** 1768 (unified by Prithvi Narayan SHAH)

**Internet** `.np` • 3.8 million • 12.1% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 23.2 million • 75 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Netherlands • Nederland

Kingdom of the Netherlands › Europe -- Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between Belgium and Germany

Amsterdam; note - The Hague is the seat of government • 41,543 sq km • pop. 16,947,904 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Dutch (official)
**Major cities** AMSTERDAM (capital) 1.091 million; Rotterdam 993,000; The Hague (seat of government) 650,000 (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Dutch 80.7%, EU 5%, Indonesian 2.4%, Turkish 2.2%, Surinamese 2%, Moroccan 2%, Caribbean 0.8%, other 4.8% (2008 est.)
**Religions** Roman Catholic 28%, Protestant 19% (includes Dutch Reformed 9%, Protestant Church of The Netherlands, 7%, Calvinist 3%), other 11% (includes about 5% Muslim and lesser numbers of Hindu, Buddhist, Jehovah's Witness, and Orthodox), none 42% (2009 est.)
**Independence** 23 January 1579 (the northern provinces of the Low Countries conclude the Union of Utrecht breaking with Spain; on 26 July 1581 they formally declared their independence with an Act of Abjuration; however, it was not until 30 January 1648 and the Peace of Westphalia that Spain recognized this independence)

**Internet** `.nl` • 16.2 million • 96.1% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 19.6 million • 116 (2014 est.) subs./100

### New Zealand

\- › Oceania -- Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast of Australia

Wellington • 267,710 sq km • pop. 4,438,393 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** English (de facto official) 89.8%, Maori (de jure official) 3.5%, Samoan 2%, Hindi 1.6%, French 1.2%, Northern Chinese 1.2%, Yue 1%, Other or not stated 20.5%, New Zealand Sign Language (de jure official)
**Major cities** Auckland 1.344 million; WELLINGTON (capital) 383,000 (2015)
**Ethnic groups** European 71.2%, Maori 14.1%, Asian 11.3%, Pacific peoples 7.6%, Middle Eastern, Latin American, African 1.1%, other 1.6%, not stated or unidentified 5.4%
**Religions** Christian 44.3% (Catholic 11.6%, Anglican 10.8%, Presbyterian and Congregational 7.8%, Methodist, 2.4%, Pentecostal 1.8%, other 9.9%), Hindu 2.1%, Buddhist 1.4%, Maori Christian 1.3%, Islam 1.1%, other religion 1.4% (includes Judaism, Spiritualism and New Age religions, Baha'i, Asian religions other than Buddhism), no religion 38.5%, not stated or unidentified 8.2%, objected to answering 4.1%
**Independence** 26 September 1907 (from the UK)

**Internet** `.nz` • 4 million • 91.5% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 5.1 million • 116 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Nicaragua

Republic of Nicaragua › Central America and the Caribbean -- Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Costa Rica and Honduras

Managua • 130,370 sq km • pop. 5,907,881 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Spanish (official) 95.3%, Miskito 2.2%, Mestizo of the Caribbean coast 2%, other 0.5%
**Major cities** MANAGUA (capital) 956,000 (2015)
**Ethnic groups** mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 69%, white 17%, black 9%, Amerindian 5%
**Religions** Roman Catholic 58.5%, Protestant 23.2% (Evangelical 21.6%, Moravian 1.6%), Jehovah's Witnesses 0.9%, other 1.6%, none 15.7% (2005 est.)
**Independence** 15 September 1821 (from Spain)

**Internet** `.ni` • 845,100 • 14.5% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 7.1 million • 121 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Niger

Republic of Niger › Africa -- Western Africa, southeast of Algeria

Niamey • 1.267 million sq km • pop. 18,045,729 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** French (official), Hausa, Djerma
**Major cities** NIAMEY (capital) 1.09 million (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Haoussa 55.4%, Djerma Sonrai 21%, Tuareg 9.3%, Peuhl 8.5%, Kanouri Manga 4.7%, other 1.2% (2001 census)
**Religions** Muslim 80%, other (includes indigenous beliefs and Christian) 20%
**Independence** 3 August 1960 (from France)

**Internet** `.ne` • 281,200 • 1.6% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 8.2 million • 47 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Nigeria

Federal Republic of Nigeria › Africa -- Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Benin and Cameroon

Abuja • 923,768 sq km • pop. 181,562,056

**Languages** English (official), Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo (Ibo), Fulani, over 500 additional indigenous languages
**Major cities** Lagos 13.123 million; Kano 3.587 million; Ibadan 3.16 million; ABUJA (capital) 2.44 million; Port Harcourt 2.343 million; Benin City 1.496 million (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Nigeria, Africa's most populous country, is composed of more than 250 ethnic groups; the most populous and politically influential are: Hausa and the Fulani 29%, Yoruba 21%, Igbo (Ibo) 18%, Ijaw 10%, Kanuri 4%, Ibibio 3.5%, Tiv 2.5%
**Religions** Muslim 50%, Christian 40%, indigenous beliefs 10%
**Independence** 1 October 1960 (from the UK)

**Internet** `.ng` • 66.6 million • 37.6% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 139 million • 78 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Norway • Norge

Kingdom of Norway › Europe -- Northern Europe, bordering the North Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Sweden

Oslo • 323,802 sq km • pop. 5,207,689 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Bokmal Norwegian (official), Nynorsk Norwegian (official), small Sami- and Finnish-speaking minorities
**Major cities** OSLO (capital) 986,000 (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Norwegian 94.4% (includes Sami, about 60,000), other European 3.6%, other 2% (2007 est.)
**Religions** Church of Norway (Evangelical Lutheran - official) 82.1%, other Christian 3.9%, Muslim 2.3%, Roman Catholic 1.8%, other 2.4%, unspecified 7.5% (2011 est.)
**Independence** 7 June 1905 (Norway declared the union with Sweden dissolved); 26 October 1905 (Sweden agreed to the repeal of the union)

**Internet** `.no` • 4.9 million • 96.2% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 5.9 million • 115 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Oman • Uman

Sultanate of Oman › Middle East -- Middle East, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, and Persian Gulf, between Yemen and UAE

Muscat • 309,500 sq km • pop. 3,286,936

**Languages** Arabic (official), English, Baluchi, Urdu, Indian dialects
**Major cities** MUSCAT (capital) 838,000 (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Arab, Baluchi, South Asian (Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan, Bangladeshi), African
**Religions** Muslim (official; majority are Ibadhi, lesser numbers of Sunni and Shia)) 85.9%, Christian 6.5%, Hindu 5.5%, Buddhist 0.8%, Jewish
note: approximately 75% of Omani citizens, who compose almost 70% of the country's total population, are Ibadhi Muslims; the Omani government does not keep statistics on religious affiliation (2013) (2010 est.)

**Independence** 1650 (expulsion of the Portuguese)

**Internet** `.om` • 2.1 million • 65.8% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 6.2 million • 192 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Pakistan

Islamic Republic of Pakistan › Asia -- Southern Asia, bordering the Arabian Sea, between India on the east and Iran and Afghanistan on the west and China in the north

Islamabad • 796,095 sq km • pop. 199,085,847 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Punjabi 48%, Sindhi 12%, Saraiki (a Punjabi variant) 10%, Pashto (alternate name, Pashtu) 8%, Urdu (official) 8%, Balochi 3%, Hindko 2%, Brahui 1%, English (official; lingua franca of Pakistani elite and most government ministries), Burushaski, and other 8%
**Major cities** Karachi 16.618 million; Lahore 8.741 million; Faisalabad 3.567 million; Rawalpindi 2.506 million; Multan 1.921 million; ISLAMABAD (capital) 1.365 million (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Punjabi 44.68%, Pashtun (Pathan) 15.42%, Sindhi 14.1%, Sariaki 8.38%, Muhajirs 7.57%, Balochi 3.57%, other 6.28%
**Religions** Muslim (official) 96.4% (Sunni 85-90%, Shia 10-15%), other (includes Christian and Hindu) 3.6% (2010 est.)
**Independence** 14 August 1947 (from British India)

**Internet** `.pk` • 21.3 million • 10.8% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 135.8 million • 69 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Palau • Belau

Republic of Palau › Oceania -- Oceania, group of islands in the North Pacific Ocean, southeast of the Philippines

Melekeok • 459 sq km • pop. 21,265 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Palauan (official on most islands) 66.6%, Carolinian 0.7%, other Micronesian 0.7%, English (official) 15.5%, Filipino 10.8%, Chinese 1.8%, other Asian 2.6%, other 1.3%
**Major cities** MELEKEOK (capital) 299 (2012)
**Ethnic groups** Palauan (Micronesian with Malayan and Melanesian admixtures) 72.5%, Carolinian 1%, other Micronesian 2.4%, Filipino 16.3%, Chinese 1.6%, Vietnamese 1.6%, other Asian 3.4%, white 0.9%, other 0.3% (2005 est.)
**Religions** Roman Catholic 49.4%, Protestant 30.9% (includes Protestant (general) 23.1%, Seventh Day Adventist 5.3%, and other Protestant 2.5%), Modekngei 8.7% (indigenous to Palau), Jehovah's Witnesses 1.1%, other 8.8%, none or unspecified 1.1% (2005 est.)
**Independence** 1 October 1994 (from the US-administered UN trusteeship)

**Internet** `.pw` •  •
**Telephones - mobile** 19,100 • 90 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Panama

Republic of Panama › Central America and the Caribbean -- Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Colombia and Costa Rica

Panama City • 75,420 sq km • pop. 3,657,024 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Spanish (official), indigenous languages (including Ngabe, Bugle, Kuna, Embera, Wounaan, Naso Tjerdi, and Bri Bri)
**Major cities** PANAMA CITY (capital) 1.673 million (2015)
**Ethnic groups** mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 65%, Native American 12.3% (Ngabe 7.6%, Kuna 2.4%, Embera .9%, Bugle .8%, other .4%, unspecified .2%), black or African descent 9.2%, mulatto 6.8%, white 6.7% (2010 est.)
**Religions** Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant 15%
**Independence** 3 November 1903 (from Colombia; became independent from Spain on 28 November 1821)

**Internet** `.pa` • 1.7 million • 48.4% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 6.2 million • 172 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Papua New Guinea • Papuaniugini

Independent State of Papua New Guinea › Oceania -- Oceania, group of islands including the eastern half of the island of New Guinea between the Coral Sea and the South Pacific Ocean, east of Indonesia

Port Moresby • 462,840 sq km • pop. 6,672,429 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Tok Pisin (official), English (official), Hiri Motu (official), some 836 indigenous languages spoken (about 12% of the world's total); most languages have fewer than 1,000 speakers
**Major cities** PORT MORESBY (capital) 345,000 (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Melanesian, Papuan, Negrito, Micronesian, Polynesian
**Religions** Roman Catholic 27%, Protestant 69.4% (Evangelical Lutheran 19.5%, United Church 11.5%, Seventh-Day Adventist 10%, Pentecostal 8.6%, Evangelical Alliance 5.2%, Anglican 3.2%, Baptist 2.5%, other Protestant 8.9%), Baha'i 0.3%, indigenous beliefs and other 3.3% (2000 census)
**Independence** 16 September 1975 (from the Australian-administered UN trusteeship)

**Internet** `.pg` • 164,500 • 2.5% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 3.4 million • 51 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Paraguay

Republic of Paraguay › South America -- Central South America, northeast of Argentina, southwest of Brazil

Asuncion • 406,752 sq km • pop. 6,783,272 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Spanish (official), Guarani (official)
**Major cities** ASUNCION (capital) 23.56 million (2015)
**Ethnic groups** mestizo (mixed Spanish and Amerindian) 95%, other 5%
**Religions** Roman Catholic 89.6%, Protestant 6.2%, other Christian 1.1%, other or unspecified 1.9%, none 1.1% (2002 census)
**Independence** 14 May 1811 (from Spain)

**Internet** `.py` • 1.9 million • 29.0% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 7.3 million • 109 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Peru

Republic of Peru › South America -- Western South America, bordering the South Pacific Ocean, between Chile and Ecuador

Lima • 1,285,216 sq km • pop. 30,444,999 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Spanish (official) 84.1%, Quechua (official) 13%, Aymara (official) 1.7%, Ashaninka 0.3%, other native languages (includes a large number of minor Amazonian languages) 0.7%, other (includes foreign languages and sign language) 0.2% (2007 est.)
**Major cities** LIMA (capital) 9.897 million; Arequipa 850,000; Trujillo 798,000 (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Amerindian 45%, mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 37%, white 15%, black, Japanese, Chinese, and other 3%
**Religions** Roman Catholic 81.3%, Evangelical 12.5%, other 3.3%, none 2.9% (2007 est.)
**Independence** 28 July 1821 (from Spain)

**Internet** `.pe` • 12.3 million • 40.9% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 31.7 million • 105 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Philippines • Pilipinas

Republic of the Philippines › Southeast Asia -- Southeastern Asia, archipelago between the Philippine Sea and the South China Sea, east of Vietnam

Manila • 300,000 sq km • pop. 100,998,376 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Filipino (official; based on Tagalog) and English (official); eight major dialects - Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano, Hiligaynon or Ilonggo, Bicol, Waray, Pampango, and Pangasinan
**Major cities** MANILA (capital) 12.946 million; Davao 1.63 million; Cebu City 951,000; Zamboanga 936,000 (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Tagalog 28.1%, Cebuano 13.1%, Ilocano 9%, Bisaya/Binisaya 7.6%, Hiligaynon Ilonggo 7.5%, Bikol 6%, Waray 3.4%, other 25.3% (2000 census)
**Religions** Catholic 82.9% (Roman Catholic 80.9%, Aglipayan 2%), Muslim 5%, Evangelical 2.8%, Iglesia ni Kristo 2.3%, other Christian 4.5%, other 1.8%, unspecified 0.6%, none 0.1% (2000 census)
**Independence** 4 July 1946 (from the US)

**Internet** `.ph` • 39.2 million • 39.4% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 111.3 million • 112 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Poland • Polska

Republic of Poland › Europe -- Central Europe, east of Germany

Warsaw • 312,685 sq km • pop. 38,562,189 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Polish (official) 98.2%, Silesian 1.4%, other 1.1%, unspecified 1.3%
**Major cities** WARSAW (capital) 1.722 million; Krakow 760,000 (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Polish 96.9%, Silesian 1.1%, German 0.2%, Ukrainian 0.1%, other and unspecified 1.7%
**Religions** Catholic 87.2% (includes Roman Catholic 86.9% and Greek Catholic, Armenian Catholic, and Byzantine-Slavic Catholic .3%), Orthodox 1.3% (almost all are Polish Autocephalous Orthodox), Protestant 0.4% (mainly Augsburg Evangelical and Pentacostal), other 0.4% (includes Jehovah's Witness, Buddhist, Hare Krishna, Gaudiya Vaishnavism, Muslim, Jewish, Mormon), unspecified 10.8% (2012 est.)
**Independence** 11 November 1918 (republic proclaimed); notable earlier dates: 966 (adoption of Christianity, traditional founding date), 1 July 1569 (Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth created)

**Internet** `.pl` • 25.9 million • 67.2% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 59.8 million • 155 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Portugal

Portuguese Republic › Europe -- Southwestern Europe, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Spain

Lisbon • 92,090 sq km • pop. 10,825,309 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Portuguese (official), Mirandese (official, but locally used)
**Major cities** LISBON (capital) 2.884 million; Porto 1.299 million (2015)
**Ethnic groups** homogeneous Mediterranean stock; citizens of black African descent who immigrated to mainland during decolonization number less than 100,000; since 1990 East Europeans have entered Portugal
**Religions** Roman Catholic 81%, other Christian 3.3%, other (includes Jewish, Muslim, other) 0.6%, none 6.8%, unspecified 8.3%
**Independence** 1143 (Kingdom of Portugal recognized); 5 October 1910 (republic proclaimed)

**Internet** `.pt` • 7.2 million • 66.1% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 11.9 million • 110 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Qatar

State of Qatar › Middle East -- Middle East, peninsula bordering the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia

Doha • 11,586 sq km • pop. 2,194,817 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Arabic (official), English commonly used as a second language
**Major cities** DOHA (capital) 718,000 (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Arab 40%, Indian 18%, Pakistani 18%, Iranian 10%, other 14%
**Religions** Muslim 77.5%, Christian 8.5%, other (includes mainly Hindu and other Indian religions) 14% (2004 est.)
**Independence** 3 September 1971 (from the UK)

**Internet** `.qa` • 2.1 million • 96.7% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 3.3 million • 156 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Romania

\- › Europe -- Southeastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Bulgaria and Ukraine

Bucharest • 238,391 sq km • pop. 21,666,350 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Romanian (official) 85.4%, Hungarian 6.3%, Romany (Gypsy) 1.2%, other 1%, unspecified 6.1% (2011 est.)
**Major cities** BUCHAREST (capital) 1.868 million (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Romanian 83.4%, Hungarian 6.1%, Roma 3.1%, Ukrainian 0.3%, German 0.2%, other 0.7%, unspecified 6.1% (2011 est.)
**Religions** Eastern Orthodox (including all sub-denominations) 81.9%, Protestant (various denominations including Reformed and Pentecostal) 6.4%, Roman Catholic 4.3%, other (includes Muslim) 0.9%, none or atheist 0.2%, unspecified 6.3% (2011 est.)
**Independence** 9 May 1877 (independence proclaimed from the Ottoman Empire; independence recognized on 13 July 1878 by the Treaty of Berlin); 26 March 1881 (kingdom proclaimed); 30 December 1947 (republic proclaimed)

**Internet** `.ro` • 11.2 million • 51.7% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 22.9 million • 105 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Russia • Rossiya

Russian Federation › Asia -- North Asia bordering the Arctic Ocean, extending from Europe (the portion west of the Urals) to the North Pacific Ocean

Moscow • 17,098,242 sq km • pop. 142,423,773 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Russian (official) 96.3%, Dolgang 5.3%, German 1.5%, Chechen 1%, Tatar 3%, other 10.3%
**Major cities** MOSCOW (capital) 12.166 million; Saint Petersburg 4.993 million; Novosibirsk 1.497 million; Yekaterinburg 1.379 million; Nizhniy Novgorod 1.212 million; Samara 1.164 million (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Russian 77.7%, Tatar 3.7%, Ukrainian 1.4%, Bashkir 1.1%, Chuvash 1%, Chechen 1%, other 10.2%, unspecified 3.9%
**Religions** Russian Orthodox 15-20%, Muslim 10-15%, other Christian 2% (2006 est.)
**Independence** 24 August 1991 (from the Soviet Union); notable earlier dates: 1157 (Principality of Vladimir-Suzdal created); 16 January 1547 (Tsardom of Muscovy established); 22 October 1721 (Russian Empire proclaimed); 30 December 1922 (Soviet Union established)

**Internet** `.ru; note - Russia also has responsibility for a legacy domain ".su" that was allocated to the Soviet Union and is being phased out` • 84.4 million • 59.3% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 221 million • 155 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Rwanda

Republic of Rwanda › Africa -- Central Africa, east of Democratic Republic of the Congo

Kigali • 26,338 sq km • pop. 12,661,733

**Languages** Kinyarwanda only (official, universal Bantu vernacular) 93.2%, Kinyarwanda and other language(s) 6.2%, French (official) and other language(s) 0.1%, English (official) and other language(s) 0.1%, Swahili (or Kiswahili, used in commercial centers) 0.02%, other 0.03%, unspecified 0.3% (2002 est.)
**Major cities** KIGALI (capital) 1.257 million (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Hutu (Bantu) 84%, Tutsi (Hamitic) 15%, Twa (Pygmy) 1%
**Religions** Roman Catholic 49.5%, Protestant 39.4% (includes Adventist 12.2% and other Protestant 27.2%), other Christian 4.5%, Muslim 1.8%, animist 0.1%, other 0.6%, none 3.6% (2001), unspecified 0.5% (2002 est.)
**Independence** 1 July 1962 (from Belgium-administered UN trusteeship)

**Internet** `.rw` • 1.1 million • 9.2% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 7.7 million • 63 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Saint Kitts and Nevis

Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis › Central America and the Caribbean -- Caribbean, islands in the Caribbean Sea, about one-third of the way from Puerto Rico to Trinidad and Tobago

Basseterre • 261 sq km (Saint Kitts 168 sq km; Nevis 93 sq km) • pop. 51,936 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** English (official)
**Major cities** BASSETERRE (capital) 14,000 (2014)
**Ethnic groups** predominantly black; some British, Portuguese, and Lebanese
**Religions** Anglican, other Protestant, Roman Catholic
**Independence** 19 September 1983 (from the UK)

**Internet** `.kn` • 17,000 • 34.4% (2009)
**Telephones - mobile** 76,600 • 149 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Saint Lucia

\- › Central America and the Caribbean -- Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago

Castries • 616 sq km • pop. 163,922 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** English (official), French patois
**Major cities** CASTRIES (capital) 22,000 (2014)
**Ethnic groups** black/African descent 85.3%, mixed 10.9%, East Indian 2.2%, other 1.6%, unspecified 0.1% (2010 est.)
**Religions** Roman Catholic 61.5%, Protestant 25.5% (includes Seventh Day Adventist 10.4%, Pentecostal 8.9%, Baptist 2.2%, Anglican 1.6%, Church of God 1.5%, other Protestant .9%), other Christian 3.4% (includes Evangelical 2.3% and Jehovah's Witness 1.1%), Rastafarian 1.9%, other 0.4%, none 5.9%, unspecified 1.4% (2010 est.)
**Independence** 22 February 1979 (from the UK)

**Internet** `.lc` • 142,900 • 89.2% (2009)
**Telephones - mobile** 188,400 • 115 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

\- › Central America and the Caribbean -- Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago

Kingstown • 389 sq km (Saint Vincent 344 sq km) • pop. 102,627 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** English, French patois
**Major cities** KINGSTOWN (capital) 27,000 (2014)
**Ethnic groups** black 66%, mixed 19%, East Indian 6%, European 4%, Carib Amerindian 2%, other 3%
**Religions** Protestant 75% (Anglican 47%, Methodist 28%), Roman Catholic 13%, other (includes Hindu, Seventh-Day Adventist, other Protestant) 12%
**Independence** 27 October 1979 (from the UK)

**Internet** `.vc` • 76,000 • 72.7% (2009)
**Telephones - mobile** 115,000 • 112 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Samoa

Independent State of Samoa › Oceania -- Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand

Apia • 2,831 sq km • pop. 197,773

**Languages** Samoan (Polynesian) (official), English
**Major cities** APIA (capital) 37,000 (2014)
**Ethnic groups** Samoan 92.6%, Euronesians (persons of European and Polynesian blood) 7%, Europeans 0.4% (2001 census)
**Religions** Protestant 57.4% (Congregationalist 31.8%, Methodist 13.7%, Assembly of God 8%, Seventh-Day Adventist 3.9%), Roman Catholic 19.4%, Mormon 15.2%, Worship Centre 1.7%, other Christian 5.5%, other 0.7%, none 0.1%, unspecified 0.1% (2011 est.)
**Independence** 1 January 1962 (from New Zealand-administered UN trusteeship)

**Internet** `.ws` • 27,600 • 14.1% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 106,500 • 54 (2014 est.) subs./100

### San Marino

Republic of San Marino › Europe -- Southern Europe, an enclave in central Italy

San Marino • 61 sq km • pop. 33,020 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Italian
**Major cities** SAN MARINO 4,000 (2014)
**Ethnic groups** Sammarinese, Italian
**Religions** Roman Catholic
**Independence** 3 September 301

**Internet** `.sm` • 17,200 • 52.6% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 37,600 • 115 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Sao Tome and Principe • Sao Tome e Principe

Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe › Africa -- Central Africa, islands in the Gulf of Guinea, just north of the Equator, west of Gabon

Sao Tome • 964 sq km • pop. 194,006 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Portuguese 98.4% (official), Forro 36.2%, Cabo Verdian 8.5%, French 6.8%, Angolar 6.6%, English 4.9%, Lunguie 1%, other (including sign language) 2.4%
**Major cities** SAO TOME (capital) 71,000 (2014)
**Ethnic groups** mestico, angolares (descendants of Angolan slaves), forros (descendants of freed slaves), servicais (contract laborers from Angola, Mozambique, and Cabo Verde), tongas (children of servicais born on the islands), Europeans (primarily Portuguese), Asians (mostly Chinese)
**Religions** Catholic 55.7%, Adventist 4.1%, Assembly of God 3.4%, New Apostolic 2.9%, Mana 2.3%, Universal Kingdom of God 2%, Jehovah's Witness 1.2%, other 6.2%, none 21.2%, unspecified 1% (2012 est.)
**Independence** 12 July 1975 (from Portugal)

**Internet** `.st` • 47,000 • 24.7% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 128,500 • 67 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Saudi Arabia • Al Arabiyah as Suudiyah

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia › Middle East -- Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea, north of Yemen

Riyadh • 2,149,690 sq km • pop. 27,752,316

**Languages** Arabic (official)
**Major cities** RIYADH (capital) 6.195 million; Jeddah 4.076 million; Mecca 1.771 million; Medina 1.28 million; Ad Dammam 1.064 million (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Arab 90%, Afro-Asian 10%
**Religions** Muslim (official; citizens are 85-90% Sunni and 10-15% Shia), other (includes Eastern Orthodox, Protestant, Roman Catholic, Jewish, Hindu, Buddhist, and Sikh) (2012 est.)
**Independence** 23 September 1932 (unification of the kingdom)

**Internet** `.sa` • 16.2 million • 59.2% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 52.7 million • 193 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Senegal

Republic of Senegal › Africa -- Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea-Bissau and Mauritania

Dakar • 196,722 sq km • pop. 13,975,834 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** French (official), Wolof, Pulaar, Jola, Mandinka
**Major cities** DAKAR (capital) 3.52 million (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Wolof 43.3%, Pular 23.8%, Serer 14.7%, Jola 3.7%, Mandinka 3%, Soninke 1.1%, European and Lebanese 1%, other 9.4%
**Religions** Muslim 94% (most adhere to one of the four main Sufi brotherhoods), Christian 5% (mostly Roman Catholic), indigenous beliefs 1%
**Independence** 4 April 1960 (from France); note - complete independence achieved upon dissolution of federation with Mali on 20 August 1960

**Internet** `.sn` • 3 million • 22.0% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 14.4 million • 105 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Serbia • Srbija

Republic of Serbia › Europe -- Southeastern Europe, between Macedonia and Hungary

Belgrade (Beograd) • 77,474 sq km • pop. 7,176,794

**Languages** Serbian (official) 88.1%, Hungarian 3.4%, Bosnian 1.9%, Romany 1.4%, other 3.4%, undeclared or unknown 1.8%
**Major cities** BELGRADE (capital) 1.182 million (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Serb 83.3%, Hungarian 3.5%, Romany 2.1%, Bosniak 2%, other 5.7%, undeclared or unknown 3.4% (2011 est.)
**Religions** Serbian Orthodox 84.6%, Catholic 5%, Muslim 3.1%, Protestant 1%, atheist 1.1%, other 0.8%, undeclared or unknown 4.5% (2011 est.)
**Independence** 5 June 2006 (from the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro)

**Internet** `.rs` • 3.6 million • 49.7% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 9.3 million • 130 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Seychelles

Republic of Seychelles › Africa -- archipelago in the Indian Ocean, northeast of Madagascar

Victoria • 455 sq km • pop. 92,430 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Seychellois Creole (official) 89.1%, English (official) 5.1%, French (official) 0.7%, other 3.8%, unspecified 1.4% (2010 est.)
**Major cities** VICTORIA (capital) 26,000 (2014)
**Ethnic groups** mixed French, African, Indian, Chinese, and Arab
**Religions** Roman Catholic 76.2%, Protestant 10.6% (Anglican 6.1%, Pentecoastal Assembly 1.5%, Seventh-Day Adventist 1.2%, other Protestant 1.6), other Christian 2.4%, Hindu 2.4%, Muslim 1.6%, other non-Christian 1.1%, unspecified 4.8%, none 0.9% (2010 est.)
**Independence** 29 June 1976 (from the UK)

**Internet** `.sc` • 49,300 • 53.8% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 151,300 • 165 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Sierra Leone

Republic of Sierra Leone › Africa -- Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea and Liberia

Freetown • 71,740 sq km • pop. 5,879,098 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** English (official, regular use limited to literate minority), Mende (principal vernacular in the south), Temne (principal vernacular in the north), Krio (English-based Creole, spoken by the descendants of freed Jamaican slaves who were settled in the Freetown area, a lingua franca and a first language for 10% of the population but understood by 95%)
**Major cities** FREETOWN (capital) 1.007 million (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Temne 35%, Mende 31%, Limba 8%, Kono 5%, Kriole 2% (descendants of freed Jamaican slaves who were settled in the Freetown area in the late-18th century; also known as Krio), Mandingo 2%, Loko 2%, other 15% (includes refugees from Liberia's recent civil war, and small numbers of Europeans, Lebanese, Pakistanis, and Indians) (2008 census)
**Religions** Muslim 60%, Christian 10%, indigenous beliefs 30%
**Independence** 27 April 1961 (from the UK)

**Internet** `.sl` • 85,600 • 1.5% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 4.8 million • 83 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Singapore

Republic of Singapore › Southeast Asia -- Southeastern Asia, islands between Malaysia and Indonesia

Singapore • 697 sq km • pop. 5,674,472 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Mandarin (official) 36.3%, English (official) 29.8%, Malay (official) 11.9%, Hokkien 8.1%, Tamil (official) 4.4%, Cantonese 4.1%, Teochew 3.2%, other Indian languages 1.2%, other Chinese dialects 1.1%, other 1.1% (2010 est.)
**Major cities** SINGAPORE (capital) 5.619 million (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Chinese 74.2%, Malay 13.3%, Indian 9.2%, other 3.3% (2013 est.)
**Religions** Buddhist 33.9%, Muslim 14.3%, Taoist 11.3%, Catholic 7.1%, Hindu 5.2%, other Christian 11%, other 0.7%, none 16.4% (2010 est.)
**Independence** 9 August 1965 (from Malaysian Federation)

**Internet** `.sg` • 4.5 million • 80.7% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 8.7 million • 157 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Slovakia • Slovensko

Slovak Republic › Europe -- Central Europe, south of Poland

Bratislava • 49,035 sq km • pop. 5,445,027 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Slovak (official) 78.6%, Hungarian 9.4%, Roma 2.3%, Ruthenian 1%, other or unspecified 8.8% (2011 est.)
**Major cities** BRATISLAVA (capital) 401,000 (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Slovak 80.7%, Hungarian 8.5%, Roma 2%, other and unspecified 8.8% (2011 est.)
**Religions** Roman Catholic 62%, Protestant 8.2%, Greek Catholic 3.8%, other or unspecified 12.5%, none 13.4% (2011 est.)
**Independence** 1 January 1993 (Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia)

**Internet** `.sk` • 4.5 million • 82.7% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 6.4 million • 117 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Slovenia • Slovenija

Republic of Slovenia › Europe -- south Central Europe, Julian Alps between Austria and Croatia

Ljubljana • 20,273 sq km • pop. 1,983,412 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Slovenian (official) 91.1%, Serbo-Croatian 4.5%, other or unspecified 4.4%, Italian (official, only in municipalities where Italian national communities reside), Hungarian (official, only in municipalities where Hungarian national communities reside) (2002 census)
**Major cities** LJUBLJANA (capital) 279,000 (2014)
**Ethnic groups** Slovene 83.1%, Serb 2%, Croat 1.8%, Bosniak 1.1%, other or unspecified 12% (2002 census)
**Religions** Catholic 57.8%, Muslim 2.4%, Orthodox 2.3%, other Christian 0.9%, unaffiliated 3.5%, other or unspecified 23%, none 10.1% (2002 census)
**Independence** 25 June 1991 (from Yugoslavia)

**Internet** `.si` • 1.4 million • 72.3% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 2.3 million • 117 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Solomon Islands

\- › Oceania -- Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Papua New Guinea

Honiara • 28,896 sq km • pop. 622,469 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Melanesian pidgin (in much of the country is lingua franca), English (official but spoken by only 1%-2% of the population), 120 indigenous languages
**Major cities** HONIARA (capital) 73,000 (2014)
**Ethnic groups** Melanesian 95.3%, Polynesian 3.1%, Micronesian 1.2%, other 0.3% (2009 est.)
**Religions** Protestant 73.4% (Church of Melanesia 31.9%, South Sea Evangelical 17.1%, Seventh Day Adventist 11.7%, United Church 10.1%, Christian Fellowship Church 2.5%), Roman Catholic 19.6%, other Christian 2.9%, other 4%, none 0.03%, unspecified 0.1% (2009 est.)
**Independence** 7 July 1978 (from the UK)

**Internet** `.sb` • 46,400 • 7.6% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 376,700 • 62 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Somalia • Soomaaliya

Federal Republic of Somalia › Africa -- Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, east of Ethiopia

Mogadishu • 637,657 sq km • pop. 10,616,380

**Languages** Somali (official), Arabic (official, according to the Transitional Federal Charter), Italian, English
**Major cities** MOGADISHU (capital) 2.138 million; Hargeysa 760,000 (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Somali 85%, Bantu and other non-Somali 15% (including 30,000 Arabs)
**Religions** Sunni Muslim (Islam) (official, according to the Transitional Federal Charter)
**Independence** 1 July 1960 (from a merger of British Somaliland that became independent from the UK on 26 June 1960 and Italian Somaliland that became independent from the Italian-administered UN trusteeship on 1 July 1960 to form the Somali Republic)

**Internet** `.so` • 157,500 • 1.5% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 5.5 million • 53 (2014 est.) subs./100

### South Africa

Republic of South Africa › Africa -- Southern Africa, at the southern tip of the continent of Africa

Pretoria (administrative capital); Cape Town (legislative capital); Bloemfontein (judicial capital) • 1,219,090 sq km • pop. 53,675,563

**Languages** IsiZulu (official) 22.7%, IsiXhosa (official) 16%, Afrikaans (official) 13.5%, English (official) 9.6%, Sepedi (official) 9.1%, Setswana (official) 8%, Sesotho (official) 7.6%, Xitsonga (official) 4.5%, siSwati (official) 2.5%, Tshivenda (official) 2.4%, isiNdebele (official) 2.1%, sign language 0.5%, other 1.6% (2011 est.)
**Major cities** Johannesburg (includes Ekurhuleni) 9.399 million; Cape Town (legislative capital) 3.66 million; Durban 2.901 million; PRETORIA (capital) 2.059 million; Port Elizabeth 1.179 million; Vereeniging 1.155 million (2015)
**Ethnic groups** black African 80.2%, white 8.4%, colored 8.8%, Indian/Asian 2.5%
**Religions** Protestant 36.6% (Zionist Christian 11.1%, Pentecostal/Charismatic 8.2%, Methodist 6.8%, Dutch Reformed 6.7%, Anglican 3.8%), Catholic 7.1%, Muslim 1.5%, other Christian 36%, other 2.3%, unspecified 1.4%, none 15.1% (2001 census)
**Independence** 31 May 1910 (Union of South Africa formed from four British colonies: Cape Colony, Natal, Transvaal, and Orange Free State); 31 May 1961 (republic declared); 27 April 1994 (majority rule)

**Internet** `.za` • 24.8 million • 46.9% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 79.5 million • 150 (2014 est.) subs./100

### South Sudan

Republic of South Sudan › Africa -- East-Central Africa; south of Sudan, north of Uganda and Kenya, west of Ethiopia

Juba • 644,329 sq km • pop. 12,042,910 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** English (official), Arabic (includes Juba and Sudanese variants), regional languages include Dinka, Nuer, Bari, Zande, Shilluk
**Major cities** JUBA (capital) 321,000 (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Dinka 35.8%, Nuer 15.6%, Shilluk, Azande, Bari, Kakwa, Kuku, Murle, Mandari, Didinga, Ndogo, Bviri, Lndi, Anuak, Bongo, Lango, Dungotona, Acholi (2011 est.)
**Religions** animist, Christian
**Independence** 9 July 2011 (from Sudan)

**Internet** `.ss` •  •
**Telephones - mobile** 2.9 million • 25 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Spain • Espana

Kingdom of Spain › Europe -- Southwestern Europe, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, North Atlantic Ocean, Bay of Biscay, and Pyrenees Mountains; southwest of France

Madrid • 505,370 sq km • pop. 48,146,134 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Castilian Spanish (official) 74%, Catalan 17%, Galician 7%, and Basque 2%
**Major cities** MADRID (capital) 6.199 million; Barcelona 5.258 million; Valencia 810,000 (2015)
**Ethnic groups** composite of Mediterranean and Nordic types
**Religions** Roman Catholic 94%, other 6%
**Independence** 1492; the Iberian peninsula was characterized by a variety of independent kingdoms prior to the Muslim occupation that began in the early 8th century A.D. and lasted nearly seven centuries; the small Christian redoubts of the north began the reconquest almost immediately, culminating in the seizure of Granada in 1492; this event completed the unification of several kingdoms and is traditionally considered the forging of present-day Spain

**Internet** `.es` • 35.5 million • 74.4% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 50.8 million • 106 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Sri Lanka • Shri Lanka/Ilankai

Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka › Asia -- Southern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of India

Colombo; note - Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte is the legislative capital • 65,610 sq km • pop. 22,053,488 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Sinhala (official and national language) 74%, Tamil (national language) 18%, other 8%
**Major cities** Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte (legislative capital) 128,000 (2014); COLOMBO (capital) 707,000 (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Sinhalese 74.9%, Sri Lankan Tamil 11.2%, Sri Lankan Moors 9.2%, Indian Tamil 4.2%, other 0.5% (2012 est.)
**Religions** Buddhist (official) 70.2%, Hindu 12.6%, Muslim 9.7%, Roman Catholic 6.1%, other Christian 1.3%, other 0.05% (2012 est.)
**Independence** 4 February 1948 (from the UK)

**Internet** `.lk` • 4.4 million • 19.9% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 22.1 million • 101 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Sudan • As-Sudan

Republic of the Sudan › Africa -- north-eastern Africa, bordering the Red Sea, between Egypt and Eritrea

Khartoum • 1,861,484 sq km • pop. 36,108,853 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Arabic (official), English (official), Nubian, Ta Bedawie, Fur
**Major cities** KHARTOUM (capital) 5.129 million (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Sudanese Arab (approximately 70%), Fur, Beja, Nuba, Fallata
**Religions** Sunni Muslim, small Christian minority
**Independence** 1 January 1956 (from Egypt and the UK)

**Internet** `.sd` • 8.5 million • 24.0% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 27.8 million • 78 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Suriname

Republic of Suriname › South America -- Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between French Guiana and Guyana

Paramaribo • 163,820 sq km • pop. 579,633 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Dutch (official), English (widely spoken), Sranang Tongo (Surinamese, sometimes called Taki-Taki, is native language of Creoles and much of the younger population and is lingua franca among others), Caribbean Hindustani (a dialect of Hindi), Javanese
**Major cities** PARAMARIBO (capital) 234,000 (2014)
**Ethnic groups** Hindustani (also known locally as "East Indians"; their ancestors emigrated from northern India in the latter part of the 19th century) 37%, Creole (mixed white and black) 31%, Javanese 15%, "Maroons" (their African ancestors were brought to the country in the 17th and 18th centuries as slaves and escaped to the interior) 10%, Amerindian 2%, Chinese 2%, white 1%, other 2%
**Religions** Hindu 27.4%, Protestant 25.2% (predominantly Moravian), Roman Catholic 22.8%, Muslim 19.6%, indigenous beliefs 5%
**Independence** 25 November 1975 (from the Netherlands)

**Internet** `.sr` • 212,900 • 37.1% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 927,800 • 162 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Swaziland • eSwatini

Kingdom of Swaziland › Africa -- Southern Africa, between Mozambique and South Africa

Mbabane; note - Lobamba is the royal and legislative capital • 17,364 sq km • pop. 1,435,613

**Languages** English (official, used for government business), siSwati (official)
**Major cities** MBABANE (capital) 66,000 (2014)
**Ethnic groups** African 97%, European 3%
**Religions** Zionist 40% (a blend of Christianity and indigenous ancestral worship), Roman Catholic 20%, Muslim 10%, other 30% (includes Anglican, Baha'i, Methodist, Mormon, Jewish)
**Independence** 6 September 1968 (from the UK)

**Internet** `.sz` • 337,300 • 23.8% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 916,800 • 65 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Sweden • Sverige

Kingdom of Sweden › Europe -- Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, Kattegat, and Skagerrak, between Finland and Norway

Stockholm • 450,295 sq km • pop. 9,801,616 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Swedish (official), small Sami- and Finnish-speaking minorities
**Major cities** STOCKHOLM (capital) 1.486 million (2015)
**Ethnic groups** indigenous population: Swedes with Finnish and Sami minorities; foreign-born or first-generation immigrants: Finns, Yugoslavs, Danes, Norwegians, Greeks, Turks
**Religions** Lutheran 87%, other (includes Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Baptist, Muslim, Jewish, and Buddhist) 13%
**Independence** 6 June 1523 (Gustav VASA elected king)

**Internet** `.se` • 8.7 million • 89.1% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 12.3 million • 127 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Switzerland • Schweiz (German); Suisse (French); Svizzera (Italian); Svizra (Romansh)

Swiss Confederation › Europe -- Central Europe, east of France, north of Italy

Bern • 41,277 sq km • pop. 8,121,830 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** German (official) 64.9%, French (official) 22.6%, Italian (official) 8.3%, Serbo-Croatian 2.5%, Albanian 2.6%, Portuguese 3.4%, Spanish 2.2%, English 4.6%, Romansch (official) 0.5%, other 5.1%
**Major cities** Zurich 1.246 million; BERN (capital) 358,000 (2015)
**Ethnic groups** German 65%, French 18%, Italian 10%, Romansch 1%, other 6%
**Religions** Roman Catholic 38.2%, Protestant 26.9%, Muslim 4.9%, other Christian 5.7%, other 1.6%, none 21.4%, unspecified 1.3% (2012 est.)
**Independence** 1 August 1291 (founding of the Swiss Confederation)

**Internet** `.ch` • 7.1 million • 88.0% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 11.5 million • 142 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Syria • Suriyah

Syrian Arab Republic › Middle East -- Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Lebanon and Turkey

Damascus • 185,180 sq km • pop. 17,064,854 (July 2014 est.)

**Languages** Arabic (official), Kurdish, Armenian, Aramaic, Circassian (widely understood); French, English (somewhat understood)
**Major cities** Aleppo 3.562 million; DAMASCUS (capital) 2.566 million; Hims 1.641 million; Hamah 1.237 million; Lattakia 781,000 (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Arab 90.3%, Kurds, Armenians, and other 9.7%
**Religions** Muslim 87% (official; includes Sunni 74% and Alawi, Ismaili, and Shia 13%), Christian (includes Orthodox, Uniate, and Nestorian) 10% (includes Orthodox, Uniate, and Nestorian), Druze 3%, Jewish (few remaining in Damascus and Aleppo)
**Independence** 17 April 1946 (from League of Nations mandate under French administration)

**Internet** `.sy` • 4.8 million • 26.7% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 15.6 million • 87 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Tajikistan • Tojikiston

Republic of Tajikistan › Asia -- Central Asia, west of China, south of Kyrgyzstan

Dushanbe • 144,100 sq km • pop. 8,191,958 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Tajik (official), Russian widely used in government and business
**Major cities** DUSHANBE (capital) 822,000 (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Tajik 84.3%, Uzbek 13.8% (includes Lakai, Kongrat, Katagan, Barlos, Yuz), other 2% (includes Kyrgyz, Russian, Turkmen, Tatar, Arab) (2010 est.)
**Religions** Sunni Muslim 85%, Shia Muslim 5%, other 10% (2003 est.)
**Independence** 9 September 1991 (from the Soviet Union)

**Internet** `.tj` • 1.3 million • 16.1% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 8 million • 99 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Tanzania

United Republic of Tanzania › Africa -- Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between Kenya and Mozambique

Dodoma; note - officially changed in 1996; serves as the meeting place for the National Assembly; the excutive branch offices and diplomatic representation remain in Dar es Salaam, the largest city and commercial capital • 947,300 sq km • pop. 51,045,882

**Languages** Kiswahili or Swahili (official), Kiunguja (name for Swahili in Zanzibar), English (official, primary language of commerce, administration, and higher education), Arabic (widely spoken in Zanzibar), many local languages
**Major cities** DAR ES SALAAM (capital) 5.116 million; Mwanza 838,000 (2015)
**Ethnic groups** mainland - African 99% (of which 95% are Bantu consisting of more than 130 tribes), other 1% (consisting of Asian, European, and Arab); Zanzibar - Arab, African, mixed Arab and African
**Religions** mainland - Christian 30%, Muslim 35%, indigenous beliefs 35%; Zanzibar - more than 99% Muslim
**Independence** 26 April 1964; Tanganyika became independent on 9 December 1961 (from UK-administered UN trusteeship); Zanzibar became independent on 10 December 1963 (from UK); Tanganyika united with Zanzibar on 26 April 1964 to form the United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar; renamed United Republic of Tanzania on 29 October 1964

**Internet** `.tz` • 7.4 million • 15.0% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 31.9 million • 64 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Thailand • Prathet Thai

Kingdom of Thailand › Southeast Asia -- Southeastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, southeast of Burma

Bangkok • 513,120 sq km • pop. 67,976,405

**Languages** Thai (official) 90.7%, Burmese 1.3%, other 8%
**Major cities** BANGKOK (capital) 9.27 million; Samut Prakan 1.814 million (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Thai 95.9%, Burmese 2%, other 1.3%, unspecified 0.9% (2010 est.)
**Religions** Buddhist (official) 93.6%, Muslim 4.9%, Christian 1.2%, other 0.2%, none 0.1% (2010 est.)
**Independence** 1238 (traditional founding date; never colonized)

**Internet** `.th` • 19.5 million • 28.8% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 97.1 million • 143 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Timor-Leste • Timor Lorosa'e [Tetum]; Timor-Leste [Portuguese]

Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste › Southeast Asia -- Southeastern Asia, northwest of Australia in the Lesser Sunda Islands at the eastern end of the Indonesian archipelago; note - Timor-Leste includes the eastern half of the island of Timor, the Oecussi (Ambeno) region on the northwest portion of the island of Timor, and the islands of Pulau Atauro and Pulau Jaco

Dili • 14,874 sq km • pop. 1,231,116

**Languages** Tetum (official), Portuguese (official), Indonesian, English
**Major cities** DILI (capital) 228,000 (2014)
**Ethnic groups** Austronesian (Malayo-Polynesian), Papuan, small Chinese minority
**Religions** Roman Catholic 96.9%, Protestant / Evangelical 2.2%, Muslim 0.3%, other 0.6% (2005)
**Independence** 28 November 1975 (independence proclaimed from Portugal); note - 20 May 2002 is the official date of international recognition of Timor-Leste's independence

**Internet** `.tl` • 12,000 • 1.0% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 676,900 • 56 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Togo

Togolese Republic › Africa -- Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Benin and Ghana

Lome • 56,785 sq km • pop. 7,552,318

**Languages** French (official, the language of commerce), Ewe and Mina (the two major African languages in the south), Kabye (sometimes spelled Kabiye) and Dagomba (the two major African languages in the north)
**Major cities** LOME (capital) 956,000 (2015)
**Ethnic groups** African (37 tribes; largest and most important are Ewe, Mina, and Kabre) 99%, European and Syrian-Lebanese less than 1%
**Religions** Christian 29%, Muslim 20%, indigenous beliefs 51%
**Independence** 27 April 1960 (from French-administered UN trusteeship)

**Internet** `.tg` • 336,000 • 4.6% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 4.8 million • 66 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Tonga

Kingdom of Tonga › Oceania -- Oceania, archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand

Nuku'alofa • 747 sq km • pop. 106,501 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** English and Tongan 87%, Tongan (official) 10.7%, English (official) 1.2%, other 1.1%, unspecified 0.03% (2006 est.)
**Major cities** NUKU'ALOFA 25,000 (2014)
**Ethnic groups** Tongan 96.6%, part-Tongan 1.7%, other 1.7%, unspecified 0.03% (2006 est.)
**Religions** Protestant 64.9% (includes Free Wesleyan Church 37.3%, Free Church of Tonga 11.4%, Church of Tonga 7.2%, Tokaikolo Christian Church 2.6%, Assembly of God 2.3% Seventh Day Adventist 2.2%, Constitutional Church of Tonga .9%, Anglican .8% and Full Gospel Church .2%), Mormon 16.8%, Roman Catholic 15.6%, other 1.1%, none 0.03%, unspecified 1.7% (2006 est.)
**Independence** 4 June 1970 (from UK protectorate)

**Internet** `.to` • 40,400 • 37.9% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 68,000 • 64 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Trinidad and Tobago

Republic of Trinidad and Tobago › Central America and the Caribbean -- Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela

Port of Spain • 5,128 sq km • pop. 1,222,363 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** English (official), Caribbean Hindustani (a dialect of Hindi), French, Spanish, Chinese
**Major cities** PORT-OF-SPAIN (capital) 34,000 (2014)
**Ethnic groups** East Indian 35.4%, African 34.2%, mixed - other 15.3%, mixed African/East Indian 7.7%, other 1.3%, unspecified 6.2% (2011 est.)
**Religions** Protestant 32.1% (Pentecostal/Evangelical/Full Gospel 12%, Baptist 6.9%, Anglican 5.7%, Seventh-Day Adventist 4.1%, Presbyterian/Congretational 2.5, other Protestant .9), Roman Catholic 21.6%, Hindu 18.2%, Muslim 5%, Jehovah's Witness 1.5%, other 8.4%, none 2.2%, unspecified 11.1% (2011 est.)
**Independence** 31 August 1962 (from the UK)

**Internet** `.tt` • 779,900 • 63.7% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 2 million • 162 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Tunisia • Tunis

Republic of Tunisia › Africa -- Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Libya

Tunis • 163,610 sq km • pop. 11,037,225 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Arabic (official, one of the languages of commerce), French (commerce), Berber (Tamazight)
**Major cities** TUNIS (capital) 1.993 million (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Arab 98%, European 1%, Jewish and other 1%
**Religions** Muslim (official; Sunni) 99.1%, other (includes Christian, Jewish, Shia Muslim, and Baha'i) 1%
**Independence** 20 March 1956 (from France)

**Internet** `.tn` • 5 million • 45.5% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 14.3 million • 131 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Turkey • Turkiye

Republic of Turkey › Middle East -- Southeastern Europe and Southwestern Asia (that portion of Turkey west of the Bosporus is geographically part of Europe), bordering the Black Sea, between Bulgaria and Georgia, and bordering the Aegean Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, between Greece and Syria

Ankara • 783,562 sq km • pop. 79,414,269 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Turkish (official), Kurdish, other minority languages
**Major cities** Istanbul 14.164 million; ANKARA (capital) 4.75 million; Izmir 3.04 million; Bursa 1.923 million; Adana 1.83 million; Gaziantep 1.528 million (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Turkish 70-75%, Kurdish 18%, other minorities 7-12% (2008 est.)
**Religions** Muslim 99.8% (mostly Sunni), other 0.2% (mostly Christians and Jews)
**Independence** 29 October 1923 (successor state to the Ottoman Empire)

**Internet** `.tr` • 36.6 million • 46.6% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 71.9 million • 92 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Turkmenistan

\- › Asia -- Central Asia, bordering the Caspian Sea, between Iran and Kazakhstan

Ashgabat (Ashkhabad) • 488,100 sq km • pop. 5,231,422 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Turkmen (official) 72%, Russian 12%, Uzbek 9%, other 7%
**Major cities** ASHGABAT (capital) 746,000 (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Turkmen 85%, Uzbek 5%, Russian 4%, other 6% (2003)
**Religions** Muslim 89%, Eastern Orthodox 9%, unknown 2%
**Independence** 27 October 1991 (from the Soviet Union)

**Internet** `.tm` • 414,300 • 8.0% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 7.2 million • 139 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Tuvalu

\- › Oceania -- Oceania, island group consisting of nine coral atolls in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Australia

Funafuti; note - administrative offices are in Vaiaku Village on Fongafale Islet • 26 sq km • pop. 10,869 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Tuvaluan (official), English (official), Samoan, Kiribati (on the island of Nui)
**Major cities** FUNAFUTI (capital) 6,000 (2014)
**Ethnic groups** Polynesian 96%, Micronesian 4%
**Religions** Protestant 98.4% (Church of Tuvalu (Congregationalist) 97%, Seventh-Day Adventist 1.4%), Baha'i 1%, other 0.6%
**Independence** 1 October 1978 (from the UK)

**Internet** `.tv` • 4,100 • 38.1% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 3,800 • 35 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Uganda

Republic of Uganda › Africa -- East-Central Africa, west of Kenya, east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Kampala • 241,038 sq km • pop. 37,101,745

**Languages** English (official national language, taught in grade schools, used in courts of law and by most newspapers and some radio broadcasts), Ganda or Luganda (most widely used of the Niger-Congo languages, preferred for native language publications in the capital and may be taught in school), other Niger-Congo languages, Nilo-Saharan languages, Swahili, Arabic
**Major cities** KAMPALA (capital) 1.936 million (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Baganda 16.9%, Banyankole 9.5%, Basoga 8.4%, Bakiga 6.9%, Iteso 6.4%, Langi 6.1%, Acholi 4.7%, Bagisu 4.6%, Lugbara 4.2%, Bunyoro 2.7%, other 29.6% (2002 census)
**Religions** Roman Catholic 41.9%, Protestant 42% (Anglican 35.9%, Pentecostal 4.6%, Seventh-Day Adventist 1.5%), Muslim 12.1%, other 3.1%, none 0.9% (2002 census)
**Independence** 9 October 1962 (from the UK)

**Internet** `.ug` • 6 million • 16.8% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 20.4 million • 57 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Ukraine • Ukrayina

\- › Asia, Europe -- Eastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Poland, Romania, and Moldova in the west and Russia in the east

Kyiv (Kiev) • 603,550 sq km • pop. 44,429,471 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Ukrainian (official) 67.5%, Russian (regional language) 29.6%, other (includes small Crimean Tatar-, Moldavian-, and Hungarian-speaking minorities) 2.9% (2001 est.)
**Major cities** KYIV (capital) 2.942 million; Kharkiv 1.441 million; Odesa 1.01 million; Dnipropetrovsk 957,000; Donetsk 934,000; Zaporizhzhya 753,000 (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Ukrainian 77.8%, Russian 17.3%, Belarusian 0.6%, Moldovan 0.5%, Crimean Tatar 0.5%, Bulgarian 0.4%, Hungarian 0.3%, Romanian 0.3%, Polish 0.3%, Jewish 0.2%, other 1.8% (2001 est.)
**Religions** Orthodox (includes Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox (UAOC), Ukrainian Orthodox - Kyiv Patriarchate (UOC-KP), Ukrainian Orthodox - Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP), Ukrainian Greek Catholic, Roman Catholic, Protestant, Muslim, Jewish
**Independence** 24 August 1991 (from the Soviet Union); notable earlier dates: ca. 982 (VOLODYMYR I consolidates Kyivan Rus), 1648 (establishment of Cossack Hetmanate)

**Internet** `.ua` • 16.8 million • 37.5% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 61.2 million • 136 (2014 est.) subs./100

### United Arab Emirates

United Arab Emirates › Middle East -- Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf, between Oman and Saudi Arabia

Abu Dhabi • 83,600 sq km • pop. 5,779,760

**Languages** Arabic (official), Persian, English, Hindi, Urdu
**Major cities** Dubai 2.415 million; Sharjah 1.279 million; ABU DHABI (capital) 1.145 million (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Emirati 19%, other Arab and Iranian 23%, South Asian 50%, other expatriates (includes Westerners and East Asians) 8% (1982)
**Religions** Muslim (Islam; official) 76%, Christian 9%, other (primarily Hindu and Buddhist, less than 5% of the population consists of Parsi, Baha'i, Druze, Sikh, Ahmadi, Ismaili, Dawoodi Bohra Muslim, and Jewish) 15%
**Independence** 2 December 1971 (from the UK)

**Internet** `.ae` • 5.2 million • 93.2% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 16.8 million • 299 (2014 est.) subs./100

### United Kingdom

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; note - Great Britain includes England, Scotland, and Wales › Europe -- Western Europe, islands - including the northern one-sixth of the island of Ireland - between the North Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea; northwest of France

London • 243,610 sq km • pop. 64,088,222 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** English
**Major cities** LONDON (capital) 10.313 million; Manchester 2.646 million; Birmingham 2.515 million; Glasgow 1.223 million; Southampton/Portsmouth 882,000; Liverpool 870,000 (2015)
**Ethnic groups** white 87.2%, black/African/Caribbean/black British 3%, Asian/Asian British: Indian 2.3%, Asian/Asian British: Pakistani 1.9%, mixed 2%, other 3.7% (2011 est.)
**Religions** Christian (includes Anglican, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Methodist) 59.5%, Muslim 4.4%, Hindu 1.3%, other 2%, unspecified 7.2%, none 25.7% (2011 est.)
**Independence** 12 April 1927 (Royal and Parliamentary Titles Act establishes current name of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland); notable earlier dates: 927 (minor English kingdoms united); 3 March 1284 (enactment of the Statute of Rhuddlan uniting England and Wales); 1536 (Act of Union formally incorporates England and Wales); 1 May 1707 (Acts of Union formally unite England and Scotland as Great Britain); 1 January 1801 (Acts of Union formally unite Great Britain and Ireland as the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland); 6 December 1921 (Anglo-Irish Treaty formalizes partition of Ireland; six counties remain part of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland)

**Internet** `.uk` • 57.3 million • 89.9% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 78.5 million • 123 (2014 est.) subs./100

### United States

United States of America › North America -- North America, bordering both the North Atlantic Ocean and the North Pacific Ocean, between Canada and Mexico

Washington, DC • 9,826,675 sq km • pop. 321,368,864 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** English 79.2%, Spanish 12.9%, other Indo-European 3.8%, Asian and Pacific island 3.3%, other 0.9% (2011 est.)
**Major cities** New York-Newark 18.593 million; Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana 12.31 million; Chicago 8.745 million; Miami 5.817 million; Dallas-Fort Worth 5.703 million; WASHINGTON, D.C. (capital) 4.955 million (2015)
**Ethnic groups** white 79.96%, black 12.85%, Asian 4.43%, Amerindian and Alaska native 0.97%, native Hawaiian and other Pacific islander 0.18%, two or more races 1.61% (July 2007 estimate)
**Religions** Protestant 51.3%, Roman Catholic 23.9%, Mormon 1.7%, other Christian 1.6%, Jewish 1.7%, Buddhist 0.7%, Muslim 0.6%, other or unspecified 2.5%, unaffiliated 12.1%, none 4% (2007 est.)
**Independence** 4 July 1776 (declared); 3 September 1783 (recognized by Great Britain)

**Internet** `.us` • 276.6 million • 86.8% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 317.4 million • 100 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Uruguay

Oriental Republic of Uruguay › South America -- Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Argentina and Brazil

Montevideo • 176,215 sq km • pop. 3,341,893 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Spanish (official), Portunol, Brazilero (Portuguese-Spanish mix on the Brazilian frontier)
**Major cities** MONTEVIDEO (capital) 1.707 million (2015)
**Ethnic groups** white 88%, mestizo 8%, black 4%, Amerindian (practically nonexistent)
**Religions** Roman Catholic 47.1%, non-Catholic Christians 11.1%, nondenominational 23.2%, Jewish 0.3%, atheist or agnostic 17.2%, other 1.1% (2006)
**Independence** 25 August 1825 (from Brazil)

**Internet** `.uy` • 2 million • 59.0% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 5.5 million • 165 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Uzbekistan • O'zbekiston

Republic of Uzbekistan › Asia -- Central Asia, north of Turkmenistan, south of Kazakhstan

Tashkent (Toshkent) • 447,400 sq km • pop. 29,199,942 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Uzbek (official) 74.3%, Russian 14.2%, Tajik 4.4%, other 7.1%
**Major cities** TASHKENT (capital) 2.251 million (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Uzbek 80%, Russian 5.5%, Tajik 5%, Kazakh 3%, Karakalpak 2.5%, Tatar 1.5%, other 2.5% (1996 est.)
**Religions** Muslim 88% (mostly Sunni), Eastern Orthodox 9%, other 3%
**Independence** 1 September 1991 (from the Soviet Union)

**Internet** `.uz` • 11.8 million • 40.6% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 21.6 million • 75 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Vanuatu

Republic of Vanuatu › Oceania -- Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Australia

Port-Vila (on Efate) • 12,189 sq km • pop. 272,264 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** local languages (more than 100) 63.2%, Bislama (official; creole) 33.7%, English (official) 2%, French (official) 0.6%, other 0.5% (2009 est.)
**Major cities** PORT-VILA (capital) 53,000 (2014)
**Ethnic groups** Ni-Vanuatu 97.6%, part Ni-Vanuatu 1.1%, other 1.3% (2009 est.)
**Religions** Protestant 70% (includes Presbyterian 27.9%, Anglican 15.1%, Seventh Day Adventist 12.5%, Assemblies of God 4.7%, Church of Christ 4.5%, Neil Thomas Ministry 3.1%, and Apostolic 2.2%), Roman Catholic 12.4%, customary beliefs 3.7% (including Jon Frum cargo cult), other 12.6%, none 1.1%, unspecified 0.2% (2009 est.)
**Independence** 30 July 1980 (from France and the UK)

**Internet** `.vu` • 30,800 • 11.5% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 156,100 • 58 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Holy See (Vatican City) • Santa Sede (Citta del Vaticano)

The Holy See (Vatican City State) › Europe -- Southern Europe, an enclave of Rome (Italy)

Vatican City • 0.44 sq km • pop. 842 (July 2014 est.)

**Languages** Italian, Latin, French, various other languages
**Major cities** VATICAN CITY (capital) 1,000 (2014)
**Ethnic groups** Italians, Swiss, other
**Religions** Roman Catholic
**Independence** 11 February 1929 (from Italy); note - the three treaties signed with Italy on 11 February 1929 acknowledged, among other things, the full sovereignty of the Holy See and established its territorial extent; however, the origin of the Papal States, which over centuries varied considerably in extent, may be traced back to 754

**Internet** `.va` •  •
**Telephones - mobile**  •  subs./100

### Venezuela

Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela › South America -- Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, between Colombia and Guyana

Caracas • 912,050 sq km • pop. 29,275,460 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Spanish (official), numerous indigenous dialects
**Major cities** CARACAS (capital) 2.916 million; Maracaibo 2.196 million; Valencia 1.734 million; Maracay 1.166 million; Barquisimeto 1.039 million (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Arab, German, African, indigenous people
**Religions** nominally Roman Catholic 96%, Protestant 2%, other 2%
**Independence** 5 July 1811 (from Spain)

**Internet** `.ve` • 13.6 million • 47.2% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 30.5 million • 106 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Vietnam • Viet Nam

Socialist Republic of Vietnam › Southeast Asia -- Southeastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, Gulf of Tonkin, and South China Sea, as well as China, Laos, and Cambodia

Hanoi (Ha Noi) • 331,210 sq km • pop. 94,348,835 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Vietnamese (official), English (increasingly favored as a second language), some French, Chinese, and Khmer, mountain area languages (Mon-Khmer and Malayo-Polynesian)
**Major cities** Ho Chi Minh City 7.298 million; HANOI (capital) 3.629 million; Can Tho 1.175 million; Haiphong 1.075 million; Da Nang 952,000; Bien Hoa 834,000 (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Kinh (Viet) 85.7%, Tay 1.9%, Thai 1.8%, Muong 1.5%, Khmer 1.5%, Mong 1.2%, Nung 1.1%, others 5.3% (1999 census)
**Religions** Buddhist 9.3%, Catholic 6.7%, Hoa Hao 1.5%, Cao Dai 1.1%, Protestant 0.5%, Muslim 0.1%, none 80.8% (1999 census)
**Independence** 2 September 1945 (from France)

**Internet** `.vn` • 40.1 million • 43.0% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 136.1 million • 146 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Yemen • Al Yaman

Republic of Yemen › Middle East -- Middle East, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden, and Red Sea, between Oman and Saudi Arabia

Sanaa • 527,968 sq km • pop. 26,737,317 (July 2015 est.)

**Languages** Arabic (official)
**Major cities** SANAA (capital) 2.962 million; Aden 882,000 (2015)
**Ethnic groups** predominantly Arab; but also Afro-Arab, South Asians, Europeans
**Religions** Muslim 99.1% (official; virtually all are citizens, an estimated 65% are Sunni and 35% are Shia), other 0.9% (includes Jewish, Baha'i, Hindu, and Christian; many are refugees or temporary foreign residents) (2010 est.)
**Independence** 22 May 1990 (Republic of Yemen was established with the merger of the Yemen Arab Republic [Yemen (Sanaa) or North Yemen] and the Marxist-dominated People's Democratic Republic of Yemen [Yemen (Aden) or South Yemen]); note - previously North Yemen became independent in November 1918 (from the Ottoman Empire) and became a republic with the overthrow of the theocratic Imamate in 1962; South Yemen became independent on 30 November 1967 (from the UK)

**Internet** `.ye` • 5 million • 19.1% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 17.1 million • 66 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Zambia

Republic of Zambia › Africa -- Southern Africa, east of Angola, south of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Lusaka • 752,618 sq km • pop. 15,066,266

**Languages** Bembe 33.4%, Nyanja 14.7%, Tonga 11.4%, Lozi 5.5%, Chewa 4.5%, Nsenga 2.9%, Tumbuka 2.5%, Lunda (North Western) 1.9%, Kaonde 1.8%, Lala 1.8%, Lamba 1.8%, English (official) 1.7%, Luvale 1.5%, Mambwe 1.3%, Namwanga 1.2%, Lenje 1.1%, Bisa 1%, other 9.2%, unspecified 0.4%
**Major cities** LUSAKA (capital) 2.179 million (2015)
**Ethnic groups** Bemba 21%, Tonga 13.6%, Chewa 7.4%, Lozi 5.7%, Nsenga 5.3%, Tumbuka 4.4%, Ngoni 4%, Lala 3.1%, Kaonde 2.9%, Namwanga 2.8%, Lunda (north Western) 2.6%, Mambwe 2.5%, Luvale 2.2%, Lamba 2.1%, Ushi 1.9%, Lenje 1.6%, Bisa 1.6%, Mbunda 1.2%, other 13.8%, unspecified 0.4% (2010 est.)
**Religions** Protestant 75.3%, Roman Catholic 20.2%, other 2.7% (includes Muslim Buddhist, Hindu, and Baha'i), none 1.8% (2010 est.)
**Independence** 24 October 1964 (from the UK)

**Internet** `.zm` • 2.3 million • 15.4% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 10.1 million • 69 (2014 est.) subs./100

### Zimbabwe

Republic of Zimbabwe › Africa -- Southern Africa, between South Africa and Zambia

Harare • 390,757 sq km • pop. 14,229,541

**Languages** Shona (official; most widely spoken), Ndebele (official, second most widely spoken), English (official; traditionally used for official business), 13 minority languages (official; includes Chewa, Chibarwe, Kalanga, Koisan, Nambya, Ndau, Shangani, sign language, Sotho, Tonga, Tswana, Venda, and Xhosa)
**Major cities** HARARE (capital) 1.501 million (2015)
**Ethnic groups** African 99.4% (predominantly Shona; Ndebele is the second largest ethnic group), other 0.4%, unspecified 0.2% (2012 est.)
**Religions** Protestant 75.9% (includes Apostolic 38%, Pentecostal 21.1%, other 16.8%), Roman Catholic 8.4%, other Christian 8.4%, other 1.2% (includes traditional, Muslim), none 6.1% (2011 est.)
**Independence** 18 April 1980 (from the UK)

**Internet** `.zw` • 2.7 million • 19.5% (2014 est.)
**Telephones - mobile** 11.8 million • 86 (2014 est.) subs./100