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Afghanistan
Location: S Asia
Capital: Kabul (2.2m)
Language: Pashto and Dari
Area: 652,225 sq km
Population: 19.6m
Currency: Afghani, pule
Ethnic: Pashtun 44%, Tajik 25%, Hazara 10%, Uzbek 8%, others 13%
Religion: Sunni Muslim 84%, Shia Muslim 15%, others 1%
Domain: .AF
Time Zone: +4:30
Telephone code: 93
Albania
Location: SE Europe
Capital:Tirana (350,000)
Language: Albanian
Area: 28,748 sq km
Population: 3.429m
Currency: lek, qindarka
Ethnic: Albanian 95%, Greek 3%, other 2%
Religion: Muslim 70%, Orthodox 20%, Catholic 10%
Domain: .AL
Time Zone: +1
Telephone code: 355
Algeria
Location: N Africa
Capital:Algiers
Language: Arabic
Area: 2,381,740 sq km
Population: 30m
Currency: dinar
Ethnic: Arab-Berber 99%, European less than 1%
Religion: 99% Islam (Sunni)
Domain: .DZ
Time Zone: +1
Telephone code: 213
American Samoa
Location: S Oceania
Capital:Pago Pago
Language: Samoan, English
Area: 199 sq km
Population: 69,000
Currency: US dollar
Ethnic: Samoan 89%, Caucasian 2%, Tongan 4%, other 5%
Religion: Christian Congregationalist 50%, Roman Catholic 20%, Protestant and other 30%
Domain: .AS
Time Zone: +13
Telephone code: 684
Andorra
Location: SW Europe
Capital: Andorra La Vella (23,000)
Language: Catalan, French, Castilian
Area: 464 sq km
Population: 59,000
Currency: Euro
Ethnic: Spanish 43%, Andorran 33%, Portuguese 11%, French 7%, other 6%
Religion: Roman Catholic
Domain: .AD
Time Zone: +1
Telephone code: 376
Angola
Location: S Africa
Capital: Luanda (2.3m)
Language: Portuguese
Area: 1,246,700 sq km
Population: 14m
Currency: new kwanza
Ethnic: Ovimbundu 37%, Kimbundu 25%, Bakongo 13%, mestico (mixed European and Native African) 2%, European 1%, other 22%
Religion: Indigenous 47%, Roman Catholic 38%, Protestant 15%
Domain: .AO
Time Zone: +1
Telephone code: 244
Anguilla
Location: Carribean Sea
Capital: The Valley
Language: English
Area: 96 sq km
Population: 11,200
Currency: EC Dollar
Ethnic: black, mulatto, white
Religion: Anglican 40%, Methodist 33%, Adventist 7%, Baptist 5%, Roman Catholic 3%, other 12%
Domain: .AI
Time Zone: -4
Telephone code: 1264
Antartica
Location: S of Antartic Circle
Capital: ------
Language: ------
Area: 14,000,000 sq km
Population: -----
Currency: -----
Ethnic: -----
Religion: -----
Domain: .AQ
Time Zone: -3
Telephone code: 672
Antigua and Barbuda
Location: Carribean Sea
Capital:St. Johns (23,500)
Language: English
Area: 440 sq km
Population: 65,800
Currency: EC dollar
Ethnic: black, British, Portuguese, Lebanese, Syrian
Religion: Anglican and Roman Catholic
Domain: .AG
Time Zone: -4
Telephone code: 1268
Argentina
Location: S South America
Capital: Buenos Aires (12,000,000)
Language: Spanish
Area: 2,780,400 sq km
Population: 37.9m
Currency: peso
Ethnic: European 97% (mostly of Spanish and Italian descent), 3% other (mostly Indian or mestizo)
Religion: Roman Catholic 92%, Protestant 2%, Jewish 2%, other 4%
Domain: .AR
Time Zone: -3
Telephone code: 54
Armenia
Location: SW Asia
Capital: Yerevan (1,267,600)
Language: Armenian 96%, Russian 2%, others 2%
Area: 29,800 sq km
Population: 3.8m
Currency: dram
Ethnic: Armenian 93%, Azeri 1%, Russian 2%, other (mostly Yezidi Kurds) 4% (2002). Note: as of the end of 1993, virtually all Azeris had emigrated from Armenia
Religion: Armenian Orthodox 94%
Domain: .AM
Time Zone: +4
Telephone code: 374
Aruba
Location: Caribbean Sea
Capital: Oranjestad
Language:Dutch (official), Papiamento (a Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, English dialect), English, Spanish
Area: 29,800 sq km
Population: 71,000
Currency: Aruban guilder/florin
Ethnic: mixed white/Caribbean Amerindian 80%
Religion: Roman Catholic 82%, Protestant 8%, Hindu, Muslim, Confucian, Jewish
Domain: .AW
Time Zone: -5
Telephone code: 297
Ascension Island
Location: S Atlantic
Capital: Georgetown
Area: 88 sq km
Population: 1100
Ethnic: Saint Helenians, 200 UK and 150 US citizens.
Religion: Anglican, Roman Catholic
Domain: .AC
Time Zone: 0
Telephone code: 247
Australia
Location: Oceania
Capital: Canberra (327,700)
Currency: Australian dollar
Language: English
Area: 7,686,848 sq km
Population: 20,000,000
Ethnic: Caucasian 92%, Asian 7%, aboriginal (353,000) and other 1%
Religion: Anglican 26.1%, Roman Catholic 26.0%, other Christian 24.3%
Domain: .AU
Time Zone: +10*
Telephone code: 61
Austria
Location: C Europe
Capital: Vienna (1.5m)
Language: German
Area: 83,849 sq km
Population: 7.9m
Currency: Euro
Ethnic: German 88%, non-nationals 9.3% (includes Croatians, Slovenes, Serbs, Hungraians, Czechs, Slovaks, Roma, Turks), naturalized 2%
Religion: Roman Catholic 78%, Protestant 5%, Muslim and other 17%
Domain: .AT
Time Zone: +1
Telephone code: 43
Azerbaijan
Location: SW Asia
Capital: Baku (1,235,400)
Language: Azerbaijani Turkic, 89%; Russian, 3%; Armenian, 2;, other 6%
Area: 86,600 sq km
Population: 8.1m
Currency: Manat
Ethnic: Azeri 90%, Dagestani 3.2%, Russian 2.5%, Armenian 2%, other 2.3% (1998 est.). Note: almost all Armenians live in the separatist Nagorno-Karabakh region
Religion: Muslim 93.4%, Russian Orthodox 2.5%, Armenian Orthodox 2.3%, other 1.8% (1995 est.)
Domain: .AZ
Time Zone: +2
Telephone code: 994
Bahamas
Location: Caribbean
Capital: Nassau (222,200)
Language: English
Area: 14,000 sq km
Population: 311,000
Currency: Bahamian dollar
Ethnic: black 85%, white 12%, Asian and Hispanic 3%
Religion: Baptist 32%, Anglican 20%, Roman Catholic 19%, Methodist 6%, Church of God 6%, other Protestant 12%
Domain: .BS
Time Zone: -5
Telephone code: 1242
Bahrain
Location: SE Asia
Capital: Manamah (149,900 )
Language: Arabic (official), English, Farsi, Urdu
Area: 694 sq km
Population: 660,000
Currency: Dinar
Ethnic: Bahraini 63%, Asian 19%, other Arab 10%, Iranian 8%
Religion: Islam
Domain: .BH
Time Zone: +3
Telephone code: 973
Bangladesh
Location: S Asia
Capital: Dhaka (8,942,300)
Language: Bengali (official), English
Area: 144,000 sq km
Population: 118m
Currency: taka
Ethnic: Bengali 98%, Biharis 250,000, tribals less than 1 million
Religion: Muslim 83%, Hindu 16%, Buddhist, Christian, other
Domain: .BD
Time Zone: +6
Telephone code: 880
Barbados
Location: Caribbean
Capital: Bridgetown (100,000)
Language: English
Area: 431 sq km
Population: 262,000
Currency: Barbados dollar
Ethnic: African 90%, European 4%, other 6%
Religion: Anglican 40%, Methodist 7%, Pentecostal 8%, Roman Catholic 4%
Domain: .BB
Time Zone: -4
Telephone code: 1246
Belarus
Location: E Europe
Capital: Minsk (1.8m)
Language: Belorussian (White Russian)
Area: 207,600 sq km
Population: 10.4m
Currency: Belorussian ruble
Ethnic: Belorussian 81.2%, Russian 11.4%, Polish, Ukrainian, and other 7.4%
Religion: Orthodox
Domain: .BY
Time Zone: +2
Telephone code: 375
Belgium
Location: W Europe
Capital: Brussels (1m)
Language: Dutch (Flemish) 60%; French 40%; German 0.7%; legally bilingual (Dutch and French)
Area: 30,513 sq km
Population: 10.3m
Currency: Euro
Ethnic: Fleming 58%, Walloon 31%, mixed or other 11%
Religion: Roman Catholic 75%
Domain: .BE
Time Zone: +1
Telephone code: 32
Belize
Location: Central America
Capital: Belmopan (9,000)
Language: English (official), Creole, Spanish, Garifuna, Mayan
Area: 22,900 sq km
Population:213,000
Currency: Belizian dollar
Ethnic: mestizo 48.7%, Creole 24.9%, Maya 10.6%, Garifuna 6.1%, other 9.7%
Religion: Roman Catholic 49.6%, Protestant 27%, other 14%
Domain: .BZ
Time Zone: -6
Telephone code: 501
Benin
Location: W Africa
Capital: Porto Novo (232,000)
Language: French (official), African languages
Area: 112,600 sq km
Population: 5,560,000
Currency: CFA Franc
Ethnic: African 99% (42 ethnic groups, most important being Fon, Adja, Yoruba, Bariba), Europeans 5,500
Religion: indigenous 50%, Christian 30%, Islam 20%
Domain: .BJ
Time Zone: +1
Telephone code: 229
Bermuda
Location: N America
Capital: Hamilton
Language: English
Area: 55 sq km
Population: 61,000
Currency: Bermudian dollar
Ethnic: -----
Religion: -----
Domain: .BM
Time Zone: -5
Telephone code: 1441
Bhutan
Location: S Asia
Capital: Thimphu (60,000)
Language: Dzongkha, Nepalese
Area:46,500 sq km
Population: 1.76m
Currency: ngultrum
Ethnic: Bhote 50%, ethnic Nepali 35%, indigenous or migrant tribes 15%
Religion: Buddhist 75%, Hindu 25%
Domain: .BT
Time Zone: +5:30
Telephone code: 975
Bolivia
Location: South America
Capital: La Paz (830,000); Sucre (205,000)
Language: Spanish, Quechua, Aymara
Area: 1m sq km
Population: 7.8m
Currency: boliviano
Ethnic: Quechua 30%, Aymara 25%, mestizo (mixed European and Indian ancestry) 30%, European 15%
Religion: Roman Catholic 95%, Protestant 5%
Domain: .BO
Time Zone: -4
Telephone code: 591
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Location: SE Europe
Capital: Sarajevo (581,500)
Language: The language that used to be known as Serbo-Croatian but is now known as Serbian, Croatian, or Bosnian (Bosniak), depending on the speaker's ethnic and political affiliation. It is written in Latin and Cyrillic
Area: 51,129 sq km
Population: 4,1m
Currency: marka
Ethnic: Bosniak 48%, Serb 37.1%, Croat 14.3%, other 0.5%
Religion: Slavic Muslim 40%, Orthodox 31%, Catholic 15%, Protestant 4%, other 10%
Domain: .BA
Time Zone: +1
Telephone code: 387
Botswana
Location: S Africa
Capital: Gaborone (195,000)
Language: English (official), Setswana
Area: 581,730 sq km
Population: 1.5m
Currency: pula
Ethnic: Tswana (or Setswana) 79%, Kalanga 11%, Basarwa 3%, other (including Kgalagadi and white) 7%
Religion: indigenous beliefs 85%, Christian 15%
Domain: .BW
Time Zone: +2
Telephone code: 267
Brazil
Location: S America
Capital: Brasilia (2,160,100)
Language: Portuguese
Area: 8.5m sq km
Population: 163.5m
Currency: real
Ethnic: white (includes Portuguese, German, Italian, Spanish, Polish) 55%, mixed white and African 38%, African 6%, other (includes Japanese, Arab, Amerindian) 1%
Religion: Roman Catholic 80% (nominal)
Domain: .BR
Time Zone: -3*
Telephone code: 55
British Indian Ocean Teritory
Location: S Asia (Ind.Ocean)
Capital: -----
Language: -----
Area: 60 sq km
Population: -----
Currency: -----
Ethnic: -----
Religion: -----
Domain: .IO
Time Zone: +5
Telephone code: -----
British Virgin Islands
Location: Caribbean
Capital: Road Town
Language: English
Area: 153 sq km
Population: 22,000
Currency: US dollar
Ethnic: black 83%, white, Indian, asian, mixed
Religion: Protestant 86%, Roman Catholic 10%, none 2%, other 2%
Domain: .VG
Time Zone: -4
Telephone code: 1284
Brunei
Location: SE Asia
Capital: Bandar Seri Begawan (78,000)
Language: Malay (official), Chinese, English
Area: 5,770 sq km
Population: 340,000
Currency: Brunei dollar
Ethnic: Malay 67%, Chinese 15%, other 18%
Religion: Islam (official religion) 67%, Buddhist 13%, Christian 10%, indigenous beliefs and other 10%
Domain: .BN
Time Zone: +8
Telephone code: 673
Bulgaria
Location: SE Europe
Capital: Sofia (1,088,700)
Language: Bulgarian
Area: 110,912 sq km
Population: 8,417,000
Currency: lev
Ethnic: Bulgarian 83.6%, Turk 9.5%, Roma 4.6%, other (including Macedonian, Armenian, Tatar, Circassian) 2.3%
Religion: Bulgarian Orthodox 83.8%, Muslim 12.1%, Roman Catholic 1.7%, Jewish 0.1%, Protestant, Gregorian-Armenian, and other 2.3%
Domain: .BG
Time Zone: +2
Telephone code: 359
Burkina Faso
Location: W Africa
Capital: Ouagadougou (962,100)
Language: French (official), tribal languages
Area: 274,000 sq km
Population: 10,628,000
Currency: CFA franc
Ethnic: Mossi (over 40%), Gurunsi, Senufo, Lobi, Bobo, Mande, Fulani
Religion: Muslim 50%, Christian (mainly Roman Catholic) 10%, indigenous beliefs 40%
Domain: .BF
Time Zone: 0
Telephone code: 226
Burundi
Location: E Africa
Capital: Bujumbura (331,700)
Language: French (official), tribal languages
Area: 274,000 sq km
Population: 10,628,000
Currency: CFA franc
Ethnic: Mossi (over 40%), Gurunsi, Senufo, Lobi, Bobo, Mande, Fulani
Religion: Muslim 50%, Christian (mainly Roman Catholic) 10%, indigenous beliefs 40%
Domain: .BI
Time Zone: +2
Telephone code: 257
Cambodia
Location: SE Asia
Capital: Phnom Penh (1.2m)
Language: Khmer (official), French, English
Area: 181,035 sq km
Population: 13.9m
Currency: Riel
Ethnic: Khmer 90%, Vietnamese 5%, Chinese 1%, other 4%
Religion: Theravada Buddhist 95%, others 5%
Domain: .KH
Time Zone: +7
Telephone code: 855
Cameroon
Location: W Africa
Capital: Yaounde
Language: French and English (both official); 24 major African language groups
Area: 475,442 sq km
Population: 13.6m
Currency: CFA franc
Ethnic: Cameroon Highlanders 31%, Equatorial Bantu 19%, Kirdi 11%, Fulani 10%, Northwest Bantu 8%, Eastern Nigritic 7%, other African 13%, non-African less than 1%
Religion: indigenous beliefs 40%, Christian 40%, Muslim 20%
Domain: .CM
Time Zone: +1
Telephone code: 237
Canada
Location: North America
Capital: Ottawa
Language: English, French
Area: 9.97m sq km
Population: 31m
Currency: Canadian dollar
Ethnic: British Isles origin 28%, French origin 23%, other European 15%, indigenous Indian and Inuit 2%, other, mostly Asian, African, Arab 6%, mixed background 26%
Religion: Roman Catholic 46%, United Church 16%, Anglican 10%
Domain: .CA
Time Zone: -5*
Telephone code: 1905
Cape Verde Islands
Location: W Africa
Capital: Praia (100,000)
Language: Portuguese, Criuolo
Area: 4,033 sq km
Population: 445,000
Currency: Cape verde escudo
Ethnic: Creole (mulatto) 71%, African 28%, European 1%
Religion: Roman Catholic fused with indigenous beliefs
Domain: .CV
Time Zone: -1
Telephone code: 238
Cayman Islands
Location: Caribean
Capital: Georgetown
Language: English
Area: 264 sq km
Population: 38,000
Currency: Cayman dollar
Ethnic: mixed 40%, white 20%, black 20%, other 20%
Religion: Protestant, Roman Catholic
Domain: .KY
Time Zone: -5
Telephone code: 1345
Central African Republic
Location: C Africa
Capital: Bangui (670,000)
Language: French (official), Sangho, Arabic, Hansa, Swahili
Area: 622,984 sq km
Population: 3.8m
Currency: CFA franc
Ethnic: Baya 34%, Banda 27%, Mandjia 21%, Sara 10%, Mboum 7%, M'Baka 4%, Yakoma 4%, other 2%
Religion: indigenous beliefs 35%, Protestant and Roman Catholic with animist influence 50%, Muslim 15%
Domain: .CF
Time Zone: +1
Telephone code: 236
Chad
Location: C Africa
Capital: N'djamena (609,600)
Language: French and Arabic (official), more than 100 tribal languages
Area: 1,284,000 sq km
Population: 8.5m
Currency: CFA franc
Ethnic: North and center: Muslims (Arabs, Toubou,...); South: non-Muslims (Sara [25% of the population], Ngambaye, Mbaye,...)
Religion: Islam 51%, Christian 33%, animalist 7%, other 7%
Domain: .TD
Time Zone: +1
Telephone code: 235
Chile
Location: South America
Capital: Santiago (5m)
Language: Spanish
Area: 756,626 sq km
Population: 14.4m
Currency: peso
Ethnic: European and European-Indian 95%, Indian 3%, other 2%
Religion: Roman Catholic 89%, Protestant 11%, small Jewish and Muslim populations
Domain: .CL
Time Zone: -4
Telephone code: 56
China
Location: E Asia
Capital: Beijing (7m)
Language: Chinese, Mandarin, also local dialects
Area: 9.5m sq km
Population: 1.3 billion
Currency: yuan
Ethnic: Han Chinese 91.9%, Zhuang, Uygur, Hui, Yi, Tibetan, Miao, Manchu, Mongol, Buyi, Korean, and other nationalities 8.1% (56 ethnic groups)
Religion: Officially atheist but traditional religion contains elements of Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism; Islam, some Christian
Domain: .CN
Time Zone: +8
Telephone code: 86
Christmas Island
Location: SE Asia
Capital: Flang
Language: English
Area: 139 sq km
Population: 450
Currency: Australian dollar
Ethnic: -----
Religion: -----
Domain: .CX
Time Zone: +7
Telephone code: 6724
Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Location: SE Asia
Capital: West Island
Language: Malay (Cocos), English
Area: 14 sq km
Population: 650
Currency: Australian dollar
Ethnic: Europeans, Cocos Malays
Religion: Sunni Muslim 80%
Domain: .CC
Time Zone: +6:30
Telephone code: -----
Colombia
Location: South America
Capital: Bogota (7.5m)
Language: Spanish
Area: 1,139,000 sq km
Population: 35m
Currency: Colombian peso
Ethnic: mestizo 58%, white 20%, mulatto 14%, black 4%, mixed black-Indian 3%, Indian 1%
Religion: Roman Catholic 95%
Domain: .CO
Time Zone: -5
Telephone code: 57
Comoros
Location: E Africa
Capital: Moroni (23,432)
Language: French and Arab (both official), Shaafi Islam (Swahili dialect), Malagasu
Area: 1,862 sq km
Population: 755,000
Currency: CFA Franc
Ethnic: Antalote, Cafre, Makoa, Oimatsaha, Sakalava
Religion: Sunni Muslim 86%, Roman Catholic 14%
Domain: .KM
Time Zone: +3
Telephone code: 269
Cook Islands
Location: C Pacific
Capital: Avarua
Language: English
Area: 240 sq km
Population: 21,000
Currency: NZ dollar
Ethnic: Polynesian 82%
Religion: Christian
Domain: .CK
Time Zone: -10
Telephone code: 682
Congo DR (Zaire)
Location: C Africa
Capital: Kinshasha (6m)
Language: French (official), Swahili, Lingala, Ishiluba, and Kikongo, others
Area: 2.3m sq km
Population: 55m
Currency: Congolese franc
Ethnic: over 200 African ethnic groups, 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
Religion: Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 20%, Kimbanguist 10%, Islam 10%; syncretic and traditional, 10%
Domain: .CD
Time Zone: +1*
Telephone code: 243
Congo R
Location: C Africa
Capital: Brazzaville (1m)
Language: French (official), Lingala, Kikongo, others
Area: 342,000 sq km
Population: 3m
Currency: CFA Franc
Ethnic: south: Kongo 48%; north: Sangha 20%, M'Bochi 12%; center: Teke 17%, Europeans 8,500 (mostly French)
Religion: Christian 50%, animist 48%, Muslim 2%
Domain: .CG
Time Zone: +1
Telephone code: -----
Costa Rica
Location: Central America
Capital: San Jose (320,000)
Language: Spanish
Area: 51,100 sq km
Population: 3.8m
Currency: colon
Ethnic: white (including mestizo) 96%, black 2%, Indian 1%, Chinese 1%
Religion: Roman Catholic 95%
Domain: .CR
Time Zone: -6
Telephone code: 506
Croatia
Location: SE Europe
Capital: Zagreb (930,000)
Language: Croatian, Serbian
Area: 65,538 sq km
Population: 4.4m
Currency: kuna
Ethnic: Croat 78%, Serb 12%, Muslim 0.9%, Hungarian 0.5%, Slovenian 0.5%, others 8.1% (1991). Note: almost all Serbs were forced by Croatian Army to leave Croatia.
Religion: Catholic 76.5%, Orthodox 11.1%, Slavic Muslim 1.2%, Protestant 0.4%, others 10.8%
Domain: .HR
Time Zone: +1
Telephone code: 385
Cuba
Location: Caribbean
Capital: Havana (2.3m)
Language: Spanish
Area: 110,860 sq km
Population: 11.2m
Currency: Cuban peso
Ethnic: mulatto 51%, white 37%, black 11%, Chinese 1%
Religion: at least 85% nominally Roman Catholic before Castro assumed power
Domain: .CU
Time Zone: -5
Telephone code: 53
Cyprus
Location: W Asia
Capital: Lefkosia [Nicosia] (200,000)
Language: Greek, Turkish (both official), English is widely spoken
Area: 9,251 sq km
Population: 767,000
Currency: Cyprus pound
Ethnic: Greek 78% (99.5% of the Greeks live in the Greek area, 0.5% live in the Turkish area), Turkish 18% (1.3% live in the Greek area, 98.7% live in the Turkish area), other 4%
Religion: Greek Orthodox 78%, Sunni Muslim 18%, Maronite, Armenian, Apostolic, Latin, and others 4%
Domain: .CY
Time Zone: +2
Telephone code: 357
Czech Republic
Location: C Europe
Capital: Prague
Language: Czech; Slovak minority
Area: 78,703 sq km
Population: 10.4m
Currency: koruna
Ethnic: Czech 94.4%, Slovak 3%, Polish 0.6%, German 0.5%, Roma (Gypsy) 0.3%, Hungarian 0.2%, other 1%
Religion: atheist 39.8%, Roman Catholic 39.2%, Protestant 4.6%, Orthodox 3%, other 13.4%
Domain: .CZ
Time Zone: +1
Telephone code: 42
Denmark
Location: N Europe
Capital: Copenhagen (1.5m)
Language: Danish
Area: 43,000 sq km
Population: 5.4m
Currency: Danish krone
Ethnic: Danes, Eskimo, Faeroese, German
Religion: Evangelical Lutheran 91%, other Protestant and Roman Catholic 2%, other 7%
Domain: .DK
Time Zone: +1
Telephone code: 45
Djibouti
Location: E Africa
Capital: Djibouti (400,000)
Language: Arabic and French (both official), Afar, Somali
Area: 22,000 sq km
Population: 480,000
Currency Djibouti franc
Ethnic: Somali 60%, Afar 35%, French, Arab, Ethiopian, and Italian 5%
Religion: Muslim 94%, Christian 6%
Domain: .DJ
Time Zone: +3
Telephone code: 253
Dominica
Location: Caribbean
Capital: Roseau (16,000)
Language: English (official) and French patois
Area: 751 sq km
Population: 71,000
Currency East Caribbean dollar
Ethnic: black, Carib Indians
Religion: Roman Catholic 77%, Protestant 15%
Domain: .DM
Time Zone: -4
Telephone code: 1767
Dominican Republic
Location: Caribbean
Capital: Santo Domingo (2.1m)
Language: Spanish, English widely spoken
Area: 48,734 sq km
Population: 8.7m
Currency: Dominican peso
Ethnic: white 16%, black 11%, mixed 73%
Religion: Roman Catholic 90%
Domain: .DO
Time Zone: -5
Telephone code: 18092
East Timor
Location: SE Asia
Capital: Dili
Language: Tetum, Portuguese (official), Bahasa Indonesia, English
Area: 14,874 sq km
Population: 800,000
Currency: US dollar
Ethnic: Malay and Papuan descent
Religion: Roman Catholic (91.4%), Protestant (2.6%), Muslim (1.7%), Hindu (0.3%), Buddhist (0.1%)
Domain: .TP
Time Zone: +9
Telephone code: -----
Ecuador
Location: South America
Capital: Quito (1.5m)
Language: Spanish (official), Quechua
Area: 283,561 sq km
Population: 13.5m
Currency: US dollar
Ethnic: mestizo (mixed Indian and Spanish) 65%, Indian 25%, Spanish 7%, black 3%
Religion: Roman Catholic 95%
Domain: .EC
Time Zone: -5
Telephone code: 593
Egypt
Location: N Africa
Capital: Cairo (14m)
Language: Arabic
Area: 1m sq km
Population: 71m
Currency: Egyptian pound
Ethnic: Eastern Hamitic stock (Egyptians, Bedouins, and Berbers) 99%, Greek, Nubian, Armenian, other European (primarily Italian and French) 1%
Religion: Islam 94%, Christian (mostly Coptic) 6%
Domain: .EG
Time Zone: +2
Telephone code: 20
El Salvador
Location: Central America
Capital: San Salvador (1m)
Language: Spanish
Area: 21,040 sq km
Population: 6.4m
Currency: Colon
Ethnic: mestizo 94%, Indian 5%, white 1%
Religion: Roman Catholic
Domain: .SV
Time Zone: -6
Telephone code: 503
Equatorial Guinea
Location: C Africa
Capital: Malabo (30,500)
Language: Spanish (official), French (2nd official), pidgin English, Fang, Bubi, Creole
Area: 28,051 sq km
Population: 500,000
Currency: CFA Franc
Ethnic: Bioko (primarily Bubi, some Fernandinos), Río Muni (primarily Fang), Europeans less than 1,000, mostly Spanish
Religion: Roman Catholic, Protestant, traditional
Domain: .GQ
Time Zone: +1
Telephone code: 240
Eritrea
Location: E Africa
Capital: Asmara (400,000)
Language: Afar, Bilen, Kunama, Nara, Arabic, Tobedawi, Saho, Tigre, Tigrinya
Area: 121,320 sq km
Population: 4.5m
Currency: Nakfa
Ethnic: ethnic Tigrinya 50%, Tigre and Kunama 40%, Afar 4%, Saho (Red Sea coast dwellers) 3%
Religion: Islam and Eritrean Orthodox Christianity
Domain: .ER
Time Zone: +3
Telephone code: 291
Estonia
Location: E Europe
Capital: Tallinn (480,000)
Language: Estonian (official), Russian, Finnish
Area: 45,226 sq km
Population: 1.6m
Currency: Kroon
Ethnic: Estonian 61.5%, Russian 30.3%, Ukrainian 3.2%, Belorussian 1.8%, Finn 1.1%, other 2.1% (1989)
Religion: Lutheran 78%, Orthodox 19%
Domain: .EE
Time Zone: +2
Telephone code: 372
Ethiopia
Location: E Africa
Capital: Addis Ababa (2.2m)
Language: Amharic (official), English, Orominga, Tigrigna, over 70 languages spoken
Area: 1.1m sq km
Population: 68m
Currency: Birr
Ethnic: Oromo 40%, Amhara and Tigrean 32%, Sidamo 9%, Shankella 6%, Somali 6%, Afar 4%, Gurage 2%, other 1%
Religion: Ethiopian Orthodox 35%–40%, Islam 40%–45%, animist 15%–20%, other 5%
Domain: .ET
Time Zone: +2
Telephone code: 251
Faeroe Islands
Location: N Atlantic
Capital: Torshavn
Language: Faroese, Danish
Area: 12,170 sq km
Population: 46,000
Currency: Danish Krone
Ethnic: Scandinavian
Religion: Evangelic Lutheran
Domain: .FO
Time Zone: 0
Telephone code: 298
Falkland Islands
(Islas Malvinas)
Location: S America
Capital: Port Stanley
Language: English
Area: 12,170 sq km
Population: 3,000
Currency: Falkland pound
Ethnic: British
Religion: Protestant
Domain: .FK
Time Zone: -4
Telephone code: 500
Fiji
Location: S Pacific
Capital: Suva (200,000)
Language: Fijian, Hindustani, English (official)
Area: 18,270 sq km
Population: 856,000
Currency: Fijian dollar
Ethnic: Fijian 49%, Indian 46%, European, other Pacific Islanders, overseas Chinese, and other 5%
Religion: Christian 52%, Hindu 38%, Islam 8%, other 2%
Domain: .FJ
Time Zone: +13
Telephone code: 679
Finland
Location: N Europe
Capital: Helsinki (520,000)
Language: Finnish, Swedish (both official); small Sami- (Lapp) and Russian-speaking minorities
Area: 337,000 sq km
Population: 5.2m
Currency: Euro
Ethnic: Finn 93%, Swede 6%, Sami (Lapp) 0.11%, Romany (Gypsy) 0.12%, Tatar 0.02%
Religion: Evangelical Lutheran 90%, Greek Orthodox 1.2%, none 9%, other 1%
Domain: .FI
Time Zone: +2
Telephone code: 358
France
Location: W Europe
Capital: Paris (10m)
Language: French, declining regional dialects and languages (Provençal, Breton, Alsatian, Corsican, Catalan, Basque, Flemish)
Area: 547,030 sq km
Population: 60m
Currency: Euro
Ethnic: Celtic and Latin with Teutonic, Slavic, North African, Southeast Asian, and Basque minorities
Religion: Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant 2%, Muslim 8%, Jewish 1%, other
Domain: .FR
Time Zone: +1
Telephone code: 33
French Guiana
Location: South America
Capital: Cayenne
Language: French, declining regional dialects (Provençal, Breton, Alsatian, Corsican)
Area: 91,000 sq km
Population: 182,000
Currency: Euro
Ethnic: black or mulato 66%, white 12%, East Indian, Chinese, Amerindian 12%, other 10%
Religion: Roman Catholic
Domain: .GF
Time Zone: -3
Telephone code: 594
French Polynesia
Location: S Pacific
Capital: Papeete
Language: French, Tahitian (both official)
Area: 4,167 sq km
Population: 260,000
Currency: Pacific Franc
Ethnic: Polynesian 78%, Chinese 12%, local French 6%, metropolitan French 4%
Religion: Protestant 54%, Roman Catholic 30%, other 16%
Domain: .PF
Time Zone: -10
Telephone code: 689
French Southern and Antartic Lands
Location: S Indian Ocean
Capital: -----
Language: -----
Area: 7,781 sq km
Population: -----
Currency: -----
Ethnic: -----
Religion: -----
Domain: .TF
Time Zone: -----
Telephone code: -----
Gabon
Location: C Africa
Capital: Libreville (420,000)
Language: French (official), Fang, Myene, Bateke, Bapounou/Eschira, Bandjabi
Area: 267,667 sq km
Population: 1.3m
Currency: CFA Franc
Ethnic: (1993) Bantu tribes, including six major tribal groupings: Fang 25%, Punu 23%, Nzeiby 13%, Mbede (Obamba/Bateke) 9%, Kota 7%, and Myene 5%; Pygmies 0.7%, naturalized population 0.3%, foreigners 15%
Religion: Catholic 75%, Protestant 20%, Animist 4%
Domain: .GA
Time Zone: +1
Telephone code: 241
Gambia
Location: W Africa
Capital: Banjul (45,000)
Language: Native tongues, English (official)
Area: 11,300 sq km
Population: 1.5m
Currency: Dalasi
Ethnic: African 99% (Mandinka 42%, Fula 18%, Wolof 16%, Jola 10%, Serahuli 9%, other 4%), non-Gambian 1%
Religion: Islam 90%, Christian 9%, traditional 1%
Domain: .GM
Time Zone: 0
Telephone code: 220
Georgia
Location: W Asia
Capital: Tbilisi (1.3m)
Language: Georgian (official), 71%; Russian, 9%; Armenian, 7%; Azerbaijani, 6%
Area: 69,700 sq km
Population: 5m
Currency: Lari
Ethnic: Georgian 70.1%, Armenian 8.1%, Russian 6.3%, Azeri 5.7%, Ossetian 3%, Abkhaz 1.8%, other 5%
Religion: Georgian Orthodox 65%, Russian Orthodox 10%, Armenian Orthodox 8%, Muslim 11%
Domain: .GE
Time Zone: +4
Telephone code: 995
Germany
Location: C Europe
Capital: Berlin (3.5m)
Language: German
Area: 356,910 sq km
Population: 81.3m
Currency; deutchmark
Ethnic: German 91.5%, Turkish 2.4%, Italians 0.7%, Greeks 0.4%, Poles 0.4%, other 4.6%
Religion: Protestant 38%, Roman Catholic 34%, Muslim 1.7%, Unaffiliated or other 26.3%
Domain: .DE
Time Zone: +1
Telephone code: 49
Ghana
Location: W Africa
Capital: Accra
Language: English (official), Native tongues (Brong Ahafo, Twi, Fanti, Ga, Ewe, Dagbani)
Area: 238,540 sq km
Population: 20.1m
Currency: new cedi
Ethnic: black African 99.8% (major tribes: Akan 44%, Moshi-Dagomba 16%, Ewe 13%, Ga 8%), European and other 0.2%
Religion: indigenous beliefs 38%, Islam 30%, Christian 24%
Domain: .GH
Time Zone: 0
Telephone code: 233
Gibraltar
Location: SW Europe
Capital: Gibraltar
Language: English (official), Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Russian
Area: 6.5 sq km
Population: 28,000
Currency: Gibraltar pound
Ethnic: Spanish, Italian, English, Maltese, Portuguese
Religion: Roman Catholic 76.9%, Church of England 6.9%, Muslim 6.9%, Jewish 2.3%, other 7%
Domain: .GO
Time Zone: +1
Telephone code: 350
Greece
Location: SE Europe
Capital: Athens
Language: Greek
Area: 131,940 sq km
Population: 10.6m
Currency: Euro
Ethnic: Greek 98%, other 2%; note: the Greek government states there are no ethnic divisions in Greece
Religion: Greek Orthodox 98%, Muslim 1.3%, other 0.7%
Domain: .GR
Time Zone: +2
Telephone code: 30
Greenland
(Kalaallit Nunaat)
Location: N Atlantic
Capital: Nuuk (Godthab)
Language: Greenlandic (East Inuit), Danish, English
Area: 2.1m sq km
Population: 57,600
Currency: Danish krone
Ethnic: Grenlander (Inuit) 88%, Danish and other 12%
Religion: Evangelical Lutheran
Domain: .GL
Time Zone: -3*
Telephone code: 299
Grenada
Location: Caribbean
Capital: St George's (4,500)
Language: English
Area: 340 sq km
Population: 94,000
Currency: EC dollar
Ethnic: black African descent 85%, mixed 11%, white, other 0.3%
Religion: Roman Catholic 64%, Anglican 21%
Domain: .GD
Time Zone: -4
Telephone code: 1473
Guadeloupe
Location: Caribbean
Capital: Basse-Terre
Language: French 99%, creole
Area: 1,780 sq km
Population: 435,000
Currency: Euro
Ethnic: black or mulato 90%, white 5%, East Indian, Lebanese, Chinese 5%
Religion: Roman Catholic 95%, Hindu and pagan African 4%, Protestant 1%
Domain: .GP
Time Zone:
Telephone code: 590
Guam
Location: N Pacific
Capital: Hagatna (Agana)
Language: English, Chamorro, Japanese
Area: 549 sq km
Population: 161,000
Currency: US Dollar
Ethnic: Chamorro 37%, Filipino 26%, white 10%, Chinese, Japanese, Korean and other 27%
Religion: Roman Catholic 85%, other 15%
Domain: .GU
Time Zone: +12
Telephone code: 1671
Guernsey
Location: W Europe
Capital: St. Peter Port
Language: English, French, Norman-French
Area: 78 sq km
Population: 65,000
Currency: British and Guernsey pound
Ethnic: UK and Norman-French descent
Religion: Anglican, Roman Caholic, Protestant
Domain: .GG
Time Zone: 0
Telephone code: -----
Guatemala
Location: Central Africa
Capital: Guatemala (1.2m)
Language: Spanish, Indian
Area: 109,000 sq km
Population: 13.4m
Currency: quetzal
Ethnic: Mestizo—mixed Amerindian-Spanish ancestry (in local Spanish called Ladino) 56%, Amerindian or predominantly Amerindian 44%
Religion: Roman Catholic, Protestant, Mayan
Domain: .GT
Time Zone: -6
Telephone code: 502
Guinea
Location: W Africa
Capital: Conakry (1.5m)
Language: French (official), native tongues (Malinké, Susu, Fulani)
Area: 245,860 sq km
Population: 7.8m
Currency: Guinean franc
Ethnic: Peuhl 40%, Malinke 30%, Susu 20%, smaller tribes 10%
Religion: Islam 85%, indigenous 7%, Christian 8%
Domain: .GN
Time Zone: 0
Telephone code: 224
Guinea Bissau
Location: W Africa
Capital: Bissau (200,000)
Language: Portuguese Criolo, African languages
Area: 36,120 sq km
Population: 1.4m
Currency: CFA Franc
Ethnic: African 99% (Balanta 30%, Fula 20%, Manjaca 14%, Mandinga 13%, Papel 7%), European and mulatto less than 1%
Religion: traditional 65%, Islam 30%, Christian 5%
Domain: .GW
Time Zone: 0
Telephone code: 245
Guyana
Location: South America
Capital: Georgetown (248,500)
Language: English (official), Amerindian dialects
Area: 214,970 sq km
Population: 724,000
Currency: Guyanese dollar
Ethnic: East Indian 51%, black and mixed 43%, Amerindian 4%, European and Chinese 2%
Religion: Hindu 34%, Protestant 18%, Islam 9%, Roman Catholic 18%, Anglican 16%
Domain: .GY
Time Zone: -4
Telephone code: 592
Haiti
Location: Caribbean
Capital: Port au Prince (1.5m)
Language: French, Creole (both official)
Area: 27,750 sq km
Population: 7.1m
Currency: gourde
Ethnic: black 95%, mulatto and European 5%
Religion: Roman Catholic 80%, Protestant 16%, but about 50% also practices Voodoo
Domain: .HT
Time Zone: -5
Telephone code: 509
Heard and McDonald Islands
Location: S Indian Ocean
Capital: -----
Language: -----
Area: 412 sq km
Population: -----
Currency: -----
Ethnic: -----
Religion: -----
Domain: .HM
Time Zone: -----
Telephone code: -----
Honduras
Location: Central America
Capital: Tegucigalpa (1.5m)
Language: Spanish, dialects, English widely spoken in business
Area: 112,090 sq km
Population: 6.5m
Currency: lempira
Ethnic: mestizo (mixed Indian and European) 90%, Indian 7%, black 2%, white 1%
Religion: Roman Catholic 94%, Protestant minority
Domain: .HN
Time Zone: -6
Telephone code: 504
Hong Kong
Location: E Asia
Capital: Hong Kong
Language: Hungarian
Area: 1,092 sq km
Population: 7.3m
Currency: forint
Ethnic: Chinese 95%, other 5%
Religion: mixture of local religions 90%, Christian 10%
Domain: .HK
Time Zone: +8
Telephone code: 852
Hungary
Location: C Europe
Capital: Budapest (2m)
Language: Magyar (Hungarian), 98.2%; other, 1.8%
Area: 93,030 sq km
Population: 10.3m
Currency: forint
Ethnic: Hungarian 89.9%, Gypsy 4%, German 2.6%, Serb 2%, Slovak 0.8%, Romanian 0.7%
Religion: Roman Catholic 67.5%, Protestant 25%, atheist and others 7.5%
Domain: .HU
Time Zone: +1
Telephone code: 36
Iceland
Location: N Atlantic
Capital: Reykjavik
Language: Icelandic (105,000)
Area: 103,000 sq km
Population: 280,000
Currency: Icelandic krona
Ethnic: homogeneous mixture of descendants of Norwegians and Celts
Religion: Church of Iceland (Evangelical Lutheran) 96%, other Protestant and Roman Catholic 3%, none 1%
Domain: .IS
Time Zone: 0
Telephone code: 354
India
Location: S Asia
Capital: New Delhi (11.5m)
Language: Hindi (official), English (official), Bengali, Gujarati, Kashmiri, Malayalam, Marathi, Oriya, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu, Kannada, Assamese, Sanskrit, Sindhi (all recognized by the constitution). Dialects, 1,652
Area: 3.2m sq km
Population: 1.1 billion
Currency: Indian rupee
Ethnic: Indo-Aryan 72%, Dravidian 25%, Mongoloid and other 3%
Religion: Hindu 82.6%, Islam 11.3%, Christian 2.4%, Sikh 2%, Buddhists 0.71%, Jains 0.48%
Domain: .IN
Time Zone: +5:30
Telephone code: 91
Indonesia
Location: SE Asia
Capital: Jakarta (12.3m)
Language: Bahasa Indonesia (official), Dutch, English, and more than 583 languages and dialects
Area: 1.9m sq km
Population: 232m
Currency: Indonesian rupiah
Ethnic: Javanese 45%, Sundanese 14%, Madurese 7.5%, coastal Malays 7.5%, other 26%
Religion: Islam 87%, Christian 9%, Hindu 2%, other 2%
Domain: .ID
Time Zone: +7*
Telephone code: 62
Iran
Location: SW Asia
Capital: Teheran (10.5m)
Language: Farsi (Persian), Azari, Kurdish, Arabic
Area: 1.65m sq km
Population: 66.5m
Currency: Rial
Ethnic: Persian 51%, Azerbaijani 24%, Gilaki and Mazandarani 8%, Kurd 7%, Arab 3%, Lur 2%, Baloch 2%, Turkmen 2%, other 1%
Religion: Shi'ite Muslim 95%, Sunni Muslim 4%
Domain: .IR
Time Zone: +3:30
Telephone code: 98
Iraq
Location: SW Asia
Capital: Baghdad (5m)
Language: Arabic (official), Kurdish
Area: 437,000 sq km
Population: 24m
Currency: Iraqi dinar
Ethnic: Arab 75%–80%, Kurdish 15%–20%, Turkoman, Assyrian, or other 5%
Religion: Muslim 97% (Shi'ite 60%–65%, Sunni 32%–37%), Christian or other 3%
Domain: .IQ
Time Zone: +3
Telephone code: 964
Ireland
Location: W Europe
Capital: Dublin (Baile Atha Cliath)
Language: English, Irish Gaelic
Area: 70,280 sq km
Population: 3.8m
Currency: Euro
Ethnic: Celtic, English
Religion: Roman Catholic 93%, Anglican 3%, none 1%, unknown 2%, other 1%
Domain: .IE
Time Zone: 0
Telephone code: 353
Israel
Location: W Asia
Capital: Jerusalem (600,000)
Language: Hebrew (official), Arabic, English
Area: 20,770 sq km
Population: 6m
Currency: New Israeli shekel
Ethnic: Jewish 82% (Israel-born 50%, Europe/Americas/Oceania-born 20%, Africa-born 7%, Asia-born 5%), non-Jewish 18% (mostly Arab) (1993 est.)
Religion: Judaism 82%, Islam 14%, Christian 2%, others 2%
Domain: .IL
Time Zone: +2
Telephone code: 972
Italy
Location: S Europe
Capital: Rome (2.7m)
Language: Italian; small German-, French-, and Slovene-speaking minorities
Area: 201,230 sq km
Population: 58.2m
Currency: Euro
Ethnic: Italian (includes small clusters of German-, French-, and Slovene-Italians in the north and Albanian-Italians and Greek-Italians in the south), Sicilians, Sardinians
Religion: Roman Catholic 98%, other 2%
Domain: .IT
Time Zone: +1
Telephone code: 39
Ivory Coast
Location: W Africa
Capital: Yamoussoukro (official) (120,000); Abidjan (administrative)
Language: French (official) and African languages (Diaula esp.)
Area: 322,460 sq km
Population: 17m
Currency: CFA Franc
Ethnic: Baoule 23%, Bete 18%, Senoufou 15%, Malinke 11%, Agni, foreign Africans (mostly Burkinabe and Malians, about 3 million)
Religion: indigenous 60%, Islam 23%, Christian 17%
Domain: .CI
Time Zone: 0
Telephone code: 225
Jamaica
Location: Caribbean
Capital: Kingston (104,000)
Language: English, creole
Area: 10,990 sq km
Population: 2.7m
Currency: Jamaican dollar
Ethnic: African 76.3%, Afro-European 15.1%, East Indian and Afro-East Indian 3%, white 3.2%, Chinese and Afro-Chinese 1.2%, other 1.2%
Religion: Protestant 55.9%, Roman Catholic 5%, other 39.1%
Domain: .JM
Time Zone: -5
Telephone code: 1876
Japan
Location: E Asia
Capital: Tokyo (35m)
Language: Japanese
Area: 377,835 sq km
Population: 127m
Currency: yen
Ethnic: Japanese 99.4%, other 0.6% (mostly Korean; small Ainu community)
Religion: Shintoist, Buddhist, Christian
Domain: .JP
Time Zone: +9
Telephone code: 81
Jersey
Location: W Europe
Capital: SaintHelier
Language: English, French, Norman-French
Area: 116 sq km
Population: 90,000
Currency:
Ethnic: UK and Norman-French descent
Religion: Anglican, Roman Caholic, Protestant
Domain: .JE
Time Zone: 0
Telephone code: -----
Jordan
Location: SW Asia
Capital: Amman (1m)
Language: Arabic (official), English
Area: 89,213 sq km
Population: 5.3m
Currency: Jordanian dinar
Ethnic: Arab 98%, Circassian 1%, Armenian 1%
Religion: Islam 92%, Christian 6%, other 2%
Domain: .JO
Time Zone: +3
Telephone code: 962
Kazakhstan
Location: C Asia
Capital: Astana (280,200)
Language: Kazak (Qazaq), official language spoken by over 40% of population; Russian, official language spoken by two-thirds of population and used in everyday business
Area: 2,717,300 sq km
Population: 17m
Currency: Tenge
Ethnic: Kazak (Qazaq) 46%, Russian 34.7%, Ukrainian 4.9%, German 3.1%, Uzbek 2.3%, Tatar 1.9%, other 7.1% (1996)
Religion: Muslim, 47%; Russian Orthodox, 44%; Protestant, 2%; other, 7%
Domain: .KZ
Time Zone: +5
Telephone code: 731
Kenya
Location: E Africa
Capital: Nairobi (2m)
Language: English (official), Swahili (national), and several other languages spoken by 25 ethnic groups
Area: 582,650 sq km
Population: 31.2m
Currency: Kenya shilling
Ethnic: Kikuyu 22%, Luhya 14%, Luo 13%, Kalenjin 12%, Kamba 11%, Kisii 6%, Meru 6%, Asian, European, and Arab 1%, other 15%
Religion: Protestant, 40%; Roman Catholic, 36%; traditional, 6%; Islam, 16%; others, 2%
Domain: .KE
Time Zone: +3
Telephone code: 254
Kiribati
Location: C Pacific
Capital: Tarawa (25,200)
Language: English (official), I-Kiribati (Gilbertese)
Area: 717 sq km
Population: 96,500
Currency: Australian dollar
Ethnic: Micronesian
Religion: Roman Catholic 52.6%, Protestant 40.9%
Domain: .KI
Time Zone: +12
Telephone code: 686
Korea North
Location: E Asia
Capital: Pyongyang (2.8m)
Language: Korean
Area: 120,540 sq km
Population: 23.4m
Currency: N. Korean won
Ethnic: Korean
Religion: Buddhism and Confucianism; religious activities almost nonexistent
Domain: .KP
Time Zone: +9
Telephone code: 850
Korea South
Location: E Asia
Capital: Seoul (20m)
Language: Korean
Area: 98,480 sq km
Population: 48.5m
Currency: S. Korean won
Ethnic: Korean, Chinese (20,000)
Religion: Christian, 48.2%; Buddhist, 48.8%; Confucianist, 0.8%; Chondogyo (religion of the Heavenly Way), 0.2%; other, 2%
Domain: .KR
Time Zone: +9
Telephone code: 82
Kuwait
Location: SW Asia
Capital: Kuwait (152,000)
Language: Arabic (official), English
Area: 17,820 sq km
Population: 2.2m
Currency: Kuwaiti dinar
Ethnic: Kuwaiti 45%, other Arab 35%, South Asian 9%, Iranian 4%, other 7%
Religion: Islam, 85% (Shi'ite 30%, Sunni 45%, other 10%); Christian, Hindu, Parsi, and other, 15%
Domain: .KW
Time Zone: +3
Telephone code: 965
Kyrgyzstan
Location: C Asia
Capital: Bishkek (631,000)
Language: Kyrgyz (official); Russian is de facto second language of communication
Area: 198,500 sq km
Population: 4.8m
Currency: Som
Ethnic: Kyrgyz 52.4%, Russian 18%, Uzbek 12.9%, Ukrainian 2.5%, German 2.4%, other 11.8%
Religion: Muslim, 75%; Russian Orthodox, 20%; other, 5%
Domain: .KG
Time Zone: +5
Telephone code: 996
Laos
Location: SE Asia
Capital: Vientiane (442,000)
Language: Lao (official), French, English
Area: 236,800 sq km
Population: 5.8m
Currency: New Kip
Ethnic: Lao Loum (lowland) 68%, Lao Theung (upland) 22%, Lao Soung (highland) including the Hmong (“Meo”) and the Yao (Mien) 9%, ethnic Vietnamese/Chinese 1%
Religion: Buddhist 85%, animist and other 15%
Domain: .LA
Time Zone: +7
Telephone code: 856
Latvia
Location: E Europe
Capital: Riga (875,000)
Language: Latvian, Russian and others
Area: 64,589 sq km
Population: 2.4m
Currency: lat
Ethnic: Latvian 51.8%, Russian 33.8%, Belorussian 4.5%, Ukrainian 3.4%, Polish 2.3%, other 4.2%
Religion: Lutheran, Catholic, and Baptist
Domain: .LV
Time Zone: +2
Telephone code: 371
Lebanon
Location: W Asia
Capital: Beirut (1.1m)
Language: Arabic (official), French, English, Armenian
Area: 10,400 sq km
Population: 3.7m
Currency: Lebanese pound
Ethnic: Arab 95%, Armenian 4%, other 1%
Religion: Islam, 60%; Christian, 40% (17 recognized sects); Judaism, negl. (1 sect)
Domain: .LB
Time Zone: +2
Telephone code: 961
Lesotho
Location: S Africa
Capital: Maseru (170,000)
Language: English and Sesotho (official); also Zulu and Xhosa
Area: 30,350 sq km
Population: 2.2m
Currency: Maluti
Ethnic: Sotho 99.7%, Europeans 1,600, Asians 800
Religion: Christian, 80%; indigenous beliefs, Muslim, and Bahai
Domain: .LS
Time Zone: +2
Telephone code: 266
Liberia
Location: W Africa
Capital: Monrovia (1m)
Language: English (official) and tribal dialects
Area: 111,370 sq km
Population: 3.3m
Currency: Liberian dollar
Ethnic: indigenous African tribes 95% (including Kpelle, Bassa, Gio, Kru, Grebo, Mano, Krahn, Gola, Gbandi, Loma, Kissi, Vai, and Bella), Americo-Liberians 5% (descendants of former slaves)
Religion: traditional 40%, Christian 40%, Islam 20%
Domain: .LR
Time Zone: 0
Telephone code: 231
Libya
Location: N Africa
Capital: Tripoli
Language: Arabic, Italian, English
Area: 1,750,000 sq km
Population: 5.4m
Currency: Libyan dinar
Ethnic: Berber and Arab 97%, Greeks, Maltese, Italians, Egyptians, Pakistanis, Turks, Indians, Tunisians
Religion: Islam
Domain: .LY
Time Zone: +2
Telephone code: 218
Liechtenstein
Location: C Europe
Capital: Vaduz (5,100)
Language: German (official), Alemmanic dialect
Area: 160 sq km
Population: 33,000
Currency: Swiss franc
Ethnic: Alemannic 87.5%; Italian, Turkish, and other 12.5%
Religion: Roman Catholic, 80%; Protestant, 6.9%; unknown, 5.6%; other, 7.5%
Domain: .LI
Time Zone: +1
Telephone code: 423
Lithuania
Location: E Europe
Capital: Vilnius (600,000)
Language: Lithuanian (official), Polish, Russian
Area: 65,200 sq km
Population: 3.8m
Currency: litas
Ethnic: Lithuanian 80.1%, Russian 8.6%, Polish 7.7%, Belorussian 1.5%, other 2.1%
Religion: Catholic 85%, others include Lutheran, Russian Orthodox, Protestant, evangelical Christian Baptist, Islam, Judaism
Domain: .LT
Time Zone: +2
Telephone code: 370
Luxembourg
Location: W Europe
Capital: Luxembourg (75,600)
Language: Luxembourgisch, French, German
Area: 2,586 sq km
Population: 405,000
Currency: Euro
Ethnic: Celtic base (with French and German blend), Portuguese, Italian, and European (guest and worker residents)
Religion: Roman Catholic 97%, Protestant and Jewish 3%
Domain: .LU
Time Zone: +1
Telephone code: 352
Macau
Location: E Asia
Capital: Macau
Language: Portuguese, Chinese
Area: 25.4 sq km
Population: 462,000
Currency: Pataca
Ethnic: Chinese 95%, Macanese (mixed Portuguese and Asian), Portuguese, other
Religion: Buddhist 50%, Roman Catholic 15%, none and other 35%
Domain: .MO
Time Zone: +8
Telephone code: 853
Macedonia
Location: SE Europe
Capital: Skopje (445,000)
Language: Macedonian (official), which uses the Cyrillic alphabet, 70%; Albanian (official), 21%; Turkish, 3%; other, 6%
Area: 25,333 sq km
Population: 2.1m
Currency: Denar
Ethnic: Macedonian 65%, Albanian 22%, Turkish 4%, Serb 2%, Rom (Gypsy) 3%, other 4%
Religion: Eastern Orthodox 67%, Muslim 30%
Domain: .MK
Time Zone: +1
Telephone code: 389
Madagascar
Location: SE Africa
Capital: Antananarivo (1m)
Language: French and Malagasy (both official)
Area: 587,040 sq km
Population: 16.5m
Currency: Malagasy Franc
Ethnic: Malayo-Indonesian, Cotiers (mixed African, Malayo-Indonesian and Arab), French, Indian, Creole, Comoran
Religion: indigenous beliefs 52%, Christian 41%, Muslim 7%
Domain: .MG
Time Zone: +3
Telephone code: 261
Malawi
Location: S Africa
Capital: Lilongwe (260,000)
Language: English and Chichewa (both official)
Area: 118,480 sq km
Population: 10.8m
Currency: Kwacha
Ethnic: Chewa, Nyanja, Tumbuko, Yao, Lomwe, Sena, Tonga, Ngoni, Ngonde, Asian, European
Religion: Christian 75%, Islam 20%
Domain: .MW
Time Zone: +2
Telephone code: 265
Malaysia
Location: SE Asia
Capital: Kuala Lumpur (1,145,000)
Language: Malay (official), Chinese, Tamil, English
Area: 329,750 sq km
Population: 22.7m
Currency: Ringgit
Ethnic: Malay and other indigenous 59%, Chinese 32%, Indian 9%
Religion: Malays (all Muslims), Chinese (predominantly Buddhists), Indians (predominantly Hindus)
Domain: .MY
Time Zone: +8
Telephone code: 60
Maldives
Location: S Asia
Capital: Male (63,000)
Language: Dhivehi (official); Arabic, Hindi, and English are also spoken
Area: 300 sq km
Population: 321,000
Currency: Rufiya
Ethnic: Sinhalese, Dravidian, Arab, African
Religion: Islam (Sunni Muslim)
Domain: .MV
Time Zone: +5
Telephone code: 960
Mali
Location: W Africa
Capital: Bamako (750,000)
Language: French (official), African languages
Area: 1,240,000 sq km
Population: 11.5m
Currency: CFA Franc
Ethnic: Mande 50% (Bambara, Malinke, Sarakole), Peul 17%, Voltaic 12%, Songhai 6%, Tuareg and Moor 10%, other 5%
Religion: Islam 90%, traditional 9%, Christian 1%
Domain: .ML
Time Zone: 0
Telephone code: 223
Malta
Location: S Europe
Capital: Valletta (10,000)
Language: Maltese, English (both official)
Area: 320 sq km
Population: 400,000
Currency: Maltese lira
Ethnic: Maltese (descendants of ancient Carthaginians and Phoenicians, with strong elements of Italian and other Mediterranean stock), Spanish, English, Arab
Religion: Roman Catholic 98%
Domain: .MT
Time Zone: +1
Telephone code: 356
Man (Isle of Man)
Location: W Europe
Capital: Douglas
Language: English, Manx Gaelic
Area: 572 sq km
Population: 74,000
Currency: British and Manx pound
Ethnic: Manx, Briton
Religion: Anglican, Roman Catholic, Protestant
Domain: .IM
Time Zone: 0
Telephone code: -----
Marshall Islands
Location: W Pacific
Capital: Majuro (20,000)
Language: Marshallese and English (both official), Japanese. Marshallese is a language in the Malayo-Polynesian family
Area: 181 sq km
Population: 74,000
Currency: US Dollar
Ethnic: Micronesian
Religion: predominantly Christian, mostly Protestant
Domain: .MH
Time Zone: +12
Telephone code: 692
Martinique
Location: Caribbean
Capital: Fort-de-France
Language: French, Creole patois
Area: 1,100 sq km
Population: 423,000
Currency: Euro
Ethnic: African and African-white-Indian mixture 90%, white 5%, East Indian, Chinese
Religion: Roman Catholic 95%, Hindu and pagan African 5%
Domain: .MQ
Time Zone: -4
Telephone code: 596
Mauritania
Location: W Africa
Capital: Nouakchott (480,000)
Language: Arabic (official) and French
Area: 1,030,700 sq km
Population: 2.9m
Currency: Ouguiya
Ethnic: mixed Maur/black 40%, Maur 30%, black 30%
Religion: Islam
Domain: .MR
Time Zone: 0
Telephone code: 222
Mauritius
Location: W Indian Ocean
Capital: Port Louis (135,000)
Language: English (official), French, Creole, Hindi, Urdu, Hakka, Bojpoori
Area: 1,860 sq km
Population: 1.2m
Currency: Mauritian rupee
Ethnic: Indo-Mauritian 68%, Creole 27%, Sino-Mauritian 3%, Franco-Mauritian 2%
Religion: Hindu 52%, Christian 28.3%, Islam 16.6%, other 3.1%
Domain: .MU
Time Zone: +4
Telephone code: 230
Mayotte
Location: SE Africa
Capital: Mamoutzou
Language: Mahorian (a Swahili dialect), French (official) 35%
Area: 374 sq km
Population: 171,000
Currency: Euro
Ethnic: -----
Religion: Muslim 97%, Roman Catholic
Domain: .YT
Time Zone: +3
Telephone code: -----
Mexico
Location: Central America
Capital: Mexico City (20m)
Language: Spanish, Mayan, Indian languages
Area: 1,972,000 sq km
Population: 104m
Currency: New mexican peso
Ethnic: mestizo (Indian-Spanish) 60%, Amerindian or predominantly Amerindian 30%, Caucasian or predominantly Caucasian 9%, other 1%
Religion: nominally Roman Catholic 97%, Protestant 3%
Domain: .MX
Time Zone: -6*
Telephone code: 52
Micronesia
Location: W Pacific
Capital: Palikir
Language: English is the official and common language; major indigenous languages are Chukese, Pohnpeian, Yapase, and Kosrean
Area: 702 sq km
Population: 136,000
Currency: US Dollar
Ethnic: nine ethnic Micronesian and Polynesian groups
Religion: Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 47%
Domain: .FM
Time Zone: +12
Telephone code: 691
Moldova
Location: E Europe
Capital: Chisinau (677,000)
Language: Moldovan (official; same as Romanian), Russian, Gagauz (a Turkish dialect)
Area: 33,843 sq km
Population: 4.5m
Currency: Leu
Ethnic: Moldavian/Romanian 64.5%, Ukrainian 13.8%, Russian 13%, Gagauz 3.5%, Jewish 1.5%, Bulgarian 2%, other 1.7% (1989 figures)
Religion: Eastern Orthodox 98.5%, Jewish 1.5%
Domain: .MD
Time Zone: +2
Telephone code: 373
Monaco
Location: S Europe
Capital: Monaco (31,000)
Language: French (official), Italian, English, Monegasque
Area: 1.9 sq km
Population: 32,000
Currency: Euro
Ethnic: French 47%, Monegasque 16%, Italian 16%, other 21%
Religion: Roman Catholic 95%
Domain: .MC
Time Zone: +1
Telephone code: 377
Mongolia
Location: C Asia
Capital: Ulaan Baatar (619,000)
Language: Mongolian, 90%; also Turkic, Russian, and Chinese
Area: 1,565,000 sq km
Population: 2.7m
Currency: Tugrik
Ethnic: Mongol 90%, Kazak 4%, Chinese 2%, Russian 2%, other 2%
Religion: predominantly Tibetan Buddhist; Islam about 4%
Domain: .MN
Time Zone: +8
Telephone code: 976
Montserrat
Location: Caribbean
Capital: Plymouth (abandoned in 1997 due to volcanic activity)
Language:
Area: 102 sq km
Population: 8,500 (?)
Currency: EC Dollar
Ethnic: black, white
Religion: Protestant, Roman Catholic
Domain: .MS
Time Zone: -4
Telephone code: 1664
Morocco
Location: NW Africa
Capital: Rabat (1.2m)
Language: Arabic (official), French, Berber dialects, Spanish
Area: 446,550 sq km
Population: 31m
Currency: Morrocan dirham
Ethnic: Arab-Berber 99.1%, other 0.7%, Jewish 0.2%
Religion: Islam 98.7%, Christian 1.1%, Jewish 0.2%
Domain: .MA
Time Zone: 0
Telephone code: 212
Mozambique
Location: S Africa
Capital: Maputo (1.1m)
Language: Portuguese (official), Bantu languages
Area: 801,590 sq km
Population: 20m
Currency: Metical
Ethnic: indigenous tribal groups 99.6% (Shangaan, Chokwe, Manyika, Sena, Makua, and others), Europeans 0.06%, Euro-Africans 0.2%, Indians 0.08%
Religion: traditional 60%, Christian 30%, Islam 10%
Domain: .MZ
Time Zone: +2
Telephone code: 258
Myanmar
Location: SE Asia
Capital: Rangoon (Yangon)
Language: Burmese, minority languages
Area: 678,500 sq km
Population: 42.5m
Currency: Kyat
Ethnic: Burman 68%, Shan 9%, Karen 7%, Rakhine 4%, Chinese 3%, Mon 2%, Indian 2%, other 5%
Religion: Buddhist 89.5%, Christian 4.9%, Muslim 3.8%, Hindu 0.05%, Animist 1.3%
Domain: .MM
Time Zone: +6:30
Telephone code: 95
Namibia
Location: S Africa
Capital: Windhoek (161,000)
Language: Afrikaans, German, English (official), several indigenous
Area: 825,418 sq km
Population: 2m
Currency: Namibian dollar
Ethnic: black 86%, white 6.6%, mixed 7.4%. Note: about 50% of the population belong to the Ovambo tribe and 9% to the Kavangos tribe; other ethnic groups are: Herero 7%, Damara 7%, Nama 5%, Caprivian 4%, Bushmen 3%, Baster 2%, Tswana 0.5%
Religion: Predominantly Christian
Domain: .NA
Time Zone: +1
Telephone code: 264
Nauru
Location: W Pacific
Capital: Yaren (600)
Language: Nauruan (official) and English
Area: 21 sq km
Population: 12,500
Currency: Australian dollar
Ethnic: Nauruan 58%, other Pacific Islander 26%, Chinese 8%, European 8%
Religion: Protestant 58%, Roman Catholic 24%, Confucian and Taoist 8%
Domain: .NR
Time Zone: +12
Telephone code: -----
Nepal
Location: S Asia
Capital: Kathmandu (535,000)
Language: Nepali (official), Newari, Bhutia, Maithali
Area: 140,800 sq km
Population: 25.9m
Currency: Nepalese rupee
Ethnic: Newars, Indians, Tibetans, Gurungs, Magars, Tamangs, Bhotias, Rais, Limbus, Sherpas
Religion: Hindu 90%, Buddhist 5%, Islam 3%
Domain: .NP
Time Zone: +5:30
Telephone code: 977
The Netherlands
Location: W Europe
Capital: Amsterdam /official/ (725,000); The Hague /administrative/ (446,000)
Language: Dutch, Frisian
Area: 41,526 sq km
Population: 16.1m
Currency: Euro
Ethnic: Dutch 96%, Moroccans, Turks, and other 4% (1988)
Religion: Roman Catholic 34%, Protestant 25%, Muslim 3%, other 2%, unaffiliated 36%
Domain: .NL
Time Zone: +1
Telephone code: 31
Netherlands Antilles
Location: Caribbean
Capital: Willemstad
Language: Dutch (official), predominates Papiamento (a Spanish-Portuguese-Dutch-English dialect)
Area: 960 sq km
Population: 215,000
Currency: Netherlands Antillean guilder
Ethnic: mixed black 85%, Carib Amerindian, white, East Asian
Religion: Roman Catholic, Protestant, Jewish
Domain: .AN
Time Zone: +1
Telephone code: 31
New Caledonia
Location: W Pacific
Capital: Noumea
Language: French (official), 33 Melanesian-Polynesian dialects
Area: 19,060 sq km
Population: 208,000
Currency: CFP Franc
Ethnic: Melanesian 42.5%, European 37.1%, Wallisian 8.4%, Polynesian 3.8%, Indonesian 3.6%, Vietnamese 1.6%, other 3%
Religion: Roman Catholic 60%, Protestant 30%, other 10%
Domain: .NC
Time Zone: +10
Telephone code: 687
New Zealand
Location: S Pacific
Capital: Wellington
Language: English (official), Maori
Area: 268,680 sq km
Population: 3.9m
Currency: New Zealand dollar
Ethnic: European 88%, Maori 8.9%, Pacific Islander 2.9%, other 0.2%
Religion: Christian 81%, none or unspecified 18%, Hindu, Confucian, and other 1%
Domain: .NZ
Time Zone: +12
Telephone code: 64
Nicaragua
Location: Central America
Capital: Managua (980,000)
Language: Spanish
Area: 129,494 sq km
Population: 5m
Currency: Gold cordoba
Ethnic: mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 69%, white 17%, black 9%, Indian 5%
Religion: Roman Catholic 95%, Protestant 5%
Domain: .NI
Time Zone: -6
Telephone code: 505
Niger
Location: C Africa
Capital: Niamey (400,000)
Language: French (official); Hausa; Songhai; Arabic
Area: 1,267,000 sq km
Population: 10.7m
Currency: CFA Franc
Ethnic: Hausa 56%, Djerma 22%, Fula 8.5%, Tuareg 8%, Beri Beri (Kanouri) 4.3%, Arab, Toubou, and Gourmantche 1.2%, about 4,000 French expatriates
Religion: Islam 80%, Animist and Christian 20%
Domain: .NE
Time Zone: 01
Telephone code: 227
Nigeria
Location: C Africa
Capital: Abuja (340,000)
Language: English (official), Hausa, Yoruba, Ibo, and more than 200 others
Area: 923,768 sq km
Population: 130m
Currency: Naira
Ethnic: Hausa, Fulani, Yoruba, Ibo, Kanuri, Ibibio, Tiv, Ijaw
Religion: Islam 50%, Christian 40%, indigenous 10%
Domain: .NG
Time Zone: +1
Telephone code: 234
Niue
Location: S Pacific
Capital: Alofi
Language: Niuean, English
Area: 260 sq km
Population: 2,130
Currency: NZ Dollar
Ethnic: Polynesian, some European, Samoans and Tongoans
Religion: Protestant
Domain: .NU
Time Zone: -10
Telephone code: 683
Norfolk Island
Location: S Pacific
Capital: Kingston
Language: English (official), Norfolk (a mixture of 18th century English and ancient Tahitian)
Area: 34.6 sq km
Population: 1,870
Currency: Australian Dollar
Ethnic: descendants of the "Bounty" mutineers, Australian, New Zealander, Polynesian
Religion: Protestant, Roman Catholic
Domain: .NF
Time Zone: +11:30
Telephone code: 6723
Northern Mariana Islands
Location: W Pacific
Capital: Saipan
Language: English, Chamorro, Carolinian
Area: 477 sq km
Population: 77,300
Currency: US Dollar
Ethnic: Chamorro, Carolinians, white, Japanese, Chinese, Filipino, Korean
Religion: Roman Catholic, traditional beliefs
Domain: .MP
Time Zone: +10
Telephone code: -----
Norway
Location: N Europe
Capital: Oslo (485,000)
Language: Norwegian (two official forms: Bokmål and Nynorsk)
Area: 324,220 sq km
Population: 4.5m
Currency: krone
Ethnic: Germanic (Nordic, Alpine, Baltic), Lapps (Sami)
Religion: Evangelical Lutheran 87.8% (state church), other Protestant and Roman Catholic 3.8%, none 3.2%, unknown 5.2%
Domain: .NO
Time Zone: +1
Telephone code: 47
Oman
Location: SW Asia
Capital: Muscat (350,000)
Language: Arabic (official); also English and Indian languages
Area: 212,460 sq km
Population: 2.7m
Currency: Omani rial
Ethnic: Arab, Baluchi, South Asian (Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan, Bangladeshi), African
Religion: Islam 95%
Domain: .OM
Time Zone: +4
Telephone code: 968
Pakistan
Location: S Asia
Capital: Islamabad (205,000)
Language: Punjabi 48%, Sindhi 12%, Siraiki (a Punjabi variant) 10%, Pashtu 8%, Urdu (official) 8%, Balochi 3%, Hindko 2%, Brahui 1%, English, Burushaski, and others
Area: 803.940 sq km
Population: 148m
Currency: Pakistani rupee
Ethnic: Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashtun (Pathan), Baloch, Muhajir (immigrants from India and their descendants)
Religion: Islam 97%, Hindu, Christian, Buddhist, Parsi
Domain: .PK
Time Zone: +5
Telephone code: 92
Palau
Location: W Pacific
Capital: Koror (12,300)
Language: Palauan, English (official)
Area: 458 sq km
Population: 20,000
Currency: US dollar
Ethnic: Palauans are a composite of Polynesian, Malayan, and Melanesian races
Religion: Christian. About one-third of the islanders observe Modekngei religion, indigenous to Palau
Domain: .PW
Time Zone: +10
Telephone code: 680
Palestine
Location: W Asia
Capital: -----
Language: Arabic, Hebrew
Area: ----- sq km
Population: -----
Currency: New Israeli shekels, Jordanian dinars, U.S. dollars
Ethnic: West Bank: Palestinian Arab and other 83%, Jewish 17%; Gaza Strip: Palestinian Arab and other 99.4%, Jewish 0.6%
Religion: West Bank: Muslim 75%, Jewish 17%, Christian and other 8%; Gaza Strip: Muslim 98.7%, Christian 0.7%, Jewish 0.6%
Domain: .PS
Time Zone: +2
Telephone code: 970
Panama
Location: Central America
Capital: Panama City (451,000)
Language: Spanish (official); many bilingual in English
Area: 78,200 sq km
Population: 2.9m
Currency: Balboa
Ethnic: mestizo (mixed Indian and European ancestry) 70%, West Indian 14%, white 10%, Indian 6%
Religion: Roman Catholic over 93%, Protestant 6%
Domain: .PA
Time Zone: -5
Telephone code: 507
Papua New Guinea
Location: W Pacific
Capital: Port Moresby (250,000)
Language: English, Tok Pisin (a Melanesian Creole English), Hiri Motu, and 717 distinct native languages
Area: 462,840 sq km
Population: 5.2m
Currency: Kina
Ethnic: Papuan, Melanesian, Negrito, Micronesian, Polynesian
Religion: over half are Christian, remainder indigenous
Domain: .PG
Time Zone: +10
Telephone code: 675
Paraguay
Location: South America
Capital: Asuncion (505,000)
Language: Spanish (official), Guaraní
Area: 406,750 sq km
Population: 5.9m
Currency: Guaraní
Ethnic: mestizo (mixed Spanish and Indian) 95%, whites plus Amerindians 5%
Religion: Roman Catholic 90%
Domain: .PY
Time Zone: -4
Telephone code: 595
Peru
Location: South America
Capital: Lima (7.5m)
Language: Spanish and Quéchua (both official), Aymara, and other native languages
Area: 1.28m sq km
Population: 28m
Currency: nuevo sol
Ethnic: Indian 45%, mestizo (mixed Indian and European ancestry) 37%, white 15%, black, Japanese, Chinese, and other 3%
Religion: Roman Catholic 90%
Domain: .PE
Time Zone: -5
Telephone code: 51
The Philippines
Location: SE Asia
Capital: Manila (13,450,000)
Language: Filipino (based on Tagalog) and English (both official); regional languages: Tagalog, Ilocano, Cebuano, others
Area: 300,000 sq km
Population: 84.5m
Currency: Peso
Ethnic: Christian Malay 91.5%, Muslim Malay 4%, Chinese 1.5%, other 3%
Religion: Roman Catholic 84%, Protestant 10%, Islam 5%, Buddhist and other 3%
Domain: .PH
Time Zone: +8
Telephone code: 63
Pitcairn Islands
Location: S Pacific
Capital: Adamstown
Language: English (official), Pitcairnese (a mixture of 18th century English and ancient Tahitian)
Area: 47 sq km
Population: 50
Currency: NZ Dollar
Ethnic: descendants of the "Bounty" mutineers and their Tahitian wives
Religion: Seventh-Day Adventist 100%
Domain: .PN
Time Zone: -8
Telephone code: -----
Poland
Location: C Europe
Capital: Warsaw (1.7m)
Language: Polish
Area: 312,685 sq km
Population: 38.7m
Currency: zloty
Ethnic: Polish 97.6%, German 1.3%, Ukrainian 0.6%, Belorussian 0.5% (1990 est.)
Religion: Roman Catholic 95% (about 75% practicing), Russian Orthodox, Protestant, and other 5%
Domain: .PL
Time Zone: +1
Telephone code: 48
Portugal
Location: SW Europe
Capital: Lisbon (680,000)
Language: Portuguese
Area: 92,080 sq km
Population: 10.5m
Currency: Euro
Ethnic: Homogeneous Mediterranean stock in mainland, Azores, Madeira Islands; citizens of black African descent who immigrated to mainland during decolonization number less than 100,000
Religion: Roman Catholic 97%, 1% Protestant, 2% other
Domain: .PT
Time Zone: 0
Telephone code: 351
Puerto Rico
Location: Caribbean
Capital: San Juan
Language: Spanish, English
Area: 9,104 sq km
Population: 4m
Currency: US dollar
Ethnic: white (mostly Spanish origin) 80.5%, black 8%, Amerindian 0.4%, other 11%
Religion: Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant and other 15%
Domain: .PR
Time Zone: -4
Telephone code: 1787
Qatar
Location: SW Asia
Capital: Doha (300,000)
Language: Arabic (official), English
Area: 11,000 sq km
Population: 795,000
Currency: Qatari riyal
Ethnic: Arab 40%, Pakistani 18%, Indian 18%, Iranian 10%, other 14%
Religion: Islam 95%
Domain: .QA
Time Zone: +3
Telephone code: 974
Reunion Island
Location: W Indian Ocean
Capital: Saint-Denis
Language: French, Creole
Area: 2,500 sq km
Population: 750,000
Currency: Euro
Ethnic: French, African, Malagasy, Chinese, Indian, Pakistani
Religion: Roman Catholic (86%), Hindu, Mislim, Buddhist
Domain: .RE
Time Zone: -----
Telephone code: -----
Romania
Location: E Europe
Capital: Bucharest (2.4m)
Language: Romanian (official); Hungarian- and German-speaking minorities
Area: 237,500 sq km
Population: 23m
Currency: leu
Ethnic: Romanian 89.1%, Hungarian 8.9%, German 0.4%, Ukrainian, Serb, Croat, Russian, Turk, and Gypsy 1.6%
Religion: Romanian Orthodox 70%, Roman Catholic 6% (of which 3% are Uniate), Protestant 6%, unaffiliated 18%
Domain: .RO
Time Zone: +2
Telephone code: 402
Russia
Location: E Europe - N Asia
Capital: Moscow (13.3m)
Language: Russian, others
Area: 17m sq km
Population: 145m
Currency: ruble
Ethnic: Russian 81.5%, Tatar 3.8%, Ukrainian 3%, Chuvash 1.2%, Bashkir 0.9%, Byelorussian 0.8%, Moldavian 0.7%, other 8.1%
Religion: Russian Orthodox, Muslim, others
Domain: .RU
Time Zone: +3*
Telephone code: 7
Rwanda
Location: E Africa
Capital: Kigali (233,000)
Language: Kinyarwanda, French, and English (all official)
Area: 26,338 sq km
Population: 7.4m
Currency: Rwanda franc
Ethnic: Hutu 80%, Tutsi 19%, Twa (Pygmoid) 1%
Religion: Roman Catholic 56%, Protestant 18%, Islam 1%, Animist 25%
Domain: .RW
Time Zone: +2
Telephone code: 250
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Location: Caribbean
Capital: Basseterre (19,000)
Language: English
Area: 269 sq km
Population: 42,500
Currency: EC Dollar
Ethnic: black African
Religion: -----
Domain: .KN
Time Zone: -4
Telephone code: -----
Saint Lucia
Location: Caribbean
Capital: Castries (13,600)
Language: English (official) and patois
Area: 620 sq km
Population: 160,000
Currency: EC Dollar
Ethnic: African descent 90.3%, mixed 5.5%, East Indian 3.2%, white 0.8%
Religion: Roman Catholic 90%, Protestant 7%, Anglican 3%
Domain: .LC
Time Zone: -4
Telephone code: 1758
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Location: Caribbean
Capital: Kingstown (15,500)
Language: English (official), French patois
Area: 389 sq km
Population: 116,500
Currency: EC Dollar
Ethnic: African descent, white, East Indian, Carib Indian
Religion: Anglican 47%, Methodist 28%, Roman Catholic 13%
Domain: .VC
Time Zone: -4
Telephone code: 1784
San Marino
Location: S Europe
Capital: San Marino
Language: Italian
Area: 61 sq km
Population: 28,000
Currency: Euro
Ethnic: Sammarinese, Italian
Religion: Roman Catholic
Domain: .SM
Time Zone: +1
Telephone code: 378
São Tomé and Príncipe
Location: C Africa - Atlantic
Capital: São Tomé (44,000)
Language: Portuguese
Area: 1,001 sq km
Population: 171,000
Currency: Dobra
Ethnic: mestico, angolares (descendants of Angolan slaves), forros (descendants of freed slaves), servicais (contract laborers from Angola, Mozambique, and Cape Verde), tongas (children of servicais born on the islands), Europeans (primarily Portuguese)
Religion: Roman Catholic, Evangelical Protestant, Seventh-Day Adventist
Domain: .ST
Time Zone: 0
Telephone code: 239
Saudi Arabia
Location: SW Asia
Capital: Riyadh
Language: Arabic
Area: 1.9m sq km
Population: 23.5m
Currency: Saudi riyal
Ethnic: Arab 90%, Afro-Asian 10%
Religion: Islam 100%
Domain: .SA
Time Zone: +3
Telephone code: 966
Senegal
Location: W Africa
Capital: Dakar (1.75m)
Language: French (official); Wolof, Serer, other ethnic dialects
Area: 196,190 sq km
Population: 10m
Currency: CFA Franc
Ethnic: Wolof 36%, Fulani 17%, Serer 17%, Toucouleur 9%, Diola 9%, Mandingo 9%, European and Lebanese 1%, other 2%
Religion: Islam 92%, indigenous 6%, Christian 2%
Domain: .SN
Time Zone: 0
Telephone code: 221
Serbia and Montenegro
Location: SE Europe
Capital: Belgrade (1.7m)
Language: Serbian 95% (written in Cyrillic and Latin), Albanian 5%
Area: 102,350 sq km
Population: 10.6
Currency: Dinar (in Serbia), Euro (in Montenegro)
Ethnic: Serbs 63%, Albanians 14%, Montenegrins 6%, Hungarians 4%, other 13%. Note: almost all Albanians live in separatist Kosovo province, which is under UN protectorate.
Religion: Orthodox 65%, Muslim 19%, Roman Catholic 4%, Protestant 1%, other 11%
Domain: .YU (new: .CS?)
Time Zone: +1
Telephone code: 381
Seychelles
Location:
Capital: Victoria (25,000)
Language: English and French (both official), Seselwa (a creole)
Area: 455 sq km
Population: 80,000
Currency: Seychelles rupee
Ethnic: Seychellois (mixture of Asians, Africans, Europeans)
Religion: Roman Catholic 90%, Anglican 8%
Domain: .SC
Time Zone: +4
Telephone code: 248
Sierra Leone
Location: W Africa
Capital: Freetown (1.3m)
Language: English (official), Mende, Temne, Krio
Currency: Leone
Ethnic: 18 native African tribes 99% (Temne 30%, Mende 30%, other 39%), Creole, European, Lebanese, and Asian 1%
Religion: Islam 40%, Christian 35%, Indigenous 20%
Domain: .SL
Time Zone: 0
Telephone code: 232
Singapore
Location: SE Asia
Capital: Singapore, 3,044,000
Language: Malay, Chinese (Mandarin), Tamil, English (all official)
Area: 648 sq km
Population: 4.5m
Currency: Singapore dollar
Ethnic: Chinese 76.4%, Malay 14.9%, Indian 6.4%, other 2.3%
Religion: Islam, Christian, Buddhist, Hindu, Taoi
Domain: .SG
Time Zone: +7
Telephone code: 65
Slovakia
Location: C Europe
Capital: Bratislava (446,600)
Language: Slovak (official), Hungarian
Area: 48,845 sq km
Population: 5.5m
Currency: Koruna
Ethnic: Slovak 85.7%, Hungarian 10.7%, Gypsy 1.5%, Czech 1%, Ruthenian 0.3%, Ukrainian 0.3%, German 0.1%, Polish 0.1%
Religion: Roman Catholic 60.3%, atheist 9.7%, Protestant 8.4%, Orthodox 4.1%, other 17.5%
Domain: .SK
Time Zone: +1
Telephone code: 421
Slovenia
Location: C Europe
Capital: Ljubljana (330,000)
Language: Slovenian; most can also speak Serbian/Croatian
Area: 20,253 sq km
Population: 2m
Currency: Slovenian tolar
Ethnic: Slovene 91%, Serbs and Croatian 6%, other 3%
Religion: Roman Catholic 70.8% (including 2% Uniate), Lutheran 1%, Muslim 1%, other 27.2%
Domain: .SI
Time Zone: +1
Telephone code: 386
Solomon Islands
Location: W Pacific
Capital: Honiara (35,300)
Language: English, Solomon Pijin (an English pidgin), over 60 indigenous Melanesian languages
Area: 28,450 sq km
Population: 500,000
Currency: Solomon Islands dollar
Ethnic: Melanesian 93%, Polynesian 4%, Micronesian 1.5%, European 0.8%, Chinese 0.3%, other 0.4%
Religion: Anglican, Roman Catholic, South Seas Evangelical, Seventh-Day Adventist, United (Methodist) Church, other Protestant
Domain: .SB
Time Zone: +11
Telephone code: 677
Somalia
Location: E Africa
Capital: Mogadishu (900,000)
Language: Somali (official), Arabic, English, Italian
Area: 637,657 sq km
Population: 7.8m
Currency: Somali shilling
Ethnic: Somali 85%, Bantu, Arabs
Religion: Islam (Sunni)
Domain: .SO
Time Zone: +3
Telephone code: 252
South Africa
Location: S Africa
Capital: Pretoria; Legislative capital: Cape Town; Judicial capital: Bloemfontein.
Language: Xhosa and Zulu (official), English, Afrikaans, Ndebele, Sesotho sa Leboa, Sesotho, Swati, Xitsonga, Setswana, Tshivenda
Area: 1.2m sq km
Population: 45m
Currency: Rand
Ethnic: black 75.2%, white 13.6%, Colored 8.6%, Indian 2.6%
Religion: Christian; Hindu; Islam
Domain: .ZA
Time Zone: +2
Telephone code: 27
S.Georgia & S.Sandwich Isl.
Location: S Atlantic
Capital: -----
Language: -----
Area: 3,903 sq km
Population: -----
Currency: -----
Ethnic: -----
Religion: -----
Domain: .GS
Time Zone: -2
Telephone code: -----
Spain
Location: SW Europe
Capital: Madrid (5m)
Language: Castilian Spanish 74% (official), Catalan 17%, Galician 7%, Basque 2%
Area: 504,750 sq km
Population: 40m
Currency: Euro
Ethnic: composite of Mediterranean and Nordic types
Religion: Roman Catholic 99%
Domain: .ES
Time Zone: +1
Telephone code: 34
Sri Lanka
Location: S Asia
Capital: Colombo /official/ (2m); Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte /legislative and judicial/ (150,000)
Language: Sinhala (official), Tamil, English
Area: 65,600 sq km
Population: 19.5m
Currency: Sri Lankan rupee
Ethnic: Sinhalese 74%, Tamil 18%, Moor 7%, Burgher, Malay, and Vedda 1%
Religion: Buddhist 69%, Hindu 15%, Islam 8%, Christian 8%
Domain: .LK
Time Zone: +6
Telephone code: 94
Sudan
Location: NE Africa
Capital: Khartoum (1m)
Language: Arabic (official), English, tribal dialects
Area: 2,505,810 sq km
Population: 37.1m
Currency: Dinar
Ethnic: black 52%, Arab 39%, Beja 6%, foreigners 2%, other 1%
Religion: Islam (Sunni) 70%, indigenous 20%, Christian 5%
Domain: .SD
Time Zone: +3
Telephone code: 249
Suriname
Location: S America
Capital: Paramaribo (201,000)
Language: Dutch (official), Surinamese (lingua franca), English widely spoken
Area: 163,270 sq km
Population: 437,000
Currency: Suranimese guilder
Ethnic: East Indians (Hindustanis) 37%, Creole (mixed European and African ancestry) 31%, Javanese 15.3%, “Bush Negroes” (Maroons) 10.3%, Amerindian 2.6%, Chinese 1.7%, Europeans 1%, other 1.1%
Religion: Protestant 25.2%, Roman Catholic 22.8%, Hindu 27.4%, Islam 19.6%, indigenous about 5%
Domain: .SR
Time Zone: -3
Telephone code: 597
Swaziland
Location: S Africa
Capital: Mbabane (50,000)
Language: English and Swazi (official)
Area: 17,363 sq km
Population: 1.2m
Currency: Lilangeni
Ethnic: African 97%, European 3%
Religion: Christian 60%, indigenous 40%
Domain: .SZ
Time Zone: +2
Telephone code: 268
Sweden
Location: N Europe
Capital: Stockholm (705,000)
Language: Swedish
Area: 449,964 sq km
Population: 8.9m
Currency: krona
Ethnic: white 88%, Lapp (Sami), foreign-born or first-generation immigrants (Finns, Yugoslavs, Danes, Norwegians, Greeks, Turks) 12%
Religion: Evangelical Lutheran 94%, Roman Catholic 1.5%, Pentecostal 1%, other 3.5%
Domain: .SE
Time Zone: +1
Telephone code: 46
Switzerland
Location: C Europe
Capital: Bern (130,000)
Language: German, French, Italian, Romansch (all official)
Area: 41,290 sq km
Population: 7.3m
Currency: Swiss franc
Ethnic: German 65%, French 18%, Italian 10%, Romansch 1%, other 6%
Religion: Roman Catholic 49%, Protestant 40%, other 5%, no religion 8.3%
Domain: .CH
Time Zone: +1
Telephone code: 41
Syria
Location: W Asia
Capital: Damascus (1.6m)
Language: Arabic (official), Kurdish, Aramaic
Area: 185,180 sq km
Population: 17.1m
Currency: Syrian pound
Ethnic: Arab 90.3%, Kurds, Armenians, and other 9.7%
Religion: Islam 90%, Christian 10%
Domain: .SY
Time Zone: +2
Telephone code: 963
Taiwan
Location: E Asia
Capital: Taipei (7,700,000)
Language: Mandarin, Taiwanese
Area: 35,980 sq km
Population: 23m
Currency: New Taiwan dollar
Ethnic: Taiwanese 84%, mainland Chinese 14%, aborigine 2%
Religion: Buddhist 4.86 million, Taoist 3.3 million, Protestant 422,000, Catholic 304,000
Domain: .TW
Time Zone: +8
Telephone code: 886
Tajikistan
Location: C Asia
Capital: Dushanbe (525,000)
Language: Tajik, Russian
Area: 143,100 sq km
Population: 6.8m
Currency: Tajik ruble
Ethnic: Tajik 64.9%, Uzbek 25%, Russian 3.5% (declining because of emigration), other 6.6%
Religion: Sunni Muslim 80%
Domain: .TJ
Time Zone: +5
Telephone code: 992
Tanzania
Location: E Africa
Capital: Dar es Salaam (administrative); Dodoma (official)
Language: Swahili and English (both official), local languages
Area: 945,087 sq km
Population: 37.2m
Currency: Tanzanian shilling
Ethnic: mainland: native African (95% Bantu, consisting of well over 100 tribes) 99%, Asian, European, and Arab 1%. Zanzibar: Arab, mixed Arab and native African, native African
Religion: Christian 40%, Muslim 33%
Domain: .TZ
Time Zone: +3
Telephone code: 255
Thailand
Location: SE Asia
Capital: Bangkok (7.2m)
Language: Thai (Siamese), Chinese, English
Area: 514,000 sq km
Population: 62.5m
Currency: baht
Ethnic: Thai 75%, Chinese 14%, other 11%
Religion: Buddhist 94.4%, Islam 4%, Hindu 1.1%, Christian 0.5%
Domain: .TH
Time Zone: +7
Telephone code: 66
Togo
Location: W Africa
Capital: Lome (366,500)
Language: French (official), Ewé, Mina (south), Kabyé, Cotocoli (north), and many dialects
Area: 56,785 sq km
Population: 5.3m
Currency: CFA Franc
Ethnic: native African (37 tribes; largest and most important are Ewe, Mina, and Kabre) 99%, European and Syrian-Lebanese less than 1%
Religion: Indigenous beliefs 70%, Christian 20%, Islam 10%
Domain: .TG
Time Zone: 0
Telephone code: 228
Tokelau
Location: S Pacific
Capital: (none)
Language: Tokelauan, English
Area: 10 sq km
Population: 1,430
Currency: NZ Dollar
Ethnic: Polynesian
Religion: Christian 98%
Domain: .TK
Time Zone: +13
Telephone code: -----
Tonga
Location: S Pacific
Capital: Nuku'alofa (34,000)
Language: Tongan (an Austronesian language), English
Area: 748 sq km
Population: 110,000
Currency: Pa'anga
Ethnic: Polynesian, European (about 300)
Religion: Christian; Free Wesleyan Church claims over 30,000 adherents
Domain: .TO
Time Zone: +13
Telephone code: 676
Trinidad and Tobago
Location:
Capital: Port of Spain (52,500)
Language: English (official), Hindi, Spanish, French
Area: 5,130 sq km
Population: 1.2m
Currency: Trinidad and Tobago dollar
Ethnic: black 43%, East Indian (a local term—primarily immigrants from northern India) 40%, mixed 14%, white 1%, Chinese 1%, other 1%
Religion: Roman Catholic 33%, Hindu 25%, Anglican 15%, other Christian 14%, Muslim 6%
Domain: .TT
Time Zone: -4
Telephone code: 1868
Tunisia
Location: N Africa
Capital: Tunis (900,000)
Language: Arabic (official), French
Area: 163,610 sq km
Population: 9.9m
Currency: Tunisian dinar
Ethnic: Arab-Berber 98%, European 1%, Jewish less than 1%
Religion: Islam (Sunni) 98%, Christian 1%, Jewish, less than 1%
Domain: .TN
Time Zone: +1
Telephone code: 216
Turkey
Location: W Asia - SE Europe
Capital: Ankara (3m)
Language: Turkish (official), Kurdish
Area: 780,580 sq km
Population: 67.3m
Currency: Turkish lira
Ethnic: Turkish 80%, Kurdish 20%
Religion: Islam (mostly Sunni) 98%
Domain: .TR
Time Zone: +2
Telephone code: 90
Turkmenistan
Location: C Asia
Capital: Ashgabat (520,000)
Language: Turkmen, 72%; Russian, 12%; Uzbek, 9%
Area: 488,100 sq km
Population: 4.7m
Currency: Manat
Ethnic: Turkmen 77%, Uzbek 9.2%, Russian 6.7%, Kazak 2%, other 5.1%
Religion: Muslim 89%, Eastern Orthodox 9%, unknown 2%
Domain: .TM
Time Zone: +5
Telephone code: 993
Turks and Caicos
Location: Caribbean
Capital: Grand Turk
Language: English
Area: 430 sq km
Population: 19,000
Currency: US dollar
Ethnic: black
Religion: Protestant
Domain: .TC
Time Zone: -5
Telephone code: -----
Tuvalu
Location: C Pacific
Capital: Funafuti (4,000)
Language: Tuvaluan, English
Area: 26 sq km
Population: 11,500
Currency: Australian dollar
Ethnic: Polynesian 96%
Religion: Church of Tuvalu (Congregationalist) 97%
Domain: .TV
Time Zone: +12
Telephone code: 688
Uganda
Location: E Africa
Capital: Kampala (775,000)
Language: English (official), Swahili, Luganda, Ateso, Luo
Area: 236,040 sq km
Population: 25m
Currency: Ugandan shilling
Ethnic: Baganda 17%, Karamojong 12%, Basogo 8%, Iteso 8%, Langi 6%, Rwanda 6%, Bagisu 5%, Acholi 4%, Lugbara 4%, Bunyoro 3%, Batobo 3%, European, Asian, Arab 1%, other 23%
Religion: Christian 66%, Islam 16%
Domain: .UG
Time Zone: +3
Telephone code: 256
Ukraine
Location:
Capital: Kiev (2.7m)
Language: Ukrainian
Area: 603,700 sq km
Population: 49m
Currency: Hryvna
Ethnic: Ukrainian 73%, Russian 22%, Jewish 1%, other 4%
Religion: Orthodox 76%, Ukrainian Catholic (Uniate) 13.5%, Jewish 2.3%, Baptist, Mennonite, Protestant, and Muslim 8.2%
Domain: .UA
Time Zone: +2
Telephone code: 380
United Arab Emirat
Location: SW Asia
Capital: Abu Dhabi (365,000)
Language: Arabic (official), English as a second lang
Area: 82,880 sq km
Population: 2.5m
Currency: U.A.E. dirham
Ethnic: Emiri 19%, other Arab and Iranian 23%, South Asian 50%, other expatriates (includes Westerners and East Asians) 8%
Religion: Islam (Sunni 80%, Shi'ite 16%), others 4%
Domain: .AE
Time Zone: +4
Telephone code: 971
United Kingdom
Location: W Europe
Capital: London (12m)
Language: English, Scots Gaelic, Welsh
Area: 244,820 sq km
Population: 60m
Currency: Pound
Ethnic: English 81.5%; Scottish 9.6%; Irish 2.4%; Welsh 1.9%; Ulster 1.8%; West Indian, Indian, Pakistani, and other 2.8%
Religion: Church of England (established church), Church of Wales (disestablished), Church of Scotland (established church—Presbyterian), Church of Ireland (disestablished), Roman Catholic, Methodist, Congregational, Baptist, Islam, Jewish
Domain: .UK
Time Zone: 0
Telephone code: 44
United States of America
Location: North America
Capital: Washington DC (600,000)
Language: English, Spanish
Area: 9,629,091 sq km
Population: 281m
Currency: US dollar
Ethnic: White 75.1%; Black 12.3%; American Indian and Alaska Native 0.9%; Asian 3.6%; Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 0.1%; Other race: 5.5%; Hispanic origin 12.5%
Religion: Protestant, 61%; Roman Catholic, 25%; Jewish, 2%; other, 5%; none, 7%
Domain: .US
Time Zone: -5*
Telephone code: 1
US Virgin Islands
Location: Caribbean
Capital: Charlotte Amalie
Language: English (official), Spanish, Creole
Area: 352 sq km
Population: 123,500
Currency: US Dollar
Ethnic: black 80%, white 15%
Religion: Baptist 42%, Roman Catholic 34%
Domain: .VI
Time Zone: -4
Telephone code: -----
Uruguay
Location: South America
Capital: Montevideo (1.35m)
Language: Spanish
Area: 176,220 sq km
Population: 3.4m
Currency: Uruguanyan peso
Ethnic: white 88%, mestizo 8%, black 4%
Religion: Roman Catholic 66%, Protestant 2%, Jewish 2%
Domain: .UY
Time Zone: -3
Telephone code: 598
Uzbekistan
Location: C Asia
Capital: Tashkent (2.1m)
Language: Uzbek 74.3%, Russian 14.2%, Tajik 4.4%, other 7.1%
Area: 447,400 sq km
Population: 25.6m
Currency: Uzbekistani sum
Ethnic: Uzbek 80%, Russian 5.5%, Tajik 5%, Kazak 3%, Karakalpak 2.5%, Tatar 1.5%, other 2.5%
Religion: Muslim (mostly Sunnis) 88%, Eastern Orthodox 9%, other 3%
Domain: .UZ
Time Zone: +5
Telephone code: 998
Vanuatu
Location: SW Pacific
Capital: Port Vila (26,100)
Language: Bislama (a Melanesian pidgin English), English, French (all 3 official)
Area: 12,200 sq km
Population: 196,200
Currency: Vatu
Ethnic: indigenous Melanesian 94%, French 4%, Vietnamese, Chinese, other Pacific Islanders
Religion: Presbyterian 36.7%, Roman Catholic 15%, Anglican 15%, other Christian 10%, indigenous beliefs 7.6%, other 15.7%
Domain: .VU
Time Zone: +11
Telephone code: -----
Vatican
Location: S Europe
Capital: Vatican (1,000)
Language: Latin, Italian
Area: 0.44 sq km
Population: 1,000
Currency: Euro
Ethnic: Italians, Swiss
Religion: Roman Catholic
Domain: .VA
Time Zone: +1
Telephone code: 3957
Venezuela
Location: South America
Capital: Caracas
Language: Spanish (official), various indigenous languages in the remote interior
Area: 912,050 sq km
Population: 24.5m
Currency: bolivar
Ethnic: mestizo 67%, white 21%, black 10%, Amerindian 2%
Religion: Roman Catholic 96%, Protestant 2%
Domain: .VE
Time Zone: -4
Telephone code: 58
Vietnam
Location: SE Asia
Capital: Hanoi
Language: Vietnamese (official), Khmer, Chinese, French, English
Area: 329,560 sq km
Population: 81.1m
Currency: Dong
Ethnic: Vietnamese 85%–90%, Chinese 3%, Muong, Thai, Meo, Khmer, Man, Cham
Religion: Buddhist, Roman Catholic, Islam, Taoist, Confucian, Animist
Domain: .VN
Time Zone: +7
Telephone code: 84
Wallis and Futuna
Location: S Pacific
Capital: Mata-utu
Language: French, Wallisian
Area: 274 sq km
Population: 15,600
Currency: CFP Franc
Ethnic: Polynesian
Religion: Roman Catholic
Domain: .WF
Time Zone: +12
Telephone code: -----
Western Sahara
Location: NW Africa
Capital: El Aaiun (20,010)
Language: Hassaniya Arabic, Moroccan Arabic
Area: 266,000 sq km
Population: 256,200
Currency: Pesetu
Ethnic: Saharawi, Arab, Berber
Religion: Muslim
Domain: .EH
Time Zone: 0
Telephone code: -----
Western Samoa
Location: C Pacific
Capital: Apia (33,000)
Language: Samoan, English
Area: 2,860 sq km
Population: 209,000
Currency: tala
Ethnic: Samoan 92.6%, Euronesians 7% (persons of European and Polynesian blood), Europeans 0.4%
Religion: Christian 99.7%
Domain: .WS
Time Zone: -10
Telephone code: 685
Yemen
Location: SW Asia
Capital: Sanaa (1m)
Language: Arabic
Area: 527,970 sq km
Population: 18.7m
Currency: rial
Ethnic: predominantly Arab; Afro-Arab concentrations in western coastal locations; South Asians in southern regions; small European communities in major metropolitan areas
Religion: Islam (Sunni and Shi'ite)
Domain: .YE
Time Zone: +3
Telephone code: 969
Zambia
Location: S Africa
Capital: Lusaka
Language: English (official), local dialects
Area: 752,614 sq km
Population: 10m
Currency: Zambian kwacha
Ethnic: African 98.7%, European 1.1%, other 0.2%
Religion: Christian 50%–75%, Islam and Hindu 24%–49%, remainder indigenous beliefs
Domain: .ZM
Time Zone: +2
Telephone code: 260
Zimbabwe
Location: S Africa
Capital: Harare (1.2m)
Language: English (official), Ndebele, Shona (85%)
Area: 390,580 sq km
Population: 11.4m
Currency: Zimbabwean dollar
Ethnic: African 98% (Shona 71%, Ndebele 16%, other 11%), white 1%, mixed and Asian 1%
Religion: Christian 25%, Animist 24%, Syncretic 50%
Domain: .ZW
Time Zone: +2
Telephone code: 263

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* for countries with more than one time zone - time zone of the capital

Notes: C (as in C Europe) means Central; S = South; SW = SouthWest; SE = SouthEast etc.

Place cursor over country name for some aditiional notes!

Disclaimer: ALL information collected here can be used just for fun and for learning some trivia! NO info here is 100% correct!!!