SENEGAL (Africa)               73,955 sq. miles

(Slightly larger than N. Dakota)

 

POPULATION: (2009) 14 mil. (2025) 20 mil. (2050) 32 mil.

The U.N. estimates population in 2005 at 11,658,000.

POPULATION GROWTH: It is beyond the capacity of any economy to cope with a population growth of this magnitude.   AIDS prevalence may reduce this figure radically. The economy is in a deficit trade balance. It will get no better. The fertility rate of women in 2003 was 5.1 children.

LIFE EXPECTANCY: Life expectancy in 2005 was 58.90 years.

In 2005, 42% of the population was under 15 and 3% was over 65.

HEALTH: Infant mortality rate in 2005 was 54.12 deaths per 1,000 live births. In 2004 there were no more than 10 physicians and dentists per 100,000 people. Major health problems include, meningitis, and water related diseases such as malaria, trypanosomiasis, onchocecrciasis, and schistosomiasis. There are also a number of tuberculosis cases.   25% of children under the age of 5 suffer from malnutrition. HIV-AIDS prevalence in 2009 was 1.0% of total population. In view of a lack of a health service, epidemic. .

CAPITOL: Dakar

LANGUAGE: French (official). Several native languages are in common use.

LITERACY: (can read & write: male, 37%; female, 18%. It is a ailed education

system.

INCOME: (2005 CIA estimates), per capita GDP, $1,800; current economic growth rate, 6.1%; inflation 1.7%; people with incomes below poverty rate, 54%.

LOCATION: It is on the Western bulge of Africa on the Atlantic Ocean. It is bounded on the N. & NE. By Mauritania, on the E. by Mali & on the S. by Guinea.

LAND USE: Arable land, 27%; pasture, 30%; forest, 31%; other, 12%

TOPOGRAPHY: There are sand dunes on the N shore and muddy estuaries on the S. Back of this area is a sandy plain that extends to the Senegal River. Senegal is virtually cut in half for transportation purposes by the Republic of Gambia, which occupies a strip of land along the Gambia River about 25 miles wide and 200 miles long.

WATER: Rainfall varies from 13 inches in the extreme North to 22 inches in the interior and 30 to 51 inches near the central coast area.

CLIMATE: Temperatures are moderate along the coast and hot in the interior and the highest in the far NE.

GOVERNMENT: republic. It has a 120 member National Assembly There are Prime Minister and President. Leaders repressed media that criticized government activities (2004).

RELIGION: Muslim, 92%

NATURAL RESOURCES: fish, phosphate, iron ore.

WORLD TRADE: (2004) export, 2.0 bil. Import, 4.3 bil. Deficit, 2.3 bil.

OVERVIEW: No mention has been made of population control. The fact that a number of languages are spoken in the country and Muslim doctrine has not taken into consideration the use of family planning makes the future seem bleak. Literacy rates, especially among women, is very low.*

SERBIA                      34,135 sq. miles

(Yugoslavia)

(Larger than Maine)

 

POPULATION: (2009) 7.2 mil. (2025) 6.8 mil. (2050) 5.9 mil.

POPULATION GROWTH: negative. An ageing population presents serious

problems for Serbia in the future.

LIFE EXPECTANCY: Life expectancy in 2005 was 74.73 years. Approximately 19% of the people in 2004 were under 15 years of age and 14% were over 65.

HEALTH: Infant mortality in 2005 was 15.53 deaths per 1,000 live births. In 2004, there were only about 20 physicians per 100,000 people. HIV-AIDS prevalence was 0.2% of adults in 2003. Prevalence of other diseases was not shown.

CAPITOL: Belgrade

LANGUAGE: Serbo-Croatian

LITERACY: (can read & write) NA

INCOME: (2005 CIA estimates) per capita GDP, $5,000; current economic growth rate, 5.0%; inflation, 15.5%; people with incomes below poverty level, 30%.

LOCATION: Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea, between Bosnia and Albania.

LAND USE: Arable land, 30%; permanent crop, 5%; pasture, 20%; forest, 25%; other, 20%.

TOPOGRAPHY: The North has fertile plains, In the East are limestone mountain ranges & basins; In the S are ancient mountains & hills; and to the SW an extremely high shoreline with no islands.

WATER: rainfall is from 22 to 70 inches.

CLIMATE: In the N. the winters are cold and summers are hot & humid; the central area has continental and Mediterranean climate; and in the S. summers are hot and winters are cold with heavy rainfall and snow.

GOVERNMENT: republic It has a National Assembly, an appointed Prime Minister, and elected president

RELIGION: Orthodox, 655%; Muslim, 19%; other, including Roman Catholic, 16%.

NATURAL RESOURCES: coal, oil, gas, iron ore, copper, gold, nickel.

WORLD TRADE: (2004) Export, 7.9,7 bil. Import, 12.3 bil. Deficit, 5.4 bil.

OVERVIEW: The breakup of the Yugoslav Republic has caused serious disruption of trade between the factions. Serbia has not recovered from the 1991 warfare and separation of land areas.

“National Geographic” June, 1996 (p 51) (see also Yugoslavia)

The Serbs have long dreamed of a greater Serbia. Tito, a Croat, held back their ambition. The Eighties and Nineties put an end to that dream. Only Montenegro remains a part of Serbia. Its people have many things in common with the Serbs. Kosovo, a district in SW Serbia, is 90% Albanian. Its efforts to separate from Serbia have been unsuccessful. Serbian policies in Kosovo are closely scrutinized by the U.N. *

SEYCHELLES (Africa)                      176 sq. miles

(1/7 the size of Rhode Island)

 

POPULATION: (2009) 87 Th.   (2025) 99 TH      (2050)            100 Th.

POPULATION GROWTH: not significant

LIFE EXPECTANCY: Life expectancy in 2005 was 71.82 years.

In 2005, 26% of the people were under 15 years of age and 8% were over 65.

HEALTH: Infant mortality rate in 2005 was 15.53 deaths per 1,000 live births. In 2004, there were 555 physicians, dentists, nurses, and midwives per 100,000 people. Leprosy was still prevalent. HIV-AIDS prevalence is not listed.

CAPITOL: Victoria

LANGUAGE: English (official), French (official).

LITERACY: (can read &write) male, 56%; female, 60%

INCOME: (2005 CIA estimates) per capita GDP, $7,800; current economic growth rate, 3.0%; inflation, 4.0%; people with income below poverty level, n.a.

LOCATION: archipelago in the Indian Ocean consisting of an estimated 115 islands in a ridge running in a North-South direction.

LAND USE: Arable land, 4%; permanent crop, 18%; forest, 18% other, 60%.

TOPOGRAPHY: The islands are granite outcroppings or highlands. There are many cliffs and one mountain is 3,000 feet high. Small streams have deposited alluvial soil that is suitable for agriculture. In some places coral reefs have formed.

WATER:   Rainfall is about 93 inches at seal level but may be as high as 140 in the mountains.

CLIMATE: Sea breezes: keep the temperatures down to a constant 79 to 81 F.

GOVERNMENT: republic National Assembly and President are elected.

RELIGION: Roman Catholic, 90%

NATURAL RESOURCES: fish, copra, cinnamon trees

WORLD TRADE: (2004)     Export, 250 mil. Import, 383 mil. Deficit, 133 mil.

OVERVIEW: Tourist trade makes up most of the deficit in balance of payments. The economy appears stable with no serious problems in the near future. The tsunami that originated near Sumatra in December 2004 did 30 million dollars of damage with a serious impact on the economy.*

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SIERRA LEONE (Africa                    27,635 sq. miles

(7/8 the size of Indiana)

 

POPPULATION: (2009) 5.1.0 mil.   (2025) 7.5 mil.   (2050) 13.6 mil.

POPULATION GROWTH: 2.12%…Population growth may not reach estimated levels because of the AIDS epidemic. The fertility rate is 5.2 children per woman living to the age of 45.

LIFE EXPECTANCY: Life expectancy in 2005 was 39.87 years, among the lowest in the world. In 2005, 41% of the population was under 15 years of age and 3% was over 65.

HEALTH: Infant mortality rate in 2005 was 162,52 deaths per 1,000 live births, the highest in the world. As of 2004, there were only 40 physicians and nurses per 100,000 people. Only 38% of the people had access to health care. Major diseases are leprosy, sleeping sickness, yaws, malaria, tuberculosis and schistosomiasis. 23% of children under 5 suffer from malnutrition. HIV-AIDS prevalence in 2003 was 7.0% of the adult population. Health services were inadequate to handle health problems.

CAPITOL: Freetown

LANGUAGE:   English (official) is limited to a literate minority. A number of dialects are in use. Literacy is about 21%

LITERACY: (can read & write) male, 31%; female, 11%

INCOME: (2005 CIA estimates) per capita GDP, $1,800; current economic growth rate, 5.5%; inflation, 1.0%; people with income below poverty rate, 78%.

LOCATION: on the West coast of Africa; bounded on the N & E by Guinea; on the SE by Liberia and on the S & W by the Atlantic Ocean.

LAND USE: Arable land, 25%; Permanent crop, 2%; pasture, 31%; forest, 29%; other, 13%

TOPOGRAPHY: The extreme West is mostly a mountain area. Apart from the peninsula, the western part of the country consists mostly of coastal mangrove swamps. Farther east a coastal plain extends up to a hundred miles inland. Many wooded hills are to the E & NE and leading to a plateau, with elevation from 1,000 to 2,000 feet, and to the Loma mountains.

WATER: The coastal mountains have up to230 inches of rainfall. Rainfall averages more than 125 inches in most of the country.

CLIMATE: Temperatures are over 80 along the coast and higher inland.

Humidity is high.

GOVERNMENT: In 2007 a National Assembly and President served as the government. This replaced a military government.

RELIGION: Muslim, 60%; indigenous beliefs, 30%; Christian, 10%.

NATURAL RESOURCES: diamonds, titanium ore, bauxite, iron ore, gold, & chromium

WORLD TRADE: (2004) Export, 49 mil.   Import, 264 mil.   Deficit, 115 mil.

OVERVIEW: Sierra Leone has substantial agricultural, mineral & fishing resources. Although it may well absorb population increases, there will be a continual influx from neighboring countries.   A campaign to reduce family size along with education for all women is of the highest priority. AIDS is epidemic. *

 

 

SINGAPORE (Asia)              232 sq. miles

(1/5 the size of Rhode Island)

 

POPULATION: (2009) 4.7 mil. (2025) 5.1 mil. (2050)    4.6 mil.

POPULATION GROWTH: minimal. Fertility rate of women was 1.5 births in 2004.

LIFE EXPECTANCY: Life expectancy in 2005 was 81 years.

20% of the population was under 15 years of age and 8% over 65.

HEALTH: Infant mortality in 2005 was 2.92 per 1,000 births. There were an estimated 590 physicians, dentists, and nurses in 2005. Excellent health is attributed to good housing, sanitation and safe drinking water. Major health concerns were communicable diseases. HIV-AIDS prevalence in 2009 was 2 per thousand people.

CAPITOL: City State

LANGUAGE: Chinese (official), Malay (official), Tamil (official)

LITERACY: (can read & write) male, 95%; female, 83%

INCOME: (32006 CIA estimates) per capita GDP, $29,700; current economic growth,4.5%; inflation, 0.3%; people with income below poverty level, n.a.

LOCATION:   Indian Ocean off the S. tip of the Malay Peninsula.

LAND USE: Arable land, 4%; permanent crop, 7%; forest, 5%; other, 84%.

TOPOGRAPHY: several islands in low altitude.

WATER: rainfall is about 93 inches

CLIMATE: tropical with high humidity and heavy rainfall.

GOVERNMENT: republic within commonwealth

NATURAL RSOURCES: fish, deep-water ports

WORLD TRADE: (2004) Export, 142 bil. Import, 121 bil. Surplus, 21 bil. OVERVIEW: It is a powerful financial and manufacturing center. Its economy

tends to reflect the health of its neighbors. Although the government is a republic, the fabric of society is closely scrutinized. Its future is difficult to forecast.*

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SLOVAKIA (Europe)                        18,924 sq. miles

(Formerly part of Czechoslovakia)

(3/4 the size of West Virginia)

 

POPULATION: (2009) 5.4 mil.   (2025) 5.4 mil.   (2050) 4.9 mil.

POPULATION TREND: stable with slight decrease. As of 2005 the average woman will have 1.3 children.

LIFE EXPECTANCY: Life expectancy in 2005 was 74.50 years.

18% of the population in 2005 was under 15 years of age and 12% as over 65.

HEALTH: Infant mortality rate in 2005 was 7.41 deaths per 1,000 live births. In 2004 there were approximately 1,130 physicians, dentists, and nurses per 100,000 people. Most common diseases were age related. HIV-AIDS prevalence was less than 1 per thousand people in 2009.

CAPITOL: Bratislava

LANGUAGE: Slovak (official), Hungarian

LITERACY: (can read & write) NA

INCOME: (2005 CIA estimates) per capita, $15,200; current economic growth, 5.1%; inflation, 2.5%; people with income below poverty level, n.a.

LOCATION: Central Europe, S. of Poland; boundaries with Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, Ukraine

LAND USE: Information is not available

TOPOGRAPHY: low land in the South and rugged terrain in the rest of the country.

WATER: Rainfall averages 19 inches but can exceed 80.

CLIMATE: cool summers and cold, cloudy, wet winters

GOVERNMENT: parliamentary democracy. The Prime Minister is appointed by the Assembly and the President is directly elected. Slovakia joined NAT and the European Union in 2004

RELIGION: Roman Catholic, 60%

NATURAL RESOURCES: brown coal and lignite, small amounts of other minerals

WORLD TRADE: (2004) Export, 21.2 bil. Import, 21.9 bil. Deficit, 700 mil.

OVERVIEW:   It is a small country with active foreign trade. Information available is not sufficient for forecasts. The country has been independent only 16 years at this writing.*

 

 

SLOVENIA (Europe)             7,821 sq. miles

(Formerly a Yugoslavia state)

(Smaller than Massachusetts)

 

POPULATION: (2009) 2.0 mil. (2025) 1.9 mil. (2050)     1.6 mil.

POPULATION STATUS: slow decline and ageing population. As of 200 the Slovenian woman had an average of 1.2 children.

LIFE EXPECTANCY: Life expectance in 2005 was 76.14 years.

14% of the population in 2005 was under 15 years of age and 15% was over 65.

HEALTH: Infant mortality rate in 2005 was 4.45 deaths per 1,000 live births. In 2004 there were about 991 physicians, dentists, and nurses per 100,000 people. The leading causes of death were cardiovascular diseases, injuries, poisoning, and diseases of the intestinal system. HIV-AIDS prevalence in 2009 was less than 1 per thousand adults.

CAPITOL: Ljubljana

LANGUAGE: Slovenian

LITERACY: (can read &write)   NA

INCOME: (2005 CIA estimates) per capita GDP, $20,900; current economic growth, 3.5%; inflation, 2.0%; people with income below poverty level, n.a.

LOCATION: Southeastern Europe bordering the Adriatic Sea. It borders Austria, Croatia & Italy

LAND USE: Arable land, 10%; permanent crop, 2%; pasture, 20%; forest, 45%; other, 23%.

TOPOGRAPHY: An alpine mountain range adjacent to Italy, a short coastal strip, mixed mountains and valleys and rivers to the East.

CLIMATE: Mediterranean climate on the coast and with hot summers and mild winters elsewhere.

GOVERNMENT: emerging democracy. The National Assembly of 90 members is elected. The elected President is also Supreme Commander of the Armed forces. The National Council is advisory and has representatives from various areas.

RELIGION: Roman Catholic, 96%

NATURAL RESOURCES: lignite coal, mercury, uranium, silver

WORLD TRADE: (2004) export, 11.9 bil. Import, 12.6 bil. Deficit, 700 mil.

OVERVIEW: It is the most prosperous of the former Yugoslavia republics. It has a stable government and a hard-working people.

 

“National Geographic” June, 1996, (p51) “Bosnia” (see also Yugoslavia)

Slovenia has few restive minorities. It seceded in June 1991. The Serb army, already mired in Croatia, withdrew and independence was secured peacefully.*

 

 

SOLOMON ISLANDS (Pacific I)       11,157 sq. miles

(Larger than Maryland)

 

POPULATION: (2009) 519 Th.   (2025) 816 Th.   (2050) 1.1 mil.

POPULATION GROWTH: 1.96%.   It is a country badly in need of family planning. The population has increased nearly 25% between 1995 and 2005.

LIFE EXPECTANCY: Life expectancy in 2005 was 72.2 years.

In 2005, 40% of the population was under 15 years of age and 3% was over 65.

HEALTH: Infant mortality was 21.29 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2004. Malaria, tuberculosis and leprosy are of major concern. HIV-AIDS prevalence was not listed.

CAPITOL: Honiara

LANGUAGE: Melanesian pidgin

LITERACY:   (can read & write) NA. Population growth indicates an inadequate education system.

INCOME:   2005 CIA estimates) per capita GDP, $1,700; current economic growth, 5.8%; inflation, 10.0%; people with income below poverty level, n.a.

LOCATION: Pacific Ocean NE of Australia and 300 miles E of Papua (New Guinea). It is a chain of 6 large and numerous small islands.

LAND USE: Arable land, 1%; permanent crop, 1%; pasture, 1%; forest, 93%; other, 4%.

TOPOGRAPHY: Combination of volcanic peaks and low-lying coral atolls.

WATER: Average rainfall is 120 inches

CLIMATE:   Tropical with average temperatures of 81 F. with hot, rainy season from April to September.

GOVERNMENT: parliamentary democracy.   The head of state is the British monarch represented by the Governor General. A number of outbreaks of violence have plagued the country in the past several years.

RELIGION: Anglican, 34%; Baptist, 19%; Roman Catholic, 17%l other, 30%.

NATURAL RESOURCES: forests, phosphates, gold, silver, lead, zinc, bauxite, & nickel

WORLD TRADE: (2005) Export, 161 mil.   Import, 1590 mil. Surplus, 2 mil.

OVERVIEW: The economy is based on agriculture and fishing. Most manufactured goods must be imported. The island economy will not continue to be able to support the present population growth. An additional hazard is the change in ocean levels that will seriously affect the coral islands, which are close to sea level and are vulnerable to storms and high tides.*

 

 

SOMALIA (Africa)                246,201 sq. miles.

(Smaller than Texas)

 

POPULATION: (2009) 8.8 mil. (2025) 15.8 mil. (2050) 22.0 mil.

POPULATION GROWTH: over 2.63%. It is impossible to imagine the impact of a population growth of this magnitude or imagine an economy that can cope with it.

LIFE EXPECTANCY: Life expectancy in 2005 was only 48.09 years.

In 2005, 45% of the population was under 15 years of age and 3% was over 65.

HEALTH: Infant mortality rate in 2005 was 116.70 deaths per 1,000 live births. In 2004, there were fewer than 24 physicians and nurses per 100,000 people and fewer than one dentist or pharmacy per 100,000 people. Only 31% of the people have access to safe drinking water. Tuberculosis, schistosomiasis, pulmonary disease, malaria and intestinal parasites are endemic. Immunization of children under one year of age is slightly over 1/3 the world average. HIV-AIDS prevalence in 2003 was 1.00% of the adult population and considered epidemic.

CAPITOL:      Mogadishu

LANGUAGE: Somali (official), Arabic, Italian.

LITERACY: (can read &write) male, 30%; female, 14%. Educational system is totally inadequate.

INCOME: (2005 CIA estimates) per capita GDP, $600; current growth rate, 2.4%; inflation, n.a. People with income below poverty level, n.a.

LOCATION: Horn of E. Africa. It is NE of Kenya & on the E & SE of Ethiopia.

LAND USE: arable land, 2%; pastures, 46%; forests, 14%; other (desert), 38%.

TOPOGRAPHY: Northern region is mountainous, intermixed with plateaus. In the NE is a desert plateau. The region between the Juba & the Shabeelle Rivers is low-lying agricultural land.

RIVERS: Shabeelle & Juba Rivers originate in Ethiopia, and flow toward the Indian Ocean. They provide irrigation.

WATER: Rainfall is somewhat less than 11 inches.

CLIMATE: Tropical. Low-lying areas have year-round temperatures between 75 & 85. Plateau temperatures are t cooler. Temperatures in the South are very hot and dry.

GOVERNMENT: republic. The provisional government has President, Prime Minister and a National Assembly, which is made up of representatives of the 4 major clans in the country. 2004 marked the end of 13 years of anarchy. An area in the Southwest is still uncommitted by the central government.

RELIGION: Sunni Muslim

NATURAL RESOURCES: largely unexplored source of iron ore, copper, bauxite, & uranium

WORLD TRADE: (2004) Export, 79 mil. Import, 344 mil.   Deficit, 265 mil.

OVERVIEW: It is a very poor country, largely depending on other countries. Its future can give us little hope, especially with a rapidly growing population. The UN estimates that 750,000 people are living in need of humanitarian aid.*

Long-lasting droughts are expected to worsen with global warming. No long-term solutions have been suggested. About 1.5 million people are refugees of continued civil war. Newsweek, August 15, 2011, p. 44.

 

SOUTH AFRICA (Africa)     474,445 sq. miles

(1/3 larger than Texas)

 

POPULATION: (2009) 49.0 mil. (2025) 48.7 mil. (2050) 49.4 mil.

POPULATION GROWTH: Negative. (1995) Growth rate was 2.14% and population was estimated at 45 million. This may not take into consideration the influx from other poorer countries to the North and the effect of the AIDS epidemic.

LIFE EXPECTANCY: Life expectancy in 2005 was 43.27 years.

In 2005, 33% of the population was under 15 years of age and 4% was over 65.

HEALTH: Infant mortality in 2005 was 61.81 deaths per 1,000 live births. In 2004, there were about 467 physicians, dentists, and nurses per 100,000 people Health services are concentrated in the cities. HIV-AIDS prevalence in 2004 was 21.50% of the adult population, about 5 million cases. An increasing percentage of infected parents are leaving infants with one or both parents dying of AIDS related causes.

CAPITOL: Cape Town (legislative); Pretoria (administrative)

Bloemfontein   (Supreme Court)

LITERACY: (can read &write) male, 78%; female, 75%

It would seem that literacy has gone down since 1994. The new government has been unable to establish schools for a growing population in the black townships.

INCOME: (2005 CIA estimates) per capita GDP, $11,000; current economic growth rate, 4.5%; inflation, 4.6%; people with income below poverty level, 50%

LANGUAGE: eleven official languages. Higher education, English, Afrikaans, Ndebele, and eight other languages are official languages.

LOCATION: South part of Africa. It is south of all other countries.

LAND USE: arable land, 10%; permanent crop, 1%; pasture, 65%; forest, 3%; other, 21%.

TOPOGRAPHY: Varies from low plains to plateaus and mountains in the North. Mean elevation of the country is 3,900 feet. At least 40% of the country is above that elevation.   Altitude increases from west to east, culminating in the Drakensberg mountains, (part of the great Eastern Escarpment) which reach an altitude of 11181 ft. at Mt. Injasuti .

WATER: Mean annual rainfall is 18 inches.   21% of the country receives less than 8 inches.

CLIMATE: Durbin. In the East, has a climate of 55 F. in July and 70 F in February; At Port Nolloth, on the W. coast, it is 45 F. in June and 55 F. in January. On the high veldts temperatures have a wide range day to night and from season to season.

NATURAL RESOURCES: coal, iron ore, gold, diamonds, antimony, chromium, nickel, manganese, phosphorous, uranium, platinum, copper, vanadium, salt, natural gas.

GOVERNMENT: republic with National Assembly

RELIGIONS: Christian, 80%; ethnic, 15%; other, 5%.

WORLD TRADE: (2004)     Export, 36.8 bil. Import, 33.9 bil. Surplus, 2,9 bil.

OVERVIEW: Great differences in personal income. Much of the native population is suffering the impact of aids. The nation is comparatively prosperous but is having difficulty in coping with population pressures from adjoining nations. Administrative personnel and corporate executives live very well.*

 

SPAIN (Europe)                     195,365 sq. miles.

(3/4 the size of Texas)

 

POPULATION: (2009) 40.5 mil.   (2025) 39.6 mil.       (2050) 35.6 mil.

The U.N. estimates the population in 2005 at 43,484,000.

POPULATION STATUS: Negative growth rate with ageing population and high unemployment.

LIFE EXPECTANCY: Life expectancy in 2005 was 78 years.

In 2005 15% of the population was under 15 years of age and 17% was over 65.

HEALTH: Infant mortality in 2005 was 4.42 deaths per 1,000 live births. In 2004 there were 725 physicians, dentists, and nurses per 100,000 people. Leading causes of death were injuries, various communicable and non-communicable diseases. HIV-AIDS prevalence was 0.70% of adults in 2003

CAPITOL: Madrid.

LANGUAGE: Castilian Spanish (official), Catalan, Basque

LITERACY: (can read & write) male, 98k%; female, 94%

INCOME: (2005 CIA estimates) per capita GDP, $25,100; current economic growth rate, 3.5%; inflation, 3.4%; people with earnings below poverty level, n.a.

LOCATION: The major part of the Iberian Peninsula. It is separated from France, on the North, by the Pyrenees.   It also includes the Balearic Islands in the W. Mediterranean Sea and the Canary Islands W of Morocco in the Atlantic Ocean..

LAND USE: Arable land, 31%; permanent crop, 10%; pasture, 31%; forest, 21%; other, 7%.

TOPOGRAPHY: Spain, the 3^rd largest country in Europe, has a wide variety of terrain with 6 mountain ranges, high plateaus and deep, sometimes broad, fertile valleys. It has few natural harbors but a rugged coastline with narrow coastal plains and areas called the Spanish Riviera.

WATER: North coastal belt has 39 inches of rainfall; the central plateau no more than 20 inches and the South has 16 to 31 inches.

CLIMATE: Climate along the Mediterranean is pleasant and popular with tourists. The high plateau has cold winters and hot summers. The South has mild winters and variable hot weather in the summer.

GOVERNMENT: King, and parliamentary democracy. The Basques of the North continue to demand their own government. There have been a number of terrorist incidents believed to be of Basque origin, and dating back 30 years.

RELIGION: Roman Catholic, 80% but half do not attend mass; Other, 20%.

NATURAL RESOURCES: coal, lignite, iron ore, uranium, pyrites, nickel, fluorspar, gypsum, zinc, lead , copper, kaolin, potash

WORLD TRADE: (2000) Export, 155.4 bil. Import 197.1 bil. Deficit, 41.7 bil.

OVERVIEW: It has been one of the less fortunate member of the EU. The Basque and other minorities of the North have been in rebellion against the government, seeking an independent status. Entitlements and other costs have left the government deeply in debt. Spain has applied for aid from other EU countries in 2010 and 2011.*

 

 

 

SRI LANKA               25,332 sq. miles

(Slightly larger than W. Virginia)

 

POPULATION: (2009) 21.3 mil. (2025) 23.7 mil. (2050) 24.9 mil.

POPULATION GROWTH: 0.65%.

LIFE EXPECTANCY: Life expectancy in 2005 was 71.2 years.

In 2005, 28% of the population was less than 15 years of age, and 6% was over 65.

HEALTH: Infant mortality in 2005 was 14.3 deaths per 1,000 live births. There were approximately 125 physicians, dentists and nurses per 100,000 people kin 2004. Malaria, tuberculosis, and the gastrointestinal group of diseases are the main concern. It is estimated that 35% of children under 5 years of age are malnourished. HIV-AIDS prevalence in 2003 was less than 1 per thousand adults.

CAPITOL: Colombo is commercial center.

LANGUAGE: Sinhala and Tamil (official and national languages), 74%; Tamil (national language)

LITERACY) (can read & write) male, 93%; female, 84%

INCOME: (2005 CIA estimates) per capita, $4,500; current economic growth rate, 4.7%; inflation, 11.2%; people with incomes below poverty lev3el, n.a.

LOCATION: formerly the island of Ceylon, it is situated in the Indian Ocean, E & slightly S. of the southern point of India.

LAND USE: Arable land, 16%; permanent crop, 17%; pastures, 7%; forests, 37%; other, 23%.

TOPOGRAPHY: The S. Central part of Sri Lanka is a rough plateau cut by a range of mountains. Narrow plains skirt the mountains & plateau on the S. & W. On the North the extensive plain reaches from E. to W. Shores. 5/6 of the island is below 1,000 feet of elevation.

WATER: Lowlands receive about 50 inches of rainfall. Elsewhere, the rainfall varies from 25 to 75 inches.

CLIMATE: Climate ranges from warm in the lowlands to temperate in the hills and mountains.

GOVERNMENT: republic. Much of the South (the Tamils) is in rebellion. As of the end of 2006, neither military action nor negotiations have been successful in reaching a solution short of separation.

RELIGION: Buddhist, 60%; Hindu, 15%; Christian, 8%; Muslim, 8%.

NATURAL RESOURCES: limestone, graphite, mineral sands, gems, phosphorous, clay.

WORLD TRADE: (2004)     Export, 5.2 bil. Import, 6.6 bil. Deficit, 1.4 bil.

OVERVIEW: Main source of export is manufacturing, especially wearing apparel, also agricultural products. Political unrest has seriously affected the economy.

In April 2004, an election was held for 225 parliamentary seats. There were 6,000 candidates from 24 parties and 192 independent groups. *

 

SUDAN (Africa)                    967,500 sq miles

(Almost 3/10 the size of the U.S)

 

POPULATION: (2009) 41.7 mil. (2025) 55.7il. (2050)    81.2il.

POPULATION GROWTH: officially, 1.97%. .

LIFE EXPECTANCY: Life expectancy in 2005 was 58.84 years.

In 2005, 44% of the population was under 15 years of age and 2% was over 65.

HEALTH: Infant mortality rate in 2005 was 62.50 deaths per 1,000 live births. As of 2004 there were approximately 101 physicians and nurses per 100,000 people. About 34% of children under 5 years of age are considered malnourished. HIV-AIDS prevalence was 2.30% of adults, a prevalence considered epidemic.

CAPITOL: Khartoum

LANGUAGE: Arabic (official), Nubian, Ta Bedawie, and diverse local dialects.

LITERACY: (can read &write) male, 44%; female, 21%.

INCOME: (2005 CIA estimates) per capita GDP, $2,100; current economic growth rate, 6.0%; inflation, 11.0%; people with income below poverty level, 40%.

LOCATION: Northeast Africa & largest country in Africa. It is S of Egypt, SW of the Red Sea, W of Ethiopia and shares borders with Kenya, Uganda, Zaire, Central African Republic, Chad, & Libya. Traversed by the Nile and its tributaries.

LAND USE: Arab le land, 5%; pasture, 24%; forest, 20%; other (desert), 51%.

TOPOGRAPHY: Northern Sudan is a vast plain, much of it desert. Widely spaced mountain areas have peaks that frequently exceed 6,500 ft. In the South is the Sud, a marshy area traversed by the White Nile and to the SW is a forest and pasture area.

WATER:   Rainfall ranges from 47 inches in the South to less than 10 in the North.

CLIMATE: Maximum temperatures range from 90 to 108. The North has tropical desert and the far south has tropical highland temperatures.

GOVERNMENT: Dictatorship ruled by Omar Al-Basha (age 68) The ruling military junta is Islamic. A conflict of 40-year duration between the government and the Southern area was settled but farmers in Darfur, a Western province prompted the government to arm militia. The result was 70,000 killed and a million refugees. The southwest areas voted overwhelmingly in 2010 to separate from the Sudan.

RELIGION: Sunni Muslim, 70%, in north. Indigenous beliefs, 25%; Christian, 5%.

NATURAL RESOURCES: iron ore, copper, chromium, zinc, tungsten, mica, silver, gold. There are deposits of petroleum in the SW.

WORLD TRADE: (2004)     Export, 2.45 bil.   Import, 2.38 bil.   Surplus, 70 mil.

OVERVIEW:   The revolution in Darfur will continue to affect the economy. It is also rumored that the Military has encouraged raids against the people of Chad.”*

The government conceded to separation of South Sudan in 2011. This was the culmination of over 40 years of combat between the Islamic North and the Christian and Indigenous South of Sudan.

Sudan, in 2012, is now the scene of military clashes between the government and those who would replace the military dictatorship.

 

 

SOUTH SUDAN, REPUBLIC OF    `239,238 SQ MI

(About the size of Texas)

 

POPULATION: 8-10 million (no accepted census in decades

POPULATION GROWTH: Sudan, 1.9%, returns of people who fled the country 4is an unknown factor.

LIFE EXPECTANCY: unknown but affected by lack of health care.

HEALTH: S. Sudan has no organized health care system except U.N. volunteer and outside assistance.

CAPITOL: Juba, a central Capitol similar to that of Brazil is planned.

LANGUAGE: Officially, English. Juba Arabic & Dinka. Almost 0 languages are spoken locally. The schools teach in English but there is a serious shortage of teachers and schools. Plans are for a 16-year curriculum, similar to the U.S.

LITERACY: unknown. Education has taken a back seat to war and civil war.

INCOME: estimated income is about 1,500 in 2011.

LOCATION: It is a landlocked country north of he equator with Sudan to the N., Ethiopia to E. Kenya to the SE. Uganda to the S., Congo to the SW., & Central African Republic to the W.

WATER: Rainfall is about 45 inches per year with rainy season in

WATERWAYS: White Nile

CLIMATE: High altitude tropical with highs up to mid nineties and lows in the fifties.

GOVERNMENT: Three division with Executive with President, Legislative with upper & lower house, and Judicial.

RELIGION: mostly indigenous with Christian most common. There is some Muslim in the North.

NATURAL RESOURCES:   There are large

WORLD TRADE: about 3 billion dollars. Oil exports are low because of incomplete negotiations between Sudan and South Sudan.

OVERVIEW: Over 90% of government income comes from oil exports, which is temporarily limited because of negotiations. Thirty years of civil war, which still continues, has severely impacted infrastructure such as schools, highways, Four million citizens are either without housing or in Uganda and Ethiopia as refugees. Continued civil war had resulted in cases of censorship and violation of human rights by the government. There are frequent clashes between troops of Sudan and South Sudan.

SURINAME (Latin Am.)       63,037 sq miles

(Larger than Georgia)

 

POPULATION: (2009) 481 Th. (2025) 560 Th. (2050) 617 Th.

POPULATION STATUS: (2005) growth rate of 1.00%.

LIFE EXPECTANCY: Life expectancy in 2005 was estimated at 68.9o years.

In 2005, 29% of population was under 15 years of age and 6% was over 65.

HEALTH: Infant mortality in 2005 was 23.37 deaths per 1,000 live births. In 2004 there were an estimated 45 doctors per 100,000 people. HIV-AIDS prevalence in 2009 was 2.4% of the total population, to be treated as epidemic, especially because of inadequate health services.

CAPITOL: Paramaribo

LANGUAGE: Dutch (official), English (widely spoken), Spanish, and Taki-Taki.

LITERACY: (can read & write) male, 95%; female, 95%

INCOME: (2005 CIA estimates) per capita GDP, $4,700; current economic growth rate, 4.0%; inflation, 9.5%; people with income below poverty level, 70%

LOCATION: Northern S. America, bordering the N. Atlantic. Land borders with French Guinea, Brazil & Guyana

LAND USE: forest &woodland, 97%; other, 3%

TOPOGRAPHY: Mostly rolling hills; northern area, coastal swamps

WATER: Rainfall is about 90 inches.

CLIMATE: tropical, moderated by trade winds

GOVERNMENT: republic, National Assembly appoints the president, vice-president and prime minister. This gives the executives little independent freedom of action. The government has been ineffectual in dealing with economy and land development.

RELIGION: Hindu, 27%; Muslim, 20%; Roman Catholic, 22%; Protestant, 25%

NATURAL RESOURCES: timber, hydropower potential, fish, bauxite

WORLD TRADE: (2004) Export, 495 mil.   Import, 604 mil. Deficit, 109 mil

OVERVIEW: Economy is dominated by bauxite extraction.   It is still dependent on aid from the Netherlands. An underground economy is thriving in drugs, gold smuggling and human trafficking. The economy is not self-sustaining. *

 

 

SWAZILAND Africa             6,704 sq. miles

(About a third larger than Connecticut)

 

POPULATION: (2009) 1.3 mil. (2025) 1.5 mil.     (2050)  1.8 mil.

POPULATION GROWTH: Growth is negative. The prevalence of HIV-AIDS related and water borne diseases are the principal causes.

LIFE EXPECTANCY: Life expectancy in 2005 was 33.22 years, the lowest in the world. In 2005, 43% of the population was under 15 years of age and 3% was over 65.

HEALTH: Infant mortality rate in 2005 was 72.92 deaths per 1,000 live births. In 2004 there were approximately 340 doctors, nurses, and dentists per 100,000 people. Only 43% of the people have access to safe drinking water. Major health problems include Bilharziasis , tapeworm, typhoid, gastroenteritis, malaria, kwashiorkor, and pellagra. HIV-AIDS prevalence rate in 2003was 38.80% of the adult population, the highest in the world.

CAPITOL: Mbabane

LANGUAGE: English and local Siswati, are both official

LITERACY: (can read &write) male, 70%; female, 65%

INCOME: (2005 CIA estimates) per capita GDP, $5,500; current economic growth rate, 1.8%; inflation, 4.0%; people with incomes below poverty level, 60%

LOCATION: It is a landlocked country in southern Africa. It is bounded by Mozambique & the Republic of South Africa.

LAND USE: Arable land, 10.9%; permanent crop, 0.2%; pastures, 62.2%; forests, 6.9%; other, 19.8%

TOPOGRAPHY: Four distinct regions; the high (altitudes to 6,750 feet), the middle z (averaging, 2,000 ft), the low (less than 1,000 ft) lands, and the Lebonbo escarpment. (a plain 2,000 ft. n elevation) that extends to the escarpment which is a part of the Lebonbo Mountain at 4,000 ft.).

WATER: Rainfall is 51 inches in the lowlands, 35 inches in the midlands and 21 inches in the highlands.

CLIMATE: Humid in the lowlands and drier at higher altitudes. Temperatures are temperate. With mild winters. There are occasional violent storms.

GOVERNMENT:   Dictatorship monarchy ruled by King Mswai III (age 45); an independent member of commonwealth

RELIGION:   Christian, 60%; indigenous beliefs, 40%.

NATURAL RESOURCES: asbestos, coal, clay, hydropower

WORLD TRADE: (2004) Export, 906 mil. Import, 1,085 mil. Deficit, 102 mil.   OVERVIEW: Major source of export is agriculture. Iron ore deposits have been depleted and asbestos is no longer in great demand. It is one of the few countries in which disease is the major factor in the decline of the population. Doomsday has hit Swaziland early.*

 

SWEDEN (Europe)                173,940 sq. miles

(larger than California)

 

POPULATION:   (2009)   9.0 mil.   (2025)             9.3 mil.   (2050) 9.1 mil.

POPULATION GROWTH; Insignificant.

LIFE EXPECTANCY: Life expectancy in 2005 was; 80.40 years.

In; 2005, 18% of the population was under 15 years of age; and 17% was over 65.

HEALTH: Infant mortality in 2005 was 2.77 deaths per 1,000 live births. Cardiovascular disease accounts for half of the deaths in 2005. Apart from cancer, most other health problems are related to lifestyle and environment. HIV-AIDS prevalence in 2009 is under 0.1% of the population.

CAPITOL: Stockholm

LANGUAGE: Swedish, closely related to Danish & Norwegian

LITERACY: (can read & write) total population, 99%

INCOME: (2005 CIA estimates) per capita GDP, $29,000; current economic growth rate, 2.4%; inflation, 0.5%; people with income below poverty level, n.a.

LOCATION: The eastern part of the Scandinavian peninsula of northern Europe. It shares its W border with Norway and with the Baltic Sea on the East. It borders Finland on the far NE.

LAND USE: Arable land, 7%; pastures, 2%; forest, 64%; other, 27%.

TOPOGRAPHY: North Sweden sloped from the Kjolen mountains along the Norwegian frontier to the coast of the Gulf of Bothnia. The many rivers flow toward the SE, and have incised the plateau with many waterfalls. There are many lakes.

WATER: Average precipitation is about 24 inches.

CLIMATE: There is a lot of snow in many areas but winters are not severe. Winters only last 2 months in the south.

GOVERNMENT: Limited Monarchy with parliamentary rule. Executive power lies in the appointments made by the majority party.

RELIGION: Evangelical Lutheran, 94%

NATURAL RESOURCES: zinc, iron ore, lead, copper, tin, silver, uranium, hydropower potential

WORLD TRADE: (2004) Export, 103 bil. Import, 83 bil. Surplus, 20 bil.

OVERVIEW: High standard of living and stable government. It continues to have a favorable balance of trade. Its future will depend on climate stability .Climate change and the availability of petroleum are major variables.*

 

 

 

SWITZERLAND (Europe)    15,940 sq. miles

(half again as large as Maryland)

 

POPULATION:   (2009) 7.6 mil. (2025) 7.7 mil. (2050)  7.3 mil.

POPULATION GROWTH: A static population growth and strict immigration laws have limited changes. Fertility rate in 2005 was 1.5 children per woman through age of 45 years.

LIFE EXPECTANCY: Life expectancy in 2005 was 80.39 years.

In 2005, 16% of the population was under 15 years of age and 16% was over 65.

HEALTH: Infant mortality rate in 2005 was 4.39 deaths per 1,000 live births.   In 2004, there were an estimated 1,234 physicians, dentists, and nurses per 100,000 people. Most deaths involve lifestyle or age such as cardiovascular disease and cancer. HIV-AIDS prevalence in 2009 was 0.60% of the adult population.

CAPITOL: Bern

LANGUAGE: French (official); German (official); Italian (official) German, with 67% is the most common language.

LITERACY: (can read & write) total population, 99%

INCOME:   (2005 CIA estimates) per capita, $35,000; current economic growth rate, 2.0%; inflation, 1.2%; people with income below poverty level, n.a.

LOCATION: Landlocked country in Western Europe.   It is E o
France, S of Germany, W of Austria, and N of Italy.

LAND USE: Arable land, 10%; permanent crop, 1%; pasture, 40%; forest, 26%; other (mountain), 23%.

TOPOGRAPHY: Most of its topography is high mountains interspersed with valleys, some broad and a number of lakes.

LAKES: Lake Geneva; Lake Constance; Lake of Lucerne

RIVERS: Rhine, Rhone, Danube. All three rivers rise in Switzerland.

WATER: Average rainfall varies from 21 inches in the Rhone valley to 57 inches in Lugano.

CLIMATE: In the valleys, the temperatures are close to 32 in winter and rarely over 70 in summer. Many mountains are snowcapped or with glaciers. At Ticino, in the Southern Alps, frost is almost unknown.

GOVERNMENT: Federal Republic. The Federal government only has those administrative powers delegated to it by the political subdivisions called cantons.

RELIGION: Roman Catholic, 47%; Protestant, 44%.

NATURAL RESOURCES: hydropower potential, timber, salt

WORLD TRADE: (2004)   Export, 110 bil.   Imports, 102 bil. Surplus, 8 bil.

OVERVIEW: It is a highly integrated society with strong controls by government and the financial area. It seems able to adjust to changing conditions.*

 

 

SYRIA (Middle E.)                 71,498 sq. miles

(Slightly larger than N. Dakota)

 

POPULATION:   (2009) 22 mil. (2025) 27.5 mil.     (2050) 3.4 mil.

POPULATION GROWTH: In 2005 population growth was 1.73%

LIFE EXPECTANCY: Life expectancy in 2005 was 70.03.

In 2005, 37% of the population was; less than 15 years and 3% was over 65.

HEALTH: Infant mortality rate in 2005 was29.34 deaths per 1,000 live births. In 2004 there were approximately 350 physicians, dentists, and nurses per 100,000 people.   Respiratory and intestinal diseases associated with poor living conditions are endemic.   HIV-AIDS prevalence in 2003 was less than 1 per thousand adults.

CAPITOL: Damascus

LANGUAGE: Arabic (official), Kurdish, Armenian

LITERACY: (can read & write) male, 78%; female, 51%

INCOME: (2005 CIA estimates) per capita GDP, $3,500; current economic growth rate, 1.4%; inflation, 2.2%; people with income below poverty level, 20%.

LOCATION: Middle East, East of Lebanon and on the East coast of the Mediterranean. It is S of Turkey, E of Lebanon and West of Iraq.

LAND USE: Arable land, 28%; permanent crop, 3%; pasture, 46%, forest, 3%; other, 20%.

TOPOGRAPHY: Five major regions: the narrow coast along the Mediterranean shore; the hill & mountain region in the NW paralleling the coast& the eastern slopes of the Anti-Lebanon and the Jabal in the SE. the cultivated area E of the Ansariyah and Anti-Lebanon range which is widest in the N.; the steppe & desert region traversed by the Euphrates River, and the Jazirah in the NE, composed of low rolling hills.

WATER: Rainfall averages about 30 inches along the coast, 50 inches in some mountain areas, and less than 10 in the east. 3/5 of the country is arid.

CLIMATE: Temperatures range from Mediterranean along the coast to extreme changes in the desert where the temperature may go below freezing in January and up to 120 in July.

GOVERNMENT: Dictatorship ruled by Bashar Al-Assad (born in 1960) It is nominally a republic under leftwing military rule

RELIGION: Sunni Muslim, 74%; other Muslim sects, 16%; Christian (various sects), 10%.

NATURAL RESOURCES: petroleum, chrome & magnesium ore, phosphorous, asphalt, iron ore

WORLD TRADE: (2004) export, 5.1 bil. Import, 4.8 bil. Surplus, 300 mil.

OVERVIEW: Although Syria has done fairly well in the economy and the balance of payments is favorable, the future looks grim with a growing population. As in most other Middle East countries, population growth is out of hand and the area is becoming dependent on other countries for at least part of its food needs. Social rights of women are restricted.*

Citizens of Syria have been demonstrating against the regime sine before 1988.

The government has made no concessions and continues to kill and imprison people as of 2012.see also, p. 242. “Islam.”

 

TAIWAN (Asia)                    13,892 sq. miles

(A third larger than Maryland)

 

POPULATION: (2009) 23 mil.   (2025) 23 mil.     (2050) 20 mil.

POPULATION CHANGE: It is a relatively modern country and the population has reached a balance.

LIFE EXPECTANCY: Life expectancy in 2005 was 77.2 years.

In 2005, 19% of the population was under 15 years and 9% was over65.

HEALTH: Infant mortality rate in 20050 was 6.4 deaths per 1,000 live births. An active inoculation drive has materially reduced health risks.     HIV-AIDS prevalence was not listed.

CAPITOL: Taipei

LANGUAGE: Mandarin Chinese, Taiwanic

LITERACY: (can read & write) male, 93%; female, 79%

INCOME: (2005 CIA estimates) per capita, $26,700; current economic growth rate, 3.6%; inflation, 2.3%; people with income below poverty level, n.a.

LOCATION: Western Pacific, and less than 100 miles from the coast of Southern China. .

LAND USE: Arable land, 24%; permanent crop, 1%; pastures, 5% forests, 55%; other, 15%.

TOPOGRAPHY: Taiwan perches on the edge of the continental shelf. Water to the west, averages 300 feet. The ocean to the east drops to 13,000 feet within 35 miles.   The North coast has many inlets providing good harbor locations. The eastern 2/3 of the island is composed of rugged hills and mountain chains. A low coastal plain occupies the West.

WATER: Rainfall ranges from 57 in the lowlands to 250 inches or more on exposed mountains.

CLIMATE: tropical monsoon with January mean temperature at 61 F. and July is 82 F. Mountains may have snow in January. The country is subject to severe tropical storms and typhoons.

GOVERNMENT: multiparty democracy. Of the 225 members of the legislature, 168 are elected. The balance are appointed. In 2008 the number will be reduced to 113. The executive can be dismissed by a no confidence vote.

RELIGION: mixture of Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoist

NATURAL RESOURCES: small deposits of oil, limestone, marble

WORLD TRADE: (2004) Export, 143.1 bil. Import, 119.7 bil. Surplus, 23.5 bil.

OVERVIEW: Dynamic economy, Capitalist & aggressive. It shows the ability to adjust to change. Taiwan is still not recognized as a separate nation by most of the World. China claims Taiwan is a dissident part of China.*

China continues to pressure Taiwan to unite. Taiwanese oppose the union by 2 to. Newsweek, October 25, 2010, p. 5.

TAJIKISTAN (Asia)             58,029 sq. miles

(Former Soviet state)

(Slightly smaller than Wisconsin)

 

POPULATIION: (2009) 7.3 mil. (2025) 9.5 mil. (2050) 12.0 mil.

POPULATION GROWTH: 1.6%. Fertility rate of women has declined to 3.1 in 2000.

LIFE EXPECTANCY: Life expectancy in 2005 was 64.4 years.

In 2005, 40% of the population was under 15 years and 4% was over 65.

HEALTH: Infant mortality rate kin 2005 was 110.7 per 1,000 live births. There were approximately 665 physicians and nurses per 100,000 people. Diphtheria is widespread through much of the former Soviet Union. HIV-AIDS prevalence in 2009 was 0.3% of total population.

CAPITOL:   Dushanbe

LANGUAGE: Tajik (official), Russian (widely used in government & business)

LITERACY: (can read & write) male, 90%; female, 91%

INCOME: (2005 CIA estimates) per capita $1,200; current economic growth rate, 8.0k%; inflation, 8.0%; people with income below poverty level, 60%.

LOCATION: Central Asia, West of China. Common borders with China, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Kyrgyz Stan

LAND USE: Arable land, 6%; pasture, 23%, other, 71%

TOPOGRAPHY: Pamir & Allay Mountains dominate the landscape. In the west is the Fergana valley & in the north two large valleys.

WATER:   Most of the country has less than 20 inches of rainfall.

CLIMATE: mountainous continental with hot summers and mild winters in the valleys to polar (cold) on the mountains.

GOVERNMENT:   One party republic. President Rakhmanov has arbitrary powers. Restrictive measures were taken against media critical of the government. Election laws also tended to restrict opposition to the government.

RELIGION:   Sunni Muslim, 80%

NATURAL RESOURCES: significant; hydropower potential, brown coal, lead, zinc, antimony

WORLD TRADE: (2009) Export, 1.5 bil. Import, 4.1 bil. Deficit, 2.6 bil.

OVERVIEW: Cotton is the major money crop. Land is becoming polluted because of excessive use of herbicides, fertilizer and inadequate flushing of the soil. The future is not promising. Many workers have migrated to Russia in search of work.

 

“National Geographic”, February 2002 (pp 118-119z)

Civil war broke out in 1999 & most of the skilled technicians fled the country. It is the poorest of the former Soviet Republics. 93% of the country is mountainous. Much of the rest was tilled by state farms, which were required to grow cotton. The arable land suffers from poor farming practices. The presence of the Russian army is still significant. **

TANZANIA (Africa)\                        341,217 sq. miles

(1.3 times the size of Texas)

 

POPULATION: (2009) 41 mil. (2025) 53 mil. (2050) 69 mil.

POPULATION GROWTH: (2005) 1.5% projected for 20 and for 45 years. The spread of AIDS will likely slow population growth.

LIFE EXPECTANCY: Life expectancy in 2005 was 45.24 years.

In 2005, 43% of the people were under 15years of age and 3% were over 65.

HEALTH: Infant mortality in 2005 was 98.54 deaths per 1,000 live births. There were fewer than 4 physicians per 100,000 people. There were over 3,000 medical centers but staffing was low because of declining wages. 54% of the people had access to safe drinking water. As of 2,000, 44% of children under 5 years of age were malnourished. Major diseases are malaria, tuberculosis, sleeping sickness, schistosomiasis, polio and yaws. HIV-AIDS prevalence in 2003 was 8.80% of adults. Government programs have been effective in slowing the spread of AIDS and slowing its progress.

CAPITOL: Doboma

LANGUAGE: Swahili (official and generally used in business), English (official)

LITERACY: (can read & write) male, 71%; female, 48%

INCOME: (2005 CIA estimates) per capita GDP, $700; current growth rate, 6.0%; inflation, 4.0%; people with income below poverty level, 30%

LOCATION: Its E border is the Indian Ocean. On the West, it borders the lakes listed below. It is N of Malawi, NE of Zambia, E of Zaire, Burundi, and Rwanda, and S of Kenya & Uganda.

LAND USE: Arable land, 5%; permanent crop, 1%; pasture, 40%; forest, 47%, other, 7%.

TOPOGRAPHY: Except for a coastal strip & the islands, Tanzania lies at an altitude of over 3,000 feet. A plateau averaging from 3,000 to 6,000 feet makes up the greater part of the country. There are several groups of mountains. The highest is the famous Kilimanjaro, at 19,340 feet.

LAKES: Victoria, Tanganyika, Nairon, Eyasi, Manyara, and Rukawa. (see lakes)

WATER: Rainfall is 40 to 70 inches in the tropical coastal area0, 20 to 30 in on the plateau, and 30 to 40 inches in the Lake region. A small area near L Nairon receives 100 inches of rainfall.

CLIMATE: The islands & the coast have a tropical climate moderated by sea breezes. The rest of the country is in a number of temperature zones

GOVERNMENT: republic. The 1995 election was the first contested election in 20 years. In 2005, the election was more open although criticized by observers.

RELIGION: Christin, 45%; Muslim, 35%; indigenous beliefs, 15%

WORLD TRADE: (2005) Export, 976 mil. Import, 1,6674 mil. Deficit, 698 mil.

OVERVIEW: Tanzania is one of the poorest countries in Africa. The economy is not self-sustaining. The future, with a rapidly increasing population, is a danger to Tanzania as well as the surrounding countries. A project, drawing water from Lake Victoria for hundreds of villages has been delayed by protests from Egypt on the basis of priority & treaty. Control and treating of AIDS is of first priority*

 

 

THAILAND (Asia)                198,115 sq. mi.

(1-¼ times larger than California)

 

POPPULATION: (2009) 66 mil. (2025) 71 mil. (2050) 69 mil.

POPULATION GROWTH: 0.6% with a tapering off to 0% after 2025.

LIFE EXPECTANCY: Life expectancy in 205 is 71.95.

In 2005, 23% of the population was under 15 years of age and 7% over 65.

HEALTH: Infant mortality rate in 2005 was 20,16 deaths per 1,000 live births. There were 30 physicians per 100,000 people. Common diseases are malaria, tuberculosis, and leprosy. 13% of children under 5 years of age are malnourished. HIV-AIDS prevalence in 2003 was 1.5% of adult population. Lifestyle of Thailand will make control unusually difficult.

CAPITOL: Bangkok

LANGUAGE: Thai, English

LITERACY: (can read & write) male, 96%; female, 91%

INCOME: (2005 CIA estimates), per capita GDP, $8,300; current economic growth rate, 4.6%; inflation, 4.0%; people with income below poverty level, 10%.

LOCATION: Southeastern Asia on the Malaysian peninsula. It is S of Burma,

SW of Laos NW of Cambodia, W of Vietnam, and N of Malaysia.

LAND USE: Arable land, 34%; permanent crop, 4%; pasture, 1%; forest, 28%; other, 31%.

TOPOGRAPHY: Thailand is in 5 geographical areas. In the Northwest, the Continental Highlands, composed of mountains and valleys, are sources of the Salwen R. in Burma, the Mekong in Laos, and the Chaos Phraya in Thailand.   In the Northeast is a sparsely populated area with rugged terrain & deep jungle. The central valley is the main agricultural area, formed by the valley & estuary of the Chaos Phraya. The peninsula is an extremely narrow strip shared with Malaysia.

RIVERS: Chao Phraya, Salween, and Mekong,

WATER: Annual rainfall is about 59 inches.

CLIMATE: Tropical. Bangkok has average temperature of 82 F. Mountain and valley areas have cooler weather in November-March period.

GGOVERNMENT: constitutional monarchy. The house has 500 members, 100 of which are by population and the rest by area. The senate is appointed but each member has to have certain educational qualifications.

RELIGION: Buddhism, 95%; Muslim in three Southern provinces

NATURAL RESOURCES: tin rubber, natural gas, tungsten, led, gypsum, and

fish

WORLD TRADE:   (2004)    export, 75.9 bil. Import, 65.3 bil. Surplus, 10. 6 bil.

OVERVIEW: Air pollution, water pollution and deforestation are of major concern. Thailand is a stable economy with a surplus of world trade. Much of its importation has been in Capital goods; further improving its position worldwide. Major problems facing the government are the continued violence in Muslim areas, drug dealers, and prostitution and white slavery. AIDS must be addressed..*

 

 

 

TOGOLAND (Africa)           21,925 sq. miles

TOGO

(Smaller than W. Virginia)

 

POPULATION: (2009) 6.0 mil.     (2025) 9.0 mil.   (2050) 14.9 mil.

The U.N. estimates the population in 2005 at 6,145,000.

POPULATION GROWTH: 2.43%.   In view of similar growth in the surrounding countries, the economy cannot tolerate such an increase & still maintain present lifestyles.

LIFE EXPECTANCY: Life expectancy in 2005 was 657.01 years.

In 2005, 43% of the people were under 15 years of age and 3% were over 65.

HEALTH: Infant mortality in 2005 was 62..9 deaths per 1,000 live births. In 2004 there were approximately 37 physicians, dentists, and nurses per 100,000 people. Major diseases of concern are Yaws, malaria, and leprosy. HIV-AIDS prevalence in 2003 was 4.1% of adult population, qualifying it as epidemic.

CAPITOL: Lome

LANGUAGE: French is the language of government and commerce. The natives speak a number of dialects.

LITERACY: (can read & write) male, 56%; female, 31%

INCOME: (2005 CIA estimates) per capita GDP, $1,600; current economic growth rate, 2.5%; inflation, 5.5%; people with income below poverty level, 32%

LOCATION:   It is on the W. coast of Africa. It is. a narrow strip of land with the Gulf of Guinea on the S; It is S of Burkina Faso; W of Benin & E of Ghana.

LAND USE: Arable land, 25%; permanent crop, 1%: pasture, 4%; forest, 28%; other, 42%

TOPOGRAPHY: The beach area is sandy and thickly planted with coconut trees. Farther inland is savannah and low mountains.

WATER: Average rainfall is 51 inches.

CLIMATE: It has a tropical climate with high humidity, but with less rainfall than its neighbors.

GOVERNMENT:   constitutional democracy. The Prime Minister and his party had control of the country including imprisoning students and reporters. The government, badly in need of aid from the EU, issued pardons and other measures to reduce the appearance of a Dictatorship.

RELIGION: indigenous beliefs, 70%; Christian, 20%

NATURAL RESOURCES: phosphates, limestone, marble

WORLD TRADE: (2004) export, 396 mil. Import, 501 mil. Deficit, 105 mil.

OVERVIEW: The economy is heavily dependent on subsistence agriculture Primary crops are coffee, cocoa & cotton. Currently the country is importing more than it exports and is in a debtor situation. The outlook for the future is dismal. *

 

 

TONGA (Pacific I)                 289 sq. miles

(1/4 the size of Rhode Island)

 

POPULATION: (2009) 121 Th.   (2025) 151 Th.     (2050) 188 Th.

U.N estimate for 2005 is 102 thousand

POPULATION GROWTH: (2005) 1.37%. Fertility rate was 3 children per woman.

LIFE EXPECTANCY: Life expectancy in 2005 was 69.55 years. In 2004,

39% of population was under 15 years of age and 5% over 65.

HEALTH: Infant mortality rate in 2005 was 12.62 deaths per1000 live births in 2005. There were approximately 360 physicians, nurses and midwives per 100,000 people. Citizens have free health service. Non-citizens are charged a fixed fee. Diseases of concern are tuberculosis, filariasis, typhoid fever, dysentery, and various skin and eye diseases. HIV-AIDS prevalence was not listed.

CAPITOL: Nuku’alofa

LANGUAGE: Tongan, English

LITERACY: (can read & write) total population, 100%

INCOME: (2005 CIA estimates) per capita GDP, $2,300; current economic growth rate, 1.5%; inflation, 10.5%; people with income below poverty level, n.a.

LOCATION: Tonga archipelago is in the Pacific about 2/3 of the way between Hawaii and New Zealand.

LAND USE: Arable land, 25%; permanent crop, 55%; pasture, 6%; forest, 12%; other, 2%.

TOPOGRAPHY: The islands run N & S. in two parallel chains. The Western islands are volcanic & the eastern islands are coral. The volcanic islands rise to a maximum of 3,000 feet. There are a few small lakes.

WATER: rainfall ranges from 70 to 110 inches.

CLIMATE: The climate is subtropical but SE trade winds have a cooling effect.

GOVERNMENT: Dictatorship by the hereditary constitutional monarchy. The king exercises considerable power over appointments to the government.

RELIGION: Christian

NATURAL RESOURCES: fish, fertile soil

TRANSPORTATION:         Two Tonga airlines collapsed when their aircraft were repossessed. An award of a monopoly to an airline, owned by the King, made possible the lease of 3 DC-3s of 1940’s vintage to resume air service.

WORLD TRADE:   (2004) export, 27 mil. Import, 86 mil. Deficit, 59 mil.

OVERVIEW: Population growth crisis will be exacerbated as the sea rises. (An estimated 3 feet or more by 2100) Many coral islands will have to be evacuated. By 1995, a large part of the food consumed by the population had to be imported, mostly from New Zealand.*

 

 

 

 

 

 

TRINIDAD & TOBAAGO (Caribbean)       1,981 sq. miles

(Slightly smaller than Delaware)

 

POPULATION:   (2005) 1.1 mil.     (2025) 880 Th.    (2050) 622 Th

WA, 2010 (2009) 1.2 mil       (2025) 1.2 mil.   (2050)

POPULATION GROWTH: (2005) Current estimates are a negative 1%.

2009 World Almanac, 2010, shows a stable population, based on U.N. figures.

LIFE EXPECTANCY: Life expectancy in 2005 was 68.73 years.

21% of the population in 2005 was under 15 years of age and 7% was over 65.

HEALTH: Infant mortality in 2005 was 28.81 deaths per 1,000 live births.   In 2004 there were an estimated 374 physicians, dentists, and nurses per 100,000 people. 80%% of the people have access to safe drinking water. Death rates have been materially reduced through treatment of tuberculosis, typhoid and syphilis. HIV-AIDS prevalence in 2003 was 3.20% of the adult population, classifying it as a major epidemic.

CAPITOL: Port-au-Prince

LANGUAGE: English (official), Hindi, French, Spanish

LITERACY: (can read & write) male, 97%; female, 98%

INCOME: (2009 CIA estimates) per capita GDP, $23.500, current economic growth rate, 6.5%; inflation, 6.8%; people with income below poverty level, 21%.

LOCATION:   Trinidad is a Caribbean island between the Caribbean Sea & the North Atlantic

LAND USE: Arable land, 14%; permanent crop, 17%; pastures, 2%; forest, 44%; other, 23%.

TOPOGRAPHY: mostly low plains with some hills and low mountains.

WATER: Rainfall is 50 to 65 inches.

CLIMATE: Tropical with rainy season from June to December

GOVERNMENT: parliamentary democracy, based on the British system. It gives the party in power considerable authority.

RELIGION: Roman Catholic, 32%; Hindu, 25%; Anglican, 14%, other Protestant, 29%.

NATURAL RESOURCES: petroleum, natural gas, asphalt

WORLD TRADE: (2004) export, 19.2 bil. Import, 23.2 bil. Deficit, 3.0 bil.

OVERVIEW: The country is forced to deal with air pollution, water pollution from agricultural and industrial chemicals. The economy has suffered from fluctuating agricultural prices. There is substantial unemployment, although the country has a favorable balance of payment. The future is favorable compared to most Latin American countries provided it can deal with the HIV-AIDS epidemic. Drugs are now available to reduce symptoms and side effects. The future will depend on successfully handling pollution problems and prudent government administration of funds. Trinidad is promoting plants that will increase exports of liquefied natural gas.*

 

 

 

 

TUNISIA (Africa)                  63,170 sq. miles

(2.6 times the size of Texas)

 

POPULATION: (2009) 10.5 mil. (2025) 11.9 mil. (2050) 12.5 mil.

POPULATION GROWTH: (2005) 0.79%. The government actively supports family planning. The fertility rate in 2000 was 2.1 children per woman.

LIFE EXPECTANCY: Life expectancy in 2005 was 74.89 years.

In 2005, 27% of the people were under 15 years of age and 7% were over 65.

HEALTH: Infant mortality rate in 2005 was 24.77 deaths per 1,000 live births. In 2005 there were approximately 370 physicians, nurses, and dentists per 100,000 people. HIV-AIDS prevalence in 2009 was under 1 per 1,000 adults.

CAPITOL:   Tunis

LANGUAGE: French (language of commerce)

LITERACY: (can read & write) male, 69%; female, 45%

INCOME: (2005 CIA estimates) per capita GDP, $7,000; current economic growth rate, 4.9%; inflation, 2.0%; people with income below poverty level, 8%.

LOCATION: N. coast of Africa. It is S & W of the Mediterranean, W of Libya and E of Algeria.

LAND USE: Arable land, 20%; permanent crop, 10%, pasture, 19%; forest, 4%; other (desert), 47%.

TOPOGRAPJHY: The North is relatively flat with areas of cork forest, savannah and farmland with citrus. An extension of the Atlas Mountains separates this area from the South, which is characterized by oases and saline lakes. The far south is part of the Sahara.

WATER: North of the Atlas rainfall is up to 59 inches. The South region has less than 8 inches.

CLIMATE: The North has wet, cool winters and moderate summers with a temperature range of between 70 & 91 F. Temperatures in the South are more typically Saharan with hot days and nights than can be close to freezing.

GOVERNMENT: Dictatorship. Although the President is elected, he has a high degree of authority under the Islamic Republic constitution. Single party election in 2004. The ruling party won all seats. The government operates in a secular manner. Riots in January, 2011 forced the Chief of State to go into exile.

RELIGION: Muslim, 98%

NATURAL RESOURCES: petroleum, phosphate, lead, iron ore, zinc, salt.

WORLD TRADE: (2004) Export, 8.0 bil. Import, 10.3 bil.   Deficit, 2.3 bil.

OVERVIEW: A current problem is the disposal of hazardous and toxic waste. Tunisia has a diverse economy with agriculture, mineral extraction and tourism. A trade deficit is partially offset by tourism.   Internationally, there was concern about human rights in Tunisia. Education falls short of goals and women are still a subservient class.*

Also see p. 242, “Islam.”

 

TURKEY (Europe)                299,158 sq. mi.

(1 1/8 the size of Texas)

 

POPULATION: (2009) 70 mil     (2025) 82.2 mil. (2050) 86.4 mil.

`           WA 2010: (2009) 77 mil.   (2025) 90 mil. (2050) 101 mil.

POPULATION GROWTH:   No explanation for change in projections.

LIFE EXPECTANCY: Life expectancy in 2004 was 72.36.

29% of the population was under 15 years of age in 1003 and 6% was over 65. Fertility rate jaws 2.4 for Turkish women of childbearing age.

HEALTH: Infant mortality was about 34 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2004. As of 2004 there were approximately 377 physicians, dentists, and nurses per 100,000 people. HIV-AIDS prevalence in 2009 was under 1 per 1,000 adults.

CAPITOL: Ankara

LANGUAGE: Turkish (official), Kurdish, Arabic

LITERACY: (can read & write) male, 90%; female, 68%

INCOME: (2009 CIA estimates) per capita GDP, 11.9 th., ; current economic growth rate, 5.1%; inflation, 7.1%; people living below poverty level, 20%.

LOCATION: Turkey is in SE Europe & W Asia with coastline on the Black Se and the Aegean Sea. It shares common borders with Greece, Bulgaria, Georgia, Armenia, Iran, Iraq, and Syria..

LAND USE: Arable land, 30%; permanent crop, 4%’ pasture, 12%; forest, 26%; other (semi-arid), 28%

TOPOGRAPHY: Turkey is subject to major earthquakes. Along the Aegean Sea is relatively fertile lands with adequate rainfall. Farther east the country becomes more rugged. Most streams travel through barren areas with a fluctuating flow of water. East & South are mountainous areas with the highest peak Mt. Ararat at 16,854 feet, near the Iranian border. There are over 100 peaks over 8,000 ft in height.

RIVERS: Euphrates and Tigris.

WATER: Rainfall along the Mediterranean & Aegean ranges from 22 to 28 inches. In other areas the rainfall varies from 12 to 26 inches. On the Black Sea coast rainfall ranges from 59 to 91 inches.

CLIMATGE: The climate along the Aegean & Mediterranean is warm in summer and cool in winter. Farther east the temperatures vary greatly. Winter will go down to freezing and summer temperatures range to 110 F.

GOVERNMENT: republic,, with limited autonomy for Kurds..

RELIGION: Muslim, mostly Sunni.

NATURAL RESOURCES: antimony, coal, chromium, mercury, copper, borate, iron ore.

WORLD TRADE: (2004) Export, 140.81 bil, Import, 193.9 bil,   Deficit, 50.1nil.

OVERVIEW: Turkey continues to have a negative balance of payment. It suffers from inflation. Turkey has applied for entry into the European Common Market but has not yet been accepted because of its fiscal difficulties and human rights violations. Plans to build dams and utilize the waters of the Tigris & Euphrates in irrigation will seriously impact Iraq and Syria. A further problem is the Kurdish minority that shares common bonds with Kurds in Iraq. Human rights for women lags far behind Western standards. *

TURKMENISTAN (Asia)    188,456 sq. miles

(Former Soviet state)

(1 1/8 times the size of California)

 

POPULATION: (2005) 5.0 mil. (2025) 7.6 mil. (2050)     9.6 mil.

WA,2010: (2009 4.9 mil.      (2025) 5.8 mill. (2050) 6.9 mil.

POPULATION GROWTH:   It is necessary for the country to institute an active program for family planning to avoid eventual disaster. Difference in population figures is not certain. There is considerable variation in estimates of population.

LIFE EXPECTANCY: Life expectancy in 2005 was 61.01 years.

In 2005, 32% of population was under 15 years of age and 4% over 65.

HEALTH: Infant mortality rate in 2005 was 73 deaths per 1,000 live births. In 2004 there were approximately 960 physicians, dentists, and nurses per 100,000 people. Leading causes of death were communicable diseases and injuries. HIV-AIDS prevalence in 2009 was less than 1 in 1,000 adults.

CAPITOL: Ashkhabad

LANGUAGE: Turkmen

LITERACY: (can read & write) male, 99%; female, 97%

INCOME: (2005 CIA estimates) per capita GDP, $5,900; In 2005, economic growth rate was7.9%; inflation, 10.0%; people with income below poverty level, n.a.

LOCATION: Central Asia on East shore of the Caspian Sea, between Iran and Kazakhstan. It also borders Uzbekistan and Afghanistan.

LAND USE: Arable land, 2%; pastures, 69%; other (arid), 29%:

TOPOGRAPHY: flat to rolling terrain, semi-arid & desert with mountains along border with Iran.

LAKE: Caspian Sea: used for transportation, now suffering from pollution by agriculture.

RIVER: Amour Darya, largely diverted to irrigation. Highly polluted.

WATER: groundwater and water from the Amur for irrigation

CLIMATE: subtropical desert: with summer temperatures to 122 F.

GOVERNMENT: Dictatorship. republic in name only. President Nyqzzov controls the issuance of laws and his administration enforces them.

RELIGION: Muslim, 87ern Orthodox, 11%

NATURAL RESOURCES: petroleum, natural gas, coal, salt

WORLD TRADE: (2004) export, 3.4 bil. Import, 2.5 bil. Surplus, 900 mil.

OVERVIEW: The country is largely desert & pasture. With intensely irrigated oases. It has enormous reserves of natural gas. A serious problem is the contamination of soil and ground water with agricultural chemicals. A thriving irrigation project is seriously threatened. The educational system is being tailored to further isolate the country.*

Peace with Kurds and acceptance of local autonomy within Turkey ends 20 years of conflict is of benefit to Turkey and the Kurds. Newsweek, October 18, 2010, p. 9..

 

 

 

 

 

 

TUVAIU (PI)                         10 sq miles.

(Formerly the Ellice Islands)

 

POPULATION: (2009) 12.4 Th.     (2025) 15.8 Th.   (2050) 20 Th.

Emigration is encouraged because of low-lying land and lack of fresh water. Population is estimated at about 11-12 thousand in 2008 because of resettlement.

POPULATIOON GROWTH: 1.8%. Fertility rate of women was 3.1 in 2003. The islands are coral islands near sea level. A rise in the sea level, as has been forecast, will reduce available living area with eventual total evacuation. Any growth in population is of serious concern.

LIFE EXPECTANCY: Average life expectancy in 2004 was 68.01 years.

In 2005, 36% of the population was under 15 years of age and 6% was over 65.

HEALTH: Infant mortality rate was 20 deaths per 1,000 live births. In 2004 there ware 204 physicians, nurses, and midwives per 100,000 people. There were virtually no tropical diseases on the islands. HIV-AIDS prevalence is not listed.

CAPITOL: Funafuti

LANGUAGE: Tuvaluan, English

LITERACY: (can read &write) NA

INCOME: (2005 CIA estimates) per capita, $1,100; current economic growth rate, 3.0%; inflation, 5.0%; people with income below poverty level, n.a.

LOCATION:   They are in the Southwest Pacific just South of the Equator. These remote islands are located about halfway between Hawaii and Australia.

LAND USE: Suitable for habitation only. Highest point on land is about 19 feet (4.5 m.) with high tides causing saline pollution.

TOPOGRAPHY: The islands all consist of low-lying atolls, none of which are more than 16 feet above sea level. They lie in a 370-mile long chain.

WATER:   Rainfall is 140 inches. There are no streams and groundwater is not potable. Water must be collected in cisterns or brought in from outside.

CLIMATE: Tropical with little seasonal change.   They lie North of the normal hurricane belt but were hit by a major hurricane in 1972.

GOVERNMENT: democracy. The head of state is the British monarch who is represented by a Tuvalu citizen and who has the power to dissolve the parliament (15 members).

RELIGION: Christian Congregationalist, 97%

NATURAL RESOURCES: fish

WORLD TRADE:   (2000) export, 1 mil. Import, 17 mil.   Deficit, 16 mil.

OVERVIEW: Virtually total dependency on imports and charity of other countries. There is subsistence farming and fishing. There is serious beach erosion and many of the coral reefs are deteriorating as the coral dies of incursion by the crown of thorns starfish.*

 

 

UGANDA (Africa)                93,063 sq. miles

(Smaller than Wyoming)

 

POPULATION: (2009) 32.4 mil.     (2025) 57 mil.     (2050) 128 mil.

POPULATION GROWTH: 3.4%. From 2005 to 2025, the growth rate from 2025 to 2050 is 3.3%. The spread of AIDS may substantially alter the population growth rate.

LIFE EXPECTANCY: Life expectancy in 2005 was 51.59 years.

In 2005 51% of the people were under 15 years of age and 2% were over 65.

HEALTH: Infant mortality rate in 2005 was 61.83 deaths per 1,000 live births. There were fewer than 11 nurses and doctors per 100,000 people in 2003. Health care is totally inadequate. Serious disease problems include lack of safe drinking water. Such diseases are dysentery, tuberculosis, leprosy, schistosomiasis, sleeping sickness, and typhus. 75% of all school children have goiter. Common among Ugandans is high-risk sexual behavior. HIV-AIDS prevalence in 2008 was 5.4% of adult population; It was said that vigorous efforts by the government have stabilized the epidemic.

CAPITOL:   Kampala

LANGUAGE: English (official), Lganda, Swahili, and Bantu. English is the

language used in government, commerce, and in the schools.

LLITERACY: (can read & write) male, 68%; female, 45%

INCOME: (2005 CIA estimates) per capita, $1,700; current economic growth rate, 9.0%; inflation, 9.0%; people with earnings below poverty level, 46%.

LOCATION: a landlocked country in east central Africa. It is E of Zaire & S. of Sudan.

LAND USE: Arable land, 23%; permanent crops, 9%; pasture, 25%; forest, 30%; other, 13%

TOPOGRAPHY: The major area is a plateau that ranges from 2,600 to 6,000 feet in elevation. In the West, Mt. Margherita rises to 10,703 ft. On the eastern frontier, Mt. Elgon rises to 14,178 ft., The Great Rift Valley runs from N. to S. through the Western part of the country. L. Edward is 2,036 ft. elevation & L. George is 2,960 ft. The White Nile begins in L. Victoria.   It flows northward through L. Kyoga and then westward to L. Albert. From there it flows as the Albert Nile to Sudan.

WATER:   Most of the country receives at least 40 inches of rainfall. At Entebbe the rainfall is 64 inches. In the Northeast it is only 27inches.

CLIMATE: Although on the equator, Uganda has a warm rather than a hot climate. There is little seasonal change. :

GOVERNMENT: Dictatorship. republic. The country is now ruled by a one-party system. Free elections are scheduled for 2011. A restricted multiparty election was held in 2006.

RELIGION:   Roman Catholic, 33%; Protestant, 35%; Muslim, 16%; indigenous beliefs, 16%.

NATURAL RESOURCES: copper, cobalt, salt, limestone.

WORLD TRADE: (2009) export, 2.0 b. Import, 3.6 bil. Deficit, 1.6 bil.

OVERVIEW: Current problems include soil erosion, deforestation, overgrazing.

The country is capable of producing great amounts of vegetables and other foodstuffs. . More than a million refugees were in refugee camps at the beginning of 2004, an aftermath of Uganda’s support of a civil war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. *

 

UKRAINE (Europe)              233,090 sq. miles

(Former Soviet state)

(7/8 the size of Texas)

 

POPULATION: (2009) 46.6.mil.     (2025) 41.0 mil.   (2050) 33.5 mil.

POPULATION GROWTH: Negative, mature society.

LIFE EXPECTANCY: Life expectancy in 2005 was 69.68 years. In 2005, 15% of the population was under 15 years of age and 16% was over 65.

HEALTH: Infant mortality in 2005 was 10.11 deaths per 1,000 live births. In 2004, there were 1,182 physicians, nurses, and dentists per 100,000 people. Health standards for women and children need to be improved. Major causes of death were cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, cancer, traumas, and accidents. HIV-AIDS prevalence in 2009 was 1.6% of population, considered epidemic. The health infrastructure should be capable of controlling the epidemic.

CAPITOL: Kiev

LANGUAGE: Ukrainian, Russian, and Romanian

LITERACY: (can read & write) male, 100%; female, 97%

INCOME: (2005 CIA estimates) per capita GDP, $7,200; current economic growth rate, 4.0%; inflation, 13.1%; people with income below poverty level, 29%.

LOCATION: Eastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Poland and Russia. It also borders Belarus, and Romania.

LAND USE: Arable land, 56%; permanent crop, 12%; grazing, 2%; other, 30%

TOPOGRAPHY: mostly plains (steppes) with plateau in the extreme South. In the West are the Carpathian Mountains . There are about 20,000 small lakes and one large lake, he Sea of Azov (14,517) sq. miles).

RIVERS: Dnepr, Danube, Tisza,

WATER: Rainfall varies greatly

CLIMATE: Mediterranean along the Black Sea with mild weather. Farther North, the climate is hot in summer and cold in winter.

GOVERNMENT: republic. A single parliament is presided over by a prime minister. The President is separately elected.

RELIGION: Ukrainian Orthodox, Russian Orthodox, various others.

NATURAL RESOURCES: iron ore, coal manganese, natural gas, oil, salt, graphite, titanium, kaolin magnesium, mercury, timber

WORLD TRADE:   (2009) export,67.7 bil. Import, 64.7 bil. + Surplus 3.0 bil.

OVERVIEW: The Ukraine is in an economic slump, with lowered living standards. Inadequate supplies of safe drinking water. Air and water pollution need to be dealt with. A large area suffers from radiation poisoning as a result of the Chernobyl nuclear meltdown. Ukraine is a major producer of foodstuff for Russia and other countries. The Ukraine has a highly productive economy and stable economic system. The future will be seriously affected by rising costs and availability of petroleum.*

 

UNION OF SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLICS

 

List of countries that once made up the Union but became independent;

Name                                       size                  Population      Population

In 2005        2009 (000)

ARMENIA                    11,506 sq. miles       2,500,000      3,000

AZERBAJAN                           33,436 sq. miles       7,800,000      8,200

BELARISE                    80,155 sq. miles     10,300,000      9,600

ESTONIA                      17,413 sq. miles      1,300,000      1,300

GEORGIA                     26,911 sq. miles      4,600,000      4,600

KAZAKHSTAN       1,049,151 sq. miles     15,100,000     15,400

KYRGYZSTAN            75,869 sq. miles         5,000,000        5,400

LATVIA                        24,749 sq. miles         2,300,000       2,200

LITHUANIA                23,174 sq. miles         3,600,000        3,600

MOLDOVA                  13,012 sq. miles         4.400,000        4,300

RUSSIA                    6,592,741 sq. miles      143,000,000    140,000

TAJIKISTAN                           55,090 sq. miles         7,000,000       7,300

TURKMENISTAN       188,456 sq. miles       4,800,000       4,900

UKRAINE                     233,088 sq, miles       60,000,000       45,700

UZBEKISTAN             172,741 sq. miles      26,000,000      27,600

 

TOTAL           9,748,900 sq. miles     297,700,000  284,700

 

Population figures are U.N. estimates for 2005.

 

1 square mile = 2.59 square kilometer – 100 hectares*

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (Middle E) 32,278 sq. miles

(Slightly smaller than Maine)

 

STATES IN UNION: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sarah, Ras al-Khaim, Umm al-Quaiwain, & Al-Fujayrah

POPULLATION: (2005) 2.6 mil. (2025)   3.3 mil. (2050) 3.7 mil.

The above figures are from the 2007 World Almanac.

U.N. estimates the combined population in 2005 at 4,616,000.

WA, 2010: (2009) 4.8 mil. (2025) 7.0 mil. (2050) 8.0 ,o;/ mil.

A large number of the workers are from other areas to work in the oil fields, the refineries and the dock facilities.

POPULATION GROWTH: (2005) 1.095%. Current estimates indicate a figure closer to 3%. See overview.

LIFE EXPECTANCY: Average life expectancy is 75 years.

In 2005 25% of the population was under 15 years of age and 1% was over 65

HEALTH: Infant mortality rate in 2005 was 14.51 deaths per 1,000 live births. In 2004 there were approximately 650 physicians, dentists, and nurses per 100,000 people. Malaria continues to be a major problem. 40% of school age children have goiter. HIV-AIDS prevalence in 2003 was .18% of the adult population.

CAPITOL: Abu Dhabi

LANGUAGE: Arabic (official), English, Hindi, Persian, Urdu

LITERACY: (can read & write) male, 72%; female, 69%

INCOME: (2005 CIA estimates) per capita GDP, $21,000; current economic growth rate, 5.0%. Inflation rate is not known.

LOCATION: Eastern Arabian Peninsula.

LAND USE: Pastures, 2%; desert, 98%.

TOPOGRAPHY:   It is mainly sandy desert, bounded on the West by large salt flats. The eastern border runs over gravel plains & high dunes, almost reaching the Hajar Mountains.   The flat coastal strip that makes up most of the UAE has an extensive area of salt flats, which is subject to flooding. The main gravel plain extends inland and southward. A narrow, well-watered & fertile strip runs between the mountain & the sea in the Gulf of Oman.

WATER: Rainfall is between 2 & 4 inches.

CLIMATE: Between May & October temperatures frequently run between 109 & 120. Winter temperatures range between 63 & 70 but fall near freezing on occasion.

GOVERNMENT: Federation with special administrative powers. The people of

the separate emirates are ruled under tribal laws.

RELGION: Muslim, 96%.

NATURAL RESOURCES: Petroleum, Natural gas.

WORLD TRADE: (2004) export, 56.7 bil.   Import, 37.2 bil. Surplus, 19.5 bil.

OVERVIEW: It is estimated that present known reserves will last at least 100 years at the present rate of production. The country must import all its needs as a modern society. All citizens are enjoying a high standard of living. The current reduction in population growth is encouraging. *

 

 

UNITED KINGDOM (E)     93,784 sq. miles

(Smaller than Oregon)

 

POPULATION:   (2009) 61 mil.     (2025) 64 mil.   (2050) 64 mil.

POPULATION GROWTH: No appreciable change except for immigration

LIFE EXPECTANCY: Life expectancy in 2005 was 78.38years.

In 2005, 18% of the population was under 15 years of age and 16% was over 65.

HEALTH: Infant mortality in 2005 was 5.16 deaths per 1,000 live births. In 2004 there were about 735 physicians, dentists, and nurses per 100,000k people. Major causes of death are circulatory disease, respiratory diseases, cancer, and accidents. Half the British population is overweight. HIV-AIDS prevalence was 0.2% of the total population in 2009.

CAPITOL: London

LANGUAGE: English (official), Welsh (about 60% of people of Wales); Scotish (a form of Gaelic) spoken by about 60,000 people.

LITERACY:   (can read & write) total population, 99%.

INCOME: (2005 CIA estimates) per capita GDP, $30,900; current economic growth rate, 1.8%; inflation, 1.1%; people with income below poverty level, 17%.

LOCATION: Large islands separated from France by the English Channel.

LAND USE: Arable land, 29%; pasture, 48%; forest, 9%; other, 14%

TOPOGRAPHY: Major areas of the SW. are undulating land. In the NW are Wales & the Welsh Highlands. Farther North is the Lake district. The Northeast (Scotland) has poorer soil, rougher terrain and pastureland. There are some large lakes   called lochs in Scotland.

WATER: Rainfall is over 40 in. throughout the UK.

CLIMATE: The climate is moderated by the Gulf Stream and prevailing SW winds. The English may golf every week of the year except when it is raining. In Scotland, winters are colder.

GOVERNMENT: Constitutional Monarchy. The monarch has virtually no power. The House of Commons is elected by district and may be dissolved by a vote of no confidence. The majority party has considerable power and the Prime Minister is the Chief Executive.. The House of Lords has few functions.

RELIGION: Anglican, 27 million; Roman Catholic, 9 million; Muslim, 1 million; Protestants, Hindu, Sikh, Jewish, about 2,5 million

NATURAL RESOURCES: coal, petroleum, natural gas, tin, limestone, iron ore, salt, gypsum, chalk, lead, & silica

WORLD TRADE: (2004) export, 304.5 bil. Import, 365.6 bil.   Deficit, 61.mill.

OVERVIEW: The UK has a dynamic, largely capitalistic, economy. Power plants and industry are struggling with air and water pollution, as are cities. The UK raises 60% of its own food with highly efficient land practices. Entitlements have created a serious deficit and financial concerns involve a plunge in real estate values.

An ageing population and accompanying entitlements are the source of a growing deficit*

 

 

 

UNITED STATES N. America)        3,618,773 sq miles

(Area includes Hawaii and Alaska)

 

POPULATION: (2009) 307 mil.      (2025) 357 mil.     (2050) 459 mil.

POPULATION GROWTH: (2005) 0.82%).   The present growth has increased

measurably because of the immigration, both legal & illegal, of Latin American peoples.

LIFE EXPECTANCY: Life expectancy in2005 was 77.71 years.

In 2005, 21% of the people were under 15 years of age and 12% were over 65.

HEALTH: Infant mortality in 2005 was 6.50 deaths per 1,000 live births. In 2004 there were approximately 1,369 physicians, dentists, and nurses per 100,000 people. Leading causes of death were heart disease, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, chronic lower respiratory diseases, pneumonia, influenza, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, and homicides. Over half of the people are overweight, and a large number have been smokers of cigarettes. HIV-AIDS prevalence in 2003 was 0.56% of adults (about 1,800.000).

CAPITOL: Washington, D.C.

LANGUAGE: English (official and universal), Spanish

LITERACY: (can read & write) male, 97%; female, 97%

INCOME: (2005 CIA estimates) per capita GDP, $41,800; current economic growth rate, 3.3%; inflation, 3.2%; people with income below poverty level, 12%.

LOCATION: N. America with coasts on both Pacific & Atlantic Oceans.

LAND USE: Arable land, 20%; pasture, 26%; forest & woodland, 29%; other, (desert and mountain, 25%.

TOPOGRAPHY: The East has a narrow coastal strip rising to ancient Appalachian Mountains, a wide plain extending to the Rocky Mountains, high, broad granite and other plate upheavals. Beyond the Rockies is the Great Basin, relatively dry, which includes the Northern extension of the Sonora Desert. Beyond the Great Basin are the Cascades, which include a number of volcanoes. Beyond is the coastal strip of rich land.

LAKES: L. Superior, L. Michigan, L. Huron, L. Ontario, L. Erie, G. Salt Lake,

RIVERS: Colorado, Columbia, Hudson Mississippi, and St. Lawrence.

WATER: Water is in short supply in most of the West. Rainfall varies from 50 inches to 150 in the Cascades, to space in the SW. Aquifers are being depleted and land has subsided. The Colorado R. is now 100% utilized.

CLIMATGE:   The climate ranges from polar in Alaska & high Cascade & Rocky Mountains, to semiarid in the West and temperate for most of the country. Florida and much of the South have a subtropical climate.

GOVERNMENT: Constitutional Republic

RELIGION: (1995) Protestant, 56^; Roan Catholic, 28%; Jewish, 2%; other, 4%; none, 10%. Immigration is increasing the percentage of Catholics.

NATURAL RESOURCES: The U.S. has an abundance of many metals. It is in short supply of chromium and bauxite. The arable land is highly productive.

WORLD TRADE: (2005) Export, 724 bil. Import, 1,335 bil. Deficit, 611 bil.

OVERVIEW: The future of the U.S. is dependent on use of renewable energy, equity of income, development of internal production, a balanced budget, better education and a balance of imports and exports. Failure in these goals may mean a seriously reduced standard of living.-

 

URUGUAY (Latin A)                        67,574 sq. miles

(smaller than N. Dakota)

 

POPULATION: (2009) 3.4 mil.     (2025) 3.7 mil.   (2050) 3.8 mil

POPULATION GROWTH: not significant.

LIFE EXPECTANCY: Life expectancy in 2005 is 76.13 years.

In 2005, 24% of the population was under 15 years of age and 12% was over 65.

HEALTH: Infant mortality in 2005 was 11.95 deaths per 1,000 live births. In 22004 there were approximately 570 physicians, dentists, and nurses per 100,000 people. The major causes of death are heart disease, cancer, and digestive disorders. Degenerative diseases rank high. HIV-AIDS prevalence in 2006 was 0.6% of adult population.

CAPITOL: Montevideo

LANGUAGE: Spanish, Brazilian, And Portuguese

LITERACY: (can read & write) male, 97%; female, 96%

INCOME: (2005 CIA estimates) per capita, $10,000; current economic growth rate, 6.2%; inflation, 4.9%; people with income below poverty level. 21%.

LOCATION: Southern S. America, bordering the S. Atlantic Ocean. It is between Argentina on the South & Brazil on the North.

LAND USE: Arable land, 8%; pasture, 78%; forest, 4%; other, 10%.

TOPOGRAPHY: The land is mostly undulating hills with strips of forest along the banks of the numerous streams. Uruguay consists mostly of plains and is an extension of the Argentine pampas. The Atlantic coast is fringed with tidal lakes.   Broad plains line the banks of the wide rivers.

RIVERS: Uruguay and the Rio del Plata

WATER: Rainfall varies from 35 to 50 inches.

CLIMATE: June, the coolest month, averages 59 F. and January, the warmest months, is 77 F.

GOVERNMENT: republic. Participation by the citizens is encouraged. In Uruguay, democracy is very real.

RELIGION: Roman Catholic, 68% (less than half attend church)

NATURAL RESOURCES: hydropower potential

WORLD TRADE: (2004) export, 2,164 mil. Import, 1,989 mil. Surplus, 175 mil.

OVERVIEW: Uruguay has rich soil and hydropower potential. The economy is small but has done well in a cooperative market economy with Argentina and Brazil.*

 

UZBEKISTAN (Asia)           172,741 sq. mi.

(Former Soviet state)

(Larger than California)

 

POPULATION:   (2009) 28 mil.     (2025) 32 mil.     (2050) 35 mil.

POPULATION GROWTH: projection is probably low.

LIFE EXPECTANCY: Life expectancy is 61.19 years.

In 2005, 35% of the population was under15 years of age and 5% over 65.

HEALH: Infant mortality rate was 70.1 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2005. In 2004 there were approximately 1,310 physicians, dentists and nurses per 100,000 people.   Heart disease is much higher than in other countries and death by heart disease is over 55% of those over 65 years of age. HIV-AIDS prevalence was less than 1 per thousand population in 2009.

CAPITOL: Tashkent

LANGUAGE: Uzbek, Russian

LOCATION: Central Asia, N. of Afghanistan, SW of Kazakhstan & NE of

Turkmenistan.

LITERACY: (can read & write) male, 96%; female, 96%

INCOME: (2005 CIA estimates) per capita GDP, $1,900; 5.1%; inflation, 7.1%; people with income below poverty rate, 28%.

LAND USE: Arable land, 10%; permanent crop, 1%; pasture, 47%; no forestlands, other (sandy desert), 42%.; irrigated land 16,200 sq miles

TOPOGRAPHY: mostly flat rolling land, sandy desert with dunes, flat, intensely irrigated valleys,

LAKE: Aral Sea, formerly a productive lake, now a dead see, rapidly shrinki9ng sin the diversion of its water source to irrigation. Lake is being restored.

WTER: semiarid rainfall ranges from 8 to 12 inches.

CLIMATE: Long, hot summers and mild winters.

GOVERNMENT: Dictatorship ruled by Islam Kaimov, age over 70. It is a compliant republic.

RELIGION: Muslim, 88% (mostly Sunnis)

NATURAL RESOURCES: petroleum, natural gas, gold, silver, uranium, copper, lead, zinc

WORLD TRADE:   (2004) export, 2.8 bil. Import, 2.3 bil. Surplus, 500 mil.

OVERVIEW: Uzbekistan is a dry, landlocked country with intensely cultivated and irrigated river valleys. Cotton is a major product. Land and rivers have become badly polluted with heavily applied chemicals and improper irrigation practices. Land is also becoming salty. The Aral Sea, once a productive source of fish, has been reduced to a fraction of its former size. The dried lakebed is covered with toxic salt & chemicals, which now have become a serious health hazard.

“National Geographic”, February 2002 (pp. 123-123)

The government practices rigid control over Muslim activities. It keeps an iron grip on the press. Agriculture is the major employer and Cotton is king. State farms have not been abolished. Much of the land has been polluted and yields are reduced. River water is fully utilized for irrigation and Aral Sea is drying up.*

 

VANUATU (Pacific I.)          4,706 sq. miles

(larger than Connecticut)

 

POPULATION:   (2009) 2161 Th.   (2025) 264 Th.     (2050) 312 Th.

POPULATION GROWTH: (2005) 1.2%; too high for its available arable land

LIFE EXPECTANCY: Life expectancy was 62.8 years in 2004.

In 2004, 42% of the population was under 15 years of age and 3% was over 65.

HEALTH: Infant mortality in 2005 was 55 deaths per 1,000 live births. In 2004 there were approximately 35 physicians and nurses per 100,000 people. Malaria is the most serious disease. Major among others are leprosy, tuberculosis, filariasis, and venereal disease. HIV-AIDS prevalence was less than 1 per thousand adults in 2009.

CAPITOL: Port-Vila

LANGUAGE: English (official), French (official), Pidgin

LITERACY: (can read & write) male, 57%; female, 48%

INCOME: (2005 CIA estimates) per capita, $2,900; current economic growth rate, 1.1%; inflation, 3.1%; people with income below poverty level, n.a.

LOCATION: Pacific O., New Hebrides.   The chain is about 500 miles long and lies about 600 miles W of Fiji and 250 miles NE of New Caledonia.

LAND USE: Arable land, 1%; permanent crop, 5%; pasture, 2%; forest, 1%; other (volcanic peaks and rough coral) 91%. Much of the volcanic land has some forest of hardwood.

TOPOGRAPHY: The islands are of coral and volcanic origin and there are active volcanoes on several islands. Most of the islands are forested and mountainous. There are about 80 islands, 70 of which are inhabited..

WATRER: Rainfall is about 90 inches. A majority of the people does not have access to a potable supply of water and must depend on collecting rainwater for drinking and cooking.

CLIMATE: The tropical climate is moderated by the SE trade winds, which blow between May & November. Tropical storms are a natural hazard.

GOVERNMENT: republic. The parliament is the chief legislative body. The chief executive officer is the prime minister chosen by parliament from its own ranks.

RELIGION: Presbyterian, 37%; Anglican, 15%; Catholic, 15%; indigenous beliefs, 8%

NAT3URAL RESOURCES: manganese, hardwood forest, fish

WORLD TRADE: (2004) Export, 79 mil.   Import, 134 mil.   Deficit, 55 mil.

OVERVIEW:   Its economy is dependent on subsistence farming and tourism. Natural hazards are earthquakes, volcanic activity and tropical storms. Manmade hazards are pollution of the sea and dumping of hazardous wastes by passing ships. The coral islands are endangered by the deterioration of the coral reefs and rising ocean levels. *

 

 

VATICAN CITY (Europe)    108 acres.

 

POPULATION:         921 Th.

LANGUAGE: Italian &Latin. Many people are multilingual.

LOCATION: Rome, Italy

VENEZUELA (Latin A)        352,144 sq. miles

(/5 larger than Texas)

 

POPULATION:   (2009) 26 mil.     (2025)   33 mil.     (2050) 70 mil.

POPULATION GROWTH: 0.85% Estimate for2050 is probably high.

LIFE EXPECTANCY: Life expectancy in 2005 was 74.31 years.

In 2005, 31% of the population was under 15 years of age and 5% was over 65.

HEALTH: Infant mortality rate in 2005 was 22.20 deaths per 1,000 live births. In 2005 there were an estimated 309 physicians, dentists, and nurses per 100,000 people. About 13% of children under 5 years of age were considered malnourished. Major diseases such as malaria, typhoid, and typhus have been brought under control. HIV-AIDS prevalence was 0.7% of the adult population in 2003 and should be considered epidemic.

CAPITOL: Caracas

LANGUAGE: Spanish (official), some native dialects

LITERACY: (can read & write) male, 91%; female, 89%

INCOME: (2005 CIA estimates) per capita GDP, $6,400; current economic growth rate, 8.5%; inflation, 15.2%; people with income below poverty level, 45%.

LOCATION: Northern coast of S. America with the Caribbean on the N, e OF Columbia, n OF Brazil , and w of Guyana.

LAND USE: Arable land, 3%; permanent crops, 1%; pasture, 20%; forests, 39%; other, 37%.

TOPOGRAPHY: Four principal geographic divisions: in the N. is an extension of the Andes Mountain; to the W is the area of Lake Maracaibo; to the SE spread the great plains and forests; and S of the Orinoco lies the unoccupied and largely unexplored highlands.

RIVERS: Orinoco, with a delta of 9,000 sq miles.

WATER: Rainfall over most of the country averages 50 to 75 inches. There are

periodic drought and floods. There are signs of climate change.

CLIMATE: Venezuela lies entirely within the Torrid Zone. There are 4 climate areas based on altitude: tropical up to 2,500 feet subtropical up to 6,000 feet; temperate to 9,000 feet and cold above that altitude.

GOVERNMENT: republic. The current constitution is #26, adopted in 1999. Under the new constitution, a plebiscite may be called if there is considerable complaint and any legislator or the president maybe recalled and a new election will be held. Chavez, the current president has made himself dictator and seized much private property, causing most professionals to emigrate. Newsweek, undated

RELIGION: nominally Roman Catholic

NATURAL RESOURCES: petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, bauxite, silver, gold, diamonds, hydropower

WORLD TRAE: (2004) export, 25.8 bil. Import, 10.7 bil. Surplus, 15.1 bil.

OVERVIEW: Venezuela has to deal with petroleum and industrial pollution, especially on the coast, Sewage disposal is mostly untreated , and erosion has developed with deforestation. The economy is heavily concentrated on petroleum production. The government is promoting the broadening of the economy. Population growth is being addressed at present. Inflation is worrisome.   Federal bonds are rated as junk bonds.      Newsweek, *

 

VIETNAM (Asia)                  128,066 sq. miles

(Larger than New Mexico)

 

POPULATION:   (2009) 89 mil.   (2025) 102 mil.   (2050)            111 mil.

POPULATION GROWTH: 0.88%. In view of world population growth, this rate of growth is worrisome. The government is providing family planning services and officially recognizes the need for reducing population growth.

LIFE EXPECTANCY: Vietnam reported that life expectancy was 70.1 in 2005. In 2005, 29% of the people were under 15 years of age and 7% were over 65.

HEALTH: In 2005, infant mortality was 29.5 deaths per 1,000 live births. In 2004, there were approximately 130 physicians, nurses, and midwives per 100,000 people. Major health problems include malaria, tuberculosis diarrheal related diseases, and parasites. HIV-AIDS prevalence in 2009 had risen to 5 per thousand adults.

CAPITOL: Hanoi

LANGUAGE: Vietnamese (official), English, Chinese, French, Khmer.

LITERACY: (can read & write) male, 93%; female, 83%

INCOME: (2005 CIA estimates) per capita GDP, $3,000; current economic growth rate, 7.6%; inflation, 8.0%; people with income below poverty level, 20%.

LOCATION: East coast of mainland SE Asia. A large number of offshore islands are claimed by several countries and occupation forces of China and Malaysia hold some of them.

LAND USE: Arable land, 22%; permanent crop, 2%; pasture, 1%; forest, 40% other, 35%.

TOPOGRAPHY: There are rich soils in the Mekong delta in the South and the Red River delta in the North, which are heavily population. A narrow band of mountainous land connects the two population centers an estimated 800 miles apart.

WATER: Hanoi in the North has an average rainfall of 68 inches. Some nearby areas in the mountains may exceed 170 inches at times. Hi Chi Minh (Saigon) has about 70 inches

CLIMAE: Hanoi has a subtropical climate and Ho Chi Minh City has a tropical climate with weather affected by rain, rather than by time of year. Higher elevations have cooler temperatures.

GOVERNMENT: Communist state rule under a 1992 constitution. Under the

constitution the National Assembly is the ruling body. The members are elected every 5 years under universal suffrage. All candidates run under the Communist party affiliation.

RELIGION: Buddhist, Taoist, Roman Catholic, Protestant, Islam, indigenous beliefs

NATURAL RESOURCES: phosphorous, coal, bauxite, manganese, chromate, forest, offshore oil.

WORLD TRADE:   (2005)    export, 18.7 bil. Import, 19.7 bil. Deficit 1.0 bil.

OVERVEW: Logging and slash agricultural practices are causing considerable erosion. Vietnam has moved away from planned economy to a market economy with considerable success. It needs to deal with population growth problems and a deficit in world trade.*

 

 

 

YEMEN (Middle E)               203,850 sq. miles

(1.28 times the size of California)

 

POPULATION:   (2009) 23 mil   (2025) 33 mil.   (2050) 46 mil.

POPULATION GROWTH: Arable land is too scarce for this population.

LIFE EXPECTANCY: Life expectancy in 2005 was estimated at 61.1 years. 46% of the people are under 15 years of age and 4% are; over 65.

HEALTH: Infant mortality in 2005 was 71 deaths per 1,000 live births. In 2004 there were only 68 physicians and nurses and 1 dentist per 100,000 people. Malnutrition is common and many diseases are a result. Nearly 30% of children under 5 are malnourished. Sewerage disposal is inadequate and safe water is not generally available. Widespread diseases are malaria, typhus, tuberculosis, dysentery, whooping cough, measles, hepatitis, schistosomiasis, and typhoid fever. HIV-AIDS prevalence was under one per thousand adults. In 2003.

CAPITOL: Aden

LANGUAGE:   Arabic

LITERACY: (can read & write) male, 53%; female, 26%

INCOME: (2005 CIA estimates) $800; current growth rate, 2.5%; inflation,

9.6%; people with income below poverty level, 49%.

LOCATION: It occupies most of the southern fringe of the Arabian Peninsula. It borders the Gulf of Aden. It is bordered on the N. by Saudi Arabia and on the E. by Oman.

LAND USE: Arable land, 6%; pasture, 30%; forest, 7%; other (desert), 57%. About 1,200 sq nukes are irrigated land.

TOPOGRAPHY: There are 4 geographical areas, plains & plateaus at various heights. The mountains rise to 8,000 feet and are located in the “West near the Red Sea. Altitudes in the mountains are cooler and get an occasional shower.

WATER: Rainfall is less than 3 inches

CLIMATE: Hot and humid along the coast, temperate in the mountains, hot, dry harsh in the desert.

GOVERNMENT:   republic. The lower house is elected every 7 years by popular vote. The Senate of 111 members is appointed by the President who also serves seven years and can be reelected.

RELIGION: Muslim, including Sunni & Shiite.

NATURAL RESOURCES: petroleum, fish, marble, gold, nickel, & copper.

WORLD TRADE: (2004) export, 3.9 bil. Import 3.0 bil. Surplus, .9 bil.

OVERVIEW:   Very limited natural fresh water available. The economy is heavily dependent on oil revenue. Population growth must be dealt with and, so far, it has not. Education is inadequate and women are not treated as equals. Majority of population is Shiite and was in rebellion in 2011, demanding a voice in the government.*

Political unrest will likely grow in intensity.   ”Yemen is plagued by tribal rivalries National Geographic, July, 2011. P106.

See also, p. 242, “Islam.”

YUGOSLAVIA (listed under Serbia)

 

The 6 states of Yugoslavia:

Bosnia & Herzegovina   Sarajevo        Muslim, 40%; Orthodox, 31%

Croatia                           Zagreb         Catholic, 70%; Muslim, 12%

Macedonia                     Skopje         Orthodox 67%; Muslim, 30%

Montenegro

Serbia                             Belgrade      Orthodox, 65%; Muslim, 19%

Slovenia                          Ljubljana     Catholic, 90%

 

“National Geographic” June, 1996, (pp48-60) “Bosnia”

In 1945 the Communists led by Josip Tito, gained control of Yugoslavia. Tito, a Croat, held back the ambitions of the Serbs and maintained a federal republic of the six states, allowing them some autonomy, and the people, their customs and native tongues. Upon his death, the Serbs gained control of the Army and, under Malosovic, began exerting their authority. The Serb army committed atrocities and ethnic cleansing that eventually caused the U.N. and NATO to intervene. The major ethnic groups are the Albanians (Muslim), Macedonians, Serbs, Croats, and Slovenians. Kosovo is on Albanian border and is 90% of Albanians.*

 

 

 

 

 

ZAMBIA       (Africa)                      290,587 sq. miles

(1 1/8 the size of California)

 

POPULATION:   (2009) 12 mil.     (2025) 15 mil.     (2050) 18 mil.

POPULATION GROWTH: 1.6%. The economy will not easily adjust to growth in population. Forecasts of population growth may be far too high because of the spread of the AIDS epidemic.

LIFE EXPECTANCY: Life expectancy in 2003 was 39.70 years.

In 2005, 43% of the people were under 15 years of age and 3% were over 65.

HEALTH: Infant mortality rate in2005 was 85.29 deaths per 1,000 live births. In 2004 there were   an estimated 7 physicians, and 113 nurses per 100,000 people. Immunization rates are far below the goal of 75%-95% goals reached by most countries. Major health problems are malaria, measles, leprosy, tuberculosis. hookworm and schistosomiasis, which afflict a large part of the population. HIV-AIDS prevalence in 2003 was 16.50% of the adult population and many babies are born with AIDS. It is estimated that between 500,000 and 1,000,000 children have lost both parents to AIDS.

CAPITOL: Lusaka

LANGUAGE: English (official); about 70 indigenous languages and dialects.

LITERACY: (can read &write) male, 81%; female, 65%

INCOME: (2005 CIA estimates) per capita, $900; current economic growth rate, 9.8%; inflation, 19.0%; people with earnings below poverty level, 86%.

LOCATION: A landlocked country in S Central Africa. It is SW of Tanzania, W of Malawi, W o Mozambique and W of Zimbabwe., S of N of Botswana and others.

LAND USE: Arable land, 7^%; pastures, 47%; forest, 27%; other, 19%.

TOPOGRAPHY:   Most of Zambia lies in a plateau that is between, 3,000 & 4,500 feet.   Elevations, as low as 2,000 feet are encountered in the major river systems. All the lakes are in the northern area.

LAKES: L. Bangweulu; the swamps surrounding it are drained by the Lapel River, L. Mweru, & L. Tanganyika. (See Lakes in Book 2)

RIVERS: Laneway River, Lumpula River, and Zambezi River.

WATER: North & Northwestern provinces have about 50 inches of rainfall. While the far South has 30 inches.

CLIMATE: Zambia is in the tropical zone but its altitude shifts it into subtropical & temperate zone areas. Temperatures are as high as the 80’s but drop to the 50’s at night.

GOVERNMENT: republic The President is now elected under universal suffrage as are the members of the National Assembly. This ends 27 years of rule under a state of emergency.

RELIGION: Christian, 50%-75%; Muslim & Hindu, 25%-50%

NATURAL RESOURCES: gold, silver, copper, hydropower potential, cobalt, zinc, coal, emeralds.

WORLD TRADE: (2004)     export, 1.04 bil. Import, 1.13 bil. Deficit, 90 mil.

OVERVIEW: Problems include acid rain from air pollution, deforestation, poaching, and population growth. Mining is important for exports but agriculture employs ¾ of the working force. The impact of the Aids epidemic has seriously disrupted the work force and the social structure. *

 

ZIMBAWBE (Africa)            150,882 sq. miles

(Formerly Rhodesia)

(Smaller than California)

 

POPULATION:   (2009) 11.8 mil.   (2025) 14.8 mil.     (2050) 18.4 mil.

The U.N. estimates the population in 2005 at 13,010,000.

POPPULATION GROWTH: (2005j) 0.27%. The current estimate is to zero growth. The fertility rate was 3.8 births per woman reaching 45 years of age.

LIFE EXPECTANCY: Life expectancy in 2005 was only 39.11 years. In 2005 it was estimated that 40% of he population was under 15 years of age and 3% was over 65.

HEALTH: Infant mortality in 2005 was 52.354 deaths per 1,000 live births. The government is putting into operation a large network of hospital and clinic centers.   In 2004, there were only 6 physicians and 54 nurses per 100,000 people. Major health problems include malaria, measles, tuberculosis, schistosomiasis; HIV-AIDS prevalence in2003 was 24.60% of the adult population.   AIDS may increase infant mortality.

CAPITOL: Harare

LANGUAGE: English (official) Shona, Sindebele

LITERACY (can read & write) male, 84%; female, 72%

INCOME: (2005 CIA estimates) per capita GDP, $2,900; current economic growth rate, (-4.0%); people with income below poverty level, 80%. Inflation has devastated the financial system.

LOCATION: A landlocked country in South-Central Africa. It lies between the Zambezi R. on the N. and the Limpopo R on the south. It is N of the Republic of S. Africa, NE of Botswana, SE & S of Zambia & S &SW of Mozambique.

LAND USE: Arable land, 8%; pastures, 12%; forests, 49%%; other, 31%.

TOPOGRAPHY: Most of Zimbabwe is rolling plain with over 75% of it between 2,000 & 5,000 feet above sea level. On either side of the highland is the middle veldt, ranging from about 2,000-4,000 ft. Below 2,000 feet are areas making up the lowland, wide grassy plains in the valleys of the Zambezi & the Limpopo rivers.

WATER: Eastern Mountains receive over 40 inches of rainfall. Harare receives 32 inches. Bulawayo, in the west, receives 24 inches of rainfall. The South & Southwest receive little rain and water shortages are common.

CLIMATGE: The higher areas receive more rainfall and are cooler than the lower areas. .

GOVERNMENT: Dictatorship ruled by Robert Mugabwe, age 82. It is nominally a parliamentary democracy. Elections have been disputed and poorly monitored. The election of 2010 was hotly disputed and the President has refused to accept results.

RELIGION: Part Muslim, part indigenous beliefs, 50%; Christian, 25%; indigenous, 49%; other, 1%

WORLD TRADEADE: (2004) export, 1.26 bil. Import, 1.69 bil. Deficit, 470 mil.

OVERVIEW: Current concerns are deforestation, soil erosion and degradation, air & water pollution and climate change. Agriculture employs 80% of the work force.