Please Note:  Various data bases throughout the world show different statistics, so we have done our best to check with governments and some other reliable sources (including our friends, members, supporters and our contacts in the Diplomatic Corps and the Media Community, living in the countries involved). If you should find a mistake on our site, or just know a better source of facts and data, please let us know.

CLICK ON THE NATIONAL FLAG FOR COUNTRY FACTS    
We have linked each country to the United States of America Department of State - Background Notes.  Click on the relevant flag to access this information.

  90%   We have noted the majority Religion of each Country listed using a well recognized symbol (see RELIGION below), the % number is the estimated size of the Majority.   Map of the Religious World

     The Central Intelligence Agency's report on all countries in our listing. 

 Link to the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office Country Profiles on
 most of the countries in our listing.

  British Foreign Office Travel Safety Alerts for business & tourist travellers. 

  The British Foreign Office provides travel advice for business and tourist
   travel to most countries. This link will connect you.
  
  Link to World Governments - Ministries, Departments and contacts.

  Link to Atlapedia will provide an overview of the country listed, including
  political and topographic maps.

Embassy   Each country's Embassy located in Washington DC is shown thus. Strange as it may seem in the 21st Century but some countries still do not have an Embassy web site.  Others have to be linked to their UN Delegation web site.

UNITED NATIONS  We have listed the countries that have permanent missions to the United Nations with this link to their United Nations Mission web site.

Languages   A primer on the languages spoken in the country.

Travel Guide   All you need to know if travelling to the country.

Pictures   Pictures of the country, its people and its cities.

Universities   A listing of major Universities within the country.

NATIONAL STATISTICS  The Official Government Reports of a Nation's Statistics. For countries that do not post Statistics (English) we use data from the World Bank.

GDP $   We give WHO economic statistics on Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita for almost every Country listed. Click on the blue number given to see a regional comparison chart. For countries not listed by the WHO we give CIA data.

Population -  Accepted number of people living in the country January 1st, 2004.

Living In Poverty  Note: Living in Poverty in Afghanistan or Mozambique is far different to living in poverty in Northern Europe or the United States.  In Developed Countries N/A means Not Applicable - in Un-Developed Countries N/A means Not Available.

    -  Population Reference Bureau Data Finder Information. The % after the entry is the Growth or Decline in population expected between 2000 and 2050 (including migrations.) See: Population

Land Area -  The number of sq. km. shown is the actual land area of the listed country, bodies of water within that country are not included.

Population Density - The number of people now living within the country per sq. km. of land area - these are United Nations statistics.

Literacy -  We have listed the latest percentages of the population over the age of 15 years able to read and write. i.e. male: 47%, female 15%  

Life Expectancy - We have listed life expectancy of men and women at birth.

Adults 15-49 with HIV/AIDS - Percentage of the population infected. Source

National Intelligence Quotient - The Average Intelligence Quotient is 100. 

Corruption Index  -  Transparency International Data. 

Armed Forces -  Includes various data on Land, Sea and Air Forces and Budgets.

USAID Grants taken 1962-2002 - $ United States authorized Grants to foreign Nations.

News Sources -  English Language Local News sources.

World Health Organization   -  An overview of the Health situation within the country.

Freedom House Report   -   Freedom House Country Freedom Rankings. 

Newspapers  -  National Newspapers & Business Publications published in English.

Stock Exchange  -  Stock Exchanges that are presented real-time in English.

Chambers of Commerce  -  Link takes you to the World Chambers Network. Pick the Country or Territory you want and click on search for the links you will require.

Wikipedia Overview  -  Link takes you to the Wikipedia Encyclopaedia.

Current Conflicts - Link takes you to an update on conflicts the Nation is engaged in.

TODAY'S NEWS - News relating to the country from around the world.

 Currency exchange rates for Local Currency. 

  Local weather conditions today.

   Local Time.  This link will take you to an International Time locator, find the name of the country in the listing, click, and you have the time there now.

   Link to Amnesty International - Country Human Rights Report. 

   Prison Population

Island Vulnerability - Island Nations suffer vulnerabilities that other Nations do not have to expect.  This link leads you to information regarding this factor of Government.

  Member of the League of Arab States - Map

  Member of the Commonwealth of Nations (The British Empire) - Map

  Member of the Organization of American States - Map

  Member of the African Union

   Member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) - Map

  Member of the European Union - Map

  Member of the Association of South East Asian Nations - Map

  Member of the Commonwealth of Independent States (Soviet Union).

  USAID - Loans and Grants made by the United States Congress to Foreign Countries from 1962 to 2002. Most important are the fiscal sums given as Grants.

This symbol indicates that the State Department of the United States Government has deemed that this Country is considered a State Sponsor of International Terrorism.

Although we have listed as many English Language newspapers and other business publications as we can find, we would point out that not all publications have the Freedom of the Press enjoyed by those in North America and Europe.  So, we suggest you check the Freedom House - Freedom of the Press Report, before reading any of the newspapers or other publications listed here.

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