Country-Profile

Indonesia

2009-01-09T10:08:00.000-08:00

Full country name: Republic of Indonesia

Area: 1,904,000 sq km

Population: 216 million (growth rate 1.5%)

Capital city: Jakarta (pop 9.3 million)

People: There are 365 ethnic and tribal groups. The principal ones are Acehnese, Bataks, Minangkabaus (Sumatra); Javanese, Sundanese (Java); Balinese (Bali); Sasaks (Lombok); and Dani (Irian Jaya)

Language: Bahasa Indonesia (plus 583 dialects), English

Religion: 87% Muslim, 9% Christian, 2% Hindu

Government: Military-ruled republic

Average Income: US$550

Brazil

2008-12-07T21:51:00.000-08:00

Full country name: República Federativa do Brasil

Area: 8.51 million sq km

Population: 175 million

Capital City: Brasília

People: 55% European descent, 38% mulatto, 6% African descent, 1% other.

Languages: Portuguese

Religion: 70% Roman Catholic; also a significant proportion who either belong to various cults or practice Indian animism

Government: federative republic

President: President Luíz Inácio 'Lula' da Silva

GDP: US$650 billion

GDP per head: US$7,600

Japan

2008-11-29T08:54:00.000-08:00

Demography
Population: 127.6 million (UN, 2003)
Population Density (inhabitant/km2): 341 (national average), 1,054.4 (Tokyo - highest), 41.6 (Tottori prefecture - lowest)
Largest Cities (pop. in million): Tokyo (12m), Yokohama (3,5m), Osaka (2,5m), Nagoya (2,2m), Sapporo (1,8m), Kobe (1,5m), Kyoto (1,5m), Fukuoka (1,3m), Kawasaki (1,2m) Hiroshima (1,1m) - Click here for 100 most populous cities listing
Home Ownership: 61,1% (national average), 79,3% (Toyama prefecture - highest), 43,7% (Tokyo - lowest)
Floor area of residence : 91,3 m2 (national average), 146,4 m2 (Toyama prefecture - highest), 63 m2 (Tokyo - lowest)
Residential dwelling material: 30% wooden, 33% wooden and fire-proofed, 36% non-wooden
Urban Population: 79%
Life Expectancy: 80,9 (average), 77,6 years (men), 84,4 years (women)
Birth Rate: 9.61 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death Rate: 8.55 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Ethnic Composition: 99% Japanese, 0,4% Korean, 0,2% Chinese, 0,15% Brazilian, 0,07% Filipino, 0,2% others
Registered foreigners: 1.851.000 (2002), among which 1.371.000 Asians, 334.600 South Americans, 63.200 North Americans (incl. 48.000 US citizens), 55.300 Europeans (incl. 18.500 British, 6.300 French, 6000 Russians, 4.600 Germans, 1.800 Italians), 16.000 Oceanians (incl. 11.400 Australians) and 9.700 Africans.
Major Language: Japanese
Major Religions: Shintoism (official), Buddhism (various, mostly Mahayana branches)

Geography
Area: 377,835 sq km (including 3,091 km2 of territorial water)
Major Islands: Honshu (本州), Hokkaido (北海道), Kyushu (九州), Shikoku (四国)
Coastline: 29,751 km
Economic Exclusive Zone (EEZ): 4,470,000 km2 (=> see map)
Reclaimed land area in Tokyo Bay : 249 km2
Highest Peak: Mount Fuji (富士山): (3776m/12,385ft)
Lowest Elevation: Hachiro-gata -4 m

Economy (Data for 2002 if not specified)
Monetary unit: yen (￥,円, JPY)
Fiscal Year: 1 April - 31 March
GDP: US$3.978 trillion
GNI per capita: US$33,550
GDP per capita (in 2000): US$32,609 (average), US$64,722 (Tokyo - highest), US$24,956 (Nara - lowest)
GDP per capita (at PPP in 2000): US$28,700 (average), US$43,815 (Tokyo - highest), US$15,592 (Nara - lowest)
Prefectural GDP per capita: Click here
GDP - real growth rate: 0.2%
Inflation (consumer prices): -0.9%
Unemployment: 4,7% (March 2004)
Real unemployment (including non job-seekers) : 25,5% (2002) => more info
Public Debt (% of GDP) : 145.90
Main Industries: High-tech electronic products, motor vehicles, office machinery, chemicals, steel, textiles, processed foods
Main Exports: vehicles, computer parts, chemicals, scientific instruments, watches, motor vehicles, semiconductors, office machinery
Main Imports: machinery and equipment, fuels, foodstuffs, chemicals, textiles, raw materials
Main Trading Partners: China, USA, South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Indonesia, Australia, Germany
See also Japan's ranking in the world, politically and economically

Government
Type of Government: Parliamentary Monarchy
Parliamentary System : bicameral Diet (lower House of Representatives and upper House of Councillors)
Administrative Division : 47 prefectures
Capital: Tokyo 東京 (since 1867; previously Kyoto 京都)
Head of State: Emperor Akihito (since 1989)
Prime Minister: Junichiro Koizumi (since 2001)
Foreign Minister: Taro Aso
Justice Minister: Seiken Sugiura
Finance Minister: Sadakazu Tanigaki

Miscellaneous
Time Zone: GMT/UTC +9
Electricity: 100V AC, 50Hz (East) or 60Hz (West)
Weights & measures: Metric
Internet domain: .co.jp (companies only), .jp (no restriction)
International dialling code: +81

Italy

2008-11-29T08:45:00.000-08:00

Country name in English
Italy (officially: Republic of Italy)
Country name in Italian
Italia (officially: Repubblica Italiana)
Official language
Italian
Capital
Rome
Largest city
Rome
Regions
Abruzzo
Basilicata
Calabria
Campania
Emilia-Romagna
Friuli-Venezia Giulia
Latium (Lazio)
Liguria
Lombardy (Lombardia)
Marche
Molise
Piedmont (Piemonte)
Apulia (Puglia)
Sardinia (Sardegna)
Sicily (Sicilia)
Tuscany (Toscana)
Trentino-South Tyrol (Trentino-Alto Adige)
Umbria
Aosta Valley (Valle d'Aosta)
Veneto
Government
Republic
President
Carlo Azeglio Ciampi
Prime Minister
Silvio Berlusconi
Area
301,230 km²
Population
58,462,375 (2005)
Unification date
March 17, 1861
Religion
90% Roman Catholic (based on infant baptism – less actually practicing); remainder made of up Protestants, Jews and Muslims
Time zone
CET (UTC+1)
CEST (UTC + 2) in summer
Currency
Euro (formerly Lira)
National anthem
Il Canto degli Italiani
Internet domain
.it
Country calling code
+39

China

2008-11-28T11:21:00.000-08:00

Land
9,596,960 sq km

Population
1,236,914,658 or 1.24 billion

History
5,000 years

Religions
Mainly Taoism and Buddhism, Muslim 2%-3%, Christian 1%

Regions
23 provinces, 5 autonomies and 4 state Cities

Minorities
Han Chinese 91.9%, Zhuang, Uygur, Hui, Yi, Tibetan, Miao, Manchu, Mongol, Buyi, Korean, and other nationalities 8.1%

Spoken Language
Standard Chinese or Mandarin , Yue (Cantonese), Wu (Shanghaiese), Minbei (Fuzhou), Minnan (Hokkien-Taiwanese), Xiang, Gan, Hakka dialects, minority languages

Written Language
Officially one, Han

Political System
Mainland - Social Communist

Hong Kong & Macao - Capitalist

Taiwan - Republican

Neighbors
Russia, Korea, Japan, South Asia

Weather
Tropical in south to subarctic in north Inner Mongolia

National flowers
May flower

National animals
Ancient Dragon & today's Panda

Albania

2008-11-25T19:19:00.000-08:00

Country name: Republic of Albania

Area:28,748 sq km

border countries: Greece 282 km, Macedonia 151 km, Montenegro 172 km, Kosovo 112 km

Climate: mild temperate; cool, cloudy, wet winters; hot, clear, dry summers; interior is cooler and wetter

Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, coal, bauxite, chromite, copper, iron ore, nickel, salt, timber, hydropower

per capita: 546 cu m/yr

Population: 3,619,778 (July 2008 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.538% (2008 est.)

Birth rate: 15.22 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate: 5.44 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Religions:Muslim 70%, Albanian Orthodox 20%, Roman Catholic 10%

Languages: Albanian (official - derived from Tosk dialect), Greek, Vlach, Romani, Slavic dialects

Literacy: total 98.7%

Government type: democracy

Capital: Tirana (Tirane)

Independence:28 November 1912

GDP (purchasing power parity): $20.87 billion

GDP - real growth rate: 6% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP): $5,800 (2007 est.)

Currency (code):lek

Exchange rates:leks (ALL) per US dollar - 92.668 (2007)

country code - 355;

Internet country code: .al

Pakistan

2008-11-19T09:38:00.000-08:00

Full name: Islamic Republic of Pakistan

Population: 163.9 million (UN, 2007)

Capital: Islamabad

Largest city: Karachi

Area: 796,095 sq km (307,374 sq miles), excluding Pakistani-administered Kashmir (83,716 sq km/32,323 sq miles)

Major languages: English, Urdu, Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashto, Balochi

Major religion: Islam

Life expectancy: 65 years (men), 66 years (women) (UN)

Monetary unit: 1 Pakistani Rupee = 100 paisa

Main exports: Textile products, rice, cotton, leather goods

GNI per capita: US $870 (World Bank, 2007)

International dialling code: +92

Nepal

2008-11-19T09:36:00.000-08:00

Population: 28.2 million (UN, 2007)

Capital: Kathmandu

Area: 147,181 sq km (56,827 sq miles)

Major language: Nepali

Major religions: Hinduism, Buddhism

Life expectancy: 63 years (men), 64 years (women) (UN)

Monetary unit: 1 Nepalese rupee = 100 paisa

Main exports: Carpets, clothing, leather goods, jute goods, grain

GNI per capita: US $340 (World Bank, 2007)

International dialling code: +977

Maldives

2008-11-19T09:34:00.000-08:00

Full name: Republic of Maldives

Population: 306,000 (UN, 2007)

Capital: Male

Area: 298 sq km (115 sq miles)

Major language: Divehi

Major religion: Islam

Life expectancy: 68 years (men), 69 years (women) (UN)

Monetary unit: 1 rufiyaa = 100 laari

Main exports: Fish, clothing

GNI per capita: US $3,200 (World Bank, 2007)

International dialling code: +960

Bhutan

2008-11-19T09:32:00.000-08:00

Full name: Kingdom of Bhutan

Population: 658,000 (UN, 2007)

Capital and largest city: Thimphu

Area: 38,364 sq km (14,812 sq miles)

Major language: Dzongkha (official)

Major religions: Buddhism (official), Hinduism

Life expectancy: 64 years (men), 67 years (women) (UN)

Monetary unit: 1 ngultrum = 100 chetrum

Main exports: Electricity, timber, cement, agricultural products, handicrafts

GNI per capita: US $1,770 (World Bank, 2007)

International dialing code: +975

Afghanistan

2008-11-19T09:30:00.000-08:00

Full name: Islamic Republic of Afghanistan

Population: 27.1 million (UN, 2007)

Capital and largest city: Kabul

Area: 652,225 sq km (251,773 sq miles)

Major languages: Pashto, Dari (Persian)

Major religion: Islam

Life expectancy: 44 years (men), 44 years (women) (UN)

Monetary unit: 1 Afghani = 100 puls

Main exports: Fruit and nuts, carpets, wool, opium

International dialling code: +93

Sri Lanka

2008-11-19T09:27:00.000-08:00

Full name: Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka

Population: 19.3 million (UN, 2007)

Capital: Colombo (commercial), Sri Jayawardenepura (administrative)

Largest city: Colombo

Area: 65,610 sq km (25,332 sq miles)

Major languages: Sinhala, Tamil, English

Major religions: Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Christianity

Life expectancy: 69 years (men), 76 years (women) (UN)

Monetary unit: Sri Lankan rupee

Main exports: Clothing and textiles, tea, gems, rubber, coconuts

GNI per capita: US $1,540 (World Bank, 2007)

International dialling code: +94

India

2008-11-19T08:49:00.000-08:00

Official Name: Republic of India

National Anthem

Jana gana mana, composed by Rabindranath Tagore(Click Here to Read)

National Emblem

A uni-dimensional adaptation of the Sarnath Lion Capital of Emperor Ashok, the emblem depicts three lions (from the four which stand back-to-back looking to north, south, east and west on the original capital), and part of the frieze on the abacus i.e. the Wheel of the Law (Dharma) in the centre flanked by a horse and a bull. The bell-shaped lotus which supports the original capital has been omitted and instead, inscribed below the abacus are the words “Satyameva Jayate” - “Truth Alone Triumphs” in the Devnagari script.

National Flag

India’s flag is a horizontal tricolour with deep saffron above, white in the middle and dark green below, in equal proportion. The saffron signifies the spirit of sacrifice, the white represents purity and the green fertility. In the centre of the white band is a navy blue wheel with 24 spokes, signifying progress. The width to length ratio of the flag is two to three.

National Calendar

Based on the Saka Era with Chaitra as its first month and a normal year of 365 days, the national calendar has a permanent correspondence with the Gregorian calendar with 1st Chaitra falling on 22nd March (21st March in leap years).

Structure of the state

Union of 28 states and 7 Union territories with the Central Government based in New Delhi.

Political System

Multi-party parliamentary democracy, based on universal adult franchise

Parliament

Bicameral legislature, with the Upper House known as the Rajya Sabha (Council of States) and the Lower House known as the Lok Sabha (Council of the People).

Last Elections

April-May 2004

Current Government

Formed by United Progressive Alliance (UPA) led by Indian National Congress party.

Head of State

President Mrs. Pratibha Devisingh Patil

(http://presidentofindia.nic.in)

Head of Government

Prime Minister Shri Manmohan Singh (http://pmindia.nic.in)
(”Shri” is the Hindi equivalent of Mr., “Shrimati” (abbreviated as Smt.) of Mrs. and “Kumari” (Kum.) of Miss).

Indian Standard Time

(Indian Standard Time) IST is equal to GMT + 5 hours and 30 minutes. With reference to Armenia, IST is plus 1/2 hour in summer and plus 1 and 1/2 hours in winter

Area

3.29 million square kilometres

Climate

Varied continental climate. Spring from March-April, summer from May-October, winter from November-February. Tropical monsoon from June-August, and post-monsoon or north-east monsoon season (Oct-Dec). Most of the rainfall is brought by the south-west monsoon. Owing to the geographical diversity of India, regional climatic conditions in the extreme north, east and west can be different.

Neighbours

India shares borders with Pakistan and Afghanistan to the north-west, China, Nepal and Bhutan to the north, Myanmar and Bangladesh to the east. Sri Lanka is separated from the southernmost tip of India by the narrow Palk Straits and the Gulf of Mannar.

Major cities/towns

Almost forty percent of India’s 1.027 billion people live in urban centers, the four largest being Delhi (12 million), Mumbai (16 million), Kolkata (13.2 million), and Chennai (6.4 million). Other cities like Pune, Hyderabad, Bangalore, etc are rapidly developing into major centres of commerce and industry.

Population

1.027 billion (2001 census);
Current growth rate 1.2% per annum
Lifespan: Male 62.3 years, female 65.3 years
Death rate: 8.5 per 1000

Languages

Hindi is the official language, but English is also widely used. In addition, 18 languages are recognized by the Constitution of India. There are about 1,500 dialects.

Literacy

70%

Religions

India is a secular country with no state religion. Major religions include Hinduism (82%), Islam (12-15%), Christianity (2.3%), Sikhism (1.9%), Buddhism (0.8%) and Jainism (0.4%)

Currency

Rupee(1 Rupee = 100 paise) In October 2008, one US dollar equals approximately 48.50 rupees

Fiscal Year

1st April to 31st March.

Bangladesh

2008-11-19T08:30:00.000-08:00

About Bangladesh

Official Name: The People’s Republic of Bangladesh

Government: Parliamentary form of government. The President is head of the state, while the government is headed by the Prime Minister.

Geographical Location: Latitude between 20°34′ and 26°38′ North. Longitude between 88°01′ and 92°41′ East.

Area: 147,570 Sq. Km.

Boundaries: North – India (West Bengal and Meghalaya)

West – India (West Bengal)

East – India (Tripura and Assam, Myanmar)

South – Bay of Bengal

Capital City: Dhaka

Other Major Cities: Chittagong, Rajshahi, Khulna, Sylhet, Barisal.

Division: 6 Nos.

City Corporation: 6 Nos.

Districts: 64 Nos.

Upzilla: 476 Nos.

Police Station: 574 nos.

Standard Time: GMT + 6 Hours

Climate Variations: Winter 11°C - 20°C (Dec-Feb), Summer 21°C - 34°C (April – June)

Average Rainfall: 203 CM

Humidity: Highest 99% (July), Lowest 36% (Dec & Jan)

Population: 135.2 million

Literacy Rate: 62.66%

Average Age: 68.2 Year

Average Income: 444 USD

Language: The national language is Bangla which is spoken by 95%, 5% other dialects, English is widely spoken.

National Days: 21 February : International Mother Language Day and Language Martyrs Day

26 March : Independence Day

14 April : Bangla New Year’s Day

01 May : May Day

07 November : National Solidarity Day

16 December : Victory Day

Principal Crops: Rice, Jute, Tea, Tobacco, Wheat, Sugarcane, etc.

Principal Rivers : Padma, Jamuna, Brahmaputra, Meghna, Karnaphuli, Shitalakhya, Teesta, Surma, etc.

Religion: Muslims 88.35 %, Hindus 10.5 %, Buddhists 0.6%, Christians 0.3% and others 0.3%

Principal Exports: Raw Jute and products, Tea, Leather and Leather goods, Garments, Frozen Shrimps, Ceramics, Vegetables, Software, Medicine, etc.

Principal Imports: Foods, Oil, Industrial Raw Materials, Machineries Parts, Chemical, etc.

Working Hours: The official working hours in Bangladesh is from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Saturday to Wednesday and 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM on Thursday. Friday is a weekly holiday. Banks transact their business from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM on Saturday to Wednesday and from 9:00 AM to 12:00 noon on Thursday.

Principal Industries: Jute, Paper, Garments, Tea, Fertilizer, Cement, Leather and Leather goods, Fishing, etc.

Currency: Taka having a denomination of 500, 100, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1.

Exchange Rate: US$ 1.00 = Tk. 70

Best Tourist Season: October – March