Cambodia has a long history of war, conflict and widespread poverty. Today, the country is recovering, but corruption and lack of democracy are hindering the economic progress of the whole population. Key figures and facts Capital: Phnom Penh Ethnic groups: Khmer 97.6%, Cham 1.2%, Chinese 0.1%, Vietnamese 0.1%, other 0.9% (2013) Language: Khmer (official) 96.3%,…
Category: Population
Myanmar Population
Myanmar was long isolated by many other countries because of a brutal military junta rule. Since 2011, the country has moved in a more democratic direction. There are great tensions between different ethnic groups in the country. Key figures and facts Capital: Nay Pyi Taw Ethnic groups: Burmese 68%, shan 9%, karen 7%, Rakhine 4%,…
Burundi Population
Burundi is one of Africa’s most densely populated countries. It is characterized economically and socially by the conflict between Tutsis and Hutus. Key figures and facts Capital: Bujumbura Ethnic groups: Hutu 85%, Tutsi 14%, Two 1% Language: Kirundi (official), French (official), English (official), Swahili, Religion: Roman Catholic 62.1%, Protestants 23.9%, Muslims 2.5%, others 11.5% (2008)…
Burkina Faso Population
Burkina Faso is one of the world’s poorest countries. Since 2019, violence and terror have led to hundreds of thousands of people fleeing internally in the country. Key figures and facts Capital: Ouagadougou Ethnic groups: Mossi 52%, others (gurunsi, senufo, lobi, bobo, man, fulani) 48%. Language: French (official), Sudanese tribal language Religion: Muslims 60.5%, Catholics…
Bulgaria Population
Bulgaria has had a difficult transition to market economy since the fall of communism in 1991. Despite improvement in its economy during the 2000s, Bulgaria is today the poorest of the EU member states. Major challenges related to corruption and organized crime. Key figures and facts Capital: Sofia Ethnic groups: Bulgarians 76.9%, Turks 8%, Romani…
Brunei Population
The Sultanate of Brunei is a former great power and today a rich oil nation. Brunei is considered one of the most politically stable countries in Asia, but with very limited democratic rights. The Sultan governs the country as a monarch. Key figures and facts Capital: Bandar Seri Begawan Ethnic groups: Malaysian 66%, Chinese 10%,…
Brazil Population
Brazil is the largest country in South America and the largest economic power. The country has major environmental challenges and the economy is struggling. Equalizing the differences between poor and rich is one of the country’s biggest challenges. Key figures and facts Capital: Brasília Ethnic groups: European origin 47.7%, European + African origin 43.1%, African…
Botswana Population
Botswana has Africa’s most stable and democratic form of government. However, the country is struggling with the fact that a large part of the population is affected by AIDS. Key figures and facts Capital: Gaborone Ethnic groups: Setswana 79%, Kalanga 11%, Basarwa 3%, other 7% Language: Setswana 77.3%, Sekalanga 7.4%, Shekgalagadi 3.4%, English (official) 2.8%,…
Bosnia and Herzegovina Population
The civil war in Bosnia-Herzegovina in the 1990s still characterizes the country. In the past, the ethnic groups lived side by side, but today the country is politically and ethnically divided. Key figures and facts Capital: Sarajevo Ethnic groups: Bosniakers 50.1%, Serbs 30.8%, Croats 15.4%, others 2.7%, uncertain 1% (2013) Language: Bosnian (official) 52.9%, Serbian…
Bolivia Population
Political unrest, the coup and economic crises have characterized Bolivia’s history. Under Socialist President Evo Morales, the country has experienced economic growth and better distribution of goods, but corruption and poverty remain a major problem. Key figures and facts Capital: La Paz Ethnic groups: Fertilizer (mixture of European and Native American origin) 68%, indigenous people…
Bhutan Population
The small mountain state of Bhutan is known for measuring the country’s state in gross national happiness. The country has undergone a gradual transition from monarchy to parliamentary democracy. The country got its first written constitution in 2008. Key figures and facts Capital: Thimphu Ethnic groups: Bhutanese 50%, ethnic Nepalese 35% (includes Lhotsampa), indigenous or…
Benin Population
Benin is one of Africa’s smallest states. The country was a military dictatorship until the 1990s, but has since been known as one of the most stable democracies in Africa. Key figures and facts Capital: Porto-Novo Ethnic groups: Fon people (38.4%), Adjaene (15.1%), Yorubians (12%), Baribas (9.6%), Fulanians (8.6%), Ottamarians (6.1%), Yoa-Lokpa people (4.3%), Dendiene…
Belize Population
Belize, located in Central America, has much in common with the island states of the Caribbean. Tourism is an important source of income for the country, which has one of the world’s largest coral reefs. Key figures and facts Capital: Belmopan Ethnic groups: Fertilizer 52.9%, Creole 25.9%, Mayan Indians 11.3%, Garifuners 6.1%, others 11.2% (2010)…
Belarus Population
Belarus has maintained close political and economic relations with Russia after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. The country is criticized for being less democratic and for extensive human rights violations. Key figures and facts Capital: Minsk Ethnic groups: Belarusians 83.7%, Russians 8.3%, Poles 3.1%, Ukrainians 1.7%, other/unspecified 3.3% (2009) Language: Russian (official)…
Belgium Population
Belgium is one of the smallest countries in Europe, and the headquarters of both NATO and the EU is located in the capital Brussels. The country has played an important role in European history and helped to found the EU. Key figures and facts Capital: Brussels Ethnic groups: Flemish 58%, Walloon 31%, other 11% Language:…
Barbados Population
The island state of Barbados is among the Caribbean’s most prosperous states. Tourism has bypassed the sugar industry as a basis for the country’s economy. Key figures and facts Capital: Bridgetown Ethnic groups: African origin 92.4%, European origin 2.7%, African + European origin 3.1%, East Indians 1.3%, other 0.5% (2010) Language: English Religion: Protestants 66.4%,…
Bangladesh Population
Bangladesh is one of the most densely populated and poorest countries in the world. The two great rivers Brahmaputra and Ganges flow through the land, causing the land to be constantly flooded. Key figures and facts Capital: Dhaka Ethnic groups: Bengalis 98%, other 2% (2011) Language: Bengali 98.8%, other 1.2% (2011) Religion: Muslims 89.1%, Hindus…
Bahrain Population
Bahrain in the Gulf of Persia is a rich oil nation. The power lies with the Sunni Muslim royal family al-Khalifa, despite a Shiite majority. Key figures and facts Capital: Manama Ethnic groups: Bahrain 46%, non-Bahrain 54% (2010) Language: Arabic (official), English, Farsi, Urdu Religion: Muslims (Shia and Sunni) 70.3%, Christians 14.5%, others 15.2% (2010)…
Bahamas Population
The Bahamas is a holiday paradise in the Caribbean consisting of over 700 islands. Although the country has few natural resources and large geographical distances, it has a relatively stable economy. Key figures and facts Capital: Nassau Ethnic groups: African origin 90.6%, European origin 4.7%, African and European origin 2.1%, other/unspecified 2.6% Language: English (official),…
Austria Population
Austria played a central role in the history of Europe, and fought on the German side in both world wars. The country is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe. The inhabitants have a very high standard of living. Key figures and facts Capital: Vienna Ethnic groups: Austrians 80.8%, Germans 2.6%, people from…
Australia Population
The country Australia was founded by European immigrants 200 years ago, but has been inhabited for over 40,000 years. An abundance of natural resources and relatively few people have made the country one of the richest in the world. Key figures and facts Capital: Canberra Ethnic groups: English 25.9%, Australians 25.4%, Irish 7.5%, Scots 6.4%,…
Azerbaijan Population
Azerbaijan is one of the world’s oldest oil producers. The conflict with neighboring Armenia and widespread corruption have long characterized the former Soviet Republic. Despite its resources, Azerbaijan’s transition to market economy has been slow. On paper, Azerbaijan is a parliamentary democracy, but in practice the country has been dictatorially governed by the Aliyev family…
Armenia Population
Although Armenia is geographically located in Asia, the country has cultural and political links with Europe. The past as a Soviet Republic has had a strain on the economy, but in recent years the country has experienced economic growth. Key figures and facts Capital: Yerevan Ethnic groups: Armenians 98.1%, Kurds (yezidi) 1.1%, others 0.7% (2011)…
Argentina Population
One hundred years ago, Argentina was one of the world’s ten richest countries, but failed economic policies and corruption have led to several economic downturns in the country. Today, there are major differences between the poor and the rich in Argentina, and about every fourth inhabitant lives below the poverty line. Key figures and facts…
Antigua and Barbuda Population
The country has 365 beaches, one sandy beach for every day of the year. It attracts many tourists to the archipelago. Key figures and facts Capital: Saint John’s Ethnic groups: African origin 87.3%, African + European origin 4.7%, European origin 1.6%, other 6.4% (2011) Language: English (official), local dialects Religion: Protestants 68.3%, Roman Catholics 8.2%,…
Angola Population
The former Portuguese colony of Angola has been through a civil war that lasted for over 27 years. Following the peace agreement in 2002, Angola’s economy has undergone a period of rapid change, and the country has one of the fastest growing economies in Africa. Despite economic growth, large sections of the population live in…
Andorra Population
Andorra is a small principality in the steep mountainsides between Spain and France in the Pyrenees. Good winter sports facilities and duty free goods attract many millions of tourists to the country every year. Key figures and facts Capital: Andorra la Vella Ethnic groups: Andorran 48.8%, Spaniards 25.1%, Portuguese 12%, French 4.4%, others 9.7% (2017)…
Algeria Population
Algeria is Africa’s largest country and an important oil and gas exporter. The society is characterized by a bloody civil war in the 1990s and an authoritarian ruling party that has ruled since the country became independent from France in 1962. Key figures and facts Capital: Alger Ethnic groups: Arab Berbers 99%, Europeans and others…
Albania Population
Mountainous Albania was the last country in Europe to give up communism. The transition to democracy and the market economy has been problematic and the country is one of the poorest countries in Europe. Key figures and facts Capital: Tirana Ethnic groups: Albanians 82.6%, Greeks 0.9%, other 1%, unspecified 15.5% (2011) Language: Albanian (official) 98.8%,…
Afghanistan Population
Nearly forty years of war have made Afghanistan one of the world’s poorest and least developed countries. For a long time, the totalitarian Taliban regime was in control of the country. Although the Afghan government has taken control, the conflict with the Taliban is still ongoing and the country has not achieved peace and stability….