 |
Serbia and Montenegro three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and red
Seychelles five oblique bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, red, white, and green (bottom) radiating from the bottom of the hoist side
Sierra Leone three equal horizontal bands of light green (top), white, and light blue
Singapore two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white; near the hoist side of the red band, there is a vertical, white crescent (closed portion is toward the hoist side) partially enclosing five white five-pointed stars arranged in a circle
Slovakia three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red superimposed with the Slovak cross in a shield centered on the hoist side; the cross is white centered on a background of red and blue
Slovenia three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red, with the Slovenian seal (a shield with the image of Triglav, Slovenia's highest peak, in white against a blue background at the center; beneath it are two wavy blue lines depicting seas and rivers, and above it are three six-pointed stars arranged in an inverted triangle, which are taken from the coat of arms of the Counts of Celje, the great Slovene dynastic house of the late 14th and early 15th centuries); the seal is located in the upper hoist side of the flag centered in the white and blue bands
Solomon Islands divided diagonally by a thin yellow stripe from the lower hoist-side corner; the upper triangle (hoist side) is blue with five white five-pointed stars arranged in an X pattern; the lower triangle is green
Somalia light blue with a large white five-pointed star in the center; blue field influenced by the flag of the UN
South Africa two equal width horizontal bands of red (top) and blue separated by a central green band which splits into a horizontal Y, the arms of which end at the corners of the hoist side; the Y embraces a black isosceles triangle from which the arms are separated by narrow yellow bands; the red and blue bands are separated from the green band and its arms by narrow white stripes
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands coat of arms centered on the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms features a shield with a golden lion centered; the shield is supported by a fur seal on the left and a penguin on the right; a reindeer appears above the shield, and below it on a scroll is the motto LEO TERRAM PROPRIAM PROTEGAT (Let the Lion Protect its Own Land)
Spain three horizontal bands of red (top), yellow (double width), and red with the national coat of arms on the hoist side of the yellow band; the coat of arms includes the royal seal framed by the Pillars of Hercules, which are the two promontories (Gibraltar and Ceuta) on either side of the eastern end of the Strait of Gibraltar
Sri Lanka yellow with two panels; the smaller hoist-side panel has two equal vertical bands of green (hoist side) and orange; the other panel is a large dark red rectangle with a yellow lion holding a sword, and there is a yellow bo leaf in each corner; the yellow field appears as a border around the entire flag and extends between the two panels
Sudan three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with a green isosceles triangle based on the hoist side
Suriname five horizontal bands of green (top, double width), white, red (quadruple width), white, and green (double width); there is a large, yellow, five-pointed star centered in the red band
Svalbard the flag of Norway is used
Swaziland three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (triple width), and blue; the red band is edged in yellow; centered in the red band is a large black and white shield covering two spears and a staff decorated with feather tassels, all placed horizontally
Sweden blue with a golden yellow cross extending to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)
Switzerland red square with a bold, equilateral white cross in the center that does not extend to the edges of the flag
Syria three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black, with two small green five-pointed stars in a horizontal line centered in the white band; similar to the flag of Yemen, which has a plain white band, and of Iraq, which has three green stars (plus an Arabic inscription) in a horizontal line centered in the white band; also similar to the flag of Egypt, which has a heraldic eagle centered in the white band
Taiwan red with a dark blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing a white sun with 12 triangular rays
Tajikistan three horizontal stripes of red (top), a wider stripe of white, and green; a gold crown surmounted by seven gold, five-pointed stars is located in the center of the white stripe
Tanzania divided diagonally by a yellow-edged black band from the lower hoist-side corner; the upper triangle (hoist side) is green and the lower triangle is blue
Thailand five horizontal bands of red (top), white, blue (double width), white, and red
Togo five equal horizontal bands of green (top and bottom) alternating with yellow; there is a white five-pointed star on a red square in the upper hoist-side corner; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia
Tokelau the flag of New Zealand is used
Tonga red with a bold red cross on a white rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner
Trinidad and Tobago red with a white-edged black diagonal band from the upper hoist side to the lower fly side
Tromelin Island the flag of France is used
Tunisia red with a white disk in the center bearing a red crescent nearly encircling a red five-pointed star; the crescent and star are traditional symbols of Islam
Turkey red with a vertical white crescent (the closed portion is toward the hoist side) and white five-pointed star centered just outside the crescent opening
Turkmenistan green field with a vertical red stripe near the hoist side, containing five carpet guls (designs used in producing rugs) stacked above two crossed olive branches similar to the olive branches on the UN flag; a white crescent moon and five white stars appear in the upper corner of the field just to the fly side of the red stripe
Turks and Caicos Islands blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the colonial shield centered on the outer half of the flag; the shield is yellow and contains a conch shell, lobster, and cactus
Tuvalu light blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant; the outer half of the flag represents a map of the country with nine yellow five-pointed stars symbolizing the nine islands
Uganda six equal horizontal bands of black (top), yellow, red, black, yellow, and red; a white disk is superimposed at the center and depicts a red-crested crane (the national symbol) facing the hoist side
Ukraine two equal horizontal bands of azure (top) and golden yellow represent grainfields under a blue sky
United Arab Emirates three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and black with a wider vertical red band on the hoist side
United Kingdom blue field with the red cross of Saint George (patron saint of England) edged in white superimposed on the diagonal red cross of Saint Patrick (patron saint of Ireland), which is superimposed on the diagonal white cross of Saint Andrew (patron saint of Scotland); properly known as the Union Flag, but commonly called the Union Jack; the design and colors (especially the Blue Ensign) have been the basis for a number of other flags including other Commonwealth countries and their constituent states or provinces, as well as British overseas territories
United States thirteen equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white; there is a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing 50 small, white, five-pointed stars arranged in nine offset horizontal rows of six stars (top and bottom) alternating with rows of five stars; the 50 stars represent the 50 states, the 13 stripes represent the 13 original colonies; known as Old Glory; the design and colors have been the basis for a number of other flags, including Chile, Liberia, Malaysia, and Puerto Rico
Uruguay nine equal horizontal stripes of white (top and bottom) alternating with blue; there is a white square in the upper hoist-side corner with a yellow sun bearing a human face known as the Sun of May and 16 rays alternately triangular and wavy
Uzbekistan three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and green separated by red fimbriations with a white crescent moon and 12 white stars in the upper hoist-side quadrant
Vanuatu two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a black isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) all separated by a black-edged yellow stripe in the shape of a horizontal Y (the two points of the Y face the hoist side and enclose the triangle); centered in the triangle is a boar's tusk encircling two crossed namele leaves, all in yellow
Venezuela three equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), blue, and red with the coat of arms on the hoist side of the yellow band and an arc of seven white five-pointed stars centered in the blue band
Vietnam red with a large yellow five-pointed star in the center
Virgin Islands white, with a modified US coat of arms in the center between the large blue initials V and I; the coat of arms shows a yellow eagle holding an olive branch in one talon and three arrows in the other with a superimposed shield of vertical red and white stripes below a blue panel
Wake Island the flag of the US is used
Wallis and Futuna a large white modified Maltese cross - shifted a little off center toward the fly and slightly downward - on a red background; the flag of France outlined in white on two sides is in the upper hoist quadrant; the flag of France is used for official occasions
Yemen three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black; similar to the flag of Syria, which has two green stars and of Iraq which has three green stars (plus an Arabic inscription) in a horizontal line centered in the white band; also similar to the flag of Egypt, which has a heraldic eagle centered in the white band
Zambia green with a panel of three vertical bands of red (hoist side), black, and orange below a soaring orange eagle, on the outer edge of the flag
Zimbabwe seven equal horizontal bands of green, yellow, red, black, red, yellow, and green with a white isosceles triangle edged in black with its base on the hoist side; a yellow Zimbabwe bird representing the long history of the country is superimposed on a red five-pointed star in the center of the triangle, which symbolizes peace; green symbolizes agriculture, yellow - mineral wealth, red - blood shed to achieve independence, and black stands for the native people
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@2085 Highways (km)
Afghanistan total: 21,000 km paved: 2,793 km unpaved: 18,207 km (1999 est.)
Albania total: 18,000 km paved: 5,400 km unpaved: 12,600 km (2000)
Algeria total: 104,000 km paved: 71,656 km (including 640 km of expressways) unpaved: 32,344 km (1999)
American Samoa total: 350 km paved: 150 km unpaved: 200 km
Andorra total: 269 km paved: 198 km unpaved: 71 km (1994)
Angola total: 51,429 km paved: 5,349 km unpaved: 46,080 km (1999)
Anguilla total: 105 km paved: 65 km unpaved: 40 km (1997)
Antigua and Barbuda total: 250 km (1999 est.)
Argentina total: 215,471 km paved: 63,348 km (including 734 km of expressways) unpaved: 152,123 km (1999)
Armenia total: 15,918 km paved: 15,329 km (includes 7,527 km of expressways) unpaved: 589 km (2000)
Aruba total: 800 km paved: 513 km unpaved: 287 km note: most coastal roads are paved, while unpaved roads serve large tracts of the interior (1995)
Australia total: 811,603 km paved: 314,090 km (including 18,619 km of expressways) unpaved: 497,513 km (1999 est.)
Austria total: 200,000 km paved: 200,000 km (including 1,633 km of expressways) unpaved: 0 km (2000)
Azerbaijan total: 24,981 km paved: 23,057 km unpaved: 1,924 km (2000)
Bahamas, The total: 2,693 km paved: 1,546 km unpaved: 1,147 km (1999 est.)
Bahrain total: 3,261 km paved: 2,531 km unpaved: 730 km (2000)
Bangladesh total: 207,486 km paved: 19,773 km unpaved: 187,713 km (1999)
Barbados total: 1,793 km paved: 1,719 km unpaved: 74 km (1999)
Belarus total: 74,385 km paved: 66,203 km unpaved: 8,182 km (2000)
Belgium total: 148,216 km paved: 116,687 km (including 1,727 km of expressways) unpaved: 31,529 km (2000)
Belize total: 2,872 km paved: 488 km unpaved: 2,384 km (1999 est.)
Benin total: 6,787 km paved: 1,357 km (including 10 km of expressways) unpaved: 5,430 km (1999 est.)
Bermuda total: 450 km paved: 450 km unpaved: 0 km note: public roads - 209 km; private roads - 241 km (2002)
Bhutan total: 3,690 km paved: 2,240 km unpaved: 1,450 km (1999 est.)
Bolivia total: 53,790 km paved: 3,496 km (including 13 km of expressways) unpaved: 50,294 km (2000 est.)
Bosnia and Herzegovina total: 21,846 km paved: 11,424 km unpaved: 10,422 km (1999 est)
Botswana total: 10,217 km paved: 5,619 km unpaved: 4,598 km (1999)
Brazil total: 1,724,929 km paved: 94,871 km unpaved: 1,630,058 km (2000)
British Indian Ocean Territory total: NA km paved: short section of paved road between port and airfield on Diego Garcia unpaved: NA km
British Virgin Islands total: 177 km paved: 177 km unpaved: 0 km (2000)
Brunei total: 2,525 km paved: 2,525 km unpaved: 0 km (2000)
Bulgaria total: 37,286 km paved: 35,049 km (including 324 km of expressways) unpaved: 2,237 km (2000)
Burkina Faso total: 12,506 km paved: 2,001 km unpaved: 10,505 km (1999)
Burma total: 28,200 km paved: 3,440 km unpaved: 24,760 km (1996 est.)
Burundi total: 14,480 km paved: 1,028 km unpaved: 13,452 km (1999 est.)
Cambodia total: 12,323 km paved: 1,996 km unpaved: 10,327 km (2000 est)
Cameroon total: 34,300 km paved: 4,288 km unpaved: 30,012 km (1999 est.)
Canada total: 1.408 million km paved: 497,306 km (including 16,900 km of expressways) unpaved: 911,494 km (2002)
Cape Verde total: 1,100 km paved: 858 km unpaved: 242 km (1999 est.)
Cayman Islands total: 785 km paved: 785 km (2000)
Central African Republic total: 23,810 km paved: 643 km unpaved: 23,167 km (1999 est.)
Chad total: 33,400 km paved: 267 km unpaved: 33,133 km (1999 est.)
Chile total: 79,814 km paved: 15,484 km (including 294 km of expressways) unpaved: 64,330 km (2000)
China total: 1,402,698 km paved: 314,204 km (with at least 16,314 km of expressways) unpaved: 1,088,494 km (2000)
Christmas Island total: 240 km paved: 30 km unpaved: 210 km (2000)
Cocos (Keeling) Islands total: 15 km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km (2003)
Colombia total: 110,000 km paved: 26,000 km unpaved: 84,000 km (2000)
Comoros total: 880 km paved: 673 km unpaved: 207 km (1999 est)
Congo, Democratic Republic of the total: 157,000 km (including 30 km of expressways) paved: NA km unpaved: NA km (1999 est.)
Congo, Republic of the total: 12,800 km paved: 1,242 km unpaved: 11,558 km (1999 est.)
Cook Islands total: 320 km paved: 33 km unpaved: 287 km (2000)
Costa Rica total: 35,892 km paved: 7,896 km unpaved: 27,996 km (2000)
Cote d'Ivoire total: 50,400 km paved: 4,889 km unpaved: 45,511 km (1999 est.)
Croatia total: 28,123 km paved: 23,792 km (including 410 km of expressways) unpaved: 4,331 km (2000)
Cuba total: 60,858 km paved: 29,820 km (including 638 km of expressway) unpaved: 31,038 km (1999 est.)
Cyprus total: 13,491 km note: Greek Cypriot area: 11,141 km; Turkish Cypriot area: 2,350 km paved: Greek Cypriot area: 6,428 km; Turkish Cypriot area: 1,370 km unpaved: Greek Cypriot area: 4,713 km; Turkish Cypriot area: 980 km (2000/1996)
Czech Republic total: 55,408 km paved: 55,408 km (including 499 km of expressways) unpaved: 0 km (2000)
Denmark total: 71,591 km paved: 71,591 km (including 880 km of expressways) unpaved: 0 km (2000)
Djibouti total: 2,890 km paved: 364 km unpaved: 2,526 km (1999 est.)
Dominica total: 780 km paved: 393 km unpaved: 387 km (1999 est.)
Dominican Republic total: 12,600 km paved: 6,224 km unpaved: 6,376 km (1999)
East Timor total: 3,800 km paved: 428 km unpaved: 3,372 km (1995)
Ecuador total: 43,197 km paved: 8,164 km unpaved: 35,033 km (2000)
Egypt total: 64,000 km paved: 49,984 km unpaved: 14,016 km (1999 est.)
El Salvador total: 10,029 km paved: 1,986 km (including 327 km of expressways) unpaved: 8,043 km (1999 est.)
Equatorial Guinea total: 2,880 km (1999 est.)
Eritrea total: 4,010 km paved: 874 km unpaved: 3,136 km (1999 est.)
Estonia total: 51,411 km paved: 10,334 km (including 94 km of expressways) unpaved: 41,077 km (2000)
Ethiopia total: 31,571 km paved: 3,789 km unpaved: 27,782 km (2000)
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) total: 440 km paved: 50 km unpaved: 390 km (2002)
Faroe Islands total: 463 km paved: 454 km unpaved: 9 km (1999)
Fiji total: 3,440 km paved: 1,692 km unpaved: 1,748 km (1999 est.)
Finland total: 77,943 km paved: 50,305 km (including 750 km of expressways) unpaved: 27,688 km (2001)
France total: 894,000 km paved: 894,000 km (including 11,500 km of expressways) unpaved: 0 km (2000)
French Guiana total: 722 km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km (1996)
French Polynesia total: 2,590 km paved: 1,735 km unpaved: 855 km (1999)
Gabon total: 8,464 km paved: 838 km unpaved: 7,626 km (2000 est.)
Gambia, The total: 2,700 km paved: 956 km unpaved: 1,744 km (1999)
Gaza Strip total: NA km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km note: small, poorly developed road network
Georgia total: 20,362 km paved: 19,038 km unpaved: 1,325 km (2000)
Germany total: 230,735 km paved: 230,735 km (including 11,515 km of expressways) unpaved: 0 km (1999)
Ghana total: 39,409 km paved: 11,665 km unpaved: 27,744 km (1999 est.)
Gibraltar total: 29 km paved: 29 km unpaved: 0 km (2002)
Greece total: 117,000 km paved: 107,406 km (including 470 km of expressways) unpaved: 9,594 km (1999 est.)
Greenland total: NA (there are no roads between towns) (2003)
Grenada total: 1,040 km paved: 638 km unpaved: 402 km (1999 est.)
Guadeloupe total: 2,467 km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km (1998)
Guam total: 885 km paved: 675 km unpaved: 210 km note: there are also 685 km of roads classified non-public, including roads located on federal government installations
Guatemala total: 14,118 km paved: 4,871 km (including 74 km of expressways) unpaved: 9,247 km (1999)
Guernsey total: NA km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km
Guinea total: 30,500 km paved: 5,033 km unpaved: 25,467 km (1999 est.)
Guinea-Bissau total: 4,400 km paved: 453 km unpaved: 3,947 km (1999 est.)
Guyana total: 7,970 km paved: 590 km unpaved: 7,380 km (1999 est.)
Haiti total: 4,160 km paved: 1,011 km unpaved: 3,149 km (1999 est.)
Holy See (Vatican City) none; all city streets
Honduras total: 13,603 km paved: 2,775 km unpaved: 10,828 km (1999 est.)
Hong Kong total: 1,831 km paved: 1,831 km unpaved: 0 km (1999 est.)
Hungary total: 188,203 km paved: 81,680 km (including 438 km of expressways) unpaved: 106,523 km (1999)
Iceland total: 12,955 km paved/oiled gravel: 3,863 km unpaved: 9,092 km (2003)
India total: 3,319,644 km paved: 1,517,077 km unpaved: 1,802,567 km (1999 est.)
Indonesia total: 342,700 km paved: 158,670 km unpaved: 184,030 km (1999 est.)
Iran total: 167,157 km paved: 94,109 km (including 890 km of expressways) unpaved: 73,048 km (1998)
Iraq total: 45,550 km paved: 38,399 km unpaved: 7,151 km (2000 est.)
Ireland total: 92,500 km paved: 87,043 km (including 115 km of expressways) unpaved: 5,457 km (2000 est.)
Israel total: 16,281 km paved: 16,281 km (including 56 km of expressways) unpaved: 0 km (2000)
Italy total: 479,688 km paved: 479,688 km (including 6,621 km of expressways) unpaved: 0 km (1999)
Jamaica total: 18,700 km paved: 13,109 km unpaved: 5,591 km (1999 est.)
Japan total: 1,161,894 km paved: 534,471 km (including 6,455 km of expressways) unpaved: 627,423 km (1999)
Jersey total: 577 km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km
Jordan total: 7,245 km paved: 7,245 km unpaved: 0 km (2000)
Kazakhstan total: 81,331 km paved: 77,020 km unpaved: 4,311 km (2000)
Kenya total: 63,942 km paved: 7,737 km unpaved: 56,205 km (2000)
Kiribati total: 670 km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km (1999 est.)
Korea, North total: 31,200 km paved: 1,997 km unpaved: 29,203 km (1999 est.)
Korea, South total: 86,990 km paved: 64,808 km (including 1,996 km of expressways) unpaved: 22,182 km (1999 est.)
Kuwait total: 4,450 km paved: 3,587 km unpaved: 863 km (1999 est.)
Kyrgyzstan total: 18,500 km paved: 16,854 km (including 140 km of expressways) unpaved: 1,646 km (1999 est.)
Laos total: 21,716 km paved: 9,664 km unpaved: 12,052 km (1999 est.)
Latvia total: 73,202 km paved: 28,256 km unpaved: 44,946 km (2000)
Lebanon total: 7,300 km paved: 6,198 km unpaved: 1,102 km (1999 est.)
Lesotho total: 5,940 km paved: 1,087 km unpaved: 4,853 km (1999)
Liberia total: 10,600 km paved: 657 km unpaved: 9,943 km (1999 est.)
Libya total: 83,200 km paved: 47,590 km unpaved: 35,610 km (1999 est.)
Liechtenstein total: 250 km paved: 250 km unpaved: 0 km
Lithuania total: 75,243 km paved: 68,697 km (including 417 km of expressways) unpaved: 6,546 km (2000)
Luxembourg total: 5,189 km paved: 5,189 km (including 114 km of expressways) unpaved: 0 km (2000)
Macau total: 271 km paved: 271 km unpaved: 0 km (2000)
Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of total: 8,684 km paved: 5,540 km (including 133 km of expressways) unpaved: 3,144 km (1999 est.)
Madagascar total: 49,827 km paved: 5,780 km unpaved: 44,047 km (1999 est.)
Malawi total: 28,400 km paved: 5,254 km unpaved: 23,146 km (1999 est.)
Malaysia total: 65,877 km paved: 49,935 km (including 1,192 km of expressways) unpaved: 15,942 km (1999)
Maldives total: NA km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km
Mali total: 15,100 km paved: 1,827 km unpaved: 13,273 km (1999 est.)
Malta total: 2,254 km paved: 1,972 km unpaved: 282 km (2000)
Man, Isle of total: 800 km paved: 800 km unpaved: 0 km (1999)
Marshall Islands total: NA km paved: 64.5 km unpaved: NA km note: paved roads on major islands (Majuro, Kwajalein), otherwise stone-, coral-, or laterite-surfaced roads and tracks (2002)
Martinique total: 2,105 km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km (2000)
Mauritania total: 7,720 km paved: 830 km unpaved: 6,890 km (2000)
Mauritius total: 1,926 km paved: 1,868 km (including 44 km of expressways) unpaved: 58 km (2000)
Mayotte total: 93 km paved: 72 km unpaved: 21 km
Mexico total: 329,532 km paved: 108,087 km (including 6,429 km of expressways) unpaved: 221,445 km (1999 est.)
Micronesia, Federated States of total: 240 km paved: 42 km unpaved: 198 km (1999 est.)
Midway Islands total: NA km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km
Moldova total: 12,657 km paved: 11,012 km unpaved: 1,645 km (1999)
Monaco total: 50 km paved: 50 km unpaved: 0 km (1999 est.)
Mongolia total: 49,250 km paved: 1,724 km unpaved: 47,526 km (2000)
Montserrat total: 227 km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km note: volcanic eruptions beginning in 1995 destroyed most of the road system (2003)
Morocco total: 57,707 km paved: 32,547 km (including 481 km of expressways) unpaved: 25,160 km (2000)
Mozambique total: 30,400 km paved: 5,685 km unpaved: 24,715 km (1999 est.)
Namibia total: 66,467 km paved: 9,172 km unpaved: 57,285 km (2000)
Nauru total: 30 km paved: 24 km unpaved: 6 km (1999 est.)
Nepal total: 13,223 km paved: 4,073 km unpaved: 9,150 km (1999 est.)
Netherlands total: 116,500 km paved: 104,850 km (including 2,235 km of expressways) unpaved: 11,650 km (1999)
Netherlands Antilles total: 600 km paved: 300 km unpaved: 300 km
New Caledonia total: 4,825 km paved: 2,287 km unpaved: 2,538 km (1999)
New Zealand total: 92,053 km paved: 57,809 km (including at least 190 km of expressways) unpaved: 34,244 km (2000)
Nicaragua total: 19,032 km paved: 2,094 km unpaved: 16,938 km (2000)
Niger total: 10,100 km paved: 798 km unpaved: 9,302 km (1999 est.)
Nigeria total: 194,394 km paved: 60,068 km (including 1,194 km of expressways) unpaved: 134,326 km (1999 est.)
Niue total: 234 km paved: 86 km unpaved: 148 km (2001)
Norfolk Island total: 80 km paved: 53 km unpaved: 27 km (2001)
Northern Mariana Islands total: 362 km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km (1991)
Norway total: 91,454 km paved: 69,505 km (including 143 km of expressways) unpaved: 21,949 km (2000)
Oman total: 34,965 km paved: 9,673 km (including 550 km of expressways) unpaved: 25,292 km (2001)
Pakistan total: 254,410 km paved: 109,396 km (including 339 km of expressways) unpaved: 145,014 km (1999)
Palau total: 61 km paved: 36 km unpaved: 25 km
Palmyra Atoll most of the roads and many causeways built during World War II are unserviceable and overgrown (2001)
Panama total: 11,400 km paved: 3,944 km (including 30 km of expressways) unpaved: 7,456 km (1999)
Papua New Guinea total: 19,600 km paved: 686 km unpaved: 18,914 km (1999 est.)
Paraguay total: 29,500 km paved: 14,986 km unpaved: 14,514 km (1999 est)
Peru total: 72,900 km paved: 9,331 km unpaved: 63,569 km (1999 est.)
Philippines total: 201,994 km paved: 42,419 km unpaved: 159,575 km (2000)
Pitcairn Islands total: 6.4 km paved: 0 km unpaved: 6.4 km
Poland total: 364,656 km paved: 249,060 km (including 358 km of expressways) unpaved: 115,596 km (2000)
Portugal total: 68,732 km paved: 59,110 km (including 1441 km of expressways) unpaved: 9,622 km (2000)
Puerto Rico total: 14,400 km paved: 14,400 km unpaved: 0 km (1999 est.)
Qatar total: 1,230 km paved: 1,107 km unpaved: 123 km (1999 est.)
Reunion total: 2,724 km paved: 1,300 km (including 73 km of four-lane road) unpaved: 1,424 km (1994)
Romania total: 198,603 km paved: 98,308 km (including 113 km of expressways) unpaved: 100,295 km (2000)
Russia total: 532,393 km paved: 358,833 km unpaved: 173,560 km (2000)
Rwanda total: 12,000 km paved: 996 km unpaved: 11,004 km (1999 est.)
Saint Helena total: 198 km (Saint Helena 138 km, Ascension 40 km, Tristan da Cunha 20 km) paved: 168 km (Saint Helena 118km, Ascension 40 km, Tristan da Cunha 10 km) unpaved: 30 km (Saint Helena 20 km, Ascension 0 km, Tristan da Cunha 10 km) (2000)
Saint Kitts and Nevis total: 320 km paved: 136 km unpaved: 184 km (1999 est)
Saint Lucia total: 1,210 km paved: 63 km unpaved: 1,147 km (1999 est.)
Saint Pierre and Miquelon total: 114 km paved: 69 km unpaved: 45 km
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines total: 1,040 km paved: 320 km unpaved: 720 km (1999 est.)
Samoa total: 790 km paved: 332 km unpaved: 458 km (1999 est.)
San Marino total: 220 km paved: 220 km unpaved: 0 km (2001)
Sao Tome and Principe total: 320 km paved: 218 km unpaved: 102 km (1999 est.)
Saudi Arabia total: 151,470 km paved: 45,592 km unpaved: 105,878 km (1999)
Senegal total: 14,576 km paved: 4,271 km including 7 km of expressways unpaved: 10,305 km (2000)
Serbia and Montenegro total: 49,805 km paved: 31,029 km (including 560 km of expressways) unpaved: 18,776 km (2000)
Seychelles total: 373 km paved: 315 km unpaved: 58 km (1997 est.)
Sierra Leone total: 11,330 km paved: 895 km unpaved: 10,435 km (1999)
Singapore total: 3,066 km paved: 3,066 km (including 150 km of expressways) unpaved: 0 km (1999)
Slovakia total: 42,717 km paved: 37,036 km (including 296 km of expressways) unpaved: 5,681 km (2000)
Slovenia total: 20,177 km paved: 20,157 km (including 427 km of expressways) unpaved: 20 km (2000)
Solomon Islands total: 1,360 km paved: 34 km unpaved: 1,326 km (1999 est.)
Somalia total: 22,100 km paved: 2,608 km unpaved: 19,492 km (1999 est.)
South Africa total: 362,099 km paved: 73,506 km (including 2,032 km of expressways) unpaved: 288,593 km (2000)
Spain total: 663,795 km paved: 657,157 km (including 10,317 km of expressways) unpaved: 6,638 km (1999)
Sri Lanka total: 96,695 km paved: 91,860 km unpaved: 4,835 km (1999)
Sudan total: 11,900 km paved: 4,320 km unpaved: 7,580 km (1999 est.)
Suriname total: 4,492 km paved: 1,168 km unpaved: 3,324 km (2000)
Svalbard total: NA km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km
Swaziland total: 3,247 km paved: NA unpaved: NA (1998)
Sweden total: 212,402 km paved: 166,523 km (including 1,499 km of expressways) unpaved: 45,879 km (2000)
Switzerland total: 71,011 km paved: 71,011 km (including 1,638 of expressways) unpaved: 0 km (2000)
Syria total: 43,381 km paved: 10,021 km (including 877 km of expressways) unpaved: 33,360 km (1999)
Taiwan total: 35,931 km paved: 31,583 km (including 608 km of expressways) unpaved: 4,348 km (2000)
Tajikistan total: 27,767 km paved: NA unpaved: NA (2000)
Tanzania total: 88,200 km paved: 3,704 km unpaved: 84,496 km (1999 est.)
Thailand total: 64,600 km paved: 62,985 km unpaved: 1,615 km (1999 est.)
Togo total: 7,520 km paved: 2,376 km unpaved: 5,144 km (1999 est.)
Tokelau total: NA km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km
Tonga total: 680 km paved: 184 km unpaved: 496 km (1999 est.)
Trinidad and Tobago total: 8,320 km paved: 4,252 km unpaved: 4,068 km (1999 est.)
Tunisia total: 18,997 km paved: 12,310 km (including 142 km of expressways) unpaved: 6,687 km (2000)
Turkey total: 385,960 km paved: 131,226 km (including 1,749 km of expressways) unpaved: 254,734 km (1999)
Turkmenistan total: 24,000 km paved: 19,488 km unpaved: 4,512 km (1999 est.)
Turks and Caicos Islands total: 121 km paved: 24 km unpaved: 97 km (2000)
Tuvalu total: 8 km paved: 0 km unpaved: 8 km (1999 est.)
Uganda total: 27,000 km paved: 1,809 km unpaved: 25,191 km (1999 est.)
Ukraine total: 169,491 km paved: 163,898 km unpaved: 5,593 km (2000)
United Arab Emirates total: 1,088 km paved: 1,088 km (including 253 km of expressways) unpaved: 0 km (1999 est.)
United Kingdom total: 371,913 km paved: 371,913 km (including 3,358 km of expressways) unpaved: 0 km (1999)
United States total: 6,334,859 km paved: 3,737,567 km (including 89,426 km of expressways) unpaved: 2,597,292 km (2000)
Uruguay total: 8,983 km paved: 8,081 km unpaved: 902 km (1999 est.)
Uzbekistan total: 81,600 km paved: 71,237 km unpaved: 10,363 km (1999 est.)
Vanuatu total: 1,070 km paved: 256 km unpaved: 814 km (1999 est.)
Venezuela total: 96,155 km paved: 32,308 km unpaved: 63,847 km (1999 est.)
Vietnam total: 93,300 km paved: 23,418 km unpaved: 69,882 km (1999 est.)
Virgin Islands total: 856 km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km note: the only US possession where driving on the left side of the road is practiced (2000)
Wallis and Futuna total: 120 km (Ile Uvea 100 km, Ile Futuna 20 km) paved: 16 km (all on Ile Uvea) unpaved: 104 km (Ile Uvea 84 km, Ile Futuna 20 km)
West Bank total: 4,500 km paved: 2,700 km unpaved: 1,800 km note: Israelis have developed many highways to service Jewish settlements (1997 est.)
Western Sahara total: 6,200 km paved: 1,350 km unpaved: 4,850 km (1991 est)
World total: NA km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km
Yemen total: 67,000 km paved: 7,705 km unpaved: 59,295 km (1999 est.)
Zambia total: 66,781 km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km (1999 est.)
Zimbabwe total: 18,338 km paved: 8,692 km unpaved: 9,646 km (1999 est.)
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@2086 Illicit drugs
Afghanistan world's largest producer of opium; cultivation of opium poppy - used to make heroin - expanded to 30,750 hectares in 2002, despite eradication; potential opium production of 1,278 metric tons; source of hashish; many narcotics-processing labs throughout the country; drug trade source of instability and some government groups profit from the trade; 80-90% of the heroin consumed in Europe comes from Afghan opium; vulnerable to narcotics money laundering through the hawala system
Albania increasingly active transshipment point for Southwest Asian opiates, hashish, and cannabis transiting the Balkan route and - to a far lesser extent - cocaine from South America destined for Western Europe; limited opium and growing cannabis production; ethnic Albanian narcotrafficking organizations active and rapidly expanding in Europe; vulnerable to money laundering associated with regional trafficking in narcotics, arms, contraband, and illegal aliens
Angola used as a transshipment point for cocaine destined for Western Europe and other African states
Anguilla transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US and Europe
Antigua and Barbuda considered a minor transshipment point for narcotics bound for the US and Europe; more significant as an offshore financial center
Argentina used as a transshipment country for cocaine headed for Europe and the US; some money-laundering activity, especially in the Tri-Border Area; domestic consumption of drugs in urban centers is increasing
Armenia illicit cultivation of small amount of cannabis for domestic consumption; used as a transit point for illicit drugs - mostly opium and hashish - moving from Southwest Asia to Russia and to a lesser extent the rest of Europe
Aruba transit point for US- and Europe-bound narcotics with some accompanying money-laundering activity
Australia Tasmania is one of the world's major suppliers of licit opiate products; government maintains strict controls over areas of opium poppy cultivation and output of poppy straw concentrate
Austria transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and South American cocaine destined for Western Europe
Azerbaijan limited illicit cultivation of cannabis and opium poppy, mostly for CIS consumption; small government eradication program; transit point for Southwest Asian opiates bound for Russia and to a lesser extent the rest of Europe
Bahamas, The transshipment point for cocaine and marijuana bound for US and Europe; offshore financial center
Bangladesh transit country for illegal drugs produced in neighboring countries
Barbados one of many Caribbean transshipment points for narcotics bound for Europe and the US; offshore financial center
Belarus limited cultivation of opium poppy and cannabis, mostly for the domestic market; transshipment point for illicit drugs to and via Russia, and to the Baltics and Western Europe; lax money-laundering and banking regulations
Belgium growing producer of synthetic drugs; transit point for US-bound ecstasy; source of precursor chemicals for South American cocaine processors; transshipment point for cocaine, heroin, hashish, and marijuana entering Western Europe; money laundering related to trafficking of drugs, automobiles, alcohol, and tobacco
Belize major transshipment point for cocaine; small-scale illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade; some money-laundering activity related to offshore sector
Benin transshipment point for narcotics associated with Nigerian trafficking organizations and most commonly destined for Western Europe and the US; vulnerable to money laundering due to a poorly regulated financial infrastructure
Bolivia world's third-largest cultivator of coca (after Colombia and Peru) with an estimated 24,400 hectares under cultivation in June 2002, a 23% increase from June 2001; intermediate coca products and cocaine exported to or through Colombia, Brazil, Argentina, and Chile to the US and other international drug markets; eradication and alternative crop programs under the SANCHEZ DE LOZADA administration have been unable to keep pace with farmers' attempts to increase cultivation after significant reductions in 1998 and 1999; money-laundering activity related to narcotics trade, especially along the borders with Brazil and Paraguay
Bosnia and Herzegovina minor transit point for marijuana and opiate trafficking routes to Western Europe; organized crime launders money, but the lack of a well-developed financial infrastructure limits the country's utility as a money-laundering center
Brazil illicit producer of cannabis; minor coca cultivation in the Amazon region, used for domestic consumption; government has a large-scale eradication program to control cannabis; important transshipment country for Colombian and Peruvian cocaine headed for the US and Europe; also used by traffickers as a way station for narcotics air transshipments between Peru and Colombia; upsurge in drug-related violence and weapons smuggling; important market for Colombian, Bolivian, and Peruvian cocaine; illicit narcotics proceeds earned in Brazil are often laundered through the financial system; significant illicit financial activity in the Tri-Border Area
British Virgin Islands transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US and Europe; large offshore financial center
Brunei drug trafficking and illegally importing controlled substances are serious offenses in Brunei and carry a mandatory death penalty
Bulgaria major European transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and, to a lesser degree, South American cocaine for the European market; limited producer of precursor chemicals; some money laundering of drug-related proceeds through financial institutions
Burma world's second largest producer of illicit opium (potential production in 2002 - 630 metric tons, down 27% due to drought and, to a lesser extent, eradication; cultivation in 2002 - 77,000 hectares, a 27% decline from 2001); surrender of drug warlord KHUN SA's Mong Tai Army in January 1996 was hailed by Rangoon as a major counternarcotics success, but lack of government will and ability to take on major narcotrafficking groups and lack of serious commitment against money laundering continues to hinder the overall antidrug effort; major source of methamphetamine and heroin for regional consumption
Cambodia narcotics-related corruption reportedly involving some in the government, military, and police; possible small-scale opium, heroin, and amphetamine production; large producer of cannabis for the international market; vulnerable to money laundering due to its cash-based economy and porous borders
Canada illicit producer of cannabis for the domestic drug market; use of hydroponics technology permits growers to plant large quantities of high-quality marijuana indoors; transit point for heroin and cocaine entering the US market; vulnerable to narcotics money laundering because of its mature financial services sector
Cape Verde used as a transshipment point for illicit drugs moving from Latin America and Asia destined for Western Europe; the lack of a well-developed financial system limits the country's utility as a money-laundering center
Cayman Islands offshore financial center; vulnerable to drug transshipment to the US and Europe
Chile a growing transshipment country for cocaine destined for the US and Europe; economic prosperity and increasing trade have made Chile more attractive to traffickers seeking to launder drug profits, especially through the Iquique Free Trade Zone; imported precursors passed on to Bolivia; domestic cocaine consumption is rising
China major transshipment point for heroin produced in the Golden Triangle; growing domestic drug abuse problem; source country for chemical precursors and methamphetamine
Colombia illicit producer of coca, opium poppy, and cannabis; world's leading coca cultivator (cultivation of coca in 2002 was 144,450 hectares, a 15% decline since 2001); potential production of opium between 2001 and 2002 declined by 25% to 91 metric tons; potential production of heroin declined to 11.3 metric tons; the world's largest processor of coca derivatives into cocaine; supplier of about 90% of the cocaine to the US market and the great majority of cocaine to other international drug markets; important supplier of heroin to the US market; active aerial eradication program; a significant portion of non-US narcotics proceeds are either laundered or invested in Colombia through the black market peso exchange
Congo, Democratic Republic of the illicit producer of cannabis, mostly for domestic consumption; while rampant corruption and inadequate supervision leaves the banking system vulnerable to money laundering, the lack of a well-developed financial system limits the country's utility as a money-laundering center
Costa Rica transshipment country for cocaine and heroin from South America; illicit production of cannabis on small, scattered plots; domestic cocaine consumption is rising, particularly crack cocaine
Cote d'Ivoire illicit producer of cannabis, mostly for local consumption; transshipment point for Southwest and Southeast Asian heroin to Europe and occasionally to the US, and for Latin American cocaine destined for Europe and South Africa; while rampant corruption and inadequate supervision leave the banking system vulnerable to money laundering, the lack of a developed financial system limits the country's utility as a major money-laundering center
Croatia transit point along the Balkan route for Southwest Asian heroin to Western Europe; has been used as a transit point for maritime shipments of South American cocaine bound for Western Europe
Cuba territorial waters and air space serve as transshipment zone for cocaine and heroin bound for the US and Europe; established the death penalty for certain drug-related crimes in 1999
Cyprus minor transit point for heroin and hashish via air routes and container traffic to Europe, especially from Lebanon and Turkey; some cocaine transits as well; anti-money-laundering laws strengthened but few convictions
Czech Republic transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and minor transit point for Latin American cocaine to Western Europe; producer of synthetic drugs for local and regional markets; susceptible to money laundering related to drug trafficking, organized crime
Dominica transshipment point for narcotics bound for the US and Europe; minor cannabis producer; anti-money-laundering enforcement is weak, making the country particularly vulnerable to money laundering
Dominican Republic transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US and Europe; has become a transshipment point for ecstasy from the Netherlands and Belgium destined for US and Canada; substantial money-laundering activity; Colombian narcotics traffickers favor the Dominican Republic for illicit financial transactions
East Timor NA
Ecuador significant transit country for cocaine originating in Colombia and Peru; importer of precursor chemicals used in production of illicit narcotics; dollarization may raise the volume of money-laundering activity, especially along the border with Colombia; increased activity on the northern frontier by trafficking groups and Colombian insurgents
Egypt transit point for Southwest Asian and Southeast Asian heroin and opium moving to Europe, Africa, and the US; transit stop for Nigerian couriers; concern as money-laundering site due to lax banking regulations
El Salvador transshipment point for cocaine; small amounts of marijuana produced for local consumption; domestic cocaine abuse on the rise
Estonia transshipment point for opiates and cannabis from Southwest Asia and the Caucasus via Russia, cocaine from Latin America to Western Europe and Scandinavia, and synthetic drugs from Western Europe to Scandinavia; increasing domestic drug abuse problem; possible precursor manufacturing and/or trafficking
Ethiopia transit hub for heroin originating in Southwest and Southeast Asia and destined for Europe and North America as well as cocaine destined for markets in southern Africa; cultivates qat (khat) for local use and regional export, principally to Djibouti and Somalia (legal in all three countries); the lack of a well-developed financial system limits the country's utility as a money-laundering center
France transshipment point for and consumer of South American cocaine, Southwest Asian heroin, and European synthetics
French Guiana small amount of marijuana grown for local consumption; minor transshipment point to Europe
Georgia limited cultivation of cannabis and opium poppy, mostly for domestic consumption; used as transshipment point for opiates via Central Asia to Western Europe and Russia
Germany source of precursor chemicals for South American cocaine processors; transshipment point for and consumer of Southwest Asian heroin, Latin American cocaine, and European-produced synthetic drugs
Ghana illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade; major transit hub for Southwest and Southeast Asian heroin and, to a lesser extent, South American cocaine destined for Europe and the US; widespread crime and corruption have made money laundering a problem, but the lack of a well-developed financial infrastructure limits the country's utility as a money-laundering center
Greece a gateway to Europe for traffickers smuggling cannabis and heroin from the Middle East and Southwest Asia to the West and precursor chemicals to the East; some South American cocaine transits or is consumed in Greece; money laundering related to drug trafficking and organized crime
Grenada small-scale cannabis cultivation; lesser transshipment point for marijuana and cocaine to US
Guatemala major transit country for cocaine and heroin; minor producer of illicit opium poppy and cannabis for mostly domestic consumption; proximity to Mexico makes Guatemala a major staging area for drugs (cocaine and heroin shipments); money laundering is a serious problem; corruption is a major problem
Guyana transshipment point for narcotics from South America - primarily Venezuela - to Europe and the US; producer of cannabis
Haiti major Caribbean transshipment point for cocaine en route to the US and Europe; substantial money-laundering activity; Colombian narcotics traffickers favor Haiti for illicit financial transactions; pervasive corruption
Honduras transshipment point for drugs and narcotics; illicit producer of cannabis, cultivated on small plots and used principally for local consumption; corruption is a major problem; some money-laundering activity
Hong Kong Makes strenuous law enforcement efforts, but faces serious challenges in controlling transit of heroin and methamphetamine to regional and world markets; modern banking system provides a conduit for money laundering; rising indigenous use of synthetic drugs, especially among young people
Hungary transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and cannabis and for South American cocaine destined for Western Europe; limited producer of precursor chemicals, particularly for amphetamine and methamphetamine; improving, but remains vulnerable to money laundering related to organized crime and drug trafficking
India world's largest producer of licit opium for the pharmaceutical trade, but an undetermined quantity of opium is diverted to illicit international drug markets; transit point for illicit narcotics produced in neighboring countries; illicit producer of methaqualone; vulnerable to narcotics money laundering through the hawala system
Indonesia illicit producer of cannabis largely for domestic use; possible growing role as transshipment point for Golden Triangle heroin
Iran despite substantial interdiction efforts, Iran remains a key transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin to Europe; domestic narcotics consumption remains a persistent problem and Iranian press reports estimate at least 2 million drug users in the country
Ireland transshipment point for and consumer of hashish from North Africa to the UK and Netherlands and of European-produced synthetic drugs; minor transshipment point for heroin and cocaine destined for Western Europe
Israel increasingly concerned about cocaine and heroin abuse; drugs arrive in country from Lebanon and, increasingly, from Jordan
Italy important gateway for and consumer of Latin American cocaine and Southwest Asian heroin entering the European market; money laundering by organized crime and from smuggling
Jamaica major transshipment point for cocaine from South America to North America and Europe; illicit cultivation of cannabis; government has an active manual cannabis eradication program; corruption is a major concern; substantial money-laundering activity; Colombian narcotics traffickers favor Jamaica for illicit financial transactions
Kazakhstan significant illicit cultivation of cannabis for CIS markets, as well as limited cultivation of opium poppy and ephedra (for the drug ephedrine); limited government eradication of illicit crops; transit point for Southwest Asian narcotics bound for Russia and the rest of Europe
Kenya widespread harvesting of small plots of marijuana; transit country for South Asian heroin destined for Europe and North America; Indian methaqualone also transits on way to South Africa; significant potential for money-laundering activity given the country's status as a regional financial center, massive corruption, and relatively high levels of narcotics-associated activities
Kyrgyzstan limited illicit cultivation of cannabis and opium poppy for CIS markets; limited government eradication of illicit crops; transit point for Southwest Asian narcotics bound for Russia and the rest of Europe
Laos world's third-largest illicit opium producer (estimated cultivation in 2002 - 23,200 hectares, a 5% increase over 2001; estimated potential production in 2002 - 180 metric tons, a 10% decrease from 2001); potential heroin producer; transshipment point for heroin and methamphetamine produced in Burma; illicit producer of cannabis; growing methamphetamine abuse problem
Latvia transshipment point for opiates and cannabis from Central and Southwest Asia to Western Europe and Scandinavia and Latin American cocaine and some synthetics from Western Europe to CIS; money laundering remains a concern despite changes to banking legislation
Lebanon cannabis cultivation dramatically reduced to 2,500 hectares in 2002; opium poppy cultivation minimal; small amounts of Latin American cocaine and Southwest Asian heroin transit country on way to US and European markets
Liberia transshipment point for Southeast and Southwest Asian heroin and South American cocaine for the European and US markets; corruption, criminal activity, arms-dealing, and diamond trade provide significant potential for money laundering, but the lack of well-developed financial system limits the country's utility as a major money-laundering center
Liechtenstein multilateral organizations engaged in issuing international guidelines for financial sector oversight found gaps in Liechtenstein's financial services controls that made it vulnerable to money laundering, but Liechtenstein has become less attractive as a haven for illicit funds, based on implementation in 2001 of new anti-money-laundering legislation and improved mutual legal assistance cooperation with other countries
Lithuania transshipment point for opiates and other illicit drugs from Southwest Asia, Latin America, and Western Europe to Western Europe and Scandinavia; limited production of methamphetamine and ecstasy; susceptible to money laundering despite changes to banking legislation
Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of major transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and hashish; minor transit point for South American cocaine destined for Europe; while money laundering is a problem on a local level due to organized crime activities, the lack of a well-developed financial infrastructure limits the country's utility as a money-laundering center
Madagascar illicit producer of cannabis (cultivated and wild varieties) used mostly for domestic consumption; transshipment point for heroin
Malaysia transit point for some illicit drugs; drug trafficking prosecuted vigorously and carries severe penalties
Malta minor transshipment point for hashish from North Africa to Western Europe
Martinique transshipment point for cocaine and marijuana bound for the US and Europe
Mauritius minor consumer and transshipment point for heroin from South Asia; small amounts of cannabis produced and consumed locally; significant offshore financial industry creates potential for money laundering, but corruption levels are relatively low and the government appears generally to be committed to regulating its banking industry
Mexico illicit cultivation of opium poppy (cultivation in 2001 - 4,400 hectares; potential heroin production - 7 metric tons) and of cannabis (in 2001 - 4,100 hectares); government eradication efforts have been key in keeping illicit crop levels low; major supplier of heroin and largest foreign supplier of marijuana and methamphetamine to the US market; continues as the primary transshipment country for US-bound cocaine from South America; major drug syndicates control majority of drug trafficking throughout the country; growing producer and distributor of ecstasy; significant money-laundering center
Moldova limited cultivation of opium poppy and cannabis, mostly for CIS consumption; transshipment point for illicit drugs from Southwest Asia via Central Asia to Russia, Western Europe, and possibly the US; widespread crime and underground economic activity
Montserrat transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US and Europe
Morocco illicit producer of hashish; trafficking increasing for both domestic and international drug markets; shipments of hashish mostly directed to Western Europe; transit point for cocaine from South America destined for Western Europe
Mozambique Southern African transit point for South Asian hashish, South Asian heroin, and South American cocaine probably destined for the European and South African markets; producer of cannabis (for local consumption) and methaqualone (for export to South Africa); corruption and poor regulatory capability makes the banking system vulnerable to money laundering, but the lack of a well-developed financial infrastructure limits the country's utility as a money-laundering center
Nauru broad-based money-laundering center
Nepal illicit producer of cannabis for the domestic and international drug markets; transit point for opiates from Southeast Asia to the West
Netherlands major European producer of illicit amphetamine and other synthetic drugs; important gateway for cocaine, heroin, and hashish entering Europe; major source of US-bound ecstasy; large financial sector vulnerable to money laundering
Netherlands Antilles transshipment point for South American drugs bound for the US and Europe; money-laundering center
Nicaragua transshipment point for cocaine destined for the US and transshipment point for arms-for-drugs dealing
Nigeria a transit point for heroin and cocaine intended for European, East Asian, and North American markets; safehaven for Nigerian narcotraffickers operating worldwide; major money-laundering center; massive corruption and criminal activity, along with unwillingness of the government to address the deficiencies in its anti-money-laundering regime make money laundering a major problem
Pakistan opium poppy cultivation practically eliminated; key transit point for Southwest Asian heroin bound for Western markets; Afghan narcotics continue to transit Federally Administered Tribal Areas, Balochistan Province, and Karachi; financial crimes related to drug trafficking, terrorism, corruption, and smuggling remain problems
Panama major cocaine transshipment point and primary money laundering center for narcotics revenue; money-laundering activity is especially heavy in the Colon Free Zone; offshore financial center; negligible signs of coca cultivation; monitoring of financial transactions is improving; official corruption remains a major problem
Paraguay major illicit producer of cannabis, most or all of which is consumed in South America; transshipment country for Andean cocaine headed for Brazil, other Southern Cone markets, Europe, and US; corruption and some money-laundering activity, especially in the Tri-Border Area
Peru until 1996 the world's largest coca leaf producer; emerging opium producer; cultivation of coca in Peru increased by 8% to 36,600 hectares between 2001 and the end of 2002; much of the cocaine base is shipped to neighboring Colombia for processing into cocaine, while finished cocaine is shipped out from Pacific ports to the international drug market; increasing amounts of base and finished cocaine, however, are being moved to Brazil and Bolivia for use in the Southern Cone or transshipped to Europe and Africa
Philippines exports locally-produced marijuana and hashish to East Asia, the US, and other Western markets; serves as a transit point for heroin and crystal methamphetamine
Poland major illicit producer of amphetamine for the international market; minor transshipment point for Asian and Latin American illicit drugs to Western Europe
Portugal gateway country for Latin American cocaine and Southwest Asian heroin entering the European market; transshipment point for hashish from North Africa to Europe; consumer of Southwest Asian heroin
Romania major transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin transiting the Balkan route and small amounts of Latin American cocaine bound for Western Europe
Russia limited cultivation of illicit cannabis and opium poppy and producer of methamphetamine, mostly for domestic consumption; government has active illicit crop eradication program; used as transshipment point for Asian opiates, cannabis, and Latin American cocaine bound for growing domestic markets, to a lesser extent Western and Central Europe, and occasionally to the US; major source of heroin precursor chemicals; corruption and organized crime are key concerns; heroin increasingly popular in domestic market
Saint Kitts and Nevis transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US and Europe; some money-laundering activity
Saint Lucia transit point for South American drugs destined for the US and Europe
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US and Europe; small-scale cannabis cultivation
Saudi Arabia death penalty for traffickers; increasing consumption of heroin, cocaine, and hashish
Senegal transshipment point for Southwest and Southeast Asian heroin moving to Europe and North America; illicit cultivator of cannabis
Serbia and Montenegro transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin moving to Western Europe on the Balkan route; economy vulnerable to money laundering
Singapore as a transportation and financial services hub, Singapore is vulnerable, despite strict laws and enforcement, to be used as a transit point for Golden Triangle heroin and as a venue for money laundering
Slovakia transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin bound for Western Europe; producer of synthetic drugs for regional market
Slovenia minor transit point for cocaine and Southwest Asian heroin bound for Western Europe, and for precursor chemicals
South Africa transshipment center for heroin, hashish, marijuana, and possibly cocaine; cocaine consumption on the rise; world's largest market for illicit methaqualone, usually imported illegally from India through various east African countries; illicit cultivation of marijuana; attractive venue for money launderers given the increasing level of organized criminal and narcotics activity in the region
Spain key European gateway country for Latin American cocaine and North African hashish entering the European market; destination and minor transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin
Suriname growing transshipment point for South American drugs destined for Europe and Brazil; transshipment point for arms-for-drugs dealing
Switzerland because of more stringent government regulations, used significantly less as a money-laundering center; transit country for and consumer of South American cocaine and Southwest Asian heroin
Syria a transit point for opiates and hashish bound for regional and Western markets
Taiwan regional transit point for heroin and methamphetamine; major problem with domestic consumption of methamphetamine and heroin
Tajikistan major transit country for Afghan narcotics bound for Russian and, to a lesser extent, Western European markets; limited illicit cultivation of opium poppy for domestic consumption; Tajikistan seizes roughly 80 percent of all drugs captured in Central Asia and stands third world-wide in seizures of opiates (heroin and raw opium)
Tanzania growing role in transshipment of Southwest and Southeast Asian heroin and South American cocaine destined for South African, European, and US markets and of South Asian methaqualone bound for Southern Africa; money laundering remains a problem
Thailand a minor producer of opium, heroin, and marijuana; illicit transit point for heroin en route to the international drug market from Burma and Laos; eradication efforts have reduced the area of cannabis cultivation and shifted some production to neighboring countries; opium poppy cultivation has been reduced by eradication efforts; also a drug money-laundering center; minor role in amphetamine production for regional consumption; increasing indigenous abuse of methamphetamine
Togo transit hub for Nigerian heroin and cocaine traffickers; money laundering not a significant problem
Trinidad and Tobago transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US and Europe; producer of cannabis
Turkey key transit route for Southwest Asian heroin to Western Europe and - to a far lesser extent the US - via air, land, and sea routes; major Turkish, Iranian, and other international trafficking organizations operate out of Istanbul; laboratories to convert imported morphine base into heroin are in remote regions of Turkey as well as near Istanbul; government maintains strict controls over areas of legal opium poppy cultivation and output of poppy straw concentrate
Turkmenistan transit country for Afghan narcotics bound for Russian and, to a lesser extent, Western European markets; limited illicit cultivation of opium poppy for domestic consumption; small-scale government-run eradication of illicit crops; transit point for heroin precursor chemicals bound for Afghanistan
Turks and Caicos Islands transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US and Europe
Ukraine limited cultivation of cannabis and opium poppy, mostly for CIS consumption; some synthetic drug production for export to the West; limited government eradication program; used as transshipment point for opiates and other illicit drugs from Africa, Latin America, and Turkey to Europe and Russia; drug-related money laundering a minor, but growing, problem; lax anti-money-laundering regime
United Arab Emirates the UAE is a drug transshipment point for traffickers given its proximity to southwest Asian drug producing countries; the UAE's position as a major financial center makes it vulnerable to money laundering; anti-money-laundering legislation was signed into law by the president on 25 January 2002
United Kingdom gateway country for Latin American cocaine entering the European market; major consumer of synthetic drugs, producer of limited amounts of synthetic drugs and synthetic precursor chemicals; major consumer of Southwest Asian heroin; money-laundering center
United States consumer of cocaine shipped from Colombia through Mexico and the Caribbean; consumer of heroin, marijuana, and increasingly methamphetamine from Mexico; consumer of high-quality Southeast Asian heroin; illicit producer of cannabis, marijuana, depressants, stimulants, hallucinogens, and methamphetamine; money-laundering center
Uzbekistan transit country for Afghan narcotics bound for Russian and, to a lesser extent, Western European markets; limited illicit cultivation of cannabis and small amounts of opium poppy for domestic consumption; poppy cultivation almost wiped out by government crop eradication program; transit point for heroin precursor chemicals bound for Afghanistan
Venezuela small-scale illicit producer of opium and coca for the processing of opiates and coca derivatives; however, large quantities of cocaine, heroin, and marijuana transit the country from Colombia bound for US and Europe; significant narcotics-related money-laundering activity, especially along the border with Colombia and on Margarita Island; active eradication program primarily targeting opium; increasing signs of drug-related activities by Colombian insurgents on border
Vietnam minor producer of opium poppy; probable minor transit point for Southeast Asian heroin; domestic opium/heroin/methamphetamine addiction problems
World cocaine: worldwide, coca is grown on an estimated 205,450 hectares - almost exclusively in South America with 70% in Colombia; potential cocaine production during 2002 is estimated at 938 metric tons (or 1,200 metric tons of export quality cocaine at an average of 78% purity); coca eradication programs continue in Bolivia, Colombia, and Peru, and 292 metric tons of export quality cocaine are documented to have been seized in 2002; consumption of export quality cocaine is estimated to have been 875 metric tons opiates: cultivation of opium poppy occurred on an estimated 141,213 hectares in 2002 and potentially produced 2,183 metric tons of opium - which conceivably could be converted to the equivalent of 238 metric tons of pure heroin; opium eradication programs have been undertaken in Afghanistan, Burma, Colombia, Mexico, Pakistan, Thailand, and Vietnam, and the annual average for opiates seized worldwide over the past five years (1998-2002) has been 45 metric tons of pure heroin equivalent; estimates for average annual consumption over this time period are 315 metric tons pure heroin equivalent
Zambia transshipment point for moderate amounts of methaqualone, small amounts of heroin, and cocaine bound for Southern Africa and possibly Europe; a poorly developed financial infrastructure coupled with a government commitment to combating money laundering make it an unattractive venue for money launderers
Zimbabwe transit point for African cannabis and South Asian heroin, mandrax, and methamphetamines destined for the South African and European markets
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@2087 Imports
Afghanistan $1.3 billion (2001 est.)
Albania $1.5 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Algeria $10.6 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
American Samoa $452 million (1999)
Andorra $1.077 billion (1998)
Angola $4.1 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Anguilla $80.9 million (1999)
Antigua and Barbuda $357 million (2000 est.)
Argentina $9 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Armenia $991 million f.o.b. (2001 est.)
Aruba $2.21 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Australia $68 billion (2002 est.)
Austria $74 billion c.i.f. (2001)
Azerbaijan $1.8 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Bahamas, The $1.86 billion (2002 est.)
Bahrain $4.2 billion (2002)
Bangladesh $8.5 billion (2002)
Barbados $987 million (2002)
Belarus $8.8 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Belgium $152 billion f.o.b. (2001)
Belize $430 million c.i.f. (2002 est.)
Benin $479 million c.i.f. (2002)
Bermuda $719 million (2000)
Bhutan $196 million c.i.f. (2000 est.)
Bolivia $1.6 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Bosnia and Herzegovina $2.8 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Botswana $1.9 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Brazil $46.2 billion f.o.b. (2002)
British Virgin Islands $187 million (2002 est.)
Brunei $1.4 billion c.i.f. (2000 est.)
Bulgaria $6.9 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Burkina Faso $525 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Burma $2.5 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Burundi $135 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Cambodia $1.73 billion f.o.b. (2001 est.)
Cameroon $1.7 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Canada $229 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Cape Verde $220 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Cayman Islands $457.4 million (1999)
Central African Republic $102 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Chad $570 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Chile $15.6 billion f.o.b. (2002)
China $295.3 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Christmas Island $NA
Cocos (Keeling) Islands $NA
Colombia $12.5 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Comoros $39.8 million f.o.b. (2001 est.)
Congo, Democratic Republic of the $890 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Congo, Republic of the $730 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Cook Islands $50.7 million (2000)
Costa Rica $6.4 billion (2002)
Cote d'Ivoire $2.5 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Croatia $10.7 billion c.i.f. (2002)
Cuba $4.8 billion f.o.b. (2001 est.)
Cyprus Greek Cypriot area: $3.9 billion f.o.b.; Turkish Cypriot area: $301 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Czech Republic $43.2 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Denmark $47.9 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Djibouti $255 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Dominica $135 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Dominican Republic $8.7 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
East Timor $237 million (2001 est.)
Ecuador $6 billion (2002 est.)
Egypt $15.2 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
El Salvador $4.9 billion (2002)
Equatorial Guinea $562 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Eritrea $500 million c.i.f. (2001)
Estonia $4.4 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Ethiopia $1.63 billion f.o.b. (2001)
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) $24.7 million (1995)
Faroe Islands $469 million c.i.f. (1999)
Fiji $642 million c.i.f. (2001)
Finland $31.8 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
France $303.7 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
French Guiana $625 million c.i.f.
French Polynesia $1.2 billion f.o.b. (2000)
Gabon $1.1 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Gambia, The $225 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Gaza Strip $1.9 billion c.i.f., includes West Bank
Georgia $750 million (2002 est.)
Germany $487.3 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Ghana $2.8 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Gibraltar $492 million c.i.f. (1997)
Greece $31.4 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Greenland $403 million c.i.f. (2001)
Grenada $270 million (2000 est.)
Guadeloupe $1.7 billion c.i.f. (1997)
Guam $203 million f.o.b. (1999 est.)
Guatemala $5.6 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Guernsey $NA
Guinea $670 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Guinea-Bissau $59 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Guyana $575 million c.i.f. (2002)
Haiti $1.14 billion c.i.f. (2002)
Honduras $2.7 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Hong Kong $208.1 billion (2002 est.)
Hungary $33.9 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Iceland $2.1 billion (2002)
India $53.8 billion f.o.b. (2001)
Indonesia $32.1 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Iran $21.8 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Iraq $7.8 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Ireland $48.6 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Israel $30.8 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Italy $238.2 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Jamaica $3.1 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Japan $292.1 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Jersey $NA
Jordan $4.4 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Kazakhstan $9.6 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Kenya $3 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Kiribati $44 million c.i.f. (1999)
Korea, North $1.314 billion c.i.f. (2001 est.)
Korea, South $148.4 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Kuwait $7.3 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Kyrgyzstan $587 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Laos $555 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Latvia $3.9 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Lebanon $6 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Lesotho $738 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Liberia $165 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Libya $6.3 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Liechtenstein $917.3 million (1996)
Lithuania $6.8 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Luxembourg $13.25 billion c.i.f. (2002)
Macau $2.53 billion c.i.f. (2002)
Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of $1.9 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Madagascar $985 million f.o.b. (2002)
Malawi $505 million f.o.b. (2001)
Malaysia $76.8 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Maldives $395 million f.o.b. (2001 est.)
Mali $630 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Malta $2.8 billion f.o.b. (2001)
Man, Isle of $NA
Marshall Islands $54 million f.o.b. (2000)
Martinique $2 billion c.i.f. (1997)
Mauritania $360 million f.o.b. (2000)
Mauritius $1.8 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Mayotte $141.3 million f.o.b. (1997)
Mexico $168.4 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Micronesia, Federated States of $149 million f.o.b. (FY 99/00 est.)
Moldova $980 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Monaco $NA; full customs integration with France, which collects and rebates Monegasque trade duties; also participates in EU market system through customs union with France
Mongolia $659 million c.i.f. (2002 est.)
Montserrat $17 million (2001)
Morocco $10.4 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Mozambique $1.18 billion c.i.f. (2002 est.)
Namibia $1.38 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Nauru $33 million c.i.f. (1995)
Nepal $1.6 billion f.o.b. (2001 est.)
Netherlands $201.1 billion f.o.b. (2001 est.)
Netherlands Antilles $1.43 billion f.o.b. (2002)
New Caledonia $1 billion f.o.b. (2000)
New Zealand $12.5 billion (2001 est.)
Nicaragua $1.7 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Niger $368 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Nigeria $13.6 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Niue $2.38 million (1999)
Norfolk Island $17.9 million c.i.f. (FY 91/92)
Northern Mariana Islands $NA
Norway $37.3 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Oman $5.5 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Pakistan $11.1 billion f.o.b. (FY02/03 est.)
Palau $99 million f.o.b. (2001 est.)
Panama $6.7 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Papua New Guinea $1.1 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Paraguay $2.4 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Peru $7.3 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Philippines $33.5 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Pitcairn Islands $NA
Poland $43.4 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Portugal $39 billion f.o.b. (2001)
Puerto Rico $29.1 billion c.i.f. (2001)
Qatar $3.9 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Reunion $2.5 billion c.i.f. (1997)
Romania $16.7 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Russia $60.7 billion (2002 est.)
Rwanda $253 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Saint Helena $14.434 million c.i.f. (1995)
Saint Kitts and Nevis $152 million (2001 est.)
Saint Lucia $319.4 million (2000 est.)
Saint Pierre and Miquelon $55 million f.o.b. (1999)
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines $185.6 million (2000 est.)
Samoa $130.1 million f.o.b. (2001)
San Marino trade data are included with the statistics for Italy
Sao Tome and Principe $24.8 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Saudi Arabia $39.5 billion f.o.b. (2001)
Senegal $1.46 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Serbia and Montenegro $6.3 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Seychelles $380 million f.o.b. (2002)
Sierra Leone $190 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Singapore $113 billion (2002 est.)
Slovakia $15.4 billion f.o.b. (2001 est.)
Slovenia $11.1 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Solomon Islands $82 million f.o.b. (2001 est.)
Somalia $343 million f.o.b. (2001 est.)
South Africa $26.6 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Spain $156.6 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Sri Lanka $5.4 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Sudan $1.5 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Suriname $300 million f.o.b. (2002)
Svalbard $NA
Swaziland $938 million f.o.b. (2002)
Sweden $68.6 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Switzerland $94.4 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Syria $4.9 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Taiwan $113 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Tajikistan $830 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Tanzania $1.67 billion f.o.b. (2001)
Thailand $58.1 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Togo $561 million f.o.b. (2002)
Tokelau $323,000 c.i.f. (1983)
Tonga $70 million f.o.b. (2001 est.)
Trinidad and Tobago $3.8 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Tunisia $8.7 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Turkey $50.8 billion c.i.f. (2002 est.)
Turkmenistan $2.25 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Turks and Caicos Islands $175.6 million (2000)
Tuvalu $7.2 million c.i.f. (1998)
Uganda $1.14 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Ukraine $18 billion (2002 est.)
United Arab Emirates $30.8 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
United Kingdom $330.1 billion f.o.b. (2002)
United States $1.165 trillion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Uruguay $1.87 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Uzbekistan $2.5 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Vanuatu $93 million c.i.f. (2001)
Venezuela $18.8 billion f.o.b. (2001)
Vietnam $16.8 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Virgin Islands $NA
Wallis and Futuna $300,000 f.o.b. (1999)
West Bank $1.9 billion c.i.f., includes Gaza Strip
Western Sahara $NA
World $6.6 trillion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Yemen $2.9 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Zambia $1.123 billion f.o.b. (2001)
Zimbabwe $1.739 billion f.o.b. (2001 est.)
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@2088 Independence
Afghanistan 19 August 1919 (from UK control over Afghan foreign affairs)
Albania 28 November 1912 (from Ottoman Empire)
Algeria 5 July 1962 (from France)
American Samoa none (territory of the US)
Andorra 1278 (was formed under the joint suzerainty of the French count of Foix and the Spanish bishop of Urgel)
Angola 11 November 1975 (from Portugal)
Anguilla none (overseas territory of the UK)
Antigua and Barbuda 1 November 1981 (from UK)
Argentina 9 July 1816 (from Spain)
Armenia 21 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)
Aruba none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
Australia 1 January 1901 (federation of UK colonies)
Austria 1156 (from Bavaria)
Azerbaijan 30 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
Bahamas, The 10 July 1973 (from UK)
Bahrain 15 August 1971 (from UK)
Bangladesh 16 December 1971 (from West Pakistan); note - 26 March 1971 is the date of independence from West Pakistan, 16 December 1971 is known as Victory Day and commemorates the official creation of the state of Bangladesh
Barbados 30 November 1966 (from UK)
Belarus 25 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
Belgium 4 October 1830 a provisional government declared independence from the Netherlands; 21 July 1831 the ascension of King Leopold I to the throne
Belize 21 September 1981 (from UK)
Benin 1 August 1960 (from France)
Bermuda none (overseas territory of the UK)
Bhutan 8 August 1949 (from India)
Bolivia 6 August 1825 (from Spain)
Bosnia and Herzegovina 1 March 1992 (from Yugoslavia; referendum for independence was completed 1 March 1992; independence was declared 3 March 1992)
Botswana 30 September 1966 (from UK)
Brazil 7 September 1822 (from Portugal)
British Virgin Islands none (overseas territory of the UK)
Brunei 1 January 1984 (from UK)
Bulgaria 3 March 1878 (from Ottoman Empire)
Burkina Faso 5 August 1960 (from France)
Burma 4 January 1948 (from UK)
Burundi 1 July 1962 (from UN trusteeship under Belgian administration)
Cambodia 9 November 1953 (from France)
Cameroon 1 January 1960 (from French-administered UN trusteeship)
Canada 1 July 1867 (from UK)
Cape Verde 5 July 1975 (from Portugal)
Cayman Islands none (overseas territory of the UK)
Central African Republic 13 August 1960 (from France)
Chad 11 August 1960 (from France)
Chile 18 September 1810 (from Spain)
China 221 BC (unification under the Qin or Ch'in Dynasty 221 BC; Qing or Ch'ing Dynasty replaced by the Republic on 12 February 1912; People's Republic established 1 October 1949)
Christmas Island none (territory of Australia)
Cocos (Keeling) Islands none (territory of Australia)
Colombia 20 July 1810 (from Spain)
Comoros 6 July 1975 (from France)
Congo, Democratic Republic of the 30 June 1960 (from Belgium)
Congo, Republic of the 15 August 1960 (from France)
Cook Islands none (became self-governing in free association with New Zealand on 4 August 1965 and has the right at any time to move to full independence by unilateral action)
Costa Rica 15 September 1821 (from Spain)
Cote d'Ivoire 7 August (1960) (from France)
Croatia 25 June 1991 (from Yugoslavia)
Cuba 20 May 1902 (from Spain 10 December 1898; administered by the US from 1898 to 1902)
Cyprus 16 August 1960 (from UK); note - Turkish Cypriot area proclaimed self-rule on 13 February 1975
Czech Republic 1 January 1993 (Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia)
Denmark first organized as a unified state in 10th century; in 1849 became a constitutional monarchy
Djibouti 27 June 1977 (from France)
Dominica 3 November 1978 (from UK)
Dominican Republic 27 February 1844 (from Haiti)
East Timor 28 November 1975 (date of proclamation of independence from Portugal); note - 20 May 2002 is the official date of international recognition of East Timor's independence from Indonesia
Ecuador 24 May 1822 (from Spain)
Egypt 28 February 1922 (from UK)
El Salvador 15 September 1821 (from Spain)
Equatorial Guinea 12 October 1968 (from Spain)
Eritrea 24 May 1993 (from Ethiopia)
Estonia regained on 20 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
Ethiopia oldest independent country in Africa and one of the oldest in the world - at least 2,000 years
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) none (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina)
Faroe Islands none (part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
Fiji 10 October 1970 (from UK)
Finland 6 December 1917 (from Russia)
France 486 (unified by Clovis)
French Guiana none (overseas department of France)
French Polynesia none (overseas territory of France)
Gabon 17 August 1960 (from France)
Gambia, The 18 February 1965 (from UK)
Georgia 9 April 1991 (from Soviet Union)
Germany 18 January 1871 (German Empire unification); divided into four zones of occupation (UK, US, USSR, and later, France) in 1945 following World War II; Federal Republic of Germany (FRG or West Germany) proclaimed 23 May 1949 and included the former UK, US, and French zones; German Democratic Republic (GDR or East Germany) proclaimed 7 October 1949 and included the former USSR zone; unification of West Germany and East Germany took place 3 October 1990; all four powers formally relinquished rights 15 March 1991
Ghana 6 March 1957 (from UK)
Gibraltar none (overseas territory of the UK)
Greece 1829 (from the Ottoman Empire)
Greenland none (part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark since 1979) note: foreign affairs is the responsibility of Denmark, but Greenland actively participates in international agreements relating to Greenland
Grenada 7 February 1974 (from UK)
Guadeloupe none (overseas department of France)
Guam none (territory of the US)
Guatemala 15 September 1821 (from Spain)
Guernsey none (British crown dependency)
Guinea 2 October 1958 (from France)
Guinea-Bissau 24 September 1973 (unilaterally declared by Guinea-Bissau); 10 September 1974 (recognized by Portugal)
Guyana 26 May 1966 (from UK)
Haiti 1 January 1804 (from France)
Holy See (Vatican City) 11 February 1929 (from Italy) note: on 11 February 1929, three treaties were signed with Italy which, among other things, recognized the full sovereignty of the Vatican and established its territorial extent; however, the origin of the Papal States, which over the years have varied considerably in extent, may be traced back to the 8th century
Honduras 15 September 1821 (from Spain)
Hong Kong none (special administrative region of China)
Hungary 1001 (unification by King Stephen I)
Iceland 1 December 1918 (became a sovereign state under the Danish Crown); 17 June 1944 (from Denmark)
India 15 August 1947 (from UK)
Indonesia 17 August 1945 (proclaimed independence; on 27 December 1949, Indonesia became legally independent from the Netherlands)
Iran 1 April 1979 (Islamic Republic of Iran proclaimed)
Iraq 3 October 1932 (from League of Nations mandate under British administration)
Ireland 6 December 1921 (from UK by treaty)
Israel 14 May 1948 (from League of Nations mandate under British administration)
Italy 17 March 1861 (Kingdom of Italy proclaimed; Italy was not finally unified until 1870)
Jamaica 6 August 1962 (from UK)
Japan 660 BC (traditional founding by Emperor Jimmu)
Jersey none (British crown dependency)
Jordan 25 May 1946 (from League of Nations mandate under British administration)
Kazakhstan 16 December 1991 (from the Soviet Union)
Kenya 12 December 1963 (from UK)
Kiribati 12 July 1979 (from UK)
Korea, North 15 August 1945 (from Japan)
Korea, South 15 August 1945 (from Japan)
Kuwait 19 June 1961 (from UK)
Kyrgyzstan 31 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
Laos 19 July 1949 (from France)
Latvia 21 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
Lebanon 22 November 1943 (from League of Nations mandate under French administration)
Lesotho 4 October 1966 (from UK)
Liberia 26 July 1847
Libya 24 December 1951 (from Italy)
Liechtenstein 23 January 1719 Imperial Principality of Liechtenstein established; 12 July 1806 established independence from the Holy Roman Empire
Lithuania 11 March 1990 (independence declared from Soviet Union); 6 September 1991 (Soviet Union recognizes Lithuania's independence)
Luxembourg 1839 (from the Netherlands)
Macau none (special administrative region of China)
Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of 8 September 1991 referendum by registered voters endorsing independence (from Yugoslavia)
Madagascar 26 June 1960 (from France)
Malawi 6 July 1964 (from UK)
Malaysia 31 August 1957 (from UK)
Maldives 26 July 1965 (from UK)
Mali 22 September 1960 (from France)
Malta 21 September 1964 (from UK)
Man, Isle of none (British crown dependency)
Marshall Islands 21 October 1986 (from the US-administered UN trusteeship)
Martinique none (overseas department of France)
Mauritania 28 November 1960 (from France)
Mauritius 12 March 1968 (from UK)
Mayotte none (territorial collectivity of France)
Mexico 16 September 1810 (from Spain)
Micronesia, Federated States of 3 November 1986 (from the US-administered UN Trusteeship)
Moldova 27 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
Monaco 1419 (beginning of the rule by the House of Grimaldi)
Mongolia 11 July 1921 (from China)
Montserrat none (overseas territory of the UK)
Morocco 2 March 1956 (from France)
Mozambique 25 June 1975 (from Portugal)
Namibia 21 March 1990 (from South African mandate)
Nauru 31 January 1968 (from the Australia-, NZ-, and UK-administered UN trusteeship)
Nepal 1768 (unified by Prithvi Narayan Shah)
Netherlands 1579 (from Spain); note - the northern provinces of the Low Country concluded the Union of Utrecht, but it was 1648 before Spain finally recognized their independence
Netherlands Antilles none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
New Caledonia none (overseas territory of France); note - a referendum on independence was held in 1998 but did not pass; a new referendum is scheduled for 2014 |
|
