Cote d'Ivoire three equal vertical bands of orange (hoist side), white, and green; similar to the flag of Ireland, which is longer and has the colors reversed - green (hoist side), white, and orange; also similar to the flag of Italy, which is green (hoist side), white, and red; design was based on the flag of France

Croatia three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue superimposed by the Croatian coat of arms (red and white checkered)

Cuba five equal horizontal bands of blue (top, center, and bottom) alternating with white; a red equilateral triangle based on the hoist side bears a white, five-pointed star in the center

Cyprus white with a copper-colored silhouette of the island (the name Cyprus is derived from the Greek word for copper) above two green crossed olive branches in the center of the flag; the branches symbolize the hope for peace and reconciliation between the Greek and Turkish communities note: the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" flag has a white field with narrow horizontal red stripes positioned a small distance from the top and bottom edges between which is centered a red crescent and red five-pointd star

Czech Republic two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red with a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist side (identical to the flag of the former Czechoslovakia)

Denmark red with a white cross that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side, and that design element of the Dannebrog (Danish flag) was subsequently adopted by the other Nordic countries of Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden

Dhekelia the flag of the UK is used

Djibouti two equal horizontal bands of light blue (top) and light green with a white isosceles triangle based on the hoist side bearing a red five-pointed star in the center

Dominica green, with a centered cross of three equal bands - the vertical part is yellow (hoist side), black, and white and the horizontal part is yellow (top), black, and white; superimposed in the center of the cross is a red disk bearing a sisserou parrot encircled by 10 green, five-pointed stars edged in yellow; the 10 stars represent the 10 administrative divisions (parishes)

Dominican Republic a centered white cross that extends to the edges divides the flag into four rectangles - the top ones are blue (hoist side) and red, and the bottom ones are red (hoist side) and blue; a small coat of arms featuring a shield supported by an olive branch (left) and a palm branch (right) is at the center of the cross; above the shield a blue ribbon displays the motto, DIOS, PATRIA, LIBERTAD (God, Fatherland, Liberty), and below the shield, REPUBLICA DOMINICANA appears on a red ribbon

East Timor red, with a black isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) superimposed on a slightly longer yellow arrowhead that extends to the center of the flag; there is a white star in the center of the black triangle

Ecuador three horizontal bands of yellow (top, double width), blue, and red with the coat of arms superimposed at the center of the flag; similar to the flag of Colombia, which is shorter and does not bear a coat of arms

Egypt three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black; the national emblem (a gold Eagle of Saladin facing the hoist side with a shield superimposed on its chest above a scroll bearing the name of the country in Arabic) centered in the white band; design is based on the Arab Liberation flag and similar to the flag of Syria, which has two green stars, Iraq, which has three green stars (plus an Arabic inscription) in a horizontal line centered in the white band, and Yemen, which has a plain white band

El Salvador three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and blue with the national coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms features a round emblem encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL; similar to the flag of Nicaragua, which has a different coat of arms centered in the white band - it features a triangle encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on top and AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom; also similar to the flag of Honduras, which has five blue stars arranged in an X pattern centered in the white band

Equatorial Guinea three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red with a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist side and the coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms has six yellow six-pointed stars (representing the mainland and five offshore islands) above a gray shield bearing a silk-cotton tree and below which is a scroll with the motto UNIDAD, PAZ, JUSTICIA (Unity, Peace, Justice)

Eritrea red isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) dividing the flag into two right triangles; the upper triangle is green, the lower one is blue; a gold wreath encircling a gold olive branch is centered on the hoist side of the red triangle

Estonia pre-1940 flag restored by Supreme Soviet in May 1990 - three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), black, and white

Ethiopia three equal horizontal bands of green (top), yellow, and red with a yellow pentagram and single yellow rays emanating from the angles between the points on a light blue disk centered on the three bands; Ethiopia is the oldest independent country in Africa, and the three main colors of her flag were so often adopted by other African countries upon independence that they became known as the pan-African colors

Europa Island the flag of France is used

European Union on a blue field, 12 five-pointed gold stars arranged in a circle, representing the union of the peoples of Europe; the number of stars is fixed

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Falkland Island coat of arms centered on the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms contains a white ram (sheep raising was once the major economic activity) above the sailing ship Desire (whose crew discovered the islands) with a scroll at the bottom bearing the motto DESIRE THE RIGHT

Faroe Islands white with a red cross outlined in blue extending to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted toward the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)

Fiji light blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Fijian shield centered on the outer half of the flag; the shield depicts a yellow lion above a white field quartered by the cross of Saint George featuring stalks of sugarcane, a palm tree, bananas, and a white dove

Finland white with a blue 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)

France three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), white, and red; known as the "Le drapeau tricolore" (French Tricolor), the origin of the flag dates to 1790 and the French Revolution; the design and/or colors are similar to a number of other flags, including those of Belgium, Chad, Ireland, Cote d'Ivoire, Luxembourg, and Netherlands; the official flag for all French dependent areas

French Polynesia two narrow red horizontal bands encase a wide white band; centered on the white band is a disk with blue and white wave pattern on the lower half and gold and white ray pattern on the upper half; a stylized red, blue and white ship rides on the wave pattern; the French flag is used for official occasions

French Southern and Antarctic Lands the flag of France is used

Gabon three equal horizontal bands of green (top), yellow, and blue

Gambia, The three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue with white edges, and green

Georgia white rectangle, in its central portion a red cross connecting all four sides of the flag; in each of the four corners is a small red bolnur-katskhuri cross; the five-cross flag appears to date back to the 14th century

Germany three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and gold

Ghana three equal horizontal bands of red (top), yellow, and green with a large black five-pointed star centered in the yellow band; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia; similar to the flag of Bolivia, which has a coat of arms centered in the yellow band

Gibraltar two horizontal bands of white (top, double width) and red with a three-towered red castle in the center of the white band; hanging from the castle gate is a gold key centered in the red band

Glorioso Islands the flag of France is used

Greece nine equal horizontal stripes of blue alternating with white; there is a blue square in the upper hoist-side corner bearing a white cross; the cross symbolizes Greek Orthodoxy, the established religion of the country

Greenland two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red with a large disk slightly to the hoist side of center - the top half of the disk is red, the bottom half is white

Grenada a rectangle divided diagonally into yellow triangles (top and bottom) and green triangles (hoist side and outer side), with a red border around the flag; there are seven yellow, five-pointed stars with three centered in the top red border, three centered in the bottom red border, and one on a red disk superimposed at the center of the flag; there is also a symbolic nutmeg pod on the hoist-side triangle (Grenada is the world's second-largest producer of nutmeg, after Indonesia); the seven stars represent the seven administrative divisions

Guam territorial flag is dark blue with a narrow red border on all four sides; centered is a red-bordered, pointed, vertical ellipse containing a beach scene, outrigger canoe with sail, and a palm tree with the word GUAM superimposed in bold red letters; US flag is the national flag

Guatemala three equal vertical bands of light blue (hoist side), white, and light blue with the coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms includes a green and red quetzal (the national bird) and a scroll bearing the inscription LIBERTAD 15 DE SEPTIEMBRE DE 1821 (the original date of independence from Spain) all superimposed on a pair of crossed rifles and a pair of crossed swords and framed by a wreath

Guernsey white with the red cross of Saint George (patron saint of England) extending to the edges of the flag and a yellow equal-armed cross of William the Conqueror superimposed on the Saint George cross

Guinea three equal vertical bands of red (hoist side), yellow, and green; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia

Guinea-Bissau two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and green with a vertical red band on the hoist side; there is a black five-pointed star centered in the red band; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia

Guyana green, with a red isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) superimposed on a long, yellow arrowhead; there is a narrow, black border between the red and yellow, and a narrow, white border between the yellow and the green

Haiti two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a centered white rectangle bearing the coat of arms, which contains a palm tree flanked by flags and two cannons above a scroll bearing the motto L'UNION FAIT LA FORCE (Union Makes Strength)

Heard Island and McDonald Islands the flag of Australia is used

Holy See (Vatican City) two vertical bands of yellow (hoist side) and white with the arms of the Holy See, consisting of the crossed keys of Saint Peter surmounted by the three-tiered papal tiara, centered in the white band

Honduras three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and blue with five blue, five-pointed stars arranged in an X pattern centered in the white band; the stars represent the members of the former Federal Republic of Central America - Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua; similar to the flag of El Salvador, which features a round emblem encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL centered in the white band; also similar to the flag of Nicaragua, which features a triangle encircled by the word REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on top and AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom, centered in the white band

Hong Kong red with a stylized, white, five-petal bauhinia flower in the center

Howland Island the flag of the US is used

Hungary three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and green

Iceland blue with a red cross outlined in white 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)

Iles Eparses the flag of France is used

India three equal horizontal bands of saffron (subdued orange) (top), white, and green with a blue chakra (24-spoked wheel) centered in the white band; similar to the flag of Niger, which has a small orange disk centered in the white band

Indonesia two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white; similar to the flag of Monaco, which is shorter; also similar to the flag of Poland, which is white (top) and red

Iran three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red; the national emblem (a stylized representation of the word Allah in the shape of a tulip, a symbol of martyrdom) in red is centered in the white band; ALLAH AKBAR (God is Great) in white Arabic script is repeated 11 times along the bottom edge of the green band and 11 times along the top edge of the red band

Iraq three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with three green five-pointed stars in a horizontal line centered in the white band; the phrase ALLAHU AKBAR (God is Great) in green Arabic script - Allahu to the right of the middle star and Akbar to the left of the middle star - was added in January 1991 during the Persian Gulf crisis; similar to the flag of Syria, which has two stars but no script, Yemen, which has a plain white band, and that of Egypt which has a gold Eagle of Saladin centered in the white band; design is based upon the Arab Liberation colors

Ireland three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and orange; similar to the flag of Cote d'Ivoire, which is shorter and has the colors reversed - orange (hoist side), white, and green; also similar to the flag of Italy, which is shorter and has colors of green (hoist side), white, and red

Isle of Man red with the Three Legs of Man emblem (Trinacria), in the center; the three legs are joined at the thigh and bent at the knee; in order to have the toes pointing clockwise on both sides of the flag, a two-sided emblem is used

Israel white with a blue hexagram (six-pointed linear star) known as the Magen David (Shield of David) centered between two equal horizontal blue bands near the top and bottom edges of the flag

Italy three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and red; similar to the flag of Ireland, which is longer and is green (hoist side), white, and orange; also similar to the flag of the Cote d'Ivoire, which has the colors reversed - orange (hoist side), white, and green note: inspired by the French flag brought to Italy by Napoleon in 1797

Jamaica diagonal yellow cross divides the flag into four triangles - green (top and bottom) and black (hoist side and outer side)

Jan Mayen the flag of Norway is used

Japan white with a large red disk (representing the sun without rays) in the center

Jarvis Island the flag of the US is used

Jersey white with a diagonal red cross extending to the corners of the flag; in the upper quadrant, surmounted by a yellow crown, a red shield with the three lions of England in yellow

Johnston Atoll the flag of the US is used

Jordan three equal horizontal bands of black (top), representing the Abbassid Caliphate, white, representing the Ummayyad Caliphate, and green, representing the Fatimid Caliphate; a red isosceles triangle on the hoist side, representing the Great Arab Revolt of 1916, and bearing a small white seven-pointed star symbolizing the seven verses of the opening Sura (Al-Fatiha) of the Holy Koran; the seven points on the star represent faith in One God, humanity, national spirit, humility, social justice, virtue, and aspirations; design is based on the Arab Revolt flag of World War I

Juan de Nova Island the flag of France is used

Kazakhstan sky blue background representing the endless sky and a gold sun with 32 rays soaring above a golden steppe eagle in the center; on the hoist side is a "national ornamentation" in gold

Kenya three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and green; the red band is edged in white; a large warrior's shield covering crossed spears is superimposed at the center

Kingman Reef the flag of the US is used

Kiribati the upper half is red with a yellow frigate bird flying over a yellow rising sun, and the lower half is blue with three horizontal wavy white stripes to represent the ocean

Korea, North three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (triple width), and blue; the red band is edged in white; on the hoist side of the red band is a white disk with a red five-pointed star

Korea, South white with a red (top) and blue yin-yang symbol in the center; there is a different black trigram from the ancient I Ching (Book of Changes) in each corner of the white field

Kuwait three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red with a black trapezoid based on the hoist side; design, which dates to 1961, based on the Arab revolt flag of World War I

Kyrgyzstan red field with a yellow sun in the center having 40 rays representing the 40 Kyrgyz tribes; on the obverse side the rays run counterclockwise, on the reverse, clockwise; in the center of the sun is a red ring crossed by two sets of three lines, a stylized representation of the roof of the traditional Kyrgyz yurt

Laos three horizontal bands of red (top), blue (double width), and red with a large white disk centered in the blue band

Latvia three horizontal bands of maroon (top), white (half-width), and maroon

Lebanon three horizontal bands consisting of red (top), white (middle, double width), and red (bottom) with a green cedar tree centered in the white band

Lesotho three horizontal stripes of blue (top), white, and green in the proportions of 3:4:3; the colors represent rain, peace, and prosperity respectively; centered in the white stripe is a black Basotho hat representing the indigenous people; the flag was unfurled in October 2006 to celebrate 40 years of independence

Liberia 11 equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white; there is a white five-pointed star on a blue square in the upper hoist-side corner; the design was based on the US flag

Libya plain green; green is the traditional color of Islam (the state religion)

Liechtenstein two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a gold crown on the hoist side of the blue band

Lithuania three equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), green, and red

Luxembourg three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and light blue; similar to the flag of the Netherlands, which uses a darker blue and is shorter; design was based on the flag of France

Macau light green with a lotus flower above a stylized bridge and water in white, beneath an arc of five gold, five-pointed stars: one large in center of arc and four smaller

Macedonia a yellow sun with eight broadening rays extending to the edges of the red field

Madagascar two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a vertical white band of the same width on hoist side

Malawi three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and green with a radiant, rising, red sun centered in the black band

Malaysia 14 equal horizontal stripes of red (top) alternating with white (bottom); there is a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing a yellow crescent and a yellow 14-pointed star; the crescent and the star are traditional symbols of Islam; the design was based on the flag of the US

Maldives red with a large green rectangle in the center bearing a vertical white crescent; the closed side of the crescent is on the hoist side of the flag

Mali three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), yellow, and red; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia

Malta two equal vertical bands of white (hoist side) and red; in the upper hoist-side corner is a representation of the George Cross, edged in red

Marshall Islands blue with two stripes radiating from the lower hoist-side corner - orange (top) and white; there is a white star with four large rays and 20 small rays on the hoist side above the two stripes

Mauritania green with a yellow five-pointed star above a yellow, horizontal crescent; the closed side of the crescent is down; the crescent, star, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam

Mauritius four equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue, yellow, and green

Mayotte unofficial, local flag with the coat of arms of Mayotte centered on a white field, above which the name of the island appears in red capital letters; the main elements of the coat of arms, flanked on either side by a seahorse, appear above a scroll with the motto RA HACHIRI (We are Vigilant); the only official flag is the national flag of France

Mexico three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and red; the coat of arms (an eagle perched on a cactus with a snake in its beak) is centered in the white band

Micronesia, Federated States of light blue with four white five-pointed stars centered; the stars are arranged in a diamond pattern

Midway Islands the flag of the US is used

Moldova same color scheme as Romania - three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red; emblem in center of flag is of a Roman eagle of gold outlined in black with a red beak and talons carrying a yellow cross in its beak and a green olive branch in its right talons and a yellow scepter in its left talons; on its breast is a shield divided horizontally red over blue with a stylized ox head, star, rose, and crescent all in black-outlined yellow

Monaco two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white; similar to the flag of Indonesia which is longer and the flag of Poland which is white (top) and red

Mongolia three equal, vertical bands of red (hoist side), blue, and red; centered on the hoist-side red band in yellow is the national emblem ("soyombo" - a columnar arrangement of abstract and geometric representation for fire, sun, moon, earth, water, and the yin-yang symbol)

Montenegro a red field bordered by a narrow golden-yellow stripe with the Montenegrin coat of arms centered

Montserrat blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Montserratian coat of arms centered in the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms features a woman standing beside a yellow harp with her arm around a black cross

Morocco red with a green pentacle (five-pointed, linear star) known as Sulayman's (Solomon's) seal in the center of the flag; red and green are traditional colors in Arab flags, although the use of red is more commonly associated with the Arab states of the Persian gulf; design dates to 1912

Mozambique three equal horizontal bands of green (top), black, and yellow with a red isosceles triangle based on the hoist side; the black band is edged in white; centered in the triangle is a yellow five-pointed star bearing a crossed rifle and hoe in black superimposed on an open white book

Namibia a large blue triangle with a yellow sunburst fills the upper left section and an equal green triangle (solid) fills the lower right section; the triangles are separated by a red stripe that is contrasted by two narrow white-edge borders

Nauru blue with a narrow, horizontal, yellow stripe across the center and a large white 12-pointed star below the stripe on the hoist side; the star indicates the country's location in relation to the Equator (the yellow stripe) and the 12 points symbolize the 12 original tribes of Nauru

Navassa Island the flag of the US is used

Nepal red with a blue border around the unique shape of two overlapping right triangles; the smaller, upper triangle bears a white stylized moon and the larger, lower triangle bears a white 12-pointed sun

Netherlands three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue; similar to the flag of Luxembourg, which uses a lighter blue and is longer; one of the oldest flags in constant use, originating with WILLIAM I, Prince of Orange, in the latter half of the 16th century

Netherlands Antilles white, with a horizontal blue stripe in the center superimposed on a vertical red band, also centered; five white, five-pointed stars are arranged in an oval pattern in the center of the blue band; the five stars represent the five main islands of Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Sint Maarten

New Caledonia the flag of France is used

New Zealand blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant with four red five-pointed stars edged in white centered in the outer half of the flag; the stars represent the Southern Cross constellation

Nicaragua three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and blue with the national coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms features a triangle encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on the top and AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom; similar to the flag of El Salvador, which features a round emblem encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL centered in the white band; also similar to the flag of Honduras, which has five blue stars arranged in an X pattern centered in the white band

Niger three equal horizontal bands of orange (top), white, and green with a small orange disk (representing the sun) centered in the white band; similar to the flag of India, which has a blue spoked wheel centered in the white band

Nigeria three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and green

Niue yellow with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant; the flag of the UK bears five yellow five-pointed stars - a large one on a blue disk in the center and a smaller one on each arm of the bold red cross

Norfolk Island three vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and green with a large green Norfolk Island pine tree centered in the slightly wider white band

Northern Mariana Islands blue, with a white, five-pointed star superimposed on the gray silhouette of a latte stone (a traditional foundation stone used in building) in the center, surrounded by a wreath

Norway red with a blue cross outlined in white that extends 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)

Oman three horizontal bands of white, red, and green of equal width with a broad, vertical, red band on the hoist side; the national emblem (a khanjar dagger in its sheath superimposed on two crossed swords in scabbards) in white is centered near the top of the vertical band

Pakistan green with a vertical white band (symbolizing the role of religious minorities) on the hoist side; a large white crescent and star are centered in the green field; the crescent, star, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam

Palau light blue with a large yellow disk (representing the moon) shifted slightly to the hoist side

Palmyra Atoll the flag of the US is used

Panama divided into four, equal rectangles; the top quadrants are white (hoist side) with a blue five-pointed star in the center and plain red; the bottom quadrants are plain blue (hoist side) and white with a red five-pointed star in the center

Papua New Guinea divided diagonally from upper hoist-side corner; the upper triangle is red with a soaring yellow bird of paradise centered; the lower triangle is black with five, white, five-pointed stars of the Southern Cross constellation centered

Paraguay three equal, horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue with an emblem centered in the white band; unusual flag in that the emblem is different on each side; the obverse (hoist side at the left) bears the national coat of arms (a yellow five-pointed star within a green wreath capped by the words REPUBLICA DEL PARAGUAY, all within two circles); the reverse (hoist side at the right) bears the seal of the treasury (a yellow lion below a red Cap of Liberty and the words Paz y Justicia (Peace and Justice) capped by the words REPUBLICA DEL PARAGUAY, all within two circles)

Peru three equal, vertical bands of red (hoist side), white, and red with the coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms features a shield bearing a vicuna, cinchona tree (the source of quinine), and a yellow cornucopia spilling out gold coins, all framed by a green wreath

Philippines two equal horizontal bands of blue (top; representing peace and justice) and red (representing courage); a white equilateral triangle based on the hoist side represents equality; the center of the triangle displays a yellow sun with eight primary rays, each representing one of the first eight provinces that sought independence from Spain; each corner of the triangle contains a small, yellow, five-pointed star representing the three major geographical divisions of the country: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao; the design of the flag dates to 1897; in wartime the flag is flown upside down with the red band at the top

Pitcairn Islands blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Pitcairn Islander coat of arms centered on the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms is yellow, green, and light blue with a shield featuring a yellow anchor

Poland two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red; similar to the flags of Indonesia and Monaco which are red (top) and white

Portugal two vertical bands of green (hoist side, two-fifths) and red (three-fifths) with the Portuguese coat of arms centered on the dividing line

Puerto Rico five equal horizontal bands of red (top and bottom) alternating with white; a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist side bears a large, white, five-pointed star in the center; design initially influenced by the US flag, but similar to the Cuban flag, with the colors of the bands and triangle reversed

Qatar maroon with a broad white serrated band (nine white points) on the hoist side

Romania three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red; the national coat of arms that used to be centered in the yellow band has been removed; now similar to the flag of Chad, also resembles the flags of Andorra and Moldova

Russia three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red

Rwanda three horizontal bands of sky blue (top, double width), yellow, and green, with a golden sun with 24 rays near the fly end of the blue band

Saint Helena blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Saint Helenian shield centered on the outer half of the flag; the shield features a rocky coastline and three-masted sailing ship

Saint Kitts and Nevis divided diagonally from the lower hoist side by a broad black band bearing two white, five-pointed stars; the black band is edged in yellow; the upper triangle is green, the lower triangle is red

Saint Lucia blue, with a gold isosceles triangle below a black arrowhead; the upper edges of the arrowhead have a white border

Saint Pierre and Miquelon a yellow sailing ship facing the hoist side rides on a dark blue background with yellow wavy lines under the ship; on the hoist side, a vertical band is divided into three parts: the top part (called ikkurina) is red with a green diagonal cross extending to the corners overlaid by a white cross dividing the rectangle into four sections; the middle part has a white background with an ermine pattern; the third part has a red background with two stylized yellow lions outlined in black, one above the other; these three heraldic arms represent settlement by colonists from the Basque Country (top), Brittany, and Normandy; the flag of France is used for official occasions

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines three vertical bands of blue (hoist side), gold (double width), and green; the gold band bears three green diamonds arranged in a V pattern

Samoa red with a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side quadrant bearing five white five-pointed stars representing the Southern Cross constellation

San Marino two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and light blue with the national coat of arms superimposed in the center; the coat of arms has a shield (featuring three towers on three peaks) flanked by a wreath, below a crown and above a scroll bearing the word LIBERTAS (Liberty)

Sao Tome and Principe three horizontal bands of green (top), yellow (double width), and green with two black five-pointed stars placed side by side in the center of the yellow band and a red isosceles triangle based on the hoist side; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia

Saudi Arabia green, a traditional color in Islamic flags, with the Shahada or Muslim creed in large white Arabic script (translated as "There is no god but God; Muhammad is the Messenger of God") above a white horizontal saber (the tip points to the hoist side); design dates to the early twentieth century and is closely associated with the Al Saud family which established the kingdom in 1932

Senegal three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), yellow, and red with a small green five-pointed star centered in the yellow band; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia

Serbia three equal horizontal stripes of red (top), blue, and white; charged with the coat of arms of Serbia shifted slightly to the hoist side

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 coat of arms of Slovakia (consisting of a red shield bordered in white and bearing a white Cross of Lorraine surmounting three blue hills); the coat of arms is centered vertically and offset slightly to the hoist side

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, colors associated with the Arab Liberation flag; two small green five-pointed stars in a horizontal line centered in the white band; former flag of the United Arab Republic where the two stars represented the constituent states of Syria and Egypt; similar to the flag of Yemen, which has a plain white band, Iraq, which has three green stars (plus an Arabic inscription) in a horizontal line centered in the white band, and that of Egypt, which has a gold Eagle of Saladin centered in the white band; the current design dates to 1980

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 tribal guls (designs used in producing carpets) stacked above two crossed olive branches similar to the olive branches on the UN flag; a white crescent moon representing Islam with five white stars representing the regions or velayats of Turkmenistan 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 grain fields 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, and British overseas territories

United States 13 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

United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges the flag of the US is used

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 with 16 rays that alternate between 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 eight 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 unofficial, local flag has a red field with four white isosceles triangles in the middle, representing the three native kings of the islands and the French administrator; the apexes of the triangles are oriented inward and at right angles to each other; the flag of France, outlined in white on two sides, is in the upper hoist quadrant; the flag of France is the only official flag

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 8 February, 2007



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@2085 Roadways (km)

Afghanistan total: 34,782 km paved: 8,229 km unpaved: 26,553 km (2004)

Albania total: 18,000 km paved: 7,020 km unpaved: 10,980 km (2002)

Algeria total: 108,302 km paved: 76,028 km unpaved: 32,274 km (2004)

American Samoa total: 185 km (2004)

Andorra total: 269 km paved: 198 km unpaved: 71 km

Angola total: 51,429 km paved: 5,349 km unpaved: 46,080 km (2001)

Anguilla total: 175 km paved: 82 km unpaved: 93 km (2004)

Antigua and Barbuda total: 1,165 km paved: 384 km unpaved: 781 km (2002)

Argentina total: 229,144 km paved: 68,809 km (including 734 km of expressways) unpaved: 160,335 km (2004)

Armenia total: 7,633 km paved: 7,633 km (includes 1,561 km of expressways) (2003)

Aruba total: 800 km paved: 513 km unpaved: 287 km

Australia total: 810,641 km paved: 336,962 km unpaved: 473,679 km (2004)

Austria total: 133,718 km paved: 133,718 km (including 1,677 km of expressways) (2003)

Azerbaijan total: 59,141 km paved: 29,210 km unpaved: 29,931 km (2004)

Bahamas, The total: 2,693 km paved: 1,546 km unpaved: 1,147 km (1999)

Bahrain total: 3,498 km paved: 2,768 km unpaved: 730 km (2003)

Bangladesh total: 239,226 km paved: 22,726 km unpaved: 216,500 km (2003)

Barbados total: 1,600 km paved: 1,600 km (2004)

Belarus total: 93,310 km paved: 81,180 km unpaved: 12,130 km (2004)

Belgium total: 150,567 km paved: 117,442 km (including 1,747 km of expressways) unpaved: 33,125 km (2004)

Belize total: 2,872 km paved: 488 km unpaved: 2,384 km (1999)

Benin total: 16,000 km paved: 1,400 km unpaved: 14,600 km (2005)

Bermuda total: 447 km paved: 447 km note: public roads - 225 km; private roads - 222 km (2002)

Bhutan total: 8,050 km paved: 4,991 km unpaved: 3,059 km (2003)

Bolivia total: 62,479 km paved: 3,749 km unpaved: 56,730 km (2004)

Bosnia and Herzegovina total: 21,846 km paved: 11,425 km (4,686 km of interurban roads) unpaved: 10,421 km (2005)

Botswana total: 24,455 km paved: 8,914 km unpaved: 15,441 km (2004)

Brazil total: 1,751,868 km paved: 96,353 km unpaved: 1,655,515 km (2004)

British Indian Ocean Territory total: NA paved: short section of paved road between port and airfield on Diego Garcia

British Virgin Islands total: 177 km paved: 177 km (2002)

Brunei total: 2,525 km paved: 2,338 km unpaved: 187 km (2000)

Bulgaria total: 44,033 km paved: 43,593 km (including 333 km of expressways) unpaved: 440 km (2004)

Burkina Faso total: 15,272 km paved: 4,766 km unpaved: 10,506 km (2004)

Burma total: 27,000 km paved: 3,200 km unpaved: 23,800 km (2005)

Burundi total: 12,322 km paved: 1,286 km unpaved: 11,036 km (2004)

Cambodia total: 38,257 km paved: 2,406 km unpaved: 35,851 km (2004)

Cameroon total: 50,000 km paved: 5,000 km unpaved: 45,000 km (2004)

Canada total: 1,042,300 km paved: 415,600 km (including 17,000 km of expressways) unpaved: 626,700 km (2005)

Cape Verde total: 1,350 km paved: 932 km unpaved: 418 km (2000)

Cayman Islands total: 785 km paved: 785 km (2002)

Central African Republic total: 23,810 km (1999)

Chad total: 33,400 km paved: 267 km unpaved: 33,133 km (1999)

Chile total: 79,605 km paved: 16,080 km (including 407 km of expressways) unpaved: 63,525 km (2001)

China total: 1,870,661 km paved: 1,515,797 km (with at least 34,288 km of expressways) unpaved: 354,864 km (2004)

Christmas Island total: 142 km paved: 32 km unpaved: 110 km (2006)

Cocos (Keeling) Islands total: 22 km paved: 10 km unpaved: 12 km (2006)

Colombia total: 112,988 km paved: 16,270 km unpaved: 96,718 km (2004)

Comoros total: 880 km paved: 673 km unpaved: 207 km (1999)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the total: 153,497 km paved: 2,794 km unpaved: 150,703 km (2004)

Congo, Republic of the total: 17,289 km paved: 864 km unpaved: 16,425 km (2004)

Cook Islands total: 320 km paved: 33 km unpaved: 287 km (2003)

Costa Rica total: 35,330 km paved: 8,621 km unpaved: 26,709 km (2004)

Cote d'Ivoire total: 80,000 km paved: 6,500 km unpaved: 73,500 km note: includes intercity and urban roads; another 20,000 km of dirt roads are in poor condition and 150,000 km of dirt roads are impassable (2006)

Croatia total: 28,344 km paved: 24,186 km (including 742 km of expressways) unpaved: 4,158 km (2004)

Cuba total: 60,858 km paved: 29,820 km (including 638 km of expressway) unpaved: 31,038 km (1999)

Cyprus total: 14,496 km (area under government control: 12,146 km; area administered by Turkish Cypriots: 2,350 km) paved: area under government control: 7,845 km (including 276 km of expressways); area administered by Turkish Cypriots: 1,370 km unpaved: area under government control: 4,301 km; area administered by Turkish Cypriots: 980 km (2005/1996 est.)

Czech Republic total: 127,747 km paved: 127,747 km (including 518 km of expressways) (2003)

Denmark total: 72,257 km paved: 72,257 km (including 1,032 km of expressways) (2005)

Djibouti total: 2,890 km paved: 364 km unpaved: 2,526 km (1999)

Dominica total: 780 km paved: 393 km unpaved: 387 km (1999)

Dominican Republic total: 12,600 km paved: 6,224 km unpaved: 6,376 km (1999)

East Timor total: 5,000 km paved: 2,500 km unpaved: 2,500 km (2005)

Ecuador total: 43,197 km paved: 6,467 km unpaved: 36,730 km (2004)

Egypt total: 92,370 km paved: 74,820 km unpaved: 17,550 km (2004)

El Salvador total: 10,029 km paved: 1,986 km unpaved: 8,043 km (1999)

Equatorial Guinea total: 2,880 km (1999)

Eritrea total: 4,010 km paved: 874 km unpaved: 3,136 km (1999)

Estonia total: 56,856 km paved: 13,384 km (including 99 km of expressways) unpaved: 43,472 km (2004)

Ethiopia total: 36,469 km paved: 6,980 km unpaved: 29,489 km (2004)

European Union total: 2,294,641 km (including 61,522 km of expressways) paved: 1,809,821 km unpaved: 584,820 km (2005)

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) total: 440 km paved: 50 km unpaved: 390 km (2003)

Faroe Islands total: 458 km note: no roads between towns (2003)

Fiji total: 3,440 km paved: 1,692 km unpaved: 1,748 km (1999)

Finland total: 78,189 km paved: 50,633 km (including 653 km of expressways) unpaved: 27,556 km (2006)

France total: 956,303 km (including 5,083 km of roads in the overseas departments) paved: 951,220 km (metropolitan France; including 10,490 km of expressways) (2004)

French Polynesia total: 2,590 km paved: 1,735 km unpaved: 855 km (1999)

Gabon total: 9,170 km paved: 937 km unpaved: 8,233 km (2004)

Gambia, The total: 3,742 km paved: 723 km unpaved: 3,019 km (2004)

Gaza Strip note: see entry for West Bank

Georgia total: 20,247 km paved: 7,973 km unpaved: 12,274 km (2004)

Germany total: 231,581 km paved: 231,581 km (including 12,200 km of expressways) (2005)

Ghana total: 42,623 km paved: 3,267 km unpaved: 39,356 km (2004)

Gibraltar total: 29 km paved: 29 km (2002)

Greece total: 114,931 km paved: 105,507 km (including 880 km of expressways) unpaved: 9,424 km (2004)

Greenland total: NA note: while there are short roads in towns, there are no roads between towns; inter-town transport takes place either by sea or air (2005)

Grenada total: 1,127 km paved: 687 km unpaved: 440 km (1999)

Guam total: 977 km (2004)

Guatemala total: 14,095 km paved: 4,863 km (including 75 km of expressways) unpaved: 9,232 km (1999)

Guernsey total: NA

Guinea total: 44,348 km paved: 4,342 km unpaved: 40,006 km (2003)

Guinea-Bissau total: 3,455 km paved: 965 km unpaved: 2,490 km (2002)

Guyana total: 7,970 km paved: 590 km unpaved: 7,380 km (1999)

Haiti total: 4,160 km paved: 1,011 km unpaved: 3,149 km (1999)

Honduras total: 13,603 km paved: 2,775 km unpaved: 10,828 km (1999)

Hong Kong total: 1,955 km paved: 1,955 km (2005)

Hungary total: 159,568 km paved: 70,050 km (30,874 km of interurban roads including 626 km of expressways) unpaved: 89,518 km (2005)

Iceland total: 13,028 km paved/oiled gravel: 4,241 km (does not include urban roads) unpaved: 8,787 km (2005)

India total: 3,383,344 km paved: 1,603,705 km unpaved: 1,779,639 km (2002)

Indonesia total: 368,360 km paved: 213,649 km unpaved: 154,711 km (2002)

Iran total: 179,388 km paved: 120,782 km (including 878 km of expressways) unpaved: 58,606 km (2003)

Iraq total: 45,550 km paved: 38,399 km unpaved: 7,151 km (1999)

Ireland total: 96,602 km paved: 96,602 km (including 200 km of expressways) (2003)

Isle of Man total: 800 km paved: 800 km (1999)

Israel total: 17,446 km paved: 17,446 km (including 144 km of expressways) (2004)

Italy total: 484,688 km paved: 484,688 km (including 6,621 km of expressways) (2004)

Jamaica total: 20,996 km paved: 15,386 km (including 33 km of expressways) unpaved: 5,610 km (2004)

Japan total: 1.183 million km paved: 925,000 km (including 6,946 km of expressways) unpaved: 258,000 km (2003)

Jersey total: 577 km

Jordan total: 7,500 km paved: 7,500 km (2004)

Kazakhstan total: 90,018 km paved: 84,104 km unpaved: 5,914 km (2004)

Kenya total: 63,265 km (interurban roads) paved: 8,933 km unpaved: 54,332 km note: there also are 100,000 km of rural roads and 14,500 km of urban roads for a national total of 177,765 km (2004)

Kiribati total: 670 km (1999)

Korea, North total: 31,200 km paved: 1,997 km unpaved: 29,203 km (1999 est.)

Korea, South total: 100,279 km paved: 87,032 km (including 3,060 km of expressways) unpaved: 13,247 km (2004)

Kuwait total: 5,749 km paved: 4,887 km unpaved: 862 km (2004)

Kyrgyzstan total: 18,500 km paved: 16,854 km unpaved: 1,646 km (1999)

Laos total: 31,210 km paved: 4,494 km unpaved: 26,716 km (2003)

Latvia total: 69,532 km paved: 69,532 km (2004)

Lebanon total: 7,300 km paved: 6,198 km unpaved: 1,102 km (1999)

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)

Libya total: 83,200 km paved: 47,590 km unpaved: 35,610 km (1999)

Liechtenstein total: 380 km paved: 380 km (2006)

Lithuania total: 79,497 km paved: 70,549 km (including 417 km of expressways) unpaved: 8,948 km (2005)

Luxembourg total: 5,227 km paved: 5,227 km (including 147 km of expressways) (2004)

Macau total: 368 km paved: 368 km (2005)

Macedonia total: 8,684 km paved: 5,540 km unpaved: 3,144 km (1999)

Madagascar total: 49,827 km paved: 5,780 km unpaved: 44,047 km (1999)

Malawi total: 15,451 km paved: 6,956 km unpaved: 8,495 km (2003)

Malaysia total: 98,721 km paved: 80,280 km (including 1,821 km of expressways) unpaved: 18,441 km (2004)

Maldives total: 88 km paved roads: 88 km - 60 km in Male; 14 km on Addu Atolis; 14 km on Laamu note: village roads are mainly compacted coral (2006)

Mali total: 18,709 km paved: 3,368 km unpaved: 15,341 km (2004)

Malta total: 2,227 km paved: 2,014 km unpaved: 213 km (2004)

Marshall Islands total: 64.5 km paved: 64.5 km note: paved roads on major islands (Majuro, Kwajalein), otherwise stone-, coral-, or laterite-surfaced roads and tracks (2002)

Mauritania total: 7,660 km paved: 866 km unpaved: 6,794 km (1999)

Mauritius total: 2,020 km paved: 2,020 km (including 75 km of expressways) (2005)

Mayotte total: 93 km paved: 72 km unpaved: 21 km

Mexico total: 235,670 km paved: 116,751 km (including 6,144 km of expressways) unpaved: 118,919 km (2004)

Micronesia, Federated States of total: 240 km paved: 42 km unpaved: 198 km (1999)

Midway Islands total: NA

Moldova total: 12,733 km paved: 10,976 km unpaved: 1,757 km (2004)

Monaco total: 50 km paved: 50 km (1999)

Mongolia total: 49,250 km paved: 1,724 km unpaved: 47,526 km (2002)

Montenegro total: 7,353 km paved: 4,274 km unpaved: 3,079 km (2005)

Montserrat total: 227 km note: volcanic eruptions that began in 1995 destroyed most of the road system (2003)

Morocco total: 57,493 km paved: 32,716 km (including 507 km of expressways) unpaved: 24,777 km (2004)

Mozambique total: 30,400 km paved: 5,685 km unpaved: 24,715 km (1999)

Namibia total: 42,237 km paved: 5,406 km unpaved: 36,831 km (2002)

Nauru total: 30 km paved: 24 km unpaved: 6 km (1999 est.)

Nepal total: 17,380 km paved: 9,886 km unpaved: 7,494 km (2004)

Netherlands total: 134,000 km (including 3,270 km of expressways) (2004)

New Caledonia total: 5,432 km (2000)

New Zealand total: 92,931 km paved: 59,783 km (including 171 km of expressways) unpaved: 33,148 km (2003)

Nicaragua total: 19,036 km paved: 2,299 km unpaved: 16,737 km (2005)

Niger total: 14,565 km paved: 3,641 km unpaved: 10,924 km (2004)

Nigeria total: 194,394 km paved: 60,068 km unpaved: 134,326 km (1999)

Niue total: 234 km paved: 86 km unpaved: 148 km (2001)

Norfolk Island total: 80 km paved: 53 km unpaved: 27 km (2002)

Northern Mariana Islands total: 536 km (2004)

Norway total: 92,513 km paved: 71,832 km (including 664 km of expressways) unpaved: 20,681 km (2005)

Oman total: 34,965 km paved: 9,673 km (including 550 km of expressways) unpaved: 25,292 km (2001)

Pakistan total: 258,340 km paved: 167,146 km (including 711 km of expressways) unpaved: 91,194 km (2004)

Palau total: 61 km paved: 36 km unpaved: 25 km

Panama total: 11,643 km paved: 4,028 km unpaved: 7,615 km (2000)

Papua New Guinea total: 19,600 km paved: 686 km unpaved: 18,914 km (1999)

Paraguay total: 29,500 km paved: 14,986 km unpaved: 14,514 km (1999)

Peru total: 78,829 km paved: 11,351 km (including 276 km of expressways) unpaved: 67,478 km (2004)

Philippines total: 200,037 km paved: 19,804 km unpaved: 180,233 km (2003)

Pitcairn Islands total: 6 km unpaved: 6 km (dirt roads)

Poland total: 423,997 km paved: 295,356 km (including 484 km of expressways) unpaved: 128,641 km (2004)

Portugal total: 78,470 km paved: 67,484 km (including 2,002 km of expressways) unpaved: 10,986 km (2004)

Puerto Rico total: 25,735 km paved: 24,353 km (including 427 km of expressways) unpaved: 1,382 km (2005)

Qatar total: 1,230 km paved: 1,107 km unpaved: 123 km (1999)

Romania total: 198,817 km paved: 60,043 km (including 228 km of expressways) unpaved: 138,774 km (2004)

Russia total: 871,000 km paved: 738,000 km (including 29,000 km of expressways) unpaved: 133,000 km note: includes public and departmental roads (2004)

Rwanda total: 14,008 km paved: 2,662 km unpaved: 11,346 km (2004)

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) (2002)

Saint Kitts and Nevis total: 320 km paved: 138 km unpaved: 182 km (1999 est)

Saint Lucia total: 910 km paved: 48 km unpaved: 862 km (2000)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines total: 829 km paved: 580 km unpaved: 249 km (2003)

Samoa total: 2,337 km paved: 332 km unpaved: 2,005 km (2004)

San Marino total: 104 km paved: 104 km (2003)

Sao Tome and Principe total: 320 km paved: 218 km unpaved: 102 km (1999)

Saudi Arabia total: 152,044 km paved: 45,461 km unpaved: 106,583 km (2000)

Senegal total: 13,576 km paved: 3,972 km (including 7 km of expressways) unpaved: 9,604 km (2003)

Serbia total: 37,887 km paved: 23,937 km unpaved: 13,950 km (2002)

Seychelles total: 458 km paved: 440 km unpaved: 18 km (2003)

Sierra Leone total: 11,300 km paved: 904 km unpaved: 10,396 km (2002)

Singapore total: 3,234 km paved: 3,234 km (including 150 km of expressways) (2005)

Slovakia total: 42,993 km paved: 37,533 km (including 316 km of expressways) unpaved: 5,460 km (2004)

Slovenia total: 38,451 km paved: 38,451 km (including 483 km of expressways) (2004)

Solomon Islands total: 1,360 km paved: 34 km unpaved: 1,326 km (1999)

Somalia total: 22,100 km paved: 2,608 km unpaved: 19,492 km (1999)

South Africa total: 362,099 km paved: 73,506 km (including 239 km of expressways) unpaved: 288,593 km (2002)

Spain total: 666,292 km paved: 659,629 km (including 12,009 km of expressways) unpaved: 6,663 km (2003)

Sri Lanka total: 97,287 km paved: 78,802 km unpaved: 18,485 km (2003)

Sudan total: 11,900 km paved: 4,320 km unpaved: 7,580 km (1999)

Suriname total: 4,304 km paved: 1,130 km unpaved: 3,174 km (2003)

Swaziland total: 3,594 km paved: 1,078 km unpaved: 2,516 km (2002)

Sweden total: 424,947 km paved: 129,651 km (including 1,591 km of expressways) unpaved: 295,296 km (2004)

Switzerland total: 71,297 km paved: 71,297 km (including 1,728 of expressways) (2004)

Syria total: 94,890 km paved: 19,073 km unpaved: 75,817 km (2004)

Taiwan total: 37,299 km paved: 35,621 km (including 789 km of expressways) unpaved: 1,678 km (2002)

Tajikistan total: 27,767 km (2000)

Tanzania total: 78,891 km paved: 6,808 km unpaved: 72,083 km (2003)

Thailand total: 57,403 km paved: 56,542 km unpaved: 861 km (2000)

Togo total: 7,520 km paved: 2,376 km unpaved: 5,144 km (1999)

Tonga total: 680 km paved: 184 km unpaved: 496 km (1999)

Trinidad and Tobago total: 8,320 km paved: 4,252 km unpaved: 4,068 km (1999)

Tunisia total: 19,232 km paved: 12,655 km (including 262 km of expressways) unpaved: 6,577 km (2004)

Turkey total: 426,906 km paved: 177,550 km (including 1,892 km of expressways) unpaved: 249,356 km (2004)

Turkmenistan total: 24,000 km paved: 19,488 km unpaved: 4,512 km (1999)

Turks and Caicos Islands total: 121 km paved: 24 km unpaved: 97 km (2003)

Tuvalu total: 8 km paved: 8 km (2002)

Uganda total: 70,746 km paved: 16,272 km unpaved: 54,474 km (2003)

Ukraine total: 169,477 km paved: 164,732 km (including 15 km of expressways) unpaved: 4,745 km (2004)

United Arab Emirates total: 1,088 km paved: 1,088 km (including 253 km of expressways) (1999)

United Kingdom total: 388,008 km paved: 388,008 km (including 3,520 km of expressways) (2005)

United States total: 6,430,366 km paved: 4,165,110 km (including 75,009 km of expressways) unpaved: 2,265,256 km (2005)

Uruguay total: 77,732 km paved: 7,743 km unpaved: 69,989 km (2004)

Uzbekistan total: 81,600 km paved: 71,237 km unpaved: 10,363 km (1999)

Vanuatu total: 1,070 km paved: 256 km unpaved: 814 km (1999)

Venezuela total: 96,155 km paved: 32,308 km unpaved: 63,847 km (1999)

Vietnam total: 222,179 km paved: 42,167 km unpaved: 180,012 km (2004)

Virgin Islands total: 1,257 km (2004)

West Bank total: 4,996 km paved: 4,996 km note: includes Gaza Strip (2004)

World total: 32,345,165 km paved: 19,403,061 km unpaved: 12,942,104 km (2002)

Yemen total: 71,300 km paved: 6,200 km unpaved: 65,100 km (2005)

Zambia total: 91,440 km paved: 20,117 km unpaved: 71,323 km (2001)

Zimbabwe total: 97,440 km paved: 18,514 km unpaved: 78,926 km (2002)

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007



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@2086 Illicit drugs

Afghanistan world's largest producer of opium; cultivation dropped 48% to 107,400 hectares in 2005; better weather and lack of widespread disease returned opium yields to normal levels, meaning potential opium production declined by only 10% to 4,475 metric tons; if the entire poppy crop were processed, it is estimated that 526 metric tons of heroin could be processed; source of hashish; many narcotics-processing labs throughout the country; drug trade source of instability and some antigovernment groups profit from the trade; 80-90% of the heroin consumed in Europe comes from Afghan opium; vulnerable to narcotics money laundering through informal financial networks

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 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; 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; minor 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; a small and lightly regulated financial center; new anti-money-laundering legislation does not meet international standards; few investigations or prosecutions of money-laundering activities

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; despite a strengthening of legislation, the country remains vulnerable to money laundering related to narcotics, automobiles, alcohol, and tobacco

Belize transshipment point for cocaine; small-scale illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade; money-laundering activity related to narcotics trafficking and 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 26,500 hectares under cultivation in August 2005, an 8% increase from 2004; intermediate coca products and cocaine exported mostly to or through Brazil, Argentina, and Chile to European drug markets; cultivation steadily increasing despite eradication and alternative crop programs; 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; remains highly vulnerable to money-laundering activity given a primarily cash-based and unregulated economy, weak law enforcement, and instances of corruption

Brazil illicit producer of cannabis; trace amounts of coca cultivation in the Amazon region, used for domestic consumption; government has a large-scale eradication program to control cannabis; important transshipment country for Bolivian, Colombian, and Peruvian cocaine headed for 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 makes it vulnerable to money laundering

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 remains world's second largest producer of illicit opium (estimated production in 2004 - 292 metric tons, down 40% from 2003 due to eradication efforts and drought; cultivation in 2004 - 30,900 hectares, a 34% decline from 2003); lack of government will 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; currently under Financial Action Task Force countermeasures due to continued failure to address its inadequate money-laundering controls (2005)

Cambodia narcotics-related corruption reportedly involving some in the government, military, and police; possible small-scale heroin and methamphetamine production; vulnerable to money laundering due to its cash-based economy and porous borders

Canada illicit producer of cannabis for the domestic drug market and export to US; use of hydroponics technology permits growers to plant large quantities of high-quality marijuana indoors; transit point for ecstasy 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 important transshipment country for cocaine destined for 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, but a new anti-money-laundering law improves controls; 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 2004 was 114,100 hectares, virtually unchanged from 2003, but down one-third from its peak of 169,800 ha); producing a potential of 430 mt of pure cocaine; the world's largest producer of coca derivatives; supplying most of the US market and the great majority of cocaine to other international drug markets; important supplier of heroin to the US market; opium poppy cultivation fell 50% between 2003 and 2004 to 2,100 hectares yielding a potential 3.8 metric tons of pure heroin, mostly for the US market; in 2004, aerial eradication treated over 130,000 hectares of coca but aggressive replanting on the part of growers means Colombia remains a key producer; 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, particularly crack cocaine, is rising

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 US and European-bound drugs; 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; despite a strengthening of anti-money-laundering legislation, remains vulnerable to money laundering; reporting of suspicious transactions in offshore sector remains weak

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; attractive location for cash-placement by drug traffickers laundering money because of dollarization and weak anti-money-laundering regime; 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 enforcement of financial 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; potential money laundering related to organized crime and drug trafficking is a concern, as is possible use of the gambling sector to launder funds

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 metropolitan 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 Martinique: transshipment point for cocaine and marijuana bound for the US and 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; major financial center

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 money laundering 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; in 2004, reemerged as a potential source of opium, growing 330 hectares of opium poppy, with potential pure heroin production of 1.4 metric tons; 76% of opium poppy cultivation in western highlands along Mexican border; marijuana cultivation for mostly domestic consumption; proximity to Mexico makes Guatemala a major staging area for drugs (particularly for cocaine); 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; rising money laundering related to drug trafficking and human smuggling

Haiti 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 difficult challenges in controlling transit of heroin and methamphetamine to regional and world markets; modern banking system provides 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; producer of methamphetamine and ecstasy

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 according to official Iranian statistics there are at least 2 million drug users in the country; lacks anti-money-laundering laws

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; despite recent legislation, narcotics-related money laundering - using bureaux de change, trusts, and shell companies involving the offshore financial community - remains a concern

Israel increasingly concerned about cocaine and heroin abuse; drugs arrive in country from Lebanon and, increasingly, from Jordan; money-laundering center

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 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

Korea, North for years, from the 1970s into the 2000s, citizens of the Democratic People's Republic of (North) Korea (DPRK), many of them diplomatic employees of the government, were apprehended abroad while trafficking in narcotics, including two in Turkey in December 2004; police investigations in Taiwan and Japan in recent years have linked North Korea to large illicit shipments of heroin and methamphetamine, including an attempt by the North Korean merchant ship Pong Su to deliver 150 kg of heroin to Australia in April 2003

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 estimated cultivation in 2004 - 10,000 hectares, a 45% decrease from 2003; estimated potential production in 2004 - 49 metric tons, a significant decrease from 200 metric tons in 2003 (2005)

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; despite improved legislation, vulnerable to money laundering due to nascent enforcement capabilities and comparatively weak regulation of offshore companies and the gaming industry; CIS organized crime (including counterfeiting, corruption, extortion, stolen cars, and prostitution) accounts for most laundered proceeds

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 European markets and for Middle Eastern consumption

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 has strengthened money-laundering controls, but money laundering remains a concern due to Liechtenstein's sophisticated offshore financial services sector

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 major transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and hashish; minor transit point for South American cocaine destined for Europe; although not a financial center and most criminal activity is thought to be domestic, money laundering is a problem due to a mostly cash-based economy and weak enforcement (no arrests or prosecutions for money laundering to date)

Madagascar illicit producer of cannabis (cultivated and wild varieties) used mostly for domestic consumption; transshipment point for heroin

Malaysia regional 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

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 major drug-producing nation; cultivation of opium poppy in 2004 amounted to 3,500 hectares, but opium cultivation stayed within the range - between 3,500 and 5,500 hectares - observed in nine of the last 12 years; potential production of 9 metric tons of pure heroin, or 23 metric tons of "black tar" heroin, the dominant form of Mexican heroin in the western United States; marijuana cultivation decreased 23% to 5,800 hectares in 2004 after decade-high cultivation peak in 2003; potential production of 10,400 metric tons of marijuana in 2004; government conducts the largest independent illicit-crop eradication program in the world; 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, accounting for about 90% of estimated annual cocaine movement to the US; major drug syndicates control majority of drug trafficking throughout the country; 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; 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 and 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

Nepal illicit producer of cannabis and hashish for the domestic and international drug markets; transit point for opiates from Southeast Asia to the West

Netherlands major European producer of ecstasy, illicit amphetamines, 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; Nigeria has improved some anti-money-laundering controls, resulting in its removal from the Financial Action Task Force's (FATF's) Noncooperative Countries and Territories List in June 2006; Nigeria's anti-money-laundering regime continues to be monitored by FATF

Pakistan opium poppy cultivation declined 58% to 3,147 hectares in 2005; federal and provincial authorities continue to conduct anti-poppy campaigns that force eradication - fines and arrests will take place if the ban on poppy cultivation is not observed; key transit point for Afghan drugs, including heroin, opium, morphine, and hashish, bound for Western markets, the Gulf States, and Africa; 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 Brazil, Argentina, and Chile; transshipment country for Andean cocaine headed for Brazil, other Southern Cone markets, and Europe; corruption and some money-laundering activity, especially in the Tri-Border Area; weak anti-money-laundering laws and enforcement

Peru until 1996 the world's largest coca leaf producer; cultivation of coca in Peru fell 15% to 31,150 hectares between 2002 and the end of 2003; 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 domestic methamphetamine production has been a growing problem in recent years; longstanding marijuana producer

Poland major illicit producer of synthetic drugs 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 (especially from Brazil); 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; although not a significant financial center, role as a narcotics conduit leaves it vulnerable to laundering which occurs via the banking system, currency exchange houses, and casinos

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; improving anti-money-laundering legislation and enforcement

Senegal transshipment point for Southwest and Southeast Asian heroin and South American cocaine moving to Europe and North America; illicit cultivator of cannabis

Serbia 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, 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 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 and consumer for Latin American cocaine and North African hashish entering the European market; destination and minor transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin; money-laundering site for Colombian narcotics trafficking organizations and organized crime

Suriname growing transshipment point for South American drugs destined for Europe via the Netherlands and Brazil; transshipment point for arms-for-drugs dealing

Switzerland a major international financial center vulnerable to the layering and integration stages of money laundering; despite significant legislation and reporting requirements, secrecy rules persist and nonresidents are permitted to conduct business through offshore entities and various intermediaries; 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; weak anti-money-laundering controls and bank privatization may leave it vulnerable to money-laundering

Taiwan regional transit point for heroin and methamphetamine; major problem with domestic consumption of methamphetamine and heroin; renewal of domestic methamphetamine production is a problem

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% of all drugs captured in Central Asia and stands third worldwide 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 methamphetamine production for regional consumption; major consumer of methamphetamine since the 1990s

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 and near Istanbul; government maintains strict controls over areas of legal opium poppy cultivation and output of poppy straw concentrate; lax enforcement of money-laundering controls