# Geognos Data Export: Europe Generated: 2026-02-14T06:35:33.925Z ## Akrotiri **Slug:** akrotiri **Region:** Europe **Codes:** cek: ax, genc: XQZ, stanag: -, internet: - --- ## Albania **Slug:** albania **Region:** Europe **Flag:** 🇦🇱 **Codes:** cek: al, iso2: AL, iso3: ALB, iso_num: 008, genc: ALB, stanag: ALB, internet: .al ### Introduction **Background:** After declaring independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1912, Albania experienced a period of political upheaval that led to a short-lived monarchy, which ended in 1939 when Italy conquered the country. Germany then occupied Albania in 1943, and communist partisans took over the country in 1944. Albania allied itself first with the USSR (until 1960) and then with China (until 1978). In the early 1990s, Albania ended communist rule and established a multiparty democracy. Government-endorsed pyramid schemes in 1997 led to economic collapse and civil disorder, which only ended when UN peacekeeping troops intervened. In 1999, some 450,000 ethnic Albanians fled from Kosovo to Albania to escape the war with the Serbs. Albania joined NATO in 2009 and became an official candidate for EU membership in 2014. ### Geography **Location:** Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea and Ionian Sea, between Greece to the south and Montenegro and Kosovo to the north **Geographic coordinates:** 41 00 N, 20 00 E **Map references:** Europe **Area:** total : 28,748 sq km land: 27,398 sq km water: 1,350 sq km **Area - comparative:** slightly smaller than Maryland **Land boundaries:** total: 691 km border countries (4): Greece 212 km; Kosovo 112 km; North Macedonia 181 km; Montenegro 186 km **Coastline:** 362 km **Maritime claims:** territorial sea: 12 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation **Climate:** mild temperate; cool, cloudy, wet winters; hot, clear, dry summers; interior is cooler and wetter **Terrain:** mostly mountains and hills; small plains along coast **Elevation:** highest point: Maja e Korabit (Golem Korab) 2,764 m lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m mean elevation: 708 m **Natural resources:** petroleum, natural gas, coal, bauxite, chromite, copper, iron ore, nickel, salt, timber, hydropower, arable land **Land use:** agricultural land: 38.1% (2023 est.) arable land: 21.6% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 3.2% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 13.4% (2023 est.) forest: 34.3% (2023 est.) other: 27.5% (2023 est.) **Irrigated land:** 1,907 sq km (2022) **Major lakes (area sq km):** fresh water lake(s): Lake Scutari (shared with Montenegro) - 400 sq km note - largest lake in the Balkans **Major watersheds (area sq km):** Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km) **Population distribution:** a fairly even distribution, with somewhat higher concentrations of people in the western and central parts of the country **Natural hazards:** destructive earthquakes; tsunamis occur along southwestern coast; floods; drought **Geography - note:** strategic location along Strait of Otranto (links Adriatic Sea to Ionian Sea and Mediterranean Sea) ### People and Society **Population:** total: 2,551,837 (2025 est.) male: 1,229,151 female: 1,322,686 **Nationality:** noun: Albanian(s) adjective: Albanian **Ethnic groups:** Albanian 82.6%, Greek 0.9%, other 1% (including Vlach, Romani, Macedonian, Montenegrin, and Egyptian), unspecified 15.5% (2011 est.) note: data represent population by ethnic and cultural affiliation **Languages:** Albanian 98.8% (official - derived from Tosk dialect), Greek 0.5%, other 0.6% (including Macedonian, Romani, Vlach, Turkish, Italian, and Serbo-Croatian), unspecified 0.1% (2011 est.) major-language sample(s): Libri i fakteve boterore, burimi i pazevendesueshem per informacione elementare (Albanian) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. **Religions:** Muslim 56.7%, Roman Catholic 10%, Orthodox 6.8%, atheist 2.5%, Bektashi (a Sufi order) 2.1%, other 5.7%, unspecified 16.2% (2011 est.) note: all mosques and churches were closed in 1967 and religious observances prohibited; in November 1990, Albania began allowing private religious practice **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 18% (male 292,296/female 267,052) 15-64 years: 66.9% (male 1,023,515/female 1,055,388) 65 years and over: 15.1% (2024 est.) (male 215,252/female 253,597) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 49 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 24.1 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 24.9 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 4 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 37.9 years (2025 est.) male: 34.8 years female: 37.8 years **Population growth rate:** -1.06% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 8.71 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 7.9 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** -11.37 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** a fairly even distribution, with somewhat higher concentrations of people in the western and central parts of the country **Urbanization:** urban population: 64.6% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 1.29% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 520,000 TIRANA (capital) (2023) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.09 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Mother's mean age at first birth:** 26.6 years (2020 est.) **Maternal mortality ratio:** 7 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 10.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 11.3 deaths/1,000 live births female: 9.2 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 79.9 years (2024 est.) male: 77.3 years female: 82.8 years **Total fertility rate:** 1.09 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 0.52 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: urban: 95.7% of population (2022 est.) rural: 94.1% of population (2022 est.) total: 95.1% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 4.3% of population (2022 est.) rural: 5.9% of population (2022 est.) total: 4.9% of population (2022 est.) **Health expenditure:** 7.3% of GDP (2021) 9.2% of national budget (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 1.88 physicians/1,000 population (2020) **Hospital bed density:** 2.9 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.) **Sanitation facility access:** improved: urban: 99.8% of population (2022 est.) rural: 100% of population (2022 est.) total: 99.9% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 0.2% of population (2022 est.) rural: 0% of population (2022 est.) total: 0.1% of population (2022 est.) **Obesity - adult prevalence rate:** 21.7% (2016) **Alcohol consumption per capita:** total: 4.4 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 1.75 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 1.15 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 1.43 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0.08 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) **Tobacco use:** total: 21.4% (2025 est.) male: 37% (2025 est.) female: 6.2% (2025 est.) **Children under the age of 5 years underweight:** 1.5% (2017 est.) **Currently married women (ages 15-49):** 65.7% (2018 est.) **Child marriage:** women married by age 15: 1.4% (2018) women married by age 18: 11.8% (2018) men married by age 18: 1.2% (2018) **Education expenditure:** 3.1% of GDP (2023 est.) 10.9% national budget (2023 est.) **Literacy:** total population: 97.7% (2023 est.) male: 98.2% (2023 est.) female: 97.2% (2023 est.) **School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):** total: 15 years (2023 est.) male: 14 years (2023 est.) female: 15 years (2023 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution from industrial and domestic effluents; air pollution from industrial and power plants; loss of biodiversity **International environmental agreements:** party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements **Climate:** mild temperate; cool, cloudy, wet winters; hot, clear, dry summers; interior is cooler and wetter **Land use:** agricultural land: 38.1% (2023 est.) arable land: 21.6% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 3.2% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 13.4% (2023 est.) forest: 34.3% (2023 est.) other: 27.5% (2023 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 64.6% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 1.29% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 3.392 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 566,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 2.734 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from consumed natural gas: 93,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Particulate matter emissions:** 16.6 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 1.087 million tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 20.5% (2022 est.) **Total water withdrawal:** municipal: 221 million cubic meters (2022) industrial: 11 million cubic meters (2022) agricultural: 565 million cubic meters (2022) **Total renewable water resources:** 30.2 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: Republic of Albania conventional short form: Albania local long form: Republika e Shqiperise local short form: Shqiperia former: People's Socialist Republic of Albania etymology: name may be derived from the pre-Celtic word alb, meaning "hill," or from the Indo-European root word albh, meaning "white;" the local name "Shqiperia" is derived from the Albanian word shqiponje ("eagle") and is popularly interpreted to mean "Land of the Eagles" **Government type:** parliamentary republic **Capital:** name: Tirana (Tirane) geographic coordinates: 41 19 N, 19 49 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October etymology: the name "Tirana" first appears in a 1418 Venetian document; the origin of the name is unclear **Administrative divisions:** 12 counties (qarqe, singular - qark); Berat, Diber, Durres, Elbasan, Fier, Gjirokaster, Korce, Kukes, Lezhe, Shkoder, Tirane (Tirana), Vlore **Legal system:** civil law system except in the northern rural areas where customary law known as the "Code of Leke" is still present **Constitution:** history: several previous; latest approved by the Assembly 21 October 1998, adopted by referendum 22 November 1998, promulgated 28 November 1998 amendment process: proposed by at least one-fifth of the Assembly membership; passage requires at least a two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly; referendum required only if approved by two-thirds of the Assembly; amendments approved by referendum effective upon declaration by the president of the republic **International law organization participation:** has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Albania dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years **Suffrage:** 18 years of age; universal **Executive branch:** chief of state: President Bajram BEGAJ (since 24 July 2022) head of government: Prime Minister Edi RAMA (since 10 September 2013) cabinet: Council of Ministers proposed by the prime minister, nominated by the president, and approved by the Assembly election/appointment process: president indirectly elected by the Assembly for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); a candidate needs three-fifths majority vote of the Assembly in 1 of 3 rounds or a simple majority in 2 additional rounds to become president; prime minister appointed by the president on the proposal of the majority party or coalition of parties in the Assembly most recent election date: held in 4 rounds on 16, 23, and 30 May and 4 June 2022 election results: 2022: Bajram BEGAJ elected president in the fourth round; Assembly vote - 78-4, opposition parties boycotted 2017: Ilir META elected president in the fourth round; Assembly vote - 87-2 expected date of next election: 2027 **Legislative branch:** legislature name: Albanian Parliament legislative structure: unicameral chamber name: Parliament (Kuvendi) number of seats: 140 (all directly elected) electoral system: proportional representation scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 4 years most recent election date: 5/11/2025 parties elected and seats per party: Socialist Party of Albania (PS) (83); Democratic Party - Alliance for a Greater Albania (PD-ASHM) (50); Other (7) percentage of women in chamber: 35% expected date of next election: May 2029 **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of 19 judges, including the chief justice); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 judges, including the chairman) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges appointed by the High Judicial Council with the consent of the president to serve single 9-year terms; Supreme Court chairman is elected for a single 3-year term by the court members; appointments of Constitutional Court judges are rotated among the president, Parliament, and Supreme Court from a list of pre-qualified candidates (each institution selects 3 judges), to serve single 9-year terms; candidates are pre-qualified by a randomly selected body of experienced judges and prosecutors; Constitutional Court chairman is elected by the court members for a single, renewable 3-year term subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; Courts of First Instance; specialized courts: Court for Corruption and Organized Crime, Appeals Court for Corruption and Organized Crime (responsible for corruption, organized crime, and crimes of high officials) **Political parties:** Alliance for Change (electoral coalition led by PD) Democratic Party or PD Party for Justice, Integration and Unity or PDIU (part of the Alliance for Change) Social Democratic Party or PSD Freedom Party of Albania or PL (formerly the Socialist Movement for Integration or LSI) Socialist Party or PS **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Ervin BUSHATI (since 15 September 2023) chancery: 2100 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 223-4942 FAX: [1] (202) 628-7342 email address and website: embassy.washington@mfa.gov.al http://www.ambasadat.gov.al/usa/en consulate(s) general: New York **Diplomatic representation from the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Nancy VANHORN (since August 2024) embassy: Rruga Stavro Vinjau, No. 14, Tirana mailing address: 9510 Tirana Place, Washington DC 20521-9510 telephone: [355] 4 2247-285 FAX: [355] 4 2232-222 email address and website: ACSTirana@state.gov https://al.usembassy.gov/ **International organization participation:** BSEC, CD, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, EITI (compliant country), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, SELEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO note: Albania is an EU candidate country and must complete accession criteria before being granted full membership **Independence:** 28 November 1912 (from the Ottoman Empire) **National holiday:** Independence Day, 28 November (1912), also known as Flag Day **Flag:** description: red with a black two-headed eagle in the center meaning: Albanians traditionally see themselves as descendants of the eagle; they refer to themselves as "Shqiptare," which translates as "sons of the eagle" history: the design is said to originate with 15th-century Albanian hero Georgi Kastrioti SKANDERBEG, who led a successful uprising against the Ottoman Turks **National symbol(s):** black double-headed eagle **National color(s):** red, black **National coat of arms:** adopted in 1998 and features the national symbol, the double-headed black eagle, in the national colors of red and black; red represents the courage and strength of the Albanian people, and the golden border represents the country’s wealth; the helmet above the eagle is modeled on the helmet of Skanderbeg, a 15th-century Albanian military hero who led a rebellion against the Ottoman Empire; the goat on top of the helmet represents defiance and resistance **National anthem(s):** title: "Hymni i Flamurit" (Hymn to the Flag) lyrics/music: Aleksander Stavre DRENOVA/Ciprian PORUMBESCU history: adopted 1912; only the first two stanzas of the original poem are used, with the second stanza as a chorus **National heritage:** total World Heritage Sites: 4 (2 cultural, 1 natural, 1 mixed) selected World Heritage Site locales: Butrint (c); Historic Berat and Gjirokastër (c); Primeval Beech Forests (n); Lake Ohrid Region (m) ### Economy **Economic overview:** upper-middle-income Balkan economy; EU accession candidate; growth bolstered by tourism, agriculture, mining, construction, and private consumption; fiscal consolidation through revenue collection and tax compliance enhancements to address public debt; challenges include weak governance, corruption, and high emigration rates **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $51.36 billion (2024 est.) $49.403 billion (2023 est.) $47.532 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** 4% (2024 est.) 3.9% (2023 est.) 4.8% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $18,900 (2024 est.) $18,000 (2023 est.) $17,100 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $27.178 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 2.2% (2024 est.) 4.8% (2023 est.) 6.7% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 15.5% (2024 est.) industry: 22.4% (2024 est.) services: 48.9% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **GDP - composition, by end use:** household consumption: 70.2% (2023 est.) government consumption: 12% (2023 est.) investment in fixed capital: 24% (2023 est.) investment in inventories: -1.1% (2023 est.) exports of goods and services: 38.7% (2023 est.) imports of goods and services: -43.8% (2023 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection **Agricultural products:** milk, maize, tomatoes, watermelons, potatoes, wheat, grapes, onions, cucumbers/gherkins, olives (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage **Industries:** food; footwear, apparel and clothing; lumber, oil, cement, chemicals, mining, basic metals, hydropower **Industrial production growth rate:** -0.2% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency **Labor force:** 1.37 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work **Unemployment rate:** 10.3% (2024 est.) 10.2% (2023 est.) 10.2% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment **Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):** total: 25.1% (2024 est.) male: 23.9% (2024 est.) female: 26.9% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment **Population below poverty line:** 22% (2020 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line **Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income:** 29.4 (2020 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality **Household income or consumption by percentage share:** lowest 10%: 3.4% (2020 est.) highest 10%: 22.8% (2020 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population **Remittances:** 8.4% of GDP (2024 est.) 8.6% of GDP (2023 est.) 9.2% of GDP (2022 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Budget:** revenues: $6.636 billion (2023 est.) expenditures: $6.966 billion (2023 est.) note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated **Public debt:** 81.9% of GDP (2021 est.) note: central government debt as a % of GDP **Taxes and other revenues:** 17.8% (of GDP) (2023 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP **Current account balance:** -$646.107 million (2024 est.) -$281.7 million (2023 est.) -$1.117 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars **Exports:** $9.848 billion (2024 est.) $9.099 billion (2023 est.) $7.057 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** Italy 41%, Greece 10%, Germany 5%, Spain 5%, Serbia 4% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** garments, footwear, electricity, crude petroleum, iron alloys (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports:** $11.697 billion (2024 est.) $10.374 billion (2023 est.) $9.016 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** Italy 22%, China 11%, Turkey 9%, Germany 7%, Greece 6% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** cars, refined petroleum, garments, packaged medicine, iron bars (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:** $6.516 billion (2024 est.) $6.455 billion (2023 est.) $5.266 billion (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars **Debt - external:** $5.363 billion (2023 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars **Exchange rates:** leke (ALL) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 93.123 (2024 est.) 100.645 (2023 est.) 113.042 (2022 est.) 103.52 (2021 est.) 108.65 (2020 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.) **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 2.857 million kW (2023 est.) consumption: 7.49 billion kWh (2023 est.) exports: 2.2 billion kWh (2023 est.) imports: 1.922 billion kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 1.238 billion kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** solar: 3.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: 96.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Coal:** production: 473,000 metric tons (2023 est.) consumption: 255,000 metric tons (2023 est.) exports: 345,000 metric tons (2023 est.) imports: 180,000 metric tons (2023 est.) proven reserves: 522 million metric tons (2023 est.) **Petroleum:** total petroleum production: 14,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 21,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 150 million barrels (2021 est.) **Natural gas:** production: 49.977 million cubic meters (2023 est.) consumption: 49.977 million cubic meters (2023 est.) proven reserves: 5.692 billion cubic meters (2021 est.) **Energy consumption per capita:** 27.407 million Btu/person (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 165,000 (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 6 (2024 est.) **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 2.49 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 89 (2024 est.) **Broadcast media:** over 65 TV stations, including several that broadcast nationally and are sometimes available to neighboring countries; many viewers have access to Italian and Greek TV via terrestrial reception; TV stations have begun a government-mandated conversion from analog to digital broadcast; cable TV service is available; 2 public radio networks and roughly 78 private radio stations; several international broadcasters are available (2024) **Internet country code:** .al **Internet users:** percent of population: 83% (2023 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 632,000 (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 22 (2023 est.) ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** ZA **Airports:** 3 (2025) **Heliports:** 9 (2025) **Railways:** total: 424 km (2017) 2021-All the trains in the country suspended **Merchant marine:** total: 69 (2023) by type: general cargo 46, oil tanker 1, other 22 **Ports:** total ports: 3 (2024) large: 0 medium: 0 small: 1 very small: 2 ports with oil terminals: 0 key ports: Durres, Shengjin, Vlores ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** Republic of Albania Armed Forces (Forcat e Armatosura të Republikës së Shqipërisë (FARSH); aka Albanian Armed Forces (AAF)): Land Forces, Naval Force (includes Coast Guard), Air Forces Ministry of Interior: Guard of the Republic, State Police (includes the Border and Migration Police) (2025) note: the State Police are primarily responsible for internal security, including counterterrorism, while the Guard of the Republic protects senior state officials, foreign dignitaries, and certain state properties **Military expenditures:** 2% of GDP (2025 est.) 1.7% of GDP (2024 est.) 1.7% of GDP (2023 est.) 1.2% of GDP (2022 est.) 1.2% of GDP (2021 est.) **Military and security service personnel strengths:** approximately 7,500 active-duty military personnel (2025) **Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:** the military is in the process of modernizing by replacing its inventory of Soviet-era weapons with NATO standard armaments; in recent years, acquisitions have included equipment from France, Israel, Italy, Turkey and the US (2025) **Military service age and obligation:** 18-30 for voluntary military service for men and women; conscription abolished 2010 (2025) note: as of 2024, women comprised about 15% of the military's full-time personnel **Military deployments:** 250 Kosovo (NATO/KFOR) (2025) **Military - note:** the Albanian Armed Forces (AAF) are responsible for defending the country’s independence, sovereignty, and territory, assisting with internal security, providing disaster and humanitarian relief, and participating in international peacekeeping missions; the AAF is a small, lightly armed force that has been undergoing a modernization effort to improve its ability to fulfill NATO missions; the AAF has contributed small numbers of forces to several NATO missions since Albania joined NATO in 2009, including peacekeeping/stability missions in Afghanistan, Kosovo, and Iraq, and multinational battlegroups in Bulgaria and Latvia; it has also contributed to EU and UN missions (2025) ### Terrorism **Terrorist group(s):** Terrorist group(s): Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps/Qods Force; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide ### Transnational Issues **Refugees and internally displaced persons:** refugees: 9,381 (2024 est.) stateless persons: 2,203 (2024 est.) --- ## Andorra **Slug:** andorra **Region:** Europe **Flag:** 🇦🇩 **Codes:** cek: an, iso2: AD, iso3: AND, iso_num: 020, genc: AND, stanag: AND, internet: .ad ### Introduction **Background:** The landlocked Principality of Andorra -- one of the smallest states in Europe and nestled high in the Pyrenees between the French and Spanish borders -- is the last independent survivor of the Hispanic March states created by Frankish King Charlemagne in 795 after he halted the Moorish invasion of Spain. The March states were a series of buffer states to keep the Muslim Moors from advancing into Christian France. For 715 years, from 1278 to 1993, Andorrans lived under a unique co-principality, ruled by French and Spanish leaders (from 1607 onward, the French chief of state and the Bishop of Urgell). In 1993, this feudal system was modified with the introduction of a modern constitution; the co-princes remained as titular heads of state, but the government transformed into a parliamentary democracy. Andorra's winter sports, summer climate, and duty-free shopping attract approximately 8 million people each year. Andorra has also become a wealthy international commercial center because of its mature banking sector and low taxes. As part of the effort to modernize its economy, Andorra has opened to foreign investment and engaged in other reforms, such as tax initiatives aimed at supporting broader infrastructure. Although not a member of the EU, Andorra enjoys a special relationship with the bloc that is governed by various customs and cooperation agreements, and Andorra uses the euro as its national currency. ### Geography **Location:** Southwestern Europe, Pyrenees mountains, on the border between France and Spain **Geographic coordinates:** 42 30 N, 1 30 E **Map references:** Europe **Area:** total : 468 sq km land: 468 sq km water: 0 sq km **Area - comparative:** 2.5 times the size of Washington, D.C. **Land boundaries:** total: 118 km border countries (2): France 55 km; Spain 63 km **Coastline:** 0 km (landlocked) **Maritime claims:** none (landlocked) **Climate:** temperate; snowy, cold winters and warm, dry summers **Terrain:** rugged mountains dissected by narrow valleys **Elevation:** highest point: Pic de Coma Pedrosa 2,946 m lowest point: Riu Runer 840 m mean elevation: 1,996 m **Natural resources:** hydropower, mineral water, timber, iron ore, lead **Land use:** agricultural land: 39.9% (2023 est.) arable land: 1.6% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 38.3% (2023 est.) forest: 38.7% (2023 est.) other: 21.4% (2023 est.) **Irrigated land:** 0 sq km (2022) **Population distribution:** population is unevenly distributed and is concentrated in the seven urbanized valleys that make up the country's parishes (political administrative divisions) **Natural hazards:** avalanches **Geography - note:** landlocked; straddles a number of important crossroads in the Pyrenees ### People and Society **Population:** total: 85,266 (2025 est.) male: 43,557 female: 41,709 **Nationality:** noun: Andorran(s) adjective: Andorran **Ethnic groups:** Spanish 34.3%, Andorran 32.1%, Portuguese 10%, French 5.6%, other 18% (2024 est.) note: data represent population by country of birth **Languages:** Catalan (official) 44.1%, Castilian 40.3%, Portuguese 13.5%, French 10%, English 3%, other 6.8% (2022 est.) note: data represent mother tongue **Religions:** Christian (predominantly Roman Catholic) 89.5, other 8.8%, unaffiliated 1.7% (2020 est.) **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 12% (male 5,276/female 4,954) 15-64 years: 67.7% (male 29,562/female 28,201) 65 years and over: 20.4% (2024 est.) (male 8,814/female 8,563) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 49.1 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 17.4 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 31.7 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 3.2 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 49.4 years (2025 est.) male: 48.7 years female: 48.8 years **Population growth rate:** -0.12% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 6.88 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 8.14 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** population is unevenly distributed and is concentrated in the seven urbanized valleys that make up the country's parishes (political administrative divisions) **Urbanization:** urban population: 87.8% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.11% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 23,000 ANDORRA LA VELLA (capital) (2018) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.03 male(s)/female total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Mother's mean age at first birth:** 32.8 years (2019) **Maternal mortality ratio:** 11 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 3.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 3.4 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.2 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 83.8 years (2024 est.) male: 81.6 years female: 86.2 years **Total fertility rate:** 1.47 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 0.71 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.) rural: 100% of population (2022 est.) total: 100% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.) rural: 0% of population (2022 est.) total: 0% of population (2022 est.) **Health expenditure:** 8.3% of GDP (2021) 15.9% of national budget (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 5.07 physicians/1,000 population (2023) **Sanitation facility access:** improved: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.) rural: 100% of population (2022 est.) total: 100% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.) rural: 0% of population (2022 est.) total: 0% of population (2022 est.) **Obesity - adult prevalence rate:** 25.6% (2016) **Alcohol consumption per capita:** total: 10.99 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 3.59 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 4.98 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 2.32 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) **Tobacco use:** total: 33% (2025 est.) male: 31.7% (2025 est.) female: 34.4% (2025 est.) **Education expenditure:** 1.9% of GDP (2023 est.) 12.1% national budget (2025 est.) **School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):** total: 14 years (2023 est.) male: 14 years (2023 est.) female: 15 years (2023 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** deforestation; soil erosion from overgrazing; air pollution; wastewater treatment and solid waste disposal **International environmental agreements:** party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements **Climate:** temperate; snowy, cold winters and warm, dry summers **Land use:** agricultural land: 39.9% (2023 est.) arable land: 1.6% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 38.3% (2023 est.) forest: 38.7% (2023 est.) other: 21.4% (2023 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 87.8% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.11% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Particulate matter emissions:** 8.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 43,000 tons (2024 est.) **Total renewable water resources:** 315.6 million cubic meters (2022 est.) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: Principality of Andorra conventional short form: Andorra local long form: Principat d'Andorra local short form: Andorra etymology: the origin of the country's name is obscure; may originate from the Navarrese word andurrial, meaning "shrub-covered land;" alternatively, may derive from the Arabic ad-darra meaning "the forest," a reference to its location; many other theories exist **Government type:** parliamentary democracy (since March 1993) that retains its chiefs of state in the form of a co-principality; the two princes are the President of France and Bishop of Seu d'Urgell, Spain **Capital:** name: Andorra la Vella geographic coordinates: 42 30 N, 1 31 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October etymology: translates as "Andorra the Old" in Catalan **Administrative divisions:** 7 parishes (parroquies, singular - parroquia); Andorra la Vella, Canillo, Encamp, Escaldes-Engordany, La Massana, Ordino, Sant Julia de Loria **Legal system:** mixed legal system of civil and customary law with the influence of canon (religious) law **Constitution:** history: drafted 1991, approved by referendum 14 March 1993, effective 28 April 1993 amendment process: proposed by the co-princes jointly or by the General Council; passage requires at least a two-thirds majority vote by the General Council, ratification in a referendum, and sanctioning by the co-princes **International law organization participation:** has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: the mother must be an Andorran citizen or the father must have been born in Andorra and both parents maintain permanent residence in Andorra dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 25 years **Suffrage:** 18 years of age; universal **Executive branch:** chief of state: Co-prince Emmanuel MACRON (since 14 May 2017); represented by Patrick STROZDA (since 14 May 2017); and Co-prince Archbishop Joan-Enric VIVES i Sicilia (since 12 May 2003); represented by Eduard Ibanez PULIDO (since 27 November 2023) head of government: Prime Minister Xavier Espot ZAMORA (since 16 May 2019) cabinet: Executive Council composed of head of government and 11 ministers designated by the head of government election/appointment process: head of government indirectly elected by the General Council (Andorran parliament), formally appointed by the co-princes for a 4-year term; the leader of the majority party in the General Council is usually elected head of government most recent election date: 2 April 2023 election results: 2023: Xaviar Espot ZAMORA (DA) reelected head of government; percent of General Council vote - 57.1% 2019: Xaviar Espot ZAMORA (DA) elected head of government; percent of General Council vote - 60.7 expected date of next election: April 2027 **Legislative branch:** legislature name: General Council (Consell General) legislative structure: unicameral number of seats: 28 (all directly elected) electoral system: mixed system scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 4 years most recent election date: 4/2/2023 parties elected and seats per party: Democrats for Andorra (DA) and its allies (17); Concordia (Concòrdia) and its allies (5); Andorra Forward (Andorra Endavant) (3); Social Democrat Party (PS) - Social Democracy and Progress (SDP) (3) percentage of women in chamber: 50% expected date of next election: April 2027 note: voters cast two separate ballots -- one for the national election and one for their parish **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Supreme Court of Justice of Andorra or Tribunal Superior de la Justicia d'Andorra (consists of the court president and 8 judges organized into civil, criminal, and administrative chambers); Constitutional Court or Tribunal Constitucional (consists of 4 magistrates) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court president and judges appointed by the Supreme Council of Justice, a 5-member judicial policy and administrative body appointed 1 each by the co-princes, 1 by the General Council, 1 by the executive council president, and 1 by the courts; judges serve 6-year renewable terms; Constitutional magistrates - 2 appointed by the co-princes and 2 by the General Council; magistrates' appointments limited to 2 consecutive 8-year terms subordinate courts: Tribunal of Judges or Tribunal de Batlles; Tribunal of the Courts or Tribunal de Corts **Political parties:** Concordia or C Democrats for Andorra or DA Forward Andorra or AE Liberals of Andorra or L'A Social Democratic Party or PS Social Democracy and Progress or SDP **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Joan FORNER ROVIRA (since 13 January 2025); note - also Permanent Representative to the UN chancery: 2 United Nations Plaza, 27th Floor, New York, NY 10017 telephone: [1] (212) 750-8064 FAX: [1] (212) 750-6630 email address and website: contact@andorraun.org https://www.exteriors.ad/en/embassies-of-andorra/andorra-usa-embassy **Diplomatic representation from the US:** embassy: the US does not have an embassy in Andorra; the US ambassador to Spain is accredited to Andorra; US interests in Andorra are represented by the US Consulate General's office in Barcelona (Spain); mailing address: Paseo Reina Elisenda de Montcada, 23, 08034 Barcelona, Espana; telephone: [34] (93) 280-22-27; FAX: [34] (93) 280-61-75; email address: Barcelonaacs@state.gov **International organization participation:** CE, FAO, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IFRCS, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITU, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, Union Latina, UNWTO, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WTO (observer) **Independence:** 1278 (formed under the joint sovereignty of the French Count of Foix and the Spanish Bishop of Urgell) **National holiday:** Our Lady of Meritxell Day, 8 September (1278) **Flag:** description: three vertical bands of blue (left side), yellow, and red, with the national coat of arms centered in the yellow band, which is slightly wider than the other two; the coat of arms features a quartered shield with the emblems of Urgell, Foix, Bearn, and Catalonia; the motto reads VIRTUS UNITA FORTIOR (Strength United is Stronger) meaning: the flag combines the blue and red French colors with the red and yellow of Spain to symbolize Franco-Spanish protection note: similar to the flags of Chad and Romania, which do not have a national coat of arms in the center, and the flag of Moldova, which does bear a national emblem **National symbol(s):** red cow (breed unspecified) **National color(s):** blue, yellow, red **National anthem(s):** title: "El Gran Carlemany" (The Great Charlemagne) lyrics/music: Joan BENLLOCH i VIVO/Enric MARFANY BONS history: adopted 1921; the anthem provides a brief history of Andorra in a first-person narrative **National heritage:** total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Madriu-Perafita-Claror Valley ### Economy **Economic overview:** high GDP; low unemployment; non-EU Euro user; co-principality duty-free area between Spain and France; tourist hub but hit hard by COVID-19; modern, non-tax haven financial sector; looking for big tech investments; new member of SEPA and IMF **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $5.402 billion (2024 est.) $5.226 billion (2023 est.) $5.094 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** 3.4% (2024 est.) 2.6% (2023 est.) 9.6% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $65,900 (2024 est.) $64,600 (2023 est.) $63,900 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $4.04 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 6.2% (2022 est.) 1.7% (2021 est.) 0.1% (2020 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 0.5% (2024 est.) industry: 12.8% (2024 est.) services: 77.6% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **Agricultural products:** small quantities of rye, wheat, barley, oats, vegetables, tobacco, sheep, cattle **Industries:** tourism (particularly skiing), banking, timber, furniture **Industrial production growth rate:** 6% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency **Remittances:** 1.3% of GDP (2023 est.) 1.3% of GDP (2022 est.) 1.6% of GDP (2021 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Budget:** revenues: $1.054 billion (2023 est.) expenditures: $989.38 million (2023 est.) note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated **Current account balance:** $538.287 million (2023 est.) $393.62 million (2022 est.) $499.422 million (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars **Exports:** $3.169 billion (2023 est.) $2.736 billion (2022 est.) $2.446 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** Spain 39%, USA 21%, France 11%, UK 5%, UAE 3% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** paintings, integrated circuits, cars, orthopedic appliances, garments (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports:** $2.716 billion (2023 est.) $2.44 billion (2022 est.) $2.143 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** Spain 65%, France 11%, Germany 4%, China 3%, Italy 3% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** cars, refined petroleum, garments, perfumes, electricity (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Exchange rates:** euros (EUR) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 0.924 (2024 est.) 0.925 (2023 est.) 0.951 (2022 est.) 0.845 (2021 est.) 0.876 (2020 est.) note: while not an EU member state, Andorra has a 2011 monetary agreement with the EU to produce limited euro coinage—but not banknotes—that began enforcement in April 2012 ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 53,200 (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 65 (2024 est.) **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 128,000 (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 156 (2024 est.) **Broadcast media:** the media scene is partly shaped by the proximity to France and Spain; Andorrans have access to broadcasts from both countries (2023) **Internet country code:** .ad **Internet users:** percent of population: 95% (2023 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 42,000 (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 52 (2023 est.) ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** C3 **Heliports:** 2 (2025) ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** no regular military forces; Police Corps of Andorra (under the Ministry of Justice and Interior) **Military - note:** defense is the responsibility of France and Spain --- ## Austria **Slug:** austria **Region:** Europe **Flag:** 🇦🇹 **Codes:** cek: au, iso2: AT, iso3: AUT, iso_num: 040, genc: AUT, stanag: AUT, internet: .at ### Introduction **Background:** Once the center of power for the large Austro-Hungarian Empire, Austria was reduced to a small republic after its defeat in World War I. Nazi Germany annexed Austria in 1938, and the victorious Allies then occupied the country in 1945. As a result, Austria's status remained unclear for a decade after World War II, until a State Treaty signed in 1955 ended the occupation, recognized Austria's independence, and forbade unification with Germany. A constitutional law that same year declared the country's "perpetual neutrality" as a condition for Soviet military withdrawal. Austria joined the EU in 1995, but the obligation to remain neutral kept it from joining NATO, although the country became a member of NATO's Partnership for Peace program in 1995. Austria entered the EU Economic and Monetary Union in 1999. ### Geography **Location:** Central Europe, north of Italy and Slovenia **Geographic coordinates:** 47 20 N, 13 20 E **Map references:** Europe **Area:** total : 83,871 sq km land: 82,445 sq km water: 1,426 sq km **Area - comparative:** about the size of South Carolina; slightly more than two-thirds the size of Pennsylvania **Land boundaries:** total: 2,524 km border countries (8): Czech Republic 402 km; Germany 801 km; Hungary 321 km; Italy 404 km; Liechtenstein 34 km; Slovakia 105 km; Slovenia 299 km; Switzerland 158 km **Coastline:** 0 km (landlocked) **Maritime claims:** none (landlocked) **Climate:** temperate; continental, cloudy; cold winters with frequent rain and some snow in lowlands and snow in mountains; moderate summers with occasional showers **Terrain:** mostly mountains (Alps) in the west and south; mostly flat or gently sloping along the eastern and northern margins **Elevation:** highest point: Grossglockner 3,798 m lowest point: Neusiedler See 115 m mean elevation: 910 m **Natural resources:** oil, coal, lignite, timber, iron ore, copper, zinc, antimony, magnesite, tungsten, graphite, salt, hydropower **Land use:** agricultural land: 31.5% (2023 est.) arable land: 16% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0.8% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 14.7% (2023 est.) forest: 47.2% (2023 est.) other: 20.9% (2023 est.) **Irrigated land:** 382 sq km (2016) **Major lakes (area sq km):** fresh water lake(s): Lake Constance (shared with Switzerland and Germany) - 540 sq km **Major rivers (by length in km):** Donau (Danube) (shared with Germany [s], Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Moldova, and Romania [m]) - 2,888 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth **Major watersheds (area sq km):** Atlantic Ocean drainage: Rhine-Maas (198,735 sq km), (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km) **Population distribution:** the northern and eastern portions of the country are more densely populated; nearly two thirds of the populace lives in urban areas **Natural hazards:** landslides; avalanches; earthquakes **Geography - note:** note 1: landlocked; strategic location at the crossroads of central Europe with many easily traversable Alpine passes and valleys; major river is the Danube; population is concentrated on eastern lowlands because of steep slopes, poor soils, and low temperatures elsewhere note 2: the world's largest and longest ice cave system at 42 km (26 mi) is the Eisriesenwelt (Ice Giants World) inside the Hochkogel mountain near Werfen, about 40 km south of Salzburg; ice caves are bedrock caves that contain year-round ice formations; they differ from glacial caves, which are transient and are formed by melting ice and flowing water within and under glaciers ### People and Society **Population:** total: 9,174,390 (2025 est.) male: 4,471,802 female: 4,702,588 **Nationality:** noun: Austrian(s) adjective: Austrian **Ethnic groups:** Austrian 80.8%, German 2.6%, Bosnian and Herzegovinian 1.9%, Turkish 1.8%, Serbian 1.6%, Romanian 1.3%, other 10% (2018 est.) note: data represent population by country of birth **Languages:** German (official nationwide) 88.6%, Turkish 2.3%, Serbian 2.2%, Croatian (official in Burgenland) 1.6%, other (includes Slovene, official in southern Carinthia, and Hungarian, official in Burgenland) 5.3% (2001 est.) major-language sample(s): Das World Factbook, die unverzichtbare Quelle für grundlegende Informationen. (German) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. **Religions:** Roman Catholic 55.2%, Muslim 8.3%, Orthodox 4.9%, Evangelical Christian 3.8%, Jewish 0.1%, other 5.4%, none 22.4% (2021 est.) note: data on Muslim is a 2016 estimate; data on other/none/unspecified are from 2012-2018 estimates **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 14.1% (male 648,639/female 616,334) 15-64 years: 64.7% (male 2,904,587/female 2,898,339) 65 years and over: 21.2% (2024 est.) (male 839,672/female 1,060,411) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 54.3 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 21.8 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 32.5 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 3.1 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 44.5 years (2025 est.) male: 43.6 years female: 46.3 years **Population growth rate:** 0.28% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 8.81 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 10.21 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** 4.19 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** the northern and eastern portions of the country are more densely populated; nearly two thirds of the populace lives in urban areas **Urbanization:** urban population: 59.5% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.68% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 1.975 million VIENNA (capital) (2023) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Mother's mean age at first birth:** 29.7 years (2020 est.) **Maternal mortality ratio:** 6 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 3.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 3.6 deaths/1,000 live births female: 2.7 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 82.7 years (2024 est.) male: 80.1 years female: 85.4 years **Total fertility rate:** 1.35 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 0.66 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.) rural: 100% of population (2022 est.) total: 100% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.) rural: 0% of population (2022 est.) total: 0% of population (2022 est.) **Health expenditure:** 12.1% of GDP (2021) 16.3% of national budget (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 5.52 physicians/1,000 population (2023) **Hospital bed density:** 7.1 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.) **Sanitation facility access:** improved: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.) rural: 100% of population (2022 est.) total: 100% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.) rural: 0% of population (2022 est.) total: 0% of population (2022 est.) **Obesity - adult prevalence rate:** 20.1% (2016) **Alcohol consumption per capita:** total: 11.9 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 6.3 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 3.7 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 1.9 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) **Tobacco use:** total: 19.7% (2025 est.) male: 21.1% (2025 est.) female: 18.3% (2025 est.) **Education expenditure:** 5.3% of GDP (2022 est.) 9.9% national budget (2022 est.) **School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):** total: 16 years (2023 est.) male: 16 years (2023 est.) female: 17 years (2023 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** some forest degradation from air and soil pollution; soil pollution from agricultural chemicals; air pollution from coal- and oil-fired power stations and industrial plants, and from trucks transiting Austria; water pollution **International environmental agreements:** party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Antarctic-Environmental Protection **Climate:** temperate; continental, cloudy; cold winters with frequent rain and some snow in lowlands and snow in mountains; moderate summers with occasional showers **Land use:** agricultural land: 31.5% (2023 est.) arable land: 16% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0.8% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 14.7% (2023 est.) forest: 47.2% (2023 est.) other: 20.9% (2023 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 59.5% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.68% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 56.959 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 10.527 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 33.036 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from consumed natural gas: 13.397 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Particulate matter emissions:** 10.3 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 5.22 million tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 36% (2022 est.) **Total water withdrawal:** municipal: 34.36 million cubic meters (2022 est.) industrial: 2.21 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) agricultural: 124 million cubic meters (2022 est.) **Total renewable water resources:** 77.7 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) **Geoparks:** total global geoparks and regional networks: 3 global geoparks and regional networks: Ore of the Alps; Styrian Eisenwurzen; Karawanken/Karavanke (includes Slovenia) (2023) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: Republic of Austria conventional short form: Austria local long form: Republik Oesterreich local short form: Oesterreich etymology: the name Oesterreich means "eastern realm" and dates to the 10th century; the designation refers to the fact that Austria was the easternmost extension of Bavaria and the German peoples; the word Austria is a Latinization of the German name **Government type:** federal parliamentary republic **Capital:** name: Vienna geographic coordinates: 48 12 N, 16 22 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October etymology: the name may have evolved from the Roman name Vindobona, which was taken from the Celtic words vindo (white) and bona (fort) **Administrative divisions:** 9 states (Bundeslaender, singular - Bundesland); Burgenland, Kaernten (Carinthia), Niederoesterreich (Lower Austria), Oberoesterreich (Upper Austria), Salzburg, Steiermark (Styria), Tirol (Tyrol), Vorarlberg, Wien (Vienna) **Legal system:** civil law system; Constitutional Court reviews legislative acts **Constitution:** history: several previous; latest adopted 1 October 1920, revised 1929, replaced May 1934, replaced by German Weimar constitution in 1938 following German annexation, reinstated 1 May 1945 amendment process: proposed through laws designated "constitutional laws" or through the constitutional process if the amendment is part of another law; approval required by at least a two-thirds majority vote by the National Assembly and the presence of one-half of the members; a referendum is required only if requested by one-third of the National Council or Federal Council membership; passage by referendum requires absolute majority vote **International law organization participation:** accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Austria dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years **Suffrage:** 16 years of age; universal **Executive branch:** chief of state: President Alexander VAN DER BELLEN (since 26 January 2017) head of government: Chancellor Christian STOCKER (since 3 March 2025) cabinet: Council of Ministers proposed by the chancellor and appointed by the president election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 6-year term (eligible for a second term); chancellor appointed by the president but determined by the majority coalition parties in the Federal Assembly; vice chancellor appointed by the president on the advice of the chancellor most recent election date: 9 October 2022 election results: 2022: Alexander VAN DER BELLEN reelected in first round; percent of vote - Alexander VAN DER BELLEN (independent) 56.7%, Walter ROSENKRANZ (FPO) 17.7%, Dominik WLAZNY (Beer Party) 8.3%, Tassilo WALLENTIN (independent) 8.1%, Gerald GROSZ (independent) 5.6% 2016: Alexander VAN DER BELLEN elected in second round; percent of vote in first round - Norbert HOFER (FPOe) 35.1%, Alexander VAN DER BELLEN (independent, allied with the Greens) 21.3%, Irmgard GRISS (independent) 18.9%, Rudolf HUNDSTORFER (SPOe) 11.3%, Andreas KHOL (OeVP) 11.1%, Richard LUGNER (independent) 2.3%; percent of vote in second round - Alexander VAN DER BELLEN 53.8%, Norbert HOFER 46.2% expected date of next election: 2028 **Legislative branch:** legislature name: Parliament (Parlament) legislative structure: bicameral **Legislative branch - lower chamber:** chamber name: National Council (Nationalrat) number of seats: 183 (all directly elected) electoral system: proportional representation scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 9/29/2024 parties elected and seats per party: Freedom Party (FPÖ) (57); People's Party (ÖVP) (51); Social Democratic Party (SPÖ) (41); NEOS (“New Austria”) (18); Greens (16) percentage of women in chamber: 35.5% expected date of next election: September 2029 **Legislative branch - upper chamber:** chamber name: Federal Council (Bundesrat) number of seats: 60 (all indirectly elected) parties elected and seats per party: People's Party (OVP) (22); Social Democratic Party (SPO) (18); Freedom Party (16); Greens (3); NEOS (New Austria) (1) percentage of women in chamber: 46.7% **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Supreme Court of Justice or Oberster Gerichtshof (consists of 85 judges organized into 17 senates or panels of 5 judges each); Constitutional Court or Verfassungsgerichtshof (consists of 20 judges including 6 substitutes; Administrative Court or Verwaltungsgerichtshof - 2 judges plus other members depending on the importance of the case) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges nominated by executive branch departments and appointed by the president; judges serve for life; Constitutional Court judges nominated by several executive branch departments and approved by the president; judges serve for life; Administrative Court judges recommended by executive branch departments and appointed by the president; terms of judges and members determined by the president subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal (4); Regional Courts (20); district courts (120); county courts **Political parties:** Austrian People's Party or OeVP Freedom Party of Austria or FPOe The Greens - The Green Alternative NEOS - The New Austria and Liberal Forum Social Democratic Party of Austria or SPOe **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Petra SCHNEEBAUER (since 19 APRIL 2023) chancery: 3524 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008-3035 telephone: [1] (202) 895-6700 FAX: [1] (202) 895-6750 email address and website: washington-ob@bmeia.gv.at https://www.austria.org/ consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York consulate(s): Chicago **Diplomatic representation from the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Art FISHER (since 19 November 2025) embassy: Boltzmanngasse 16, 1090, Vienna mailing address: 9900 Vienna Place, Washington DC 20521-9900 telephone: [43] (1) 31339 0 FAX: [43] (1) 31339 2017 email address and website: ConsulateVienna@state.gov https://at.usembassy.gov/ **International organization participation:** ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CD, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, G-9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, Schengen Convention, SELEC (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC **Independence:** no official date of independence: 976 (Margravate of Austria established); 17 September 1156 (Duchy of Austria founded); 6 January 1453 (Archduchy of Austria acknowledged); 11 August 1804 (Austrian Empire proclaimed); 30 March 1867 (Austro-Hungarian dual monarchy established); 12 November 1918 (First Republic proclaimed); 27 April 1945 (Second Republic proclaimed) **National holiday:** National Day (commemorates passage of the law on permanent neutrality), 26 October (1955) **Flag:** description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and red history: one of the oldest national flags in the world; according to tradition, after a fierce battle in the Third Crusade in 1191, Duke Leopold V of Austria's white tunic became blood-spattered; when his sash was removed, a white band was revealed, and the red-white-red color combination was adopted as his banner **National symbol(s):** eagle, edelweiss, Alpine gentian **National color(s):** red, white **National anthem(s):** title: "Bundeshymne" (Federal Hymn) lyrics/music: Paula von PRERADOVIC/Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART or Johann HOLZER (disputed) history: adopted 1947; Austria adopted a new national anthem after World War II to replace the former imperial anthem composed by Franz Josef HAYDN, which Germany had appropriated in 1922 and was thereafter associated with the Nazi regime; the Austrian Federal Assembly adopted a gender-neutral version of the lyrics in 2012 note: the beloved waltz "The Blue Danube" ("An der schoenen, blauen Donau"), composed in 1866 by Johann STRAUSS II, is widely considered Austria's unofficial national anthem **National heritage:** total World Heritage Sites: 12 (11 cultural, 1 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Historic Salzburg (c); Palace and Gardens of Schönbrunn (c); Halstadt–Dachstein/Salzkammergut Cultural Landscape (c); Semmering railway (c); Historic Graz and Schloss Eggenberg (c); Wachau Cultural Landscape (c); Historic Vienna (c); Fertő/Neusiedlersee Cultural Landscape (c); Baden bei Wien (c); Primeval Beech Forests - Dürrenstein, Kalkalpen (n) ### Economy **Economic overview:** one of the strongest EU and euro economies; diversified trade portfolios and relations; enormous trade economy; Russian energy dependence, but investing in alternative energy; aging labor force but large refugee population; large government debt **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $581.131 billion (2024 est.) $588.031 billion (2023 est.) $593.701 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** -1.2% (2024 est.) -1% (2023 est.) 5.3% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $63,300 (2024 est.) $64,400 (2023 est.) $65,700 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $521.642 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 2.9% (2024 est.) 7.8% (2023 est.) 8.5% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 1.2% (2024 est.) industry: 23.1% (2024 est.) services: 65.3% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **GDP - composition, by end use:** household consumption: 52.2% (2023 est.) government consumption: 20.5% (2023 est.) investment in fixed capital: 24.9% (2023 est.) investment in inventories: 0.5% (2023 est.) exports of goods and services: 59.5% (2023 est.) imports of goods and services: -57.3% (2023 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection **Agricultural products:** milk, sugar beets, maize, wheat, barley, potatoes, pork, grapes, triticale, soybeans (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage **Industries:** construction, machinery, vehicles and parts, food, metals, chemicals, lumber and paper, electronics, tourism **Industrial production growth rate:** -5.5% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency **Labor force:** 4.768 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work **Unemployment rate:** 5.5% (2024 est.) 5.3% (2023 est.) 5% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment **Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):** total: 11.7% (2024 est.) male: 11.4% (2024 est.) female: 12% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment **Population below poverty line:** 14.8% (2021 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line **Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income:** 30.9 (2022 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality **Average household expenditures:** on food: 10.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.) on alcohol and tobacco: 3.5% of household expenditures (2023 est.) **Household income or consumption by percentage share:** lowest 10%: 2.8% (2022 est.) highest 10%: 24.6% (2022 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population **Remittances:** 0.7% of GDP (2024 est.) 0.6% of GDP (2023 est.) 0.6% of GDP (2022 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Budget:** revenues: $231.132 billion (2023 est.) expenditures: $241.516 billion (2023 est.) note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated **Public debt:** 78.3% of GDP (2023 est.) note: central government debt as a % of GDP **Taxes and other revenues:** 25.9% (of GDP) (2023 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP **Current account balance:** $12.642 billion (2024 est.) $6.783 billion (2023 est.) -$3.911 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars **Exports:** $299.366 billion (2024 est.) $303.914 billion (2023 est.) $291.804 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** Germany 25%, USA 9%, Italy 7%, Switzerland 5%, Hungary 4% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** cars, packaged medicine, vaccines, vehicle parts/accessories, nitrogen compounds (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports:** $284.467 billion (2024 est.) $293.692 billion (2023 est.) $294.324 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** Germany 34%, China 7%, Italy 7%, Switzerland 5%, Czechia 4% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** cars, garments, vaccines, vehicle parts/accessories, refined petroleum (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:** $35.406 billion (2024 est.) $31.212 billion (2023 est.) $33.078 billion (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars **Exchange rates:** euros (EUR) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 0.924 (2024 est.) 0.925 (2023 est.) 0.95 (2022 est.) 0.845 (2021 est.) 0.876 (2020 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.) **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 33.371 million kW (2023 est.) consumption: 64.611 billion kWh (2023 est.) exports: 21.631 billion kWh (2023 est.) imports: 21.55 billion kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 3.095 billion kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** fossil fuels: 14.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) wind: 11.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: 56.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) biomass and waste: 7.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Coal:** production: 1.288 million metric tons (2023 est.) consumption: 5.403 million metric tons (2023 est.) exports: 2,000 metric tons (2022 est.) imports: 4.179 million metric tons (2023 est.) **Petroleum:** total petroleum production: 18,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 244,000 bbl/day (2024 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 35.2 million barrels (2021 est.) **Natural gas:** production: 548.976 million cubic meters (2023 est.) consumption: 6.971 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) imports: 7.084 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) proven reserves: 5.04 billion cubic meters (2021 est.) **Energy consumption per capita:** 120.211 million Btu/person (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 3.48 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 38 (2024 est.) **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 11.4 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 124 (2024 est.) **Broadcast media:** public broadcaster, Oesterreichischer Rundfunk (ORF), is a major player in the TV and radio markets; private broadcasters, cable, and satellite TV are available in most homes are widely used; some German stations carry programs for Austrian viewers; national and regional newspapers compete fiercely for readers; the print media are owned by a handful of mostly Austrian and German media groups (2023) **Internet country code:** .at **Internet users:** percent of population: 95% (2024 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 2.71 million (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 30 (2023 est.) ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** OE **Airports:** 62 (2025) **Heliports:** 112 (2025) **Railways:** total: 6,123 km (2022) 3,523 km electrified **Merchant marine:** total: 1 (2023) by type: other 1 ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** Austrian Armed Forces (Bundesheer): Land Forces, Air Force, Cyber Forces, Special Operations Forces, Militia (reserves) (2025) note 1: the federal police maintain internal security and report to the Ministry of the Interior note 2: the militia is comprised of men and women who have done their basic military or training service and continue to perform a task in the armed forces; they are integrated into the military but have civilian jobs and only participate in exercises or operations; missions for the militia may include providing disaster relief, assisting security police, and protecting critical infrastructure (energy, water, etc.), as well as deployments on missions abroad **Military expenditures:** 1% of GDP (2024 est.) 0.9% of GDP (2023 est.) 0.7% of GDP (2022 est.) 0.8% of GDP (2021 est.) 0.7% of GDP (2020 est.) **Military and security service personnel strengths:** approximately 22,000 active Armed Forces (includes about 14,000 regular troops and around 8,000 reservists/militia undergoing refresher training) (2025) **Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:** the military's inventory includes a mix of domestically produced and imported armaments from European countries and the US; the Austrian defense industry produces a range of equipment and partners with other countries (2025) **Military service age and obligation:** registration requirement at age 17, the legal minimum age for voluntary military service; men above the age of 18 are subject to compulsory military service; women may volunteer; compulsory service is for 6 months, or optionally, alternative civil/community service (Zivildienst) for 9 months (2025) note: Austria also has a One-Year Volunteer Program (Einjährig-Freiwilligen-Ausbildung) for men and women, which substitutes for compulsory military service and serves as a gateway for those interested in a long-term military career **Military deployments:** 210 Bosnia-Herzegovina (EUFOR stabilization force); 100 Kosovo (NATO/KFOR); 160 Lebanon (UNIFIL) (2025) **Military - note:** the military’s primary responsibilities are national defense and protecting Austria’s neutrality; it also has some domestic security and disaster response responsibilities; each of the nine federal states has a military command that provides a link between the military and civil authorities; the main tasks of these commands include providing military assistance during disasters and supporting security police operations the Austrian military contributes to international peacekeeping and humanitarian missions; Austria has been constitutionally militarily non-aligned since 1955 but is an EU member and actively participates in EU peacekeeping and crisis management operations under the EU Common Security and Defense Policy; Austria is not a member of NATO but joined NATO’s Partnership for Peace framework in 1995 and participates in some NATO-led crisis management and peacekeeping operations (2025) ### Space **Space agency/agencies:** Aeronautics and Space Agency (ALR; established in 1972 as the Austrian Space Agency) (2025) **Space program overview:** established a national space program in 2002; develops, builds, operates, and tracks satellites, including remote sensing and research/scientific satellites; member of the ESA; works closely with ESA and EU member states and the commercial sector to develop a range of space capabilities and technologies, including applications for satellite payloads, space flight, and space research; participates in a range of ESA/EU programs, including Space Surveillance and Tracking (SST), Copernicus Earth observation, and Galileo global navigation satellite system; also cooperates with other foreign space agencies and industries, including those of China, India, Russia, and the US (2025) **Key space-program milestones:** 1981 - became an associate ESA member (full member in 1987) 1991 - first Austrian in space on Soviet Mir Space Station 2013 - first domestically built science/technology (star observation) satellites (TUGSAT-1 and UniBRITE) launched by India 2017 - worked with China to produce world’s first quantum-encrypted satellite communications teleconference from Beijing to Vienna 2024 - signed US-led Artemis Accords outlining best practices for cooperative space exploration ### Terrorism **Terrorist group(s):** Terrorist group(s): Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide ### Transnational Issues **Refugees and internally displaced persons:** refugees: 313,711 (2024 est.) stateless persons: 3,919 (2024 est.) --- ## Belarus **Slug:** belarus **Region:** Europe **Flag:** 🇧🇾 **Codes:** cek: bo, iso2: BY, iso3: BLR, iso_num: 112, genc: BLR, stanag: BLR, internet: .by ### Introduction **Background:** After seven decades as a constituent republic of the USSR, Belarus attained its independence in 1991. It has retained closer political and economic ties to Russia than any of the other former Soviet republics. In 1999, Belarus and Russia signed a treaty on a two-state union, envisioning greater political and economic integration. Although Belarus agreed to a framework to carry out the accord, serious implementation has yet to take place and negotiations on further integration have been contentious. Since taking office in 1994 as the country's first and only directly elected president, Alyaksandr LUKASHENKA has steadily consolidated his power through authoritarian means and a centralized economic system. Government restrictions on political and civil freedoms, freedom of speech and the press, peaceful assembly, and religion have remained in place. Restrictions on political freedoms have tightened in the wake of the disputed presidential election in 2020. The election results sparked large-scale protests as members of the opposition and civil society criticized the election’s validity. LUKASHENKA has remained in power as the disputed winner of the presidential election after quelling protests in 2020. Since 2022, Belarus has facilitated Russia's war in Ukraine, which was launched in part from Belarusian territory. ### Geography **Location:** Eastern Europe, east of Poland **Geographic coordinates:** 53 00 N, 28 00 E **Map references:** Europe **Area:** total : 207,600 sq km land: 202,900 sq km water: 4,700 sq km **Area - comparative:** slightly less than twice the size of Kentucky; slightly smaller than Kansas **Land boundaries:** total: 3,599 km border countries (5): Latvia 161 km; Lithuania 640 km; Poland 375 km; Russia 1,312 km; Ukraine 1,111 km **Coastline:** 0 km (landlocked) **Maritime claims:** none (landlocked) **Climate:** cold winters, cool and moist summers; transitional between continental and maritime **Terrain:** generally flat with much marshland **Elevation:** highest point: Dzyarzhynskaya Hara 346 m lowest point: Nyoman River 90 m mean elevation: 160 m **Natural resources:** timber, peat deposits, small quantities of oil and natural gas, granite, dolomitic limestone, marl, chalk, sand, gravel, clay **Land use:** agricultural land: 39.6% (2023 est.) arable land: 27.4% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0.4% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 11.7% (2023 est.) forest: 44% (2023 est.) other: 16.5% (2023 est.) **Irrigated land:** 260 sq km (2022) **Major rivers (by length in km):** Dnyapro (Dnieper) (shared with Russia [s] and Ukraine [m]) - 2,287 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth **Major watersheds (area sq km):** Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Dnieper (533,966 sq km) **Population distribution:** a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger and denser populations **Natural hazards:** large tracts of marshy land **Geography - note:** landlocked; glacial scouring accounts for the flatness of Belarusian terrain and for its 11,000 lakes ### People and Society **Population:** total: 9,460,972 (2025 est.) male: 4,414,771 female: 5,046,201 **Nationality:** noun: Belarusian(s) adjective: Belarusian **Ethnic groups:** Belarusian 83.7%, Russian 8.3%, Polish 3.1%, Ukrainian 1.7%, other 2.4%, unspecified 0.9% (2009 est.) **Languages:** Russian (official) 71.4%, Belarusian (official) 26%, other 0.3% (includes small Polish- and Ukrainian-speaking minorities), unspecified 2.3% (2019 est.) major-language sample(s): Книга фактов о мире – незаменимый источник базовой информации. (Russian) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. **Religions:** Orthodox 48.3%, Catholic 7.1%, other 3.5%, non-believers 41.1% (2011 est.) **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 16.1% (male 787,849/female 741,293) 15-64 years: 66.1% (male 3,073,507/female 3,204,088) 65 years and over: 17.8% (2024 est.) (male 572,483/female 1,122,231) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 52 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 24.1 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 27.9 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 3.6 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 42.5 years (2025 est.) male: 39.5 years female: 45 years **Population growth rate:** -0.44% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 8.16 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 13.21 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** 0.67 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger and denser populations **Urbanization:** urban population: 80.7% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.28% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 2.057 million MINSK (capital) (2023) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.51 male(s)/female total population: 0.88 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Mother's mean age at first birth:** 26.8 years (2019 est.) **Maternal mortality ratio:** 1 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 2.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 2.5 deaths/1,000 live births female: 1.7 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 74.7 years (2024 est.) male: 69.8 years female: 80 years **Total fertility rate:** 1.45 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 0.7 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: urban: 99.5% of population (2022 est.) rural: 98.1% of population (2022 est.) total: 99.2% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 0.5% of population (2022 est.) rural: 1.9% of population (2022 est.) total: 0.8% of population (2022 est.) **Health expenditure:** 6.6% of GDP (2021) 12.3% of national budget (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 4.72 physicians/1,000 population (2023) **Hospital bed density:** 9.7 beds/1,000 population (2019 est.) **Sanitation facility access:** improved: urban: 99.9% of population (2022 est.) rural: 98.3% of population (2022 est.) total: 99.6% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 0.1% of population (2022 est.) rural: 1.7% of population (2022 est.) total: 0.4% of population (2022 est.) **Obesity - adult prevalence rate:** 24.5% (2016) **Alcohol consumption per capita:** total: 10.57 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 2.26 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 0.98 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 4.67 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 2.66 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) **Tobacco use:** total: 26.4% (2025 est.) male: 44.5% (2025 est.) female: 11.6% (2025 est.) **Currently married women (ages 15-49):** 62.4% (2019 est.) **Child marriage:** women married by age 15: 0.1% (2019) women married by age 18: 4.7% (2019) men married by age 18: 1.6% (2019) **Education expenditure:** 5% of GDP (2023 est.) 13.2% national budget (2024 est.) **Literacy:** total population: 99.9% (2019 est.) male: 99.9% (2019 est.) female: 99.9% (2019 est.) **School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):** total: 14 years (2023 est.) male: 14 years (2023 est.) female: 15 years (2023 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** soil pollution from pesticide use; southern part of the country contaminated with fallout from 1986 nuclear reactor accident at Chornobyl' in northern Ukraine **International environmental agreements:** party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements **Climate:** cold winters, cool and moist summers; transitional between continental and maritime **Land use:** agricultural land: 39.6% (2023 est.) arable land: 27.4% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0.4% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 11.7% (2023 est.) forest: 44% (2023 est.) other: 16.5% (2023 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 80.7% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.28% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 46.709 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 1.497 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 15.884 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from consumed natural gas: 29.328 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Particulate matter emissions:** 13.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 4.28 million tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 19% (2022 est.) **Total water withdrawal:** municipal: 600 million cubic meters (2022) industrial: 430 million cubic meters (2022) agricultural: 385 million cubic meters (2022) **Total renewable water resources:** 57.9 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: Republic of Belarus conventional short form: Belarus local long form: Respublika Byelarus' (Belarusian)/ Respublika Belarus' (Russian) local short form: Byelarus' (Belarusian)/ Belarus' (Russian) former: Belorussian (Byelorussian) Soviet Socialist Republic etymology: the name is a compound of the Slavic words "bel" (white) and "Rus" (the Old East Slavic ethnic designation) to form the meaning White Rusian or White Ruthenian **Government type:** presidential republic in name, although in fact a dictatorship **Capital:** name: Minsk geographic coordinates: 53 54 N, 27 34 E time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: the origin of the name is disputed; it may be derived from the Menka River **Administrative divisions:** 6 regions (voblastsi, singular - voblasts') and 1 municipality* (horad); Brest, Homyel' (Gomel'), Horad Minsk* (Minsk City), Hrodna (Grodno), Mahilyow (Mogilev), Minsk, Vitsyebsk (Vitebsk) note: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers; Russian spelling provided for reference when different from Belarusian **Legal system:** civil law system note: nearly all major codes (civil, civil procedure, criminal, criminal procedure, family, and labor) were revised and came into force in 1999 and 2000 **Constitution:** history: several previous; latest drafted between late 1991 and early 1994, signed 15 March 1994 amendment process: proposed by the president of the republic through petition to the National Assembly or by petition of least 150,000 eligible voters; approval required by at least two-thirds majority vote in both chambers or by simple majority of votes cast in a referendum note: one of several amendments passed in the February 2022 referendum -- the presidential 5-year, two-term limit -- will be imposed after the 2025 election **International law organization participation:** has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Belarus dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 7 years **Suffrage:** 18 years of age; universal **Executive branch:** chief of state: President Alyaksandr LUKASHENKA (since 20 July 1994) head of government: Prime Minister Alyaksandr TURCHYN (since 10 March 2025) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (no term limits); prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the president and approved by the National Assembly most recent election date: first election held on 23 June and 10 July 1994; the 1994 constitution set the next election for 1999, but Alyaksandr LUKASHENKA extended his term to 2001 via a referendum; subsequent election held in 2001; a 2004 referendum ended presidential term limits and allowed LUKASHENKA to run and win a third term (19 March 2006), fourth term (19 December 2010), fifth term (11 October 2015), sixth term (9 August 2020), and seventh term (26 January 2025) election results: 2025: Alyaksandr LUKASHENKA reelected president; percent of vote - Alyaksandr LUKASHENKA (independent) 86.8%, Sergey Syrankov (Communist Party) 3.2%, 3.6% voting against all 2020: Alyaksandr LUKASHENKA reelected president; percent of vote - Alyaksandr LUKASHENKA (independent) 80.1%, Svyatlana TSIKHANOWSKAYA (independent) 10.1%, other 9.8%; note - widespread street protests erupted following announcement of the election results amid allegations of voter fraud 2015: Alyaksandr LUKASHENKA elected president; percent of vote - Alyaksandr LUKASHENKA (independent) 84.1%, Tatsyana KARATKEVIC (BSDPH) 4.4%, Sergey GAYDUKEVICH (LDP) 3.3%, other 8.2%. expected date of next election: 2030 **Legislative branch:** legislature name: National Assembly (Natsionalnoye Sobranie) legislative structure: bicameral **Legislative branch - lower chamber:** chamber name: House of Representatives (Palata Predstaviteley) number of seats: 110 (all directly elected) electoral system: plurality/majority scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 2/25/2024 parties elected and seats per party: Belaya Rus party (51); Republican Party of Labour and Justice (8); Communist Party of Belarus (7); Non-partisans (40); Other (4) percentage of women in chamber: 33.9% expected date of next election: February 2029 **Legislative branch - upper chamber:** chamber name: Council of the Republic (Soviet Respubliki) number of seats: 65 (56 indirectly elected; 8 appointed) scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 4/4/2024 percentage of women in chamber: 30.5% expected date of next election: March 2029 **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the chairman and deputy chairman and organized into several specialized panels, including economic and military; number of judges set by the president of the republic and the court chairman); Constitutional Court (consists of 12 judges, including a chairman and deputy chairman) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges appointed by the president with the consent of the Council of the Republic; judges initially appointed for 5 years and evaluated for life appointment; Constitutional Court judges - 6 appointed by the president and 6 elected by the Council of the Republic; the presiding judge directly elected by the president and approved by the Council of the Republic; judges can serve for 11 years with an age limit of 70 subordinate courts: oblast courts; Minsk City Court; town courts; Minsk city and oblast economic courts **Political parties:** Belaya Rus or BR Republican Party of Labour and Justice or RPTS Communist Party of Belarus or CBP Liberal Democratic Party of Belarus or LDPB **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant; recalled by Belarus in 2008); Chargé d'Affaires Pavel SHIDLOWSKI (since 9 August 2022) chancery: 1619 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 986-1606 FAX: [1] (202) 986-1805 email address and website: usa@mfa.gov.by Embassy of the Republic of Belarus in the United States of America (mfa.gov.by) **Diplomatic representation from the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Michael KREIDLER (since July 2025) embassy: 46 Starovilenskaya Street, Minsk 220002 mailing address: 7010 Minsk Place, Washington DC 20521-7010 telephone: [375] (17) 210-12-83 FAX: [375] (17) 334-78-53 email address and website: ConsularMinsk@state.gov https://by.usembassy.gov/ **International organization participation:** BSEC (observer), CBSS (observer), CEI, CIS, CSTO, EAEC, EAEU, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, GCTU, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, NSG, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, SCO (dialogue member), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer), ZC **Independence:** 25 August 1991 (from the Soviet Union) **National holiday:** Independence Day, 3 July (1944) note: 3 July 1944 was the date Minsk was liberated from German troops, 25 August 1991 was the date of independence from the Soviet Union **Flag:** description: red horizontal band (top), with a green horizontal band below that is half the width of the red band; a white vertical stripe on the left side has traditional Belarusian designs in red meaning: the red stands for past struggles to escape oppression, and the green for hope and the country's forests **National symbol(s):** no official symbol; the mounted knight known as Pahonia (the Chaser) is the traditional symbol **National color(s):** green, red, white **National anthem(s):** title: "My, Bielarusy" (We Belarusians) lyrics/music: Mikhas KLIMKOVICH and Uladzimir KARYZNA/Nester SAKALOUSKI history: music adopted 1955, lyrics adopted 2002; after the fall of the Soviet Union, Belarus kept the music of its Soviet-era anthem but adopted new lyrics; also known as "Dziarzauny himn Respubliki Bielarus" (State Anthem of the Republic of Belarus) **National heritage:** total World Heritage Sites: 4 (3 cultural, 1 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Białowieża Forest (n); Mir Castle Complex (c); Architectural, Residential, and Cultural Complex of the Radziwill Family at Nesvizh (c) ### Economy **Economic overview:** declining Russian energy subsidies will end in 2024; growing public debt; strong currency pressures have led to higher inflation; recent price controls on basic food and drugs; public sector wage increases and fragile private sector threaten household income gains and economic growth **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $265.22 billion (2024 est.) $254.995 billion (2023 est.) $244.89 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** 4% (2024 est.) 4.1% (2023 est.) -4.7% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $29,000 (2024 est.) $27,800 (2023 est.) $26,500 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $75.962 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 5.8% (2024 est.) 5% (2023 est.) 15.2% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 6.9% (2024 est.) industry: 30.7% (2024 est.) services: 49.7% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **GDP - composition, by end use:** household consumption: 56.8% (2024 est.) government consumption: 19% (2024 est.) investment in fixed capital: 23.8% (2024 est.) investment in inventories: 2% (2024 est.) exports of goods and services: 65.1% (2024 est.) imports of goods and services: -66.9% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection **Agricultural products:** milk, sugar beets, potatoes, wheat, triticale, barley, maize, rapeseed, rye, chicken (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage **Industries:** metal-cutting machine tools, tractors, trucks, earthmovers, motorcycles, synthetic fibers, fertilizer, textiles, refrigerators, washing machines and other household appliances **Industrial production growth rate:** 6% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency **Labor force:** 4.817 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work **Unemployment rate:** 3.4% (2024 est.) 3.5% (2023 est.) 3.6% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment **Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):** total: 10.1% (2024 est.) male: 11.7% (2024 est.) female: 8.4% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment **Population below poverty line:** 3.9% (2022 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line **Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income:** 24.4 (2020 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality **Average household expenditures:** on food: 29.5% of household expenditures (2023 est.) on alcohol and tobacco: 7.6% of household expenditures (2023 est.) **Household income or consumption by percentage share:** lowest 10%: 4.5% (2020 est.) highest 10%: 20.7% (2020 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population **Remittances:** 1.8% of GDP (2024 est.) 1.7% of GDP (2023 est.) 2% of GDP (2022 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Budget:** revenues: $22.876 billion (2023 est.) expenditures: $21.912 billion (2023 est.) note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated **Public debt:** 33.2% of GDP (2019 est.) note: central government debt as a % of GDP **Taxes and other revenues:** 12.7% (of GDP) (2023 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP **Current account balance:** -$1.925 billion (2024 est.) -$1.104 billion (2023 est.) $2.628 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars **Exports:** $49.386 billion (2024 est.) $47.714 billion (2023 est.) $47.124 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** China 34%, Kazakhstan 10%, Uzbekistan 7%, Poland 6%, Brazil 5% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** fertilizers, rapeseed oil, wood, poultry, beef (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports:** $50.679 billion (2024 est.) $47.459 billion (2023 est.) $42.438 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** China 33%, Poland 16%, Germany 11%, Lithuania 10%, Turkey 9% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** cars, broadcasting equipment, fabric, plastic products, video displays (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:** $8.912 billion (2024 est.) $8.118 billion (2023 est.) $7.923 billion (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars **Debt - external:** $18.01 billion (2023 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars **Exchange rates:** Belarusian rubles (BYB/BYR) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 3.246 (2024 est.) 3.007 (2023 est.) 2.626 (2022 est.) 2.539 (2021 est.) 2.44 (2020 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.) **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 12.653 million kW (2023 est.) consumption: 39.883 billion kWh (2023 est.) exports: 4.553 billion kWh (2023 est.) imports: 4 billion kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 3.149 billion kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** fossil fuels: 70% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) nuclear: 26.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 0.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) wind: 0.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: 0.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) biomass and waste: 1.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Nuclear energy:** Number of operational nuclear reactors: 2 (2025) Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors: 2.22GW (2025 est.) Percent of total electricity production: 28.6% (2023 est.) **Coal:** consumption: 710,000 metric tons (2023 est.) exports: 966,000 metric tons (2023 est.) imports: 1.635 million metric tons (2023 est.) **Petroleum:** total petroleum production: 30,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 125,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 198 million barrels (2021 est.) **Natural gas:** production: 68.494 million cubic meters (2023 est.) consumption: 15.094 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) imports: 15.433 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) proven reserves: 2.832 billion cubic meters (2021 est.) **Energy consumption per capita:** 104.821 million Btu/person (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 4.14 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 46 (2024 est.) **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 11.9 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 131 (2024 est.) **Broadcast media:** 7 state-controlled national TV channels; Polish and Russian TV broadcasts are available in some areas; state-run Belarusian Radio operates 5 national networks and an external service; Russian and Polish radio broadcasts are available (2019) **Internet country code:** .by **Internet users:** percent of population: 92% (2023 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 3.2 million (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 35 (2023 est.) ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** EW **Airports:** 46 (2025) **Heliports:** 4 (2025) **Railways:** total: 5,528 km (2014) standard gauge: 25 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge broad gauge: 5,503 km (2014) 1.520-m gauge (874 km electrified) **Merchant marine:** total: 4 (2023) by type: other 4 ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** Belarus Armed Forces: Army, Air and Air Defense Force, Special Operations Force, Special Troops, Territorial Defense Forces Ministry of Interior: State Border Troops, Militia, Internal Troops (2025) note: in early 2023, President LUKASHENKA ordered the formation of a new volunteer paramilitary territorial defense force to supplement the Army **Military expenditures:** 2% of GDP (2024 est.) 1.8% of GDP (2023 est.) 1.7% of GDP (2022 est.) 1.4% of GDP (2021 est.) 1.5% of GDP (2020 est.) **Military and security service personnel strengths:** approximately 50-60,000 active-duty military personnel (2025) **Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:** the military's inventory is comprised mostly of Russian and Soviet-origin equipment; Belarus's defense industry manufactures some equipment (mostly modernized Soviet designs), including vehicles, guided weapons, and electronic warfare systems (2025) **Military service age and obligation:** 18-27 years of age for compulsory military or alternative service; conscript service obligation is 12-18 months, depending on academic qualifications, and 24-36 months for alternative service; 17-year-olds are eligible to become cadets at military higher education institutes, where they are classified as military personnel (2025) note: conscripts can be assigned to the military, to the Ministry of Interior, or to the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection (alternative service) **Military - note:** the military of Belarus is responsible for territorial defense; Russia is the country’s closest security partner, and the military conducts joint training exercises with Russian forces; in 2022, Belarus allowed the Russian military to stage on its territory for their invasion of Ukraine; in 2023, Belarus agreed to permit Russia to deploy nuclear weapons on its soil Belarus has been a member of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) since 1994 and has committed an airborne brigade to CSTO's rapid reaction force; the military trains regularly with other CSTO members (2025) ### Transnational Issues **Refugees and internally displaced persons:** refugees: 44,621 (2024 est.) stateless persons: 5,620 (2024 est.) **Trafficking in persons:** tier rating: Tier 3 — Belarus does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so, therefore, Belarus remained on Tier 3; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/belarus/ --- ## Belgium **Slug:** belgium **Region:** Europe **Flag:** 🇧🇪 **Codes:** cek: be, iso2: BE, iso3: BEL, iso_num: 056, genc: BEL, stanag: BEL, internet: .be ### Introduction **Background:** Belgium became independent from the Netherlands in 1830; it was occupied by Germany during World Wars I and II. The country prospered as a modern, technologically advanced European state and member of NATO and the EU. In recent years, longstanding tensions between the Dutch-speaking Flemish of the north and the French-speaking Walloons of the south have led to constitutional amendments granting these regions formal recognition and autonomy. The capital city of Brussels is home to numerous international organizations, including the EU and NATO. ### Geography **Location:** Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between France and the Netherlands **Geographic coordinates:** 50 50 N, 4 00 E **Map references:** Europe **Area:** total : 30,528 sq km land: 30,278 sq km water: 250 sq km **Area - comparative:** about the size of Maryland **Land boundaries:** total: 1,297 km border countries (4): France 556 km; Germany 133 km; Luxembourg 130 km; Netherlands 478 km **Coastline:** 66.5 km **Maritime claims:** territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: geographic coordinates define outer limit continental shelf: median line with neighbors **Climate:** temperate; mild winters, cool summers; rainy, humid, cloudy **Terrain:** flat coastal plains in northwest, central rolling hills, rugged mountains of Ardennes Forest in southeast **Elevation:** highest point: Botrange 694 m lowest point: North Sea 0 m mean elevation: 181 m **Natural resources:** construction materials, silica sand, carbonates, arable land **Land use:** agricultural land: 44.4% (2023 est.) arable land: 28.3% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0.8% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 15.3% (2023 est.) forest: 22% (2023 est.) other: 33.6% (2023 est.) **Irrigated land:** 57 sq km (2013) **Major watersheds (area sq km):** Atlantic Ocean drainage: Seine (78,919 sq km), Rhine-Maas (198,735 sq km) **Population distribution:** most of the population is concentrated in the northern two thirds of the country; the southeast is more thinly populated; considered to have one of the highest population densities in the world, with approximately 97% living in urban areas **Natural hazards:** flooding is a threat along rivers and in areas of reclaimed coastal land, protected from the sea by concrete dikes **Geography - note:** crossroads of Western Europe; most West European capitals are within 1,000 km of Brussels, the seat of both the EU and NATO ### People and Society **Population:** total: 11,960,170 (2025 est.) male: 5,907,498 female: 6,052,672 **Nationality:** noun: Belgian(s) adjective: Belgian **Ethnic groups:** Belgian 75.2%, Italian 4.1%, Moroccan 3.7%, French 2.4%, Turkish 2%, Dutch 2%, other 10.6% (2012 est.) **Languages:** Dutch (official) 60%, French (official) 40%, German (official) less than 1% major-language sample(s): Het Wereld Feitenboek, een onmisbare bron van informatie. (Dutch) The World Factbook, une source indispensable d'informations de base. (French) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. **Religions:** Roman Catholic 57.1%, Protestant 2.3%, other Christian, 2.8%, Muslim 6.8%, other 1.7%, atheist 9.1%, nonbeliever/agnostic 20.2% (2018 est.) **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 16.9% (male 1,038,578/female 990,215) 15-64 years: 62.8% (male 3,796,844/female 3,730,784) 65 years and over: 20.2% (2024 est.) (male 1,073,635/female 1,347,578) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 57.6 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 24.9 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 32.6 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 3.1 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 42.4 years (2025 est.) male: 40.8 years female: 43.1 years **Population growth rate:** 0.45% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 9.09 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 9.55 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** 4.96 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** most of the population is concentrated in the northern two thirds of the country; the southeast is more thinly populated; considered to have one of the highest population densities in the world, with approximately 97% living in urban areas **Urbanization:** urban population: 98.2% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.38% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 2.122 million BRUSSELS (capital), 1.057 million Antwerp (2023) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Mother's mean age at first birth:** 29.2 years (2020 est.) **Maternal mortality ratio:** 4 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 3 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 3.5 deaths/1,000 live births female: 2.7 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 82.3 years (2024 est.) male: 79.7 years female: 85 years **Total fertility rate:** 1.46 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 0.71 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.) rural: 100% of population (2022 est.) total: 100% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.) rural: 0% of population (2022 est.) total: 0% of population (2022 est.) **Health expenditure:** 11% of GDP (2021) 15.2% of national budget (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 6.53 physicians/1,000 population (2023) **Hospital bed density:** 5.5 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.) **Sanitation facility access:** improved: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.) rural: 100% of population (2022 est.) total: 100% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.) rural: 0% of population (2022 est.) total: 0% of population (2022 est.) **Obesity - adult prevalence rate:** 22.1% (2016) **Alcohol consumption per capita:** total: 9.15 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 4.35 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 3.41 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 1.09 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0.3 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) **Tobacco use:** total: 24.1% (2025 est.) male: 26.4% (2025 est.) female: 22% (2025 est.) **Children under the age of 5 years underweight:** 0.3% (2023 est.) **Currently married women (ages 15-49):** 52.4% (2021 est.) **Child marriage:** women married by age 15: 0% (2020) women married by age 18: 0.1% (2020) **Education expenditure:** 6.3% of GDP (2022 est.) 12% national budget (2022 est.) **School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):** total: 19 years (2022 est.) male: 18 years (2022 est.) female: 20 years (2022 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** urbanization; possible risks from industry and intensive farming; air and water pollution **International environmental agreements:** party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements **Climate:** temperate; mild winters, cool summers; rainy, humid, cloudy **Land use:** agricultural land: 44.4% (2023 est.) arable land: 28.3% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0.8% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 15.3% (2023 est.) forest: 22% (2023 est.) other: 33.6% (2023 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 98.2% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.38% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 112.083 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 8.166 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 76.635 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from consumed natural gas: 27.282 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Particulate matter emissions:** 12.3 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 4.766 million tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 31.7% (2022 est.) **Total water withdrawal:** municipal: 740.19 million cubic meters (2022 est.) industrial: 4.14 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) agricultural: 41.97 million cubic meters (2022 est.) **Total renewable water resources:** 18.3 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) **Geoparks:** total global geoparks and regional networks: 2 (2024) global geoparks and regional networks: Famenne-Ardenne; Schelde Delta (includes Netherlands) (2024) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: Kingdom of Belgium conventional short form: Belgium local long form: Royaume de Belgique (French)/Koninkrijk Belgie (Dutch)/Koenigreich Belgien (German) local short form: Belgique/Belgie/Belgien etymology: the name derives from the Belgae, an ancient Celtic tribal confederation that inhabited an area between the English Channel and the west bank of the Rhine in the first centuries B.C. **Government type:** federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy **Capital:** name: Brussels geographic coordinates: 50 84 N, 4 35 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October etymology: the name is of Germanic origin, from broca (marsh) and sali (room or building) **Administrative divisions:** 3 regions (French: régions, singular - région; Dutch: gewesten, singular - gewest); Brussels-Capital Region, also known as Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest (Dutch), Région de Bruxelles-Capitale (French long form), Bruxelles-Capitale (French short form); Flemish Region (Flanders), also known as Vlaams Gewest (Dutch long form), Vlaanderen (Dutch short form), Région Flamande (French long form), Flandre (French short form); Walloon Region (Wallonia), also known as Région Wallonne (French long form), Wallonie (French short form), Waals Gewest (Dutch long form), Wallonie (Dutch short form) note: as a result of the 1993 constitutional revision that furthered devolution into a federal state, there are now three levels of government (federal, regional, and linguistic community) with a complex division of responsibilities; the 2012 sixth state reform transferred additional competencies from the federal state to the regions and linguistic communities **Legal system:** civil law system based on the French Civil Code; judicial review of legislative acts **Constitution:** history: drafted 25 November 1830, approved 7 February 1831, entered into force 26 July 1831, revised 14 July 1993 (creating a federal state) amendment process: "revisions" proposed as declarations by the federal government in accord with the king or by Parliament followed by dissolution of Parliament and new elections; adoption requires two-thirds majority vote of a two-thirds quorum in both houses of the next elected Parliament **International law organization participation:** accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Belgium dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years **Suffrage:** 18 years of age; universal and compulsory **Executive branch:** chief of state: King PHILIPPE (since 21 July 2013) head of government: Prime Minister Bart DE WEVER (since 3 February 2025) cabinet: Council of Ministers formally appointed by the monarch election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary and constitutional; following legislative elections, the monarch usually appoints the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as prime minister, which the legislature approves **Legislative branch:** legislature name: Federal Parliament (Parlement fédéral - Federaal Parlement - Föderales Parlament) legislative structure: bicameral note: the 1993 constitutional revision that further devolved Belgium into a federal state created three levels of government (federal, regional, and linguistic community) with a complex division of responsibilities; this results in six governments, each with its own legislative assembly **Legislative branch - lower chamber:** chamber name: House of Representatives (Chambre des Représentants) number of seats: 150 (all directly elected) electoral system: proportional representation scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 6/9/2024 parties elected and seats per party: New Flemish Alliance (N-VA) (24); Vlaams Belang (Flemish Interest) (20); Movement for Reform (MR) (20); Socialist Party in Wallonia (PS) (16); Workers' Party of Belgium (PTB*PVDA) (15); LES ENGAGÉS (14); Vooruit (13); Christian Democratic and Flemish (CD&V) (11); Other (17) percentage of women in chamber: 41.3% expected date of next election: June 2029 **Legislative branch - upper chamber:** chamber name: Senate (Sénat - Senaat - Senat) number of seats: 60 (all indirectly elected) scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 7/18/2024 percentage of women in chamber: 47.5% expected date of next election: July 2029 **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Constitutional Court or Grondwettelijk Hof (in Dutch) and Cour Constitutionelle (in French) (consists of 12 judges - 6 Dutch-speaking and 6 French-speaking); Supreme Court of Justice or Hof van Cassatie (in Dutch) and Cour de Cassation (in French) (court organized into 3 chambers: civil and commercial; criminal; social, fiscal, and armed forces; each chamber includes a Dutch division and a French division, each with a chairperson and 5-6 judges) judge selection and term of office: Constitutional Court judges appointed by the monarch from candidates submitted by Parliament; judges appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 70; Supreme Court judges appointed by the monarch from candidates submitted by the High Council of Justice, a 44-member independent body of judicial and non-judicial members; judges appointed for life subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; regional courts; specialized courts for administrative, commercial, labor, immigration, and audit issues; magistrate's courts; justices of the peace **Political parties:** Flemish parties: Christian Democratic and Flemish or CD&V Vooruit or Forward (formerly Social Progressive Alternative or SP.A) Groen or Green (formerly AGALEV, Flemish Greens) New Flemish Alliance or N-VA Open Flemish Liberals and Democrats or Open VLD Vlaams Belang (Flemish Interest) or VB Francophone parties: Ecolo (Francophone Greens) Francophone Federalist Democrats or Defi Les Engages (formerly Humanist and Democratic Center or CDH) Movement for Reform or MR Socialist Party or PS Workers' Party or PVDA-PTB **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Frédéric BERNARD (since 25 February 2025) chancery: 1430 K Street NW, Washington DC 20005 telephone: [1] (202) 333-6900 FAX: [1] (202) 338-4960 email address and website: Washington@diplobel.fed.be https://unitedstates.diplomatie.belgium.be/en consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Los Angeles, New York **Diplomatic representation from the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Bill WHITE (since 17 November 2025) embassy: Regentlaan 27 Boulevard du Regent, B-1000 Brussels mailing address: 7600 Brussels Place, Washington DC 20521-7600 telephone: [32] (2) 811-4000 FAX: [32] (2) 811-4500 email address and website: uscitizenBrussels@state.gov https://be.usembassy.gov/ **International organization participation:** ADB (nonregional members), AfDB (nonregional members), Australia Group, Benelux, BIS, CD, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EITI (implementing country), EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, G-9, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MONUSCO, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club, PCA, Schengen Convention, SELEC (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC **Independence:** 4 October 1830 (a provisional government declared independence from the Netherlands); 21 July 1831 (King LEOPOLD I ascended to the throne) **National holiday:** Belgian National Day (ascension to the throne of King LEOPOLD I), 21 July (1831) **Flag:** description: three equal vertical bands of black (left side), yellow, and red history: the vertical design was based on the flag of France; the colors are from the arms of the duchy of Brabant (yellow lion with red claws and tongue on a black field) **National symbol(s):** golden rampant lion **National color(s):** red, black, yellow **National anthem(s):** title: "La Brabançonne" (The Song of Brabant) lyrics/music: Louis-Alexandre DECHET [French] and Victor CEULEMANS [Dutch]/Francois VAN CAMPENHOUT history: adopted 1830; according to legend Louis-Alexandre DECHET, an actor at the theater where the revolution against the Netherlands began, wrote the lyrics with a group of young people in a Brussels cafe **National heritage:** total World Heritage Sites: 16 (15 cultural, 1 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Belfries of Belgium (c); Historic Brugge (c); The Grand Place, Brussels (c); Major Town Houses of Victor Horta (c); Notre-Dame Cathedral, Tournai (c); Spa, Liege (c); Primeval Beech Forests - Sonian Wood (n); Stoclet Palace (c) ### Economy **Economic overview:** high-income, core EU and eurozone economy; slow growth with weakened domestic consumption and export demand; high public debt and structural deficits linked to social spending; aging workforce with weak productivity growth and participation rates **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $749.229 billion (2024 est.) $741.672 billion (2023 est.) $732.865 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** 1% (2024 est.) 1.2% (2023 est.) 4.3% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $63,100 (2024 est.) $62,900 (2023 est.) $62,700 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $664.564 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 3.1% (2024 est.) 4% (2023 est.) 9.6% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 0.8% (2024 est.) industry: 17.6% (2024 est.) services: 72.1% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **GDP - composition, by end use:** household consumption: 50.4% (2023 est.) government consumption: 23.8% (2023 est.) investment in fixed capital: 24.4% (2023 est.) investment in inventories: 1% (2023 est.) exports of goods and services: 84.2% (2023 est.) imports of goods and services: -84.8% (2023 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection **Agricultural products:** sugar beets, milk, potatoes, wheat, pork, lettuce, maize, chicken, barley, pears (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage **Industries:** engineering and metal products, motor vehicle assembly, transportation equipment, scientific instruments, processed food and beverages, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, base metals, textiles, glass, petroleum **Industrial production growth rate:** -0.6% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency **Labor force:** 5.416 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work **Unemployment rate:** 5.5% (2024 est.) 5.6% (2023 est.) 5.6% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment **Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):** total: 16.8% (2024 est.) male: 18.6% (2024 est.) female: 14.7% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment **Population below poverty line:** 12.3% (2022 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line **Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income:** 26.4 (2022 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality **Average household expenditures:** on food: 12.2% of household expenditures (2023 est.) on alcohol and tobacco: 4% of household expenditures (2023 est.) **Household income or consumption by percentage share:** lowest 10%: 3.8% (2022 est.) highest 10%: 22.2% (2022 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population **Remittances:** 2.3% of GDP (2024 est.) 2.3% of GDP (2023 est.) 2.3% of GDP (2022 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Budget:** revenues: $220.657 billion (2022 est.) expenditures: $235.767 billion (2022 est.) note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated **Public debt:** 92.5% of GDP (2022 est.) note: central government debt as a % of GDP **Taxes and other revenues:** 22.7% (of GDP) (2022 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP **Current account balance:** -$5.679 billion (2024 est.) -$4.503 billion (2023 est.) -$7.031 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars **Exports:** $525.458 billion (2024 est.) $542.508 billion (2023 est.) $565.233 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** France 20%, Netherlands 15%, Germany 14%, Italy 6%, USA 5% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** refined petroleum, natural gas, vaccines, cars, packaged medicine (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports:** $531.029 billion (2024 est.) $546.426 billion (2023 est.) $573.192 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** Netherlands 20%, Germany 13%, France 11%, USA 7%, Ireland 4% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** cars, natural gas, vaccines, packaged medicine, crude petroleum (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:** $41.449 billion (2024 est.) $40.813 billion (2023 est.) $41.274 billion (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars **Exchange rates:** euros (EUR) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 0.924 (2024 est.) 0.925 (2023 est.) 0.95 (2022 est.) 0.845 (2021 est.) 0.876 (2020 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.) **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 28.248 million kW (2023 est.) consumption: 74.537 billion kWh (2023 est.) exports: 18.279 billion kWh (2023 est.) imports: 18.626 billion kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 3.147 billion kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** fossil fuels: 24.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) nuclear: 40.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 9.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) wind: 20% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: -0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) note: Belgium has negative net hydroelectric power generation based on losses from use of pumped storage hydropower biomass and waste: 6.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Nuclear energy:** Number of operational nuclear reactors: 4 (2025) Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors: 3.46GW (2025 est.) Percent of total electricity production: 41.2% (2023 est.) Number of nuclear reactors permanently shut down: 3 (2025) **Coal:** production: 1.269 million metric tons (2023 est.) consumption: 4.372 million metric tons (2023 est.) exports: 184,000 metric tons (2023 est.) imports: 4.046 million metric tons (2023 est.) proven reserves: 4.1 billion metric tons (2023 est.) **Petroleum:** total petroleum production: 11,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 596,000 bbl/day (2024 est.) **Natural gas:** production: 12.938 million cubic meters (2023 est.) consumption: 14.382 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) exports: 8.461 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) imports: 23.007 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) **Energy consumption per capita:** 190.416 million Btu/person (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 2.49 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 21 (2024 est.) **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 12.2 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 104 (2024 est.) **Broadcast media:** a segmented market with the three major linguistic communities (Flemish-, French-, and German-speaking) each responsible for their own broadcast media; multiple TV channels exist for each community; over 90% of households are connected to cable and can access TV broadcasts from neighboring countries; each community has a public radio network coexisting with private broadcasters **Internet country code:** .be **Internet users:** percent of population: 95% (2023 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 5.12 million (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 44 (2023 est.) ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** OO **Airports:** 48 (2025) **Heliports:** 112 (2025) **Railways:** total: 3,602 km (2020) 3,160 km electrified **Merchant marine:** total: 198 (2023) by type: bulk carrier 17, container ship 2, general cargo 16, oil tanker 21, other 142 **Ports:** total ports: 7 (2024) large: 1 medium: 2 small: 2 very small: 2 ports with oil terminals: 5 key ports: Antwerpen, Bruxelles, Ghent, Oostende, Zeebrugge ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** Belgian Armed Forces (Defensie or La Défense): Land Component, Marine (Naval) Component, Air Component, Medical Component, Cyber Command (2025) note: the Belgian Federal Police is the national police force and responsible for internal security and nationwide law and order, including migration and border enforcement **Military expenditures:** 2% of GDP (2025 est.) 1.3% of GDP (2024 est.) 1.2% of GDP (2023 est.) 1.2% of GDP (2022 est.) 1.1% of GDP (2021 est.) **Military and security service personnel strengths:** approximately 23,000 active-duty military personnel (2025) **Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:** the armed forces have a mix of weapons systems from European suppliers and the US; Belgium has an export-focused defense industry that focuses on components and subcontracting (2025) **Military service age and obligation:** 18 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; maximum age varies by position; conscription abolished in 1995 (2025) note 1: in 2024, women comprised about 11% of the military's full-time personnel note 2: foreign nationals 18-34 years of age who speak Dutch or French and are citizens of EU countries, Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland may apply to join the military **Military deployments:** has on average about 1,000 personnel deployed on foreign missions, including more than 300 ground forces deployed in Eastern Europe for the defense of NATO's eastern flank (2025) **Military - note:** the Belgian military's responsibilities include territorial defense, humanitarian/disaster relief, assistance to the police if required, international peacekeeping missions, and support to its NATO and EU security commitments, which Belgium considers vital components of its national security policy; outside of the country, the military operates almost always within an international organization or a coalition; Belgium was one of the original 12 countries to sign the North Atlantic Treaty (also known as the Washington Treaty) establishing NATO in 1949; it hosts the NATO headquarters in Brussels; Belgium also cooperates bilaterally with neighboring countries, such as Luxembourg and the Netherlands, in conducting joint patrols of their respective air spaces and in a composite combined special operations command with Denmark and the Netherlands (2025) ### Space **Space agency/agencies:** Royal Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy-Interfederal Space Agency of Belgium (BIRA-IASB; established 1964; IASB added 2017); Belgium Federal Science Policy Office (BELSPO) (2025) **Space program overview:** builds satellites, particularly research/science/technology and remote sensing platforms; researches, develops, and produces a wide variety of space technologies, including telecommunications, optics, robotics, scientific instruments, and space launch vehicle components; founding member of the ESA and participates in a variety of ESA and EU projects, such as Space Surveillance and Tracking, Copernicus Earth observation, and Galileo global navigation satellite system; hosts the European Space Security and Education Center (established 1968); participates in international astronomy efforts, particularly through the European Southern Observatory (ESO); has worked with a variety of foreign space agencies and commercial entities outside Europe, including those of Argentina, China, India, Russia, South Africa, UAE, Vietnam, and the US (2025) **Key space-program milestones:** 1986 - joined first European Earth Observation program; founding member of European Organization for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites 1992 - first Belgian astronaut in space on the US Space Shuttle 2001 - first remote sensing satellite (PROBA-1) launched by India 2024 - signed US-led Artemis Accords outlining best practices for space exploration ### Terrorism **Terrorist group(s):** Terrorist group(s): Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps/Qods Force; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide ### Transnational Issues **Refugees and internally displaced persons:** refugees: 236,689 (2024 est.) stateless persons: 849 (2024 est.) **Illicit drugs:** USG identification: major precursor-chemical producer (2025) --- ## Bosnia and Herzegovina **Slug:** bosnia-and-herzegovina **Region:** Europe **Flag:** 🇧🇦 **Codes:** cek: bk, iso2: BA, iso3: BIH, iso_num: 070, genc: BIH, stanag: BIH, internet: .ba ### Introduction **Background:** After four centuries of Ottoman rule over Bosnia and Herzegovina, Austria-Hungary took control in 1878 and held the region until 1918, when it was incorporated into the newly created Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes. After World War II, Bosnia and Herzegovina joined the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY). Bosnia and Herzegovina declared sovereignty in October 1991 and independence from the SFRY on 3 March 1992 after a referendum boycotted by ethnic Serbs. Bosnian Serb militias, with the support of Serbia and Croatia, then tried to take control of territories they claimed as their own. From 1992 to 1995, ethnic cleansing campaigns killed thousands and displaced more than two million people. On 21 November 1995, in Dayton, Ohio, the warring parties initialed a peace agreement, and the final agreement was signed in Paris on 14 December 1995. The Dayton Accords retained Bosnia and Herzegovina's international boundaries and created a multiethnic and democratic government composed of two entities roughly equal in size: the predominantly Bosniak-Bosnian Croat Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the predominantly Bosnian Serb-led Republika Srpska (RS). The Dayton Accords also established the Office of the High Representative to oversee the agreement's implementation. In 1996, the NATO-led Stabilization Force (SFOR) took over responsibility for enforcing the peace. In 2004, European Union peacekeeping troops (EUFOR) replaced SFOR. As of 2022, EUFOR deploys around 1,600 troops in Bosnia in a peacekeeping capacity. Bosnia and Herzegovina became an official candidate for EU membership in 2022. ### Geography **Location:** Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea and Croatia **Geographic coordinates:** 44 00 N, 18 00 E **Map references:** Europe **Area:** total : 51,197 sq km land: 51,187 sq km water: 10 sq km **Area - comparative:** slightly smaller than West Virginia **Land boundaries:** total: 1,543 km border countries (3): Croatia 956 km; Montenegro 242 km; Serbia 345 km **Coastline:** 20 km **Maritime claims:** NA **Climate:** hot summers and cold winters; areas of high elevation have short, cool summers and long, severe winters; mild, rainy winters along coast **Terrain:** mountains and valleys **Elevation:** highest point: Maglic 2,386 m lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m mean elevation: 500 m **Natural resources:** coal, iron ore, antimony, bauxite, copper, lead, zinc, chromite, cobalt, manganese, nickel, clay, gypsum, salt, sand, timber, hydropower **Land use:** agricultural land: 21.7% (2023 est.) arable land: 7.2% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 1.4% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 12.8% (2023 est.) forest: 42.2% (2023 est.) other: 36.1% (2023 est.) **Irrigated land:** 30 sq km (2012) **Major watersheds (area sq km):** Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km) **Population distribution:** the northern and central areas of the country are the most densely populated **Natural hazards:** destructive earthquakes **Geography - note:** within Bosnia and Herzegovina's recognized borders, the country is divided into a joint Bosniak/Croat Federation (about 51% of the territory) and the Bosnian Serb-led Republika Srpska or RS (about 49% of the territory); the region called Herzegovina is contiguous to Croatia and Montenegro ### People and Society **Population:** total: 3,653,499 (2025 est.) male: 1,778,548 female: 1,874,951 **Nationality:** noun: Bosnian(s), Herzegovinian(s) adjective: Bosnian, Herzegovinian **Ethnic groups:** Bosniak 50.1%, Serb 30.8%, Croat 15.4%, other 2.7%, not declared/no answer 1% (2013 est.) note: Republika Srpska authorities dispute the methodology and refuse to recognize the results; Bosniak has replaced Muslim as an ethnic term in part to avoid confusion with the religious term Muslim - an adherent of Islam **Languages:** Bosnian (official) 52.9%, Serbian (official) 30.8%, Croatian (official) 14.6%, other 1.6%, no answer 0.2% (2013 est.) major-language sample(s): Knjiga svjetskih činjenica, neophodan izvor osnovnih informacija. (Bosnian) Knjiga svetskih činjenica, neophodan izvor osnovnih informacija. (Serbian) Knjiga svjetskih činjenica, nužan izvor osnovnih informacija. (Croatian) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. **Religions:** Muslim 50.7%, Orthodox 30.7%, Roman Catholic 15.2%, atheist 0.8%, agnostic 0.3%, other 1.2%, undeclared/no answer 1.1% (2013 est.) **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 13.1% (male 257,444/female 240,209) 15-64 years: 68.3% (male 1,305,271/female 1,290,920) 65 years and over: 18.6% (2024 est.) (male 289,449/female 415,378) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 44.5 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 16.7 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 27.8 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 3.6 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 45.7 years (2025 est.) male: 43.1 years female: 46.5 years **Population growth rate:** -0.67% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 6.88 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 12.29 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** -1.28 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** the northern and central areas of the country are the most densely populated **Urbanization:** urban population: 50.3% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.61% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 346,000 SARAJEVO (capital) (2023) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Mother's mean age at first birth:** 27.7 years (2019 est.) **Maternal mortality ratio:** 6 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 3.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 5.1 deaths/1,000 live births female: 4.9 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 78.5 years (2024 est.) male: 75.5 years female: 81.6 years **Total fertility rate:** 1.15 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 0.56 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: urban: 94.8% of population (2022 est.) rural: 97.3% of population (2022 est.) total: 96.1% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 5.2% of population (2022 est.) rural: 2.7% of population (2022 est.) total: 3.9% of population (2022 est.) **Health expenditure:** 9.6% of GDP (2021) 14.8% of national budget (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 2.58 physicians/1,000 population (2019) **Hospital bed density:** 2.3 beds/1,000 population (2019 est.) **Sanitation facility access:** improved: urban: 99.5% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 0.5% of population (2022 est.) **Obesity - adult prevalence rate:** 17.9% (2016) **Alcohol consumption per capita:** total: 5.46 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 4.19 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 0.47 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 0.62 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0.17 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) **Tobacco use:** total: 34% (2025 est.) male: 39.2% (2025 est.) female: 29% (2025 est.) **Education expenditure:** 3.2% of GDP (2023 est.) 10.2% national budget (2021 est.) **School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):** total: 14 years (2023 est.) male: 14 years (2023 est.) female: 15 years (2023 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** air pollution; deforestation and illegal logging; inadequate wastewater treatment and flood management facilities; urban waste disposal; uncleared land mines from the 1990s **International environmental agreements:** party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements **Climate:** hot summers and cold winters; areas of high elevation have short, cool summers and long, severe winters; mild, rainy winters along coast **Land use:** agricultural land: 21.7% (2023 est.) arable land: 7.2% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 1.4% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 12.8% (2023 est.) forest: 42.2% (2023 est.) other: 36.1% (2023 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 50.3% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.61% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 24.513 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 19.292 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 4.785 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from consumed natural gas: 436,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Particulate matter emissions:** 26.2 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 1.249 million tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 23.8% (2022 est.) **Total water withdrawal:** municipal: 320 million cubic meters (2022) industrial: 475 million cubic meters (2022) **Total renewable water resources:** 37.5 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: none conventional short form: Bosnia and Herzegovina local long form: none local short form: Bosna i Hercegovina former: People's Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Socialist Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina abbreviation: BiH etymology: the larger northern territory is named for the Bosna River; the smaller southern section takes its name from the Old Serbian word herceg, meaning "duke," combined with the possessive -ov and the suffix -ina, meaning "country," to denote "dukedom" **Government type:** parliamentary republic **Capital:** name: Sarajevo geographic coordinates: 43 52 N, 18 25 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October etymology: the name derives from the Turkish word saray, meaning "palace" or "mansion" **Administrative divisions:** 3 first-order administrative divisions - Brcko District (Brcko Distrikt) (ethnically mixed), Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Federacija Bosne i Hercegovine) (predominantly Bosniak-Croat), Republika Srpska (predominantly Serb) **Legal system:** civil law system; Constitutional Court review of legislative acts **Constitution:** history: 14 December 1995 (constitution included as part of the Dayton Peace Accords) amendment process: decided by the Parliamentary Assembly, including a two-thirds majority vote of members present in the House of Representatives; the constitutional article on human rights and fundamental freedoms cannot be amended note: each of the political entities has its own constitution **International law organization participation:** has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Bosnia and Herzegovina dual citizenship recognized: yes, provided there is a bilateral agreement with the other state residency requirement for naturalization: 8 years **Suffrage:** 18 years of age, 16 if employed; universal **Executive branch:** chief of state: Chairperson of the Presidency Zeljko KOMSIC (chairperson since 16 July 2025; presidency member since 20 November 2018 - Croat seat); Denis BECIROVIC (presidency member since 16 November 2022 - Bosniak seat); Zeljka CVIJANOVIC (presidency member since 16 November 2022 - Serb seat) head of government: Chairperson of the Council of Ministers Borjana KRISTO (since 25 January 2023) cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the council chairperson, approved by the state-level House of Representatives election/appointment process: 3-member presidency (1 Bosniak and 1 Croat elected from the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and 1 Serb elected from the Republika Srpska) directly elected by simple-majority popular vote for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term but then ineligible for 4 years); the presidency chairpersonship rotates every 8 months, with the new member of the presidency elected with the highest number of votes starting the new mandate as chair; the chairperson of the Council of Ministers appointed by the presidency and confirmed by the state-level House of Representatives most recent election date: 2 October 2022 election results: 2022: percent of vote - Denis BECIROVIC - (SDP BiH) 57.4% - Bosniak seat; Zeljko KOMSIC (DF) 55.8% - Croat seat; Zeljka CVIJANOVIC (SNSD) 51.7% - Serb seat 2018: percent of vote - Milorad DODIK (SNSD) 53.9% - Serb seat; Zeljko KOMSIC (DF) 52.6% - Croat seat; Sefik DZAFEROVIC (SDA) 36.6% - Bosniak seat expected date of next election: October 2026 note: President of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Lidiia BRADARA (since 28 February 2023) **Legislative branch:** legislature name: Parliamentary Assembly (Skupstina) legislative structure: bicameral **Legislative branch - lower chamber:** chamber name: House of Representatives (Predstavnicki dom) number of seats: 42 (all directly elected) electoral system: proportional representation scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 4 years most recent election date: 2/16/2023 parties elected and seats per party: Party of Democratic Action (SDA) (9); Alliance of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD) (6); Social Democratic Party of Bosnia and Herzegovina (SDP) (5); HDZ BiH, HSS, HSP BiH, HKDU, HSPAS, HDU, HSPHB, HRAST (4); Democratic Front (DF) - Civic Alliance (GS) (3); People and Justice (NAROD I PRAVDA) (3); (3); Republican Party of the Social Order (PROS) (3); Other (15) percentage of women in chamber: 19% expected date of next election: October 2026 **Legislative branch - upper chamber:** chamber name: House of Peoples (Dom Naroda) number of seats: 15 (all appointed) scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 4 years most recent election date: 10/2/2022 percentage of women in chamber: 6.7% expected date of next election: February 2027 **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) Constitutional Court (consists of 9 members); Court of BiH (consists of 44 national judges and 7 international judges organized into 3 divisions - Administrative, Appellate, and Criminal, which includes a War Crimes Chamber) judge selection and term of office: BiH Constitutional Court judges - 4 selected by the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina House of Representatives, 2 selected by the Republika Srpska's National Assembly, and 3 non-Bosnian judges selected by the president of the European Court of Human Rights; Court of BiH president and national judges appointed by the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council; Court of BiH president appointed for renewable 6-year term; other national judges appointed to serve until age 70; international judges recommended by the president of the Court of BiH and appointed by the High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina; international judges appointed to serve until age 70 subordinate courts: the Federation has 10 cantonal courts plus a number of municipal courts; the Republika Srpska has a supreme court, 5 district courts, and a number of municipal courts **Political parties:** Alliance of Independent Social Democrats or SNSD Bosnian-Herzegovinian Initiative or BHI KF Civic Alliance or GS Croatian Democratic Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina or HDZ-BiH Democratic Front or DF Democratic Union or DEMOS For Justice and Order Our Party or NS/HC Party for Democratic Action or SDA Party of Democratic Progress or PDP People and Justice Party or NiP People's European Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina or NES Serb Democratic Party or SDS Social Democratic Party or SDP United Srpska or US **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Sven ALKALAJ (since 30 June 2023) chancery: 2109 E Street NW, Washington, DC 20037 telephone: [1] (202) 337-1500 FAX: [1] (202) 337-1502 email address and website: info@bhembassy.org http://www.bhembassy.org/index.html consulate(s) general: Chicago **Diplomatic representation from the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires John GINKEL (since September 2025) embassy: 1 Robert C. Frasure Street, 71000 Sarajevo mailing address: 7130 Sarajevo Place, Washington DC 20521-7130 telephone: [387] (33) 704-000 FAX: [387] (33) 659-722 email address and website: sarajevoACS@state.gov https://ba.usembassy.gov/ branch office(s): Banja Luka, Mostar **International organization participation:** BIS, CD, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM (observer), OAS (observer), OIC (observer), OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SELEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer) note: Bosnia-Herzegovina is an EU candidate country whose satisfactory completion of accession criteria is required before being granted full EU membership **Independence:** 1 March 1992 (from Yugoslavia) note: referendum for independence completed on 1 March 1992; independence declared on 3 March 1992 **National holiday:** Independence Day, 1 March (1992) and Statehood Day, 25 November (1943) - both observed in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina entity; Victory Day, 9 May (1945) and Dayton Agreement Day, 21 November (1995) - both observed in the Republika Srpska entity note: there is no national-level holiday **Flag:** description: a wide blue vertical band on the right side, with a large yellow isosceles triangle in the middle of the flag, based at the top; the rest of the flag is blue, with seven five-pointed white stars and two half-stars along the triangle's hypotenuse meaning: the triangle approximates the country's shape, and its three points stand for the Bosniaks, Croats, and Serbs; the stars represent Europe; the colors (white, blue, and yellow) are traditional and are also associated with neutrality and peace note: one of four national flags that reflect the shape of the country in the flag design; the others are Brazil, Eritrea, and Vanuatu **National symbol(s):** golden lily **National color(s):** blue, yellow, white **National anthem(s):** title: "Drzavna himna Bosne i Hercegovine" (The National Anthem of Bosnia and Herzegovina) lyrics/music: none officially/Dusan SESTIC history: music adopted 1999; lyrics proposed in 2009 were accepted by a parliamentary commission but are still awaiting adoption, so the anthem remains officially wordless **National heritage:** total World Heritage Sites: 5 (3 cultural, 2 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Old Bridge Area of Mostar (c); Mehmed Paša Sokolović Bridge in Višegrad (c); Stećci Medieval Tombstones Graveyards (c); Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe - Janj Forest (n); Vjetrenica Cave, Ravno (n) ### Economy **Economic overview:** import-dominated economy; remains consumption-heavy; lack of private sector investments and diversification; jointly addressing structural economic challenges; Chinese energy infrastructure investments; high unemployment; tourism industry impacted by COVID-19 **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $64.641 billion (2024 est.) $63.077 billion (2023 est.) $61.843 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** 2.5% (2024 est.) 2% (2023 est.) 4.2% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $20,400 (2024 est.) $19,800 (2023 est.) $19,300 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $28.343 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 1.7% (2024 est.) 6.1% (2023 est.) 14% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 4.3% (2024 est.) industry: 22% (2024 est.) services: 58% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **GDP - composition, by end use:** household consumption: 68.3% (2023 est.) government consumption: 19.1% (2023 est.) investment in fixed capital: 23.1% (2023 est.) investment in inventories: 3.2% (2023 est.) exports of goods and services: 43.9% (2023 est.) imports of goods and services: -55.7% (2023 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection **Agricultural products:** maize, milk, vegetables, potatoes, plums, wheat, apples, barley, chicken, tomatoes (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage **Industries:** steel, coal, iron ore, lead, zinc, manganese, bauxite, aluminum, motor vehicle assembly, textiles, tobacco products, wooden furniture, ammunition, domestic appliances, oil refining **Industrial production growth rate:** -2.4% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency **Labor force:** 1.356 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work **Unemployment rate:** 10.8% (2024 est.) 10.7% (2023 est.) 12.7% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment **Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):** total: 27.3% (2024 est.) male: 25.4% (2024 est.) female: 30.9% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment **Population below poverty line:** 16.9% (2015 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line **Average household expenditures:** on food: 32.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.) on alcohol and tobacco: 7.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.) **Remittances:** 11% of GDP (2024 est.) 10.2% of GDP (2023 est.) 10.5% of GDP (2022 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Budget:** revenues: $10.196 billion (2023 est.) expenditures: $10.463 billion (2023 est.) note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated **Public debt:** 40.3% of GDP (2023 est.) note: central government debt as a % of GDP **Taxes and other revenues:** 19.1% (of GDP) (2023 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP **Current account balance:** -$1.176 billion (2024 est.) -$638.769 million (2023 est.) -$1.078 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars **Exports:** $12.141 billion (2024 est.) $12.126 billion (2023 est.) $11.838 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** Germany 15%, Croatia 14%, Serbia 12%, Austria 10%, Slovenia 9% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** footwear, electricity, garments, plastic products, insulated wire (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports:** $16.202 billion (2024 est.) $15.37 billion (2023 est.) $15.166 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** Italy 13%, Germany 11%, Serbia 11%, China 9%, Croatia 8% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** refined petroleum, cars, garments, plastic products, packaged medicine (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:** $9.419 billion (2024 est.) $9.205 billion (2023 est.) $8.762 billion (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars **Debt - external:** $5.359 billion (2023 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars **Exchange rates:** konvertibilna markas (BAM) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 1.808 (2024 est.) 1.809 (2023 est.) 1.859 (2022 est.) 1.654 (2021 est.) 1.717 (2020 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.) **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 4.682 million kW (2023 est.) consumption: 12.867 billion kWh (2023 est.) exports: 7.104 billion kWh (2023 est.) imports: 3.6 billion kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 1.339 billion kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** fossil fuels: 64% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 0.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) wind: 2.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: 31.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) biomass and waste: 1.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Coal:** production: 12.311 million metric tons (2023 est.) consumption: 12.304 million metric tons (2023 est.) exports: 1.254 million metric tons (2023 est.) imports: 1.327 million metric tons (2023 est.) proven reserves: 2.264 billion metric tons (2023 est.) **Petroleum:** refined petroleum consumption: 34,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) **Natural gas:** consumption: 228.855 million cubic meters (2023 est.) imports: 228.855 million cubic meters (2023 est.) **Energy consumption per capita:** 91.227 million Btu/person (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 583,000 (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 18 (2024 est.) **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 3.84 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 121 (2024 est.) **Broadcast media:** 3 public TV broadcasters: Radio and TV of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Federation TV (operating 2 networks), and Republika Srpska Radio-TV; a local commercial network of 5 TV stations; 3 private, near-national TV stations and dozens of small independent TV stations; 3 large public radio broadcasters and many private radio stations (2019) **Internet country code:** .ba **Internet users:** percent of population: 83% (2023 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 908,000 (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 29 (2023 est.) ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** T9 **Airports:** 20 (2025) **Heliports:** 3 (2025) **Railways:** total: 965 km (2014) standard gauge: 965 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge (565 km electrified) **Ports:** total ports: 1 (2024) large: 0 medium: 0 small: 1 very small: 0 ports with oil terminals: 0 key ports: Neum ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina (AFBiH or Oruzanih Snaga Bosne i Hercegovine, OSBiH): Army, Air, Air Defense forces organized into an Operations Command and a Support Command Ministry of Security: Border Police (2025) **Military expenditures:** 0.8% of GDP (2024 est.) 0.8% of GDP (2023 est.) 0.8% of GDP (2022 est.) 0.9% of GDP (2021 est.) 0.9% of GDP (2020 est.) **Military and security service personnel strengths:** approximately 10,000 active duty Armed Forces (2025) **Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:** the military's inventory of weapons and equipment is a combination of material originating from the former Soviet Union/former Yugoslavia and some newer acquisitions from suppliers such as Türkiye, the UK, and the US (2025) **Military service age and obligation:** 18 -27 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription ended in January 2006 (2025) note: as of 2024, women made up about 9% of the military's full-time personnel **Military - note:** the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina (AFBiH) are responsible for territorial defense, providing assistance to civil authorities during disasters or other emergencies, and participating in collective security and peace support operations; each of the AFBiH's three combat brigades are headquartered inside of their respective ethnicity territory, while its main headquarters is in Sarajevo; Bosnia and Herzegovina aspires to join NATO; Bosnia and Herzegovina joined NATO’s Partnership for Peace (PfP) program in 2006 and was invited to join NATO’s Membership Action Plan in 2010; the AFBiH is undergoing a 10-year (2017-2027) defense modernization and reform program for preparing to join and integrate with NATO; it has contributed small numbers of troops to EU, NATO, and UN missions NATO maintains a military headquarters in Sarajevo with the mission of assisting Bosnia and Herzegovina with the PfP program and promoting closer integration with NATO, as well as providing logistics and other support to the EU Force Bosnia and Herzegovina (EUFOR), which has operated in the country to oversee implementation of the Dayton/Paris Agreement since taking over from NATO's Stabilization Force (SFOR) in 2004 (2025) ### Terrorism **Terrorist group(s):** Terrorist group(s): Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps/Qods Force note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide ### Transnational Issues **Refugees and internally displaced persons:** refugees: 685 (2024 est.) IDPs: 94,796 (2024 est.) stateless persons: 23 (2024 est.) --- ## Bulgaria **Slug:** bulgaria **Region:** Europe **Flag:** 🇧🇬 **Codes:** cek: bu, iso2: BG, iso3: BGR, iso_num: 100, genc: BGR, stanag: BGR, internet: .bg ### Introduction **Background:** The Bulgars, a Central Asian Turkic tribe, merged with the local Slavic inhabitants in the late 7th century to form the first Bulgarian state. In succeeding centuries, Bulgaria struggled with the Byzantine Empire to assert its place in the Balkans, but by the end of the 14th century, the Ottoman Turks overran the country. Northern Bulgaria attained autonomy in 1878, and all of Bulgaria became independent from the Ottoman Empire in 1908. Having fought on the losing side in both World Wars, Bulgaria fell within the Soviet sphere of influence and became a People's Republic in 1946. Communist domination ended in 1990, when Bulgaria held its first multiparty election since World War II and began the contentious process of moving toward political democracy and a market economy while combating inflation, unemployment, corruption, and crime. The country joined NATO in 2004, the EU in 2007, and the Schengen Area for air and sea travel in 2024. ### Geography **Location:** Southeastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Romania and Turkey **Geographic coordinates:** 43 00 N, 25 00 E **Map references:** Europe **Area:** total : 110,879 sq km land: 108,489 sq km water: 2,390 sq km **Area - comparative:** almost identical in size to Virginia; slightly larger than Tennessee **Land boundaries:** total: 1,806 km border countries (5): Greece 472 km; Macedonia 162 km; Romania 605 km; Serbia 344 km; Turkey 223 km **Coastline:** 354 km **Maritime claims:** territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm **Climate:** temperate; cold, damp winters; hot, dry summers **Terrain:** mostly mountains with lowlands in north and southeast **Elevation:** highest point: Musala 2,925 m lowest point: Black Sea 0 m mean elevation: 472 m **Natural resources:** bauxite, copper, lead, zinc, coal, timber, arable land **Land use:** agricultural land: 46.1% (2023 est.) arable land: 32.1% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 1.3% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 12.7% (2023 est.) forest: 36.2% (2023 est.) other: 17.7% (2023 est.) **Irrigated land:** 929 sq km (2016) **Major rivers (by length in km):** Dunav (Danube) (shared with Germany [s], Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Ukraine, Moldova, and Romania [m]) - 2,888 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth **Major watersheds (area sq km):** Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km) **Population distribution:** a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger populations **Natural hazards:** earthquakes; landslides **Geography - note:** strategic location near Turkish Straits; controls key land routes from Europe to Middle East and Asia ### People and Society **Population:** total: 6,737,997 (2025 est.) male: 3,281,215 female: 3,456,782 **Nationality:** noun: Bulgarian(s) adjective: Bulgarian **Ethnic groups:** Bulgarian 78.5%, Turkish 7.8%, Roma 4.1%, other 1.2%, unspecified 9.4% (2021 est.) note: Romani populations are usually underestimated in official statistics and may represent 9–11% of Bulgaria's population **Languages:** Bulgarian (official) 77.3%, Turkish 7.9%, Romani 3.5%, other 1%, unspecified 10.4% (2021 est.) major-language sample(s): Светoвен Алманах, незаменимият източник за основна информация. (Bulgarian) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. **Religions:** Christian 64.7%, Muslim 9.8%, other 0.1%, none 4.7%, unspecified 20.7% (2021 est.) **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 13.8% (male 479,586/female 453,423) 15-64 years: 65.2% (male 2,250,962/female 2,171,279) 65 years and over: 21% (2024 est.) (male 572,943/female 854,466) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 53.3 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 20.7 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 32.7 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 3.1 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 45.5 years (2025 est.) male: 43.3 years female: 47 years **Population growth rate:** -0.66% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 7.88 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 14.18 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** -0.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger populations **Urbanization:** urban population: 76.7% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: -0.28% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 1.288 million SOFIA (capital) (2023) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Mother's mean age at first birth:** 26.4 years (2020 est.) **Maternal mortality ratio:** 6 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 7.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 8.7 deaths/1,000 live births female: 6.6 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 76.1 years (2024 est.) male: 72.9 years female: 79.4 years **Total fertility rate:** 1.52 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 0.74 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: urban: 99.6% of population (2022 est.) rural: 97.3% of population (2022 est.) total: 99.1% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 0.4% of population (2022 est.) rural: 2.7% of population (2022 est.) total: 0.9% of population (2022 est.) **Health expenditure:** 8.6% of GDP (2021) 11.6% of national budget (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 4.33 physicians/1,000 population (2022) **Hospital bed density:** 7.8 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.) **Sanitation facility access:** improved: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.) rural: 100% of population (2022 est.) total: 100% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.) rural: 0% of population (2022 est.) total: 0% of population (2022 est.) **Obesity - adult prevalence rate:** 25% (2016) **Alcohol consumption per capita:** total: 11.18 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 4.44 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 1.72 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 4.96 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0.06 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) **Tobacco use:** total: 33.1% (2025 est.) male: 36.2% (2025 est.) female: 30.3% (2025 est.) **Children under the age of 5 years underweight:** 1.6% (2014) **Currently married women (ages 15-49):** 56.6% (2023 est.) **Education expenditure:** 4.5% of GDP (2022 est.) 12% national budget (2022 est.) **School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):** total: 15 years (2023 est.) male: 15 years (2023 est.) female: 16 years (2023 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** air pollution from industrial emissions; rivers polluted from raw sewage, heavy metals, detergents; deforestation; forest damage from air pollution and acid rain; soil contamination from heavy metals from metallurgical plants and industrial wastes **International environmental agreements:** party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements **Climate:** temperate; cold, damp winters; hot, dry summers **Land use:** agricultural land: 46.1% (2023 est.) arable land: 32.1% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 1.3% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 12.7% (2023 est.) forest: 36.2% (2023 est.) other: 17.7% (2023 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 76.7% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: -0.28% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 33.465 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 14.486 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 13.958 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from consumed natural gas: 5.021 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Particulate matter emissions:** 18.6 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 2.859 million tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 29.8% (2022 est.) **Total water withdrawal:** municipal: 838 million cubic meters (2022) industrial: 3.879 billion cubic meters (2022) agricultural: 726.434 million cubic meters (2022) **Total renewable water resources:** 21.3 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: Republic of Bulgaria conventional short form: Bulgaria local long form: Republika Bulgaria local short form: Bulgaria former: Kingdom of Bulgaria, People's Republic of Bulgaria etymology: named after the Bulgar tribes who settled the lower Balkan region in the 7th century A.D.; the tribal name may come from the Turkic word bulga, or "mixed," referring to the blend of Turkic and Slavic ethnicities in the tribes **Government type:** parliamentary republic **Capital:** name: Sofia geographic coordinates: 42 41 N, 23 19 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October etymology: named after the Church of Saint Sofia in the city, parts of which may date to the 4th century **Administrative divisions:** 28 provinces (oblasti, singular - oblast); Blagoevgrad, Burgas, Dobrich, Gabrovo, Haskovo, Kardzhali, Kyustendil, Lovech, Montana, Pazardzhik, Pernik, Pleven, Plovdiv, Razgrad, Ruse, Shumen, Silistra, Sliven, Smolyan, Sofia, Sofia-Grad (Sofia City), Stara Zagora, Targovishte, Varna, Veliko Tarnovo, Vidin, Vratsa, Yambol **Legal system:** civil law **Constitution:** history: several previous; latest drafted between late 1990 and early 1991, adopted 13 July 1991 amendment process: proposed by the National Assembly or by the president of the republic; passage requires three-fourths majority vote of National Assembly members in three ballots; signed by the National Assembly chairperson; note - under special circumstances, a "Grand National Assembly" is elected with the authority to write a new constitution and amend certain articles of the constitution, including those affecting basic civil rights and national sovereignty; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote in each of several readings **International law organization participation:** accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Bulgaria dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years **Suffrage:** 18 years of age; universal **Executive branch:** chief of state: President Rumen RADEV (since 22 January 2017) head of government: Prime Minister Rosen ZHELYAZKOV (since 16 January 2025) cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister, elected by the National Assembly election/appointment process: president and vice president elected on the same ballot by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); chairman of the Council of Ministers (prime minister) elected by the National Assembly; deputy prime ministers nominated by the prime minister, elected by the National Assembly most recent election date: 14 and 21 November 2021 election results: 2021: Rumen RADEV reelected president in second round; percent of vote in the first round - Rumen RADEV (independent) 49.4%, Anastas GERDZHIKOV (independent) 22.8%, Mustafa KARADAYI (DPS) 11.6%, Kostadin KOSTADINOV (Revival) 3.9%, Lozan PANOV (independent) 3.7%, other 8.6%; percent of vote in the second round - Rumen RADEV 66.7%, Anastas GERDZHIKOV 31.8%, neither 1.5% 2016: Rumen RADEV elected president in second round; percent of vote - Rumen RADEV (independent, supported by Bulgarian Socialist Party) 59.4%, Tsetska TSACHEVA (GERB) 36.2%, neither 4.5% expected date of next election: fall 2026 **Legislative branch:** legislature name: National Assembly (Narodno sabranie) legislative structure: unicameral number of seats: 240 (all directly elected) electoral system: proportional representation scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 4 years most recent election date: 10/27/2024 parties elected and seats per party: Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria Party (GERB) - Union of Democratic Forces (UDF) (66); We Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria (36); Revival (Vuzrazhdane) (33); Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS) - New Beginning (29); Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) - United Left (19); Alliance for Rights and Freedoms (APS) (19); There is Such a People (PP-ITN) (17); Other (21) percentage of women in chamber: 25% expected date of next election: October 2028 **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Supreme Court of Cassation consists of a chairman and approximately 72 judges organized into penal, civil, and commercial colleges; Supreme Administrative Court is organized into 2 colleges with various panels of 5 judges each; Constitutional Court consists of 12 justices) and resides outside the judiciary judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court of Cassation and Supreme Administrative judges elected by the Supreme Judicial Council or SJC (consists of 25 members with extensive legal experience) and appointed by the president; judges can serve until mandatory retirement at age 65; Constitutional Court justices elected by the National Assembly and appointed by the president and the SJC; justices appointed for 9-year terms with renewal of 4 justices every 3 years subordinate courts: appeals courts; regional and district courts; administrative courts; courts martial **Political parties:** BSP for Bulgaria (electoral alliance of BSP, PKT, Ecoglasnost) Bulgarian Rise or BV Bulgarian Socialist Party or BSP Citizens for the European Development of Bulgaria or GERB (alliance with SDS) Democratic Bulgaria or DB (electoral alliance of Yes! Bulgaria, DSB, and The Greens) Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria or DSB Ecoglasnost Green Movement or The Greens Movement for Rights and Freedoms or DPS Political Club Thrace or PKT Revival Stand Up.BG or IS.BG There is Such a People or ITN Union of Democratic Forces or SDS (alliance with GERB) Yes! Bulgaria We Continue the Change or PP We Continue the Change and Democratic Bulgaria or PP-DB (electoral alliance of PP, DB, Yes! Bulgaria) **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Stefka YOVCHEVA (since 7 May 2025) chancery: 1621 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 387 5770 FAX: [1] (202) 234-7973 email address and website: office@bulgaria-embassy.org https://www.bulgaria-embassy.org/en/homepage/ consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York **Diplomatic representation from the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires H. Martin McDOWELL (since May 2025) embassy: 16, Kozyak Street, Sofia 1408 mailing address: 5740 Sofia Place, Washington, DC 20521-5740 telephone: [359] (2) 937-5100 FAX: [359] (2) 937-5209 email address and website: acs_sofia@state.gov https://bg.usembassy.gov/ **International organization participation:** Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CD, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EU, FAO, G- 9, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO, NSG, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, SELEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC **Independence:** 3 March 1878 (as an autonomous principality within the Ottoman Empire); 22 September 1908 (complete independence from the Ottoman Empire) **National holiday:** Liberation Day, 3 March (1878) **Flag:** description: three equal horizontal bands of white (top), green, and red meaning: white stands for peace, love, and freedom; green for the country's agricultural wealth; red for the independence struggle and military courage history: originally adopted in 1879 as a modified version of the Russian tricolor flag, using green instead of blue; the communist coat of arms was added to the flag in various forms between 1948 and 1990, when it was removed after the communist government collapsed **National symbol(s):** lion **National color(s):** white, green, red **National coat of arms:** Bulgaria’s coat of arms in the national colors of white, green, and red was adopted in 1997; the three lions are a national symbol for strength, courage, and leadership that was used during the country’s liberation movement in the 1870s and the kingdom period in the early 20th century; above the shield is the crown of Bulgaria (originally the crown of the medieval Bulgarian tsars) with a gold cross on top; a white scroll over the oak branches bears the Bulgarian national motto, “United we stand strong” **National anthem(s):** title: “Mila Rodino” (Dear Homeland) lyrics/music: Tsvetan RADOSLAVOV history: adopted 1964; composed in 1885 by a student en route to fight in the Serbo-Bulgarian War **National heritage:** total World Heritage Sites: 10 (7 cultural, 3 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Boyana Church (c); Madara Rider (c); Thracian Tomb of Kazanlak (c); Rock-Hewn Churches of Ivanovo (c); Rila Monastery (c); Ancient City of Nessebar (c); Thracian Tomb of Sveshtari (c); Srebarna Nature Reserve (n); Pirin National Park (n); Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians (n) ### Economy **Economic overview:** upper-middle-income EU economy; currency pegged to the euro, with eurozone accession pending; declining energy prices helping lower inflation rate; EU structural funds contributing to investment recovery; skilled labor shortage driven by emigration and aging population **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $219.645 billion (2024 est.) $213.64 billion (2023 est.) $209.683 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** 2.8% (2024 est.) 1.9% (2023 est.) 4% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $34,100 (2024 est.) $33,100 (2023 est.) $32,400 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $112.212 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 2.4% (2024 est.) 9.4% (2023 est.) 15.3% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 2.1% (2024 est.) industry: 22.5% (2024 est.) services: 62.6% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **GDP - composition, by end use:** household consumption: 57.6% (2024 est.) government consumption: 19.7% (2024 est.) investment in fixed capital: 17.9% (2024 est.) investment in inventories: 2.5% (2024 est.) exports of goods and services: 55.8% (2024 est.) imports of goods and services: -53.5% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection **Agricultural products:** wheat, maize, sunflower seeds, barley, milk, rapeseed, grapes, potatoes, triticale, tomatoes (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage **Industries:** electricity, gas, water; food, beverages, tobacco; machinery and equipment, automotive parts, base metals, chemical products, coke, refined petroleum, nuclear fuel; outsourcing centers **Industrial production growth rate:** 1.9% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency **Labor force:** 3.124 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work **Unemployment rate:** 4.2% (2024 est.) 4.4% (2023 est.) 4.3% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment **Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):** total: 12.1% (2024 est.) male: 12.4% (2024 est.) female: 11.8% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment **Population below poverty line:** 20.6% (2022 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line **Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income:** 38.2 (2022 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality **Average household expenditures:** on food: 20.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.) on alcohol and tobacco: 4.8% of household expenditures (2023 est.) **Household income or consumption by percentage share:** lowest 10%: 2.1% (2022 est.) highest 10%: 30.1% (2022 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population **Remittances:** 2.4% of GDP (2024 est.) 2.2% of GDP (2023 est.) 2.3% of GDP (2022 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Budget:** revenues: $35.615 billion (2023 est.) expenditures: $37.546 billion (2023 est.) note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated **Public debt:** 30.1% of GDP (2023 est.) note: central government debt as a % of GDP **Taxes and other revenues:** 20.5% (of GDP) (2023 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP **Current account balance:** -$2.014 billion (2024 est.) -$894.86 million (2023 est.) -$2.43 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars **Exports:** $62.661 billion (2024 est.) $63.415 billion (2023 est.) $63.246 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** Germany 14%, Romania 11%, Italy 8%, Greece 6%, Turkey 5% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** refined petroleum, garments, refined copper, wheat, natural gas (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports:** $60.029 billion (2024 est.) $59.158 billion (2023 est.) $62.261 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** Germany 12%, Turkey 8%, Romania 8%, Russia 7%, Italy 6% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** crude petroleum, copper ore, cars, packaged medicine, electricity (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:** $43.698 billion (2024 est.) $46.334 billion (2023 est.) $40.989 billion (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars **Debt - external:** $14.277 billion (2022 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars **Exchange rates:** leva (BGN) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 1.808 (2024 est.) 1.809 (2023 est.) 1.86 (2022 est.) 1.654 (2021 est.) 1.716 (2020 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.) electrification - urban areas: 100% electrification - rural areas: 99.6% **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 12.939 million kW (2023 est.) consumption: 34.221 billion kWh (2023 est.) exports: 7.748 billion kWh (2023 est.) imports: 4.415 billion kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 1.972 billion kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** fossil fuels: 35.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) nuclear: 40.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 8.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) wind: 4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: 7.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) biomass and waste: 4.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Nuclear energy:** Number of operational nuclear reactors: 2 (2025) Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors: 2.01GW (2025 est.) Percent of total electricity production: 40.3% (2023 est.) Number of nuclear reactors permanently shut down: 4 (2025) **Coal:** production: 20.97 million metric tons (2023 est.) consumption: 20.557 million metric tons (2023 est.) exports: 1.091 million metric tons (2023 est.) imports: 753,000 metric tons (2023 est.) proven reserves: 2.174 billion metric tons (2023 est.) **Petroleum:** total petroleum production: 4,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 101,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 15 million barrels (2021 est.) **Natural gas:** production: 10.444 million cubic meters (2023 est.) consumption: 2.607 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) exports: 2.75 million cubic meters (2020 est.) imports: 2.544 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) proven reserves: 5.663 billion cubic meters (2021 est.) **Energy consumption per capita:** 102.171 million Btu/person (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 552,000 (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 8 (2024 est.) **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 7.98 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 118 (2024 est.) **Broadcast media:** 4 national terrestrial TV stations with 1 state-owned and 3 privately owned; a vast array of TV stations are available from cable and satellite TV providers; state-owned national radio broadcasts over 3 networks; large number of private radio stations, especially in urban areas **Internet country code:** .bg **Internet users:** percent of population: 80% (2023 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 2.45 million (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 36 (2023 est.) ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** LZ **Airports:** 107 (2025) **Heliports:** 8 (2025) **Railways:** total: 4,029 km (2020) 2,871 km electrified **Merchant marine:** total: 78 (2023) by type: bulk carrier 2, general cargo 13, oil tanker 8, other 55 **Ports:** total ports: 2 (2024) large: 1 medium: 0 small: 1 very small: 0 ports with oil terminals: 2 key ports: Burgas, Varna ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** Bulgarian Armed Forces (aka Bulgarian Army): Land Forces, Air Force, Navy Ministry of Interior: General Directorate National Police (GDNP), General Directorate Border Police (GDBP), Special Unit for Combating Terrorism (SOBT) (2025) note: the GDNP includes the Gendarmerie, a special police force with military status deployed to secure important facilities, buildings and infrastructure, respond to riots, and counter militant threats **Military expenditures:** 2.1% of GDP (2025 est.) 2% of GDP (2024 est.) 1.9% of GDP (2023 est.) 1.6% of GDP (2022 est.) 1.6% of GDP (2021 est.) **Military and security service personnel strengths:** approximately 28,000 active duty Armed Forces (2025) note: in 2021, Bulgaria released a 10-year defense plan which called for an active military strength of 43,000 **Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:** the military's inventory consists largely of Soviet-era armaments, although in recent years Bulgaria has procured some more modern Western weapons systems in an effort to modernize and achieve NATO interoperability (2025) **Military service age and obligation:** 18 years of age for voluntary service for men and women (2025) note: in 2020, Bulgaria announced a program to allow every citizen up to the age of 40 to join the armed forces for 6 months of military service in the voluntary reserve **Military deployments:** 160 Kosovo (NATO/KFOR) (2025) **Military - note:** the Bulgarian military is responsible for guaranteeing the country's independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, providing support to international peace and security missions, and contributing to national security in peacetime, including such missions as responding to disasters or assisting with border security; the military trains regularly including in multinational exercises with regional partners and with NATO since Bulgaria joined the organization in 2004; it also participates in overseas peacekeeping and other security missions under the EU, NATO, and the UN; in 2022, Bulgaria established and began leading a NATO multinational battlegroup as part of an effort to boost NATO defenses in Eastern Europe following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine; in 2021, Bulgaria approved a 10-year defense development program, which included calls for equipment upgrades and procurements, boosts in manpower, organizational reforms, and greater focus on such areas as cyber defense, communications, logistics support, and research and development the Bulgarian military has participated in several significant conflicts since its establishment in 1878, including the Serbo-Bulgarian War (1885), the First Balkan War (1912-13), the Second Balkan War (1913), World War I (1915-1918), and World War II (1941-45); during the Cold War it was one of the Warsaw Pact’s largest militaries with over 150,000 personnel and more than 200 Soviet-made combat aircraft (2025) ### Space **Space agency/agencies:** Space Research and Technology Institute - Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (SRTI-BAS; formed in 1987 but originated from the Central Laboratory for Space Research and the Bulgarian Aerospace Agency, which was established in 1969) (2025) **Space program overview:** has a long history of space-related activities going back to the 1960s; develops, produces, and operates satellites; researches, develops, and produces other space technologies, including those related to astrophysics, remote sensing, data exploitation, optics, and electronics; has specialized in producing scientific instruments for space research; has more than 20 research institutes; Cooperating State of the ESA since 2015; works with a variety of foreign space agencies and commercial entities, including those of the ESA, EU, individual ESA and EU member states, India, Japan, Russia, and the US (2025) **Key space-program milestones:** 1960s-1990s - participated in the Soviet Interkosmos program, which included the first Bulgarian in space (1979), first domestically produced scientific satellite launched on a Soviet rocket (1981), and participation in the Soviet VEGA project (1985) 2017 - first communications satellite (BulgariaSat-1) built and launched by US 2019 - first domestically built data/educational cube satellite (EnduroSat-1) launched by US 2023 - signed the US-led Artemis Accords outlining principles for cooperation in space exploration 2025 - domestically produced, multispectral remote sensing satellite (Balkan-1) launched by US as part of EU's Copernicus Earth observation program ### Terrorism **Terrorist group(s):** Terrorist group(s): Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS); Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps/Qods Force note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide ### Transnational Issues **Refugees and internally displaced persons:** refugees: 114,728 (2024 est.) stateless persons: 862 (2024 est.) --- ## Croatia **Slug:** croatia **Region:** Europe **Flag:** 🇭🇷 **Codes:** cek: hr, iso2: HR, iso3: HRV, iso_num: 191, genc: HRV, stanag: HRV, internet: .hr ### Introduction **Background:** The lands that today comprise Croatia were part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire until the end of World War I. In 1918, the Croats, Serbs, and Slovenes formed a kingdom known after 1929 as Yugoslavia. Following World War II, Yugoslavia became a federal independent communist state consisting of six socialist republics, including Croatia, under the strong hand of Josip Broz, aka TITO. Although Croatia declared its independence from Yugoslavia in 1991, it took four years of sporadic, but often bitter, fighting before Yugoslav forces were cleared from Croatian lands, along with a majority of Croatia's ethnic Serb population. Under UN supervision, the last Serb-held enclave in eastern Slavonia was returned to Croatia in 1998. The country joined NATO in 2009 and the EU in 2013. In January 2023, Croatia further integrated into the EU by joining the Eurozone and the Schengen Area. ### Geography **Location:** Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea, between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Slovenia **Geographic coordinates:** 45 10 N, 15 30 E **Map references:** Europe **Area:** total : 56,594 sq km land: 55,974 sq km water: 620 sq km **Area - comparative:** slightly smaller than West Virginia **Land boundaries:** total: 2,237 km border countries (5): Bosnia and Herzegovina 956 km; Hungary 348 km; Montenegro 19 km; Serbia 314 km; Slovenia 600 km **Coastline:** 5,835 km (mainland 1,777 km; islands 4,058 km) **Maritime claims:** territorial sea: 12 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation **Climate:** Mediterranean and continental; continental climate predominant with hot summers and cold winters; mild winters, dry summers along coast **Terrain:** geographically diverse; flat plains along Hungarian border, low mountains and highlands near Adriatic coastline and islands **Elevation:** highest point: Dinara 1,831 m lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m mean elevation: 331 m **Natural resources:** oil, some coal, bauxite, low-grade iron ore, calcium, gypsum, natural asphalt, silica, mica, clays, salt, hydropower **Land use:** agricultural land: 26.6% (2023 est.) arable land: 15.5% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 1.4% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 9.6% (2023 est.) forest: 34.7% (2023 est.) other: 38.2% (2023 est.) **Irrigated land:** 170 sq km (2022) **Major rivers (by length in km):** Dunav (Danube) (shared with Germany [s], Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Serbia, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Moldova, and Romania [m]) - 2,888 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth **Major watersheds (area sq km):** Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km) **Population distribution:** more of the population lives in the northern half of the country, with approximately a quarter of the populace residing in and around the capital of Zagreb; many of the islands are sparsely populated **Natural hazards:** destructive earthquakes **Geography - note:** controls most land routes from Western Europe to the Aegean Sea and Turkish Straits; most Adriatic Sea islands lie off the coast of Croatia -- some 1,200 islands, islets, ridges, and rocks ### People and Society **Population:** total: 4,071,208 (2025 est.) male: 1,968,334 female: 2,102,874 **Nationality:** noun: Croat(s), Croatian(s) adjective: Croatian note: the French designation of "Croate" to Croatian mercenaries in the 17th century eventually became "Cravate" and later came to be applied to the soldiers' scarves - the cravat; Croatia celebrates Cravat Day every 18 October **Ethnic groups:** Croat 91.6%, Serb 3.2%, other 3.9% (including Bosniak, Romani, Albanian, Italian, and Hungarian), unspecified 1.3% (2021 est.) **Languages:** Croatian (official) 95.2%, Serbian 1.2%, other 3.1% (including Bosnian, Romani, Albanian, and Italian) unspecified 0.5% (2021 est.) major-language sample(s): Knjiga svjetskih činjenica, nužan izvor osnovnih informacija. (Croatian) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. **Religions:** Roman Catholic 79%, Orthodox 3.3%, Protestant 0.3%, other Christian 4.8%, Muslim 1.3%, other 1.1%, agnostic 1.7%, none or atheist 4.7%, unspecified 3.9% (2021 est.) **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 13.8% (male 296,527/female 278,236) 15-64 years: 63.1% (male 1,307,814/female 1,309,394) 65 years and over: 23.1% (2024 est.) (male 399,090/female 559,055) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 55.9 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 21.5 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 34.4 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 2.9 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 44.9 years (2025 est.) male: 43.2 years female: 47 years **Population growth rate:** -0.53% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 8.49 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 12.87 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** -0.87 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** more of the population lives in the northern half of the country, with approximately a quarter of the populace residing in and around the capital of Zagreb; many of the islands are sparsely populated **Urbanization:** urban population: 58.6% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.05% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 684,000 ZAGREB (capital) (2023) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Mother's mean age at first birth:** 29 years (2020 est.) **Maternal mortality ratio:** 3 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 3.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 8.2 deaths/1,000 live births female: 8.7 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 77.7 years (2024 est.) male: 74.6 years female: 81 years **Total fertility rate:** 1.43 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 0.69 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.) **Health expenditure:** 8.1% of GDP (2021) 13.7% of national budget (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 3.91 physicians/1,000 population (2022) **Hospital bed density:** 5.6 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.) **Obesity - adult prevalence rate:** 24.4% (2016) **Alcohol consumption per capita:** total: 9.64 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 4.75 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 3.52 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 1.37 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0.36 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) **Tobacco use:** total: 32.8% (2025 est.) male: 33.6% (2025 est.) female: 32.1% (2025 est.) **Currently married women (ages 15-49):** 50.1% (2021 est.) **Education expenditure:** 4.1% of GDP (2021 est.) 8.5% national budget (2021 est.) **School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):** total: 16 years (2022 est.) male: 15 years (2022 est.) female: 17 years (2022 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** air pollution in urban areas, as well as emissions from neighboring countries; surface water pollution in the Danube River Basin **International environmental agreements:** party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements **Climate:** Mediterranean and continental; continental climate predominant with hot summers and cold winters; mild winters, dry summers along coast **Land use:** agricultural land: 26.6% (2023 est.) arable land: 15.5% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 1.4% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 9.6% (2023 est.) forest: 34.7% (2023 est.) other: 38.2% (2023 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 58.6% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.05% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 16.467 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 1.335 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 9.858 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from consumed natural gas: 5.275 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Particulate matter emissions:** 15.2 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 1.81 million tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 20% (2022 est.) **Total water withdrawal:** municipal: 465 million cubic meters (2022) industrial: 475 million cubic meters (2022) agricultural: 76 million cubic meters (2022) **Total renewable water resources:** 105.5 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) **Geoparks:** total global geoparks and regional networks: 3 (2024) global geoparks and regional networks: Biokovo-Imotski Lakes; Papuk; Vis Archipelago (2024) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: Republic of Croatia conventional short form: Croatia local long form: Republika Hrvatska local short form: Hrvatska former: People's Republic of Croatia, Socialist Republic of Croatia etymology: name probably derives from the Croats, a Slavic tribe who migrated to the Balkans in the 7th century A.D., but that name may be related to the Russian word khrebet, meaning "mountain chain" **Government type:** parliamentary republic **Capital:** name: Zagreb geographic coordinates: 45 48 N, 16 00 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October etymology: the city's name means "beyond the bank (or ditch)"; za in Old Croat means "beyond," and greb means "bank" or "ditch," relating to the city's original site above the Sava River **Administrative divisions:** 20 counties (zupanije, singular - zupanija) and 1 city* (grad - singular) with special county status; Bjelovarsko-Bilogorska (Bjelovar-Bilogora), Brodsko-Posavska (Brod-Posavina), Dubrovacko-Neretvanska (Dubrovnik-Neretva), Istarska (Istria), Karlovacka (Karlovac), Koprivnicko-Krizevacka (Koprivnica-Krizevci), Krapinsko-Zagorska (Krapina-Zagorje), Licko-Senjska (Lika-Senj), Medimurska (Medimurje), Osjecko-Baranjska (Osijek-Baranja), Pozesko-Slavonska (Pozega-Slavonia), Primorsko-Goranska (Primorje-Gorski Kotar), Sibensko-Kninska (Sibenik-Knin), Sisacko-Moslavacka (Sisak-Moslavina), Splitsko-Dalmatinska (Split-Dalmatia), Varazdinska (Varazdin), Viroviticko-Podravska (Virovitica-Podravina), Vukovarsko-Srijemska (Vukovar-Syrmia), Zadarska (Zadar), Zagreb*, Zagrebacka (Zagreb county) **Legal system:** civil law system influenced by legal heritage of Austria-Hungary **Constitution:** history: several previous; latest adopted 22 December 1990 amendment process: proposed by at least one fifth of the Assembly membership, by the president of the republic, by the Government of Croatia, or through petition by at least 10% of the total electorate; proceedings to amend require majority vote by the Assembly; passage requires two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly; passage by petition requires a majority vote in a referendum and promulgation by the Assembly **International law organization participation:** has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Croatia dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years **Suffrage:** 18 years of age; universal **Executive branch:** chief of state: President Zoran MILANOVIC (since 18 February 2020) head of government: Prime Minister Andrej PLENKOVIC (since 19 October 2016) cabinet: Council of Ministers named by the prime minister and approved by the Assembly election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); the leader of the majority party or majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the president and approved by the Assembly most recent election date: December 2024 (first round) and January 2025 (second round) election results: 2025: Zoran MILANOVIC elected president in second round; percent of vote in second round - Zoran MILANOVIC (SDP) 74.6%, Dragan PRIMORAC (independent) 25.3% 2019: Zoran MILANOVIC elected president in second round; percent of vote in second round - Zoran MILANOVIC (SDP) 52.7%, Kolinda GRABAR-KITAROVIC (HDZ) 47.3% expected date of next election: 2029 **Legislative branch:** legislature name: Croatian Parliament (Hrvatski Sabor) legislative structure: unicameral number of seats: 151 (all directly elected) electoral system: proportional representation scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 4 years most recent election date: 4/17/2024 parties elected and seats per party: Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) (55); Social Democratic Party of Croatia (SDP) (37); Homeland Movement (DP) (11); We Can! – Political Platform (Možemo!) (10); Bridge (Most) (7); Other (20) percentage of women in chamber: 33.1% expected date of next election: April 2028 note: of the 151 seats, 140 members come from 10 multi-seat constituencies, with 3 members in a constituency for Croatian diaspora; voters belonging to recognized minorities elect an additional 8 members from a nationwide constituency: the Serb minority elects 3 members, the Hungarian and Italian minorities elect 1 each, the Czech and Slovak minorities elect 1 jointly, and all other minorities elect 2 **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the court president and vice president, 25 civil department justices, and 16 criminal department justices) judge selection and term of office: president of Supreme Court nominated by the president of Croatia and elected by the Sabor for a 4-year term; other Supreme Court justices appointed by the National Judicial Council; all judges serve until age 70 subordinate courts: Administrative Court; county, municipal, and specialized courts note: an 11-member Constitutional Court has jurisdiction limited to constitutional issues, but it is outside the judicial system **Political parties:** Bosniaks Together The Bridge or MOST (formerly the Bridge of Independent Lists) Croatia Romani Union Kali Sara (SRRH) Croatian Democratic Union or HDZ Democratic Union of Hungarians in Croatia (DZMH) Focus or Fokus Homeland Movement or DP (also known as Miroslav Škoro Homeland Movement or DPMS) Independent Democratic Serb Party or SDSS Independent Platform of the North (NPS) Istrian Democratic Assembly or IDS Social Democratic Party of Croatia or SDP We Can! or Mozemo! **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Pjer ŠIMUNOVIĆ (since 8 September 2017) chancery: 2343 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 588-5899 FAX: [1] (202) 588-8937 email address and website: washington@mvep.hr https://mvep.gov.hr/embassy-114969/114969 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Seattle (WA) consulate(s): Anchorage (AL), Houston, Kansas City (MO),Minneapolis/St. Paul (MN), New Orleans, Pittsburgh (PA) **Diplomatic representation from the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Nicole McGRAW (since 21 October 2025) embassy: Ulica Thomasa Jeffersona 2, 10010 Zagreb mailing address: 5080 Zagreb Place, Washington DC 20521-5080 telephone: [385] (1) 661-2200 FAX: [385] (1) 665-8933 email address and website: ZagrebACS@state.gov https://hr.usembassy.gov/ **International organization participation:** AIIB, Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CD, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EMU, EU, FAO, G-11, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, NAM (observer), NATO, NSG, OAS (observer), OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, SELEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIL, UNMOGIP, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC **Independence:** 25 June 1991 (from Yugoslavia); notable earlier dates: ca. 925 (Kingdom of Croatia established), 1 December 1918 (Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes established, later became Yugoslavia) note: 25 June 1991 was the day the Croatian parliament voted for independence; the legislature adopted a decision on 8 October 1991 to sever constitutional relations with Yugoslavia **National holiday:** Statehood Day (National Day), 30 May (1990) note: marks the day in 1990 that the first modern multi-party Croatian parliament convened **Flag:** description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue -- the pan-Slav colors -- with the Croatian coat of arms in the center, which consists of a main shield (a checkerboard of 13 red and 12 silver fields) with five smaller shields that form a crown over the main shield meaning: the small shields represent the five historic regions (from left to right): Croatia, Dubrovnik, Dalmatia, Istria, and Slavonia history: Russia's 19th-century flag inspired the pan-Slav colors **National symbol(s):** red-and-white checkerboard **National color(s):** red, white, blue **National anthem(s):** title: "Lijepa nasa domovino" (Our Beautiful Homeland) lyrics/music: Antun MIHANOVIC/Josip RUNJANIN history: adopted in 1972 while still part of Yugoslavia; the lyrics were written in 1835, and it served as an unofficial anthem beginning in 1891 **National heritage:** total World Heritage Sites: 10 (8 cultural, 2 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Plitvice Lakes National Park (n); Historic Split (c); Old City of Dubrovnik (c); Euphrasian Basilica; Historic Trogir (c); Šibenik Cathedral (c); Stari Grad Plain (c); Zadar and Fort St. Nikola Venetian Defense Works (c); Primeval Beech Forests (n); Stećci Medieval Tombstones Graveyards (c) ### Economy **Economic overview:** upper-middle-income Balkan economy; newest euro user (introduced in 2023); increased investments from EU structural funds and tourism sector contributing to strong but moderating economic growth; declining energy prices and restrictive monetary policy easing inflation; historically low unemployment rate with labor shortages within services and manufacturing sectors **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $164.825 billion (2024 est.) $158.769 billion (2023 est.) $153.693 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** 3.8% (2024 est.) 3.3% (2023 est.) 7.3% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $42,600 (2024 est.) $41,100 (2023 est.) $39,900 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $92.526 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 3% (2024 est.) 7.9% (2023 est.) 10.8% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 3.4% (2024 est.) industry: 19.8% (2024 est.) services: 59.7% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **GDP - composition, by end use:** household consumption: 57% (2024 est.) government consumption: 22.6% (2024 est.) investment in fixed capital: 23.7% (2024 est.) investment in inventories: -0.2% (2024 est.) exports of goods and services: 49.8% (2024 est.) imports of goods and services: -52.9% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection **Agricultural products:** maize, wheat, sugar beets, milk, barley, soybeans, sunflower seeds, potatoes, pork, grapes (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage **Industries:** chemicals and plastics, machine tools, fabricated metal, electronics, pig iron and rolled steel products, aluminum, paper, wood products, construction materials, textiles, shipbuilding, petroleum and petroleum refining, food and beverages, tourism **Industrial production growth rate:** 2.1% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency **Labor force:** 1.733 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work **Unemployment rate:** 5.3% (2024 est.) 6.1% (2023 est.) 7% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment **Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):** total: 16.6% (2024 est.) male: 15.5% (2024 est.) female: 18.2% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment **Population below poverty line:** 18% (2021 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line **Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income:** 30 (2022 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality **Average household expenditures:** on food: 18.5% of household expenditures (2023 est.) on alcohol and tobacco: 7.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.) **Household income or consumption by percentage share:** lowest 10%: 2.9% (2022 est.) highest 10%: 23% (2022 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population **Remittances:** 7.3% of GDP (2024 est.) 7.2% of GDP (2023 est.) 7.5% of GDP (2022 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Budget:** revenues: $32.487 billion (2023 est.) expenditures: $33.715 billion (2023 est.) note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated **Public debt:** 75.6% of GDP (2023 est.) note: central government debt as a % of GDP **Taxes and other revenues:** 21.5% (of GDP) (2023 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP **Current account balance:** -$1.049 billion (2024 est.) $635.97 million (2023 est.) -$2.621 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars **Exports:** $46.601 billion (2024 est.) $45.064 billion (2023 est.) $41.907 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** Italy 14%, Germany 11%, Slovenia 11%, Bosnia & Herzegovina 6%, Austria 6% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** ships, garments, electricity, packaged medicine, wood (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports:** $49.86 billion (2024 est.) $46.811 billion (2023 est.) $46.769 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** Italy 14%, Germany 14%, Slovenia 11%, Hungary 6%, Austria 5% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** refined petroleum, cars, garments, natural gas, crude petroleum (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:** $3.336 billion (2024 est.) $3.176 billion (2023 est.) $29.726 billion (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars **Exchange rates:** euros (EUR) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 0.924 (2024 est.) 0.925 (2023 est.) 0.95 (2022 est.) 0.845 (2021 est.) 0.876 (2020 est.) note: Croatia used the kuna prior to conversion to the euro on 1 January 2023. During the transition period the exchange rate was fixed at 7.53450 kuna to 1 euro. ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.) **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 5.518 million kW (2023 est.) consumption: 16.408 billion kWh (2023 est.) exports: 8.461 billion kWh (2023 est.) imports: 10.038 billion kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 2.053 billion kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** fossil fuels: 31.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 1.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) wind: 14.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: 48.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) geothermal: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) biomass and waste: 3.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Coal:** consumption: 596,000 metric tons (2023 est.) exports: 1,000 metric tons (2022 est.) imports: 663,000 metric tons (2023 est.) **Petroleum:** total petroleum production: 11,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 70,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 71 million barrels (2021 est.) **Natural gas:** production: 722.231 million cubic meters (2023 est.) consumption: 2.689 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) exports: 1.119 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) imports: 2.995 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) proven reserves: 24.919 billion cubic meters (2021 est.) **Energy consumption per capita:** 79.907 million Btu/person (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 1.1 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 29 (2024 est.) **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 4.72 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 122 (2024 est.) **Broadcast media:** the national state-owned public broadcaster, Croatian Radiotelevision, operates 4 terrestrial TV networks, a satellite channel that rebroadcasts programs for Croatians overseas, and 6 regional TV centers; 2 private broadcasters with national terrestrial networks; 29 privately owned regional TV stations; multi-channel cable and satellite TV subscription services are available; state-owned public broadcaster operates 4 national radio networks and 23 regional radio stations; 2 privately owned national radio networks and 117 local radio stations (2019) **Internet country code:** .hr **Internet users:** percent of population: 83% (2023 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 1.11 million (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 28 (2023 est.) ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** 9A **Airports:** 45 (2025) **Heliports:** 7 (2025) **Railways:** total: 2,617 km (2020) 980 km electrified **Merchant marine:** total: 384 (2023) by type: bulk carrier 10, general cargo 32, oil tanker 14, other 328 **Ports:** total ports: 16 (2024) large: 2 medium: 0 small: 6 very small: 8 ports with oil terminals: 8 key ports: Bakar, Dubrovnik, Omisalj, Rijeka Luka, Rovinj, Sibenik, Split, Zadar ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** Armed Forces of the Republic of Croatia (Oruzane Snage Republike Hrvatske, OSRH): Croatian Army (Hrvatska Kopnena Vojska, HKoV), Croatian Navy (Hrvatska Ratna Mornarica, HRM; includes Coast Guard), Croatian Air Force (Hrvatsko Ratno Zrakoplovstvo, HRZ) (2025) note: the Ministry of the Interior is responsible for internal security, including law enforcement (Croatia Police) and border security **Military expenditures:** 2% of GDP (2025 est.) 1.9% of GDP (2024 est.) 1.7% of GDP (2023 est.) 1.8% of GDP (2022 est.) 2% of GDP (2021 est.) **Military and security service personnel strengths:** approximately 15,000 active-duty military personnel (2025) **Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:** the military's inventory is a mix of Soviet-era (largely from the former Yugoslavia) equipment and a growing amount of more modern, NATO-compatible weapon systems from suppliers such as France, Germany, Türkiye, and the US (2025) **Military service age and obligation:** 18-29 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; conscription abolished in 2008 but will be reinstated in 2026 when it will become mandatory for men aged 19-29 to undergo two months of basic military training (2025) note: as of 2024, women comprised about 14% of the military's full-time personnel **Military deployments:** 150 Kosovo (KFOR/NATO); also has a few hundred personnel participating in several other EU, NATO, and UN missions (2025) **Military - note:** the Armed Forces of Croatia (OSRH) are responsible for the defense of Croatia’s sovereignty and territory, contributing to international humanitarian, peacekeeping, and security missions, and providing assistance to civil authorities for such missions as disaster response, search and rescue, anti-terrorism, and internal security in times of crisis if called upon by the prime minister or the president; Croatia joined NATO in 2009, and the OSRH participates in NATO missions, including its peacekeeping force in Kosovo and the Enhanced Forward Presence mission in Eastern Europe; it also contributes to EU and UN missions; the OSRH trains regularly with NATO and regional partners the OSRH was established in 1991 from the Croatian National Guard during the Croatian War of Independence (1991-95); during the war, the ground forces grew to as many as 60 brigades and dozens of independent battalions, and a single military offensive against Serbian forces in 1995 included some 100,000 Croatian troops; in 2000, Croatia initiated an effort to modernize and reform the OSRH into a small, professional military capable of meeting the challenges of NATO membership (2025) ### Transnational Issues **Refugees and internally displaced persons:** refugees: 29,927 (2024 est.) stateless persons: 758 (2024 est.) --- ## Cyprus **Slug:** cyprus **Region:** Europe **Flag:** 🇨🇾 **Codes:** cek: cy, iso2: CY, iso3: CYP, iso_num: 196, genc: CYP, stanag: CYP, internet: .cy ### Introduction **Background:** A former British colony, Cyprus became independent in 1960 after years of resistance to British rule. Tensions between the Greek Cypriot majority and Turkish Cypriot minority came to a head in December 1963, when violence broke out in the capital of Nicosia. Despite the deployment of UN peacekeepers in 1964, sporadic intercommunal violence continued and forced most Turkish Cypriots into enclaves throughout the island. In 1974, a Greek Government-sponsored attempt to overthrow the elected president of Cyprus was met by military intervention from Turkey, which soon controlled more than a third of the island. In 1983, the Turkish Cypriot administered area declared itself the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" (TRNC), but it is recognized only by Turkey. A UN-mediated agreement to reunite Cyprus, the Annan Plan, failed to win approval from both communities in 2004. The most recent round of reunification negotiations was suspended in 2017 after failure to achieve a breakthrough. The entire island joined the EU in 2004, although the EU acquis -- the body of common rights and obligations -- applies only to the areas under the internationally recognized government and is suspended in the TRNC. However, individual Turkish Cypriots able to document their eligibility for Republic of Cyprus citizenship have the same legal rights accorded to citizens of other EU states. ### Geography **Location:** Middle East, island in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Turkey; note - Cyprus views itself as part of Europe; geopolitically, it can be classified as falling within Europe, the Middle East, or both **Geographic coordinates:** 35 00 N, 33 00 E **Map references:** Middle East **Area:** total : 9,251 sq km (of which 3,355 sq km are in north Cyprus) land: 9,241 sq km water: 10 sq km **Area - comparative:** about 0.6 times the size of Connecticut **Land boundaries:** total: 156 km border sovereign base areas: Akrotiri 48 km; Dhekelia 108 km **Coastline:** 648 km **Maritime claims:** territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation **Climate:** temperate; Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool winters **Terrain:** central plain with mountains to north and south; scattered but significant plains along southern coast **Elevation:** highest point: Mount Olympus 1,951 m lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m mean elevation: 91 m **Natural resources:** copper, pyrites, asbestos, gypsum, timber, salt, marble, clay earth pigment **Land use:** agricultural land: 14% (2023 est.) arable land: 10.6% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 3.1% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 0.2% (2023 est.) forest: 18.6% (2023 est.) other: 67.1% (2023 est.) **Irrigated land:** 269 sq km (2020) **Population distribution:** population concentrated in central Nicosia and in the major cities of the south: Paphos, Limassol, and Larnaca **Natural hazards:** moderate earthquake activity; droughts **Geography - note:** the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea (after Sicily and Sardinia) ### People and Society **Population:** total: 1,332,293 (2025 est.) male: 681,128 female: 651,165 **Nationality:** noun: Cypriot(s) adjective: Cypriot **Ethnic groups:** Greek 98.8%, other 1% (includes Maronite, Armenian, Turkish-Cypriot), unspecified 0.2% (2011 est.) note: data represent only the Greek-Cypriot citizens in the Republic of Cyprus **Languages:** Greek (official) 80.9%, Turkish (official) 0.2%, English 4.1%, Romanian 2.9%, Russian 2.5%, Bulgarian 2.2%, Arabic 1.2%, Filipino 1.1%, other 4.3%, unspecified 0.6% (2011 est.) major-language sample(s): Το Παγκόσμιο Βιβλίο Δεδομένων, η απαραίτητη πηγή βασικών πληροφοριών. (Greek) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. note: data represent only the Republic of Cyprus **Religions:** Eastern Orthodox Christian 89.1%, Roman Catholic 2.9%, Protestant/Anglican 2%, Muslim 1.8%, Buddhist 1%, other (includes Maronite Catholic, Armenian Apostolic, Hindu) 1.4%, unknown 1.1%, none/atheist 0.6% (2011 est.) note: data represent only the government-controlled area of Cyprus **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 15.6% (male 105,533/female 100,099) 15-64 years: 70% (male 486,569/female 437,651) 65 years and over: 14.4% (2024 est.) (male 83,094/female 107,579) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 43.6 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 22.3 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 21.4 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 4.7 (2025 est.) note: data represent the whole country **Median age:** total: 39.9 years (2025 est.) male: 38.2 years female: 41 years **Population growth rate:** 0.89% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 9.95 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 7.11 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** 6.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** population concentrated in central Nicosia and in the major cities of the south: Paphos, Limassol, and Larnaca **Urbanization:** urban population: 67% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.76% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 269,000 NICOSIA (capital) (2018) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.11 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Mother's mean age at first birth:** 30 years (2020 est.) note: data represents only government-controlled areas **Maternal mortality ratio:** 14 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 7.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 9.7 deaths/1,000 live births female: 6.4 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 80.2 years (2024 est.) male: 77.4 years female: 83.1 years **Total fertility rate:** 1.49 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 0.73 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: urban: 99.7% of population (2022 est.) rural: 99.8% of population (2022 est.) total: 99.8% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 0.3% of population (2022 est.) rural: 0.2% of population (2022 est.) total: 0.2% of population (2022 est.) **Health expenditure:** 9.4% of GDP (2021) 18.3% of national budget (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 3.56 physicians/1,000 population (2022) **Hospital bed density:** 2.2 beds/1,000 population (2019 est.) **Sanitation facility access:** improved: urban: 99.7% of population (2022 est.) rural: 98.8% of population (2022 est.) total: 99.4% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 0.3% of population (2022 est.) rural: 1.2% of population (2022 est.) total: 0.6% of population (2022 est.) **Obesity - adult prevalence rate:** 21.8% (2016) **Alcohol consumption per capita:** total: 9.59 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 2.85 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 2.72 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 4.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) **Tobacco use:** total: 33.1% (2025 est.) male: 44.1% (2025 est.) female: 22.2% (2025 est.) **Education expenditure:** 4.7% of GDP (2022 est.) 12.5% national budget (2022 est.) **School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):** total: 16 years (2022 est.) male: 16 years (2022 est.) female: 17 years (2022 est.) **People - note:** demographic data for Cyprus represent the population of the government-controlled area and the area administered by Turkish Cypriots, unless otherwise indicated ### Environment **Environmental issues:** scarce water resources; salination; water pollution from sewage, industrial wastes, and pesticides; coastal degradation; erosion; loss of wildlife habitats from urbanization **International environmental agreements:** party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements **Climate:** temperate; Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool winters **Land use:** agricultural land: 14% (2023 est.) arable land: 10.6% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 3.1% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 0.2% (2023 est.) forest: 18.6% (2023 est.) other: 67.1% (2023 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 67% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.76% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 6.837 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 100,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 6.737 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Particulate matter emissions:** 14.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 769,500 tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 17.6% (2022 est.) **Total water withdrawal:** municipal: 112 million cubic meters (2022) industrial: 17 million cubic meters (2022 est.) agricultural: 177 million cubic meters (2022) **Total renewable water resources:** 780 million cubic meters (2022 est.) **Geoparks:** total global geoparks and regional networks: 1 global geoparks and regional networks: Troodos (2023) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: Republic of Cyprus conventional short form: Cyprus local long form: Kypriaki Dimokratia (Greek)/ Kibris Cumhuriyeti (Turkish) local short form: Kypros (Greek)/ Kibris (Turkish) etymology: the Greek name for the island is Kupros, which is probably derived from the Sumerian kabar, meaning "copper" or "bronze;" copper mines were located on the island in antiquity note: the Turkish Cypriot community, which administers the northern part of the island, refers to itself as the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" or "TRNC" ("Kuzey Kibris Turk Cumhuriyeti" or "KKTC") **Government type:** Republic of Cyprus - presidential republic; self-declared "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" (TRNC) - parliamentary republic with enhanced presidency note: a separation of the two main ethnic communities inhabiting the island began following the outbreak of communal strife in 1963; this separation was further solidified when a Greek military-junta-supported coup attempt prompted the Turkish military intervention in July 1974 that gave the Turkish Cypriots de facto control in the north; Greek Cypriots control the only internationally recognized government on the island; on 15 November 1983, then Turkish Cypriot "President" Rauf DENKTAS declared independence and the formation of the "TRNC,” which is recognized only by Turkey **Capital:** name: Nicosia (Lefkosia/Lefkosa) geographic coordinates: 35 10 N, 33 22 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October etymology: may have been named after Nike, the Greek goddess of victory; the Greek name for the city, Lefkosia, and the Turkish name, Lefkosa, both mean "White City" **Administrative divisions:** 6 districts; Ammochostos (Famagusta; all but a small part located in the Turkish Cypriot community), Keryneia (Kyrenia; the only district located entirely in the Turkish Cypriot community), Larnaka (Larnaca; with a small part located in the Turkish Cypriot community), Lefkosia (Nicosia; a small part administered by Turkish Cypriots), Lemesos (Limassol), Pafos (Paphos) note: the 5 "districts" of the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" are Gazimagusa (Famagusta), Girne (Kyrenia), Guzelyurt (Morphou), Iskele (Trikomo), Lefkosa (Nicosia) **Legal system:** mixed system of English common law and civil law, with European law supremacy **Constitution:** history: ratified 16 August 1960 amendment process: constitution of the Republic of Cyprus -- proposed by the House of Representatives; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the total membership of the "Greek Community" and the "Turkish Community"; however, all seats of Turkish Cypriot members have remained vacant since 1964 constitution of the “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus” -- proposed by at least 10 members of the "Assembly of the Republic"; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the total Assembly membership and approval by referendum note: in 1963, the constitution was partly suspended as Turkish Cypriots withdrew from the government; Turkish-held territory in 1983 was declared the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" ("TRNC"); in 1985, the "TRNC" approved its own constitution **International law organization participation:** accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Cyprus dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 7 years **Suffrage:** 18 years of age; universal **Executive branch:** chief of state: President Nikos CHRISTODOULIDIS (since 28 February 2023) head of government: President Nikos CHRISTODOULIDIS (since 28 February 2023) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (limited to 2 consecutive terms) most recent election date: 5 February 2023, with a runoff on 12 February 2023 election results: 2023: Nikos CHRISTODOULIDIS elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Nikos CHRISTODOULIDIS (independent) 32%, Andreas MAVROGIANNIS (independent) 29.6%, Averof NEOFYTOU (DISY) 26.1%, Christos CHRISTOU (ELAM) 6%, other 6.3%; percent of vote in second round - Nikos CHRISTODOULIDS 52%, Andreas MAVROGIANNIS 48% 2018: Nikos ANASTASIADIS reelected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Nikos ANASTASIADIS (DISY) 35.5%, Stavros MALAS (AKEL) 30.2%, Nicolas PAPADOPOULOS (DIKO) 25.7%, other 8.6%; percent of vote in second round - Nikos ANASTASIADIS 56%, Stavros MALAS 44% expected date of next election: 2028 note 1: vice presidency reserved for a Turkish Cypriot, but the post has been vacant since 1974 because Turkish Cypriots do not participate in the Republic of Cyprus Government note 2: under the 1960 constitution, 3 ministerial posts are reserved for Turkish Cypriots, appointed by the vice president, but Greek Cypriots currently hold the positions **Legislative branch:** legislature name: House of Representatives (Vouli Antiprosopon) legislative structure: unicameral number of seats: 80 (all directly elected) electoral system: proportional representation scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 5/30/2021 parties elected and seats per party: Democratic Rally (DISY) (17); Progressive Party of the Working People (AKEL) (15); Democratic Party (DIKO) (9); National Popular Front (ELAM) (4); Movement of Social Democrats (EDEK) (4); Democratic Alignment (DIPA) (4); Cyprus Green Party (KOP) (3) percentage of women in chamber: 14.3% expected date of next election: May 2026 note: the area of Cyprus that Turkish Cypriots administer has a separate unicameral Assembly of the Republic, or Cumhuriyet Meclisi (50 seats); members are directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Supreme Court of Cyprus (consists of 13 judges, including the court president) judge selection and term of office: Republic of Cyprus Supreme Court judges appointed by the president of the republic on the recommendation of the Supreme Court judges; judges can serve until age 68; "TRNC Supreme Court" judges appointed by the "Supreme Council of Judicature," a 12-member body of judges, the attorney general, appointees by the president of the "TRNC," and by the "Legislative Assembly," and members elected by the bar association; judge tenure NA subordinate courts: Republic of Cyprus district courts; Assize Courts; Administrative Court; specialized courts for issues relating to family, industrial disputes, the military, and rent control; "TRNC Assize Courts"; "TNRC district and family courts" note: the highest court in the TRNC is the Supreme Court (consists of 8 judges, including the court president) **Political parties:** area under government control: Democratic Front or DIPA Democratic Party or DIKO Democratic Rally or DISY Movement of Ecologists - Citizens' Alliance Movement of Social Democrats EDEK National Popular Front or ELAM Progressive Party of the Working People or AKEL (Communist Party) Solidarity Movement area administered by Turkish Cypriots: Communal Democracy Party or TDP Communal Liberation Party - New Forces or TKP-YG Cyprus Socialist Party or KSP Democratic Party or DP National Democratic Party or NDP National Unity Party or UBP New Cyprus Party or YKP People's Party or HP Rebirth Party or YDP Republican Turkish Party or CTP United Cyprus Party or BKP **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Evangelos SAVVA (since 15 September 2023) chancery: 2211 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 462-5772 FAX: [1] (202) 483-6710 email address and website: info@cyprusembassy.net https://www.cyprusembassy.net/ consulate(s) general: New York honorary consulate(s): Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Kirkland (WA), Los Angeles, New Orleans, San Francisco **Diplomatic representation from the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Julie Davis FISHER (since 21 February 2023); note - Ambassador FISHER is temporarily assigned to the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv, Ukraine as Chargé d’ Affaires ad interim; she remains fully accredited in Cyprus embassy: Metochiou and Ploutarchou Street, 2407, Engomi, Nicosia mailing address: 5450 Nicosia Place, Washington DC 20521-5450 telephone: [357] (22) 393939 FAX: [357] (22) 780944 email address and website: ACSNicosia@state.gov https://cy.usembassy.gov/ **International organization participation:** Australia Group, C, CD, CE, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EMU, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, NSG, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO **Independence:** 16 August 1960 (from the UK) note: Turkish Cypriots proclaimed self-rule on 13 February 1975 and independence in 1983, but only Turkey recognizes these proclamations **National holiday:** Independence Day, 1 October (1960) note: Turkish Cypriots celebrate 15 November (1983) as "Republic Day" **Flag:** description: a copper-colored silhouette of the island is centered on a white field above two crossed green olive branches meaning: the olive branches symbolize hope for peace and reconciliation between the Greek and Turkish communities note 1: one of two national flags that uses a map as a design element; the flag of Kosovo is the other note 2: the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" flag retains the white field of the Cyprus national flag but has narrow horizontal red stripes near the top and bottom edges, with a red crescent and a five-pointed red star between them; the banner is modeled on the Turkish national flag, but with the colors reversed **National symbol(s):** Cypriot mouflon (wild sheep), white dove **National color(s):** blue, white **National coat of arms:** The coat of arms of Cyprus features a yellow shield representing the island’s copper deposits. A dove, one of the national symbols, holds an olive branch symbolizing peace, and olive branches encircle the shield. The year 1960 on the shield is the date of Cyprus’s independence from the United Kingdom. **National anthem(s):** title: "Ymnos eis tin Eleftherian" (Hymn to Freedom) lyrics/music: Dionysios SOLOMOS/Nikolaos MANTZAROS history: adopted 1966; Cyprus uses the Greek national anthem; the Turkish Cypriot community in Cyprus uses Turkey's national anthem **National heritage:** total World Heritage Sites: 3 (all cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Paphos; Painted Churches in the Troodos Region; Choirokoitia ### Economy **Economic overview:** services-based, high-income EU island economy; heavy tourism; sustained growth between recovery of national banking system and COVID-19 trade restrictions; high living standards; a known financial hub, its stock exchange functions as an investment bridge between EU-and EEU-member countries note: Even though the whole of the island is part of the EU, implementation of the EU "acquis communautaire" has been suspended in the area administered by Turkish Cypriots, known locally as the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, until political conditions permit the reunification of the island. Its market-based economy is roughly one-fifth the size of its southern neighbor and is likewise dominated by the service sector with a large portion of the population employed by the government. Manufacturing is limited mainly to food and beverages, furniture and fixtures, construction materials, metal and non-metal products, textiles and clothing. Little trade exists with the Republic of Cyprus outside of construction, historically relying heavily upon Turkey for financial aid, defense, telecommunications, utilities, and postal services. The Turkish Lira is the preferred currency, though foreign currencies are widely accepted in business transactions. **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $50.055 billion (2024 est.) $48.386 billion (2023 est.) $47.085 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** 3.4% (2024 est.) 2.8% (2023 est.) 7.2% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $53,300 (2024 est.) $52,200 (2023 est.) $51,600 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $36.333 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 1.8% (2024 est.) 3.5% (2023 est.) 8.4% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 1.2% (2024 est.) industry: 10.3% (2024 est.) services: 76.9% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **GDP - composition, by end use:** household consumption: 58.9% (2024 est.) government consumption: 18.6% (2024 est.) investment in fixed capital: 20.5% (2024 est.) investment in inventories: -1.6% (2024 est.) exports of goods and services: 96.7% (2024 est.) imports of goods and services: -93.1% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection **Agricultural products:** milk, potatoes, sheep milk, pork, goat milk, wheat, chicken, olives, grapes, barley (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage **Industries:** tourism, food and beverage processing, cement and gypsum, ship repair and refurbishment, textiles, light chemicals, metal products, wood, paper, stone and clay products note: area administered by Turkish Cypriots - foodstuffs, textiles, clothing, ship repair, clay, gypsum, copper, furniture **Industrial production growth rate:** 4.6% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency **Labor force:** 772,300 (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work **Unemployment rate:** 5.7% (2024 est.) 6.1% (2023 est.) 6.9% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment **Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):** total: 15.6% (2024 est.) male: 17.4% (2024 est.) female: 13.7% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment **Population below poverty line:** 13.9% (2021 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line **Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income:** 31.5 (2022 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality **Household income or consumption by percentage share:** lowest 10%: 3.6% (2022 est.) highest 10%: 26.2% (2022 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population **Remittances:** 1.8% of GDP (2023 est.) 1.7% of GDP (2022 est.) 2.1% of GDP (2021 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Budget:** revenues: $14.39 billion (2023 est.) expenditures: $13.733 billion (2023 est.) note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated **Public debt:** 97.5% of GDP (2017 est.) note: data cover general government debt and include debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data exclude debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intragovernmental debt; intragovernmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment **Taxes and other revenues:** 24.1% (of GDP) (2023 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP **Current account balance:** -$3.05 billion (2024 est.) -$3.831 billion (2023 est.) -$2.178 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars **Exports:** $35.12 billion (2024 est.) $32.922 billion (2023 est.) $32.563 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** Libya 14%, Greece 11%, Lebanon 8%, Bermuda 7%, Marshall Islands 5% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** ships, refined petroleum, packaged medicine, cheese, scented mixtures (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports:** $33.802 billion (2024 est.) $32.556 billion (2023 est.) $31.486 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** Greece 20%, UK 10%, Italy 7%, Turkey 6%, Spain 6% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** refined petroleum, ships, cars, packaged medicine, coal tar oil (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:** $2.088 billion (2024 est.) $1.789 billion (2023 est.) $1.671 billion (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars **Exchange rates:** euros (EUR) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 0.924 (2024 est.) 0.925 (2023 est.) 0.95 (2022 est.) 0.845 (2021 est.) 0.876 (2020 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.) **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 2.288 million kW (2023 est.) consumption: 5.197 billion kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 146.11 million kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** fossil fuels: 79.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 16% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) wind: 3.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) biomass and waste: 1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Coal:** consumption: 46,000 metric tons (2023 est.) exports: 71.6 metric tons (2022 est.) imports: 22,000 metric tons (2023 est.) **Petroleum:** refined petroleum consumption: 45,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) **Energy consumption per capita:** 107.188 million Btu/person (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 245,000 (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 25 (2024 est.) **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 1.51 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 156 (2024 est.) **Broadcast media:** mix of state and privately run TV and radio; the public broadcaster operates 2 TV channels and 4 radio stations; 6 private TV broadcasters, satellite and cable TV services (including from Greece and Turkey), and a number of private radio stations; in areas administered by Turkish Cypriots, there are 2 public TV stations, 4 public radio stations, 7 privately owned TV stations and 21 privately owned radio stations, 6 radio and 4 TV channels at local universities, 1 military radio station, and 1 radio station for civil defense cooperation, as well as relay stations from Turkey (2019) **Internet country code:** .cy **Internet users:** percent of population: 91% (2023 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 357,000 (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 39 (2023 est.) ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** 5B **Airports:** 14 (2025) **Heliports:** 68 (2025) **Merchant marine:** total: 1,005 (2023) by type: bulk carrier 243, container ship 154, general cargo 211, oil tanker 47, other 350 **Ports:** total ports: 6 (2024) large: 0 medium: 0 small: 3 very small: 3 ports with oil terminals: 4 key ports: Dhekelia, Famagusta, Kyrenia, Larnaca, Limassol, Xeros ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** Cypriot National Guard (Ethniki Froura, EF): Army, Navy, Air Force (2025) **Military expenditures:** 1.7% of GDP (2024 est.) 1.8% of GDP (2023 est.) 1.8% of GDP (2022 est.) 1.8% of GDP (2021 est.) 1.8% of GDP (2020 est.) **Military and security service personnel strengths:** approximately 12-15,000 active Cypriot National Guard (2025) **Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:** the National Guard's inventory includes a mix of armaments from a variety of suppliers, including Brazil, Israel, Russia, several European countries, and the US (2025) **Military service age and obligation:** all Cypriot men must complete 14 months of compulsory service upon reaching the age of 18; women may volunteer for 6 months of service at age 18; men and women may also enlist as contract soldiers up to age 42 (2025) **Military - note:** established in 1964, the National Guard (EF) is responsible for ensuring Cyprus’s territorial integrity and sovereignty; its primary focus is Turkey, which invaded Cyprus in 1974 and maintains a large military presence in the unrecognized Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus; the majority of the force is deployed along the “Green Line” that separates the Greek Cypriots from the Turkish Cypriots; the EF also participates in some internal missions, such as providing assistance during natural disasters; Greece is its primary security partner and maintains a military presence on Cyprus; the EF has conducted training exercises with other militaries including France, Israel, and the US; since Cyprus joined the EU in 2004, the EF has actively participated in the EU’s Common Security and Defense Policy and has sent small numbers of personnel to some EU and missions; Cyprus is also part of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) has been deployed in Cyprus since 1964; its mandate includes supervising the de facto ceasefire that came into effect in August 1974 and maintaining a buffer zone between the lines of the Cypriot National Guard and of the Turkish and Turkish Cypriot forces; UNFICYP has about 1,100 personnel assigned (2025) ### Terrorism **Terrorist group(s):** Terrorist group(s): Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide ### Transnational Issues **Refugees and internally displaced persons:** refugees: 73,303 (2024 est.) IDPs: 244,944 (2024 est.) stateless persons: 130 (2024 est.) --- ## Czechia **Slug:** czechia **Region:** Europe **Flag:** 🇨🇿 **Codes:** cek: ez, iso2: CZ, iso3: CZE, iso_num: 203, genc: CZE, stanag: CZE, internet: .cz ### Introduction **Background:** At the close of World War I, the Czechs and Slovaks of the former Austro-Hungarian Empire merged to form Czechoslovakia, a parliamentarian democracy. During the interwar years, having rejected a federal system, the new country's predominantly Czech leaders were frequently preoccupied with meeting the increasingly strident demands of other ethnic minorities within the republic, most notably the Slovaks, the Sudeten Germans, and the Ruthenians (Ukrainians). On the eve of World War II, Nazi Germany occupied the territory that today comprises Czechia, and Slovakia became an independent state allied with Germany. After the war, a reunited but truncated Czechoslovakia (less Ruthenia) fell within the Soviet sphere of influence when the pro-Soviet Communist party staged a coup in February 1948. In 1968, an invasion by fellow Warsaw Pact troops ended the efforts of the country's leaders to liberalize communist rule and create "socialism with a human face," ushering in a period of repression known as "normalization." The peaceful "Velvet Revolution" swept the Communist Party from power at the end of 1989 and inaugurated a return to democratic rule and a market economy. On 1 January 1993, the country underwent a nonviolent "velvet divorce" into its two national components, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The Czech Republic joined NATO in 1999 and the European Union in 2004. The country formally added the short-form name Czechia in 2016, while also continuing to use the full form name, the Czech Republic. ### Geography **Location:** Central Europe, between Germany, Poland, Slovakia, and Austria **Geographic coordinates:** 49 45 N, 15 30 E **Map references:** Europe **Area:** total : 78,867 sq km land: 77,247 sq km water: 1,620 sq km **Area - comparative:** about two-thirds the size of Pennsylvania; slightly smaller than South Carolina **Land boundaries:** total: 2,046 km border countries (4): Austria 402 km; Germany 704 km; Poland 699 km; Slovakia 241 km **Coastline:** 0 km (landlocked) **Maritime claims:** none (landlocked) **Climate:** temperate; cool summers; cold, cloudy, humid winters **Terrain:** Bohemia in the west consists of rolling plains, hills, and plateaus surrounded by low mountains; Moravia in the east consists of very hilly country **Elevation:** highest point: Snezka 1,602 m lowest point: Labe (Elbe) River 115 m mean elevation: 433 m **Natural resources:** hard coal, soft coal, kaolin, clay, graphite, timber, arable land **Land use:** agricultural land: 45.8% (2023 est.) arable land: 32.7% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0.5% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 12.5% (2023 est.) forest: 38.2% (2023 est.) other: 16% (2023 est.) **Irrigated land:** 220 sq km (2022) **Major rivers (by length in km):** Labe (Elbe) river source (shared with Germany [m]) - 1,252 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth **Major watersheds (area sq km):** Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km) **Population distribution:** a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country, but the northern and eastern regions tend to have larger urban concentrations **Natural hazards:** flooding **Geography - note:** note 1: landlocked; strategically located on some of oldest and most significant land routes in Europe; Moravian Gate is a traditional military corridor between the North European Plain and the Danube in central Europe note 2: the Hranice Abyss in Czechia is the world's deepest surveyed freshwater cave at 519 m (1,703 ft); its survey is not complete, and it may be up to 800-1,200 m (2,625-3,937 ft) deep ### People and Society **Population:** total: 10,838,703 (2025 est.) male: 5,337,128 female: 5,501,575 **Nationality:** noun: Czech(s) adjective: Czech **Ethnic groups:** Czech 57.3%, Moravian 3.4%, other 7.7%, unspecified 31.6% (2021 est.) note: includes only persons with one ethnicity **Languages:** Czech (official) 88.4%, Slovak 1.5%, other 2.6%, unspecified 7.2% (2021 est.) major-language sample(s): World Factbook, nepostradatelný zdroj základních informací. (Czech) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. note: includes only persons with one mother tongue **Religions:** Roman Catholic 7%, other believers belonging to a church or religious society 6% (includes Evangelical United Brethren Church and Czechoslovak Hussite Church), believers unaffiliated with a religious society 9.1%, none 47.8%, unspecified 30.1% (2021 est.) **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 15.7% (male 871,303/female 826,896) 15-64 years: 63.8% (male 3,542,298/female 3,373,127) 65 years and over: 20.5% (2024 est.) (male 922,136/female 1,302,130) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 56.5 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 24.3 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 32.2 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 3.1 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 44.4 years (2025 est.) male: 42.7 years female: 45.7 years **Population growth rate:** -0.02% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 9.56 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 11.82 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** 2.02 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country, but the northern and eastern regions tend to have larger urban concentrations **Urbanization:** urban population: 74.6% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.2% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 1.323 million PRAGUE (capital) (2023) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Mother's mean age at first birth:** 28.5 years (2020 est.) **Maternal mortality ratio:** 3 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 2.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 2.7 deaths/1,000 live births female: 2.4 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 78.6 years (2024 est.) male: 75.6 years female: 81.8 years **Total fertility rate:** 1.73 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 0.84 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: urban: 99.9% of population (2022 est.) rural: 99.8% of population (2022 est.) total: 99.9% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 0.1% of population (2022 est.) rural: 0.2% of population (2022 est.) total: 0.1% of population (2022 est.) **Health expenditure:** 9.5% of GDP (2021) 16.7% of national budget (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 4.35 physicians/1,000 population (2022) **Hospital bed density:** 6.6 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.) **Sanitation facility access:** improved: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.) rural: 100% of population (2022 est.) total: 100% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.) rural: 0% of population (2022 est.) total: 0% of population (2022 est.) **Obesity - adult prevalence rate:** 26% (2016) **Alcohol consumption per capita:** total: 12.73 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 6.77 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 2.73 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 3.24 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) **Tobacco use:** total: 26.8% (2025 est.) male: 30.8% (2025 est.) female: 23% (2025 est.) **Currently married women (ages 15-49):** 53.7% (2021 est.) **Education expenditure:** 4.3% of GDP (2022 est.) 10% national budget (2022 est.) **School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):** total: 17 years (2022 est.) male: 16 years (2022 est.) female: 18 years (2022 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** air and water pollution (including acid rain) in areas of northwest Bohemia and in northern Moravia around Ostrava; pollution from industry, mining, and agriculture **International environmental agreements:** party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements **Climate:** temperate; cool summers; cold, cloudy, humid winters **Land use:** agricultural land: 45.8% (2023 est.) arable land: 32.7% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0.5% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 12.5% (2023 est.) forest: 38.2% (2023 est.) other: 16% (2023 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 74.6% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.2% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 79.901 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 41.667 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 25.707 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from consumed natural gas: 12.527 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Particulate matter emissions:** 15 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 5.335 million tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 37.3% (2022 est.) **Total water withdrawal:** municipal: 626 million cubic meters (2022) industrial: 776 million cubic meters (2022) agricultural: 44 million cubic meters (2022) **Total renewable water resources:** 13.15 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) **Geoparks:** total global geoparks and regional networks: 1 global geoparks and regional networks: Bohemian Paradise (2023) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: Czech Republic conventional short form: Czechia local long form: Ceska republika local short form: Cesko etymology: name derives from the Czechs, a West Slavic tribe who rose to prominence in the late 9th century A.D.; the tribal name is said to come from an ancestral chief **Government type:** parliamentary republic **Capital:** name: Prague geographic coordinates: 50 05 N, 14 28 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October etymology: the name may derive from the old Slavic word "praga" or "prah," meaning "threshold;" it could also be related to the same Slavic root word as the modern Czech "pražiti," a term for woodland cleared by burning **Administrative divisions:** 13 regions (kraje, singular - kraj) and 1 capital city* (hlavni mesto); Jihocesky (South Bohemia), Jihomoravsky (South Moravia), Karlovarsky (Karlovy Vary), Kralovehradecky (Hradec Kralove), Liberecky (Liberec), Moravskoslezsky (Moravia-Silesia), Olomoucky (Olomouc), Pardubicky (Pardubice), Plzensky (Pilsen), Praha (Prague)*, Stredocesky (Central Bohemia), Ustecky (Usti), Vysocina (Highlands), Zlinsky (Zlin) **Legal system:** new civil code enacted in 2014, replacing civil code of 1964 based on former Austro-Hungarian civil codes and socialist theory **Constitution:** history: previous 1960; latest ratified 16 December 1992, effective 1 January 1993 amendment process: passage requires at least three-fifths concurrence of members present in both houses of Parliament **International law organization participation:** has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Czechia dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years **Suffrage:** 18 years of age; universal **Executive branch:** chief of state: President Petr PAVEL (since 9 March 2023) head of government: Prime Minister Andrej BABIS (since 9 December 2025) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (limited to 2 consecutive terms); prime minister appointed by the president for a 4-year term most recent election date: 13-14 January 2023, with a second round on 27-28 January 2023 election results: 2023: Petr PAVEL elected in the second round; percent of vote in the first round - Petr PAVEL (independent) 35.4%, Andrej BABIS (ANO) 35%, Danuse NERUDOVA (Mayors and Independents) 13.9%, Pavel FISCHER (independent) 6.8%; percent of vote in the second round - Petr PAVEL 58.3%, Andrej BABIS 41.6% 2018: Milos ZEMAN reelected president in the second round; percent of vote - Milos ZEMAN (SPO) 51.4%, Jiri DRAHOS (independent) 48.6% expected date of next election: by January 2028 **Legislative branch:** legislature name: Parliament (Parlament) legislative structure: bicameral **Legislative branch - lower chamber:** chamber name: Chamber of Deputies (Poslanecka Snemovna) number of seats: 200 (all directly elected) electoral system: proportional representation scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 4 years most recent election date: 10/3/2025 to 10/4/2025 parties elected and seats per party: ANO (80); SPOLU (52); Mayors and independents (STAN) (22); Czech Pirate Party (18); Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) (15); Motoristé sobě (AUTO) (13) percentage of women in chamber: 33.5% expected date of next election: October 2029 **Legislative branch - upper chamber:** chamber name: Senate (Senat) number of seats: 81 (all directly elected) electoral system: plurality/majority scope of elections: partial renewal term in office: 6 years most recent election date: 9/20/2024 to 9/28/2024 parties elected and seats per party: Civic Democratic Party (ODS) (8); Christian Democratic Union - Czechoslovak People's Party (KDU - CSL) (7); TOP 09 (3); ANO 2011 (3); Independents (2); Other (4) percentage of women in chamber: 21.3% expected date of next election: September 2026 **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Supreme Court (organized into Civil Law and Commercial Division, and Criminal Division each with a court chief justice, vice justice, and several judges); Constitutional Court (consists of 15 justices); Supreme Administrative Court (consists of 36 judges, including the court president and vice president, and organized into 6-, 7-, and 9-member chambers) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges proposed by the Chamber of Deputies and appointed by the president; judges appointed for life; Constitutional Court judges appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate; judges appointed for 10-year, renewable terms; Supreme Administrative Court judges selected by the president of the Court; unlimited terms subordinate courts: High Court; regional and district courts **Political parties:** Action of Dissatisfied Citizens or ANO (Akce nespokojených občanů) Christian and Democratic Union - Czechoslovak People's Party or KDU-ČSL Civic Democratic Party or ODS Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia or KSČM Czech Pirate Party or Piráti ForMOST or ProMOST Freedom and Direct Democracy or SPD Independents or NEZ Mayors and Independents or STAN Mayors for the Liberec Region or SLK Přísaha Senator 21 or SEN 21 Social Democracy SOCDEM Svobodni Tradition Responsibility Prosperity 09 or TOP 09 Tábor 2020 or T2020 United Democrats - Association of Independents or SD-SN **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Miloslav STAŠEK (since 16 September 2022) chancery: 3900 Spring of Freedom Street NW, Washington, DC 20008-3803 telephone: [1] (202) 274-9100 FAX: [1] (202) 966-8540 email address and website: washington@embassy.mzv.cz https://www.mzv.cz/washington/ consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York **Diplomatic representation from the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Nicholas MERRICK (since 23 October 2025) embassy: Trziste 15, 118 01 Praha 1 - Mala Strana mailing address: 5630 Prague Place, Washington DC 20521-5630 telephone: [420] 257-022-000 FAX: [420] 257-022-809 email address and website: ACSPrg@state.gov https://cz.usembassy.gov/ **International organization participation:** Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CD, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, ESA, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MONUSCO, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, SELEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC **Independence:** 1 January 1993 (Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia) note: although 1 January is the day the Czech Republic came into being, the Czechs commemorate 28 October 1918, the day the former Czechoslovakia declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, as their independence day **National holiday:** Czechoslovak Founding Day, 28 October (1918) **Flag:** description: two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red with a blue isosceles triangle based on the left side note: combines the white and red of Bohemia with blue from the arms of Moravia; identical to the flag of the former Czechoslovakia **National symbol(s):** silver (or white) double-tailed rampant lion **National color(s):** white, red, blue **National anthem(s):** title: "Kde domov muj?" (Where is My Home?) lyrics/music: Josef Kajetan TYL/Frantisek Jan SKROUP history: adopted 1993; the anthem was originally written as incidental music for the play "Fidlovacka" (1834), but it soon became popular as an unofficial anthem of the Czech nation; its first verse served as the official Czechoslovak anthem beginning in 1918, and the second verse (Slovak) was dropped after Czechoslovakia was dissolved in 1993 **National heritage:** total World Heritage Sites: 17 (16 cultural, 1 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Historic Prague (c); Historic Telč (c); Historic Český Krumlov (c); Lednice-Valtice Cultural Landscape (c); Historic Kutná Hora (c); Holy Trinity Column, Olomouc (c); Karlovy Vary Spa (c); Zatec and the Landscape of Saaz Hops; Žatec and the Landscape of Saaz Hops (n) ### Economy **Economic overview:** high-income, diversified EU economy; manufacturing-oriented exporter led by automotive industry; moderate growth driven by household consumption and investments, despite negative contribution from net exports; tight labor market with low unemployment; gained energy independence from Russian oil in April 2025 **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $521.928 billion (2024 est.) $516.145 billion (2023 est.) $516.431 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** 1.1% (2024 est.) -0.1% (2023 est.) 2.8% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $48,000 (2024 est.) $47,500 (2023 est.) $48,400 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $345.037 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 2.4% (2024 est.) 10.7% (2023 est.) 15.1% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 1.5% (2024 est.) industry: 30.2% (2024 est.) services: 59.5% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **GDP - composition, by end use:** household consumption: 44% (2023 est.) government consumption: 19.7% (2023 est.) investment in fixed capital: 27.3% (2023 est.) investment in inventories: 0.7% (2023 est.) exports of goods and services: 69% (2023 est.) imports of goods and services: -64% (2023 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection **Agricultural products:** wheat, sugar beets, milk, barley, rapeseed, potatoes, maize, triticale, pork, chicken (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage **Industries:** motor vehicles, metallurgy, machinery and equipment, glass, armaments **Industrial production growth rate:** -1% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency **Labor force:** 5.541 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work **Unemployment rate:** 2.6% (2024 est.) 2.6% (2023 est.) 2.3% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment **Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):** total: 8.4% (2024 est.) male: 8.2% (2024 est.) female: 8.6% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment **Population below poverty line:** 10.2% (2021 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line **Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income:** 25.9 (2022 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality **Average household expenditures:** on food: 15.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.) on alcohol and tobacco: 7.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.) **Household income or consumption by percentage share:** lowest 10%: 3.8% (2022 est.) highest 10%: 21.8% (2022 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population **Remittances:** 1.2% of GDP (2024 est.) 1.2% of GDP (2023 est.) 1.4% of GDP (2022 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Budget:** revenues: $94.01 billion (2022 est.) expenditures: $106.07 billion (2022 est.) note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated **Taxes and other revenues:** 12.6% (of GDP) (2022 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP **Current account balance:** $6.047 billion (2024 est.) -$432.727 million (2023 est.) -$13.644 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars **Exports:** $239.259 billion (2024 est.) $236.103 billion (2023 est.) $219.419 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** Germany 29%, Slovakia 7%, Poland 6%, France 5%, UK 5% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** cars, vehicle parts/accessories, broadcasting equipment, computers, plastic products (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports:** $216.741 billion (2024 est.) $219.09 billion (2023 est.) $216.042 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** Germany 22%, China 17%, Poland 8%, Slovakia 5%, Italy 4% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** broadcasting equipment, vehicle parts/accessories, cars, plastic products, computers (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:** $146.281 billion (2024 est.) $148.379 billion (2023 est.) $139.981 billion (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars **Exchange rates:** koruny (CZK) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 23.217 (2024 est.) 22.198 (2023 est.) 23.357 (2022 est.) 21.678 (2021 est.) 23.21 (2020 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.) **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 21.802 million kW (2023 est.) consumption: 63.628 billion kWh (2023 est.) exports: 22.648 billion kWh (2023 est.) imports: 13.465 billion kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 3.012 billion kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** fossil fuels: 45.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) nuclear: 40.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 4.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) wind: 0.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: 2.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) biomass and waste: 7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Nuclear energy:** Number of operational nuclear reactors: 6 (2025) Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors: 3.96GW (2025 est.) Percent of total electricity production: 40% (2023 est.) **Coal:** production: 31.946 million metric tons (2023 est.) consumption: 33.239 million metric tons (2023 est.) exports: 2.128 million metric tons (2023 est.) imports: 4.09 million metric tons (2023 est.) proven reserves: 3.595 billion metric tons (2023 est.) **Petroleum:** total petroleum production: 4,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 219,000 bbl/day (2024 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 15 million barrels (2021 est.) **Natural gas:** production: 163.333 million cubic meters (2023 est.) consumption: 6.499 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) imports: 6.812 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) proven reserves: 3.964 billion cubic meters (2021 est.) **Energy consumption per capita:** 136.306 million Btu/person (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 1.16 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 11 (2024 est.) **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 13.6 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 127 (2024 est.) **Broadcast media:** 22 national TV stations, with 17 privately owned; publicly operated Czech Television has 5 national channels; over 350 TV channels, many through cable, satellite, and IPTV subscription services; 63 radio broadcasters operate over 80 radio stations, including 7 multiregional radio stations or networks; publicly owned broadcaster Czech Radio operates 4 national, 14 regional, and 4 Internet stations; both Czech Radio and Czech Television are partly financed through a license fee (2019) **Internet country code:** .cz **Internet users:** percent of population: 86% (2023 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 4.1 million (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 38 (2023 est.) ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** OK **Airports:** 252 (2025) **Heliports:** 107 (2025) **Railways:** total: 9,548 km (2020) 3,242 km electrified ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** Czech Armed Forces: Land Forces, Air Force, Special Forces (2025) **Military expenditures:** 2% of GDP (2025 est.) 2.1% of GDP (2024 est.) 1.5% of GDP (2023 est.) 1.3% of GDP (2022 est.) 1.4% of GDP (2021 est.) **Military and security service personnel strengths:** approximately 28,000 active-duty military personnel (2025) **Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:** the Czech military has a mix of domestically produced, Soviet-era, and more recently acquired modern weapons and equipment from such suppliers as France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, and the US; its domestic defense industry produces such items as armored combat vehicles and light attack aircraft (2025) note 1: in 2019, Czechia announced a modernization plan to acquire more Western equipment that was compliant with NATO standards, including armored vehicles, fighter aircraft, and helicopters note 2: during the Cold War, Czechoslovakia was a major producer of armored personnel carriers, military trucks, tanks, and trainer aircraft **Military service age and obligation:** 18-28 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; conscription abolished 2004 (2025) note: as of 2023, women comprised nearly 14% of the military's full-time personnel **Military deployments:** up to 130 Lithuania (NATO); 130 Slovakia (NATO) (2024) **Military - note:** the Czech military is responsible for national and territorial defense, assisting civil authorities during natural disasters or other emergencies, boosting border security alongside the police, participating in international peacekeeping operations, and supporting its collective security commitments to the EU and NATO, both of which Czechia considers pillars of its national security strategy; Czechia is a member of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, contributes to UN peacekeeping operations, and actively participates in EU military and security missions under the EU Common Security and Defense Policy; the Czech military has been an active member of NATO since the country joined in 2009 and participates in a variety of NATO’s collective defense missions, including contributing to the Enhanced Forward Presence in Eastern Europe, Baltic Air Policing operations, rapid response forces, and operations in Kosovo; it also exercises regularly with NATO partners and maintains close bilateral ties to a number of militaries particularly partner members of the Visegrad Group (Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia) and Germany (2025) ### Transnational Issues **Refugees and internally displaced persons:** refugees: 392,198 (2024 est.) IDPs: 5 (2024 est.) stateless persons: 588 (2024 est.) --- ## Denmark **Slug:** denmark **Region:** Europe **Flag:** 🇩🇰 **Codes:** cek: da, iso2: DK, iso3: DNK, iso_num: 208, genc: DNK, stanag: DNK, internet: .dk ### Introduction **Background:** Once the seat of Viking raiders and later a major north European power, Denmark has evolved into a modern, prosperous nation that is part of the general political and economic integration of Europe. It joined NATO in 1949 and the EEC (now the EU) in 1973. The country has opted out of certain elements of the EU's Maastricht Treaty, including the European Economic and Monetary Union and justice and home affairs issues. a 2022 referendum resulted in the removal of Denmark's 30-year opt-out on defense issues, now allowing Denmark to participate fully in the EU's Common Security and Defense Policy. ### Geography **Location:** Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and the North Sea, on a peninsula north of Germany (Jutland); also includes several major islands (Sjaelland, Fyn, and Bornholm) **Geographic coordinates:** 56 00 N, 10 00 E **Map references:** Europe **Area:** total : 43,094 sq km land: 42,434 sq km water: 660 sq km note: includes the island of Bornholm in the Baltic Sea and the rest of metropolitan Denmark (the Jutland Peninsula, and the major islands of Sjaelland and Fyn) but excludes the Faroe Islands and Greenland **Area - comparative:** slightly less than twice the size of Massachusetts; about two-thirds the size of West Virginia **Land boundaries:** total: 141 km border countries (2): Germany 140 km; Canada 1.3 km **Coastline:** 7,314 km **Maritime claims:** territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation **Climate:** temperate; humid and overcast; mild, windy winters and cool summers **Terrain:** low and flat to gently rolling plains **Elevation:** highest point: Store Mollehoj 171 m lowest point: Lammefjord -7 m mean elevation: 34 m **Natural resources:** petroleum, natural gas, fish, arable land, salt, limestone, chalk, stone, gravel and sand **Land use:** agricultural land: 65.5% (2023 est.) arable land: 59.1% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0.7% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 5.6% (2023 est.) forest: 16% (2023 est.) other: 18.5% (2023 est.) **Irrigated land:** 2,420 sq km (2022) **Population distribution:** population centers tend to be along coastal areas, particularly in Copenhagen and the eastern side of the country's mainland **Natural hazards:** flooding is a threat in some areas of the country (e.g., parts of Jutland, along the southern coast of the island of Lolland) that are protected from the sea by a system of dikes **Geography - note:** composed of the Jutland Peninsula and a group of more than 400 islands (Danish Archipelago); controls Danish Straits (Skagerrak and Kattegat) linking Baltic and North Seas; about one-quarter of the population lives in greater Copenhagen ### People and Society **Population:** total: 6,051,491 (2025 est.) male: 3,001,698 female: 3,049,793 **Nationality:** noun: Dane(s) adjective: Danish **Ethnic groups:** Danish (includes Greenlandic (who are predominantly Inuit) and Faroese) 84.2%, Turkish 1.1%, other 14.7% (largest groups are Polish, Romanian, Syrian, Ukrainian, German, and Iraqi) (2023 est.) note: data represent population by country of origin **Languages:** Danish, Faroese, Greenlandic (an Inuit dialect), German (small minority); note - English is the predominant second language major-language sample(s): Verdens Faktabog, den uundværlig kilde til grundlæggende oplysninger. (Danish) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. **Religions:** Evangelical Lutheran (official) 71.4%, Muslim 4.3%, other/none/unspecified (denominations include Roman Catholic, Jehovah's Witness, Serbian Orthodox Christian, Jewish, Baptist, Buddhist, Church of Jesus Christ, Pentecostal, and nondenominational Christian) 24.3% (2024 est.) **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 16.2% (male 496,793/female 471,018) 15-64 years: 62.9% (male 1,903,315/female 1,856,615) 65 years and over: 20.8% (2024 est.) (male 575,153/female 670,242) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 57.2 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 24.5 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 32.7 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 3.1 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 42.2 years (2025 est.) male: 41 years female: 43.4 years **Population growth rate:** 0.64% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 9.81 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 10.56 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** 7.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** population centers tend to be along coastal areas, particularly in Copenhagen and the eastern side of the country's mainland **Urbanization:** urban population: 88.5% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.54% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 1.381 million COPENHAGEN (capital) (2023) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Mother's mean age at first birth:** 29.8 years (2020 est.) **Maternal mortality ratio:** 4 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 3.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 3.4 deaths/1,000 live births female: 2.5 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 82.1 years (2024 est.) male: 80.2 years female: 84.1 years **Total fertility rate:** 1.5 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 0.73 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.) rural: 100% of population (2022 est.) total: 100% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.) rural: 0% of population (2022 est.) total: 0% of population (2022 est.) **Health expenditure:** 9.5% of GDP (2022) 17.7% of national budget (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 7.24 physicians/1,000 population (2021) **Hospital bed density:** 2.5 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.) **Sanitation facility access:** improved: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.) rural: 100% of population (2022 est.) total: 100% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.) rural: 0% of population (2022 est.) total: 0% of population (2022 est.) **Obesity - adult prevalence rate:** 19.7% (2016) **Alcohol consumption per capita:** total: 9.16 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 3.42 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 4.08 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 1.66 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) **Tobacco use:** total: 14.3% (2025 est.) male: 14.4% (2025 est.) female: 14.3% (2025 est.) **Currently married women (ages 15-49):** 54.3% (2024 est.) **Child marriage:** women married by age 18: 0.7% (2021) **Education expenditure:** 6.4% of GDP (2022 est.) 14.2% national budget (2022 est.) **School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):** total: 18 years (2023 est.) male: 18 years (2023 est.) female: 19 years (2023 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** air pollution, principally from vehicle and power-plant emissions; nitrogen and phosphorus pollution of the North Sea; water pollution from animal wastes and pesticides **International environmental agreements:** party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protection **Climate:** temperate; humid and overcast; mild, windy winters and cool summers **Land use:** agricultural land: 65.5% (2023 est.) arable land: 59.1% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0.7% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 5.6% (2023 est.) forest: 16% (2023 est.) other: 18.5% (2023 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 88.5% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.54% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 29.915 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 2.54 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 22.535 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from consumed natural gas: 4.841 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Particulate matter emissions:** 10.1 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) **Methane emissions:** energy: 49.7 kt (2022-2024 est.) agriculture: 236.5 kt (2019-2021 est.) waste: 54.4 kt (2019-2021 est.) other: 5.3 kt (2019-2021 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 4.911 million tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 35.4% (2022 est.) **Total water withdrawal:** municipal: 382.787 million cubic meters (2022) industrial: 45.076 million cubic meters (2022) agricultural: 506.487 million cubic meters (2022) **Total renewable water resources:** 6 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) **Geoparks:** total global geoparks and regional networks: 3 (2024) global geoparks and regional networks: Odsherred; South Fyn Archipelago; Vestjylland (2024) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: Kingdom of Denmark conventional short form: Denmark local long form: Kongeriget Danmark local short form: Danmark etymology: the name derives from the words Dane, a tribal name with unclear Germanic origins, and mark, a Danish word that refers to a march (borderland) **Government type:** parliamentary constitutional monarchy **Capital:** name: Copenhagen geographic coordinates: 55 40 N, 12 35 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October; note - applies to continental Denmark only, not to its North Atlantic components etymology: name derives from the Danish words køber (merchant or buyer) and havn (harbor or port) **Administrative divisions:** metropolitan Denmark - 5 regions (regioner, singular - region); Hovedstaden (Capital), Midtjylland (Central Jutland), Nordjylland (North Jutland), Sjaelland (Zealand), Syddanmark (Southern Denmark) **Legal system:** civil law; judicial review of legislative acts **Constitution:** history: several previous; latest adopted 5 June 1953 amendment process: proposed by the Folketing (Parliament) with consent of the government; passage requires approval by the next Folketing following a general election, approval by simple majority vote of at least 40% of voters in a referendum, and assent of the chief of state **International law organization participation:** accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Denmark dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 7 years **Suffrage:** 18 years of age; universal **Executive branch:** chief of state: King FREDERIK X (since 14 January 2024) head of government: Prime Minister Mette FREDERIKSEN (since 27 June 2019) cabinet: Council of State appointed by the monarch election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative elections, the monarch usually appoints the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as prime minister note: Queen MARGRETHE II abdicated on 14 January 2024, the first Danish monarch to voluntarily abdicate since King ERIC III in 1146 **Legislative branch:** legislature name: Parliament (Folketinget) legislative structure: unicameral chamber name: The Danish Parliament (Folketinget) number of seats: 179 (all directly elected) electoral system: proportional representation scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 4 years most recent election date: 11/1/2022 parties elected and seats per party: Social Democratic Party (50); Liberal Party (Venstre) (23); Moderates (M) (16); Socialist People's Party (SF) (15); Danish Democrats (Æ) (14); Liberal Alliance (14); Conservative People's Party (10); Unity List-Red-Green Alliance (9); Other (24) percentage of women in chamber: 43.6% expected date of next election: October 2026 **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the court president and 18 judges) judge selection and term of office: judges appointed by the monarch upon the recommendation of the Minister of Justice, with the advice of the Judicial Appointments Council, a 6-member independent body of judges and lawyers; judges appointed for life with retirement at age 70 subordinate courts: Special Court of Indictment and Revision; 2 High Courts; Maritime and Commercial Court; county courts **Political parties:** The Alternative or AP Conservative People's Party or DKF or C Danish People's Party or DF or O Denmark Democrats or E Green Left or SF or F (formerly Socialist People's Party or SF or F) Liberal Alliance or LA or I Liberal Party (Venstre) or V Moderates or M New Right Party or NB or D Red-Green Alliance (Unity List) or EL Social Democrats or SDP or A Social Liberal Party or SLP or B **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Jesper Møller SØRENSEN (since 15 September 2023) chancery: 3200 Whitehaven Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 234-4300 FAX: [1] (202) 328-1470 email address and website: wasamb@um.dk https://usa.um.dk/en consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, New York, Silicon Valley (CA) **Diplomatic representation from the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Kenneth A. HOWERY (since 5 November 2025) embassy: Dag Hammarskjolds Alle 24, 2100 Kobenhavn 0 mailing address: 5280 Copenhagen Place, Washington DC 20521-5280 telephone: [45] 33-41-71-00 FAX: [45] 35-43-02-23 email address and website: CopenhagenACS@state.gov https://dk.usembassy.gov/ **International organization participation:** ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CD, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EITI (implementing country), ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, G-9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOOSA, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC **Independence:** ca. 965 (unified and Christianized under Harald I GORMSSON); 5 June 1849 (became a parliamentary constitutional monarchy) **National holiday:** Constitution Day, 5 June (1849) note: closest equivalent to a national holiday **Flag:** description: red field with a white cross that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the left history: referred to as the Dannebrog (Danish flag) and is one of the oldest national flags in the world; the origin of the design is unclear; one legend says that the banner fell from the sky during an early-13th-century battle and inspired the royal army to victory; in actuality, the flag may derive from a crusade banner note: Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and the Faroe Islands subsequently adopted the shifted-cross design **National symbol(s):** lion, mute swan **National color(s):** red, white **National coat of arms:** Denmark’s King Frederick VI adopted the national coat of arms in 1819; the crown of King Christian V, who ruled Denmark and Norway from 1670 to 1699, sits atop the shield, symbolizing royal and national authority; the three lions represent a strong and powerful country, with red lily pads in the shape of hearts that stand for strength, valor, and joy **National anthem(s):** title: "Der er et yndigt land" (There is a Lovely Country) lyrics/music: Adam Gottlob OEHLENSCHLAGER/Hans Ernst KROYER; Johannes EWALD/unknown history: adopted 1844; national anthem _____ title: “Kong Christian stod ved højen mast” (King Christian Stood by the Lofty Mast) lyrics/music: Johannes EWALD/unknown history: adopted 1780; one of the oldest royal anthems in the world; used for events when Danish royalty is present; anthem has equal status with the national anthem note: Denmark is one of only two countries that has two national anthems of equal status (New Zealand is the other) **National heritage:** total World Heritage Sites: 12 (8 cultural, 4 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Denmark: Mounds, Runic Stones, and Church at Jelling (c); Roskilde Cathedral (c); Kronborg Castle (c); Wadden Sea (n); Stevns Klint (n); Christiansfeld, Moravian Church Settlement (c); Par force hunting landscape, North Zealand (c); Greenland: Ilulissat Icefjord (n); Kujataa, Norse and Inuit Farming (c); Aasivissuit–Nipisat, Inuit Hunting Ground (c); Viking-Age Ring Fortresses (c); Møns Klint (n) note: includes three sites in Greenland ### Economy **Economic overview:** high-income, EU-member, trade-oriented Nordic economy; growth driven by pharmaceuticals, energy, and services; large share of employment in public sector; fixed exchange rate pegged to euro; strong fiscal position and declining public debt; tight labor market mitigated by migrant workers and higher retirement age **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $440.558 billion (2024 est.) $424.937 billion (2023 est.) $414.592 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** 3.7% (2024 est.) 2.5% (2023 est.) 1.5% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $73,700 (2024 est.) $71,500 (2023 est.) $70,200 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $429.457 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 1.4% (2024 est.) 3.3% (2023 est.) 7.7% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 0.7% (2024 est.) industry: 24% (2024 est.) services: 64% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **GDP - composition, by end use:** household consumption: 45.5% (2023 est.) government consumption: 22.5% (2023 est.) investment in fixed capital: 22.6% (2023 est.) investment in inventories: 0.2% (2023 est.) exports of goods and services: 68% (2023 est.) imports of goods and services: -59.8% (2023 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection **Agricultural products:** milk, wheat, potatoes, barley, sugar beets, pork, rapeseed, rye, oats, chicken (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage **Industries:** wind turbines, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, shipbuilding and refurbishment, iron, steel, nonferrous metals, chemicals, food processing, machinery and transportation equipment, textiles and clothing, electronics, construction, furniture and other wood products **Industrial production growth rate:** 12% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency **Labor force:** 3.21 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work **Unemployment rate:** 5.6% (2024 est.) 5.1% (2023 est.) 4.5% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment **Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):** total: 12.1% (2024 est.) male: 12.3% (2024 est.) female: 11.9% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment **Population below poverty line:** 12.4% (2021 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line **Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income:** 29.3 (2022 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality **Average household expenditures:** on food: 11.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.) on alcohol and tobacco: 3.5% of household expenditures (2023 est.) **Household income or consumption by percentage share:** lowest 10%: 3.6% (2022 est.) highest 10%: 24.5% (2022 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population **Remittances:** 0.4% of GDP (2024 est.) 0.4% of GDP (2023 est.) 0.3% of GDP (2022 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Budget:** revenues: $149.393 billion (2023 est.) expenditures: $136.662 billion (2023 est.) note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated **Public debt:** 35.3% of GDP (2017 est.) note: data cover general government debt and include debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intra-governmental debt; intragovernmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions **Taxes and other revenues:** 31.4% (of GDP) (2023 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP **Current account balance:** $55.901 billion (2024 est.) $40.061 billion (2023 est.) $46.488 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars **Exports:** $299.405 billion (2024 est.) $276.646 billion (2023 est.) $283.37 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** Germany 13%, USA 10%, Sweden 9%, Netherlands 7%, China 5% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** packaged medicine, fish, vaccines, refined petroleum, pork (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports:** $252.954 billion (2024 est.) $243.478 billion (2023 est.) $245.07 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** Germany 18%, Sweden 11%, Norway 10%, Netherlands 9%, China 7% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** natural gas, cars, garments, packaged medicine, refined petroleum (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:** $108.405 billion (2024 est.) $109.371 billion (2023 est.) $96.073 billion (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars **Exchange rates:** Danish kroner (DKK) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 6.894 (2024 est.) 6.89 (2023 est.) 7.076 (2022 est.) 6.287 (2021 est.) 6.542 (2020 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.) **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 20.794 million kW (2023 est.) consumption: 35.253 billion kWh (2023 est.) exports: 16.698 billion kWh (2023 est.) imports: 19.831 billion kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 1.825 billion kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** fossil fuels: 11.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 9.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) wind: 57.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) biomass and waste: 21.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Coal:** consumption: 1.135 million metric tons (2023 est.) exports: 124,000 metric tons (2023 est.) imports: 1.296 million metric tons (2023 est.) **Petroleum:** total petroleum production: 63,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 151,000 bbl/day (2024 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 441 million barrels (2021 est.) **Natural gas:** production: 2.021 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) consumption: 2.309 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) exports: 8.388 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) imports: 8.612 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) proven reserves: 29.534 billion cubic meters (2021 est.) **Energy consumption per capita:** 98.513 million Btu/person (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 698,000 (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 12 (2024 est.) **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 7.57 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 127 (2024 est.) **Broadcast media:** strong public-sector TV presence, with Danmarks Radio (DR) operating 6 channels and TV2 operating roughly a half-dozen channels; private stations are available via satellite and cable feed; DR operates 4 FM radio stations, 10 digital audio stations, and 14 web-based radio stations; 140 commercial and 187 community (non-commercial) radio stations (2019) **Internet country code:** .dk **Internet users:** percent of population: 100% (2024 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 2.65 million (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 44 (2023 est.) ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** OY **Airports:** 102 (2025) **Heliports:** 29 (2025) **Railways:** total: 2,682 km (2020) 876 km electrified **Merchant marine:** total: 715 (2023) by type: bulk carrier 15, container ship 132, general cargo 69, oil tanker 107, other 392 **Ports:** total ports: 69 (2024) large: 1 medium: 2 small: 30 very small: 36 ports with oil terminals: 33 key ports: Abenra, Alborg, Arhus, Assens, Augustenborg, Bandholm, Esbjerg, Faborg, Fredericia, Frederikshavn, Haderslev, Holstebro-Stuer, Kalundborg, Kobenhavn, Kolding, Korsor, Marstal, Middelfart, Naestved, Nakskov, Nyborg, Nykobing, Odense, Randers, Ronne, Rudkobing, Sakskobing, Skagen Havn, Sonderborg, Stubbekobing, Studstrup, Svendborg, Vejle ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** Danish Armed Forces (Forsvaret): Royal Danish Army, Royal Danish Navy, Royal Danish Air Force (2025) **Military expenditures:** 3.2% of GDP (2025 est.) 2.3% of GDP (2024 est.) 2% of GDP (2023 est.) 1.4% of GDP (2022 est.) 1.3% of GDP (2021 est.) **Military and security service personnel strengths:** approximately 17,000 active-duty military personnel (2025) **Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:** the Danish military inventory is comprised of modern European, Israeli, US, and domestically produced weapons and equipment; the Danish defense industry is active in the production of naval vessels, defense electronics, and subcomponents of larger weapons systems, such as the US F-35 fighter aircraft; the major warships of the Royal Danish Navy are produced domestically (2025) **Military service age and obligation:** 18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service for men and women; draftees serve 11 months, including five months of basic training, followed by six months in an operational unit (2025) note 1: Denmark has had compulsory military service since 1849; conscripts are chosen by lottery; conscientious objectors can choose to instead serve 6 months in a non-military position, for example in Beredskabsstyrelsen (dealing with non-military disasters like fires, flood, pollution, etc.) or overseas foreign aid work note 2: women have been able serve in all military occupations, including combat arms, since 1988; military conscription was extended to women in June 2025 **Military deployments:** Denmark contributes air, ground, and naval forces to a variety of international missions, including grounds troops to NATO's forward defenses in Latvia (2025) **Military - note:** the Danish Armed Forces (Forsvaret) have a variety of missions, including enforcing the country’s sovereignty, monitoring Danish waters and airspace, search and rescue, environmental protection, host nation support for alliance partners, international peacekeeping, fulfilling Denmark’s commitments to NATO, and providing assistance to the police for border control, guard tasks, air surveillance, and during national disasters and other emergencies NATO has been a cornerstone of Danish security and defense police since it joined in 1949 as one of the organization’s original members under the North Atlantic Treaty (also known as the Washington Treaty); the Forsvaret regularly exercises with NATO allies and participates in a number of NATO missions, including its Enhanced Forward Presence in Eastern Europe, air policing in the Baltics, naval operations in the Baltic Sea and North Atlantic, and an advisory mission in Iraq; the Forsvaret leads NATO’s Multinational Division – North (inaugurated 2019), a headquarters based in Latvia that supports the defense planning of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, and the coordination of regional military activities, including NATO’s forward deployed forces; it also takes part in other international missions for Europe and the UN ranging from peacekeeping in Africa to protecting Europe's external borders by patrolling the Mediterranean Sea in support of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency; Denmark is a member of the EU and voted to join the EU’s Common Defense and Security Policy in a 2022 referendum; the Forsvaret cooperates closely with the militaries of other Nordic countries through the Nordic Defense Cooperation (NORDEFCO; established 2009), which consists of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden in such areas as armaments, training and exercises, and operations; it also has a joint composite special operations command with Belgium and the Netherlands the Forsvaret has an Arctic Command to protect the sovereignty of Denmark in the Arctic region, including the Faroe Islands and Greenland, and conducts maritime pollution prevention, environmental monitoring, fishery inspections, search and rescue, and hydrographical surveys, plus support to governmental science missions; there is also a joint service Special Operations Command (SOKOM), which includes the Sirius Dog Sled Patrol, an elite unit that patrols the most remote parts of northeast Greenland (2025) ### Terrorism **Terrorist group(s):** Terrorist group(s): Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS); Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)/Qods Force note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide ### Transnational Issues **Refugees and internally displaced persons:** refugees: 100,832 (2024 est.) stateless persons: 8,566 (2024 est.) --- ## Dhekelia **Slug:** dhekelia **Region:** Europe **Codes:** cek: dx, genc: XXD, stanag: -, internet: - --- ## Estonia **Slug:** estonia **Region:** Europe **Flag:** 🇪🇪 **Codes:** cek: en, iso2: EE, iso3: EST, iso_num: 233, genc: EST, stanag: EST, internet: .ee ### Introduction **Background:** After centuries of Danish, Swedish, German, and Russian rule, Estonia attained independence in 1918. Forcibly incorporated into the USSR in 1940 -- an action never recognized by the US and many other countries -- it regained its freedom in 1991 with the collapse of the Soviet Union. Since the last Russian troops left in 1994, Estonia has been free to promote economic and political ties with the West. It joined both NATO and the EU in 2004, formally joined the OECD in 2010, and adopted the euro as its official currency in 2011. ### Geography **Location:** Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and Gulf of Finland, between Latvia and Russia **Geographic coordinates:** 59 00 N, 26 00 E **Map references:** Europe **Area:** total : 45,228 sq km land: 42,388 sq km water: 2,840 sq km note: includes 1,520 islands in the Baltic Sea **Area - comparative:** about twice the size of New Jersey **Land boundaries:** total: 657 km border countries (2): Latvia 333 km; Russia 324 km **Coastline:** 3,794 km **Maritime claims:** territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: limits as agreed to by Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Sweden, and Russia **Climate:** maritime; wet, moderate winters, cool summers **Terrain:** marshy, lowlands; flat in the north, hilly in the south **Elevation:** highest point: Suur Munamagi 318 m lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m mean elevation: 61 m **Natural resources:** oil shale, peat, rare earth elements, phosphorite, clay, limestone, sand, dolomite, arable land, sea mud **Land use:** agricultural land: 23.1% (2023 est.) arable land: 16.6% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 6.4% (2023 est.) forest: 57.2% (2023 est.) other: 19.6% (2023 est.) **Irrigated land:** 20 sq km (2016) **Major lakes (area sq km):** fresh water lake(s): Lake Peipus - 4,300 sq km (shared with Russia); Lake Võrtsjärv - 270 sq km **Population distribution:** a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger and denser populations **Natural hazards:** sometimes flooding occurs in the spring **Geography - note:** the mainland terrain is flat, boggy, and partly wooded; over 1,500 islands lie offshore ### People and Society **Population:** total: 1,340,478 (2025 est.) male: 634,988 female: 705,490 **Nationality:** noun: Estonian(s) adjective: Estonian **Ethnic groups:** Estonian 69.1%, Russian 23.7%, Ukrainian 2.1%, other 4.6%, unspecified 0.5% (2021 est.) **Languages:** Estonian (official) 67.2%, Russian 28.5%, other 3.7%, unspecified 0.6% (2021est.) **Religions:** Orthodox 16.5%, Protestant 9.2% (Lutheran 7.7%, other Protestant 1.5%), other 3% (includes Roman Catholic, Muslim, Jehovah's Witness, Pentecostal, Buddhist, and Taara Believer), none 58.4%, unspecified 12.9% (2021 est.) **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 15.2% (male 92,980/female 88,753) 15-64 years: 62.2% (male 373,989/female 368,113) 65 years and over: 22.6% (2024 est.) (male 96,110/female 173,846) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 57.5 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 24.8 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 32.7 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 3.1 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 42.9 years (2025 est.) male: 41.9 years female: 48.2 years **Population growth rate:** -0.47% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 7.86 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 12.57 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger and denser populations **Urbanization:** urban population: 69.8% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: -0.03% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 454,000 TALLINN (capital) (2023) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.55 male(s)/female total population: 0.89 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Mother's mean age at first birth:** 28.2 years (2020 est.) **Maternal mortality ratio:** 5 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 2 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 3.2 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.4 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 78.4 years (2024 est.) male: 73.8 years female: 83.2 years **Total fertility rate:** 1.36 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 0.66 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.) rural: 100% of population (2022 est.) NA total: 100% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.) rural: 0% of population (2022 est.) NA total: 0% of population (2022 est.) **Health expenditure:** 6.9% of GDP (2022) 13.2% of national budget (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 3.47 physicians/1,000 population (2022) **Hospital bed density:** 4.5 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.) **Sanitation facility access:** improved: urban: 99.7% of population (2022 est.) rural: 100% of population (2022 est.) total: 99.8% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 0.3% of population (2022 est.) rural: 0% of population (2022 est.) total: 0.2% of population (2022 est.) **Obesity - adult prevalence rate:** 21.2% (2016) **Alcohol consumption per capita:** total: 11.65 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 4 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 1.92 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 4.6 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 1.13 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) **Tobacco use:** total: 23.7% (2025 est.) male: 29.9% (2025 est.) female: 18.3% (2025 est.) **Currently married women (ages 15-49):** 54.1% (2021 est.) **Education expenditure:** 5.2% of GDP (2022 est.) 13% national budget (2022 est.) **School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):** total: 16 years (2023 est.) male: 15 years (2023 est.) female: 16 years (2023 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** air pollution from sulfur dioxide from oil-shale-burning power plants; coastal seawater pollution **International environmental agreements:** party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements **Climate:** maritime; wet, moderate winters, cool summers **Land use:** agricultural land: 23.1% (2023 est.) arable land: 16.6% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 6.4% (2023 est.) forest: 57.2% (2023 est.) other: 19.6% (2023 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 69.8% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: -0.03% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 4.607 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: -19,814 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 3.977 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from consumed natural gas: 649,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Particulate matter emissions:** 6.6 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) **Methane emissions:** energy: 11.9 kt (2022-2024 est.) agriculture: 27.3 kt (2019-2021 est.) waste: 23.7 kt (2019-2021 est.) other: 2.2 kt (2019-2021 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 489,500 tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 39.1% (2022 est.) **Total water withdrawal:** municipal: 64.998 million cubic meters (2022) industrial: 1.135 billion cubic meters (2022) agricultural: 5 million cubic meters (2022) **Total renewable water resources:** 12.806 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: Republic of Estonia conventional short form: Estonia local long form: Eesti Vabariik local short form: Eesti former: Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic (while occupied by the USSR) etymology: derives from the name of the people who lived along the eastern Baltic Sea in the first centuries A.D., which came from the Baltic word aueist, meaning "waterside dwellers" **Government type:** parliamentary republic **Capital:** name: Tallinn geographic coordinates: 59 26 N, 24 43 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October etymology: the name derives from the Old Estonian term tan-linn, meaning "Danish fort," a reference to Danish King VALDEMAR II founding the city in 1219 **Administrative divisions:** 15 urban municipalities (linnad, singular - linn), 64 rural municipalities (vallad, singular - vald) urban municipalities: Haapsalu, Keila, Kohtla-Jarve, Loksa, Maardu, Narva, Narva-Joesuu, Paide, Parnu, Rakvere, Sillamae, Tallinn, Tartu, Viljandi, Voru rural municipalities: Alutaguse, Anija, Antsla, Elva, Haademeeste, Haljala, Harku, Hiiumaa, Jarva, Joelahtme, Jogeva, Johvi, Kadrina, Kambja, Kanepi, Kastre, Kehtna, Kihnu, Kiili, Kohila, Kose, Kuusalu, Laane-Harju, Laane-Nigula, Laaneranna, Luganuse, Luunja, Marjamaa, Muhu, Mulgi, Mustvee, Noo, Otepaa, Peipsiaare, Pohja-Parnumaa, Pohja-Sakala, Poltsamaa, Polva, Raasiku, Rae, Rakvere, Räpina, Rapla, Rouge, Ruhnu, Saarde, Saaremaa, Saku, Saue, Setomaa, Tapa, Tartu, Toila, Tori, Torva, Turi, Vaike-Maarja, Valga, Viimsi, Viljandi, Vinni, Viru-Nigula, Vormsi, Voru **Legal system:** civil law system **Constitution:** history: several previous; latest adopted 28 June 1992, entered into force 3 July 1992 amendment process: proposed by at least one-fifth of Parliament members or by the president of the republic; passage requires three readings of the proposed amendment and a simple majority vote in two successive memberships of Parliament; passage of amendments to the "General Provisions" and "Amendment of the Constitution" chapters requires at least three-fifths majority vote by Parliament to conduct a referendum and majority vote in a referendum **International law organization participation:** accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Estonia dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years **Suffrage:** 18 years of age; universal; age 16 for local elections **Executive branch:** chief of state: President Alar KARIS (since 11 October 2021) head of government: Prime Minister Kristen MICHAL (since 23 July 2024) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister, approved by Parliament election/appointment process: president indirectly elected by Parliament for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); if a candidate does not secure two thirds of the votes after 3 rounds of balloting, then an electoral college consisting of Parliament members and local council members elects the president, choosing between the 2 candidates with the most votes; if a president is still not elected, the process begins again; prime minister nominated by the president and approved by Parliament most recent election date: 30-31 August 2021 election results: 2021: Alar KARIS (independent) elected president; won second round of voting in parliament with 72 of 101 votes 2016: Kersti KALJULAID elected president; won sixth round of voting in parliament with 81 of 98 votes (17 ballots blank); KALJULAID sworn in on 10 October 2016 - first female head of state of Estonia expected date of next election: 2026 **Legislative branch:** legislature name: The Estonian Parliament (Riigikogu) legislative structure: unicameral number of seats: 101 (all directly elected) electoral system: proportional representation scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 4 years most recent election date: 3/5/2023 parties elected and seats per party: Reform Party (37); Conservative People's Party (EKRE) (17); Centre Party (16); Estonia 200 (Eesti 200) (14); Social Democratic Party (9); Pro Patria (Isamaa) (8) percentage of women in chamber: 28.7% expected date of next election: March 2027 **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of 19 justices, including the chief justice, and organized into civil, criminal, administrative, and constitutional review chambers) judge selection and term of office: the chief justice is proposed by the president of the republic and appointed by the Riigikogu; other justices proposed by the chief justice and appointed by the Riigikogu; justices appointed for life subordinate courts: circuit (appellate) courts; administrative, county, city, and specialized courts **Political parties:** Conservative People's Party of Estonia (Konservatiivne Rahvaerakond) or EKRE Estonia 200 or E200 Estonia Centre Party of (Keskerakond) or EK Estonian Free Party or VAP Estonian Freedom Party - Farmers' Assembly or V-PK Estonian Greens or EER Estonian Nationalists and Conservatives or ERK Estonian Reform Party (Reformierakond) or RE Fatherland or I Left Alliance or VL Social Democratic Party or SDE The Right or PP TOGETHER organization points to sovereignty or KOOS **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Kristjan PRIKK (since 7 July 2021) chancery: 2131 Massachusetts Ave, NW Washington, DC, 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 588-0101 FAX: [1] (202) 588-0108 email address and website: Embassy.Washington@mfa.ee https://washington.mfa.ee/ consulate(s) general: New York, San Francisco **Diplomatic representation from the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Roman PIPKO (since 26 November 2025) embassy: Kentmanni 20, 15099 Tallinn mailing address: 4530 Tallinn Place, Washington DC 20521-4530 telephone: [372] 668-8100 FAX: [372] 668-8265 email address and website: acstallinn@state.gov https://ee.usembassy.gov/ **International organization participation:** Australia Group, BA, BIS, CBSS, CD, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EMU, ESA (cooperating state), EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNTSO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO **Independence:** 24 February 1918 (from Soviet Russia); 20 August 1991 (declared from the Soviet Union); 6 September 1991 (recognized by the Soviet Union) **National holiday:** Independence Day, 24 February (1918) note: 24 February 1918 was the date Estonia declared its independence from Soviet Russia and established its statehood; 20 August 1991 was the date it declared its independence from the Soviet Union and restored its statehood **Flag:** description: three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), black, and white meaning: blue stands for faith, loyalty, and devotion, and also the sky, sea, and lakes; black for the country's soil and the Estonian people's past suffering; white for striving for enlightenment and virtue and also for birch bark, snow, and summer nights illuminated by the midnight sun **National symbol(s):** barn swallow, cornflower **National color(s):** blue, black, white **National anthem(s):** title: "Mu isamaa, mu onn ja room" (My Native Land, My Pride and Joy) lyrics/music: Johann Voldemar JANNSEN/Fredrik PACIUS history: adopted 1920, but banned between 1940 and 1990 under Soviet occupation; unofficially in use since 1869, it has the same melody as Finland's anthem, but with different lyrics **National heritage:** total World Heritage Sites: 2 (both cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Historic Center (Old Town) of Tallinn; Struve Geodetic Arc ### Economy **Economic overview:** high-income, service-based EU and eurozone economy; rebound in exports playing a role in economic recovery; rising food prices contributing to inflation; decrease in labor force participation and rising unemployment rate; recovery depends on boosting private investment and productivity rates **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $57.001 billion (2024 est.) $57.15 billion (2023 est.) $58.931 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** -0.3% (2024 est.) -3% (2023 est.) 0.1% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $41,500 (2024 est.) $41,700 (2023 est.) $43,700 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $42.765 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 3.5% (2024 est.) 9.2% (2023 est.) 19.4% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 1.9% (2024 est.) industry: 20.5% (2024 est.) services: 65.1% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **GDP - composition, by end use:** household consumption: 52.3% (2023 est.) government consumption: 20.6% (2023 est.) investment in fixed capital: 27.9% (2023 est.) investment in inventories: -0.2% (2023 est.) exports of goods and services: 77.9% (2023 est.) imports of goods and services: -77% (2023 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection **Agricultural products:** milk, wheat, barley, rapeseed, peas, oats, potatoes, rye, pork, triticale (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage **Industries:** food, engineering, electronics, wood and wood products, textiles; information technology, telecommunications **Industrial production growth rate:** -7% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency **Labor force:** 756,200 (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work **Unemployment rate:** 7.9% (2024 est.) 6.4% (2023 est.) 5.6% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment **Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):** total: 20.9% (2024 est.) male: 21.9% (2024 est.) female: 20% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment **Population below poverty line:** 22.5% (2022 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line **Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income:** 32.3 (2022 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality **Average household expenditures:** on food: 19.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.) on alcohol and tobacco: 6.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.) **Household income or consumption by percentage share:** lowest 10%: 2.8% (2022 est.) highest 10%: 24.4% (2022 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population **Remittances:** 1.2% of GDP (2024 est.) 1.2% of GDP (2023 est.) 1.2% of GDP (2022 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Budget:** revenues: $15.784 billion (2023 est.) expenditures: $16.721 billion (2023 est.) note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated **Public debt:** 28.3% of GDP (2023 est.) note: central government debt as a % of GDP **Taxes and other revenues:** 21.4% (of GDP) (2023 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP **Current account balance:** -$489.659 million (2024 est.) -$722.668 million (2023 est.) -$1.496 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars **Exports:** $32.637 billion (2024 est.) $32.147 billion (2023 est.) $33.178 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** Finland 14%, Latvia 10%, Lithuania 9%, Sweden 7%, Russia 6% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** cars, wood, broadcasting equipment, refined petroleum, prefabricated buildings (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports:** $32.375 billion (2024 est.) $31.796 billion (2023 est.) $33.655 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** Finland 11%, Germany 11%, China 10%, Lithuania 6%, Poland 6% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** cars, refined petroleum, broadcasting equipment, natural gas, packaged medicine (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:** $2.075 billion (2024 est.) $2.593 billion (2023 est.) $2.217 billion (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars **Exchange rates:** euros (EUR) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 0.924 (2024 est.) 0.925 (2023 est.) 0.95 (2022 est.) 0.845 (2021 est.) 0.876 (2020 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.) **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 3.225 million kW (2023 est.) consumption: 8.636 billion kWh (2023 est.) exports: 4.355 billion kWh (2023 est.) imports: 7.66 billion kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 1.164 billion kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** fossil fuels: 52.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 9.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) wind: 10.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: 0.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) biomass and waste: 27.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Coal:** consumption: 800 metric tons (2023 est.) exports: 7,000 metric tons (2023 est.) imports: 800 metric tons (2023 est.) **Petroleum:** total petroleum production: 24,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 27,000 bbl/day (2024 est.) **Natural gas:** consumption: 334.748 million cubic meters (2023 est.) exports: 675.708 million cubic meters (2023 est.) imports: 1.01 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) **Energy consumption per capita:** 73.679 million Btu/person (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 227,000 (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 17 (2024 est.) **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 2.06 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 151 (2024 est.) **Broadcast media:** the publicly owned broadcaster, Eesti Rahvusringhaaling (ERR), operates 3 TV channels and 5 radio networks; growing number of private commercial radio stations broadcasting nationally, regionally, and locally; fully transitioned to digital television in 2010; national private TV channels expanding service, with a range of channels aimed at Russian-speaking viewers; in 2016, there were 42 on-demand services available in Estonia, including 19 pay TVOD and SVOD services; roughly 85% of households accessed digital television services **Internet country code:** .ee **Internet users:** percent of population: 93% (2023 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 516,000 (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 38 (2023 est.) ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** ES **Airports:** 34 (2025) **Heliports:** 10 (2025) **Railways:** total: 1,441 km (2020) 225 km electrified **Merchant marine:** total: 72 (2023) by type: general cargo 3, oil tanker 3, other 66 **Ports:** total ports: 20 (2024) large: 4 medium: 1 small: 4 very small: 11 ports with oil terminals: 5 key ports: Muuga - Port of Tallin, Paldiski Lounasadam, Paljassaare, Sillamae, Vanasadam - Port of Tallinn ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** Estonian Defense Forces: Land Forces, Navy, Air Force; Estonian Defense League Ministry of Interior: Police and Border Guard Board, Internal Security Service (2025) note: the Estonian Defense League is a voluntary national defense organization that operates under the Estonian Ministry of Defense **Military expenditures:** 3.4% of GDP (2025 est.) 3.4% of GDP (2024 est.) 3% of GDP (2023 est.) 2.2% of GDP (2022 est.) 2% of GDP (2021 est.) **Military and security service personnel strengths:** approximately 7,500 active-duty military personnel (2025) note: the Estonian Defense Forces rely largely on reservists who have completed compulsory conscription in the previous 10 years to fill out its active duty and Territorial Defense units during a crisis; there are more than 40,000 trained reservists, and approximately 230,000 Estonians are enrolled in the mobilization registry **Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:** the Estonian military has a mix of Soviet-era and more modern, Western-origin weapons and equipment; suppliers in recent years include France, Israel, South Korea, Sweden, Türkiye, and the US (2025) **Military service age and obligation:** 18-27 for compulsory military or governmental service for men; conscript service requirement 8-11 months depending on education; non-commissioned officers, reserve officers, and specialists serve 11 months; women can volunteer, and as of 2018 could serve in any military branch (2025) note 1: conscripts comprise approximately 3,000-3,300 of the Estonian military's active-duty personnel and serve in all branches, except for the Air Force; after conscript service, reservists are called up for training every 5 years; Estonia has had conscription since 1991 note 2: in 2024, women comprised about 8% of the full-time professional military force; the Defense League includes a Women's Voluntary Defense Organization **Military - note:** Estonia’s defense policy aims to guarantee the country’s independence and sovereignty, protect its territorial integrity, including waters and airspace, and preserve constitutional order; Estonia’s main defense goals are developing and maintaining a credible deterrent to outside aggression and ensuring the Estonian Defense Forces (EDF) can fulfill their commitments to NATO and interoperate with the armed forces of NATO and EU member states; the EDF’s primary external focus is Russia; since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Estonia has boosted defense spending, sent arms to Ukraine, and sought to boost the EDF’s capabilities in such areas as air defense, artillery, personnel readiness, and surveillance Estonia has been a member of NATO since 2004, is fully integrated within the NATO structure, and relies on its NATO partners for defense; since 2017, Estonia has hosted a UK-led multinational NATO ground force battlegroup as part of the Alliance’s Enhanced Forward Presence initiative; as the EDF Air Force does not have any combat aircraft, NATO has provided airspace protection for Estonia since 2004 through its Baltic Air Policing mission; NATO member countries that possess air combat capabilities voluntarily contribute to the mission on four-month rotations; NATO fighter aircraft have been hosted at Estonia’s Ämari Air Base since 2014; Estonia also hosts a NATO cyber security center; it cooperates closely with the EU on defense issues through the EU Common Security and Defense Policy and is a member of the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force, a pool of high-readiness military forces from 10 Baltic and Scandinavian countries designed to respond to a wide range of contingencies in the North Atlantic, Baltic Sea, and High North regions; Estonia also has close defense ties with its Baltic neighbors and has bilateral military agreements with a number of European countries, as well as Canada and the US (2025) ### Transnational Issues **Refugees and internally displaced persons:** refugees: 42,439 (2024 est.) stateless persons: 63,944 (2024 est.) --- ## European Union **Slug:** european-union **Region:** Europe **Flag:** 🇪🇺 **Codes:** cek: ee ### Introduction **Preliminary statement:** The European Union's (EU) evolution is unprecedented in history, transforming from a regional economic agreement among six neighboring states in 1951 to today's hybrid intergovernmental and supranational organization of 27 countries across the European continent. Such a large number of nation-states ceding some of their sovereignty to an overarching entity is unique. Dynastic unions for territorial consolidation were long the norm in Europe, although country-level unions were sometimes arranged, such as the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The EU is not a federation in the strict sense, but it is far more than a free-trade association such as ASEAN or Mercosur. It has certain attributes associated with independent nations: its own flag, currency (for some members), and law-making abilities, as well as diplomatic representation and a common foreign and security policy in its dealings with external partners. For these reasons, The World Factbook includes basic information on the EU as a separate entity. **Background:** In the aftermath and devastation of the two World Wars, a number of far-sighted European leaders in the late 1940s sought to respond to the overwhelming desire for peace and reconciliation on the continent. In 1950, French Foreign Minister Robert SCHUMAN proposed pooling the production of coal and steel in Western Europe, which would bring France and West Germany together and be open to other countries as well. The following year, the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) was set up when six members -- Belgium, France, West Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands -- signed the Treaty of Paris. Within a few years, the ECSC was so successful that member states decided to further integrate their economies. In 1957, envisioning an "ever closer union," the Treaties of Rome created the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom), which eliminated trade barriers among the six member states to create a common market. In 1967, the institutions of all three communities were formally merged into the European Community (EC), creating a single Commission, a single Council of Ministers, and a legislative body known today as the European Parliament. Members of the European Parliament were initially selected by national parliaments, but direct elections began in 1979 and have been held every five years since. In 1973, the first enlargement of the EC added Denmark, Ireland, and the UK. The 1980s saw further membership expansion, with Greece joining in 1981 and Spain and Portugal in 1986. The 1992 Treaty of Maastricht laid the basis for further cooperation in foreign and defense policy and judicial and internal affairs, as well as the creation of an economic and monetary union -- including a common currency. The Maastricht Treaty created the European Union (EU), at the time standing alongside the EC. In 1995, Austria, Finland, and Sweden joined the EU/EC, raising the total number of member states to 15. On 1 January 1999, the new euro currency was launched in world markets and became the unit of exchange for all EU member states except Denmark, Sweden, and the UK. In 2002, citizens of the 12 participating member states began using euro banknotes and coins. In an effort to ensure that the EU could function efficiently with an expanded membership, the Treaty of Nice in 2000 set forth rules to streamline the size and procedures of the EU's institutions. An effort to establish a "Constitution for Europe," growing out of a Convention held in 2002-2003, foundered when it was rejected in referenda in France and the Netherlands in 2005. A subsequent effort in 2007 incorporated many features of the rejected draft Constitutional Treaty, while also making a number of substantive as well as symbolic changes. The new treaty, referred to as the Treaty of Lisbon, sought to amend existing treaties rather than replace them. The treaty was approved at a conference of member states, and after all member states ratified, the Lisbon Treaty came into force on 1 December 2009, at which point the EU officially replaced and succeeded the EC. Ten new countries joined the EU in 2004 -- Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia. Bulgaria and Romania joined in 2007 and Croatia in 2013. UK citizens on 23 June 2016 narrowly voted to leave the EU; the formal exit, widely known as "Brexit," took place on 31 January 2020. The EU and the UK negotiated a withdrawal agreement that included a status quo transition period through December 2020, when the follow-on EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement was concluded. Current EU membership stands at 27. Eight of the newer member states -- Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Slovakia, and Slovenia -- have now adopted the euro, bringing total euro-zone membership to 20. ### Geography **Location:** Europe between the North Atlantic Ocean in the west and Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine to the east **Map references:** Europe **Area:** total : 4,236,351 sq km rank by area (sq km): 1. France (includes five overseas regions) 643,801 2. Spain 505,370 3. Sweden 450,295 4. Germany 357,022 5. Finland 338,145 6. Poland 312,685 7. Italy 301,340 8. Romania 238,391 9. Greece 131,957 10. Bulgaria 110,879 11. Hungary 93,028 12. Portugal 92,090 13. Austria 83,871 14. Czechia 78,867 15. Ireland 70,273 16. Lithuania 65,300 17. Latvia 64,589 18. Croatia 56,594 19. Slovakia 49,035 20. Estonia 45,228 21. Denmark 43,094 22. Netherlands 41,543 23. Belgium 30,528 24. Slovenia 20,273 25. Cyprus 9,251 26. Luxembourg 2,586 27. Malta 316 **Area - comparative:** less than one-half the size of the United States **Land boundaries:** total: 13,770 km border countries (18): Albania 212 km; Andorra 118 km; Belarus 1,176 km; Bosnia and Herzegovina 956 km; Holy See 3 km; Liechtenstein 34 km; North Macedonia 396 km; Moldova 683 km; Monaco 6 km; Montenegro 19 km; Norway 2,375 km; Russia 2,435 km; San Marino 37 km; Serbia 1,353 km; Switzerland 1,729 km; Turkey 415 km; United Kingdom 499 km; Ukraine 1,324 km note: data for European continent only **Coastline:** 53,563.9 km **Climate:** cold temperate; potentially subarctic in the north to temperate; mild wet winters; hot dry summers in the south **Terrain:** fairly flat along Baltic and Atlantic coasts; mountainous in the central and southern areas **Elevation:** highest point: Mont Blanc, France 4,810 m lowest point: Zuidplaspolder, Netherlands -7 m **Natural resources:** iron ore, natural gas, petroleum, coal, copper, lead, zinc, bauxite, uranium, potash, salt, hydropower, arable land, timber, fish **Irrigated land:** 154,539.82 sq km (2011 est.) **Population distribution:** population distribution varies considerably from country to country but tends to follow a pattern of coastal and river settlement, with urban agglomerations forming large hubs; the area in and around the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg (known collectively as Benelux), is the most densely populated area in the EU **Natural hazards:** flooding along coasts; avalanches in mountainous area; earthquakes in the south; volcanic eruptions in Italy; periodic droughts in Spain; ice floes in the Baltic Sea region ### People and Society **Population:** total: 451,815,312 (2024 est.) male: 220,631,332 female: 231,183,980 **Languages:** Bulgarian, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Irish, Italian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Maltese, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Slovak, Slovene, Spanish, Swedish note: only the 24 official languages are listed; German, the major language of Germany and Austria, is the most widely spoken mother tongue - about 16% of the EU population; English is the most widely spoken foreign language - about 29% of the EU population is conversant with it; English is an official language in Ireland and Malta and thus remained an official EU language after the UK left the bloc (2020) **Religions:** Roman Catholic 41%, Orthodox 10%, Protestant 9%, other Christian 4%, Muslim 2%, other 4% (includes Jewish, Sikh, Buddhist, Hindu), atheist 10%, non-believer/agnostic 17%, unspecified 3% (2019 est.) **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 14.5% (male 33,606,273/female 31,985,118) 15-64 years: 63.5% (male 143,874,460/female 143,104,994) 65 years and over: 22% (2024 est.) (male 43,150,599/female 56,093,868) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 57.2 (2024) youth dependency ratio: 22.8 (2024) elderly dependency ratio: 34.5 (2024) potential support ratio: 3 (2024) **Median age:** total: 44 years (2020) male: 42.6 years female: 45.5 years **Population growth rate:** 0.1% (2021 est.) **Birth rate:** 8.9 births/1,000 population (2024 est.) **Death rate:** 11.2 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.) **Net migration rate:** -2.85 migrant(s)/1,000 population **Population distribution:** population distribution varies considerably from country to country but tends to follow a pattern of coastal and river settlement, with urban agglomerations forming large hubs; the area in and around the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg (known collectively as Benelux), is the most densely populated area in the EU **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 3.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.) **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 77.63 years (2021) male: 72.98 years female: 82.51 years **Total fertility rate:** 1.54 children born/woman (2024 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 0.75 (2024 est.) **Health expenditure:** 10.9% of GDP (2021) **Education expenditure:** 5% of GDP (2020 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** various forms of air, soil, and water pollution; see individual country entries **International environmental agreements:** party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 2006 signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds **Climate:** cold temperate; potentially subarctic in the north to temperate; mild wet winters; hot dry summers in the south **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 2.651 billion metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 518.857 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 1.489 billion metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from consumed natural gas: 643.8 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Total renewable water resources:** 1.7 trillion cubic meters (2019) ### Government **Union name:** conventional long form: European Union abbreviation: EU **Government type:** a hybrid and unique intergovernmental and supranational organization **Capital:** name: Brussels (Belgium), Strasbourg (France), Luxembourg, Frankfurt (Germany) geographic coordinates: (Brussels) 50 50 N, 4 20 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1 hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October time zone note: the 27 European Union member states are spread across three time zones note: the European Council and the Council of the European Union meet in Brussels, Belgium, except for Council of the EU meetings held in Luxembourg in April, June, and October; the European Parliament meets in Brussels and Strasbourg, France, and has administrative offices in Luxembourg; the Court of Justice of the European Union is located in Luxembourg; and the European Central Bank is located in Frankfurt, Germany **Member states:** 27 countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden 13 overseas countries and territories: 1 with Denmark (Greenland), 6 with France (French Polynesia, French Southern and Antarctic Lands, New Caledonia, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Wallis and Futuna), and 6 with the Netherlands (Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, Sint Maarten); all are part of the Overseas Countries and Territories Association (OCTA) note 1: the 9 EU candidate countries include Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey, and Ukraine note 2: several non-European overseas countries and territories (OCTs) have special relations with Denmark, France, and the Netherlands (list is annexed to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union) and are associated with the EU to promote their economic and social development; member states apply the same treatment to their trade with OCTs as they accord each other; OCT nationals are in principle EU citizens, but OCTs are not part of or subject to the EU **Legal system:** unique supranational system in which EU treaties and EU law have primacy over member-state law **Constitution:** history: none; the EU legal order relies primarily on the Treaty on European Union (TEU) and the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU (TFEU) amendment process: EU treaties can be amended in several ways: 1) Ordinary Revision Procedure (for key amendments to the treaties); initiated by an EU member state, the European Parliament, or the European Commission; after the proposal is adopted by the European Council, a conference of national government representatives then reviews the proposal; passage requires ratification by all EU member states 2) Simplified Revision Procedure (for amendment of EU internal policies and actions); passage of a proposal requires unanimous European Council vote after European Council consultation with the European Commission, the European Parliament, and the European Central Bank (if the amendment concerns monetary matters) and requires ratification by all EU member states 3) Passerelle Clause; allows the alteration of a legislative procedure without a formal amendment of the treaties 4) Flexibility Clause; permits the EU to decide in subject areas where EU competences have not been explicitly granted in the treaties but are necessary to the attainment of treaty objectives **Suffrage:** 18 years of age (16 years in Austria); universal; voting for the European Parliament occurs in each member state **Executive branch:** three EU institutions have functions that can be regarded as executive in nature: European Council - composed of member-state heads of state or government, along with the president of the European Commission; meets at least four times a year to issue general policy guidance; the president of the European Council is appointed by leaders of the EU member states for a 2 1/2 year term, renewable once president: António Costa (since 1 December 2024) Council of the European Union - consists of member-state officials, ranging from working-level diplomats to cabinet ministers in specific policy fields such as foreign affairs, agriculture, or economy; has policymaking, coordinating, and legislative functions president: the six-month presidency rotates among the member states European Commission - composed of 27 commissioners (one from each member state), including the president; the president assigns each commissioner one or more policy areas, called portfolios; the Commission has the sole right to initiate EU legislation, except for foreign and security/defense policy, and is responsible for monitoring the application of EU law, implementing/executing the EU budget, negotiating in certain policy areas, and ensuring the EU's external representation in some policy areas; the president is nominated for a 5-year term by the European Council and confirmed by the European Parliament; the European Parliament also confirms the entire Commission for a 5-year term president: Ursula von der Leyen (since 1 December 2019) note: for external representation and foreign policy, member-state leaders appoint a High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy; the High Representative's concurrent appointment as Vice President of the European Commission is meant to bring more coherence to the EU’s foreign policy; the High Representative helps develop and implement the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy and Common Security and Defense Policy, chairs the Council of the EU's meetings of member-state foreign ministers, represents and acts for the EU in many international contexts, and oversees the European External Action Service, the EU's diplomatic corps **Legislative branch:** legislature name: Council of the European Union (Council) and the European Parliament (EP) (separate legislative bodies; see note 2) number of seats: Council - 27; EP - 720 electoral system: Council - none, composed of ministers from EU member states; EP - proportional representation scope of elections: EP - full renewal term in office: 5 years note: for the EP most recent election date: EP - 6/9/2024 parties elected and seats per party: EP - PP (188); S&D (136); PfE (84); ECR (78); Renew (77); Greens/EFA (53); GUE-NGL (46); ESN (25); non-attached (12); other (21) percentage of women in chamber: 39.8% note: for the EP expected date of next election: EP - June 2029 note 1: the European Parliament (EP) President, Roberta METSOLA, was elected in January 2022 and reelected in July 2024 by a majority of EP members (MEPs) note 2: the EP and the Council of the EU share responsibilities for adopting the bulk of EU legislation; the European Commission proposes legislation, and the two other bodies have to agree for the proposal to become law -- except in the area of Common Foreign and Security Policy, which is governed by consensus of the EU member-state governments **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Court of Justice of the European Union, which includes the Court of Justice (informally known as the European Court of Justice or ECJ, includes 11 advocates general) and the General Court (consists of 27 judges, one drawn from each member state; can include additional judges); both the ECJ and the General Court sit in chambers of 3 to 5 judges but may sit in a Grand Chamber of 15 judges in special cases judge selection and term of office: judges appointed by the common consent of the member states to serve 6-year renewable terms **Political parties:** The Left or GUE/NGL European Conservatives and Reformists or ECR Greens/European Free Alliance or Greens/EFA European People's Party or EPP Europe of Sovereign Nations or ESN Patriots for Europe or PfE Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats or S&D Renew Europe or Renew (formerly Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe or ALDE) **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Jovita NELIUPŠIENĖ, Head of Delegation (since 27 February 2024) chancery: 2175 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20037 telephone: [1] (202) 862-9500 FAX: [1] (202) 429-1766 email address and website: delegation-usa-info@eeas.europa.eu Delegation of the European Union to the United States of America | EEAS (europa.eu) **Diplomatic representation from the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Andrew PUZDER (since 11 September 2025) embassy: Zinnerstraat - 13 - Rue Zinner, B-1000 Brussels mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [32] (2) 811-4100 email address and website: https://useu.usmission.gov/ **International organization participation:** ARF, ASEAN (dialogue member), Australian Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS, CERN, EBRD, FAO, FATF, G-7, G-10, G-20, IDA, IEA, IGAD (partners), LAIA (observer), NSG (observer), OAS (observer), OECD, PIF (partner), SAARC (observer), SICA (observer), UN (observer), UNRWA (observer), WCO, WTO, ZC (observer) **Independence:** 7 February 1992 (Maastricht Treaty signed establishing the European Union); 1 November 1993 (Maastricht Treaty entered into force) note: the Treaties of Rome, signed on 25 March 1957 and entered into force on 1 January 1958, created the European Economic Community and the European Atomic Energy Community; a series of subsequent treaties increased efficiency and transparency, prepared for new member states, and introduced new areas of cooperation such as a single currency; the Treaty of Lisbon, signed on 13 December 2007 and entered into force on 1 December 2009, is the most recent **National holiday:** Europe Day (also known as Schuman Day), 9 May (1950) **Flag:** description: a blue field with 12 five-pointed gold stars arranged in a circle in the center; blue stands for the sky of the Western world, and the stars for unity, solidarity, and harmony meaning: the number of stars is fixed and does not correspond to the number of member states **National symbol(s):** a circle of 12 five-pointed golden-yellow stars on a blue field **National color(s):** blue, yellow **National anthem(s):** title: "European Anthem" (Ode to Joy) lyrics/music: no lyrics/Ludwig VAN BEETHOVEN, arranged by Herbert VON KARAJAN history: adopted 1985; the anthem is meant to represent all of Europe rather than just the organization, conveying the ideals of peace, freedom, and unity ### Economy **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $24.441 trillion (2024 est.) $24.17 trillion (2023 est.) $24.036 trillion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** 1% (2024 est.) 0.5% (2023 est.) 3.5% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $54,300 (2024 est.) $53,800 (2023 est.) $53,700 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $19.423 trillion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 2.4% (2024 est.) 6.3% (2023 est.) 8.8% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 1.6% (2024 est.) industry: 22.1% (2024 est.) services: 66.1% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **GDP - composition, by end use:** household consumption: 51.6% (2023 est.) government consumption: 20.8% (2023 est.) investment in fixed capital: 22% (2023 est.) investment in inventories: 0.4% (2023 est.) exports of goods and services: 51.9% (2023 est.) imports of goods and services: -48.3% (2023 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection **Agricultural products:** milk, wheat, sugar beets, maize, potatoes, barley, grapes, pork, rapeseed, tomatoes (2022) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage for all EU member states **Industries:** among the world's largest and most technologically advanced regions, the EU industrial base includes: ferrous and non-ferrous metal production and processing, metal products, petroleum, coal, cement, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, aerospace, rail transportation equipment, passenger and commercial vehicles, construction equipment, industrial equipment, shipbuilding, electrical power equipment, machine tools and automated manufacturing systems, electronics and telecommunications equipment, fishing, food and beverages, furniture, paper, textiles **Industrial production growth rate:** -0.7% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency **Labor force:** 221.391 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work **Unemployment rate:** 6% (2024 est.) 6.1% (2023 est.) 6.2% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment **Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):** total: 15.9% (2024 est.) male: 16% (2024 est.) female: 16% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment **Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income:** 31 (2015 est.) **Remittances:** 0.8% of GDP (2024 est.) 0.8% of GDP (2023 est.) 0.8% of GDP (2022 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Taxes and other revenues:** 19.8% (of GDP) (2022 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP **Exports:** $9.783 trillion (2024 est.) $9.689 trillion (2023 est.) $9.425 trillion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** US 20%, UK 12%, China 10%, Switzerland 7%, Turkey 4% (2023) note: top five non-EU export partners based on percentage share of external exports; does not include internal trade among EU member states **Exports - commodities:** cars, packaged medicine, refined petroleum, vehicle parts/accessories, vaccines (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars; includes both exports to external partners and internal trade among EU member states **Imports:** $8.953 trillion (2024 est.) $8.978 trillion (2023 est.) $9.072 trillion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** China 21%, US 14%, UK 7%, Switzerland 6%, Norway 5% (2023) note: top five non-EU import partners based on percentage share of external imports; does not include internal trade among EU member states **Imports - commodities:** cars, crude petroleum, natural gas, refined petroleum, vehicle parts/accessories (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars; includes both imports from external partners and internal trade among EU member states **Exchange rates:** euros (EUR) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 0.924 (2024 est.) 0.925 (2023 est.) 0.95 (2022 est.) 0.845 (2021 est.) 0.876 (2020 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.) **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 1.142 billion kW (2023 est.) consumption: 2.511 trillion kWh (2023 est.) exports: 407.824 billion kWh (2023 est.) imports: 405.154 billion kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 169.694 billion kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** fossil fuels: 33.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) nuclear: 22.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 9.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) wind: 17.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: 11.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) geothermal: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) biomass and waste: 6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Nuclear energy:** Number of operational nuclear reactors: 100 (2025) Number of nuclear reactors under construction: 1 (2025) Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors: 97.63GW (2025 est.) Number of nuclear reactors permanently shut down: 75 (2025) **Coal:** production: 304.827 million metric tons (2023 est.) consumption: 398.817 million metric tons (2023 est.) exports: 32.326 million metric tons (2023 est.) imports: 127.304 million metric tons (2023 est.) proven reserves: 84.193 billion metric tons (2023 est.) **Petroleum:** total petroleum production: 748,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 11.022 million bbl/day (2023 est.) **Natural gas:** production: 40.239 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) consumption: 335.326 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) exports: 100.238 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) imports: 396.993 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) **Energy consumption per capita:** 114.309 million Btu/person (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 155,004,603 (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 36 (2022 est.) **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 552,315,605 (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 124 (2022 est.) **Internet country code:** .eu note: see country entries of member states for individual country codes **Internet users:** percent of population: 90% (2023 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 172.888 million (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 39 (2022 est.) ### Transportation **Airports:** 5,211 (2025) **Heliports:** 2,069 (2025) **Railways:** total: 4,894,173 km (2019) ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** the EU's Common Security and Defense Policy (CSDP) provides the civilian, military, and political structures for EU crisis management and security issues; the highest bodies are: the Political and Security Committee (PSC), which meets at the ambassadorial level as a preparatory body for the Council of the EU; it assists with defining policies and preparing a crisis response the European Union Military Committee (EUMC) is the EU's highest military body; it is composed of the chiefs of defense (CHODs) of the Member States, who are regularly represented by their permanent Military Representatives; the EUMC provides the PSC with advice and recommendations on all military matters within the EU the Committee for Civilian Aspects of Crisis Management (CIVCOM) provides advice and recommendations to the PSC in parallel with the EUMC on civilian aspects of crisis management the Politico-Military Group (PMG) provides advice and recommendations to the PSC on political aspects of EU military and civil-military issues, including concepts, capabilities and operations and missions, and monitors implementation other bodies set up under the CSDP include the Security and Defense Policy Directorate (SECDEFPOL), the Integrated approach for Security and Peace Directorate (ISP), the EU Military Staff (EUMS), the Civilian Planning and Conduct Capability (CPCC), the Civilian Operations Headquarters (CivOpsHQ), the Military Planning and Conduct Capability (MPCC), the European Defense Agency (EDA), the European Security and Defense College (ESDC), the EU Institute for Security Studies, the EU Satellite Center, the Peace, Partnerships and Crisis Management Directorate (PCM) (2025) note 1: Frontex is the European Border and Coast Guard Agency that supports EU Member States and Schengen-associated countries in the management of the EU’s external borders and the fight against cross-border crime; it has a standing corps of uniformed border guard officers directly employed by Frontex as staff members and regularly deployed to border guarding missions, plus thousands of other officers seconded by EU member states note 2: in 2017, the EU set up the Permanent Structured Cooperation on Defense (PESCO), a mechanism for deepening defense cooperation amongst member states through binding commitments and collaborative programs on a variety of military-related capabilities such as cyber, maritime surveillance, medical support, operational readiness, procurement, and training **Military expenditures:** 1.9% of GDP (2024 est.) 1.8% of GDP (2023 est.) 1.6% of GDP (2022 est.) 1.6% of GDP (2021 est.) 1.6% of GDP (2020 est.) note 1: the European Defense Fund (EDF) has a budget of approximately $8 billion for 2021-2027; about $2.7 billion is devoted to funding collaborative defense research while about $5.3 billion is allocated for collaborative capability development projects that complement national contributions; the EDF identifies critical defense domains that it will support note 2: NATO is separate from the EU and is resourced through the direct and indirect contributions of its members; NATO’s common funds are direct contributions to collective budgets, capabilities and programs, which equate to only 0.3% of total NATO defense spending to develop capabilities and run NATO, its military commands, capabilities, and infrastructure; NATO's 2014 Defense Investment Pledge called for NATO members to meet the 2% of GDP guideline for defense spending and the 20% of annual defense expenditure on major new equipment by 2024 **Military deployments:** since 2003, the EU has launched more than 30 civilian and military crisis-management, advisory, and training missions in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, as well as counter-piracy operations off the coast of Somalia and a naval operation in the Mediterranean to disrupt human smuggling and trafficking networks and prevent the loss of life at sea (2025) note: in response to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the EU established a rapid deployment force consisting of up to 5,000 troops in 2025 **Military - note:** the EU partners with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO); NATO is an alliance of 32 countries from North America and Europe; its role is to safeguard the security of its member countries by political and military means; NATO conducts crisis management and peacekeeping missions; member countries that participate in the military aspect of the Alliance contribute forces and equipment, which remain under national command and control until a time when they are required by NATO for a specific purpose (i.e., conflict or crisis, peacekeeping); NATO, however, does possess some common capabilities owned and operated by the Alliance, such as some early warning radar aircraft; relations between NATO and the EU were institutionalized in the early 2000s, building on steps taken during the 1990s to promote greater European responsibility in defense matters; cooperation and coordination covers a broad array of issues, including crisis management, defense and political consultations, civil preparedness, capacity building, military capabilities, maritime security, planning, cyber defense, countering hybrid threats, information sharing, logistics, defense industry, counterterrorism, etc.; since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the EU and NATO have intensified their work and cooperation; NATO and the EU have 23 member countries in common there are no permanent standing EU forces, but Europe has a variety of multinational military organizations that may be deployed through the EU, in a NATO environment, upon the mandate of the participating countries, or upon the mandate of other international organizations, such as the UN or OSCE including: the EU Rapid Deployment Capacity (EU RDC) was declared operational in May 2025; the RDC's purpose is to enable the EU to respond to different crisis scenarios by providing a flexible and scalable military instrument of up to 5,000 troops that can be deployed in a swift manner; missions could include capacity building, conflict prevention, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, rescue and evacuation, or stabilization; the use of the RDC is subject to a unanimous decision by the EU Member States EU Battlegroups (BGs) are rapid reaction multinational army units that form a key part of the EU's capacity to respond to crises and conflicts; their deployment is subject to a unanimous decision by the European Council; BGs typically consists of 1,500-2,000 troops organized around an infantry battalion depending on the mission; the troops and equipment are drawn from EU member states and under the direction of a lead nation; two BGs are always on standby for a period of six months; the BGs were declared operational in 2007 but have never been used operationally due to political and financial obstacles the European Corps (Eurocorps) is an independent multinational land force corps headquarters composed of personnel from six framework nations and five associated nations; the corps has no standing operational units; during a crisis, units would be drawn from participating states, and the corps would be placed at the service of the EU and NATO; Eurocorps was established in 1992 by France and Germany; Belgium (1993), Spain (1994), and Luxembourg (1996) joined over the next few years; Poland joined in 2022; Greece and Turkey (since 2002), Italy, Romania, and Austria (since 2009, 2016, and 2021 respectively) participate as associated nations; Eurocorps is headquartered in France the European Gendarmerie Force (EURGENDFOR) is an operational, pre-organized, and rapidly deployable European gendarmerie/police force; it is not established at the EU level, but is capable of performing police tasks, including law enforcement, stability operations, and training in support of the EU, the UN, OSCE, NATO, and other international organizations or ad hoc coalitions; member state gendarmeries include those of France, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, and Spain; the Lithuanian Public Security Service is a partner, while Turkey's Gendarmerie is an observer force the European Medical Corps (EMC) was set up in the aftermath of the Ebola crisis in West Africa in 2014 to enable the deployment of teams and equipment from EU member states to provide medical assistance and public health expertise in response to emergencies inside and outside the EU; 12 European states have committed teams and equipment to the EMC the European Medical Command (EMC) was formed to provide a standing EU medical capability, increase medical operational readiness, and improve interoperability amongst the participating EU members; it operates closely with the NATO Framework Nations Concept’s Multinational Medical Coordination Center (MMCC) under a single administrative and infrastructural framework (MMCC/EMC); the EMC was declared operational in May 2022 the European Air Transport Command (EATC) is a single multinational command for more than 150 military air mobility assets from seven member states, including transport, air-to-air refueling, and aeromedical evacuation; the EATC headquarters is located in the Netherlands, but the air assets remain located at member national air bases; the EATC was established in 2010 the European Air Group (EAG) is an independent organization formed by the air forces of its seven member nations (Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, and the UK) that is focused on improving interoperability between the air forces of EAG members and its 14 partner and associate nations; it was established in the late 1990s and is headquartered in the UK the European Maritime Force (EUROMARFOR or EMF) is a four-nation (France, Italy, Portugal, and Spain), non-standing naval force with the ability to carry out naval, air, and amphibious operations; EUROMARFOR was formed in 1995 to conduct missions such as crisis response, humanitarian missions, peacekeeping, peace enforcement, and sea control; it can deploy under EU, NATO, or UN mandate, but also as long as the four partner nations agree the Combined Joint Expeditionary Force (CJEF) is a deployable, combined France-UK military force of up to 10,000 personnel for use in a wide range of crisis scenarios, up to and including high intensity combat operations; the CJEF has no standing forces but would be available at short notice for French-UK bilateral, NATO, EU, UN, or other operations; it was established in 2010 and declared operational in 2020 the 1st German/Netherlands (Dutch) Corps is a combined army corps headquarters that has the ability to conduct operations under the command and control of Germany and the Netherlands, NATO, or the EU; in peacetime, approximately 1,100 Dutch and German soldiers are assigned, but during a crisis up to 80,000 troops may be assigned; it was formed in 1995 and is headquartered in Germany the Lithuanian-Polish-Ukrainian Brigade (LITPOLUKRBRIG) is comprised of an international staff, three battalions, and specialized units; units affiliated with the multinational brigade remain within the structures of the armed forces of their respective countries until the brigade is activated for participation in an international operation; it was formed in 2014 and is headquartered in Poland (2025) ### Space **Space agency/agencies:** the only EU agency dedicated to space is the EU Agency for the Space Program (EUSPA; established in 2021); the EUSPA originated with the Galileo Joint Undertaking (GJU) set up in 2002 by the European Community (EC) and the European Space Agency (ESA) to manage the development phase of Europe’s Galileo satellite navigation program; the GJU’s responsibilities were assumed by the European Global Navigation Satellite System Supervisory Authority (GSA) in 2007 the ESA (established 1975 from the European Launcher Development Organization and the European Space Research Organization, which were established in the early 1960s) is an independent organization although it maintains close ties with the EU through an ESA/EC Framework Agreement; the ESA and EC share a joint European Strategy for Space and have together developed a European Space Policy the ESA has 23 member states; the national bodies responsible for space in these countries sit on ESA’s governing Council: Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the UK; Canada also sits on the Council and takes part in some projects under a Cooperation Agreement; Latvia, Lithuania, and Slovakia are Associate Members; Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, and Malta have cooperation agreements with ESA; ESA has established formal cooperation with all member states of the EU that are not ESA members (2025) **Space launch site(s):** ESA’s spaceport is located in Kourou, French Guiana; EU members Norway and Sweden have operational commercial space ports; the UK, non-EU member, has two operational commercial space ports (2025) **Space program overview:** EU member states have a large and advanced commercial space sector that develops and produces a full range of capabilities and technologies; a key focus for both the European Space Agency (ESA) and the EU Agency for the Space Program (EUSPA) is encouraging this sector; Europe is a global leader in satellite-based communications and hosts the headquarters of three of the world’s major satellite communications companies ESA is comprehensive space agency that is active across the space sector, except for launching humans into space; its activities include producing and operating satellites with a full spectrum of capabilities (communications, multipurpose, navigational, remote sensing, science/technology), satellite launch vehicles (SLVs), space launches, astronaut training, space transportation/automated transfer vehicles, reusable spacecraft, space station modules, spacecraft components, robotic space labs, lunar/planetary surface rovers, interplanetary space probes and exploration, and space telescopes; ESA participates in international programs such as the International Space Station and works closely with Europe’s commercial space industry; it also works with a broad range of space agencies and industries of non-member countries, including China, Japan, Russia, and the US; many of its programs are conducted jointly, particularly with the US space program the EUSPA is responsible for the operational management of the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS) and Galileo satellite navigation programs; the EU space strategy encourages investment in and the use of space services and data, fosters competition and innovation, develops space technologies, and reinforces Europe’s autonomy in accessing space (2025) **Key space-program milestones:** 1979 - first launch of Ariane heavy-lift satellite launch vehicle (SLV) 1980s-2011 - participated in US Space Shuttle program (included more than 20 Spacelab missions, 1983-1998) 1995 - first solar satellite/orbiter (SOHO) launched 1997-2017 - Cassini-Huygens research mission to Saturn 1998-present - participating in a series of missions with varying start dates, including the International Space Station, International Gamma-Ray Astrophysics Laboratory mission (INTEGRAL), Mars Express orbiter exploration mission, Rosetta comet probe (included world’s first landing on a comet, 2014), Copernicus Earth observation program, Mars orbiter mission (ExoMars), Mercury planetary orbiter mission (BepiColombo), Solar Orbiter mission, US Gateway Lunar orbital station project 2016 - Galileo satellite-based global navigational positioning system reached initial operational capability 2019 - began development of quantum communications infrastructure (EuroQCI) 2021 - implemented EU government satellite communications (GOVSATCOM) and Space Surveillance and Awareness (SSA) components of EU space program; launched world’s first commercial, fully flexible, reprogrammable quantum satellite; launched US-built James Webb Space Telescope 2023 - launched Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) mission; launched Euclid space observatory/telescope 2024 - successful test launch of Ariane-6 SLV; launched probe (Hera) to study asteroid Didymos and its moon Dimorphos 2025 - announced EU Space Act, a cooperative framework for space activities across the EU ### Terrorism **Terrorist group(s):** Terrorist group(s): see individual EU member states --- ## Faroe Islands **Slug:** faroe-islands **Region:** Europe **Flag:** 🇫🇴 **Codes:** cek: fo, iso2: FO, iso3: FRO, iso_num: 234, genc: FRO, stanag: FRO, internet: .fo ### Introduction **Background:** The Faroe Islands were already populated by about A.D. 500, but whether the original settlers were Celtic or early Norse (or someone else) has yet to be determined. Viking settlers arrived on the islands in the 9th century, and the islands served as an important stepping stone for medieval Viking exploration of the North Atlantic. The islands have been connected politically to Denmark since the 14th century, and today the Faroe Islands are a self-governing dependency of Denmark. The Home Rule Act of 1948 granted a high degree of self-government to the Faroese, who have autonomy over most internal affairs and external trade, while Denmark is responsible for justice, defense, and some foreign affairs. The Faroe Islands are not part of the European Union. ### Geography **Location:** Northern Europe, island group between the Norwegian Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, about halfway between Iceland and Norway **Geographic coordinates:** 62 00 N, 7 00 W **Map references:** Europe **Area:** total : 1,393 sq km land: 1,393 sq km water: 0 sq km (some lakes and streams) **Area - comparative:** eight times the size of Washington, D.C. **Land boundaries:** total: 0 km **Coastline:** 1,117 km **Maritime claims:** territorial sea: 12 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or agreed boundaries or median line exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm or agreed boundaries or median line **Climate:** mild winters, cool summers; usually overcast; foggy, windy **Terrain:** rugged, rocky, some low peaks; cliffs along most of coast **Elevation:** highest point: Slaettaratindur 882 m lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m **Natural resources:** fish, whales, hydropower, possible oil and gas **Land use:** agricultural land: 70.1% (2023 est.) arable land: 0.1% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.) permanent pasture: 70.1% (2023 est.) forest: 0.1% (2023 est.) other: 29.8% (2023 est.) **Population distribution:** the island of Streymoy is by far the most populous with over 40% of the population; it has approximately twice as many inhabitants as Eysturoy, the second most populous island; seven of the inhabited islands have fewer than 100 people **Natural hazards:** strong winds and heavy rains can occur throughout the year **Geography - note:** archipelago of 17 inhabited islands, one uninhabited island, and a few uninhabited islets; strategically located along important sea lanes in northeastern Atlantic; precipitous terrain limits habitation to small coastal lowlands ### People and Society **Population:** total: 53,264 (2025 est.) male: 27,551 female: 25,713 **Nationality:** noun: Faroese (singular and plural) adjective: Faroese **Ethnic groups:** Faroese 83.8% (Scandinavian and Anglo-Saxon descent), Danish 8.3%, Filipino 1.2%, other Nordic 0.9%, other 4.5% (includes Polish and Romanian) (2024 est.) note: data represent respondents by country of birth **Languages:** Faroese 93.8% (derived from Old Norse), Danish 3.2%, other 3% (2011 est.) note: data represent population by primary language **Religions:** Christian 87% (predominantly Evangelical Lutheran), other 0.9%, none 3.7%, unspecified 8.9% (2011 est.) **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 20% (male 5,489/female 5,122) 15-64 years: 61.5% (male 17,188/female 15,346) 65 years and over: 18.5% (2024 est.) (male 4,723/female 5,065) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 63.8 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 33.1 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 30.7 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 3.3 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 37 years (2025 est.) male: 36.9 years female: 36.8 years **Population growth rate:** 0.62% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 14.76 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 8.58 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** the island of Streymoy is by far the most populous with over 40% of the population; it has approximately twice as many inhabitants as Eysturoy, the second most populous island; seven of the inhabited islands have fewer than 100 people **Urbanization:** urban population: 43% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.89% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 21,000 TORSHAVN (capital) (2018) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.12 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.93 male(s)/female total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 5.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 6.3 deaths/1,000 live births female: 5.1 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 81.7 years (2024 est.) male: 79.2 years female: 84.4 years **Total fertility rate:** 2.26 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 1.09 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: urban: NA rural: NA total: 100% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: NA rural: NA total: 0% of population (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 2.62 physicians/1,000 population (2016) **Currently married women (ages 15-49):** 52.3% (2021 est.) **Education expenditure:** 7.6% of GDP (2019 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** coastal erosion, landslides and rockfalls, flash flooding, wind storms; oil spills **Climate:** mild winters, cool summers; usually overcast; foggy, windy **Land use:** agricultural land: 70.1% (2023 est.) arable land: 0.1% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.) permanent pasture: 70.1% (2023 est.) forest: 0.1% (2023 est.) other: 29.8% (2023 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 43% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.89% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 742,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 742,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 61,000 tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 67% (2012 est.) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: none conventional short form: Faroe Islands local long form: none local short form: Foroyar etymology: the archipelago's name derives from the Old Norse name Faeroyar, meaning "sheep islands;" faer means "sheep," and -oyar means "islands" **Government type:** parliamentary democracy (Faroese Parliament); part of the Kingdom of Denmark **Dependency status:** part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark since 1948 **Capital:** name: Torshavn geographic coordinates: 62 00 N, 6 46 W time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October etymology: the name means "Thor's harbor" in Danish **Administrative divisions:** 29 first-order municipalities (kommunur, singular - kommuna) Eidhi, Eystur, Famjin, Fuglafjordhur, Fugloy, Hov, Husavik, Hvalba, Hvannasund, Klaksvik, Kunoy, Kvivik, Nes, Porkeri, Runavik, Sandur, Sjovar, Skalavik, Skopun, Skuvoy, Sorvagur, Sumba, Sunda, Torshavn, Tvoroyri, Vagar, Vagur, Vestmanna, Vidhareidhi **Legal system:** the laws of Denmark apply **Constitution:** history: 5 June 1953 (Danish Constitution), 23 March 1948 (Home Rule Act), and 24 June 2005 (Takeover Act) serve as the Faroe Islands' constitutional position in the Unity of the Realm amendment process: see entry for Denmark **Citizenship:** see Denmark **Suffrage:** 18 years of age; universal **Executive branch:** chief of state: King FREDERIK X of Denmark (since 14 January 2024), represented by High Commissioner Lene Moyell JOHANSEN, chief administrative officer (since 15 May 2017) (2024) head of government: Prime Minister Aksel V. JOHANNESEN (since 22 December 2022) cabinet: Landsstyri appointed by the prime minister election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; high commissioner appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the Parliament usually elects the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as the prime minister most recent election date: 8 December 2022 expected date of next election: 2026 **Legislative branch:** legislature name: Faroese Parliament (Logting) legislative structure: unicameral number of seats: 33 (directly elected) electoral system: proportional representation scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 4 years most recent election date: 12/8/2022 parties elected and seats per party: JF (9); B (7); A (6); E (6); F (3); H (2) percentage of women in chamber: 27.3% expected date of next election: 2026 note: the Faroe Islands elect 2 members to the Danish Parliament to serve 4-year terms **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Faroese Court or Raett (Rett in Danish) decides both civil and criminal cases; the Court is part of the Danish legal system subordinate courts: Court of the First Instance or Tribunal de Première Instance; Court of Administrative Law or Tribunal Administratif; Mixed Commercial Court; Land Court **Political parties:** Center Party or H (Midflokkurin) People's Party or A (Folkaflokkurin) Progress Party or F (Framsokn) Republic or E (Tjodveldi) (formerly the Republican Party) Social Democratic Party or JF (Javnadarflokkurin) or JF Union Party or B (Sambandsflokkurin) **Diplomatic representation in the US:** none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark) **Diplomatic representation from the US:** embassy: none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark) **International organization participation:** Arctic Council, IMO (associate), NC, NIB, UNESCO (associate), UPU **Independence:** none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark) **National holiday:** Olaifest (Olavsoka), 29 July (1030) note: commemorates the death in battle of King OLAF II of Norway, later St. OLAF **Flag:** description: white with a red cross outlined in blue that extends to the edges of the flag; the cross is shifted toward the left side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag) meaning: white represents waves breaking on the shore; red and blue are traditional Faroese colors history: the flag is referred to as Merkid, meaning "the banner" or "the mark;" a group of students designed it in 1919, although it wasn't officially adopted until 1940 note: resembles the flags of Iceland and Norway; uses the same three colors in a different sequence and with a lighter blue **National symbol(s):** ram **National anthem(s):** title: "Mitt alfagra land" (My Fairest Land) lyrics/music: Simun av SKAROI/Peter ALBERG history: adopted 1948; the anthem is also known as "Tu alfagra land mitt" (Thou Fairest Land of Mine); as a self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark, the Faroe Islands are permitted to have their own national anthem ### Economy **Economic overview:** high-income Danish territorial economy; party neither to the EU nor the Schengen Area; associate Nordic Council member; very low unemployment; unique foreign ownership allowance in fishing industry; known salmon exporter; growing IT industries **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $3.834 billion (2023 est.) $3.741 billion (2022 est.) $3.613 billion (2021 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** 2.5% (2023 est.) 3.6% (2022 est.) 5.5% (2021 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $70,400 (2023 est.) $69,400 (2022 est.) $67,800 (2021 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $3.907 billion (2023 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 18.2% (2023 est.) industry: 19.7% (2023 est.) services: 52% (2023 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **GDP - composition, by end use:** household consumption: 40.6% (2023 est.) government consumption: 27.3% (2023 est.) investment in fixed capital: 31% (2023 est.) investment in inventories: 0% (2023 est.) exports of goods and services: 57.7% (2023 est.) imports of goods and services: -56.6% (2023 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection **Agricultural products:** milk, potatoes, lamb/mutton, sheepskins, sheep offal, beef, sheep fat, beef offal, cattle hides, beef suet (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage **Industries:** fishing, fish processing, tourism, small ship repair and refurbishment, handicrafts **Remittances:** 4.1% of GDP (2023 est.) 4.4% of GDP (2022 est.) 4.3% of GDP (2021 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Exports:** $2.255 billion (2023 est.) $2.219 billion (2022 est.) $1.923 billion (2021 est.) note: GDP expenditure basis - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** Russia 26.4%, UK 14.1%, Germany 8.4%, China 7.9%, Spain 6.8%, Denmark 6.2%, US 4.7%, Poland 4.4%, Norway 4.1% (2017) **Exports - commodities:** fish and fish products (2021) **Imports:** $2.212 billion (2023 est.) $2.223 billion (2022 est.) $1.906 billion (2021 est.) note: GDP expenditure basis - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** Denmark 33%, China 10.7%, Germany 7.6%, Poland 6.8%, Norway 6.7%, Ireland 5%, Chile 4.3% (2017) **Imports - commodities:** goods for household consumption, machinery and transport equipment, fuels, raw materials and semi-manufactures, cars **Exchange rates:** Danish kroner (DKK) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 6.894 (2024 est.) 6.89 (2023 est.) 7.076 (2022 est.) 6.287 (2021 est.) 6.542 (2020 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.) electrification - urban areas: 99.9% electrification - rural areas: 100% **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 180,000 kW (2023 est.) consumption: 463.285 million kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 25.115 million kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** fossil fuels: 53.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) wind: 18.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: 26.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) biomass and waste: 1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Coal:** imports: 1 metric tons (2023 est.) **Petroleum:** refined petroleum consumption: 5,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 14,900 (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 28 (2022 est.) **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 57,100 (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 106 (2022 est.) **Broadcast media:** 1 publicly owned TV station; the Faroese telecommunications company distributes local and international channels through its digital terrestrial network; publicly owned radio station supplemented by 3 privately owned stations broadcasting over multiple frequencies **Internet country code:** .fo **Internet users:** percent of population: 98% (2017 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 19,000 (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 35 (2022 est.) ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** OY-H **Airports:** 1 (2025) **Heliports:** 12 (2025) **Merchant marine:** total: 91 (2023) by type: container ships 6, general cargo 45, other 40 **Ports:** total ports: 9 (2024) large: 0 medium: 0 small: 0 very small: 9 ports with oil terminals: 5 key ports: Fuglafjordur, Klaksvik, Kongshavn, Runavik, Sorvagur, Torshavn, Tvoroyri, Vagur, Vestmanna ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** no regular military forces or conscription **Military - note:** the Government of Denmark has responsibility for defense; as such, the Danish military’s Joint Arctic Command in Nuuk, Greenland is responsible for coordinating the defense of the Faroe Islands; the Joint Arctic Command has a contact element in the capital of Torshavn --- ## Finland **Slug:** finland **Region:** Europe **Flag:** 🇫🇮 **Codes:** cek: fi, iso2: FI, iso3: FIN, iso_num: 246, genc: FIN, stanag: FIN, internet: .fi ### Introduction **Background:** Finland was a province and then a grand duchy under Sweden from the 12th to the 19th centuries and an autonomous grand duchy of Russia after 1809. It gained complete independence in 1917. During World War II, Finland successfully defended its independence through cooperation with Germany and resisted subsequent invasions by the Soviet Union, albeit with some loss of territory. During the next half-century, Finland transformed from a farm/forest economy to a diversified modern industrial economy; per-capita income is among the highest in Western Europe. A member of the EU since 1995, Finland was the only Nordic state to join the euro single currency at its initiation in January 1999. In the 21st century, the key features of Finland's modern welfare state are high-quality education, promotion of equality, and a national social welfare system, although the system is currently facing the challenges of an aging population and the fluctuations of an export-driven economy. Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Finland opted to join NATO; it became the organization's 31st member in April 2023. ### Geography **Location:** Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, and Gulf of Finland, between Sweden and Russia **Geographic coordinates:** 64 00 N, 26 00 E **Map references:** Europe **Area:** total : 338,145 sq km land: 303,815 sq km water: 34,330 sq km **Area - comparative:** slightly more than two times the size of Georgia; slightly smaller than Montana **Land boundaries:** total: 2,563 km border countries (3): Norway 709 km; Sweden 545 km; Russia 1,309 km **Coastline:** 1,250 km **Maritime claims:** territorial sea: 12 nm (in the Gulf of Finland - 3 nm) contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm; extends to continental shelf boundary with Sweden, Estonia, and Russia **Climate:** cold temperate; potentially subarctic but comparatively mild because of moderating influence of the North Atlantic Current, Baltic Sea, and more than 60,000 lakes **Terrain:** mostly low, flat to rolling plains interspersed with lakes and low hills **Elevation:** highest point: Halti (alternatively Haltia, Haltitunturi, Haltiatunturi) 1,328 m lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m mean elevation: 164 m **Natural resources:** timber, iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, chromite, nickel, gold, silver, limestone **Land use:** agricultural land: 7.4% (2023 est.) arable land: 7.4% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 0% (2023 est.) forest: 74.2% (2023 est.) other: 18.4% (2023 est.) **Irrigated land:** 80 sq km (2016) **Major lakes (area sq km):** fresh water lake(s): Saimaa - 1,760 sq km; Paijanne - 1,090 sq km; Inarijarvi - 1,000 sq km; Oulujarvi - 900 sq km; Pielinen - 850 sq km **Population distribution:** the vast majority of people are found in the south; the northern interior areas remain sparsely populated **Natural hazards:** severe winters in the north **Geography - note:** long boundary with Russia; Helsinki is northernmost national capital on European continent; population concentrated on small southwestern coastal plain ### People and Society **Population:** total: 5,550,449 (2025 est.) male: 2,750,057 female: 2,800,392 **Nationality:** noun: Finn(s) adjective: Finnish **Ethnic groups:** Finnish, Swedish, Russian, Estonian, Romani, Sami note: 90.9% of the population has a Finnish background (2022 est.) **Languages:** Finnish (official) 85.9%, Swedish (official) 5.2%, Russian 1.7%, other 7.2% (2022 est.) major-language sample(s): World Factbook, korvaamaton perustietolähde. (Finnish) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. **Religions:** Lutheran 66.6%, Greek Orthodox 1.1%, other 1.7%, none 30.6% (2022 est.) **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 16.2% (male 464,939/female 444,585) 15-64 years: 60.3% (male 1,725,072/female 1,668,604) 65 years and over: 23.5% (2024 est.) (male 583,645/female 739,569) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 62.3 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 23.3 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 39 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 2.6 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 44 years (2025 est.) male: 41.8 years female: 44.9 years **Population growth rate:** 0.02% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 7.75 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 11.01 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** 3.44 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** the vast majority of people are found in the south; the northern interior areas remain sparsely populated **Urbanization:** urban population: 85.8% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.42% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 1.338 million HELSINKI (capital) (2023) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Mother's mean age at first birth:** 29.5 years (2020 est.) **Maternal mortality ratio:** 8 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 1.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 2.3 deaths/1,000 live births female: 1.9 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 82.2 years (2024 est.) male: 79.3 years female: 85.2 years **Total fertility rate:** 1.28 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 0.63 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.) rural: 100% of population (2022 est.) total: 100% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.) rural: 0% of population (2022 est.) total: 0% of population (2022 est.) **Health expenditure:** 10.2% of GDP (2021) 14.8% of national budget (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 3.61 physicians/1,000 population (2021) **Hospital bed density:** 2.8 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.) **Sanitation facility access:** improved: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.) rural: 100% of population (2022 est.) total: 100% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.) rural: 0% of population (2022 est.) total: 0% of population (2022 est.) **Obesity - adult prevalence rate:** 22.2% (2016) **Alcohol consumption per capita:** total: 8.23 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 3.76 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 1.59 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 1.96 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0.91 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) **Tobacco use:** total: 18% (2025 est.) male: 21.7% (2025 est.) female: 14.3% (2025 est.) **Currently married women (ages 15-49):** 57.1% (2023 est.) **Child marriage:** women married by age 18: 0.1% (2017) **Education expenditure:** 6.4% of GDP (2022 est.) 12.1% national budget (2022 est.) **School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):** total: 20 years (2023 est.) male: 18 years (2023 est.) female: 21 years (2023 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** limited air pollution in urban centers; some water pollution from industrial wastes, agricultural chemicals; habitat loss threatens wildlife populations **International environmental agreements:** party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements **Climate:** cold temperate; potentially subarctic but comparatively mild because of moderating influence of the North Atlantic Current, Baltic Sea, and more than 60,000 lakes **Land use:** agricultural land: 7.4% (2023 est.) arable land: 7.4% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 0% (2023 est.) forest: 74.2% (2023 est.) other: 18.4% (2023 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 85.8% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.42% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 33.594 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 7.536 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 23.069 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from consumed natural gas: 2.989 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Particulate matter emissions:** 6 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 3.124 million tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 35.4% (2022 est.) **Total water withdrawal:** municipal: 500 million cubic meters (2022 est.) industrial: 1.299 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) agricultural: 1 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) **Total renewable water resources:** 110 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) **Geoparks:** total global geoparks and regional networks: 4 (2024) global geoparks and regional networks: Impact Crater Lake - Lappajarvi; Rokua; Lauhanvuori-Haemeenkangas; Saimaa; Salpausselka (2024) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: Republic of Finland conventional short form: Finland local long form: Suomen tasavalta (Finnish)/ Republiken Finland (Swedish) local short form: Suomi (Finnish)/ Finland (Swedish) etymology: name derives from the Finns, an ethnic group in northeastern Europe; their name comes from the Germanic word finna, meaning "fish scale;" the local name, Suomi, may come from two local words: suo, meaning "marsh," and maa, meaning "land" **Government type:** parliamentary republic **Capital:** name: Helsinki geographic coordinates: 60 10 N, 24 56 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October etymology: the modern name is a Finnish derivation; King Gustav VASA of Sweden founded the city in 1550 as Helsingfors; the name came from Helsing, the Old Norwegian name for a local people, and the word fors, or "waterfall," referring to a waterfall at the city's original location on the Vantaa River **Administrative divisions:** 19 regions (maakunnat, singular - maakunta (Finnish); landskapen, singular - landskapet (Swedish)); Aland (Swedish), Ahvenanmaa (Finnish); Etela-Karjala (Finnish), Sodra Karelen (Swedish) [South Karelia]; Etela-Pohjanmaa (Finnish), Sodra Osterbotten (Swedish) [South Ostrobothnia]; Etela-Savo (Finnish), Sodra Savolax (Swedish) [South Savo]; Kanta-Hame (Finnish), Egentliga Tavastland (Swedish); Kainuu (Finnish), Kajanaland (Swedish); Keski-Pohjanmaa (Finnish), Mellersta Osterbotten (Swedish) [Central Ostrobothnia]; Keski-Suomi (Finnish), Mellersta Finland (Swedish) [Central Finland]; Kymenlaakso (Finnish), Kymmenedalen (Swedish); Lappi (Finnish), Lappland (Swedish); Paijat-Hame (Finnish), Paijanne-Tavastland (Swedish); Pirkanmaa (Finnish), Birkaland (Swedish) [Tampere]; Pohjanmaa (Finnish), Osterbotten (Swedish) [Ostrobothnia]; Pohjois-Karjala (Finnish), Norra Karelen (Swedish) [North Karelia]; Pohjois-Pohjanmaa (Finnish), Norra Osterbotten (Swedish) [North Ostrobothnia]; Pohjois-Savo (Finnish), Norra Savolax (Swedish) [North Savo]; Satakunta (Finnish and Swedish); Uusimaa (Finnish), Nyland (Swedish) [Newland]; Varsinais-Suomi (Finnish), Egentliga Finland (Swedish) [Southwest Finland] **Legal system:** civil law system based on the Swedish model **Constitution:** history: previous 1906, 1919; latest drafted 17 June 1997, approved by Parliament 11 June 1999, entered into force 1 March 2000 amendment process: proposed by Parliament; passage normally requires simple majority vote in two readings in the first parliamentary session and at least two-thirds majority vote in a single reading by the newly elected Parliament; proposals declared "urgent" by five-sixths of Parliament members can be passed by at least two-thirds majority vote in the first parliamentary session only **International law organization participation:** accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Finland dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 6 years **Suffrage:** 18 years of age; universal **Executive branch:** chief of state: President Alexander STUBB (since 1 March 2024) head of government: Prime Minister Petteri ORPO (since 20 June 2023) cabinet: Council of State or Valtioneuvosto appointed by the president, responsible to Parliament election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 6-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister appointed by Parliament most recent election date: 28 January 2024, with a runoff on 11 February 2024 election results: 2024: Alexander STUBB elected in the second round; percent of vote in the first round - Alexander STUBB (KoK) 27.2%, Pekka HAAVISTO (Vihr) 25.8%, Jussi HALLA-AHO (PS) 19.0%, Olli REHN (Kesk) 15.3%; percent of vote in second round - STUBB 51.6%, HAAVISTO 48.4% 2018: Sauli NIINISTO reelected president; percent of vote - Sauli NIINISTO (independent) 62.7%, Pekka HAAVISTO (Vihr) 12.4%, Laura HUHTASAARI (PS) 6.9%, Paavo VAYRYNEN (independent) 6.2%, Matti VANHANEN (Kesk) 4.1%, other 7.7% expected date of next election: by 28 January 2030 **Legislative branch:** legislature name: Parliament (Eduskunta - Riksdagen) legislative structure: unicameral number of seats: 200 (all directly elected) electoral system: proportional representation scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 4 years most recent election date: 4/2/2023 parties elected and seats per party: National Coalition Party (KOK) (48); The Finns Party (PS) (46); Social Democratic Party (SDP) (43); Center Party (KESK) (23); The Greens (13); Left Alliance (Vas) (11); Other (16) percentage of women in chamber: 45.5% expected date of next election: April 2027 **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Supreme Court or Korkein Oikeus (consists of the court president and 18 judges); Supreme Administrative Court (consists of 21 judges, including the court president; organized into 3 chambers) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court and Supreme Administrative Court judges appointed by the president of the republic; judges serve until mandatory retirement at age 68 subordinate courts: 6 Courts of Appeal; 8 regional administrative courts; 27 district courts; special courts for issues relating to markets, labor, insurance, impeachment, land, tenancy, and water rights note: Finland has a dual judicial system; courts with civil and criminal jurisdiction, and administrative courts with jurisdiction for litigation between individuals and administrative organs of the state and communities **Political parties:** Aland Coalition (a coalition of several political parties on the Aland Islands) Center Party or Kesk Christian Democrats or KD Finns Party or PS Green League or Vihr Left Alliance or Vas Movement Now or Liike Nyt National Coalition Party or Kok Social Democratic Party or SDP Swedish People's Party or RKP or SFP **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Leena-Kaisa MIKKOLA (since 18 September 2024) chancery: 3301 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 298-5800 FAX: [1] (202) 298-6030 email address and website: sanomat.WAS@gov.fi https://finlandabroad.fi/web/usa/mission consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York **Diplomatic representation from the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Howard W. BRODIE (since 13 November 2025) embassy: Itainen Puistotie 14 B, 00140 Helsinki mailing address: 5310 Helsinki Place, Washington DC 20521-5310 telephone: [358] (9) 616-250 FAX: [358] (9) 174-681 email address and website: HelsinkiACS@state.gov https://fi.usembassy.gov/ **International organization participation:** ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CD, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EITI (implementing country), EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, G-9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club, PCA, PFP, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIL, UNMOGIP, UNOOSA, UNRWA, UNSOM, UNTSO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC **Independence:** 6 December 1917 (from Russia) **National holiday:** Independence Day, 6 December (1917) **Flag:** description: white with a blue cross extending to the edges of the flag; the cross is shifted to the left in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag) meaning: the blue stands for the country's thousands of lakes, and the white for snow **National symbol(s):** lion **National color(s):** blue, white **National anthem(s):** title: "Maamme" (Our Land) lyrics/music: Paavo Eemil KAJANDER, Johan Ludvig RUNEBERG/Fredrik PACIUS history: in use since 1848; although never officially adopted, the anthem has been popular since a student group first sang it in 1848 **National heritage:** total World Heritage Sites: 7 (6 cultural, 1 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Fortress of Suomenlinna (c); Old Rauma (c); Petäjävesi Old Church (c); Verla Groundwood and Board Mill (c); Bronze Age Burial Site of Sammallahdenmäki (c); High Coast / Kvarken Archipelago (n); Struve Geodetic Arc (c) ### Economy **Economic overview:** high-income, export-based EU and eurozone economy; major timber, metals, engineering, telecom, and electronics industries; emerging from recession triggered by inflation, weak consumer and export demand, and lower private investment; labor market reform plan to address structural rigidities **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $313.591 billion (2024 est.) $314.075 billion (2023 est.) $317.078 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** -0.2% (2024 est.) -0.9% (2023 est.) 0.8% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $55,600 (2024 est.) $56,200 (2023 est.) $57,100 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $299.836 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 1.6% (2024 est.) 6.3% (2023 est.) 7.1% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 2.5% (2024 est.) industry: 22.1% (2024 est.) services: 62.9% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **GDP - composition, by end use:** household consumption: 53.4% (2023 est.) government consumption: 25.6% (2023 est.) investment in fixed capital: 23.4% (2023 est.) investment in inventories: -0.4% (2023 est.) exports of goods and services: 43.1% (2023 est.) imports of goods and services: -42.8% (2023 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection **Agricultural products:** milk, barley, oats, wheat, potatoes, sugar beets, pork, chicken, peas, rye (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage **Industries:** metals and metal products, electronics, machinery and scientific instruments, shipbuilding, pulp and paper, foodstuffs, chemicals, textiles, clothing **Industrial production growth rate:** -2.2% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency **Labor force:** 2.898 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work **Unemployment rate:** 8.3% (2024 est.) 7.2% (2023 est.) 6.8% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment **Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):** total: 19.2% (2024 est.) male: 20% (2024 est.) female: 18.3% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment **Population below poverty line:** 12.2% (2022 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line **Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income:** 27.9 (2022 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality **Average household expenditures:** on food: 12.3% of household expenditures (2023 est.) on alcohol and tobacco: 4.4% of household expenditures (2023 est.) **Household income or consumption by percentage share:** lowest 10%: 3.8% (2022 est.) highest 10%: 23.1% (2022 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population **Remittances:** 0.2% of GDP (2024 est.) 0.3% of GDP (2023 est.) 0.2% of GDP (2022 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Budget:** revenues: $126.337 billion (2023 est.) expenditures: $131.978 billion (2023 est.) note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated **Public debt:** 61.3% of GDP (2017 est.) note: data cover general government debt and include debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intragovernmental debt; intragovernmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions **Taxes and other revenues:** 25.4% (of GDP) (2023 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP **Current account balance:** $930.393 million (2024 est.) -$1.58 billion (2023 est.) -$7.026 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars **Exports:** $124.531 billion (2024 est.) $127.098 billion (2023 est.) $129.389 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** USA 11%, Germany 11%, Sweden 10%, Netherlands 7%, China 5% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** paper, refined petroleum, steel, wood pulp, ships (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports:** $122.644 billion (2024 est.) $126.175 billion (2023 est.) $135.119 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** Germany 14%, Sweden 12%, China 9%, Norway 8%, Netherlands 5% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** crude petroleum, cars, refined petroleum, packaged medicine, broadcasting equipment (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:** $17.993 billion (2024 est.) $16.929 billion (2023 est.) $16.036 billion (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars **Exchange rates:** euros (EUR) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 0.924 (2024 est.) 0.925 (2023 est.) 0.95 (2022 est.) 0.845 (2021 est.) 0.876 (2020 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.) **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 26.782 million kW (2023 est.) consumption: 77.419 billion kWh (2023 est.) exports: 7.883 billion kWh (2023 est.) imports: 9.644 billion kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 2.721 billion kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** fossil fuels: 5.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) nuclear: 41.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 0.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) wind: 18.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: 19.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) biomass and waste: 13.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Nuclear energy:** Number of operational nuclear reactors: 5 (2025) Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors: 4.37GW (2025 est.) Percent of total electricity production: 42% (2025 est.) **Coal:** production: 811,000 metric tons (2023 est.) consumption: 3.933 million metric tons (2023 est.) exports: 113,000 metric tons (2023 est.) imports: 2.624 million metric tons (2023 est.) **Petroleum:** total petroleum production: 8,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 172,000 bbl/day (2024 est.) **Natural gas:** consumption: 1.55 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) exports: 479.457 million cubic meters (2023 est.) imports: 2.112 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) **Energy consumption per capita:** 183.54 million Btu/person (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 158,000 (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2024 est.) **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 7.07 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 126 (2024 est.) **Broadcast media:** 3 publicly operated TV stations and numerous privately owned TV stations; several free and special-interest pay-TV channels; cable and satellite multi-channel subscription services are available; all TV signals are digital; 13 national and 25 regional public radio stations; a large number of private radio broadcasters **Internet country code:** .fi note: Aland Islands assigned .ax **Internet users:** percent of population: 94% (2023 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 1.98 million (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 35 (2023 est.) ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** OH **Airports:** 98 (2025) **Heliports:** 17 (2025) **Railways:** total: 5,918 km (2020) 3,349 km electrified **Merchant marine:** total: 282 (2023) by type: bulk carrier 9, general cargo 75, oil tanker 4, other 194 **Ports:** total ports: 37 (2024) large: 5 medium: 7 small: 11 very small: 14 ports with oil terminals: 21 key ports: Helsinki, Kaskinen, Kokkola, Kotka, Kristinestad, Mantyluoto, Oulu, Pietarsaari, Pori, Rauma, Turku, Vaasa ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** Finnish Defense Forces (FDF; Puolustusvoimat): Army (Maavoimat), Navy (Merivoimat), Air Force (Ilmavoimat) (2025) note: the Border Guard (Rajavartiolaitos) and National Police are under the Ministry of the Interior; the Border Guard becomes part of the FDF in wartime **Military expenditures:** 2.8% of GDP (2025 est.) 2.4% of GDP (2024 est.) 2.1% of GDP (2023 est.) 1.7% of GDP (2022 est.) 1.4% of GDP (2021 est.) **Military and security service personnel strengths:** approximately 31,000 active-duty military personnel (2025) note: active-duty figures include about 21,000 conscripts carrying out their obligated military service **Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:** the military's inventory consists of a mix of modern European, Israeli, South Korean, US, and domestically produced weapons systems; the Finnish defense industry produces a variety of military equipment, including wheeled armored vehicles and naval vessels; Finland also cooperates with other European countries and the US in the joint production of armaments (2025) **Military service age and obligation:** all Finnish men are obligated to serve 5.5-12 months of service within a branch of the military or the Border Guard upon reaching the age of 18 (length of service depends on the type of duty); women 18-29 may volunteer for service; there is also an option to perform non-military service which lasts for 8.5 or 11.5 months; after completing their initial conscript obligation, individuals enter the reserves and remain eligible for mobilization until the age of 50 for rank-and-file and 60 for non-commissioned and commissioned officers (2025) note: Finland has had conscription since 1951; each year, the military inducts and active-duty units train approximately 21,000 conscripts; the resulting pool of trained reservists gives the FDF a wartime strength of approximately 280,000 and a total reserve of some 900,000 citizens with military service **Military deployments:** 165 Lebanon (UNIFIL); Finland also contributes to several ongoing EU and NATO missions (2025) **Military - note:** the Finnish Defense Forces (FDF) are focused primarily on territorial defense, which is based on having a large, trained reserve force created by general conscription; other FDF responsibilities include support to international peacekeeping operations and some domestic security duties, such as assisting the National Police in maintaining law and order in crises the FDF is also focused on fulfilling its commitment to NATO; following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Finland applied for NATO membership, gaining entry in April 2023; Finland had been part of NATO’s Partnership for Peace program since 1994 and participated in NATO-led military missions in the Balkans, Afghanistan, and Iraq; in 2024, it joined NATO's Air Policing mission in Eastern Europe Finland is a signatory of the EU’s Common Security and Defense Policy and actively participates in EU crisis management missions and operations; the FDF also cooperates closely with the militaries of other Nordic countries through the Nordic Defense Cooperation structure (NORDEFCO; established 2009), which consists of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden and involves cooperation in such areas as armaments, education, human resources, training and exercises, and operations; Sweden, the UK, and the US are close bi-lateral defense partners; in 2022, Finland signed a mutual security agreement with the UK, and since 2014 has been part of the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force, a pool of high-readiness military forces from 10 Baltic and Scandinavian countries designed to respond to a wide range of contingencies in the North Atlantic, Baltic Sea, and High North regions (2025) ### Terrorism **Terrorist group(s):** Terrorist group(s): Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) ### Transnational Issues **Refugees and internally displaced persons:** refugees: 97,568 (2024 est.) stateless persons: 1,326 (2024 est.) --- ## France **Slug:** france **Region:** Europe **Flag:** 🇫🇷 **Codes:** cek: fr, iso2: FR, iso3: FRA, iso_num: 250, genc: FRA, stanag: FRA, internet: .fr, comment: ISO includes metropolitan France along with the dependencies of Clipperton Island, French Guiana, French Polynesia, French Southern and Antarctic Lands, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Mayotte, New Caledonia, Reunion, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Wallis and Futuna ### Introduction **Background:** France today is one of the most modern countries in the world and is a leader among European nations. It plays an influential global role as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, NATO, the G-7, the G-20, the EU, and other multilateral organizations. France rejoined NATO's integrated military command structure in 2009, reversing then President Charles DE GAULLE's 1966 decision to withdraw French forces from NATO. Since 1958, it has constructed a hybrid presidential-parliamentary governing system resistant to the instabilities experienced in earlier, more purely parliamentary administrations. In recent decades, its reconciliation and cooperation with Germany have proved central to the economic integration of Europe, including the introduction of a common currency, the euro, in January 1999. In the early 21st century, five French overseas entities -- French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Mayotte, and Reunion -- became French regions and were made part of France proper. ### Geography **Location:** metropolitan France: Western Europe, bordering the Bay of Biscay and English Channel, between Belgium and Spain, southeast of the UK; bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Italy and Spain French Guiana: Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Brazil and Suriname Guadeloupe: Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Puerto Rico Martinique: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago Mayotte: Southern Indian Ocean, island in the Mozambique Channel, about halfway between northern Madagascar and northern Mozambique Reunion: Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar **Geographic coordinates:** metropolitan France: 46 00 N, 2 00 E French Guiana: 4 00 N, 53 00 W Guadeloupe: 16 15 N, 61 35 W Martinique: 14 40 N, 61 00 W Mayotte: 12 50 S, 45 10 E Reunion: 21 06 S, 55 36 E **Map references:** metropolitan France: Europe French Guiana: South America Guadeloupe: Central America and the Caribbean Martinique: Central America and the Caribbean Mayotte: Africa Reunion: World **Area:** total : 643,801 sq km ; 551,500 sq km (metropolitan France) land: 640,427 sq km ; 549,970 sq km (metropolitan France) water: 3,374 sq km ; 1,530 sq km (metropolitan France) note: the first numbers include the overseas regions of French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Mayotte, and Reunion **Area - comparative:** slightly more than four times the size of Georgia; slightly less than the size of Texas **Land boundaries:** total: 3,956 km border countries (8): Andorra 55 km; Belgium 556 km; Germany 418 km; Italy 476 km; Luxembourg 69 km; Monaco 6 km; Spain 646 km; Switzerland 525 km metropolitan France - total: 2751 km French Guiana - total: 1205 km **Coastline:** 4,853 km metropolitan France: 3,427 km **Maritime claims:** territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm (does not apply to the Mediterranean Sea) continental shelf: 200m depth or to the depth of exploitation **Climate:** metropolitan France: generally cool winters and mild summers, but mild winters and hot summers along the Mediterranean; occasional strong, cold, dry, north-to-northwesterly wind known as the mistral French Guiana: tropical; hot, humid; little seasonal temperature variation Guadeloupe and Martinique: subtropical tempered by trade winds; moderately high humidity; rainy season (June to October); vulnerable to devastating cyclones (hurricanes) every eight years on average Mayotte: tropical; marine; hot, humid, rainy season during northeastern monsoon (November to May); dry season is cooler (May to November) Reunion: tropical, but temperature moderates with elevation; cool and dry (May to November), hot and rainy (November to April) **Terrain:** metropolitan France: mostly flat plains or gently rolling hills in north and west; remainder is mountainous, especially Pyrenees in south, Alps in east French Guiana: low-lying coastal plains rising to hills and small mountains Guadeloupe: Basse-Terre is volcanic in origin with interior mountains; Grande-Terre is low limestone formation; most of the seven other islands are volcanic in origin Martinique: mountainous with indented coastline; dormant volcano Mayotte: generally undulating, with deep ravines and ancient volcanic peaks Reunion: mostly rugged and mountainous; fertile lowlands along coast **Elevation:** highest point: Mont Blanc 4,810 lowest point: Rhone River delta -2 m mean elevation: 375 m note: to assess the possible effects of climate change on the ice and snow cap of Mont Blanc, its surface and peak have been extensively measured in recent years; these new peak measurements have exceeded the traditional height of 4,807 m and have varied between 4,808 m and 4,811 m; the actual rock summit is 4,792 m and is 40 m away from the ice-covered summit **Natural resources:** metropolitan France: coal, iron ore, bauxite, zinc, uranium, antimony, arsenic, potash, feldspar, fluorspar, gypsum, timber, arable land, fish; French Guiana: gold deposits, petroleum, kaolin, niobium, tantalum, clay **Land use:** agricultural land: 52.5% (2023 est.) arable land: 31.4% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 1.9% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 19.2% (2023 est.) forest: 32.7% (2023 est.) other: 15% (2023 est.) **Irrigated land:** 14,236 sq km (2020) **Major lakes (area sq km):** fresh water lake(s): Lake Geneva (shared with Switzerland) - 580 sq km **Major rivers (by length in km):** Rhin (Rhine) (shared with Switzerland [s], Germany, and Netherlands [m]) - 1,233 km; Loire - 1,012 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth **Major watersheds (area sq km):** Atlantic Ocean drainage: Loire (115,282 sq km), Seine (78,919 sq km), Rhine-Maas (198,735 sq km), (Adriatic Sea) Po (76,997 sq km), (Mediterranean Sea) Rhone (100,543 sq km) **Major aquifers:** Paris Basin **Population distribution:** much of the population is concentrated in the north and southeast; although there are many urban agglomerations throughout the country, Paris is by far the largest city, with Lyon ranked a distant second **Natural hazards:** metropolitan France: flooding; avalanches; midwinter windstorms; drought; forest fires in south overseas departments: hurricanes (cyclones); flooding volcanism: Montagne Pelée (1,394 m) on the island of Martinique in the Caribbean is the most active volcano of the Lesser Antilles arc, although it last erupted in 1932; a catastrophic eruption in 1902 destroyed the city of St. Pierre, killing an estimated 30,000 people; La Soufrière (1,467 m) on the island of Guadeloupe has also had explosive eruptions in recent years **Geography - note:** largest Western European nation; most major French rivers -- the Meuse, Seine, Loire, Charente, Dordogne, and Garonne -- flow northward or westward into the Atlantic Ocean, only the Rhone flows southward into the Mediterranean Sea ### People and Society **Population:** total: 68,512,806 (2025 est.) male: 33,627,639 female: 34,885,167 **Nationality:** noun: Frenchman(men), Frenchwoman(women) adjective: French **Ethnic groups:** Celtic and Latin with Teutonic, Slavic, North African (Algerian, Moroccan, Tunisian), Indochinese, Basque minorities note: overseas departments: Black, White, Mulatto, East Indian, Chinese, Indigenous **Languages:** French (official) 100%, declining regional dialects and languages (Provençal, Breton, Alsatian, Corsican, Catalan, Basque, Flemish, Occitan, Picard) major-language sample(s): The World Factbook, une source indispensable d'informations de base. (French) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. note: overseas departments - French, Creole patois, Mahorian (a Swahili dialect) **Religions:** Roman Catholic 47%, Muslim 4%, Protestant 2%, Buddhist 2%, Orthodox 1%, Jewish 1%, other 1%, none 33%, unspecified 9% (2021 est.) note: France maintains a tradition of secularism and has not officially collected data on religious affiliation since the 1872 national census, which complicates assessments of France's religious composition; an 1872 law prohibiting state authorities from collecting data on individuals' ethnicity or religious beliefs was reaffirmed by a 1978 law emphasizing the prohibition of the collection or exploitation of personal data revealing an individual's race, ethnicity, or political, philosophical, or religious opinions; a 1905 law codified France's separation of church and state **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 17.3% (male 6,060,087/female 5,792,805) 15-64 years: 60.7% (male 20,875,861/female 20,615,847) 65 years and over: 22% (2024 est.) (male 6,621,146/female 8,408,845) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 65.2 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 28.4 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 36.8 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 2.7 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 42.7 years (2025 est.) male: 41 years female: 44.2 years **Population growth rate:** 0.2% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 10.88 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 9.91 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** 1.06 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** much of the population is concentrated in the north and southeast; although there are many urban agglomerations throughout the country, Paris is by far the largest city, with Lyon ranked a distant second **Urbanization:** urban population: 81.8% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.67% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 11.208 million PARIS (capital), 1.761 million Lyon, 1.628 million Marseille-Aix-en-Provence, 1.079 million Lille, 1.060 million Toulouse, 1.000 million Bordeaux (2023) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Mother's mean age at first birth:** 28.9 years (2020 est.) **Maternal mortality ratio:** 7 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 3.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 3.4 deaths/1,000 live births female: 2.8 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 82.6 years (2024 est.) male: 79.8 years female: 85.5 years **Total fertility rate:** 1.9 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 0.93 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.) rural: 100% of population (2022 est.) total: 100% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.) rural: 0% of population (2022 est.) total: 0% of population (2022 est.) **Health expenditure:** 12.3% of GDP (2021) 15.3% of national budget (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 3.28 physicians/1,000 population (2022) **Hospital bed density:** 6 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.) **Sanitation facility access:** improved: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.) rural: 100% of population (2022 est.) total: 100% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.) rural: 0% of population (2022 est.) total: 0% of population (2022 est.) **Obesity - adult prevalence rate:** 21.6% (2016) **Alcohol consumption per capita:** total: 11.44 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 2.52 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 6.44 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 2.3 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0.18 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) **Tobacco use:** total: 28.9% (2025 est.) male: 30.7% (2025 est.) female: 27.3% (2025 est.) **Currently married women (ages 15-49):** 54.9% (2020 est.) **Education expenditure:** 5.3% of GDP (2022 est.) 9.1% national budget (2022 est.) **School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):** total: 16 years (2022 est.) male: 16 years (2022 est.) female: 17 years (2022 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** air pollution and acid rain from industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution from urban wastes, agricultural runoff **International environmental agreements:** party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements **Climate:** metropolitan France: generally cool winters and mild summers, but mild winters and hot summers along the Mediterranean; occasional strong, cold, dry, north-to-northwesterly wind known as the mistral French Guiana: tropical; hot, humid; little seasonal temperature variation Guadeloupe and Martinique: subtropical tempered by trade winds; moderately high humidity; rainy season (June to October); vulnerable to devastating cyclones (hurricanes) every eight years on average Mayotte: tropical; marine; hot, humid, rainy season during northeastern monsoon (November to May); dry season is cooler (May to November) Reunion: tropical, but temperature moderates with elevation; cool and dry (May to November), hot and rainy (November to April) **Land use:** agricultural land: 52.5% (2023 est.) arable land: 31.4% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 1.9% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 19.2% (2023 est.) forest: 32.7% (2023 est.) other: 15% (2023 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 81.8% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.67% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 303.779 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 25.355 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 209.4 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from consumed natural gas: 69.025 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Particulate matter emissions:** 9 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) **Methane emissions:** energy: 232 kt (2022-2024 est.) agriculture: 1,496.1 kt (2019-2021 est.) waste: 550.9 kt (2019-2021 est.) other: 37.7 kt (2019-2021 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 36.749 million tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 31.6% (2022 est.) **Total water withdrawal:** municipal: 5.271 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) industrial: 16.641 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) agricultural: 2.515 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) **Total renewable water resources:** 211 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) **Geoparks:** total global geoparks and regional networks: 9 (2024) global geoparks and regional networks: Armorique; Beaujolais; Causses du Quersey; Chablais; Haute-Provence; Luberon; Massif des Bauges; Monts d'Ardèche; Normandie-Maine (2024) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: French Republic conventional short form: France local long form: République française local short form: France etymology: derives from the Latin name Francia, meaning "Land of the Franks"; the Franks were a group of Germanic tribes located along the middle and lower Rhine River in the 3rd century A.D.; the origin of the tribal name is unclear but may come from the Old German word franka, meaning "brave," or from a personal name such as Francio or Francus **Government type:** semi-presidential republic **Capital:** name: Paris geographic coordinates: 48 52 N, 2 20 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October time zone note: applies to metropolitan France only; for its overseas regions the time difference is UTC-4 for Guadeloupe and Martinique, UTC-3 for French Guiana, UTC+3 for Mayotte, and UTC+4 for Reunion etymology: name derives from the Parisii, a Celtic tribe that inhabited the area from the 3rd century B.C.; the Celtic settlement became the Roman town of Lutetia Parisiorum (Lutetia of the Parisii); over subsequent centuries it became Parisium and then Paris **Administrative divisions:** 18 regions (régions, singular - région); Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, Bretagne (Brittany), Centre-Val de Loire (Center-Loire Valley), Corse (Corsica), Grand Est (Grand East), Guadeloupe, Guyane (French Guiana), Hauts-de-France (Upper France), Ile-de-France, Martinique, Mayotte, Normandie (Normandy), Nouvelle-Aquitaine (New Aquitaine), Occitanie (Occitania), Pays de la Loire (Lands of the Loire), Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, Réunion note: France is divided into 13 metropolitan regions (including the "collectivity" of Corse, or Corsica) and 5 overseas regions (French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Mayotte, and Réunion) and is subdivided into 96 metropolitan departments and 5 overseas departments (which are the same as the overseas regions) **Dependent areas:** Clipperton Island, French Polynesia, French Southern and Antarctic Lands, New Caledonia, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Martin, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Wallis and Futuna (8) note: the US Government does not recognize claims to Antarctica; New Caledonia has been considered a "sui generis" collectivity of France since 1998, a unique status falling between that of an independent country and a French overseas department **Legal system:** civil law; review of administrative but not legislative acts **Constitution:** history: many previous; latest effective 4 October 1958 amendment process: proposed by the president of the republic (upon recommendation of the prime minister and Parliament) or by Parliament; proposals submitted by Parliament members require passage by both houses followed by approval in a referendum; passage of proposals submitted by the government can bypass a referendum if submitted by the president to Parliament and passed by at least three-fifths majority vote by Parliament’s National Assembly **International law organization participation:** has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of France dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years **Suffrage:** 18 years of age; universal **Executive branch:** chief of state: President Emmanuel MACRON (since 14 May 2017) head of government: Sébastien LECORNU (since 10 September 2025) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president at the suggestion of the prime minister election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister appointed by the president most recent election date: 10 April 2022, with a runoff held on 24 April 2022 election results: 2022: Emmanuel MACRON reelected in second round; percent of vote in first round - Emmanuel MACRON (LREM) 27.8%, Marine LE PEN (RN) 23.2%, Jean-Luc MELENCHON (LFI) 22%, Eric ZEMMOUR (Reconquête) 7.1%, Valerie PECRESSE (LR) 4.8%, Yannick JADOT (EELV) 4.6%, other 10.6%; percent of vote in second round - MACRON 58.5%, LE PEN 41.5% 2017: Emmanuel MACRON elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Emmanuel MACRON (EM) 24%, Marine LE PEN (FN) 21.3%, Francois FILLON (LR) 20%, Jean-Luc MELENCHON (FI) 19.6%, Benoit HAMON (PS) 6.4%, other 8.7%; percent of vote in second round - MACRON 66.1%, LE PEN 33.9% expected date of next election: April 2027 **Legislative branch:** legislature name: Parliament (Parlement) legislative structure: bicameral **Legislative branch - lower chamber:** chamber name: National Assembly (Assemblée nationale) number of seats: 577 (all directly elected) electoral system: plurality/majority scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 9/24/2023 parties elected and seats per party: New Popular Front (NFP)/UG (178); Ensemble (presidential majority) (150); National Rally (RN) (125); The Republicans (LR) (39); Other (85) percentage of women in chamber: 36.2% expected date of next election: June 2029 **Legislative branch - upper chamber:** chamber name: Senate (Sénat) number of seats: 348 (all indirectly elected) scope of elections: partial renewal term in office: 6 years most recent election date: 6/30/2024 to 7/7/2024 percentage of women in chamber: 37.1% expected date of next election: September 2026 note 1: of the 348 Senate seats, 328 seats are for metropolitan France, overseas departments, and regions of Guadeloupe, Martinique, French Guiana, Reunion, and Mayotte; the remainder of the seats include 2 for New Caledonia, 2 for French Polynesia, 1 for Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, 1 for Saint-Barthelemy, 1 for Saint-Martin, 1 for Wallis and Futuna, and 12 for French nationals abroad note 2: Senate members are indirectly elected by departmental electoral colleges, using absolute majority vote in two rounds if needed for departments with 1-3 members, and proportional representation vote in departments with 4 or more members **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Court of Cassation or Cour de Cassation (consists of the court president, 6 divisional presiding judges, 120 trial judges, and 70 deputy judges organized into 6 divisions -- 3 civil, 1 commercial, 1 labor, and 1 criminal); Constitutional Council (consists of 9 members) judge selection and term of office: Court of Cassation judges appointed by the president of the republic from nominations from the High Council of the Judiciary, presided over by the Court of Cassation and 15 appointed members; judges appointed for life; Constitutional Council has 3 members appointed by the president of the republic and 3 each by the National Assembly and Senate presidents; members serve 9-year, non-renewable terms with one third of the membership renewed every 3 years subordinate courts: appellate courts or cours d'appel; regional courts or tribunaux judiciaires; first instance courts or tribunaux de proximité; administrative courts **Political parties:** Citizen and Republican Movement or MRC Debout la France or DLF Democratic Movement or MoDem Ensemble or ENS (electoral coalition including RE, MoDem, Horizons, PRV, UDI) The Ecologists - the Greens or EELV French Communist Party or PCF Horizons La France Insoumise or FI Liberties, Independents, Overseas and Territories or LIOT Movement of Progressives or MDP National Rally or RN (formerly National Front or FN) New Democrats or LND (formerly Ecology Democracy Solidarity or EDS) New Popular Front or NFP (electoral coalition including FI, EELV, PS, PCF) Radical Party of the Left or PRV Reconquete or REC Renaissance or RE Résistons! Socialist Party or PS The Republicans or LR Union of Democrats and Independents or UDI Union of Far Right or UXD (electoral coalition of LR, RN) **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Laurent BILI (since 19 April 2023) chancery: 4101 Reservoir Road NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 944-6000 FAX: [1] (202) 944-6166 email address and website: info@ambafrance-us.org https://franceintheus.org/ consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco **Diplomatic representation from the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Charles KUSHNER (since 11 July 2025); note - also accredited to Monaco embassy: 2 avenue Gabriel, 75008 Paris mailing address: 9200 Paris Place, Washington DC 20521-9200 telephone: [33] (1) 43-12-22-22, [33] (1) 42-66-97-83 FAX: [33] (1) 42-66-97-83 email address and website: Citizeninfo@state.gov https://fr.usembassy.gov/ consulate(s) general: Marseille, Strasbourg consulate(s): Bordeaux, Lyon, Rennes **International organization participation:** ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council (observer), Australia Group, BDEAC, BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS (observer), CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EITI (implementing country), EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, FZ, G-5, G-7, G-8, G-10, G-20, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club, PCA, PIF (partner), Schengen Convention, SELEC (observer), SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNIFIL, Union Latina, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNOOSA, UNRWA, UN Security Council (permanent), UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC **Independence:** no official date of independence: 486 (Frankish tribes unified under Merovingian kingship); 10 August 843 (Western Francia established from the division of the Carolingian Empire); 14 July 1789 (French monarchy overthrown); 22 September 1792 (First French Republic established); 4 October 1958 (Fifth French Republic established) **National holiday:** Fête de la Fédération, 14 July (1790) note: often incorrectly referred to as Bastille Day, the celebration commemorates the storming of the Bastille prison on 14 July 1789 and the establishment of a constitutional monarchy; other names for the holiday are la Fête nationale (National Holiday) and le Quatorze Juillet (14th of July) **Flag:** description: three equal vertical bands of blue (left side), white, and red history: known as the le tricolore (tricolor), the flag dates to 1790 and the French Revolution, when the traditional color of white was combined with the blue and red of the Paris militia; for the first four years of the flag's use (1790-94), the order of colors was reversed (red-white-blue) note 1: serves as the official flag for all French dependencies note 2: the design and colors are similar to a number of other flags, including those of Belgium, Chad, Cote d'Ivoire, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, and Netherlands **National symbol(s):** Gallic rooster, fleur-de-lis, Marianne (female personification of the country) **National color(s):** blue, white, red **National anthem(s):** title: "La Marseillaise" (The Song of Marseille) lyrics/music: Claude-Joseph ROUGET de Lisle history: adopted 1795, restored 1870; acquired its name when the National Guard of Marseille sang the song while marching into Paris in 1792 during the French Revolution; one of the most recognized anthems in the world **National heritage:** total World Heritage Sites: 54 (46 cultural, 7 natural, 1 mixed); note - includes one site in New Caledonia and one site in French Polynesia selected World Heritage Site locales: Chartres Cathedral (c); Palace and Park of Versailles (c); Mont-Saint-Michel and its Bay (c); Prehistoric Sites and Decorated Caves of the Vézère Valley (c); Pyrénées - Mont Perdu (m); Cistercian Abbey of Fontenay (c); Paris, Banks of the Seine (c); The Loire Valley between Sully-sur-Loire and Chalonnes (c); Pont du Gard (Roman Aqueduct) (c); Amiens Cathedral (c); Palace and Park of Fontainebleau (c); Historic Fortified City of Carcassonne (c); The Maison Carrée of Nîmes (c); Gulf of Porto: Calanche of Piana, Gulf of Girolata, Scandola Reserve (Corsica) (n); Megaliths of Carnac and of the shores of Morbihan (c) ### Economy **Economic overview:** high-income, advanced EU economy and eurozone member; strong tourism, aircraft manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and industrial sectors; high public debt; ongoing pension reform efforts; transitioning to a green economy via "France 2030" strategy **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $3.732 trillion (2024 est.) $3.689 trillion (2023 est.) $3.655 trillion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** 1.2% (2024 est.) 0.9% (2023 est.) 2.6% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $54,500 (2024 est.) $54,000 (2023 est.) $53,700 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $3.162 trillion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 2% (2024 est.) 4.9% (2023 est.) 5.2% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 1.4% (2024 est.) industry: 17.5% (2024 est.) services: 70.4% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **GDP - composition, by end use:** household consumption: 53.4% (2023 est.) government consumption: 23.1% (2023 est.) investment in fixed capital: 23.1% (2023 est.) investment in inventories: 0.1% (2023 est.) exports of goods and services: 34.3% (2023 est.) imports of goods and services: -36.3% (2023 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection **Agricultural products:** wheat, sugar beets, milk, maize, barley, potatoes, grapes, rapeseed, pork, sunflower seeds (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage **Industries:** machinery, chemicals, automobiles, metallurgy, aircraft, electronics, textiles, food processing, tourism **Industrial production growth rate:** 0.7% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency **Labor force:** 31.725 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work **Unemployment rate:** 7.4% (2024 est.) 7.4% (2023 est.) 7.4% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment **Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):** total: 16.6% (2024 est.) male: 17.1% (2024 est.) female: 16% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment **Population below poverty line:** 15.6% (2021 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line **Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income:** 31.2 (2022 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality **Average household expenditures:** on food: 12.6% of household expenditures (2023 est.) on alcohol and tobacco: 3.5% of household expenditures (2023 est.) **Household income or consumption by percentage share:** lowest 10%: 3% (2022 est.) highest 10%: 24.6% (2022 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population **Remittances:** 1.2% of GDP (2024 est.) 1.2% of GDP (2023 est.) 1.2% of GDP (2022 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Budget:** revenues: $1.29 trillion (2023 est.) expenditures: $1.447 trillion (2023 est.) note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated **Public debt:** 98.5% of GDP (2023 est.) note: central government debt as a % of GDP **Taxes and other revenues:** 23.1% (of GDP) (2023 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP **Current account balance:** $12.382 billion (2024 est.) -$30.334 billion (2023 est.) -$33.069 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars **Exports:** $1.071 trillion (2024 est.) $1.05 trillion (2023 est.) $1.021 trillion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** Germany 11%, Italy 9%, USA 8%, Belgium 8%, Spain 7% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** aircraft, cars, packaged medicine, gas turbines, vehicle parts/accessories (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports:** $1.074 trillion (2024 est.) $1.094 trillion (2023 est.) $1.092 trillion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** Germany 15%, Belgium 11%, Netherlands 9%, Spain 8%, Italy 8% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** cars, natural gas, crude petroleum, refined petroleum, garments (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:** $282.857 billion (2024 est.) $240.792 billion (2023 est.) $242.416 billion (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars **Exchange rates:** euros (EUR) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 0.924 (2024 est.) 0.925 (2023 est.) 0.95 (2022 est.) 0.845 (2021 est.) 0.876 (2020 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.) **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 151.463 million kW (2023 est.) consumption: 415.542 billion kWh (2023 est.) exports: 76.207 billion kWh (2023 est.) imports: 25.107 billion kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 35.282 billion kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** fossil fuels: 7.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) nuclear: 63.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 4.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) wind: 10.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: 10.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) tide and wave: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) biomass and waste: 2.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Nuclear energy:** Number of operational nuclear reactors: 57 (2025) Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors: 61.37GW (2025 est.) Percent of total electricity production: 64.8% (2023 est.) Number of nuclear reactors permanently shut down: 14 (2025) **Coal:** production: 2.157 million metric tons (2023 est.) consumption: 12.57 million metric tons (2023 est.) exports: 64,000 metric tons (2023 est.) imports: 10.347 million metric tons (2023 est.) proven reserves: 160 million metric tons (2023 est.) **Petroleum:** total petroleum production: 80,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 1.536 million bbl/day (2024 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 61.719 million barrels (2021 est.) **Natural gas:** production: 17.928 million cubic meters (2023 est.) consumption: 33.238 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) exports: 13.584 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) imports: 46.909 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) proven reserves: 7.787 billion cubic meters (2021 est.) **Energy consumption per capita:** 123.526 million Btu/person (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 37.3 million (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 56 (2023 est.) **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 77.5 million (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 117 (2023 est.) **Broadcast media:** a mix of both publicly operated and privately owned TV stations; state-owned TV stations operate 4 networks and have part-interest in several thematic cable/satellite channels and international channels; large number of privately owned regional and local TV stations; multi-channel satellite and cable services; public broadcaster Radio France operates 7 national networks, a series of regional networks, and services for overseas territories and foreign audiences; Radio France Internationale, under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is a leading international broadcaster; large number of commercial FM stations **Internet country code:** metropolitan France - .fr; French Guiana - .gf; Guadeloupe - .gp; Martinique - .mq; Mayotte - .yt; Reunion - .re **Internet users:** percent of population: 87% (2023 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 32.3 million (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 49 (2023 est.) ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** F **Airports:** 1,218 (2025) note: Includes 29 airports in French overseas departments (French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Mayotte, Reunion) **Heliports:** 405 (2025) note: Includes 11 heliports in French overseas departments (French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Mayotte, Reunion) **Railways:** total: 27,860 km (2020) 16,660 km electrified narrow gauge: -5 km **Merchant marine:** total: 553 (2023) by type: container ship 32, general cargo 48, oil tanker 25, other 448 note: includes Monaco **Ports:** total ports: 66 (2024) large: 6 medium: 12 small: 22 very small: 26 ports with oil terminals: 31 key ports: Bayonne, Bordeaux, Boulogne-sur-Mer, Dunkerque Port Est, Dunkerque Port Ouest, La Pallice, La Rochelle, Les Sables d'Olonne, Lorient, Montoir, Nantes, Le Havre, Rouen, Rade de Brest, Rade de Cherbourg, Rochefort, St. Nazaire, Toulon **Transportation - note:** begun in 1988 and completed in 1994, the Channel Tunnel (nicknamed the Chunnel) is a 50.5-km (31.4-mi) rail tunnel under the English Channel at the Strait of Dover; it runs from Folkestone, Kent, in England to Coquelles, Pas-de-Calais, in northern France and is the only fixed link between the island of Great Britain and mainland Europe ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** French Armed Forces (Forces Armées Françaises): Army (l'Armee de Terre; includes Foreign Legion), Navy (Marine Nationale), Air and Space Force (l'Armee de l’Air et de l’Espace); includes Air Defense), National Guard (Garde Nationale), National Gendarmerie (Gendarmerie Nationale) (2025) note 1: under the direction of the Ministry of the Interior, the civilian National Police and the National Gendarmerie maintain internal security; the National Gendarmerie is a paramilitary police force that is a branch of the Armed Forces and therefore part of the Ministry of Defense but under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of the Interior; it also has additional duties to the Ministry of Justice note 2: the National Guard is composed of operational reservists belonging to the Ministry of the Armed Forces and the Ministry of the Interior note 3: the French Foreign Legion, established in 1831, is a military force that is open to foreign recruits willing to serve in the French military for service in France and abroad; the Foreign Legion is an integrated part of the French Army; its combat units are a mix of armored cavalry and airborne, light, mechanized, and motorized infantry regiments **Military expenditures:** 2.1% of GDP (2025 est.) 2% of GDP (2024 est.) 1.9% of GDP (2023 est.) 1.9% of GDP (2022 est.) 1.9% of GDP (2021 est.) **Military and security service personnel strengths:** approximately 200,000 active duty Armed Forces; approximately 150,000 National Gendarmerie; approximately 80,000 National Guard (2025) **Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:** the French military's inventory consists mostly of domestically produced weapons systems, including some jointly produced with other European countries; there is a smaller mix of armaments from other Western countries, particularly the US; France has a large and sophisticated defense industry capable of manufacturing the full spectrum of air, land, and naval military weapons systems (2025) **Military service age and obligation:** generally 17-30 years of age for both men and women with some variations by service, position, and enlisted versus officer; 17-40 for National Gendarmerie; basic service contract is for 12 months; no conscription (abolished 2001) (2025) note 1: a 10-month voluntary military service program for French citizens 18-19 is scheduled to start accepting recruits in September 2026; afterwards, the volunteers can integrate into civilian life, become a reservist, or stay in the armed forces note 2: in 2024, women comprised about 17% of the uniformed armed forces note 3: men between the ages of 17.5 and 39.5 years of age, of any nationality, may join the French Foreign Legion; those volunteers selected for service sign five-year contracts **Military deployments:** France typically has up to 30,000 total air, ground, and naval forces deployed on permanent or temporary foreign missions; up to 10,000 are permanently deployed, including Djibouti (1,500); French Guyana (2,600); French Polynesia (1,000); French West Indies (1,000); Reunion Island (2,100); UAE (800) other non-permanent deployments include military missions under NATO, the EU, and the UN, as well as some unilateral operations, in such places as Europe, Africa, and the Middle East and adjacent waters (2025) **Military - note:** the French military has a global footprint and a wide range of missions and responsibilities, to include protecting French territory, population, and interests, and fulfilling France’s commitments to NATO, European security, and international peacekeeping operations under the UN; it is the largest military in the EU and has a leading role in the EU security framework, as well as in NATO; in recent years, it has actively participated in coalition peacekeeping and other security operations in regions such as Africa, the Middle East, and the Balkans, often in a lead role; the military regularly conducts large-scale exercises and participates in a variety of bi-lateral and multinational exercises; it also has a domestic security mission, including providing enhanced security at sensitive sites and large events and support during national crises or disasters, such as fighting forest fires; in recent years, defense responsibilities have expanded to include cyber and space domains in 2010, France and the UK signed a declaration on defense and security cooperation that included greater military interoperability and a Combined Joint Expeditionary Force (CJEF), a deployable, combined Anglo-French military force for use in a wide range of crisis scenarios, including high intensity operations, peacekeeping, disaster relief, and humanitarian assistance; the CJEF has no standing forces, but would be available at short notice for French-UK bilateral, NATO, EU, UN, or other operations (2025) ### Space **Space agency/agencies:** National Center for Space Studies (Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales, CNES; established 1961) (2025) **Space launch site(s):** Guiana Space Center (Kourou, French Guiana; also serves as the spaceport for the ESA); note – prior to the completion of the Guiana Space Center in 1969, France launched rockets from Algeria (2025) **Space program overview:** has one of Europe’s largest space programs and is one of the top contributors to the ESA; has independent capabilities in all areas, except for autonomous manned space flight; can build, launch, and operate a range of space/satellite launch vehicles (SLVs) and spacecraft, including exploratory probes and a full spectrum of satellites; shifted astronaut training to ESA in 2001; hosts the ESA headquarters and its space launch facility; participates in international space programs such as the Square Kilometer Array radio telescope and International Space Station; works with a broad range of space agencies and commercial space companies, including those of China, Egypt, individual ESA and EU member countries, India, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Mexico, Russia, the UAE, the US, and several African countries; has a large commercial space sector involved in satellite construction and payloads, launch capabilities, and a range of other space-related capabilities and technologies (2025) **Key space-program milestones:** early 1960s - began rocket program and launched animals into space 1965 - launched first domestically produced satellite (Asterix) into space on a French Diamant rocket (third country to do so after the Soviet Union and US) 1973 - began development of Ariane heavy-lift satellite launch vehicle (SLV) along with other European states, particularly Germany and the UK; Ariane would become the ESA's SLV 1970s-1990s - development of a space plane/shuttle program (Hermes) 1982 - first French astronaut into space on a Soviet rocket 1986 - launched first joint European Earth observation/remote sensing program (SPOT) 2018 - launched project (Spaceship FR) to lay the groundwork for robotic and crewed missions to the Moon and Mars 2024 - debut launch of Ariane-6 SLV; claimed world's first satellite to ground communications via laser ### Terrorism **Terrorist group(s):** Terrorist group(s): Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps/Qods Force; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS); al-Qa'ida note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide ### Transnational Issues **Refugees and internally displaced persons:** refugees: 810,325 (2024 est.) IDPs: 59 (2024 est.) stateless persons: 2,634 (2024 est.) --- ## Germany **Slug:** germany **Region:** Europe **Flag:** 🇩🇪 **Codes:** cek: gm, iso2: DE, iso3: DEU, iso_num: 276, genc: DEU, stanag: DEU, internet: .de ### Introduction **Background:** As Europe's largest economy and second most-populous nation (after Russia), Germany is a key member of the continent's economic, political, and defense organizations. European power struggles immersed Germany in two devastating world wars in the first half of the 20th century and left the country occupied by the victorious Allied powers of the US, UK, France, and the Soviet Union in 1945. With the advent of the Cold War, two German states were formed in 1949: the western Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) and the eastern German Democratic Republic (GDR). The democratic FRG embedded itself in key western economic and security organizations, including the EC (now the EU) and NATO, while the communist GDR was on the front line of the Soviet-led Warsaw Pact. The decline of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War allowed German reunification to occur in 1990. Since then, Germany has expended considerable funds to bring eastern productivity and wages up to western standards. In January 1999, Germany and 10 other EU countries introduced a common European exchange currency, the euro. ### Geography **Location:** Central Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and the North Sea, between the Netherlands and Poland, south of Denmark **Geographic coordinates:** 51 00 N, 9 00 E **Map references:** Europe **Area:** total : 357,022 sq km land: 348,672 sq km water: 8,350 sq km **Area - comparative:** three times the size of Pennsylvania; slightly smaller than Montana **Land boundaries:** total: 3,694 km border countries (9): Austria 801 km; Belgium 133 km; Czechia 704 km; Denmark 140 km; France 418 km; Luxembourg 128 km; Netherlands 575 km; Poland 447 km; Switzerland 348 km **Coastline:** 2,389 km **Maritime claims:** territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation **Climate:** temperate and marine; cool, cloudy, wet winters and summers; occasional warm mountain (foehn) wind **Terrain:** lowlands in north, uplands in center, Bavarian Alps in south **Elevation:** highest point: Zugspitze 2,963 m lowest point: Neuendorf bei Wilster -3.5 m mean elevation: 263 m **Natural resources:** coal, lignite, natural gas, iron ore, copper, nickel, uranium, potash, salt, construction materials, timber, arable land **Land use:** agricultural land: 47.5% (2023 est.) arable land: 33.4% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0.6% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 13.5% (2023 est.) forest: 32.8% (2023 est.) other: 15% (2023 est.) **Irrigated land:** 5,065 sq km (2020) **Major lakes (area sq km):** fresh water lake(s): Lake Constance (shared with Switzerland and Austria) - 540 sq km salt water lake(s): Stettiner Haff/Zalew Szczecinski (shared with Poland) - 900 sq km **Major rivers (by length in km):** Donau (Danube) river source (shared with Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Moldova, and Romania [m]) - 2,888 km; Elbe river mouth (shared with Czechia [s]) - 1,252 km; Rhein (Rhine) (shared with Switzerland [s], France, and Netherlands [m]) - 1,233 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth **Major watersheds (area sq km):** Atlantic Ocean drainage: Rhine-Maas (198,735 sq km), (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km) **Population distribution:** second most populous country in Europe; a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger and denser populations, particularly in the far-western part of the industrial state of North Rhine-Westphalia **Natural hazards:** flooding **Geography - note:** strategic location on North European Plain and along the entrance to the Baltic Sea; most major rivers in Germany -- the Rhine, Weser, Oder, Elbe -- flow northward; the Danube, which originates in the Black Forest, flows eastward ### People and Society **Population:** total: 84,012,284 (2025 est.) male: 41,517,301 female: 42,494,983 **Nationality:** noun: German(s) adjective: German **Ethnic groups:** German 85.4%, Turkish 1.8%, Ukrainian 1.4%, Syrian 1.1%, Romanian 1%, Poland 1%, other/stateless/unspecified 8.3% (2022 est.) note: data represent population by nationality **Languages:** German (official); note - Danish, Frisian, Sorbian, and Romani are official minority languages; Low German, Danish, North Frisian, Sater Frisian, Lower Sorbian, Upper Sorbian, and Romani are recognized as regional languages major-language sample(s): Das World Factbook, die unverzichtbare Quelle für grundlegende Informationen. (German) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. **Religions:** Roman Catholic 24.8%, Protestant 22.6%, Muslim 3.7%, other 5.1%, none 43.8% (2022 est.) **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 13.8% (male 5,925,800/female 5,688,603) 15-64 years: 62.5% (male 26,705,657/female 25,875,865) 65 years and over: 23.7% (2024 est.) (male 8,941,245/female 10,981,930) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 61.3 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 22.4 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 38.9 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 2.6 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 46.9 years (2025 est.) male: 45.5 years female: 48.3 years **Population growth rate:** -0.13% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 8.87 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 11.96 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** 1.79 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** second most populous country in Europe; a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger and denser populations, particularly in the far-western part of the industrial state of North Rhine-Westphalia **Urbanization:** urban population: 77.8% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.13% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 3.574 million BERLIN (capital), 1.788 million Hamburg, 1.576 million Munich, 1.144 million Cologne, 796,000 Frankfurt (2023) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Mother's mean age at first birth:** 29.9 years (2020 est.) **Maternal mortality ratio:** 4 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 3 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 3.5 deaths/1,000 live births female: 2.7 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 81.9 years (2024 est.) male: 79.6 years female: 84.4 years **Total fertility rate:** 1.59 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 0.77 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.) rural: 100% of population (2022 est.) total: 100% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.) rural: 0% of population (2022 est.) total: 0% of population (2022 est.) **Health expenditure:** 12.7% of GDP (2022) 20.5% of national budget (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 4.53 physicians/1,000 population (2022) **Hospital bed density:** 7.8 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.) **Sanitation facility access:** improved: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.) rural: 100% of population (2022 est.) total: 100% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.) rural: 0% of population (2022 est.) total: 0% of population (2022 est.) **Obesity - adult prevalence rate:** 22.3% (2016) **Alcohol consumption per capita:** total: 10.56 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 5.57 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 3.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 1.97 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) **Tobacco use:** total: 17.2% (2025 est.) male: 19.4% (2025 est.) female: 15% (2025 est.) **Children under the age of 5 years underweight:** 0.6% (2016 est.) **Currently married women (ages 15-49):** 54.4% (2023 est.) **Education expenditure:** 5.2% of GDP (2022 est.) 10.7% national budget (2022 est.) **School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):** total: 17 years (2023 est.) male: 17 years (2023 est.) female: 17 years (2023 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** air pollution and acid rain from coal-burning utilities and industries; water pollution from raw sewage and industrial effluents; hazardous waste disposal **International environmental agreements:** party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements **Climate:** temperate and marine; cool, cloudy, wet winters and summers; occasional warm mountain (foehn) wind **Land use:** agricultural land: 47.5% (2023 est.) arable land: 33.4% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0.6% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 13.5% (2023 est.) forest: 32.8% (2023 est.) other: 15% (2023 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 77.8% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.13% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 600.192 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 163.407 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 277.688 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from consumed natural gas: 159.097 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Particulate matter emissions:** 10.6 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) **Methane emissions:** energy: 476.2 kt (2022-2024 est.) agriculture: 1,197.8 kt (2019-2021 est.) waste: 459 kt (2019-2021 est.) other: 110 kt (2019-2021 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 50.628 million tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 49.8% (2022 est.) **Total water withdrawal:** municipal: 10.713 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) industrial: 14.005 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) agricultural: 1.075 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) **Total renewable water resources:** 154 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) **Geoparks:** total global geoparks and regional networks: 8 global geoparks and regional networks: Bergstraße-Odenwald ; Harz, Braunschweiger Land; Swabian Alb; TERRA.vita; Vulkaneifel; Thuringia Inselsberg -Drei Gleichen; Muskauer Faltenbogen / Łuk Mużakowa (includes Poland); Ries (2023) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: Federal Republic of Germany conventional short form: Germany local long form: Bundesrepublik Deutschland local short form: Deutschland former: German Reich etymology: the origin of the name is unclear; it may come from Celtic words meaning "neighboring people," or it may derive from Germanic words meaning either "spear man" or "head man;" the native designation "Deutsch" comes from the Old High German "diutisc" meaning "national" **Government type:** federal parliamentary republic **Capital:** name: Berlin geographic coordinates: 52 31 N, 13 24 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October etymology: the origin of the name is unclear but may be related to the Old Slavic (Polabian) word berl or birl, meaning "swamp" and referring to the original settlement site by the Spree River **Administrative divisions:** 16 states (Laender, singular - Land); Baden-Wuerttemberg, Bayern (Bavaria), Berlin, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Hessen (Hesse), Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania), Niedersachsen (Lower Saxony), Nordrhein-Westfalen (North Rhine-Westphalia), Rheinland-Pfalz (Rhineland-Palatinate), Saarland, Sachsen (Saxony), Sachsen-Anhalt (Saxony-Anhalt), Schleswig-Holstein, Thueringen (Thuringia) note: Bayern, Sachsen, and Thueringen refer to themselves as free states (Freistaaten, singular - Freistaat), while Bremen calls itself a Free Hanseatic City (Freie Hansestadt) and Hamburg considers itself a Free and Hanseatic City (Freie und Hansestadt) **Legal system:** civil law system **Constitution:** history: previous 1919 (Weimar Constitution); latest drafted 10-23 August 1948, approved 12 May 1949, promulgated 23 May 1949, entered into force 24 May 1949 amendment process: proposed by Parliament; passage and enactment into law require two-thirds majority vote by both the Bundesrat (upper house) and the Bundestag (lower house) of Parliament; articles including those on basic human rights and freedoms cannot be amended **International law organization participation:** accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a German citizen or a resident alien who has lived in Germany at least 8 years dual citizenship recognized: yes, but requires prior permission from government residency requirement for naturalization: 8 years **Suffrage:** 18 years of age; universal; age 16 for some state and municipal elections **Executive branch:** chief of state: President Frank-Walter STEINMEIER (since 19 March 2017) head of government: Chancellor Friedrich MERZ (since 6 May 2025) cabinet: Cabinet or Bundesminister (Federal Ministers) recommended by the chancellor, appointed by the president election/appointment process: president indirectly elected by a Federal Convention consisting of all members of the Federal Parliament (Bundestag) and an equivalent number of delegates indirectly elected by the state parliaments; president serves a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); following the most recent Federal Parliament election, the party or coalition with the most representatives usually elects the chancellor, who is appointed by the president to serve a renewable 4-year term most recent election date: president: 13 February 2022 chancellor: 6 May 2025 election results: 2025: Friedrich MERZ (CDU) elected chancellor in second round; Federal Parliament vote - 325 to 289 2022: Frank-Walter STEINMEIER reelected president; Federal Convention vote count - Frank-Walter STEINMEIER (SPD) 1,045, Max OTTE (CDU) 140, Gerhard TRABERT (The Left) 96, Stefanie GEBAUER (Free Voters) 58, abstentions 86 expected date of next election: president: February 2027 **Legislative branch:** legislative structure: bicameral note: due to Germany's recognition of the concepts of "overhang" (when a party's share of the nationwide votes would entitle it to fewer seats than the number of individual constituency seats won in an election under Germany's mixed member proportional system) and "leveling" (whereby additional seats are elected to supplement the members directly elected by each constituency in order to ensure that each party's share of the total seats is roughly proportional to the party's overall shares of votes at the national level), the 20th Bundestag is the largest to date **Legislative branch - lower chamber:** chamber name: German Bundestag (Deutscher Bundestag) number of seats: 630 (all directly elected) electoral system: mixed system scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 4 years most recent election date: 2/23/2025 parties elected and seats per party: Christian Democratic Union (CDU) (164); Alternative for Germany (AfD) (152); Social Democratic Party (SPD) (120); Green Party (85); Left Party (Die Linke) (64); Christian Social Union of Bavaria (CSU) (44); Other (1) percentage of women in chamber: 32.4% expected date of next election: February 2029 note 1: total seats can vary each electoral term; currently includes 4 seats for independent members; approximately one-half of members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote and approximately one-half directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote; members' terms vary depending on the states they represent note 2: the 20th Bundestag is the largest to date, due to Germany's recognition of "overhang" (when a party's share of the nationwide votes would entitle it to fewer seats than the number of individual constituency seats won in an election) and "leveling" (when additional seats are elected to supplement the members directly elected in order to ensure that each party's share of the total seats is roughly proportional to its overall share of votes at the national level) **Legislative branch - upper chamber:** chamber name: Federal Council (Bundesrat) number of seats: 69 (all appointed) parties elected and seats per party: SPD 23; CDU 17; Green Party 15; Left Party 4; CSU 3; FW 3; FDP 2; other 2 percentage of women in chamber: 34.8% **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Federal Court of Justice (court consists of 127 judges, including the court president, vice presidents, presiding judges, other judges; organized into 25 Senates subdivided into 12 civil panels, 5 criminal panels, and 8 special panels); Federal Constitutional Court or Bundesverfassungsgericht (consists of 2 Senates each subdivided into 3 chambers, each with a chairman and 8 members) judge selection and term of office: Federal Court of Justice judges selected by the Judges Election Committee, which consists of the Secretaries of Justice from each of the 16 federated states and 16 members appointed by the Federal Parliament; judges appointed by the president; judges serve until mandatory retirement at age 65; half of Federal Constitutional Court judges are elected by the House of Representatives and half by the Senate; judges appointed for 12-year terms with mandatory retirement at age 68 subordinate courts: Federal Administrative Court; Federal Finance Court; Federal Labor Court; Federal Social Court; each of the 16 federated states or Land has its own constitutional court and a hierarchy of ordinary (civil, criminal, family) and specialized (administrative, finance, labor, social) courts; two English-speaking commercial courts opened in 2020 in the state of Baden-Wuerttemberg -- the Stuttgart Commercial Court and the Mannheim Commercial Court **Political parties:** Alliance '90/Greens Alternative for Germany or AfD Christian Democratic Union or CDU Christian Social Union or CSU Free Democratic Party or FDP Free Voters or FW The Left or Die Linke Social Democratic Party or SPD **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Jens HANEFELD (since 5 September 2025) chancery: 4645 Reservoir Road NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 298-4000 FAX: [1] (202) 298-4261 email address and website: info@washington.diplo.de https://www.germany.info/us-en consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco **Diplomatic representation from the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Alan MELTZER (since July 2024) embassy: Pariser Platz 2, 10117 Berlin Clayallee 170, 14191 Berlin (administrative services) mailing address: 5090 Berlin Place, Washington DC 20521-5090 telephone: [49] (30) 8305-0 FAX: [49] (30) 8305-1215 email address and website: BerlinPCO@state.gov https://de.usembassy.gov/ consulate(s) general: Dusseldorf, Frankfurt am Main, Hamburg, Leipzig, Munich **International organization participation:** ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council (observer), Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS, CD, CDB, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EITI (implementing country), EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, G-5, G-7, G-8, G-10, G-20, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club, PCA, Schengen Convention, SELEC (observer), SICA (observer), UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMISS, UNOOSA, UNRWA, UNSOM, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC **Independence:** 18 January 1871 (establishment of the German Empire); divided into four zones of occupation (UK, US, USSR, and France) in 1945 after World War II; Federal Republic of Germany (FRG or West Germany) proclaimed on 23 May 1949 and included the former UK, US, and French zones; German Democratic Republic (GDR or East Germany) proclaimed on 7 October 1949 and included the former USSR zone; West Germany and East Germany unified on 3 October 1990, with all four powers formally relinquishing rights on 15 March 1991; notable earlier dates: 10 August 843 (Eastern Francia established from the division of the Carolingian Empire); 2 February 962 (crowning of OTTO I, recognized as the first Holy Roman Emperor) **National holiday:** German Unity Day, 3 October (1990) **Flag:** description: three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and gold history: the colors can be traced back to the medieval banner of the Holy Roman Emperor -- a black eagle with red claws and beak on a gold field **National symbol(s):** eagle **National color(s):** black, red, yellow **National coat of arms:** Germany’s coat of arms is the world’s oldest, said to date back to 1200, and uses the country’s national colors; it features the oldest European national symbol, an eagle known as the Bundesadler (Federal Eagle); the coat of arms has varied over time for military or political reasons, but the eagle has always been part of the design; the Federal Republic of Germany adopted this version in 1950 **National anthem(s):** title: “Lied der Deutschen”(Song of the Germans) lyrics/music: August Heinrich HOFFMANN VON FALLERSLEBEN/Franz Joseph HAYDN history: first adopted 1922; the anthem, also known as "Deutschlandlied" (Song of Germany), was originally adopted for its connection to the March 1848 liberal revolution; the Nazis later appropriated the first verse -- specifically the phrase "Deutschland, Deutschland ueber alles" (Germany, Germany above all) -- to promote nationalism, and the anthem was banned after 1945; in 1952, West Germany adopted the third verse as its national anthem; in 1990, it became the national anthem for the reunited Germany **National heritage:** total World Heritage Sites: 56 (54 cultural, 2 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Museumsinsel (Museum Island), Berlin (c); Palaces and Parks of Potsdam and Berlin (c); Speyer Cathedral (c); Aachen Cathedral (c); Bauhaus and its Sites in Weimar, Dessau, and Bernau (c); Caves and Ice Age Art in the Swabian Jura (c); Roman Monuments, Cathedral of St. Peter, and Church of Our Lady in Trier (c); Hanseatic City of Lübeck (c); Old Town of Regensburg with Stadtamhof (c); Würzburg Residence with the Court Gardens and Residence Square (c); Pilgrimage Church of Wies (c); Castles of Augustusburg and Falkenlust at Brühl (c); St Mary's Cathedral and St Michael's Church at Hildesheim (c); Abbey and Altenmünster of Lorsch (c); Maulbronn Monastery Complex (c); Collegiate Church, Castle and Old Town of Quedlinburg (c); Cologne Cathedral (c); Castle Church in Wittenberg (c); Classical Weimar (c); Wartburg Castle (c); Garden Kingdom of Dessau-Wörlitz (c); Monastic Island of Reichenau (c); Berlin Modernism Housing Estates (c); Prehistoric Pile Dwellings around the Alps (c); Moravian Church Settlements (c); Speicherstadt and Kontorhaus District with Chilehaus (c); The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier, an Outstanding Contribution to the Modern Movement (c); Archaeological Border complex of Hedeby and the Danevirke (c); Naumburg Cathedral (c); Mathildenhöhe Darmstadt (c); ShUM Sites of Speyer, Worms and Mainz (c); The Great Spa Towns of Europe (c); Jewish-Medieval Heritage of Erfurt (c); Schwerin Residence Ensemble (c); The Palaces of King Ludwig II of Bavaria: Neuschwanstein, Linderhof, Schachen and Herrenchiemsee (c); The Palaces of King Ludwig II of Bavaria: Neuschwanstein, Linderhof, Schachen and Herrenchiemsee (c) ### Economy **Economic overview:** leading export-driven, core EU and eurozone economy; key automotive, chemical, engineering, finance, and green energy industries; growth stalled by energy crisis and declining exports; tight labor market with falling working-age population; fiscal rebalancing with phaseout of energy price supports **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $5.247 trillion (2024 est.) $5.26 trillion (2023 est.) $5.274 trillion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** -0.2% (2024 est.) -0.3% (2023 est.) 1.4% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $62,800 (2024 est.) $62,700 (2023 est.) $62,900 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $4.66 trillion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 2.3% (2024 est.) 5.9% (2023 est.) 6.9% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 0.8% (2024 est.) industry: 25.8% (2024 est.) services: 63.9% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **GDP - composition, by end use:** household consumption: 49.9% (2023 est.) government consumption: 21.2% (2023 est.) investment in fixed capital: 21.5% (2023 est.) investment in inventories: 0.2% (2023 est.) exports of goods and services: 43.4% (2023 est.) imports of goods and services: -39.4% (2023 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection **Agricultural products:** milk, sugar beets, wheat, potatoes, barley, maize, rapeseed, pork, rye, triticale (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage **Industries:** iron, steel, coal, cement, chemicals, machinery, vehicles, machine tools, electronics, automobiles, food and beverages, shipbuilding, textiles **Industrial production growth rate:** -3% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency **Labor force:** 43.772 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work **Unemployment rate:** 3.5% (2024 est.) 3.1% (2023 est.) 3.2% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment **Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):** total: 6.7% (2024 est.) male: 7.4% (2024 est.) female: 5.9% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment **Population below poverty line:** 14.8% (2021 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line **Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income:** 32.4 (2020 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality **Average household expenditures:** on food: 11.6% of household expenditures (2023 est.) on alcohol and tobacco: 3.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.) **Household income or consumption by percentage share:** lowest 10%: 2.9% (2020 est.) highest 10%: 25% (2020 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population **Remittances:** 0.5% of GDP (2024 est.) 0.5% of GDP (2023 est.) 0.5% of GDP (2022 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Budget:** revenues: $1.279 trillion (2023 est.) expenditures: $1.369 trillion (2023 est.) note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated **Public debt:** 63.9% of GDP (2017 est.) note: general government gross debt is defined in the Maastricht Treaty as consolidated general government gross debt at nominal value, outstanding at the end of the year in the following categories of government liabilities (as defined in ESA95): currency and deposits (AF.2), securities other than shares excluding financial derivatives (AF.3, excluding AF.34), and loans (AF.4); the general government sector comprises the sub-sectors of central government, state government, local government and social security funds; the series are presented as a percentage of GDP and in millions of euros; GDP used as a denominator is the gross domestic product at current market prices; data expressed in national currency are converted into euro using end-of-year exchange rates provided by the European Central Bank **Taxes and other revenues:** 11% (of GDP) (2022 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP **Current account balance:** $267.056 billion (2024 est.) $251.479 billion (2023 est.) $161.759 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars **Exports:** $1.949 trillion (2024 est.) $1.958 trillion (2023 est.) $1.917 trillion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** USA 10%, France 8%, Netherlands 7%, China 7%, Italy 6% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** cars, vehicle parts/accessories, packaged medicine, plastic products, vaccines (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports:** $1.774 trillion (2024 est.) $1.781 trillion (2023 est.) $1.808 trillion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** China 12%, Netherlands 7%, USA 7%, Poland 6%, France 5% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** cars, vehicle parts/accessories, garments, natural gas, vaccines (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:** $377.936 billion (2024 est.) $322.7 billion (2023 est.) $293.914 billion (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars **Exchange rates:** euros (EUR) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 0.924 (2024 est.) 0.925 (2023 est.) 0.95 (2022 est.) 0.845 (2021 est.) 0.876 (2020 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.) **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 275.658 million kW (2023 est.) consumption: 519.691 billion kWh (2023 est.) exports: 60.316 billion kWh (2023 est.) imports: 69.353 billion kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 25.774 billion kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** fossil fuels: 49% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) nuclear: 1.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 11.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) wind: 25.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: 3.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) biomass and waste: 9.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Nuclear energy:** Percent of total electricity production: 1.4% (2023 est.) Number of nuclear reactors permanently shut down: 33 (2025) **Coal:** production: 109.741 million metric tons (2023 est.) consumption: 140.994 million metric tons (2023 est.) exports: 1.68 million metric tons (2023 est.) imports: 32.933 million metric tons (2023 est.) proven reserves: 35.4 billion metric tons (2023 est.) **Petroleum:** total petroleum production: 131,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 2.062 million bbl/day (2024 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 115.2 million barrels (2021 est.) **Natural gas:** production: 4.337 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) consumption: 82.371 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) imports: 74.989 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) proven reserves: 23.39 billion cubic meters (2021 est.) **Energy consumption per capita:** 120.457 million Btu/person (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 38.4 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 45 (2024 est.) **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 109 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 129 (2024 est.) **Broadcast media:** a mix of publicly operated and privately owned TV and radio stations; 70 national and regional public broadcasters compete with nearly 400 privately owned national and regional TV stations; more than 90% of households have cable or satellite TV; hundreds of radio stations, including national and regional networks and a large number of local stations **Internet country code:** .de **Internet users:** percent of population: 94% (2024 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 38.4 million (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 45 (2023 est.) ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** D **Airports:** 840 (2025) **Heliports:** 449 (2025) **Railways:** total: 39,379 km (2020) 20,942 km electrified 15 km 0.900-mm gauge, 24 km 0.750-mm gauge (2015) **Merchant marine:** total: 595 (2023) by type: bulk carrier 1, container ship 69, general cargo 82, oil tanker 32, other 411 **Ports:** total ports: 35 (2024) large: 5 medium: 4 small: 11 very small: 15 ports with oil terminals: 12 key ports: Brake, Bremen, Bremerhaven, Cuxhaven, Emden, Hamburg, Kiel, Lubeck, Rostock ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** Federal Armed Forces (Bundeswehr): German Army (Deutsche Heer), German Navy (Deutsche Marine, includes naval air arm), German Air Force (Deutsche Luftwaffe, includes air defense), Cyber and Information Space (Cyber und Informationsraum) (2025) note: responsibility for internal and border security is shared by the police forces of the 16 states, the Federal Criminal Police Office, and the Federal Police; the states’ police forces report to their respective interior ministries while the Federal Police forces report to the Federal Ministry of the Interior **Military expenditures:** 2.4% of GDP (2025 est.) 2% of GDP (2024 est.) 1.6% of GDP (2023 est.) 1.5% of GDP (2022 est.) 1.4% of GDP (2021 est.) **Military and security service personnel strengths:** approximately 185,000 active-duty military personnel (2025) **Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:** the inventory of Federal Armed Forces is comprised of weapons systems produced domestically or jointly with other European countries and Western imports, particularly from the US; Germany's defense industry is capable of manufacturing the full spectrum of air, land, and naval military weapons systems; it also participates in joint defense production projects with European partners and the US (2025) **Military service age and obligation:** 17-23 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women (must have completed compulsory full-time education and have German citizenship); service obligation 7-23 months or 12 years (2025) note 1: conscription ended in 2011; in 2020, the German Government launched a new voluntary conscript initiative focused on homeland security tasks, with the volunteers serving for 7 months plus 5 months as reservists over a 6-year period note 2: in December 2025, Germany passed a law reforming military service; from 2026, the new regulations require German males residing in Germany who have reached the age of 18 to complete a questionnaire, including questions about their willingness to serve; participation will remain voluntary for women note 3: women have been eligible for voluntary service in all military branches and positions since 2001; in 2025, they accounted for more than 13% of the active-duty German military **Military deployments:** up to 500 Iraq (NATO); 300 Kosovo (NATO/KFOR), Lebanon 170 (UNIFIL); up to 1,700 Lithuania (NATO) (2025) note: the German military also has air and naval contingents deployed to support NATO missions **Military - note:** the Bundeswehr’s core mission is the defense of Germany and its NATO partners; it has a wide range of peacetime duties, including crisis management, cyber security, deterrence, homeland security, humanitarian and disaster relief, and international peacekeeping and stability operations; as a key member of NATO and the EU, the Bundeswehr typically operates in a coalition environment, and its capabilities are largely based on NATO and EU planning goals and needs; it has participated in a range of NATO and EU missions in Europe, Africa, and Asia, as well as global maritime operations; the Bundeswehr has close bilateral defense ties with a number of EU countries, including the Czechia, France, the Netherlands, and Romania, as well as the UK and the US; it also contributes forces to UN peacekeeping missions the Bundeswehr was established in 1955; at the height of the Cold War in the 1980s, it had nearly 600,000 personnel, over 7,000 tanks, and 1,000 combat aircraft; in addition, over 400,000 soldiers from other NATO countries—including about 200,000 US military personnel—were stationed in West Germany; in the years following the collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War, the Bundeswehr shrank by more than 60% in size (over 90% in tanks and about 80% in aircraft), while funding fell from nearly 3% of GDP and over 4% of government spending in the mid-1980s to 1.2% and 1.6% respectively; by the 2010s, the Bundeswehr’s ability to fulfill its regional security commitments had deteriorated; the Russian annexation of Crimea in 2014 and full-scale assault on Ukraine in 2022 led to renewed emphasis on Germany’s leadership role in European defense and NATO and efforts to boost funding for the Bundeswehr to improve readiness, modernize, and expand (2025) ### Space **Space agency/agencies:** German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt, DLR; established 1997) (2025) note: DLR's predecessor organization, the German Test and Research Institute for Aviation and Space Flight, was established in 1969; the Federal Republic of Germany was allowed to research space flight after gaining sovereignty in 1955 **Space launch site(s):** a commercial offshore launch platform that will operate from the North Sea is under development with both government and private funding (2025) **Space program overview:** has one of Europe’s largest space programs and is a top contributor to the ESA; builds and operates satellites, satellite/space launch vehicles (SLVs), probes, and unmanned orbiters; researches and develops a range of capabilities and technologies, including reusable space planes, satellite payloads, rockets, propulsion-assisted landing technologies, and aeronautics; participates in EU and ESA programs, including the Cassini-Huygens research mission to Saturn, Mars and Venus exploration missions, and the Galileo global navigation satellite system; participates in ESA’s astronaut training program and human space flight operations; hosts the European Astronaut Center; participates in international programs such as the International Space Station (ISS) and the James Webb Space Telescope; hosts mission control centers for the ISS, the ESA, and the European Organization for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT); has ties to foreign space programs, including those of China, Japan, Russia, and the US; has a robust commercial space sector (2025) **Key space-program milestones:** 1969 - first German scientific satellite (Azur) launched by US 1973 - participated with other European states, particularly France and the UK, in development of Ariane satellite launch vehicle 1978 - first German in space on Soviet Salyut space station 1980s-1990s - participated in US Space Shuttle program, including providing astronauts 1999 - launched a space-based X-ray telescope (ABRAXIS) on Russian rocket 2005 - began development of reusable space plane/shuttle/transporter 2019 - launched first space-based X-ray telescope (eROSITA) capable of imaging the entire sky (joint project with Russia) 2023 - signed US-led Artemis Accords for the exploration of space and the Moon; adopted a new national space strategy ### Terrorism **Terrorist group(s):** Terrorist group(s): Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps/Qods Force; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS); al-Qa'ida note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide ### Transnational Issues **Refugees and internally displaced persons:** refugees: 3,098,169 (2024 est.) IDPs: 100 (2023 est.) stateless persons: 28,813 (2024 est.) **Illicit drugs:** USG identification: major precursor-chemical producer (2025) --- ## Gibraltar **Slug:** gibraltar **Region:** Europe **Flag:** 🇬🇮 **Codes:** cek: gi, iso2: GI, iso3: GIB, iso_num: 292, genc: GIB, stanag: GIB, internet: .gi ### Introduction **Background:** Spain reluctantly ceded the strategically important Gibraltar to Great Britain in the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht, and the British garrison at Gibraltar was formally declared a colony in 1830. In a referendum held in 1967, Gibraltarians voted overwhelmingly to remain a British dependency. After the UK granted Gibraltar autonomy in 1969, Spain closed the border and severed all communication links. Between 1997 and 2002, the UK and Spain held a series of talks on establishing temporary joint sovereignty over Gibraltar. In response to these talks, the Gibraltar Government called a referendum in 2002 in which the majority of citizens voted overwhelmingly against sharing sovereignty with Spain. Since 2004, Spain, the UK, and Gibraltar have held tripartite talks to resolve problems that affect the local population, and work continues on cooperation agreements in areas such as taxation and financial services, communications and maritime security, legal and customs services, environmental protection, and education and visa services. A new noncolonial constitution came into force in 2007, and the European Court of First Instance recognized Gibraltar's right to regulate its own tax regime in 2008. The UK retains responsibility for defense, foreign relations, internal security, and financial stability. Spain and the UK continue to spar over the territory. In 2009, for example, a dispute over Gibraltar's claim to territorial waters extending out three miles gave rise to periodic non-violent maritime confrontations between Spanish and UK naval patrols. Spain renewed its demands for an eventual return of Gibraltar to Spanish control after the UK’s 2016 vote to leave the EU, but London has dismissed any connection between the vote and its sovereignty over Gibraltar. ### Geography **Location:** Southwestern Europe, bordering the Strait of Gibraltar, which links the Mediterranean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, on the southern coast of Spain **Geographic coordinates:** 36 08 N, 5 21 W **Map references:** Europe **Area:** total : 7 sq km land: 6.5 sq km water: 0 sq km **Area - comparative:** more than 10 times the size of the National Mall in Washington, D.C. **Land boundaries:** total: 1.2 km border countries (1): Spain 1.2 km **Coastline:** 12 km **Maritime claims:** territorial sea: 3 nm **Climate:** Mediterranean with mild winters and warm summers **Terrain:** a narrow coastal lowland borders the Rock of Gibraltar **Elevation:** highest point: Rock of Gibraltar 426 m lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m **Natural resources:** none **Land use:** agricultural land: 0% (2022 est.) forest: 0% (2022 est.) other: 100% (2022 est.) **Irrigated land:** NA **Natural hazards:** occasional droughts; no streams or large bodies of water on the peninsula (all potable water comes from desalination) **Geography - note:** strategic location on Strait of Gibraltar that links the North Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea ### People and Society **Population:** total: 29,733 (2025 est.) male: 14,923 female: 14,810 **Nationality:** noun: Gibraltarian(s) adjective: Gibraltar **Ethnic groups:** Gibraltarian 79%, other British 13.2%, Spanish 2.1%, Moroccan 1.6%, other EU 2.4%, other 1.6% (2012 est.) note: data represent population by nationality **Languages:** English (used in schools and for official purposes), Spanish, Italian, Portuguese **Religions:** Roman Catholic 72.1%, Church of England 7.7%, other Christian 3.8%, Muslim 3.6%, Jewish 2.4%, Hindu 2%, other 1.1%, none 7.1%, unspecified 0.1% (2012 est.) **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 20% (male 3,045/female 2,895) 15-64 years: 62.5% (male 9,383/female 9,179) 65 years and over: 17.5% (2024 est.) (male 2,491/female 2,690) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 60 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 32.1 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 28 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 3.6 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 37.1 years (2025 est.) male: 36.2 years female: 37.5 years **Population growth rate:** 0.16% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 13.55 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 8.71 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** -3.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 100% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.45% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 35,000 GIBRALTAR (capital) (2018) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.93 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 5.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 6.8 deaths/1,000 live births female: 5.2 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 80.9 years (2024 est.) male: 78.1 years female: 83.8 years **Total fertility rate:** 1.88 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 0.92 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.) total: 100% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.) total: 0% of population (2022 est.) **Sanitation facility access:** improved: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.) total: 100% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.) total: 0% of population (2022 est.) **Education expenditure:** 8.6% national budget (2025 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** limited natural freshwater resources **Climate:** Mediterranean with mild winters and warm summers **Land use:** agricultural land: 0% (2022 est.) forest: 0% (2022 est.) other: 100% (2022 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 100% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.45% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.) **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 15.608 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 15.458 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from consumed natural gas: 150,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 17,000 tons (2024 est.) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: none conventional short form: Gibraltar etymology: from the Spanish derivation of the Arabic jabal tariq, which means "Mountain of Tariq" and refers to the Berber chief who captured the peninsula in A.D. 711 **Government type:** parliamentary democracy (Parliament); self-governing overseas territory of the UK **Dependency status:** overseas territory of the UK **Capital:** name: Gibraltar geographic coordinates: 36 08 N, 5 21 W time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October etymology: from the Spanish derivation of the Arabic jabal tariq, which means "Mountain of Tariq" and refers to the Berber chief who captured the peninsula in A.D. 711 **Legal system:** the laws of the UK apply **Constitution:** history: previous 1969; latest passed by referendum 30 November 2006, entered into effect 14 December 2006, entered into force 2 January 2007 amendment process: proposed by Parliament and requires prior consent of the British monarch (through the Secretary of State); passage requires at least three-fourths majority vote in Parliament followed by simple majority vote in a referendum; note – only sections 1 through 15 in Chapter 1 (Protection of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms) can be amended by Parliament **Citizenship:** see United Kingdom **Suffrage:** 18 years of age; universal; and British citizens with six months residence or more **Executive branch:** chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor Sir David STEEL (since 11 June 2020) head of government: Chief Minister Fabian PICARDO (since 9 December 2011) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed from among the 17 elected members of Parliament by the governor, in consultation with the chief minister election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the governor usually appoints the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as chief minister **Legislative branch:** legislature name: Parliament legislative structure: unicameral number of seats: 18 (17 directly elected, 1 appointed) electoral system: plurality/majority scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 4 years most recent election date: 10/12/2023 parties elected and seats per party: GSLP-Liberal Alliance (9) (GSLP 7, LPG 2); GSD (8) percentage of women in chamber: 38.5% expected date of next election: October 2027 **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Court of Appeal (consists of at least 3 judges, including the court president); Supreme Court of Gibraltar (consists of the chief justice and 3 judges) judge selection and term of office: Court of Appeal and Supreme Court judges appointed by the governor upon the advice of the Judicial Service Commission, a 7-member body of judges and appointees of the governor; tenure of the Court of Appeal president based on terms of appointment; Supreme Court chief justice and judges normally appointed until retirement at age 67, but tenure can be extended 3 years subordinate courts: Court of First Instance; Magistrates' Court; specialized tribunals for issues relating to social security, taxes, and employment note: appeals beyond the Court of Appeal are heard by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London) **Political parties:** Gibraltar Liberal Party or Liberal Party of Gibraltar or LPG Gibraltar Social Democrats or GSD Gibraltar Socialist Labor Party or GSLP GSLP-Liberal Alliance Together Gibraltar or TG **Diplomatic representation in the US:** none (overseas territory of the UK) **Diplomatic representation from the US:** embassy: none (overseas territory of the UK) **International organization participation:** ICC (NGOs), Interpol (subbureau), UPU **Independence:** none (overseas territory of the UK) **National holiday:** National Day, 10 September (1967) note: day of the national referendum to decide whether to remain with the UK or join Spain **Flag:** description: two horizontal bands of white (top, double-width) and red with a three-towered red castle in the center of the white band; a gold key hangs from the castle gate and is centered in the red band meaning: the castle symbolizes Gibraltar as a fortress, and the key represents Gibraltar's strategic importance -- the key to the Mediterranean history: the design comes from Gibraltar's coat of arms, which King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain granted on 10 July 1502 **National symbol(s):** Barbary partridge **National color(s):** red, white, yellow **National coat of arms:** King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain granted this coat of arms to Gibraltar in 1502; the castle in the center of the shield represents Gibraltar as a fortress, and the gold key represents its strategic position as the gateway to the Mediterranean; below the shield is the national motto, Montis Insignia Calpe (“Badge of the Rock of Gibraltar”); the coat of arms uses the national colors of red, white, and yellow **National anthem(s):** title: "Gibraltar Anthem" lyrics/music: Peter EMBERLEY history: adopted 1994; serves as a local anthem _____ title: "God Save the King" lyrics/music: unknown history: official anthem, as an overseas UK territory ### Economy **Economic overview:** British territorial high-income economy; Brexit caused significant economic disruption to longstanding financial services, shipping, and tourism industries; ongoing negotiations to rejoin EU Schengen Area; independent taxation authority **GDP (official exchange rate):** $2.044 billion (2014 est.) **Agricultural products:** none **Industries:** tourism, banking and finance, ship repairing, tobacco **Exports - partners:** Netherlands 38%, France 26%, Cyprus 7%, Poland 7%, Sweden 6% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** refined petroleum, natural gas, ships, cars, scrap iron (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports - partners:** Italy 26%, Greece 12%, Spain 10%, Netherlands 9%, India 9% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** refined petroleum, crude petroleum, coal tar oil, natural gas, ships (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Exchange rates:** Gibraltar pounds (GIP) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 0.782 (2024 est.) 0.805 (2023 est.) 0.811 (2022 est.) 0.727 (2021 est.) 0.78 (2020 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.) **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 50,000 kW (2023 est.) consumption: 213.744 million kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 6.256 million kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** fossil fuels: 100% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Petroleum:** refined petroleum consumption: 91,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) **Natural gas:** consumption: 77.196 million cubic meters (2023 est.) imports: 77.196 million cubic meters (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 17,200 (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 46 (2022 est.) **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 36,700 (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 98 (2022 est.) **Broadcast media:** Gibraltar Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) provides TV and radio services via 1 TV station and 4 radio stations; British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) operates 1 radio station; broadcasts from Spanish radio and TV stations are accessible **Internet country code:** .gi **Internet users:** percent of population: 94% (2016 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 23,000 (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 61 (2022 est.) ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** VP-G **Airports:** 1 (2025) **Merchant marine:** total: 129 (2023) by type: bulk carrier 8, container ship 5, general cargo 31, oil tanker 16, other 69 **Ports:** total ports: 1 (2024) large: 0 medium: 1 small: 0 very small: 0 ports with oil terminals: 1 key ports: Europa Point ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** Royal Gibraltar Regiment (UK) (2025) **Military - note:** defense is the responsibility of the UK --- ## Greece **Slug:** greece **Region:** Europe **Flag:** 🇬🇷 **Codes:** cek: gr, iso2: GR, iso3: GRC, iso_num: 300, genc: GRC, stanag: GRC, internet: .gr, comment: For its internal communications, the European Union recommends the use of the code EL in lieu of the ISO 3166-2 code of GR ### Introduction **Background:** Greece won independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1830 and became a kingdom. During the second half of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century, it gradually added neighboring islands and territories, most with Greek-speaking populations. In World War II, Greece was first invaded by Italy (1940) and subsequently occupied by Germany (1941-44); fighting endured in a protracted civil war between supporters of the king and other anti-communist and communist rebels. The communists were defeated in 1949, and Greece joined NATO in 1952. In 1967, a military coup forced the king to flee the country. The ensuing military dictatorship collapsed in 1974, and Greece abolished the monarchy to become a parliamentary republic. In 1981, Greece joined the EC (now the EU); it became the 12th member of the European Economic and Monetary Union in 2001. From 2009 until 2019, Greece suffered a severe economic crisis due to nearly a decade of chronic overspending and structural rigidities. Beginning in 2010, Greece entered three bailout agreements -- the first two with the European Commission, the European Central Bank, and the IMF; and the third in 2015 with the European Stability Mechanism -- worth in total about $300 billion. The Greek Government formally exited the third bailout in 2018, and Greece's economy has since improved significantly. In 2022, the country finalized its early repayment to the IMF and graduated on schedule from the EU's enhanced surveillance framework. ### Geography **Location:** Southern Europe, bordering the Aegean Sea, Ionian Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea, between Albania and Turkey **Geographic coordinates:** 39 00 N, 22 00 E **Map references:** Europe **Area:** total : 131,957 sq km land: 130,647 sq km water: 1,310 sq km **Area - comparative:** slightly smaller than Alabama **Land boundaries:** total: 1,110 km border countries (4): Albania 212 km; Bulgaria 472 km; North Macedonia 234 km; Turkey 192 km **Coastline:** 13,676 km **Maritime claims:** territorial sea: 6 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation **Climate:** temperate; mild, wet winters; hot, dry summers **Terrain:** mountainous with ranges extending into the sea as peninsulas or chains of islands **Elevation:** highest point: Mount Olympus 2,917 lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m mean elevation: 498 m note: Mount Olympus actually has 52 peaks but its highest point, Mytikas (meaning "nose"), rises to 2,917 meters; in Greek mythology, Olympus' Mytikas peak was the home of the Greek gods **Natural resources:** lignite, petroleum, iron ore, bauxite, lead, zinc, nickel, magnesite, marble, salt, hydropower potential **Land use:** agricultural land: 41.7% (2023 est.) arable land: 14.4% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 8% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 19.2% (2023 est.) forest: 36.9% (2023 est.) other: 21.3% (2023 est.) **Irrigated land:** 12,191 sq km (2021) **Population distribution:** one third of the population lives in and around metropolitan Athens; the remainder of the country has moderate population density mixed with sizeable urban clusters **Natural hazards:** severe earthquakes volcanism: Santorini (367 m) has been deemed a Decade Volcano by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to its explosive history and close proximity to human populations; Methana and Nisyros in the Aegean are also classified as historically active **Geography - note:** strategic location dominating the Aegean Sea and southern approach to Turkish Straits; a peninsular country, with an archipelago of about 2,000 islands ### People and Society **Population:** total: 10,424,536 (2025 est.) male: 5,105,879 female: 5,318,657 **Nationality:** noun: Greek(s) adjective: Greek **Ethnic groups:** Greek 91.6%, Albanian 4.4%, other 4% (2011 est.) note: data represent citizenship; Greece does not collect data on ethnicity **Languages:** Greek (official) 99%, other (includes English and French) 1% major-language sample(s): Το Παγκόσμιο Βιβλίο Δεδομένων, η απαραίτητη πηγή βασικών πληροφοριών. (Greek) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. **Religions:** Greek Orthodox 81-90%, Muslim 2%, other 3%, none 4-15%, unspecified 1% (2015 est.) **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 13.8% (male 742,131/female 699,079) 15-64 years: 62.6% (male 3,278,906/female 3,267,140) 65 years and over: 23.6% (2024 est.) (male 1,096,825/female 1,377,010) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 60.1 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 21.7 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 38.4 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 2.6 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 46.8 years (2025 est.) male: 44.6 years female: 48.3 years **Population growth rate:** -0.35% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 7.38 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 11.99 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** 1.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** one third of the population lives in and around metropolitan Athens; the remainder of the country has moderate population density mixed with sizeable urban clusters **Urbanization:** urban population: 80.7% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.11% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 3.154 million ATHENS (capital), 815,000 Thessaloniki (2023) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Mother's mean age at first birth:** 30.7 years (2020 est.) **Maternal mortality ratio:** 5 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 3.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 3.8 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 81.9 years (2024 est.) male: 79.4 years female: 84.6 years **Total fertility rate:** 1.42 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 0.69 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.) rural: 100% of population (2022 est.) total: 100% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.) rural: 0% of population (2022 est.) total: 0% of population (2022 est.) **Health expenditure:** 9.2% of GDP (2021) 8.7% of national budget (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 6.58 physicians/1,000 population (2022) **Hospital bed density:** 4.2 beds/1,000 population (2019 est.) **Sanitation facility access:** improved: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.) rural: 100% of population (2022 est.) total: 100% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.) rural: 0% of population (2022 est.) total: 0% of population (2022 est.) **Obesity - adult prevalence rate:** 24.9% (2016) **Alcohol consumption per capita:** total: 6.33 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 2.13 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 2.66 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 1.45 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0.08 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) **Tobacco use:** total: 27.3% (2025 est.) male: 30.3% (2025 est.) female: 24.6% (2025 est.) **Currently married women (ages 15-49):** 52.4% (2023 est.) **Education expenditure:** 3.4% of GDP (2022 est.) 6.4% national budget (2022 est.) **School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):** total: 21 years (2022 est.) male: 21 years (2022 est.) female: 21 years (2022 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** air pollution; air emissions from transport and electricity power stations; water pollution; degradation of coastal zones; loss of biodiversity; municipal and industrial waste disposal **International environmental agreements:** party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds **Climate:** temperate; mild, wet winters; hot, dry summers **Land use:** agricultural land: 41.7% (2023 est.) arable land: 14.4% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 8% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 19.2% (2023 est.) forest: 36.9% (2023 est.) other: 21.3% (2023 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 80.7% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.11% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 62.06 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 10.794 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 44.649 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from consumed natural gas: 6.617 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Particulate matter emissions:** 14.6 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 5.615 million tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 22.4% (2022 est.) **Total water withdrawal:** municipal: 1.687 billion cubic meters (2022) industrial: 279.8 million cubic meters (2022) agricultural: 8.107 billion cubic meters (2022) **Total renewable water resources:** 68 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) **Geoparks:** total global geoparks and regional networks: 9 (2024) global geoparks and regional networks: Chelmos Vouraikos; Grevena - Kozani; Kefalonia-Ithaca; Lavreotiki; Lesvos Island; Meteora Pyli; Psiloritis; Sitia; Vikos - Aoos (2024) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: Hellenic Republic conventional short form: Greece local long form: Elliniki Dimokratia local short form: Ellas or Ellada former: Hellenic State, Kingdom of Greece etymology: the English name derives from the Roman (Latin) designation Graecia, meaning "Land of the Greeks"; the Greeks call their country Ellas or Ellada, which is probably derived from Hellas, the name of the mythical son of Deucalian **Government type:** parliamentary republic **Capital:** name: Athens geographic coordinates: 37 59 N, 23 44 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October etymology: the origin of the name is uncertain; according to tradition, the city is named after Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom, but the name is probably pre-Hellenic **Administrative divisions:** 13 regions (perifereies, singular - perifereia) and 1 autonomous monastic state* (aftonomi monastiki politeia); Agion Oros* (Mount Athos), Anatoliki Makedonia kai Thraki (East Macedonia and Thrace), Attiki (Attica), Dytiki Ellada (West Greece), Dytiki Makedonia (West Macedonia), Ionia Nisia (Ionian Islands), Ipeiros (Epirus), Kentriki Makedonia (Central Macedonia), Kriti (Crete), Notio Aigaio (South Aegean), Peloponnisos (Peloponnese), Sterea Ellada (Central Greece), Thessalia (Thessaly), Voreio Aigaio (North Aegean) **Legal system:** civil legal system based on Roman law **Constitution:** history: many previous; latest entered into force 11 June 1975 amendment process: proposed by at least 50 members of Parliament and agreed by three-fifths majority vote in two separate ballots at least 30 days apart; passage requires absolute majority vote by the next elected Parliament; entry into force finalized through a "special parliamentary resolution"; articles on human rights and freedoms and the form of government cannot be amended **International law organization participation:** accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Greece dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years **Suffrage:** 17 years of age; universal and compulsory **Executive branch:** chief of state: President Konstantinos TASOULAS (since 13 March 2025) head of government: Prime Minister Kyriakos MITSOTAKIS (since 26 June 2023) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister election/appointment process: president elected by Hellenic Parliament for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); president appoints as prime minister the leader of the majority party or coalition in the Hellenic Parliament most recent election date: 12 February 2025 election results: 2025: Konstantinos TASOULAS (ND) elected president by Parliament - 160 of 300 votes 2020: Katerina SAKELLAROPOULOU (independent) elected president by Parliament - 261 of 300 votes expected date of next election: 2030 **Legislative branch:** legislature name: Hellenic Parliament (Vouli Ton Ellinon) legislative structure: unicameral number of seats: 300 (all directly elected) electoral system: proportional representation scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 4 years most recent election date: 6/25/2023 parties elected and seats per party: New Democracy (ND) (158); Coalition of the Radical Left (SYRIZA) (47); Panhellenic Socialist Movement - Movement for Change (PASOK-KINAL) (32); Communist Party (KKE) (21); Other (42) percentage of women in chamber: 22.9% expected date of next election: June 2027 note: only parties surpassing a 3% vote threshold are entitled to parliamentary seats; parties need 10 seats to become formal parliamentary groups but can retain that status if the party participated in the last election and received the minimum 3% threshold **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Supreme Civil and Criminal Court or Areios Pagos (consists of 56 judges, including the court presidents); Council of State (supreme administrative court) consists of the president, 7 vice presidents, 42 privy councilors, 48 associate councilors and 50 reporting judges, organized into six 5- and 7-member chambers; Court of Audit (government audit and enforcement) consists of the president, 5 vice presidents, 20 councilors, and 90 associate and reporting judges judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges appointed by presidential decree on the advice of the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC), which includes the president of the Supreme Court, other judges, and the prosecutor of the Supreme Court; judges appointed for life after a 2-year probationary period; Council of State president appointed by the Greek Cabinet to serve a 4-year term; other judge appointments and tenure NA; Court of Audit president appointed by decree of the president of the republic on the advice of the SJC; court president serves a 4-year term or until age 67; tenure of vice presidents, councilors, and judges NA subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal and Courts of First Instance (district courts) **Political parties:** Coalition of the Radical Left-Progressive Alliance or SYRIZA-PS Communist Party of Greece or KKE Course of Freedom Democratic Patriotic Movement-Victory or NIKI Greek Solution New Democracy or ND PASOK - Movement for Change or PASOK-KINAL Spartans **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Ekaterini NASSIKA (since 27 February 2024) chancery: 2217 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 939-1300 FAX: [1] (202) 939-1324 email address and website: gremb.was@mfa.gr https://www.mfa.gr/usa/en/the-embassy/ consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Tampa (FL), San Francisco consulate(s): Atlanta, Houston **Diplomatic representation from the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Kimberly Ann GUILFOYLE (since 4 November 2025) embassy: 91 Vasillisis Sophias Avenue, 10160 Athens mailing address: 7100 Athens Place, Washington DC 20521-7100 telephone: [30] (210) 721-2951 FAX: [30] (210) 724-5313 email address and website: athensamericancitizenservices@state.gov https://gr.usembassy.gov/ consulate(s) general: Thessaloniki **International organization participation:** Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CD, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, SELEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC **Independence:** 3 February 1830 (from the Ottoman Empire) note: the national revolt against the Ottomans began on 25 March 1821; the London Protocol recognizing Greek independence was signed on 3 February 1830 by Great Britain, France, and Russia **National holiday:** Independence Day, 25 March (1821) **Flag:** description: nine equal horizontal stripes of blue alternating with white; a blue square with a white cross is in the upper-left corner meaning: the cross symbolizes Greek Orthodoxy, the established religion; there is no set meaning for the stripes and colors note: Greek legislation states that the flag colors are cyan and white, but cyan can mean "blue" in Greek, so the exact shade of blue has never been set and has varied from a light to a dark blue over time; the blue is now usually an azure **National symbol(s):** Greek cross (white cross on a blue field) **National color(s):** blue, white **National coat of arms:** the coat of arms was designed by Greek artist Kostas Grammatopoulos and has been in use since 1975; depicted in the national colors of blue and white; the white cross represents the country’s primary religion, Greek Orthodoxy, and the laurel branches symbolize victory **National anthem(s):** title: "Ymnos eis tin Eleftherian" (Hymn to Freedom) lyrics/music: Dionysios SOLOMOS/Nikolaos MANTZAROS history: adopted 1864; the anthem is based on a 158-stanza poem by the same name, which was inspired by the Greek Revolution of 1821 against the Ottomans (only the first two stanzas are used); Cyprus also uses "Hymn to Freedom" as its anthem **National heritage:** total World Heritage Sites: 20 (18 cultural, 2 mixed) selected World Heritage Site locales: Acropolis, Athens (c); Archaeological site of Delphi (c); Meteora (m); Medieval City of Rhodes (c); Archaeological site of Olympia (c); Archaeological site of Mycenae and Tiryns (c); Old Town of Corfu (c); Mount Athos (m); Delos (c); Archaeological Site of Philippi (c); Minoan Palatial Centres (c) ### Economy **Economic overview:** high-income EU and eurozone economy; growth above euro average, supported by private consumption and EU fund investments; structural reforms strengthening public finances and enhancing resilience within banking system; declining unemployment but low labor productivity and skill shortages **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $392.205 billion (2024 est.) $383.493 billion (2023 est.) $374.753 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** 2.3% (2024 est.) 2.3% (2023 est.) 5.7% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $37,800 (2024 est.) $36,900 (2023 est.) $35,900 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $257.145 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 2.7% (2024 est.) 3.5% (2023 est.) 9.6% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 3.3% (2024 est.) industry: 15.4% (2024 est.) services: 68% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **GDP - composition, by end use:** household consumption: 66.9% (2023 est.) government consumption: 19.3% (2023 est.) investment in fixed capital: 15.2% (2023 est.) investment in inventories: 1.5% (2023 est.) exports of goods and services: 43.7% (2023 est.) imports of goods and services: -48.4% (2023 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection **Agricultural products:** maize, wheat, sheep milk, oranges, tomatoes, milk, peaches/nectarines, grapes, watermelons, barley (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage **Industries:** tourism, food and tobacco processing, textiles, chemicals, metal products; mining, petroleum **Industrial production growth rate:** 6.1% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency **Labor force:** 4.655 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work **Unemployment rate:** 10.2% (2024 est.) 11.1% (2023 est.) 12.5% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment **Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):** total: 24.7% (2024 est.) male: 23.2% (2024 est.) female: 26.6% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment **Population below poverty line:** 18.8% (2021 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line **Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income:** 33.4 (2022 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality **Average household expenditures:** on food: 16.4% of household expenditures (2023 est.) on alcohol and tobacco: 4.4% of household expenditures (2023 est.) **Household income or consumption by percentage share:** lowest 10%: 2.7% (2022 est.) highest 10%: 25.7% (2022 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population **Remittances:** 0.2% of GDP (2024 est.) 0.2% of GDP (2023 est.) 0.3% of GDP (2022 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Budget:** revenues: $111.938 billion (2023 est.) expenditures: $114.497 billion (2023 est.) note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated **Public debt:** 190.6% of GDP (2023 est.) note: central government debt as a % of GDP **Taxes and other revenues:** 26.6% (of GDP) (2023 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP **Current account balance:** -$16.399 billion (2024 est.) -$15.008 billion (2023 est.) -$22.623 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars **Exports:** $108.424 billion (2024 est.) $107.218 billion (2023 est.) $106.189 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** Italy 12%, Germany 6%, Cyprus 6%, Bulgaria 4%, USA 4% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** refined petroleum, packaged medicine, aluminum, olive oil, tobacco (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports:** $122.408 billion (2024 est.) $119.234 billion (2023 est.) $127.82 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** Germany 10%, China 10%, Italy 8%, Iraq 7%, Netherlands 6% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** crude petroleum, refined petroleum, natural gas, cars, packaged medicine (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:** $15.222 billion (2024 est.) $13.608 billion (2023 est.) $12.061 billion (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars **Exchange rates:** euros (EUR) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 0.924 (2024 est.) 0.925 (2023 est.) 0.95 (2022 est.) 0.845 (2021 est.) 0.876 (2020 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.) **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 24.169 million kW (2023 est.) consumption: 46.929 billion kWh (2023 est.) exports: 3.24 billion kWh (2023 est.) imports: 8.152 billion kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 5.346 billion kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** fossil fuels: 48.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 17.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) wind: 23.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: 9.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) biomass and waste: 0.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Coal:** production: 10.469 million metric tons (2023 est.) consumption: 10.091 million metric tons (2023 est.) exports: 5 metric tons (2023 est.) imports: 49,000 metric tons (2023 est.) proven reserves: 2.876 billion metric tons (2023 est.) **Petroleum:** total petroleum production: 5,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 308,000 bbl/day (2024 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 10 million barrels (2021 est.) **Natural gas:** production: 1.323 million cubic meters (2023 est.) consumption: 3.344 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) exports: 8.362 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) imports: 11.619 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) proven reserves: 991.09 million cubic meters (2021 est.) **Energy consumption per capita:** 92.693 million Btu/person (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 4.69 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 47 (2024 est.) **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 11.4 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 114 (2024 est.) **Broadcast media:** broadcast media dominated by the private sector; roughly 150 private TV channels, about 10 of which broadcast nationwide; 1 state-owned terrestrial TV channel with national coverage; 3 privately owned satellite channels; multi-channel satellite and cable TV services available; over 1,500 radio stations, all privately owned; state-owned broadcaster has 2 national radio stations **Internet country code:** .gr **Internet users:** percent of population: 85% (2023 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 4.48 million (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 44 (2023 est.) ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** SX **Airports:** 82 (2025) **Heliports:** 59 (2025) **Railways:** total: 2,345 km (2020) 731 km electrified **Merchant marine:** total: 1,215 (2023) by type: bulk carrier 132, container ship 4, general cargo 79, oil tanker 299, other 701 **Ports:** total ports: 57 (2024) large: 1 medium: 7 small: 7 very small: 42 ports with oil terminals: 13 key ports: Alexandroupoli, Iraklion, Kerkira, Ormos Aliveriou, Piraievs, Soudha, Thessaloniki, Volos ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** Hellenic Armed Forces (HAF; Ellinikes Enoples Dynamis, EED): Hellenic Army (Ellinikos Stratos, ES; includes National Guard), Hellenic Navy (Elliniko Polemiko Navtiko, EPN), Hellenic Air Force (Elliniki Polemiki Aeroporia, EPA; includes air defense) (2025) note 1: the police (under the Ministry of Citizen Protection) and the armed forces (Ministry of National Defense) share law enforcement duties in certain border areas; the Greek Coast Guard is under the Ministry of Shipping Affairs and Island Policy note 2: the National Guard was established in 1982 as an official part of the Army to help protect Greece and provide reinforcements and support to the Army in peacetime and in times of mobilization and war **Military expenditures:** 2.9% of GDP (2025 est.) 2.7% of GDP (2024 est.) 2.8% of GDP (2023 est.) 3.9% of GDP (2022 est.) 3.7% of GDP (2021 est.) **Military and security service personnel strengths:** approximately 112,000 active-duty military personnel (2025) **Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:** the military's inventory consists of a mix of domestically produced and imported armaments from Europe and the US; in recent years, France, Germany, the UK, and the US have been major suppliers of weapons systems; Greece's defense industry is capable of producing a range of military hardware, including naval vessels and associated subsystems (2025) note: Greece is in the midst of a military modernization program which includes acquisitions of fighter aircraft and naval ships from France and armored vehicles and tanks from Germany; it has also boosted purchases of US equipment, including fighter aircraft upgrades, helicopters, and naval patrol craft **Military service age and obligation:** 18 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; all Greek men 19-45 are subject to compulsory military service; 12-month obligation for all services (note - as an exception, the duration of the full military service is 9 instead of 12 months if conscripts, after the initial training, serve the entire remaining time in certain areas of the eastern borders, in Cyprus, or in certain military units) (2026) note 1: in July 2025, the Greek Government unveiled several defense reforms which went into effect on 1 January 2026, including abolishing mandatory military service for the Air Force and Navy, with exceptions only for specialized roles such as aircraft engineers and ship captains; all conscripts are to be classified exclusively into the Army; ground forces will also take over facility security duties previously managed by the other branches note 2: as of 2025, women comprised about 17% of the military's full-time personnel **Military deployments:** approximately 1,000 Cyprus; 120 Kosovo (NATO); 130 Lebanon (UNIFIL) (2025) note: Greece also has air and naval units deployed in support of NATO missions **Military - note:** the Hellenic Armed Forces (HAF) are responsible for protecting Greece’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity; the HAF also maintains a presence on Cyprus (the Hellenic Force in Cyprus or ELDYK) to assist and support the Cypriot National Guard; as a member of the EU, NATO, and other international organizations, the HAF participates in multinational peacekeeping and other security missions abroad, taking a particular interest in missions occurring in the near regions, such as the Balkans, the Mediterranean and Aegean seas, the Middle East, and North Africa; areas of focus for the HAF include instability in the Balkans, territorial disputes with Turkey, and support to European security through the EU and NATO Greece’s NATO membership is a key component of its security; it became a NATO member in 1952 and occupies a strategic location in the Eastern Mediterranean on NATO’s southern flank; Greece is host to several NATO facilities, including the Deployable Corps Greece (NDC-GR) headquarters in Thessaloniki, the Combined Air Operations Center in Larissa, the Multinational Peace Support Operations Training Center in Kilkis, the Multinational Sealift Coordination Center in Athens, and the Naval Base, Maritime Interdiction Operational Training Centre, and NATO Missile Firing Installation at Souda, Crete (2025) ### Space **Space agency/agencies:** Hellenic Space Center (HSC; aka Hellenic Space Agency; established 2018) (2025) **Space program overview:** focuses on building and operating satellites for communications and remote sensing (RS); researches and develops space-related technologies in a variety of sectors, including agriculture, defense, environmental studies, RS, and telecommunications; contributes to and participates in ESA capabilities and programs; also participates in EU space programs and cooperates bilaterally with European and US space agencies and commercial space sectors; has a commercial space sector that researches, develops, and produces a variety of space technologies and capabilities (2025) **Key space-program milestones:** 1994 - signed first cooperation agreement with the ESA 2005 - first satellite (Hellas-Sat) for a domestic telecommunications satellite network launched by US; joined ESA (became member state in 2011) 2017 - first domestically manufactured communications satellite (UPSat) released from International Space Station 2019 - began participating in ESA’s quantum communications infrastructure (EuroQCI or “fiber in the sky”) and the US Gateway Lunar orbital/landing programs 2021 - launched ESA-assisted national program to develop, manufacture, launch, and operate small satellites 2024 - signed US-led Artemis Accords for space and Moon exploration 2025 - launched demonstrator/experimental RS cube satellite (DUTHSat-2) under ESA-assisted national small satellite program ### Terrorism **Terrorist group(s):** Terrorist group(s): Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS); Revolutionary Struggle (RS); Revolutionary People's Liberation Party/Front (DHKP/C) note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide ### Transnational Issues **Refugees and internally displaced persons:** refugees: 144,694 (2024 est.) stateless persons: 3,743 (2024 est.) --- ## Guernsey **Slug:** guernsey **Region:** Europe **Flag:** 🇬🇬 **Codes:** cek: gk, iso2: GG, iso3: GGY, iso_num: 831, genc: GGY, stanag: UK, internet: .gg ### Introduction **Background:** Guernsey and the other Channel Islands represent the last remnants of the medieval Duchy of Normandy, which held sway in both France and England. The islands were the only British soil that Germany occupied in World War II. The Bailiwick of Guernsey consists of the main island of Guernsey and a number of smaller islands, including Alderney, Sark, Herm, Jethou, Brecqhou, and Lihou. The Bailiwick is a self-governing British Crown dependency that is not part of the UK. However, the UK Government is constitutionally responsible for its defense and international representation. ### Geography **Location:** Western Europe, islands in the English Channel, northwest of France **Geographic coordinates:** 49 28 N, 2 35 W **Map references:** Europe **Area:** total : 78 sq km land: 78 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes Alderney, Guernsey, Herm, Sark, and some other smaller islands **Area - comparative:** about one-half the size of Washington, D.C. **Land boundaries:** total: 0 km **Coastline:** 50 km **Maritime claims:** territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm **Climate:** temperate with mild winters and cool summers; about 50% of days are overcast **Terrain:** mostly flat with low hills in southwest **Elevation:** highest point: Le Moulin on Sark 114 m lowest point: English Channel 0 m **Natural resources:** cropland **Land use:** agricultural land: 43.3% (2022 est.) arable land: 18.3% (2022 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.) permanent pasture: 24.9% (2022 est.) forest: 5.2% (2022 est.) other: 51.6% (2022 est.) **Irrigated land:** NA **Natural hazards:** very large tidal variation and fast currents can make local waters dangerous **Geography - note:** large, deepwater harbor at Saint Peter Port ### People and Society **Population:** total: 67,923 (2025 est.) male: 33,760 female: 34,163 **Nationality:** noun: Channel Islander(s) adjective: Channel Islander **Ethnic groups:** Guernsey 53.5%, UK and Ireland 23.8%, Portugal 2.1%, Latvia 1.4%, other Europe 2.7%, other Crown Dependencies 0.7%, other 5.3%, unspecified 10.5% (2022 est.) note: data represent population by country of birth; the native population is of British and Norman-French descent **Languages:** English, French, Norman-French dialect spoken in country districts **Religions:** Protestant (Anglican, Presbyterian, Baptist, Congregational, Methodist), Roman Catholic **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 14.3% (male 4,999/female 4,717) 15-64 years: 64.1% (male 21,937/female 21,547) 65 years and over: 21.5% (2024 est.) (male 6,776/female 7,811) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 56.8 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 22.4 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 34.4 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 2.9 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 45.1 years (2025 est.) male: 43.8 years female: 46.2 years **Population growth rate:** 0.19% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 9.64 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 9.19 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** 1.47 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 31.2% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.68% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) note: data include Guernsey and Jersey **Major urban areas - population:** 16,000 SAINT PETER PORT (capital) (2018) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 3.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 3.7 deaths/1,000 live births female: 2.7 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 83.6 years (2024 est.) male: 80.9 years female: 86.4 years **Total fertility rate:** 1.59 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 0.78 (2025 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** coastal erosion, coastal flooding; declining biodiversity **Climate:** temperate with mild winters and cool summers; about 50% of days are overcast **Land use:** agricultural land: 43.3% (2022 est.) arable land: 18.3% (2022 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.) permanent pasture: 24.9% (2022 est.) forest: 5.2% (2022 est.) other: 51.6% (2022 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 31.2% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.68% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) note: data include Guernsey and Jersey **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 178,900 tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 28.4% (2016 est.) note: data include combined totals for Guernsey and Jersey. ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: Bailiwick of Guernsey conventional short form: Guernsey former: Norman Isles etymology: the name is of Old Norse origin; the meaning of the root "Guern(s)" is unclear but may refer to a person's name, Grani, or to the color green; the "-ey" ending means "island" **Government type:** parliamentary democracy (States of Deliberation) **Dependency status:** British crown dependency **Capital:** name: Saint Peter Port geographic coordinates: 49 27 N, 2 32 W time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October etymology: named for the patron saint of fishermen; "port" distinguishes it from the Saint Peter (sometimes called Saint Peter in the Wood) on the other side of the island **Administrative divisions:** no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US government, but 10 parishes: Castel, Forest, Saint Andrew, Saint Martin, Saint Peter Port, Saint Pierre du Bois, Saint Sampson, Saint Saviour, Torteval, Vale note: two additional parishes for Guernsey are sometimes listed -- Saint Anne on the island of Alderney and Saint Peter on the island of Sark **Legal system:** customary system based on Norman customary law; includes elements of the French civil code and English common law **Constitution:** history: unwritten; includes royal charters, statutes, and common law and practice amendment process: new laws or changes to existing laws are initiated by the States of Deliberation; passage requires majority vote **Citizenship:** see United Kingdom **Suffrage:** 16 years of age; universal **Executive branch:** chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Lieutenant-Governor Richard CRIPWELL (since 15 February 2022) head of government: Chief Minister Lindsay de SAUSMAREZ (since 1 July 2025) cabinet: none election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; lieutenant governor and bailiff appointed by the monarch; chief minister, who is the president of the Policy and Resources Committee, indirectly elected by the States of Deliberation for a 4-year term most recent election date: 7/1/2025 election results: 2025: Lindsay de SAUSMAREZ (independent) elected president of the Policy and Resources Committee and chief minister 2020: Peter FERBRACHE (independent) elected president of the Policy and Resources Committee and chief minister: percent of States of Guernsey vote - 57.5% 2016: Gavin ST. PIER (independent) elected president of the Policy and Resources Committee and chief minister expected date of next election: 2029 note: the chief minister is the president of the Policy and Resources Committee and is the de facto head of government; the Policy and Resources Committee, elected by the States of Deliberation, functions as the executive; the 5 members all have equal voting rights **Legislative branch:** legislature name: States of Deliberation legislative structure: unicameral number of seats: 38 (directly elected) electoral system: plurality/majority scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 4 years most recent election date: 7/1/2025 parties elected and seats per party: independent (35); Forward Guernsey (3) percentage of women in chamber: 20% expected date of next election: 2030 note: non-voting members include the bailiff (presiding officer), attorney-general, and solicitor-general **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Guernsey Court of Appeal (consists of the Bailiff of Guernsey, who is the ex-officio president of the Guernsey Court of Appeal, and at least 12 judges); Royal Court (organized into 3 divisions - Full Court sits with 1 judge and 7 to 12 jurats acting as judges of fact, Ordinary Court sits with 1 judge and normally 3 jurats, and Matrimonial Causes Division sits with 1 judge and 4 jurats) judge selection and term of office: Royal Court Bailiff, Deputy Bailiff, and Court of Appeal justices appointed by the British Crown and hold office at Her Majesty's pleasure; jurats elected by the States of Election, a body chaired by the Bailiff and a number of jurats subordinate courts: Court of Alderney; Court of the Seneschal of Sark; Magistrates' Court (includes Juvenile Court); Contracts Court; Ecclesiastical Court; Court of Chief Pleas note: appeals beyond Guernsey courts are heard by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London) **Political parties:** Forward Guernsey **Diplomatic representation in the US:** none (British crown dependency) **Diplomatic representation from the US:** embassy: none (British crown dependency) **International organization participation:** UPU **Independence:** none (British Crown dependency) **National holiday:** Liberation Day, 9 May (1945) **Flag:** description: 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 on top of the Saint George cross meaning: the red cross represents Guernsey's status as a British Crown dependency history: the gold cross is a replica of the one William the Conqueror carried at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 **National symbol(s):** Guernsey cow, donkey **National color(s):** red, white, yellow **National anthem(s):** title: "Sarnia Cherie" (Guernsey Dear) lyrics/music: George DEIGHTON/Domencio SANTANGELO history: adopted 1911; serves as a local anthem _____ title: "God Save the King" lyrics/music: unknown history: official anthem, as a British crown dependency ### Economy **Economic overview:** high-income English Channel island economy; strong financial sector but stressed due to COVID-19 disruptions; manufacturing, tourism, and construction industries suffered but expected to recover; stable inflation; maintains independent taxation authority **Real GDP growth rate:** 3.7% (2023 est.) 5.3% (2022 est.) 9.9% (2021 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency; entry includes Jersey and Guernsey **GDP (official exchange rate):** $12.508 billion (2023 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate; entry includes Jersey and Guernsey **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 0.6% (2023 est.) industry: 8.2% (2023 est.) services: 91.2% (2023 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **Agricultural products:** tomatoes, greenhouse flowers, sweet peppers, eggplant, fruit; Guernsey cattle **Industries:** tourism, banking **Industrial production growth rate:** 1.3% (2023 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency; entry includes Jersey and Guernsey **Labor force:** 82,400 (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work;entry includes Jersey and Guernsey **Unemployment rate:** 6.3% (2024 est.) 6.2% (2023 est.) 6.2% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment; entry includes Jersey and Guernsey **Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):** total: 14.1% (2024 est.) male: 14.2% (2024 est.) female: 13.9% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment **Exports - partners:** almost entirely United Kingdom (2022) **Exports - commodities:** aircraft, photo lab equipment, clocks, ships, paintings (2022) top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports - partners:** almost entirely United Kingdom (2022) **Imports - commodities:** ships, aircraft, refined petroleum, mineral manufactures, beverages (2022) **Exchange rates:** Guernsey pound per US dollar Exchange rates: 0.782 (2024 est.) 0.805 (2023 est.) 0.811 (2022 est.) 0.727 (2021 est.) 0.78 (2020 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.) note: includes Guernsey and Jersey ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 32,637 (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 51 (2023 est.) **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 75,126 (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 117 (2023 est.) **Broadcast media:** multiple UK terrestrial TV broadcasts are received via a transmitter in Jersey with relays in Jersey, Guernsey, and Alderney; satellite packages are available; BBC Radio Guernsey and 1 other radio station **Internet country code:** .gg **Internet users:** percent of population: 86.6% (2021 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 25,336 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 40 (2020 est.) ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** 2 **Airports:** 2 (2025) **Heliports:** 1 (2025) **Ports:** total ports: 3 (2024) large: 0 medium: 0 small: 1 very small: 2 ports with oil terminals: 2 key ports: Alderney Harbour, Saint Peter Port, Saint Sampson ### Military and Security **Military - note:** defense is the responsibility of the UK --- ## Holy See (Vatican City) **Slug:** holy-see-vatican-city **Region:** Europe **Flag:** 🇻🇦 **Codes:** cek: vt, iso2: VA, iso3: VAT, iso_num: 336, genc: VAT, stanag: VAT, internet: .va ### Introduction **Background:** Popes in their secular role ruled portions of the Italian peninsula for more than a thousand years until the mid-19th century, when the newly established Kingdom of Italy seized many of the Papal States. In 1870, the pope's holdings were further circumscribed when Rome itself was annexed. Disputes between Italy and a series of "prisoner" popes were resolved in 1929 by three Lateran Treaties, which established the independent state of Vatican City and granted Roman Catholicism special status in Italy. In 1984, a concordat between the Holy See and Italy modified some of the earlier treaty provisions, including the primacy of Roman Catholicism as the Italian state religion. Present concerns of the Holy See include religious freedom, threats against minority Christian communities in Africa and the Middle East, the plight of refugees and migrants, climate change and the environment, conflict and war, nuclear weapons, artificial intelligence, sexual misconduct by clergy, humanitarian issues, interreligious dialogue and reconciliation, and the application of church doctrine in an era of rapid change and globalization. About 1.3 billion people worldwide profess Catholicism, the world's largest Christian faith. ### Geography **Location:** Southern Europe, an enclave of Rome (Italy) **Geographic coordinates:** 41 54 N, 12 27 E **Map references:** Europe **Area:** total : 0 sq km land: 0.44 sq km water: 0 sq km **Area - comparative:** about 0.7 times the size of the National Mall in Washington, D.C. **Land boundaries:** total: 3.4 km border countries (1): Italy 3.4 km **Coastline:** 0 km (landlocked) **Maritime claims:** none (landlocked) **Climate:** temperate; mild, rainy winters (September to May) with hot, dry summers (May to September) **Terrain:** urban; low hill **Elevation:** highest point: Vatican Gardens (Vatican Hill) 78 m lowest point: Saint Peter's Square 19 m **Natural resources:** none **Land use:** agricultural land: 0% (2022 est.) forest: 0% (2022 est.) other: 100% (2022 est.) **Natural hazards:** occasional earthquakes **Geography - note:** landlocked; an enclave in Rome, Italy; world's smallest state ### People and Society **Population:** total: 1,000 (2024) **Nationality:** noun: none adjective: none **Ethnic groups:** Italian, Swiss, Argentinian, and other nationalities from around the world (2017) **Languages:** Italian, Latin, French, various other languages major-language sample(s): L'Almanacco dei fatti del mondo, l'indispensabile fonte per le informazioni di base. (Italian) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. **Religions:** Roman Catholic **Population growth rate:** 0% (2014 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 100% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 1,000 VATICAN CITY (capital) (2018) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** some air pollution from the surrounding city of Rome **International environmental agreements:** party to: Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution, Environmental Modification **Climate:** temperate; mild, rainy winters (September to May) with hot, dry summers (May to September) **Land use:** agricultural land: 0% (2022 est.) forest: 0% (2022 est.) other: 100% (2022 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 100% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: The Holy See (Vatican City State) conventional short form: Holy See (Vatican City) local long form: La Santa Sede (Stato della Citta del Vaticano) local short form: Santa Sede (Citta del Vaticano) etymology: "holy" comes from the Greek word hera, meaning "sacred"; "see" comes from the Latin word sedes, meaning "seat," and refers to the episcopal chair; the name Vatican derives from the hill Mons Vaticanus on which the Vatican is located and which comes from the Latin vates (prophet), referring to the fortune tellers and soothsayers who frequented the area in Roman times **Government type:** ecclesiastical elective monarchy; self-described as an "absolute monarchy" **Capital:** name: Vatican City geographic coordinates: 41 54 N, 12 27 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October etymology: the name derives from the hill called Mons Vaticanus, on which the Vatican is located and which comes from the Latin vates (prophet), referring to the fortune tellers and soothsayers who frequented the area in Roman times **Legal system:** religious system based on canon (religious) law **Constitution:** history: previous 1929, 2000; latest issued by Pope FRANCIS 13 May 2023, effective 7 June 2023 (Fundamental Law of Vatican City State, the main governing document of the Vatican's civil entities); the Roman Curia is the administrative apparatus – the departments and ministries – used by the pontiff in governing the church amendment process: although the Fundamental Law of Vatican City State makes no mention of amendments, Article Four (drafting laws), states that this legislative responsibility resides with the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State; draft legislation is submitted through the Secretariat of State and considered by the pope **International law organization participation:** has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: no dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: not applicable note: in the Holy See, citizenship is acquired by law, ex iure, or by adminstrative decision; in the first instance, citizenship is a function of holding office within the Holy See as in the case of cardinals resident in Vatican City or diplomats of the Holy See; in the second instance, citizenship may be requested in a limited set of circumstances for those who reside within Vatican City under papal authorization, as a function of their office or service, or as the spouses and children of current citizens; citizenship is lost once an individual no longer permanently resides in Vatican City, normally reverting to the citizenship previously held **Suffrage:** election of the pope is limited to cardinals under 80 years old **Executive branch:** chief of state: Pope LEO XIV (since 8 May 2025) head of government: President of the Pontifical Commission for the State of Vatican City and President of the Governorate of the Vatican City State Fernando VERGEZ ALZAGA (since 1 October 2021) cabinet: Pontifical Commission for the State of Vatican City appointed by the pope election/appointment process: pope elected by the College of Cardinals, usually for life or until voluntary resignation; Secretary of State appointed by the pope election results: 2025: Robert PREVOST elected Pope LEO XIV **Legislative branch:** legislature name: Pontifical Commission for the State of Vatican City (Pontificia Commissione per lo Stato della Citta del Vaticano) legislative structure: unicameral number of seats: 7 term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 22 September 2018 percentage of women in chamber: 0% **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Supreme Court or Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura (consists of the cardinal prefect, who serves as ex-officio president of the court, and 2 other cardinals of the Prefect Signatura) judge selection and term of office: cardinal prefect appointed by the pope; the other 2 cardinals of the court appointed by the cardinal prefect on a yearly basis subordinate courts: Appellate Court of Vatican City; Tribunal of Vatican City note: the Motu Proprio (papal directive) of Pope PIUS XII established judicial duties on 1 May 1946; most Vatican City criminal matters are handled by the Republic of Italy courts **Political parties:** none **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Apostolic Nuncio Cardinal Christophe PIERRE (since 27 June 2016) chancery: 3339 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 333-7121 FAX: [1] (202) 337-4036 email address and website: nuntiususa@nuntiususa.org http://www.nuntiususa.org/ **Diplomatic representation from the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Brian Francis BURCH II (since 13 September 2025) embassy: Via Sallustiana, 49, 00187 Rome mailing address: 5660 Holy See Place, Washington DC 20521-5660 telephone: [39] (06) 4674-1 FAX: [39] (06) 4674-3411 email address and website: https://va.usembassy.gov/ **International organization participation:** CE (observer), IAEA, Interpol, IOM, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, Schengen Convention (de facto member), UN (observer), UNCTAD, UNHCR, UNWTO (observer), UPU, WIPO, WTO (observer) **Independence:** 11 February 1929 note: the three treaties signed with Italy on 11 February 1929 acknowledged the full sovereignty of the Holy See and established its territorial extent, but the origin of the Papal States, which over centuries varied considerably in extent, can be traced back to A.D. 754 **Flag:** description: two vertical bands of yellow (left side) and white, with the arms of the Holy See centered in the white band; the arms show the crossed keys of Saint Peter under the three-tiered papal tiara meaning: yellow stands for the pope's spiritual power, and white for his worldly power **National symbol(s):** crossed keys under a papal tiara **National color(s):** yellow, white **National anthem(s):** title: “Hymnus Pontificius" (Pontifical Anthem) lyrics/music: Raffaello LAVAGNA/Charles-Francois GOUNOD history: adopted 1949 **National heritage:** total World Heritage Sites: 2 (both cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Historic Center of Rome, the Properties of the Holy See in that City Enjoying Extraterritorial Rights and San Paolo Fuori le Mura; Vatican City ### Economy **Economic overview:** limited, tourism-based economy; euro user with own minted coins; produces commemorative stamps, coins, and publications to support museums and religious needs; residents pay no direct taxes; “zero deficit” plan to address budget shortfall **Industries:** printing; production of coins, medals, postage stamps; mosaics, staff uniforms; worldwide banking and financial activities **Exchange rates:** euros (EUR) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 0.924 (2024 est.) 0.925 (2023 est.) 0.95 (2022 est.) 0.845 (2021 est.) 0.876 (2020 est.) note: while not an EU member state, the Holy See has a 2000 monetary agreement with Italy and the EU to produce limited euro coinage—but not banknotes—that began enforcement in January 2002 ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 100% (2021) ### Communications **Broadcast media:** the Vatican Television Center (CTV) transmits live broadcasts of the Pope's weekly audiences, as well as his public celebrations; CTV also produces documentaries; Vatican Radio is the official broadcasting service via shortwave, AM, and FM frequencies, as well as satellite and web; Vatican News website partners with Vatican Radio and provides Catholic news from the Vatican (2021) **Internet country code:** .va **Internet users:** percent of population: 87% (2023 est.) ### Transportation **Heliports:** 1 (2025) ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** the Pontifical Swiss Guard Corps (Corpo della Guardia Svizzera Pontificia) serves as the de facto military force of Vatican City; the Gendarmerie Corps of Vatican City (Corpo della Gendarmeriais) is a police force that helps augment the Pontifical Swiss Guard Corps during the Pope’s appearances, as well as providing general security, traffic direction, and investigative duties for the Vatican City State (2025) note: the Swiss Guard Corps has protected the Pope and his residence since 1506 **Military service age and obligation:** Pontifical Swiss Guard Corps: 19-30 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription; must be a single Roman Catholic male with Swiss citizenship who has completed basic training with the Swiss military and can obtain a certificate of good conduct; qualified candidates must apply to serve; the service contract is between 2 and 25 years (2025) **Military - note:** defense is the responsibility of Italy --- ## Hungary **Slug:** hungary **Region:** Europe **Flag:** 🇭🇺 **Codes:** cek: hu, iso2: HU, iso3: HUN, iso_num: 348, genc: HUN, stanag: HUN, internet: .hu ### Introduction **Background:** Hungary became a Christian kingdom in A.D. 1000 and for many centuries served as a bulwark against Ottoman Turkish expansion in Europe. The kingdom eventually became part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, which collapsed during World War I. The country fell under communist rule after World War II. In 1956, Moscow responded to a Hungarian revolt and announcement of its withdrawal from the Warsaw Pact with a massive military intervention. Under the leadership of Janos KADAR in 1968, Hungary began liberalizing its economy, introducing so-called "Goulash Communism." Hungary held its first multiparty elections in 1990 and initiated a free market economy. It joined NATO in 1999 and the EU five years later. ### Geography **Location:** Central Europe, northwest of Romania **Geographic coordinates:** 47 00 N, 20 00 E **Map references:** Europe **Area:** total : 93,028 sq km land: 89,608 sq km water: 3,420 sq km **Area - comparative:** slightly smaller than Virginia; about the same size as Indiana **Land boundaries:** total: 2,106 km border countries (7): Austria 321 km; Croatia 348 km; Romania 424 km; Serbia 164 km; Slovakia 627 km; Slovenia 94 km; Ukraine 128 km **Coastline:** 0 km (landlocked) **Maritime claims:** none (landlocked) **Climate:** temperate; cold, cloudy, humid winters; warm summers **Terrain:** mostly flat to rolling plains; hills and low mountains on the Slovakian border **Elevation:** highest point: Kekes 1,014 m lowest point: Tisza River 78 m mean elevation: 143 m **Natural resources:** bauxite, coal, natural gas, fertile soils, arable land **Land use:** agricultural land: 55.7% (2023 est.) arable land: 45.4% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 1.6% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 8.6% (2023 est.) forest: 22.7% (2023 est.) other: 20.9% (2023 est.) **Irrigated land:** 1,331 sq km (2022) **Major lakes (area sq km):** fresh water lake(s): Lake Balaton - 590 sq km **Major rivers (by length in km):** Duna (Danube) (shared with Germany [s], Austria, Slovakia, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Moldova, and Romania [m]) - 2,888 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth **Major watersheds (area sq km):** Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km) **Population distribution:** a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger and denser populations **Geography - note:** landlocked; strategic location on main land routes between Western Europe and Balkan Peninsula, as well as between Ukraine and the Mediterranean basin; the Duna (Danube) and Tisza Rivers divide the country into three large regions ### People and Society **Population:** total: 9,827,455 (2025 est.) male: 4,799,238 female: 5,028,217 **Nationality:** noun: Hungarian(s) adjective: Hungarian **Ethnic groups:** Hungarian 84.3%, Romani 2.1%, German 1%, other 1.2%, unspecified 13.7% (2022 est.) note: percentages add up to more than 100% because respondents were able to identify more than one ethnic group; Romani populations are usually underestimated in official statistics and may represent 5–10% of Hungary's population **Languages:** Hungarian (official) 98.8%, English 25.3%, German 12.6%, Russian 2.1%, French 1.5%, Romanian 1.4%, other 5.1% (2022 est.) major-language sample(s): A World Factbook nélkülözhetetlen forrása az alapvető információnak. (Hungarian) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. note: percentages add up to more than 100% because respondents were able to identify more than one spoken language **Religions:** Catholic 30.1% (Roman Catholic 27.5%, Greek Catholic 1.7%, other Catholic 0.9%), Calvinist 9.8%, Lutheran 1.8%, other Christian (includes Orthodox) 1.6%, other 0.4%, none 16.1%, no answer 40.1% (2022 est.) **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 14.6% (male 753,955/female 683,943) 15-64 years: 63.9% (male 3,195,761/female 3,104,750) 65 years and over: 21.5% (2024 est.) (male 862,952/female 1,254,384) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 56.7 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 22.8 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 33.9 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 3 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 45.1 years (2025 est.) male: 42.8 years female: 46.7 years **Population growth rate:** -0.29% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 9.03 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 14.41 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** 2.45 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger and denser populations **Urbanization:** urban population: 72.9% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.05% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 1.778 million BUDAPEST (capital) (2023) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Mother's mean age at first birth:** 28.4 years (2020 est.) **Maternal mortality ratio:** 12 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 4.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 5 deaths/1,000 live births female: 4.3 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 76 years (2024 est.) male: 72.9 years female: 79.3 years **Total fertility rate:** 1.6 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 0.78 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.) rural: 100% of population (2022 est.) total: 100% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.) rural: 0% of population (2022 est.) total: 0% of population (2022 est.) **Health expenditure:** 7.4% of GDP (2021) 9.9% of national budget (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 3.46 physicians/1,000 population (2022) **Hospital bed density:** 6.8 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.) **Sanitation facility access:** improved: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.) rural: 100% of population (2022 est.) total: 100% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.) rural: 0% of population (2022 est.) total: 0% of population (2022 est.) **Obesity - adult prevalence rate:** 26.4% (2016) **Alcohol consumption per capita:** total: 10.79 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 3.96 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 3.33 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 3.5 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) **Tobacco use:** total: 28.5% (2025 est.) male: 33.7% (2025 est.) female: 23.8% (2025 est.) **Currently married women (ages 15-49):** 52.3% (2022 est.) **Education expenditure:** 3.8% of GDP (2022 est.) 7.8% national budget (2022 est.) **School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):** total: 16 years (2023 est.) male: 15 years (2023 est.) female: 16 years (2023 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** air and soil pollution; water pollution from industry and large-scale agriculture **International environmental agreements:** party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protection **Climate:** temperate; cold, cloudy, humid winters; warm summers **Land use:** agricultural land: 55.7% (2023 est.) arable land: 45.4% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 1.6% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 8.6% (2023 est.) forest: 22.7% (2023 est.) other: 20.9% (2023 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 72.9% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.05% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 40.161 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 3.373 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 20.887 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from consumed natural gas: 15.901 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Particulate matter emissions:** 14.2 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 3.781 million tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 31% (2022 est.) **Total water withdrawal:** municipal: 660 million cubic meters (2022) industrial: 3.758 billion cubic meters (2022) agricultural: 548.613 million cubic meters (2022) **Total renewable water resources:** 104 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) **Geoparks:** total global geoparks and regional networks: 4 (2024) global geoparks and regional networks: Bakony-Balaton; Bukk Region; Hungary; Novohrad-Nógrád (includes Slovakia) (2024) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: none conventional short form: Hungary local long form: none local short form: Magyarorszag former: Kingdom of Hungary, Hungarian People's Republic, Hungarian Soviet Republic, Hungarian Republic etymology: the Byzantine Greeks referred to the tribes that arrived on the steppes of Eastern Europe in the 9th century as the "Oungroi," a name that later became "Hungari," which originally meant an "[alliance of] ten tribes;" the Hungarian name Magyarorszag means "Country of the Magyars," which may be derived from the name of the most prominent of the Hungarian tribes **Government type:** parliamentary republic **Capital:** name: Budapest geographic coordinates: 47 30 N, 19 05 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October etymology: Buda on the western shore of the Danube and Pest on the eastern shore merged in 1873 to form Budapest; Buda's name may derive from the name of its founder or from a local word meaning "water;" Pest derives from a Slavic word meaning "furnace" or "oven" **Administrative divisions:** 19 counties (megyek, singular - megye), 25 cities with county rights (megyei jogu varosok, singular - megyei jogu varos), and 1 capital city (fovaros) counties: Bacs-Kiskun, Baranya, Bekes, Borsod-Abauj-Zemplen, Csongrad-Csanad, Fejer, Gyor-Moson-Sopron, Hajdu-Bihar, Heves, Jasz-Nagykun-Szolnok, Komarom-Esztergom, Nograd, Pest, Somogy, Szabolcs-Szatmar-Bereg, Tolna, Vas, Veszprem, Zala cities with county rights: Baja, Bekescsaba, Debrecen, Dunaujvaros, Eger, Erd, Esztergom, Gyor, Hodmezovasarhely, Kaposvar, Kecskemet, Miskolc, Nagykanizsa, Nyiregyhaza, Pecs, Salgotarjan, Sopron, Szeged, Szekesfehervar, Szekszard, Szolnok, Szombathely, Tatabanya, Veszprem, Zalaegerszeg capital city: Budapest **Legal system:** civil system influenced by the German model **Constitution:** history: previous 1949 (heavily amended in 1989 following the collapse of communism); latest approved 18 April 2011, signed 25 April 2011, effective 1 January 2012 amendment process: proposed by the president of the republic, by the government, by parliamentary committee, or by Parliament members; passage requires two-thirds majority vote of Parliament members and approval by the president **International law organization participation:** accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICC jurisdiction **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Hungary dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 8 years **Suffrage:** 18 years of age, 16 if married and marriage is registered in Hungary; universal **Executive branch:** chief of state: President Tamas SULYOK (since 5 March 2024) head of government: Prime Minister Viktor ORBAN (since 29 May 2010) cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers proposed by the prime minister and appointed by the president election/appointment process: president indirectly elected by the National Assembly with two-thirds majority vote in first round or simple majority vote in second round for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister elected by the National Assembly on the recommendation of the president most recent election date: president: 26 February 2024 prime minister: 3 April 2022 election results: 2024: Tamas SULYOK elected president; National Assembly vote - 134 to 5 2022: Katalin NOVAK (Fidesz) elected president; National Assembly vote - 137 to 51 expected date of next election: president: spring 2029 prime minister: April or May 2027 **Legislative branch:** legislature name: National Assembly (Országgyülés) legislative structure: unicameral chamber name: National Assembly (Orszaggyules) number of seats: 199 (all directly elected) electoral system: mixed system scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 4 years most recent election date: 4/3/2022 parties elected and seats per party: Hungarian Civic Union-Christian Democratic People's Party (FIDESZ-KDNP) (135); Democratic Coalition (DK) (15); Movement for a Better Hungary (Jobbik) (10); Hungarian Socialist Party (MSZP) (10); Momentum (10); Other (19) percentage of women in chamber: 15.6% expected date of next election: April 2026 **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Curia or Supreme Judicial Court (consists of the president, vice president, department heads, and has a maximum of 113 judges, and is organized into civil, criminal, and administrative-labor departments; Constitutional Court (consists of 15 judges, including the court president and vice president) judge selection and term of office: Curia president elected by the National Assembly on the recommendation of the president of the republic; other Curia judges appointed by the president on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council, a separate 15-member administrative body; judge tenure based on interim evaluations until normal retirement at age 62; Constitutional Court judges, including the president of the court, elected by the National Assembly; court vice president elected by the court itself; members serve 12-year terms with mandatory retirement at age 62 subordinate courts: 5 regional courts of appeal; 19 regional or county courts (including Budapest Metropolitan Court); 20 administrative-labor courts; 111 district or local courts **Political parties:** Christian Democratic People's Party or KDNP Democratic Coalition or DK Dialogue for Hungary or Párbeszéd Fidesz-Hungarian Civic Alliance or Fidesz Hungarian Socialist Party or MSZP Jobbik - Conservatives or Jobbik LMP-Hungary's Green Party or LMP Mi Hazank (Our Homeland Movement) or MHM Momentum Movement or Momentum Movement for a Better Hungary or Jobbik National Self-Government of Germans in Hungary or MNOÖ On the People's Side or A Nép Pártján Our Homeland Movement or Mi Hazánk TISZA – Respect and Freedom Party or TISZA **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Szabolcs Ferenc TAKÁCS (since 23 December 2020) chancery: 1500 Rhode Island Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20005 telephone: [1] (202) 362-6730 FAX: [1] (202) 966-8135 email address and website: info.was@mfa.gov.hu https://washington.mfa.gov.hu/eng consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York consulate(s): Houston, Miami **Diplomatic representation from the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Caroline SAVAGE (since November 2025) embassy: Szabadsag ter 12, H-1054 Budapest mailing address: 5270 Budapest Place, US Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-5270 telephone: [36] (1) 475-4400 FAX: [36] (1) 475-4248 email address and website: acs.budapest@state.gov https://hu.usembassy.gov/ **International organization participation:** Australia Group, BIS, CD, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, ESA (cooperating state), EU, FAO, G-9, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, SELEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC **Independence:** 16 November 1918 (republic proclaimed); notable earlier dates: 25 December 1000 (crowning of King STEPHEN I, traditional founding date); 30 March 1867 (Austro-Hungarian dual monarchy established) **National holiday:** Saint Stephen's Day, 20 August (1083) note: commemorates the saint's canonization and the transfer of his remains to Buda (now Budapest) in 1083 **Flag:** description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and green meaning: folklore attributes virtues to the colors: red for strength, white for faithfulness, and green for hope; alternatively, the red can stand for the blood spilled in defense of the land, white for freedom, and green for pasturelands history: the flag dates to the national movement of the 18th and 19th centuries and fuses the medieval colors of the Hungarian coat of arms with the revolutionary tricolor of the French flag **National symbol(s):** Holy Crown of Hungary (Crown of Saint Stephen) **National color(s):** red, white, green **National anthem(s):** title: "Himnusz" (Hymn) lyrics/music: Ferenc KOLCSEY/Ferenc ERKEL history: adopted 1844 **National heritage:** total World Heritage Sites: 8 (7 cultural, 1 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Budapest, including the Banks of the Danube, the Buda Castle Quarter, and Andrássy Avenue (c); Old Village of Hollókő and its Surroundings (c); Caves of Aggtelek Karst and Slovak Karst (n); Millenary Benedictine Abbey of Pannonhalma and its Natural Environment (c); Hortobágy National Park - the Puszta (c); Early Christian Necropolis of Pécs (Sopianae) (c); Fertö / Neusiedlersee Cultural Landscape (c); Tokaj Wine Region Historic Cultural Landscape (c) ### Economy **Economic overview:** high-income EU and OECD economy; modest recovery from 2024 recession driven by private consumption and moderated inflation; challenges include high fiscal deficits, frozen access to EU funds, and risks from export reliance; implementing tax exemptions, price controls, and mortgage interest caps ahead of 2026 elections **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $389.207 billion (2024 est.) $387.223 billion (2023 est.) $390.513 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** 0.5% (2024 est.) -0.8% (2023 est.) 4.3% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $40,700 (2024 est.) $40,400 (2023 est.) $40,700 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $222.905 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 3.7% (2024 est.) 17.1% (2023 est.) 14.6% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 2.4% (2024 est.) industry: 23.9% (2024 est.) services: 59.7% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **GDP - composition, by end use:** household consumption: 49.1% (2023 est.) government consumption: 19.9% (2023 est.) investment in fixed capital: 25.6% (2023 est.) investment in inventories: 0.3% (2023 est.) exports of goods and services: 80.8% (2023 est.) imports of goods and services: -76.3% (2023 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection **Agricultural products:** maize, wheat, barley, milk, sunflower seeds, sugar beets, rapeseed, apples, pork, grapes (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage **Industries:** mining, metallurgy, construction materials, processed foods, textiles, chemicals (especially pharmaceuticals), motor vehicles **Industrial production growth rate:** -2.5% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency **Labor force:** 4.954 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work **Unemployment rate:** 4.5% (2024 est.) 4.2% (2023 est.) 3.7% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment **Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):** total: 14.1% (2024 est.) male: 14.8% (2024 est.) female: 13.1% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment **Population below poverty line:** 12.1% (2021 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line **Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income:** 30.2 (2022 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality **Average household expenditures:** on food: 16.8% of household expenditures (2023 est.) on alcohol and tobacco: 7% of household expenditures (2023 est.) **Household income or consumption by percentage share:** lowest 10%: 2.8% (2022 est.) highest 10%: 24.4% (2022 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population **Remittances:** 2.3% of GDP (2024 est.) 2.4% of GDP (2023 est.) 2.2% of GDP (2022 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Budget:** revenues: $69.793 billion (2022 est.) expenditures: $80.429 billion (2022 est.) note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated **Public debt:** 75.3% of GDP (2022 est.) note: central government debt as a % of GDP **Taxes and other revenues:** 23.4% (of GDP) (2022 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP **Current account balance:** $5.074 billion (2024 est.) $751.071 million (2023 est.) -$14.699 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars **Exports:** $166.503 billion (2024 est.) $173.034 billion (2023 est.) $158.98 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** Germany 25%, Italy 6%, Romania 6%, USA 5%, Slovakia 4% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** cars, vehicle parts/accessories, electric batteries, packaged medicine, computers (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports:** $154.077 billion (2024 est.) $163.192 billion (2023 est.) $167.262 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** Germany 23%, China 7%, Austria 6%, Poland 6%, S. Korea 6% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** vehicle parts/accessories, natural gas, integrated circuits, broadcasting equipment, industrial acids/oils/alcohols (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:** $46.422 billion (2024 est.) $45.719 billion (2023 est.) $41.219 billion (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars **Exchange rates:** forints (HUF) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 365.691 (2024 est.) 353.088 (2023 est.) 372.596 (2022 est.) 303.141 (2021 est.) 307.997 (2020 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.) **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 14.829 million kW (2023 est.) consumption: 42.739 billion kWh (2023 est.) exports: 8.863 billion kWh (2023 est.) imports: 19.963 billion kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 2.454 billion kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** fossil fuels: 28.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) nuclear: 44.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 19.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) wind: 1.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: 0.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) biomass and waste: 4.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Nuclear energy:** Number of operational nuclear reactors: 4 (2025) Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors: 1.92GW (2025 est.) Percent of total electricity production: 48.8% (2023 est.) **Coal:** production: 4.293 million metric tons (2023 est.) consumption: 4.694 million metric tons (2023 est.) exports: 115,000 metric tons (2023 est.) imports: 452,000 metric tons (2023 est.) proven reserves: 2.633 billion metric tons (2023 est.) **Petroleum:** total petroleum production: 36,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 179,000 bbl/day (2024 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 12.1 million barrels (2021 est.) **Natural gas:** production: 1.612 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) consumption: 8.293 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) imports: 8.216 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) proven reserves: 3.738 billion cubic meters (2021 est.) **Energy consumption per capita:** 96.152 million Btu/person (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 2.52 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 26 (2023 est.) **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 10.1 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 105 (2024 est.) **Broadcast media:** mixed system of state-supported media and private broadcasters; the 5 publicly owned TV channels and the 2 main privately owned TV stations are the major national broadcasters; large number of special-interest channels; highly developed market for satellite and cable TV with about two-thirds of viewers utilizing the services; 4 state-supported radio networks; large number of local stations, including commercial, public service, nonprofit, and community radio stations; digital transition completed in 2013 (2019) **Internet country code:** .hu **Internet users:** percent of population: 92% (2024 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 3.56 million (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 37 (2023 est.) ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** HA **Airports:** 109 (2025) **Heliports:** 15 (2025) **Railways:** total: 7,687 km (2020) 3,111 km electrified **Merchant marine:** total: 1 (2023) by type: other 1 ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** Hungarian Defense Forces (HDF or Magyar Honvédség): the HDF is organized as a joint force under a general staff with commands for land, air, cyber, special operations, territorial defense, and support forces (2025) note: the National Police are under the Ministry of Interior and responsible for maintaining order nationwide; the Ministry of Interior also has the Counterterrorism Center, a special police force responsible for protecting the president and the prime minister and for preventing, uncovering, and detecting terrorist acts **Military expenditures:** 2.1% of GDP (2025 est.) 2.1% of GDP (2024 est.) 2.1% of GDP (2023 est.) 1.8% of GDP (2022 est.) 1.7% of GDP (2021 est.) **Military and security service personnel strengths:** approximately 30,000 active-duty military personnel (2025) **Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:** the HDF has a mix of Soviet-era and more modern, NATO-compatible arms from such countries as Germany, France, Norway, Sweden, Türkiye, and the US; in 2017, Budapest launched a modernization program aimed at replacing its Soviet-era weaponry with modern systems; Hungary has also placed emphasis on building up its defense industrial capacity (2025) **Military service age and obligation:** 18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (abolished 2005) (2026) **Military deployments:** 250 Bosnia-Herzegovina (EUFOR stabilization force); 200 Chad; 470 Kosovo (NATO/KFOR) (2025) **Military - note:** the Hungarian Defense Forces (HDF) are responsible for ensuring the defense of the country’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and citizens, and fulfilling Hungary’s commitments to the EU and NATO, as well as contributing to other international peacekeeping efforts under the UN; key areas of concern for the HDF the HDF is also responsible for some aspects of domestic security, crisis management, disaster response, and assisting law enforcement forces in border security Hungary has been a member of NATO since 1999 and considers the collective defense ensured within the Alliance as a cornerstone of the country’s security; NATO membership is complemented by Hungary’s ties to the EU under its Common Security and Defense Policy; the HDF has participated in multiple NATO-led security missions, including in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Kosovo, as well as EU-led missions in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Mali; it hosts a NATO battlegroup comprised of troops from Croatia, Hungary, Italy, and the US, and NATO’s Multinational Division Center, a headquarters capable of commanding a division-sized force (typically 15-20,000 troops) in a crisis; both organizations were established as a result of Russian aggression against Ukraine; Hungary is a member of the Visegrad Group, a regional platform that brings together Czechia, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia to discuss cultural, defense, and political cooperation (2025) ### Terrorism **Terrorist group(s):** Terrorist group(s): Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide ### Transnational Issues **Refugees and internally displaced persons:** refugees: 72,359 (2024 est.) stateless persons: 101 (2024 est.) --- ## Iceland **Slug:** iceland **Region:** Europe **Flag:** 🇮🇸 **Codes:** cek: ic, iso2: IS, iso3: ISL, iso_num: 352, genc: ISL, stanag: ISL, internet: .is ### Introduction **Background:** Settled by Norwegian and Celtic (Scottish and Irish) immigrants during the late 9th and 10th centuries A.D., Iceland boasts the world's oldest functioning legislative assembly, the Althingi, which was established in 930. Independent for over 300 years, Iceland was subsequently ruled by Norway and Denmark. Fallout from the Askja volcano of 1875 devastated the Icelandic economy and caused widespread famine. Over the next quarter-century, 20% of the island's population emigrated, mostly to Canada and the US. Denmark granted limited home rule in 1874 and complete independence in 1944. The second half of the 20th century saw substantial economic growth driven primarily by the fishing industry. The economy diversified greatly after the country joined the European Economic Area in 1994, but the global financial crisis hit Iceland especially hard in the years after 2008. The economy is now on an upward trajectory, primarily thanks to a tourism and construction boom. Literacy, longevity, and social cohesion are first-rate by world standards. ### Geography **Location:** Northern Europe, island between the Greenland Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, northwest of the United Kingdom **Geographic coordinates:** 65 00 N, 18 00 W **Map references:** Arctic Region **Area:** total : 103,000 sq km land: 100,250 sq km water: 2,750 sq km **Area - comparative:** slightly smaller than Pennsylvania; about the same size as Kentucky **Land boundaries:** total: 0 km **Coastline:** 4,970 km **Maritime claims:** territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin **Climate:** temperate; moderated by North Atlantic Current; mild, windy winters; damp, cool summers **Terrain:** mostly plateau interspersed with mountain peaks, icefields; coast deeply indented by bays and fiords **Elevation:** highest point: Hvannadalshnukur (at Vatnajokull Glacier) 2,110 m lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m mean elevation: 557 m **Natural resources:** fish, hydropower, geothermal power, diatomite **Land use:** agricultural land: 16.2% (2023 est.) arable land: 1.2% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.) permanent pasture: 15% (2023 est.) forest: 0.6% (2023 est.) other: 82.6% (2023 est.) **Irrigated land:** 0.5 sq km (2022) **Population distribution:** Iceland is almost entirely urban, with half of the population located in and around the capital of Reykjavik; smaller clusters are primarily found along the coast in the north and west **Natural hazards:** earthquakes and volcanic activity volcanism: Iceland is situated on top of a hotspot and experiences severe volcanic activity; Eyjafjallajokull (1,666 m) erupted in 2010, sending ash high into the atmosphere and seriously disrupting European air traffic; scientists continue to monitor nearby Katla (1,512 m), which has a high probability of eruption; Grimsvoetn and Hekla are Iceland's most active volcanoes; other historically active volcanoes include Askja, Bardarbunga, Brennisteinsfjoll, Esjufjoll, Hengill, Krafla, Krisuvik, Kverkfjoll, Oraefajokull, Reykjanes, Torfajokull, and Vestmannaeyjar **Geography - note:** strategic location between Greenland and Europe; westernmost European country; Reykjavik is the northernmost national capital in the world; more land covered by glaciers than in all of continental Europe ### People and Society **Population:** total: 367,086 (2025 est.) male: 183,746 female: 183,340 **Nationality:** noun: Icelander(s) adjective: Icelandic **Ethnic groups:** Icelandic 78.7%, Polish 5.8%, Danish 1%, Ukrainian 1%, other 13.5% (2024 est.) note: data represent population by country of birth **Languages:** Icelandic, English, Polish, Nordic languages, German **Religions:** Evangelical Lutheran Church of Iceland (official) 58.6% Roman Catholic 3.8%, Independent Congregation of Reykjavik 2.6%, Independent Congregation of Hafnarfjordur 1.9%, pagan worship 1.5%, Icelandic Ethical Humanist Association 1.4%, other (includes Zuist and Pentecostal) or unspecified 18.7%, none 7.7% (2024 est.) **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 19.8% (male 36,692/female 35,239) 15-64 years: 63.2% (male 116,210/female 113,810) 65 years and over: 17.1% (2024 est.) (male 29,366/female 32,719) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 58.7 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 31 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 27.8 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 3.6 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 38.2 years (2025 est.) male: 37.4 years female: 38.6 years **Population growth rate:** 0.82% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 12.47 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 6.62 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** 2.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** Iceland is almost entirely urban, with half of the population located in and around the capital of Reykjavik; smaller clusters are primarily found along the coast in the north and west **Urbanization:** urban population: 94% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.74% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 216,000 REYKJAVIK (capital) (2018) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Mother's mean age at first birth:** 28.7 years (2020 est.) **Maternal mortality ratio:** 3 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 1.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 1.8 deaths/1,000 live births female: 1.4 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 84 years (2024 est.) male: 81.8 years female: 86.3 years **Total fertility rate:** 1.93 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 0.94 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.) rural: 100% of population (2022 est.) total: 100% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.) rural: 0% of population (2022 est.) total: 0% of population (2022 est.) **Health expenditure:** 8.6% of GDP (2022) 16.5% of national budget (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 4.37 physicians/1,000 population (2023) **Hospital bed density:** 2.8 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.) **Sanitation facility access:** improved: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.) rural: 100% of population (2022 est.) total: 100% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.) rural: 0% of population (2022 est.) total: 0% of population (2022 est.) **Obesity - adult prevalence rate:** 21.9% (2016) **Alcohol consumption per capita:** total: 7.72 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 4.39 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 2.11 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 1.22 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) **Tobacco use:** total: 8% (2025 est.) male: 7.9% (2025 est.) female: 8% (2025 est.) **Currently married women (ages 15-49):** 48.5% (2023 est.) **Education expenditure:** 7.3% of GDP (2022 est.) 15.7% national budget (2022 est.) **School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):** total: 19 years (2022 est.) male: 18 years (2022 est.) female: 20 years (2022 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** water pollution from fertilizer runoff **International environmental agreements:** party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Environmental Modification, Marine Life Conservation **Climate:** temperate; moderated by North Atlantic Current; mild, windy winters; damp, cool summers **Land use:** agricultural land: 16.2% (2023 est.) arable land: 1.2% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.) permanent pasture: 15% (2023 est.) forest: 0.6% (2023 est.) other: 82.6% (2023 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 94% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.74% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 3.101 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 376,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 2.725 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Particulate matter emissions:** 5.8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 225,300 tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 55.5% (2022 est.) **Total water withdrawal:** municipal: 80 million cubic meters (2022 est.) industrial: 198 million cubic meters (2022 est.) agricultural: 300,000 cubic meters (2022 est.) **Total renewable water resources:** 170 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) **Geoparks:** total global geoparks and regional networks: 2 global geoparks and regional networks: Katla; Reykjanes (2023) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: none conventional short form: Iceland local long form: none local short form: Island etymology: Floki VILGERDARSON, an early Norse explorer of the island in the 10th century, applied the name "Land of Ice," from the local words ís (ice) and land (land) **Government type:** unitary parliamentary republic **Capital:** name: Reykjavik geographic coordinates: 64 09 N, 21 57 W time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: the name means "smoky bay" in Icelandic and refers to the steam from the hot springs in the area **Administrative divisions:** 64 municipalities (sveitarfelog, singular - sveitarfelagidh); Akranes, Akureyri, Arneshreppur, Asahreppur, Blaskogabyggdh, Bolungarvik, Borgarbyggdh, Dalabyggdh, Dalvikurbyggdh, Eyjafjardharsveit, Eyja-og Miklaholtshreppur, Fjallabyggdh, Fjardhabyggdh, Fljotsdalshreppur, Floahreppur, Gardhabaer, Grimsnes-og Grafningshreppur, Grindavikurbaer, Grundarfjardharbaer, Grytubakkahreppur, Hafnarfjordhur, Horgarsveit, Hrunamannahreppur, Hunathing Vestra, Hunabyggdh, Hvalfjardharsveit, Hveragerdhi, Isafjardharbaer, Kaldrananeshreppur, Kjosarhreppur, Kopavogur, Langanesbyggdh, Mosfellsbaer, Mulathing, Myrdalshreppur, Nordhurthing, Rangarthing Eystra, Rangarthing Ytra, Reykholahreppur, Reykjanesbaer, Reykjavik, Seltjarnarnes, Skaftarhreppur, Skagabyggdh, Skagafjordhur, Skeidha-og Gnupverjahreppur, Skorradalshreppur, Snaefellsbaer, Strandabyggdh, Stykkisholmur, Sudhavikurhreppur, Sudhurnesjabaer, Svalbardhsstrandarhreppur, Sveitarfelagidh Arborg, Sveitarfelagidh Hornafjordhur, Sveitarfelagidh Olfus, Sveitarfelagidh Skagastrond, Sveitarfelagidh Vogar, Talknafjardharhreppur, Thingeyjarsveit, Tjorneshreppur, Vestmannaeyjar, Vesturbyggdh, Vopnafjardharhreppur **Legal system:** civil law system influenced by the Danish model **Constitution:** history: several previous; latest ratified 16 June 1944, effective 17 June 1944 (at independence) amendment process: proposed by the Althingi; passage requires approval by the Althingi and by the next elected Althingi, and confirmation by the president of the republic; proposed amendments to Article 62 of the constitution – that the Evangelical Lutheran Church shall be the state church of Iceland – also require passage by referendum **International law organization participation:** has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Iceland dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 3 to 7 years **Suffrage:** 18 years of age; universal **Executive branch:** chief of state: President Halla TOMASDOTTIR (since 1 August 2024) head of government: Prime Minister Kristrun FROSTADOTTIR (since 21 December 2024) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president upon the recommendation of the prime minister election/appointment process: president directly elected by simple-majority popular vote for a 4-year term (no term limits); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition becomes prime minister most recent election date: 1 June 2024 election results: 2024: Halla TOMASDOTTIR elected president; percent of vote - Halla TOMASDOTTIR (independent) 34.1%, Katrin JAKOBSDOTTIR (Left-Green Movement) 25.2%, Halla Hrund LOGADOTTIR (independent) 15.7%, Jon GNARR (Social Democratic Alliance) 10.1%, Baldur PORHALLSSON (independent) 8.4%, other 6.5% 2020: Gudni Thorlacius JOHANNESSON reelected president; percent of vote - Gudni Thorlacius JOHANNESSON (independent) 92.2%, Gudmundur Franklin JONSSON (independent) 7.8% expected date of next election: June 2028 **Legislative branch:** legislature name: Parliament (Althingi) legislative structure: unicameral number of seats: 63 (all directly elected) electoral system: proportional representation scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 4 years most recent election date: 11/30/2024 parties elected and seats per party: Social Democratic Alliance (SDA) (15); Independence Party (IP) (14); Liberal Reform Party (11); People’s Party (10); Center Party (8); Progressive Party (PP) (5) percentage of women in chamber: 46% expected date of next election: November 2028 **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Supreme Court or Haestirettur (consists of 7 judges) judge selection and term of office: judges proposed by Ministry of Interior selection committee and appointed by the president for an indefinite period subordinate courts: Appellate Court or Landsrettur; 8 district courts; Labor Court **Political parties:** Center Party or M Independence Party or D Liberal Reform Party or C People's Party or F Progressive Party or B Social Democratic Alliance or S **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Svanhildur Hólm VALSDÓTTIR (since 18 September 2024) chancery: House of Sweden, 2900 K Street NW, #509, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 265-6653 FAX: [1] (202) 265-6656 email address and website: washington@mfa.is https://www.government.is/diplomatic-missions/embassy-of-iceland-in-washington-d.c/ **Diplomatic representation from the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Erin SAWYER (since January 2025) embassy: Engjateigur 7, 105 Reykjavik mailing address: 5640 Reykjavik Place, Washington, D.C. 20521-5640 telephone: [354] 595-2200 FAX: [354] 562-9118 email address and website: ReykjavikConsular@state.gov https://is.usembassy.gov/ **International organization participation:** Arctic Council, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CD, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EFTA, FAO, FATF, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO **Independence:** 1 December 1918 (became a sovereign state under the Danish Crown); 17 June 1944 (from Denmark; birthday of Jon SIGURDSSON, leader of Iceland's 19th-century independence movement) **National holiday:** Independence Day, 17 June (1944) **Flag:** description: blue with a red cross outlined in white extending to the edges of the flag; the cross is shifted to the left in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag) meaning: red stands for the island's volcanic fires, white for the snow and ice fields, and blue for the ocean **National symbol(s):** gyrfalcon **National color(s):** blue, white, red **National coat of arms:** Iceland’s coat of arms is derived from a 13th-century folktale about four guardians who protect the four corners of the nation; the bull protects the northwest, the eagle the northeast, the dragon the southeast, and the rock-giant the southwest; the shield displays the national flag, with red standing for Iceland’s volcanic fires, white for its snow and ice fields, and blue for the ocean **National anthem(s):** title: "Lofsongur" (Song of Praise) lyrics/music: Matthias JOCHUMSSON/Sveinbjorn SVEINBJORNSSON history: adopted 1918 **National heritage:** total World Heritage Sites: 3 (1 cultural, 2 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Thingvellir National Park (c); Surtsey (n); Vatnajökull National Park - Dynamic Nature of Fire and Ice (n) ### Economy **Economic overview:** high-income North Atlantic island economy; not an EU member but market integration via European Economic Area (EEA); dominant tourism, fishing, and aluminum industries vulnerable to demand swings and disruption from volcanic activity; inflation remains above target rate; barriers to foreign business access and economic diversification **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $26.561 billion (2024 est.) $26.424 billion (2023 est.) $25.012 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** 0.5% (2024 est.) 5.6% (2023 est.) 9% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $65,600 (2024 est.) $67,200 (2023 est.) $65,500 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $33.463 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 5.9% (2024 est.) 8.7% (2023 est.) 8.3% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 4% (2024 est.) industry: 19.4% (2024 est.) services: 65.5% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **GDP - composition, by end use:** household consumption: 49.3% (2023 est.) government consumption: 25.3% (2023 est.) investment in fixed capital: 24.8% (2023 est.) investment in inventories: 0.7% (2023 est.) exports of goods and services: 43.4% (2023 est.) imports of goods and services: -43.3% (2023 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection **Agricultural products:** milk, chicken, lamb/mutton, barley, potatoes, pork, beef, eggs, other meats, cucumbers/gherkins (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage **Industries:** tourism, fish processing; aluminum smelting; geothermal power, hydropower; medical/pharmaceutical products **Industrial production growth rate:** -2.3% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency **Labor force:** 248,400 (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work **Unemployment rate:** 3.2% (2024 est.) 3.6% (2023 est.) 3.8% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment **Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):** total: 7.6% (2024 est.) male: 8.3% (2024 est.) female: 7% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment **Population below poverty line:** 8.8% (2017 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line **Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income:** 26.6 (2018 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality **Household income or consumption by percentage share:** lowest 10%: 3.7% (2018 est.) highest 10%: 21.7% (2018 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population **Remittances:** 0.7% of GDP (2024 est.) 0.7% of GDP (2023 est.) 0.7% of GDP (2022 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Budget:** revenues: $10.023 billion (2023 est.) expenditures: $10.364 billion (2023 est.) note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated **Public debt:** 80.7% of GDP (2023 est.) note: central government debt as a % of GDP **Taxes and other revenues:** 23.3% (of GDP) (2023 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP **Current account balance:** -$845.319 million (2024 est.) $290.603 million (2023 est.) -$698.165 million (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars **Exports:** $13.916 billion (2024 est.) $13.702 billion (2023 est.) $13.114 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** Netherlands 27%, Germany 11%, USA 10%, UK 8%, Norway 6% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** aluminum, fish, orthopedic appliances, animal meal, iron alloys (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports:** $14.298 billion (2024 est.) $13.63 billion (2023 est.) $13.237 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** Norway 11%, China 9%, Germany 9%, Netherlands 8%, USA 7% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** refined petroleum, cars, carbon-based electronics, aluminum oxide, computers (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:** $6.403 billion (2024 est.) $5.809 billion (2023 est.) $5.887 billion (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars **Exchange rates:** Icelandic kronur (ISK) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 137.958 (2024 est.) 137.943 (2023 est.) 135.28 (2022 est.) 126.989 (2021 est.) 135.422 (2020 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.) **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 3.005 million kW (2023 est.) consumption: 19.584 billion kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 543 million kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** hydroelectricity: 70.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) geothermal: 29.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Coal:** consumption: 137,000 metric tons (2023 est.) exports: 81 metric tons (2023 est.) imports: 106,000 metric tons (2023 est.) **Petroleum:** refined petroleum consumption: 19,000 bbl/day (2024 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 68,500 (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 17 (2024 est.) **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 476,000 (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 121 (2024 est.) **Broadcast media:** state-owned public TV broadcaster (RUV) operates 21 TV channels nationally; every household is required to have RUV, which doubles as the emergency broadcast network; 3 privately owned TV stations; 100% of households have multi-channel services though digital and/or fiber-optic connections; RUV operates 3 national and 4 regional radio stations; 1 privately owned radio conglomerate, Syn (4 stations), broadcasts nationwide; over 20 regional radio stations (2019) **Internet country code:** .is **Internet users:** percent of population: 100% (2023 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 145,000 (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 37 (2023 est.) ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** TF **Airports:** 82 (2025) **Heliports:** 1 (2025) **Merchant marine:** total: 39 (2023) by type: general cargo 5, oil tanker 2, other 32 **Ports:** total ports: 43 (2024) large: 0 medium: 2 small: 2 very small: 17 size unknown: 22 ports with oil terminals: 5 key ports: Grundartangi, Reykjavik, Seydhisfjordhur, Vestmannaeyjar ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** no regular military forces; the Icelandic National Police, the regional police forces, and the Icelandic Coast Guard fall under the purview of the Ministry of Justice (2025) note: the Icelandic Coast Guard is responsible for operational defense tasks in Iceland including but not limited to operation of Keflavik Air Base, special security zones, and the Icelandic air defense system; it also coordinates with NATO in such areas as air surveillance and military defense exercises **Military - note:** Iceland was one of the original 12 countries to sign the North Atlantic Treaty (also known as the Washington Treaty) in 1949; Iceland is the only NATO member that has no standing military force; defense of Iceland is a NATO commitment, and NATO maintains an air policing presence in Icelandic airspace; Iceland participates in international peacekeeping missions with the civilian-manned Icelandic Crisis Response Unit (ICRU) Iceland also cooperates with the militaries of other regional countries through the Nordic Defense Cooperation (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden) and the Joint Expeditionary Force (Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the UK); in 1951, Iceland and the US concluded an agreement to make arrangements regarding the defense of Iceland and for the use of facilities in Iceland to that end (2025) ### Transnational Issues **Refugees and internally displaced persons:** refugees: 8,960 (2024 est.) IDPs: 3,700 (2024 est.) stateless persons: 31 (2024 est.) --- ## Ireland **Slug:** ireland **Region:** Europe **Flag:** 🇮🇪 **Codes:** cek: ei, iso2: IE, iso3: IRL, iso_num: 372, genc: IRL, stanag: IRL, internet: .ie ### Introduction **Background:** Celtic tribes arrived in Ireland between 600 and 150 B.C. Norse invasions that began in the late 8th century finally ended when King Brian BORU defeated the Danes in 1014. Norman invasions began in the 12th century and set off more than seven centuries of Anglo-Irish struggle marked by fierce rebellions and harsh repressions. The Irish famine of the mid-19th century caused an almost 25-percent decline in the island's population through starvation, disease, and emigration. The population of the island continued to fall until the 1960s, but over the last 50 years, Ireland's high birthrate has made it demographically one of the youngest populations in the EU. The modern Irish state traces its origins to the failed 1916 Easter Monday Uprising that galvanized nationalist sentiment. The ensuing guerrilla war led to independence from the UK in 1921 with the signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty and the creation of the Irish Free State. The treaty was deeply controversial in Ireland, in part because it helped solidify the country's partition, with six of the 32 counties remaining in the UK as Northern Ireland. The split between pro-Treaty and anti-Treaty partisans led to the Irish Civil War (1922-23). The traditionally dominant political parties in Ireland, Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, are de facto descendants of the opposing sides of the treaty debate. Ireland declared itself a republic in 1949 and formally left the British Dominion. Beginning in the 1960s, deep sectarian divides between the Catholic and Protestant populations and systemic discrimination in Northern Ireland erupted into years of violence known as the Troubles. In 1998, the governments of Ireland and the UK, along with most political parties in Northern Ireland, reached the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement with the support of the US. This agreement helped end the Troubles and initiated a new phase of cooperation between the Irish and British Governments. Ireland was neutral in World War II and continues its policy of military neutrality. Ireland joined the European Community in 1973 and the euro-zone currency union in 1999. The economic boom years of the Celtic Tiger (1995-2007) saw rapid economic growth that came to an abrupt end in 2008 with the meltdown of the Irish banking system. As a small, open economy, Ireland has excelled at courting foreign direct investment, especially from US multi-nationals, which has helped the economy recover from the financial crisis and insulated it somewhat from the economic shocks of the COVID-19 pandemic. ### Geography **Location:** Western Europe, occupying five-sixths of the island of Ireland in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Great Britain **Geographic coordinates:** 53 00 N, 8 00 W **Map references:** Europe **Area:** total : 70,273 sq km land: 68,883 sq km water: 1,390 sq km **Area - comparative:** slightly larger than West Virginia **Land boundaries:** total: 490 km border countries (1): UK 499 km **Coastline:** 1,448 km **Maritime claims:** territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm **Climate:** temperate maritime; modified by North Atlantic Current; mild winters, cool summers; consistently humid; overcast about half the time **Terrain:** mostly flat to rolling interior plain surrounded by rugged hills and low mountains; sea cliffs on west coast **Elevation:** highest point: Carrauntoohil 1,041 m lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m mean elevation: 118 m **Natural resources:** natural gas, peat, copper, lead, zinc, silver, barite, gypsum, limestone, dolomite **Land use:** agricultural land: 60.8% (2023 est.) arable land: 6.4% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 54.4% (2023 est.) forest: 11.9% (2023 est.) other: 27.3% (2023 est.) **Irrigated land:** 0 sq km (2022) **Population distribution:** population distribution is weighted to the eastern side of the island, with the largest concentration in and around Dublin; populations in the west are small due to mountainous land, poorer soil, and lack of transport routes **Natural hazards:** rare extreme weather events **Geography - note:** strategic location on major air and sea routes between North America and northern Europe; over 40% of the population resides within 100 km of Dublin ### People and Society **Population:** total: 5,279,007 (2025 est.) male: 2,611,683 female: 2,667,324 **Nationality:** noun: Irishman(men), Irishwoman(women), Irish (collective plural) adjective: Irish **Ethnic groups:** Irish 76.6%, Irish travelers 0.6%, other White 9.9%, Asian 3.3%, Black 1.5%, other (includes Arab, Roma, and persons of mixed backgrounds) 2%, unspecified 2.6% (2022 est.) **Languages:** English (official, the language generally used), Irish (Gaelic or Gaeilge) (official, spoken by approximately 37.7% of the population) **Religions:** Roman Catholic 69.2% (includes lapsed), Protestant 3.7% (Church of Ireland/England/Anglican/Episcopalian 2.5%, other Protestant 1.2%), Orthodox 2%, other Christian 0.9%, Muslim 1.6%, other 1.4%, agnostic/atheist 0.1%, none 14.5%, unspecified 6.7% (2022 est.) **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 18.6% (male 498,124/female 477,848) 15-64 years: 65.5% (male 1,701,680/female 1,728,041) 65 years and over: 15.8% (2024 est.) (male 390,738/female 437,030) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 52.5 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 27.9 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 24.6 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 4.1 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 40.5 years (2025 est.) male: 39.7 years female: 40.6 years **Population growth rate:** 0.8% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 10.95 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 7.43 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** 4.48 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** population distribution is weighted to the eastern side of the island, with the largest concentration in and around Dublin; populations in the west are small due to mountainous land, poorer soil, and lack of transport routes **Urbanization:** urban population: 64.5% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 1.15% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 1.270 million DUBLIN (capital) (2023) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Mother's mean age at first birth:** 30.9 years (2020 est.) **Maternal mortality ratio:** 4 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 3.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 3.2 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.3 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 82 years (2024 est.) male: 80.3 years female: 83.9 years **Total fertility rate:** 1.72 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 0.83 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: urban: 95.4% of population (2022 est.) rural: 97% of population (2022 est.) total: 96% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 4.6% of population (2022 est.) rural: 3% of population (2022 est.) total: 4% of population (2022 est.) **Health expenditure:** 6.1% of GDP (2022) 22.3% of national budget (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 3.88 physicians/1,000 population (2023) **Hospital bed density:** 2.9 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.) **Sanitation facility access:** improved: urban: 94.8% of population (2022 est.) rural: 98.2% of population (2022 est.) total: 96.1% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 5.2% of population (2022 est.) rural: 1.8% of population (2022 est.) total: 3.9% of population (2022 est.) **Obesity - adult prevalence rate:** 25.3% (2016) **Alcohol consumption per capita:** total: 10.91 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 4.92 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 2.88 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 2.29 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0.82 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) **Tobacco use:** total: 16.8% (2025 est.) male: 19.2% (2025 est.) female: 14.4% (2025 est.) **Currently married women (ages 15-49):** 47.1% (2022 est.) **Education expenditure:** 2.9% of GDP (2021 est.) 12.3% national budget (2021 est.) **School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):** total: 19 years (2022 est.) male: 19 years (2022 est.) female: 20 years (2022 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** water pollution, especially of lakes, from agricultural runoff; deforestation, including problems with acid rain **International environmental agreements:** party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Marine Life Conservation **Climate:** temperate maritime; modified by North Atlantic Current; mild winters, cool summers; consistently humid; overcast about half the time **Land use:** agricultural land: 60.8% (2023 est.) arable land: 6.4% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 54.4% (2023 est.) forest: 11.9% (2023 est.) other: 27.3% (2023 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 64.5% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 1.15% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 35.486 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 3.029 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 22.635 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from consumed natural gas: 9.822 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Particulate matter emissions:** 7.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 2.911 million tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 42.4% (2022 est.) **Total water withdrawal:** municipal: 1.106 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) industrial: 531.82 million cubic meters (2022 est.) agricultural: 39.63 million cubic meters (2022 est.) **Total renewable water resources:** 52 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) **Geoparks:** total global geoparks and regional networks: 3 global geoparks and regional networks: Burren & Cliffs of Moher; Copper Coast; Marble Arch Caves (includes United Kingdom) (2023) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: none conventional short form: Ireland local long form: none local short form: Eire etymology: the Irish name Eire evolved from the Gaelic name Eriu, which is possibly derived from the Old Celtic iveriu, meaning "good land;" the English name, Ireland, is a direct translation **Government type:** parliamentary republic **Capital:** name: Dublin geographic coordinates: 53 19 N, 6 14 W time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October etymology: derived from the Irish words dubh (black or dark) and linn (pool), referring to the color of the Liffey River **Administrative divisions:** 28 counties and 3 cities*; Carlow, Cavan, Clare, Cork, Cork*, Donegal, Dublin*, Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown, Fingal, Galway, Galway*, Kerry, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Leitrim, Limerick, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Meath, Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo, South Dublin, Tipperary, Waterford, Westmeath, Wexford, Wicklow **Legal system:** common law system based on the English model but substantially modified by customary law; Supreme Court reviews legislative acts **Constitution:** history: previous 1922; latest drafted 14 June 1937, adopted by plebiscite 1 July 1937, effective 29 December 1937 amendment process: proposed as bills by Parliament; passage requires majority vote by both the Senate and House of Representatives, majority vote in a referendum, and presidential signature **International law organization participation:** accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: no, unless a parent of a child born in Ireland has been legally resident in Ireland for at least three of the four years prior to the birth of the child citizenship by descent only: yes dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 4 of the previous 8 years **Suffrage:** 18 years of age; universal **Executive branch:** chief of state: President Catherine CONNOLLY (since 11 November 2025) head of government: Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Michael MARTIN (since 23 January 2025) cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the prime minister, appointed by the president, approved by the Dali Eireann (lower house of Parliament) election/appointment process: president directly elected by majority popular vote for a 7-year term (eligible for a second term); taoiseach (prime minister) nominated by the House of Representatives (Dail Eireann), appointed by the president most recent election date: 26 October 2018 election results: 2025: Michael MARTIN is elected taoiseach by parliament, 95 votes to 76, and is appointed taoiseach by the president 2024: Simon HARRIS is elected taoiseach by parliament, 88 votes to 69, and is appointed taoiseach by the president 2018: Michael D. HIGGINS reelected president in first round; percent of vote in first round - Michael D. HIGGINS (independent) 55.8%, Peter CASEY (independent) 23.3%, Sean GALLAGHER (independent) 6.4%, Liadh NI RIADA (Sinn Fein) 6.4%, Joan FREEMAN (independent) 6%, Gavin DUFFY (independent) 2.2% expected date of next election: no later than November 2025 **Legislative branch:** legislature name: Parliament (Oireachtas) legislative structure: bicameral **Legislative branch - lower chamber:** chamber name: House of Representatives (Dáil Éireann) number of seats: 174 (all directly elected) electoral system: proportional representation scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 1/29/2025 to 1/30/2025 parties elected and seats per party: Fianna Fáil (48); Sinn Féin (39); Fine Gael (38); Social Democratic Party (11); Labour Party (11); Independents (16); Other (11) percentage of women in chamber: 25.3% expected date of next election: November 2029 **Legislative branch - upper chamber:** chamber name: Senate (Seanad Éireann - Senate) number of seats: 60 (49 indirectly elected; 11 appointed) scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 11/29/2024 parties elected and seats per party: Fianna Fail (19); Fine Gael (18); Sinn Fein (6); Independents (12); other (5) percentage of women in chamber: 45% expected date of next election: January 2030 **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Supreme Court of Ireland (consists of the chief justice, 9 judges, 2 ex-officio members -- the presidents of the High Court and Court of Appeal -- and organized in 3-, 5-, or 7-judge panels, depending on the importance or complexity of an issue of law) judge selection and term of office: judges nominated by the prime minister and Cabinet and appointed by the president; chief justice serves in the position for 7 years; judges can serve until age 70 subordinate courts: High Court, Court of Appeal; circuit and district courts; criminal courts **Political parties:** Aontu Solidarity-People Before Profit or PBP-S Fianna Fail Fine Gael Green Party Human Dignity Alliance Independent Ireland Labor (Labour) Party 100% Redress Right to Change or RTC Sinn Fein Social Democrats Socialist Party The Workers' Party **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Geraldine BYRNE NASON (since 16 September 2022) chancery: 2234 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 462-3939 FAX: [1] (202) 232-5993 email address and website: https://www.ireland.ie/en/usa/washington/ consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Austin (TX), Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco **Diplomatic representation from the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Edward S. WALSH (since 1 July 2025) embassy: 42 Elgin Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4 mailing address: 5290 Dublin Place, Washington DC 20521-5290 telephone: [353] (1) 668-8777 FAX: [353] (1) 688-8056 email address and website: ACSDublin@state.gov https://ie.usembassy.gov/ **International organization participation:** ADB (nonregional member), Australia Group, BIS, CD, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, MONUSCO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNOCI, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC **Independence:** 6 December 1921 (from the UK); 6 December 1922 (Irish Free State established); 18 April 1949 (Republic of Ireland Act enabled) **National holiday:** Saint Patrick's Day, 17 March note: marks the traditional death date of Saint Patrick, patron saint of Ireland, during the latter half of the fifth century A.D. (most commonly cited years are c. 461 and c. 493); Saint Patrick's feast day was celebrated as early as the ninth century, but it only became an official public holiday in 1903 **Flag:** description: three equal vertical bands of green (left side), white, and orange meaning: the flag colors have no official meaning, but a common interpretation is that the green stands for the Irish nationalist tradition, orange for the Orange tradition (minority supporters of William of Orange), and white for peace or a lasting truce between the green and the orange note: similar to the flag of Cote d'Ivoire, which is shorter and has the colors reversed; also similar to the flag of Italy, which is shorter and has red instead of orange **National symbol(s):** harp, shamrock (trefoil) **National color(s):** blue, green **National coat of arms:** the coat of arms features a gold harp on a blue shield and dates back to the 13th century, although it only became official in 1945; the harp, a national symbol that Ireland adopted after gaining independence from the United Kingdom in 1921, represents the country’s history, culture, and national identity **National anthem(s):** title: "Amhran na bhFiann" (The Soldier's Song) lyrics/music: Peadar KEARNEY [English], Liam O RINN [Irish]/Patrick HEENEY and Peadar KEARNEY history: adopted 1926; the song "Ireland's Call" is often used as the anthem at athletic events if citizens of Ireland and Northern Ireland are competing as a unified team **National heritage:** total World Heritage Sites: 2 (both cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Brú na Bóinne - Archaeological Ensemble of the Bend of the Boyne; Sceilg Mhichíl ### Economy **Economic overview:** high-income, export-oriented EU economy; large multinational business sector contributes to growth and tax revenues but poses volatility risks; high living standards; strong labor market challenged by skill shortages and aging workforce **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $620.544 billion (2024 est.) $613.056 billion (2023 est.) $648.943 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** 1.2% (2024 est.) -5.5% (2023 est.) 8.6% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $115,300 (2024 est.) $115,500 (2023 est.) $124,500 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $577.389 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 2.1% (2024 est.) 6.3% (2023 est.) 7.8% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 1.1% (2024 est.) industry: 30.8% (2024 est.) services: 61.8% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **GDP - composition, by end use:** household consumption: 26.8% (2023 est.) government consumption: 12.2% (2023 est.) investment in fixed capital: 23.2% (2023 est.) investment in inventories: 3.1% (2023 est.) exports of goods and services: 135.1% (2023 est.) imports of goods and services: -102.2% (2023 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection **Agricultural products:** milk, barley, beef, wheat, potatoes, pork, oats, chicken, rapeseed, beans (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage **Industries:** pharmaceuticals, chemicals, computer hardware and software, food products, beverages and brewing; medical devices **Industrial production growth rate:** -4.9% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency **Labor force:** 2.857 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work **Unemployment rate:** 4.4% (2024 est.) 4.3% (2023 est.) 4.6% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment **Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):** total: 11.1% (2024 est.) male: 11.2% (2024 est.) female: 11% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment **Population below poverty line:** 14% (2021 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line **Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income:** 29.9 (2022 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality **Average household expenditures:** on food: 8.6% of household expenditures (2023 est.) on alcohol and tobacco: 4% of household expenditures (2023 est.) **Household income or consumption by percentage share:** lowest 10%: 3.6% (2022 est.) highest 10%: 24.5% (2022 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population **Remittances:** 0.1% of GDP (2023 est.) 0.1% of GDP (2022 est.) 0% of GDP (2021 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Budget:** revenues: $118.231 billion (2022 est.) expenditures: $108.693 billion (2022 est.) note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated **Public debt:** 45.4% of GDP (2022 est.) note: central government debt as a % of GDP **Taxes and other revenues:** 16.8% (of GDP) (2022 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP **Current account balance:** $44.744 billion (2023 est.) $48.427 billion (2022 est.) $65.118 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars **Exports:** $761.876 billion (2023 est.) $763.233 billion (2022 est.) $722.655 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** USA 28%, Germany 11%, UK 8%, Belgium 8%, China 7% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** vaccines, packaged medicine, nitrogen compounds, integrated circuits, hormones (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports:** $580.399 billion (2023 est.) $536.882 billion (2022 est.) $500.334 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** UK 20%, USA 17%, France 10%, China 7%, Germany 7% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** aircraft, nitrogen compounds, vaccines, packaged medicine, integrated circuits (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:** $12.698 billion (2024 est.) $12.905 billion (2023 est.) $13.039 billion (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars **Exchange rates:** euros (EUR) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 0.924 (2024 est.) 0.925 (2023 est.) 0.95 (2022 est.) 0.845 (2021 est.) 0.876 (2020 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.) **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 12.321 million kW (2023 est.) consumption: 32.282 billion kWh (2023 est.) exports: 441.615 million kWh (2023 est.) imports: 3.89 billion kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 2.489 billion kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** fossil fuels: 55.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 1.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) wind: 37% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: 2.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) biomass and waste: 3.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Coal:** consumption: 1.341 million metric tons (2023 est.) exports: 76,000 metric tons (2023 est.) imports: 1.711 million metric tons (2023 est.) proven reserves: 40 million metric tons (2023 est.) **Petroleum:** total petroleum production: 600 bbl/day (2023 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 159,000 bbl/day (2024 est.) **Natural gas:** production: 1.165 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) consumption: 4.919 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) imports: 3.707 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) proven reserves: 9.911 billion cubic meters (2021 est.) **Energy consumption per capita:** 113.837 million Btu/person (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 1.08 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 21 (2024 est.) **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 5.92 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 113 (2024 est.) **Broadcast media:** publicly owned broadcaster Radio Telefis Eireann (RTE) operates 4 TV stations; commercial TV stations are available; about 75% of households use multi-channel satellite and TV services that provide access to a wide range of stations; RTE operates 4 national radio stations and has launched digital audio broadcasts on several; a number of commercial broadcast stations operate at the national, regional, and local levels (2019) **Internet country code:** .ie **Internet users:** percent of population: 97% (2023 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 1.65 million (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 32 (2023 est.) ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** EI **Airports:** 100 (2025) **Heliports:** 10 (2025) **Railways:** total: 1,688 km (2020) 53 km electrified **Merchant marine:** total: 94 (2023) by type: bulk carrier 12, general cargo 32, oil tanker 1, other 49 **Ports:** total ports: 21 (2024) large: 1 medium: 3 small: 3 very small: 14 ports with oil terminals: 8 key ports: Cobh, Cork, Dublin, Foynes ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** Irish Defense Forces (Oglaigh na h-Eireannn): Army, Air Corps, Naval Service, Reserve Defense Forces (2025) note: An Garda Siochana (or Garda) is the national police force and maintains internal security under the auspices of the Department of Justice **Military expenditures:** 0.2% of GDP (2024 est.) 0.2% of GDP (2023 est.) 0.3% of GDP (2022 est.) 0.3% of GDP (2021 est.) 0.3% of GDP (2020 est.) **Military and security service personnel strengths:** approximately 7,500 active-duty Defense Forces (authorized establishment of 9,500) (2025) **Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:** the Irish Defense Forces have an inventory of imported weapons systems from a variety of mostly European countries (2025) **Military service age and obligation:** 18-38 years of age for men and women for voluntary military service (2026) note 1: as of 2025, women made up about 7.5% of the military's full-time personnel note 2: the Defense Forces are open to refugees under the Refugee Act of 1996 and nationals of the European Economic Area, which include EU member states, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway **Military deployments:** 330 Lebanon (UNIFIL); also contributes small numbers of troops to EU, NATO, and other UN missions (2025) **Military - note:** the Irish Defense Forces (IDF) are responsible for external defense, assisting civil authorities upon request, participating in multinational peacekeeping and humanitarian operations, and providing for maritime security; the IDF traces its origins back to the Irish Volunteers, a unit established in 1913 which took part in the 1916 Easter Rising and the Irish War of Independence (1919-1921) Ireland has a long-standing policy of military neutrality; however, Ireland is a signatory of the EU’s Common Security and Defense Policy and has committed a battalion of troops to the EU’s Rapid Reaction Force; Ireland is not a member of NATO but has a relationship with it going back to 1997, when it deployed personnel in support of the NATO-led peacekeeping operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina; Ireland joined NATO’s Partnership for Peace program in 1999; it has been active in UN peacekeeping operations since the 1950s (2025) ### Terrorism **Terrorist group(s):** Terrorist group(s): Continuity Irish Republican Army (CIRA); Real Irish Republican Army (RIRA); Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide ### Transnational Issues **Refugees and internally displaced persons:** refugees: 156,441 (2024 est.) stateless persons: 48 (2024 est.) --- ## Isle of Man **Slug:** isle-of-man **Region:** Europe **Flag:** 🇮🇲 **Codes:** cek: im, iso2: IM, iso3: IMN, iso_num: 833, genc: IMN, stanag: UK, internet: .im ### Introduction **Background:** The Isle of Man was part of the Norwegian Kingdom of the Hebrides until the 13th century, when it was ceded to Scotland. The isle came under English lordship in the 14th century before being purchased by the British Government in 1765. Current concerns include reviving the almost extinct Manx Gaelic language. The Isle of Man is a British Crown dependency, which makes it a self-governing possession of the British Crown that is not part of the UK. The UK Government, however, remains constitutionally responsible for its defense and international representation. ### Geography **Location:** Western Europe, island in the Irish Sea, between Great Britain and Ireland **Geographic coordinates:** 54 15 N, 4 30 W **Map references:** Europe **Area:** total : 572 sq km land: 572 sq km water: 0 sq km **Area - comparative:** slightly more than three times the size of Washington, D.C. **Land boundaries:** total: 0 km **Coastline:** 160 km **Maritime claims:** territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm **Climate:** temperate; cool summers and mild winters; overcast about a third of the time **Terrain:** hills in north and south bisected by central valley **Elevation:** highest point: Snaefell 621 m lowest point: Irish Sea 0 m **Natural resources:** none **Land use:** agricultural land: 69.1% (2023 est.) arable land: 41.1% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.) permanent pasture: 28% (2023 est.) forest: 6.4% (2023 est.) other: 24.5% (2023 est.) **Irrigated land:** 0 sq km (2022) **Population distribution:** most people concentrated in cities and large towns; Douglas, in the southeast, is the largest **Natural hazards:** occasional high winds and rough seas **Geography - note:** one small islet, the Calf of Man, lies to the southwest and is a bird sanctuary ### People and Society **Population:** total: 92,666 (2025 est.) male: 46,543 female: 46,123 **Nationality:** noun: Manxman (men), Manxwoman (women) adjective: Manx **Ethnic groups:** White 94.7%, Asian 3.1%, Mixed 1%, Black 0.6%, other 0.4% (2021 est.) note: data represent population by nationality **Languages:** English, Manx Gaelic (about 2% of the population has some knowledge) **Religions:** Christian 54.7%, Muslim 0.5%, Buddhist 0.5%, Hindu 0.4%, Jewish 0.2%, none 43.8% (2021 est.) **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 16% (male 7,701/female 7,100) 15-64 years: 61.9% (male 29,035/female 28,044) 65 years and over: 22.1% (2024 est.) (male 9,595/female 10,794) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 62.4 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 25.9 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 36.5 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 2.7 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 45.1 years (2025 est.) male: 43.7 years female: 46.1 years **Population growth rate:** 0.41% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 10.25 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 10.2 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** 4.06 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** most people concentrated in cities and large towns; Douglas, in the southeast, is the largest **Urbanization:** urban population: 53.5% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.97% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 27,000 DOUGLAS (capital) (2018) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.08 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 4 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 4.4 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.7 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 82.5 years (2024 est.) male: 80.7 years female: 84.4 years **Total fertility rate:** 1.87 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 0.9 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: total: 99.9% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: total: 0.1% of population (2022 est.) **Sanitation facility access:** improved: total: 100% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: NA rural: NA total: 0% of population (2022 est.) NA ### Environment **Environmental issues:** air pollution, marine pollution; waste disposal (both household and industrial) **Climate:** temperate; cool summers and mild winters; overcast about a third of the time **Land use:** agricultural land: 69.1% (2023 est.) arable land: 41.1% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.) permanent pasture: 28% (2023 est.) forest: 6.4% (2023 est.) other: 24.5% (2023 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 53.5% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.97% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 50,600 tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 50% (2011 est.) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: none conventional short form: Isle of Man local long form: Ellan Vannin abbreviation: I.O.M. etymology: the name "man" may be derived from the Gaelic word for "mountain;" the local name is from the words ellan, or "island," and Vannin, a form of the name Mannan **Government type:** parliamentary democracy (Tynwald) **Dependency status:** British crown dependency **Capital:** name: Douglas geographic coordinates: 54 09 N, 4 29 W time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October etymology: the name comes from the Gaelic name Dubhghlais, or "black stream," referring to a nearby river; a second river was called Fionnghlais, or "white stream;" both river names were later shortened to Dhoo and Glass, respectively, which coincidentally comprised the elements of the town's name **Administrative divisions:** no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US government, but 24 local authorities each hold elections **Legal system:** UK laws apply, as well as Manx statutes **Constitution:** history: development of the Isle of Man constitution dates to at least the 14th century amendment process: proposed as a bill in the House of Keys, by the "Government," by a "Member of the House," or through petition to the House or Legislative Council; passage normally requires three separate readings and approval of at least 13 House members; following both House and Council agreement, assent is required by the lieutenant governor on behalf of the Crown **Citizenship:** see United Kingdom **Suffrage:** 16 years of age; universal **Executive branch:** chief of state: Lord of Mann King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Lieutenant Governor Sir John LORIMER (since 29 September 2021) head of government: Chief Minister Alfred CANNAN (since 12 October 2021) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the lieutenant governor election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; lieutenant governor appointed by the monarch; chief minister indirectly elected by the Tynwald for a 5-year term (eligible for second term) most recent election date: 23 September 2021 election results: 2021: Alfred CANNAN (independent) elected chief minister; Tynwald House of Keys vote - 21 of 24 2016: Howard QUAYLE elected chief minister; Tynwald House of Keys vote - 21 of 33 expected date of next election: 2026 **Legislative branch:** legislature name: Tynwald (High Court of Tynwald) legislative structure: bicameral note: Legislative Council includes the President of Tynwald, 2 non-voting members (the Lord Bishop of Sodor and Man and the attorney general), and 8 members indirectly elected by the House of Keys **Legislative branch - lower chamber:** chamber name: House of Keys number of seats: 24 (directly elected) electoral system: plurality/majority scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 9/23/2021 parties elected and seats per party: independent (21); Manx Labour Party (2); Liberal Vannin (1) percentage of women in chamber: 40% expected date of next election: September 2026 **Legislative branch - upper chamber:** chamber name: Legislative Council number of seats: 11 (3 appointed, 8 indirectly elected) scope of elections: partial renewal term in office: 4 years most recent election date: 3/14/2023 percentage of women in chamber: 36.4% expected date of next election: March 2028 **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Isle of Man High Court of Justice (consists of 3 permanent judges or "deemsters" and 1 judge of appeal; organized into the Staff of Government Division or Court of Appeal and the Civil Division); the Court of General Gaol Delivery (not formally part of the High Court but is administered as such) deals with serious criminal cases judge selection and term of office: deemsters appointed by the Lord Chancellor of England on the nomination of the lieutenant governor; deemsters can serve until age 70 subordinate courts: High Court; Court of Summary Gaol Delivery; Summary Courts; Magistrate's Court; specialized courts note: appeals beyond the Court of Appeal are referred to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London) **Political parties:** Green Party Liberal Vannin Party or LVP Manx Labor Party note: most members sit as independents **Diplomatic representation in the US:** none (British crown dependency) **Diplomatic representation from the US:** embassy: none (British crown dependency) **International organization participation:** UPU **Independence:** none (British Crown dependency) **National holiday:** Tynwald Day, 5 July (1417); date Tynwald Day was first recorded **Flag:** description: red with the Three Legs of Man emblem (triskelion) in the center; the three legs are joined at the thigh and bent at the knee; a two-sided emblem is used to allow the toes to point clockwise on both sides of the flag history: the flag is based on the coat of arms of the last recognized Norse King of Mann, MAGNUS III (r. 1252-65); the triskelion has its roots in an early Celtic sun symbol **National symbol(s):** triskelion (a motif of three legs) **National color(s):** red, white **National coat of arms:** Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom granted the Isle of Man’s coat of arms on July 12, 1996; the triskelion (three conjoined legs) on the shield represents resilience, resourcefulness, and hope; the Latin motto means “Wherever you throw it, it will stand,” a reference to the islanders’ ability to stand strong; the peregrine falcon represents the two falcons that the Isle of Man has paid to the UK monarch on Coronation Day since 1406, and the raven symbolizes the island’s former status as a Viking colony; the crown represents the UK monarch’s status as the Lord of Mann, although the island is self-governing **National anthem(s):** title: "Arrane Ashoonagh dy Vannin" (Isle of Man National Anthem) lyrics/music: William Henry GILL [English], John J. KNEEN [Manx]/traditional history: adopted 2003; serves as a local anthem _____ title: "God Save the King" lyrics/music: unknown history: official anthem, as a British Crown dependency; played when the sovereign, members of the royal family, or the lieutenant governor are present ### Economy **Economic overview:** high-income British island economy; known financial services and tourism industries; taxation incentives for technology and financial firms to operate; historic fishing and agriculture industries are declining; major online gambling and film industry locale **Real GDP growth rate:** -4.2% (2022 est.) 3.8% (2021 est.) -8.8% (2020 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **GDP (official exchange rate):** $7.431 billion (2022 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 0.4% (2022 est.) industry: 6.9% (2022 est.) services: 95.1% (2022 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **Agricultural products:** cereals, vegetables; cattle, sheep, pigs, poultry **Industries:** financial services, light manufacturing, tourism **Industrial production growth rate:** -29.5% (2022 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency **Exports - partners:** almost entirely United Kingdom (2022) **Exports - commodities:** crude petroleum, artwork, vegetables, fruits, whiskies (2022) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports - partners:** almost entirely United Kingdom (2022) **Imports - commodities:** ships, delivery trucks (2022) **Exchange rates:** Manx pounds (IMP) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 0.782 (2024 est.) 0.805 (2023 est.) 0.811 (2022 est.) 0.727 (2021 est.) 0.78 (2020 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.) ### Communications **Broadcast media:** national public radio has 3 FM stations and 1 AM station; 2 commercial radio broadcasters; receives radio and TV services via relays from British TV and radio broadcasters **Internet country code:** .im ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** M **Airports:** 4 (2025) **Heliports:** 1 (2025) **Railways:** total: 63 km (2008) narrow gauge: 6 km (2008) 1.076-m gauge (6 km electrified) 57 0.914-mm gauge (29 km electrified) note: primarily summer tourist attractions **Merchant marine:** total: 269 (2023) by type: bulk carrier 102, container ship 6, general cargo 27, oil tanker 56, other 78 **Ports:** total ports: 2 (2024) large: 0 medium: 0 small: 2 very small: 0 ports with oil terminals: 1 key ports: Douglas, Ramsey ### Military and Security **Military - note:** defense is the responsibility of the UK --- ## Italy **Slug:** italy **Region:** Europe **Flag:** 🇮🇹 **Codes:** cek: it, iso2: IT, iso3: ITA, iso_num: 380, genc: ITA, stanag: ITA, internet: .it ### Introduction **Background:** Italy became a nation-state in 1861 when the regional states of the peninsula, along with Sardinia and Sicily, were united under King Victor EMMANUEL II. An era of parliamentary government came to a close in the early 1920s when Benito MUSSOLINI established a Fascist dictatorship. His alliance with Nazi Germany led to Italy's defeat in World War II. A democratic republic replaced the monarchy in 1946, and economic revival followed. Italy is a charter member of NATO, as well as the European Economic Community (EEC) and its successors, the EC and the EU. It has been at the forefront of European economic and political unification, joining the Economic and Monetary Union in 1999. Persistent problems include sluggish economic growth, high youth and female unemployment, organized crime, corruption, and economic disparities between southern Italy and the more prosperous north. ### Geography **Location:** Southern Europe, a peninsula extending into the central Mediterranean Sea, northeast of Tunisia **Geographic coordinates:** 42 50 N, 12 50 E **Map references:** Europe **Area:** total : 301,340 sq km land: 294,140 sq km water: 7,200 sq km note: includes Sardinia and Sicily **Area - comparative:** almost twice the size of Georgia; slightly larger than Arizona **Land boundaries:** total: 1,836.4 km border countries (6): Austria 404 km; France 476 km; Holy See (Vatican City) 3.4 km; San Marino 37 km; Slovenia 218 km; Switzerland 698 km **Coastline:** 7,600 km **Maritime claims:** territorial sea: 12 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation **Climate:** predominantly Mediterranean; alpine in far north; hot, dry in south **Terrain:** mostly rugged and mountainous; some plains, coastal lowlands **Elevation:** highest point: Mont Blanc (Monte Bianco) de Courmayeur (a secondary peak of Mont Blanc) 4,748 m lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m mean elevation: 538 m **Natural resources:** coal, antimony, mercury, zinc, potash, marble, barite, asbestos, pumice, fluorspar, feldspar, pyrite (sulfur), natural gas and crude oil reserves, fish, arable land **Land use:** agricultural land: 44.3% (2023 est.) arable land: 24% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 8.1% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 12.2% (2023 est.) forest: 31.8% (2023 est.) other: 24% (2023 est.) **Irrigated land:** 24,460 sq km (2021) **Major watersheds (area sq km):** Atlantic Ocean drainage: Rhine-Maas (198,735 sq km), (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km), (Adriatic Sea) Po (76,997 sq km), (Mediterranean Sea) Rhone (100,543 sq km) **Population distribution:** a fairly even population distribution exists throughout most of the country, with coastal areas, the Po River Valley, and urban centers (particularly Milan, Rome, and Naples) attracting larger and denser populations **Natural hazards:** regional risks include landslides, mudflows, avalanches, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, flooding; land subsidence in Venice volcanism: significant volcanic activity; Etna (3,330 m) is Europe's most active volcano, and its flank eruptions pose a threat to nearby Sicilian villages; Etna, along with the famous Vesuvius, have both been deemed Decade Volcanoes by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to their explosive history and close proximity to human populations; Stromboli, on its namesake island, has also been continuously active with moderate volcanic activity; other historically active volcanoes include Campi Flegrei, Ischia, Larderello, Pantelleria, Vulcano, and Vulsini **Geography - note:** strategic location dominating central Mediterranean, as well as southern sea and air approaches to Western Europe ### People and Society **Population:** total: 60,924,851 (2025 est.) male: 29,383,949 female: 31,540,902 **Nationality:** noun: Italian(s) adjective: Italian **Ethnic groups:** Italian (includes small clusters of German-, French-, and Slovene-Italians in the north, Albanian-Italians, Croat-Italians, and Greek-Italians in the south) **Languages:** Italian (official), German (parts of Trentino-Alto Adige region are predominantly German-speaking), French (small French-speaking minority in Valle d'Aosta region), Slovene (Slovene-speaking minority in the Trieste-Gorizia area), Croatian (in Molise) major-language sample(s): L'Almanacco dei fatti del mondo, l'indispensabile fonte per le informazioni di base. (Italian) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. **Religions:** Christian 80.8% (overwhelmingly Roman Catholic with very small groups of Jehovah's Witnesses and Protestants), Muslim 4.9%, unaffiliated 13.4%, other 0.9% (2020 est.) **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 11.9% (male 3,699,167/female 3,531,734) 15-64 years: 64.5% (male 19,378,160/female 19,958,137) 65 years and over: 23.6% (2024 est.) (male 6,336,738/female 8,060,995) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 55.3 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 18.1 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 37.2 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 2.7 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 48.8 years (2025 est.) male: 47.4 years female: 49.4 years **Population growth rate:** -0.05% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 7.13 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 11.2 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** 3.55 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** a fairly even population distribution exists throughout most of the country, with coastal areas, the Po River Valley, and urban centers (particularly Milan, Rome, and Naples) attracting larger and denser populations **Urbanization:** urban population: 72% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.27% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 4.316 million ROME (capital), 3.155 million Milan, 2.179 million Naples, 1.802 million Turin, 913,000 Bergamo, 850,000 Palermo (2023) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Mother's mean age at first birth:** 31.4 years (2020 est.) **Maternal mortality ratio:** 6 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 3 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 3.2 deaths/1,000 live births female: 2.9 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 83 years (2024 est.) male: 80.7 years female: 85.5 years **Total fertility rate:** 1.27 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 0.62 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: total: 99.9% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: total: 0.1% of population (2022 est.) **Health expenditure:** 9% of GDP (2022) 11.8% of national budget (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 4.19 physicians/1,000 population (2022) **Hospital bed density:** 3.2 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.) **Sanitation facility access:** improved: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.) rural: 100% of population (2022 est.) total: 100% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.) rural: 0% of population (2022 est.) total: 0% of population (2022 est.) **Obesity - adult prevalence rate:** 19.9% (2016) **Alcohol consumption per capita:** total: 7.65 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 1.99 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 4.83 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 0.83 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) **Tobacco use:** total: 19.8% (2025 est.) male: 23.2% (2025 est.) female: 16.6% (2025 est.) **Currently married women (ages 15-49):** 51.8% (2023 est.) **Education expenditure:** 4.1% of GDP (2022 est.) 7.4% national budget (2022 est.) **Literacy:** total population: 99.3% (2019 est.) male: 99.5% (2019 est.) female: 99.2% (2019 est.) **School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):** total: 17 years (2023 est.) male: 16 years (2023 est.) female: 17 years (2023 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** air pollution from industrial emissions; water pollution from industrial and agricultural effluents, as well as acid rain; inadequate industrial waste treatment and disposal facilities **International environmental agreements:** party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol **Climate:** predominantly Mediterranean; alpine in far north; hot, dry in south **Land use:** agricultural land: 44.3% (2023 est.) arable land: 24% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 8.1% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 12.2% (2023 est.) forest: 31.8% (2023 est.) other: 24% (2023 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 72% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.27% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 307.442 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 26.15 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 162.688 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from consumed natural gas: 118.604 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Particulate matter emissions:** 12.3 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) **Methane emissions:** energy: 276.4 kt (2022-2024 est.) agriculture: 764.9 kt (2019-2021 est.) waste: 523.4 kt (2019-2021 est.) other: 35.3 kt (2019-2021 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 30.088 million tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 39.9% (2022 est.) **Total water withdrawal:** municipal: 9.148 billion cubic meters (2022) industrial: 7.7 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) agricultural: 17 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) **Total renewable water resources:** 191.3 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) **Geoparks:** total global geoparks and regional networks: 12 (2025) global geoparks and regional networks: Adamello-Brenta; Alpi Apuane; Aspromonte; Beigua; Cilento, Vallo di Diano e Alburni; Madonie; Maiella; MurGEopark; Pollino; Rocca di Cerere; Sesia Val Grande; Tuscan Mining Park (2025) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: Italian Republic conventional short form: Italy local long form: Repubblica Italiana local short form: Italia former: Kingdom of Italy etymology: derivation is unclear; traditionally said to come from the Vitali, a tribe that settled in what is now Calabria, and whose name is believed to be linked to the Latin word vitulus, or "calf;" alternatively, the name may derive from a local ruler known to the Romans as Italus **Government type:** parliamentary republic **Capital:** name: Rome geographic coordinates: 41 54 N, 12 29 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October etymology: by tradition, named after Romulus, one of the legendary founders of the city, but the name Romulus may instead derive from the city's name; the name Rome may come from an Etruscan name for the Tiber River, which was Roma or Ruma **Administrative divisions:** 15 regions (regioni, singular - regione) and 5 autonomous regions (regioni autonome, singular - regione autonoma) regions: Abruzzo, Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, Emilia-Romagna, Lazio (Latium), Liguria, Lombardia, Marche, Molise, Piemonte (Piedmont), Puglia (Apulia), Toscana (Tuscany), Umbria, Veneto autonomous regions: Friuli Venezia Giulia, Sardegna (Sardinia), Sicilia (Sicily), Trentino-Alto Adige (Trentino-South Tyrol) or Trentino-Suedtirol (German), Valle d'Aosta (Aosta Valley) or Vallée d'Aoste (French) **Legal system:** civil law system; Constitutional Court reviews legislation under certain conditions **Constitution:** history: previous 1848 (originally for the Kingdom of Sardinia and adopted by the Kingdom of Italy in 1861); latest enacted 22 December 1947, adopted 27 December 1947, entered into force 1 January 1948 amendment process: proposed by both houses of Parliament; passage requires two successive debates and approval by absolute majority of each house on the second vote; a referendum is only required when requested by one fifth of the members of either house, by voter petition, or by 5 Regional Councils (elected legislative assemblies of the 15 first-level administrative regions and 5 autonomous regions of Italy); referendum not required if an amendment has been approved by a two-thirds majority in each house in the second vote **International law organization participation:** accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Italy dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 4 years for EU nationals, 5 years for refugees and specified exceptions, 10 years for all others **Suffrage:** 18 years of age; universal except in senatorial elections, where minimum age is 25 **Executive branch:** chief of state: President Sergio MATTARELLA (since 3 February 2015) head of government: Prime Minister Giorgia MELONI (since 22 October 2022); the prime minister's official title is President of the Council of Ministers cabinet: Council of Ministers proposed by the prime minister, who is known officially as the President of the Council of Ministers and locally as the premier; nominated by the president election/appointment process: president indirectly elected by an electoral college consisting of both houses of Parliament and 58 regional representatives for a 7-year term (no term limits); prime minister appointed by the president, confirmed by parliament most recent election date: 24-29 January 2022 (eight rounds) election results: 2022: Sergio MATTARELLA (independent) reelected president; electoral college vote count in eighth round - 759 out of 1,009 (505 vote threshold) 2015: Sergio MATTARELLA (independent) elected president; electoral college vote count in fourth round - 665 out of 995 (505 vote threshold) expected date of next election: 2029 **Legislative branch:** legislature name: Parliament (Il Parlamento) legislative structure: bicameral **Legislative branch - lower chamber:** chamber name: Chamber of Deputies (Camera dei Deputati) number of seats: 400 (all directly elected) electoral system: mixed system scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 9/25/2022 parties elected and seats per party: Coalition Brothers of Italy (FdI) - Lega - Forza Italia - Us Moderates (Noi moderati, NM) (237); Democratic Party - Democratic and Progressive Italy (PD-IDP) - Greens and Left Alliance (AVS) - +EUROPA" - Civic Commitment (IC) (84); Five Star Movement (M5s) (52); Action - Italia Viva (21); Other (6) percentage of women in chamber: 32.8% expected date of next election: September 2027 **Legislative branch - upper chamber:** chamber name: Senate (Senato della Repubblica) number of seats: 205 (200 directly elected; 5 appointed) electoral system: mixed system scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 9/25/2022 parties elected and seats per party: Coalition Brothers of Italy (FdI) - Lega - Forza Italia - Us Moderates (Noi moderati, NM) (115); Democratic Party - Democratic and Progressive Italy (PD-IDP) - Greens and Left Alliance (AVS) - +EUROPA" - Civic Commitment (IC) (44); Five Star Movement (M5s) (28); Other (13) percentage of women in chamber: 36.3% expected date of next election: September 2027 **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Supreme Court of Cassation or Corte Suprema di Cassazione (consists of the first president, deputy president, 54 justices presiding over 6 civil and 7 criminal divisions, and 288 judges; an additional 30 judges of lower courts serve as supporting judges; cases normally heard by 5-judge panels; more complex cases heard by 9-judge panels); Constitutional Court or Corte Costituzionale (consists of the court president and 14 judges) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges appointed by the High Council of the Judiciary, headed by the president of the republic; judges may serve for life; Constitutional Court judges - 5 appointed by the president, 5 elected by Parliament, 5 elected by select higher courts; judges serve up to 9 years subordinate courts: various lower civil and criminal courts (primary and secondary tribunals and courts of appeal) **Political parties:** Action-Italia Viva Associative Movement of Italians Abroad or MAIE Brothers of Italy or FdI Democratic Party or PD Five Star Movement or M5S Forza Italia or FI Free and Equal (Liberi e Uguali) or LeU Greens and Left Alliance or AVS League or Lega More Europe or +EU South calls North or ScN South Tyrolean Peoples Party or SVP Us Moderates or NM other minor parties **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Marco PERONACI (since 5 September 2025) chancery: 3000 Whitehaven Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 612-4400 FAX: [1] (202) 518-2154 email address and website: washington.ambasciata@esteri.it https://ambwashingtondc.esteri.it/ambasciata_washington/en/ consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Miami, New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, San Francisco consulate(s): Detroit **Diplomatic representation from the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Tilman J. FERTITTA (since 6 May 2025); note - also accredited to San Marino embassy: via Vittorio Veneto 121, 00187 Roma mailing address: 9500 Rome Place, Washington DC 20521-9500 telephone: [39] 06-46741 FAX: [39] 06-4674-2244 email address and website: uscitizenrome@state.gov https://it.usembassy.gov/ consulate(s) general: Florence, Milan, Naples **International organization participation:** ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council (observer), Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS (observer), CD, CDB, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EITI (implementing country), EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, G-7, G-8, G-10, G-20, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAIA (observer), MIGA, MINURSO, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club, PCA, PIF (partner), Schengen Convention, SELEC (observer), SICA (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, Union Latina, UNMOGIP, UNOOSA, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC **Independence:** 17 March 1861 note: the Kingdom of Italy proclaimed on 17 March 1861, but Italy was not fully unified until 1871 **National holiday:** Republic Day, 2 June (1946) **Flag:** description: three equal vertical bands of green (left side), white, and red meaning: colors are those of Milan (red and white) combined with the green uniform color of the Milanese civic guard history: design inspired by the French flag that Napoleon brought to Italy in 1797 note: similar to the flags of Mexico (longer, darker shades of green and red, and has its coat of arms centered on the white band), Ireland (longer and with orange instead of red), and Cote d'Ivoire (colors reversed) **National symbol(s):** five-pointed white star (Stella d'Italia) **National color(s):** red, white, green **National coat of arms:** this coat of arms has been a symbol of the Italian Republic since May 5, 1948, when Paolo Paschetto’s design won a two-year public competition; the olive branch symbolizes national and global peace; the oak branch stands for the strength and the dignity of the Italian people, and the steel cog-wheel for their hard work; the single star represents Italy’s solidarity **National anthem(s):** title: "Il Canto degli Italiani" (The Song of the Italians) lyrics/music: Goffredo MAMELI/Michele NOVARO history: adopted 2005; the anthem, originally written in 1847, is also known as "L'Inno di Mameli" (Mameli's Hymn), and "Fratelli d'Italia" (Brothers of Italy) **National heritage:** total World Heritage Sites: 61 (55 cultural, 6 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Historic Center of Rome (c); Archaeological Areas of Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Torre Annunziata (c); Venice and its Lagoon (c); Historic Center of Florence (c); Piazza del Duomo, Pisa (c); Historic Centre of Naples (c); Portovenere, Cinque Terre, and the Islands (Palmaria, Tino and Tinetto)(c); Mount Etna (n); Cultural landscape of the Benedictine settlements in medieval Italy (c); Church and Dominican Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie with “The Last Supper” by Leonardo da Vinci (c); City of Vicenza and the Palladian Villas of the Veneto (c); Crespi d'Adda (c); Early Christian Monuments of Ravenna (c); Historic Centre of the City of Pienza (c); Cathedral, Torre Civica and Piazza Grande, Modena (c); Costiera Amalfitana (c); Villa Romana del Casale (c); Archaeological Area and the Patriarchal Basilica of Aquileia (c); Cilento and Vallo di Diano National Park with the Archeological Sites of Paestum and Velia, and the Certosa di Padula (c); Historic Centre of Urbino (c); Villa Adriana (Tivoli) (c); Assisi, the Basilica of San Francesco and Other Franciscan Sites (c); City of Verona (c); Isole Eolie (Aeolian Islands) (n); Etruscan Necropolises of Cerveteri and Tarquinia (c); Val d'Orcia (c); Mantua and Sabbioneta (c); The Dolomites (n); Prehistoric Pile Dwellings around the Alps (c); Medici Villas and Gardens in Tuscany (c); Venetian Works of Defence between the 16th and 17th Centuries: Stato da Terra – Western Stato da Mar (c); Padua’s fourteenth-century fresco cycles (c); The Porticoes of Bologna (c); Evaporitic Karst and Caves of Northern Apennines (n); Via Appia: Regina Viarum (c); Funerary Tradition in the Prehistory of Sardinia – The domus de janas (c) ### Economy **Economic overview:** high-income, core EU economy; strong services, manufacturing, and tourism sectors; modest growth supported by net exports, low inflation, and public investments via EU funds; tight labor market with aging workforce and shortages in specialized skills; high public debt levels **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $3.133 trillion (2024 est.) $3.11 trillion (2023 est.) $3.088 trillion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** 0.7% (2024 est.) 0.7% (2023 est.) 4.8% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $53,100 (2024 est.) $52,700 (2023 est.) $52,300 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $2.373 trillion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 1% (2024 est.) 5.6% (2023 est.) 8.2% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 2% (2024 est.) industry: 21.7% (2024 est.) services: 65.6% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **GDP - composition, by end use:** household consumption: 58.3% (2023 est.) government consumption: 17.8% (2023 est.) investment in fixed capital: 22.5% (2023 est.) investment in inventories: 0.4% (2023 est.) exports of goods and services: 33.5% (2023 est.) imports of goods and services: -32.1% (2023 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection **Agricultural products:** milk, wheat, grapes, tomatoes, maize, olives, apples, oranges, sugar beets, rice (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage **Industries:** tourism, machinery, iron and steel, chemicals, food processing, textiles, motor vehicles, clothing, footwear, ceramics **Industrial production growth rate:** 0.2% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency **Labor force:** 25.828 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work **Unemployment rate:** 6.8% (2024 est.) 7.7% (2023 est.) 8.1% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment **Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):** total: 21.8% (2024 est.) male: 19.9% (2024 est.) female: 24.8% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment **Population below poverty line:** 20.1% (2021 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line **Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income:** 33.7 (2022 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality **Average household expenditures:** on food: 14.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.) on alcohol and tobacco: 3.8% of household expenditures (2023 est.) **Household income or consumption by percentage share:** lowest 10%: 2.5% (2022 est.) highest 10%: 25.3% (2022 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population **Remittances:** 0.5% of GDP (2024 est.) 0.5% of GDP (2023 est.) 0.5% of GDP (2022 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Budget:** revenues: $935.038 billion (2023 est.) expenditures: $1.104 trillion (2023 est.) note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated **Public debt:** 131.8% of GDP (2017 est.) note: Italy reports its data on public debt according to guidelines set out in the Maastricht Treaty; general government gross debt is defined in the Maastricht Treaty as consolidated general government gross debt at nominal value, outstanding at the end of the year, in the following categories of government liabilities (as defined in ESA95): currency and deposits (AF.2), securities other than shares excluding financial derivatives (AF.3, excluding AF.34), and loans (AF.4); the general government sector comprises central, state, and local government and social security funds **Taxes and other revenues:** 24.8% (of GDP) (2023 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP **Current account balance:** $26.76 billion (2024 est.) $3.261 billion (2023 est.) -$36.325 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars **Exports:** $778.898 billion (2024 est.) $774.311 billion (2023 est.) $737.083 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** Germany 11%, USA 11%, France 10%, Spain 5%, UK 5% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** packaged medicine, garments, cars, refined petroleum, vehicle parts/accessories (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports:** $717.278 billion (2024 est.) $739.646 billion (2023 est.) $775.518 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** Germany 15%, France 9%, China 8%, Netherlands 6%, Spain 5% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** natural gas, crude petroleum, cars, packaged medicine, garments (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:** $290.547 billion (2024 est.) $247.396 billion (2023 est.) $224.581 billion (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars **Exchange rates:** euros (EUR) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 0.924 (2024 est.) 0.925 (2023 est.) 0.95 (2022 est.) 0.845 (2021 est.) 0.876 (2020 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.) **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 128.692 million kW (2023 est.) consumption: 290.664 billion kWh (2023 est.) exports: 3.32 billion kWh (2023 est.) imports: 54.572 billion kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 17.62 billion kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** fossil fuels: 56% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 12% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) wind: 9.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: 14.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) geothermal: 2.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) biomass and waste: 6.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Nuclear energy:** Number of nuclear reactors permanently shut down: 4 (2025) **Coal:** production: 1.572 million metric tons (2023 est.) consumption: 12.424 million metric tons (2023 est.) exports: 304,000 metric tons (2023 est.) imports: 12.069 million metric tons (2023 est.) proven reserves: 609.999 million metric tons (2023 est.) **Petroleum:** total petroleum production: 111,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 1.245 million bbl/day (2024 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 497.934 million barrels (2021 est.) **Natural gas:** production: 2.778 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) consumption: 61.906 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) exports: 2.609 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) imports: 61.851 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) proven reserves: 45.76 billion cubic meters (2021 est.) **Energy consumption per capita:** 96.797 million Btu/person (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 20.3 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 34 (2024 est.) **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 78.7 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 133 (2024 est.) **Broadcast media:** two Italian media giants dominate, with 3 national terrestrial stations; privately owned companies have 3 national terrestrial stations; a large number of private stations, a satellite TV network; 3 AM/FM nationwide radio stations; about 1,300 commercial radio stations **Internet country code:** .it **Internet users:** percent of population: 87% (2023 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 20.1 million (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 34 (2023 est.) ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** I **Airports:** 655 (2025) **Heliports:** 163 (2025) **Railways:** total: 18,475 km (2020) 12,936 km electrified 1289.3 0.950-mm gauge (151.3 km electrified) **Merchant marine:** total: 1,276 (2023) by type: bulk carrier 17, container ship 6, general cargo 109, oil tanker 95, other 1,049 **Ports:** total ports: 123 (2024) large: 12 medium: 11 small: 71 very small: 28 size unknown: 1 ports with oil terminals: 33 key ports: Brindisi, Civitavecchia, Genova, Gioia Tauro, La Spezia, Livorno, Messina, Napoli, Porto di Lido-Venezia, Siracusa, Taranto, Trieste ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** Italian Armed Forces (Forze Armate Italiane): Army (Esercito Italiano, EI), Navy (Marina Militare Italiana, MMI; includes aviation, marines), Italian Air Force (Aeronautica Militare Italiana, AMI); Carabinieri Corps (Arma dei Carabinieri, CC) (2025) note 1: the National (or State) Police and Carabinieri (gendarmerie or military police) maintain internal security; the National Police reports to the Ministry of Interior while the Carabinieri reports to the Ministry of Defense but is also under the coordination of the Ministry of Interior; the Carabinieri is primarily a domestic police force organized along military lines, with some overseas responsibilities note 2: the Financial Guard (Guardia di Finanza) under the Ministry of Economy and Finance is a force with military status and nationwide remit for financial crime investigations, including narcotics trafficking, smuggling, and illegal immigration **Military expenditures:** 2% of GDP (2025 est.) 1.5% of GDP (2024 est.) 1.5% of GDP (2023 est.) 1.5% of GDP (2022 est.) 1.5% of GDP (2021 est.) **Military and security service personnel strengths:** approximately 170,000 active-duty military personnel; approximately 105,000 Carabinieri (2025) **Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:** the military's inventory includes a mix of domestically manufactured, imported, and jointly produced weapons systems; imports come mostly from Europe and the US; the Italian defense industry is capable of producing equipment across all the military domains with particular strengths in aircraft, armored vehicles, and naval vessels; it also participates in joint development and production of advanced weapons systems with other European countries and the US (2025) **Military service age and obligation:** 17 or 18 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women ; voluntary service is a minimum of 12 months with the option to extend in the Armed Forces or compete for positions in other government security organizations; conscription abolished 2004 (2025) note: women serve in all military branches; as of 2023, women made up about 8% of the military's full-time personnel **Military deployments:** Italy has on average about 8,000 military personnel deployed in support of NATO, UN, and other foreign missions; significant ground troop deployments include Bulgaria (750), Hungary (250), Kosovo (870), Latvia (300), and Lebanon (875); in addition, air and naval units are deployed in support of NATO missions (2025) note: since 1960, Italy has committed more than 60,000 troops to UN missions, and it hosts a training center in Vicenza for police personnel destined for peacekeeping missions **Military - note:** the Italian military is responsible for Italy’s national defense and security and fulfilling the country’s commitments to the EU, NATO, the UN, and other multinational military, security, and humanitarian operations; it also has some domestic security duties; key areas of emphasis for Italy’s security policy and multinational cooperation are Europe’s eastern and southern flanks, including the Mediterranean Sea, East and North Africa, and the Middle East and its adjacent waters Italy has been an active member of NATO since its founding in 1948, and the Alliance is a cornerstone of Rome’s national security strategy; it is one of NATO’s leading contributors of military forces and participates in such Alliance missions as Air Policing in the Baltics, the Enhanced Forward Presence in Eastern Europe, and maritime patrols in the Mediterranean and beyond; it hosts NATO’s Joint Force Command in Naples and a NATO Rapid Deployable Corps headquarters in Milan Italy is also active in European/EU defense cooperation and integration, including hosting the headquarters for the EU’s Mediterranean naval operations force in Rome; in addition, Italy has close defense ties with the US and hosts several US military air, army, and naval bases and facilities (2025) ### Space **Space agency/agencies:** Italian Space Agency (L’Agenzia Spaziale Italiana or ASI; established 1988) (2025) **Space launch site(s):** the Broglio (aka San Marco, Malindi) Space Center, located near Malindi, Kenya, served from 1967 to 1988 as an Italian and international satellite launch facility; in 2020, Italy concluded a deal with Kenya to conduct rocket launches from the site again in the future; the Italian Space Agency has utilized the site as a satellite ground station since 2004 the Italian Government has designated the Taranto-Grottaglie Airport as a future spaceport and signed framework agreements with commercial space companies that could lead to suborbital and orbital launches from what would be called the Grottaglie Spaceport (2025) **Space program overview:** one of the top contributors to the ESA; designs, builds, launches, and operates communications, remote sensing (RS), and scientific satellites; designs and manufactures probes, rockets, and orbital satellite launch vehicles (SLVs); researches, develops, and builds a range of other space-related technologies and participates in a wide array of international programs; hosts the ESA Center for Earth Observation; has astronaut cadre in the ESA astronaut corps; has cooperated with a variety of foreign space agencies and industries, including those of Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, Israel, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, Russia, South Korea, Thailand, the UAE, and the US; participates in international projects such as the International Space Station; has considerable commercial space industries encompassing a wide range of capabilities (2025) **Key space-program milestones:** 1964 - first domestically manufactured science satellite (San Marco-1) launched by the US 1977 - first domestically built telecommunications/research satellite (Sirio) launched by the US 1990s-2011 - participated in US Space Shuttle program, resulting in first Italian astronaut in space (1992) 1998-present - participated in International Space Station, including the first European astronaut on the station (2001), first Italian to command it (2019-2020), and first woman to command the station (2022) 2012 - first launch of Italian-designed VEGA 3-stage satellite launch vehicle (SLV) for ESA 2020 - signed US-led Artemis Accords for space and lunar exploration 2023 - first Italian all-electric satellite (MicroHETSat) built for the ESA and launched by the US; began developing a habitat for the US-led Artemis Lunar Gateway project 2025 - passed a national space law to govern Italian space operations ### Terrorism **Terrorist group(s):** Terrorist group(s): Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide ### Transnational Issues **Refugees and internally displaced persons:** refugees: 520,127 (2024 est.) stateless persons: 3,000 (2024 est.) --- ## Jan Mayen **Slug:** jan-mayen **Region:** Europe **Codes:** cek: jn, genc: XJM, stanag: SJM, internet: -, comment: ISO includes with Svalbard ### Introduction **Background:** This desolate, mountainous island in the Arctic Ocean was named after a Dutch whaling captain who indisputably discovered it in 1614 (earlier claims are inconclusive). Visited only occasionally by seal hunters and trappers over the centuries, the island came under Norwegian sovereignty in 1929. The long dormant Beerenberg volcano, the northernmost active volcano on earth, resumed activity in 1970, and the most recent eruption occurred in 1985. ### Geography **Location:** Northern Europe, island between the Greenland Sea and the Norwegian Sea, northeast of Iceland **Geographic coordinates:** 71 00 N, 8 00 W **Map references:** Arctic Region **Area:** total : 377 sq km land: 377 sq km water: 0 sq km **Area - comparative:** slightly more than twice the size of Washington, D.C. **Land boundaries:** total: 0 km **Coastline:** 124.1 km **Maritime claims:** territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation **Climate:** arctic maritime with frequent storms and persistent fog **Terrain:** volcanic island, partly covered by glaciers **Elevation:** highest point: Haakon VII Toppen on Beerenberg 2,277 lowest point: Norwegian/Greenland Seas 0 m note: Beerenberg volcano has numerous peaks; the highest point on the volcano rim is named Haakon VII Toppen, after Norway's first king following the reestablishment of Norwegian independence in 1905 **Natural resources:** none **Land use:** agricultural land: 0% (2011 est.) other: 100% (2018 est.) **Irrigated land:** 0 sq km (2022) **Natural hazards:** dominated by the volcano Beerenberg volcanism: Beerenberg (2,227 m) is Norway's only active volcano; volcanic activity resumed in 1970; the most recent eruption occurred in 1985 **Geography - note:** barren volcanic spoon-shaped island with some moss and grass flora; island consists of two parts: a larger northeast Nord-Jan (the spoon "bowl") and the smaller Sor-Jan (the "handle"), linked by a 2.5 km-wide isthmus (the "stem") with two large lakes, Sorlaguna (South Lagoon) and Nordlaguna (North Lagoon) ### People and Society **Population:** total: no permanent inhabitants note: military personnel present on the south side of the island; meteorological stations ### Environment **Environmental issues:** pollutants transported from southerly latitudes by winds and ocean currents **Climate:** arctic maritime with frequent storms and persistent fog **Land use:** agricultural land: 0% (2011 est.) other: 100% (2018 est.) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: none conventional short form: Jan Mayen etymology: named after Dutch Captain Jan Jacobszoon MAY, one of the first explorers to reach the island in 1614 **Dependency status:** territory of Norway; since 1994, administered from Oslo through the county governor (fylkesmann) of Nordland; however, authority has been delegated to a station commander of the Norwegian Defense Communication Service; in 2010, Norway designated the majority of Jan Mayen as a nature reserve **Legal system:** the laws of Norway apply **Flag:** the flag of Norway is used ### Communications **Broadcast media:** a coastal radio station has been remotely operated since 1994 ### Military and Security **Military - note:** defense is the responsibility of Norway --- ## Jersey **Slug:** jersey **Region:** Europe **Flag:** 🇯🇪 **Codes:** cek: je, iso2: JE, iso3: JEY, iso_num: 832, genc: JEY, stanag: UK, internet: .je ### Introduction **Background:** Jersey and the other Channel Islands represent the last remnants of the medieval Duchy of Normandy that held sway in both France and England. These islands were the only British soil that Germany occupied in World War II. The Bailiwick of Jersey is a British Crown dependency, which means that it is not part of the UK but is rather a self-governing possession of the British Crown. However, the UK Government is constitutionally responsible for its defense and international representation. ### Geography **Location:** Western Europe, island in the English Channel, northwest of France **Geographic coordinates:** 49 15 N, 2 10 W **Map references:** Europe **Area:** total : 116 sq km land: 116 sq km water: 0 sq km **Area - comparative:** about two-thirds the size of Washington, D.C. **Land boundaries:** total: 0 km **Coastline:** 70 km **Maritime claims:** territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm **Climate:** temperate; mild winters and cool summers **Terrain:** gently rolling plain with low, rugged hills along north coast **Elevation:** highest point: Les Platons 136 m lowest point: English Channel 0 m **Natural resources:** arable land **Land use:** agricultural land: 43.3% (2022 est.) arable land: 18.3% (2022 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.) permanent pasture: 24.9% (2022 est.) forest: 5.2% (2022 est.) other: 51.6% (2022 est.) **Irrigated land:** NA **Population distribution:** fairly even distribution **Natural hazards:** very large tidal variation can be hazardous to navigation **Geography - note:** largest and southernmost of Channel Islands; about 30% of population concentrated in Saint Helier ### People and Society **Population:** total: 103,944 (2025 est.) male: 51,317 female: 52,627 **Nationality:** noun: Channel Islander(s) adjective: Channel Islander **Ethnic groups:** Jersey 44.4%, British 30.5%, Portuguese/Madeiran 9.4%, Polish 3%, Irish 2.1%, other 10.6% (2021 est.) **Languages:** English (official) 94.5%, Portuguese 4.6%, other 0.9% (includes French (official) and Jerriais) (2001 est.) note: data represent main spoken language; the traditional language of Jersey is Jerriais or Jersey French (a Norman language), which was spoken by fewer than 3,000 people as of 2001; two thirds of Jerriais speakers are aged 60 and over **Religions:** Christian 85.2%, Baha'i 0.3%, Hindu 0.1%, Jewish 0.1%, Muslim 0.1%, atheist 1.1%, agnostic 13.1% (2020 est.) **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 17% (male 9,082/female 8,530) 15-64 years: 64.6% (male 33,840/female 32,989) 65 years and over: 18.3% (2024 est.) (male 8,106/female 10,840) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 56 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 26.8 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 29.2 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 3.4 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 38.5 years (2025 est.) male: 37 years female: 39.7 years **Population growth rate:** 0.51% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 11.97 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 7.8 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** 0.96 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** fairly even distribution **Urbanization:** urban population: 31.2% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.68% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) note: data include Guernsey and Jersey **Major urban areas - population:** 34,000 SAINT HELIER (capital) (2018) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 3.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 4.2 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.3 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 83 years (2024 est.) male: 80.6 years female: 85.7 years **Total fertility rate:** 1.66 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 0.81 (2025 est.) **Sanitation facility access:** improved: total: 98.5% of population ### Environment **Environmental issues:** habitat and species loss; water pollution; improper solid-waste disposal **Climate:** temperate; mild winters and cool summers **Land use:** agricultural land: 43.3% (2022 est.) arable land: 18.3% (2022 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.) permanent pasture: 24.9% (2022 est.) forest: 5.2% (2022 est.) other: 51.6% (2022 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 31.2% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.68% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) note: data include Guernsey and Jersey **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 178,900 tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 28.4% (2016 est.) note: data include combined totals for Guernsey and Jersey. ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: Bailiwick of Jersey conventional short form: Jersey former: Norman Isles etymology: the name is of Old Norse origin, with -ey meaning "island;" "Jer(s)" may derive from a person with the Scandinavian name Geirr, meaning "spear" **Government type:** parliamentary democracy (Assembly of the States of Jersey) **Dependency status:** British crown dependency **Capital:** name: Saint Helier geographic coordinates: 49 11 N, 2 06 W time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October etymology: named after Saint HELIER, the patron saint of Jersey, who was reputedly martyred on the island in A.D. 555 **Administrative divisions:** no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US government, but 12 parishes; Grouville, Saint Brelade, Saint Clement, Saint Helier, Saint John, Saint Lawrence, Saint Martin, Saint Mary, Saint Ouen, Saint Peter, Saint Saviour, Trinity **Legal system:** the laws of the UK apply, as well as local statutes **Constitution:** history: unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice amendment process: proposed by a government minister to the Assembly of the States of Jersey, by an Assembly member, or by an elected parish head; passage requires several Assembly readings, a majority vote by the Assembly, review by the UK Ministry of Justice, and approval of the British monarch (Royal Assent) **Citizenship:** see United Kingdom **Suffrage:** 16 years of age; universal **Executive branch:** chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Lieutenant Governor Jerry KYD (since 8 October 2022) head of government: Chief Minister Lyndon FARNHAM (since 25 January 2024); Bailiff Timothy Le COCQ (since 17 October 2019) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed individually by the states election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; Council of Ministers, including the chief minister, indirectly elected by the Assembly of States; lieutenant governor and bailiff appointed by the monarch **Legislative branch:** legislature name: Assembly of the States of Jersey legislative structure: unicameral number of seats: 54 (49 directly elected, 5 appointed) term in office: 4 years most recent election date: 6/22/2022 parties elected and seats per party: BW (35); RJ (10); JLC (2); JA (1); PP (1) percentage of women in chamber: 42.9% expected date of next election: 2026 note: 5 non-voting members appointed by the monarch include the bailiff, lieutenant governor, dean of Jersey, attorney general, and the solicitor general **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Jersey Court of Appeal (consists of the bailiff, deputy bailiff, and 12 judges); Royal Court (consists of the bailiff, deputy bailiff, 6 commissioners and lay people referred to as jurats, and is organized into Heritage, Family, Probate, and Samedi Divisions); appeals beyond the Court of Appeal are heard by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London) judge selection and term of office: Jersey Court of Appeal bailiffs and judges appointed by the Crown upon the advice of the Secretary of State for Justice; bailiffs and judges appointed for "extent of good behavior;" Royal Court bailiffs appointed by the Crown upon the advice of the Secretary of State for Justice; commissioners appointed by the bailiff; jurats appointed by the Electoral College; bailiffs and commissioners appointed for "extent of good behavior;" jurats appointed until retirement at age 72 subordinate courts: Magistrate's Court; Youth Court; Petty Debts Court; Parish Hall Enquiries (a process of preliminary investigation into youth and minor adult offenses to determine need for presentation before a court) **Political parties:** Better Way or BW (group of independent candidates) Jersey Alliance or JA Jersey Liberal Conservatives or JLC Progress Party or PP Reform Jersey or RJ note: most deputies sit as independents **Diplomatic representation in the US:** none (British Crown dependency) **Diplomatic representation from the US:** embassy: none (British Crown dependency) **International organization participation:** UPU **Independence:** none (British Crown dependency) **National holiday:** Liberation Day, 9 May (1945) **Flag:** description: white with a diagonal red cross extending to the corners of the flag; a red shield with three lions in yellow is in the upper triangle, with a yellow crown above history: according to tradition, Jersey ships differentiated themselves from English ships that flew the horizontal cross of St. George by rotating their own cross to the "X" (saltire) configuration; this arrangement resembled the Irish cross of St. Patrick, so the Plantagenet crown and Jersey coat of arms were added **National symbol(s):** Jersey cow **National color(s):** red, white **National anthem(s):** title: "Isle de Siez Nous" (Island Home) lyrics/music: Gerard LE FEUVRE history: adopted 2008; serves as a local anthem _____ title: "God Save the King" lyrics/music: unknown history: official anthem, as a British Crown dependency ### Economy **Economic overview:** British territorial island economy; strong offshore banking and finance sectors; low asset taxation; strong tourism sector prior to COVID-19 and Brexit; one of the most expensive places to live; minimal welfare system; historical cider industry **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $5.569 billion (2016 est.) $5.514 billion (2015 est.) $4.98 billion (2014 est.) note: data are in 2015 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** 3.7% (2023 est.) 5.3% (2022 est.) 9.9% (2021 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency; entry includes Jersey and Guernsey **GDP (official exchange rate):** $12.508 billion (2023 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate; entry includes Jersey and Guernsey **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 0.6% (2023 est.) industry: 8.2% (2023 est.) services: 91.2% (2023 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **Agricultural products:** potatoes, cauliflower, tomatoes; beef, dairy products **Industries:** tourism, banking and finance, dairy, electronics **Industrial production growth rate:** 1.3% (2023 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency; entry includes Jersey and Guernsey **Labor force:** 82,400 (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work;entry includes Jersey and Guernsey **Unemployment rate:** 6.3% (2024 est.) 6.2% (2023 est.) 6.2% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment; entry includes Jersey and Guernsey **Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):** total: 14.1% (2024 est.) male: 14.2% (2024 est.) female: 13.9% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment **Exports - partners:** almost entirely United Kingdom (2022) **Exports - commodities:** refined petroleum, beverages, ships, jewelry, artwork (2022) top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports - partners:** almost entirely United Kingdom (2022) **Imports - commodities:** artwork, ships, vegetables, fruits, jewelry (2022) **Exchange rates:** Jersey pounds (JEP) per US dollar Exchange rates: 0.782 (2024 est.) 0.805 (2023 est.) 0.811 (2022 est.) 0.727 (2021 est.) 0.78 (2020 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.) note: includes Guernsey and Jersey ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 48,223 (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 47 (2023 est.) **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 129,368 (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 125 (2023 est.) **Broadcast media:** multiple UK terrestrial TV broadcasts are received via a transmitter in Jersey; satellite packages available; BBC Radio Jersey and 1 other radio station operating **Internet country code:** .je **Internet users:** percent of population: 41% (2012 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 39,699 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 37 (2020 est.) ### Transportation **Airports:** 1 (2025) **Ports:** total ports: 1 (2024) large: 0 medium: 0 small: 1 very small: 0 ports with oil terminals: 1 key ports: Saint Helier Harbour ### Military and Security **Military - note:** defense is the responsibility of the UK --- ## Kosovo **Slug:** kosovo **Region:** Europe **Flag:** 🇽🇰 **Codes:** cek: kv, iso2: XK, iso3: XKS, iso_num: , genc: XKS, stanag: -, internet: -, comment: XK and XKS are ISO 3166 user assigned codes; ISO 3166 Maintenance Authority has not assigned codes ### Introduction **Background:** The Ottoman Empire took control of Kosovo in 1389 after defeating Serbian forces. Large numbers of Turks and Albanians moved to the region, and by the end of the 19th century, Albanians had replaced Serbs as the majority ethnic group in Kosovo. Serbia reacquired control of Kosovo during the First Balkan War of 1912, and after World War II, Kosovo became an autonomous province of Serbia in the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY). Increasing Albanian nationalism in the 1980s led to riots and calls for Kosovo's independence, but in 1989, Belgrade -- which has in turn served as the capital of Serbia and Yugoslavia -- revoked Kosovo's autonomous status. When the SFRY broke up in 1991, Kosovo Albanian leaders organized an independence referendum, and Belgrade's repressive response led to an insurgency. Kosovo remained part of Serbia, which joined with Montenegro to declare a new Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) in 1992. In 1998, Belgrade launched a brutal counterinsurgency campaign, with some 800,000 ethnic Albanians expelled from their homes in Kosovo. After international mediation failed, a NATO military operation began in March 1999 and forced Belgrade to withdraw its forces from Kosovo. UN Security Council Resolution 1244 (1999) placed Kosovo under the temporary control of the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK). Negotiations in 2006-07 ended without agreement between Serbia and Kosovo, though the UN issued a comprehensive report that endorsed independence. On 17 February 2008, the Kosovo Assembly declared Kosovo independent. Serbia continues to reject Kosovo's independence, but the two countries began EU-facilitated discussions in 2013 to normalize relations, which resulted in several agreements. Additional agreements were reached in 2015 and 2023, but implementation remains incomplete. In 2022, Kosovo formally applied for membership in the EU, which is contingent on fulfillment of accession criteria, and the Council of Europe. Kosovo is also seeking UN and NATO memberships. ### Geography **Location:** Southeastern Europe, between Serbia and Macedonia **Geographic coordinates:** 42 35 N, 21 00 E **Map references:** Europe **Area:** total : 10,887 sq km land: 10,887 sq km water: 0 sq km **Area - comparative:** slightly larger than Delaware **Land boundaries:** total: 714 km border countries (4): Albania 112 km; North Macedonia 160 km; Montenegro 76 km; Serbia 366 km **Coastline:** 0 km (landlocked) **Maritime claims:** none (landlocked) **Climate:** influenced by continental air masses resulting in relatively cold winters with heavy snowfall and hot, dry summers and autumns; Mediterranean and alpine influences create regional variation; maximum rainfall between October and December **Terrain:** flat fluvial basin at an elevation of 400-700 m above sea level surrounded by several high mountain ranges with elevations of 2,000 to 2,500 m **Elevation:** highest point: Gjeravica/Deravica 2,656 m lowest point: Drini i Bardhe/Beli Drim (located on the border with Albania) 297 m mean elevation: 450 m **Natural resources:** nickel, lead, zinc, magnesium, lignite, kaolin, chrome, bauxite **Land use:** agricultural land: 52.8% (2018 est.) arable land: 27.4% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 1.9% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 23.5% (2018 est.) forest: 41.7% (2018 est.) other: 5.5% (2018 est.) **Irrigated land:** NA **Major watersheds (area sq km):** Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km) **Population distribution:** population clusters exist throughout the country, with the largest in the east in and around the capital of Pristina **Geography - note:** the 41-km (25-mi) Nerodimka River divides into two branches, each of which flows into a different sea: the northern branch flows into the Sitnica River, which via the Ibar, Morava, and Danube Rivers ultimately flows into the Black Sea; the southern branch flows via the Lepenac and Vardar Rivers into the Aegean Sea ### People and Society **Population:** total: 1,991,020 (2025 est.) male: 1,025,039 female: 965,981 **Nationality:** noun: Kosovan adjective: Kosovan note: Kosovo, a neutral term, is sometimes also used as a noun or adjective as in Kosovo Albanian, Kosovo Serb, Kosovo minority, or Kosovo citizen **Ethnic groups:** Albanians 92.9%, Bosniaks 1.6%, Serbs 1.5%, Turk 1.1%, Ashkali 0.9%, Egyptian 0.7%, Gorani 0.6%, Romani 0.5%, other/unspecified 0.2% (2011 est.) note: these estimates may under-represent Serb, Romani, and some other ethnic minorities because they are based on the 2011 Kosovo national census, which excluded northern Kosovo (a largely Serb-inhabited region) and was partially boycotted by Serb and Romani communities in southern Kosovo **Languages:** Albanian (official) 94.5%, Bosnian 1.7%, Serbian (official) 1.6%, Turkish 1.1%, other 0.9% (includes Romani), unspecified 0.1% (2011 est.) major-language sample(s): Libri i fakteve boterore, burimi i pazevendesueshem per informacione elementare (Albanian) Knjiga svetskih činjenica, neophodan izvor osnovnih informacija. (Serbian) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. note: these estimates may under-represent Serb, Romani, and other ethnic minority languages because they are based on the 2011 Kosovo national census, which excluded northern Kosovo (a largely Serb-inhabited region) and was partially boycotted by Serb and Romani communities in southern Kosovo **Religions:** Muslim 95.6%, Roman Catholic 2.2%, Orthodox 1.5%, other 0.1%, none 0.1%, unspecified 0.6% (2011 est.) note: these estimates may under-represent Serb, Romani, and some other ethnic minorities because they are based on the 2011 Kosovo national census, which excluded northern Kosovo (a largely Serb-inhabited region) and was partially boycotted by Serb and Romani communities in southern Kosovo **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 22.7% (male 233,010/female 216,304) 15-64 years: 68.9% (male 712,403/female 649,932) 65 years and over: 8.4% (2024 est.) (male 72,579/female 92,865) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 44.9 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 32.4 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 12.5 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 8 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 32.3 years (2025 est.) male: 31.7 years female: 32.4 years **Population growth rate:** 0.73% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 14.16 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 6.88 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** population clusters exist throughout the country, with the largest in the east in and around the capital of Pristina **Major urban areas - population:** 218,782 PRISTINA (capital) (2020) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.08 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 21 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 24.2 deaths/1,000 live births female: 21.5 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 73.1 years (2024 est.) male: 71 years female: 75.5 years **Total fertility rate:** 1.85 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 0.89 (2025 est.) **Physician density:** 0.2 physicians/1,000 population (2015) **Currently married women (ages 15-49):** 61.6% (2020 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** air pollution from power plants and lignite mines; water scarcity and pollution; land degradation **Climate:** influenced by continental air masses resulting in relatively cold winters with heavy snowfall and hot, dry summers and autumns; Mediterranean and alpine influences create regional variation; maximum rainfall between October and December **Land use:** agricultural land: 52.8% (2018 est.) arable land: 27.4% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 1.9% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 23.5% (2018 est.) forest: 41.7% (2018 est.) other: 5.5% (2018 est.) **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 7.444 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 5.005 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 2.439 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 319,000 tons (2024 est.) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: Republic of Kosovo conventional short form: Kosovo local long form: Republika e Kosoves (Albanian)/ Republika Kosovo (Serbian) local short form: Kosove (Albanian)/ Kosovo (Serbian) etymology: name may derive from the Serbian word kos, meaning "blackbird," or from a personal name **Government type:** parliamentary republic **Capital:** name: Pristina (Prishtine, Prishtina) geographic coordinates: 42 40 N, 21 10 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October etymology: the town takes its name from the river; the origin of the river's name is unclear but could come from a pre-Slavic language **Administrative divisions:** 38 municipalities (komunat, singular - komuna (Albanian); opstine, singular - opstina (Serbian)); Decan (Decani), Dragash (Dragas), Ferizaj (Urosevac), Fushe Kosove (Kosovo Polje), Gjakove (Dakovica), Gjilan (Gnjilane), Gllogovc (Glogovac), Gracanice (Gracanica), Hani i Elezit (Deneral Jankovic), Istog (Istok), Junik, Kacanik, Kamenice (Kamenica), Kline (Klina), Kllokot (Klokot), Leposaviq (Leposavic), Lipjan (Lipljan), Malisheve (Malisevo), Mamushe (Mamusa), Mitrovice e Jugut (Juzna Mitrovica) [South Mitrovica], Mitrovice e Veriut (Severna Mitrovica) [North Mitrovica], Novoberde (Novo Brdo), Obiliq (Obilic), Partesh (Partes), Peje (Pec), Podujeve (Podujevo), Prishtine (Pristina), Prizren, Rahovec (Orahovac), Ranillug (Ranilug), Shterpce (Strpce), Shtime (Stimlje), Skenderaj (Srbica), Suhareke (Suva Reka), Viti (Vitina), Vushtrri (Vucitrn), Zubin Potok, Zvecan **Legal system:** civil law system **Constitution:** history: previous 1974, 1990; latest (post-independence) draft finalized 2 April 2008, signed 7 April 2008, ratified 9 April 2008, entered into force 15 June 2008 amendment process: proposed by the government, by the president of the republic, or by one fourth of Assembly deputies; passage requires two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly, including two-thirds majority vote of deputies representing non-majority communities, followed by a favorable Constitutional Court assessment **International law organization participation:** has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Kosovo dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years **Suffrage:** 18 years of age; universal **Executive branch:** chief of state: President Vjosa OSMANI-Sadriu (since 4 April 2021) head of government: Acting Prime Minister Albin KURTI (since 15 April 2025) cabinet: Cabinet elected by the Assembly election/appointment process: president indirectly elected for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term) by at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly; if a candidate does not reach this threshold in the first two ballots, the candidate winning a simple majority vote in the third ballot is elected; prime minister indirectly elected by the Assembly most recent election date: 3-4 April 2021 election results: 2021: Vjosa OSMANI-Sadriu elected president in third ballot; Assembly vote - Vjosa OSMANI-Sadriu (Guxo!) 71 votes; Albin KURTI (LVV) elected prime minister; Assembly vote - 67 for, 30 against 2017: Ramush HARADINAJ (AAK) elected prime minister; Assembly vote - 61 for, 1 abstention, 0 against (opposition boycott) 2016: Hashim THACI elected president in third ballot; Assembly vote - Hashim THACI (PDK) 71 votes expected date of next election: 2026 note: Prime Minister Albin KURTI resigned on 15 April 2025; a replacement has not yet been selected **Legislative branch:** legislature name: Assembly (Kuvendi i Kosoves/Skupstina Kosova) legislative structure: unicameral number of seats: 120 (all directly elected) electoral system: proportional representation scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 4 years most recent election date: 2/14/2021 parties elected and seats per party: Self-Determination Movement (LVV) (58), Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) (19), Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) (15), Serb List (10), Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) (8), other (10) percentage of women in chamber: 34% expected date of next election: 2025 note: 20 seats reserved for ethnic minorities -- 10 for Serbs and 10 for other minorities **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the court president and 18 judges and organized into Appeals Panel of the Kosovo Property Agency and Special Chamber); Constitutional Court (consists of the court president, vice president, and 7 judges) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges nominated by the Kosovo Judicial Council, a 13-member independent body staffed by judges and lay members, and also responsible for overall administration of Kosovo's judicial system; judges appointed by the president of the Republic of Kosovo; judges appointed until mandatory retirement age; Constitutional Court judges nominated by the Kosovo Assembly and appointed by the president of the republic to serve single, 9-year terms subordinate courts: Court of Appeals (organized into 4 departments: General, Serious Crime, Commercial Matters, and Administrative Matters); Basic Court (located in 7 municipalities, each with several branches) note: in 2015, the Kosovo Assembly approved a constitutional amendment that established the Kosovo Relocated Specialist Judicial Institution, also referred to as the Kosovo Specialist Chambers or "Special Court"; the court, located at the Hague in the Netherlands, began operating in 2016 and has jurisdiction to try crimes against humanity, war crimes, and other crimes under Kosovo law that occurred in the 1998-2000 period **Political parties:** Alliance for the Future of Kosovo or AAK Ashkali Party for Integration or PAI Civic Initiative for Freedom, Justice, and Survival Democratic League of Kosovo or LDK Democratic Party of Kosovo or PDK New Democratic Initiative of Kosovo or IRDK New Democratic Party or NDS Progressive Movement of Kosovar Roma or LPRK Romani Initiative Self-Determination Movement (Lëvizja Vetevendosje or Vetevendosie) or LVV or VV Serb List or SL Social Democratic Union or SDU Turkish Democratic Party of Kosovo or KDTP Unique Gorani Party or JGP Vakat Coalition or VAKAT **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Ilir DUGOLLI (since 13 January 2022) chancery: 3612 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 450-2130 FAX: [1] (202) 735-0609 email address and website: embassy.usa@rks-gov.net U.S. Embassies of the Republic of Kosovo (ambasadat.net) consulate(s) general: New York consulate(s): Des Moines (IA) **Diplomatic representation from the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Anu PRATTIPATI (since January 2025) embassy: Arberia/Dragodan, Rr. 4 KORRIKU Nr. 25, Pristina mailing address: 9520 Pristina Place, Washington DC 20521-9520 telephone: [383] 38-59-59-3000 FAX: [383] 38-604-890 email address and website: PristinaACS@state.gov https://xk.usembassy.gov/ **International organization participation:** FIFA, IBRD, IDA, IFC, IMF, IOC, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, OIF (observer) **Independence:** 17 February 2008 (from Serbia) **National holiday:** Independence Day, 17 February (2008) **Flag:** description: a dark blue field with a gold-colored silhouette of Kosovo in the center, with six five-pointed white stars in a slight arc over it meaning: each star represents one of the major ethnic groups of Kosovo: Albanians, Serbs, Turks, Gorani, Roma, and Bosniaks note: one of two national flags that uses a map as a design element; the flag of Cyprus is the other **National symbol(s):** six five-pointed white stars **National color(s):** blue, gold, white **National coat of arms:** uses the national colors of blue, gold, and white, and is featured on the country’s flag; the golden map symbolizes a rich and peaceful Kosovo, with a blue background that represents the country’s aspirations for Euro-Atlantic integration; the six white stars stand for the major ethnic groups in Kosovo: Albanians, Serbs, Bosniaks, Turks, Roma (including Ashkali and Egyptians), and Gorani **National anthem(s):** title: "Europe" lyrics/music: no lyrics/Mendi MENGJIQI history: adopted 2008; Kosovo chose not to include lyrics in its anthem to avoid offending the country's minority ethnic groups **National heritage:** total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Medieval Monuments in Kosovo ### Economy **Economic overview:** small-but-growing European economy; non-EU member but unilateral euro user; very high unemployment, especially youth; vulnerable reliance on diaspora tourism services, curtailed by COVID-19 disruptions; unclear public loan portfolio health **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $25.019 billion (2024 est.) $23.962 billion (2023 est.) $23.025 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** 4.4% (2024 est.) 4.1% (2023 est.) 4.3% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $16,400 (2024 est.) $14,200 (2023 est.) $13,000 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $11.149 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 1.6% (2024 est.) 4.9% (2023 est.) 11.6% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 6.9% (2024 est.) industry: 26.2% (2024 est.) services: 45.7% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **GDP - composition, by end use:** household consumption: 84.3% (2024 est.) government consumption: 12.3% (2024 est.) investment in fixed capital: 33.8% (2024 est.) investment in inventories: 0% (2024 est.) exports of goods and services: 41.9% (2024 est.) imports of goods and services: -72.3% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection **Agricultural products:** wheat, corn, berries, potatoes, peppers, fruit; dairy, livestock; fish **Industries:** mineral mining, construction materials, base metals, leather, machinery, appliances, foodstuffs and beverages, textiles **Industrial production growth rate:** 4% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency **Labor force:** 500,300 (2017 est.) note: includes those estimated to be employed in the gray economy **Population below poverty line:** 17.6% (2015 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line **Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income:** 49.4 (2021 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality **Household income or consumption by percentage share:** lowest 10%: 0.4% (2021 est.) highest 10%: 32.9% (2021 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population **Remittances:** 17.5% of GDP (2023 est.) 17.2% of GDP (2022 est.) 18% of GDP (2021 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Budget:** revenues: $1.951 billion (2020 est.) expenditures: $2.547 billion (2020 est.) **Current account balance:** -$785.09 million (2023 est.) -$983.283 million (2022 est.) -$818.351 million (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars **Exports:** $4.156 billion (2023 est.) $3.579 billion (2022 est.) $3.138 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** United States 16%, Albania 15%, North Macedonia 12%, Germany 8%, Italy 8% (2021) **Exports - commodities:** mattress materials, iron alloys, metal piping, scrap iron, building plastics (2021) top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports:** $7.362 billion (2023 est.) $6.661 billion (2022 est.) $6.128 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** Germany 13%, Turkey 13%, China 10%, Serbia 7%, Italy 6% (2021) **Imports - commodities:** refined petroleum, cars, iron rods, electricity, cigars, packaged medicines (2021) **Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:** $1.31 billion (2024 est.) $1.245 billion (2023 est.) $1.248 billion (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars **Debt - external:** $785.739 million (2023 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars **Exchange rates:** euros (EUR) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 0.924 (2024 est.) 0.925 (2023 est.) 0.951 (2022 est.) 0.845 (2021 est.) 0.877 (2020 est.) note: Kosovo, which is neither an EU member state nor a party to a formal EU monetary agreement, uses the euro as its de facto currency ### Energy **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 1.555 million kW (2023 est.) consumption: 6.571 billion kWh (2023 est.) exports: 2.442 billion kWh (2023 est.) imports: 3.449 billion kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 789.167 million kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** fossil fuels: 87.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) wind: 6.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: 6.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Coal:** production: 6.924 million metric tons (2023 est.) consumption: 6.931 million metric tons (2023 est.) exports: 13,000 metric tons (2023 est.) imports: 20,000 metric tons (2023 est.) proven reserves: 1.564 billion metric tons (2023 est.) **Petroleum:** refined petroleum consumption: 16,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) **Energy consumption per capita:** 52.085 million Btu/person (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 112,000 (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 7 (2022 est.) **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 593,000 (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 35 (2022 est.) **Internet country code:** .xk note: assigned as a temporary code under UN Security Council resolution 1244/99 **Internet users:** percent of population: 89% (2018 est.) ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** Z6 **Airports:** 2 (2025) **Heliports:** 11 (2025) **Railways:** total: 437 km (2020) ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** Kosovo Security Force (KSF; Forca e Sigurisë së Kosovës or FSK): Land Force, National Guard (2025) note: the Kosovo Police are under the Ministry of Internal Affairs **Military expenditures:** 1.5% of GDP (2024 est.) 1.3% of GDP (2023 est.) 1.1% of GDP (2022 est.) 1.1% of GDP (2021 est.) 1% of GDP (2020 est.) **Military and security service personnel strengths:** approximately 3,300 Kosovo Security Forces, including about 800 reserves (2024) **Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:** the KSF is equipped with small arms and light vehicles and has relied on limited amounts of donated equipment from several countries, particularly Türkiye and the US (2025) **Military service age and obligation:** any citizen of Kosovo over the age of 18 is eligible to serve in the Kosovo Security Force; upper age for enlisting is 30 for officers, 25 for other ranks, although these may be waived for recruits with key skills considered essential for the KSF (2025) **Military - note:** the Kosovo Security Force (KSF) was established in 2009 as a small (1,500 personnel), lightly armed disaster response force; the NATO-led Kosovo Force (KFOR) was charged with assisting in the development of the KSF and bringing it up to standards designated by NATO; the KSF was certified as fully operational by the North Atlantic Council in 2013, indicating the then 2,200-strong KSF was entirely capable of performing the tasks assigned under its mandate, which included non-military security functions that were not appropriate for the police, plus missions such as search and rescue, explosive ordnance disposal, control and clearance of hazardous materials, firefighting, and other humanitarian assistance tasks in 2019, Kosovo approved legislation that began a process to transition the KSF by 2028 into a professional military (the Kosovo Armed Forces) led by a General Staff and comprised of a Land Force, a National Guard, a Logistics Command, and a Doctrine and Training Command; it would have a strength of up to 5,000 with about 3,000 reserves; at the same time, the KSF’s mission was expanded to include traditional military functions, such as territorial defense and international peacekeeping; the KSF’s first international mission was the deployment of a small force to Kuwait in 2021 the NATO-led KFOR has operated in the country as a peace support force since 1999; in addition to assisting in the development of the KSF, KFOR is responsible for providing a safe and secure environment and ensuring freedom of movement for all citizens; as of 2025, it had approximately 4,700 troops from more than 30 countries (2025) ### Terrorism **Terrorist group(s):** Terrorist group(s): Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide ### Transnational Issues **Refugees and internally displaced persons:** IDPs: 15,582 (2024 est.) --- ## Latvia **Slug:** latvia **Region:** Europe **Flag:** 🇱🇻 **Codes:** cek: lg, iso2: LV, iso3: LVA, iso_num: 428, genc: LVA, stanag: LVA, internet: .lv ### Introduction **Background:** Several eastern Baltic tribes merged in medieval times to form the ethnic core of the Latvian people (ca. 8th-12th centuries A.D.). The region subsequently came under the control of Germans, Poles, Swedes, and finally Russians. A Latvian republic emerged following World War I, but the USSR annexed it in 1940 -- an action never recognized by the US and many other countries. Latvia reestablished its independence in 1991 after the breakup of the Soviet Union. Although the last Russian troops left in 1994, the status of the Russian minority (some 25% of the population) remains of concern to Moscow. Latvia joined both NATO and the EU in 2004; it joined the euro zone in 2014 and the OECD in 2016. ### Geography **Location:** Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Estonia and Lithuania **Geographic coordinates:** 57 00 N, 25 00 E **Map references:** Europe **Area:** total : 64,589 sq km land: 62,249 sq km water: 2,340 sq km **Area - comparative:** slightly larger than West Virginia **Land boundaries:** total: 1,370 km border countries (4): Belarus 161 km; Estonia 333 km; Lithuania 544 km; Russia 332 km **Coastline:** 498 km **Maritime claims:** territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: limits as agreed to by Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Sweden, and Russia continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation **Climate:** maritime; wet, moderate winters **Terrain:** low plain **Elevation:** highest point: Gaizina Kalns 312 m lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m mean elevation: 87 m **Natural resources:** peat, limestone, dolomite, amber, hydropower, timber, arable land **Land use:** agricultural land: 31.7% (2023 est.) arable land: 21.9% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0.2% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 9.7% (2023 est.) forest: 55.5% (2023 est.) other: 12.8% (2023 est.) **Irrigated land:** 6 sq km (2016) note: land in Latvia is often too wet and in need of drainage not irrigation; approximately 16,000 sq km or 85% of agricultural land has been improved by drainage **Population distribution:** largest concentration of people is found in and around the port and capital city of Riga; small agglomerations are scattered throughout the country **Natural hazards:** large percentage of agricultural fields can become waterlogged and require drainage **Geography - note:** most of the country is composed of fertile low-lying plains with some hills in the east ### People and Society **Population:** total: 1,888,439 (2025 est.) male: 876,654 female: 1,011,785 **Nationality:** noun: Latvian(s) adjective: Latvian **Ethnic groups:** Latvian 62.7%, Russian 24.5%, Belarusian 3.1%, Ukrainian 2.2%, Polish 2%, Lithuanian 1.1%, other 1.8%, unspecified 2.6% (2021 est.) **Languages:** Latvian (official) 56.3%, Russian 33.8%, other 0.6% (includes Polish, Ukrainian, and Belarusian), unspecified 9.4% (2011 est.) major-language sample(s): World Factbook, neaizstājams avots pamata informāciju. (Latvian) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. note: data represent language usually spoken at home **Religions:** Lutheran 36.2%, Roman Catholic 19.5%, Orthodox 19.1%, other Christian 1.6%, other 0.1%, unspecified/none 23.5% (2017 est.) **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 14.7% (male 136,482/female 128,492) 15-64 years: 63% (male 562,754/female 572,850) 65 years and over: 22.2% (2024 est.) (male 137,746/female 262,922) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 56.2 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 23.3 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 33 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 3 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 43.8 years (2025 est.) male: 41.6 years female: 49.2 years **Population growth rate:** -1.27% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 7.24 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 14.68 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** -5.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** largest concentration of people is found in and around the port and capital city of Riga; small agglomerations are scattered throughout the country **Urbanization:** urban population: 68.7% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: -0.68% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 621,000 RIGA (capital) (2023) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.52 male(s)/female total population: 0.87 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Mother's mean age at first birth:** 27.3 years (2020 est.) **Maternal mortality ratio:** 19 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 2.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 5.1 deaths/1,000 live births female: 4.3 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 76.4 years (2024 est.) male: 72 years female: 81 years **Total fertility rate:** 1.25 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 0.61 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: urban: 98.9% of population (2022 est.) rural: 98.9% of population (2022 est.) total: 98.9% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 1.1% of population (2022 est.) rural: 1.1% of population (2022 est.) total: 1.1% of population (2022 est.) **Health expenditure:** 9% of GDP (2021) 12.1% of national budget (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 3.4 physicians/1,000 population (2022) **Hospital bed density:** 5.3 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.) **Obesity - adult prevalence rate:** 23.6% (2016) **Alcohol consumption per capita:** total: 12.9 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 4.9 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 1.7 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 5.3 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 1 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) **Tobacco use:** total: 28.8% (2025 est.) male: 43.5% (2025 est.) female: 16.4% (2025 est.) **Children under the age of 5 years underweight:** 0.3% (2021 est.) **Currently married women (ages 15-49):** 49.6% (2021 est.) **Education expenditure:** 4.3% of GDP (2022 est.) 9.9% national budget (2022 est.) **School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):** total: 16 years (2023 est.) male: 15 years (2023 est.) female: 17 years (2023 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** some soil, water, and air pollution **International environmental agreements:** party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements **Climate:** maritime; wet, moderate winters **Land use:** agricultural land: 31.7% (2023 est.) arable land: 21.9% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0.2% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 9.7% (2023 est.) forest: 55.5% (2023 est.) other: 12.8% (2023 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 68.7% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: -0.68% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 6.427 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 41,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 4.861 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from consumed natural gas: 1.526 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Particulate matter emissions:** 15.6 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 839,700 tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 31.3% (2022 est.) **Total water withdrawal:** municipal: 91.945 million cubic meters (2022) industrial: 30.291 million cubic meters (2022) agricultural: 50.098 million cubic meters (2022) **Total renewable water resources:** 34.94 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: Republic of Latvia conventional short form: Latvia local long form: Latvijas Republika local short form: Latvija former: Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic (while occupied by the USSR) etymology: the name originates from the Latgalians, one of four eastern Baltic tribes that formed the ethnic core of the Latvian people (ca. 8th-12th centuries A.D.) **Government type:** parliamentary republic **Capital:** name: Riga geographic coordinates: 56 57 N, 24 06 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October etymology: the name's origin is unclear; it may derive from the Old Lithuanian word ringa, meaning "bend" or "curve" and referring to the city's location on the Western Dvina River; alternatively, it may come from the Latvian word ridzina, meaning "stream" **Administrative divisions:** 36 municipalities (novadi, singular - novads) and 7 state cities (valstpilsetu pasvaldibas, singular - valstspilsetas pasvaldiba) municipalities: Adazi, Aizkraukle, Aluksne, Augsdaugava, Balvi, Bauska, Cesis, Dienvidkurzeme, Dobele, Gulbene, Jekabpils, Jelgava, Kekava, Kraslava, Kuldiga, Limbazi, Livani, Ludza, Madona, Marupe, Ogre, Olaine, Preili, Rezekne, Ropazi, Salaspils, Saldus, Saulkrasti, Sigulda, Smiltene, Talsi, Tukums, Valka, Valmiera, Varaklani, Ventspils cities: Daugavpils, Jelgava, Jurmala, Liepaja, Rezekne, Riga, Ventspils **Legal system:** civil law system with traces of socialist legal traditions and practices **Constitution:** history: several previous (pre-1991 independence); after independence was restored in 1991, parts of the 1922 constitution were reintroduced on 4 May 1990 and fully reintroduced on 6 July 1993 amendment process: proposed by two thirds of Parliament members or by petition of one tenth of qualified voters submitted through the president; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of Parliament in each of three readings; amendment of constitutional articles, including national sovereignty, language, the parliamentary electoral system, and constitutional amendment procedures, requires passage in a referendum by majority vote of at least one half of the electorate **International law organization participation:** has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Latvia dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years **Suffrage:** 18 years of age; universal **Executive branch:** chief of state: President Edgars RINKEVICS (since 8 July 2023) head of government: Prime Minister Evika SILINA (since 15 September 2023) cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers nominated by the prime minister, appointed by Parliament election/appointment process: president indirectly elected by Parliament for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister appointed by the president, confirmed by Parliament most recent election date: 31 May 2023 election results: 2023: Edgars RINKEVICS elected president in the third round; Parliament vote - Edgars RINKEVICS (Unity Party) 52, Uldis Pīlēns (independent) 25; Evika SILINA confirmed as prime minister 53-39 2019: Egils LEVITS elected president; Parliament vote - Egils LEVITS (independent) 61, Didzis SMITS (KPV LV) 24, Juris JANSONS (independent) 8; Krisjanis KARINS confirmed as prime minister 61-39 expected date of next election: 2027 **Legislative branch:** legislature name: Parliament (Saeima) legislative structure: unicameral number of seats: 100 (all directly elected) electoral system: proportional representation scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 4 years most recent election date: 10/1/2022 parties elected and seats per party: New Unity (VIENOTIBA) (26); Union of Farmers and Greens (ZZS) (16); United List - Latvian Green Party, Latvian Regional Alliance, Liepāja Party (15); National Alliance of All for Latvia!" - "For Fatherland and Freedom / LNNK" (NA) (13); For Stability! (11); Progressives (10); Latvia First (9) percentage of women in chamber: 31% expected date of next election: October 2026 **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the Senate with 36 judges); Constitutional Court (consists of 7 judges) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges nominated by chief justice and confirmed by the Saeima; judges serve until age 70, but term can be extended 2 years; Constitutional Court judges - 3 nominated by Saeima members, 2 by Cabinet ministers, and 2 by plenum of Supreme Court; all judges confirmed by Saeima majority vote; Constitutional Court president and vice president serve in their positions for 3 years; all judges serve 10-year terms; mandatory retirement at age 70 subordinate courts: district (city) and regional courts **Political parties:** For Stability or S! For Latvia's Development or LA Harmony or S Honor to Serve Riga! or GKR Latvia First or LPV National Alliance or NA New Unity or JV People. Land. Statehood. or TZV The Progressives or PRO Union of Greens and Farmers or ZZS United List or AS We for Talsi and Municipality or MTuN **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Elita KUZMA (since 18 September 2024) chancery: 2306 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 328-2840 FAX: [1] (202) 328-2860 email address and website: embassy.usa@mfa.gov.lv https://www2.mfa.gov.lv/en/usa **Diplomatic representation from the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Julia JACOBY (since December 2025) embassy: 1 Samnera Velsa Street (former Remtes), Riga LV-1510 mailing address: 4520 Riga Place, Washington DC 20521-4520 telephone: [371] 6710-7000 FAX: [371] 6710-7050 email address and website: askconsular-riga@state.gov https://lv.usembassy.gov/ **International organization participation:** Australia Group, BA, BIS, CBSS, CD, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EMU, ESA (cooperating state), EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO **Independence:** 18 November 1918 (from Soviet Russia); 4 May 1990 (declared from the Soviet Union); 6 September 1991 (recognized by the Soviet Union) **National holiday:** Independence Day (Republic of Latvia Proclamation Day), 18 November (1918) note: 18 November 1918 was the date Latvia established its statehood and independence from Soviet Russia; 4 May 1990 was the date it declared the restoration of statehood and independence from the Soviet Union **Flag:** description: three horizontal bands of maroon (top), white (half-width), and maroon history: the flag is one of the older banners in the world -- a medieval chronicle mentions Latvian tribes using a red standard with a white stripe around 1280 **National symbol(s):** white wagtail (bird) **National color(s):** maroon, white **National anthem(s):** title: "Dievs, sveti Latviju!" (God Bless Latvia) lyrics/music: Karlis BAUMANIS history: adopted 1920, restored 1990; first performed in 1873 when Latvia was part of Russia; banned during the Soviet occupation from 1940 to 1990 **National heritage:** total World Heritage Sites: 3 (all cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Historic Center of Riga; Struve Geodetic Arc; Old town of Kuldīga ### Economy **Economic overview:** high-income EU and eurozone member; weak recovery following economic contraction, with slight increase in private consumption and uncertain trade environment; challenges from skilled-labor shortages, capital market access, large informal sector, and green and digital transitions **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $72.516 billion (2024 est.) $72.838 billion (2023 est.) $70.817 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** -0.4% (2024 est.) 2.9% (2023 est.) 1.8% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $38,900 (2024 est.) $38,800 (2023 est.) $37,700 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $43.521 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 1.3% (2024 est.) 8.9% (2023 est.) 17.3% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 4.1% (2024 est.) industry: 19.9% (2024 est.) services: 63.1% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **GDP - composition, by end use:** household consumption: 62.7% (2023 est.) government consumption: 20.2% (2023 est.) investment in fixed capital: 24.7% (2023 est.) investment in inventories: -0.1% (2023 est.) exports of goods and services: 66.5% (2023 est.) imports of goods and services: -70.2% (2023 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection **Agricultural products:** wheat, milk, rapeseed, barley, oats, potatoes, rye, beans, peas, chicken (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage **Industries:** processed foods, processed wood products, textiles, processed metals, pharmaceuticals, railroad cars, synthetic fibers, electronics **Industrial production growth rate:** -4% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency **Labor force:** 954,900 (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work **Unemployment rate:** 6.8% (2024 est.) 6.5% (2023 est.) 6.9% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment **Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):** total: 12.5% (2024 est.) male: 13% (2024 est.) female: 11.9% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment **Population below poverty line:** 22.5% (2022 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line **Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income:** 33.7 (2022 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality **Average household expenditures:** on food: 19.6% of household expenditures (2023 est.) on alcohol and tobacco: 7.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.) **Household income or consumption by percentage share:** lowest 10%: 2.6% (2022 est.) highest 10%: 25.8% (2022 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population **Remittances:** 3.1% of GDP (2024 est.) 2.9% of GDP (2023 est.) 3.4% of GDP (2022 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Budget:** revenues: $14.58 billion (2023 est.) expenditures: $15.432 billion (2023 est.) note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated **Public debt:** 36.3% of GDP (2017 est.) note: data cover general government debt, and includes debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities, including sub-sectors of central government, state government, local government, and social security funds **Taxes and other revenues:** 16.7% (of GDP) (2023 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP **Current account balance:** -$923.266 million (2024 est.) -$1.663 billion (2023 est.) -$2.082 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars **Exports:** $28.117 billion (2024 est.) $28.294 billion (2023 est.) $29.364 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** Lithuania 19%, Estonia 6%, Russia 6%, Germany 6%, Sweden 5% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** wood, wheat, broadcasting equipment, packaged medicine, natural gas (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports:** $29.234 billion (2024 est.) $29.875 billion (2023 est.) $31.206 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** Lithuania 18%, Germany 11%, Poland 10%, Estonia 8%, Finland 5% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** refined petroleum, cars, packaged medicine, broadcasting equipment, natural gas (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:** $5.141 billion (2024 est.) $4.957 billion (2023 est.) $4.46 billion (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars **Exchange rates:** euros (EUR) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 0.924 (2024 est.) 0.925 (2023 est.) 0.95 (2022 est.) 0.845 (2021 est.) 0.876 (2020 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.) **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 3.428 million kW (2023 est.) consumption: 6.822 billion kWh (2023 est.) exports: 3.271 billion kWh (2023 est.) imports: 4.075 billion kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 342.238 million kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** fossil fuels: 22.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 3.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) wind: 4.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: 59.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) biomass and waste: 10.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Coal:** consumption: 20,000 metric tons (2023 est.) exports: 12,000 metric tons (2023 est.) imports: 39,000 metric tons (2023 est.) **Petroleum:** total petroleum production: 2,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 33,000 bbl/day (2024 est.) **Natural gas:** consumption: 786.523 million cubic meters (2023 est.) imports: 786.523 million cubic meters (2023 est.) **Energy consumption per capita:** 65.908 million Btu/person (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 205,000 (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 11 (2024 est.) **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 2.27 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 121 (2024 est.) **Broadcast media:** several national and regional commercial TV stations are foreign-owned, 2 national TV stations are publicly owned; system supplemented by privately owned regional and local TV stations; cable and satellite multi-channel TV services with domestic and foreign broadcasts available; publicly owned broadcaster operates 4 radio networks with dozens of stations; dozens of private broadcasters also operate radio stations **Internet country code:** .lv **Internet users:** percent of population: 92% (2023 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 489,000 (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 26 (2023 est.) ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** YL **Airports:** 55 (2025) **Heliports:** 5 (2025) **Railways:** total: 2,216 km (2020) 257 km electrified **Merchant marine:** total: 83 (2023) by type: container ship 2, general cargo 30, oil tanker 10, other 41 **Ports:** total ports: 5 (2024) large: 1 medium: 2 small: 0 very small: 2 ports with oil terminals: 3 key ports: Lielupe, Liepaja, Riga, Salacgriva, Ventspils ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** National Armed Forces (Nacionalie Brunotie Speki or NBS): Land Forces (Latvijas Sauszemes Speki), Naval Force (Latvijas Juras Speki, includes Coast Guard (Latvijas Kara Flote)), Air Force (Latvijas Gaisa Speki), National Guard (aka Land Guard or Zemessardze) Ministry of Interior: State Police, State Border Guards, State Security Service (2025) note: the State Border Guard may become part of the armed forces during an emergency **Military expenditures:** 3.7% of GDP (2025 est.) 3.4% of GDP (2024 est.) 3% of GDP (2023 est.) 2.3% of GDP (2022 est.) 2.2% of GDP (2021 est.) **Military and security service personnel strengths:** approximately 9,000 active-duty military personnel (2025) **Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:** the Latvian military's inventory consists of European and US armaments (2025) **Military service age and obligation:** mandatory military service for all men 18-24; men and women 18-27 may volunteer for military service; service length 11 months in the Armed Forces or National Guard, or 5 years in the National Guard as a whole, with a minimum of 21 days of individual training and a maximum of 7 days of collective training each year (2026) note 1: conscription was reintroduced in 2024 note 2: as of 2024, women comprised about 16.5% of the military's full-time personnel **Military deployments:** 140 Kosovo (KFOR/NATO) (2025) **Military - note:** the National Armed Forces are responsible for the defense of the country’s sovereignty and territory; they also have some domestic security responsibilities, including coast guard functions, search and rescue, humanitarian assistance, and providing support to other internal security services; the Military Police provides protection to the president and other government officials, foreign dignitaries, and key facilities; Latvia’s primary external security focus is Russia in 2004, Latvia joined NATO and the EU, both of which it depends on to play a decisive role in Latvia’s security policy; the Latvian military has participated in EU and NATO missions abroad and regularly conducts training and exercises with EU and NATO partner forces; Latvia also hosts NATO partner forces; since 2017, it has hosted a Canadian-led multinational NATO ground force battlegroup as part of the Alliance’s Enhanced Forward Presence initiative; in addition, NATO has provided air protection for Latvia since 2004 through its Baltics Air Policing mission Latvia is a member of the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force, a pool of high-readiness military forces from 10 Baltic and Scandinavian countries designed to respond to a wide range of contingencies in the North Atlantic, Baltic Sea, and High North regions (2025) ### Transnational Issues **Refugees and internally displaced persons:** refugees: 49,483 (2024 est.) stateless persons: 173,891 (2024 est.) --- ## Liechtenstein **Slug:** liechtenstein **Region:** Europe **Flag:** 🇱🇮 **Codes:** cek: ls, iso2: LI, iso3: LIE, iso_num: 438, genc: LIE, stanag: LIE, internet: .li ### Introduction **Background:** The Principality of Liechtenstein was established within the Holy Roman Empire in 1719. Occupied by both French and Russian troops during the Napoleonic Wars, it became a sovereign state in 1806 and joined the German Confederation in 1815. Liechtenstein became fully independent in 1866 when the Confederation dissolved. Until the end of World War I, it was closely tied to Austria, but the economic devastation caused by that conflict forced Liechtenstein to enter into a customs and monetary union with Switzerland. Since World War II (in which Liechtenstein remained neutral), the country's low taxes have spurred outstanding economic growth. In 2000, shortcomings in banking regulatory oversight resulted in concerns about the use of financial institutions for money laundering. However, Liechtenstein implemented anti-money laundering legislation and a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty with the US that went into effect in 2003. ### Geography **Location:** Central Europe, between Austria and Switzerland **Geographic coordinates:** 47 16 N, 9 32 E **Map references:** Europe **Area:** total : 160 sq km land: 160 sq km water: 0 sq km **Area - comparative:** about 0.9 times the size of Washington, D.C. **Land boundaries:** total: 75 km border countries (2): Austria 34 km; Switzerland 41 km **Coastline:** 0 km (doubly landlocked) **Maritime claims:** none (landlocked) **Climate:** continental; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow or rain; cool to moderately warm, cloudy, humid summers **Terrain:** mostly mountainous (Alps) with Rhine Valley in western third **Elevation:** highest point: Vorder-Grauspitz 2,599 m lowest point: Ruggeller Riet 430 m **Natural resources:** hydroelectric potential, arable land **Land use:** agricultural land: 32.3% (2023 est.) arable land: 10.8% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.) permanent pasture: 21.5% (2023 est.) forest: 36.3% (2023 est.) other: 31.4% (2023 est.) **Irrigated land:** 0 sq km (2012) **Major watersheds (area sq km):** Atlantic Ocean drainage: Rhine-Maas (198,735 sq km) **Population distribution:** most of the population is found in the western half of the country along the Rhine River **Natural hazards:** avalanches, landslides **Geography - note:** along with Uzbekistan, one of only two doubly landlocked countries in the world; variety of microclimatic variations based on elevation ### People and Society **Population:** total: 40,547 (2025 est.) male: 20,215 female: 20,332 **Nationality:** noun: Liechtensteiner(s) adjective: Liechtenstein **Ethnic groups:** Liechtensteiner 65.6%, Swiss 9.6%, Austrian 5.8%, German 4.5%, Italian 3.1%, other 11.4% (2021 est.) note: data represent population by nationality **Languages:** German 91.5% (official, Alemannic is the main dialect), Italian 1.5%, Turkish 1.3%, Portuguese 1.1%, other 4.6% (2015 est.) major-language sample(s): Das World Factbook, die unverzichtbare Quelle für grundlegende Informationen. (German) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. **Religions:** Roman Catholic (official) 73.4%, Protestant Reformed 6.3%, Muslim 5.9%, Christian Orthodox 1.3%, Lutheran 1.2%, other Protestant 0.7%, other Christian 0.3%, other 0.8%, none 7%, unspecified 3.3% (2015 est.) **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 15.3% (male 3,412/female 2,732) 15-64 years: 63.9% (male 12,814/female 12,921) 65 years and over: 20.8% (2024 est.) (male 3,846/female 4,547) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 57.6 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 23.9 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 33.6 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 3 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 44.4 years (2025 est.) male: 42.4 years female: 46.1 years **Population growth rate:** 0.68% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 10.31 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 8.24 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** 4.71 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** most of the population is found in the western half of the country along the Rhine River **Urbanization:** urban population: 14.6% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 1.15% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 5,000 VADUZ (capital) (2018) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.26 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.25 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Mother's mean age at first birth:** 31.3 years (2017) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 3.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 4.3 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.5 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 83 years (2024 est.) male: 80.7 years female: 85.8 years **Total fertility rate:** 1.69 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 0.75 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: total: 100% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: total: 0% of population (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 1.3 physicians/1,000 population (2022) **Sanitation facility access:** improved: total: 100% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: NA total: 0% of population (2022 est.) **Currently married women (ages 15-49):** 64.7% (2020 est.) **Education expenditure:** 2.6% of GDP (2011 est.) **School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):** total: 15 years (2021 est.) male: 16 years (2021 est.) female: 14 years (2021 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** some air pollution generated locally, some carried over from surrounding countries **International environmental agreements:** party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Law of the Sea **Climate:** continental; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow or rain; cool to moderately warm, cloudy, humid summers **Land use:** agricultural land: 32.3% (2023 est.) arable land: 10.8% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.) permanent pasture: 21.5% (2023 est.) forest: 36.3% (2023 est.) other: 31.4% (2023 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 14.6% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 1.15% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 32,400 tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 64.6% (2015 est.) **Total water withdrawal:** municipal: 10 million cubic meters (2020 est.) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: Principality of Liechtenstein conventional short form: Liechtenstein local long form: Fuerstentum Liechtenstein local short form: Liechtenstein etymology: named after the Liechtenstein family that purchased and united the counties of Schellenburg and Vaduz in 1719; the family name was taken from its Austrian castle of the same name, which in German means "light stone" **Government type:** constitutional monarchy **Capital:** name: Vaduz geographic coordinates: 47 08 N, 9 31 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October etymology: may be a conflation from the Latin vallis (valley) and the Old German dutsch (German) to produce Valdutsch ("German valley"), which was simplified over time to Vaduz **Administrative divisions:** 11 communes (Gemeinden, singular - Gemeinde); Balzers, Eschen, Gamprin, Mauren, Planken, Ruggell, Schaan, Schellenberg, Triesen, Triesenberg, Vaduz **Legal system:** civil law system influenced by Swiss, Austrian, and German law **Constitution:** history: previous 1862; latest adopted 5 October 1921 amendment process: proposed by Parliament, by the reigning prince (in the form of "Government" proposals), by petition of at least 1,500 qualified voters, or by at least four communes; passage requires unanimous approval of Parliament members in one sitting or three-quarters majority vote in two successive sittings; referendum required only if petitioned by at least 1,500 voters or by at least four communes; passage by referendum requires absolute majority of votes cast **International law organization participation:** accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Liechtenstein; in the case of a child born out of wedlock, the mother must be a citizen dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years **Suffrage:** 18 years of age; universal **Executive branch:** chief of state: Prince HANS-ADAM II (since 13 November 1989, assumed executive powers on 26 August 1984) head of government: Prime Minister Brigitte HAAS (since 10 April 2025) cabinet: Cabinet elected by the Parliament, confirmed by the monarch election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative elections, the monarch usually appoints the leader of the majority party in Parliament as the head of government, and also appoints the leader of the largest minority party in Parliament as the deputy head of government if there is a coalition government note: the prince's successor is his son, Heir Apparent and Regent of Liechtenstein Prince ALOIS; on 15 August 2004, HANS-ADAM II transferred the official duties of the ruling prince to ALOIS, but Prince HANS-ADAM II retains the status of chief of state **Legislative branch:** legislature name: Diet (Landtag) legislative structure: unicameral number of seats: 25 (all directly elected) electoral system: proportional representation scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 4 years most recent election date: 2/9/2025 parties elected and seats per party: Patriotic Union (VU) (10); Progressive Citizens' Party (FBP) (7); Democrats for Liechtenstein (DpL) (6); Free List (FL) (2) percentage of women in chamber: 32% expected date of next election: February 2029 **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Supreme Court or Supreme Court or Fürstlicher Oberster Gerichtshof (consists of 5 judges and 5 substitutes); Constitutional Court or Staatsgerichtshof (consists of 5 judges, and 5 alternates) judge selection and term of office: judges of both courts elected by the Landtag and appointed by the monarch; Supreme Court judges serve 4-year renewable terms; Constitutional Court judges appointed for renewable 5-year terms subordinate courts: Court of Appeal (second instance), Regional Court (first instance), Administrative Court, Tribunal Court, district courts **Political parties:** Democrats for Liechtenstein (Demokraten pro Liechtenstein) or DpL Fatherland Union (Vaterlaendische Union) or VU Progressive Citizens' Party (Fortschrittliche Buergerpartei) or FBP The Free List (Die Freie Liste) or FL The Independents (Die Unabhaengigen) or DU **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Georg SPARBER (since 1 December 2021) chancery: 2900 K Street NW, Suite 602B, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 331-0590 FAX: [1] (202) 331-3221 email address and website: washington@llv.li https://www.liechtensteinusa.org/ **Diplomatic representation from the US:** embassy: the US does not have an embassy in Liechtenstein; the US Ambassador to Switzerland is accredited to Liechtenstein **International organization participation:** CD, CE, EBRD, EFTA, IAEA, ICCt, ICRM, IFRCS, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WIPO, WTO **Independence:** 23 January 1719 (Principality of Liechtenstein established); 12 July 1806 (independence from the Holy Roman Empire); 24 August 1866 (independence from the German Confederation) **National holiday:** National Day, 15 August (1940) note: a National Day was originally established in 1940 to combine celebrations for the Feast of the Assumption (15 August) with those honoring the birthday of former Prince FRANZ JOSEF II (1906-1989) on 16 August; after the prince's death, National Day became the official national holiday in 1990 **Flag:** description: two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red, with a gold crown on the left side of the blue band history: the colors may derive from the blue-and-red livery used in the principality's household in the 18th century; the prince's crown was added in 1937 to distinguish it from Haiti's flag **National symbol(s):** princely hat (crown) **National color(s):** blue, red **National coat of arms:** the six motifs on the coat of arms provide a history of the royal House of Liechtenstein since 1719, when the country was founded; the small shield at the center is the royal family’s gold-and-red coat of arms, the gold-crowned eagle signifies the Silesia family, the diamond wreath represents the Kuenringer family, the red-and-silver shield is the Duchy of Troppau, the black eagle comes from the coat of arms of a family that married into the royal line, and the golden hunting horn represents the Duchy of Jägerndorf **National anthem(s):** title: "Oben am jungen Rhein" (High Above the Young Rhine) lyrics/music: Jakob Joseph JAUCH/Josef FROMMELT history: adopted 1850, revised 1963; uses the tune of the United Kingdom's anthem, "God Save the King" ### Economy **Economic overview:** high-income European economy; Schengen Area participant; key European financial leader; integrated with Swiss economy and franc currency user; one of the highest GDP per capita countries; relies on US and Eurozone markets for exports **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $7.172 billion (2024 est.) $7.031 billion (2023 est.) $6.885 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2015 dollars **Real GDP per capita:** $210,600 (2024 est.) $201,200 (2023 est.) $187,700 (2022 est.) note: data in 2015 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $8.395 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 2.8% (2022 est.) 0.6% (2021 est.) -0.7% (2020 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 0.2% (2022 est.) industry: 40.6% (2022 est.) services: 55.6% (2022 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **Agricultural products:** wheat, barley, corn, potatoes; livestock, dairy products **Industries:** electronics, metal manufacturing, dental products, ceramics, pharmaceuticals, food products, precision instruments, tourism, optical instruments **Exports:** $3.217 billion (2015 est.) $3.774 billion (2014 est.) note: trade data exclude trade with Switzerland **Exports - commodities:** small specialty machinery, connectors for audio and video, parts for motor vehicles, dental products, hardware top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports - commodities:** agricultural products, raw materials, energy products, machinery, metal goods, textiles, foodstuffs, motor vehicles **Exchange rates:** Swiss francs (CHF) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 0.88 (2024 est.) 0.898 (2023 est.) 0.955 (2022 est.) 0.914 (2021 est.) 0.939 (2020 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 9,890 (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 25 (2024 est.) **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 51,400 (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 129 (2024 est.) **Broadcast media:** relies on foreign terrestrial and satellite broadcasters for most broadcast media services; first Liechtenstein-based TV station established in 2008; Radio Liechtenstein operates multiple radio stations; a Swiss-based broadcaster operates one radio station **Internet country code:** .li **Internet users:** percent of population: 97% (2023 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 20,000 (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 50 (2023 est.) ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** HB **Heliports:** 2 (2025) **Railways:** total: 9 km (2018) standard gauge: 9 km (2018) 1.435-m gauge (electrified) note: belongs to the Austrian Railway System connecting Austria and Switzerland **Merchant marine:** total: 17 (2023) by type: bulk carrier 14, general cargo 1, other 2 (includes Switzerland) ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** no regular military forces; National Police of the Principality of Liechtenstein (Landespolizei des Fürstentums Liechtenstein) ### Transnational Issues **Refugees and internally displaced persons:** refugees: 875 (2024 est.) --- ## Lithuania **Slug:** lithuania **Region:** Europe **Flag:** 🇱🇹 **Codes:** cek: lh, iso2: LT, iso3: LTU, iso_num: 440, genc: LTU, stanag: LTU, internet: .lt ### Introduction **Background:** Lithuanian lands were united under MINDAUGAS in 1236; over the next century, Lithuania extended its territory through alliances and conquest to include most of present-day Belarus and Ukraine. By the end of the 14th century, Lithuania was the largest state in Europe. An alliance with Poland in 1386 led the two countries into a union through a common ruler. In 1569, Lithuania and Poland formally united into a single dual state, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. This entity survived until 1795 when surrounding countries partitioned its remnants. Lithuania regained its independence after World War I, but the USSR annexed it in 1940 -- an action never recognized by the US and many other countries. In 1990, Lithuania became the first of the Soviet republics to declare its independence, but Moscow did not recognize this proclamation until 1991. The last Russian troops withdrew in 1993. Lithuania subsequently restructured its economy for integration into West European institutions; it joined both NATO and the EU in 2004. In 2015, Lithuania joined the euro zone, and it joined the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development in 2018. ### Geography **Location:** Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Latvia and Russia, west of Belarus **Geographic coordinates:** 56 00 N, 24 00 E **Map references:** Europe **Area:** total : 65,300 sq km land: 62,680 sq km water: 2,620 sq km **Area - comparative:** slightly larger than West Virginia **Land boundaries:** total: 1,545 km border countries (4): Belarus 640 km; Latvia 544 km; Poland 100 km; Russia (Kaliningrad) 261 km **Coastline:** 90 km **Maritime claims:** territorial sea: 12 nm **Climate:** transitional, between maritime and continental; wet, moderate winters and summers **Terrain:** lowland, many scattered small lakes, fertile soil **Elevation:** highest point: Aukstojas 294 m lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m mean elevation: 110 m **Natural resources:** peat, arable land, amber **Land use:** agricultural land: 45.9% (2023 est.) arable land: 36.8% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0.5% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 8.6% (2023 est.) forest: 35.3% (2023 est.) other: 18.8% (2023 est.) **Irrigated land:** 61 sq km (2020) **Major lakes (area sq km):** salt water lake(s): Curonian Lagoon (shared with Russia) - 1,620 sq km **Population distribution:** fairly even population distribution throughout the country, but somewhat greater concentrations in the southern cities of Vilnius and Kaunas, as well as the western port of Klaipeda **Natural hazards:** occasional floods, droughts **Geography - note:** fertile central plains are separated by hilly uplands that are ancient glacial deposits ### People and Society **Population:** total: 2,815,687 (2025 est.) male: 1,334,600 female: 1,481,087 **Nationality:** noun: Lithuanian(s) adjective: Lithuanian **Ethnic groups:** Lithuanian 84.6%, Polish 6.5%, Russian 5%, Belarusian 1%, other 1.1%, unspecified 1.8% (2021 est.) **Languages:** Lithuanian (official) 85.3%, Russian 6.8%, Polish 5.1%, other 1.1%, two mother tongues 1.7% (2021 est.) major-language sample(s): Pasaulio enciklopedija – naudingas bendrosios informacijos šaltinis. (Lithuanian) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. **Religions:** Roman Catholic 74.2%, Russian Orthodox 3.7%, Old Believer 0.6%, Evangelical Lutheran 0.6%, Evangelical Reformist 0.2%, other (including Sunni Muslim, Jewish, Greek Catholic, and Karaite) 0.9%, none 6.1%, unspecified 13.7% (2021 est.) **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 15.2% (male 205,154/female 194,386) 15-64 years: 62.6% (male 808,435/female 837,908) 65 years and over: 22.2% (2024 est.) (male 201,405/female 380,898) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 56.5 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 23.3 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 33.3 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 3 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 44 years (2025 est.) male: 40.9 years female: 49.2 years **Population growth rate:** -0.71% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 7.01 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 14.1 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** fairly even population distribution throughout the country, but somewhat greater concentrations in the southern cities of Vilnius and Kaunas, as well as the western port of Klaipeda **Urbanization:** urban population: 68.7% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: -0.12% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 541,000 VILNIUS (capital) (2023) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.53 male(s)/female total population: 0.86 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Mother's mean age at first birth:** 28.2 years (2020 est.) **Maternal mortality ratio:** 8 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 2.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 4 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.1 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 76.1 years (2024 est.) male: 70.8 years female: 81.7 years **Total fertility rate:** 1.22 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 0.6 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.) rural: 93.8% of population (2022 est.) total: 98% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.) rural: 6.2% of population (2022 est.) total: 2% of population (2022 est.) **Health expenditure:** 7.5% of GDP (2022) 13% of national budget (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 6.1 physicians/1,000 population (2023) **Hospital bed density:** 6 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.) **Sanitation facility access:** improved: urban: 99% of population (2022 est.) rural: 91.9% of population (2022 est.) total: 96.7% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 1% of population (2022 est.) rural: 8.1% of population (2022 est.) total: 3.3% of population (2022 est.) **Obesity - adult prevalence rate:** 26.3% (2016) **Alcohol consumption per capita:** total: 11.93 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 4.61 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 0.88 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 4.96 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 1.48 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) **Tobacco use:** total: 26.6% (2025 est.) male: 38% (2025 est.) female: 16.7% (2025 est.) **Children under the age of 5 years underweight:** 1.1% (2021 est.) **Currently married women (ages 15-49):** 51.8% (2024 est.) **Child marriage:** women married by age 15: 0% (2022) women married by age 18: 0.2% (2022) **Education expenditure:** 4.3% of GDP (2022 est.) 11.8% national budget (2022 est.) **School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):** total: 17 years (2022 est.) male: 16 years (2022 est.) female: 17 years (2022 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** water pollution; air pollution; deforestation; groundwater pollution from chemicals and waste; soil degradation and erosion **International environmental agreements:** party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements **Climate:** transitional, between maritime and continental; wet, moderate winters and summers **Land use:** agricultural land: 45.9% (2023 est.) arable land: 36.8% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0.5% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 8.6% (2023 est.) forest: 35.3% (2023 est.) other: 18.8% (2023 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 68.7% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: -0.12% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 12.877 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 380,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 9.61 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from consumed natural gas: 2.887 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Particulate matter emissions:** 11.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 1.315 million tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 34.9% (2022 est.) **Total water withdrawal:** municipal: 136.78 million cubic meters (2022 est.) industrial: 87.96 million cubic meters (2022 est.) agricultural: 58.74 million cubic meters (2022 est.) **Total renewable water resources:** 24.5 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: Republic of Lithuania conventional short form: Lithuania local long form: Lietuvos Respublika local short form: Lietuva former: Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic (while occupied by the USSR) etymology: meaning of the name is obscure; may be derived from the local words lietava, meaning "small river," or lietus, meaning "rain" or "land of rain," or the Latin word litus, meaning "shore" **Government type:** semi-presidential republic **Capital:** name: Vilnius geographic coordinates: 54 41 N, 25 19 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October etymology: named after the Vilnia River; the river name is said to derive from the Lithuanian word vilnis, meaning "wave" **Administrative divisions:** 60 municipalities (savivaldybe, singular - savivaldybe); Akmene, Alytaus Miestas, Alytus, Anksciai, Birstonas, Birzai, Druskininkai, Elektrenai, Ignalina, Jonava, Joniskis, Jurbarkas, Kaisiadorys, Kalvarija, Kauno Miestas, Kaunas, Kazlu Rudos, Kedainiai, Kelme, Klaipedos Miestas, Klaipeda, Kretinga, Kupiskis, Lazdijai, Marijampole, Mazeikiai, Moletai, Neringa, Pagegiai, Pakruojis, Palangos Miestas, Panevezio Miestas, Panevezys, Pasvalys, Plunge, Prienai, Radviliskis, Raseiniai, Rietavas, Rokiskis, Sakiai, Salcininkai, Siauliu Miestas, Siauliai, Silale, Silute, Sirvintos, Skuodas, Svencionys, Taurage, Telsiai, Trakai, Ukmerge, Utena, Varena, Vilkaviskis, Vilniaus Miestas, Vilnius, Visaginas, Zarasai **Legal system:** civil law system; legislative acts can be appealed to the Constitutional Court **Constitution:** history: several previous; latest adopted by referendum 25 October 1992, entered into force 2 November 1992 amendment process: proposed by at least one fourth of all Parliament members or by petition of at least 300,000 voters; passage requires two-thirds majority vote of Parliament in each of two readings three months apart and a presidential signature; amendments to constitutional articles on national sovereignty and constitutional amendment procedure also require three-fourths voter approval in a referendum **International law organization participation:** accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Lithuania dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years **Suffrage:** 18 years of age; universal **Executive branch:** chief of state: President Gitanas NAUSEDA (since 12 July 2019) head of government: Prime Minister Inga RUGINIENE (since 25 September 2025) cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister, appointed by the president, approved by Parliament election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister appointed by the president, approved by Parliament most recent election date: 26 May 2024 election results: 2024: Gitanas NAUSEDA elected president in second round; percent of vote -Gitanas NAUSEDA (independent) 75.6%, Ingrida SIMONYTE (TS-LKD) 24.4% 2019: Gitanas NAUSEDA elected president in second round; percent of vote - Gitanas NAUSEDA (independent) 66.7%, Ingrida SIMONYTE (independent) 33.3% expected date of next election: 2029 **Legislative branch:** legislature name: Parliament (Seimas) legislative structure: unicameral number of seats: 141 (all directly elected) electoral system: mixed system scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 4 years most recent election date: 10/13/2024 to 10/27/2024 parties elected and seats per party: Lithuanian Social Democratic Party (LSDP) (52); Homeland Union - Lithuanian Christian Democrats (TS-LKD) (28); Political Party "The Dawn of Nemunas" (PPNA) (20); Union of Democrats “For Lithuania” (DSVL) (14); Liberals Movement of the Republic of Lithuania (LS) (12); Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union (LVŽS) (8); Other (7) percentage of women in chamber: 28.4% expected date of next election: October 2028 **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of 37 judges); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 judges) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges nominated by the president and appointed by the Seimas; judges serve 5-year renewable terms; Constitutional Court judges appointed by the Seimas from nominations - 3 each by the president of the republic, the Seimas speaker, and the Supreme Court president; judges serve 9-year, nonrenewable terms; one third of membership reconstituted every 3 years subordinate courts: Court of Appeals; district and local courts **Political parties:** Center-Right Union or CDS Dawn of Nemunas or PPNA Electoral Action of Poles in Lithuania - Christian Families Alliance or LLRA–KŠS Homeland Union or TS-LKD Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union or LVŽS Liberals' Movement or LRLS National Alliance or NS Social Democratic Party of Lithuania or LSDP Union of Democrats for Lithuania or DSVL **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Gediminas VARVUOLIS (since 5 September 2025) chancery: 2622 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 234-5860 FAX: [1] (202) 328-0466 email address and website: info@usa.mfa.lt https://usa.mfa.lt/usa/en/ consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York **Diplomatic representation from the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Kara C. McDONALD (since 26 January 2024) embassy: Akmenu gatve 6, Vilnius, LT-03106 mailing address: 4510 Vilnius Place, Washington DC 20521-4510 telephone: [370] (5) 266-5500 FAX: [370] (5) 266-5510 email address and website: consec@state.gov https://lt.usembassy.gov/ **International organization participation:** Australia Group, BA, BIS, CBSS, CD, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO **Independence:** 16 February 1918 (from Soviet Russia and Germany); 11 March 1990 (declared from the Soviet Union); 6 September 1991 (recognized by the Soviet Union); notable earlier dates: 6 July 1253 (coronation of MINDAUGAS, traditional founding date); 1 July 1569 (Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth created) **National holiday:** Independence Day (or National Day), 16 February (1918) note: 16 February 1918 was the date Lithuania established its statehood and independence from Soviet Russia and Germany; 11 March 1990 was the date it declared the restoration of statehood and independence from the Soviet Union **Flag:** description: three equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), green, and red meaning: yellow stands for golden fields, the sun, light, and goodness; green for the forests, nature, freedom, and hope; red for courage and the blood spilled in defense of the homeland **National symbol(s):** mounted knight known as Vytis (the Chaser), white stork **National color(s):** yellow, green, red **National anthem(s):** title: "Tautiska giesme" (The National Song) lyrics/music: Vincas KUDIRKA history: adopted 1918, restored 1990; written in 1898 when Lithuania was part of Russia; banned during the Soviet occupation from 1940 to 1990 **National heritage:** total World Heritage Sites: 5 (all cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Vilnius Historic Center; Curonian Spit; Kernavė Archaeological Site; Struve Geodetic Arc; Modernist Kaunas: Architecture of Optimism, 1919-1939 ### Economy **Economic overview:** high-income EU and eurozone member, largest Baltic economy; recovery supported by private consumption and EU fund-driven investments; structural challenges include pension reform, aging workforce, and high energy-import costs **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $136.227 billion (2024 est.) $132.552 billion (2023 est.) $132.099 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** 2.8% (2024 est.) 0.3% (2023 est.) 2.5% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $47,200 (2024 est.) $46,200 (2023 est.) $46,700 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $84.869 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 0.7% (2024 est.) 9.1% (2023 est.) 19.7% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 2.6% (2024 est.) industry: 23.4% (2024 est.) services: 63.6% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **GDP - composition, by end use:** household consumption: 57.3% (2023 est.) government consumption: 17.3% (2023 est.) investment in fixed capital: 23.7% (2023 est.) investment in inventories: -1.8% (2023 est.) exports of goods and services: 76.5% (2023 est.) imports of goods and services: -72.6% (2023 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection **Agricultural products:** wheat, milk, sugar beets, rapeseed, barley, potatoes, triticale, oats, beans, peas (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage **Industries:** metal-cutting machine tools, electric motors, televisions, refrigerators and freezers, petroleum refining, shipbuilding (small ships), furniture, textiles, food processing, fertilizer, agricultural machinery, optical equipment, lasers, electronic components, computers, amber jewelry, information technology, video game development, app/software development, biotechnology **Industrial production growth rate:** 3.2% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency **Labor force:** 1.548 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work **Unemployment rate:** 7.6% (2024 est.) 6.9% (2023 est.) 6% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment **Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):** total: 14.1% (2024 est.) male: 16.3% (2024 est.) female: 11.7% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment **Population below poverty line:** 20.9% (2021 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line **Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income:** 36.6 (2022 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality **Average household expenditures:** on food: 19.4% of household expenditures (2023 est.) on alcohol and tobacco: 5.5% of household expenditures (2023 est.) **Household income or consumption by percentage share:** lowest 10%: 2.5% (2022 est.) highest 10%: 28.7% (2022 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population **Remittances:** 1.2% of GDP (2024 est.) 1.2% of GDP (2023 est.) 1% of GDP (2022 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Budget:** revenues: $28.011 billion (2023 est.) expenditures: $28.68 billion (2023 est.) note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated **Public debt:** 36.9% of GDP (2023 est.) note: central government debt as a % of GDP **Taxes and other revenues:** 21.4% (of GDP) (2023 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP **Current account balance:** $2.101 billion (2024 est.) $878.388 million (2023 est.) -$4.322 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars **Exports:** $62.896 billion (2024 est.) $61.02 billion (2023 est.) $61.448 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** Latvia 11%, Poland 8%, Germany 7%, Netherlands 6%, Russia 6% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** refined petroleum, furniture, plastic products, wheat, cars (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports:** $58.491 billion (2024 est.) $57.899 billion (2023 est.) $62.916 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** Germany 13%, Poland 13%, Latvia 8%, USA 7%, Norway 5% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** crude petroleum, cars, natural gas, packaged medicine, plastic products (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:** $7.406 billion (2024 est.) $6.168 billion (2023 est.) $5.365 billion (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars **Exchange rates:** euros (EUR) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 0.924 (2024 est.) 0.925 (2023 est.) 0.95 (2022 est.) 0.845 (2021 est.) 0.876 (2020 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.) **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 5.426 million kW (2023 est.) consumption: 10.992 billion kWh (2023 est.) exports: 3.98 billion kWh (2023 est.) imports: 10.91 billion kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 829.9 million kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** fossil fuels: 16.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 14.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) wind: 51% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: 4.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) biomass and waste: 13.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Nuclear energy:** Number of nuclear reactors permanently shut down: 2 (2025) **Coal:** consumption: 166,000 metric tons (2023 est.) exports: 78,000 metric tons (2023 est.) imports: 149,000 metric tons (2023 est.) **Petroleum:** total petroleum production: 4,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 67,000 bbl/day (2024 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 12 million barrels (2021 est.) **Natural gas:** consumption: 1.49 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) exports: 1.867 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) imports: 3.282 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) **Energy consumption per capita:** 83.7 million Btu/person (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 201,000 (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 7 (2024 est.) **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 3.97 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 139 (2024 est.) **Broadcast media:** public broadcaster operates 3 channels, with the third channel (satellite) introduced in 2007; various privately owned commercial TV broadcasters operate national and multiple regional channels; many privately owned local TV stations; multi-channel cable and satellite TV services available; publicly owned broadcaster operates 3 radio networks; many privately owned commercial broadcasters, with repeater stations in various regions **Internet country code:** .lt **Internet users:** percent of population: 89% (2023 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 806,000 (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 28 (2023 est.) ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** LY **Airports:** 64 (2025) **Heliports:** 2 (2025) **Railways:** total: 1,911 km (2020) 152 km electrified **Merchant marine:** total: 59 (2023) by type: container ship 3, general cargo 19, oil tanker 2, other 35 **Ports:** total ports: 2 (2024) large: 0 medium: 1 small: 0 very small: 1 ports with oil terminals: 2 key ports: Butinge Oil Terminal, Klaipeda ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** Lithuanian Armed Forces (Lietuvos Ginkluotosios Pajegos): Lithuanian Land Forces (LLF), Lithuanian Navy, Lithuanian Air Force (LTAF), Lithuanian Special Operations Forces (LITHSOF); National Defense Volunteer Forces (2025) note 1: the National Rifleman's Union is a civilian paramilitary organization supported by the Lithuanian Government, which cooperates with the military but is not part of it; however, in a state of war, its armed formations would fall under the Armed Forces note 2: the Lithuanian Police and State Border Guard Service are under the Ministry of Interior; in wartime, the State Border Guard Service becomes part of the armed forces **Military expenditures:** 4% of GDP (2025 est.) 3.1% of GDP (2024 est.) 2.7% of GDP (2023 est.) 2.4% of GDP (2022 est.) 2% of GDP (2021 est.) **Military and security service personnel strengths:** approximately 20,000 active-duty military personnel (2025) **Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:** the military's inventory is a mix of mostly European and US armaments (2025) **Military service age and obligation:** 19-26 years of age for conscripted military service for men; 9-month service obligation; 18-38 for voluntary service for men and women; 18-60 for the National Defense Volunteer Services (2025) note 1: in 2015, Lithuania reinstated conscription after having converted to a professional military in 2008; it conscripts up to 4,000 men each year; conscripts are selected using an automated lottery system note 2: as of 2020, women comprised about 12% of the military's full-time personnel **Military deployments:** note: contributes about 350-550 troops to the Lithuania, Poland, and Ukraine joint military brigade (LITPOLUKRBRIG), which was established in 2014; the brigade is headquartered in Poland and is comprised of an international staff, three battalions, and specialized units; units affiliated with the multinational brigade remain within the structures of the armed forces of their respective countries until the brigade is activated for participation in an international operation **Military - note:** the Lithuanian Armed Forces are responsible for the defense of the country’s interests, sovereignty, and territory, fulfilling Lithuania’s commitments to NATO and European security, and contributing to UN international peacekeeping efforts; Russia is Lithuania’s primary security focus, which has only increased since the Russian seizure of Crimea in 2014 and subsequent full-scale attack on Ukraine in 2022; Lithuania has been a member of NATO since 2004 and is reliant on the Alliance as the country’s security guarantor; it is actively engaged in both NATO and EU security, as well as bilaterally with allies such as the other Baltic States, Germany, Poland, the UK, Ukraine, and the US; the Lithuanian military has participated in NATO and EU missions abroad and regularly conducts training and exercises with NATO and EU partner forces; it hosts NATO forces, is a member of the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force, and contributes troops to a multinational brigade with Poland and Ukraine; Lithuania participated in its first UN peacekeeping mission in 1994 since 2017, Lithuania has hosted a German-led multinational NATO ground force battlegroup as part of the Alliance’s Enhanced Forward Presence initiative; NATO has also provided air protection for Lithuania since 2004 through its Baltic Air Policing mission; NATO fighter aircraft are hosted at Lithuania’s Šiauliai Air Base (2025) ### Transnational Issues **Refugees and internally displaced persons:** refugees: 53,859 (2024 est.) stateless persons: 2,236 (2024 est.) --- ## Luxembourg **Slug:** luxembourg **Region:** Europe **Flag:** 🇱🇺 **Codes:** cek: lu, iso2: LU, iso3: LUX, iso_num: 442, genc: LUX, stanag: LUX, internet: .lu ### Introduction **Background:** Founded in 963, Luxembourg became a grand duchy in 1815 and a constituent part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands after the Congress of Vienna. When Belgium declared independence from the Netherlands in 1839, Luxembourg lost more than half of its territory to Belgium but gained a larger measure of autonomy within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Luxembourg gained full independence in 1867 by promising to remain permanently neutral. Overrun by Germany in both world wars, its neutrality ended in 1948 when it entered into the Benelux Customs Union and joined NATO the following year. In 1957, Luxembourg became one of the six founding countries of the EEC (later the EU), and in 1999 it joined the euro currency zone. ### Geography **Location:** Western Europe, between France and Germany **Geographic coordinates:** 49 45 N, 6 10 E **Map references:** Europe **Area:** total : 2,586 sq km land: 2,586 sq km water: 0 sq km **Area - comparative:** slightly smaller than Rhode Island; about half the size of Delaware **Land boundaries:** total: 327 km border countries (3): Belgium 130 km; France 69 km; Germany 128 km **Coastline:** 0 km (landlocked) **Maritime claims:** none (landlocked) **Climate:** modified continental with mild winters, cool summers **Terrain:** mostly gently rolling uplands with broad, shallow valleys; uplands to slightly mountainous in the north; steep slope down to Moselle flood plain in the southeast **Elevation:** highest point: Buurgplaatz 559 m lowest point: Moselle River 133 m mean elevation: 325 m **Natural resources:** iron ore (no longer exploited), arable land **Land use:** agricultural land: 51.7% (2023 est.) arable land: 23.8% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0.6% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 27.1% (2023 est.) forest: 34.5% (2023 est.) other: 13.9% (2023 est.) **Irrigated land:** 0 sq km (2012) **Major watersheds (area sq km):** Atlantic Ocean drainage: Rhine-Maas (198,735 sq km) **Population distribution:** most people live in the south, on or near the border with France **Natural hazards:** occasional flooding **Geography - note:** landlocked ### People and Society **Population:** total: 692,454 (2025 est.) male: 348,267 female: 344,187 **Nationality:** noun: Luxembourger(s) adjective: Luxembourg **Ethnic groups:** Luxembourger 52.9%, Portuguese 14.5%, French 7.6%, Italian 3.7%, Belgian 3%, German 2%, Spanish 1.3%, Romania 1%, other 14% (2022 est.) note: data represent population by nationality **Languages:** Luxembourgish (official administrative, judicial, and national language) 48.9%, Portuguese 15.4%, French (official administrative, judicial, and legislative language) 14.9%, Italian 3.6%, English 3.6%, German (official administrative and judicial language) 2.9%, other 10.8% (2021 est.) **Religions:** Christian (predominantly Roman Catholic) 70.6%, Muslim 2.3%, other (includes Buddhist, folk religions, Hindu, Jewish) 0.4%, unaffiliated 26.7% (2020 est.) **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 16.7% (male 57,921/female 54,484) 15-64 years: 67.1% (male 231,214/female 219,497) 65 years and over: 16.1% (2024 est.) (male 49,567/female 58,571) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 46.8 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 22.9 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 23.9 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 4.2 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 40.1 years (2025 est.) male: 39.4 years female: 40.4 years **Population growth rate:** 1.26% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 9.24 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 6.66 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** 10.06 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** most people live in the south, on or near the border with France **Urbanization:** urban population: 92.1% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 1.43% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 120,000 LUXEMBOURG (capital) (2018) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Mother's mean age at first birth:** 31 years (2020 est.) **Maternal mortality ratio:** 12 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 3.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 3.6 deaths/1,000 live births female: 2.8 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 83.4 years (2024 est.) male: 80.9 years female: 85.9 years **Total fertility rate:** 1.25 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 0.62 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.) rural: 98.6% of population (2022 est.) total: 99.9% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.) rural: 1.4% of population (2022 est.) total: 0.1% of population (2022 est.) **Health expenditure:** 5.5% of GDP (2022) 11% of national budget (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 2.98 physicians/1,000 population (2017) **Hospital bed density:** 4.2 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.) **Sanitation facility access:** improved: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.) rural: 99.9% of population (2022 est.) total: 100% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.) rural: 0.1% of population (2022 est.) total: 0% of population (2022 est.) **Obesity - adult prevalence rate:** 22.6% (2016) **Alcohol consumption per capita:** total: 11 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 4.04 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 4.73 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 2.14 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) **Tobacco use:** total: 21% (2025 est.) male: 22.1% (2025 est.) female: 19.9% (2025 est.) **Currently married women (ages 15-49):** 51.1% (2022 est.) **Education expenditure:** 3.7% of GDP (2022 est.) 8.5% national budget (2022 est.) **School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):** total: 14 years (2022 est.) male: 14 years (2022 est.) female: 15 years (2022 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** air and water pollution in urban areas; soil pollution of farmland **International environmental agreements:** party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification **Climate:** modified continental with mild winters, cool summers **Land use:** agricultural land: 51.7% (2023 est.) arable land: 23.8% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0.6% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 27.1% (2023 est.) forest: 34.5% (2023 est.) other: 13.9% (2023 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 92.1% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 1.43% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 8.715 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 75,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 7.496 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from consumed natural gas: 1.144 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Particulate matter emissions:** 9.2 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 490,300 tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 42% (2022 est.) **Total water withdrawal:** municipal: 43.53 million cubic meters (2022 est.) industrial: 1.83 million cubic meters (2022 est.) agricultural: 490,000 cubic meters (2022 est.) **Total renewable water resources:** 3.5 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) **Geoparks:** total global geoparks and regional networks: 1 global geoparks and regional networks: Mëllerdall (2023) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: Grand Duchy of Luxembourg conventional short form: Luxembourg local long form: Grand Duché de Luxembourg local short form: Luxembourg etymology: probably derived from an early Celtic or Germanic form of the name, Lucilinburhuc, that was thought to mean "little fortress;" the name first referred to the city and was later used for the country **Government type:** constitutional monarchy **Capital:** name: Luxembourg geographic coordinates: 49 36 N, 6 07 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October etymology: probably derived from an early Celtic or Germanic form of the name, Lucilinburhuc, that was thought to mean "little fortress;" the name first referred to the city and was later used for the country **Administrative divisions:** 12 cantons; Capellen, Clervaux, Diekirch, Echternach, Esch-sur-Alzette, Grevenmacher, Luxembourg, Mersch, Redange, Remich, Vianden, Wiltz **Legal system:** civil law system **Constitution:** history: previous 1842 (heavily amended 1848, 1856); latest effective 17 October 1868 amendment process: proposed by the Chamber of Deputies or by the monarch to the Chamber; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the Chamber in two successive readings three months apart; a referendum can be substituted for the second reading if approved by more than a quarter of the Chamber members or by 25,000 valid voters; adoption by referendum requires a majority of all valid voters **International law organization participation:** accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: limited to situations where the parents are either unknown, stateless, or when the nationality law of the parents' state of origin does not permit acquisition of citizenship by descent when the birth occurs outside of national territory citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Luxembourg dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 7 years **Suffrage:** 18 years of age; universal and compulsory **Executive branch:** chief of state: Grand Duke GUILLAUME (since 3 October 2025) head of government: Prime Minister Luc FRIEDEN (since 17 November 2023) cabinet: Council of Ministers recommended by the prime minister, appointed by the monarch election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; following elections to the Chamber of Deputies, monarch usually appoints the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as prime minister; deputy prime minister also appointed by the monarch; prime minister and deputy prime minister are responsible to the Chamber of Deputies **Legislative branch:** legislature name: Chamber of Deputies (Chambre des députés) legislative structure: unicameral number of seats: 60 (all directly elected) electoral system: proportional representation scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 10/8/2023 parties elected and seats per party: Christian Social People's Party (CSV) (21); Democratic Party (PD/DP) (14); Socialist Workers' Party (POSL/LSAP) (11); Alternative Democratic Reform Party (ADR) (5); Greens (DEI GRÉNG) (4); Pirate Party (PIRATEN) (3); Other (2) percentage of women in chamber: 35% expected date of next election: October 2028 note: a 21-member Council of State is appointed by the Grand Duke on the advice of the prime minister and serves as an advisory body to the Chamber of Deputies **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Supreme Court of Justice includes Court of Appeal and Court of Cassation (consists of 27 judges on 9 benches); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 members) judge selection and term of office: judges of both courts appointed by the monarch for life subordinate courts: Court of Accounts; district and local tribunals and courts **Political parties:** Alternative Democratic Reform Party or ADR Christian Social People's Party or CSV Democratic Party or DP Green Party Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party or LSAP Pirate Party The Left (dei Lenk/la Gauche) **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Nicole BINTNER-BAKSHIAN (since 15 August 2021) chancery: 2200 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 265-4171 FAX: [1] (202) 328-8270 email address and website: washington.amb@mae.etat.lu https://washington.mae.lu/en.html consulate(s) general: New York, San Francisco **Diplomatic representation from the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Stacey FEINBERG (since 13 November 2025) embassy: 22 Boulevard Emmanuel Servais, L-2535 Luxembourg City mailing address: 5380 Luxembourg Place, Washington DC 20521-5380 telephone: [352] 46-01-23-00 FAX: [352] 46-14-01 email address and website: Luxembourgconsular@state.gov https://lu.usembassy.gov/ **International organization participation:** ADB (nonregional member), Australia Group, Benelux, BIS, CD, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNRWA, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC **Independence:** 1839 (from the Netherlands) **National holiday:** National Day (birthday of Grand Duke HENRI), 23 June note: this is not the true date of birth for any of the Royals, but the national festivities were shifted in 1962 to allow observance during a more favorable time of year **Flag:** description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and light blue history: the colors are derived from the Grand Duke's coat of arms note: similar to the flag of the Netherlands, which is shorter and uses a darker blue **National symbol(s):** red rampant lion **National color(s):** red, white, light blue **National anthem(s):** title: "Ons Heemecht" (Our Motherland) lyrics/music: Michel LENTZ/Jean-Antoine ZINNEN history: adopted 1864 _____ title: “De Wilhelmus” (The William) lyrics/music: Nikolaus WELTER history: adopted 1919; royal anthem, for use when members of the grand ducal family enter or exit a ceremony in Luxembourg **National heritage:** total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Luxembourg City Old Quarters and Fortifications ### Economy **Economic overview:** high-income EU and eurozone economy; global, highly capitalized banking sector; one of highest GDP-per-capita countries; strengthened domestic demand and lower interest rates contributing to economic growth; challenges include pension-system sustainability, labor-market dynamics, and energy price volatility **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $86.871 billion (2024 est.) $85.984 billion (2023 est.) $86.584 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** 1% (2024 est.) -0.7% (2023 est.) -1.1% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $128,200 (2024 est.) $129,000 (2023 est.) $132,600 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $93.197 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 2.1% (2024 est.) 3.7% (2023 est.) 6.3% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 0.2% (2024 est.) industry: 9% (2024 est.) services: 81.9% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **GDP - composition, by end use:** household consumption: 31.6% (2023 est.) government consumption: 18.6% (2023 est.) investment in fixed capital: 16.1% (2023 est.) investment in inventories: 1.3% (2023 est.) exports of goods and services: 217.8% (2023 est.) imports of goods and services: -186.7% (2023 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection **Agricultural products:** milk, wheat, barley, triticale, potatoes, pork, grapes, beef, rye, rapeseed (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage **Industries:** banking and financial services, construction, real estate services, iron, metals, and steel, information technology, telecommunications, cargo transportation and logistics, chemicals, engineering, tires, glass, aluminum, tourism, biotechnology **Industrial production growth rate:** -1.1% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency **Labor force:** 350,000 (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work **Unemployment rate:** 6% (2024 est.) 5.2% (2023 est.) 4.6% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment **Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):** total: 20.2% (2024 est.) male: 16.9% (2024 est.) female: 24.2% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment **Population below poverty line:** 17.3% (2021 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line **Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income:** 34.1 (2022 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality **Household income or consumption by percentage share:** lowest 10%: 2.9% (2022 est.) highest 10%: 25.6% (2022 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population **Remittances:** 2.6% of GDP (2024 est.) 2.8% of GDP (2023 est.) 2.8% of GDP (2022 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Budget:** revenues: $37.951 billion (2023 est.) expenditures: $38.263 billion (2023 est.) note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated **Public debt:** 23% of GDP (2017 est.) note: data cover general government debt and include debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intragovernmental debt; intragovernmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions **Taxes and other revenues:** 27.2% (of GDP) (2023 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP **Current account balance:** $12.877 billion (2024 est.) $9.861 billion (2023 est.) $7.509 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars **Exports:** $202.203 billion (2024 est.) $195.294 billion (2023 est.) $184.53 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** Germany 18%, France 15%, Belgium 8%, Netherlands 7%, Italy 6% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** iron blocks, gas turbines, plastic products, rubber tires, plastics (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports:** $160.032 billion (2024 est.) $156.818 billion (2023 est.) $149.751 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** Belgium 26%, Germany 23%, France 10%, Netherlands 5%, USA 4% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** cars, refined petroleum, electricity, plastic products, gas turbines (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:** $2.789 billion (2024 est.) $2.977 billion (2023 est.) $2.874 billion (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars **Exchange rates:** euros (EUR) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 0.924 (2024 est.) 0.925 (2023 est.) 0.95 (2022 est.) 0.845 (2021 est.) 0.876 (2020 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.) **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 2.212 million kW (2023 est.) consumption: 5.87 billion kWh (2023 est.) exports: 1.188 billion kWh (2023 est.) imports: 6.39 billion kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 141.867 million kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** fossil fuels: 10.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 37.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) wind: 55.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: -35.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) note: Luxembourg has negative net hydroelectric power generation based on losses from use of pumped storage hydropower biomass and waste: 32.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Coal:** consumption: 34,000 metric tons (2023 est.) exports: 30.2 metric tons (2022 est.) imports: 34,000 metric tons (2023 est.) **Petroleum:** refined petroleum consumption: 51,000 bbl/day (2024 est.) **Natural gas:** consumption: 556.63 million cubic meters (2023 est.) imports: 552.714 million cubic meters (2023 est.) **Energy consumption per capita:** 224.651 million Btu/person (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 260,000 (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 40 (2022 est.) **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 961,000 (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 144 (2023 est.) **Broadcast media:** long national tradition of operating radio and TV services for pan-European audiences; home to Europe's largest privately owned broadcast media group, the RTL Group, which operates 46 TV stations and 29 radio stations in Europe; also home to Europe's largest satellite operator, Société Européenne des Satellites (SES); domestically, the RTL Group operates TV and radio networks; other domestic private radio and TV operators and French and German stations available; satellite and cable TV services available **Internet country code:** .lu **Internet users:** percent of population: 99% (2024 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 250,000 (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 38 (2022 est.) ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** LX **Airports:** 3 (2025) **Heliports:** 11 (2025) **Railways:** total: 271 km (2020) 262 km electrified **Merchant marine:** total: 147 (2023) by type: bulk carrier 3, container ship 1, general cargo 24, oil tanker 4, other 115 ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** Luxembourg Army (l'Armée Luxembourgeoise) (2025) note: the Grand Ducal Police maintain internal security and report to the Ministry of Internal Security **Military expenditures:** 2% of GDP (2025 est.) 1.2% of GDP (2024 est.) 1.1% of GDP (2023 est.) 0.6% of GDP (2022 est.) 0.5% of GDP (2021 est.) **Military and security service personnel strengths:** approximately 900 active military personnel (2025) **Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:** the Luxembourg Army has a small mix of Western origin equipment (2025) **Military service age and obligation:** 18-26 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription (abolished 1969) (2025) note 1: since 2003, the Army has allowed EU citizens 18-24 years of age who have been a resident in the country for at least 36 months to volunteer note 2: 2024, women made up about 12% of the military's full-time personnel **Military - note:** founded in 1881, the Luxembourg Army is responsible for the defense of the country and fulfilling the Grand Duchy’s commitments to NATO, European security, and international peacekeeping, as well as providing support to civil authorities in the event of emergencies, such as floods or disease outbreaks; the Army is an active participant in EU, NATO, and UN missions and has contributed small numbers of troops to a number of multinational operations in parts of Africa, Europe, and Asia; it trains and exercises regularly with EU and NATO partners and has contributed to the NATO battlegroup forward deployed in Lithuania since 2017; Luxembourg was one of the original 12 countries to sign the North Atlantic Treaty (also known as the Washington Treaty) establishing NATO in 1949 in 2015, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg signed an agreement to conduct joint air policing of their territories; under the agreement, which went into effect in January 2017, the Belgian and Dutch Air Forces trade responsibility for patrolling the skies over the three countries (2025) ### Space **Space agency/agencies:** the Luxembourg Space Agency (LSA; established 2018) (2025) **Space program overview:** Luxembourg Space Agency was established in 2018 to develop space policy, encourage and coordinate commercial space ventures, support space education, and promote the country’s space-related capabilities internationally; has a national space strategy; has set up policy and funding initiatives (such as LuxIMPULSE) to encourage research, development, innovation, and entrepreneurship and attract space-based industries; focuses on developing commercial satellites and infrastructure, as well as other capabilities and technologies; hosts some of the largest commercial satellite companies in the world; member of the ESA since 2005 and participates in a variety of ESA programs; cooperates bilaterally with individual ESA and EU member states; also works with other foreign space agencies and industries, including those of Canada, China, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, the UAE, and the US (2025) **Key space-program milestones:** 1980s - began creating a satellite telecommunications infrastructure for Europe 2014 - first privately built probe to successfully fly by the Moon (launched by China) 2018 - developed communications satellite (GOVSAT-1) to support the EU’s secure communications and space situational awareness program (GOVSATCOM) 2020 - signed US-led Artemis Accords for space exploration and agreed to join the Moon exploration mission 2021 - launched Luxembourg’s Quantum Communications Infrastructure project (LuxQCI) in support of the EU’s Quantum Communications Infrastructure (EuroQCI) 2025 - launched the Luxembourg Earth Observation System (LUXEOSys) satellite, part of a national space-based remote sensing program ### Transnational Issues **Refugees and internally displaced persons:** refugees: 14,344 (2024 est.) stateless persons: 85 (2024 est.) --- ## Malta **Slug:** malta **Region:** Europe **Flag:** 🇲🇹 **Codes:** cek: mt, iso2: MT, iso3: MLT, iso_num: 470, genc: MLT, stanag: MLT, internet: .mt ### Introduction **Background:** With a civilization that dates back thousands of years, Malta boasts some of the oldest megalithic sites in the world. Situated in the center of the Mediterranean, Malta’s islands have long served as a strategic military asset, with the islands at various times falling under the control of the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Moors, Normans, Sicilians, Spanish, Knights of St. John, and French. Most recently a British colony (since 1814), Malta gained its independence in 1964 and declared itself a republic 10 years later. While under British rule, the island staunchly supported the UK through both world wars. Since the mid-1980s, the island has transformed itself into a freight transshipment point, a financial center, and a tourist destination, as its key industries moved toward more service-oriented activities. Malta became an EU member in 2004 and joined the eurozone in 2008. ### Geography **Location:** Southern Europe, islands in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Sicily (Italy) **Geographic coordinates:** 35 50 N, 14 35 E **Map references:** Europe **Area:** total : 316 sq km land: 316 sq km water: 0 sq km **Area - comparative:** slightly less than twice the size of Washington, D.C. **Land boundaries:** total: 0 km **Coastline:** 196.8 km (excludes 56 km for the island of Gozo) **Maritime claims:** territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive fishing zone: 25 nm **Climate:** Mediterranean; mild, rainy winters; hot, dry summers **Terrain:** mostly low, rocky, flat to dissected plains; many coastal cliffs **Elevation:** highest point: Ta'Dmejrek on Dingli Cliffs 253 m lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m **Natural resources:** limestone, salt, arable land **Land use:** agricultural land: 25.9% (2023 est.) arable land: 22.8% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 3.2% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.) forest: 1.5% (2023 est.) other: 66.4% (2023 est.) **Irrigated land:** 39 sq km (2022) **Population distribution:** most of the population lives on the eastern half of Malta, the largest of the three inhabited islands **Natural hazards:** occasional droughts **Geography - note:** the country is an archipelago, with only the three largest islands (Malta, Ghawdex or Gozo, and Kemmuna or Comino) inhabited; numerous bays provide good harbors ### People and Society **Population:** total: 521,828 (2025 est.) male: 271,180 female: 250,648 **Nationality:** noun: Maltese (singular and plural) adjective: Maltese **Ethnic groups:** Maltese (descendants of ancient Carthaginians and Phoenicians with strong elements of Italian and other Mediterranean stock) **Languages:** Maltese (official) 90.1%, English (official) 6%, multilingual 3%, other 0.9% (2005 est.) **Religions:** Roman Catholic (official) more than 90% (2006 est.) **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 14.5% (male 35,034/female 33,181) 15-64 years: 62.4% (male 151,836/female 141,248) 65 years and over: 23.1% (2024 est.) (male 50,153/female 58,278) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 54.1 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 21.2 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 32.9 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 3 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 42.1 years (2025 est.) male: 42.4 years female: 44.7 years **Population growth rate:** 0.65% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 7.67 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 8.65 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** 7.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** most of the population lives on the eastern half of Malta, the largest of the three inhabited islands **Urbanization:** urban population: 94.9% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.28% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 213,000 VALLETTA (capital) (2018) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Mother's mean age at first birth:** 29.3 years (2020 est.) note: data refers to the average of the different childbearing ages of first-order births **Maternal mortality ratio:** 8 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 4.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 4.3 deaths/1,000 live births female: 4.5 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 83.6 years (2024 est.) male: 81.5 years female: 85.8 years **Total fertility rate:** 1.18 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 0.57 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.) rural: 100% of population (2022 est.) total: 100% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.) rural: 0% of population (2022 est.) total: 0% of population (2022 est.) **Health expenditure:** 10.6% of GDP (2021) 16.2% of national budget (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 7.86 physicians/1,000 population (2022) **Hospital bed density:** 4.4 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.) **Sanitation facility access:** improved: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.) rural: 100% of population (2022 est.) total: 100% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.) rural: 0% of population (2022 est.) total: 0% of population (2022 est.) **Obesity - adult prevalence rate:** 28.9% (2016) **Alcohol consumption per capita:** total: 8.07 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 2.8 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 2.34 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 2.51 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0.42 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) **Tobacco use:** total: 22.1% (2025 est.) male: 23.9% (2025 est.) female: 20.2% (2025 est.) **Children under the age of 5 years underweight:** 0.7% (2022 est.) **Currently married women (ages 15-49):** 52% (2021 est.) **Education expenditure:** 4.7% of GDP (2022 est.) 12.5% national budget (2022 est.) **School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):** total: 16 years (2023 est.) male: 15 years (2023 est.) female: 17 years (2023 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** limited natural freshwater resources; deforestation; wildlife preservation **International environmental agreements:** party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements **Climate:** Mediterranean; mild, rainy winters; hot, dry summers **Land use:** agricultural land: 25.9% (2023 est.) arable land: 22.8% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 3.2% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.) forest: 1.5% (2023 est.) other: 66.4% (2023 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 94.9% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.28% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 8.965 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 8.113 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from consumed natural gas: 852,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Particulate matter emissions:** 13.1 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 348,800 tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 10.5% (2022 est.) **Total water withdrawal:** municipal: 39.497 million cubic meters (2022) industrial: 1 million cubic meters (2022) agricultural: 21.358 million cubic meters (2022) **Total renewable water resources:** 50.5 million cubic meters (2022 est.) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: Republic of Malta conventional short form: Malta local long form: Repubblika ta' Malta local short form: Malta etymology: the origin is unclear; the name may come from the ancient term mel, meaning "high" and probably referring to the island's rocks; the ancient Greeks called the island "Melite," possibly from the Greek word meli, meaning "honey" and referring to the island's honey production **Government type:** parliamentary republic **Capital:** name: Valletta geographic coordinates: 35 53 N, 14 30 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October etymology: named in honor of Jean Parizot de la VALETTE, the Grand Master of the Order of Saint John (crusader knights), who founded the city in 1566 **Administrative divisions:** 68 localities (Il-lokalita); Attard, Balzan, Birgu, Birkirkara, Birzebbuga, Bormla, Dingli, Fgura, Floriana, Fontana, Ghajnsielem, Gharb, Gharghur, Ghasri, Ghaxaq, Gudja, Gzira, Hamrun, Iklin, Imdina, Imgarr, Imqabba, Imsida, Imtarfa, Isla, Kalkara, Kercem, Kirkop, Lija, Luqa, Marsa, Marsaskala, Marsaxlokk, Mellieha, Mosta, Munxar, Nadur, Naxxar, Paola, Pembroke, Pieta, Qala, Qormi, Qrendi, Rabat, Rabat (Ghawdex), Safi, San Giljan/Saint Julian, San Gwann/Saint John, San Lawrenz/Saint Lawrence, Sannat, San Pawl il-Bahar/Saint Paul's Bay, Santa Lucija/Saint Lucia, Santa Venera/Saint Venera, Siggiewi, Sliema, Swieqi, Tarxien, Ta' Xbiex, Valletta, Xaghra, Xewkija, Xghajra, Zabbar, Zebbug, Zebbug (Ghawdex), Zejtun, Zurrieq **Legal system:** mixed system of English common law and civil law based on the Roman and Napoleonic civil codes; subject to European Union law **Constitution:** history: many previous; latest adopted 21 September 1964 amendment process: proposals (Acts of Parliament) require at least two-thirds majority vote by the House of Representatives; passage of Acts requires majority vote by referendum, followed by final majority vote by the House and assent of the president of the republic **International law organization participation:** accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Malta dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years **Suffrage:** 18 years of age (16 in local council elections); universal **Executive branch:** chief of state: President Myriam Spiteri DEBONO (since 4 April 2024) head of government: Prime Minister Robert ABELA (since 13 January 2020) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister election/appointment process: president indirectly elected by the House of Representatives for a single 5-year term; following legislative elections, the president usually appoints the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as prime minister for a 5-year term; deputy prime minister appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister most recent election date: 27 March 2024 election results: 2024: Myriam Spiteri DEBONO (PL) elected president; House of Representatives vote - unanimous 2019: George VELLA (PL) elected president; House of Representatives vote - unanimous expected date of next election: by March 2029 **Legislative branch:** legislature name: House of Representatives (Il-Kamra Tad-Deputati) legislative structure: unicameral number of seats: 65 (all directly elected) electoral system: proportional representation scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 3/26/2022 parties elected and seats per party: Labour Party (LP) (44); Nationalist Party (PN) (35) percentage of women in chamber: 29.1% expected date of next election: March 2027 **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Court of Appeal (consists of either 1 or 3 judges); Constitutional Court (consists of 3 judges); Court of Criminal Appeal (consists of either 1 or 3 judges) judge selection and term of office: Court of Appeal and Constitutional Court judges appointed by the president, usually on the advice of the prime minister; judges of both courts serve until age 65 subordinate courts: Civil Court (divided into the General Jurisdiction Section, Family Section, and Voluntary Section); Criminal Court; Court of Magistrates; Gozo Courts (for the islands of Gozo and Comino) **Political parties:** AD+PD or ADPD (formed from the merger of Democratic Alternative or AD and Democratic Party (Partit Demokratiku) or PD) Labor Party (Partit Laburista) or PL Nationalist Party (Partit Nazzjonalista) or PN **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Godfrey C. XUEREB (since 19 April 2023) chancery: 2017 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (771) 213-4050 FAX: [1] (202) 530-9753​ email address and website: maltaembassy.washington@gov.mt The Embassy (gov.mt) **Diplomatic representation from the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Somers FARKAS (since 26 November 2025) embassy: Ta' Qali National Park, Attard, ATD 4000 mailing address: 5800 Valletta Place, Washington DC 20521-5800 telephone: [356] 2561-4000 email address and website: ACSMalta@state.gov https://mt.usembassy.gov/ **International organization participation:** Australia Group, C, CD, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EMU, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO (partner), NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina (observer), UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO **Independence:** 21 September 1964 (from the UK) **National holiday:** Independence Day, 21 September (1964); Republic Day, 13 December (1974) **Flag:** description: two equal vertical bands of white (left side) and red; in the upper-left corner is the George Cross, edged in red history: according to legend, the colors come from the red-and-white checkered banner of Count Roger of Sicily, who removed a bicolored corner and granted it to Malta in 1091, but the colors more likely come from the Knights of Saint John, who ruled Malta from 1530 to 1798; in 1942, Britain's King George VI awarded the George Cross to the islanders for their exceptional bravery and gallantry in World War II, and the George Cross bordered in red was added to the flag after independence in 1964 **National symbol(s):** Maltese eight-pointed cross **National color(s):** red, white **National coat of arms:** Adopted in 1988, Malta’s coat of arms has a shield displaying the national flag, with olive and palm branches on each side symbolizing peace. On top of the shield is a golden crown in the shape of a fortification with five turrets, representing Malta's forts. The white ribbon below the shield displays the name Repubblika ta' Malta (Republic of Malta). **National anthem(s):** title: "L-Innu Malti" (The Hymn of Malta) lyrics/music: Dun Karm PSAILA/Robert SAMMUT history: adopted 1945; written in the form of a prayer to bind together the political parties and the country **National heritage:** total World Heritage Sites: 3 (all cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: City of Valletta; Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum; Megalithic Temples of Malta ### Economy **Economic overview:** high-income, EU-member European economy; diversified portfolio; euro user; dependent on food and energy imports; strong tourism, trade, and manufacturing sectors; high North African immigration; large welfare system; educated workforce **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $34.731 billion (2024 est.) $32.774 billion (2023 est.) $30.689 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** 6% (2024 est.) 6.8% (2023 est.) 4.3% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $60,500 (2024 est.) $59,300 (2023 est.) $57,800 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $24.322 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 1.7% (2024 est.) 5.1% (2023 est.) 6.2% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 0.2% (2024 est.) industry: 11.4% (2024 est.) services: 80.8% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **GDP - composition, by end use:** household consumption: 46.6% (2024 est.) government consumption: 17.2% (2024 est.) investment in fixed capital: 17.9% (2024 est.) investment in inventories: 0.9% (2024 est.) exports of goods and services: 123.5% (2024 est.) imports of goods and services: -106.1% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection **Agricultural products:** milk, tomatoes, onions, potatoes, chicken, cauliflower/broccoli, cabbages, pork, pumpkins/squash, watermelons (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage **Industries:** tourism, electronics, ship building and repair, construction, food and beverages, pharmaceuticals, footwear, clothing, tobacco, aviation services, financial services, information technology services **Industrial production growth rate:** 5.6% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency **Labor force:** 318,200 (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work **Unemployment rate:** 2.8% (2024 est.) 3.2% (2023 est.) 3% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment **Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):** total: 7.8% (2024 est.) male: 9.6% (2024 est.) female: 5.7% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment **Population below poverty line:** 16.7% (2021 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line **Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income:** 34.6 (2022 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality **Household income or consumption by percentage share:** lowest 10%: 2.7% (2022 est.) highest 10%: 27.7% (2022 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population **Remittances:** 0.1% of GDP (2024 est.) 0.1% of GDP (2023 est.) 0.1% of GDP (2022 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Budget:** revenues: $6.95 billion (2023 est.) expenditures: $7.966 billion (2023 est.) note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated **Public debt:** 50.7% of GDP (2017 est.) note: Malta reports public debt at nominal value outstanding at the end of the year, according to guidelines set out in the Maastricht Treaty for general government gross debt; the data include the following categories of government liabilities (as defined in ESA95): currency and deposits (AF.2), securities other than shares excluding financial derivatives (AF.3, excluding AF.34), and loans (AF.4); general government comprises the central, state, and local governments, and social security funds **Taxes and other revenues:** 21.9% (of GDP) (2023 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP **Current account balance:** $1.383 billion (2024 est.) $1.425 billion (2023 est.) -$167.611 million (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars **Exports:** $29.245 billion (2024 est.) $26.647 billion (2023 est.) $23.566 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** Nigeria 28%, Germany 10%, China 6%, Singapore 5%, Hong Kong 4% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** refined petroleum, integrated circuits, packaged medicine, ships, postage stamps/documents (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports:** $24.505 billion (2024 est.) $22.637 billion (2023 est.) $21.406 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** Italy 18%, China 10%, Germany 8%, France 7%, Turkey 7% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** ships, refined petroleum, integrated circuits, aircraft, packaged medicine (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:** $1.418 billion (2024 est.) $1.223 billion (2023 est.) $1.199 billion (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars **Exchange rates:** euros (EUR) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 0.924 (2024 est.) 0.925 (2023 est.) 0.95 (2022 est.) 0.845 (2021 est.) 0.876 (2020 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.) **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 829,000 kW (2023 est.) consumption: 2.766 billion kWh (2023 est.) exports: 28 million kWh (2023 est.) imports: 648 million kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 199.086 million kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** fossil fuels: 86.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 13.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) biomass and waste: 0.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Coal:** consumption: 8.4 metric tons (2021 est.) imports: 3.9 metric tons (2022 est.) **Petroleum:** refined petroleum consumption: 50,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) **Natural gas:** consumption: 444.715 million cubic meters (2023 est.) imports: 444.715 million cubic meters (2023 est.) **Energy consumption per capita:** 234.698 million Btu/person (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 256,000 (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 47 (2024 est.) **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 767,000 (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 142 (2024 est.) **Broadcast media:** 2 publicly owned TV stations, Television Malta and an educational channel; several privately owned national television stations, 2 of which are owned by political parties; Italian and British broadcast programs are available; multi-channel cable and satellite TV services are available; publicly owned radio broadcaster operates 3 stations; roughly 20 commercial radio stations (2019) **Internet country code:** .mt **Internet users:** percent of population: 92% (2023 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 236,000 (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 44 (2023 est.) ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** 9H **Airports:** 1 (2025) **Heliports:** 2 (2025) **Merchant marine:** total: 1,957 (2023) by type: bulk carrier 490, container ship 348, general cargo 152, oil tanker 354, other 613 **Ports:** total ports: 2 (2024) large: 0 medium: 1 small: 1 very small: 0 ports with oil terminals: 0 key ports: Marsaxlokk, Valletta Harbors ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** the Armed Forces of Malta (AFM): Land Component (combat, combat support, and combat service support divided into three regiments), Maritime Squadron, Air Wing; Volunteer Reserve Force (2025) note: the Malta Police Force maintains internal security; both the Police and the AFM report to the Ministry of Home Affairs, National Security, and Law Enforcement **Military expenditures:** 0.5% of GDP (2024 est.) 0.5% of GDP (2023 est.) 0.7% of GDP (2022 est.) 0.5% of GDP (2021 est.) 0.6% of GDP (2020 est.) **Military and security service personnel strengths:** approximately 2,000 active Armed Forces of Malta (2025) **Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:** the military has a small inventory of armaments from a mix of European countries, particularly Italy, and the US (2025) **Military service age and obligation:** 18-30 years of age for men and women for voluntary military service; no conscription (2026) **Military - note:** the Armed Forces of Malta (AFM) are responsible for external security but also have some domestic security responsibilities; the AFM’s primary roles include maintaining the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, monitoring and policing its territorial waters, participating in overseas peacekeeping and stability operations, and providing search and rescue and explosive ordnance disposal capabilities; secondary missions include assisting civil authorities during emergencies, supporting the police and other security services, and providing ceremonial and other public support duties Malta maintains a security policy of neutrality but contributes to EU, Organization for the Security and Cooperation (OSCE), and UN military missions and joined NATO’s Partnership for Peace program in 1995 (suspended in 1996, but reactivated in 2008); it also participates in various bilateral and multinational military exercises; Malta cooperates closely with Italy on defense matters; in 1973, Italy established a military mission in Malta to provide advice, training, and search and rescue assistance (2025) ### Transnational Issues **Refugees and internally displaced persons:** refugees: 9,284 (2024 est.) stateless persons: 171 (2024 est.) --- ## Moldova **Slug:** moldova **Region:** Europe **Flag:** 🇲🇩 **Codes:** cek: md, iso2: MD, iso3: MDA, iso_num: 498, genc: MDA, stanag: MDA, internet: .md ### Introduction **Background:** A large portion of present-day Moldovan territory became a province of the Russian Empire in 1812 and then unified with Romania in 1918 in the aftermath of World War I. This territory was then incorporated into the Soviet Union at the close of World War II. Although Moldova has been independent from the Soviet Union since 1991, Russian forces have remained on Moldovan territory east of the Nistru River in the breakaway region of Transnistria. Years of Communist Party rule in Moldova from 2001 to 2009 ultimately ended with election-related violent protests and a rerun of parliamentary elections in 2009. A series of pro-Europe ruling coalitions governed Moldova from 2010 to 2019, but pro-Russia candidate Igor DODON won the presidency in 2016, and his Socialist Party of the Republic of Moldova won a plurality in the legislative election in 2019. Pro-EU reformist candidate Maia SANDU defeated DODON in his reelection bid in 2020, and SANDU's Party of Action and Solidarity won a parliamentary majority in an early legislative election in 2021. Prime Minister Natalia GAVRILITA and her cabinet took office in 2021. In early 2023, Moldova's parliament confirmed a new cabinet led by Prime Minister Dorin RECEAN, which retained the majority of the former ministers. ### Geography **Location:** Eastern Europe, northeast of Romania **Geographic coordinates:** 47 00 N, 29 00 E **Map references:** Europe **Area:** total : 33,851 sq km land: 32,891 sq km water: 960 sq km **Area - comparative:** slightly larger than Maryland **Land boundaries:** total: 1,885 km border countries (2): Romania 683 km; Ukraine 1202 km **Coastline:** 0 km (landlocked) **Maritime claims:** none (landlocked) **Climate:** moderate winters, warm summers **Terrain:** rolling steppe, gradual slope south to Black Sea **Elevation:** highest point: Dealul Balanesti 430 m lowest point: Dniester (Nistru) 2 m mean elevation: 139 m **Natural resources:** lignite, phosphorites, gypsum, limestone, arable land **Land use:** agricultural land: 74.1% (2023 est.) arable land: 56.8% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 8.1% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 9.4% (2023 est.) forest: 11.3% (2023 est.) other: 13.8% (2023 est.) **Irrigated land:** 2,150 sq km (2022) **Major rivers (by length in km):** Dunărea (Danube) (shared with Germany [s], Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Ukraine, and Romania [m]) - 2,888 km; Nistru (Dniester) (shared with Ukraine [s/m]) - 1,411 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth **Major watersheds (area sq km):** Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km) **Population distribution:** pockets of agglomeration exist throughout the country, with the largest in the center of the country around the capital of Chisinau, followed by Tiraspol and Balti **Natural hazards:** landslides **Geography - note:** landlocked; has many types of sedimentary rocks and minerals, including sand, gravel, gypsum, and limestone ### People and Society **Population:** total: 3,578,930 (2025 est.) male: 1,687,496 female: 1,891,434 **Nationality:** noun: Moldovan(s) adjective: Moldovan **Ethnic groups:** Moldovan 75.1%, Romanian 7%, Ukrainian 6.6%, Gagauz 4.6%, Russian 4.1%, Bulgarian 1.9%, other 0.8% (2014 est.) **Languages:** Moldovan/Romanian 80.2% (official) (56.7% Moldovan; 23.5% Romanian), Russian 9.7%, Gagauz 4.2% (a Turkish language), Ukrainian 3.9%, Bulgarian 1.5%, Romani 0.3%, other 0.2% (2014) major-language sample(s): Cartea informativa a lumii, sursa indispensabila pentru informatii de baza. (Moldovan/Romanian) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. note: data represent mother tongue; as of March 2023, "Romanian" replaced "Moldovan" as the name of Moldova's official language **Religions:** Orthodox 90.1%, other Christian 2.6%, other 0.1%, agnostic <0.1%, atheist 0.2%, unspecified 6.9% (2014 est.) **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 14.8% (male 266,493/female 266,166) 15-64 years: 70.2% (male 1,225,535/female 1,300,640) 65 years and over: 15% (2024 est.) (male 206,221/female 334,473) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 43 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 20.8 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 22.2 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 4.5 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 40.4 years (2025 est.) male: 38.6 years female: 41.3 years **Population growth rate:** -0.57% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 8.35 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 14.06 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** pockets of agglomeration exist throughout the country, with the largest in the center of the country around the capital of Chisinau, followed by Tiraspol and Balti **Urbanization:** urban population: 43.4% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.09% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 488,000 CHISINAU (capital) (2023) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female total population: 0.89 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Mother's mean age at first birth:** 25.2 years (2019 est.) **Maternal mortality ratio:** 19 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 13.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 16 deaths/1,000 live births female: 11.5 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 70.1 years (2024 est.) male: 66.1 years female: 74.4 years **Total fertility rate:** 1.27 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 0.61 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: urban: 97.7% of population (2022 est.) rural: 87.7% of population (2022 est.) total: 92% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 2.3% of population (2022 est.) rural: 12.3% of population (2022 est.) total: 8% of population (2022 est.) **Health expenditure:** 7.8% of GDP (2021) 12.3% of national budget (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 4.02 physicians/1,000 population (2023) **Hospital bed density:** 5.7 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.) **Sanitation facility access:** improved: urban: 98.7% of population (2022 est.) rural: 82.9% of population (2022 est.) total: 89.7% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 1.3% of population (2022 est.) rural: 17.1% of population (2022 est.) total: 10.3% of population (2022 est.) **Obesity - adult prevalence rate:** 18.9% (2016) **Alcohol consumption per capita:** total: 7.45 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 1.53 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 3.57 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 2.25 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0.1 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) **Tobacco use:** total: 28.7% (2025 est.) male: 54.2% (2025 est.) female: 6.4% (2025 est.) **Currently married women (ages 15-49):** 68.7% (2020 est.) **Education expenditure:** 6.6% of GDP (2023 est.) 16% national budget (2024 est.) **School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):** total: 15 years (2023 est.) male: 15 years (2023 est.) female: 15 years (2023 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** soil and water pollution from heavy use of agricultural chemicals; extensive soil erosion and declining soil fertility from farming methods **International environmental agreements:** party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol **Climate:** moderate winters, warm summers **Land use:** agricultural land: 74.1% (2023 est.) arable land: 56.8% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 8.1% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 9.4% (2023 est.) forest: 11.3% (2023 est.) other: 13.8% (2023 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 43.4% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.09% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 7.093 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 219,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 3.087 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from consumed natural gas: 3.786 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Particulate matter emissions:** 12.3 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 3.981 million tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 36.9% (2022 est.) **Total water withdrawal:** municipal: 160 million cubic meters (2022 est.) industrial: 583 million cubic meters (2022 est.) agricultural: 55 million cubic meters (2022 est.) **Total renewable water resources:** 12.27 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: Republic of Moldova conventional short form: Moldova local long form: Republica Moldova local short form: Moldova former: Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic, Moldovan Soviet Socialist Republic etymology: named for the Moldova River in neighboring eastern Romania; the river's name probably comes from the Indoeuropean root word mel, meaning "dark" or "black" **Government type:** parliamentary republic **Capital:** name: Chisinau in Romanian (Kishinev in Russian) geographic coordinates: 47 00 N, 28 51 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October etymology: origin unclear but may derive from the Old Moldovan word kishineu ("spring" or "artesian well") note: pronounced KEE-shee-now (KIH-shi-nyov) **Administrative divisions:** 32 districts (raioane, singular - raion), 3 municipalities (municipii, singular - municipiul), 1 autonomous territorial unit (unitatea teritoriala autonoma), and 1 territorial unit (unitatea teritoriala) districts: Anenii Noi, Basarabeasca, Briceni, Cahul, Cantemir, Calarasi, Causeni, Cimislia, Criuleni, Donduseni, Drochia, Dubasari, Edinet, Falesti, Floresti, Glodeni, Hincesti, Ialoveni, Leova, Nisporeni, Ocnita, Orhei, Rezina, Riscani, Singerei, Soldanesti, Soroca, Stefan Voda, Straseni, Taraclia, Telenesti, Ungheni municipalities: Balti, Bender, Chisinau autonomous territorial unit: Gagauzia territorial unit: Stinga Nistrului (Transnistria) **Legal system:** civil law system with Germanic law influences; Constitutional Court reviews legislative acts **Constitution:** history: previous 1978; latest adopted 29 July 1994, effective 27 August 1994 amendment process: proposed by voter petition (at least 200,000 eligible voters), by at least one third of Parliament members, or by the government; passage requires two-thirds majority vote of Parliament within one year of initial proposal; revisions to constitutional articles on sovereignty, independence, and neutrality require majority vote by referendum; articles on fundamental rights and freedoms cannot be amended **International law organization participation:** has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Moldova dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years **Suffrage:** 18 years of age; universal **Executive branch:** chief of state: President Maia SANDU (since 24 December 2020) head of government: Prime Minister Alexandru MUNTEANU (since 1 November 2025) cabinet: Cabinet proposed by the prime minister-designate, nominated by the president, approved through a vote of confidence in Parliament election/appointment process: president directly elected for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister designated by the president in consultation with Parliament; within 15 days from designation, the prime minister-designate must request a vote of confidence for his/her proposed work program from the Parliament most recent election date: 3 November 2024 election results: 2024: In the second round of presidential elections, incumbent Maia SANDU (PAS) wins 55.4% of the vote, Alexandr STOIANOGLO (PSRM) 44.6; turnout is 54.3% 2020: Maia SANDU elected president in second round; percent of vote in second round - Maia SANDU (PAS) 57.7%, Igor DODON (PSRM) 42.3% expected date of next election: 2028 **Legislative branch:** legislature name: Parliament (Parlament) legislative structure: unicameral number of seats: 101 (all directly elected) electoral system: proportional representation scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 4 years most recent election date: 9/28/2025 parties elected and seats per party: Action and Solidarity Party (PAS) (55); Electoral Bloc “Patriotic of Socialists, Communists, Heart and Future of Moldova” (26); Alternative Bloc (8); Our Party (6); Democracy at Home Party (6) percentage of women in chamber: 37.6% expected date of next election: September 2029 **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Supreme Court of Justice (consists of the chief judge, 3 deputy-chief judges, 45 judges, and 7 assistant judges); Constitutional Court (consists of the court president and 6 judges) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court of Justice judges appointed by the president on the recommendation of the Superior Council of Magistracy, an 11-member body of judicial officials; all judges serve 4-year renewable terms; Constitutional Court judges appointed 2 each by Parliament, the president, and the Higher Council of Magistracy for 6-year terms; court president elected by other court judges for a 3-year term subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; Court of Business Audit; municipal courts note: the Constitutional Court is autonomous; it interprets the Constitution and reviews the constitutionality of parliamentary laws and decisions, decrees of the president, and acts of the government **Political parties:** Common Action Party - Civil Congress or PAC-CC Democracy at Home Party or PPDA Future of Moldova Party or PVM National Alternative Movement or MAN Our Party or PN Party of Action and Solidarity or PAS Party of Communists of the Republic of Moldova or PCRM Party of Development and Consolidation of Moldova or PDCM Party of Socialists of the Republic of Moldova or PSRM **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Vladislav KULMINSKI (since 5 September 2025) chancery: 2101 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 667-1130 FAX: [1] (202) 667-2624 email address and website: washington@mfa.gov.md https://sua.mfa.gov.md/en **Diplomatic representation from the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Nick PIETROWICZ (since 2025) embassy: 103 Mateevici Street, Chisinau MD-2009 mailing address: 7080 Chisinau Place, Washington DC 20521-7080 telephone: [373] (22) 408-300 FAX: [373] (22) 233-044 email address and website: ChisinauACS@state.gov https://md.usembassy.gov/ **International organization participation:** BSEC, CD, CE, CEI, CIS, EAEU (observer), EAPC, EBRD, FAO, GCTU, GUAM, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SELEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO note: Moldova is an EU candidate country whose satisfactory completion of accession criteria is required before being granted full EU membership **Independence:** 27 August 1991 (from the Soviet Union) **National holiday:** Independence Day, 27 August (1991) **Flag:** description: three equal vertical bands of Prussian blue (left side), chrome yellow, and vermilion red; the Moldavan coat of arms in the center is a dark gold Roman eagle outlined in black, with a red beak and talons; the eagle carries a yellow cross in its beak, a green olive branch in its right talons, and a yellow scepter in its left talons; on the eagle's breast is a red-and-blue shield divided horizontally, with a stylized aurochs head, star, rose, and crescent in black and outlined yellow; the reverse of the flag displays a mirror image of the coat of arms history: replaced the communist flag in 1990; the coat of arms is based on traditional designs note 1: colors are based on the Romanian flag, but Moldova's blue band is lighter note 2: one of three national flags that differ on each side -- the others are Paraguay and Saudi Arabia **National symbol(s):** aurochs (type of wild cattle) **National color(s):** blue, yellow, red **National anthem(s):** title: "Limba noastra" (Our Tongue) lyrics/music: Alexei MATEEVICI/Alexandru CRISTEA history: adopted 1994; originally a 12-verse poem, but only stanzas 1, 2, 5, 9, and 12 are included in the anthem **National heritage:** total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Struve Geodetic Arc ### Economy **Economic overview:** upper middle-income Eastern European economy; sustained growth reversed by COVID-19; significant remittances; Russian energy and regional dependence; agricultural exporter; declining workforce due to emigration and low fertility **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $39.342 billion (2024 est.) $39.301 billion (2023 est.) $38.835 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** 0.1% (2024 est.) 1.2% (2023 est.) -4.6% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $16,500 (2024 est.) $16,000 (2023 est.) $15,400 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $18.2 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 4.7% (2024 est.) 13.4% (2023 est.) 28.7% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 7.1% (2024 est.) industry: 16.8% (2024 est.) services: 62.3% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **GDP - composition, by end use:** household consumption: 86.8% (2024 est.) government consumption: 17.9% (2024 est.) investment in fixed capital: 20% (2024 est.) investment in inventories: 1.1% (2024 est.) exports of goods and services: 31.4% (2024 est.) imports of goods and services: -57.3% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection **Agricultural products:** wheat, maize, sunflower seeds, grapes, apples, sugar beets, barley, milk, rapeseed, potatoes (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage **Industries:** sugar processing, vegetable oil, food processing, agricultural machinery; foundry equipment, refrigerators and freezers, washing machines; hosiery, shoes, textiles **Industrial production growth rate:** 3.3% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency **Labor force:** 1.358 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work **Unemployment rate:** 1.5% (2024 est.) 1.6% (2023 est.) 0.9% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment **Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):** total: 3.3% (2024 est.) male: 3.4% (2024 est.) female: 3.3% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment **Population below poverty line:** 31.1% (2022 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line **Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income:** 25.9 (2022 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality **Household income or consumption by percentage share:** lowest 10%: 4.5% (2022 est.) highest 10%: 22.5% (2022 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population **Remittances:** 10.5% of GDP (2024 est.) 12% of GDP (2023 est.) 14% of GDP (2022 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Budget:** revenues: $5.197 billion (2023 est.) expenditures: $6.037 billion (2023 est.) note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated **Public debt:** 34.3% of GDP (2023 est.) note: central government debt as a % of GDP **Taxes and other revenues:** 18.6% (of GDP) (2023 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP **Current account balance:** -$2.917 billion (2024 est.) -$1.893 billion (2023 est.) -$2.482 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars **Exports:** $5.717 billion (2024 est.) $5.866 billion (2023 est.) $5.981 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** Romania 31%, Ukraine 13%, Italy 6%, Germany 6%, Czechia 4% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** insulated wire, garments, refined petroleum, seed oils, wheat (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports:** $10.418 billion (2024 est.) $9.84 billion (2023 est.) $10.265 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** Romania 16%, Ukraine 13%, China 11%, Turkey 8%, Germany 7% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** refined petroleum, natural gas, cars, packaged medicine, plastic products (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:** $5.484 billion (2024 est.) $5.453 billion (2023 est.) $4.474 billion (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars **Debt - external:** $2.637 billion (2023 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars **Exchange rates:** Moldovan lei (MDL) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 17.792 (2024 est.) 18.164 (2023 est.) 18.897 (2022 est.) 17.68 (2021 est.) 17.322 (2020 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.) **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 779,000 kW (2023 est.) consumption: 5.674 billion kWh (2023 est.) exports: 94 million kWh (2023 est.) imports: 1.264 billion kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 550.069 million kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** fossil fuels: 88% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 1.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) wind: 3.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: 6.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) biomass and waste: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Coal:** consumption: 90,000 metric tons (2023 est.) imports: 86,000 metric tons (2023 est.) **Petroleum:** refined petroleum consumption: 22,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) **Natural gas:** production: 10,000 cubic meters (2021 est.) consumption: 2.223 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) imports: 2.223 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) **Energy consumption per capita:** 35.686 million Btu/person (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 734,000 (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 24 (2024 est.) **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 3.64 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 120 (2024 est.) **Broadcast media:** state-owned national radio-TV broadcaster operates 1 TV and 1 radio station; total of nearly 70 terrestrial TV channels and about 50 radio stations; Russian and Romanian channels are available (2019) **Internet country code:** .md **Internet users:** percent of population: 80% (2023 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 841,000 (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 27 (2023 est.) ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** ER **Airports:** 10 (2025) **Heliports:** 1 (2025) **Railways:** total: 1,171 km (2014) standard gauge: 14 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge broad gauge: 1,157 km (2014) 1.520-m gauge **Merchant marine:** total: 75 (2023) by type: bulk carrier 1, container ship 1, general cargo 44, oil tanker 7, other 22 ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** Armed Forces of the Republic of Moldova (Forțele Armate ale Republicii Moldova): National Army (comprised of Land Forces, Air Force) Ministry of Internal Affairs: General Inspectorate of Police (GPI), Border Police Department, Carabinieri Troops Department (2025) note: the Carabinieri is a quasi-militarized gendarmerie responsible for protecting public buildings, maintaining public order, and other national security functions; the GPI is the primary law enforcement body, responsible for internal security, public order, traffic, and criminal investigations **Military expenditures:** 0.6% of GDP (2024 est.) 0.6% of GDP (2023 est.) 0.4% of GDP (2022 est.) 0.4% of GDP (2021 est.) 0.4% of GDP (2020 est.) **Military and security service personnel strengths:** approximately 6,500 Moldovan Armed Forces (2025) **Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:** the military's inventory is limited and almost entirely comprised of Soviet-era equipment; in recent years, it has received small amounts of donated equipment from some Western European nations and the US (2025) **Military service age and obligation:** 18-27 years of age for compulsory or voluntary military service; male registration required at age 16; 12-month service obligation; conscientious objectors can perform non-military service in public institutions for a longer period (up to 24 months) (2025) note: as of 2024, women made up about 23% of the military's full-time personnel **Military - note:** the National Army is responsible for defense against external aggression, suppressing illegal military violence along the state border or inside the country, and supporting other internal security forces in maintaining public order if necessary; its primary focuses are Transnistrian separatist forces and their Russian backers; the 1992 war between Moldovan forces and the Transnistrian separatists backed by Russian troops ended with a cease-fire; the separatists maintain several armed paramilitary combat units, plus other security forces and reserves; Russia maintains approximately 1,500 troops in the breakaway region, including some Transnistrian locals who serve as Russian troops; some of those troops are under the authority of a peacekeeping force known as a Joint Control Commission that also includes Moldovan and separatist personnel, while the remainder of the Russian contingent guard a depot of Soviet-era ammunition and train separatist forces Moldova is constitutionally neutral but has maintained a relationship with NATO since 1992 and since 2022 has enhanced bilateral security cooperation with some NATO members; it has contributed small numbers of troops to NATO’s Kosovo Force (KFOR) since 2014, and a civilian NATO liaison office was established in Moldova in 2017 at the request of the Moldovan Government to promote practical cooperation and facilitate support; in 2024, Moldova signed a security and defense partnership agreement with the EU; it maintains close security relations with Romania, a member of the EU and NATO (2025) ### Transnational Issues **Refugees and internally displaced persons:** refugees: 136,845 (2024 est.) IDPs: 6 (2024 est.) stateless persons: 3,164 (2024 est.) --- ## Monaco **Slug:** monaco **Region:** Europe **Flag:** 🇲🇨 **Codes:** cek: mn, iso2: MC, iso3: MCO, iso_num: 492, genc: MCO, stanag: MCO, internet: .mc ### Introduction **Background:** The Genoese built a fortress on the site of present-day Monaco in 1215. The current ruling GRIMALDI family first seized control in 1297 but was not able to permanently secure its holding until 1419. Economic development was spurred in the late 19th century with a railroad linkup to France and the opening of a casino. Since then, the principality's mild climate, coastal Mediterranean scenery, and gambling facilities have made Monaco world-famous as a tourist and recreation center. ### Geography **Location:** Western Europe, bordering the Mediterranean Sea on the southern coast of France, near the border with Italy **Geographic coordinates:** 43 44 N, 7 24 E **Map references:** Europe **Area:** total : 2 sq km land: 2 sq km water: 0 sq km **Area - comparative:** about three times the size of the National Mall in Washington, D.C. **Land boundaries:** total: 6 km border countries (1): France 6 km **Coastline:** 4.1 km **Maritime claims:** territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 12 nm **Climate:** Mediterranean with mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers **Terrain:** hilly, rugged, rocky **Elevation:** highest point: Chemin des Revoires on Mont Agel 162 m lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m **Natural resources:** none **Land use:** agricultural land: 0% (2022 est.) arable land: 0% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 1% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.) forest: 0% (2022 est.) other: 100% (2022 est.) **Irrigated land:** 0 sq km (2022) **Population distribution:** the second most densely populated country in the world (after Macau); its entire population lives on 2 sq km (0.8 sq mi) **Natural hazards:** none **Geography - note:** second-smallest independent state in the world (after the Holy See); smallest country with a coastline; almost entirely urban ### People and Society **Population:** total: 32,047 (2025 est.) male: 15,467 female: 16,580 **Nationality:** noun: Monegasque(s) or Monacan(s) adjective: Monegasque or Monacan **Ethnic groups:** Monegasque 32.1%, French 19.9%, Italian 15.3%, British 5%, Belgian 2.3%, Swiss 2%, German 1.9%, Russian 1.8%, American 1.1%, Dutch 1.1%, Moroccan 1%, other 16.6% (2016 est.) note: data represent population by country of birth **Languages:** French (official), English, Italian, Monegasque major-language sample(s): The World Factbook, une source indispensable d'informations de base. (French) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. **Religions:** Roman Catholic 90% (official), other 10% **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 9.1% (male 1,485/female 1,408) 15-64 years: 53.8% (male 8,620/female 8,490) 65 years and over: 37.1% (2024 est.) (male 5,261/female 6,549) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 88.7 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 16.6 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 72.1 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 1.4 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 57.5 years (2025 est.) male: 55 years female: 58.4 years **Population growth rate:** 0.76% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 6.46 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 11.36 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** 12.48 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** the second most densely populated country in the world (after Macau); its entire population lives on 2 sq km (0.8 sq mi) **Urbanization:** urban population: 100% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.5% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 39,000 MONACO (capital) (2018) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Maternal mortality ratio:** 5 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 1.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 2 deaths/1,000 live births female: 1.4 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 89.8 years (2024 est.) male: 86 years female: 93.7 years **Total fertility rate:** 1.55 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 0.76 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.) total: 100% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.) total: 0% of population (2022 est.) **Health expenditure:** 3.7% of GDP (2021) 12% of national budget (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 8.61 physicians/1,000 population (2020) **Sanitation facility access:** improved: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.) total: 100% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.) total: 0% of population (2022 est.) **Education expenditure:** 1.7% of GDP (2023 est.) 7.7% national budget (2023 est.) **School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):** total: 21 years (2024 est.) male: 20 years (2024 est.) female: 22 years (2024 est.) ### Environment **International environmental agreements:** party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements **Climate:** Mediterranean with mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers **Land use:** agricultural land: 0% (2022 est.) arable land: 0% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 1% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.) forest: 0% (2022 est.) other: 100% (2022 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 100% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.5% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Particulate matter emissions:** 9.2 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 46,000 tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 5.4% (2012 est.) **Total water withdrawal:** municipal: 10 million cubic meters (2020 est.) industrial: 0 cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 0 cubic meters (2017 est.) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: Principality of Monaco conventional short form: Monaco local long form: Principauté de Monaco local short form: Monaco etymology: founded as a Greek colony in the 6th century B.C., the name's origin is unclear; it could derive from the Greek term monoikos (solitary), the Ligurian word monegu (rock), or the Basque word muno (mountain) **Government type:** constitutional monarchy **Capital:** name: Monaco geographic coordinates: 43 44 N, 7 25 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October etymology: founded as a Greek colony in the 6th century B.C., the name's origin is unclear; it could derive from the Greek term monoikos (solitary), the Ligurian word monegu (rock), or the Basque word muno (mountain) **Administrative divisions:** no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US government, but 4 quarters (quartiers, singular - quartier); Fontvieille, La Condamine, Monaco-Ville, Monte-Carlo note: Moneghetti, part of La Condamine, is sometimes called the fifth quarter of Monaco **Legal system:** civil law system influenced by French legal tradition **Constitution:** history: previous 1911 (suspended 1959); latest adopted 17 December 1962 amendment process: proposed by joint agreement of the chief of state (the prince) and the National Council; passage requires two-thirds majority vote of National Council members **International law organization participation:** has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Monaco; in the case of a child born out of wedlock, the mother must be a citizen and father unknown dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years **Suffrage:** 18 years of age; universal **Executive branch:** chief of state: Prince ALBERT II (since 6 April 2005) head of government: Minister of State Christophe MIRMAND (since 21 July 2025) cabinet: Council of Government under the authority of the monarch election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; minister of state appointed by the monarch from a list of three French national candidates presented by the French Government **Legislative branch:** legislature name: National Council (Conseil national) legislative structure: unicameral number of seats: 24 (all directly elected) electoral system: proportional representation scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 2/5/2023 parties elected and seats per party: Monegasque National Union - l’Union (24) percentage of women in chamber: 45.8% expected date of next election: February 2028 **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of 5 permanent members and 2 substitutes) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court members appointed by the monarch upon the proposals of the National Council, State Council, Crown Council, Court of Appeal, and Trial Court subordinate courts: Court of Appeal; Civil Court of First Instance **Political parties:** Monegasque National Union (includes Horizon Monaco, Primo!, Union Monegasque) Horizon Monaco Priorite Monaco or Primo! Union Monegasque **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Maguy MACCARIO DOYLE (since 3 December 2013) chancery: 888 17th Street NW, Suite 500, Washington, DC 20006 telephone: [1] (202) 234-1530 FAX: [1] (202) 244-7656 email address and website: info@monacodc.org https://monacodc.org/index.html consulate(s) general: New York **Diplomatic representation from the US:** embassy: US does not have an embassy in Monaco; the US Ambassador to France is accredited to Monaco; the US Consul General in Marseille (France), under the authority of the US Ambassador to France, handles diplomatic and consular matters concerning Monaco; +(33)(1) 43-12-22-22, enter zero "0" after the automated greeting; US Embassy Paris, 2 Avenue Gabriel, 75008 Paris, France **International organization participation:** CD, CE, FAO, IAEA, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IFRCS, IHO, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITSO, ITU, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, OSCE, Schengen Convention (de facto member), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO **Independence:** 1419 (beginning of permanent rule by the House of GRIMALDI) **National holiday:** National Day (Saint Rainier's Day), 19 November (1857) **Flag:** description: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white history: uses the colors of the ruling House of Grimaldi; colors have been in use since 1339, making it one of the world's oldest national flags note: similar to the flags of Indonesia (longer) and Poland (colors reversed) **National symbol(s):** red and white lozenges (diamond shapes) **National color(s):** red, white **National anthem(s):** title: "A Marcia de Muneghu" (The March of Monaco) lyrics/music: Louis NOTARI/Charles ALBRECHT history: music adopted 1867, lyrics adopted 1931; only the Monegasque lyrics are official; the French version is known as "Hymne Monegasque" (Monegasque Anthem); the words are usually only sung on official occasions ### Economy **Economic overview:** high-income European economy; non-EU euro user; considered a tax haven; tourism and banking are largest sectors; negatively impacted by COVID-19; major oceanographic museum; among most expensive real estate; major state-owned enterprises **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $8.924 billion (2024 est.) $8.749 billion (2023 est.) $8.329 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2015 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** 5% (2023 est.) 11% (2022 est.) 22.2% (2021 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $270,100 (2024 est.) $256,600 (2023 est.) $226,100 (2022 est.) note: data in 2015 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $10.434 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 5.9% (2022 est.) 2.1% (2021 est.) 0.5% (2020 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** industry: 11.5% (2023 est.) services: 88.5% (2023 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **Agricultural products:** none **Industries:** banking, insurance, tourism, construction, small-scale industrial and consumer products **Exports - partners:** Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, Spain (2021) **Exports - commodities:** jewelry, perfumes, watches, packaged medicines, cars (2021) top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports - partners:** Italy, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Germany, China (2021) **Imports - commodities:** jewelry, cars and vehicle parts, recreational boats, plastic products, artwork (2021) **Exchange rates:** euros (EUR) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 0.924 (2024 est.) 0.925 (2023 est.) 0.95 (2022 est.) 0.845 (2021 est.) 0.876 (2020 est.) note: while not an EU member state, Monaco, due to its preexisting monetary and banking agreements with France, has a 1998 monetary agreement with the EU to produce limited euro coinage—but not banknotes—that began enforcement in January 2002 and superseded by a new EU agreement in 2012 ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 36,900 (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 96 (2024 est.) **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 41,500 (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 107 (2024 est.) **Broadcast media:** TV Monte-Carlo operates a TV network; cable TV available; Radio Monte-Carlo has extensive radio networks in France and Italy, with French-language broadcasts to France beginning in the 1960s and Italian-language broadcasts to Italy beginning in the 1970s; other radio stations include Riviera Radio and Radio Monaco **Internet country code:** .mc **Internet users:** percent of population: 99% (2023 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 22,000 (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 56 (2023 est.) ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** 3A **Heliports:** 3 (2025) **Railways:** note: Monaco has a single railway station but does not operate its own train service; the French operator SNCF operates rail services in Monaco **Merchant marine:** total: 1 **Ports:** total ports: 1 (2024) large: 0 medium: 0 small: 0 very small: 1 ports with oil terminals: 0 key ports: Monaco ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** no regular military forces; Prince’s Company of Carabiniers (Compagnie des Carabiniers du Prince, Police Department (Direction de la Sûreté Publique), Fire and Emergency Service (Corps des Sapeurs-pompiers de Monaco) (2025) note: the primary responsibility for the Compagnie des Carabiniers du Prince is guarding the palace; the Police maintain public order **Military - note:** by treaty, France is responsible for defending the independence and sovereignty of Monaco ### Transnational Issues **Refugees and internally displaced persons:** refugees: 17 (2024 est.) --- ## Montenegro **Slug:** montenegro **Region:** Europe **Flag:** 🇲🇪 **Codes:** cek: mj, iso2: ME, iso3: MNE, iso_num: 499, genc: MNE, stanag: MNE, internet: .me ### Introduction **Background:** The use of the name Crna Gora or Black Mountain (Montenegro) began in the 13th century in reference to a highland region in the Serbian province of Zeta. Under Ottoman control beginning in 1496, Montenegro was a semi-autonomous theocracy ruled by a series of bishop princes until 1852, when it became a secular principality. Montenegro fought a series of wars with the Ottomans and eventually won recognition as an independent sovereign principality at the Congress of Berlin in 1878. In 1918, the country was absorbed by the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes, which became the Kingdom of Yugoslavia in 1929. At the end of World War II, Montenegro joined the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY). When the SFRY dissolved in 1992, Montenegro and Serbia created the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY), which shifted in 2003 to a looser State Union of Serbia and Montenegro. Montenegro voted to restore its independence on 3 June 2006. Montenegro became an official EU candidate in 2010 and joined NATO in 2017. ### Geography **Location:** Southeastern Europe, between the Adriatic Sea and Serbia **Geographic coordinates:** 42 30 N, 19 18 E **Map references:** Europe **Area:** total : 13,812 sq km land: 13,452 sq km water: 360 sq km **Area - comparative:** slightly smaller than Connecticut; slightly larger than twice the size of Delaware **Land boundaries:** total: 680 km border countries (5): Albania 186 km; Bosnia and Herzegovina 242 km; Croatia 19 km; Kosovo 76 km; Serbia 157 km **Coastline:** 293.5 km **Maritime claims:** territorial sea: 12 nm continental shelf: defined by treaty **Climate:** Mediterranean climate, hot dry summers and autumns and relatively cold winters with heavy snowfalls inland **Terrain:** highly indented coastline with narrow coastal plain backed by rugged high limestone mountains and plateaus **Elevation:** highest point: Zia Kolata 2,534 m lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m mean elevation: 1,086 m **Natural resources:** bauxite, hydroelectricity **Land use:** agricultural land: 19.6% (2023 est.) arable land: 0.7% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0.4% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 18.5% (2023 est.) forest: 61.5% (2023 est.) other: 18.9% (2023 est.) **Irrigated land:** 24 sq km (2012) **Major lakes (area sq km):** fresh water lake(s): Lake Scutari (shared with Albania) - 400 sq km note - largest lake in the Balkans **Major watersheds (area sq km):** Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km) **Population distribution:** highest population density is concentrated in the south and southwest; the extreme eastern border is the least populated area **Natural hazards:** destructive earthquakes **Geography - note:** strategic location along the Adriatic coast ### People and Society **Population:** total: 597,174 (2025 est.) male: 292,908 female: 304,266 **Nationality:** noun: Montenegrin(s) adjective: Montenegrin **Ethnic groups:** Montenegrin 45%, Serbian 28.7%, Bosniak 8.7%, Albanian 4.9%, Muslim 3.3%, Romani 1%, Croat 1%, other 2.6%, unspecified 4.9% (2011 est.) **Languages:** Serbian 42.9%, Montenegrin (official) 37%, Bosnian 5.3%, Albanian 5.3%, Serbo-Croat 2%, other 3.5%, unspecified 4% (2011 est.) major-language sample(s): Knjiga svetskih činjenica, neophodan izvor osnovnih informacija. (Serbian) Knjiga svjetskih činjenica, neophodan izvor osnovnih informacija. (Montenegrin/Bosnian) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. **Religions:** Orthodox 72.1%, Muslim 19.1%, Catholic 3.4%, atheist 1.2%, other 1.5%, unspecified 2.6% (2011 est.) **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 17.7% (male 54,608/female 51,594) 15-64 years: 64.4% (male 192,631/female 193,515) 65 years and over: 17.9% (2024 est.) (male 47,243/female 60,258) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 56.1 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 27.4 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 28.7 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 3.5 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 41.5 years (2025 est.) male: 39.5 years female: 42.5 years **Population growth rate:** -0.46% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 10.77 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 10.29 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** -5.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** highest population density is concentrated in the south and southwest; the extreme eastern border is the least populated area **Urbanization:** urban population: 68.5% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.45% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 177,000 PODGORICA (capital) (2018) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Mother's mean age at first birth:** 26.3 years (2010 est.) **Maternal mortality ratio:** 6 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 3.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 2.7 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.7 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 78.2 years (2024 est.) male: 75.8 years female: 80.7 years **Total fertility rate:** 1.8 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 0.88 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: urban: 99.2% of population (2022 est.) rural: 98.2% of population (2022 est.) total: 98.9% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 0.8% of population (2022 est.) rural: 1.8% of population (2022 est.) total: 1.1% of population (2022 est.) **Health expenditure:** 10.6% of GDP (2021) 16.3% of national budget (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 2.78 physicians/1,000 population (2023) **Hospital bed density:** 3.8 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.) **Sanitation facility access:** improved: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.) rural: 93.9% of population (2022 est.) total: 98.1% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.) rural: 6.1% of population (2022 est.) total: 1.9% of population (2022 est.) **Obesity - adult prevalence rate:** 23.3% (2016) **Alcohol consumption per capita:** total: 9.91 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 3.83 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 2.68 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 3.22 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0.16 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) **Tobacco use:** total: 31.6% (2025 est.) male: 29.9% (2025 est.) female: 33.1% (2025 est.) **Children under the age of 5 years underweight:** 3.7% (2018 est.) **Currently married women (ages 15-49):** 57.6% (2018 est.) **Child marriage:** women married by age 15: 1.9% (2018) women married by age 18: 5.8% (2018) men married by age 18: 3.2% (2018) **Literacy:** total population: 98.5% (2018 est.) male: 99.2% (2018 est.) female: 97.9% (2018 est.) **School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):** total: 16 years (2023 est.) male: 15 years (2023 est.) female: 16 years (2023 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** pollution of coastal waters from sewage outlets; serious air pollution in some cities from lignite power plants and household use of coal and wood for heating **International environmental agreements:** party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements **Climate:** Mediterranean climate, hot dry summers and autumns and relatively cold winters with heavy snowfalls inland **Land use:** agricultural land: 19.6% (2023 est.) arable land: 0.7% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0.4% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 18.5% (2023 est.) forest: 61.5% (2023 est.) other: 18.9% (2023 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 68.5% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.45% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 2.808 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 1.543 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 1.265 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Particulate matter emissions:** 17.9 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 329,800 tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 6.4% (2022 est.) **Total water withdrawal:** municipal: 121.32 million cubic meters (2022 est.) industrial: 2.079 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) agricultural: 6.76 million cubic meters (2022 est.) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: none conventional short form: Montenegro local long form: none local short form: Crna Gora former: People's Republic of Montenegro, Socialist Republic of Montenegro, Republic of Montenegro etymology: the name in Italian means "dark mountain" and is a translation of the Serbo-Croatian name Crna Gora; both refer to the dark coniferous forests in the mountainous region **Government type:** parliamentary republic **Capital:** name: Podgorica geographic coordinates: 42 26 N, 19 16 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1 hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October etymology: the Slavic name translates as "under the mountain," from pod (under) and gora (mountain) note: Cetinje retains the status of "Old Royal Capital" **Administrative divisions:** 25 municipalities (opstine, singular - opstina); Andrijevica, Bar, Berane, Bijelo Polje, Budva, Cetinje, Danilovgrad, Gusinje, Herceg Novi, Kolasin, Kotor, Mojkovac, Niksic, Petnjica, Plav, Pljevlja, Pluzine, Podgorica, Rozaje, Savnik, Tivat, Tuzi, Ulcinj, Zabljak, Zeta **Legal system:** civil law **Constitution:** history: several previous; latest adopted 22 October 2007 amendment process: proposed by the president of Montenegro, by the government, or by at least 25 members of the Assembly; passage of draft proposals requires two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly, followed by a public hearing; passage of draft amendments requires two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly; changes to certain constitutional articles, such as sovereignty, state symbols, citizenship, and constitutional change procedures, require three-fifths majority vote in a referendum **International law organization participation:** has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Montenegro dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years **Suffrage:** 18 years of age; universal **Executive branch:** chief of state: President Jakov MILATOVIC (since 20 May 2023) head of government: Prime Minister Milojko SPAJIC (since 31 October 2023) cabinet: ministers serve as the cabinet election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister nominated by the president, approved by the Assembly most recent election date: 19 March 2023, with a runoff on 2 April 2023 election results: 2023: Jakov MILATOVIC elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Milo DUKANOVIC (DPS) 35.4%, Jakov MILATOVIC (Europe Now!) 28.9%, Andrija MANDIC (DF) 19.3%, Aleksa BECIC (DCG) 11.1%, other 5.3%; percent of vote in second round - Jakov MILATOVIC 58.9%, Milo DUKANOVIC 41.1% 2018: Milo DJUKANOVIC elected president in first round; percent of vote - Milo DJUKANOVIC (DPS) 53.9%, Mladen BOJANIC (independent) 33.4%, Draginja VUKSANOVIC (SDP) 8.2%, Marko MILACIC (PRAVA) 2.8%, other 1.7% expected date of next election: 2028 **Legislative branch:** legislature name: Parliament (Skupstina) legislative structure: unicameral number of seats: 81 (all directly elected) electoral system: proportional representation scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 4 years most recent election date: 6/11/2023 parties elected and seats per party: Europe now! (Evropa sad) (24); Together! For the future that belongs to you (DPS – SD – DUA – LP - UDSh) (21); For the future of Montenegro (New Serb Democracy; Democratic People’s Party of Montenegro, Labour Party) (13); Bravery counts! (HRABRO se broji!) (11); It’s clear! (Jasno je!) – Bosniak Party (6); Other (6) percentage of women in chamber: 27.2% expected date of next election: June 2027 **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Supreme Court or Vrhovni Sud (consists of the court president, deputy president, and 15 judges); Constitutional Court or Ustavni Sud (consists of the court president and 7 judges) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court president proposed by general session of the Supreme Court and elected by the Judicial Council, a 9-member body consisting of judges, lawyers designated by the Assembly, and the minister of judicial affairs; Supreme Court president elected for a single renewable, 5-year term; other judges elected by the Judicial Council for life; Constitutional Court judges - 2 proposed by the president of Montenegro and 5 by the Assembly, and elected by the Assembly; court president elected from among the court members; court president elected for a 3-year term, other judges serve 9-year terms subordinate courts: Administrative Courts; Appellate Court; Commercial Courts; High Courts; basic courts **Political parties:** Albanian Alliance (electoral coalition includes FORCA, PD, DSCG) Albanian Alternative or AA Albanian Democratic League or LDSH Albanian Forum (electoral coalition includes AA, LDSH, UDSH) Aleksa and Dritan - Count Bravely! (electoral coalition includes Democrats, URA) Bosniak Party or BS Civic Movement United Reform Action or United Reform Action or URA Croatian Civic Initiative or HGI Democratic Alliance or DEMOS Democratic League in Montenegro or DSCG Democratic Montenegro or Democrats Democratic Party of Socialists or DPS Democratic People's Party or DNP Democratic Union of Albanians or UDSH Europe Now! For the Future of Montenegro or ZBCG (coalition includes NSD, DNP, RP) Liberal Party or LP New Democratic Power or FORCA New Serb Democracy or NSD or NOVA Social Democrats or SD Socialist People's Party or SNP Together! (electoral coalition includes DPS, SD, LP, UDSH) United Montenegro or UCG (split from DEMOS) Workers' Party or RP **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Jovan MIRKOVIĆ (since 18 September 2024) chancery: 1610 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 234-6108 FAX: [1] (202) 234-6109 email address and website: usa@mfa.gov.me United States of America - Embassies and consulates of Montenegro and visa regimes for foreign citizens (www.gov.me) consulate(s) general: New York **Diplomatic representation from the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Judy Rising REINKE (since 20 December 2018) embassy: Dzona Dzeksona 2, 81000 Podgorica mailing address: 5570 Podgorica Place, Washington DC 20521-5570 telephone: [382] (0) 20-410-500 FAX: [382] (0) 20-241-358 email address and website: PodgoricaACS@state.gov https://me.usembassy.gov/ **International organization participation:** CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO, OAS (observer), OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, SELEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO note: Montenegro is an EU candidate country whose satisfactory completion of accession criteria is required before being granted full EU membership **Independence:** 3 June 2006 (from the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro); notable earlier dates: 13 March 1852 (Principality of Montenegro established); 13 July 1878 (Congress of Berlin recognizes Montenegrin independence); 28 August 1910 (Kingdom of Montenegro established) **National holiday:** Statehood Day, 13 July (1878, 1941) note: the holiday celebrates the day in 1878 when the Berlin Congress recognized Montenegro as an independent state, as well as the day in 1941 when the Montenegrins staged an uprising against its occupiers **Flag:** description: a red field bordered with a narrow golden-yellow stripe; the Montenegrin coat of arms in the center is a double-headed golden eagle, with a crown above; the eagle holds a golden scepter in its right claw and a blue orb in its left; the eagle's breast shield shows a golden lion on a green field in front of a blue sky meaning: the eagle symbolizes the unity of church and state; the lion is a symbol of episcopal authority, a reference to the three-and-a-half centuries when Montenegro was ruled as a theocracy **National symbol(s):** double-headed eagle **National color(s):** red, gold **National anthem(s):** title: "Oj, svijetla majska zoro" (Oh, Bright Dawn of May) lyrics/music: Sekula DRLJEVIC/unknown, arranged by Zarko MIKOVIC history: adopted 2004; music based on a Montenegrin folk song **National heritage:** total World Heritage Sites: 4 (3 cultural, 1 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Natural and Culturo-Historical Region of Kotor (c); Durmitor National Park (n); Stećci Medieval Tombstones Graveyards (c); Fortified City of Kotor Venetian Defense Works (c) ### Economy **Economic overview:** upper-middle-income, small Balkan economy; uses euro as de facto currency; reduced growth due to slowdown in tourism and industrial production; new impetus for EU accession under Europe Now government; energy price cap and declining food and services prices easing inflation rate **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $17.375 billion (2024 est.) $16.862 billion (2023 est.) $15.857 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** 3% (2024 est.) 6.3% (2023 est.) 6.4% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $27,900 (2024 est.) $27,000 (2023 est.) $25,400 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $8.07 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 3.3% (2024 est.) 8.6% (2023 est.) 13% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 5.2% (2024 est.) industry: 11.6% (2024 est.) services: 62.1% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **GDP - composition, by end use:** household consumption: 76.3% (2024 est.) government consumption: 17.9% (2024 est.) investment in fixed capital: 20.2% (2024 est.) investment in inventories: 8.3% (2024 est.) exports of goods and services: 44.9% (2024 est.) imports of goods and services: -67.5% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection **Agricultural products:** milk, potatoes, watermelons, grapes, sheep milk, cabbages, oranges, eggs, goat milk, figs (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage **Industries:** steelmaking, aluminum, agricultural processing, consumer goods, tourism **Industrial production growth rate:** -1.7% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency **Labor force:** 245,300 (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work **Unemployment rate:** 14.1% (2024 est.) 14.7% (2023 est.) 14.9% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment **Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):** total: 25.9% (2024 est.) male: 27.5% (2024 est.) female: 23.6% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment **Population below poverty line:** 20.3% (2021 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line **Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income:** 34.3 (2021 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality **Average household expenditures:** on food: 24.8% of household expenditures (2022 est.) on alcohol and tobacco: 5.6% of household expenditures (2022 est.) **Household income or consumption by percentage share:** lowest 10%: 2.1% (2021 est.) highest 10%: 24.7% (2021 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population **Remittances:** 10.6% of GDP (2024 est.) 10.7% of GDP (2023 est.) 13.3% of GDP (2022 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Budget:** revenues: $1.463 billion (2015 est.) expenditures: $1.491 billion (2015 est.) note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated **Public debt:** 67.2% of GDP (2017 est.) note: data cover general government debt, and includes debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intragovernmental debt; intragovernmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions **Current account balance:** -$1.406 billion (2024 est.) -$851.525 million (2023 est.) -$817.858 million (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars **Exports:** $3.629 billion (2024 est.) $3.769 billion (2023 est.) $3.177 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** Italy 38%, Serbia 13%, Spain 6%, Slovenia 5%, Bosnia & Herzegovina 4% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** electricity, aluminum, copper ore, aluminum ore, packaged medicine (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports:** $5.478 billion (2024 est.) $5.167 billion (2023 est.) $4.614 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** Serbia 21%, China 10%, Germany 8%, Croatia 6%, Italy 6% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** refined petroleum, cars, electricity, packaged medicine, aluminum (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:** $1.741 billion (2024 est.) $1.574 billion (2023 est.) $2.041 billion (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars **Debt - external:** $3.643 billion (2023 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars **Exchange rates:** euros (EUR) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 0.924 (2024 est.) 0.925 (2023 est.) 0.951 (2022 est.) 0.845 (2021 est.) 0.877 (2020 est.) note: Montenegro, which is neither an EU member state nor a party to a formal EU monetary agreement, uses the euro as its de facto currency ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.) **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 1.082 million kW (2023 est.) consumption: 2.719 billion kWh (2023 est.) exports: 6.288 billion kWh (2023 est.) imports: 5.421 billion kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 601.023 million kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** fossil fuels: 39.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 0.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) wind: 7.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: 53% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Coal:** production: 1.862 million metric tons (2023 est.) consumption: 1.658 million metric tons (2023 est.) exports: 205,000 metric tons (2023 est.) imports: 2.8 metric tons (2022 est.) proven reserves: 337 million metric tons (2023 est.) **Petroleum:** refined petroleum consumption: 9,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) **Energy consumption per capita:** 63.407 million Btu/person (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 192,000 (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 30 (2024 est.) **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 1.42 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 222 (2024 est.) **Broadcast media:** state-funded national radio and TV broadcaster operates 2 terrestrial TV networks, 1 satellite TV channel, and 2 radio networks; 4 local public TV stations and 14 private TV stations; 14 local public radio stations, 35 private radio stations, and several online media (2019) **Internet country code:** .me **Internet users:** percent of population: 90% (2023 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 203,000 (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 32 (2023 est.) ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** 4O **Airports:** 5 (2025) **Heliports:** 1 (2025) **Railways:** total: 250 km (2017) standard gauge: 250 km (2017) 1.435-m gauge (224 km electrified) **Merchant marine:** total: 18 (2023) by type: bulk carrier 4, other 14 **Ports:** total ports: 4 (2024) large: 0 medium: 0 small: 1 very small: 3 ports with oil terminals: 1 key ports: Bar, Kotor, Risan, Tivat ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** Army of Montenegro (Vojska Crne Gore or VCG): Ground Forces, Air Force, Navy Ministry of Interior: Police Directorate of Montenegro (2025) **Military expenditures:** 2% of GDP (2025 est.) 1.7% of GDP (2024 est.) 1.5% of GDP (2023 est.) 1.4% of GDP (2022 est.) 1.6% of GDP (2021 est.) **Military and security service personnel strengths:** approximately 2,000 active-duty military personnel (2025) **Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:** the military's inventory is small and consists largely of Soviet-era equipment inherited from the former Yugoslavia military, along with a limited but growing mix of imported Western systems (2025) **Military service age and obligation:** 18-30 for voluntary military service; conscription abolished in 2006 (2025) note: as of 2024, women made up over 11% of the military's full-time personnel **Military - note:** the Army of Montenegro is responsible for the defense of Montenegro’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, cooperating in international and multinational security, and assisting civil authorities during emergencies such as natural disasters; since Montenegro joined NATO in 2017, another focus has been integrating into the Alliance, including adapting NATO standards for planning and professionalization, structural reforms, and modernization by replacing its Soviet-era equipment; the Army trains and exercises with NATO partners and actively supports NATO missions and operations, committing small numbers of troops in Afghanistan, Kosovo, and NATO’s Enhanced Forward Presence mission in Eastern Europe; a few personnel have also been deployed on EU- and UN-led operations (2025) ### Transnational Issues **Refugees and internally displaced persons:** refugees: 18,820 (2024 est.) stateless persons: 423 (2024 est.) --- ## Netherlands **Slug:** netherlands **Region:** Europe **Flag:** 🇳🇱 **Codes:** cek: nl, iso2: NL, iso3: NLD, iso_num: 528, genc: NLD, stanag: NLD, internet: .nl ### Introduction **Background:** The Dutch United Provinces declared their independence from Spain in 1581; during the 17th century, they became a leading seafaring and commercial power, with settlements and colonies around the world. After 18 years of French domination, the Netherlands regained its independence in 1813. In 1830, Belgium seceded and formed a separate kingdom. The Netherlands remained neutral in World War I but suffered German invasion and occupation in World War II. A modern, industrialized nation, the Netherlands is also a large exporter of agricultural products. The country was a founding member of NATO and the EEC (now the EU) and participated in the introduction of the euro in 1999. In 2010, the former Netherlands Antilles was dissolved and the three smallest islands -- Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba -- became special municipalities in the Netherlands administrative structure. The larger islands of Sint Maarten and Curacao joined the Netherlands and Aruba as constituent countries forming the Kingdom of the Netherlands. In 2018, the Sint Eustatius island council (governing body) was dissolved and replaced by a government commissioner to restore the integrity of public administration. According to the Dutch Government, the intervention will be as "short as possible and as long as needed." ### Geography **Location:** Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between Belgium and Germany **Geographic coordinates:** 52 31 N, 5 46 E **Map references:** Europe **Area:** total : 41,543 sq km land: 33,893 sq km water: 7,650 sq km **Area - comparative:** slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey **Land boundaries:** total: 1,053 km border countries (2): Belgium 478 km; Germany 575 km **Coastline:** 451 km **Maritime claims:** territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm **Climate:** temperate; marine; cool summers and mild winters **Terrain:** mostly coastal lowland and reclaimed land (polders); some hills in southeast **Elevation:** highest point: Mount Scenery (on the island of Saba in the Caribbean, now considered an integral part of the Netherlands following the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles) 862 m lowest point: Zuidplaspolder -7 m mean elevation: 30 m note: the highest point on continental Netherlands is Vaalserberg at 322 m **Natural resources:** natural gas, petroleum, peat, limestone, salt, sand and gravel, arable land **Land use:** agricultural land: 53.5% (2023 est.) arable land: 30% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 1.1% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 22.5% (2023 est.) forest: 10.9% (2023 est.) other: 35.5% (2023 est.) **Irrigated land:** 2,969 sq km (2019) **Major rivers (by length in km):** Rijn (Rhine) river mouth (shared with Switzerland [s], Germany, and France) - 1,233 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth **Major watersheds (area sq km):** Atlantic Ocean drainage: Rhine-Maas (198,735 sq km) **Population distribution:** an area known as the Randstad, anchored by the cities of Amsterdam, Rotterdam, the Hague, and Utrecht, is the most densely populated region; the north tends to be less dense, but sizeable communities can be found throughout the entire country **Natural hazards:** flooding volcanism: Mount Scenery (887 m), located on the island of Saba in the Caribbean, last erupted in 1640; Round Hill (601 m), a dormant volcano also known as "The Quill," is located on the island of St. Eustatius in the Caribbean; these islands are at the northern end of the volcanic island arc of the Lesser Antilles that extends south to Grenada **Geography - note:** located at mouths of three major European rivers (Rhine (Rijn), Meuse (Maas), and Scheldt (Schelde)); about a quarter of the country lies below sea level and only about half of the land exceeds one meter above sea level ### People and Society **Population:** total: 17,833,885 (2025 est.) male: 8,874,366 female: 8,959,519 **Nationality:** noun: Dutchman(men), Dutchwoman(women) adjective: Dutch **Ethnic groups:** Dutch 75.4%, EU (excluding Dutch) 6.4%, Turkish 2.4%, Moroccan 2.4%, Surinamese 2.1%, Indonesian 2%, other 9.3% (2021 est.) **Languages:** Dutch (official), Frisian (official in Fryslan province) major-language sample(s): Het Wereld Feitenboek, een onmisbare bron van informatie. (Dutch) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. note: Frisian, Low Saxon, Limburgish, Romani, and Yiddish have protected status; Dutch is the official language of the three special municipalities of the Caribbean Netherlands; English is a recognized regional language on Sint Eustatius and Saba; Papiamento is a recognized regional language on Bonaire **Religions:** Roman Catholic 20.1%, Protestant 14.8% (includes Dutch Reformed, Protestant Church of The Netherlands, Calvinist), Muslim 5%, other 5.9% (includes Hindu, Buddhist, Jewish), none 54.1% (2019 est.) **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 15.2% (male 1,384,142/female 1,312,455) 15-64 years: 64.1% (male 5,750,034/female 5,640,691) 65 years and over: 20.7% (2024 est.) (male 1,709,924/female 1,975,132) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 56.8 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 23.7 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 33 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 3 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 42.2 years (2025 est.) male: 40.9 years female: 43.5 years **Population growth rate:** 0.3% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 10.68 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 9.7 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** 2.01 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** an area known as the Randstad, anchored by the cities of Amsterdam, Rotterdam, the Hague, and Utrecht, is the most densely populated region; the north tends to be less dense, but sizeable communities can be found throughout the entire country **Urbanization:** urban population: 93.2% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.59% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 1.174 million AMSTERDAM (capital), 1.018 million Rotterdam (2023) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Mother's mean age at first birth:** 30.2 years (2020 est.) **Maternal mortality ratio:** 4 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 3.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 3.9 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.3 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 81.9 years (2024 est.) male: 80.3 years female: 83.5 years **Total fertility rate:** 1.62 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 0.79 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.) rural: 100% of population (2022 est.) total: 100% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.) rural: 0% of population (2022 est.) total: 0% of population (2022 est.) **Health expenditure:** 11.3% of GDP (2021) 15.9% of national budget (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 3.88 physicians/1,000 population (2022) **Hospital bed density:** 2.9 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.) **Sanitation facility access:** improved: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.) rural: 100% of population (2022 est.) total: 100% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.) rural: 0% of population (2022 est.) total: 0% of population (2022 est.) **Obesity - adult prevalence rate:** 20.4% (2016) **Alcohol consumption per capita:** total: 8.23 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 3.95 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 2.92 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 1.36 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) **Tobacco use:** total: 18.7% (2025 est.) male: 21% (2025 est.) female: 16.4% (2025 est.) **Currently married women (ages 15-49):** 53.5% (2023 est.) **Education expenditure:** 5.2% of GDP (2022 est.) 12% national budget (2022 est.) **School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):** total: 19 years (2021 est.) male: 18 years (2021 est.) female: 19 years (2021 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** water pollution, including industrial and agricultural chemicals in rivers; air pollution from vehicles and refining activities **International environmental agreements:** party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements **Climate:** temperate; marine; cool summers and mild winters **Land use:** agricultural land: 53.5% (2023 est.) arable land: 30% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 1.1% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 22.5% (2023 est.) forest: 10.9% (2023 est.) other: 35.5% (2023 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 93.2% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.59% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 188.191 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 23.701 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 112.037 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from consumed natural gas: 52.454 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Particulate matter emissions:** 10 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) **Methane emissions:** energy: 63.1 kt (2022-2024 est.) agriculture: 449 kt (2019-2021 est.) waste: 123.3 kt (2019-2021 est.) other: 17.4 kt (2019-2021 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 8.805 million tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 28.3% (2022 est.) **Total water withdrawal:** municipal: 2.185 billion cubic meters (2022) industrial: 5.784 billion cubic meters (2022) agricultural: 265.086 million cubic meters (2022) **Total renewable water resources:** 91 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) **Geoparks:** total global geoparks and regional networks: 2 (2024) global geoparks and regional networks: De Hondsrug; Schelde Delta (includes Belgium) (2024) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: Kingdom of the Netherlands conventional short form: Netherlands local long form: Koninkrijk der Nederlanden local short form: Nederland abbreviation: NL etymology: the English name is derived from the country's Dutch name, which means "the lowlands" and describes the geographic area; only about half the Netherlands is more than 1 meter (3.3 ft) above sea level **Government type:** parliamentary constitutional monarchy; part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands **Capital:** name: Amsterdam geographic coordinates: 52 21 N, 4 55 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October time zone note: time descriptions apply to the continental Netherlands only, for the constituent countries in the Caribbean, the time difference is UTC-4 etymology: the name is derived from the Dutch name of the local river, the Amstel, and the Dutch word dam, which has the same meaning in English; the river name is said to derive from the Germanic words ama (current) and stelle (place) note: The Hague is the seat of government **Administrative divisions:** 12 provinces (provincies, singular - provincie), 3 public entities* (openbare lichamen, singular - openbaar lichaam (Dutch); entidatnan publiko, singular - entidat publiko (Papiamento)); Bonaire*, Drenthe, Flevoland, Fryslan (Friesland), Gelderland, Groningen, Limburg, Noord-Brabant (North Brabant), Noord-Holland (North Holland), Overijssel, Saba*, Sint Eustatius*, Utrecht, Zeeland (Zealand), Zuid-Holland (South Holland) note 1: the Netherlands is one of four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; the other three, Aruba, Curacao, and Sint Maarten, are Caribbean islands; all four are considered equal partners, but the Netherlands makes up about 98% of the Kingdom's total land area and population and administers most of the Kingdom's affairs note 2: although Bonaire, Saba, and Sint Eustatius are officially incorporated into the country of the Netherlands under the broad designation of "public entities," Dutch government sources often call them "special municipalities;" Bonaire, Saba, and Sint Eustatius are collectively referred to as the Caribbean Netherlands **Legal system:** civil law system based on the French system; constitution does not permit judicial review of acts of the States General **Constitution:** history: many previous to adoption of the "Basic Law of the Kingdom of the Netherlands" on 24 August 1815; revised 8 times, the latest in 1983 amendment process: proposed as an Act of Parliament by or on behalf of the king or by the Second Chamber of the States General; the Second Chamber is dissolved after its first reading of the Act; passage requires a second reading by both the First Chamber and the newly elected Second Chamber, followed by at least two-thirds majority vote of both chambers, and ratification by the king **International law organization participation:** accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of the Netherlands dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years **Suffrage:** 18 years of age; universal **Executive branch:** chief of state: King WILLEM-ALEXANDER (since 30 April 2013) head of government: Caretaker Prime Minister Dick SCHOOF (since 3 June 2025) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; following Second Chamber elections, the monarch usually appoints the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as prime minister; deputy prime ministers are also appointed by the monarch note: Prime Minister Dick SCHOOF resigned on 3 June 2025 after a party withdrew from his governing coalition, but he will continue in a caretaker capacity until new elections are held, probably in the fall of 2025 **Legislative branch:** legislature name: States General (Staten-Generaal) legislative structure: bicameral **Legislative branch - lower chamber:** chamber name: House of Representatives (Tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal) number of seats: 150 (all directly elected) electoral system: proportional representation scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 4 years most recent election date: 10/29/2025 parties elected and seats per party: Democrats 66 (D66) (26); Party for Freedom (PVV) (26); People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) (22); Green Left - Labour Party (PvdA) (20); Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) (18); JA21 (9); Other (29) percentage of women in chamber: 42.7% expected date of next election: October 2029 **Legislative branch - upper chamber:** chamber name: Senate (Eerste Kamer der Staten-Generaal) number of seats: 75 (all indirectly elected) scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 4 years most recent election date: 5/30/2023 percentage of women in chamber: 40% expected date of next election: May 2027 **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Supreme Court or Hoge Raad (consists of 41 judges: the president, 6 vice presidents, 31 justices, and 3 justices in exceptional service); the court is divided into criminal, civil, tax, and ombuds chambers judge selection and term of office: justices appointed by the monarch from a list provided by the House of Representatives of the States General; justices appointed for life or until mandatory retirement at age 70 subordinate courts: courts of appeal; district courts, each with up to 5 subdistrict courts; Netherlands Commercial Court **Political parties:** Christian Democratic Appeal or CDA Christian Union or CU Correct Answer 2021 or JA21 Democrats 66 or D66 Denk Farmer-Citizen Movement or BBB 50Plus Forum for Democracy or FvD Green Left (GroenLinks) or GL Labor Party or PvdA New Social Contract or NSC Party for Freedom or PVV Party for the Animals or PvdD People's Party for Freedom and Democracy or VVD Reformed Political Party or SGP Socialist Party or SP Together or BIJ1 Volt Netherlands or Volt **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Birgitta TAZELAAR (since 15 September 2023) chancery: 4200 Linnean Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 244-5300 FAX: [1] (202) 362-3430 email address and website: was@minbuza.nl https://www.netherlandsworldwide.nl/countries/united-states/about-us/embassy-in-washington-dc consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Miami, New York, San Francisco **Diplomatic representation from the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph POPOLO (since 29 October 2025) embassy: John Adams Park 1, 2244 BZ Wassenaar mailing address: 5780 Amsterdam Place, Washington DC 20521-5780 telephone: [31] (70) 310-2209 FAX: [31] (70) 310-2207 email address and website: AmsterdamUSC@state.gov https://nl.usembassy.gov/ consulate(s) general: Amsterdam **International organization participation:** ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council (observer), Australia Group, Benelux, BIS, CBSS (observer), CD, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EITI (implementing country), EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club, PCA, Schengen Convention, SELEC (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNMISS, UNOOSA, UNRWA, UN Security Council (temporary), UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC **Independence:** 26 July 1581 note: the northern provinces of the Low Countries formally declared their independence with an Act of Abjuration in 1581, but, it was not until 30 January 1648 and the Peace of Westphalia that Spain recognized this independence **National holiday:** King's Day (birthday of King WILLEM-ALEXANDER), 27 April (1967) note: observed on the ruling monarch's birthday; celebrated on 26 April if 27 April is a Sunday **Flag:** description: three equal horizontal bands of bright red (top), white, and cobalt blue history: the colors come from WILLIAM I, Prince of Orange; originally the upper band was orange, but the dye would turn red over time, so red was eventually made the permanent color note: similar to the flag of Luxembourg, which uses a lighter blue and is wider **National symbol(s):** lion, daisy **National color(s):** orange **National anthem(s):** title: "Het Wilhelmus" (The William) lyrics/music: Philips VAN MARNIX van Sint Aldegonde (presumed)/unknown history: adopted 1932, in use since the 17th century **National heritage:** total World Heritage Sites: 13 (12 cultural, 1 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Schokland and Surroundings (c); Dutch Water Defense Lines (c); Van Nellefabriek (c); Mill Network at Kinderdijk-Elshout (c); Droogmakerij de Beemster (Beemster Polder) (c); Rietveld Schröderhuis (Rietveld Schröder House) (c); Wadden Sea (n); Seventeenth Century Canal Ring Area of Amsterdam inside the Singelgracht (c); Colonies of Benevolence (c); Frontiers of the Roman Empire - The Lower German Limes (c) note: includes one site in Curacao ### Economy **Economic overview:** high-income, core EU- and eurozone-member economy; strong services, logistics, and tech sectors; strongly trade-oriented with heightened risks from global tensions; declining inflation aided by easing energy prices and wage growth; rising but manageable deficits and public debt; strong ratings for innovation, competitiveness, and business climate **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $1.276 trillion (2024 est.) $1.263 trillion (2023 est.) $1.263 trillion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** 1% (2024 est.) 0.1% (2023 est.) 5% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $70,900 (2024 est.) $70,700 (2023 est.) $71,300 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $1.228 trillion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 3.3% (2024 est.) 3.8% (2023 est.) 10% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 1.7% (2024 est.) industry: 17.9% (2024 est.) services: 70.3% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **GDP - composition, by end use:** household consumption: 42.1% (2023 est.) government consumption: 24.5% (2023 est.) investment in fixed capital: 20.1% (2023 est.) investment in inventories: -0.1% (2023 est.) exports of goods and services: 88.5% (2023 est.) imports of goods and services: -77.4% (2023 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection **Agricultural products:** milk, sugar beets, potatoes, onions, pork, wheat, chicken, tomatoes, carrots/turnips, beef (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage **Industries:** agroindustries, metal and engineering products, electrical machinery and equipment, chemicals, petroleum, construction, microelectronics, fishing **Industrial production growth rate:** -1.5% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency **Labor force:** 10.315 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work **Unemployment rate:** 3.6% (2024 est.) 3.6% (2023 est.) 3.6% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment **Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):** total: 8.2% (2024 est.) male: 8.4% (2024 est.) female: 7.9% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment **Population below poverty line:** 14.5% (2021 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line **Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income:** 25.7 (2021 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality **Average household expenditures:** on food: 11.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.) on alcohol and tobacco: 3% of household expenditures (2023 est.) **Household income or consumption by percentage share:** lowest 10%: 3.6% (2021 est.) highest 10%: 21.4% (2021 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population **Remittances:** 0.4% of GDP (2024 est.) 0.4% of GDP (2023 est.) 0.4% of GDP (2022 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Budget:** revenues: $451.11 billion (2023 est.) expenditures: $455.334 billion (2023 est.) note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated **Public debt:** 56.5% of GDP (2017 est.) note: data cover general government debt and include debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intragovernmental debt; intragovernmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment, debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions **Taxes and other revenues:** 24.8% (of GDP) (2023 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP **Current account balance:** $121.825 billion (2024 est.) $113.676 billion (2023 est.) $69.676 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars **Exports:** $1.032 trillion (2024 est.) $1.022 trillion (2023 est.) $1.007 trillion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** Germany 16%, Belgium 15%, France 11%, Italy 6%, USA 6% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** refined petroleum, vaccines, machinery, crude petroleum, broadcasting equipment (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports:** $884.154 billion (2024 est.) $893.132 billion (2023 est.) $915.294 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** Germany 16%, Belgium 10%, China 10%, USA 10%, UK 5% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** crude petroleum, refined petroleum, broadcasting equipment, cars, natural gas (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:** $79.129 billion (2024 est.) $69.83 billion (2023 est.) $63.353 billion (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars **Exchange rates:** euros (EUR) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 0.924 (2024 est.) 0.925 (2023 est.) 0.95 (2022 est.) 0.845 (2021 est.) 0.876 (2020 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.) **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 59.982 million kW (2023 est.) consumption: 108.141 billion kWh (2023 est.) exports: 25.206 billion kWh (2023 est.) imports: 19.547 billion kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 4.936 billion kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** fossil fuels: 46.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) nuclear: 3.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 17.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) wind: 24.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) biomass and waste: 8.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Nuclear energy:** Number of operational nuclear reactors: 1 (2025) Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors: 0.48GW (2025 est.) Percent of total electricity production: 3.2% (2023 est.) Number of nuclear reactors permanently shut down: 1 (2025) **Coal:** production: 1.761 million metric tons (2023 est.) consumption: 12.796 million metric tons (2023 est.) exports: 13.586 million metric tons (2023 est.) imports: 24.663 million metric tons (2023 est.) proven reserves: 3.247 billion metric tons (2023 est.) **Petroleum:** total petroleum production: 70,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 840,000 bbl/day (2024 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 137.747 million barrels (2021 est.) **Natural gas:** production: 11.788 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) consumption: 31.288 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) exports: 45.129 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) imports: 66.783 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) proven reserves: 132.608 billion cubic meters (2021 est.) **Energy consumption per capita:** 185.536 million Btu/person (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 3.98 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 22 (2024 est.) **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 23.4 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 129 (2024 est.) **Broadcast media:** more than 90% of households are connected to cable or satellite TV systems with a wide range of domestic and foreign channels; public service broadcast system includes multiple broadcasters, 3 with a national reach and the remainder in regional and local markets; 2 nationwide commercial TV companies, each with 3 or more stations, and many commercial TV stations in regional and local markets; nearly 600 radio stations with a mix of public and private stations **Internet country code:** .nl **Internet users:** percent of population: 97% (2023 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 7.83 million (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 43 (2023 est.) ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** PH **Airports:** 44 (2025) note: Includes 3 airports in Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba **Heliports:** 194 (2025) **Railways:** total: 3,055 km (2020) 2,310 km electrified **Merchant marine:** total: 1,187 (2023) by type: bulk carrier 11, container ship 36, general cargo 521, oil tanker 27, other 592 **Ports:** total ports: 18 (2024) large: 2 medium: 4 small: 5 very small: 7 ports with oil terminals: 12 key ports: Amsterdam, Dordrecht, Europoort, Rotterdam, Terneuzen, Vlissingen ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** Netherlands (Dutch) Armed Forces (Nederlandse Krijgsmacht): Royal Netherlands Army, Royal Netherlands Navy (includes Marine Corps), Royal Netherlands Air Force, Royal Netherlands Marechaussee (Military Constabulary) (2025) note 1: the Netherlands Coast Guard and the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard are civilian in nature but managed by the Royal Netherlands Navy note 2: the core missions of the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee are border security, security and surveillance, and international and military police tasks note 3: the Netherlands (or National) Police maintain internal security and report to the Ministry of Justice and Security, which oversees law enforcement organizations, as do the justice ministries in Aruba, Curacao, and Sint Maarten **Military expenditures:** 2.5% of GDP (2025 est.) 2% of GDP (2024 est.) 1.6% of GDP (2023 est.) 1.4% of GDP (2022 est.) 1.3% of GDP (2021 est.) **Military and security service personnel strengths:** approximately 43,000 active-duty professional military personnel (2025) **Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:** the military's inventory consists of a mix of domestically produced and modern European- and US-sourced equipment; the Netherlands has an advanced domestic defense industry that focuses on armored vehicles, naval ships, and air defense systems; it also participates with the US and other European countries on joint development and production of advanced weapons systems (2025) **Military service age and obligation:** 17 years of age for voluntary service for men and women; the military is an all-volunteer force; conscription remains in place, but the requirement to show up for compulsory military service was suspended in 1997 (2025) **Military deployments:** 350 Lithuania (NATO); 150 Romania (NATO); approximately 800 deployed to Dutch territories in the Caribbean (2025) note: the Netherlands contributes naval assets to support freedom of the sea missions in such places as the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz; it also assists with monitoring the airspace of the eastern flank of NATO territory by means of fighter aircraft and provides some ground personnel to a variety of other NATO, UN, and EU security missions **Military - note:** the Dutch military is charged with the three core tasks of defending the country’s national territory and that of its allies, enforcing the national and international rule of law, and providing assistance during disasters and other crises; it also has some domestic security duties, including in the Dutch Caribbean territories; the military operates globally but rarely carries out its operations independently, focusing instead on working through NATO and bilaterally with regional partners; it has particularly close ties with Belgium, Denmark, Germany, and the UK, including some combined military units and staffs the Netherlands has been a member of NATO since its founding in 1949, and the Dutch military is involved in NATO missions and operations with air, ground, and naval forces, including air policing missions over the Benelux countries and Eastern Europe, NATO’s Enhanced Forward Presence initiative in the Baltic States and Eastern Europe, and several NATO naval flotillas, as well as standby units for NATO’s rapid response force; the military has previously deployed forces to NATO-led operations in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Kosovo and also contributes to EU- and UN-led missions; Royal Netherlands Marechaussee detachments have been included in international police units deployed by NATO (2025) ### Space **Space agency/agencies:** Netherlands Space Office (NSO; established 2009) (2025) **Space program overview:** has a national space program focused on developing advanced space technologies and services based on satellite data; builds and operates a range of satellites, including communications and remote sensing (RS); researches and develops technologies related to astrophysics, atmospheric measuring instruments, planetary/exoplanetary research, propulsion systems, RS, robotics, and telecommunications; founding member of the ESA and active in the EU space community; hosts the ESA's main research and technology center; participates in building European satellite launch vehicles and a range of other European space programs, such as Copernicus Earth observation and the Galileo global navigation satellite system; participates in international programs, including the International Space Station and the Square Kilometer Array project; works with other foreign space agencies and industries, including those of Japan and the US; has a robust commercial space sector (2025) **Key space-program milestones:** 1960s - established space program 1974-1983 - developed advanced astronomical observatory satellites jointly with US, including the Astronomical Netherlands Satellite and the Infrared Astronomical Satellite 1985 - first Dutch citizen in space on the US Space Shuttle 2023 - signed US-led Artemis Accords for space and lunar exploration 2025 - launched the first of four planned synthetic aperture radar (SAR) remote sensing satellites ### Terrorism **Terrorist group(s):** Terrorist group(s): Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide ### Transnational Issues **Refugees and internally displaced persons:** refugees: 310,239 (2024 est.) stateless persons: 4,428 (2024 est.) **Illicit drugs:** USG identification: major precursor-chemical producer (2025) --- ## North Macedonia **Slug:** north-macedonia **Region:** Europe **Flag:** 🇲🇰 **Codes:** cek: mk, iso2: MK, iso3: MKD, iso_num: 807, genc: MKD, stanag: FYR, internet: .mk ### Introduction **Background:** North Macedonia gained its independence peacefully from Yugoslavia in 1991 under the name of "Macedonia." Greece objected to the new country’s name, insisting it implied territorial pretensions to the northern Greek province of Macedonia, and democratic backsliding for several years stalled North Macedonia's movement toward Euro-Atlantic integration. Immediately after Macedonia declared independence, Greece sought to block its efforts to gain UN membership if the name "Macedonia" was used. The country was eventually admitted to the UN in 1993 as "The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia," and at the same time it agreed to UN-sponsored negotiations on the name dispute. In 1995, Greece lifted a 20-month trade embargo and the two countries agreed to normalize relations, but the issue of the name remained unresolved amid ongoing negotiations. As an interim measure, the US and over 130 other nations recognized Macedonia by its constitutional name, Republic of Macedonia. Ethnic Albanian grievances over perceived political and economic inequities escalated into an armed conflict in 2001 that eventually led to the internationally brokered Ohrid Framework Agreement, which ended the fighting and established guidelines for constitutional amendments and new laws that enhanced the rights of minorities. In 2018, the government adopted a new law on languages, which elevated the Albanian language to an official language at the national level and kept the Macedonian language as the sole official language in international relations, but ties between ethnic Macedonians and ethnic Albanians remain complicated. In 2018, Macedonia and Greece signed the Prespa Agreement whereby Macedonia agreed to change its name to North Macedonia, and the agreement went in to force on 12 February 2019. North Macedonia joined NATO in 2020 after amending its constitution as agreed and opened EU accession talks in 2022 after a two-year veto by Bulgaria over identity, language, and historical disputes. The 2014 legislative and presidential election triggered a political crisis that lasted almost three years and escalated in 2015 when the opposition party began releasing wiretapped material revealing alleged widespread government corruption and abuse. The country still faces challenges, including fully implementing reforms to overcome years of democratic backsliding, stimulating economic growth and development, and fighting organized crime and corruption. ### Geography **Location:** Southeastern Europe, north of Greece **Geographic coordinates:** 41 50 N, 22 00 E **Map references:** Europe **Area:** total : 25,713 sq km land: 25,433 sq km water: 280 sq km **Area - comparative:** slightly larger than Vermont; almost four times the size of Delaware **Land boundaries:** total: 838 km border countries (5): Albania 181 km; Bulgaria 162 km; Greece 234 km; Kosovo 160 km; Serbia 101 km **Coastline:** 0 km (landlocked) **Maritime claims:** none (landlocked) **Climate:** warm, dry summers and autumns; relatively cold winters with heavy snowfall **Terrain:** mountainous with deep basins and valleys; three large lakes, each divided by a frontier line; country bisected by the Vardar River **Elevation:** highest point: Golem Korab (Maja e Korabit) 2,764 m lowest point: Vardar River 50 m mean elevation: 741 m **Natural resources:** low-grade iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, chromite, manganese, nickel, tungsten, gold, silver, asbestos, gypsum, timber, arable land **Land use:** agricultural land: 49.6% (2023 est.) arable land: 16.5% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 1.6% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 31.5% (2023 est.) forest: 40.9% (2023 est.) other: 9.5% (2023 est.) **Irrigated land:** 844 sq km (2016) **Major watersheds (area sq km):** Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km) **Population distribution:** a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger and denser populations **Natural hazards:** high seismic risks **Geography - note:** landlocked; major transportation corridor from Western and Central Europe to Aegean Sea and Southern Europe to Western Europe ### People and Society **Population:** total: 2,137,556 (2025 est.) male: 1,065,634 female: 1,071,922 **Nationality:** noun: Macedonian(s) adjective: Macedonian **Ethnic groups:** Macedonian 58.4%, Albanian 24.3%, Turkish 3.9%, Romani 2.5%, Serb 1.3%, other 2.3%, no ethnic affiliation data available 7.2% (2021 est.) note: data represent total resident population; Romani populations are usually underestimated in official statistics and may represent 6.5–13% of North Macedonia’s population **Languages:** Macedonian (official) 61.4%, Albanian (official) 24.3%, Turkish 3.4%, Romani 1.7%, other (includes Aromanian (Vlach) and Bosnian) 2%, unspecified 7.2% (2021 est.) major-language sample(s): Книга на Светски Факти, неопходен извор на основни информации. (Macedonian) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. note: data represent mother tongue; minority languages are co-official with Macedonian in municipalities where at least 20% of the population are speakers, with Albanian co-official in Tetovo, Brvenica, Vrapciste, and other municipalities, Turkish in Centar Zupa and Plasnica, Romani in Suto Orizari, Aromanian in Krusevo, Serbian in Cucer Sandevo **Religions:** Orthodox 46.1%, Islam 32.2%, Christian 13.2%, Other 7.2%; less than 1%: atheist, Catholic, other religions, not specified, Protestant (2021 est.) **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 16% (male 176,423/female 164,945) 15-64 years: 68.4% (male 740,649/female 719,627) 65 years and over: 15.6% (2024 est.) (male 147,655/female 186,323) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 46.9 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 23.3 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 23.6 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 4.2 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 40.9 years (2025 est.) male: 39.4 years female: 41.6 years **Population growth rate:** 0.08% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 10.07 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 9.62 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** 0.38 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger and denser populations **Urbanization:** urban population: 59.5% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.61% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 611,000 SKOPJE (capital) (2023) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Mother's mean age at first birth:** 26.9 years (2020 est.) **Maternal mortality ratio:** 3 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 6.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 7.9 deaths/1,000 live births female: 6 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 77.3 years (2024 est.) male: 75.3 years female: 79.6 years **Total fertility rate:** 1.53 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 0.74 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: urban: 98.1% of population (2022 est.) rural: 97.4% of population (2022 est.) total: 97.8% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 1.9% of population (2022 est.) rural: 2.6% of population (2022 est.) total: 2.2% of population (2022 est.) **Health expenditure:** 8.5% of GDP (2021) 12.4% of national budget (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 2.94 physicians/1,000 population (2022) **Hospital bed density:** 4.2 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.) **Sanitation facility access:** improved: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.) rural: 98.6% of population (2022 est.) total: 99.4% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.) rural: 1.4% of population (2022 est.) total: 0.6% of population (2022 est.) **Obesity - adult prevalence rate:** 22.4% (2016) **Alcohol consumption per capita:** total: 3.9 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 1.93 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 1.03 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 0.9 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0.03 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) **Children under the age of 5 years underweight:** 0.9% (2019 est.) **Currently married women (ages 15-49):** 66.1% (2021 est.) **Child marriage:** women married by age 15: 0.3% (2019) women married by age 18: 7.5% (2019) **Literacy:** female: 97.8% (2018 est.) **School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):** total: 15 years (2022 est.) male: 14 years (2022 est.) female: 15 years (2022 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** air pollution from metallurgical plants, smoke from wood-burning stoves, and vehicle emissions **International environmental agreements:** party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements **Climate:** warm, dry summers and autumns; relatively cold winters with heavy snowfall **Land use:** agricultural land: 49.6% (2023 est.) arable land: 16.5% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 1.6% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 31.5% (2023 est.) forest: 40.9% (2023 est.) other: 9.5% (2023 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 59.5% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.61% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 7.369 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 3.014 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 3.682 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from consumed natural gas: 673,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Particulate matter emissions:** 28.7 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 627,000 tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 4.9% (2022 est.) **Total water withdrawal:** municipal: 305.4 million cubic meters (2022 est.) industrial: 31.54 million cubic meters (2022 est.) agricultural: 139 million cubic meters (2022 est.) **Total renewable water resources:** 6.4 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: Republic of North Macedonia conventional short form: North Macedonia local long form: Republika Severna Makedonija local short form: Severna Makedonija former: Democratic Federal Macedonia, People's Republic of Macedonia, Socialist Republic of Macedonia, Republic of Macedonia etymology: the name derives from the ancient kingdom of Macedon (7th to 2nd centuries B.C.), whose name origin is unclear; it may derive from the mythological Macedon, the son of the Greek god Zeus; alternatively, it may come from the Greek word makednos, meaning "tail," or the Illyrian word maketia, meaning "cattle" **Government type:** parliamentary republic **Capital:** name: Skopje geographic coordinates: 42 00 N, 21 26 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October etymology: the name is of Illyrian or Macedonian origin, and the meaning is unclear; derives from Scupi, its name during the Roman era **Administrative divisions:** 80 municipalities (opstini, singular - opstina) and 1 city* (grad); Aracinovo, Berovo, Bitola, Bogdanci, Bogovinje, Bosilovo, Brvenica, Caska, Centar Zupa, Cesinovo-Oblesevo, Cucer Sandevo, Debar, Debarca, Delcevo, Demir Hisar, Demir Kapija, Dojran, Dolneni, Gevgelija, Gostivar, Gradsko, Ilinden, Jegunovce, Karbinci, Kavadarci, Kicevo, Kocani, Konce, Kratovo, Kriva Palanka, Krivogastani, Krusevo, Kumanovo, Lipkovo, Lozovo, Makedonska Kamenica, Makedonski Brod, Mavrovo i Rostuse, Mogila, Negotino, Novaci, Novo Selo, Ohrid, Pehcevo, Petrovec, Plasnica, Prilep, Probistip, Radovis, Rankovce, Resen, Rosoman, Skopje*, Sopiste, Staro Nagoricane, Stip, Struga, Strumica, Studenicani, Sveti Nikole, Tearce, Tetovo, Valandovo, Vasilevo, Veles, Vevcani, Vinica, Vrapciste, Zelenikovo, Zelino, Zrnovci *the Greater Skopje area is composed of 10 municipalities: Aerodrom, Butel, Centar, Chair, Gazi Baba, Gjorce Petrov, Karposh, Kisela Voda, Saraj, and Shuto Orizari **Legal system:** civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts **Constitution:** history: several previous (since 1944); latest adopted 17 November 1991, effective 20 November 1991 amendment process: proposed by the president of the republic, by the government, by at least 30 members of the Assembly, or by petition of at least 150,000 citizens; final approval requires a two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly **International law organization participation:** has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of North Macedonia dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 8 years **Suffrage:** 18 years of age; universal **Executive branch:** chief of state: President Gordana SILJANOVSKA-DAVKOVA (since 12 May 2024) head of government: Prime Minister Hristijan MICKOSKI (since 23 June 2024) cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the Assembly by simple majority vote election/appointment process: president directly elected using a modified 2-round system; a candidate can only be elected in the first round with an absolute majority from all registered voters; in the second round, voter turnout must be at least 40% for the result to be valid; president elected for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); following legislative elections, the Assembly usually elects the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as prime minister most recent election date: 24 April and 8 May 2024 election results: 2024: Hristijan MICKOSKI elected prime minister; Assembly vote - 77 for, 22 against 2024: Gordana SILJANOVSKA-DAVKOVA elected president in the second round; percent of vote - Gordana SILJANOVSKA-DAVKOVA (VMRO-DPMNE) 69%, Stevo PENDAROVSKI (SDSM) 31% 2024: Talat XHAFERI elected caretaker prime minister; Assembly vote - 65 for (opposition boycott) 2022: Dimitar KOVACEVSKI elected prime minister; Assembly vote - NA expected date of next election: 2029 **Legislative branch:** legislature name: Assembly of the Republic (Sobranie) legislative structure: unicameral number of seats: 123 (all directly elected) electoral system: mixed system scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 4 years most recent election date: 5/8/2024 parties elected and seats per party: Coalition "Your Macedonia" (led by VMRO-DPMNE) (58); Coalition "European Front" (led by the Democratic Union for Integration – DUI) (18); Coalition "For a European Future" (led by the Social Democratic Union of Macedonia – SDSM) (18); Coalition VLEN (14); ZNAM (Movement "I know": For our Macedonia) (6); The Left (Levica) (6) percentage of women in chamber: 39.2% expected date of next election: May 2028 **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of 22 judges); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 judges) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges nominated by the Judicial Council, a 7-member body of legal professionals, and appointed by the Assembly; judge tenure NA; Constitutional Court judges appointed by the Assembly for nonrenewable, 9-year terms subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; Basic Courts **Political parties:** Alliance for Albanians or AfA or ASH Alternative (Alternativa) or AAA Besa Movement or BESA Citizen Option for Macedonia or GROM Democratic Alliance or DS Democratic Movement or LD Democratic Party of Albanians or PDSH Democratic Party of Serbs or DPSM Democratic Renewal of Macedonia or DOM Democratic Union for Integration or BDI European Democratic Party or PDE Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization - Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity or VMRO-DPMNE Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization - People's Party or VMRO-NP Liberal Democratic Party or LDP New Social-Democratic Party or NSDP Social Democratic Union of Macedonia or SDSM Socialist Party of Macedonia or SPM Srpska Stranka in Macedonia or SSM The Left (Levica) The People Movement or LP Turkish Democratic Party or TDP Turkish Movement Party or THP We Can! (coalition includes SDSM/BESA/VMRO-NP, DPT, LDP) **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Zoran POPOV (since 16 September 2022) chancery: 2129 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 667-0501 FAX: [1] (202) 667-2104 email address and website: washington@mfa.gov.mk United States (mfa.gov.mk) consulate(s) general: Chicago, Detroit, New York **Diplomatic representation from the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Angela AGGELER (since 8 November 2022) embassy: Str. Samoilova, Nr. 21, 1000 Skopje mailing address: 7120 Skopje Place, Washington, DC 20521-7120 telephone: [389] (2) 310-2000 FAX: [389] (2) 310-2499 email address and website: SkopjeACS@state.gov https://mk.usembassy.gov/ **International organization participation:** BIS, CD, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, EU (candidate country), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, SELEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO note: North Macedonia is an EU candidate country whose satisfactory completion of accession criteria is required before being granted full EU membership **Independence:** 8 September 1991 (referendum endorsed independence from Yugoslavia) **National holiday:** Independence Day, 8 September (1991), also known as National Day **Flag:** description: a red field with a yellow sun (the Sun of Liberty) in the center, with eight broadening rays extending to the edges meaning: the red and yellow colors have long been associated with Macedonia **National symbol(s):** eight-rayed sun **National color(s):** red, yellow **National anthem(s):** title: "Denes nad Makedonija" (Today Over Macedonia) lyrics/music: Vlado MALESKI/Todor SKALOVSKI history: written in 1943 and adopted in 1991, the song previously served as the anthem of the Socialist Republic of Macedonia, when it was part of Yugoslavia **National heritage:** total World Heritage Sites: 2 (both natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Natural and Cultural Heritage of the Ohrid Region; Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians ### Economy **Economic overview:** upper-middle-income European economy; GDP growth driven by private consumption, public infrastructure investments, and wage growth; stalled progress on EU accession; public debt rising due to high pensions, wages, and interest payments; structural challenges of emigration, low productivity growth, and governance **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $43.844 billion (2024 est.) $42.668 billion (2023 est.) $41.801 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** 2.8% (2024 est.) 2.1% (2023 est.) 2.8% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $24,500 (2024 est.) $23,300 (2023 est.) $22,800 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $16.685 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 3.5% (2024 est.) 9.4% (2023 est.) 14.2% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 6% (2024 est.) industry: 22.7% (2024 est.) services: 59.2% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **GDP - composition, by end use:** household consumption: 67.9% (2024 est.) government consumption: 16.8% (2024 est.) investment in fixed capital: 28.4% (2024 est.) investment in inventories: 0% (2024 est.) exports of goods and services: 62.7% (2024 est.) imports of goods and services: -75.8% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection **Agricultural products:** chillies/peppers, milk, wheat, potatoes, grapes, barley, cabbages, maize, watermelons, tomatoes (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage **Industries:** food processing, beverages, textiles, chemicals, iron, steel, cement, energy, pharmaceuticals, automotive parts **Industrial production growth rate:** 1.8% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency **Labor force:** 779,200 (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work **Unemployment rate:** 13.5% (2024 est.) 13.2% (2023 est.) 14.5% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment **Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):** total: 30.3% (2024 est.) male: 29.2% (2024 est.) female: 32.3% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment **Population below poverty line:** 21.8% (2019 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line **Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income:** 33.5 (2019 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality **Average household expenditures:** on food: 30.6% of household expenditures (2023 est.) on alcohol and tobacco: 4.8% of household expenditures (2023 est.) **Household income or consumption by percentage share:** lowest 10%: 1.9% (2019 est.) highest 10%: 22.9% (2019 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population **Remittances:** 2.7% of GDP (2024 est.) 2.9% of GDP (2023 est.) 3.3% of GDP (2022 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Budget:** revenues: $4.787 billion (2023 est.) expenditures: $5.514 billion (2023 est.) note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated **Public debt:** 39.3% of GDP (2017 est.) note: official data from Ministry of Finance; data cover central government debt; this data excludes debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; includes treasury debt held by foreign entitites; excludes debt issued by sub-national entities; there are no debt instruments sold for social funds **Taxes and other revenues:** 17.9% (of GDP) (2023 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP **Current account balance:** -$374.385 million (2024 est.) $56.573 million (2023 est.) -$868.965 million (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars **Exports:** $10.445 billion (2024 est.) $10.691 billion (2023 est.) $10.123 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** Germany 39%, Serbia 8%, Bulgaria 6%, Greece 5%, Czechia 3% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** reaction and catalytic products, insulated wire, electricity, garments, seats (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports:** $12.644 billion (2024 est.) $12.748 billion (2023 est.) $13.009 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** UK 12%, Germany 10%, Greece 9%, China 9%, Serbia 8% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** platinum, refined petroleum, laboratory ceramic ware, cars, natural gas (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:** $5.252 billion (2024 est.) $5.015 billion (2023 est.) $4.12 billion (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars **Debt - external:** $5.637 billion (2023 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars **Exchange rates:** Macedonian denars (MKD) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 56.873 (2024 est.) 56.947 (2023 est.) 58.574 (2022 est.) 52.102 (2021 est.) 54.144 (2020 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.) **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 2.467 million kW (2023 est.) consumption: 5.896 billion kWh (2023 est.) exports: 7.081 billion kWh (2023 est.) imports: 7.232 billion kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 993.662 million kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** fossil fuels: 68.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 4.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) wind: 2.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: 24% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) biomass and waste: 0.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Coal:** production: 4 million metric tons (2023 est.) consumption: 5.344 million metric tons (2023 est.) exports: 58,000 metric tons (2023 est.) imports: 41,000 metric tons (2023 est.) proven reserves: 332 million metric tons (2023 est.) **Petroleum:** refined petroleum consumption: 24,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) **Natural gas:** consumption: 348.078 million cubic meters (2023 est.) imports: 347.981 million cubic meters (2023 est.) **Energy consumption per capita:** 56.104 million Btu/person (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 456,000 (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 25 (2024 est.) **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 1.98 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 108 (2024 est.) **Broadcast media:** public TV broadcaster Macedonian Radio and Television operates 5 national terrestrial TV channels and 2 satellite TV channels; 11 regional TV stations broadcast nationally; 29 regional and local broadcasters; a large number of cable operators offer domestic and international programming; the public radio broadcaster operates 3 stations; 4 privately owned national radio stations and 60 regional and local operators (2023) **Internet country code:** .mk **Internet users:** percent of population: 87% (2023 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 515,000 (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 28 (2022 est.) ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** Z3 **Airports:** 13 (2025) **Heliports:** 13 (2025) **Railways:** total: 699 km (2020) 313 km electrified ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** Army of the Republic of North Macedonia (ARSM or ARNM): joint force with air, ground, reserve, special operations, and support forces (2025) note: the Police of Macedonia maintain internal security, including migration and border enforcement, and report to the Ministry of the Interior **Military expenditures:** 2% of GDP (2025 est.) 1.9% of GDP (2024 est.) 1.7% of GDP (2023 est.) 1.6% of GDP (2022 est.) 1.5% of GDP (2021 est.) **Military and security service personnel strengths:** approximately 6,000 active military personnel (2025) **Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:** the military's inventory is a mix of Russian/Soviet-era armaments and growing quantities of more modern equipment from countries such as Türkiye, the UK, and the US (2025) **Military service age and obligation:** 18 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription abolished in 2007 (2025) note: as of 2024, women made up about 10% of the military's full-time personnel **Military - note:** the Army of the Republic of North Macedonia (ARSM) is responsible for the defense of the country’s territory and independence, fulfilling North Macedonia’s commitments to NATO and European security, and contributing to EU, NATO, and UN peace and security missions; the ARSM has participated in multinational missions and operations in Afghanistan (NATO), Bosnia and Herzegovina (EU), Eastern Europe (NATO), Iraq (NATO), Kosovo (NATO), and Lebanon (UN); a key area of focus over the past decade has been improving capabilities and bringing the largely Soviet-era-equipped ARSM up to NATO standards; it has increased its participation in NATO training exercises since becoming the 30th member of the Alliance in 2020 and currently has small numbers of combat troops deployed to Bulgaria and Romania as part of NATO’s Enhance Forward Presence mission implemented because of Russian military aggression against Ukraine (2025) ### Terrorism **Terrorist group(s):** Terrorist group(s): Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide ### Transnational Issues **Refugees and internally displaced persons:** refugees: 20,937 (2024 est.) stateless persons: 159 (2024 est.) --- ## Norway **Slug:** norway **Region:** Europe **Flag:** 🇳🇴 **Codes:** cek: no, iso2: NO, iso3: NOR, iso_num: 578, genc: NOR, stanag: NOR, internet: .no ### Introduction **Background:** Two centuries of Viking raids into Europe tapered off after King Olav TRYGGVASON adopted Christianity in 994; conversion of the Norwegian kingdom occurred over the next several decades. In 1397, Norway was absorbed into a union with Denmark that lasted more than four centuries. In 1814, Norwegians resisted the cession of their country to Sweden and adopted a new constitution. Sweden then invaded Norway but agreed to let Norway keep its constitution in return for accepting the union under a Swedish king. Rising nationalism throughout the 19th century led to a 1905 referendum granting Norway independence. Norway remained neutral in World War I and proclaimed its neutrality at the outset of World War II, but Nazi Germany nonetheless occupied the country for five years (1940-45). In 1949, Norway abandoned neutrality and became a member of NATO. Discovery of oil and gas in adjacent waters in the late 1960s boosted Norway's economic fortunes. In referenda held in 1972 and 1994, Norway rejected joining the EU. Key domestic issues include immigration and integration of ethnic minorities, maintaining the country's extensive social safety net with an aging population, and preserving economic competitiveness. ### Geography **Location:** Northern Europe, bordering the North Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Sweden **Geographic coordinates:** 62 00 N, 10 00 E **Map references:** Europe **Area:** total : 323,802 sq km land: 304,282 sq km water: 19,520 sq km **Area - comparative:** slightly larger than twice the size of Georgia; slightly larger than New Mexico **Land boundaries:** total: 2,566 km border countries (3): Finland 709 km; Sweden 1,666 km; Russia 191 km **Coastline:** 25,148 km note: includes the mainland at 2,650 km, as well as long fjords, numerous small islands, and minor indentations at 22,498 km; length of island coastlines is 58,133 km **Maritime claims:** territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 10 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm **Climate:** temperate along coast, modified by North Atlantic Current; colder interior with increased precipitation and colder summers; rainy year-round on west coast **Terrain:** glaciated; mostly high plateaus and rugged mountains broken by fertile valleys; small, scattered plains; coastline deeply indented by fjords; arctic tundra in north **Elevation:** highest point: Galdhopiggen 2,469 m lowest point: Norwegian Sea 0 m mean elevation: 460 m **Natural resources:** petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, titanium, pyrites, nickel, fish, timber, hydropower **Land use:** agricultural land: 2.7% (2023 est.) arable land: 2.2% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 0.5% (2023 est.) forest: 33.3% (2023 est.) other: 64% (2023 est.) **Irrigated land:** 337 sq km (2016) **Population distribution:** most people live in the south; population clusters are found along the North Sea coast in the southwest and Skaggerak in the southeast; the interior areas of the north remain sparsely populated **Natural hazards:** rockslides, avalanches volcanism: Beerenberg (2,227 m) on Jan Mayen Island in the Norwegian Sea is the country's only active volcano **Geography - note:** about two-thirds mountains; some 50,000 islands off its much-indented coastline; strategic location adjacent to sea lanes and air routes in North Atlantic; one of the most rugged and longest coastlines in the world ### People and Society **Population:** total: 5,541,823 (2025 est.) male: 2,797,553 female: 2,744,270 **Nationality:** noun: Norwegian(s) adjective: Norwegian **Ethnic groups:** Norwegian 81.5% (includes about 60,000 Sami), other European 8.9%, other 9.6% (2021 est.) **Languages:** Bokmal Norwegian (official), Nynorsk Norwegian (official), small Sami- and Finnish-speaking minorities major-language sample(s): Verdens Faktabok, den essensielle kilden for grunnleggende informasjon. (Norwegian) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. note: Sami has three dialects (Lule, North Sami, and South Sami) and is an official language in nine municipalities in the northernmost counties of Finnmark, Nordland, and Troms **Religions:** Church of Norway (Evangelical Lutheran - official) 67.5%, Muslim 3.1%, Roman Catholic 3.1%, other Christian 3.8%, other 2.6%, unspecified 19.9% (2021 est.) **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 16.3% (male 461,979/female 438,243) 15-64 years: 64.5% (male 1,820,692/female 1,734,818) 65 years and over: 19.1% (2024 est.) (male 498,301/female 555,700) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 55.1 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 25 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 30.1 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 3.3 (2025 est.) note: data include Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands **Median age:** total: 41 years (2025 est.) male: 40.1 years female: 41.5 years **Population growth rate:** 0.57% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 10.35 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 8.6 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** 3.98 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** most people live in the south; population clusters are found along the North Sea coast in the southwest and Skaggerak in the southeast; the interior areas of the north remain sparsely populated **Urbanization:** urban population: 84% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 1.32% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) note: data include Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands **Major urban areas - population:** 1.086 million OSLO (capital) (2023) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/female total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Mother's mean age at first birth:** 29.8 years (2020 est.) note: data is calculated based on actual age at first births **Maternal mortality ratio:** 1 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 1.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 2.1 deaths/1,000 live births female: 1.5 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 82.9 years (2024 est.) male: 81.3 years female: 84.6 years **Total fertility rate:** 1.58 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 0.77 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.) rural: 100% of population (2022 est.) total: 100% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.) rural: 0% of population (2022 est.) total: 0% of population (2022 est.) **Health expenditure:** 8.1% of GDP (2022) 17.8% of national budget (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 4.98 physicians/1,000 population (2023) **Hospital bed density:** 3.4 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.) **Sanitation facility access:** improved: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.) rural: 100% of population (2022 est.) total: 100% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.) rural: 0% of population (2022 est.) total: 0% of population (2022 est.) **Obesity - adult prevalence rate:** 23.1% (2016) **Alcohol consumption per capita:** total: 6.05 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 2.63 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 2.23 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 1 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0.19 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) **Tobacco use:** total: 12% (2025 est.) male: 12.6% (2025 est.) female: 11.3% (2025 est.) **Currently married women (ages 15-49):** 57.4% (2021 est.) **Child marriage:** women married by age 15: 0% (2022) women married by age 18: 0% (2022) **Education expenditure:** 5.5% of GDP (2022 est.) 14.5% national budget (2022 est.) **School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):** total: 19 years (2023 est.) male: 18 years (2023 est.) female: 20 years (2023 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** water pollution; acid rain damaging forests and affecting lakes and fish stocks; air pollution from vehicle emissions **International environmental agreements:** party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements **Climate:** temperate along coast, modified by North Atlantic Current; colder interior with increased precipitation and colder summers; rainy year-round on west coast **Land use:** agricultural land: 2.7% (2023 est.) arable land: 2.2% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 0.5% (2023 est.) forest: 33.3% (2023 est.) other: 64% (2023 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 84% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 1.32% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) note: data include Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 38.535 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 2.929 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 25.576 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from consumed natural gas: 10.029 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Particulate matter emissions:** 7 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) **Methane emissions:** energy: 31 kt (2022-2024 est.) agriculture: 99.8 kt (2019-2021 est.) waste: 33 kt (2019-2021 est.) other: 6.2 kt (2019-2021 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 4.15 million tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 35.3% (2022 est.) **Total water withdrawal:** municipal: 773.41 million cubic meters (2022 est.) industrial: 1.071 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) agricultural: 844.9 million cubic meters (2022 est.) **Total renewable water resources:** 393 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) **Geoparks:** total global geoparks and regional networks: 5 (2025) global geoparks and regional networks: Gea Norvegica; Fjord Coast; Magma; Sunnhordland; Trollfjell (2025) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: Kingdom of Norway conventional short form: Norway local long form: Kongeriket Norge local short form: Norge etymology: derives from the Old Norse words norre and vegr, meaning "northern way," and refers to the long coastline of western Norway **Government type:** parliamentary constitutional monarchy **Capital:** name: Oslo geographic coordinates: 59 55 N, 10 45 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October etymology: the name may derive from the Old Norwegian word os, meaning "estuary" and referring to the city's location on a fjord; alternatively, the name may come from As, a Scandinavian god, and Lo, a nearby river **Administrative divisions:** 12 counties (fylker, singular - fylke); Agder, Innlandet, More og Romsdal, Nordland, Oslo, Rogaland, Romsdal, Troms og Finnmark, Trondelag, Vestfold og Telemark, Vestland, Viken (2024) **Dependent areas:** Bouvet Island, Jan Mayen, Svalbard (3) **Legal system:** mixed system of civil, common, and customary law; Supreme Court can advise on legislative acts **Constitution:** history: drafted spring 1814, adopted 16 May 1814, signed by Constituent Assembly 17 May 1814 amendment process: proposals submitted by members of Parliament or by the government within the first three years of Parliament's four-year term; passage requires two-thirds majority vote of a two-thirds quorum in the next elected Parliament **International law organization participation:** accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Norway dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 7 years **Suffrage:** 18 years of age; universal **Executive branch:** chief of state: King HARALD V (since 17 January 1991) head of government: Prime Minister Jonas Gahr STORE (since 14 October 2021) cabinet: Council of State appointed by the monarch, approved by Parliament election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative elections, the monarch usually appoints the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as prime minister, with the approval of Parliament **Legislative branch:** legislature name: Parliament (Stortinget) legislative structure: unicameral number of seats: 169 (all directly elected) electoral system: proportional representation scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 4 years most recent election date: 9/8/2025 parties elected and seats per party: Labour Party (53); Progress Party (47); Conservative Party (24); Socialist Left Party (9); Center Party (9); Red Party (9); Other (18) percentage of women in chamber: 40.2% expected date of next election: September 2029 **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Supreme Court or Hoyesterett (consists of the chief justice and 18 associate justices) judge selection and term of office: justices appointed by the monarch (King in Council) on the recommendation of the Judicial Appointments Board; justices can serve until mandatory retirement at age 70 subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal or Lagmennsrett; regional and district courts; Conciliation Boards; ordinary and special courts note: in addition to professionally trained judges, elected lay judges sit on the bench with professional judges in the Courts of Appeal and district courts **Political parties:** Center Party or Sp Christian Democratic Party or KrF Conservative Party or H Green Party or MDG Labor Party or Ap Liberal Party or V Patient Focus or PF Progress Party or FrP Red Party or R Socialist Left Party or SV **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Anniken Scharning HUITFELDT (since 18 September 2024) chancery: 2720 34th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 333-6000 FAX: [1] (202) 469-3990 email address and website: emb.washington@mfa.no https://www.norway.no/en/usa/ consulate(s) general: New York, San Francisco **Diplomatic representation from the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Eric MEYER (since August 2024) embassy: Morgedalsvegen 36, 0378 Oslo mailing address: 5460 Oslo Place, Washington DC 20521-5460 telephone: [47] 21-30-85-40 FAX: [47] 22-56-27-51 email address and website: OsloACS@state.gov https://no.usembassy.gov/ **International organization participation:** ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CD, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EFTA, EITI (implementing country), ESA, FAO, FATF, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMISS, UNOOSA, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC **Independence:** 7 June 1905 (union with Sweden declared dissolved); 26 October 1905 (Sweden agreed to the repeal of the union); notable earlier dates: ca. 872 (traditional unification of Norwegian kingdoms by HARALD Fairhair); 1397 (Kalmar Union of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden); 1524 (Denmark-Norway); 17 May 1814 (Norwegian constitution adopted); 4 November 1814 (Sweden-Norway union confirmed) **National holiday:** Constitution Day, 17 May (1814) **Flag:** description: red with a blue cross outlined in white that extends to the edges of the flag; the the cross is shifted to the left side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag) meaning: the colors represent Norway's past political unions with Denmark (red and white) and Sweden (blue) **National symbol(s):** lion **National color(s):** red, white, blue **National anthem(s):** title: "Ja, vi elsker dette landet" (Yes, We Love This Country) lyrics/music: Bjornstjerne BJORNSON/Rikard NORDRAAK history: in use since 1864, but never officially adopted _____ title: "Kongesangen" (Song of the King) lyrics/music: Gustav JENSEN history: royal anthem; uses the tune of "God Save the King," the United Kingdom's anthem note: since 2011, the patriotic song “Mitt lille land” has been called a new national anthem and is sometimes performed at patriotic events, but it is not used as often as “Ja, vi elsker dette landet” **National heritage:** total World Heritage Sites: 8 (7 cultural, 1 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Bryggen (c); Urnes Stave Church (c); Røros Mining Town and the Circumference (c); Rock Art of Alta (c); Vegaøyan – The Vega Archipelago (c); Struve Geodetic Arc (c); West Norwegian Fjords – Geirangerfjord and Nærøyfjord (n); Rjukan-Notodden Industrial Heritage Site (c) ### Economy **Economic overview:** high-income, non-EU economy with trade links via European Economic Area (EEA); key role in European energy security as leader in oil, gas, and electricity exports; major fishing, forestry, and oil(?) extraction industries; oil sovereign fund supports generous welfare system; low unemployment; inflation moderating but remains above target level **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $507.68 billion (2024 est.) $497.236 billion (2023 est.) $496.877 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** 2.1% (2024 est.) 0.1% (2023 est.) 3.2% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $91,100 (2024 est.) $90,100 (2023 est.) $91,100 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $483.727 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 3.1% (2024 est.) 5.5% (2023 est.) 5.8% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 2% (2024 est.) industry: 37% (2024 est.) services: 51.8% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **GDP - composition, by end use:** household consumption: 37.7% (2023 est.) government consumption: 22% (2023 est.) investment in fixed capital: 21.7% (2023 est.) investment in inventories: 2.6% (2023 est.) exports of goods and services: 47.9% (2023 est.) imports of goods and services: -32.5% (2023 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection **Agricultural products:** milk, barley, potatoes, oats, wheat, pork, chicken, beef, eggs, carrots/turnips (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage **Industries:** petroleum and gas, shipping, fishing, aquaculture, food processing, shipbuilding, pulp and paper products, metals, chemicals, timber, mining, textiles **Industrial production growth rate:** 2.4% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency **Labor force:** 3.042 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work **Unemployment rate:** 4% (2024 est.) 3.6% (2023 est.) 3.3% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment **Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):** total: 11.6% (2024 est.) male: 12.3% (2024 est.) female: 10.8% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment **Population below poverty line:** 12.2% (2021 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line **Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income:** 26.9 (2022 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality **Average household expenditures:** on food: 11.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.) on alcohol and tobacco: 3.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.) **Household income or consumption by percentage share:** lowest 10%: 3.5% (2022 est.) highest 10%: 22% (2022 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population **Remittances:** 0.1% of GDP (2024 est.) 0.1% of GDP (2023 est.) 0.1% of GDP (2022 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Budget:** revenues: $261.945 billion (2023 est.) expenditures: $178.156 billion (2023 est.) note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated **Public debt:** 36.5% of GDP (2017 est.) note: data cover general government debt and include debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data exclude treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data exclude debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intragovernmental debt; intragovernmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions **Taxes and other revenues:** 27.1% (of GDP) (2023 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP **Current account balance:** $82.511 billion (2024 est.) $84.104 billion (2023 est.) $170.714 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars **Exports:** $229.205 billion (2024 est.) $230.882 billion (2023 est.) $323.875 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** Germany 18%, UK 17%, Sweden 9%, Denmark 7%, Netherlands 6% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** natural gas, crude petroleum, fish, refined petroleum, aluminum (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports:** $162.467 billion (2024 est.) $156.11 billion (2023 est.) $160.649 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** Sweden 11%, Germany 11%, China 11%, USA 7%, Netherlands 5% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** cars, refined petroleum, ships, nickel, garments (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:** $81.242 billion (2024 est.) $80.459 billion (2023 est.) $72.077 billion (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars **Exchange rates:** Norwegian kroner (NOK) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 10.746 (2024 est.) 10.563 (2023 est.) 9.614 (2022 est.) 8.59 (2021 est.) 9.416 (2020 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.) **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 41.1 million kW (2023 est.) consumption: 127.335 billion kWh (2023 est.) exports: 30.978 billion kWh (2023 est.) imports: 13.232 billion kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 7.025 billion kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** fossil fuels: 1.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) wind: 9.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: 89.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) biomass and waste: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Coal:** production: 120,000 metric tons (2023 est.) consumption: 1.096 million metric tons (2023 est.) exports: 60,000 metric tons (2023 est.) imports: 1.042 million metric tons (2023 est.) proven reserves: 2 million metric tons (2023 est.) **Petroleum:** total petroleum production: 2.02 million bbl/day (2023 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 229,000 bbl/day (2024 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 8.122 billion barrels (2021 est.) **Natural gas:** production: 121.637 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) consumption: 5.082 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) exports: 117.597 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) imports: 104.744 million cubic meters (2023 est.) proven reserves: 1.544 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.) **Energy consumption per capita:** 206.961 million Btu/person (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 145,000 (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2022 est.) **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 6.09 million (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 112 (2022 est.) **Broadcast media:** state-owned public radio and TV broadcaster operates 3 nationwide TV stations, 3 nationwide radio stations, and 16 regional radio stations; roughly a dozen privately owned TV stations broadcast nationally, and another 25 locally; nearly 75% of households have access to multi-channel cable or satellite TV; 2 privately owned radio stations broadcast nationwide, with another 240 local stations; Norway was the first country to phase out FM radio in favor of Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) (2019) **Internet country code:** .no **Internet users:** percent of population: 99% (2023 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 2.49 million (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 46 (2022 est.) ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** LN **Airports:** 146 (2025) **Heliports:** 113 (2025) **Railways:** total: 3,848 km (2020) 2,482 km electrified **Merchant marine:** total: 1,720 (2022) by type: bulk carrier 109, container ship 1, general cargo 274, oil tanker 95, other 1,241 **Ports:** total ports: 141 (2024) large: 1 medium: 10 small: 34 very small: 90 size unknown: 6 ports with oil terminals: 54 key ports: Bergen, Drammen, Hammerfest, Harstad, Horten, Karsto, Mongstad, Oslo, Stavanger, Tromso, Trondheim ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** Norwegian Armed Forces (Forsvaret or "the Defense"): Norwegian Army (Haeren), Royal Norwegian Navy (Kongelige Norske Sjoeforsvaret; includes Coastal Rangers and Coast Guard (Kystvakt)), Royal Norwegian Air Force (Kongelige Norske Luftforsvaret), Home Guard (Heimevernet, HV) (2025) note: the Norwegian Police Service is under the Ministry of Justice and Public Security **Military expenditures:** 3.4% of GDP (2025 est.) 2.3% of GDP (2024 est.) 1.8% of GDP (2023 est.) 1.5% of GDP (2022 est.) 1.7% of GDP (2021 est.) **Military and security service personnel strengths:** approximately 27,000 active military personnel; approximately 40,000 Home Guard (2025) **Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:** the military has an inventory of modern, domestically produced and imported Western European and US armaments; Norway's defense industry participates in joint development and production of weapons systems with other European countries (2025) **Military service age and obligation:** 17 (men) or 18 (women) for voluntary military service; all Norwegian citizens 19-44 are subject to selective compulsory military service; 19-month service obligation for those selected (12 months plus 4-5 refresher training periods) (2025) note 1: Norway has had compulsory military service since 1907; individuals conscripted each year are selected from a larger cohort who are evaluated through online assessments and physical tests note 2: Norway was the first NATO country to allow women to serve in all combat arms branches of the military (1985); it also has an all-female special operations unit known as Jegertroppen (The Hunter Troop), which was established in 2014 **Military deployments:** around 100 Lithuania (NATO); Norway also deploys air and naval assets in support of other NATO operations (2025) **Military - note:** the Norwegian Armed Forces (Forsvaret) are responsible for protecting Norway and its allies, including monitoring Norway’s airspace, digital, land, and maritime areas, maintaining the country’s borders and sovereignty, contributing to NATO and UN missions, and providing support to civil society, such as assisting the police, search and rescue, and maritime counterterrorism efforts; the military’s territorial and sovereignty defense missions are complicated by Norway’s vast sea areas, numerous islands, long and winding fjords, and difficult and mountainous terrain; a key area of emphasis is its far northern border with Russia Norway is one of the original members of NATO, and the Alliance is a key component of Norway’s defense policy; the Forsvaret participates in NATO exercises, missions, and operations, including air policing of NATO territory, NATO’s Enhanced Forward Presence mission in the Baltic States and Eastern Europe, and standing naval missions, as well as operations in non-NATO areas, such as the Middle East the Forsvaret also cooperates closely with the militaries of other Nordic countries through the Nordic Defense Cooperation (NORDEFCO; established 2009), which consists of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden; Norway contributes to the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force, a pool of high-readiness military forces from 10 Baltic and Scandinavian countries designed to respond to a wide range of contingencies in the High North, North Atlantic, and Baltic Sea regions; Norway has close military ties with the US, including rotational US military deployments and an agreement allowing for mutual defense activities and US military forces to access some Norwegian facilities the Forsvaret's origins go back to the leidangen, defense forces which were established along the coastline in the 10th century to protect the Norwegian coast (2025) ### Space **Space agency/agencies:** the Norwegian Space Agency (NOSA, aka Norsk Romsenter; established 1987) (2025) **Space launch site(s):** Andøya Space Center (Andøya Island; note - first operational spaceport in continental Europe) (2025) **Space program overview:** jointly designs and builds satellites with foreign partners, including communications, remote sensing (RS), scientific, and navigational/positional satellites; develops and launches sounding rockets; researches and produces a range of other space-related technologies, including satellite/space launch vehicle (SLV) and space station components, telescopes, and robotics; conducts solar and telecommunications research; member of the ESA; participates in international programs such as the International Space Station; hosts training on the island of Svalbard for Mars landing missions; cooperates with a variety of foreign space agencies and industries, including those of Canada, ESA/EU member states, Japan, Russia, and the US; has an active and advanced private-sector space industry that works with domestic and foreign space programs (2025) **Key space-program milestones:** 1962 - launched first research rocket 1992 - began operating first communications satellite (THOR-1) 2010 - built first satellite (AISSat-1) to monitor from polar orbit Automatic Identification Signals from ships (launched by India) 2017 - launched two microsatellites (NorSat-1 and -2) to track commercial sea vessels 2025 - signed US-led Artemis Accords for space and lunar exploration ### Transnational Issues **Refugees and internally displaced persons:** refugees: 129,894 (2024 est.) stateless persons: 1,621 (2024 est.) --- ## Poland **Slug:** poland **Region:** Europe **Flag:** 🇵🇱 **Codes:** cek: pl, iso2: PL, iso3: POL, iso_num: 616, genc: POL, stanag: POL, internet: .pl ### Introduction **Background:** Poland's history as a state began near the middle of the 10th century. By the mid-16th century, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth ruled a vast tract of land in Central and Eastern Europe. During the 18th century, internal disorder weakened the nation, and in a series of agreements between 1772 and 1795, Russia, Prussia, and Austria partitioned Poland among themselves. Poland regained its independence in 1918 only to be overrun by Germany and the Soviet Union in World War II. It became a Soviet satellite state following the war. Labor turmoil in 1980 led to the formation of the independent trade union Solidarity that over time became a political force with over 10 million members. Free elections in 1989 and 1990 won Solidarity control of the parliament and the presidency, bringing the communist era to a close. A "shock therapy" program during the early 1990s enabled the country to transform its economy into one of the most robust in Central Europe. Poland joined NATO in 1999 and the EU in 2004. ### Geography **Location:** Central Europe, east of Germany **Geographic coordinates:** 52 00 N, 20 00 E **Map references:** Europe **Area:** total : 312,685 sq km land: 304,255 sq km water: 8,430 sq km **Area - comparative:** about twice the size of Georgia; slightly smaller than New Mexico **Land boundaries:** total: 2,865 km border countries (6): Belarus 375 km; Czechia 699 km; Germany 467 km; Lithuania 100 km, Russia (Kaliningrad Oblast) 209 km; Slovakia 517 km; Ukraine 498 km **Coastline:** 440 km **Maritime claims:** territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: defined by international treaties **Climate:** temperate with cold, cloudy, moderately severe winters with frequent precipitation; mild summers with frequent showers and thundershowers **Terrain:** mostly flat plain; mountains along southern border **Elevation:** highest point: Rysy 2,499 m lowest point: near Raczki Elblaskie -2 m mean elevation: 173 m **Natural resources:** coal, sulfur, copper, natural gas, silver, lead, salt, amber, arable land **Land use:** agricultural land: 47.6% (2023 est.) arable land: 36.6% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 1.1% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 9.8% (2023 est.) forest: 31% (2023 est.) other: 21% (2023 est.) **Irrigated land:** 1,327 sq km (2016) **Major lakes (area sq km):** salt water lake(s): Zalew Szczecinski/Stettiner Haff (shared with Germany) - 900 sq km **Major rivers (by length in km):** Wisla (Vistula) river source and mouth (shared with Belarus and Ukraine) - 1,213 km note: longest river in Poland **Major watersheds (area sq km):** Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km) **Population distribution:** population concentrated in the southern area around Krakow and the central area around Warsaw and Lodz, with an extension to the northern coastal city of Gdansk **Natural hazards:** flooding **Geography - note:** historically an area of conflict because of flat terrain and the lack of natural barriers on the North European Plain ### People and Society **Population:** total: 38,364,679 (2025 est.) male: 18,303,261 female: 20,061,418 **Nationality:** noun: Pole(s) adjective: Polish **Ethnic groups:** Polish 96.9%, Silesian 1.1%, German 0.2%, Ukrainian 0.1%, other and unspecified 1.7% (2011 est.) note: represents ethnicity declared first **Languages:** Polish (official) 98.2%, Silesian 1.4%, other 1.1%, unspecified 1.2% (2011 est.) major-language sample(s): Księga Faktów Świata, niezbędne źródło podstawowych informacji. (Polish) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. note 1: shares of languages sum to more than 100% because some respondents gave more than one answer on the census; data represent language spoken at home note 2: Poland also recognizes Kashub as a regional language; Czech, Hebrew, Yiddish, Belarusian, Lithuanian, German, Armenian, Russian, Slovak, and Ukrainian as national minority languages; and Karaim, Lemko, Romani (Polska Roma and Bergitka Roma), and Tatar as ethnic minority languages **Religions:** Roman Catholic 70.7%, refused to answer 20.9%, no religion 6.9%; less than 1 percent: Orthodox, Jehovah Witness, Evangelic of Augsburg, Greek Catholic, Pentecostal, other Protestant, not stated, old Catholic Mariavite Church, other Christians, Islam, Buddhist, Polish Catholic Church, other, Baptist Union of Poland, Pagan, Seventh Day Adventist, Hindu, other Catholic (2021 est.) **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 14.2% (male 2,830,048/female 2,676,300) 15-64 years: 65.9% (male 12,513,402/female 13,036,977) 65 years and over: 19.8% (2024 est.) (male 3,097,965/female 4,591,618) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 52.5 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 21.4 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 31.1 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 3.2 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 43.4 years (2025 est.) male: 41.5 years female: 44.3 years **Population growth rate:** -0.98% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 8.03 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 11.56 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** -6.26 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** population concentrated in the southern area around Krakow and the central area around Warsaw and Lodz, with an extension to the northern coastal city of Gdansk **Urbanization:** urban population: 60.2% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: -0.16% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 1.798 million WARSAW (capital), 769,000 Krakow (2023) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Mother's mean age at first birth:** 27.9 years (2020 est.) **Maternal mortality ratio:** 2 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 4.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 5.3 deaths/1,000 live births female: 4.4 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 76.7 years (2024 est.) male: 72.8 years female: 80.9 years **Total fertility rate:** 1.33 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 0.65 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: urban: 95.8% of population (2022 est.) rural: 82.2% of population (2022 est.) total: 90.4% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 4.2% of population (2022 est.) rural: 17.8% of population (2022 est.) total: 9.6% of population (2022 est.) **Health expenditure:** 6.7% of GDP (2022) 10.7% of national budget (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 4.03 physicians/1,000 population (2023) **Hospital bed density:** 6.1 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.) **Sanitation facility access:** improved: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.) rural: 100% of population (2022 est.) total: 100% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.) rural: 0% of population (2022 est.) total: 0% of population (2022 est.) **Obesity - adult prevalence rate:** 23.1% (2016) **Alcohol consumption per capita:** total: 10.96 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 5.72 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 0.88 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 4.36 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) **Tobacco use:** total: 21.6% (2025 est.) male: 25.6% (2025 est.) female: 17.8% (2025 est.) **Children under the age of 5 years underweight:** 0.7% (2019 est.) **Currently married women (ages 15-49):** 58.6% (2021 est.) **Education expenditure:** 4.3% of GDP (2022 est.) 10% national budget (2022 est.) **School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):** total: 17 years (2023 est.) male: 16 years (2023 est.) female: 18 years (2023 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** air pollution (despite environmental policy improvements) because of coal-burning in homes and power plants; acid rain leading to forest damage; water pollution from industrial and municipal sources; disposal of hazardous wastes **International environmental agreements:** party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic- Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants **Climate:** temperate with cold, cloudy, moderately severe winters with frequent precipitation; mild summers with frequent showers and thundershowers **Land use:** agricultural land: 47.6% (2023 est.) arable land: 36.6% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 1.1% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 9.8% (2023 est.) forest: 31% (2023 est.) other: 21% (2023 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 60.2% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: -0.16% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 264.031 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 132.101 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 95.095 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from consumed natural gas: 36.835 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Particulate matter emissions:** 18.8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) **Methane emissions:** energy: 954.2 kt (2022-2024 est.) agriculture: 595.9 kt (2019-2021 est.) waste: 292 kt (2019-2021 est.) other: 36.3 kt (2019-2021 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 12.758 million tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 38.3% (2022 est.) **Total water withdrawal:** municipal: 2.113 billion cubic meters (2022) industrial: 6.44 billion cubic meters (2022) agricultural: 1.28 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) **Total renewable water resources:** 60.5 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) **Geoparks:** total global geoparks and regional networks: 3 (2024) global geoparks and regional networks: Land of Extinct Volcanoes; Muskauer Faltenbogen / Łuk Mużakowa (includes Germany); Holy Cross Mountains (2024) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: Republic of Poland conventional short form: Poland local long form: Rzeczpospolita Polska local short form: Polska former: Polish People's Republic etymology: the name probably comes from the Slavic word pole (field or plain), indicating the flat nature of the country **Government type:** parliamentary republic **Capital:** name: Warsaw geographic coordinates: 52 15 N, 21 00 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October etymology: the origin of the name is unknown; Warszawa was the name of a fishing village, and several legends link the city's founding to a man named Wars or Warsz **Administrative divisions:** 16 provinces or voivodships (wojewodztwa, singular - wojewodztwo); Dolnoslaskie (Lower Silesia), Kujawsko-Pomorskie (Kuyavia-Pomerania), Lodzkie (Lodz), Lubelskie (Lublin), Lubuskie (Lubusz), Malopolskie (Lesser Poland), Mazowieckie (Masovia), Opolskie (Opole), Podkarpackie (Subcarpathia), Podlaskie, Pomorskie (Pomerania), Slaskie (Silesia), Swietokrzyskie (Holy Cross), Warminsko-Mazurskie (Warmia-Masuria), Wielkopolskie (Greater Poland), Zachodniopomorskie (West Pomerania) **Legal system:** civil law system; judicial review of legislative, administrative, and other governmental acts; constitutional law rulings of the Constitutional Tribunal are final **Constitution:** history: several previous; latest adopted 2 April 1997, approved by referendum 25 May 1997, effective 17 October 1997 amendment process: proposed by at least one fifth of Sejm deputies, by the Senate, or by the president of the republic; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote in the Sejm and absolute majority vote in the Senate; amendments to articles relating to sovereignty, personal freedoms, and constitutional amendment procedures also require passage by majority vote in a referendum **International law organization participation:** accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: both parents must be citizens of Poland dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years **Suffrage:** 18 years of age; universal **Executive branch:** chief of state: President Karol NAWROCKI (since 6 August 2025) head of government: Prime Minister Donald TUSK (since 11 December 2023) cabinet: Council of Ministers proposed by the prime minister, appointed by the president, and approved by the Sejm election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister, deputy prime ministers, and Council of Ministers appointed by the president and confirmed by the Sejm; all presidential candidates resign their party affiliation most recent election date: 18 May 2025, with the second round on 1 June 2025 election results: 2025: Karol NAWROCKI elected president in second round; percent of vote - Karol NAWROCKI (PiS) 50.9%, Rafal TRZASKOWSKI (KO) 49.1%; NAWROCKI takes office 6 August 2025 2025: First round Rafal TRZASKOWSKI (KO) 31.4%, Karol NAWROCKI 29.5% (PiS), Slawomir MENTZEN 14.8%, Grzegorz BRAUN 6.3%, and Szymon HOLOWNIA 5.0%; second round to be held on 1 June 2025; 2020: Andrzej DUDA reelected president in second round; percent of vote - Andrzej DUDA (independent) 51%, Rafal TRZASKOWSKI (KO) 49% 2015: Andrzej DUDA elected president in second round; percent of vote - Andrzej DUDA (independent) 51.5%, Bronislaw KOMOROWSKI (independent) 48.5% expected date of next election: July 2030 **Legislative branch:** legislative structure: bicameral note: the designation "National Assembly" (or Zgromadzenie Narodowe) is only used on those rare occasions when the two houses meet jointly **Legislative branch - lower chamber:** chamber name: Sejm number of seats: 460 (all directly elected) electoral system: proportional representation scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 4 years most recent election date: 10/15/2023 parties elected and seats per party: Law and Justice (PiS) (194); Civic Coalition (KO) (157); The Third Way (65); The New Left (Nowa Lewica) (26); Other (18) percentage of women in chamber: 31.3% expected date of next election: October 2027 **Legislative branch - upper chamber:** chamber name: Senate (Senat) number of seats: 100 (all directly elected) electoral system: plurality/majority scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 4 years most recent election date: 10/15/2023 parties elected and seats per party: Civic Coalition (KO) (41); Law and Justice (PiS) (34); The Third Way (11); The New Left (Nowa Lewica) (9); Independents (5) percentage of women in chamber: 19% expected date of next election: October 2027 **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Supreme Court or Sad Najwyzszy (consists of the first president of the Supreme Court and 120 justices organized in criminal, civil, labor and social insurance, and extraordinary appeals and public affairs and disciplinary chambers); Constitutional Tribunal (consists of 15 judges, including the court president and vice president) judge selection and term of office: president of the Supreme Court nominated by the General Assembly of the Supreme Court and selected by the president of Poland; other judges nominated by the 25-member National Judicial Council and appointed by the president of Poland; judges serve until retirement, usually at age 65, but tenure can be extended; Constitutional Tribunal judges chosen by the Sejm for single 9-year terms subordinate courts: administrative courts; military courts; local, regional and appellate courts subdivided into military, civil, criminal, labor, and family courts **Political parties:** Civic Coalition Confederation Free Republicans Polish Coalition or PSL The Left United Right or PiS **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Bogdan Adam KLICH (since 21 November 2024) chancery: 2640 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 499-1700 FAX: [1] (202) 328-2152 email address and website: washington.amb.sekretariat@msz.gov.pl https://www.gov.pl/web/usa-en/embassy-washington consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York **Diplomatic representation from the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas ROSE (since 6 November 2025) embassy: Aleje Ujazdowskie 29/31, 00-540 Warsaw mailing address: 5010 Warsaw Place, Washington, DC 20521-5010 telephone: [48] (22) 504-2000 FAX: [48] (22) 504-2088 email address and website: acswarsaw@state.gov https://pl.usembassy.gov/ consulate(s) general: Krakow **International organization participation:** Arctic Council (observer), Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS, CD, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, ESA, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MONUSCO, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UN Security Council (temporary), UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC **Independence:** 11 November 1918 (republic proclaimed); notable earlier dates: 14 April 966 (adoption of Christianity, traditional founding date), 1 July 1569 (Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth created) **National holiday:** Constitution Day, 3 May (1791) **Flag:** description: two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red meaning: colors derive from the Polish emblem, a white eagle on a red field note: similar to the flags of Indonesia and Monaco, which are red (top) and white **National symbol(s):** white crowned eagle **National color(s):** white, red **National coat of arms:** Poland’s coat of arms was designed in 1927 by noted Polish graphic artist and educator Zygmunt Kaminski. The white crowned eagle is the national symbol, and white and red are the national colors, with white representing purity and truth and red symbolizing courage and the blood shed for freedom. **National anthem(s):** title: "Mazurek Dabrowskiego" (Dabrowski's Mazurka) lyrics/music: Jozef WYBICKI/traditional history: adopted 1927; **National heritage:** total World Heritage Sites: 17 (15 cultural, 2 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Historic Krakow (c); Historic Warsaw (c); Medieval Torun (c); Wooden Tserkvas of the Carpathian Region (c); Castle of the Teutonic Order in Malbork (c); Wieliczka and Bochnia Royal Salt Mines (c); Auschwitz Birkenau Concentration Camp (c); Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians (n); Białowieza Forest (n); Old City of Zamość (c) ### Economy **Economic overview:** high-income, diversified, EU-member economy; significant growth in GDP, trade, and investment since joining EU in 2004; private consumption and EU-funded public investments driving GDP growth; increased social spending, flooding recovery costs, and defense spending have added to public debt **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $1.649 trillion (2024 est.) $1.602 trillion (2023 est.) $1.598 trillion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** 2.9% (2024 est.) 0.2% (2023 est.) 5.3% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $45,100 (2024 est.) $43,700 (2023 est.) $43,400 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $914.696 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 3.8% (2024 est.) 11.5% (2023 est.) 14.4% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 2.6% (2024 est.) industry: 26.4% (2024 est.) services: 59.9% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **GDP - composition, by end use:** household consumption: 57.6% (2024 est.) government consumption: 20.8% (2024 est.) investment in fixed capital: 16.9% (2024 est.) investment in inventories: 0.8% (2024 est.) exports of goods and services: 52.3% (2024 est.) imports of goods and services: -48.3% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection **Agricultural products:** sugar beets, milk, wheat, maize, potatoes, triticale, apples, rapeseed, barley, rye (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage **Industries:** machine building, iron and steel, coal mining, chemicals, shipbuilding, food processing, glass, beverages, textiles **Industrial production growth rate:** -0.6% (2023 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency **Labor force:** 18.245 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work **Unemployment rate:** 2.5% (2024 est.) 2.8% (2023 est.) 2.9% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment **Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):** total: 9.9% (2024 est.) male: 10.1% (2024 est.) female: 9.6% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment **Population below poverty line:** 12.2% (2023 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line **Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income:** 28.9 (2022 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality **Average household expenditures:** on food: 18.6% of household expenditures (2023 est.) on alcohol and tobacco: 6.2% of household expenditures (2023 est.) **Household income or consumption by percentage share:** lowest 10%: 3.3% (2022 est.) highest 10%: 23.1% (2022 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population **Remittances:** 0.9% of GDP (2024 est.) 1.1% of GDP (2023 est.) 1.1% of GDP (2022 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Budget:** revenues: $291.603 billion (2023 est.) expenditures: $328.497 billion (2023 est.) note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated **Public debt:** 50.6% of GDP (2017 est.) note: data cover general government debt and include debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities, the data include subnational entities, as well as intragovernmental debt; intragovernmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions **Taxes and other revenues:** 18% (of GDP) (2023 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP **Current account balance:** $1.789 billion (2024 est.) $14.535 billion (2023 est.) -$15.822 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars **Exports:** $478.579 billion (2024 est.) $471.571 billion (2023 est.) $436.388 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** Germany 25%, UK 6%, Czechia 6%, France 6%, Italy 5% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** vehicle parts/accessories, electric batteries, plastic products, cars, seats (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports:** $441.945 billion (2024 est.) $423.797 billion (2023 est.) $421.765 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** Germany 22%, China 12%, Italy 5%, Netherlands 4%, USA 4% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** crude petroleum, cars, garments, vehicle parts/accessories, plastic products (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:** $223.115 billion (2024 est.) $193.783 billion (2023 est.) $166.664 billion (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars **Exchange rates:** zlotych (PLN) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 3.981 (2024 est.) 4.204 (2023 est.) 4.458 (2022 est.) 3.862 (2021 est.) 3.9 (2020 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.) **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 64.806 million kW (2023 est.) consumption: 159.639 billion kWh (2023 est.) exports: 11.403 billion kWh (2023 est.) imports: 15.14 billion kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 8.549 billion kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** fossil fuels: 72.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 6.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) wind: 14.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: 1.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) biomass and waste: 4.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Coal:** production: 96.72 million metric tons (2023 est.) consumption: 99.932 million metric tons (2023 est.) exports: 10.805 million metric tons (2023 est.) imports: 10.041 million metric tons (2023 est.) proven reserves: 27.758 billion metric tons (2023 est.) **Petroleum:** total petroleum production: 24,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 743,000 bbl/day (2024 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 113 million barrels (2021 est.) **Natural gas:** production: 5.345 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) consumption: 20.602 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) exports: 747.124 million cubic meters (2023 est.) imports: 15.111 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) proven reserves: 91.492 billion cubic meters (2021 est.) **Energy consumption per capita:** 103.651 million Btu/person (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 4.41 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 12 (2024 est.) **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 53.2 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 138 (2024 est.) **Broadcast media:** state-run public TV operates 2 national channels supplemented by 16 regional and several niche channels; privately owned entities operate several national TV networks and some special interest channels; many privately owned local channels; roughly half of all households are linked to satellite or cable TV systems with access to foreign TV; state-run public radio operates 5 national networks and 17 regional stations; 2 privately owned national radio networks, several commercial stations, and many privately owned local radio stations (2019) **Internet country code:** .pl **Internet users:** percent of population: 86% (2023 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 10.1 million (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 26 (2023 est.) ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** SP **Airports:** 318 (2025) **Heliports:** 16 (2025) **Railways:** total: 19,461 km (2020) 11,946 km electrified **Merchant marine:** total: 152 (2023) by type: general cargo 6, oil tanker 6, other 140 **Ports:** total ports: 10 (2024) large: 2 medium: 2 small: 4 very small: 2 ports with oil terminals: 5 key ports: Gdansk, Gdynia, Port Polnochny, Szczecin ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** Polish Armed Forces (Polskie Siły Zbrojne): Land Forces (Wojska Ladowe), Navy (Marynarka Wojenna), Air Force (Sily Powietrzne), Special Forces (Wojska Specjalne), Territorial Defense Forces (Wojska Obrony Terytorialnej), Cyberspace Defense Forces (Wojska Obrony Cyberprzestrzeni) Ministry of Interior and Administration: Polish National Police (Policja); Border Guard (Straż Graniczna or SG) (2025) **Military expenditures:** 4.5% of GDP (2025 est.) 3.8% of GDP (2024 est.) 3.3% of GDP (2023 est.) 2.2% of GDP (2022 est.) 2.2% of GDP (2021 est.) **Military and security service personnel strengths:** approximately 235,000 active military personnel (2025) note: a new national defense law in 2022 set a goal to double the size of Poland’s armed forces to 300,000 personnel, including 250,000 professional soldiers and 50,000 territorials **Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:** the military's inventory consists of a mix of some Soviet-era and a growing amount of more modern, NATO-compatible weapons systems; in recent years, significant suppliers of armaments have included Finland, South Korea, and the US; Poland has a domestic defense sector that produces or provides upgrades to various weapons systems, particularly ground systems such as tanks and other armored vehicles; it also cooperates with the European and US defense sectors (2025) **Military service age and obligation:** 18 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription; professional soldiers serve on a permanent basis (for an unspecified period of time) or on a contract basis (for a specified period of time); initial contract period is 24 months (2025) note 1: as of 2024, women made up about 16.5% of the military's full-time personnel note 2: in 2022, Poland announced a new 12-month voluntary military service program with recruits going through a one-month basic training period with a military unit, followed by 11 months of specialized training; upon completion of service, the volunteers would be allowed to join the Territorial Defense Forces or the active reserve, and have priority to join the professional army and be given preference for employment in the public sector; the program is part of an effort to increase the size of the Polish military **Military deployments:** 250 Kosovo (NATO/KFOR); up to 300 Latvia (NATO); 190 Lebanon (UNIFIL) (2025) note: Poland has obligated about 2,500 troops to the Lithuania, Poland, and Ukraine joint military brigade (LITPOLUKRBRIG), which was established in 2014; the brigade is headquartered in Poland and is comprised of an international staff, three battalions, and specialized units; units affiliated with the multinational brigade remain within the structures of the armed forces of their respective countries until the brigade is activated for participation in an international operation **Military - note:** the Polish Armed Forces are responsible for defense of the country's sovereignty and territory, deterring potential threats, and fulfilling Poland's commitments to NATO, EU, and European security; Poland’s geographic location on NATO’s eastern flank and its history of foreign invasion underpin the Polish military’s focus on territorial and border defense; in peacetime, the Armed Forces provide support to the Border Guard; other security concerns include hybrid threats from Russia and Belarus, such as cyberattacks, sabotage, and weaponized migration; since the 2010s, Poland has taken steps to enhance the security of its borders with Russia and Belarus since 2014, Poland has hosted several NATO military formations designed to enhance the defense of Poland and NATO’s eastern flank, including a US-led multinational NATO ground force battlegroup as part of the Alliance’s Enhanced Forward Presence initiative, NATO fighter detachments at Malbork Air Base, a NATO-led divisional headquarters (Multinational Division Northeast), which coordinates training and preparation activities of its respective subordinate battlegroups in Poland and Lithuania, and a corps-level NATO field headquarters (Multinational Corps Northeast); Poland also has increased the the US military presence in the country; Poland participates in a variety of EU and NATO military deployments in Africa, the Baltic States, Southern Europe, and the Middle East; Poland also provided support to the NATO mission in Afghanistan (2025) ### Space **Space agency/agencies:** Polish Space Agency (POLSA; established 2014; operational in 2015) (2025) **Space program overview:** builds satellites, including nano/cube remote sensing (RS) and scientific/technology satellites; researches and develops communications, RS, navigational, and other scientific applications for satellite payloads; creating infrastructure for data from meteorological and environmental satellites; researches and develops other space-related technologies, including sensors and robotic probes for interplanetary landers, and launcher systems; space program is integrated with the ESA and the EU; participates in a variety of ESA/EU and international programs; cooperates with a variety of other foreign space agencies and industries, including those of Brazil, Canada, China, ESA/EU member states (particularly France, Germany, Italy), India, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Ukraine, UK, and the US; has a commercial space sector with more than 300 active enterprises (2025) **Key space-program milestones:** 1978 - first Polish astronaut in space on Soviet spacecraft 1991 - began cooperating with the ESA 1994 - began participating in Russia's Koronas solar research missions 2012 - joined ESA; first domestically built scientific nanosatellite (PW-Sat) launched on European rocket 2021 - joined US-led Artemis Accords for lunar and space exploration 2024 - successfully launched domestically developed experimental suborbital rocket (ILR-33 Amber 2K) to altitude of 101 kms 2025 - first Polish astronaut and scientific mission on International Space Station ### Terrorism **Terrorist group(s):** Terrorist group(s): Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide ### Transnational Issues **Refugees and internally displaced persons:** refugees: 1,019,863 (2024 est.) stateless persons: 1,486 (2024 est.) **Illicit drugs:** USG identification: major precursor-chemical producer (2025) --- ## Portugal **Slug:** portugal **Region:** Europe **Flag:** 🇵🇹 **Codes:** cek: po, iso2: PT, iso3: PRT, iso_num: 620, genc: PRT, stanag: PRT, internet: .pt ### Introduction **Background:** A global maritime power during the 15th and 16th centuries, Portugal lost much of its wealth and status with the destruction of Lisbon in a 1755 earthquake, occupation during the Napoleonic Wars, and the independence of Brazil, its wealthiest colony, in 1822. A revolution deposed the monarchy in 1910, and for most of the next six decades, repressive governments ran the country. In 1974, a left-wing military coup ushered in broad democratic reforms. The following year, Portugal granted independence to all its African colonies. Portugal is a founding member of NATO and entered the EC (now the EU) in 1986. ### Geography **Location:** Southwestern Europe, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Spain **Geographic coordinates:** 39 30 N, 8 00 W **Map references:** Europe **Area:** total : 92,090 sq km land: 91,470 sq km water: 620 sq km note: includes Azores and Madeira Islands **Area - comparative:** slightly smaller than Virginia **Land boundaries:** total: 1,224 km border countries (1): Spain 1,224 km **Coastline:** 1,793 km **Maritime claims:** territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation **Climate:** maritime temperate; cool and rainy in north, warmer and drier in south **Terrain:** the west-flowing Tagus River divides the country: the north is mountainous toward the interior, while the south is characterized by rolling plains **Elevation:** highest point: Ponta do Pico (Pico or Pico Alto) on Ilha do Pico in the Azores 2,351 m lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m mean elevation: 372 m **Natural resources:** fish, forests (cork), iron ore, copper, zinc, tin, tungsten, silver, gold, uranium, marble, clay, gypsum, salt, arable land, hydropower **Land use:** agricultural land: 43.3% (2023 est.) arable land: 10.1% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 9.6% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 23.6% (2023 est.) forest: 36.6% (2023 est.) other: 5.7% (2023 est.) **Irrigated land:** 5,662 sq km (2019) **Population distribution:** concentrations are primarily along or near the Atlantic coast; both Lisbon and the second largest city, Porto, are coastal cities **Natural hazards:** Azores subject to severe earthquakes volcanism: limited volcanic activity in the Azores Islands; Fayal or Faial (1,043 m) last erupted in 1958; most volcanoes have not erupted in centuries; historically active volcanoes include Agua de Pau, Furnas, Pico, Picos Volcanic System, San Jorge, Sete Cidades, and Terceira **Geography - note:** Azores and Madeira Islands occupy strategic locations along western sea approaches to Strait of Gibraltar; they are two of the four North Atlantic archipelagos that make up Macaronesia; the others are the Canary Islands (Spain) and Cabo Verde ### People and Society **Population:** total: 10,194,277 (2025 est.) male: 4,831,166 female: 5,363,111 **Nationality:** noun: Portuguese (singular and plural) adjective: Portuguese **Ethnic groups:** Portuguese 95%; citizens from Portugal’s former colonies in Africa, Asia (Han Chinese), and South America (Brazilian) and other foreign born 5% **Languages:** Portuguese (official), Mirandese (official, but locally used) **Religions:** Catholic 68.1%, not applicable 12.9%, no religion 12.0%, no response 2.2%, Protestant 1.8%, other 1.0%; less than 1%: other Christians, Orthodox, Muslim (2021 est.) note: data represent population 15 years of age and older **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 12.7% (male 662,419/female 631,284) 15-64 years: 65% (male 3,264,766/female 3,371,087) 65 years and over: 22.3% (2024 est.) (male 908,578/female 1,369,043) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 54.3 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 19.3 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 35 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 2.9 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 46.8 years (2025 est.) male: 44.3 years female: 48.3 years **Population growth rate:** -0.11% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 8.03 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 10.92 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** 1.78 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** concentrations are primarily along or near the Atlantic coast; both Lisbon and the second largest city, Porto, are coastal cities **Urbanization:** urban population: 67.9% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.44% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 3.001 million LISBON (capital), 1.325 million Porto (2023) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female total population: 0.9 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Mother's mean age at first birth:** 29.9 years (2020 est.) **Maternal mortality ratio:** 15 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 2.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 2.8 deaths/1,000 live births female: 2.1 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 81.9 years (2024 est.) male: 78.8 years female: 85.2 years **Total fertility rate:** 1.46 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 0.71 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: urban: 99.9% of population (2022 est.) rural: 97.9% of population (2022 est.) total: 99.3% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 0.1% of population (2022 est.) rural: 2.1% of population (2022 est.) total: 0.7% of population (2022 est.) **Health expenditure:** 10.6% of GDP (2022) 14.8% of national budget (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 5.85 physicians/1,000 population (2022) **Hospital bed density:** 3.5 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.) **Sanitation facility access:** improved: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.) rural: 100% of population (2022 est.) total: 100% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.) rural: 0% of population (2022 est.) total: 0% of population (2022 est.) **Obesity - adult prevalence rate:** 20.8% (2016) **Alcohol consumption per capita:** total: 10.37 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 2.62 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 6.04 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 1.34 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0.37 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) **Tobacco use:** total: 20.7% (2025 est.) male: 26.1% (2025 est.) female: 15.9% (2025 est.) **Children under the age of 5 years underweight:** 0.9% (2016 est.) **Currently married women (ages 15-49):** 50.6% (2021 est.) **Education expenditure:** 4.6% of GDP (2022 est.) 10.4% national budget (2022 est.) **School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):** total: 18 years (2022 est.) male: 17 years (2022 est.) female: 18 years (2022 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** soil erosion; air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution, especially in urban centers and coastal areas **International environmental agreements:** party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Environmental Modification, Nuclear Test Ban **Climate:** maritime temperate; cool and rainy in north, warmer and drier in south **Land use:** agricultural land: 43.3% (2023 est.) arable land: 10.1% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 9.6% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 23.6% (2023 est.) forest: 36.6% (2023 est.) other: 5.7% (2023 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 67.9% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.44% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 38.272 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 20,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 29.525 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from consumed natural gas: 8.727 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Particulate matter emissions:** 7.6 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 5.268 million tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 23.5% (2022 est.) **Total water withdrawal:** municipal: 920.03 million cubic meters (2022 est.) industrial: 1.83 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) agricultural: 3.419 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) **Total renewable water resources:** 77.4 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) **Geoparks:** total global geoparks and regional networks: 6 (2024) global geoparks and regional networks: Açores; Arouca; Estrela; Naturtejo da Meseta Meridional; Oeste; Terras de Cavaleiros (2024) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: Portuguese Republic conventional short form: Portugal local long form: Republica Portuguesa local short form: Portugal etymology: name derives from the Roman designation "Portus Cale," meaning "Port of Cale;" Cale was located in present-day northern Portugal, and its name is said to come from the Latin word calere (to be warm) because the harbor never iced over **Government type:** semi-presidential republic **Capital:** name: Lisbon geographic coordinates: 38 43 N, 9 08 W time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October time zone note: Portugal has two time zones, including the Azores (UTC-1) etymology: the origin of the name is unclear; some trace it back to the legendary Greek hero Ulysses; others claim a derivation from the Phoenician alis-ubbo, or "joyful bay" **Administrative divisions:** 18 districts (distritos, singular - distrito) and 2 autonomous regions* (regioes autonomas, singular - regiao autonoma); Aveiro, Acores (Azores)*, Beja, Braga, Braganca, Castelo Branco, Coimbra, Evora, Faro, Guarda, Leiria, Lisboa (Lisbon), Madeira*, Portalegre, Porto, Santarem, Setubal, Viana do Castelo, Vila Real, Viseu **Legal system:** civil law system; Constitutional Court reviews legislative acts **Constitution:** history: several previous; latest adopted 2 April 1976, effective 25 April 1976 amendment process: proposed by the Assembly of the Republic; adoption requires two-thirds majority vote of Assembly members **International law organization participation:** accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Portugal dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years; 6 years if from a Portuguese-speaking country **Suffrage:** 18 years of age; universal **Executive branch:** chief of state: President Marcelo REBELO DE SOUSA (since 9 March 2016) head of government: Prime Minister Antonio Luis MONTENEGRO (since 2 April 2024) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); following legislative elections, the president usually appoints the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as prime minister most recent election date: 24 January 2021 election results: 2021: Marcelo REBELO DE SOUSA reelected president in the first round; percent of vote - Marcelo REBELO DE SOUSA (PSD) 60.7%, Ana GOMES (ran as an independent but is a member of PS) 13%, Andre VENTURA (CH) 11.9%, João FERREIRA (PCP-PEV) 4.3%, other 10.1% 2016: Marcelo REBELO DE SOUSA elected president in the first round; percent of vote - Marcelo REBELO DE SOUSA (PSD) 52%, António SAMPAIO DA NOVOA (independent) 22.9%, Marisa MATIAS (BE) 10.1%, Maria DE BELEM ROSEIRA (PS) 4.2%, other 10.8% expected date of next election: January 2026 note: there is also a Council of State that acts as a consultative body to the president **Legislative branch:** legislature name: Assembly of the Republic (Assembleia da Republica) legislative structure: unicameral number of seats: 230 (all directly elected) electoral system: proportional representation scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 4 years most recent election date: 5/18/2025 parties elected and seats per party: Social Democratic Party (PPD/PSD) - Democratic and Social Centre - People's Party (CDS-PP) (88); Chega (CH) (60); Socialist Party (PS) (58); Other (24) percentage of women in chamber: 35.7% expected date of next election: September 2029 **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Supreme Court or Supremo Tribunal de Justica (consists of 12 justices); Constitutional Court or Tribunal Constitucional (consists of 13 judges) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court justices nominated by the president and appointed by the Assembly of the Republic; judges can serve for life; Constitutional Court judges - 10 elected by the Assembly and 3 elected by the other Constitutional Court judges; judges elected for 6-year nonrenewable terms subordinate courts: Supreme Administrative Court (Supremo Tribunal Administrativo); Audit Court (Tribunal de Contas); appellate, district, and municipal courts **Political parties:** Democratic Alliance or AD (2024 electoral alliance in the Azores, includes PSD, CDS-PP, PPM) Democratic and Social Center/People's Party (Partido do Centro Democratico Social-Partido Popular) or CDS-PP Ecologist Party "The Greens" or "Os Verdes" (Partido Ecologista-Os Verdes) or PEV Enough (Chega) Liberal Initiative (Iniciativa Liberal) or IL LIVRE or L People-Animals-Nature Party (Pessoas-Animais-Natureza) or PAN People's Monarchist Party or PPM Portuguese Communist Party (Partido Comunista Portugues) or PCP Social Democratic Party (Partido Social Democrata) or PSD (formerly the Partido Popular Democratico or PPD) Socialist Party (Partido Socialista) or PS The Left Bloc (Bloco de Esquerda) or BE or O Bloco Unitary Democratic Coalition (Coligacao Democratica Unitaria) or CDU (includes PCP and PEV) (2024) **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Francisco Antonio DUARTE LOPES (since 7 June 2022) chancery: 2012 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 350-5400 FAX: [1] (202) 462-3726 email address and website: info.washington@mne.pt https://washingtondc.embaixadaportugal.mne.gov.pt/en/ consulate(s) general: Boston, Newark (NJ), New York, San Francisco consulate(s): New Bedford (MA), Providence (RI) **Diplomatic representation from the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador John Joseph ARRIGO (since 30 September 2025) embassy: Avenida das Forcas Armadas, 1600-081 Lisboa mailing address: 5320 Lisbon Place, Washington DC 20521-5320 telephone: [351] (21) 727-3300 FAX: [351] (21) 726-9109 email address and website: conslisbon@state.gov https://pt.usembassy.gov/ consulate(s): Ponta Delgada (Azores) **International organization participation:** ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Australia Group, BIS, CD, CE, CERN, CPLP, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAIA (observer), MIGA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club (associate), PCA, Schengen Convention, SELEC (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC **Independence:** 1143 (Kingdom of Portugal recognized); 1 December 1640 (independence reestablished after 60 years of Spanish rule); 5 October 1910 (republic proclaimed) **National holiday:** Portugal Day (Dia de Portugal), 10 June (1580) note: also called Camoes Day, the day that revered national poet Luis DE CAMOES (1524-80) died **Flag:** description: two vertical bands of green (left side, two-fifths) and red (three-fifths), with the national coat of arms (armillary sphere and national shield) centered on the dividing line meaning: explanations for the color meanings are ambiguous, but a popular interpretation says that green symbolizes hope and red the blood of those defending the nation **National symbol(s):** armillary sphere (a spherical astrolabe for modeling objects in the sky) **National color(s):** red, green **National anthem(s):** title: "A Portugesa" (The Song of the Portuguese) lyrics/music: Henrique LOPES DE MENDOCA/Alfredo KEIL history: adopted 1911; originally written to protest the Portuguese monarchy's acquiescence to the 1890 British ultimatum forcing Portugal to give up areas of Africa **National heritage:** total World Heritage Sites: 17 (16 cultural, 1 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Historic Évora (c); Central Zone of the Town of Angra do Heroismo in the Azores (c); Cultural Landscape of Sintra (c); Laurisilva of Madeira (n); Historic Guimarães (c); Monastery of the Hieronymites and Tower of Belém in Lisbon (c); Convent of Christ in Tomar (c); Prehistoric Rock Art Sites in the Côa Valley and Siega Verde (c); University of Coimbra – Alta and Sofia (c); Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Monte in Braga (c) ### Economy **Economic overview:** high-income EU and eurozone economy; strong services sector led by tourism and banking; tight labor market; growth driven by private consumption, trade surplus, and public investment from EU funds; declining public debt **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $448.226 billion (2024 est.) $439.745 billion (2023 est.) $428.547 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** 1.9% (2024 est.) 2.6% (2023 est.) 7% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $41,900 (2024 est.) $41,600 (2023 est.) $41,100 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $308.683 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 2.4% (2024 est.) 4.3% (2023 est.) 7.8% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 2% (2024 est.) industry: 18.4% (2024 est.) services: 66.4% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **GDP - composition, by end use:** household consumption: 62% (2023 est.) government consumption: 16.8% (2023 est.) investment in fixed capital: 20.1% (2023 est.) investment in inventories: 0.4% (2023 est.) exports of goods and services: 47.5% (2023 est.) imports of goods and services: -46.4% (2023 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection **Agricultural products:** milk, tomatoes, olives, grapes, maize, pork, potatoes, chicken, apples, oranges (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage **Industries:** textiles, clothing, footwear, wood and cork, paper and pulp, chemicals, fuels and lubricants, automobiles and auto parts, base metals, minerals, porcelain and ceramics, glassware, technology, telecommunications; dairy products, wine, other foodstuffs; ship construction and refurbishment; tourism, plastics, financial services, optics **Industrial production growth rate:** 1.2% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency **Labor force:** 5.464 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work **Unemployment rate:** 6.4% (2024 est.) 6.6% (2023 est.) 6.1% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment **Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):** total: 21.2% (2024 est.) male: 21.6% (2024 est.) female: 20.7% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment **Population below poverty line:** 16.4% (2021 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line **Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income:** 36.3 (2022 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality **Average household expenditures:** on food: 17.3% of household expenditures (2023 est.) on alcohol and tobacco: 3.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.) **Household income or consumption by percentage share:** lowest 10%: 2.5% (2022 est.) highest 10%: 28.8% (2022 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population **Remittances:** 0.6% of GDP (2024 est.) 0.6% of GDP (2023 est.) 0.6% of GDP (2022 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Budget:** revenues: $112.802 billion (2023 est.) expenditures: $109.044 billion (2023 est.) note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated **Public debt:** 125.7% of GDP (2017 est.) note: data cover general government debt and include debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intragovernmental debt; intragovernmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions **Taxes and other revenues:** 22.8% (of GDP) (2023 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP **Current account balance:** $6.708 billion (2024 est.) $1.624 billion (2023 est.) -$5.356 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars **Exports:** $144.237 billion (2024 est.) $137.934 billion (2023 est.) $126.953 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** Spain 21%, France 11%, Germany 10%, USA 8%, UK 5% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** cars, garments, vehicle parts/accessories, unpackaged medicine, refined petroleum (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports:** $136.976 billion (2024 est.) $133.617 billion (2023 est.) $132.193 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** Spain 33%, Germany 11%, France 7%, Netherlands 5%, China 5% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** cars, crude petroleum, vehicle parts/accessories, refined petroleum, garments (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:** $42.434 billion (2024 est.) $35.243 billion (2023 est.) $32.232 billion (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars **Exchange rates:** euros (EUR) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 0.924 (2024 est.) 0.925 (2023 est.) 0.95 (2022 est.) 0.845 (2021 est.) 0.876 (2020 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.) **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 25.409 million kW (2023 est.) consumption: 50.317 billion kWh (2023 est.) exports: 3.422 billion kWh (2023 est.) imports: 13.656 billion kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 5.129 billion kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** fossil fuels: 25.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 12.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) wind: 29% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: 24.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) geothermal: 0.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) biomass and waste: 7.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Coal:** consumption: 7,000 metric tons (2023 est.) exports: 1 metric tons (2023 est.) imports: 6,000 metric tons (2023 est.) proven reserves: 3 million metric tons (2023 est.) **Petroleum:** total petroleum production: 8,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 204,000 bbl/day (2024 est.) **Natural gas:** consumption: 4.325 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) imports: 4.251 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) **Energy consumption per capita:** 73.285 million Btu/person (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 5.53 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 53 (2024 est.) **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 12.9 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 124 (2024 est.) **Broadcast media:** Radio e Televisao de Portugal, the publicly owned TV broadcaster, operates 4 domestic channels and external service channels to Africa; roughly 40 domestic TV stations; widespread access to international broadcasters, with more than half of households connected to multi-channel cable or satellite TV systems; publicly owned radio operates 3 national networks and provides regional and external services; several privately owned national radio stations and about 300 regional and local commercial radio stations **Internet country code:** .pt **Internet users:** percent of population: 86% (2023 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 4.6 million (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 44 (2023 est.) ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** CR, CS **Airports:** 128 (2025) **Heliports:** 65 (2025) **Railways:** total: 2,526 km (2020) 1,696 km electrified **Merchant marine:** total: 888 (2023) by type: bulk carrier 110, container ship 299, general cargo 191, oil tanker 29, other 259 **Ports:** total ports: 18 (2024) large: 3 medium: 2 small: 4 very small: 9 ports with oil terminals: 5 key ports: Aveiro, Funchal, Lagos, Lisboa, Sines ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** Portuguese Armed Forces (Forças Armadas Portuguesa): Portuguese Army (Exercito Portuguesa), Portuguese Navy (Marinha Portuguesa; includes Marine Corps, aka Corpo de Fuzileiros or Corps of Fusiliers), Portuguese Air Force (Forca Aerea Portuguesa, FAP) Ministry of Internal Administration: Public Security Police (Polícia de Segurança Pública, PSP) , National Republican Guard (Guarda Nacional Republicana, GNR) (2025) note: the PSP has jurisdiction in cities while the GNR has jurisdiction in rural areas; the GNR is a national gendarmerie force comprised of military personnel with law enforcement, internal security, civil defense, disaster response, and coast guard duties; it is responsible to both the Ministry of Internal Administration and to the Ministry of National Defense; it is not part of the Armed Forces, but may be placed under its operational command in the event of a national emergency **Military expenditures:** 2% of GDP (2025 est.) 1.6% of GDP (2024 est.) 1.3% of GDP (2023 est.) 1.4% of GDP (2022 est.) 1.5% of GDP (2021 est.) **Military and security service personnel strengths:** approximately 25,000 active-duty military personnel (2025) **Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:** the military's inventory includes mostly European- and US-origin weapons systems along with smaller amounts of domestically produced equipment; Portugal's defense industry is noted for its shipbuilding (2025) **Military service age and obligation:** 18-30 years of age for voluntary or contract military service for men and women (upper age limit varies by military branch, position, role); no compulsory military service (abolished 2004) but conscription possible if insufficient volunteers available; contract service lasts for an initial period of 2-6 years, and can be extended to a maximum of 20 years of service; initial voluntary military service lasts 12 months; reserve obligation to age 35 (2025) **Military deployments:** the Portuguese Armed Forces have more than 1,100 military personnel deployed around the world engaged in missions supporting the EU, NATO, the UN, and partner nations; key deployments include 225 troops in the Central African Republic under the UN and about 350 troops supporting NATO's forward presence in Lithuania and Romania; it also participates in NATO air policing and maritime patrolling operations (2025) **Military - note:** the Portuguese military is responsible for external defense, humanitarian operations, and fulfilling Portugal’s commitments to European and international security; maritime security has long been a key component of the military's portfolio, and Portugal has one of the world's oldest navies Portugal was one of the original signers of the North Atlantic Treaty (also known as the Washington Treaty) in 1949 establishing NATO, and the Alliance forms a key pillar of Portugal’s defense policy; Portugal is also a signatory of the EU’s Common Security and Defense Policy, and it regularly participates in a variety of EU and NATO, as well as UN deployments around the world; the military’s largest commitments include air, ground, and naval forces under NATO-led missions and standing task forces in the Baltics, Eastern Europe, and the Mediterranean Sea; the military also participates in exercises with NATO partners (2025) ### Space **Space agency/agencies:** Portuguese Space Agency (Agência Espacial Portuguesa; aka Portugal Space; established 2019) (2025) **Space launch site(s):** in August 2025, Portugal granted a license to a commercial consortium to build and operate a space launch center on the island of Santa Maria in the Azores; the first orbital launches are expected in 2027 (2025) **Space program overview:** largely focuses on the acquisition and operation of satellites; researches and develops a range of space-related technologies with an emphasis on small satellites for remote sensing (RS), navigational, science/technology, and telecommunications, as well as satellite launch services; space program is integrated with the ESA and involved in a variety of ESA and EU space programs; works with the space agencies and industries of a range of countries, including Algeria, Angola, Brazil, China, India, Japan, Morocco, South Korea, and the US; also cooperates with international organizations and projects such as the Europe South Observatory and the Square Kilometer Array; one of the objectives of the country's national space strategy is to expand its commercial space sector (2025) **Key space-program milestones:** 1993 - first technology demonstrator microsatellite (PoSat-1) launched on a European rocket 2000 - joined the ESA 2020 - launched strategic plan for space development (Portugal Space 2030), which included building a spaceport, developing a reusable rocket/satellite launch vehicle, growing the country's domestic commercial space sector, and establishing an Earth observation/remote sensing satellite constellation 2024 - first Portuguese communications satellite (PoSat-2) launched by US as part of a planned constellation of 12 ocean-monitoring/maritime communication satellites 2026 - signed US-led Artemis Accords outlining best practices for responsible space exploration ### Terrorism **Terrorist group(s):** Terrorist group(s): Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide ### Transnational Issues **Refugees and internally displaced persons:** refugees: 71,166 (2024 est.) IDPs: 21 (2024 est.) stateless persons: 31 (2024 est.) --- ## Romania **Slug:** romania **Region:** Europe **Flag:** 🇷🇴 **Codes:** cek: ro, iso2: RO, iso3: ROU, iso_num: 642, genc: ROU, stanag: ROU, internet: .ro ### Introduction **Background:** The principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia -- for centuries under the control of the Turkish Ottoman Empire -- secured their autonomy through the Treaty of Paris in 1856. They were de facto linked in 1859 and formally united in 1862 under the new name of Romania. The country joined the Allied Powers in World War I and subsequently acquired new territories -- most notably Transylvania -- that more than doubled its size. In 1940, Romania allied with the Axis powers and participated in the 1941 German invasion of the USSR. Three years later, overrun by the Soviets, Romania signed an armistice. The post-war Soviet occupation led to the formation of a communist "people's republic" in 1947 and the abdication of the king. The decades-long rule of dictator Nicolae CEAUSESCU, who took power in 1965, and his Securitate police state became increasingly oppressive and draconian through the 1980s. CEAUSESCU was overthrown and executed in late 1989. Former communists dominated the government until 1996 when they were swept from power. Romania joined NATO in 2004, the EU in 2007, and the Schengen Area for air and sea travel in 2024. ### Geography **Location:** Southeastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Bulgaria and Ukraine **Geographic coordinates:** 46 00 N, 25 00 E **Map references:** Europe **Area:** total : 238,391 sq km land: 229,891 sq km water: 8,500 sq km **Area - comparative:** twice the size of Pennsylvania; slightly smaller than Oregon **Land boundaries:** total: 2,844 km border countries (5): Bulgaria 605 km; Hungary 424 km; Moldova 683 km; Serbia 531 km; Ukraine 601 km **Coastline:** 225 km **Maritime claims:** territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation **Climate:** temperate; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow and fog; sunny summers with frequent showers and thunderstorms **Terrain:** central Transylvanian Basin is separated from the Moldavian Plateau on the east by the Eastern Carpathian Mountains and separated from the Walachian Plain on the south by the Transylvanian Alps **Elevation:** highest point: Moldoveanu 2,544 m lowest point: Black Sea 0 m mean elevation: 414 m **Natural resources:** petroleum (reserves declining), timber, natural gas, coal, iron ore, salt, arable land, hydropower **Land use:** agricultural land: 55.3% (2023 est.) arable land: 36.5% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 1.8% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 17% (2023 est.) forest: 30.2% (2023 est.) other: 14.5% (2023 est.) **Irrigated land:** 5,280 sq km (2022) **Major rivers (by length in km):** Dunărea (Danube) river mouth (shared with Germany [s], Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Moldova, and Ukraine) - 2,888 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth **Major watersheds (area sq km):** Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km) **Population distribution:** urbanization is not particularly high, and the population distribution is fairly even throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger and denser populations **Natural hazards:** earthquakes, most severe in south and southwest; geologic structure and climate promote landslides **Geography - note:** controls the most easily traversable land route between the Balkans, Moldova, and Ukraine; the Carpathian Mountains dominate the center of the country, and the Danube River forms much of the southern boundary with Serbia and Bulgaria ### People and Society **Population:** total: 17,985,252 (2025 est.) male: 8,659,102 female: 9,326,150 **Nationality:** noun: Romanian(s) adjective: Romanian **Ethnic groups:** Romanian 89.3%, Hungarian 6%, Romani 3.4%, Ukrainian 0.3%, German 0.1%, other 0.9% (2021 est.) note: data represent individuals who declared an ethnic group in the 2021 national census; 13% did not respond; Romani populations are usually underestimated in official statistics and may represent 5–11% of Romania's population **Languages:** Romanian (official) 91.6%, Hungarian 6.3%, Romani 1.2%, other 0.7% (2021 est.) major-language sample(s): Cartea informativa a lumii, sursa indispensabila pentru informatii de baza. (Romanian) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. note: data represent individuals who declared a maternal language in the 2021 national census; 13.1% did not respond **Religions:** Romanian Orthodox 85.3%, Roman Catholic 4.5%, Reformed 3%, Pentecostal 2.5%, other 4.7% (2021 est.) note: data represent individuals who declared a religion in the 2021 national census; 13.9% did not respond **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 15.4% (male 1,441,359/female 1,362,304) 15-64 years: 62% (male 5,618,366/female 5,632,718) 65 years and over: 22.6% (2024 est.) (male 1,688,070/female 2,405,338) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 61.5 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 24.7 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 36.8 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 2.7 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 45.8 years (2025 est.) male: 44 years female: 46.9 years **Population growth rate:** -0.86% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 8.45 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 14.28 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** -2.81 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** urbanization is not particularly high, and the population distribution is fairly even throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger and denser populations **Urbanization:** urban population: 54.7% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: -0.15% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 1.776 million BUCHAREST (capital) (2023) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Mother's mean age at first birth:** 27.1 years (2020 est.) **Maternal mortality ratio:** 12 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 5.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 5.8 deaths/1,000 live births female: 5.2 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 76.9 years (2024 est.) male: 73.4 years female: 80.5 years **Total fertility rate:** 1.63 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 0.79 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.) rural: 100% of population (2022 est.) total: 100% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.) rural: 0% of population (2022 est.) total: 0% of population (2022 est.) **Health expenditure:** 6.5% of GDP (2021) 11.2% of national budget (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 3.63 physicians/1,000 population (2022) **Hospital bed density:** 7.1 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.) **Sanitation facility access:** improved: urban: 97.5% of population (2022 est.) rural: 77.9% of population (2022 est.) total: 88.5% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 2.5% of population (2022 est.) rural: 22.1% of population (2022 est.) total: 11.5% of population (2022 est.) **Obesity - adult prevalence rate:** 22.5% (2016) **Alcohol consumption per capita:** total: 10.96 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 5.33 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 3.38 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 2.25 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) **Tobacco use:** total: 26.7% (2025 est.) male: 36.2% (2025 est.) female: 17.9% (2025 est.) **Currently married women (ages 15-49):** 56% (2021 est.) **Child marriage:** women married by age 15: 0.5% (2021) women married by age 18: 6.9% (2021) **Education expenditure:** 3.3% of GDP (2022 est.) 8.8% national budget (2022 est.) **Literacy:** total population: 99.2% (2021 est.) male: 99% (2021 est.) female: 99.3% (2021 est.) **School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):** total: 14 years (2023 est.) male: 13 years (2023 est.) female: 14 years (2023 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** soil erosion, degradation, and desertification; water pollution; air pollution in south from industrial effluents; contamination of Danube delta wetlands **International environmental agreements:** party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements **Climate:** temperate; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow and fog; sunny summers with frequent showers and thunderstorms **Land use:** agricultural land: 55.3% (2023 est.) arable land: 36.5% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 1.8% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 17% (2023 est.) forest: 30.2% (2023 est.) other: 14.5% (2023 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 54.7% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: -0.15% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 61.416 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 13.07 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 30.902 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from consumed natural gas: 17.444 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Particulate matter emissions:** 14.6 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) **Methane emissions:** energy: 325.6 kt (2022-2024 est.) agriculture: 355.4 kt (2019-2021 est.) waste: 247.7 kt (2019-2021 est.) other: 11.8 kt (2019-2021 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 5.42 million tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 13% (2022 est.) **Total water withdrawal:** municipal: 1.256 billion cubic meters (2022) industrial: 3.94 billion cubic meters (2022) agricultural: 2.955 billion cubic meters (2022) **Total renewable water resources:** 212.01 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) **Geoparks:** total global geoparks and regional networks: 2 global geoparks and regional networks: Buzău; Haţeg (2023) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: none conventional short form: Romania local long form: none local short form: Romania former: Kingdom of Romania, Romanian People's Republic, Socialist Republic of Romania etymology: the name derives from the Latin Romani, meaning "people from Rome;" the area was an outpost of the Roman Empire in the 2nd century A.D., and the current name was adopted when Moldavia and Wallachia merged in 1861 **Government type:** semi-presidential republic **Capital:** name: Bucharest geographic coordinates: 44 26 N, 26 06 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October etymology: the name is said to come from a shepherd named Bucur who is reputed to have founded the town in 1457, but a settlement probably already existed on the site; the name may come from the personal name of an early landowner **Administrative divisions:** 41 counties (judete, singular - judet) and 1 municipality* (municipiu); Alba, Arad, Arges, Bacau, Bihor, Bistrita-Nasaud, Botosani, Braila, Brasov, Bucuresti (Bucharest)*, Buzau, Calarasi, Caras-Severin, Cluj, Constanta, Covasna, Dambovita, Dolj, Galati, Gorj, Giurgiu, Harghita, Hunedoara, Ialomita, Iasi, Ilfov, Maramures, Mehedinti, Mures, Neamt, Olt, Prahova, Salaj, Satu Mare, Sibiu, Suceava, Teleorman, Timis, Tulcea, Vaslui, Valcea, Vrancea **Legal system:** civil law system **Constitution:** history: several previous; latest adopted 21 November 1991, approved by referendum and effective 8 December 1991 amendment process: initiated by the president of Romania through a proposal by the government, by at least one fourth of deputies or senators in Parliament, or by petition of eligible voters representing at least half of Romania’s counties; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by both chambers or – if mediation is required - by three-fourths majority vote in a joint session, followed by approval in a referendum; articles, including those on national sovereignty, form of government, political pluralism, and fundamental rights and freedoms cannot be amended **International law organization participation:** accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Romania dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years **Suffrage:** 18 years of age; universal **Executive branch:** chief of state: President Nicușor DAN (since 26 May 2025) head of government: Prime Minister Ilie BOLOJAN (since 23 June 2005) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister appointed by the president with consent of Parliament most recent election date: 18 May 2025 election results: 2025: Nicușor DAN elected president in runoff; percent of vote - Nicușor DAN (unaffiliated) 53.6%, George SIMION (AUR) 46.4% 2019: Klaus IOHANNIS reelected president in second round; percent of vote - Klaus IOHANNIS (PNL) 66.1%, Viorica DANCILA (PSD) 33.9% expected date of next election: 2030 note: the prime ministerial position will be rotated in 2027 from BOLOJAN to another coalition party member as part of a power-sharing agreement **Legislative branch:** legislature name: Parliament of Romania (Parlamentul României) legislative structure: bicameral **Legislative branch - lower chamber:** chamber name: Chamber of Deputies (Camera Deputatilor) number of seats: 331 (all directly elected) electoral system: proportional representation scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 4 years most recent election date: 12/1/2024 parties elected and seats per party: Social Democratic Party (PSD) (86); Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) (63); National Liberal Party (PNL) (49); Save Romania Union (USR) (40); S.O.S. Romania (28); Party of Young People (POT) (24); Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania (UDMR) (22) percentage of women in chamber: 22.4% expected date of next election: November 2028 **Legislative branch - upper chamber:** chamber name: Senate (Senatul) number of seats: 136 (all directly elected) electoral system: proportional representation scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 4 years most recent election date: 12/1/2024 parties elected and seats per party: Social Democratic Party (PSD) (36); Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) (28); National Liberal Party (PNL) (22); Save Romania Union (USR) (19); S.O.S. Romania (12); Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania (UDMR) (10); Party of Young People (POT) (7) percentage of women in chamber: 20.9% expected date of next election: November 2028 **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): High Court of Cassation and Justice (consists of 111 judges organized into civil, penal, commercial, contentious administrative and fiscal business, and joint sections); Supreme Constitutional Court (consists of 9 members) judge selection and term of office: High Court of Cassation and Justice judges appointed by the president upon nomination by the Superior Council of Magistracy, a 19-member body of judges, prosecutors, and law specialists; judges appointed for 6-year renewable terms; Constitutional Court members - 6 elected by Parliament and 3 appointed by the president; members serve 9-year, nonrenewable terms subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; regional tribunals; first instance courts; military and arbitration courts **Political parties:** Alliance for the Fatherland or APP Alliance for the Unity of Romanians or AUR Christian-Democratic National Peasants' Party or PNT-CD Civic Hungarian Party Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania or UDMR Ecologist Party of Romania or PER Force of the Right or FD Greater Romania Party or PRM Green Party National Liberal Party or PNL Popular Movement Party or PMP PRO Romania or PRO Romanian Nationhood Party or PNR Save Romania Union Party or USR Social Democratic Party or PSD Social Liberal Humanist Party or PUSL (formerly Humanist Power Party (Social-Liberal) or PPU-SL) S.O.S. Romania The Right Alternative or AD United Romania Party or PRU We are Renewing the European Project in Romania or REPER **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Dan-Andrei MURARU (since 15 September 2021) chancery: 1607 23rd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 332-4829 FAX: [1] (202) 232-4748 email address and website: washington@mae.ro https://washington.mae.ro/en consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York **Diplomatic representation from the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Michael L. DICKERSON (since 20 May 2025) embassy: 4-6, Dr. Liviu Librescu Blvd., District 1, Bucharest, 015118 mailing address: 5260 Bucharest Place, Washington, DC 20521-5260 telephone: [40] (21) 200-3300 FAX: [40] (21) 200-3442 email address and website: ACSBucharest@state.gov https://ro.usembassy.gov/ **International organization participation:** Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CBSS (observer), CD, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, ESA, EU, FAO, G-9, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAIA (observer), MIGA, MONUSCO, NATO, NSG, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, SELEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC **Independence:** 9 May 1877 (independence proclaimed from the Ottoman Empire; 13 July 1878 (independence recognized by the Treaty of Berlin); 26 March 1881 (kingdom proclaimed); 30 December 1947 (republic proclaimed) **National holiday:** Unification Day (unification of Romania and Transylvania), 1 December (1918) **Flag:** description: three equal vertical bands of blue (left side), yellow, and red meaning: the colors come from the principalities of Walachia (red and yellow) and Moldavia (red and blue), which united in 1862 to form Romania history: modeled on the French flag; the national coat of arms that used to be centered on the yellow band has been removed note: similar to the flag of Chad, which has a darker blue band; also resembles the flags of Andorra and Moldova **National symbol(s):** golden eagle **National color(s):** blue, yellow, red **National anthem(s):** title: "Desteapta-te romane!" (Wake up, Romanian!) lyrics/music: Andrei MURESIANU/Anton PANN history: adopted 1990; the anthem was written during the 1848 Revolution **National heritage:** total World Heritage Sites: 11 (9 cultural, 2 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Danube Delta (n); Churches of Moldavia (c); Monastery of Horezu (c); Villages with Fortified Churches in Transylvania (c); Dacian Fortresses of the Orastie Mountains (c); Historic Center of Sighişoara (c); Wooden Churches of Maramureş (c); Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe (n); Roșia Montană Mining Landscape (c); Brâncuși Monumental Ensemble of Târgu Jiu (c); Frontiers of the Roman Empire – Dacia (c) ### Economy **Economic overview:** high-income, EU-member economy; euro membership delayed over macroeconomic indicators; persistent inflation, but consumption and EU-funded investments driving recovery; skilled labor shortage; high public debt and budget deficit; challenges include fiscal sustainability and political instability **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $774.376 billion (2024 est.) $768.126 billion (2023 est.) $750.091 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** 0.8% (2024 est.) 2.4% (2023 est.) 4% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $40,600 (2024 est.) $40,300 (2023 est.) $39,400 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $382.768 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 5.7% (2024 est.) 10.4% (2023 est.) 13.8% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 3.3% (2024 est.) industry: 25% (2024 est.) services: 62.5% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **GDP - composition, by end use:** household consumption: 63.5% (2024 est.) government consumption: 18.3% (2024 est.) investment in fixed capital: 25.7% (2024 est.) investment in inventories: -1.4% (2024 est.) exports of goods and services: 35.6% (2024 est.) imports of goods and services: -41.7% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection **Agricultural products:** wheat, maize, milk, sunflower seeds, barley, rapeseed, potatoes, grapes, plums, apples (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage **Industries:** electric machinery and equipment, auto assembly, textiles and footwear, light machinery, metallurgy, chemicals, food processing, petroleum refining, mining, timber, construction materials **Industrial production growth rate:** -0.9% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency **Labor force:** 8.263 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work **Unemployment rate:** 5.4% (2024 est.) 5.6% (2023 est.) 5.7% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment **Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):** total: 21.3% (2024 est.) male: 21.1% (2024 est.) female: 21.8% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment **Population below poverty line:** 21.1% (2022 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line **Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income:** 32.3 (2022 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality **Average household expenditures:** on food: 25.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.) on alcohol and tobacco: 6.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.) **Household income or consumption by percentage share:** lowest 10%: 1.9% (2022 est.) highest 10%: 22.6% (2022 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population **Remittances:** 2.5% of GDP (2024 est.) 2.8% of GDP (2023 est.) 3% of GDP (2022 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Budget:** revenues: $93.691 billion (2022 est.) expenditures: $112.799 billion (2022 est.) note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated **Public debt:** 50.9% of GDP (2022 est.) note: central government debt as a % of GDP **Taxes and other revenues:** 16.2% (of GDP) (2022 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP **Current account balance:** -$31.988 billion (2024 est.) -$24.461 billion (2023 est.) -$27.326 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars **Exports:** $136.253 billion (2024 est.) $136.488 billion (2023 est.) $129.286 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** Germany 19%, Italy 10%, France 6%, UK 5%, Hungary 4% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** cars, vehicle parts/accessories, insulated wire, garments, wheat (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports:** $159.575 billion (2024 est.) $153.427 billion (2023 est.) $149.209 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** Germany 19%, Italy 8%, Hungary 6%, Poland 6%, China 6% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** vehicle parts/accessories, packaged medicine, cars, crude petroleum, plastic products (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:** $73.391 billion (2024 est.) $73 billion (2023 est.) $55.81 billion (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars **Exchange rates:** lei (RON) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 4.598 (2024 est.) 4.574 (2023 est.) 4.688 (2022 est.) 4.16 (2021 est.) 4.244 (2020 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.) **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 19.748 million kW (2023 est.) consumption: 48.73 billion kWh (2023 est.) exports: 13.106 billion kWh (2023 est.) imports: 10.088 billion kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 5.817 billion kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** fossil fuels: 32.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) nuclear: 18% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 3.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) wind: 13% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: 32.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) biomass and waste: 0.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Nuclear energy:** Number of operational nuclear reactors: 2 (2025) Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors: 1.3GW (2025 est.) Percent of total electricity production: 18.9% (2023 est.) **Coal:** production: 14.752 million metric tons (2023 est.) consumption: 15.533 million metric tons (2023 est.) exports: 290,000 metric tons (2023 est.) imports: 736,000 metric tons (2023 est.) proven reserves: 291 million metric tons (2023 est.) **Petroleum:** total petroleum production: 67,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 220,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 600 million barrels (2021 est.) **Natural gas:** production: 9.632 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) consumption: 9.395 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) exports: 2.231 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) imports: 2.793 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) proven reserves: 105.48 billion cubic meters (2021 est.) **Energy consumption per capita:** 59.377 million Btu/person (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 1.72 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 9 (2024 est.) **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 22.8 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 118 (2024 est.) **Broadcast media:** a mixture of public and private TV stations; 7 public (2 national, 5 regional) and 187 private TV stations using terrestrial broadcasting, plus 11 public and 86 private TV stations using satellite broadcasting; state-owned public radio broadcaster operates 4 national networks, as well as regional and local stations; 502 private radio stations using terrestrial broadcasting, and 26 using satellite broadcasting **Internet country code:** .ro **Internet users:** percent of population: 89% (2023 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 6.63 million (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 35 (2023 est.) ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** YR **Airports:** 103 (2025) **Heliports:** 24 (2025) **Railways:** total: 10,628 km (2020) 4,030 km electrified **Merchant marine:** total: 127 (2023) by type: general cargo 9, oil tanker 7, other 111 **Ports:** total ports: 11 (2024) large: 0 medium: 2 small: 1 very small: 8 ports with oil terminals: 4 key ports: Basarabi, Braila, Cernavoda, Constanta, Danube-Black Sea Canal, Galati, Mangalia, Medgidia, Midia, Sulina, Tulcea ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** Romanian Armed Forces (Forțele Armate Române or Armata Română): Romanian Land Forces, Romanian Naval Forces, Romanian Air Force Ministry of Internal Affairs: Romanian Police, Romanian Gendarmerie, Romanian Border Police (2025) **Military expenditures:** 2.3% of GDP (2025 est.) 2.2% of GDP (2024 est.) 1.6% of GDP (2023 est.) 1.8% of GDP (2022 est.) 1.9% of GDP (2021 est.) **Military and security service personnel strengths:** approximately 70,000 active Armed Forces (2025) note: in 2025, the Romanian Government announced plans to increase the size of the Armed Forces by 35,000 personnel by 2030 **Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:** the military's inventory includes a considerable amount of Soviet-era and older domestically produced weapons systems, although in recent years Romania has launched an effort to acquire more modern and NATO-standard equipment from European countries and the US, including aircraft and armored vehicles (2025) **Military service age and obligation:** typically 18-35 years of age for voluntary service for men and women; compulsory service ended in 2007 (2025) note: in 2025, the Romanian Government approved a voluntary service plan for citizens aged 18 to 35 to apply for a four-month basic military training programme, open to both men and women who have not completed active military service or not already in reserve; participants would subsequently be registered as reservists **Military deployments:** 470 Bosnia Herzegovina (EUFOR); 200 Kosovo (KFOR/NATO); up to 120 Poland (NATO); Romania also has small numbers of military personnel deployed on other international missions under the EU, NATO, and UN (2025) **Military - note:** the Romanian Armed Forces are responsible for territorial defense, fulfilling the country's commitments to European security, and contributing to multinational peacekeeping operations; the military has a variety of concerns, including Russian aggression against Ukraine, Russia's activities in the Black Sea and in Moldova, cyber attacks, hybrid threats, and terrorism; a key focus for the military is equipment modernization Romania joined NATO in 2004, and its membership forms a key pillar of the country’s defense policy; it hosts a NATO multinational divisional headquarters (Multinational Division Southeast) and a French-led ground force battlegroup as part of NATO's Enhanced Forward Presence initiative in the southeastern part of the Alliance, which came about in response to Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine; NATO allies have also sent detachments of fighters to augment the Romanian Air Force since 2014 because of aggressive Russian activity in the Black Sea region; the Romanian military trains with NATO and its member states and has participated in NATO- and EU-led multinational missions in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, and Poland; it also participates in UN peacekeeping missions (2025) ### Space **Space agency/agencies:** Romanian Space Agency (Agentia Spatiala Romania, ROSA; established 1991) (2025) **Space program overview:** develops and produces a range of capabilities and technologies, including satellites, satellite launch vehicles, remote sensing, human space flight, navigation, and telecommunications; program is integrated into the ESA; participates in EU and international space programs; works with a variety of foreign space agencies and commercial space entities, including those of Azerbaijan, China, Japan, Russia, and the US; also works bilaterally with ESA member states, particularly Bulgaria, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy; has an active space-industry sector with over 50 entities (2025) **Key space-program milestones:** 1967-1968 - began participating in Soviet Intercosmos program and established the Romanian Commission for Space Activities to coordinate national space activities 1981 - first Romanian in space on Soviet spacecraft 2010 - domestically developed commercial rocket launched to an altitude of 40,000 m (24.9 mi) 2012 - first domestically produced scientific/experimental microsatellite (Goliat) launched (failed to operate) 2022 - joined US-led Artemis Accords for space exploration 2023 - digital amateur-radio-repeater microsatellite (ROM-2) launched on US commercial rocket ### Terrorism **Terrorist group(s):** Terrorist group(s): Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide ### Transnational Issues **Refugees and internally displaced persons:** refugees: 184,991 (2024 est.) stateless persons: 297 (2024 est.) --- ## San Marino **Slug:** san-marino **Region:** Europe **Flag:** 🇸🇲 **Codes:** cek: sm, iso2: SM, iso3: SMR, iso_num: 674, genc: SMR, stanag: SMR, internet: .sm ### Introduction **Background:** Geographically the third-smallest state in Europe (after the Holy See and Monaco), San Marino also claims to be the world's oldest republic. According to tradition, it was founded by a Christian stonemason named MARINUS in A.D. 301. San Marino's foreign policy is aligned with that of the EU, although it is not a member. San Marino is negotiating an Association Agreement that is expected to allow participation in the EU’s internal market and cooperation in other policy areas by late 2024. Social and political trends in the republic track closely with those of its larger neighbor, Italy. ### Geography **Location:** Southern Europe, an enclave in central Italy **Geographic coordinates:** 43 46 N, 12 25 E **Map references:** Europe **Area:** total : 61 sq km land: 61 sq km water: 0 sq km **Area - comparative:** about one-third the size of Washington, D.C. **Land boundaries:** total: 37 km border countries (1): Italy 37 km **Coastline:** 0 km (landlocked) **Maritime claims:** none (landlocked) **Climate:** Mediterranean; mild to cool winters; warm, sunny summers **Terrain:** rugged mountains **Elevation:** highest point: Monte Titano 739 m lowest point: Torrente Ausa 55 m **Natural resources:** building stone **Land use:** agricultural land: 38.3% (2023 est.) arable land: 33.1% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 5.2% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.) forest: 16.7% (2023 est.) other: 45% (2023 est.) **Irrigated land:** 0 sq km (2022) **Natural hazards:** occasional earthquakes **Geography - note:** landlocked; an enclave of (completely surrounded by) Italy; smallest independent state in Europe after the Holy See and Monaco; dominated by the Apennine Mountains ### People and Society **Population:** total: 35,291 (2025 est.) male: 17,035 female: 18,256 **Nationality:** noun: Sammarinese (singular and plural) adjective: Sammarinese **Ethnic groups:** Sammarinese, Italian **Languages:** Italian major-language sample(s): L'Almanacco dei fatti del mondo, l'indispensabile fonte per le informazioni di base. (Italian) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. **Religions:** Roman Catholic **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 14.2% (male 2,614/female 2,387) 15-64 years: 64.3% (male 10,916/female 11,648) 65 years and over: 21.5% (2024 est.) (male 3,414/female 4,116) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 56.5 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 22.2 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 34.3 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 2.9 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 46.3 years (2025 est.) male: 44.5 years female: 47.4 years **Population growth rate:** 0.55% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 9.04 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 8.9 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** 5.36 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 97.8% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.41% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 4,000 SAN MARINO (2018) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.09 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Mother's mean age at first birth:** 31.9 years (2019) **Maternal mortality ratio:** 8 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 6.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 7.4 deaths/1,000 live births female: 5 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 84.2 years (2024 est.) male: 81.7 years female: 87 years **Total fertility rate:** 1.54 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 0.74 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: total: 100% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: total: 0% of population (2022 est.) **Health expenditure:** 8% of GDP (2021) 29.5% of national budget (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 4.63 physicians/1,000 population (2023) **Sanitation facility access:** improved: total: 100% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: total: 0% of population (2022 est.) **Education expenditure:** 2.9% of GDP (2022 est.) 13% national budget (2023 est.) **Literacy:** total population: 99.9% (2022 est.) male: 99.9% (2022 est.) female: 99.9% (2022 est.) **School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):** total: 16 years (2015 est.) male: 15 years (2015 est.) female: 16 years (2015 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** air pollution; urbanization decreasing rural farmlands; water shortage **International environmental agreements:** party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution **Climate:** Mediterranean; mild to cool winters; warm, sunny summers **Land use:** agricultural land: 38.3% (2023 est.) arable land: 33.1% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 5.2% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.) forest: 16.7% (2023 est.) other: 45% (2023 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 97.8% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.41% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Particulate matter emissions:** 9.8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 17,200 tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 45.1% (2016 est.) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: Republic of San Marino conventional short form: San Marino local long form: Repubblica di San Marino local short form: San Marino etymology: named after Saint MARINUS, who founded a monastic settlement on Monte Titano in the early 4th century **Government type:** parliamentary republic **Capital:** name: San Marino (city) geographic coordinates: 43 56 N, 12 25 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October etymology: named after Saint MARINUS, who founded a monastic settlement on Monte Titano in the early 4th century **Administrative divisions:** 9 municipalities (castelli, singular - castello); Acquaviva, Borgo Maggiore, Chiesanuova, Domagnano, Faetano, Fiorentino, Montegiardino, San Marino Citta, Serravalle **Legal system:** civil law system with Italian civil law influences **Constitution:** history: San Marino’s principal legislative instruments consist of old customs (antiche consuetudini), the Statutory Laws of San Marino (Leges Statutae Sancti Marini), old statutes (antichi statute) from the1600s, Brief Notes on the Constitutional Order and Institutional Organs of the Republic of San Marino (Brevi Cenni sull’Ordinamento Costituzionale e gli Organi Istituzionali della Repubblica di San Marino) and successive legislation, chief among them is the Declaration of the Rights of Citizens and Fundamental Principles of the San Marino Legal Order (Dichiarazione dei Diritti dei Cittadini e dei Principi Fondamentali dell’Ordinamento Sammarinese), approved 8 July 1974 amendment process: proposed by the Great and General Council; passage requires two-thirds majority Council vote; Council passage by absolute majority vote also requires passage in a referendum **International law organization participation:** has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of San Marino dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 30 years **Suffrage:** 18 years of age; universal **Executive branch:** chief of state: co-chiefs of state Captains Regent Matteo ROSSI and Lorenzo BUGLI (for the period 1 October 2025 - 31 March 2026) head of government: Secretary of State for Foreign and Political Affairs Luca BECCARI (since 8 January 2020) cabinet: Congress of State elected by the Grand and General Council election/appointment process: co-chiefs of state (captains regent) indirectly elected by the Grand and General Council for a single 6-month term; Secretary of State for Foreign and Political Affairs indirectly elected by the Grand and General Council for a single 5-year term most recent election date: co-chiefs of state: 1 April 2025 secretary of state: 28 December 2019 election results: 2025: Denise BRONZETTI (Reformist Alliance) and Italo RIGHI (Christian Democrat) elected captains regent: percent of Grand and General Council vote - NA 2024: Francesca CIVERCHIA (PDCS) and Dalibor RICCARDI (Free San Marino) elected captains regent; percent of Grand and General Council vote - NA 2019: Luca BECCARI (PDCS) elected Secretary of State for Foreign and Political Affairs; percent of Grand and General Council vote - NA expected date of next election: co-chiefs of state: September 2025 note: the captains regent preside over meetings of the Grand and General Council and its cabinet (Congress of State), which has seven other members who are selected by the Grand and General Council; assisting the captains regent are seven secretaries of state; the secretary of state for Foreign Affairs has some prime ministerial roles **Legislative branch:** legislature name: Great and General Council (Consiglio grande e generale) legislative structure: unicameral number of seats: 60 (all directly elected) electoral system: proportional representation scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 6/9/2024 parties elected and seats per party: Christian Democratic Party of San Marino (PDCS) (22); Free (Libera) – Socialist Party (PS) (10); Future Republic (RF) (8); Party of Socialists and Democrats (PSD) (8); Tomorrow - Motus Liberi (5); Reformist Alliance (AR) (4); R.E.T.E. Citizens' Movement (3) percentage of women in chamber: 35% expected date of next election: June 2029 **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Council of Twelve or Consiglio dei XII (consists of 12 members) judge selection and term of office: judges elected by the Grand and General Council from among its own to serve 5-year terms subordinate courts: first instance and first appeal criminal, administrative, and civil courts; Court for the Trust and Trustee Relations; justices of the peace or conciliatory judges note: the College of Guarantors for the Constitutionality and General Norms functions as San Marino's constitutional court **Political parties:** Domani - Modus Liberi or DML Free San Marino (Libera San Marino) or Libera Future Republic or RF Party of Socialists and Democrats or PSD Reformist Alliance or AR RETE Movement Sammarinese Christian Democratic Party or PDCS Socialist Party or PS Tomorrow in Movement coalition (includes RETE Movement, DML) **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Damiano BELEFFI (since 21 July 2017); note - also Permanent Representative to the UN chancery: 327 E 50th Street, New York, NY 10022 telephone: [1] (212) 751-1234 FAX: [1] (212) 751-1436 email address and website: sanmarinoun@gmail.com Republic of San Marino Permanent Mission to the United Nations **Diplomatic representation from the US:** embassy: the United States does not have an Embassy in San Marino; the US Ambassador to Italy is accredited to San Marino, and the US Consulate General in Florence maintains day-to-day ties **International organization participation:** CE, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAIA (observer), OPCW, OSCE, Schengen Convention (de facto member), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WHO, WIPO **Independence:** 3 September 301 (traditional founding date) **National holiday:** Founding of the Republic (or Feast of Saint Marinus), 3 September (A.D. 301) **Flag:** description: two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and light blue, with the national coat of arms in the center; the main colors come from the shield on the coat of arms, which features three white towers on mountain peaks on a blue field; a wreath and a crown are around the shield, above a scroll with the word LIBERTAS (Liberty) meaning: the towers represent the Guaita, Cesta, and Montale castles on Mount Titano; white and blue are said to stand for peace and liberty **National symbol(s):** three peaks, each displaying a tower **National color(s):** white, blue **National anthem(s):** title: "Inno Nazionale della Repubblica" (National Anthem of the Republic) lyrics/music: no lyrics/Federico CONSOLO history: adopted 1894; the music for the anthem, which has no lyrics, is based on a 10th-century chorale piece **National heritage:** total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: San Marino Historic Center and Mount Titano ### Economy **Economic overview:** high-income, non-EU European economy; surrounded by Italy, which is the dominant importer and exporter; open border to EU and a euro user; strong financial sector; high foreign investments; low taxation; increasingly high and risky debt **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $2.393 billion (2022 est.) $2.218 billion (2021 est.) $1.947 billion (2020 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** 7.9% (2022 est.) 13.9% (2021 est.) -6.6% (2020 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $70,900 (2022 est.) $64,700 (2021 est.) $56,000 (2020 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $1.832 billion (2022 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 1.2% (2024 est.) 5.9% (2023 est.) 5.3% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 0% (2022 est.) industry: 37.6% (2022 est.) services: 55.1% (2022 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **GDP - composition, by end use:** household consumption: 35.5% (2022 est.) government consumption: 17.1% (2022 est.) investment in fixed capital: 17.8% (2022 est.) investment in inventories: 5.2% (2022 est.) exports of goods and services: 197.4% (2022 est.) imports of goods and services: -173% (2022 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection **Agricultural products:** wheat, grapes, corn, olives; cattle, pigs, horses, beef, cheese, hides **Industries:** tourism, banking, textiles, electronics, ceramics, cement, wine **Industrial production growth rate:** 10.7% (2022 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency **Remittances:** 1.2% of GDP (2022 est.) 1.1% of GDP (2021 est.) 1.1% of GDP (2020 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Budget:** revenues: $841.03 million (2023 est.) expenditures: $816.886 million (2023 est.) note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated **Public debt:** 103.2% of GDP (2022 est.) note: central government debt as a % of GDP **Taxes and other revenues:** 17.8% (of GDP) (2022 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP **Current account balance:** $284.256 million (2022 est.) $100.118 million (2021 est.) $42.98 million (2020 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars **Exports:** $3.616 billion (2022 est.) $3.23 billion (2021 est.) $2.439 billion (2020 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** Germany 12%, Austria 10%, USA 9%, Romania 8%, Brazil 7% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** washing and bottling machines, other foods, packaged medicine, woodworking machines, aircraft (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports:** $3.169 billion (2022 est.) $2.94 billion (2021 est.) $2.232 billion (2020 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** Germany 24%, Italy 13%, Netherlands 9%, Spain 9%, Poland 8% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** garments, cars, electricity, animal food, footwear (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:** $836.088 million (2023 est.) $716.066 million (2022 est.) $954.383 million (2021 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars **Exchange rates:** euros (EUR) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 0.924 (2024 est.) 0.925 (2023 est.) 0.951 (2022 est.) 0.845 (2021 est.) 0.877 (2020 est.) note: while not an EU member state, San Marino, due to its preexisting monetary and banking agreements with Italy, has a 2000 monetary agreement with the EU to produce limited euro coinage—but not banknotes—that began enforcement in January 2002 and was superseded by a new EU agreement in 2012 ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 16,000 (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 47 (2022 est.) **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 41,000 (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 120 (2022 est.) **Broadcast media:** state-owned public broadcaster operates 1 TV station and 3 radio stations; receives radio and TV broadcasts from Italy (2019) **Internet country code:** .sm **Internet users:** percent of population: 87% (2023 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 12,000 (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 36 (2022 est.) ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** T7 **Airports:** 1 (2025) ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** San Marino Military Corps (Corpi Militari Sammarinesi; aka Sammarinese Armed Forces or Forze Armate Sammarinesi): Fortress Guard Command (or Guard of the Rock), Uniformed Company of the Militias, Guard of the Great and General Council, Corps of the Gendarmerie Ministry of Internal Affairs: Civil Police Corps (2025) **Military service age and obligation:** 18 is the legal minimum age for voluntary military service; no conscription; government has the authority to call up all San Marino citizens from 16-60 years of age to serve in the military (2025) **Military - note:** defense is the responsibility of Italy --- ## Serbia **Slug:** serbia **Region:** Europe **Flag:** 🇷🇸 **Codes:** cek: ri, iso2: RS, iso3: SRB, iso_num: 688, genc: SRB, stanag: -, internet: .rs ### Introduction **Background:** In 1918, the Croats, Serbs, and Slovenes formed a kingdom known after 1929 as Yugoslavia. The monarchy remained in power until 1945, when the communist Partisans headed by Josip Broz (aka TITO) took control of the newly created Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY). After TITO died in 1980, communism in Yugoslavia gradually gave way to resurgent nationalism. In 1989, Slobodan MILOSEVIC became president of the Republic of Serbia, and his calls for Serbian domination led to the violent breakup of Yugoslavia along ethnic lines. In 1991, Croatia, Slovenia, and Macedonia declared independence, followed by Bosnia in 1992. The remaining republics of Serbia and Montenegro declared a new Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) in 1992, and MILOSEVIC led military campaigns to unite ethnic Serbs in neighboring republics into a "Greater Serbia." These actions ultimately failed, and international intervention led to the signing of the Dayton Accords in 1995. In 1998, an ethnic Albanian insurgency in the formerly autonomous Serbian province of Kosovo resulted in a brutal Serbian counterinsurgency campaign. Serbia rejected a proposed international settlement, and NATO responded with a bombing campaign that forced Serbian forces to withdraw from Kosovo in June 1999. In 2003, the FRY became the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro, a loose federation of the two republics. In 2006, Montenegro seceded and declared itself an independent nation. In 2008, Kosovo also declared independence -- an action Serbia still refuses to recognize. In 2013, Serbia and Kosovo signed the first agreement of principles governing the normalization of relations between the two countries. Additional agreements were reached in 2015 and 2023, but implementation remains incomplete. Serbia has been an official candidate for EU membership since 2012, and President Aleksandar VUCIC has promoted the ambitious goal of Serbia joining the EU by 2025. ### Geography **Location:** Southeastern Europe, between Macedonia and Hungary **Geographic coordinates:** 44 00 N, 21 00 E **Map references:** Europe **Area:** total : 77,474 sq km land: 77,474 sq km water: 0 sq km **Area - comparative:** slightly smaller than South Carolina **Land boundaries:** total: 2,322 km border countries (8): Bosnia and Herzegovina 345 km; Bulgaria 344 km; Croatia 314 km; Hungary 164 km; Kosovo 366 km; North Macedonia 101 km; Montenegro 157 km; Romania 531 km **Coastline:** 0 km (landlocked) **Maritime claims:** none (landlocked) **Climate:** in the north, continental climate (cold winters and hot, humid summers with well-distributed rainfall); in other parts, continental and Mediterranean climate (relatively cold winters with heavy snowfall and hot, dry summers and autumns) **Terrain:** extremely varied; to the north, rich fertile plains; to the east, limestone ranges and basins; to the southeast, ancient mountains and hills **Elevation:** highest point: Midzor 2,169 m lowest point: Danube and Timok Rivers 35 m mean elevation: 442 m **Natural resources:** oil, gas, coal, iron ore, copper, zinc, antimony, chromite, gold, silver, magnesium, pyrite, limestone, marble, salt, arable land **Land use:** agricultural land: 40.4% (2023 est.) arable land: 31% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 2.5% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 6.6% (2023 est.) forest: 40.4% (2023 est.) other: 27.2% (2023 est.) **Irrigated land:** 550 sq km (2022) **Major rivers (by length in km):** Dunav (Danube) (shared with Germany [s], Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Moldova, and Romania [m]) - 2,888 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth **Major watersheds (area sq km):** Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km) **Population distribution:** a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger and denser populations **Natural hazards:** destructive earthquakes **Geography - note:** landlocked; controls one of the major land routes from Western Europe to Turkey and the Near East ### People and Society **Population:** total: 6,612,318 (2025 est.) male: 3,223,548 female: 3,388,770 **Nationality:** noun: Serb(s) adjective: Serbian **Ethnic groups:** Serb 83.3%, Hungarian 3.5%, Romani 2.1%, Bosniak 2%, other 5.7%, undeclared or unknown 3.4% (2011 est.) note: most ethnic Albanians boycotted the 2011 census; Romani populations are usually underestimated in official statistics and may represent 5–11% of Serbia's population **Languages:** Serbian (official) 88.1%, Hungarian 3.4%, Bosnian 1.9%, Romani 1.4%, other 3.4%, undeclared or unknown 1.8% (2011 est.) major-language sample(s): Knjiga svetskih činjenica, neophodan izvor osnovnih informacija. (Serbian) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. note: Serbian, Hungarian, Slovak, Romanian, Croatian, and Ruthenian (Rusyn) are official in the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina; most ethnic Albanians boycotted the 2011 census **Religions:** Serbian Orthodox 81.1%, unknown 5.3%, Islam 4.2%, Catholic 3.9%, no response 2.5%, atheist 1.1%; less than 1%: other Christians, Protestant, agnostic (2022) **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 14.4% (male 492,963/female 463,995) 15-64 years: 65.6% (male 2,198,591/female 2,168,113) 65 years and over: 20% (2024 est.) (male 551,197/female 777,353) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 52.7 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 21.9 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 30.9 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 3.2 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 44.1 years (2025 est.) male: 42.4 years female: 45.4 years **Population growth rate:** -0.6% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 8.72 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 14.66 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger and denser populations **Urbanization:** urban population: 57.1% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.04% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) note: data include Kosovo **Major urban areas - population:** 1.408 million BELGRADE (capital) (2023) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Mother's mean age at first birth:** 28.2 years (2020 est.) note: data does not cover Kosovo or Metohija **Maternal mortality ratio:** 11 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 4.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 5.1 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.9 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 75.3 years (2024 est.) male: 72.7 years female: 78.1 years **Total fertility rate:** 1.47 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 0.71 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: urban: 95.4% of population (2022 est.) rural: 96.1% of population (2022 est.) total: 95.7% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 4.6% of population (2022 est.) rural: 3.9% of population (2022 est.) total: 4.3% of population (2022 est.) **Health expenditure:** 10% of GDP (2021) 13.7% of national budget (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 3.1 physicians/1,000 population (2022) **Hospital bed density:** 5.4 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.) **Sanitation facility access:** improved: urban: 99.7% of population (2022 est.) rural: 95.6% of population (2022 est.) total: 97.9% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 0.3% of population (2022 est.) rural: 4.4% of population (2022 est.) total: 2.1% of population (2022 est.) **Obesity - adult prevalence rate:** 21.5% (2016) **Alcohol consumption per capita:** total: 7.45 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 3.24 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 1.62 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 2.37 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0.22 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) **Tobacco use:** total: 36% (2025 est.) male: 37.8% (2025 est.) female: 34.5% (2025 est.) **Children under the age of 5 years underweight:** 1% (2019 est.) **Currently married women (ages 15-49):** 54.3% (2022 est.) **Child marriage:** women married by age 15: 1.2% (2019) women married by age 18: 5.5% (2019) **Education expenditure:** 3.4% of GDP (2023 est.) 8.4% national budget (2023 est.) **Literacy:** total population: 99.3% (2022 est.) male: 99.6% (2022 est.) female: 99.1% (2022 est.) **School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):** total: 15 years (2022 est.) male: 14 years (2022 est.) female: 16 years (2022 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** air pollution around Belgrade and other industrial cities; water pollution from industrial wastes in rivers; inadequate management of domestic, industrial, and hazardous waste **International environmental agreements:** party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements **Climate:** in the north, continental climate (cold winters and hot, humid summers with well-distributed rainfall); in other parts, continental and Mediterranean climate (relatively cold winters with heavy snowfall and hot, dry summers and autumns) **Land use:** agricultural land: 40.4% (2023 est.) arable land: 31% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 2.5% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 6.6% (2023 est.) forest: 40.4% (2023 est.) other: 27.2% (2023 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 57.1% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.04% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) note: data include Kosovo **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 44.782 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 27.743 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 11.665 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from consumed natural gas: 5.374 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Particulate matter emissions:** 21.7 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 2.347 million tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 1% (2022 est.) **Total water withdrawal:** municipal: 702 million cubic meters (2022) industrial: 3.967 billion cubic meters (2022) agricultural: 422 million cubic meters (2022) **Total renewable water resources:** 162.2 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) note: data includes Kosovo **Geoparks:** total global geoparks and regional networks: 1 global geoparks and regional networks: Djerdap (2023) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: Republic of Serbia conventional short form: Serbia local long form: Republika Srbija local short form: Srbija former: People's Republic of Serbia, Socialist Republic of Serbia etymology: the country takes its name from the Serb people; the origin of their name is unclear but may derive from the Caucasian root word ser, meaning "man" **Government type:** parliamentary republic **Capital:** name: Belgrade (Beograd) geographic coordinates: 44 50 N, 20 30 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October etymology: the name comes from the Serbian words beo (white) and grad (city); it probably referred to the white stone of the city fortress **Administrative divisions:** 117 municipalities (opstine, singular - opstina) and 28 cities (gradovi, singular - grad) municipalities: Ada*, Aleksandrovac, Aleksinac, Alibunar*, Apatin*, Arandelovac, Arilje, Babusnica, Bac*, Backa Palanka*, Backa Topola*, Backi Petrovac*, Bajina Basta, Batocina, Becej*, Bela Crkva*, Bela Palanka, Beocin*, Blace, Bogatic, Bojnik, Boljevac, Bosilegrad, Brus, Bujanovac, Cajetina, Cicevac, Coka*, Crna Trava, Cuprija, Despotovac, Dimitrov, Doljevac, Gadzin Han, Golubac, Gornji Milanovac, Indija*, Irig*, Ivanjica, Kanjiza*, Kladovo, Knic, Knjazevac, Koceljeva, Kosjeric, Kovacica*, Kovin*, Krupanj, Kucevo, Kula*, Kursumlija, Lajkovac, Lapovo, Lebane, Ljig, Ljubovija, Lucani, Majdanpek, Mali Idos*, Mali Zvornik, Malo Crnice, Medveda, Merosina, Mionica, Negotin, Nova Crnja*, Nova Varos, Novi Becej*, Novi Knezevac*, Odzaci*, Opovo*, Osecina, Paracin, Pecinci*, Petrovac na Mlavi, Plandiste*, Pozega, Presevo, Priboj, Prijepolje, Raca, Raska, Razanj, Rekovac, Ruma*, Secanj*, Senta*, Sid*, Sjenica, Smederevska Palanka, Sokobanja, Srbobran*, Sremski Karlovci*, Stara Pazova*, Surdulica, Svilajnac, Svrljig, Temerin*, Titel*, Topola, Trgoviste, Trstenik, Tutin, Ub, Varvarin, Velika Plana, Veliko Gradiste, Vladicin Han, Vladimirci, Vlasotince, Vrbas*, Vrnjacka Banja, Zabalj*, Zabari, Zagubica, Zitiste*, Zitorada cities: Beograd (Belgrade), Bor, Cacak, Jagodina, Kikinda*, Kragujevac, Kraljevo, Krusevac, Leskovac, Loznica, Nis, Novi Pazar, Novi Sad*, Pancevo*, Pirot, Pozarevac, Prokuplje, Sabac, Smederevo, Sombor*, Sremska Mitrovica*, Subotica*, Uzice, Valjevo, Vranje, Vrsac*, Zajecar, Zrenjanin* note: the northern 37 municipalities and 8 cities -- about 28% of Serbia's area -- compose the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina and are indicated with an asterisk **Legal system:** civil law system **Constitution:** history: many previous; latest adopted 30 September 2006, approved by referendum 28-29 October 2006, effective 8 November 2006 amendment process: proposed by at least one third of deputies in the National Assembly, by the president of the republic, by the government, or by petition of at least 150,000 voters; passage of proposals and draft amendments each requires at least two-thirds majority vote in the Assembly; amendments to constitutional articles including the preamble, constitutional principles, and human and minority rights and freedoms also require passage by simple majority vote in a referendum **International law organization participation:** has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Serbia dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 3 years **Suffrage:** 18 years of age, 16 if employed; universal **Executive branch:** chief of state: President Aleksandar VUCIC (since 31 May 2017) head of government: Prime Minister Djuro MACUT (since 16 April 2025) cabinet: Cabinet elected by the National Assembly election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister elected by the National Assembly most recent election date: 17 December 2023 election results: 2022: Aleksandar VUCIC reelected in first round; percent of vote - Aleksandar VUCIC (SNS) 60%, Zdravko PONOS (US) 18.9%, Milos JOVANOVIC (NADA) 6.1%, Bosko OBRADOVIC (Dveri-POKS) 4.5%, Milica DJURDJEVIC STAMENKOVSKI (SSZ) 4.3%, other 6.2% 2017: Aleksandar VUCIC elected president in first round; percent of vote - Aleksandar VUCIC (SNS) 55.1%, Sasa JANKOVIC (independent) 16.4%, Luka MAKSIMOVIC (independent) 9.4%, Vuk JEREMIC (independent) 5.7%, Vojislav SESELJ (SRS) 4.5%, other 7.3%, invalid/blank 1.6%; Prime Minister Ana BRNABIC reelected by the National Assembly on 5 October 2020; National Assembly vote - NA expected date of next election: 2028 **Legislative branch:** legislature name: National Assembly (Narodna skupstina) legislative structure: unicameral number of seats: 250 (all directly elected) electoral system: proportional representation scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 4 years most recent election date: 12/17/2023 parties elected and seats per party: Aleksandar Vucic – Serbia Must Not Stop (129); Serbia Against Violence (65); Ivica Dacic - Prime Minister of Serbia (18); Dr Miloš Jovanović - Hope for Serbia (13); We – Voice of the People, Prof. Dr. Branimir Nestorovic (13); Other (12) percentage of women in chamber: 37.2% expected date of next election: December 2027 **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Supreme Court of Cassation (consists of 36 judges, including the court president); Constitutional Court (consists of 15 judges, including the court president and vice president) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court justices proposed by the High Judicial Council (HJC), an 11-member independent body consisting of 8 judges elected by the National Assembly and 3 ex-officio members; justices appointed by the National Assembly; Constitutional Court judges elected - 5 each by the National Assembly, the president, and the Supreme Court of Cassation; initial appointment of Supreme Court judges by the HJC is 3 years and beyond that period tenure is permanent; Constitutional Court judges elected for 9-year terms subordinate courts: basic courts, higher courts, appellate courts; courts of special jurisdiction include the Administrative Court, commercial courts, and misdemeanor courts **Political parties:** Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians or SVM or VMSZ Democratic Alliance of Croats in Vojvodina or DSHV Democratic Party or DS Ecological Uprising or EU Green - Left Front or ZLF Greens of Serbia or ZS Justice and Reconciliation Party or SPP (formerly Bosniak Democratic Union of Sandzak or BDZS) Movement for Reversal or PZP Movement for the Restoration of the Kingdom of Serbia or POKS Movement of Free Citizens or PSG Movement of Socialists or PS National Democratic Alternative or NADA (electoral coalition includes NDSS and POKS) New Communist Party of Yugoslavia or NKPJ New Democratic Party of Serbia or NDSS or New DSS (formerly Democratic Party of Serbia or DSS) New Face of Serbia or NLS Party of Democratic Action of the Sandzak or SDAS Party of Freedom and Justice or SSP Party of United Pensioners, Farmers, and Proletarians of Serbia – Solidarity and Justice or PUPS - Solidarity and Justice (formerly Party of United Pensioners of Serbia or PUPS) People's Movement of Serbia or NPS People's Movement of Serbs from Kosovo and Metohija or Fatherland People's Peasant Party or NSS Political Battle of the Albanians Continues Russian Party or RS Serbia Against Violence or SPN (electoral coalition includes DS, SSP, ZLF, Zajedno, NPS, PSG, EU, PZP, USS Sloga, NLS, Fatherland) Serbia Must Not Stop (electoral coalitions includes SNS, SDPS, PUPS, PSS, SNP, SPO, PS, NSS, USS) Serbian People's Party or SNP Serbian Progressive Party or SNS Serbian Renewal Movement or SPO Social Democratic Party of Serbia or SDPS Socialist Party of Serbia or SPS Strength of Serbia or PSS Together or ZAJEDNO United Peasant Party or USS United Serbia or JS United Trade Unions of Serbia "Sloga" or USS Sloga We - The Voice from the People or MI-GIN **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Dragan ŠUTANOVAC (since 24 July 2025) chancery: 1333 16th Street, NW Washington, D.C. 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 507-8654 FAX: [1] (202) 332-3933 email address and website: info@serbiaembusa.org http://www.washington.mfa.gov.rs/ consulate(s) general: Chicago, New York **Diplomatic representation from the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Alexander TITOLO (since January 2025) embassy: 92 Bulevar kneza Aleksandra Karadjordjevica, 11040 Belgrade mailing address: 5070 Belgrade Place, Washington, DC 20521-5070 telephone: [381] (11) 706-4000 FAX: [381] (11) 706-4481 email address and website: belgradeacs@state.gov https://rs.usembassy.gov/ **International organization participation:** BIS, BSEC, CD, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, EU (candidate country), FAO, G-9, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM (observer), NSG, OAS (observer), OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, SELEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer) note: Serbia is an EU candidate country and must complete accession criteria before being granted full membership **Independence:** 5 June 2006 (from the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro); notable earlier dates: 1217 (Serbian Kingdom established); 16 April 1346 (Serbian Empire established); 13 July 1878 (Congress of Berlin recognizes Serbian independence); 1 December 1918 (Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes established, later known as Yugoslavia) **National holiday:** Statehood Day, 15 February (1835), the day the first constitution of the country was adopted **Flag:** description: three equal horizontal stripes of red (top), blue, and white; the national coat of arms is shifted to the left side; the principal field of the coat of arms displays a two-headed white eagle on a red shield; a smaller red shield on the eagle is divided into four quarters by a white cross; a royal crown is on top of the coat of arms meaning: red, blue, and white are the pan-Slav colors that represent freedom and revolutionary ideals; the eagle on a red shield represents the government; the smaller shield represents the country; the meaning and origin of the curved white symbols in each quarter are not clear note: the pan-Slav colors were inspired by Russia's flag **National symbol(s):** white double-headed eagle **National color(s):** red, blue, white **National anthem(s):** title: "Boze pravde" (God of Justice) lyrics/music: Jovan DORDEVIC/Davorin JENKO history: adopted 1904; song originally written as part of a play in 1872, and the Serbian people have used it as an anthem in the 20th and 21st centuries **National heritage:** total World Heritage Sites: 4 (all cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Stari Ras and Sopoćani; Studenica Monastery; Gamzigrad-Romuliana, Palace of Galerius; Stećci Medieval Tombstone Graveyards ### Economy **Economic overview:** upper middle-income Balkan economy; current EU accession candidate; hit by COVID-19; pursuing green growth development; manageable public debt; new anticorruption efforts; falling unemployment; historic Russian relations; energy import-dependent **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $177.093 billion (2024 est.) $170.482 billion (2023 est.) $164.166 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** 3.9% (2024 est.) 3.8% (2023 est.) 2.6% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $26,900 (2024 est.) $25,700 (2023 est.) $24,600 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $89.084 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 4.7% (2024 est.) 12.4% (2023 est.) 12% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 3.1% (2024 est.) industry: 23.3% (2024 est.) services: 58.5% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **GDP - composition, by end use:** household consumption: 62.7% (2024 est.) government consumption: 17.8% (2024 est.) investment in fixed capital: 23.6% (2024 est.) investment in inventories: 2% (2024 est.) exports of goods and services: 52.7% (2024 est.) imports of goods and services: -58.8% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection **Agricultural products:** maize, wheat, sugar beets, milk, sunflower seeds, soybeans, potatoes, barley, apples, plums (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage **Industries:** automobiles, base metals, furniture, food processing, machinery, chemicals, sugar, tires, clothes, pharmaceuticals **Industrial production growth rate:** 2.9% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency **Labor force:** 3.23 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work **Unemployment rate:** 7.4% (2024 est.) 8.3% (2023 est.) 8.5% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment **Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):** total: 22.7% (2024 est.) male: 21.8% (2024 est.) female: 24.1% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment **Population below poverty line:** 20% (2021 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line **Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income:** 32.8 (2022 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality **Average household expenditures:** on food: 24.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.) on alcohol and tobacco: 7.8% of household expenditures (2023 est.) **Household income or consumption by percentage share:** lowest 10%: 2.4% (2022 est.) highest 10%: 24.7% (2022 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population **Remittances:** 7.1% of GDP (2023 est.) 8.5% of GDP (2022 est.) 6.9% of GDP (2021 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Budget:** revenues: $26.077 billion (2022 est.) expenditures: $28.12 billion (2022 est.) note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated **Taxes and other revenues:** 23.9% (of GDP) (2022 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP **Current account balance:** -$1.947 billion (2023 est.) -$4.457 billion (2022 est.) -$2.654 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars **Exports:** $44.352 billion (2023 est.) $39.905 billion (2022 est.) $34.035 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** Germany 15%, Hungary 7%, Bosnia & Herzegovina 5%, Italy 5%, Romania 5% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** insulated wire, electricity, copper ore, plastic products, electric motors (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports:** $48.158 billion (2023 est.) $47.395 billion (2022 est.) $39.476 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** Germany 12%, China 10%, Italy 7%, Turkey 5%, Hungary 5% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** crude petroleum, natural gas, packaged medicine, plastic products, cars (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:** $30.484 billion (2024 est.) $27.569 billion (2023 est.) $20.68 billion (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars **Debt - external:** $21.726 billion (2023 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars **Exchange rates:** Serbian dinars (RSD) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 108.208 (2024 est.) 108.403 (2023 est.) 111.662 (2022 est.) 99.396 (2021 est.) 103.163 (2020 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.) **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 8.202 million kW (2023 est.) consumption: 34.413 billion kWh (2023 est.) exports: 7.351 billion kWh (2023 est.) imports: 5.395 billion kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 4.881 billion kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** fossil fuels: 65.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) wind: 2.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: 30.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) biomass and waste: 0.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Coal:** production: 33.219 million metric tons (2023 est.) consumption: 37.828 million metric tons (2023 est.) exports: 16,000 metric tons (2023 est.) imports: 4.542 million metric tons (2023 est.) proven reserves: 7.112 billion metric tons (2023 est.) **Petroleum:** total petroleum production: 13,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 88,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 77.5 million barrels (2021 est.) **Natural gas:** production: 336.605 million cubic meters (2023 est.) consumption: 2.886 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) imports: 2.471 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) proven reserves: 48.139 billion cubic meters (2021 est.) **Energy consumption per capita:** 91.884 million Btu/person (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 2.485 million (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 37 (2023 est.) **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 8.18 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 124 (2024 est.) **Internet country code:** .rs **Internet users:** percent of population: 85% (2023 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 2.08 million (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 31 (2023 est.) ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** YU **Airports:** 46 (2025) **Heliports:** 11 (2025) **Railways:** total: 3,333 km (2020) 1,274 km electrified ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** Serbian Armed Forces (Vojska Srbije, VS): Army (aka Land Forces; includes Riverine Component, consisting of a naval flotilla on the Danube), Air and Air Defense Forces, Serbian Guard Serbian Ministry of Internal Affairs: Police Directorate (2025) note: the Serbian Guard is a brigade-sized unit that is directly subordinate to the Serbian Armed Forces Chief of General Staff; its duties include safeguarding key defense facilities and rendering military honors to top foreign, state, and military officials **Military expenditures:** 2.5% of GDP (2024 est.) 2.4% of GDP (2023 est.) 2.2% of GDP (2022 est.) 2.2% of GDP (2021 est.) 2% of GDP (2020 est.) **Military and security service personnel strengths:** approximately 25,000 active-duty Armed Forces (15,000 Land Forces; 5,000 Air/Air Defense; 5,000 other, including Serbian Guard) (2025) **Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:** the military's inventory consists of a mix of Soviet/Cold War-era and some more modern weapons systems from suppliers such as China, France, and Russia; Serbia has a defense industry focused on armored vehicles, artillery systems, and munitions (2025) **Military service age and obligation:** 18 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; conscription abolished in 2011 (2025) note: as of 2024, women made up about 11% of the military's full-time personnel **Military deployments:** 180 Lebanon (UNIFIL) (2025) **Military - note:** the Serbian military is responsible for defense and deterrence against external threats, supporting international peacekeeping operations, and providing support to civil authorities for internal security; specific areas of concerns for the military include ethnic and religious extremism, separatism, and deepening international recognition of Kosovo; Serbia has cooperated with NATO since 2006, when it joined the Partnership for Peace program, and the military trains with NATO countries, particularly other Balkan states; Serbia has participated in EU peacekeeping missions, as well as missions under the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the UN; it traditionally has maintained close security ties with Russia and has a growing security relationship with China the modern Serbian military was established in 2006 but traces its origins back through World War II, World War I, the Balkan Wars of 1912-1913, and the Bulgarian-Serb War of 1885 to the First (1804-1813) and Second (1815-1817) Uprisings against the Ottoman Empire (2025) ### Transnational Issues **Refugees and internally displaced persons:** refugees: 36,270 (2024 est.) IDPs: 194,171 (2024 est.) stateless persons: 1,715 (2024 est.) --- ## Slovakia **Slug:** slovakia **Region:** Europe **Flag:** 🇸🇰 **Codes:** cek: lo, iso2: SK, iso3: SVK, iso_num: 703, genc: SVK, stanag: SVK, internet: .sk ### Introduction **Background:** Slovakia traces its roots to the 9th century state of Great Moravia. The Slovaks then became part of the Hungarian Kingdom, where they remained for the next 1,000 years. After the formation of the dual Austro-Hungarian monarchy in 1867, language and education policies favoring the use of Hungarian (known as "Magyarization") led to a public backlash that boosted Slovak nationalism and strengthened Slovak cultural ties with the closely related Czechs, who fell administratively under the Austrian half of the empire. When the Austro-Hungarian Empire dissolved at the end of World War I, the Slovaks joined the Czechs to form Czechoslovakia. During the interwar period, Slovak nationalist leaders pushed for autonomy within Czechoslovakia, and in 1939, in the wake of Germany's annexation of the Sudetenland, the newly established Slovak Republic became a German client state for the remainder of World War II. After World War II, Czechoslovakia was reconstituted and came under communist rule within Soviet-dominated Eastern Europe. In 1968, Warsaw Pact troops invaded and ended the efforts of Czechoslovakia's leaders to liberalize communist rule and create "socialism with a human face," ushering in a period of repression known as "normalization." The peaceful Velvet Revolution swept the Communist Party from power at the end of 1989 and inaugurated a return to democratic rule and a market economy. On 1 January 1993, Czechoslovakia underwent a nonviolent "velvet divorce" into its two national components, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. Slovakia joined both NATO and the EU in 2004 and the euro zone in 2009. ### Geography **Location:** Central Europe, south of Poland **Geographic coordinates:** 48 40 N, 19 30 E **Map references:** Europe **Area:** total : 49,035 sq km land: 48,105 sq km water: 930 sq km **Area - comparative:** about 1.5 times the size of Maryland; about twice the size of New Hampshire **Land boundaries:** total: 1,587 km border countries (5): Austria 105 km; Czechia 241 km; Hungary 627 km; Poland 517 km; Ukraine 97 km **Coastline:** 0 km (landlocked) **Maritime claims:** none (landlocked) **Climate:** temperate; cool summers; cold, cloudy, humid winters **Terrain:** rugged mountains in the central and northern part and lowlands in the south **Elevation:** highest point: Gerlachovsky Stit 2,655 m lowest point: Bodrok River 94 m mean elevation: 458 m **Natural resources:** lignite, small amounts of iron ore, copper and manganese ore; salt; arable land **Land use:** agricultural land: 38% (2023 est.) arable land: 27.2% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0.4% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 10.4% (2023 est.) forest: 40.3% (2023 est.) other: 21.4% (2023 est.) **Irrigated land:** 259 sq km (2022) **Major rivers (by length in km):** Dunaj (Danube) (shared with Germany [s], Austria, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Moldova, and Romania [m]) - 2,888 km note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth **Major watersheds (area sq km):** Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km) **Population distribution:** a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country; slightly larger concentration in the west in proximity to the Czech border **Natural hazards:** flooding **Geography - note:** landlocked; most of the country is rugged and mountainous; the Tatra Mountains in the north are interspersed with many scenic lakes and valleys ### People and Society **Population:** total: 5,559,451 (2025 est.) male: 2,683,027 female: 2,876,424 **Nationality:** noun: Slovak(s) adjective: Slovak **Ethnic groups:** Slovak 83.8%, Hungarian 7.8%, Romani 1.2%, other 1.8% (includes Czech, Ruthenian, Ukrainian, Russian, German, Polish), unspecified 5.4% (2021 est.) note: data represent population by nationality; Romani populations are usually underestimated in official statistics and may represent 7–11% of Slovakia's population **Languages:** Slovak (official) 81.8%, Hungarian 8.5%, Roma 1.8%, other 2.2%, unspecified 5.7% (2021 est.) major-language sample(s): Svetova Kniha Faktov, nenahraditelny zdroj zakladnej informacie. (Slovak) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. **Religions:** Roman Catholic 55.8%, Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession 5.3%, Greek Catholic 4%, Reformed Christian 1.6%, other 3%, none 23.8%, unspecified 6.5% (2021 est.) **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 15.3% (male 444,033/female 408,902) 15-64 years: 66.5% (male 1,834,359/female 1,867,158) 65 years and over: 18.1% (2024 est.) (male 406,355/female 602,842) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 50.9 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 23 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 27.9 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 3.6 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 43.1 years (2025 est.) male: 41.3 years female: 44.4 years **Population growth rate:** -0.07% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 9.77 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 11.18 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** 0.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country; slightly larger concentration in the west in proximity to the Czech border **Urbanization:** urban population: 54% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.17% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 441,000 BRATISLAVA (capital) (2023) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.09 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Mother's mean age at first birth:** 27.2 years (2020 est.) **Maternal mortality ratio:** 4 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 5 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 5.7 deaths/1,000 live births female: 4.5 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 77.2 years (2024 est.) male: 73.7 years female: 81 years **Total fertility rate:** 1.6 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 0.77 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: urban: 99.6% of population (2022 est.) rural: 100% of population (2022 est.) total: 99.8% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 0.4% of population (2022 est.) rural: 0% of population (2022 est.) total: 0.2% of population (2022 est.) **Health expenditure:** 7.8% of GDP (2021) 14.6% of national budget (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 3.7 physicians/1,000 population (2022) **Hospital bed density:** 5.7 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.) **Sanitation facility access:** improved: urban: 99.9% of population (2022 est.) rural: 100% of population (2022 est.) total: 100% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 0.1% of population (2022 est.) rural: 0% of population (2022 est.) total: 0% of population (2022 est.) **Obesity - adult prevalence rate:** 20.5% (2016) **Alcohol consumption per capita:** total: 10.3 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 4.14 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 2.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 4.14 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) **Tobacco use:** total: 30.3% (2025 est.) male: 34.5% (2025 est.) female: 26.3% (2025 est.) **Currently married women (ages 15-49):** 49.2% (2023 est.) **Education expenditure:** 4.7% of GDP (2022 est.) 11% national budget (2022 est.) **School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):** total: 15 years (2023 est.) male: 15 years (2023 est.) female: 16 years (2023 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** air pollution and acid rain; land erosion from agricultural and mining practices; water pollution **International environmental agreements:** party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protection **Climate:** temperate; cool summers; cold, cloudy, humid winters **Land use:** agricultural land: 38% (2023 est.) arable land: 27.2% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0.4% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 10.4% (2023 est.) forest: 40.3% (2023 est.) other: 21.4% (2023 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 54% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.17% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 30.087 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 9.607 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 12.112 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from consumed natural gas: 8.368 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Particulate matter emissions:** 16.6 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 2.296 million tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 13.2% (2022 est.) **Total water withdrawal:** municipal: 306.21 million cubic meters (2022) industrial: 224.562 million cubic meters (2022) agricultural: 32.851 million cubic meters (2022) **Total renewable water resources:** 50.1 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) **Geoparks:** total global geoparks and regional networks: 1 global geoparks and regional networks: Novohrad-Nógrád (includes Hungary) (2023) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: Slovak Republic conventional short form: Slovakia local long form: Slovenska republika local short form: Slovensko etymology: the country takes its name from the local Slav ethnic group; the origin of the group's name is unclear, although early forms were used in Medieval Latin (Sclavus) and Byzantine Greek (Sklabos) **Government type:** parliamentary republic **Capital:** name: Bratislava geographic coordinates: 48 09 N, 17 07 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October etymology: the meaning is unclear but has medieval Slavic origins; the name was adopted in 1919 after Czechoslovakia gained its independence, replacing the name Prešporok **Administrative divisions:** 8 regions (kraje, singular - kraj); Banska Bystrica, Bratislava, Kosice, Nitra, Presov, Trencin, Trnava, Zilina **Legal system:** civil law system based on Austro-Hungarian codes **Constitution:** history: several previous (pre-independence); latest passed by the National Council 1 September 1992, signed 3 September 1992, effective 1 October 1992 amendment process: proposed by the National Council; passage requires at least three-fifths majority vote of Council members **International law organization participation:** accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Slovakia dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years **Suffrage:** 18 years of age; universal **Executive branch:** chief of state: President Peter PELLEGRINI (since 15 June 2024) head of government: Prime Minister Robert FICO (since 25 October 2023) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); following National Council elections, the president designates a prime minister candidate, usually the leader of the party or coalition that wins the most votes, who must win a vote of confidence in the National Council most recent election date: 23 March 2024, with a runoff on 6 April 2024 election results: 2024: Peter PELLEGRINI elected president in the second round; percent of vote in second round Peter PELLEGRINI 53.1%; Ivan KORCOK 46.9%; percent of vote in first round - Ivan KORCOK (independent) 42.5%; Peter PELLEGRINI (Hlas-SD) 37%; Stefan HARABIN (independent) 11.7%, other 8.8%; 2019: Zuzana CAPUTOVA elected president in second round; percent of vote - Zuzana CAPUTOVA (PS) 58.4%, Maros SEFCOVIC (independent) 41.6% expected date of next election: 2029 **Legislative branch:** legislature name: National Council (Narodna rada Slovenskej republiky) legislative structure: unicameral chamber name: National Council (Národná rada) number of seats: 150 (all directly elected) electoral system: proportional representation scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 4 years most recent election date: 9/30/2023 parties elected and seats per party: Smer - Social Democracy (Smer-SD) (42); Progressive Slovakia (PS) (32); Hlas (“Voice”) - SD (27); Coalition OĽaNO and Friends, 'For the People' and 'Christian Union' (16); Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) (12); Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) (11); Slovak National Party (SNS) (10) percentage of women in chamber: 23.3% expected date of next election: September 2027 **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Supreme Court of the Slovak Republic (consists of the court president, vice president, and approximately 80 judges organized into criminal, civil, commercial, and administrative divisions with 3- and 5-judge panels); Constitutional Court of the Slovak Republic (consists of 13 judges organized into 3-judge panels) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judge candidates nominated by the Judicial Council of the Slovak Republic, an 18-member self-governing body that includes the Supreme Court chief justice and presidential, governmental, parliamentary, and judiciary appointees; judges appointed by the president serve for life, subject to removal by the president at age 65; Constitutional Court judges nominated by the National Council of the Republic and appointed by the president; judges serve 12-year terms subordinate courts: regional and district civil courts; Special Criminal Court; Higher Military Court; military district courts; Court of Audit **Political parties:** Direction - Social Democracy or SMER-SD Freedom and Solidarity or SaS Progressive Slovakia or PS Republic Slovakia The Slovak National Party or SNS The Christian Democratic Movement or KDH Voice - Social Democracy or HLAS-SD **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Andrej DROBA (since 16 December 2025) chancery: 3523 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 237-1054 FAX: [1] (202) 237-6438 email address and website: emb.washington@mzv.sk https://www.mzv.sk/web/washington-en consulate(s) general: New York **Diplomatic representation from the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Gautam A. RANA (since 28 September 2022) embassy: P.O. Box 309, 814 99 Bratislava mailing address: 5840 Bratislava Place, Washington DC 20521-5840 telephone: [421] (2) 5443-3338 FAX: [421] (2) 5441-8861 email address and website: consulbratislava@state.gov https://sk.usembassy.gov/ **International organization participation:** Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS (observer), CD, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EMU, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, SELEC (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNIDO, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC **Independence:** 1 January 1993 (Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia) **National holiday:** Constitution Day, 1 September (1992) **Flag:** description: three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red; the national coat of arms (a red shield bordered in white, with a white double-barred cross of St. Cyril and St. Methodius on top of three blue hills) is centered over the bands but offset to the left meaning: white, blue, and red are the pan-Slav colors note: the pan-Slav colors were inspired by Russia's flag **National symbol(s):** double-barred cross (Cross of St. Cyril and St. Methodius) over three peaks **National color(s):** white, blue, red **National anthem(s):** title: "Nad Tatrou sa blyska" (Storm Over the Tatras) lyrics/music: Janko MATUSKA/traditional history: adopted 1993; music based on an 1843 Slovak folk song "Kopala studienku" (She Was Digging a Well) **National heritage:** total World Heritage Sites: 8 (6 cultural, 2 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Historic Town of Banská Štiavnica (c); Levoča, Spišský Hrad, and the Associated Cultural Monuments (c); Vlkolínec (c); Caves of Aggtelek Karst and Slovak Karst (n); Bardejov Town (c); Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians (n); Wooden Churches of the Slovak Carpathians (c); Frontiers of the Roman Empire - The Danube Limes (Western Segment) (c) ### Economy **Economic overview:** high-income EU and eurozone economy; manufacturing and exports led by automotive sector; growth supported by private consumption and public investment from EU funds, tempered by trade risks; increased taxes and withdrawal of energy subsidies contributing to rising but manageable inflation; strong labor demand and influx of foreign labor offsets aging workforce **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $218.762 billion (2024 est.) $214.343 billion (2023 est.) $209.794 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** 2.1% (2024 est.) 2.2% (2023 est.) 0.4% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $40,300 (2024 est.) $39,500 (2023 est.) $38,600 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $141.776 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 2.8% (2024 est.) 10.5% (2023 est.) 12.8% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 2% (2024 est.) industry: 28.5% (2024 est.) services: 60% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **GDP - composition, by end use:** household consumption: 58.4% (2023 est.) government consumption: 20% (2023 est.) investment in fixed capital: 21.1% (2023 est.) investment in inventories: -1.3% (2023 est.) exports of goods and services: 91.3% (2023 est.) imports of goods and services: -89.8% (2023 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection **Agricultural products:** wheat, sugar beets, maize, milk, barley, rapeseed, sunflower seeds, potatoes, soybeans, pork (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage **Industries:** automobiles; metal and metal products; electricity, gas, coke, oil, nuclear fuel; chemicals, synthetic fibers, wood and paper products; machinery; earthenware and ceramics; textiles; electrical and optical apparatus; rubber products; food and beverages; pharmaceutical **Industrial production growth rate:** 0.3% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency **Labor force:** 2.779 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work **Unemployment rate:** 5.3% (2024 est.) 5.9% (2023 est.) 6.2% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment **Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):** total: 18.2% (2024 est.) male: 20.1% (2024 est.) female: 15% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment **Population below poverty line:** 13.7% (2021 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line **Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income:** 24.1 (2022 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality **Average household expenditures:** on food: 19.4% of household expenditures (2023 est.) on alcohol and tobacco: 4.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.) **Household income or consumption by percentage share:** lowest 10%: 2.8% (2022 est.) highest 10%: 18.2% (2022 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population **Remittances:** 1.9% of GDP (2024 est.) 2% of GDP (2023 est.) 2% of GDP (2022 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Budget:** revenues: $43.882 billion (2022 est.) expenditures: $46.056 billion (2022 est.) note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated **Public debt:** 64.3% of GDP (2022 est.) note: central government debt as a % of GDP **Taxes and other revenues:** 19.4% (of GDP) (2022 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP **Current account balance:** -$3.895 billion (2024 est.) -$1.169 billion (2023 est.) -$11.126 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars **Exports:** $120.355 billion (2024 est.) $122.04 billion (2023 est.) $114.519 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** Germany 20%, Czechia 10%, Hungary 7%, USA 6%, Poland 6% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** cars, vehicle parts/accessories, video displays, broadcasting equipment, refined petroleum (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports:** $120.29 billion (2024 est.) $119.739 billion (2023 est.) $121.473 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** Germany 16%, Czechia 14%, Poland 8%, China 7%, Hungary 6% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** vehicle parts/accessories, broadcasting equipment, cars, plastic products, insulated wire (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:** $14.452 billion (2024 est.) $11.288 billion (2023 est.) $10.28 billion (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars **Exchange rates:** euros (EUR) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 0.924 (2024 est.) 0.925 (2023 est.) 0.95 (2022 est.) 0.845 (2021 est.) 0.876 (2020 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.) **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 8.138 million kW (2023 est.) consumption: 24.18 billion kWh (2023 est.) exports: 14.078 billion kWh (2023 est.) imports: 10.671 billion kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 1.233 billion kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** fossil fuels: 14.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) nuclear: 63.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 2.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: 13.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) biomass and waste: 5.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Nuclear energy:** Number of operational nuclear reactors: 5 (2025) Number of nuclear reactors under construction: 1 (2025) Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors: 2.3GW (2025 est.) Percent of total electricity production: 61.3% (2023 est.) Number of nuclear reactors permanently shut down: 3 (2025) **Coal:** production: 2.315 million metric tons (2023 est.) consumption: 6.066 million metric tons (2023 est.) exports: 13,000 metric tons (2023 est.) imports: 3.658 million metric tons (2023 est.) proven reserves: 19 million metric tons (2023 est.) **Petroleum:** total petroleum production: 7,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 90,000 bbl/day (2024 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 9 million barrels (2021 est.) **Natural gas:** production: 46.585 million cubic meters (2023 est.) consumption: 4.277 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) imports: 4.56 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) proven reserves: 14.158 billion cubic meters (2021 est.) **Energy consumption per capita:** 127.582 million Btu/person (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 505,000 (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 9 (2023 est.) **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 7.71 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 140 (2024 est.) **Broadcast media:** state-owned public broadcaster, Radio and Television of Slovakia (RTVS), has 2 national TV stations; roughly 50 privately owned national, regional, and local TV stations; about 40% of households connected to multi-channel cable or satellite TV; multiple RTVS national and regional radio networks; 32 privately owned radio stations **Internet country code:** .sk **Internet users:** percent of population: 90% (2024 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 1.83 million (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 33 (2023 est.) ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** OM **Airports:** 116 (2025) **Heliports:** 2 (2025) **Railways:** total: 3,627 km (2020) 1,585 km electrified ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic (Ozbrojene Sily Slovenskej Republiky): Ground Forces (Slovenské Pozemné Sily), Air Forces (Slovenské Vzdušné Sily), Special Operations Forces (Sily Pre Speciálne Operácie) Ministry of Interior: Slovak Police Force (SPF or Policajný Zbor) (2025) note: the SPF has sole responsibility for internal and border security **Military expenditures:** 2% of GDP (2025 est.) 2% of GDP (2024 est.) 1.8% of GDP (2023 est.) 1.8% of GDP (2022 est.) 1.7% of GDP (2021 est.) **Military and security service personnel strengths:** approximately 17,000 active-duty military personnel (2025) **Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:** the military's inventory is a mix of domestically produced, Soviet-era, and more modern/NATO-compatible armaments from suppliers such as Germany and the US (2025) **Military service age and obligation:** minimum age is 18 for voluntary service for men and women; citizens 18-65 can volunteer for the military reserves (2026) **Military deployments:** 200 Cyprus (UNFICYP); up to 150 Latvia (NATO) (2025) **Military - note:** the Slovak military is responsible for external defense and fulfilling Slovakia’s commitments to European and international security; Slovakia has been a member of both the EU and NATO since 2004; a key focus of the Slovak military is fulfilling the country’s security responsibilities to NATO, including modernizing and acquiring NATO-compatible equipment, participating in training exercises, and providing forces for security missions such as NATO’s Enhanced Forward Presence in the Baltic States; since 2022, Slovakia has hosted a multinational NATO ground force battlegroup as part of the NATO effort to boost the defenses of Eastern Europe since the Russian invasion of Ukraine; Slovakia also contributes to EU and UN peacekeeping missions the Slovak Air Force has only a handful of fighter aircraft and is assisted by NATO’s air policing mission over Slovakia, which includes fighter aircraft from Czechia and Poland; in 2022, Slovakia signed a defense agreement with the US that allows the US to use two Slovak military air bases (2025) ### Transnational Issues **Refugees and internally displaced persons:** refugees: 144,349 (2024 est.) stateless persons: 65 (2024 est.) --- ## Slovenia **Slug:** slovenia **Region:** Europe **Flag:** 🇸🇮 **Codes:** cek: si, iso2: SI, iso3: SVN, iso_num: 705, genc: SVN, stanag: SVN, internet: .si ### Introduction **Background:** The Slovene lands were part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire until the latter's dissolution at the end of World War I. In 1918, Slovenia became part of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes, which was renamed Yugoslavia in 1929. After World War II, Slovenia joined Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia as one of the constituent republics in the new Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY). In 1990, Slovenia held its first multiparty elections, as well as a referendum on independence. Serbia responded with an economic blockade and military action, but after a short 10-day war, Slovenia declared independence in 1991. Slovenia acceded to both NATO and the EU in the spring of 2004; it joined the euro zone and the Schengen Area in 2007. ### Geography **Location:** south Central Europe, Julian Alps between Austria and Croatia **Geographic coordinates:** 46 07 N, 14 49 E **Map references:** Europe **Area:** total : 20,273 sq km land: 20,151 sq km water: 122 sq km **Area - comparative:** slightly smaller than New Jersey **Land boundaries:** total: 1,211 km border countries (4): Austria 299 km; Croatia 600 km; Hungary 94 km; Italy 218 km **Coastline:** 46.6 km **Maritime claims:** territorial sea: 12 nm **Climate:** Mediterranean climate on the coast, continental climate with mild to hot summers and cold winters in the plateaus and valleys to the east **Terrain:** a short southwestern coastal strip of Karst topography on the Adriatic; an alpine mountain region lies adjacent to Italy and Austria in the north; mixed mountains and valleys with numerous rivers to the east **Elevation:** highest point: Triglav 2,864 m lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m mean elevation: 492 m **Natural resources:** lignite, lead, zinc, building stone, hydropower, forests **Land use:** agricultural land: 30.4% (2023 est.) arable land: 8.9% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 2.7% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 18.8% (2023 est.) forest: 61.8% (2023 est.) other: 10.8% (2023 est.) **Irrigated land:** 50 sq km (2022) **Major watersheds (area sq km):** Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km) **Population distribution:** a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger and denser populations; pockets in the mountainous northwest are less dense **Natural hazards:** flooding; earthquakes **Geography - note:** despite its small size, this eastern Alpine country controls some of Europe's major transit routes ### People and Society **Population:** total: 2,157,163 (2025 est.) male: 1,086,427 female: 1,070,736 **Nationality:** noun: Slovene(s) adjective: Slovenian **Ethnic groups:** Slovene 83.1%, Serb 2%, Croat 1.8%, Bosniak 1.1%, other or unspecified 12% (2002 est.) **Languages:** Slovene (official) 87.7%, Croatian 2.8%, Serbo-Croatian 1.8%, Bosnian 1.6%, Serbian 1.6%, Hungarian 0.4% (official, only in municipalities where Hungarian nationals reside), Italian 0.2% (official, only in municipalities where Italian nationals reside), other or unspecified 3.9% (2002 est.) major-language sample(s): Svetovni informativni zvezek - neobhoden vir osnovnih informacij. (Slovene) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. **Religions:** Catholic 69%, Orthodox 4%, Muslim 3%, Christian 1%, other 3%, atheist 14%, non-believer/agnostic 4%, refused to answer 2% (2019 est.) **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 14.3% (male 153,852/female 146,628) 15-64 years: 62.5% (male 683,573/female 627,788) 65 years and over: 23.2% (2024 est.) (male 213,619/female 272,433) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 58.8 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 22.5 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 36.3 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 2.8 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 46 years (2025 est.) male: 45 years female: 47.9 years **Population growth rate:** -0.16% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 7.52 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 11.2 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** 2.09 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger and denser populations; pockets in the mountainous northwest are less dense **Urbanization:** urban population: 56.1% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.54% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 286,000 LJUBLJANA (capital) (2018) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.09 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Mother's mean age at first birth:** 29 years (2020 est.) **Maternal mortality ratio:** 3 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 1.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 1.6 deaths/1,000 live births female: 1.4 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 82.2 years (2024 est.) male: 79.4 years female: 85.2 years **Total fertility rate:** 1.49 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 0.73 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: total: 99.5% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: total: 0.5% of population (2022 est.) **Health expenditure:** 8.8% of GDP (2022) 15% of national budget (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 3.37 physicians/1,000 population (2022) **Hospital bed density:** 4.2 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.) **Sanitation facility access:** improved: total: 99.2% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: total: 0.8% of population (2022 est.) **Obesity - adult prevalence rate:** 20.2% (2016) **Alcohol consumption per capita:** total: 11.05 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 4.54 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 5.26 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 1.26 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) **Tobacco use:** total: 17.3% (2025 est.) male: 19.3% (2025 est.) female: 15.3% (2025 est.) **Currently married women (ages 15-49):** 47.2% (2021 est.) **Education expenditure:** 5.3% of GDP (2022 est.) 11.1% national budget (2022 est.) **School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):** total: 17 years (2023 est.) male: 17 years (2023 est.) female: 18 years (2023 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** air pollution from road traffic, domestic heating (wood burning), power generation, and industry; water pollution; biodiversity protection **International environmental agreements:** party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements **Climate:** Mediterranean climate on the coast, continental climate with mild to hot summers and cold winters in the plateaus and valleys to the east **Land use:** agricultural land: 30.4% (2023 est.) arable land: 8.9% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 2.7% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 18.8% (2023 est.) forest: 61.8% (2023 est.) other: 10.8% (2023 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 56.1% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.54% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 10.772 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 2.706 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 6.521 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from consumed natural gas: 1.545 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Particulate matter emissions:** 14.1 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) **Methane emissions:** energy: 8.5 kt (2022-2024 est.) agriculture: 46.5 kt (2019-2021 est.) waste: 15.6 kt (2019-2021 est.) other: 1.9 kt (2019-2021 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 1.052 million tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 24.8% (2022 est.) **Total water withdrawal:** municipal: 179 million cubic meters (2022) industrial: 645 million cubic meters (2022) agricultural: 3.4 million cubic meters (2022) **Total renewable water resources:** 31.87 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) **Geoparks:** total global geoparks and regional networks: 2 global geoparks and regional networks: Idrija; Karawanken / Karavanke (includes Austria) (2023) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: Republic of Slovenia conventional short form: Slovenia local long form: Republika Slovenija local short form: Slovenija former: People's Republic of Slovenia, Socialist Republic of Slovenia etymology: the country's name means "Land of the Slavs" in Slovene; the origin of the Slav name is unclear, although early forms were used in Medieval Latin (Sclavus) and Byzantine Greek (Sklabos) **Government type:** parliamentary republic **Capital:** name: Ljubljana geographic coordinates: 46 03 N, 14 31 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October etymology: by tradition, the name is related to the Slovene word ljubljena, meaning "beloved," but the origin is probably pre-Slavic and remains obscure **Administrative divisions:** 200 municipalities (obcine, singular - obcina) and 12 urban municipalities (mestne obcine, singular - mestna obcina) municipalities: Ajdovscina, Ankaran, Apace, Beltinci, Benedikt, Bistrica ob Sotli, Bled, Bloke, Bohinj, Borovnica, Bovec, Braslovce, Brda, Brezice, Brezovica, Cankova, Cerklje na Gorenjskem, Cerknica, Cerkno, Cerkvenjak, Cirkulane, Crensovci, Crna na Koroskem, Crnomelj, Destrnik, Divaca, Dobje, Dobrepolje, Dobrna, Dobrova-Polhov Gradec, Dobrovnik/Dobronak, Dolenjske Toplice, Dol pri Ljubljani, Domzale, Dornava, Dravograd, Duplek, Gorenja Vas-Poljane, Gorisnica, Gorje, Gornja Radgona, Gornji Grad, Gornji Petrovci, Grad, Grosuplje, Hajdina, Hoce-Slivnica, Hodos, Horjul, Hrastnik, Hrpelje-Kozina, Idrija, Ig, Ilirska Bistrica, Ivancna Gorica, Izola/Isola, Jesenice, Jezersko, Jursinci, Kamnik, Kanal ob Soci, Kidricevo, Kobarid, Kobilje, Kocevje, Komen, Komenda, Kosanjevica na Krki, Kostel, Kozje, Kranjska Gora, Krizevci, Kungota, Kuzma, Lasko, Lenart, Lendava/Lendva, Litija, Ljubno, Ljutomer, Log-Dragomer, Logatec, Loska Dolina, Loski Potok, Lovrenc na Pohorju, Luce, Lukovica, Majsperk, Makole, Markovci, Medvode, Menges, Metlika, Mezica, Miklavz na Dravskem Polju, Miren-Kostanjevica, Mirna, Mirna Pec, Mislinja, Mokronog-Trebelno, Moravce, Moravske Toplice, Mozirje, Muta, Naklo, Nazarje, Odranci, Oplotnica, Ormoz, Osilnica, Pesnica, Piran/Pirano, Pivka, Podcetrtek, Podlehnik, Podvelka, Poljcane, Polzela, Postojna, Prebold, Preddvor, Prevalje, Puconci, Race-Fram, Radece, Radenci, Radlje ob Dravi, Radovljica, Ravne na Koroskem, Razkrizje, Recica ob Savinji, Rence-Vogrsko, Ribnica, Ribnica na Pohorju, Rogaska Slatina, Rogasovci, Rogatec, Ruse, Salovci, Selnica ob Dravi, Semic, Sempeter-Vrtojba, Sencur, Sentilj, Sentjernej, Sentjur, Sentrupert, Sevnica, Sezana, Skocjan, Skofja Loka, Skofljica, Slovenska Bistrica, Slovenske Konjice, Smarje pri Jelsah, Smarjeske Toplice, Smartno ob Paki, Smartno pri Litiji, Sodrazica, Solcava, Sostanj, Sredisce ob Dravi, Starse, Store, Straza, Sveta Ana, Sveta Trojica v Slovenskih Goricah, Sveti Andraz v Slovenskih Goricah, Sveti Jurij ob Scavnici, Sveti Jurij v Slovenskih Goricah, Sveti Tomaz, Tabor, Tisina, Tolmin, Trbovlje, Trebnje, Trnovska Vas, Trzic, Trzin, Turnisce, Velika Polana, Velike Lasce, Verzej, Videm, Vipava, Vitanje, Vodice, Vojnik, Vransko, Vrhnika, Vuzenica, Zagorje ob Savi, Zalec, Zavrc, Zelezniki, Zetale, Ziri, Zirovnica, Zrece, Zuzemberk urban municipalities: Celje, Koper, Kranj, Krsko, Ljubljana, Maribor, Murska Sobota, Nova Gorica, Novo Mesto, Ptuj, Slovenj Gradec, Velenje **Legal system:** civil law system **Constitution:** history: previous 1974 (pre-independence); latest passed by Parliament 23 December 1991 amendment process: proposed by at least 20 National Assembly members, by the government, or by petition of at least 30,000 voters; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly; referendum required if agreed upon by at least 30 Assembly members; passage in a referendum requires participation of a majority of eligible voters and a simple majority of votes cast **International law organization participation:** has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Slovenia; both parents if the child is born outside of Slovenia dual citizenship recognized: yes, for select cases residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years, the last 5 of which have been continuous **Suffrage:** 18 years of age; universal **Executive branch:** chief of state: President Natasa PIRC MUSAR (since 23 December 2022) head of government: Prime Minister Robert GOLOB (since 1 June 2022) cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister, elected by the National Assembly election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second consecutive term); following National Assembly elections, the president usually nominates the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as prime minister, and the National Assembly elects the nominee most recent election date: 23 October 2022, with a runoff on 13 November 2022 election results: 2022: Natasa PIRC MUSAR elected president in second round: percent of vote in first round - Anze LOGAR (SDS) 34%, Natasa PIRC MUSAR (independent) 26.9%, Milan BRGLEZ (SD) 15.5%, Vladimir PREBILIC (independent) 10.6%, Sabina SENCAR (Resni.ca) 5.9%, Janez CIGLER KRALJ (NSi) 4.4%, other 2.7%; percent of vote in second round - Natasa PIRC MUSAR 53.9%, Anze LOGAR 46.1%; Robert GOLOB (GS) elected prime minister on 25 May 2022, National Assembly vote - 54-30 2017: Borut PAHOR reelected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Borut PAHOR (independent) 47.1%, Marjan SAREC (Marjan Sarec List) 25%, Romana TOMC (SDS) 13.7%, Ljudmila NOVAK (NSi) 7.2%, other 7%; percent of vote in second round - Borut PAHOR 52.9%, Marjan SAREC 47.1% expected date of next election: 2027 **Legislative branch:** legislative structure: bicameral **Legislative branch - lower chamber:** chamber name: National Assembly (Drzavni Zbor) number of seats: 90 (all directly elected) electoral system: proportional representation scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 4 years most recent election date: 4/24/2022 parties elected and seats per party: Freedom Movement (SVOBODA) (41); Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS) (27); New Slovenia - Christian Democrats (NSi) (8); Social Democrats (SD) (7); Left (LEVICA) (5); Other (2) percentage of women in chamber: 35.6% expected date of next election: April 2026 **Legislative branch - upper chamber:** chamber name: National Council (Drzavni Svet) number of seats: 40 (all indirectly elected) scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 11/23/2022 to 11/24/2022 percentage of women in chamber: 17.5% expected date of next election: November 2027 note: the National Council is primarily an advisory body with limited legislative powers **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the court president and 37 judges organized into civil, criminal, commercial, labor and social security, administrative, and registry departments); Constitutional Court (consists of the court president, vice president, and 7 judges) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court president and vice president appointed by the National Assembly on the proposal of the Minister of Justice, based on the opinions of the Judicial Council, an 11-member independent body elected by the National Assembly from proposals submitted by the president, attorneys, law universities, and sitting judges; other Supreme Court judges elected by the National Assembly from candidates proposed by the Judicial Council; Supreme Court judges serve for life; Constitutional Court judges appointed by the National Assembly from nominations by the president of the republic; Constitutional Court president selected from among its own membership for a 3-year term; other judges elected for single 9-year terms subordinate courts: county, district, regional, and high courts; specialized labor-related and social courts; Court of Audit; Administrative Court **Political parties:** Democratic Party of Pensioners of Slovenia or DeSUS Freedom Movement or GS (formerly Greens Actions Party or Z.DEJ) List of Marjan Sarec or LMS New Slovenia - Christian Democrats or NSi Party of Alenka Bratusek or SAB (formerly Alliance of Social Liberal Democrats or ZSD and before that Alliance of Alenka Bratusek or ZaAB) Resni.ca Slovenian Democratic Party or SDS (formerly the Social Democratic Party of Slovenia or SDSS) Slovenian National Party or SNS Social Democrats or SD The Left or Levica (successor to United Left or ZL) **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Iztok MIROŠIČ (since 15 September 2023) chancery: 2410 California Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 386-6611 FAX: [1] (202) 386-6633 email address and website: sloembassy.washington@gov.si http://www.washington.embassy.si/ consulate(s) general: Cleveland (OH) **Diplomatic representation from the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Brian GREANEY (since August 2025) embassy: Presernova 31, 1000 Ljubljana mailing address: 7140 Ljubljana Place, Washington, DC 20521-7140 telephone: [386] (1) 200-5500 FAX: [386] (1) 200-5555 email address and website: LjubljanaACS@state.gov https://si.usembassy.gov/ **International organization participation:** Australia Group, BIS, CD, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EMU, ESA (cooperating state), EU, FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, SELEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC **Independence:** 25 June 1991 (from Yugoslavia) **National holiday:** Independence Day/Statehood Day, 25 June (1991) **Flag:** description: three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red; the Slovenian seal (a shield with Triglav, the country's highest peak, in white on a blue background) is at the center, with two wavy blue lines under it; three six-pointed stars in an inverted triangle appear on the upper-left meaning: the wavy lines represent seas and rivers; the colors come from the medieval coat of arms of the Duchy of Carniola; the stars come from the coat of arms of the Counts of Celje (a Slovene dynastic house) **National symbol(s):** Mount Triglav **National color(s):** white, blue, red **National anthem(s):** title: "Zdravljica" (A Toast) lyrics/music: France PRESEREN/Stanko PREMRL history: adopted in 1989; originally written in 1848; only the seventh verse of the poem is used as the anthem **National heritage:** total World Heritage Sites: 5 (3 cultural, 2 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Škocjan Caves (n); Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe (n); Prehistoric Pile Dwellings around the Alps (c); Heritage of Mercury: Almadén and Idrija (c); The works of Jože Plečnik in Ljubljana (c) ### Economy **Economic overview:** high-income EU and eurozone economy; high per-capita income and low inequality; key exports in automotive and pharmaceuticals; tight labor market with low unemployment; growth supported by private consumption and public investment, with risks from tight labor market and trade conditions; narrowing fiscal deficit and declining public debt **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $103.118 billion (2024 est.) $101.503 billion (2023 est.) $99.403 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** 1.6% (2024 est.) 2.1% (2023 est.) 2.7% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $48,500 (2024 est.) $47,900 (2023 est.) $47,100 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $72.485 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 2% (2024 est.) 7.4% (2023 est.) 8.8% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 1.5% (2024 est.) industry: 28.8% (2024 est.) services: 58.2% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **GDP - composition, by end use:** household consumption: 52.3% (2023 est.) government consumption: 19.2% (2023 est.) investment in fixed capital: 21.3% (2023 est.) investment in inventories: 0.9% (2023 est.) exports of goods and services: 83.3% (2023 est.) imports of goods and services: -76.8% (2023 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection **Agricultural products:** milk, maize, wheat, barley, grapes, chicken, potatoes, beef, apples, pork (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage **Industries:** ferrous metallurgy and aluminum products, lead and zinc smelting; electronics (including military electronics), trucks, automobiles, electric power equipment, wood products, textiles, chemicals, machine tools **Industrial production growth rate:** 1.8% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency **Labor force:** 1.058 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work **Unemployment rate:** 3.4% (2024 est.) 3.7% (2023 est.) 4.1% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment **Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):** total: 9.4% (2024 est.) male: 10.6% (2024 est.) female: 7.9% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment **Population below poverty line:** 12.7% (2022 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line **Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income:** 24.3 (2022 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality **Average household expenditures:** on food: 13.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.) on alcohol and tobacco: 4.5% of household expenditures (2023 est.) **Household income or consumption by percentage share:** lowest 10%: 4.2% (2022 est.) highest 10%: 20.7% (2022 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population **Remittances:** 1.2% of GDP (2024 est.) 1.3% of GDP (2023 est.) 1.3% of GDP (2022 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Budget:** revenues: $28.874 billion (2023 est.) expenditures: $30.714 billion (2023 est.) note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated **Public debt:** 73.6% of GDP (2017 est.) note: defined by the EU's Maastricht Treaty as consolidated general government gross debt at nominal value, outstanding at the end of the year in the following categories of government liabilities: currency and deposits, securities other than shares excluding financial derivatives, and loans; general government sector comprises the central, state, local government, and social security funds **Taxes and other revenues:** 20.3% (of GDP) (2023 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP **Current account balance:** $3.231 billion (2024 est.) $3.093 billion (2023 est.) -$617.374 million (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars **Exports:** $59.159 billion (2024 est.) $57.66 billion (2023 est.) $56.51 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** Switzerland 22%, Germany 12%, Italy 10%, Croatia 8%, Austria 6% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** packaged medicine, cars, refined petroleum, vehicle parts/accessories, plastic products (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports:** $54.583 billion (2024 est.) $53.309 billion (2023 est.) $55.158 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** Switzerland 17%, China 15%, Germany 11%, Italy 9%, Austria 6% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** nitrogen compounds, packaged medicine, refined petroleum, cars, vaccines (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:** $2.832 billion (2024 est.) $2.37 billion (2023 est.) $2.268 billion (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars **Exchange rates:** euros (EUR) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 0.924 (2024 est.) 0.925 (2023 est.) 0.95 (2022 est.) 0.845 (2021 est.) 0.876 (2020 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.) **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 4.739 million kW (2023 est.) consumption: 12.953 billion kWh (2023 est.) exports: 10.62 billion kWh (2023 est.) imports: 9.114 billion kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 774.138 million kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** fossil fuels: 24.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) nuclear: 35.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 6.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: 31.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) biomass and waste: 2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Nuclear energy:** Number of operational nuclear reactors: 1 (2025) Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors: 0.7GW (2025 est.) Percent of total electricity production: 36.8% (2023 est.) **Coal:** production: 2.44 million metric tons (2023 est.) consumption: 2.309 million metric tons (2023 est.) exports: 2,000 metric tons (2023 est.) imports: 866,000 metric tons (2023 est.) proven reserves: 95 million metric tons (2023 est.) **Petroleum:** total petroleum production: 4 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 44,000 bbl/day (2024 est.) **Natural gas:** production: 4.014 million cubic meters (2023 est.) consumption: 811.395 million cubic meters (2023 est.) exports: 11.387 million cubic meters (2018 est.) imports: 810.948 million cubic meters (2023 est.) **Energy consumption per capita:** 104.502 million Btu/person (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 647,000 (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 30 (2023 est.) **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 2.77 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 131 (2024 est.) **Broadcast media:** public TV broadcaster, Radiotelevizija Slovenija (RTV), operates a system of national and regional TV stations; 35 commercial TV stations; about 60% of households connected to multi-channel cable TV; public radio broadcaster with 3 national and 4 regional stations; more than 75 regional and local commercial and non-commercial radio stations **Internet country code:** .si **Internet users:** percent of population: 90% (2023 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 683,000 (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 32 (2023 est.) ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** S5 **Airports:** 42 (2025) **Heliports:** 4 (2025) **Railways:** total: 1,207 km (2020) 609 km electrified **Merchant marine:** total: 8 (2023) by type: other 8 **Ports:** total ports: 2 (2024) large: 0 medium: 0 small: 1 very small: 1 ports with oil terminals: 0 key ports: Koper, Piran ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** Slovenian Armed Forces (Slovenska Vojska, SV): structured as a combined force with air, land, maritime, and special operations components Ministry of Interior: National Police (2025) **Military expenditures:** 2% of GDP (2025 est.) 1.4% of GDP (2024 est.) 1.3% of GDP (2023 est.) 1.3% of GDP (2022 est.) 1.2% of GDP (2021 est.) **Military and security service personnel strengths:** approximately 6,000 active military personnel (2025) **Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:** the military's inventory is a mix of Soviet/Cold War-era and smaller quantities of more modern, mostly Western equipment; Slovenia is in the midst of a modernization program to replace its Soviet-era equipment with NATO-standard European and US systems (2025) **Military service age and obligation:** 18-30 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; recruits sign up for 3-, 5-, or 10-year service contracts; no conscription (2026) note: as of 2025, women comprised about 16% of the military's full-time personnel **Military deployments:** 110 Kosovo (NATO); up to 200 Slovakia (NATO) (2025) **Military - note:** the Slovenian Armed Forces (Slovenska Vojska or SV) are responsible for the defense of the country’s sovereignty and territory, deterring external threats, and contributing to European security and other international peacekeeping missions; the SV is also active in civil-military cooperation, such as the maintenance of local infrastructure; Slovenia has been a member of the EU and NATO since 2004, and one of the SV’s key missions is fulfilling the country’s commitments to NATO, including equipment modernization, participating in training exercises, and contributing to NATO operations; the SV provides troops to NATO’s efforts to enhance its presence in the Baltics (Latvia) and Eastern Europe (Slovakia); it has also participated in other international security missions with small numbers of personnel in such places as Africa, southern Europe, the Mediterranean Sea, and the Middle East; NATO allies Hungary and Italy provide air policing for Slovenia the SV was formally established in 1993 as a reorganization of the Slovenia Defense Force; the Defense Force, along with the Slovenian police, comprised the majority of the forces that engaged with the Yugoslav People’s Army during the 10-Day War after Slovenia declared its independence in 1991 (2025) ### Transnational Issues **Refugees and internally displaced persons:** refugees: 13,369 (2024 est.) IDPs: 10 (2023 est.) stateless persons: 10 (2024 est.) --- ## Spain **Slug:** spain **Region:** Europe **Flag:** 🇪🇸 **Codes:** cek: sp, iso2: ES, iso3: ESP, iso_num: 724, genc: ESP, stanag: ESP, internet: .es ### Introduction **Background:** Spain's powerful world empire of the 16th and 17th centuries ultimately yielded command of the seas to England. Spain remained neutral during both World Wars but suffered through a devastating civil war (1936-39) resulting in a dictatorship. A peaceful transition to democracy after the death of dictator Francisco FRANCO in 1975 and rapid economic modernization after Spain joined the EU in 1986 gave Spain a dynamic and rapidly growing economy. After a severe recession in the wake of the global financial crisis in 2008, Spain has posted solid years of GDP growth above the EU average. Unemployment has fallen but remains high, especially among youth. Spain is the euro-zone's fourth-largest economy. The country has faced increased domestic turmoil in recent years due to the independence movement in its restive Catalonia region. ### Geography **Location:** Southwestern Europe, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, North Atlantic Ocean, Bay of Biscay, and Pyrenees Mountains; southwest of France **Geographic coordinates:** 40 00 N, 4 00 W **Map references:** Europe **Area:** total : 505,370 sq km land: 498,980 sq km water: 6,390 sq km note: includes two autonomous cities (Ceuta and Melilla), 17 autonomous communities (including Balearic Islands and Canary Islands), and three small Spanish possessions off the coast of Morocco -- Islas Chafarinas, Penon de Alhucemas, and Penon de Velez de la Gomera **Area - comparative:** almost five times the size of Kentucky; slightly more than twice the size of Oregon **Land boundaries:** total: 1,952.7 km border countries (5): Andorra 63 km; France 646 km; Gibraltar 1.2 km; Portugal 1,224 km; Morocco (Ceuta) 8 km and Morocco (Melilla) 10.5 km note: an additional 75-meter border segment exists between Morocco and the Spanish exclave of Penon de Velez de la Gomera **Coastline:** 4,964 km **Maritime claims:** territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm (applies only to the Atlantic Ocean) **Climate:** temperate; clear, hot summers in interior, more moderate and cloudy along coast; cloudy, cold winters in interior, partly cloudy and cool along coast **Terrain:** large, flat to dissected plateau surrounded by rugged hills; Pyrenees Mountains in north **Elevation:** highest point: Pico de Teide (Tenerife) on Canary Islands 3,718 m lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m mean elevation: 660 m **Natural resources:** coal, lignite, iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, uranium, tungsten, mercury, pyrites, magnesite, fluorspar, gypsum, sepiolite, kaolin, potash, hydropower, arable land **Land use:** agricultural land: 49.6% (2023 est.) arable land: 23% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 10.2% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 19.8% (2023 est.) forest: 38.2% (2023 est.) other: 12.3% (2023 est.) **Irrigated land:** 38,012 sq km (2022) **Major rivers (by length in km):** Tagus river source (shared with Portugal [m]) - 1,006 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth **Population distribution:** with the notable exception of Madrid, Sevilla, and Zaragoza, the largest urban agglomerations are found along the Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts; numerous smaller cities are spread throughout the interior; very dense settlement around the capital of Madrid, as well as the port city of Barcelona **Natural hazards:** periodic droughts, occasional flooding volcanism: volcanic activity in the Canary Islands, located off Africa's northwest coast; Teide (3,715 m) has been deemed a Decade Volcano by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to its explosive history and close proximity to human populations; La Palma (2,426 m) is the most active of the Canary Islands volcanoes; Lanzarote is the only other historically active volcano **Geography - note:** strategic location along approaches to Strait of Gibraltar; Spain controls a number of territories in northern Morocco, including the enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla and the islands of Penon de Velez de la Gomera, Penon de Alhucemas, and Islas Chafarinas; Spain's Canary Islands are one of four North Atlantic archipelagos that make up Macaronesia; the others are the Azores (Portugal), Madeira (Portugal), and Cabo Verde ### People and Society **Population:** total: 47,336,448 (2025 est.) male: 23,091,907 female: 24,244,541 **Nationality:** noun: Spaniard(s) adjective: Spanish **Ethnic groups:** Spanish 84.8%, Moroccan 1.7%, Romanian 1.2%, other 12.3% (2021 est.) note: data represent population by country of birth **Languages:** Castilian Spanish (official) 74%, Catalan (official in Catalonia, the Balearic Islands, and the Valencian Community) 17%, Galician (official in Galicia) 7%, Basque (official in the Basque Country and Navarre) 2%, Aranese (official in part of Catalonia) <5,000 speakers major-language sample(s): La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. note: Aragonese, Aranese Asturian, Calo, and Valencian are also recognized as regional languages **Religions:** Roman Catholic 58.2%, atheist 16.2%, agnostic 10.8%, other 2.7%, non-believer 10.5%, unspecified 1.7% (2021 est.) **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 13% (male 3,147,019/female 3,012,821) 15-64 years: 66.1% (male 15,662,492/female 15,585,138) 65 years and over: 20.9% (2024 est.) (male 4,259,816/female 5,613,147) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 51.5 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 19.3 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 32.3 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 3.1 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 47.2 years (2025 est.) male: 45.7 years female: 47.8 years **Population growth rate:** 0.12% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 7.16 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 9.98 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** 3.98 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** with the notable exception of Madrid, Sevilla, and Zaragoza, the largest urban agglomerations are found along the Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts; numerous smaller cities are spread throughout the interior; very dense settlement around the capital of Madrid, as well as the port city of Barcelona **Urbanization:** urban population: 81.6% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.24% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) note: data include Canary Islands, Ceuta, and Melilla **Major urban areas - population:** 6.751 million MADRID (capital), 5.687 million Barcelona, 838,000 Valencia (2023) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Mother's mean age at first birth:** 31.2 years (2020 est.) **Maternal mortality ratio:** 3 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 2.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 2.7 deaths/1,000 live births female: 2.1 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 83 years (2024 est.) male: 80.3 years female: 85.8 years **Total fertility rate:** 1.32 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 0.65 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: urban: 99.9% of population (2022 est.) rural: 100% of population (2022 est.) total: 99.9% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 0.1% of population (2022 est.) rural: 0% of population (2022 est.) total: 0.1% of population (2022 est.) **Health expenditure:** 10.7% of GDP (2021) 15.2% of national budget (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 4.29 physicians/1,000 population (2022) **Hospital bed density:** 2.9 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.) **Sanitation facility access:** improved: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.) rural: 100% of population (2022 est.) total: 100% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.) rural: 0% of population (2022 est.) total: 0% of population (2022 est.) **Obesity - adult prevalence rate:** 23.8% (2016) **Alcohol consumption per capita:** total: 10.72 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 4.67 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 3.52 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 2.34 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0.19 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) **Tobacco use:** total: 23.9% (2025 est.) male: 25.8% (2025 est.) female: 22% (2025 est.) **Currently married women (ages 15-49):** 50.2% (2021 est.) **Education expenditure:** 4.6% of GDP (2022 est.) 9.9% national budget (2022 est.) **Literacy:** total population: 99.7% (2021 est.) male: 99.8% (2021 est.) female: 99.6% (2021 est.) **School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):** total: 18 years (2023 est.) male: 17 years (2023 est.) female: 18 years (2023 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** pollution of the Mediterranean Sea from raw sewage and effluents from oil and gas production; drought; air pollution; deforestation; desertification **International environmental agreements:** party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements **Climate:** temperate; clear, hot summers in interior, more moderate and cloudy along coast; cloudy, cold winters in interior, partly cloudy and cool along coast **Land use:** agricultural land: 49.6% (2023 est.) arable land: 23% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 10.2% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 19.8% (2023 est.) forest: 38.2% (2023 est.) other: 12.3% (2023 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 81.6% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.24% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) note: data include Canary Islands, Ceuta, and Melilla **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 254.823 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 13.39 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 182.327 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from consumed natural gas: 59.105 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Particulate matter emissions:** 8.3 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 22.409 million tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 27.7% (2022 est.) **Total water withdrawal:** municipal: 4.56 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) industrial: 5.5 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) agricultural: 18.96 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) **Total renewable water resources:** 111.5 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) **Geoparks:** total global geoparks and regional networks: 18 (2025) global geoparks and regional networks: Basque Coast UNESCO; Cabo de Gata-Níjar; Cabo Ortegal; Calatrava Volcanoes. Ciudad Real; Central Catalonia; Costa Quebrada; Courel Mountains; El Hierro; Granada; Lanzarote and Chinijo Islands; Las Loras; Maestrazgo; Molina-Alto; Origens; Sierra Norte de Sevilla; Sierras Subbéticas; Sobrarbe-Pirineos: Villuercas Ibores Jara (2025) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: Kingdom of Spain conventional short form: Spain local long form: Reino de España local short form: España etymology: derivation of the name España is uncertain; the Basque words ezpain or espan ("edge," as in a river bank) are possible sources, or the Punic word span, meaning "rabbit;" some academics tie it to the god Hesperus from Greco-Roman mythology **Government type:** parliamentary constitutional monarchy **Capital:** name: Madrid geographic coordinates: 40 24 N, 3 41 W time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October time zone note: Spain has two time zones, including the Canary Islands (UTC 0) etymology: the meaning and origin of the name is unclear; the city grew from a small Moorish fort that was called Majerit in the first recorded mention in A.D. 932; some trace the modern-day name back to the Roman era, with the Latin word materia (materials) as a possible source **Administrative divisions:** 17 autonomous communities (comunidades autonomas, singular - comunidad autonoma) and 2 autonomous cities* (ciudades autonomas, singular - ciudad autonoma); Andalucia; Aragon; Asturias; Canarias (Canary Islands); Cantabria; Castilla-La Mancha; Castilla-Leon; Cataluña (Castilian), Catalunya (Catalan), Catalonha (Aranese) [Catalonia]; Ceuta*; Comunidad Valenciana (Castilian), Comunitat Valenciana (Valencian) [Valencian Community]; Extremadura; Galicia; Illes Baleares (Balearic Islands); La Rioja; Madrid; Melilla*; Murcia; Navarra (Castilian), Nafarroa (Basque) [Navarre]; Pais Vasco (Castilian), Euskadi (Basque) [Basque Country] note: Spain administers the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla and the three small islands of Islas Chafarinas, Peñón de Alhucemas, and Peñón de Velez de la Gomera, which are all located along the coast of Morocco; they are collectively referred to as Places of Sovereignty (Plazas de Soberania) **Legal system:** civil law system with regional variations **Constitution:** history: several previous; latest approved by the General Courts 31 October 1978, passed by referendum 6 December 1978, signed by the king 27 December 1978, effective 29 December 1978 amendment process: proposed by the government, by the General Courts (the Congress or the Senate), or by the self-governing communities submitted through the government; passage requires three-fifths majority vote by both houses and passage by referendum if requested by one tenth of the members of either house; proposals disapproved by both houses are submitted to a joint committee, which submits an agreed upon text for another vote; passage requires two-thirds majority vote in Congress and simple majority vote in the Senate **International law organization participation:** accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Spain dual citizenship recognized: only with select Latin American countries residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years for persons with no ties to Spain **Suffrage:** 18 years of age; universal **Executive branch:** chief of state: King FELIPE VI (since 19 June 2014) head of government: President of the Government of Spain (prime minister-equivalent) Pedro SANCHEZ PEREZ-CASTEJON (since 2 June 2018) cabinet: Council of Ministers designated by the president election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative elections, the monarch usually proposes as president the leader of the majority party or coalition, who is then indirectly elected by the Congress of Deputies; vice president and Council of Ministers appointed by the president most recent election date: 23 July 2023 election results: Congress of Deputies vote - 179 to 171 (16 November 2023) expected date of next election: 31 July 2027 note: there is also a Council of State that is the supreme consultative organ of the government, but its recommendations are non-binding **Legislative branch:** legislature name: The Cortes (Las Cortes Generales) legislative structure: bicameral **Legislative branch - lower chamber:** chamber name: Congress of Deputies (Congreso de los Diputados) number of seats: 350 (all directly elected) electoral system: proportional representation scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 4 years most recent election date: 7/23/2023 parties elected and seats per party: People's Party (PP) (136); Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) (122); Vox (33); SUMAR (31); Other (28) percentage of women in chamber: 44.3% expected date of next election: July 2027 **Legislative branch - upper chamber:** chamber name: Senate (Senado) number of seats: 265 (208 directly elected; 57 indirectly elected) electoral system: mixed system scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 4 years most recent election date: 7/23/2023 parties elected and seats per party: People's Party (PP) (120); Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) (72); Other (16) percentage of women in chamber: 42.5% expected date of next election: July 2027 **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Supreme Court or Tribunal Supremo (consists of the court president and organized into the Civil Room, with a president and 9 judges; the Penal Room, with a president and 14 judges; the Administrative Room, with a president and 32 judges; the Social Room, with a president and 12 judges; and the Military Room, with a president and 7 judges); Constitutional Court or Tribunal Constitucional de Espana (consists of 12 judges) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges appointed by the monarch from candidates proposed by the General Council of the Judiciary Power, a 20-member governing board chaired by the monarch; judges can serve until age 70; Constitutional Court judges nominated by the National Assembly, executive branch, and the General Council of the Judiciary, and appointed by the monarch for 9-year terms subordinate courts: National High Court; High Courts of Justice (in each of the autonomous communities); provincial courts; courts of first instance **Political parties:** Asturias Forum or FAC Basque Country Unite (Euskal Herria Bildu) or EH Bildu (coalition of 4 Basque pro-independence parties) Basque Nationalist Party or PNV or EAJ Canarian Coalition or CC (coalition of 5 parties) Ciudadanos Party (Citizens Party) or Cs Compromis - Compromise Coalition Navarrese People's Union or UPN Together for Catalonia or Junts People's Party or PP Republican Left of Catalonia or ERC Spanish Socialist Workers Party or PSOE Teruel Existe or TE Unidas (Unite) or Sumar (electoral coalition formed in March 2022) (formerly Unidas Podemos or UP) Vox or VOX **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Ángeles MORENO Bau (since 27 February 2024) chancery: 2375 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037 telephone: [1] (202) 452-0100 FAX: [1] (202) 833-5670 email address and website: emb.washington@maec.es https://www.exteriores.gob.es/Embajadas/washington/en/Paginas/index.aspx consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico) **Diplomatic representation from the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Rian Harker HARRIS (since 15 July 2024); note - also accredited to Andorra embassy: Calle de Serrano, 75, 28006 Madrid mailing address: 8500 Madrid Place, Washington DC 20521-8500 telephone: [34] (91) 587-2200 FAX: [34] (91) 587-2303 email address and website: askACS@state.gov https://es.usembassy.gov/ consulate(s) general: Barcelona **International organization participation:** ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council (observer), Australia Group, BCIE, BIS, CABEI, CAN (observer), CBSS (observer), CD, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EITI (implementing country), EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAIA (observer), MIGA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club, PCA, PIF (partner), Schengen Convention, SELEC (observer), SICA (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, Union Latina, UNOCI, UNOOSA, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC **Independence:** 1492 note: the Iberian peninsula was home to a variety of independent kingdoms prior to the Muslim occupation that began in the early 8th century A.D. and lasted nearly seven centuries; the small Christian redoubts of the north began the reconquest almost immediately, culminating in the seizure of Granada in 1492; this completed the unification of several kingdoms and is traditionally considered the forging of present-day Spain **National holiday:** National Day (Hispanic Day), 12 October (1492) note: commemorates the arrival of explorer Christopher COLUMBUS in the Americas **Flag:** description: three horizontal bands of red (top), yellow (double-width), and red, with the national coat of arms on the left side of the yellow band; the coat of arms shows the emblems of the area's former kingdoms (clockwise from upper left: Castile, Leon, Navarre, and Aragon), which also used red and yellow as their colors; the stylized pomegranate at the bottom of the shield represents Granada; the two columns represent the Pillars of Hercules, which are promontories (Gibraltar and Ceuta) on the Strait of Gibraltar; a red scroll bears the imperial motto of "Plus Ultra" (further beyond), referring to Spanish lands outside Europe **National symbol(s):** Pillars of Hercules **National color(s):** red, yellow **National anthem(s):** title: "Himno Nacional Espanol" (National Anthem of Spain) lyrics/music: no lyrics/unknown history: adopted 1942;officially in use between 1770 and 1931, restored in 1939; the Spanish anthem was the first to be officially adopted; it first appeared in a 1761 military bugle-call book and was replaced by "Himno de Riego" in the years between 1931 and 1939; the long version of the anthem is used for the king, and the short version is used for the prince, prime minister, and occasions such as sporting events **National heritage:** total World Heritage Sites: 50 (44 cultural, 4 natural, 2 mixed) selected World Heritage Site locales: Cave of Altamira and Paleolithic Cave Art of Northern Spain (c); Works of Antoni Gaudí (c); Santiago de Compostela (Old Town) (c); Historic City of Toledo (c); Archaeological Ensemble of Mérida (c); Tower of Hercules (c); Doñana National Park (n); Pyrénées - Mont Perdu (m); Alhambra, Generalife, and Albayzín in Granada (c); Old City of Salamanca (c); Teide National Park (n); Historic Walled Town of Cuenca (c); Old Town of Segovia and its Aqueduct (c); Historic Cordoba (c); Royal Site of Saint Lorenzo de El Escorial (c); Cathedral, Alcázar, and Archivo de Indias in Seville ### Economy **Economic overview:** high-income, core-EU and eurozone economy; strong growth driven by public consumption, tourism, and other service exports; tight labor market despite high structural unemployment; efforts to narrow persistent fiscal deficits through tax and spending measures; high but declining unemployment supported by job growth and immigration **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $2.361 trillion (2024 est.) $2.289 trillion (2023 est.) $2.229 trillion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** 3.2% (2024 est.) 2.7% (2023 est.) 6.2% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $48,400 (2024 est.) $47,300 (2023 est.) $46,600 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $1.723 trillion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 2.8% (2024 est.) 3.5% (2023 est.) 8.4% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 2.5% (2024 est.) industry: 19.5% (2024 est.) services: 69.1% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **GDP - composition, by end use:** household consumption: 54.3% (2023 est.) government consumption: 19.5% (2023 est.) investment in fixed capital: 19.7% (2023 est.) investment in inventories: 1.3% (2023 est.) exports of goods and services: 38.1% (2023 est.) imports of goods and services: -34.1% (2023 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection **Agricultural products:** milk, olives, pork, grapes, wheat, tomatoes, barley, sugar beets, maize, oranges (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage **Industries:** textiles and apparel (including footwear), food and beverages, metals and metal manufactures, chemicals, shipbuilding, automobiles, machine tools, tourism, clay and refractory products, footwear, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment **Industrial production growth rate:** 2.6% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency **Labor force:** 24.386 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work **Unemployment rate:** 11.4% (2024 est.) 12.2% (2023 est.) 13% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment **Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):** total: 27% (2024 est.) male: 26.4% (2024 est.) female: 27.7% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment **Population below poverty line:** 20.2% (2022 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line **Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income:** 33.6 (2022 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality **Average household expenditures:** on food: 12.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.) on alcohol and tobacco: 4% of household expenditures (2023 est.) **Household income or consumption by percentage share:** lowest 10%: 2.3% (2022 est.) highest 10%: 24.8% (2022 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population **Remittances:** 0.4% of GDP (2024 est.) 0.3% of GDP (2023 est.) 0.3% of GDP (2022 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Budget:** revenues: $512.57 billion (2023 est.) expenditures: $549.772 billion (2023 est.) note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated **Public debt:** 107.3% of GDP (2023 est.) note: central government debt as a % of GDP **Taxes and other revenues:** 15% (of GDP) (2023 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP **Current account balance:** $52.182 billion (2024 est.) $43.012 billion (2023 est.) $4.482 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars **Exports:** $642.358 billion (2024 est.) $616.648 billion (2023 est.) $573.598 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** France 15%, Germany 10%, Portugal 9%, Italy 9%, UK 6% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** cars, packaged medicine, refined petroleum, vehicle parts/accessories, garments (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports:** $568.502 billion (2024 est.) $552.948 billion (2023 est.) $561.448 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** Germany 11%, China 10%, France 10%, Italy 7%, USA 7% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** crude petroleum, cars, garments, vehicle parts/accessories, natural gas (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:** $107.774 billion (2024 est.) $103.089 billion (2023 est.) $92.905 billion (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars **Exchange rates:** euros (EUR) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 0.924 (2024 est.) 0.925 (2023 est.) 0.95 (2022 est.) 0.845 (2021 est.) 0.876 (2020 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.) **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 130.366 million kW (2023 est.) consumption: 227.187 billion kWh (2023 est.) exports: 25.279 billion kWh (2023 est.) imports: 11.315 billion kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 24.532 billion kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** fossil fuels: 28% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) nuclear: 20.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 17.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) wind: 23.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: 8.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) biomass and waste: 2.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Nuclear energy:** Number of operational nuclear reactors: 7 (2025) Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors: 7.12GW (2025 est.) Percent of total electricity production: 20.3% (2023 est.) Number of nuclear reactors permanently shut down: 3 (2025) **Coal:** production: 1.28 million metric tons (2023 est.) consumption: 7.388 million metric tons (2023 est.) exports: 1.629 million metric tons (2023 est.) imports: 9.798 million metric tons (2023 est.) proven reserves: 1.187 billion metric tons (2023 est.) **Petroleum:** total petroleum production: 47,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 1.325 million bbl/day (2024 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 150 million barrels (2021 est.) **Natural gas:** production: 34.124 million cubic meters (2023 est.) consumption: 29.041 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) exports: 6.576 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) imports: 35.252 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) proven reserves: 2.549 billion cubic meters (2021 est.) **Energy consumption per capita:** 101.12 million Btu/person (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 18.431 million (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 38 (2023 est.) **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 62.4 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 130 (2024 est.) **Broadcast media:** mix of publicly operated and privately owned TV and radio stations; hundreds of TV channels available, including national, regional, local, public, and international channels; satellite and cable TV available; multiple national radio networks, large number of regional radio networks, and larger number of local radio stations (2019) **Internet country code:** .es **Internet users:** percent of population: 95% (2023 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 18.2 million (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 38 (2023 est.) ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** EC **Airports:** 365 (2025) **Heliports:** 162 (2025) **Railways:** total: 15,489 km (2020) 9,953 km electrified **Merchant marine:** total: 503 (2023) by type: bulk carrier 1, general cargo 33, oil tanker 24, other 445 **Ports:** total ports: 52 (2024) large: 3 medium: 14 small: 9 very small: 24 size unknown: 2 ports with oil terminals: 13 key ports: Alicante, Barcelona, Cadiz, Ceuta, Ferrol, Huelva, Las Palmas, Malaga, Palma de Mallorca, Puerto de Bilbao, Puerto de Pasajes, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Santander, Sevilla, Tarragona, Valencia, Vigo ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** Spanish Armed Forces (Fuerzas Armadas de España): Army (Ejército de Tierra), Spanish Navy (Armada Espanola; includes Marine Corps), Air and Space Force (Ejército del Aire y del Espacio), Emergency Response Unit (Unidad Militar de Emergencias); Civil Guard (Guardia Civil) Ministry of the Interior: Spanish National Police (Cuerpo Nacional de Policía, CNP) (2025) note 1: the Civil Guard is a military force with police duties (including coast guard) under both the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of the Interior; it also responds to the needs of the Ministry of Finance; the CNP and the Civil Guard maintain internal security as well as migration and border enforcement under the authority of the Ministry of the Interior; the regional police under the authority of the Catalan and the Basque Country regional governments and municipal police throughout the country also support domestic security note 2: the Emergency Response Unit was established in 2006 as a separate branch of service for responding to natural disasters and providing disaster relief both domestically and abroad; it has personnel from all the other military services note 3: the Royal Guard is an independent joint-service regiment of the military dedicated to the protection of the King and members of the royal family **Military expenditures:** 2% of GDP (2025 est.) 1.4% of GDP (2024 est.) 1.2% of GDP (2023 est.) 1.1% of GDP (2022 est.) 1% of GDP (2021 est.) **Military and security service personnel strengths:** approximately 120,000 active-duty military personnel; approximately 80,000 Guardia Civil (2025) **Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:** the military's inventory is comprised of weapons and equipment that were produced domestically, co-produced with or imported from other European countries, or acquired from the US; key suppliers of major armaments include Germany and the US; Spain's defense industry manufactures land, air, and sea weapons systems and is integrated within the European defense-industrial sector (2025) **Military service age and obligation:** 18 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women (upper age limits depend on branch of service, roles, specialties, etc); 24-36 month initial obligation; no conscription, but the Spanish Government retains the right to mobilize citizens 19-25 years of age in a national emergency; 18-58 for the voluntary reserves (2026) note 1: as of 2024, women comprised about 13% of the military's full-time personnel; they serve in all branches, including combat arms note 2: the military recruits foreign nationals with residency in Spain from countries of its former empire, including Argentina, Costa Rica, Bolivia, Colombia, Chile, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela **Military deployments:** Spain has up to 3,000 military personnel deployed on 17 missions supporting the EU, NATO, and the UN on four continents, as well as naval missions in the Mediterranean and the seas off the Horn of Africa; its largest deployments are up to 700 troops in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and about 1,700 personnel in Eastern Europe supporting NATO missions in Latvia, Romania, and Slovakia (2025) **Military - note:** the Spanish military has a wide range of responsibilities, including protecting the country’s national interests, sovereignty, and territory, providing support during natural disasters, and fulfilling Spain’s responsibilities to European and international security; it maintains garrisons in the Balearic Islands, the Canary Islands, Ceuta, and Melilla, conducts operations worldwide, and participates in a variety of EU-, NATO-, and UN-led missions; Spain joined NATO in 1982 and is fully integrated into the NATO structure; it routinely conducts exercises with NATO (and EU) partners, and hosts one of NATO’s two combined air operations centers the Spanish military's history goes back to the 13th century; the Army has an infantry regiment, formed in the 13th century, that is considered the oldest still active military unit in the Western world; the Marine Corps, which traces its roots back to 1537, is the oldest naval infantry force in the world; Spain created a Spanish Legion for foreigners in 1920, but early on the Legion was primarily filled by native Spaniards due to difficulties in recruiting foreigners, and most of its foreign members were from the Republic of Cuba; it was modeled after the French Foreign Legion and its purpose was to provide a corps of professional troops to fight in Spain's colonial campaigns in North Africa; in more recent years, it has been used in NATO peacekeeping deployments; today’s Legion includes a mix of native Spaniards and foreigners with Spanish residency (2025) ### Space **Space agency/agencies:** Spanish Space Agency (AEE; became operational in 2023); Center for the Development of Industrial Technology (CDTI) (2025) note 1: the CDTI coordinates the activities of the commercial space sector note 2: prior to the establishment of the AEE, the National Institute of Aerospace Technology (Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial or INTA, established 1942), a public research organization that depends on the Ministry of Defense, acted as Spain’s space agency **Space launch site(s):** El Arenosillo Test Center/Range (Andalusia) (2025) **Space program overview:** space program dates back to the 1940s; manufactures and operates communications, remote sensing (RS), and scientific/technology satellites; has developed sounding rockets; conducts research and development in a broad range of space-related capabilities, including astrobiology, astronomy, imaging/RS, meteorology, optics, propulsion, robotics, satellites (particularly micro- and nano-satellites), and satellite launch vehicles; program is integrated into the ESA; also participates in EU space programs; hosts the European Space Astronomy Center (ESOC) and the ESA’s Space Surveillance and Tracking Data Centre (ESAC); cooperates with foreign space agencies and industries, including the US; has an active commercial space industry (2025) **Key space-program milestones:** 1960s - began working with the US/NASA and the European Space Research Organization (ESRO), the forerunner of the ESA; sounding rocket program (ended in the 1990s) 1974 - first satellite (IntaSat) launched by US 1990s - satellite launch vehicle (SLV) development program (canceled in 2000) 1992 - first communications satellite (Hispasat 1A) launched on European rocket 1998 - first astronaut in space on US Space Shuttle 2018 - first synthetic-aperture-radar, remote-sensing/reconnaissance satellite (Paz) launched by US 2023 - Spanish built Miuri-1 becomes first European private rocket to reach space; joined US-led Artemis Accords for space and lunar exploration 2025 - communications satellite (SpainSat NG 1) with advanced security technology launched by US ### Terrorism **Terrorist group(s):** Terrorist group(s): Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS); al-Qa’ida note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide ### Transnational Issues **Refugees and internally displaced persons:** refugees: 693,298 (2024 est.) IDPs: 3,960 (2024 est.) stateless persons: 10,164 (2024 est.) --- ## Svalbard **Slug:** svalbard **Region:** Europe **Flag:** 🇸🇯 **Codes:** cek: sv, iso2: SJ, iso3: SJM, iso_num: 744, genc: XSV, stanag: SJM, internet: .sj, comment: ISO includes Jan Mayen ### Introduction **Background:** Norse explorers may have first discovered the Svalbard archipelago in the 12th century. The islands served as an international whaling base during the 17th and 18th centuries. Norway's sovereignty was internationally recognized by treaty in 1920, and five years later Norway officially took over the territory. Coal mining started in the 20th century, and a Norwegian company and a Russian company are still in operation today. Travel between the settlements is accomplished with snowmobiles, aircraft, and boats. ### Geography **Location:** Northern Europe, islands between the Arctic Ocean, Barents Sea, Greenland Sea, and Norwegian Sea, north of Norway **Geographic coordinates:** 78 00 N, 20 00 E **Map references:** Arctic Region **Area:** total : 62,045 sq km land: 62,045 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes Spitsbergen and Bjornoya (Bear Island) **Area - comparative:** slightly smaller than West Virginia **Land boundaries:** total: 0 km **Coastline:** 3,587 km **Maritime claims:** territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: extends to depth of exploitation exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm **Climate:** arctic, tempered by warm North Atlantic Current; cool summers, cold winters; North Atlantic Current flows along west and north coasts of Spitsbergen, keeping water open and navigable most of the year **Terrain:** rugged mountains; much of the upland areas are ice covered; west coast clear of ice about half the year; fjords along west and north coasts **Elevation:** highest point: Newtontoppen 1,717 m lowest point: Arctic Ocean 0 m **Natural resources:** coal, iron ore, copper, zinc, phosphate, wildlife, fish **Land use:** agricultural land: 0% (2018 est.) other: 100% (2018 est.) **Population distribution:** the small population is primarily concentrated on the island of Spitsbergen in a handful of settlements on the south side of the Isfjorden, with Longyearbyen being the largest **Natural hazards:** ice floes often block the entrance to Bellsund (a transit point for coal export) on the west coast and occasionally make parts of the northeastern coast inaccessible to maritime traffic **Geography - note:** northernmost part of the Kingdom of Norway; consists of nine main islands; glaciers and snowfields cover 60% of the total area ### People and Society **Population:** total: 2,556 (2025 est.) male: 1,353 female: 1,203 **Ethnic groups:** Norwegian 61.1%, foreign population 38.9% (consists primarily of Russians, Thais, Swedes, Filipinos, and Ukrainians) (2021 est.) note: foreigners account for almost one third of the population of the Norwegian settlements, Longyearbyen and Ny-Alesund (where the majority of Svalbard's resident population lives), as of mid-2021 **Languages:** Norwegian, Russian major-language sample(s): Verdens Faktabok, den essensielle kilden for grunnleggende informasjon. (Norwegian) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. **Population growth rate:** -0.03% (2019 est.) **Net migration rate:** -5.57 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.) **Population distribution:** the small population is primarily concentrated on the island of Spitsbergen in a handful of settlements on the south side of the Isfjorden, with Longyearbyen being the largest ### Environment **Climate:** arctic, tempered by warm North Atlantic Current; cool summers, cold winters; North Atlantic Current flows along west and north coasts of Spitsbergen, keeping water open and navigable most of the year **Land use:** agricultural land: 0% (2018 est.) other: 100% (2018 est.) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: none conventional short form: Svalbard (sometimes referred to as Spitsbergen, the largest island in the archipelago) etymology: the archipelago was traditionally known as Spitsbergen, a Dutch name meaning "jagged peaks," but Norway renamed it Svalbard in the 1920s when it assumed sovereignty of the islands, from the Norwegian sval (cold) and bard (shore); the Norwegian name may have been used during the Norse era for other locations **Government type:** non-self-governing territory of Norway **Dependency status:** territory of Norway; administered by the Polar Department of the Ministry of Justice, through a governor (sysselmann) residing in Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen; by treaty (9 February 1920), sovereignty was awarded to Norway **Capital:** name: Longyearbyen geographic coordinates: 78 13 N, 15 38 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October etymology: the name in Norwegian means Longyear Town; the site was established by and named after John Munro LONGYEAR, whose Arctic Coal Company began mining operations there in 1906 **Legal system:** laws of Norway that explicitly apply to Svalbard, including the Svalbard Act, the Svalbard Environmental Protection Act, and certain regulations; the Spitsbergen Treaty and the Svalbard Treaty grant certain rights to citizens and corporations of signatory nations **Citizenship:** see Norway **Executive branch:** chief of state: King HARALD V of Norway (since 17 January 1991) head of government: Governor Lars FAUSE (since 24 June 2021) election/appointment process: none; the monarchy is hereditary; governor and assistant governor responsible to the Polar Department of the Ministry of Justice **Legislative branch:** note: the Council acts much like a Norwegian municipality, with responsibility for infrastructure and utilities (including power, land-use and community planning, education, and child welfare); however, the state provides healthcare services **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Svalbard is subordinate to Norway's Nord-Troms District Court and Halogaland Court of Appeal, both located in Tromso **Political parties:** Conservative Labor Liberal Progress Socialist Left **International organization participation:** none **Independence:** none (territory of Norway) **Flag:** the flag of Norway is used **National anthem(s):** title: "Ja, vi elsker dette landet" (Yes, We Love This Country) lyrics/music: Bjornstjerne BJORNSON/Rikard NORDRAAK history: official anthem, as a Norwegian territory ### Economy **Economic overview:** high-income Norwegian island economy; major coal mining, tourism, and research sectors; recently established northernmost brewery; key whaling and fishing base; home to the Global Seed Vault **Exchange rates:** Norwegian kroner (NOK) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 10.746 (2024 est.) 10.563 (2023 est.) 9.614 (2022 est.) 8.59 (2021 est.) 9.416 (2020 est.) ### Communications **Broadcast media:** Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK) provides TV transmission to Svalbard via satellite; access to 3 NRK radio stations and 2 TV stations **Internet country code:** .sj ### Transportation **Ports:** total ports: 3 (2024) large: 0 medium: 0 small: 0 very small: 3 ports with oil terminals: 0 key ports: Barentsburg, Longyearbyen, Ny Alesund ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** no regular military forces **Military - note:** Svalbard is a territory of Norway, demilitarized by treaty on 9 February 1920; Norwegian military activity is limited to fisheries surveillance by the Norwegian Coast Guard (2025) --- ## Sweden **Slug:** sweden **Region:** Europe **Flag:** 🇸🇪 **Codes:** cek: sw, iso2: SE, iso3: SWE, iso_num: 752, genc: SWE, stanag: SWE, internet: .se ### Introduction **Background:** A military power during the 17th century, Sweden maintained a policy of military non-alignment until it applied to join NATO in 2022. Sweden has not participated in any war for two centuries. Stockholm preserved an armed neutrality in both World Wars. Since then, Sweden has pursued a successful economic formula consisting of a capitalist system intermixed with substantial welfare elements. Sweden joined the EU in 1995, but the public rejected the introduction of the euro in a 2003 referendum. The share of Sweden’s population born abroad increased from 11.3% in 2000 to 20% in 2022. ### Geography **Location:** Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, Kattegat, and Skagerrak, between Finland and Norway **Geographic coordinates:** 62 00 N, 15 00 E **Map references:** Europe **Area:** total : 450,295 sq km land: 410,335 sq km water: 39,960 sq km **Area - comparative:** almost three times the size of Georgia; slightly larger than California **Land boundaries:** total: 2,211 km border countries (2): Finland 545 km; Norway 1,666 km **Coastline:** 3,218 km **Maritime claims:** territorial sea: 12 nm (adjustments made to return a portion of straits to high seas) exclusive economic zone: agreed boundaries or midlines continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation **Climate:** temperate in south with cold, cloudy winters and cool, partly cloudy summers; subarctic in north **Terrain:** mostly flat or gently rolling lowlands; mountains in west **Elevation:** highest point: Kebnekaise South 2,100 m lowest point: reclaimed bay of Lake Hammarsjon, near Kristianstad -2.4 m mean elevation: 320 m **Natural resources:** iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, gold, silver, tungsten, uranium, arsenic, feldspar, timber, hydropower **Land use:** agricultural land: 7.3% (2023 est.) arable land: 6.2% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 1.1% (2023 est.) forest: 68.6% (2023 est.) other: 23.8% (2023 est.) **Irrigated land:** 510 sq km (2016) **Major lakes (area sq km):** fresh water lake(s): Vanern - 5,580 sq km; Vattern - 1,910 sq km; Malaren - 1,140 sq km **Population distribution:** most of the population lives in the south where the climate is milder and there is better connectivity to mainland Europe; population clusters are found along the Baltic coast in the east; the interior areas of the north remain sparsely populated **Natural hazards:** ice floes in the surrounding waters, especially in the Gulf of Bothnia, can interfere with maritime traffic **Geography - note:** strategic location along Danish Straits linking Baltic and North Seas; Sweden has almost 100,000 lakes, the largest of which, Vanern, is the third-largest in Europe ### People and Society **Population:** total: 10,643,745 (2025 est.) male: 5,360,755 female: 5,282,990 **Nationality:** noun: Swede(s) adjective: Swedish **Ethnic groups:** Swedish 79.6%, Syrian 1.9%, Iraqi 1.4%, Finnish 1.3%, other 15.8% (2022 est.) note: data represent the population by country of birth; the indigenous Sami people are estimated to number between 20,000 and 40,000 **Languages:** Swedish (official) major-language sample(s): The World Factbook, den obestridliga källan för grundläggande information. (Swedish) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. note: Finnish, Sami, Romani, Yiddish, and Meankieli are official minority languages **Religions:** Church of Sweden (Lutheran) 53.9%, other (includes Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Baptist, Muslim, Jewish, and Buddhist) 8.9%, none or unspecified 37.2% (2021 est.) note: estimates reflect registered members of faith communities eligible for state funding (not all religions are state-funded and not all people who identify with a particular religion are registered members) and the Church of Sweden **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 17.1% (male 934,668/female 880,310) 15-64 years: 62.1% (male 3,365,754/female 3,208,248) 65 years and over: 20.8% (2024 est.) (male 1,032,279/female 1,168,576) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 60.9 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 27.3 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 33.6 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 3 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 41.2 years (2025 est.) male: 40.1 years female: 42.1 years **Population growth rate:** 0.51% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 10.56 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 9.63 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** 4.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** most of the population lives in the south where the climate is milder and there is better connectivity to mainland Europe; population clusters are found along the Baltic coast in the east; the interior areas of the north remain sparsely populated **Urbanization:** urban population: 88.7% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.89% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 1.700 million STOCKHOLM (capital) (2023) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Mother's mean age at first birth:** 29.7 years (2020 est.) **Maternal mortality ratio:** 4 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 2.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 2.5 deaths/1,000 live births female: 2 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 82.9 years (2024 est.) male: 81.2 years female: 84.7 years **Total fertility rate:** 1.66 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 0.8 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: urban: 99.8% of population (2022 est.) rural: 99.6% of population (2022 est.) total: 99.7% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 0.2% of population (2022 est.) rural: 0.4% of population (2022 est.) total: 0.3% of population (2022 est.) **Health expenditure:** 10.7% of GDP (2022) 19% of national budget (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 4.41 physicians/1,000 population (2021) **Hospital bed density:** 2 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.) **Sanitation facility access:** improved: urban: 99.6% of population (2022 est.) rural: 99.5% of population (2022 est.) total: 99.6% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 0.4% of population (2022 est.) rural: 0.5% of population (2022 est.) total: 0.4% of population (2022 est.) **Obesity - adult prevalence rate:** 20.6% (2016) **Alcohol consumption per capita:** total: 7.1 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 2.6 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 3.4 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 1 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0.1 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) **Tobacco use:** total: 19.9% (2025 est.) male: 25.8% (2025 est.) female: 13.9% (2025 est.) **Currently married women (ages 15-49):** 53.6% (2023 est.) **Education expenditure:** 7.3% of GDP (2022 est.) 15.3% national budget (2022 est.) **School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):** total: 19 years (2023 est.) male: 17 years (2023 est.) female: 20 years (2023 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** marine pollution (Baltic Sea and North Sea); acid rain damage to soil and lakes; air pollution; poor timber-harvesting practices **International environmental agreements:** party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements **Climate:** temperate in south with cold, cloudy winters and cool, partly cloudy summers; subarctic in north **Land use:** agricultural land: 7.3% (2023 est.) arable land: 6.2% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 1.1% (2023 est.) forest: 68.6% (2023 est.) other: 23.8% (2023 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 88.7% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.89% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 43.96 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 5.324 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 36.768 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from consumed natural gas: 1.868 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Particulate matter emissions:** 6 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) **Methane emissions:** energy: 39.6 kt (2022-2024 est.) agriculture: 127.8 kt (2019-2021 est.) waste: 112.7 kt (2019-2021 est.) other: 9.8 kt (2019-2021 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 4.618 million tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 39.7% (2022 est.) **Total water withdrawal:** municipal: 699 million cubic meters (2022 est.) industrial: 1.267 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) agricultural: 102 million cubic meters (2022 est.) **Total renewable water resources:** 174 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) **Geoparks:** total global geoparks and regional networks: 1 global geoparks and regional networks: Platåbergens (2023) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: Kingdom of Sweden conventional short form: Sweden local long form: Konungariket Sverige local short form: Sverige etymology: name derives from the North Germanic Svea tribe that inhabited central Sweden; the tribe's name probably comes from the Old German word sweba, meaning "independent;" the local form of the country's name, Sverige, means "kingdom of the Svea" **Government type:** parliamentary constitutional monarchy **Capital:** name: Stockholm geographic coordinates: 59 20 N, 18 03 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October etymology: the name of the city probably comes from the Swedish words stak (bay) or stock (stake or pole) and holm (island); it was built in the mid-13th century on the site of a fishing village, so the name may refer to building over earlier foundations **Administrative divisions:** 21 counties (lan, singular and plural); Blekinge, Dalarna, Gavleborg, Gotland, Halland, Jamtland, Jonkoping, Kalmar, Kronoberg, Norrbotten, Orebro, Ostergotland, Skane, Sodermanland, Stockholm, Uppsala, Varmland, Vasterbotten, Vasternorrland, Vastmanland, Vastra Gotaland **Legal system:** civil law system influenced by Roman-Germanic law and customary law **Constitution:** history: Sweden has four fundamental laws which together make up the Constitution: The Instrument of Government (several previous; latest 1974); The Act of Succession (enacted 1810; changed in 1937 and 1980); The Freedom of the Press Act (many previous; latest in 1949); The Fundamental Law on Freedom of Expression (adopted 1991) amendment process: proposed by Parliament; passage requires simple majority vote in two consecutive parliamentary terms with an intervening general election; passage also requires approval by simple majority vote in a referendum if Parliament approves a motion for a referendum by one third of its members; the results of such a referendum are only binding if a majority vote against the proposal **International law organization participation:** accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Sweden; in the case of a child born out of wedlock, the mother must be a citizen of Sweden and the father unknown dual citizenship recognized: no, unless the other citizenship was acquired involuntarily residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years **Suffrage:** 18 years of age; universal **Executive branch:** chief of state: King CARL XVI GUSTAF (since 15 September 1973) head of government: Prime Minister Ulf KRISTERSSON (since 18 October 2022) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually becomes the prime minister **Legislative branch:** legislature name: Parliament (Riksdagen) legislative structure: unicameral number of seats: 349 (all directly elected) electoral system: proportional representation scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 4 years most recent election date: 9/11/2022 parties elected and seats per party: Social Democratic Party (SAP) (107); Sweden Democrats (SD) (73); Moderate Party (M) (68); Left Party (VP) (24); Centre Party (CP) (24); Christian Democrats (KD) (19); Green Party (Mpg) (18); Other (16) percentage of women in chamber: 45% expected date of next election: September 2026 **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Supreme Court of Sweden (consists of 16 justices, including the court chairman); Supreme Administrative Court (consists of 18 justices, including the court president) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court and Supreme Administrative Court justices nominated by the Judges Proposal Board, a 9-member nominating body consisting of high-level judges, prosecutors, and members of Parliament; justices appointed by the government; after a probationary period, justices' appointments are permanent subordinate courts: first instance, appellate, general, and administrative courts; specialized courts that handle cases such as land and environment, immigration, labor, markets, and patents **Political parties:** Center Party (Centerpartiet) or C Christian Democrats (Kristdemokraterna) or KD Green Party (Miljopartiet de Grona) or MP Left Party (Vansterpartiet) or V Moderate Party (Moderaterna) or M Sweden Democrats (Sverigedemokraterna) or SD Swedish Social Democratic Party (Socialdemokraterna) or S/SAP The Liberals (Liberalerna) or L **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Urban AHLIN (since 15 September 2023) chancery: 2900 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 467-2600 FAX: [1] (202) 467-2699 email address and website: ambassaden.washington@gov.se https://www.swedenabroad.se/en/embassies/usa-washington/ consulate(s) general: New York, San Francisco **Diplomatic representation from the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Christine TORETTI (since 21 October 2025) embassy: Dag Hammarskjolds Vag 31, SE-115 89 Stockholm mailing address: 5750 Stockholm Place, Washington, DC 20521-5750 telephone: [46] (08) 783-53-00 FAX: [46] (08) 661-19-64 email address and website: STKACSinfo@state.gov https://se.usembassy.gov/ **International organization participation:** ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CD, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EITI (implementing country), EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, G-9, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MONUSCO, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMISS, UNMOGIP, UNOOSA, UNRWA, UN Security Council (temporary), UNSOM, UNTSO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC **Independence:** 6 June 1523 (Gustav VASA elected king of Sweden, marking the abolishment of the Kalmar Union of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden) **National holiday:** National Day, 6 June (1983) note: celebrated as Swedish Flag Day from 1916 to 1982 **Flag:** description: blue with a golden yellow cross extending to the edges of the flag; the cross is shifted to the left side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag) meaning: the colors come from the Swedish coat of arms **National symbol(s):** three crowns, lion **National color(s):** blue, yellow **National anthem(s):** title: "Du Gamla, Du Fria" (Thou Ancient, Thou Free) lyrics/music: Richard DYBECK/traditional history: in use since 1893; also known as "Sang till Norden" (Song of the North); based on a Swedish folk tune; has never been officially adopted _____ title: "Kungssangen" (Royal Song) lyrics/music: Carl Wilhelm August Strandberg/Otto Lindblad history: adopted 1844 as the royal anthem, but also used as the national anthem until 1893; only the first verse is sung if the monarch is present **National heritage:** total World Heritage Sites: 15 (13 cultural, 1 natural, 1 mixed) selected World Heritage Site locales: Royal Domain of Drottningholm (c); Laponian Area (m); High Coast/Kvarken Archipelago (n); Birka and Hovgården (c); Hanseatic Town of Visby (c); Church Town of Gammelstad, Luleå (c); Naval Port of Karlskrona (c); Rock Carvings in Tanum (c); Engelsberg Ironworks (c); Mining Area of the Great Copper Mountain in Falun (c) ### Economy **Economic overview:** high-income, largest Nordic economy; EU member but does not use the euro; export-oriented, led by automotive, electronics, machinery, and pharmaceuticals; highly ranked for competitiveness, R&D investments and governance; recovery, with falling inflation and real wage growth balanced by risks from trade uncertainty **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $668.628 billion (2024 est.) $662.18 billion (2023 est.) $662.937 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** 1% (2024 est.) -0.1% (2023 est.) 1.5% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $63,300 (2024 est.) $62,800 (2023 est.) $63,200 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $610.118 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 2.8% (2024 est.) 8.5% (2023 est.) 8.4% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 1.1% (2024 est.) industry: 22.6% (2024 est.) services: 65.9% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **GDP - composition, by end use:** household consumption: 43.7% (2023 est.) government consumption: 26% (2023 est.) investment in fixed capital: 25% (2023 est.) investment in inventories: -0.1% (2023 est.) exports of goods and services: 55.4% (2023 est.) imports of goods and services: -51.4% (2023 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection **Agricultural products:** milk, wheat, sugar beets, barley, potatoes, oats, rapeseed, pork, chicken, beef (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage **Industries:** iron and steel, precision equipment (bearings, radio and telephone parts, armaments), wood pulp and paper products, processed foods, motor vehicles **Industrial production growth rate:** 0.3% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency **Labor force:** 5.699 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work **Unemployment rate:** 8.6% (2024 est.) 7.7% (2023 est.) 7.4% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment **Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):** total: 23.8% (2024 est.) male: 24.3% (2024 est.) female: 23.2% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment **Population below poverty line:** 16.1% (2022 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line **Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income:** 31.6 (2022 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality **Average household expenditures:** on food: 13% of household expenditures (2023 est.) on alcohol and tobacco: 3.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.) **Household income or consumption by percentage share:** lowest 10%: 2.5% (2022 est.) highest 10%: 24.7% (2022 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population **Remittances:** 0.8% of GDP (2024 est.) 0.7% of GDP (2023 est.) 0.6% of GDP (2022 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Budget:** revenues: $195.468 billion (2022 est.) expenditures: $191.095 billion (2022 est.) note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated **Public debt:** 36.9% of GDP (2022 est.) note: central government debt as a % of GDP **Taxes and other revenues:** 27.6% (of GDP) (2022 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP **Current account balance:** $45.274 billion (2024 est.) $40.819 billion (2023 est.) $27.404 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars **Exports:** $338.852 billion (2024 est.) $329.332 billion (2023 est.) $318.203 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** Germany 10%, USA 10%, Denmark 8%, Norway 6%, Netherlands 5% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** cars, refined petroleum, packaged medicine, paper, vehicle parts/accessories (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports:** $309.526 billion (2024 est.) $304.194 billion (2023 est.) $304.101 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** Germany 17%, Netherlands 10%, Norway 9%, Denmark 6%, China 6% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** cars, crude petroleum, refined petroleum, vehicle parts/accessories, garments (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:** $62.569 billion (2024 est.) $60.863 billion (2023 est.) $64.289 billion (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars **Exchange rates:** Swedish kronor (SEK) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 10.568 (2024 est.) 10.61 (2023 est.) 10.114 (2022 est.) 8.577 (2021 est.) 9.21 (2020 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.) **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 55.307 million kW (2023 est.) consumption: 125.273 billion kWh (2023 est.) exports: 36.151 billion kWh (2023 est.) imports: 7.335 billion kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 9.109 billion kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** fossil fuels: 0.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) nuclear: 28.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 1.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) wind: 21% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: 40.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) biomass and waste: 7.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Nuclear energy:** Number of operational nuclear reactors: 6 (2025) Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors: 7.01GW (2025 est.) Percent of total electricity production: 28.6% (2023 est.) Number of nuclear reactors permanently shut down: 7 (2025) **Coal:** production: 1.042 million metric tons (2023 est.) consumption: 3.17 million metric tons (2023 est.) exports: 23,000 metric tons (2023 est.) imports: 2.078 million metric tons (2023 est.) proven reserves: 5 million metric tons (2023 est.) **Petroleum:** total petroleum production: 11,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 270,000 bbl/day (2024 est.) **Natural gas:** consumption: 896.109 million cubic meters (2023 est.) exports: 10.625 million cubic meters (2023 est.) imports: 897.487 million cubic meters (2023 est.) **Energy consumption per capita:** 142.102 million Btu/person (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 898,000 (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 9 (2023 est.) **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 14.9 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 141 (2024 est.) **Broadcast media:** publicly owned TV broadcaster has 2 terrestrial networks plus regional stations; multiple privately owned TV broadcasters operating nationally, regionally, and locally; about 50 local TV stations; widespread access to pan-Nordic and international broadcasters through multi-channel cable and satellite TV; publicly owned radio broadcaster has 3 national stations and a network of 25 regional channels; roughly 100 privately owned local radio stations, with some consolidating into near-national networks; an estimated 900 community and neighborhood radio stations broadcast intermittently **Internet country code:** .se **Internet users:** percent of population: 96% (2023 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 4.3 million (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 41 (2023 est.) ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** SE **Airports:** 206 (2025) **Heliports:** 11 (2025) **Railways:** total: 10,910 km (2020) 8,184 km electrified narrow gauge: 65 km **Merchant marine:** total: 361 (2023) by type: general cargo 44, oil tanker 18, other 299 **Ports:** total ports: 92 (2024) large: 3 medium: 10 small: 30 very small: 49 ports with oil terminals: 49 key ports: Falkenberg, Goteborg, Helsingborg, Karlsborg, Karlshamn, Lulea, Malmo, Norrkoping, Stockholm, Sundsvall, Uddevalla, Varberg, Vasteras ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** Swedish Armed Forces (Försvarsmakten): Army, Navy, Air Force, Home Guard (202) **Military expenditures:** 2.5% of GDP (2025 est.) 2.3% of GDP (2024 est.) 1.7% of GDP (2023 est.) 1.5% of GDP (2022 est.) 1.4% of GDP (2021 est.) **Military and security service personnel strengths:** approximately 25,000 active military personnel; approximately 21,000 Home Guard (2025) note 1: SAF personnel are divided into continuously serving (full-time) and temporary service troops (part-timers who serve periodically and have another main employer or attend school); additional personnel have signed service agreements with the SAF and mostly serve in the Home Guard note 2: in 2021, Sweden announced plans that increase the total size of the armed forces to about 100,000 personnel by 2030 **Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:** the SAF's inventory is comprised of mostly domestically produced armaments alongside smaller amounts of imported Western systems; Sweden's defense industry produces a range of air, land, and naval systems, including armored vehicles, combat aircraft, and submarines; it also produces weapons systems jointly with other countries (2025) **Military service age and obligation:** 18 years of age for voluntary and selective conscripted service for men and women; conscript service obligation typically 9-15 months depending on the branch of service and position, with a reserve commitment up to age 45 (2026) **Military deployments:** approximately 600 Latvia (NATO) (2025) **Military - note:** the Swedish military is responsible for deterrence and the defense of the country and its territories against armed attack, supporting Sweden’s national security interests, providing societal support, such as humanitarian aid, and contributing to international peacekeeping and peacemaking operations; the military has a relatively small active duty force that is designed to be rapidly mobilized in a crisis with a trained reserve and a Home Guard Sweden maintained a policy of military non-alignment for over 200 years before applying for NATO membership in May 2022 following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine; it became a NATO member in March 2024; prior to membership, Stockholm joined NATO’s Partnership for Peace program in 1994 and contributed to NATO-led missions, including those in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Kosovo; the military cooperates closely with the forces of other Nordic countries through the Nordic Defense Cooperation (NORDEFCO; established 2009), which consists of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden; Sweden is a signatory of the EU’s Common Security and Defense Policy (CSDP) and contributes to CSDP missions and operations, including EU battlegroups; it also participates in UN-led missions; Sweden has close bilateral security relations with some individual NATO member states, particularly Finland, Germany, Norway, the UK, and the US (2025) ### Space **Space agency/agencies:** Swedish National Space Agency (SNSA; established 1972; known until 2018 as the Swedish National Space Board) (2025) **Space launch site(s):** Esrange Space Center (Kiruna) (2025) **Space program overview:** aims to have one of Europe's leading space programs; produces and operates satellites; builds and launches sounding rockets; involved in the research, development, production, and operations of a variety of other space-related areas, including astronomy, atmospheric monitoring, geographic information systems, infrared imaging, meteorology, propulsion systems, remote sensing, satellite subsystems, spacecraft systems and structures, research, and telecommunications; member of the ESA and program is integrated into its framework; works extensively with foreign space agencies, in particular through the ESA and EU and their member states, as well as with the US; participates in programs such as Europe's Copernicus Earth observation and the Galileo global navigation satellite system, France's Pleiades project, and the Square Kilometer Array Project; has a large commercial space industry, including state-owned enterprises (2025) **Key space-program milestones:** 1950s - space program initiated with the establishment of a space observatory and the Swedish Space Research Committee 1961 - launched first sounding rocket 1986 - first scientific satellite (Viking) launched on European rocket 1989 - first communications satellite (Tele-X) launched on European rocket 2006 - first astronaut into space on US Space Shuttle 2019 - established a space data lab for artificial intelligence-based analysis of imagery data 2024 - signed US-led Artemis Accords for space and lunar exploration; launched first military communications satellite (GNA-3); adopted its first defense and security space strategy ### Terrorism **Terrorist group(s):** Terrorist group(s): Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide ### Transnational Issues **Refugees and internally displaced persons:** refugees: 168,519 (2024 est.) stateless persons: 6,835 (2024 est.) --- ## Switzerland **Slug:** switzerland **Region:** Europe **Flag:** 🇨🇭 **Codes:** cek: sz, iso2: CH, iso3: CHE, iso_num: 756, genc: CHE, stanag: CHE, internet: .ch ### Introduction **Background:** The Swiss Confederation was founded in 1291 as a defensive alliance among three cantons. In succeeding years, other localities joined the original three. The Swiss Confederation secured its independence from the Holy Roman Empire in 1499. A constitution of 1848, which was modified in 1874 to allow voters to introduce referenda on proposed laws, replaced the confederation with a centralized federal government. The major European powers have long honored Switzerland's sovereignty and neutrality, and the country was not involved in either World War. The political and economic integration of Europe over the past half-century, as well as Switzerland's role in many UN and international organizations, has strengthened Switzerland's ties with its neighbors. However, the country did not officially become a UN member until 2002. Switzerland remains active in many UN and international organizations but retains a strong commitment to neutrality. ### Geography **Location:** Central Europe, east of France, north of Italy **Geographic coordinates:** 47 00 N, 8 00 E **Map references:** Europe **Area:** total : 41,277 sq km land: 39,997 sq km water: 1,280 sq km **Area - comparative:** slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey **Land boundaries:** total: 1,770 km border countries (5): Austria 158 km; France 525 km; Italy 698 km; Liechtenstein 41 km; Germany 348 km **Coastline:** 0 km (landlocked) **Maritime claims:** none (landlocked) **Climate:** temperate, but varies with altitude; cold, cloudy, rainy/snowy winters; cool to warm, cloudy, humid summers with occasional showers **Terrain:** mostly mountains (Alps in south, Jura in northwest) with a central plateau of rolling hills, plains, and large lakes **Elevation:** highest point: Dufourspitze on Monte Rosa 4,634 m lowest point: Lake Maggiore 195 m mean elevation: 1,350 m **Natural resources:** hydropower potential, timber, salt **Land use:** agricultural land: 37.8% (2023 est.) arable land: 10% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0.6% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 27.1% (2023 est.) forest: 32% (2023 est.) other: 32.6% (2023 est.) **Irrigated land:** 494 sq km (2020) **Major lakes (area sq km):** fresh water lake(s): Lake Constance (shared with Germany and Austria) - 540 sq km; Lake Geneva (shared with France) - 580 sq km **Major rivers (by length in km):** Rhein (Rhine) river source (shared with Germany, France, and Netherlands [m]) - 1,233 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth **Major watersheds (area sq km):** Atlantic Ocean drainage: Rhine-Maas (198,735 sq km), (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km), (Adriatic Sea) Po (76,997 sq km), (Mediterranean Sea) Rhone (100,543 sq km) **Population distribution:** population distribution corresponds to elevation, with the northern and western areas far more heavily populated; the higher Alps of the south limit settlement **Natural hazards:** avalanches, landslides; flash floods **Geography - note:** landlocked; crossroads of northern and southern Europe; along with southeastern France, northern Italy, and southwestern Austria, has the highest elevations in the Alps ### People and Society **Population:** total: 8,925,741 (2025 est.) male: 4,436,858 female: 4,488,883 **Nationality:** noun: Swiss (singular and plural) adjective: Swiss **Ethnic groups:** Swiss 69.2%, German 4.2%, Italian 3.2%, Portuguese 2.5%, French 2.1%, Kosovan 1.1%, Turkish 1%, other 16.7% (2020 est.) note: data represent permanent and non-permanent resident population by country of birth **Languages:** German (or Swiss German) (official) 62.1%, French (official) 22.8%, Italian (official) 8%, English 5.7%, Portuguese 3.5%, Albanian 3.3%, Serbo-Croatian 2.3%, Spanish 2.3%, Romansh (official) 0.5%, other 7.9% (2019 est.) major-language sample(s): Das World Factbook, die unverzichtbare Quelle für grundlegende Informationen. (German) The World Factbook, une source indispensable d'informations de base. (French) L'Almanacco dei fatti del mondo, l'indispensabile fonte per le informazioni di base. (Italian) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. note: shares sum to more than 100% because respondents could indicate more than one main language **Religions:** Roman Catholic 34.4%, Protestant 22.5%, other Christian 5.7%, Muslim 5.4%, other 1.5%, none 29.4%, unspecified 1.1% (2020 est.) **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 15.1% (male 685,221/female 650,802) 15-64 years: 64.6% (male 2,887,767/female 2,834,842) 65 years and over: 20.3% (2024 est.) (male 830,117/female 971,825) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 55.8 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 23.5 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 32.3 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 3.1 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 44.4 years (2025 est.) male: 43.5 years female: 44.9 years **Population growth rate:** 0.72% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 10.01 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 8.61 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** 5.79 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** population distribution corresponds to elevation, with the northern and western areas far more heavily populated; the higher Alps of the south limit settlement **Urbanization:** urban population: 74.2% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.79% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 1.432 million Zurich, 441,000 BERN (capital) (2023) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Mother's mean age at first birth:** 31.1 years (2020 est.) **Maternal mortality ratio:** 5 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 3 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 3.4 deaths/1,000 live births female: 2.5 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 83.9 years (2024 est.) male: 82 years female: 85.8 years **Total fertility rate:** 1.59 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 0.78 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.) rural: 100% of population (2022 est.) total: 100% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.) rural: 0% of population (2022 est.) total: 0% of population (2022 est.) **Health expenditure:** 11.8% of GDP (2021) 12.4% of national budget (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 4.48 physicians/1,000 population (2022) **Hospital bed density:** 4.4 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.) **Sanitation facility access:** improved: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.) rural: 100% of population (2022 est.) total: 100% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.) rural: 0% of population (2022 est.) total: 0% of population (2022 est.) **Obesity - adult prevalence rate:** 19.5% (2016) **Alcohol consumption per capita:** total: 9.41 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 3.17 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 4.35 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 1.76 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0.12 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) **Tobacco use:** total: 22.8% (2025 est.) male: 25.5% (2025 est.) female: 20.1% (2025 est.) **Currently married women (ages 15-49):** 57.5% (2022 est.) **Education expenditure:** 4.9% of GDP (2022 est.) 15.4% national budget (2022 est.) **School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):** total: 17 years (2023 est.) male: 17 years (2023 est.) female: 17 years (2023 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from agricultural fertilizers; soil pollution from chemical contaminants; soil erosion; loss of biodiversity **International environmental agreements:** party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements **Climate:** temperate, but varies with altitude; cold, cloudy, rainy/snowy winters; cool to warm, cloudy, humid summers with occasional showers **Land use:** agricultural land: 37.8% (2023 est.) arable land: 10% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0.6% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 27.1% (2023 est.) forest: 32% (2023 est.) other: 32.6% (2023 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 74.2% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.79% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 33.306 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 195,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 27.528 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from consumed natural gas: 5.583 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Particulate matter emissions:** 9 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 6.08 million tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 30.1% (2022 est.) **Total water withdrawal:** municipal: 930 million cubic meters (2022) industrial: 642.7 million cubic meters (2022 est.) agricultural: 160.1 million cubic meters (2022 est.) **Total renewable water resources:** 53.5 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: Swiss Confederation conventional short form: Switzerland local long form: Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft (German)/ Confederation Suisse (French)/ Confederazione Svizzera (Italian)/ Confederaziun Svizra (Romansh) local short form: Schweiz (German)/ Suisse (French)/ Svizzera (Italian)/ Svizra (Romansh) abbreviation: CH etymology: name derives from the canton of Schwyz, one of the founding cantons of the Swiss Confederacy formed in the late 13th century **Government type:** federal republic (formally a confederation) **Capital:** name: Bern geographic coordinates: 46 55 N, 7 28 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October etymology: the origin of the name is uncertain; it is sometimes associated with the German word Baer (bear), but a more likely origin is an Indo-European root word ber, meaning "marshy place" **Administrative divisions:** 26 cantons (cantons, singular - canton in French; cantoni, singular - cantone in Italian; Kantone, singular - Kanton in German); Aargau, Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Appenzell Innerrhoden, Basel-Landschaft, Basel-Stadt, Berne/Bern, Fribourg/Freiburg, Genève (Geneva), Glarus, Graubuenden/Grigioni/Grischun, Jura, Luzern (Lucerne), Neuchatel, Nidwalden, Obwalden, Sankt Gallen, Schaffhausen, Schwyz, Solothurn, Thurgau, Ticino, Uri, Valais/Wallis, Vaud, Zug, Zuerich note 1: the names listed above are in the canton's official language(s), with conventional names in parentheses note 2: 6 of the cantons -- Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Appenzell Innerrhoden, Basel-Landschaft, Basel-Stadt, Nidwalden, Obwalden -- are referred to as half cantons because they elect only one member (instead of two) to the Council of States, and in popular referendums where a majority of popular votes and cantonal votes are required, these 6 cantons have a half vote **Legal system:** civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts, except federal decrees of a general obligatory character **Constitution:** history: previous 1848, 1874; latest adopted by referendum 18 April 1999, effective 1 January 2000 amendment process: proposed by the two houses of the Federal Assembly or by petition of at least one hundred thousand voters (called the "federal popular initiative"); passage of proposals requires majority vote in a referendum; following drafting of an amendment by the Assembly, its passage requires approval by majority vote in a referendum and approval by the majority of cantons **International law organization participation:** accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Switzerland dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 12 years including at least 3 of the last 5 years prior to application **Suffrage:** 18 years of age; universal **Executive branch:** chief of state: President of the Swiss Confederation Guy PARMELIN (since 1 January 2026) head of government: President of the Swiss Confederation Guy PARMELIN (since 1 January 2026) cabinet: Federal Council or Bundesrat (in German), Conseil Federal (in French), Consiglio Federale (in Italian) indirectly elected by the Federal Assembly for a 4-year term election/appointment process: president and vice president elected by the Federal Assembly from among members of the Federal Council for a 1-year, non-consecutive term most recent election date: 11 December 2024 election results: 2024: Karin KELLER-SUTTER elected president for 2025; Federal Assembly vote - Karin KELLER-SUTTER (FDP.The Liberals) 168 of 203; Guy PARLEMIN (SVP) elected vice president for 2025; Federal Assembly vote - 196 of 219 2023: Viola AMHERD elected president for 2024; Federal Assembly vote - Viola AMHERD (The Center) 158 of 204; Karin KELLER-SUTTER (FDP.The Liberals) elected vice president for 2024; Federal Assembly vote - 138 of 196 2022: Alain BERSET elected president for 2023; Federal Assembly vote - Alain BERSET (SP) 140 OF 181; Viola AMHERD elected vice president; Federal assembly vote - 207 of 223 expected date of next election: December 2025 note: the Federal Council, composed of 7 federal councilors, constitutes the federal government of Switzerland; council members rotate the 1-year term of federal president **Legislative branch:** legislature name: Federal Assembly (Bundesversammlung - Assemblée fédérale - Assemblea federale) legislative structure: bicameral **Legislative branch - lower chamber:** chamber name: National Council (Nationalrat - Conseil national - Consiglio nazionale) number of seats: 200 (all directly elected) electoral system: proportional representation scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 4 years most recent election date: 10/22/2023 parties elected and seats per party: Swiss People's Party (SVP/UDC) (62); Socialist Party (SP/PS) (41); Centre Party (29); FDP/The Liberals (FDP/PLR) (28); Green Party (GPS/PES) (23); Liberal Green Party (GLP/PVL) (10); Other (7) percentage of women in chamber: 39.5% expected date of next election: October 2027 **Legislative branch - upper chamber:** chamber name: Council of States (Ständerat - Conseil des Etats - Consiglio degli Stati) number of seats: 46 (all directly elected) electoral system: other systems scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 4 years most recent election date: 10/22/2023 parties elected and seats per party: Centre Party (15); FDP/The Liberals (FDP/PLR) (11); Socialist Party (SP/PS) (9); Swiss People's Party (SVP/UDC) (6); Green Party (GPS/PES) (3); Other (2) percentage of women in chamber: 33.3% expected date of next election: October 2027 **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Federal Supreme Court (consists of 38 justices and 19 deputy justices organized into 7 divisions) judge selection and term of office: judges elected by the Federal Assembly for 6-year terms; judges are affiliated with political parties and are elected according to linguistic and regional criteria in approximate proportion to party representation in the Federal Assembly subordinate courts: Federal Criminal Court (established in 2004); Federal Administrative Court (established in 2007) note: each of Switzerland's 26 cantons has its own courts **Political parties:** The Center (Die Mitte, Alleanza del Centro, Le Centre, Allianza dal Center) (merger of the Christian Democratic People's Party and the Conservative Democratic Party) Evangelical Peoples' Party or EVP/PEV Federal Democrats or EDU Geneva Citizens Movement or MCR/MCG Green Liberal Party (Gruenliberale Partei or GLP, Parti vert liberale or PVL, Partito Verde-Liberale or PVL, Partida Verde Liberale or PVL) Green Party (Gruene Partei der Schweiz or Gruene, Parti Ecologiste Suisse or Les Verts, Partito Ecologista Svizzero or I Verdi, Partida Ecologica Svizra or La Verda) The Liberals or FDP.The Liberals (FDP.Die Liberalen, PLR.Les Liberaux-Radicaux, PLR.I Liberali, Ils Liberals) Social Democratic Party (Sozialdemokratische Partei der Schweiz or SP, Parti Socialiste Suisse or PSS, Partito Socialista Svizzero or PSS, Partida Socialdemocratica de la Svizra or PSS) Swiss People's Party (Schweizerische Volkspartei or SVP, Union Democratique du Centre or UDC, Unione Democratica di Centro or UDC, Uniun Democratica dal Center or UDC) **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Ralph HECKNER (since 18 September 2024) chancery: 2900 Cathedral Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 745-7900 FAX: [1] (202) 387-2564 email address and website: washington@eda.admin.ch https://www.eda.admin.ch/washington consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, New York, San Francisco consulate(s): Boston **Diplomatic representation from the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Callista GINGRICH (since 23 October 2025) note - also accredited to Liechtenstein embassy: Sulgeneckstrasse 19, CH-3007 Bern mailing address: 5110 Bern Place, Washington DC 20521-5110 telephone: [41] (031) 357-70-11 FAX: [41] (031) 357-73-20 email address and website: https://ch.usembassy.gov/ **International organization participation:** ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Australia Group, BIS, CD, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EFTA, EITI (implementing country), ESA, FAO, FATF, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAIA (observer), MIGA, MONUSCO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club, PCA, PFP, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMISS, UNMOGIP, UNOOSA, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC **Independence:** 1 August 1291 (founding of the Swiss Confederation) **National holiday:** Founding of the Swiss Confederation in 1291 note: celebrated as Swiss National Day since 1 August 1891 **Flag:** description: red square with an equal-armed white cross in the center that does not extend to the edges of the flag history: the origin of the flag is unclear, but a white cross was used to identify Swiss Confederation troops at the Battle of Laupen (1339) note: in 1863, the newly formed International Red Cross chose the inverse of the Swiss flag -- a red cross on a white field -- as its symbol **National symbol(s):** Swiss cross (white cross on red field) **National color(s):** red, white **National anthem(s):** title: the Swiss anthem has four names: "Schweizerpsalm" [German] "Cantique Suisse" [French] "Salmo svizzero," [Italian] "Psalm svizzer" [Romansch] (Swiss Psalm) lyrics/music: Leonhard WIDMER [German], Charles CHATELANAT [French], Camillo VALSANGIACOMO [Italian], and Flurin CAMATHIAS [Romansch]/Alberik ZWYSSIG history: adopted 1981; all four of the versions (German, French, Italian, Romansch) are considered official **National heritage:** total World Heritage Sites: 13 (9 cultural, 4 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Old City of Berne (c); Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch (n); Monte San Giorgio (n); Abbey of St Gall (c); Three Castles, Defensive Wall, and Ramparts of the Market-Town of Bellinzona (c); Rhaetian Railway in the Albula/Bernina Landscapes (c); La Chaux-de-Fonds/Le Locle, Watchmaking Town Planning (c); Prehistoric Pile Dwellings around the Alps (c); Benedictine Convent of St John at Müstair (c); Lavaux, Vineyard Terraces (c) ### Economy **Economic overview:** high-income, non-EU European economy; top ten in GDP per capita; renowned banking and financial hub; low unemployment and inflation; slowed GDP growth post-pandemic; highly skilled but aging workforce; key pharmaceutical and precision manufacturing exporter; leader in innovation and competitiveness indices **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $741.035 billion (2024 est.) $731.508 billion (2023 est.) $726.544 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** 1.3% (2024 est.) 0.7% (2023 est.) 3% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $82,000 (2024 est.) $82,300 (2023 est.) $82,800 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $936.564 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 1.1% (2024 est.) 2.1% (2023 est.) 2.8% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 0.6% (2024 est.) industry: 24.7% (2024 est.) services: 72% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **GDP - composition, by end use:** household consumption: 51.1% (2023 est.) government consumption: 11.3% (2023 est.) investment in fixed capital: 25.8% (2023 est.) investment in inventories: 0.2% (2023 est.) exports of goods and services: 73.3% (2023 est.) imports of goods and services: -62% (2023 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection **Agricultural products:** milk, sugar beets, wheat, potatoes, pork, apples, barley, beef, maize, grapes (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage **Industries:** machinery, chemicals, watches, textiles, precision instruments, tourism, banking, insurance, pharmaceuticals **Industrial production growth rate:** 1.7% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency **Labor force:** 5.153 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work **Unemployment rate:** 4.2% (2024 est.) 4.1% (2023 est.) 4.2% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment **Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):** total: 7.9% (2024 est.) male: 8.3% (2024 est.) female: 7.5% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment **Population below poverty line:** 15.8% (2021 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line **Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income:** 33.8 (2021 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality **Average household expenditures:** on food: 9% of household expenditures (2023 est.) on alcohol and tobacco: 3.5% of household expenditures (2023 est.) **Household income or consumption by percentage share:** lowest 10%: 3% (2021 est.) highest 10%: 26.6% (2021 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population **Remittances:** 0.4% of GDP (2024 est.) 0.4% of GDP (2023 est.) 0.4% of GDP (2022 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Budget:** revenues: $153.795 billion (2023 est.) expenditures: $152.488 billion (2023 est.) note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated **Public debt:** 19.9% of GDP (2023 est.) note: central government debt as a % of GDP **Taxes and other revenues:** 9% (of GDP) (2023 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP **Current account balance:** $47.162 billion (2024 est.) $47.455 billion (2023 est.) $72.325 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars **Exports:** $675.059 billion (2024 est.) $654.175 billion (2023 est.) $628.737 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** Germany 14%, China 12%, USA 11%, Italy 5%, Turkey 5% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** gold, packaged medicine, vaccines, nitrogen compounds, base metal watches (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports:** $582.554 billion (2024 est.) $556.351 billion (2023 est.) $518.002 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** Germany 17%, USA 9%, Italy 8%, France 6%, China 5% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** gold, packaged medicine, vaccines, cars, jewelry (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:** $909.366 billion (2024 est.) $863.892 billion (2023 est.) $923.628 billion (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars **Exchange rates:** Swiss francs (CHF) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 0.88 (2024 est.) 0.898 (2023 est.) 0.955 (2022 est.) 0.914 (2021 est.) 0.939 (2020 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.) **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 26.502 million kW (2023 est.) consumption: 55.643 billion kWh (2023 est.) exports: 33.856 billion kWh (2023 est.) imports: 27.462 billion kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 4.81 billion kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** fossil fuels: 0.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) nuclear: 34.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 6.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) wind: 0.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: 53% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) biomass and waste: 4.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Nuclear energy:** Number of operational nuclear reactors: 4 (2025) Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors: 2.97GW (2025 est.) Percent of total electricity production: 32.4% (2023 est.) Number of nuclear reactors permanently shut down: 2 (2025) **Coal:** consumption: 126,000 metric tons (2023 est.) exports: 300 metric tons (2023 est.) imports: 156,000 metric tons (2023 est.) **Petroleum:** total petroleum production: 300 bbl/day (2023 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 194,000 bbl/day (2024 est.) **Natural gas:** consumption: 2.915 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) imports: 2.869 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) **Energy consumption per capita:** 99.578 million Btu/person (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 3.003 million (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 34 (2023 est.) **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 11.6 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 129 (2024 est.) **Broadcast media:** publicly owned Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SRG/SSR) has 8 national TV networks, 3 broadcasting in German, 3 in French, and 2 in Italian; private commercial TV stations broadcast regionally and locally; German, Italian, and French TV broadcasts widely available via multi-channel cable and satellite TV; SRG/SSR has 17 radio stations (2019) **Internet country code:** .ch **Internet users:** percent of population: 97% (2023 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 4.33 million (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 49 (2023 est.) ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** HB **Airports:** 66 (2025) **Heliports:** 52 (2025) **Railways:** total: 5,296 km (2020) 5,296 km electrified; Switzerland remains the only country with a fully electrified network **Merchant marine:** total: 17 (2023) by type: bulk carrier 14, general cargo 1, other 2 (includes Liechtenstein) ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** Swiss Armed Forces (aka Swiss Army or Schweizer Armee); Army (aka Land Forces), Swiss Air Force (2025) note: the federal police maintain internal security and report to the Federal Department of Justice and Police **Military expenditures:** 0.7% of GDP (2024 est.) 0.7% of GDP (2023 est.) 0.7% of GDP (2022 est.) 0.7% of GDP (2021 est.) 0.7% of GDP (2020 est.) **Military and security service personnel strengths:** approximately 145,000 Swiss Armed Forces (2024) note: the strength figures include professional cadre (approximately 20,000 personnel), people awaiting or participating in mandatory annual training, and people who have already completed their training service obligation **Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:** the military's inventory includes a mix of domestically produced and imported European and US weapons systems; the Swiss defense industry produces a range of military land vehicles (2025) **Military service age and obligation:** every Swiss man 18-30 is obligated to serve in the military or the alternative civilian service; women can serve on a voluntary basis; required military service is 245 days, including 18-21 weeks of basic training generally between the ages of 19-25, followed by six three-week recalls for refresher training over the following nine years; the system offers opportunities for conscripts to train as non-commissioned and commissioned officers in the militia with longer service commitments (2026) note: alternative civilian service is up to 370 days or 1.5x as many days as military service **Military deployments:** 200 Kosovo (NATO/KFOR) (2025) **Military - note:** the Swiss military is responsible for territorial defense, limited support to international disaster response and peacekeeping, and providing support to civil authorities when their resources are not sufficient to ward off threats to internal security or provide sufficient relief during disasters; Switzerland has long maintained a policy of military neutrality but does periodically participate in EU, NATO, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), and UN military and peacekeeping operations; however, Swiss units will only participate in operations under the mandate of the UN or OSCE; Switzerland joined NATO’s Partnership for Peace program in 1996; it has contributed to the NATO-led force in Kosovo (KFOR) since 1999 (2025) ### Terrorism **Terrorist group(s):** Terrorist group(s): Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide ### Transnational Issues **Refugees and internally displaced persons:** refugees: 213,177 (2024 est.) IDPs: 97 (2024 est.) stateless persons: 1,267 (2024 est.) --- ## Ukraine **Slug:** ukraine **Region:** Europe **Flag:** 🇺🇦 **Codes:** cek: up, iso2: UA, iso3: UKR, iso_num: 804, genc: UKR, stanag: UKR, internet: .ua ### Introduction **Background:** Ukraine was the center of the first eastern Slavic state, Kyivan Rus, which was the largest and most powerful state in Europe during the 10th and 11th centuries. Weakened by internecine quarrels and Mongol invasions, Kyivan Rus was incorporated into the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and eventually into the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. The cultural and religious legacy of Kyivan Rus laid the foundation for Ukrainian nationalism. A new Ukrainian state, the Cossack Hetmanate, was established during the mid-17th century after an uprising against the Poles. Despite continuous Muscovite pressure, the Hetmanate managed to remain autonomous for well over 100 years. During the latter part of the 18th century, the Russian Empire absorbed most Ukrainian territory. After czarist Russia collapsed in 1917, Ukraine -- which has long been known as the region's "bread basket" for its agricultural production -- achieved a short-lived period of independence (1917-20), but the country was reconquered and endured a Soviet rule that engineered two famines (1921-22 and 1932-33) in which over eight million died. In World War II, German and Soviet armies were responsible for seven to eight million more deaths. In 1986, a sudden power surge during a reactor-systems test at Ukraine's Chernobyl power station triggered the worst nuclear disaster in history, releasing massive amounts of radioactive material. Although Ukraine overwhelmingly voted for independence in 1991 as the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) dissolved, democracy and prosperity remained elusive, with the legacy of state control, patronage politics, and endemic corruption stalling efforts at economic reform, privatization, and civil liberties. In 2004 and 2005, a mass protest dubbed the "Orange Revolution" forced the authorities to overturn a presidential election and allow a new internationally monitored vote that swept into power a reformist slate under Viktor YUSHCHENKO. Rival Viktor YANUKOVYCH became prime minister in 2006 and was elected president in 2010. In 2012, Ukraine held legislative elections that Western observers widely criticized as corrupt. In 2013, YANUKOVYCH backtracked on a trade and cooperation agreement with the EU -- in favor of closer economic ties with Russia -- and then used force against protestors who supported the agreement, leading to a three-month protestor occupation of Kyiv's central square. The government's use of violence to break up the protest camp in 2014 led to multiple deaths, international condemnation, a failed political deal, and the president's abrupt departure for Russia. Pro-West President Petro POROSHENKO took office later that year; Volodymyr ZELENSKYY succeeded him in 2019. Shortly after YANUKOVYCH's departure in 2014, Russian President Vladimir PUTIN ordered the invasion of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula. In response, the UN passed a resolution confirming Ukraine's sovereignty and independence. In mid-2014, Russia began an armed conflict in two of Ukraine's eastern provinces. International efforts to end the conflict failed, and by 2022, more than 14,000 civilians were killed or wounded. On 24 February 2022, Russia escalated the conflict by invading the country on several fronts, in what has become the largest conventional military attack on a sovereign state in Europe since World War II. Russia made substantial gains in the early weeks of the invasion but underestimated Ukrainian resolve and combat capabilities. Despite Ukrainian resistance, Russia has laid claim to four Ukrainian oblasts -- Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia -- although none is fully under Russian control. The international community has not recognized the annexations. The invasion has also created Europe's largest refugee crisis since World War II, with over six million Ukrainian refugees recorded globally. It remains one of the two largest displacement crises worldwide (the other is the conflict in Syria). President ZELENSKYY has focused on boosting Ukrainian identity to unite the country behind the goals of ending the war through reclaiming territory and advancing Ukraine’s candidacy for EU membership. ### Geography **Location:** Eastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Poland, Belarus, Romania, and Moldova in the west and Russia in the east **Geographic coordinates:** 49 00 N, 32 00 E **Map references:** AsiaEurope **Area:** total : 603,550 sq km land: 579,330 sq km water: 24,220 sq km note: Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, an area of approximately 27,000 sq km (10,400 sq miles) **Area - comparative:** almost four times the size of Georgia; slightly smaller than Texas **Land boundaries:** total: 5,581 km border countries (6): Belarus 1,111 km; Hungary 128 km; Moldova 1,202 km; Poland 498 km; Romania 601 km; Russia 1,944 km, Slovakia 97 km **Coastline:** 2,782 km **Maritime claims:** territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 m or to the depth of exploitation **Climate:** temperate continental; Mediterranean only on the southern Crimean coast; precipitation disproportionately distributed, highest in west and north, lesser in east and southeast; winters vary from cool along the Black Sea to cold farther inland; warm summers across the greater part of the country, hot in the south **Terrain:** mostly fertile plains (steppes) and plateaus, with mountains found only in the west (the Carpathians) or in the extreme south of the Crimean Peninsula **Elevation:** highest point: Hora Hoverla 2,061 m lowest point: Black Sea 0 m mean elevation: 175 m **Natural resources:** iron ore, coal, manganese, natural gas, oil, salt, sulfur, graphite, titanium, magnesium, kaolin, nickel, mercury, timber, arable land **Land use:** agricultural land: 71.3% (2023 est.) arable land: 56.8% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 1.5% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 13% (2023 est.) forest: 17.3% (2023 est.) other: 10.4% (2023 est.) **Irrigated land:** 1,000 sq km (2022) **Major rivers (by length in km):** Dunay (Danube) (shared with Germany [s], Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Moldova, and Romania [m]) - 2,888 km; Dnipro (Dnieper) river mouth (shared with Russia [s] and Belarus) - 2,287 km; Dnister (Dniester) river source and mouth (shared with Moldova) - 1,411 km; Vistula (shared with Poland [s/m] and Belarus) - 1,213 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth **Major watersheds (area sq km):** Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km), Don (458,694 sq km), Dnieper (533,966 sq km) **Population distribution:** densest settlement in the eastern (Donbas) and western regions; notable concentrations in and around major urban areas of Kyiv, Kharkiv, Donets'k, Dnipropetrovs'k, and Odesa note: the ongoing war with Russia has shifted significant portions of the population, particularly in the east **Natural hazards:** occasional floods; occasional droughts **Geography - note:** strategic position at the crossroads between Europe and Asia; second-largest country in Europe after Russia ### People and Society **Population:** total: 36,529,111 (2025 est.) male: 17,669,741 female: 18,859,370 **Nationality:** noun: Ukrainian(s) adjective: Ukrainian **Ethnic groups:** Ukrainian 77.8%, Russian 17.3%, Belarusian 0.6%, Moldovan 0.5%, Crimean Tatar 0.5%, Bulgarian 0.4%, Hungarian 0.3%, Romanian 0.3%, Polish 0.3%, Jewish 0.2%, other 1.8% (2001 est.) **Languages:** Ukrainian (official) 67.5%, Russian (regional language) 29.6%, other (includes Crimean Tatar, Moldovan/Romanian, and Hungarian) 2.9% (2001 est.) major-language sample(s): Свiтова Книга Фактiв – найкраще джерело базової інформації. (Ukrainian) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. **Religions:** Orthodox (includes the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church (UAOC), and the Ukrainian Orthodox - Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP)), Ukrainian Greek Catholic, Roman Catholic, Protestant, Muslim, Jewish (2013 est.) note: Ukraine's population is overwhelmingly Christian; the vast majority - up to two thirds - identify themselves as Orthodox, but many do not specify a particular branch; the OCU and the UOC-MP each represent less than a quarter of the country's population, the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church accounts for 8-10%, and the UAOC accounts for 1-2%; Muslim and Jewish adherents each compose less than 1% of the total population **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 12.3% (male 2,278,116/female 2,122,500) 15-64 years: 67.8% (male 12,784,928/female 11,376,460) 65 years and over: 19.9% (2024 est.) (male 2,447,105/female 4,652,717) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 48.5 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 18.9 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 29.6 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 3.4 (2025 est.) note: data include Crimea **Median age:** total: 44.6 years (2025 est.) male: 41.4 years female: 49.2 years **Population growth rate:** 2.42% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 6.24 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 17.61 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** 35.59 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** densest settlement in the eastern (Donbas) and western regions; notable concentrations in and around major urban areas of Kyiv, Kharkiv, Donets'k, Dnipropetrovs'k, and Odesa note: the ongoing war with Russia has shifted significant portions of the population, particularly in the east **Urbanization:** urban population: 70.1% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: -0.27% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 3.017 million KYIV (capital), 1.421 million Kharkiv, 1.008 million Odesa, 942,000 Dnipropetrovsk, 888,000 Donetsk (2023) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.12 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.53 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Mother's mean age at first birth:** 26.2 years (2019 est.) **Maternal mortality ratio:** 15 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 8.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 9.7 deaths/1,000 live births female: 7.6 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 70.5 years (2024 est.) male: 65.4 years female: 75.8 years **Total fertility rate:** 1.22 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 0.59 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: urban: 90.8% of population (2022 est.) rural: 100% of population (2022 est.) total: 93.6% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 9.2% of population (2022 est.) rural: 0% of population (2022 est.) total: 6.4% of population (2022 est.) **Health expenditure:** 8% of GDP (2021) 10.6% of national budget (2021 est.) **Physician density:** 3.53 physicians/1,000 population (2023) **Hospital bed density:** 6.3 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.) **Sanitation facility access:** improved: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.) rural: 100% of population (2022 est.) total: 100% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.) rural: 0% of population (2022 est.) total: 0% of population (2022 est.) **Obesity - adult prevalence rate:** 24.1% (2016) **Alcohol consumption per capita:** total: 5.69 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 2.44 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 0.32 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 2.88 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0.05 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) **Tobacco use:** total: 20.4% (2025 est.) male: 35.5% (2025 est.) female: 8% (2025 est.) **Education expenditure:** 5.1% of GDP (2021 est.) 12.7% national budget (2021 est.) **Literacy:** total population: 100% male: 100% female: 100% (2021) **School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):** total: 13 years (2021 est.) male: 13 years (2021 est.) female: 14 years (2021 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** air and water pollution; land degradation; solid waste management; biodiversity loss; deforestation; radiation contamination in the northeast from 1986 nuclear accident in Chornobyl' **International environmental agreements:** party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds **Climate:** temperate continental; Mediterranean only on the southern Crimean coast; precipitation disproportionately distributed, highest in west and north, lesser in east and southeast; winters vary from cool along the Black Sea to cold farther inland; warm summers across the greater part of the country, hot in the south **Land use:** agricultural land: 71.3% (2023 est.) arable land: 56.8% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 1.5% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 13% (2023 est.) forest: 17.3% (2023 est.) other: 10.4% (2023 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 70.1% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: -0.27% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 106.847 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 45.512 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 24.488 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from consumed natural gas: 36.847 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Particulate matter emissions:** 15.2 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) **Methane emissions:** energy: 1,003.4 kt (2022-2024 est.) agriculture: 341.6 kt (2019-2021 est.) waste: 409.2 kt (2019-2021 est.) other: 70.9 kt (2019-2021 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 15.242 million tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 4.5% (2022 est.) **Total water withdrawal:** municipal: 1.66 billion cubic meters (2022) industrial: 2.188 billion cubic meters (2022) agricultural: 1.031 billion cubic meters (2022) **Total renewable water resources:** 175.28 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: none conventional short form: Ukraine local long form: none local short form: Ukraina former: Ukrainian National Republic, Ukrainian State, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic etymology: the name derives from the Old East Slavic or Old Russian word ukraina, meaning "borderland," which was used to describe the area on medieval Russia's border at the time of the Tatar invasion in the 13th century **Government type:** semi-presidential republic **Capital:** name: Kyiv (Kiev is the transliteration from Russian) geographic coordinates: 50 26 N, 30 31 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October etymology: the origin of the name is unclear; traditionally, the name comes from a Prince Kiy, who is said to have founded the city in the 9th century **Administrative divisions:** 24 provinces (oblasti, singular - oblast'), 1 autonomous republic* (avtonomna respublika), and 2 municipalities** (mista, singular - misto) with oblast status; Cherkasy, Chernihiv, Chernivtsi, Crimea or Avtonomna Respublika Krym* (Simferopol), Dnipropetrovsk (Dnipro), Donetsk, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kharkiv, Kherson, Khmelnytskyi, Kirovohrad (Kropyvnytskyi), Kyiv**, Kyiv, Luhansk, Lviv, Mykolaiv, Odesa, Poltava, Rivne, Sevastopol**, Sumy, Ternopil, Vinnytsia, Volyn (Lutsk), Zakarpattia (Uzhhorod), Zaporizhzhia, Zhytomyr note 1: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers; exceptions show the administrative center name in parentheses note 2: the United States does not recognize Russia's annexation or renaming of Ukraine's Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the municipality of Sevastopol; it similarly does not recognize the annexation of the Ukrainian oblasts Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson **Legal system:** civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts **Constitution:** history: several previous; latest adopted and ratified 28 June 1996 amendment process: proposed by the president of Ukraine or by at least one third of the Supreme Council members; adoption requires simple majority vote by the Council and at least two-thirds majority vote in its next regular session; adoption of proposals relating to general constitutional principles, elections, and amendment procedures requires two-thirds majority vote by the Council and approval in a referendum; constitutional articles on personal rights and freedoms, national independence, and territorial integrity cannot be amended **International law organization participation:** has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Ukraine dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years **Suffrage:** 18 years of age; universal **Executive branch:** chief of state: President Volodymyr ZELENSKYY (since 20 May 2019) head of government: Prime Minister Yulia SVYRYDENKO (since 17 July 2025) cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers nominated by the prime minister, approved by the Verkhovna Rada election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister selected by the Verkhovna Rada most recent election date: 31 March and 21 April 2019 election results: 2019: Volodymyr ZELENSKYY elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Volodymyr ZELENSKYY (Servant of the People) 30.2%, Petro POROSHENKO (BPP-Solidarity) 15.6%, Yuliya TYMOSHENKO (Fatherland) 13.4%, Yuriy BOYKO (Opposition Platform-For Life) 11.7%, 35 other candidates 29.1%; percent of vote in the second round - Volodymyr ZELENSKYY 73.2%, Petro POROSHENKO 24.5%, other 2.3%; Denys SHMYHAL (independent) elected prime minister; Verkhovna Rada vote - 291-59 2014: Petro POROSHENKO elected president in first round; percent of vote - Petro POROSHENKO (independent) 54.5%, Yuliya TYMOSHENKO (Fatherland) 12.9%, Oleh LYASHKO (Radical Party) 8.4%, other 24.2%; Volodymyr HROYSMAN (BPP) elected prime minister; Verkhovna Rada vote - 257-50 expected date of next election: scheduled for March/April 2024, but not held because Ukraine has been under martial law since February 2022 note: a National Security and Defense Council or NSDC was created in 1992 and tasked with developing national security policy on domestic and international matters and advising the president; a presidential administration helps draft presidential edicts and provides policy support to the president **Legislative branch:** legislature name: Parliament (Verkhovna Rada) legislative structure: unicameral number of seats: 450 (all directly elected) electoral system: mixed system scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 7/21/2019 parties elected and seats per party: Servant of the People (254); Opposition Platform - For Life (43); Fatherland (26); European Solidarity (25); Independents (46); Other (30) percentage of women in chamber: 21.2% expected date of next election: May 2025 note 1: the next legislative election is expected to take place after the Russian-Ukrainian War ends note 2: voting not held in Crimea and parts of two Russian-occupied eastern oblasts leaving 26 seats vacant; although this brings the total to 424 elected members (of 450 potential), article 83 of the constitution mandates that a parliamentary majority consists of 226 seats **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Supreme Court of Ukraine or SCU (consists of 100 judges, organized into civil, criminal, commercial and administrative chambers, and a grand chamber); Constitutional Court (consists of 18 justices); High Anti-Corruption Court (consists of 39 judges, including 12 in the Appeals Chamber) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges recommended by the High Qualification Commission of Judges (a 16-member state body responsible for judicial candidate testing and assessment and judicial administration), submitted to the High Council of Justice, a 21-member independent body of judicial officials; judges serve until mandatory retirement at age 65; High Anti-Corruption Court judges are selected by the same process, with one addition – a majority of a combined High Qualification Commission of Judges and a 6-member Public Council of International Experts must vote in favor of potential judges in order to recommend their nomination to the High Council of Justice; Constitutional Court justices appointed - 6 each by the president, the Congress of Judges, and the Verkhovna Rada; judges serve 9-year nonrenewable terms subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; district courts **Political parties:** European Solidarity or YeS Fatherland or VOB Holos Servant of the People or SN **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Olha STEFANISHYNA (since 19 September 2025) chancery: 3350 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 349-2963 FAX: [1] (202) 333-0817 email address and website: emb_us@mfa.gov.ua https://usa.mfa.gov.ua/en consulate(s) general: Chicago, New York, San Francisco **Diplomatic representation from the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Ambassador Julie S. DAVIS (since 5 May 2025) embassy: 4 A. I. Igor Sikorsky Street, 04112 Kyiv mailing address: 5850 Kyiv Place, Washington, DC 20521-5850 telephone: [380] (44) 521-5000 FAX: [380] (44) 521-5544 email address and website: kyivacs@state.gov https://ua.usembassy.gov/ **International organization participation:** Australia Group, BSEC, CBSS (observer), CD, CE, CEI, CICA (observer), CIS (participating member, has not signed the 1993 CIS charter), EAEC (observer), EAPC, EBRD, FAO, GCTU, GUAM, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAIA (observer), MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM (observer), NSG, OAS (observer), OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, SELEC (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC note: Ukraine is an EU candidate country and must complete accession criteria before being granted full membership **Independence:** 24 August 1991 (from the Soviet Union); notable earlier dates: ca. 982 (VOLODYMYR I consolidates Kyivan Rus); 1199 (Principality (later Kingdom) of Ruthenia formed); 1648 (establishment of the Cossack Hetmanate); 22 January 1918 (from Soviet Russia) **National holiday:** Independence Day, 24 August (1991) note: 22 January 1918, the day Ukraine first declared its independence from Soviet Russia, is now celebrated as Unity Day **Flag:** description: two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and yellow meaning: the colors date back to medieval heraldry, but they are sometimes said to represent grain fields under a blue sky **National symbol(s):** tryzub (trident), sunflower **National color(s):** blue, yellow **National anthem(s):** title: "Shche ne vmerla Ukraina" (Ukraine Has Not Yet Perished) lyrics/music: Paul CHUBYNSKYI/Mikhail VERBYTSKYI history: music adopted 1991, lyrics adopted 2003; current version of the anthem is the first verse of CHUBYNSKYI's poem, plus the chorus **National heritage:** total World Heritage Sites: 8 (7 cultural, 1 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Kyiv: Saint Sophia Cathedral and Related Monastic Buildings, Kyiv Pechersk Lavra (c); Lviv Historic Center (c); Residence of Bukovinian and Dalmatian Metropolitans, Chernivtsi (c); Ancient City of Tauric Chersonese, Sevastopol (c); Wooden Tserkvas of the Carpathian Region (c); Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians (n); Struve Geodetic Arc (c); The Historic Centre of Odesa (c) ### Economy **Economic overview:** lower-middle-income, non-EU, Eastern European economy; key wheat and corn exporter; gradual recovery after 30% GDP contraction at start of war; damage to infrastructure and agriculture balanced by consumer and business resilience in western Ukraine; international aid has stabilized foreign exchange reserves, allowing managed currency float; continued progress on anti-corruption reforms **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $577.583 billion (2024 est.) $561.23 billion (2023 est.) $531.796 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** 2.9% (2024 est.) 5.5% (2023 est.) -28.8% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $16,300 (2024 est.) $15,900 (2023 est.) $13,800 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $190.741 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 6.5% (2024 est.) 12.8% (2023 est.) 20.2% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 7.1% (2024 est.) industry: 19% (2024 est.) services: 60.6% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **GDP - composition, by end use:** household consumption: 62.4% (2024 est.) government consumption: 37.9% (2024 est.) investment in fixed capital: 18.9% (2024 est.) investment in inventories: -0.3% (2024 est.) exports of goods and services: 29.4% (2024 est.) imports of goods and services: -48.3% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection **Agricultural products:** maize, wheat, potatoes, sugar beets, sunflower seeds, milk, barley, soybeans, rapeseed, tomatoes (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage **Industries:** industrial machinery, ferrous and nonferrous metals, automotive and aircraft components, electronics, chemicals, textiles, mining, construction **Industrial production growth rate:** 4.1% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency **Labor force:** 20.539 million (2021 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work **Unemployment rate:** 9.9% (2021 est.) 9.5% (2020 est.) 8.2% (2019 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment **Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):** total: 19.1% (2021 est.) male: 18.1% (2021 est.) female: 20.4% (2021 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment **Population below poverty line:** 1.6% (2020 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line **Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income:** 25.6 (2020 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality **Average household expenditures:** on food: 41.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.) on alcohol and tobacco: 6.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.) **Household income or consumption by percentage share:** lowest 10%: 4.3% (2020 est.) highest 10%: 21.7% (2020 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population **Remittances:** 6.3% of GDP (2024 est.) 8.3% of GDP (2023 est.) 10.4% of GDP (2022 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Budget:** revenues: $86.185 billion (2023 est.) expenditures: $121.657 billion (2023 est.) note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated **Public debt:** 58.7% of GDP (2020 est.) note: central government debt as a % of GDP **Taxes and other revenues:** 17.5% (of GDP) (2023 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP **Current account balance:** -$13.749 billion (2024 est.) -$9.564 billion (2023 est.) $7.976 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars **Exports:** $56.114 billion (2024 est.) $51.28 billion (2023 est.) $57.517 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** Poland 12%, Romania 9%, Turkey 7%, China 6%, Spain 6% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** corn, seed oils, wheat, iron ore, soybeans (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports:** $92.025 billion (2024 est.) $89.159 billion (2023 est.) $83.254 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** China 16%, Poland 14%, Germany 8%, Turkey 6%, USA 4% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** refined petroleum, cars, natural gas, packaged medicine, plastic products (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:** $43.781 billion (2024 est.) $40.51 billion (2023 est.) $28.506 billion (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars **Debt - external:** $90.003 billion (2023 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars **Exchange rates:** hryvnia (UAH) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 40.152 (2024 est.) 36.574 (2023 est.) 32.342 (2022 est.) 27.286 (2021 est.) 26.958 (2020 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.) **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 60.297 million kW (2023 est.) consumption: 89.402 billion kWh (2023 est.) exports: 6.1 billion kWh (2023 est.) imports: 3.28 billion kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 10.347 billion kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** fossil fuels: 32.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) nuclear: 50.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 4.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) wind: 1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: 9.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) biomass and waste: 1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Nuclear energy:** Number of operational nuclear reactors: 15 (2025) Number of nuclear reactors under construction: 2 (2025) Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors: 13.11GW (2025 est.) Percent of total electricity production: 55% (2023 est.) Number of nuclear reactors permanently shut down: 4 (2025) **Coal:** production: 19.603 million metric tons (2023 est.) consumption: 25.012 million metric tons (2023 est.) exports: 32,000 metric tons (2023 est.) imports: 5.442 million metric tons (2023 est.) proven reserves: 34.375 billion metric tons (2023 est.) **Petroleum:** total petroleum production: 3,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 192,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 395 million barrels (2021 est.) **Natural gas:** production: 17.681 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) consumption: 19.705 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) exports: 95.994 million cubic meters (2022 est.) imports: 2.028 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) proven reserves: 1.104 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.) **Energy consumption per capita:** 57.856 million Btu/person (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 1.434 million (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 4 (2023 est.) **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 50.3 million (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 133 (2023 est.) **Broadcast media:** media landscape dominated by oligarch-owned news outlets; United News created for 24-hour news about the war with Russia, a joint effort from the Ukrainian public broadcaster and top commercial TV channels; Ukraine Radio's Suspilne and privately owned Radio NV are the national talk radio networks (2021) **Internet country code:** .ua **Internet users:** percent of population: 82% (2023 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 8.07 million (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 20 (2023 est.) ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** UR **Airports:** 152 (2025) **Heliports:** 44 (2025) **Railways:** total: 21,733 km (2014) standard gauge: 49 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge (49 km electrified) broad gauge: 21,684 km (2014) 1.524-m gauge (9,250 km electrified) **Merchant marine:** total: 410 (2023) by type: container ship 1, general cargo 83, oil tanker 14, other 312 **Ports:** total ports: 26 (2024) large: 3 medium: 0 small: 8 very small: 15 ports with oil terminals: 8 key ports: Berdyansk, Dnipro-Buzkyy, Feodosiya, Illichivsk, Kerch, Kherson, Mariupol, Mykolayiv, Odesa, Sevastopol, Yuzhnyy ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU; Zbroyni Syly Ukrayiny or ZSU): Ground Forces, Naval Forces, Air Forces, Air Assault Forces, Marine Corps, Special Operations Forces, Unmanned Systems Forces, Territorial Defense Forces (Reserves) Ministry of Internal Affairs: National Guard of Ukraine, State Border Guard Service of Ukraine (includes Maritime Border Guard or Sea Guard), National Police of Ukraine (2025) note 1: combat units of the National Guard, National Police, and Border Guards come under the control of the Armed Forces in wartime. note 2: the Territorial Defense Forces (TDF) were formally established in July 2021; the TDF evolved from former Territorial Defense Battalions and other volunteer militia and paramilitary units that were organized in 2014-2015 to fight Russian-backed separatists in the Donbas; in January 2022, the TDF was activated as a separate military branch note 3: collectively, the AFU and the forces under the Ministry of Interior are known as the Defense Forces of Ukraine (DFU) **Military expenditures:** 4% of GDP (2021 est.) 4.4% of GDP (2020 est.) 3.4% of GDP (2019 est.) 3.1% of GDP (2018 est.) 3.1% of GDP (2017 est.) note: since Russia's invasion of the country in early 2022, annual defense spending has increased to more than 30% of GDP according to some estimates **Military and security service personnel strengths:** estimated 850,000-1 million active Defense Forces (2025) note: following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, President ZELENSKY announced a general mobilization of the country; prior to the invasion, Ukraine had approximately 200,000 active Armed Forces troops, approximately 50,000 National Guard, and approximately 40,000 State Border Guard **Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:** prior to the full-scale Russian invasion in February 2022, the Ukrainian military was equipped largely with Russian-origin and Soviet-era weapons systems; since the invasion, it has received considerable quantities of weapons, including Soviet-era and more modern Western systems, from European countries and the US; Ukraine also has a growing inventory of domestically produced armaments (2025) **Military service age and obligation:** 18 years of age for voluntary service for men and women; 25 years of age for conscription for men; 18-24 months service obligation (2025) note 1: conscription was abolished in 2012, but reintroduced in 2014; following the Russian invasion in 2022, all non-exempt men ages 18-60 were required to register with their local recruitment offices and undergo medical screening for possible service; the Territorial Defense Forces accept volunteers, 18-60 years of age note 2: in February 2025, the military implemented a new option for volunteers age 18-24 to sign one-year contracts in return for higher wages, a signing bonus, exemption from mobilization for 12 months, and other social benefits note 3: women have been able to volunteer for military service since 1993; as of 2024, nearly 70,000 women were serving in the armed forces in both uniformed and civilian positions note 4: since 2015, the Ukrainian military has allowed foreigners and stateless persons, 18-45 (in special cases up to 60), to join on 3-5-year contracts, based on qualifications; following the 2022 Russian invasion, the military began accepting medically fit foreign volunteers on a larger scale into an International Legion **Military deployments:** note: prior to the Russian invasion in 2022, Ukraine had committed about 500 troops to the Lithuania, Poland, and Ukraine joint military brigade (LITPOLUKRBRIG), which was established in 2014; the brigade is headquartered in Poland and is comprised of an international staff, three battalions, and specialized units; units affiliated with the multinational brigade remain within the structures of the armed forces of their respective countries until the brigade is activated for participation in an international operation **Military - note:** the primary focus of the Ukrainian Armed Forces (UAF) is defense against Russian aggression; in February 2022, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in what is the largest conflict in Europe since the end of World War II in 1945; as of 2025, the front line of the fighting stretched about 1,000 kilometers (some 600 miles) north and south in eastern and southern Ukraine; Russia’s forces have also launched missile and armed drone strikes throughout Ukraine, hitting critical infrastructure, including power, water, and heating facilities, as well as other civilian targets; Russia first invaded Ukraine in 2014, occupying Ukraine’s province of Crimea and backing separatist forces in the Donbas region with arms, equipment, and training, as well as military personnel, although Moscow denied their presence prior to 2022; the UAF has received outside military assistance since the Russian invasion, including equipment and training, chiefly from Europe and the US Ukraine has a relationship with NATO dating back to the early 1990s, when Ukraine joined the North Atlantic Cooperation Council (1991) and the Partnership for Peace program (1994); the relationship intensified in the wake of the 2014 Russia-Ukraine conflict and Russian seizure of Crimea to include NATO support for Ukrainian military capabilities development and capacity-building; NATO and individual NATO countries further increased support to the Ukrainian military following Russia’s 2022 invasion (2025) ### Space **Space agency/agencies:** State Space Agency of Ukraine (SSAU; established 1992 as the National Space Agency of Ukraine or NSAU and renamed in 2010) (2025) **Space program overview:** the country inherited a large, well-developed space program when it gained independence in 1991, taking over all the former Soviet defense/space industry that was located on its territory; the modern program includes the production of satellite/space launch vehicles (SLVs)/rocket carriers, satellites, and related components; prior to the Russian invasion in 2022, the country was producing more than 100 SLVs, SLV stages, or SLV engines annually; has worked with numerous foreign space agencies and industries, including those of Brazil, Canada, China, Japan, Kazakhstan, Russia (curtailed after 2014), Turkey, and the US, as well as the ESA, the EU, and their member states (particularly Italy and Poland); has about 20 state-run space industries; in 2019, the Ukrainian Parliament began allowing private companies to engage in space activities (2025) note: Dnipro, known as Ukraine's “Rocket City,” was one of the Soviet Union’s main centers for space, nuclear, and military industries and played a crucial role in the development and manufacture of both civilian and military rockets **Key space-program milestones:** 1995 - first domestically produced remote sensing (RS) satellite (Sich-1) launched on Ukrainian Tsyklon-3 rocket 1997 - first Ukrainian astronaut in space on US Space Shuttle 1999 - first launch of Dnipro-1, a domestically produced satellite launch vehicle (SLV) 2008 - first launch of Zenit-3SLB, a domestically produced SLV 2014 - launched first domestically produced microsatellite (PolyITAN-1) 2020 - signed US-led Artemis Accords for space and lunar exploration 2021 - first successful launch of joint Ukrainian-US commercial light SLV (Alpha) 2022 - domestically produced RS microsatellite (Sich 2-30) launched by US 2024 - first Ukrainian woman to suborbital space on US commercial spacecraft ### Transnational Issues **Refugees and internally displaced persons:** refugees: 2,876 (2024 est.) IDPs: 3,665,165 (2024 est.) stateless persons: 10,910 (2024 est.) --- ## United Kingdom **Slug:** united-kingdom **Region:** Europe **Flag:** 🇬🇧 **Codes:** cek: uk, iso2: GB, iso3: GBR, iso_num: 826, genc: GBR, stanag: GBR, internet: .uk ### Introduction **Background:** The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was created when the Kingdoms of England and Scotland -- which previously had been distinct states under a single monarchy -- were joined under the 1707 Acts of Union. The island of Ireland was incorporated under the 1800 Acts of Union, while Wales had been part of the Kingdom of England since the 16th century. The United Kingdom has historically played a leading role in developing parliamentary democracy and in advancing literature and science. The 18th and 19th centuries saw the rapid expansion of the British Empire despite the loss of the Thirteen Colonies, and at its zenith in the early 20th century, the British Empire stretched over one fourth of the earth's surface. The first half of the 20th century saw two World Wars seriously deplete the UK's strength and the Irish Republic withdraw from the union. The second half witnessed the dismantling of the Empire and the UK rebuilding itself into a modern and prosperous European nation. As one of five permanent members of the UN Security Council and a founding member of NATO and the Commonwealth of Nations, the UK pursues a global approach to foreign policy. The devolved Scottish Parliament, the National Assembly for Wales, and the Northern Ireland Assembly were established in 1998. The UK was an active member of the EU after its accession in 1973, although it chose to remain outside the Economic and Monetary Union. However, motivated in part by frustration at a remote bureaucracy in Brussels and massive migration into the country, UK citizens in 2016 voted by 52 to 48 percent to leave the EU. On 31 January 2020, the UK became the only country to depart the EU -- a move known as "Brexit" -- after prolonged negotiations on EU-UK economic and security relationships. ### Geography **Location:** Western Europe, islands - including the northern one-sixth of the island of Ireland - between the North Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea; northwest of France **Geographic coordinates:** 54 00 N, 2 00 W **Map references:** Europe **Area:** total : 243,610 sq km land: 241,930 sq km water: 1,680 sq km note 1: England covers 53% of the area, Scotland 32%, Wales 9%, and Northern Ireland 6% note 2: includes Rockall and the Shetland Islands, which are part of Scotland **Area - comparative:** twice the size of Pennsylvania; slightly smaller than Oregon **Land boundaries:** total: 499 km border countries (1): Ireland 499 km **Coastline:** 12,429 km **Maritime claims:** territorial sea: 12 nm continental shelf: as defined in continental shelf orders or in accordance with agreed upon boundaries exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm **Climate:** temperate; moderated by prevailing southwest winds over the North Atlantic Current; more than one-half of the days are overcast **Terrain:** mostly rugged hills and low mountains; level to rolling plains in east and southeast **Elevation:** highest point: Ben Nevis 1,345 m lowest point: The Fens -4 m mean elevation: 162 m **Natural resources:** coal, petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, lead, zinc, gold, tin, limestone, salt, clay, chalk, gypsum, potash, silica sand, slate, arable land **Land use:** agricultural land: 70.3% (2023 est.) arable land: 25% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0.2% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 45.2% (2023 est.) forest: 13.4% (2023 est.) other: 14.7% (2023 est.) **Irrigated land:** 718 sq km (2018) **Population distribution:** the core of the population lies in and around London, with significant clusters found in central Britain around Manchester and Liverpool, in the Scottish lowlands between Edinburgh and Glasgow, in southern Wales in and around Cardiff, and in far-eastern Northern Ireland, centered on Belfast **Natural hazards:** winter windstorms; floods **Geography - note:** lies near vital North Atlantic sea lanes; only 35 km (22 mi) from France and linked by tunnel under the English Channel (the Channel Tunnel or Chunnel); because of heavily indented coastline, no location is more than 125 km (78 mi) from tidal waters ### People and Society **Population:** total: 68,751,311 (2025 est.) male: 34,145,455 female: 34,605,856 **Nationality:** noun: Briton(s), British (collective plural) adjective: British **Ethnic groups:** White 87.2%, Black/African/Caribbean/black British 3%, Asian/Asian British: Indian 2.3%, Asian/Asian British: Pakistani 1.9%, mixed 2%, other 3.7% (2011 est.) **Languages:** English note: the following are recognized regional languages: Scots (about 30% of the population of Scotland), Scottish Gaelic (about 60,000 speakers in Scotland), Welsh (about 20% of the population of Wales), Irish (about 10% of the population of Northern Ireland), Cornish (some 2,000 to 3,000 people in Cornwall) (2012 est.) **Religions:** Christian (includes Anglican, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Methodist) 59.5%, Muslim 4.4%, Hindu 1.3%, other 2%, unspecified 7.2%, none 25.7% (2011 est.) **Age structure:** 0-14 years: 16.7% (male 5,872,937/female 5,592,665) 15-64 years: 63.9% (male 22,062,643/female 21,702,401) 65 years and over: 19.3% (2024 est.) (male 6,069,865/female 7,158,544) **Dependency ratios:** total dependency ratio: 56.7 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 26 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 30.7 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 3.3 (2025 est.) **Median age:** total: 40.9 years (2025 est.) male: 40.1 years female: 41.5 years **Population growth rate:** 0.4% (2025 est.) **Birth rate:** 10.76 births/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Death rate:** 9.25 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Net migration rate:** 2.52 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.) **Population distribution:** the core of the population lies in and around London, with significant clusters found in central Britain around Manchester and Liverpool, in the Scottish lowlands between Edinburgh and Glasgow, in southern Wales in and around Cardiff, and in far-eastern Northern Ireland, centered on Belfast **Urbanization:** urban population: 84.6% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.8% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Major urban areas - population:** 9.648 million LONDON (capital), 2.791 million Manchester, 2.665 million Birmingham, 1.929 million West Yorkshire, 1.698 million Glasgow, 952,000 Southampton/Portsmouth (2023) **Sex ratio:** at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2024 est.) **Mother's mean age at first birth:** 29 years (2018 est.) note: data represents England and Wales only **Maternal mortality ratio:** 8 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.) **Infant mortality rate:** total: 3.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 4.2 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.3 deaths/1,000 live births **Life expectancy at birth:** total population: 82.2 years (2024 est.) male: 80.1 years female: 84.4 years **Total fertility rate:** 1.64 children born/woman (2025 est.) **Gross reproduction rate:** 0.8 (2025 est.) **Drinking water source:** improved: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.) rural: 100% of population (2022 est.) total: 100% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.) rural: 0% of population (2022 est.) total: 0% of population (2022 est.) **Health expenditure:** 11.3% of GDP (2022) 20.7% of national budget (2022 est.) **Physician density:** 3.3 physicians/1,000 population (2023) **Hospital bed density:** 2.4 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.) **Sanitation facility access:** improved: urban: 99.8% of population (2022 est.) rural: 99.8% of population (2022 est.) total: 99.8% of population (2022 est.) unimproved: urban: 0.2% of population (2022 est.) rural: 0.2% of population (2022 est.) total: 0.2% of population (2022 est.) **Obesity - adult prevalence rate:** 27.8% (2016) **Alcohol consumption per capita:** total: 9.8 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 3.53 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 3.3 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 2.35 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0.61 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) **Tobacco use:** total: 11.5% (2025 est.) male: 13.3% (2025 est.) female: 9.8% (2025 est.) **Children under the age of 5 years underweight:** 0.6% (2019 est.) **Currently married women (ages 15-49):** 49.7% (2021 est.) **Child marriage:** women married by age 18: 0% (2021) **Education expenditure:** 5.9% of GDP (2021 est.) 11.8% national budget (2021 est.) **School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):** total: 18 years (2022 est.) male: 17 years (2022 est.) female: 18 years (2022 est.) ### Environment **Environmental issues:** air pollution in the London region; soil pollution from pesticides and heavy metals; decline in marine and coastal habitats from housing, tourism, and industry **International environmental agreements:** party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements **Climate:** temperate; moderated by prevailing southwest winds over the North Atlantic Current; more than one-half of the days are overcast **Land use:** agricultural land: 70.3% (2023 est.) arable land: 25% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0.2% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 45.2% (2023 est.) forest: 13.4% (2023 est.) other: 14.7% (2023 est.) **Urbanization:** urban population: 84.6% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.8% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) **Carbon dioxide emissions:** 340.94 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 17.093 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 197.133 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from consumed natural gas: 126.713 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) **Particulate matter emissions:** 7.8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) **Methane emissions:** energy: 353.4 kt (2022-2024 est.) agriculture: 1,030.2 kt (2019-2021 est.) waste: 1,070.1 kt (2019-2021 est.) other: 62 kt (2019-2021 est.) **Waste and recycling:** municipal solid waste generated annually: 30.771 million tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 34.2% (2022 est.) **Total water withdrawal:** municipal: 6.227 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) industrial: 1.01 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) agricultural: 1.183 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) **Total renewable water resources:** 147 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) **Geoparks:** total global geoparks and regional networks: 10 (2025) global geoparks and regional networks: Arran; Black Country; Cuilcagh Lakelands (includes Ireland); English Riviera; Fforest Fawr; GeoMôn; Mourne Gullion Strangford; North Pennines AONB; North-West Highlands; Shetland (2025) ### Government **Country name:** conventional long form: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; note - the island of Great Britain includes England, Scotland, and Wales conventional short form: United Kingdom abbreviation: UK etymology: the name United Kingdom is self-descriptive; the name Britain probably derives from the Celtic word pretani, meaning "painted people;" the designation of Great Britain for England, Scotland, and Wales dates back to medieval times and was used to distinguish the island from Little Britain, or Brittany, in modern France; the name Ireland evolved from the Gaelic name Eriu, which is possibly derived from the Old Celtic iveriu, meaning "good land" **Government type:** parliamentary constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm **Capital:** name: London geographic coordinates: 51 30 N, 0 05 W time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October time zone note: the time statements apply to the United Kingdom proper, not to its crown dependencies or overseas territories etymology: the name derives from the Roman settlement of Londinium, established on the current site of London around A.D. 43; the original meaning of the name is uncertain **Administrative divisions:** England: 24 two-tier counties, 32 London boroughs and 1 City of London or Greater London, 36 metropolitan districts, 59 unitary authorities (including 4 single-tier counties*) two-tier counties: Cambridgeshire, Cumbria, Derbyshire, Devon, East Sussex, Essex, Gloucestershire, Hampshire, Hertfordshire, Kent, Lancashire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, North Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Somerset, Staffordshire, Suffolk, Surrey, Warwickshire, West Sussex, Worcestershire London boroughs and City of London or Greater London: Barking and Dagenham, Barnet, Bexley, Brent, Bromley, Camden, Croydon, Ealing, Enfield, Greenwich, Hackney, Hammersmith and Fulham, Haringey, Harrow, Havering, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Islington, Kensington and Chelsea, Kingston upon Thames, Lambeth, Lewisham, City of London, Merton, Newham, Redbridge, Richmond upon Thames, Southwark, Sutton, Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest, Wandsworth, Westminster metropolitan districts: Barnsley, Birmingham, Bolton, Bradford, Bury, Calderdale, Coventry, Doncaster, Dudley, Gateshead, Kirklees, Knowlsey, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle upon Tyne, North Tyneside, Oldham, Rochdale, Rotherham, Salford, Sandwell, Sefton, Sheffield, Solihull, South Tyneside, St. Helens, Stockport, Sunderland, Tameside, Trafford, Wakefield, Walsall, Wigan, Wirral, Wolverhampton unitary authorities: Bath and North East Somerset; Bedford; Blackburn with Darwen; Blackpool; Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole; Bracknell Forest; Brighton and Hove; City of Bristol; Buckinghamshire; Central Bedfordshire; Cheshire East; Cheshire West and Chester; Cornwall; Darlington; Derby; Dorset; Durham County*; East Riding of Yorkshire; Halton; Hartlepool; Herefordshire*; Isle of Wight*; Isles of Scilly; City of Kingston upon Hull; Leicester; Luton; Medway; Middlesbrough; Milton Keynes; North East Lincolnshire; North Lincolnshire; North Northamptonshire; North Somerset; Northumberland*; Nottingham; Peterborough; Plymouth; Portsmouth; Reading; Redcar and Cleveland; Rutland; Shropshire; Slough; South Gloucestershire; Southampton; Southend-on-Sea; Stockton-on-Tees; Stoke-on-Trent; Swindon; Telford and Wrekin; Thurrock; Torbay; Warrington; West Berkshire; West Northamptonshire; Wiltshire; Windsor and Maidenhead; Wokingham; York Northern Ireland: 5 borough councils, 4 district councils, 2 city councils borough councils: Antrim and Newtownabbey; Ards and North Down; Armagh City, Banbridge, and Craigavon; Causeway Coast and Glens; Mid and East Antrim district councils: Derry City and Strabane; Fermanagh and Omagh; Mid Ulster; Newry, Murne, and Down city councils: Belfast; Lisburn and Castlereagh Scotland: 32 council areas council areas: Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire, Angus, Argyll and Bute, Clackmannanshire, Dumfries and Galloway, Dundee City, East Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire, East Lothian, East Renfrewshire, City of Edinburgh, Eilean Siar (Western Isles), Falkirk, Fife, Glasgow City, Highland, Inverclyde, Midlothian, Moray, North Ayrshire, North Lanarkshire, Orkney Islands, Perth and Kinross, Renfrewshire, Shetland Islands, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, Stirling, The Scottish Borders, West Dunbartonshire, West Lothian Wales: 22 unitary authorities unitary authorities: Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Cardiff, Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Gwynedd, Isle of Anglesey, Merthyr Tydfil, Monmouthshire, Neath Port Talbot, Newport, Pembrokeshire, Powys, Rhondda Cynon Taff, Swansea, The Vale of Glamorgan, Torfaen, Wrexham **Dependent areas:** Anguilla; Bermuda; British Indian Ocean Territory; British Virgin Islands; Cayman Islands; Falkland Islands; Gibraltar; Montserrat; Pitcairn Islands; Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha; South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands; Turks and Caicos Islands (12) **Legal system:** common law system; has nonbinding judicial review of Acts of Parliament under the Human Rights Act of 1998 **Constitution:** history: uncoded; partly statutes, partly common law and practice amendment process: proposed as a bill for an Act of Parliament by the government, by the House of Commons, or by the House of Lords; passage requires agreement by both houses and by the monarch (Royal Assent) **International law organization participation:** accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction **Citizenship:** citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of the United Kingdom dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years **Suffrage:** 18 years of age; universal **Executive branch:** chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022) head of government: Prime Minister Keir STARMER (since 5 July 2024) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually becomes the prime minister note 1: in addition to serving as the UK head of state, the British sovereign is the constitutional monarch for 14 additional Commonwealth countries (each referred to as a "Commonwealth realm") note 2: King CHARLES III succeeded his mother, Queen ELIZABETH II, after serving as Prince of Wales (heir apparent) for over 64 years -- the longest such tenure in British history **Legislative branch:** legislature name: UK Parliament legislative structure: bicameral **Legislative branch - lower chamber:** chamber name: House of Commons number of seats: 650 (all directly elected) electoral system: plurality/majority scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 7/4/2024 parties elected and seats per party: Labour Party (411); Conservative Party (121); Liberal Democrats (72); Other (46) percentage of women in chamber: 40.5% expected date of next election: July 2029 **Legislative branch - upper chamber:** chamber name: House of Lords number of seats: 800 (all appointed) parties elected and seats per party: Conservative Party (286); Labour Party (212); Liberal Democrats (76); Crossover (Independents) 180; other (6) percentage of women in chamber: 31% note: the number of total seats in the House of Lords does not include ineligible members or members on leave of absence **Judicial branch:** highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of 12 justices, including the court president and deputy president) judge selection and term of office: judge candidates selected by an independent committee of several judicial commissions, then recommended to the prime minister, and appointed by the monarch; justices serve for life subordinate courts: England and Wales: Court of Appeal (civil and criminal divisions); High Court; Crown Court; County Courts; Magistrates' Courts; Scotland: Court of Sessions; Sheriff Courts; High Court of Justiciary; tribunals; Northern Ireland: Court of Appeal in Northern Ireland; High Court; county courts; magistrates' courts; specialized tribunals **Political parties:** Alliance Party or APNI (Northern Ireland) Conservative and Unionist Party Democratic Unionist Party or DUP (Northern Ireland) Green Party of England and Wales or Greens Labor (Labour) Party Liberal Democrats (Lib Dems) Party of Wales (Plaid Cymru) Reform UK Scottish National Party or SNP Sinn Fein (Northern Ireland) Social Democratic and Labor Party or SDLP (Northern Ireland) Traditional Unionist Voice or TUV UK Independence Party or UKIP Ulster Unionist Party or UUP (Northern Ireland) Workers Party of Great Britian **Diplomatic representation in the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires James ROSCOE (since 11 September 2025) chancery: 3100 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 588-6500 FAX: [1] (202) 588-7870 email address and website: ukin.washington@fcdo.gov.uk https://www.gov.uk/world/organisations/british-embassy-washington consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco **Diplomatic representation from the US:** chief of mission: Ambassador Warren A. STEPHENS (since 21 May 2025) embassy: 33 Nine Elms Lane, London, SW11 7US mailing address: 8400 London Place, Washington DC 20521-8400 telephone: [44] (0) 20-7499-9000 FAX: [44] (0) 20-7891-3845 email address and website: SCSLondon@state.gov https://uk.usembassy.gov/ consulate(s) general: Belfast, Edinburgh **International organization participation:** ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council (observer), Australia Group, BIS, C, CBSS (observer), CD, CDB, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EITI (implementing country), ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, G-5, G-7, G-8, G-10, G-20, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MONUSCO, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club, PCA, PIF (partner), SELEC (observer), SICA (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNMISS, UNOOSA, UNRWA, UN Security Council (permanent), UNSOM, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC **Independence:** no official date of independence: 927 (minor English kingdoms unite); 3 March 1284 (enactment of the Statute of Rhuddlan uniting England and Wales); 1536 (Act of Union incorporates England and Wales); 1 May 1707 (Acts of Union unite England, Scotland, and Wales as Great Britain); 1 January 1801 (Acts of Union unite Great Britain and Ireland as the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland); 6 December 1921 (Anglo-Irish Treaty formalizes partition of Ireland; six counties become Northern Ireland and remain part of the UK); 12 April 1927 (Royal and Parliamentary Titles Act establishes current name of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) **National holiday:** the UK does not celebrate one particular national holiday **Flag:** description: blue field with the red cross of Saint George (patron saint of England) edged in white on top of the diagonal red cross of Saint Patrick (patron saint of Ireland), which is on top of the diagonal white cross of Saint Andrew (patron saint of Scotland) history: the official name is the Union Flag, but commonly called the Union Jack; the design and colors have been the basis for a number of other flags **National symbol(s):** lion (all of Britain); lion, Tudor rose, oak (England); lion, unicorn, thistle (Scotland); dragon, daffodil, leek (Wales); shamrock, flax (Northern Ireland) **National color(s):** red, white, blue (all of Britain); red, white (England); blue, white (Scotland); red, white, green (Wales) **National anthem(s):** title: "God Save the King" lyrics/music: unknown history: in use since 1745; by tradition, the song serves as both the national and royal anthem; it is known as either "God Save the Queen" or "God Save the King," depending on the gender of the reigning monarch; it also serves as the royal anthem for many Commonwealth nations **National heritage:** total World Heritage Sites: 33 (28 cultural, 4 natural, 1 mixed); note - includes one site in Bermuda selected World Heritage Site locales: Giant's Causeway and Causeway Coast (n); Ironbridge Gorge (c); Stonehenge, Avebury, and Associated Sites (c); Castles and Town Walls of King Edward in Gwynedd (c); Blenheim Palace (c); City of Bath (c); Tower of London (c); St Kilda (m); Maritime Greenwich (c); Old and New Towns of Edinburgh (c); Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (c); The English Lake District (c) ### Economy **Economic overview:** high-income, non-EU European economy; global financial center and dominant service sector; sluggish growth from stringent monetary policy, reduced business investment, low productivity and participation rates; fiscal austerity in face of high public debt **Real GDP (purchasing power parity):** $3.636 trillion (2024 est.) $3.596 trillion (2023 est.) $3.582 trillion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **Real GDP growth rate:** 1.1% (2024 est.) 0.4% (2023 est.) 4.8% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency **Real GDP per capita:** $52,500 (2024 est.) $52,500 (2023 est.) $53,000 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars **GDP (official exchange rate):** $3.644 trillion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate **Inflation rate (consumer prices):** 3.3% (2024 est.) 6.8% (2023 est.) 7.9% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices **GDP - composition, by sector of origin:** agriculture: 0.6% (2024 est.) industry: 16.7% (2024 est.) services: 72.8% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data **GDP - composition, by end use:** household consumption: 61.3% (2023 est.) government consumption: 20.5% (2023 est.) investment in fixed capital: 17.6% (2023 est.) investment in inventories: -0.4% (2023 est.) exports of goods and services: 32% (2023 est.) imports of goods and services: -33.1% (2023 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection **Agricultural products:** milk, wheat, sugar beets, barley, potatoes, chicken, rapeseed, pork, beef, oats (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage **Industries:** machine tools, electric power equipment, automation equipment, railroad equipment, shipbuilding, aircraft, motor vehicles and parts, electronics and communications equipment, metals, chemicals, coal, petroleum, paper and paper products, food processing, textiles, clothing, other consumer goods **Industrial production growth rate:** -0.5% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency **Labor force:** 35.359 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work **Unemployment rate:** 4.2% (2024 est.) 4% (2023 est.) 3.8% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment **Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24):** total: 12.4% (2024 est.) male: 14.9% (2024 est.) female: 9.7% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment **Population below poverty line:** 18.6% (2017 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line **Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income:** 32.4 (2021 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality **Average household expenditures:** on food: 8.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.) on alcohol and tobacco: 3% of household expenditures (2023 est.) **Household income or consumption by percentage share:** lowest 10%: 3% (2021 est.) highest 10%: 24.6% (2021 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population **Remittances:** 0.1% of GDP (2024 est.) 0.1% of GDP (2023 est.) 0.1% of GDP (2022 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities **Budget:** revenues: $1.211 trillion (2023 est.) expenditures: $1.442 trillion (2023 est.) note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated **Public debt:** 138.6% of GDP (2023 est.) note: central government debt as a % of GDP **Taxes and other revenues:** 27.4% (of GDP) (2023 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP **Current account balance:** -$96.634 billion (2024 est.) -$118.354 billion (2023 est.) -$70.962 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars **Exports:** $1.117 trillion (2024 est.) $1.078 trillion (2023 est.) $1.041 trillion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars **Exports - partners:** USA 14%, China 8%, Germany 8%, Netherlands 7%, Ireland 7% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports **Exports - commodities:** cars, gold, gas turbines, packaged medicine, crude petroleum (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars **Imports:** $1.158 trillion (2024 est.) $1.114 trillion (2023 est.) $1.1 trillion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars **Imports - partners:** China 13%, USA 11%, Germany 10%, France 5%, Norway 4% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports **Imports - commodities:** cars, gold, crude petroleum, refined petroleum, natural gas (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars **Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:** $174.598 billion (2024 est.) $177.915 billion (2023 est.) $176.41 billion (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars **Exchange rates:** British pounds (GBP) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 0.782 (2024 est.) 0.805 (2023 est.) 0.811 (2022 est.) 0.727 (2021 est.) 0.78 (2020 est.) ### Energy **Electricity access:** electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.) electrification - urban areas: 99.9% electrification - rural areas: 100% **Electricity:** installed generating capacity: 114.749 million kW (2023 est.) consumption: 262.166 billion kWh (2023 est.) exports: 9.449 billion kWh (2023 est.) imports: 33.212 billion kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 28.961 billion kWh (2023 est.) **Electricity generation sources:** fossil fuels: 36.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) nuclear: 13.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 4.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) wind: 30.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: 1.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) biomass and waste: 12.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) **Nuclear energy:** Number of operational nuclear reactors: 9 (2025) Number of nuclear reactors under construction: 2 (2025) Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors: 5.88GW (2025 est.) Percent of total electricity production: 12.5% (2023 est.) Number of nuclear reactors permanently shut down: 36 (2025) **Coal:** production: 1.568 million metric tons (2023 est.) consumption: 7.372 million metric tons (2023 est.) exports: 981,000 metric tons (2023 est.) imports: 6.633 million metric tons (2023 est.) proven reserves: 26 million metric tons (2023 est.) **Petroleum:** total petroleum production: 753,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 1.406 million bbl/day (2024 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 2.5 billion barrels (2021 est.) **Natural gas:** production: 34.029 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) consumption: 63.553 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) exports: 15.842 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) imports: 45.226 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) proven reserves: 180.661 billion cubic meters (2021 est.) **Energy consumption per capita:** 94.28 million Btu/person (2023 est.) ### Communications **Telephones - fixed lines:** total subscriptions: 26.627 million (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 39 (2023 est.) **Telephones - mobile cellular:** total subscriptions: 84.1 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 122 (2024 est.) **Broadcast media:** public-service British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is the largest broadcasting company in the world; BBC operates multiple TV networks with regional and local TV; mixed system of public and commercial TV broadcasters along with satellite and cable systems provide access to hundreds of international TV stations; BBC operates multiple national, regional, and local radio networks with multiple transmission sites; large number of commercial and satellite radio stations available (2018) **Internet country code:** .uk **Internet users:** percent of population: 96% (2023 est.) **Broadband - fixed subscriptions:** total: 28.2 million (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 41 (2023 est.) ### Transportation **Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:** G **Airports:** 1,057 (2025) **Heliports:** 139 (2025) **Railways:** total: 16,390 km (2020) 6,167 km electrified **Merchant marine:** total: 868 (2023) by type: bulk carrier 34, container ship 46, general cargo 62, oil tanker 13, other 713 note: includes Channel Islands (total fleet 2; general cargo 1, other 1); excludes Isle of Man **Ports:** total ports: 185 (2024) large: 7 medium: 24 small: 67 very small: 86 size unknown: 1 ports with oil terminals: 67 key ports: Aberdeen, Barrow-in-Furness, Barry, Belfast, Blyth, Bristol, Cardiff, Dundee, Falmouth Harbour, Glasgow, Greenock, Grimsby, Immingham, Kingston-upon-Hull, Leith, Lerwick, Liverpool, London, Londonderry, Lyness, Manchester, Milford Haven, Newport, Peterhead, Plymouth, Portland Harbour, Portsmouth Harbour, Southampton, Sunderland, Teesport, Tynemouth **Transportation - note:** begun in 1988 and completed in 1994, the Channel Tunnel (nicknamed the Chunnel) is a 50.5-km (31.4-mi) rail tunnel under the English Channel at the Strait of Dover; it runs from Folkestone, Kent, in England to Coquelles, Pas-de-Calais, in northern France and is the only fixed link between the island of Great Britain and mainland Europe ### Military and Security **Military and security forces:** United Kingdom Armed Forces (aka British Armed Forces, aka His Majesty's Armed Forces): British Army, Royal Navy (includes Royal Marines), Royal Air Force (2025) **Military expenditures:** 2.4% of GDP (2025 est.) 2.3% of GDP (2024 est.) 2.3% of GDP (2023 est.) 2.3% of GDP (2022 est.) 2.3% of GDP (2021 est.) **Military and security service personnel strengths:** approximately 138,000 Regular Forces (75,000 Army including the Gurkhas; 32,000 Navy including the Royal Marines; 31,000 Air Force) (2025) note: the military also maintains approximately 40-45,000 reserves and other personnel on active duty **Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:** the British military's inventory is comprised of domestically produced armaments and imported Western weapons systems, particularly from the US; the UK defense industry is capable of producing air, land, and sea weapons systems and is one of the world's top weapons suppliers; it also cooperates with other European countries, as well as Australia and the US, in the research and development of weapons systems (2025) **Military service age and obligation:** 16 years of age for enlisted ranks (with parental consent for under 18) and 18 years of age for officers; maximum age varies by military service; conscription abolished in 1963 (2026) note 1: women serve in all branches and made up nearly 12% of the military's full-time personnel in 2025 note 2: the British military allows Commonwealth nationals who are current UK residents and have been in the country for at least 5 years to apply; it also accepts Irish citizens note 3: the British Army has continued the historic practice of recruiting Gurkhas from Nepal to serve in the Brigade of Gurkhas; the British began to recruit Nepalese citizens (Gurkhas) into the East India Company Army during the Anglo-Nepalese War (1814-1816); the Gurkhas subsequently were brought into the British Indian Army and by 1914, there were 10 Gurkha regiments, collectively known as the Gurkha Brigade; following the partition of India in 1947, an agreement between Nepal, India, and Great Britain allowed for the transfer of the 10 regiments from the British Indian Army to the separate British and Indian armies; four of the regiments were transferred to the British Army, where they have since served continuously as the Brigade of Gurkhas **Military deployments:** the British military has more than 8,000 personnel on permanent or long-term rotational deployments around the globe in support of NATO, UN, or other commitments and agreements; key deployments include approximately 1,000 in Brunei, approximately 2,500 in Cyprus (includes 250 for UNFICYP), approximately 900-1,000 in Estonia (NATO), over 1,000 in the Falkland Islands, 500-600 in Gibraltar, and more than 1,000 in the Middle East; its air and naval forces conduct missions on a global basis; the British military also participates in large scale NATO exercises, including providing some 16,000 personnel for the 6-month 2024 Steadfast Defender exercise (2024) **Military - note:** the British military has a long history, a global presence, and a wide range of missions and responsibilities, including protecting the UK, its dependencies and territories, national interests, and values, preventing conflict, providing humanitarian assistance, participating in international peacekeeping, building relationships, and fulfilling the UK’s alliance and treaty commitments; in addition to its role in the UN, the UK is a leading member of NATO the UK is a member of the Five Power Defense Arrangements (FPDA), a series of mutual assistance agreements reached in 1971 embracing Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, and the UK; in 2014, the UK led the formation of the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF), a pool of high-readiness military forces from the Baltic and Scandinavian countries intended to respond to a wide range of contingencies both in peacetime and in times of crisis or conflict; the UK military also has strong bilateral ties with a variety of foreign militaries, particularly the US, with which it has a mutual defense treaty; British and US military forces have routinely operated side-by-side across a wide range of operations; other close military relationships include Australia, France, Germany, and the Netherlands; in 2010, for example, France and the UK signed a declaration on defense and security cooperation that included greater military interoperability and a Combined Joint Expeditionary Force (CJEF), a deployable, combined Anglo-French military force for use in a range of crisis scenarios (2025) ### Space **Space agency/agencies:** UK Space Agency (UKSA; established in 2010) (2025) note 1: the UKSA replaced the British National Space Center (BNSC; established in 1985); in 2025, the UK Government announced that the UKSA would be absorbed into the Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology (DSIT) as of April 2026 note 2: in 2021, the British formed the joint service UK Space Command under the Ministry of Defense for military space operations, space workforce, and space capabilities **Space launch site(s):** Spaceport 1 (Outer Hebrides, Scotland); Spaceport Machrihanish (Argyll, Scotland); Glasgow Prestwick (South Ayrshire, Scotland); Spaceport Snowdonia (Gwynedd, Wales); SaxaVord UK Spaceport (Unst, Shetland Islands); Sutherland Spaceport (Sutherland, Scotland); Sutherland, Scotland (Cornwall Airport Newquay, Cornwall) (2024) **Space program overview:** has a long-standing, comprehensive national space program; is active across all areas of the space sector except human space flight, including satellite launch vehicles (SLVs)/rockets, probes, satellites, and spaceports; is a founding member of the ESA and is deeply involved in ESA programs; has bilateral relations with many ESA members and is a close partner of the US NASA; since 2016 has forged over 350 relationships with international organizations across nearly 50 countries; participates in international programs such as the International Space Station and the James Webb Space Telescope; has a large commercial space sector; the UK has a space industrial plan, and the UK Space Agency has provided funding for commercial space projects (2025) note: the UK was part of several EU-sponsored space programs until departing the EU in 2020, including the Galileo global positioning system and the Space Surveillance and Tracking (SST) project; it remained part of the Copernicus Earth observation and Horizon Europe research and innovation programs after 2020; the UK has participated or continues to participate in multiple ESA programs, including Cassini-Huygens research mission to Saturn, the Mars Express space exploration missions, the Rosetta comet probe, and the Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) mission **Key space-program milestones:** 1957 - first suborbital sounding rocket (Skylark) launched 1960s - first satellite (Ariel) launched by US; development of Black Arrow satellite launch vehicle (SLV); launched first of Skynet family of communications satellites 1971 - first successful placement of satellite (Prospero) in orbit on a 3-stage Black Arrow SLV (Black Arrow SLV program ended in early 1970s) 1973 - began participating in development of Ariane SLV along with other European states, particularly France and Germany 1991 - first British astronaut into space to Russian Mir space station 2015 - first British astronaut on International Space Station 2019-2020 - began participating in US Gateway lunar orbital station program and signed US-led Artemis Accords for space and lunar exploration 2024 - first military remote sensing satellite (Tyche) launched by US ### Terrorism **Terrorist group(s):** Terrorist group(s): Continuity Irish Republican Army (CIRA); Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS); al-Qa'ida; Real Irish Republican Army (RIRA) note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide ### Transnational Issues **Refugees and internally displaced persons:** refugees: 640,460 (2024 est.) stateless persons: 4,672 (2024 est.) **Illicit drugs:** USG identification: major precursor-chemical producer (2025) ---