Countries A-G

Country Profile: Zimbabwe

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Geography

  1. Location: Southern Africa
  2. Bordering Nations: Mozambique, Botswana, Zambia, South Africa.
  3. Climate and Terrain: Tropical. Mostly high plateau with higher central plateau.
  4. Natural Resources: coal, chromium ore, asbestos, gold, nickel, copper, iron ore, vanadium, lithium, tin, platinum group metals

Society

  1. Nationality and Major Ethnic Group: Zimbabwean. African.
  2. Official Languages and Major Religions: English. Syncretic (part Christian, part indigenous beliefs).
  3. Population: 13.772 million
  4. Life Expectancy: 55.68 years
  5. Literacy Rate: 83.6%

Government

  1. Official Country Name: Republic of Zambabwe
  2. Government Type: Parliamentary democracy
  3. Capital: Harare
  4. Independence: April 18th, 1980, from the United Kingdom
  5. President (2014): Robert Gabriel Mugabe
  6. National Anthem: Zimbabwean National Anthem

Economy

  1. GDP: $ 10.48 billion
  2. GDP per capita: $600
  3. Agriculture and Industry:corn, cotton, tobacco, wheat, coffee, sugarcane, peanuts; sheep, goats, pigs. Mining, steel; wood products, cement, chemicals, fertilizer, clothing and footwear, foodstuffs, beverages
  4. Labor Force: 3.939 million
  5. Population Below the Poverty Line: 68%
  6. Inflation Rate: 8.5%
  7. Exports: $3.144 billion. Commodities:platinum, cotton, tobacco, gold, ferroalloys, textiles/clothing. Partners: China 21.1%, South Africa 15.1%, Democratic Republic of the Congo 12.1%, Botswana 10.8%, Italy 4.6%
  8. Imports:$4.571 billion. Commodities:machinery and transport equipment, other manufactures, chemicals, fuels, food products. Partners: South Africa 51.9%, China 10%
  9. Debt: $8.445 billion

Communication and Transportation

  1. Number of Cellphones: 12.614 million
  2. Number of Internet Users: 1.423 million
  3. Number of Airports: 196 (Paved: 17)
  4. Roadways: 97,267 km

Military

  1. Zimbabwe Defense Forces: Zimbabwe National Army, Air Force of Zimbabwe
  2. Expenditure: 2.94%

Major Transnational Issues

  1. Illicit Drugs
  2. Human Trafficking

Other Facts

  1. Zimbabwe’s HDI is 0.492

This page was last updated on: July 28th, 2014

Source: “Zimbabwe”  Central Intelligence Agency. Central Intelligence Agency, n.d. Web. 28th July 2014.

Country Profile: Guyana

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Geography

  1. Location: Northern South America
  2. Bordering Nations: Brazil, Venezuela, Suriname
  3. Climate and Terrain: Tropical. Rolling highlands
  4. Natural Resources: bauxite, gold, diamonds, hardwood timber, shrimp, fish

Society

  1. Nationality and Major Ethnic Group: Guyanese. East Indian.
  2. Official Languages and Major Religions: English. Protestant
  3. Population: 735,554
  4. Life Expectancy: 67.81 years
  5. Literacy Rate: 91.8%

Government

  1. Official Country Name: Cooperative Republic of Guyana
  2. Government Type: Republic
  3. Capital: Georgetown
  4. Independence: May 26, 1966, from the United Kingdom
  5. President (2014): Donald Ramotar
  6. National Anthem: Guyanese National Anthem

Economy

  1. GDP: $3.02 billion
  2. GDP per capita: $8,500
  3. Agriculture and Industry: sugarcane, rice, edible oils; beef, pork, poultry; shrimp, fish. Bauxite, sugar, rice milling, timber, textiles, gold mining
  4. Labor Force: 313,100
  5. Population Below the Poverty Line: 35%
  6. Inflation Rate: 3.9%
  7. Exports: $1.337 billion. Commodities: sugar, gold, bauxite, alumina, rice, shrimp, molasses, rum, timber. Partners: US 30.8%, Canada 28.9%, UK 6.2%
  8. Imports: $2.039 billion. Commodities: manufactures, machinery, petroleum, food. Partners: US 22.2%, Trinidad and Tobago 21.9%, China 12.3%, Cuba 6.1%, Suriname 4%
  9. Debt: $1.846 billion

Communication and Transportation

  1. Number of Cellphones: 547,000
  2. Number of Internet Users: 189,600
  3. Number of Airports: 117 (Paved: 11)
  4. Roadways: 7,970 km

Military

  1. Guyana Defense Force: Army
  2. Expenditure: 1.09%

Major Transnational Issues

  1. Human Trafficking
  2. Illicit Drugs

Other Facts

  1. Guyana’s HDI is 0.636

This page was last updated on: June 16th, 2014

Source: “Guyana” Central Intelligence Agency. Central Intelligence Agency, n.d. Web. 16th June 2014.

Country Profile: Guinea-Bissau

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Geography

  1. Location: Western Africa
  2. Bordering Nations: Guinea, Senegal
  3. Climate and Terrain: Tropical. Mostly low-lying coastal plain.
  4. Natural Resources: fish, timber, phosphates, bauxite, clay, granite, limestone, unexploited deposits of petroleum

Society

  1. Nationality and Major Ethnic Group: Bissau-Guinean. African.
  2. Official Languages and Major Religions: Portuguese, Muslim.
  3. Population: 1.6 million
  4. Life Expectancy: 49.87 years
  5. Literacy Rate: 55.3%

Government

  1. Official Country Name: Republic of Guinea-Bissau
  2. Government Type: Republic
  3. Capital: Bissau
  4. Independence: September 24th, 1973, from Portugal
  5. President (2014): Manuel Serifo Nhamadjo
  6. National Anthem: Bissau-Guinean National Anthem

Economy

  1. GDP: $880 million
  2. GDP per capita: $1,200
  3. Agriculture and Industry: rice, corn, beans, cassava (manioc), cashew nuts, peanuts, palm kernels, cotton; timber; fish. Agricultural products processing, beer, soft drinks
  4. Labor Force: 632,700
  5. Population Below the Poverty Line: N/A%
  6. Inflation Rate: 1.9%
  7. Exports: $147.6 million. Commodities: fish, shrimp; cashew nuts, peanuts, palm kernels, sawn lumber. Partners: India 56.5%, Nigeria 27.1%, Togo 5.9%
  8. Imports: $206.4 million. Commodities: foods, machinery and transport equipment, petroleum products. Partners: Portugal 28.8%, Senegal 17.5%, US 7.3%, China 5%
  9. Debt: $1.095 billion

Communication and Transportation

  1. Number of Cellphones: 1.1 million
  2. Number of Internet Users: 37,100
  3. Number of Airports: 8 (Paved: 2)
  4. Roadways: 3,455 km

Military

  1. People’s Revolutionary Armed Force: Army, Navy, National Air Force; Presidential Guard
  2. Expenditure: 1.85%

Major Transnational Issues

  1. Human Trafficking
  2. Illicit Drugs

Other Facts

  1. Guinea-Bissau’s HDI is 0.364

This page was last updated on: June 16th, 2014

Source: “Guinea-Bissau” Central Intelligence Agency. Central Intelligence Agency, n.d. Web. 16th June 2014.

Country Profile: Guinea

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Geography

  1. Location: Western Africa
  2. Bordering Nations: Mali, Sierra Leone, Cote d’Ivoire, Liberia, Guinea-Bissau, Senegal
  3. Climate and Terrain: Hot and humid. Generally flat coastal plain.
  4. Natural Resources: bauxite, iron ore, diamonds, gold, uranium, hydropower, fish, salt

Society

  1. Nationality and Major Ethnic Group: Guinean. Peuhl
  2. Official Languages and Major Religions: French. Muslim
  3. Population: 11.4 million
  4. Life Expectancy: 59.6 years
  5. Literacy Rate: 41%

Government

  1. Official Country Name: Republic of Guinea
  2. Government Type: Republic
  3. Capital: Conakry
  4. Independence: October 2nd, 1958, from France
  5. President (2014): Alpha Conde
  6. National Anthem: Guinean National Anthem

Economy

  1. GDP: $6.544 billion
  2. GDP per capita: $1,100
  3. Agriculture and Industry: rice, coffee, pineapples, palm kernels, cassava (manioc), bananas, sweet potatoes; cattle, sheep, goats; timber. Bauxite, gold, diamonds, iron ore; alumina refining; light manufacturing, and agricultural processing
  4. Labor Force: 5.409 million
  5. Population Below the Poverty Line: 47%
  6. Inflation Rate: 11.9%
  7. Exports: $1.31 billion. Commodities: bauxite, alumina, gold, diamonds, coffee, fish, agricultural products. Partners: India 10.6%, Spain 9.6%, Chile 9.4%, US 7.1%, Ireland 6.3%, Germany 6.3%, Ukraine 5.7%, France 5%
  8. Imports: $2.384 billion. Commodities: petroleum products, metals, machinery, transport equipment, textiles, grain. Partners: China 14.2%, Netherlands 7.6%
  9. Debt: $2.584 billion

Communication and Transportation

  1. Number of Cellphones: 4.781 million
  2. Number of Internet Users: 95,000
  3. Number of Airports: 16 (Paved: 4)
  4. Roadways: 44,348 km

Military

  1. National Armed Forces: Army, Guinean Navy, Guinean Air Force
  2. Expenditure: N/A%

Major Transnational Issues

  1. Human Trafficking

Other Facts

  1. Guinea’s HDI is 0.340

This page was last updated on: June 15th, 2014

Source: “Guinea” Central Intelligence Agency. Central Intelligence Agency, n.d. Web. 15th June 2014.

Country Profile: Guatemala

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Geography

  1. Location: Central America
  2. Bordering Nations: Mexico, Belize, Honduras, El Salvador
  3. Climate and Terrain: Tropical. Mostly mountains with narrow coastal plains
  4. Natural Resources: petroleum, nickel, rare woods, fish, chicle, hydropower

Society

  1. Nationality and Major Ethnic Group: Guatemalan. Mestizo
  2. Official Languages and Major Religions: Spanish. Roman Catholic
  3. Population: 14.6 million
  4. Life Expectancy: 71.74 years
  5. Literacy Rate: 75.9%

Government

  1. Official Country Name: Republic of Guatemala
  2. Government Type: Constitutional Democratic Republic
  3. Capital: Guatemala City
  4. Independence: September 15th, 1821, from Spain
  5. President (2014): Otto Fernando Perez Molina
  6. National Anthem: Guatemalan National Anthem

Economy

  1. GDP: $53.9 billion
  2. GDP per capita: $5,300
  3. Agriculture and Industry: sugarcane, corn, bananas, coffee, beans, cardamom; cattle, sheep, pigs, chickens. Sugar, textiles and clothing, furniture, chemicals, petroleum, metals, rubber, tourism
  4. Labor Force: 4.465 million
  5. Population Below the Poverty Line: 54%
  6. Inflation Rate: 4.4%
  7. Exports: $10.29 billion. Commodities: coffee, sugar, petroleum, apparel, bananas, fruits and vegetables, cardamom. Partners: US 40.2%, El Salvador 11.1%, Honduras 8%, Mexico 5.5%, Nicaragua 4.7%, Costa Rica 4.3%
  8. Imports: $16.7 billion. Commodities: fuels, machinery and transport equipment, construction materials, grain, fertilizers, electricity, mineral products. Partners: US 38%, Mexico 11.3%, China 7.4%, El Salvador 4.6%
  9. Debt: $17.67 billion

Communication and Transportation

  1. Number of Cellphones: 20.787 million
  2. Number of Internet Users: 2.279 million
  3. Number of Airports: 291 (Paved: 16)
  4. Roadways: 11,501 km

Military

  1. National Army of Guatemala: Guatemalan Navy, Guatemalan Air Force
  2. Expenditure: 0.42%

Major Transnational Issues

  1. Illicit Drugs

Other Facts

  1. Guatemala’s HDI is 0.574

This page was last updated on: June 15th, 2014

Source: “Guatemala” Central Intelligence Agency. Central Intelligence Agency, n.d. Web. 15th June 2014.

Country Profile: Grenada

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Geography

  1. Location: Caribbean
  2. Bordering Nations: None
  3. Climate and Terrain: Tropical. Volcanic in origin.
  4. Natural Resources: timber, tropical fruit, deepwater harbors

Society

  1. Nationality and Major Ethnic Group: Grenadian. Black
  2. Official Languages and Major Religions: English. Roman Catholic
  3. Population: 120,152
  4. Life Expectancy: 73.8 years
  5. Literacy Rate: 96%

Government

  1. Official Country Name: Grenada
  2. Government Type: Parliamentary Democracy
  3. Capital: Saint George’s
  4. Independence: February 7th, 1974, from the United Kingdom
  5. President (2014): Prime Minister Keith Mitchell
  6. National Anthem: Grenadian National Anthem

Economy

  1. GDP: $811 million
  2. GDP per capita: $13,800
  3. Agriculture and Industry: bananas, cocoa, nutmeg, mace, citrus, avocados, root crops, sugarcane, corn, vegetables. Food and beverages, textiles, light assembly operations, tourism, construction
  4. Labor Force: 59,900
  5. Population Below the Poverty Line: 38%
  6. Inflation Rate: 2.4%
  7. Exports: $40.5 million. Commodities: nutmeg, bananas, cocoa, fruit and vegetables, clothing, mace. Partners: Nigeria 40.2%, St. Lucia 10.7%, Antigua and Barbuda 7.3%, US 6.6%, St. Kitts and Nevis 6.5%, Dominica 6.5%, Switzerland 4.3% 
  8. Imports: $297 million. Commodities: food, manufactured goods, machinery, chemicals, fuel. Partners: Trinidad and Tobago 44.3%, US 16.4%, China 4.6%
  9. Debt: $679 million

Communication and Transportation

  1. Number of Cellphones: 128,000
  2. Number of Internet Users: 25,000
  3. Number of Airports: 3 (Paved: 3)
  4. Roadways: 1,127 km

Military

  1. no regular military forces; Royal Grenada Police Force
  2. Expenditure: N/A%

Major Transnational Issues

  1. Illicit Drugs

Other Facts

  1. Grenada is a Commonwealth realm

This page was last updated on: June 15th, 2014

Source: “Granada” Central Intelligence Agency. Central Intelligence Agency, n.d. Web. 15th June 2014.

Country Profile: Greece

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Geography

  1. Location: Southern Europe
  2. Bordering Nations: Bulgaria, Albania, Macedonia, Turkey
  3. Climate and Terrain: Temperate. Mostly mountains
  4. Natural Resources: lignite, petroleum, iron ore, bauxite, lead, zinc, nickel, magnesite, marble, salt, hydropower potential

Society

  1. Nationality and Major Ethnic Group: Greek. Greek
  2. Official Languages and Major Religions: Greek. Greek Orthodox
  3. Population: 10.7 million
  4. Life Expectancy: 80.3 years
  5. Literacy Rate: 97.3%

Government

  1. Official Country Name: Hellenic Republic
  2. Government Type: Parliamentary Republic
  3. Capital: Athens
  4. Independence: 1830, from the Ottoman Empire
  5. President (2014): Karolos Papoulias
  6. National Anthem: Greek National Anthem

Economy

  1. GDP: $243.3 billion
  2. GDP per capita: $23,600
  3. Agriculture and Industry: wheat, corn, barley, sugar beets, olives, tomatoes, wine, tobacco, potatoes; beef, dairy products. Tourism, food and tobacco processing, textiles, chemicals, metal products; mining, petroleum
  4. Labor Force: 4.918 million
  5. Population Below the Poverty Line: 20%
  6. Inflation Rate: -0.8%
  7. Exports: $30.39 billion. Commodities: food and beverages, manufactured goods, petroleum products, chemicals, textiles. Partners: Turkey 11.6%, Italy 9.9%, Germany 6.5%, Bulgaria 4.9%
  8. Imports: $50.58 billion. Commodities: machinery, transport equipment, fuels, chemicals. Partners: Russia 13.8%, Germany 9.5%, Italy 7.9%, Iraq 7.8%, Netherlands 4.7%, France 4.5%, China 4.5%
  9. Debt: $568.7 billion

Communication and Transportation

  1. Number of Cellphones: 13.354 million
  2. Number of Internet Users: 4.971 million
  3. Number of Airports: 77 (Paved: 68)
  4. Roadways: 116,960 km

Military

  1. Hellenic Army, Hellenic Navy, Hellenic Air Force
  2. Expenditure: 1.72%

Major Transnational Issues

  1. Illicit Drugs

Other Facts

  1. Greece’s HDI is 0.860

This page was last updated on: June 14th, 2014

Source: “Greece” Central Intelligence Agency. Central Intelligence Agency, n.d. Web. 14th June 2014.

Country Profile: Ghana

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Geography

  1. Location: Western Africa
  2. Bordering Nations: Togo, Cote d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso
  3. Climate and Terrain: Tropical. Low plains with plateau in south-central area.
  4. Natural Resources: gold, timber, industrial diamonds, bauxite, manganese, fish, rubber, hydropower, petroleum, silver, salt, limestone

Society

  1. Nationality and Major Ethnic Group: Ghanaian. Akan
  2. Official Languages and Major Religions: Asante (most spoken, not official), English
  3. Population: 25.7 million
  4. Life Expectancy: 65.75 years
  5. Literacy Rate: 71.5%

Government

  1. Official Country Name: Republic of Ghana
  2. Government Type: Constitutional democracy
  3. Capital: Accra
  4. Independence: Marh 6th, 1957, from the United Kingdom
  5. President (2014): John Dramani Mahama
  6. National Anthem: Ghanaian National Anthem

Economy

  1. GDP: $45.55 billion
  2. GDP per capita: $3,500
  3. Agriculture and Industry: cocoa, rice, cassava (manioc), peanuts, corn, shea nuts, bananas; timber. Mining, lumbering, light manufacturing, aluminum smelting, food processing, cement, small commercial ship building, petroleum
  4. Labor Force: 12.07 million
  5. Population Below the Poverty Line: 28.5%
  6. Inflation Rate: 11%
  7. Exports: $13.37 billion. Commodities: oil, gold, cocoa, timber, tuna, bauxite, aluminum, manganese ore, diamonds, horticultural products. Partners: France 13.6%, Italy 12.4%, Netherlands 8.9%, China 7.4%, Germany 4.3%
  8. Imports: $18.49 billion. Commodities: capital equipment, refined petroleum, foodstuffs. Partners: China 25.6%, Nigeria 11%, US 7%, Netherlands 6.2%, Singapore 4.5%, UK 4.1%, India 4%
  9. Debt: $14.68 billion

Communication and Transportation

  1. Number of Cellphones: 25.618 million
  2. Number of Internet Users: 1.297  million
  3. Number of Airports: 10 (Paved: 7)
  4. Roadways: 109,515 km

Military

  1. Ghana Army, Ghana Navy, Ghana Air Force
  2. Expenditure: 0.27%

Major Transnational Issues

  1. Illicit Drugs

Other Facts

  1. Ghana’s HDI is  0.558

This page was last updated on: June 14th, 2014

Source: “Ghana” Central Intelligence Agency. Central Intelligence Agency, n.d. Web. 14th June 2014.

Country Profile: Germany

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Geography

  1. Location: Central Europe.
  2. Bordering Nations: Czech Republic, Austria, Netherlands, Poland, France, Switzerland, Belgium, Luxembourg, Denmark
  3. Climate and Terrain: Temperate and marine. Lowlands in north, Alps in south
  4. Natural Resources: coal, lignite, natural gas, iron ore, copper, nickel, uranium, potash, salt, construction materials, timber, arable land

Society

  1. Nationality and Major Ethnic Group: German. German
  2. Official Languages and Major Religions: German. Protestant
  3. Population: 81 million
  4. Life Expectancy: 80.44 years
  5. Literacy Rate: 99%

Government

  1. Official Country Name: Federal Republic of Germany
  2. Government Type: Federal Republic
  3. Capital: Berlin
  4. Independence: January 18th, 1871, the establishment of the German Empire
  5. President (2014): Chancellor Angela Merkel
  6. National Anthem: German National Anthem

Economy

  1. GDP: $3.593 trillion
  2. GDP per capita: $39,500
  3. Agriculture and Industry: potatoes, wheat, barley, sugar beets, fruit, cabbages; milk products; cattle, pigs, poultry. Among the world’s largest and most technologically advanced producers of iron, steel, coal, cement, chemicals, machinery
  4. Labor Force: 44.2 million
  5. Population Below the Poverty Line: 15.5%
  6. Inflation Rate: 1.6%
  7. Exports: $1.493  trillion. Commodities: motor vehicles, machinery, chemicals, computer and electronic products, electrical equipment, pharmaceuticals, metals. Partners: France 9.21%, United States 7.85%, United Kingdom 6.53%, Netherlands 6.33%, China 5.91%, Italy 5.05%, Austria 5.03%, Switzerland 4.3%, Belgium 4.04%
  8. Imports: $1.233 trillion. Commodities: machinery, data processing equipment, vehicles, chemicals, oil and gas, metals, electric equipment, pharmaceuticals. Partners: Netherlands 12.88%, France 7.61%, China 6.25%, Belgium 6.13%, Italy 5.31%, United Kingdom 4.61%, Austria 4.33%, United States 4.19%, Switzerland 4.3%, Austria 4.1%, Poland 4%
  9. Debt: $5.717 trillion

Communication and Transportation

  1. Number of Cellphones: 107.7 million
  2. Number of Internet Users: 65.125 million
  3. Number of Airports: 539 (Paved: 318)
  4. Roadways: 645,000 km

Military

  1. Federal Armed Forces: Army; Navy; Air Force; Joint Support Services ; Central Medical Service
  2. Expenditure: 1.35%

Major Transnational Issues

  1. Illicit Drugs

Other Facts

  1. Germany was split in two until 1990

This page was last updated on: June 14th, 2014

Source: “Germany” Central Intelligence Agency. Central Intelligence Agency, n.d. Web. 14th June 2014.

Country Profile: Georgia

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Geography

  1. Location: Southwestern Asia
  2. Bordering Nations: Russia, Azerbaijan. Turkey, Armenia
  3. Climate and Terrain: Warm. Mountainous
  4. Natural Resources: timber, hydropower, manganese deposits, iron ore, copper, minor coal and oil deposits

Society

  1. Nationality and Major Ethnic Group: Georgian. Georgian. 
  2. Official Languages and Major Religions: Georgian. Orthodox Christian
  3. Population: 4.9 million
  4. Life Expectancy: 75.72 years
  5. Literacy Rate: 99.7%

Government

  1. Official Country Name: Georgia
  2. Government Type: Republic
  3. Capital: Tbilisi
  4. Independence: April 9th, 1991, from the Soviet Union
  5. President (2014): Giorgi Margvelashvili
  6. National Anthem: Georgian National Anthem

Economy

  1. GDP: $15.96 billion
  2. GDP per capita: $6,100
  3. Agriculture and Industry: citrus, grapes, tea, hazelnuts, vegetables; livestock. Steel, machine tools, electrical appliances, mining (manganese, copper, and gold), chemicals, wood products, wine
  4. Labor Force: 1.959 million
  5. Population Below the Poverty Line: 9.2%
  6. Inflation Rate: -0.5%
  7. Exports: $2.618  billion. Commodities: vehicles, ferro-alloys, fertilizers, nuts, scrap metal, gold, copper ores. Partners: Azerbaijan 25%, Armenia 11%, Ukraine 7%, Turkey 6%, Russia 6%
  8. Imports: $7.064 billion. Commodities: fuels, vehicles, machinery and parts, grain and other foods, pharmaceuticals. Partners: Turkey 17%, Ukraine 8%, Azerbaijan 8%, Russia 7%, China 7%
  9. Debt: $11.74 billion

Communication and Transportation

  1. Number of Cellphones: 4.699 million
  2. Number of Internet Users: 1.3 million
  3. Number of Airports: 22 (Paved: 18)
  4. Roadways: 19,109 km

Military

  1. Georgian Armed Forces: Land Forces; separatist Abkhazia Armed Forces: Ground Forces, Air Forces; separatist South Ossetia Armed Forces
  2. Expenditure: 2.88%

Major Transnational Issues

  1. Illicit Drugs

Other Facts

  1. Georgia used to be part of the Soviet Union

This page was last updated on: June 13th, 2014

Source: “Georgia” Central Intelligence Agency. Central Intelligence Agency, n.d. Web. 13th June 2014.