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Bahamas Continent: North America Area: 13,878 km2 (5,358 mi2) Population (2013 est.): 319,031 (+0.9% p.a.) Capital: Nassau (248,948) Other cities: Freeport (47k), West End (13k) Languages: English (official), Bahamian dialect Products: Refined oil, ships, paintings, styrene polymers, coal tar oil, crustaceans & molluscs, tourism, banking Sea borders: U.S.A., U.K. (Turks & Caicos Islands), Haiti, Cuba Time zone: UTC/BST -5 Currency: Bahamian dollar (BSD) GDPPC (PPP / Nominal): $31,382 / $22,832 Calling code: +1-242 Internet domain: .bs Independence: July 10, 1973 (from UK) UN admission: September 18, 1973 Religions: Christianity National anthem: "March On, Bahamaland" Nations Online | Travel | Lonely Planet | More...	Bahrain  ( ‏البحرين‎ ) Continent: Asia Area: 780 km2 (304.5 mi2) Population (2013 est.): 1,300,000 (+2.65% p.a.) Capital: Manama (المنامة‎) (157,474) Other cities: Muharraq (المحرق‎) (177k), Riffa (الرفاع) (122k), Hamad Town (مدينة حمد) (134k) Languages: Arabic (official), English, Persian, Urdu Products: Refined oil, iron ore, aluminium, gas Sea borders: Iran, Qatar, Saudi Arabia Time zone: UTC +3 (summer time not observed) Currency: Bahraini dinar (BHD) GDPPC (PPP / Nominal): $28,691 / $23,555 Calling code: +973 Internet domain: .bh Independence: 1783 (from Persia) UN admission: September 21, 1971 Religions: Islam, Christianity, Hinduism National anthem: "Our Bahrain" Nations Online | Travel | Lonely Planet | More...	Bangladesh  ( বাংলাদেশ ) Continent: Asia Area: 147,570 km2 (56,977 mi2) Population (2013 est.): 150,039,000 (+1.58% pa) Capital: Dhaka ( ঢাকা ) (10,356,500) Other cities: Chittagong (চট্টগ্রাম) (4m), Khulna (খুলনা) (1.43m), Rajshahi (রাজশাহী) (843k) Languages: Bangla (official), English, Chakma Products: Textiles, apparel, fish, crustaceans, ships, software, leather goods, rice, potato, tropical fruits, onion, banana, jute, tea Borders: Myanmar, India Time zone: UTC/BST +6 Currency: Taka (৳) (BDT) GDPPC (PPP / Nominal): $2,083 / $899 Calling code: +880 Internet domain: .bd Independence (decl.): March 26, 1971 (f. Pakistan) UN admission: September 17, 1974 Religions: Islam, Hinduism National anthem: আমার সোনার বাংলা (Amar Shonar Bangla, My Golden Bengal) Nations Online | Travel | Lonely Planet | More...
Barbados Continent: North America Area: 432 km2 (166 mi2) Population (2010): 277,821 (+0.35% p.a.) Capital: Bridgetown (110,000) Other cities: Speightstown (3.6k), Holetown (1.6k) Languages: English (official), Bajan Products: Tourism, medicaments, vehicles, alcoholic beverages, sugar, oil, cement Sea borders: Guyana, Venezuela, Trinidad and Tobago, St Vincent and the Grenadines, St Lucia, France Time zone: UTC -4 (summer time not observed) Currency: Barbadian dollar ($) (BBD) GDPPC (PPP / Nominal): $25,100 / $16,151 Calling code: +1-246 Internet domain: .bb Independence: November 30, 1966 (from UK) UN admission: December 9, 1966 Religions: Christianity National anthem: "In Plenty and In Time of Need" Nations Online | Travel | Lonely Planet | More...	Belarus  (Белару́сь) Continent: Europe Area: 207,595 km2 (80,155 mi2) Population (2012): 9,457,500 (-0.36% p.a.) Capital: Minsk (Мінск, Минск) (2,002,600) Other cities: Gomel (Го́мель, Homel) (515k), Mogilev (Магілёў 'Mahilioŭ, Могилёв) (371k) Languages: Belarusian, Russian( (both official) Products: Refined oil, fertilisers, tractors, trucks, cheese, butter, sugar, iron products, tires, textiles Borders: Latvia, Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania Time zone: UTC +3 (eternal summer time observed) Currency: Belarusian ruble (BYR) GDPPC (PPP / Nominal): $15,633 / $6,739 Calling code: +375 Internet domain: .by Independence (decl.): July 27, 1990 (f. USSR) UN admission: October 24, 1945 Religions: Christianity National anthem: "My Belarusy" Nations Online | Travel | Lonely Planet | More...	Belgium (Belgique,België) Continent: Europe Area: 30,528 km2 (11,787 mi2) Population (2013): 11,099,554 (+0.06% p.a.) Capital: Brussels (Bruxelles, Brussel) (1,138,854) Other cities: Antwerp (Anvers, Antwerpen) (512k), Ghent (Gand, Gent) (249k) Languages: Dutch, French, German (all official) Products: Medicaments, vehicles & parts, machinery, chemicals, metals & metal products, finished diamonds, foodstuffs, chocolate Borders: Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg, France Time zone: UTC/BST +1 Currency: Euro (€) (EUR) GDPPC (PPP / Nominal): $38,826 / $47,787 Calling code: +32 Internet domain: .be Independence (decl.): October 4, 1830 (from the Netherlands) UN admission: December 27, 1945 Religions: Religions: Christianity, Islam National anthem: "The Brabançonne" Nations Online | Travel | Lonely Planet | More...
Belize  (Belice) Continent: North America Area: 22,966 km2 (8,867 mi2) Population (2010): 322,453 (+2.40% p.a.) Capital: Belmopan (13,931) Largest city: Belize City (67,964) Other cities: San Ignacio (17k), San Pedro Town (14k) Languages: English (official), Kriol, Spanish, Garifuna, Maya, Plautdietsch, Cantonese Products: Oil, wheat, bananas and plantains, fruit juices, sugar, crustaceans, frozen fish, melons Borders: Mexico, Guatemala Time zone: UTC -6 (summer time not observed) Currency: Belize dollar (BZD) GDPPC (PPP / Nominal): $8,753 / $4,535 Calling code: +501 Internet domain: .bz Independence: September 21, 1981 (from UK) UN admission: September 25, 1981 Religions: Christianity, Maya, Garifuna, Obeah, Myalism National anthem: "Land of the Free" Nations Online | Travel | Lonely Planet | More...	Benin  (Bénin) (FKA Dahomey) Continent: Africa Area: 114,763 km2 (43,484 mi2) Population (2013): 9,983,884 (+2.88% p.a.) Capital: Porto-Novo (aka Hogbonou, Adjacé) (267,191) Largest city: Cotonou (fka Kotonu) (779,314) Other cities: Abomey-Calavi (656k), Djougou (267k) Languages: French (official), Fon, Yoruba, Baatonum, Fulfude, etc. Products: Coconuts, nuts, refined oil, cotton, scrap metals, wood, gold, sugar, palm oil, seafood Borders: Burkina Faso, Niger, Nigeria, Togo Time zone: UTC +1 (summer time not observed) Currency: West African CFA franc (XOF) GDPPC (PPP / Nominal): $1,666 / $794 Calling code: +229 Internet domain: .bj Independence: August 1, 1960 (from France) UN admission: September 20, 1960 Religions: Christianity, Islam, Vodun National anthem: "L'Aube Nouvelle" ("The Dawn of a New Day") Nations Online | Travel | Lonely Planet | More...	Bhutan  (འབྲུག་ཡུལ་ - 'Brug-yul) Continent: Asia Area: 38,394 km2 (14,824 mi2) Population (2012 est.): 742,737 (+1.18% p.a.) Capital: Thimphu (ཐིམ་ཕུག, ཐིམ་ཕུ་) (79,185) Other cities: Phuntsholing (ཕུན་ཚོགས་གླིང་) (61k), Punakha (སྤུ་ན་ཁ་) (21k), Samdrup Jongkhar (8k) Languages: Dzongkha (official), Nepali, Tshangla, Dzala, Limbu, Kheng Products: Electricity, ferro-alloys, blank audio media, copper wire, manganese, dolomite, gypsum, carbides, citrus, nutmeg, potatoes, cement Borders: China, India Time zone: UTC +6 (summer time not observed) Currency: Bhutanese ngultrum (BTN) GDPPC (PPP / Nominal): $6,112 / $2,121 Calling code: +975 Internet domain: .bt Formation: Early 17th century UN admission: September 21, 1971 Religions: Buddhism, Hinduism National anthem: "Druk tsendhen" ("The Thunder Dragon Kingdom") Nations Online | Travel | Lonely Planet | More...
Bolivia  (Buliwya, Wuliwya) Continent: South America Area: 1,098,581 km2 (424,163 mi2) Population (2013 est.): 10,461,053 (+1.7% p.a.) Capital (constitutional): Sucre (aka Charcas, La Plata, Chuquisaca) (237,480) Capital (admin/tive): La Paz (Chuqiyapu) (757k) Largest city: Santa Cruz de la Sierra (1,441,406) Other cities: El Alto (842k), Cochabamba (631k) Languages: Spanish, Quechua, Aymara, Guaraní (all official) Products: Gas, zinc, lead, tin, precious metals, oil, soybean meal & oil, nuts, silver, gold, jewellery Borders: Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Chile, Peru Time zone: UTC -4 (summer time not observed) Currency: Boliviano (BOB) GDPPC (PPP / Nominal): $5,364 / $2,700 Calling code: +591 Internet domain: .bo Independence (rec.): July 21, 1847 (from Spain) UN admission: November 14, 1945 Religions: Christianity National anthem: "Himno Nacional de Bolivia" Nations Online | Travel | Lonely Planet | More...	Bosnia and Herzegovina (Босна и Херцеговина) Continent: Europe Area: 51,197km2 (19,741 mi2) Population (2013): 3,791,622 (+0.003% p.a.) Capital: Serajevo (Сарајево) (438,443) Other cities: Banja Luka (Бања Лука) (200k), Tuzla (Тузла) (121k) Languages: Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian (all official) Products: Electricity, chairs & seats, aluminium, footwear, refined oil, machines, metal products, coal, wood, paper, milk, sugar Borders: Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro Time zone: UTC/BST +1 Currency: Convertible mark (BAM) GDPPC (PPP / Nominal): $9,986 / $4,865 Calling code: +387 Internet domain: .ba Independence: March 1, 1992 (from Yugoslavia) UN admission: May 22, 1992 Religions: Islam, Christianity National anthem: "Državna himna Bosne i Hercegovine" "National Anthem of Bosnia & Herzegovina" Nations Online | Travel | Lonely Planet | More...	Botswana Continent: Africa Area: 581,730 km2 (224,610 mi2) Population (2011): 2,038,228 (+1.48% p.a.) Capital: Gaborone (421,907) Other cities: Francistown (186k), Molepolole (63k) Languages: English, Setswana (both official), Kalanga, Sarwa, Ndebele, Afrikaans Products: Not mounted diamonds, nickel, copper, beef, garments Borders: Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Namimbia Time zone: UTC +2 (summer time not observed) Currency: Pula (BWP) GDPPC (PPP / Nominal): $17,101 / $7,627 Calling code: +267 Internet domain: .bw Independence (establ.): Sept. 30, 1966 (f. UK) UN admission: October 17, 1966 Religions: Christianity National anthem: "Fatshe leno la rona" ("Blessed Be This Noble Land") Nations Online | Travel | Lonely Planet | More...
Brazil  (Brasil) Continent: South America Area: 8,515,767 km2 (3,287,597 mi2) Population (2013 est.): 201,032,714 (+1.1% pa) Capital: Brasília (2,789,761) Largest city: São Paulo (11,244,369) Other cities: Rio de Janeiro (6.32m), Salvador (2.6m) Languages: Portuguese (official), Nheengatu, Baniwa, Tucano, Brazilian Hunsrückisch, Talian Products: Iron ore, oil, soybeans, sugar, poultry, coffee, wood pulp, vehicles & parts, aircrafts Borders: Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, France (French Guiana), Uruguay, Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia, Peru, Colombia Time zone: UTC/BST -2 to -5 Currency: Real (R$) (BRL) GDPPC (PPP / Nominal): $12,528 / $10,773 Calling code: +55 Internet domain: .br Independence (recog.): Aug 29, 1825 (f. Portugal) UN admission: October 24, 1945 Religions: Christianity National anthem: "Hino Nacional Brasileiro" Nations Online | Travel | Lonely Planet | More...	Brunei Negara Brunei Darussalam نڬارا بروني دارالسلام Continent: Asia Area: 5,765 km2 (2,226 mi2) Population (2013 est.): 415,717 (+1.69% p.a.) Capital: Bandar Seri Begawan (بندر سري بڬاوان) (140k) Other cities: Kuala Belait (کوالا بلايت) (31k), Seria (aka Pekan Seria) (30k) Languages: Malay (official), English (recognised), Brunei Malay, Tutong, Kedayan, Belait, Murut, Dusun, Bisaya, Melanau, Iban, Penan Products: Oil, gas, LNG Borders: Malaysia Time zone: UTC +8 (summer time not observed) Currency: Brunei dollar (BND) GDPPC (PPP / Nominal): $50,440 / $39,355 Calling code: +673 Internet domain: .bn Independence (decl.): January 1, 1984 (from UK) UN admission: September 21, 1984 Religions: Islam, Buddhism, Christianity National anthem: "Allah Peliharakan Sultan" "God Bless the Sultan" Nations Online | Travel | Lonely Planet | More...	Bulgaria  (България) Continent: Europe Area: 110,994 km2 (42,823 mi2) Population (2011): 7,364,570 (-0.781% p.a.) Capital: Sofia (София) (1,241,396) Other cities: Plovdiv (Пловдив) (339k), Varna (Варна) (335k), Burgas (Бургас) (201k) Languages: Bulgarian (official), Turkish, Romani Products: Refined oil, copper, packaged medicaments, sunflower seeds, clothing, footwear, iron and steel, machinery & equipment Borders: Romania, Turkey, Greece, FYROM, Serbia Time zone: UTC/BST +2 Currency: Lev (BGN) GDPPC (PPP / Nominal): $14,870 / $7,582 Calling code: +359 Internet domain: .bg Independence: Oct 5, 1908 (f. Ottoman Empire) UN admission: December 14, 1955 Religions: Christianity, Islam National anthem: Мила Родино 'Mila Rodino (Dear Motherland)   Nations Online | Travel | Lonely Planet | More...
Burkina Faso Continent: Africa Area: 274,200 km2 (105,869 mi2) Population (2006): 14,017,262 (+3.07% p.a.) Capital: Ouagadougou (1,727,390) Other cities: Bobo Dioulasso (538k), Koudougou (92k) Languages: French (official), Mòoré, Mandinka, Bambara, Dyula, Fula Products: Gold, cotton, sesame seeds, tropical fruits Borders: Mali, Niger, Benin, Togo, Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire Time zone: UTC +0 (summer time not observed) Currency: West African CFA franc (XOF) GDPPC (PPP / Nominal): $1,399 / $602 Calling code: +226 Internet domain: .bf Independence: August 5, 1960 (from France) UN admission: September 20, 1960 Religions: Islam, Christianity, indigenous beliefs National anthem: "Une Seule Nuit" (One Single Night) Nations Online | Travel | Lonely Planet | More...	Burundi Continent: Africa Area: 27,834 km2 (10,745 mi2) Population (2008): 8,053,574 (+3.1% p.a.) Capital: Bujumbura (497,166) Other cities: Gitega (47k), Muyinga (46k) Languages: Kirundi, French (both official), Swahili Products: Coffee, gold, tea, vehicles & parts, fresh & dried fruit, tungsten ore, beer, rolled tobacco, soap, scrap iron, hides & skins, sugar Borders: Rwanda, Tanzania, Democratic Republic of the Congo Time zone: UTC +2 (summer time not observed) Currency: Burundian franc (FBu) (BIF) GDPPC (PPP / Nominal): $625 / $282 Calling code: +257 Internet domain: .bi Independence: July 1, 1962 (from Belgium) UN admission: September 18, 1962 Religions: Christianity, indigenous beliefs, Islam National anthem: "Burundi Bwacu" ("Our Burundi") Nations Online | Travel | Lonely Planet | More...