System of government: Republic Capital: Damascus (Esh Sham, Damas) Location: In south-western Asia on the Mediterranean Sea coast; the region is traditionally known as the Levant. Syria has borders with Turkey, Lebanon, Israel, Jordan and Iraq. Area: 185,190 sq km. National Composition: Arabs (88%), Kurds (6%), Armenians and other minorities Religion: Islam Official Language: Arabic Currency: Syrian pound = 100 piasters Administrative Divisions: 14 administrative districts, …

System of government: Monarchy Capital: Amman Location: In south-western Asia, Jordan shares borders with Israel, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Syria Area: 97,940 sq km National composition: Mostly Arabs; Circassian, Armenian and Kurdish minorities Religion: Islam Official language: Arabic Currency: Dinar = 1,000 fils Administrative divisions: 8 districts, including the capital Other major cities: Zarqa, Irbid Highest elevation: Jebel Ram (1,754 …

System of government: Republic Capital: Tehran Location: In south-western Asia, Iran is bounded by the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman to the south, Afghanistan and Pakistan to the east, the USSR to the north, and Iraq and Turkey to the west Area: 1,648,000 sq km National composition: Persian (Farsi), roughly two-thirds of the population; one-fourth Turki, some Kurds …

System of government: Republic Capital: Kabul Location: Afghanistan is a landlocked country in south-central Asia, with borders with the USSR to the north, China, Pakistan to the east and Iran to the west. Area: 647,497 sq km National composition: The population is mixed; Indo-European Pathans make up about 50 percent and Tadzhiks about 30 percent of the population. Other groups …

System of government: Republic Capital: Vientiane Location: Landlocked nation in south-eastern Asia, enclosed by China, Vietnam, Kampuchea, Thailand and Burma Area: 236,800 sq km National composition: Mostly Lao, with many small minority groups Religion: Buddhism Official language: Lao Currency: Kip = 100 ats Administrative divisions: 17 provinces and one prefecture Other major cities: Savannakhet, Pakse, Luang Prabang Highest elevation: Phu …

System of government: Socialist Republic (called Democratic Kampuchea) Capital: Phnom Penh Location: In south-eastern Asia on the Gulf of Thailand, bordered by Vietnam, Laos and Thailand Area: 181,035 sq km National composition: Mostly Khmer; Chinese, Vietnamese, Lao minorities Religion: Buddhism Official language: Khmer Currency: Riel = 100 sen Administrative divisions: 24 provinces Other major cities: Battambang Chief river: Mekong Largest …

System of government: Socialist Republic Capital: Hanoi Location: In south-western Asia, on the coast of South China Sea; Vietnam has borders with China, Laos and Kampuchea Area: 329,556 sq km National composition: Vietnamese (88%), Chinese and many other minorities Religions: Buddhism, Christianity, Taoism Official language: Vietnamese Currency: Dong =100xu Administrative divisions: 58 provinces ( in Vietnamese: tỉnh), and there are 5 …

System of government: Socialist Republic Capital: Ulan Bator Location: Mongolia is a landlocked country in Central Asia; it has borders with the Russia to the north, and China to the south, east and west Area: 1,565,000 sq km National composition: Mongols (over 90%), minorities include Kazakhs, Uighurs, Tuvinians and Chinese Religion: Lamaist Buddhism Official language: Mongolian Currency: Tugrik = 100 mongo …

System of government: Constitutional Monarchy Capital: Tokyo Location: Island nation in the Pacific; the Japanese archipelago is separated from the Asian mainland by the Sea of Japan; it includes the islands of Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu and Shikoku, the Ryukyu group, Tsushima, Bonin, Izu and Volcano Islands, as well as numerous smaller islands Area: 373,313 sq km National composition: Japanese (99%), …

System of government: Federal Republic Capital: Washington, D.C. Location: In the central part of North America, bounded by the Atlantic in the east, Canada in the north, the Pacific in the west and Mexico in the south National composition: Non-Hispanic whites make up 63 percent of the U.S.; Hispanics, 17 percent; blacks, 12.3 percent; Asians, 5 percent; and multiracial Americans, …