Country Profiles: China

China is located in Asia.

For centuries China stood as a leading civilization, outpacing the rest of the world in the arts and sciences, but in the 19th and early 20th centuries, the country was beset by civil unrest, major famines, military defeats, and foreign occupation. After World War II, the Communists under MAO Zedong established an autocratic socialist system that, while ensuring China's sovereignty, imposed strict controls over everyday life and cost the lives of tens of millions of people. After 1978, MAO's successor DENG Xiaoping and other leaders focused on market-oriented economic development and by 2000 output had quadrupled. For much of the population, living standards have improved dramatically and the room for personal choice has expanded, yet political controls remain tight. China since the early 1990s has increased its global outreach and participation in international organizations.
CIA World Factbook

With an area of 9,596,961 sq km, it is slightly smaller than the United States.

China shares a border with Afghanistan, Bhutan, Burma, India, Kazakhstan, North Korea, Krygyzstan, Laos, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Vietnam. It is mostly mountains, high plateaus, deserts in west, with plains, deltas, and hills in east.

People who live in China are called Chinese, which is also an adjective used to describe something from this country. As of July 2012, there are 1,343,239,923 people in China. The ethnic groups that reside in China are mostly Han Chinese (91.5%) with Zhuang, Manchu, Hui, Miao, Uighur, Tujia, Yi, Mongol, Tibetan, Buyi, Dong, Yao, Korean, and other nationalities (8.5%) making up the rest. Several languages are spoken there: Standard Chinese or Mandarin (Putonghua, based on the Beijing dialect), Yue (Cantonese), Wu (Shanghainese), Minbei (Fuzhou), Minnan (Hokkien-Taiwanese), Xiang, Gan, Hakka dialects, and minority languages. The main religions in China are Daoism (Taoism) and Buddhism, with some Christians (3%-4%) and Muslims (1%-2%).

The country's official name is People's Republic of China (locally Zhonghua Renmin Gongheguo). The capital is Beijing, and the country is made up of 23 provinces and 4 municipalities. The current constitution from 1982 can be found here through Constitution Finder. The current president is Hu Jintao. Information about the leaders of China's government can be found here. The currency is the Renminbi yuan (abbreviated RMB), which stands at 6.4615 RMB per USD as of 2011.

All of this information was gathered from the CIA World Factbook. For more information, check out these resources...

People's Republic of China Government Site

China, CIA World Factbook

Background Notes: China, U.S. Department of State

2011 Country Report on Human Rights Practices in China, U.S. Department of State.

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Country Profiles: Cambodia

Cambodia is located in Asia. Cambodia has a rich and complicated history.

Most Cambodians consider themselves to be Khmers, descendants of the Angkor Empire that extended over much of Southeast Asia and reached its zenith between the 10th and 13th centuries. The king placed the country under French protection in 1863 and it became part of French Indochina in 1887. Following Japanese occupation in World War II, Cambodia gained full independence from France in 1953. In April 1975, after a five-year struggle, Communist Khmer Rouge forces captured Phnom Penh and evacuated all cities and towns. At least 1.5 million Cambodians died from execution, forced hardships, or starvation during the Khmer Rouge regime under POL POT. A December 1978 Vietnamese invasion drove the Khmer Rouge into the countryside, began a 10-year Vietnamese occupation, and touched off almost 13 years of civil war. (CIA World Factbook)

With an area of 181,035 sq km, it is slightly smaller than the U.S. state of Oklahoma.

Cambodia shares a border with Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam. It is mostly low, flat plains, with mountains in southwest and north.

People who live in Cambodia are called Cambodians, which is also an adjective used to describe something from this country. As of July 2012, there are 14,952,665 people in Cambodia. The ethnic groups that reside in Cambodia are mostly Khmer (90%) with some Vietnamese (5%) and Chinese (1%). Khmer is the official language, but French and English are both spoken there as well. Buddhism is the official religion (96.4%), while Muslims make up an additional 2.1%.

The country's official name is Kingdom of Cambodia. The capital is Phnom Penh, and the country is made up of 23 provinces and 1 municipality. A constitution was promulgated on September 21, 1993. The constitution can be found here through Constitution Finder. The current leader is King Norodom Sihamoni. Information about the leaders of COUNTRY's government can be found here. The currency is the riels (abbreviated KHR), which stands at 4,058.5 KHR per USD as of 2011.

All of this information was gathered from the CIA World Factbook. For more information, check out these resources...

Kingdom of Cambodia, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation

Cambodia, CIA World Factbook

U.S. Relations with Cambodia, U.S. Department of State

2011 Country Report on Human Rights Practices in Cambodia, U.S. Department of State.

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Country Profiles: Burma

Burma is located in Asia. Burma, once known as Myanmar, was part of Britain's Indian Empire for 62 years (1824-1886) and eventually attained independence in 1948. With an area of 676,578 sq km, it is slightly smaller than the U.S. state of Texas.

Burma shares a border with Bangladesh, China, India, Laos, and Thailand. It is mostly central lowlands ringed by steep, rugged highlands.

People who live in Burma are called Burmese, which is also an adjective used to describe something from this country. As of July 2012, there are 54,584,650 people in Burma. The ethnic groups that reside in Burma are mostly Burman (68%) with some Shan (95), Rakhine (4%), Chinese (3%), Indian (2%), and Mon (2%). Burmese is the official language of Burma, thought minority ethnic groups have their own languages. Buddhists make up approximately 89% of the population, while Christians and Muslims make up an additional 4% each.

The country's official name is Union of Burma. The capital is Rangoon, and the country is made up of 7 regions and 7 states. Though Burma gained independence from the UK on January 4, 1948, a constitution was not approved until 2008. The constitution can be found here through Constitution Finder. The current president is Thein Sein. Information about the leaders of Burma's government can be found here. The currency is the kyats (MMK), which stands at 5.39 MMK per USD as of 2011.

All of this information was gathered from the CIA World Factbook. For more information, check out these resources...

Burma, CIA World Factbook

Background Notes: Burma, U.S. Department of State

2011 Country Report on Human Rights Practices in Burma, U.S. Department of State.

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Country Profiles: Brunei

Brunei is located in Asia. Brunei became a British protectorate in 1888; it didn't gain independence until 1984. The same family has ruled the country for over six hundred years. With an area of 5,765 sq km, it is slightly smaller than the U.S. state of Delaware.

Brunei shares a border with Malaysia. It is mostly flat coastal plains that rises to mountains in the east, with hilly lowlands in the west.

People who live in Brunei are called Bruneians, which is also an adjective used to describe something from this country. As of July 2012, there are 408,786 people in Brunei. The ethnic groups that reside in Brunei are mostly Malay (66.3%), with some Chinese (11.2%) and indigenous populations (3.4%). Several languages are spoken there: Malay (official), English and Chinese. Muslims make up approximately 67% of the population, while Buddhists (13%) and Christians (10%) make up the rest.

The country's official name is Brunei Darussalam. The capital is Bandar Seri Begawan, and the country is made up of four districts. The constitution can be found here through Constitution Finder. The current sultan is Sir Hassanal Bolkiah. Information about the leaders of Brunei's government can be found here. The currency is the Bruneian Dollar(abbreviated BND), which stands at 1.2579 BND per USD as of 2011.

All of this information was gathered from the CIA World Factbook. For more information, check out these resources...

Brunei Prime Minister Site

Brunei, CIA World Factbook

U.S. Relations with Brunei, U.S. Department of State

2011 Country Report on Human Rights Practices in Brunei, U.S. Department of State.

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Country Profiles: Bangladesh

Bangladesh is located in South Asia. Originally part of British India, West Pakistan and East Bengal separated from India in 1947 to form the new country of Pakistan. East Bengal went on to become East Pakistan in 1955. In 1971, East Pakistan seceded from its union with West Pakistan and became Bangladesh. With an area of 143,998 sq km, Bangladesh is slightly smaller than the U.S. State of Iowa.


Bangladesh shares a border with Burma and India. It is mostly flat alluvial plains but hilly in the southeast.





People who live in Bangladesh are known as Bangladeshi, which is also the adjective used to describe items from this country. As of July 2011, there are about 158.6 million people in Bangladesh. Most of these people are Bengali (98%) with some other tribal groups (2%). The official language is Bangla, which is also known as Bengali. English is also spoken there. Most of the country is Muslim (90%) with some Hindu (10%).


The country's official name is the People's Republic of Bangladesh. The capital is Dhaka, and the country is made up of 7 divisions. Bangladesh gained independence on March 26, 1971 and enacted a constitution on November 4, 1972. The constitution can be found here through Constitution Finder. The current president is Zillur Rahman. Information about the leaders of Bangladesh's government can be found here. The currency in Bangladesh is the taka (abbreviated BDT), which stands at 70.59 BDT per USD as of 2010.





All of this information was gathered from the CIA World Factbook. For more information, check out these resources...

Bangladesh Parliament Site

Bangladesh, CIA World Factbook

Background Note: Bangladesh, U.S. Department of State

Bangladesh 2010 Country Report on Human Rights Practices, U.S. Department of State.

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Country Profiles: Afghanistan

With a new year comes new resolutions. And this year, I think it would be fun to start having country profiles...learn a little about the 194 neighbors we share this planet with. So here we go...

Afghanistan is located in South Asia. Ahmad Shah Durrani unified the Pashtun tribes, founding the country of Afghanistan in 1747. With an area of 652,230 sq km, it is slightly smaller than the U.S. state of Texas.

Afghanistan shares a border with China, Iran, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. It is mostly rugged mountains with plains in the north and southwest.



People who live in Afghanistan are called Afghans, which is also an adjective used to describe something from this country. As of July 2011, there are 29.8 million people in Afghanistan. The ethnic groups that reside in Afghanistan are mostly Pashtun and Tajik. Several languages are spoken there, though there are only two official languages, Afghan Persian (also know as Dari) and Pashto. Sunni Muslims make up approximately 80% of the population, while Shia Muslims make up an additional 19%.

The country's official name is the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. The capital is Kabul, and the country is made up of 34 provinces. Though Afghanistan gained independence from the UK on August 19, 1919, a constitution was not drafted until December 14, 2003. The constitution can be found here on Constitution Finder. The current president is Hamid Karzai. Information about the leaders of Afghanistan's government can be found here. The currency is the afghani (abbreviated AFA), which stands at 46.45 AFA per USD as of 2010.



All of this information was gathered from the CIA World Factbook. For more information, check out these resources...

Office of the President, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan

Afghanistan, CIA World Factbook

Background Note: Afghanistan, U.S. Department of State

Afghanistan 2010 Country Report on Human Rights Practices, U.S. Department of State

You can also check out the Country Studies tab on our Fed Docs libguide here for more resources on all of the countries.


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