The UN Matters - Home Page | UNA-UK country...The UN Matters Country profile: BRAZILNote on country contributions to the UN’s budget UN member state contributions are divided into

The UN MattersCountry profile: BRAZIL

Name Brazil

Capital city Brasilia

Government• HeadofState/govt.

• Type

¬ PresidentDilmaRousseffwaselectedinOctober2010,servingthefirstoftwopotential4-yearterms

¬ Federalrepublic

Languages Portuguese(officialandmostwidelyspokenlanguage),alongsidealargenumberofAmerindianlanguagesandSpanish,German,Italian,JapaneseandEnglish

Religions RomanCatholic73.6%,Protestant15.4%,Spiritualist1.3%,traditionalbeliefs0.3%,other1.8%,unspecified0.2%,none7.4%(2000est.)

Ethnic groups White53.7%,mixedwhiteandblack38.5%,black6.2%,other(incl.Japanese,Arab,Amerindian)0.9%,unspecified0.7%(2000est.)

Population• Total• Birthrate• Deathrate• Netmigration• Belowthepovertyline

¬ 203million–5thmostpopulouscountry(2011est.)¬ 17.79(per1,000)¬ 6.36(per1,000)¬ -0.09(per1,000)¬ 26%(2008est.)

Economy• GrossDomesticProduct(GDP)• GDPpercapita• Economy• Unemployment• Nationaldebt

¬ $2.172trillion(2010est.)¬ $10,800(2010est.)¬ LargesteconomyinSouthAmericaandanemergingmarket¬ 6.7%(2010est.)¬ 54.7%ofGDP(2010est.)

Human development • Lifeexpectancy• Literacyrate• Infantmortality

¬ 73.5years(2011est.)¬ 88.6%(2004est.)¬ 21.17(per1,000,2011est.)

Energy and resources• Electricity• Oil• Naturalgas• Alternative/nuclear

¬ 10thlargestproducer/consumerintheworld¬ 9thlargestproducer/7thlargestconsumerintheworld¬ 37thlargestproducer/30thlargestconsumerintheworld¬ 15.61%oftotalofenergyusage(2009est.)


Military/defence• Annualmilitaryspending• Numberoftroops• Nuclearweapons

¬ $33.5billion(1.6%ofGDPin2009)¬ 327,710¬ None.Since1969,LatinAmericanandtheCaribbeanhasbeenanuclear-weapons-freezone

Official Development Assistance ¬ Received$338million(equaltojustunder0.02%ofGDP)in2009andgave$362million(equaltojustover0.02%ofGDP)in2009

Human rights RomeStatuteontheInternationalCriminalCourt IntlConventionontheEliminationofAllFormsofRacialDiscrimination IntlCovenantonEconomic,SocialandCulturalRights IntlCovenantonCivilandPoliticalRights UNConventionontheEliminationofAllFormsofDiscriminationagainst

Women UNConventionagainstTortureandOtherCruel,InhumanorDegrading

TreatmentorPunishment UNConventionontheRightsoftheChild UNConventionontheRightsofPersonswithDisabilities IntlConventionontheProtectionoftheRightsofAllMigrantWorkersand

MembersoftheirFamilies

UN and other international relations

¬ TheUN’sregulartwo-yearbudgetiscurrently$5.16billion.TheBraziliancontributiontowardsthisbudgetissetat1.6%for2012

¬ TheUN’speacekeepingbudgetforJuly2011toJune2012is$7.84billion.Brazilcontributes0.322%ofthisbudgetand2,493outofatotal98,639uniformedpersonnel(January2012).Historically,Brazilhasbeenoneofthebiggesttroopcontributors,participatingin33missionswith27,000troops

¬ Brazilhasjustcompletedatwo-yeartermasanon-permanentmemberoftheUNSecurityCouncil.

¬ MemberoftheGeneralAssembly¬ MemberoftheHumanRightsCouncil(elected)¬ MemberoftheG20,G77andtheOrganizationofAmericanStates


Note on country contributions to the UN’s budget

UNmemberstatecontributionsaredividedintoobligatoryandvoluntarypayments.Theformerarebasedonastate’srelativeabilitytopay,withpoorcountriespayingsignificantlyreducedrates.TheUS,whichwouldpayforover30%oftheUN’scorebudgetaccordingtoglobalincomedistribution,hasnegotiatedacaponitspaymentswiththeUN.Itthereforeissupposedtocontribute22%ofthebudget.Contributionsbyleast-developedcountriesarecappedat0.01%.Thetopfivecontributorsare:US(22%),Japan,(12.5%),Germany(8.01%),UK(6.6%)andFrance(6.1).

Forpeacekeepingcontributions,additionaldeductionsaremadetopoorcountries,andthefivepermanentmembersoftheSecurityCouncilareaskedtopaymore,toreflecttheirroleinauthorisingmissions.Thetopfivecontributorsare:US(27.1%),Japan(12.5%),UK(8.146%)Germany(8.01%)andFrance(7.5%).

Further reading

Starting points

• Memberstates:www.un.org/en/members/ (linkstomemberstatemissionstotheUN)

• TheCIAWorldFactbook:www.cia.gov/index.html• BBCNewsCountryProfiles:http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/

country_profiles/default.stm

Country data

• Humanrightstreatysignatories:www.ohchr.org• UNData:http://data.un.org/• UNHumanDevelopmentIndex:http://hdr.undp.org/en/• UNMillenniumDevelopmentGoals:

www.un.org/millenniumgoals• UNPeacekeeping:www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/• TheWorldBank:www.worldbank.org/• GlobalPolicyForum:www.globalpolicy.org• StockholmInternationalPeaceResearchInstitute:

www.sipri.org• TheEconomist–worldinfigures:www.economist.com• GlobalHumanitarianAssistance:

www.globalhumanitarianassistance.org• UNA-UKwebsite:www.una.org.uk• IssuesofNewWorldmagazine:www.una.org.uk/new_world• OtherUNA-UKpublications:http://una.org.uk/reports.html

Resources

• UNwebsite:www.un.org• TheSecurityCouncil:www.un.org/sc• EconomicandSocialCouncil:www.un.org/ecosoc• TheHumanRightsCouncil:

www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/

The UN MattersCountry profile: CHINA

Name People’sRepublicofChina

Capital city Beijing


• Type

¬ PresidentHuJintaohasbeenheadofstatesinceMarch2003andGeneralSecretaryoftheCommunistPartyofChinasince2002.Heiscurrentlyservingthesecondoftwo5-yearterms.AnewPresidentisduetobeelectedin2012.

¬ Single-partystate

Languages Mandarin70%ofpopulation.Manyotherlanguages,includingPutonghua(Beijingdialect),Yue(Cantonese),Wu(Shanghainese),Minbei(Fuzhou),Minnan(Hokkien-Taiwanese),Xiang,Gan,Hakkadialects,etc.

Religions BuddhistorDaoist(estimatesrangefrom50%to80%buthardtodetermineduetohistoricallackoforganisedreligion),Christian3%-4%,Muslim1%-2%andothers

Ethnic groups HanChinese91.5%andseveralothers,includingZhuang,Manchu,Hui,Miao,Uighur,Tujia,Yi,Mongol,Tibetan,Buyi,Dong,Yao,Koreanandothers


¬ 1.336billion(2011est.)–mostpopulousintheworld¬ 12.29(per1,000)¬ 7.03(per1,000)¬ -0.33(per1,000)¬ 2.8%(2007est.)


¬ $10.09trillion(2010est.)¬ $7,600(2010est.)¬ 2ndlargesteconomyintheworldandworld’slargestexporter¬ 6.1%(2009est.)¬ 16.3%ofGDP(2010est.)


¬ 73.5years¬ 92.2%(2008est.)¬ 16.06(per1,000,2011est.)


¬ 2ndlargestproducer/consumerintheworld¬ 4thlargestproducerand3rdlargestconsumerintheworld¬ 8thlargestproducerand5thlargestconsumerintheworld¬ 3.65%oftotalofenergyusage(2009est.)



¬ $119billion(2.2%ofGDP)¬ 2.28million(ranked1stintheworld)¬ 240(Chinaisoneofthefiveinternationally-recognisednuclearpowers.Theothersare:France,Russia,UKandUS)

Official Development Assistance ¬ Received$1.1billion(equalto0.02%ofGDP)in2009andgave$2billion(equalto0.04%ofGDP)in2009.ChinagivesalotofloansandinvestmenttoAfricancountries.

Human rights RomeStatuteontheInternationalCriminalCourt IntlConventionontheEliminationofAllFormsofRacialDiscrimination IntlCovenantonEconomic,SocialandCulturalRights IntlCovenantonCivilandPoliticalRights(signednotratified) UNConventionontheEliminationofAllFormsofDiscrimination

againstWomen UNConventionagainstTortureandOtherCruel,InhumanorDegrading




¬ TheUN’sregulartwo-yearbudgetiscurrently$5.16billion.Chinacontributed3.189%ofthebudgetin2012

¬ TheUN’speacekeepingbudgetforJuly2011toJune2012is$7.84bn.Chinacontributes3.933%ofthisbudgetand1924outofatotal98,639uniformedpersonnel(January2012)

¬ PermanentmemberoftheUNSecurityCouncil.ThismeansthatChinaplaysakeyrolein:settinguppeacekeepingmissions,selectingtheUNSecretary-General,andendorsingapplicationsformembershipoftheUN

¬ MemberoftheG20andG77¬ MemberoftheGeneralAssembly¬ HumanRightsCouncil(elected)





Further reading

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Resources



The UN MattersCountry profile: EGYPT

Name ArabRepublicofEgypt

Capital city Cairo


• Type

¬ InFebruary2011,HosniMubarakresignedasPresidentfollowingpopularprotestsagainsthisregime.Sincethen,thearmedforceshavecontrolledthecountryalthoughparliamentaryelectionshavetakenplace.Protestsandunrestcontinue

¬ Egypthasatwo-chamberparliamentwhichhelditsfirstmeetingsincetheresignationofMubarak

Languages Arabic,EnglishandFrenchwidelyunderstoodbyeducatedclasses

Religions Muslim(mostlySunni)90%,Coptic9%,otherChristian1%

Ethnic groups Arab99.6%,other0.4%(2006est.)


¬ 82million(2011est.)¬ 24.63(per1,000)¬ 4.82(per1,000)¬ -0.21(per1,000)¬ 20%(2005est.)


¬ $497.8billion(2010est.)¬ $6,200(2010est.)¬ Marketeconomy¬ 9%(2010est.)¬ 81.4%ofGDP(2010est.)


¬ 73.2years¬ 71.4%(2005est.)¬ 25.2(per1,000,2011est.)


¬ 28thlargestproducer/29thlargestconsumerintheworld¬ 29thlargestproducer/25thlargestconsumerintheworld¬ 13thlargestproducer/18thlargestconsumerintheworld¬ 1.67%oftotalofenergyusage(2009est.)


¬ $4.29billion(2.1%ofGDPin2009)¬ 468,500(ranked10thintheworld)¬ None.Since2009,Africahasbeenanuclear-weapons-freezone.

Official Development Assistance ¬ Received$925million(2009)–equivalentto0.002%ofGDP







¬ TheUN’sregulartwo-yearbudgetiscurrently$5.16billion.TheEgyptiancontributionissetat0.094%for2012

¬ TheUN’speacekeepingbudgetforJuly2011toJune2012is$7.84bn.Egyptcontributes0.01887%ofthisbudgetand4083outofatotal98,639uniformedpersonnel(January2012).Ithasgenerallybeeninthetop10oftroopcontributors

¬ MemberoftheGeneralAssembly¬ MemberoftheG77andNonAlignedMovement¬ FoundermemberoftheArabLeague





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Resources



The UN MattersCountry profile: FRANCE

Name RepublicofFrance

Capital city Paris

Government• HeadofState/govt.• Type

¬ PresidentFrançoisHollande¬ Republic

Languages French100%,severalrapidlydecliningregionaldialects/languages(Provencal,Bre-ton,Alsatian,Corsican,Catalan,BasqueandFlemish)

Religions RomanCatholic83%-88%,Muslim5%-10%,Protestant2%,Jewish1%,unaffiliated4%

Ethnic groups ItisillegalinFrancetocollectdataonethnicityandrace,butgroupsbroadlyinclude:CelticandMediterranean,withGerman,Slavic,NorthAfrican,IndochineseandBasqueminorities


¬ 65million(2011est.)¬ 12.29(per1,000)¬ 8.76(per1,000)¬ 1.46(per1,000)¬ 6.2%(2004est.)


¬ $2.145trillion(2010est.)¬ $33,100(2010est.)¬ Marketeconomy¬ 9.3%(2010est.)¬ 82.4%ofGDP(2010est.)

Human development LifeexpectancyLiteracyrateInfantmortality

¬ 81.5years(2011est.)¬ 99%(2003est.)¬ 3.29(per1,000,2011est.)


¬ 9thlargestproducer/consumerintheworld¬ 52ndlargestproducer/13thlargestconsumerintheworld¬ 64thlargestproducer/16thlargestconsumerintheworld¬ 43.9%oftotalofenergyusage(2009est.)


¬ $59.3billion(2.5%ofGDPin2009)¬ 352,771¬ 300(Franceisoneofthefiveinternationally-recognisednuclearpowers.Theothersare:China,Russia,UKandUS)


Official Development Assistance ¬ Gave0.5%ofitsGDPin2010






¬ TheUN’sregulartwo-yearbudgetiscurrently$5.16billion.Francecontributed6.1%ofthebudgetin2011

¬ TheUN’speacekeepingbudgetforJuly2011toJune2012is$7.84bn.Francecontributes7.5%ofthisbudgetand1391outofatotal98,639uniformedpersonnel(January2012)

¬ PermanentmemberoftheUNSecurityCouncil.ThismeansthatFranceplaysakeyrolein:settinguppeacekeepingmissions,selectingtheUNSecretary-General,andendorsingapplicationsformembershipoftheUN

¬ MemberoftheGeneralAssembly¬ MemberofEuropeanUnionandEurozone¬ MemberofG8andG20





Further reading

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Resources



The UN MattersCountry profile: INDIA

Name RepublicofIndia

Capital city NewDelhi


• Type

¬ PresidentPratibhaPatilisheadofstate–shewaselectedin2007andisservingthefirstoftwopotential5-yearterms;(electionscheduledforJuly2012).InpracticemostpowersareheldbyaCouncilofMinisters,whichisheadedbythePrimeMinister–normallytheleaderofthevictoriouspoliticalparty.ThecurrentPrimeMinisterisManmohanSingh,leaderoftheCongressPartyandfirstnon-Hindutooccupytheoffice.HeisaSikhandhasbeeninpostsinceMay2004

¬ Theworld’smostpopulousdemocracyisaparliamentaryrepublicwhichconsistsofmanystates,liketheUS.

Languages Hindi41%,Bengali8.1%,Telugu7.2%,Marathi7%,Tamil5.9%,Urdu5%,Gujarati4.5%,Kannada3.7%,Malayalam3.2%,Oriya3.2%,Punjabi2.8%,Assamese1.3%,Maithili1.2%,other5.9%.Englishhasthestatusof‘subsidiaryofficiallanguage’

Religions Hindu80.5%,Muslim13.4%,Christian2.3%,Sikh1.9%,other1.8%,unspecified0.1%(2001est.)

Ethnic groups Indo-Aryan72%,Dravidian25%andother3%(2000est.).


¬ 1.189billion(2011est.)–ranked2ndintheworld¬ 20.97(per1,000)¬ 7.48(per1,000)¬ -0.05%(per1,000)¬ 25%(2007est.)


¬ $4.06trillion(2010est.)¬ $3,500(2010est.)¬ Emergingmarket¬ 10%(2010est.)¬ 50.6%ofGDP(2010est.)




¬ 6thlargestproducer/consumerintheworld¬ 24thlargestproducer/5thlargestconsumerintheworld¬ 18thlargestproducer/12thlargestconsumerintheworld¬ 2.34%oftotalofenergyusage(2009est.)



¬ $41.2billion(2.8%ofGDPin2009)¬ 1.3million(ranked3rdintheworld)¬ 80-100(Indiaisnotoneoftheinternationally-recognisednuclearpowersbutitsweaponsarenowgenerallyaccepted,exceptbyitsneighbourPakistan)

Official Development Assistance ¬ Received$2.5billion(equalto0.18%ofGDP)in2009andgave$517million(equalto0.04%ofGDP)in2009



TreatmentorPunishment(signednotratified) UNConventionontheRightsoftheChild UNConventionontheRightsofPersonswithDisabilities IntlConventionontheProtectionoftheRightsofAllMigrantWorkersand



¬ TheUN’sregulartwo-yearbudgetiscurrently$5.16billion.TheIndiancontributionissetat0.534%for2012

¬ TheUN’speacekeepingbudgetforJuly2011toJune2012is$7.84billion.Indiacontributes0.1%ofthisbudgetand8,115outofatotal98,639uniformedpersonnel(January2012).Historically,Indiahasbeenoneofthelargesttroopcontributors,participatingin40missionswithnearly100,000troops

¬ Indiaiscurrentlyservingthesecondyearofatwo-yearelectedtermasanon-permanentmemberoftheUNSecurityCouncil

¬ MemberoftheGeneralAssemblyandHumanRightsCouncil(elected)¬ MemberoftheG20andG77





Further reading

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Resources



The UN MattersCountry profile: IRAN

Name IslamicRepublicofIran

Capital city Tehran


• Type

¬ AliKhamenei,SupremeLeaderofIransince1989,isheadofstate.TheLeaderiselectedbytheAssemblyofExperts–abodyconsistingof86Islamicscholars.Hispredecessorserveduntildeath.ThePresidentofIraniselectedbypopularvote.ThepositionhasfarfewerpowersthantheSupremeLeader.ThecurrentPresidentisMahmoudAhmedinejad(since2005),nowservingthesecondoftwo5-yearterms

¬ IslamicRepublicwithanelectedParliament.ActsofParliamentmustbeapprovedbyIslamiclawexperts.Sharialawisobserved

Languages Persian53%,AzeriTurkicandTurkicdialects18%,Kurdish10%,GilakiandMazan-darani7%,Luri6%,Balochi2%,Arabic2%,other2%(2008est.)

Religions Muslim98%(Shia89%,Sunni9%),othersincludeBaha’i,Christian,Jewish,HinduandZoroastrian

Ethnic groups Persian61%,Azeri16%,Kurd10%,Lur6%,Arab2%,Baloch2%,TurkmenandTurkictribes2%




¬ $818.7billion(2010est.)¬ $10,600(2010est.)¬ Significantlevelofgovernmentregulation¬ 13.2%(2010est.)¬ 16.3%ofGDP(2010est.)


¬ 73years(2011est.)¬ 77%(2002est.)¬ 42.26(per1,000,2011est.)



¬ 19thlargestproducer/18thlargestconsumerintheworld¬ 5thlargestproducer/14thlargestconsumerintheworld¬ 5thlargestproducer/14thlargestconsumerintheworld¬ 2%hydro.Until2011,nonefromnuclearenergy.Inlate2011,theBushehrnuclearpowerplantwasconnectedtothepowergrid.


¬ $7billion(ranked25thintheworld,1.8%ofGDPin2008)¬ 523,000(ranked9thintheworld)¬ Iran’snuclearprogrammehasbeenthesourceofmuchinternationaltensionasothercountriessuspectitisdevelopingnuclearweapons.Irandeniesthis.

Official Development Assistance ¬ Received$93millionin2009

Human rights RomeStatuteontheInternationalCriminalCourt IntlConventionontheEliminationofAllFormsofRacialDiscrimination IntlCovenantonEconomic,SocialandCulturalRights IntlCovenantonCivilandPoliticalRights UNConventionontheEliminationofAllFormsofDiscriminationagainstWomen UNConventionagainstTortureandOtherCruel,InhumanorDegrading




¬ TheUN’sregulartwo-yearbudgetiscurrently$5.16billion.TheIraniancontributiontowardsthisbudgetissetat0.23%for2012

¬ TheUN’speacekeepingbudgetforJuly2011toJune2012is$7.84billion.Irancontributes0.046%ofthisbudgetandtwooutofatotal98,639uniformedpersonnel(January2012)

¬ MemberoftheGeneralAssembly¬ MemberofG77andNon-AlignedMovement





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Resources



The UN MattersCountry profile: ISRAEL

Name StateofIsrael

Capital city Jerusalem


• Type

¬ ThePresidentofIsraelisheadofstate,alargelyceremonialrolewithpowerrestingwiththePrimeMinister(ShimonPereshasbeenPresidentsince15July2007).ThePresidentcanserveasingle7-yeartermandiselectedbytheIsraeliParliament,theKnesset.Afterconferringwithpartyleaders,thePresidentnominatesanMPtobecomeprimeminister.ThecurrentPrimeMinisterisBinyaminNetanyahu,whotookofficeinMarch2009.HeisleaderoftheLikudPartyandhaspreviouslyservedasprimeminister(1996-9).

¬ Parliamentarydemocracy.Electionsareheldeveryfouryears

Languages Hebrew,Arabic,English(mostcommonforeignlanguage)

Religions Jewish75.6%,Muslim16.9%,Christian2%,Druze1.7%,other3.8%

Ethnic groups Jewish76.4%(Israel-born67.1%,Europe/America-born22.6%,Africa-born5.9%,Asia-born4.2%),non-Jewish23.6%(mostlyArab)




¬ $219.4billion(2010est.)¬ $29,800(2010est.)¬ Technologically-advancedmarketeconomy¬ 6.7%(2010est.)¬ 74.6%(2010est.)




¬ 46thlargestproducer/48thlargestconsumerintheworld¬ 97thlargestproducer/52ndlargestconsumerintheworld¬ 60thlargestproducer/69thlargestconsumerintheworld¬ 4.84%oftotalofenergyusage(2009est.)



¬ $14billion(6.3%ofGDPin2009)¬ 176,500(3rdlargesttroopnumberspercapita)¬ Israeliswidelybelievedtohavesome80nuclearwarheads,butithasneverofficiallysaidthisisthecase

Official Development Assistance ¬ Gives$139.22millioninaidandreceivesapproximately$2-3billionayearinmilitaryandeconomicaidfromtheUS

Human rights RomeStatuteontheInternationalCriminalCourt IntlConventionontheEliminationofAllFormsofRacialDiscrimination IntlCovenantonEconomic,SocialandCulturalRights IntlCovenantonCivilandPoliticalRights IntlConventionontheEliminationofAllFormsofDiscriminationagainst


TreatmentorPunishment UNConventionontheRightsoftheChild UNConventionontheRightsofPersonswithDisabilities(signedbutnot

implemented) IntlConventionontheProtectionoftheRightsofAllMigrantWorkersand



¬ TheUN’sregulartwo-yearbudgetiscurrently$5.16billion.TheIsraelicontributiontowardsthisbudgetissetat0.384%for2012

¬ TheUN’speacekeepingbudgetforJuly2011toJune2012is$7.84billion.Israelcontributes0.384%ofthisbudgetandzerooutofatotal98,639uniformedpersonnel(January2012)

¬ ThreeUNpeacekeepingmissionsoperateinoraroundIsrael:since1948,peacekeepershavebeenstationedintheregionfollowinghostilitiesafterthecreationofthestateofIsrael;since1974,peacekeepershavealsomaintainedtheceasefirebetweenIsraelandSyria;andsince1978,peacekeepershavemonitoredIsraeliwithdrawalfromLebanon

¬ IsraelispartoftheWesternEuropean&Othersregionalgroup,afteritsmembershipoftheAsia-PacificgroupwasblockedbyArabcountries

¬ IthasneverbeenelectedtotheUNSecurityCouncilortheHumanRightsCouncil,bothofwhichhavebeenaccusedofbiasforandagainstthecountry

¬ MemberoftheGeneralAssembly





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The UN MattersCountry profile: JAPAN

Name Japan

Capital city Tokyo


• Type

¬ EmperorAkihitoistheceremonialheadofstate.ThegovernmentisledbyPrimeMinisterYoshihikoNoda,whohasbeeninofficesinceSeptember2011(thepositionhasarenewable4-yearterm).ThePrimeMinisterisappointedbytheEmperorafterbeingchosenbytheParliamentfromitsmembership

¬ Parliamentarymulti-partydemocracy

Languages Morethan99%ofthepopulationspeaksJapanese

Religions Shintoism83.9%,Buddhism71.4%,Christianity2%,other7.8%(totalexceeds100%becausemanypeoplearebothShintoandBuddhist)

Ethnic groups Japanese98.5%,Koreans0.5%,Chinese0.4%,other0.6%


¬ 126million(2011est.)¬ 7.31(per1,000)¬ 10.09(per1,000)¬ 0(per1,000)¬ 15.7%(2007est.)


¬ $4.31trillion(2010est.)¬ $34,000(2010est.)¬ Thirdlargesteconomyintheworld¬ 5%(2010est.)¬ 199.7%ofGDP(2010est.)




¬ 4thlargestproducer/consumerintheworld¬ 48thlargestproducer/4thlargestconsumerintheworld¬ 53rdlargestproducer/6thlargestconsumerintheworld¬ 17.59%oftotalofenergyusage(2009est.)¬ Followingthe2011Fukushimanuclearplantdisaster,Japanannouncedthatitwouldreviewitsnuclearpolicy



¬ $54billion(1%ofGDPin2009)¬ 230,300¬ None.Theonlystatetohavesufferedanuclearattack,Japanhasastrictnon-nuclearweaponspolicy

Official Development Assistance ¬ Gave0.2%ofGDPin2010







¬ TheUN’sregulartwo-yearbudgetiscurrently$5.16billion.TheJapanesecontributiontowardsthisbudgetissetat12.5%for2012.Itisthesecond-largestcontributoraftertheUS

¬ TheUN’speacekeepingbudgetforJuly2011toJune2012is$7.84billion.Japancontributes12.53%ofthisbudget(again,itisthesecond-largestcontributoraftertheUS)and260outofatotal98,639uniformedpersonnel(January2012)

¬ MemberoftheGeneralAssembly¬ MemberoftheG8andG20





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The UN MattersCountry profile: NIGERIA

Name FederalRepublicofNigeria

Capital city Abuja


• Type

¬ ThePresidentisheadofstateandgovernment.ThecurrentPresidentisGoodluckJonathan,amemberoftherulingPeople’sDemocraticParty.Hewasdeclaredwinnerofanelectionheldin2011whichtriggeredviolenceoverallegedvoterigging.Heiscurrentlyservingthefirstoftwopotentialfour–yearterms

¬ FederalRepublic

Languages English(official),Hausa,Yoruba,Igbo(Ibo),Fulani,over500additionallanguages

Religions Muslim50%(mostlySunnibutsignificantShiaandSufiminorities),Christian40%(15%Protestant,13%Catholicand19%other),Hindu,Jewish,Baha’iandindigenousbeliefs10%

Ethnic groups Nigeria,Africa’smostpopulouscountry,iscomposedofmorethan250ethnicgroups;thefollowingarethemostpopulousandpoliticallyinfluential:HausaandFulani29%,Yoruba21%,Igbo(Ibo)18%,Ijaw10%,Kanuri4%,Ibibio3.5%,Tiv2.5%


¬ 155million(2011est.,Africa’slargest,8thlargestglobally)¬ 35.51(per1,000)¬ 16.06(per1,000)¬ –0.1(per1,000)¬ 70%(2007est.)


¬ $377.9billion(2010est.)¬ $2,500(2010est.)¬ Oil-richexport–basedeconomy¬ 4.9%(2007est.)¬ 17.8%ofGDP(2010est.)




¬ 70thlargestproducer/72ndlargestconsumerintheworld¬ 10thlargestproducer/47thlargestconsumerintheworld¬ 28thlargestproducer/52ndlargestconsumerintheworld¬ 0.35%oftotalofenergyusage(2009est.)



¬ $1.9billion(0.9%ofGDPin2009)¬ 80,000¬ None.Since2009,Africahasbeenanuclear–weapons–freezone

Official Development Assistance ¬ Received$1.68billionin2009.NigeriaalsogivesaidtopoorercountriesinAfrica






¬ TheUN’sregulartwo–yearbudgetiscurrently$5.16billion.TheNigeriancontributiontowardsthisbudgetissetat0.078%for2012.TheUNheadquartersinAbujawasbombedinAugust2011.MilitantgroupBokoHaramclaimedresponsibility

¬ TheUN’speacekeepingbudgetforJuly2011toJune2012is$7.84billion.Nigeriacontributes0.015%ofthisbudgetand5,749outofatotal98,639uniformedpersonnel(January2012).

¬ Nigeriacompletedatwo–yearelectedtermasanon–permanentmemberoftheUNSecurityCouncilin2011.

¬ MemberoftheGeneralAssembly¬ MemberoftheHumanRightsCouncil(elected)¬ MemberoftheG77andNon–AlignedMovement¬ MemberoftheAfricanUnion





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The UN MattersCountry profile: PAKISTAN

Name IslamicRepublicofPakistan

Capital city Islamabad


• Type

¬ ThePresidentofPakistanistheceremonialheadofstate,withpowersrestingwiththePrimeMinister(normallyleaderofthelargestpartyinParliament).ThecurrentPresident,AsifAliZardari,andPrimeMinister,YousufGilani,bothbelongtothecentre-leftPakistanPeople’sParty

¬ Federalrepublic

Languages Punjabi48%,Sindhi12%,Saraiki(aPunjabivariant)10%,Pashtu8%,Urdu(official)8%,Balochi3%,Hindko2%,Brahui1%,English(official),Burushaski,andother8%

Religions Muslim95%(Sunni75%,Shia20%),other(incl.ChristianandHindu)5%

Ethnic groups Punjabi44.68%,Pashtun15.42%,Sindhi14.1%,Saraiki8.38%,Muhajirs7.57%,Balochi3.57%,other6.28%


¬ 187million(2011est.)¬ 24.81(per1,000)¬ 6.92(per1,000)¬ -2.17(per1,000)¬ 24%(2005-6est.)


¬ $464.9billion(2010est.)¬ $2,500(2010est.)¬ Marketeconomy¬ 15.4%(2010est.)¬ 50.6%ofGDP(2010est.)




¬ 34thlargestproducer/38thlargestconsumerintheworld¬ 56thlargestproducer/34thlargestconsumerintheworld¬ 23rdlargestproducer/24thlargestconsumerintheworld¬ 3.71%oftotalofenergyusage(2009est.)



¬ $5.6billion(2.8%ofGDPin2009)¬ 617,000(ranked8thintheworld)¬ 90-110(Pakistanisnotaninternationally-recognisednuclearpowerandalthoughmanycountriesnowacceptitsweapons,therearestillfearsaboutthesafetyofitsprogramme)

Official Development Assistance ¬ Received$2.8billionin2009(sixthlargestrecipientofofficialhumanitarianaid)


Women(reservationsrelatingtocompatibilitywithPakistanilaw) UNConventionagainstTortureandOtherCruel,InhumanorDegrading




¬ TheUN’sregulartwo-yearbudgetiscurrently$5.16billion.ThePakistanicontributionissetat0.082%for2012

¬ TheUN’speacekeepingbudgetforJuly2011toJune2012is$7.84billion.Pakistancontributes0.016%ofthisbudgetand9,416outofatotal98,639uniformedpersonnel(January2012).Historically,PakistanhasbeenoneofthelargesttroopcontributorstoUNpeacekeeping,participatingin38missionsoverthepast50years

¬ TheUNMilitaryObserverGroupinIndiaandPakistanwasestablishedtomonitoraceasefireinJammuandKashmirandhasmaintainedapresenceintheregionsince1971.Therearecurrently39troopsstationedthere.

¬ Pakistaniscurrentlyservingthesecondyearofatwo-yearelectedtermasanon-permanentmemberoftheUNSecurityCouncil.

¬ MemberofGeneralAssembly





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The UN MattersCountry profile: RUSSIA

Name TheRussianFederation

Capital city Moscow


• Type

¬ VladimirPutinwaselectedinMarch2012toservea6-yeartermasPresident.HehadpreviouslyservedfouryearsasPrimeMinister,andwaspresidentbeforethat.Protestsbrokeoutduringtherecentelectionsoverfearsofelectoralfraud

¬ Federationwithatwo-chamberParliament

Languages Russian(official),numerousminoritylanguages

Religions RussianOrthodox15-20%,Muslim10-15%,otherChristian2%(2006est.)

Ethnic groups Russian79.8%,Tartar3.8%,Ukrainian2%,Bashkir1.2%,Chuvash1.1%,otherorunspecified12.1%(2002est.)



Economy• GrossDomesticProduct(GDP)• GDPpercapita• Economy

• Unemployment• Nationaldebt

¬ $2.223trillion(2010est.)¬ $15,900(2010est.)¬ RussiahasundergonesignificantchangessincethecollapseoftheSovietUnion,movingtowardsamarketeconomy

¬ 7.5%(2010est.)¬ 9%ofGDP(2010est.)

Human development• Lifeexpectancy• Literacyrate• Infantmortality



¬ 5thlargestproducer/consumerintheworld¬ 2ndlargestproducer/6thlargestconsumerintheworld¬ 2ndlargestproducer/3rdlargestconsumerintheworld¬ 9.01%oftotalofenergyusage(2009est.)



¬ $58.6billion(4.3%ofGDPin2009)¬ 1.02million(ranked5thintheworld)¬ 11,000(Russiaisoneofthefiveinternationally-recognisednuclearpowers.Theothersare:China,France,theUKandtheUS)

Official Development Assistance ¬ Spent$32millionandreceived$9.1million(2009est.)

Human rights RomeStatuteontheInternationalCriminalCourt(signedbutnotimplemented) IntlConventionontheEliminationofAllFormsofRacialDiscrimination IntlCovenantonEconomic,SocialandCulturalRights IntlCovenantonCivilandPoliticalRights IntlConventionontheEliminationofAllFormsofDiscriminationagainst






¬ TheUN’sregulartwo-yearbudgetiscurrently$5.16billion.Russia’scontributionissetat1.6%ofthebudgetin2012

¬ TheUN’speacekeepingbudgetforJuly2011toJune2012is$7.84billion.Russiacontributes1.97%ofthisbudgetand210outofatotal98,639uniformedpersonnel(January2012)

¬ PermanentmemberoftheUNSecurityCouncil.ThismeansthatRussiaplaysakeyrolein:settinguppeacekeepingmissions,selectingtheUNSecretary-General,andendorsingapplicationsformembershipoftheUN

¬ MemberoftheGeneralAssemblyandHumanRightsCouncil(elected)¬ MemberofG8andG20





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The UN MattersCountry profile: SOUTH AFRICA

Name SouthAfrica

Capital cities Pretoria(administrativecapital),CapeTown(legislativecapital),Bloemfontein(judi-cialcapital)


• Type

¬ ThePresidentofSouthAfricaistheheadofstateandgovernment.ThepresidentiselectedbymembersoftheParliamentandisusuallytheleaderofthepartythatgainsthemostseats(whichhasbeentheAfricanNationalCongresssincetheendoftheApartheidregimein1994).ThecurrentpresidentisJacobZuma,whowaselectedinMay2009

¬ Republic

Languages IsiZulu23.82%,IsiXhosa17.64%,Afrikaans13.3%,Sepedi9.39%,English8.2%,Setswana8.2%,Sesotho7.93%,Xitsonga4.44%,siSwati2.66%,Tshivenda2.28%,isiNdebele1.59%,other0.5%

Religions Protestant36.6%(ZionistChristian11.1%,Pentecostal/Charismatic8.2%,Methodist6.8%,DutchReformed6.7%,Anglican3.8%),otherChristian(non-Catholic)36%,Catholic7.1%,Muslim1.5%,Hindu1.3%,other2.3%andunspecified1.4%.15.1%claimnoreligiousaffiliation(2001est.)

Ethnic groups BlackAfrican79%,white9.6%,coloured8.9%(termisstillusedtodescribepeopleofmixedorigin),Indian/Asian(includingChineseSouthAfricans)2.5%(2001est.)




¬ $524billion(2010est.)¬ $10,700(2010est.)¬ SouthAfricaisaresource-rich,emergingeconomy¬ 24.9%(2010est.)¬ 33.4%(2010est.)





¬ 16thlargestproducer/17thlargestconsumerintheworld¬ 42ndlargestproducer/32ndlargestconsumerintheworld¬ 57thlargestproducer/58thlargestconsumerintheworld¬ 2.44%oftotalofenergyusage(2009est.)


¬ $4.5billion(1.3%ofGDPin2009)¬ 62,082¬ None.Duringthe1960sto1980s,SouthAfricadevelopedanuclearprogrammebutdismantleditsweaponsinthe1990s–thefirststatetovoluntarilydoso.Since2009theAfricancontinenthasbeenanuclear-weapons-freezone

Official Development Assistance ¬ Received$1.07billionandgave$112millionin2009

Human rights RomeStatuteontheInternationalCriminalCourt IntlConventionontheEliminationofAllFormsofRacialDiscrimination IntlCovenantonEconomic,SocialandCulturalRights(signedbutnot

implemented) IntlCovenantonCivilandPoliticalRights IntlConventionontheEliminationofAllFormsofDiscriminationagainst





¬ TheUN’sregulartwo-yearbudgetiscurrently$5.16billion.TheSouthAfricancontributionissetat0.385%for2012

¬ TheUN’speacekeepingbudgetforJuly2011toJune2012is$7.84billion.SouthAfricacontributes0.077%ofthisbudgetand2,067outofatotal98,639uniformedpersonnel(January2012).

¬ SouthAfricaiscurrentlyservingthe2ndyearofa2-yearelectedtermasanon-permanentmemberoftheUNSecurityCouncil.

¬ MemberoftheGeneralAssembly.In1974theGeneralAssemblysuspendedSouthAfricafromparticipatinginitswork,duetointernationaloppositiontoApartheid.SouthAfricawasre-admittedtotheUNin1994followingitstransitiontodemocracy

¬ MemberoftheG20,G77andNonAlignedMovement¬ MemberoftheAfricanUnion





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The UN MattersCountry profile: TURKEY

Name RepublicofTurkey

Capital city Ankara


• Type

¬ PresidentAbdullahGülwaselectedheadofstateinAugust2007.Alargelyceremonialrole,itisPrimeMinisterRecepTayyipErdoganwhoisheadofgovernment.FirstelectedinMarch2003,hehasbeenre-electedtwiceandcanserveanunlimitednumberof4-yearterms

¬ Parliamentaryrepublicandmultipartydemocracy

Languages ¬ Turkish(official),Kurdish,otherminoritylanguages

Major religions ¬ Muslim99.8%(mostlySunni),other0.2%(mostlyChristians&Jews)

Ethnic groups ¬ Turkish70-75%,Kurdish18%,otherminorities7-12%(2008est.)




¬ $960.5billion(2010est.)¬ $12,300(2010est.)¬ Emergingeconomy¬ 12%(2010est.)¬ 43%ofGDP(2010est.)


¬ 74years(2011est.0)¬ 87.4%(2004est.0)¬ 23.94(per1,000,2011est.)


¬ 21stlargestproducer/21stlargestconsumerintheworld¬ 60thlargestproducer/27thlargestconsumerintheworld¬ 66thlargestproducer/25thlargestconsumerintheworld¬ 5.40%oftotalofenergyusage(2009est.)


¬ $17.5billion(2.7%ofGDPin2009)¬ 620,000(ranked7thintheworld).¬ None


Official Development Assistance ¬ Received$1.36billion(equalto0.21%ofGDP)in2009andgave$707million(equalto0.1%ofGDP)in2009






¬ TheUN’sregulartwo-yearbudgetiscurrently$5.16billion.TheTurkishcontributiontowardsthisbudgetissetat0.617%for2012

¬ TheUN’speacekeepingbudgetforJuly2011toJune2012is$7.84billion.Turkeycontributes0.123%ofthisbudgetand505outofatotal98,639uniformedpersonnel(January2012)

¬ Turkeylastservedanelectedtwo-yeartermontheUNSecurityCouncilin2009-10¬ MemberoftheGeneralAssembly¬ MemberoftheG20¬ EuropeanUnioncandidatesince1999





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The UN MattersCountry profile: UNITED KINGDOM

Name UnitedKingdomofGreatBritainandNorthernIreland

Capital city London


• Type

¬ HMQueenElizabethIIistheBritishheadofstateandheadoftheCommonwealthofNations.TheheadofgovernmentisPrimeMinisterDavidCameron,whowaselectedinMay2010andleadsaConservative-LiberalDemocratcoalitiongovernment

¬ Constitutionalmonarchywithadual-chamberParliamentconsistingoftheelectedHouseofCommons(650MPs)andtheHouseofLords(currently788Peers)

Languages English95%,andrecognisedregionallanguages(UlsterScots,ScottishGaelic,Welsh,IrishandCornish)

Religions Christian(Anglican,RomanCatholic,Presbyterian,Methodist)71.6%,Muslim2.7%,Hindu1%,other1.6%,unspecifiedornone23.1%

Ethnic groups White92.1%,black2%,Indian1.8%,Pakistani1.3%,mixed1.2%,other1.6%(2001est.)


¬ 62million(2011est.)¬ 12.29(per1,000)¬ 9.33(per1,000)¬ 2.6(per1,000)¬ 14%(2006est.)


¬ $2.173trillion(2010est.)¬ $34,800(2010est.)¬ ThirdlargesteconomyinEurope¬ 7.8%(2010est.)¬ 76.1%ofGDP(2010est.)





¬ 12thlargestproducer/consumerintheworld¬ 21stlargestproducer/15thlargestconsumerintheworld¬ 17thlargestproducer/8thlargestconsumerintheworld¬ 9.82%oftotalofenergyusage(2009est.)


¬ $59billion(2.7%ofGDPin2009)¬ 197,780¬ 225(theUKisoneofthefiveinternationally-recognisednuclearpowers.Theothersare:China,France,RussiaandUS)

Official Development Assistance ¬ Gave0.57%ofGDPin2010






¬ TheUN’sregulartwo-yearbudgetiscurrently$5.16billion.TheUKcontributed6.6%ofthebudgetin2012

¬ TheUN’speacekeepingbudgetforJuly2011toJune2012is$7.84billion.TheUKcontributes8.146%ofthisbudgetand279outofatotal98,639uniformedpersonnel(January2012)

¬ PermanentmemberoftheUNSecurityCouncil.ThismeanstheUKplaysakeyrolein:settinguppeacekeepingmissions,selectingtheUNSecretary-General,andendorsingapplicationsformembershipoftheUN

¬ MemberoftheGeneralAssembly¬ MemberoftheEuropeanUnion¬ MemberoftheG8andG20





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The UN MattersCountry profile: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Name UnitedStatesofAmerica

Capital city WashingtonD.C.


• Type

¬ PresidentBarackObama(sinceJanuary2009).ElectionsscheduledforNovember2012

¬ Federalrepublic

Languages English82.1%,Spanish10.7%,otherIndo-European3.8%,AsianandPacificisland2.7%,other0.7%(2000est.)

Religions Protestant51.3%,RomanCatholic23.9%,Mormon1.7%,otherChristian1.6%,Jew-ish1.7%,Buddhist0.7%,Muslim0.6%,otherorunspecified2.5%,unaffiliated12.1%,none4%(2007est.)

Ethnic groups White79.96%,black12.85%,Asian4.43%,AmerindianandAlaskanative0.97%,nativeHawaiianandotherPacificislander0.18%,twoormoreraces1.61%(2007est.)

Note:theUSCensusBureauconsiders‘Hispanic’tomeananypersonofSpanish/Hispanic/Latinooriginwhomaybeofanyraceorethnicgroup(white,black,Asian,etc.);about15.1%ofthetotalUSpopulationisHispanic


¬ 313million–ranked3rdintheworld¬ 13.83(per1,000)¬ 8.38(per1,000)¬ 4.18(per1,000)¬ 15.1%(2010est.)


¬ $14.66trillion(2010est.)¬ $47,200(2010est.)¬ Largesteconomyintheworld¬ 9.6%(2010est.)¬ 62.9%ofGDP(2010est.)


¬ 78.5years(2011est.)¬ 99%(2009est.)¬ 8(per1,000,2009est.)



¬ Largestproducer/consumerintheworld¬ 3rdlargestproducer/largestconsumerintheworld¬ Largestproducer/consumerintheworld¬ 11.85%oftotalofenergyusage(2009est.)


¬ $698billion–43%ofglobaltotal(4.7%ofGDPin2009)¬ 1.58million(ranked2ndintheworld)¬ 8,500warheads–41%ofglobaltotal(theUSisoneofthefiveinternationally-recognisednuclearpowers.Theothersare:China,France,RussiaandtheUK)

Official Development Assistance ¬ Gave0.39%GDPin2010

Human rights RomeStatuteontheInternationalCriminalCourt IntlConventionontheEliminationofAllFormsofRacialDiscrimination IntlCovenantonEconomic,SocialandCulturalRights(signedbutnot

implemented) IntlCovenantonCivilandPoliticalRights IntlConventionontheEliminationofAllFormsofDiscriminationagainstWomen

(signedbutnotimplemented) UNConventionagainstTortureandOtherCruel,InhumanorDegrading

TreatmentorPunishment UNConventionontheRightsoftheChild(signedbutnotimplemented) UNConventionontheRightsofPersonswithDisabilities(signedbutnot

implemented IntlConventionontheProtectionoftheRightsofAllMigrantWorkersand



¬ TheUN’sregular2-yearbudgetiscurrently$5.16billion.¬ TheUScontributionis22%(theUScontributionisnotbasedonGDP,whichwouldincreasethepercentage,butiscappedat22%)

¬ TheUN’speacekeepingbudgetforJuly2011toJune2012is$7.84billion.TheUScontributes27.1%ofthisbudgetand126outofatotal98,639uniformedpersonnel(January2012)

¬ PermanentmemberoftheUNSecurityCouncil.ThismeanstheUSplaysakeyrolein:settinguppeacekeepingmissions,selectingtheUNSecretary-General,andendorsingapplicationsformembershipoftheUN

¬ MemberoftheGeneralAssemblyandHumanRightsCouncil(elected)¬ MemberoftheG8andG20





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Documents

The UN Matters - Home Page | UNA-UK country...The UN Matters Country profile: BRAZILNote on country contributions to the UN’s budget UN member state contributions are divided into