Chapter CIII: Section 3: , Taipei, Taiwan, telephone: 886 (2) 2162-2000, FAX (34)

South Africa
bicameral Parliament consisting of the National
Assembly (400 seats; members are elected by popular vote under a
system of proportional representation to serve five-year terms) and
the National Council of Provinces (90 seats, 10 members elected by
each of the nine provincial legislatures for five-year terms; has
special powers to protect regional interests, including the
safeguarding of cultural and linguistic traditions among ethnic
minorities); note - following the implementation of the new
constitution on 3 February 1997, the former Senate was disbanded and
replaced by the National Council of Provinces with essentially no
change in membership and party affiliations, although the new
institution's responsibilities have been changed somewhat by the new
constitution
elections: National Assembly and National Council of Provinces -
last held 14 April 2004 (next to be held NA 2009)
election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party - ANC
69.7%, DA 12.4%, IFP 7%, UDM 2.3%, NNP 1.7%, ACDP 1.6%, other 5.3%;
seats by party - ANC 279, DA 50, IFP 28, UDM 9, NNP 7, ACDP 6, other
21; National Council of Provinces - percent of vote by party - NA%;
seats by party - NA

Spain
bicameral; General Courts or National Assembly or Las Cortes
Generales consists of the Senate or Senado (259 seats - 208 members
directly elected by popular vote and the other 51 appointed by the
regional legislatures to serve four-year terms) and the Congress of
Deputies or Congreso de los Diputados (350 seats; members are
elected by popular vote on block lists by proportional
representation to serve four-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 14 March 2004 (next to be held March
2008); Congress of Deputies - last held 14 March 2004 (next to be
held March 2008)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - PP 49%, PSOE
38.9%, Entesa Catalona de Progress 5.7%, CiU 1.99%, PNV 2.8%, CC
1.4%; seats by party - PP 102, PSOE 81, Entesa Catalona de Progress
12, CiU 4, PNV 6, CC 3; Congress of Deputies - percent of vote by
party - PSOE 43.3%, PP 37.8%, CiU 3.2%, ERC 2.5%, PNV 1.6%, IU 3.2%,
CC 0.9%; seats by party - PSOE 164, PP 148, CiU 10, ERC 8, PNV 7, IU
2, CC 3, other 8

Sri Lanka
unicameral Parliament (225 seats; members elected by
popular vote on the basis of a modified proportional representation
system by district to serve six-year terms)
elections: last held 2 April 2004 (next to be held by 2010)
election results: percent of vote by party or electoral alliance -
SLFP and JVP (no longer in formal UPFA alliance) 45.6%, UNP 37.83%,
TNA 6.84%, JHU 5.97%, SLMC 2.02%, UPF 0.54%, EPDP 0.27%, others
0.93%; seats by party - UNP 68, SLFP 57, JVP 39, UNP dissident 1,
TNA 22, CWC 8, JHU 7, JHU dissidents 2, SLMC 6, SLMC dissidents 4,
Communist Party 2, LSSP 2, MEP 2, NUA 2, UPF 2, EPDP 1

Sudan
bi-cameral body comprising the National Assembly and Council
of States (replaced unicameral National Assembly of 360 seats);
pending elections and National Election Law, the Presidency
appointed 450 members to the National Assembly according to the
provisions of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement: 52% NCP; 28%
SPLM; 14% other Northerners; 6% other Southerners; 2 representatives
from every state constitute the Council of States; terms in each
chamber are five years following the first elections
elections: last held 13-22 December 2000 (next to be held 2008-2009
timeframe)
election results: NCP 355, others 5; note - replaced by appointments
under the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement

Suriname
unicameral National Assembly or Nationale Assemblee (51
seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 25 May 2005 (next to be held in 2010)
election results: percent of vote by party - NF 39.73%, NDP 22.2%,
VVV 13.79%, A-Com 7.21%, A-1 5.86%, other 7.42%; seats by party - NF
23, NDP 15, VVV 5, A-Com 5, A-1 3

Swaziland
bicameral Parliament or Libandla, an advisory body,
consists of the Senate (30 seats - 10 appointed by the House of
Assembly and 20 appointed by the monarch; members serve five-year
terms) and the House of Assembly (65 seats - 10 appointed by the
monarch and 55 elected by popular vote; members serve five-year
terms)
elections: House of Assembly - last held 18 October 2003 (next to be
held October 2008)
election results: House of Assembly - balloting is done on a
nonparty basis; candidates for election are nominated by the local
council of each constituency and for each constituency the three
candidates with the most votes in the first round of voting are
narrowed to a single winner by a second round

Sweden
unicameral Parliament or Riksdag (349 seats; members are
elected by popular vote on a proportional representation basis to
serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 17 September 2006 (next to be held September
2010)
election results: percent of vote by party - Social Democrats 37.2%,
Moderates 27.8%, Center Party 8.3%, People's Party 8.0%, Christian
Democrats 6.9%, Left Party 6.3%, Greens 5.4%; seats by party -
Social Democrats 130, Moderates 97, Center Party 29, People's Party
28, Christian Democrats 24, Left Party 22, Greens 19

Switzerland
bicameral Federal Assembly or Bundesversammlung (in
German), Assemblee Federale (in French), Assemblea Federale (in
Italian) consists of the Council of States or Standerat (in German),
Conseil des Etats (in French), Consiglio degli Stati (in Italian)
(46 seats - consists of two representatives from each canton and one
from each half canton; members serve four-year terms) and the
National Council or Nationalrat (in German), Conseil National (in
French), Consiglio Nazionale (in Italian) (200 seats - members are
elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation
to serve four-year terms)
elections: Council of States - last held in most cantons 19 October
2003 (each canton determines when the next election will be held);
National Council - last held 19 October 2003 (next to be held
October 2007)
election results: Council of States - percent of vote by party -
NA%; seats by party - CVP 15, FDP 14, SVP 8, SPS 6, other 3;
National Council - percent of vote by party - SVP 26.6%, SPS 23.3%,
FDP 17.3%, CVP 14.4%, Greens 7.4%, other small parties all under 5%;
seats by party - SVP 55, SPS 54, FDP 36, CVP 28, Green Party 13,
other small parties 14

Syria
unicameral People's Council or Majlis al-Shaab (250 seats;
members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 2-3 March 2003 (next to be held in 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - NPF 67%, independents
33%; seats by party - NPF 167, independents 83; note - the
constitution guarantees that the Ba'th Party (part of the NPF
alliance) receives one-half of the seats

Taiwan
Legislative Yuan (225 seats - 168 elected by popular vote, 41
elected on basis of proportion of islandwide votes received by
participating political parties, eight elected from overseas Chinese
constituencies on basis of proportion of island-wide votes received
by participating political parties, eight elected by popular vote
among aboriginal populations; members serve three-year terms);
National Assembly (300 seat nonstanding body; delegates nominated by
parties and elected by proportional representation six to nine
months after Legislative Yuan calls to amend Constitution, impeach
president, or change national borders) - see note
note: as a result of constitutional amendments approved by National
Assembly in June 2005, number of seats in legislature will be
reduced from 225 to 113 beginning with election in 2007; amendments
also eliminated National Assembly thus giving Taiwan a unicameral
legislature
elections: Legislative Yuan - last held 11 December 2004 (next to be
held in December 2007); National Assembly - last held 14 May 2005;
dissolved in June 2005
election results: Legislative Yuan - percent of vote by party - DPP
38%, KMT 35%, PFP 15%, TSU 8%, other parties and independents 4%;
seats by party - DPP 89, KMT 79, PFP 34, TSU 12, other parties 7,
independents 4; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - DPP
42.5%, KMT 38.9%, TSU 7%, PFP 6%, others 6.6%; seats by party - DPP
127, KMT 117, TSU 21, PFP 18, others 17 (2005)

Tajikistan
bicameral Supreme Assembly or Majlisi Oli consists of the
Assembly of Representatives (lower chamber) or Majlisi Namoyandagon
(63 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year
terms) and the National Assembly (upper chamber) or Majlisi Milliy
(34 seats; members are indirectly elected, 25 selected by local
deputies, 8 appointed by the president; 1 seat reserved for the
former president; all serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 27 February and 13 March 2005 for the Assembly
of Representatives (next to be held February 2010) and 25 March 2005
for the National Assembly (next to be held February 2010)
election results: Assembly of Representatives - percent of vote by
party - PDPT 74.9%, CPT 13.6%, Islamic Revival Party 8.9%, other
2.5%; seats by party - PDPT 51, CPT 5, Islamic Revival Party 2,
independents 5; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA%;
seats by party - PDPT 29, CPT 2, independents 3

Tanzania
unicameral National Assembly or Bunge (274 seats - 232
elected by popular vote, 37 allocated to women nominated by the
president, 5 to members of the Zanzibar House of Representatives;
members serve five-year terms); note - in addition to enacting laws
that apply to the entire United Republic of Tanzania, the Assembly
enacts laws that apply only to the mainland; Zanzibar has its own
House of Representatives to make laws especially for Zanzibar (the
Zanzibar House of Representatives has 50 seats, directly elected by
universal suffrage to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 14 December 2005 (next to be held in December
2010)
election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party -
NA%; seats by party - CCM 206, CUF 19, CHADEMA 5, other 2, women
appointed by the president 37, Zanzibar representatives 5; Zanzibar
House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by
party - CCM 30, CUF 19; 1 seat was nullified with a rerun to take
place soon

Thailand
bicameral National Assembly or Rathasapha consisted of the
Senate or Wuthisapha (200 seats; members elected by popular vote to
serve six-year terms) and the House of Representatives or Sapha
Phuthaen Ratsadon (500 seats; members elected by popular vote to
serve four-year terms); after coup in September 2006, junta
appointed an interim National Assembly with 250 members to act as
Senate and House of Representatives; body has no vote on government
matters
elections: Senate - last held 19 April 2006; House of
Representatives - last held 6 February 2005; junta scheduled next
general election by October 2007
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - NA; House of Representatives - (2005 election) percent of
vote by party - NA; seats by party - TRT 376, DP 97, TNP 25, PP 2

Togo
unicameral National Assembly (81 seats; members are elected by
popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 27 October 2002 (next to be held in 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
RPT 72, RSDD 3, UDPS 2, Juvento 2, MOCEP 1, independents 1
note: two opposition parties boycotted the election, the Union of
the Forces for Change and the Action Committee for Renewal

Tokelau
unicameral General Fono (21 seats; based upon proportional
representation from the three islands elected by popular vote to
serve three-year terms; Nukunonu has 6 seats, Fakaofo has 7 seats,
Atafu has 8 seats); note - the Tokelau Amendment Act of 1996 confers
limited legislative power on the General Fono
elections: last held January 2005 (next to be held January 2008)

Tonga
unicameral Legislative Assembly or Fale Alea (32 seats - 14
reserved for cabinet ministers sitting ex officio, 9 for nobles
selected by the country's 33 nobles, and 9 elected by popular vote;
members serve three-year terms)
elections: last held 21 March 2005 (next to be held in 2008)
election results: Peoples Representatives: percent of vote - HRDMT
70%; seats - HRDMT 7, independents 2

Trinidad and Tobago
bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (31
seats; 16 members appointed by the ruling party, 9 by the President,
6 by the opposition party for a maximum term of five years) and the
House of Representatives (36 seats; members are elected by popular
vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: House of Representatives - last held 7 October 2002 (next
to be held by October 2007)
election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote - PNM
55.5%, UNC 44.5%; seats by party - PNM 20, UNC 16
note: Tobago has a unicameral House of Assembly with 12 members
serving four-year terms; last election held January 2005; seats by
party - PNM 11, DAC 1

Tunisia
bicameral system consists of the Chamber of Deputies or
Majlis al-Nuwaab (189 seats; members elected by popular vote to
serve five-year terms) and the Chamber of Advisors (126 seats; 85
members elected by municipal counselors, deputies, mayors, and
professional associations and trade unions; 41 members are
presidential appointees; members serve six-year terms)
elections: Chamber of Deputies - last held 24 October 2004 (next to
be held October 2009); Chamber of Advisors - last held 3 July 2005
(next to be held July 2011)
election results: Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party -
NA; seats by party - RCD 152, MDS 14, PUP 11, UDU 7, Al-Tajdid 3,
PSL 2; Chamber of Advisors - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - RCD 71 (14 trade union seats vacant (boycotted))

Turkey
unicameral Grand National Assembly of Turkey or Turkiye Buyuk
Millet Meclisi (550 seats; members are elected by popular vote to
serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 3 November 2002 (next to be held in 2007); note
- a special rerun of the General Election in the province of Siirt
on 9 March 2003 resulted in the election of Recep Tayyip ERDOGAN to
a seat in parliament, a prerequisite for becoming prime minister, on
14 March 2003
election results: percent of vote by party - AKP 34.3%, CHP 19.4%,
DYP 9.6%, MHP 8.3%, Anavatan 5.1%, DSP 1.1%, and other; seats by
party - AKP 363, CHP 178, independents 9; note - parties surpassing
the 10% threshold are entitled to parliamentary seats; seats by
party as of 1 December 2005 - AKP 357, CHP 154, ANAVATAN 22, DYP 4,
SHP 4, HYP 1, independents 4, vacant 4

Turkmenistan
under the 1992 constitution, there are two
parliamentary bodies, a unicameral People's Council or Halk
Maslahaty (supreme legislative body of up to 2,500 delegates, some
of whom are elected by popular vote and some of whom are appointed;
meets at least yearly) and a unicameral Parliament or Mejlis (50
seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year
terms); membership is scheduled to be increased to 65 seats
elections: People's Council - last held in April 2003 (next to be
held December 2008); Mejlis - last held 19 December 2004 (next to be
held December 2008)
election results: Mejlis - DPT 100%; seats by party - DPT 50; note -
all 50 elected officials are members of the Democratic Party of
Turkmenistan and are preapproved by President NIYAZOV
note: in late 2003, a new law was adopted, reducing the powers of
the Mejlis and making the Halk Maslahaty the supreme legislative
organ; the Halk Maslahaty can now legally dissolve the Mejlis, and
the president is now able to participate in the Mejlis as its
supreme leader; the Mejlis can no longer adopt or amend the
constitution, or announce referendums or its elections; since the
president is both the "Chairman for Life" of the Halk Maslahaty and
the supreme leader of the Mejlis, the 2003 law has the effect of
making him the sole authority of both the executive and legislative
branches of government

Turks and Caicos Islands
unicameral Legislative Council (21 seats of
which 15 are popularly elected; members serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 24 April 2003 (next to be held in 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - PDM 53.8%, PNP 46.2%;
seats by party - PDM 7, PNP 6; note - in by-elections held 7 August
2003, the PNP gained two seats for a majority of 8 seats; PDM now
has 5

Tuvalu
unicameral Parliament or Fale I Fono, also called House of
Assembly (15 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve
four-year terms)
elections: last held 3 August 2006 (next to be held in 2010)
election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 15

Uganda
unicameral National Assembly (303 members - 214 directly
elected by popular vote, 81 nominated by legally established special
interest groups [women 56, army 10, disabled 5, youth 5, labor 5], 8
ex officio members; members serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 23 February 2006 (next to be held in 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
NA; note - election results had not been posted as of March 2006

Ukraine
unicameral Supreme Council or Verkhovna Rada (450 seats;
allocated on a proportional basis to those parties that gain 3% or
more of the national electoral vote; members serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 26 March 2006 (next to be held March 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party/bloc in 2002 - Party of
Regions 32.1%, Yuliya Tymoshenko Bloc 22.3%, Our Ukraine 13.9%, SPU
5.7%, CPU 3.7%; seats by party/bloc - Party of Regions 186, Yuliya
Tymoshenko Bloc 129, Our Ukraine 81, SPU 33, CPU 21

United Arab Emirates
unicameral Federal National Council (FNC) or
Majlis al-Ittihad al-Watani (40 seats; members appointed by the
rulers of the constituent states to serve two-year terms)
elections: President KHALIFA in December 2005 announced that
indirect elections would be held in early 2006 for half of the seats
in the FNC; the other half would be filled by appointment
note: reviews legislation, but cannot change or veto

United Kingdom
bicameral Parliament comprised of House of Lords
(consists of approximately 500 life peers, 92 hereditary peers and
26 clergy) and House of Commons (646 seats since 2005 elections;
members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms unless
the House is dissolved earlier)
elections: House of Lords - no elections (note - in 1999, as
provided by the House of Lords Act, elections were held in the House
of Lords to determine the 92 hereditary peers who would remain
there; elections are held only as vacancies in the hereditary
peerage arise); House of Commons - last held 5 May 2005 (next to be
held by May 2010)
election results: House of Commons - percent of vote by party -
Labor 35.2%, Conservative 32.3%, Liberal Democrats 22%, other 10.5%;
seats by party - Labor 356, Conservative 197, Liberal Democrat 62,
other 31; note - as of 10 February 2006 party by seat in the House
of Commons: Labor 353, Conservative 196, Liberal Democrat 63,
Scottish National Party/Plaid Cymru 9, Democratic Unionist 9, Sinn
Fein 5 (but cannot vote), other 11
note: in 1998 elections were held for a Northern Ireland Assembly
(because of unresolved disputes among existing parties, the transfer
of power from London to Northern Ireland came only at the end of
1999 and has been suspended four times the latest occurring in
October 2002); in 1999 there were elections for a new Scottish
Parliament and a new Welsh Assembly

United States
bicameral Congress consists of the Senate (100 seats,
one-third are renewed every two years; 2 members are elected from
each state by popular vote to serve six-year terms) and the House of
Representatives (435 seats; members are directly elected by popular
vote to serve two-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 7 November 2006 (next to be held on
November 2008); House of Representatives - last held 7 November 2006
(next to be held on November 2008)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - Democratic Party 49, Republican Party 49, independent 2;
House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - Democratic Party 232, Republican Party 203

Uruguay
bicameral General Assembly or Asamblea General consists of
Chamber of Senators or Camara de Senadores (30 seats; members are
elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms; vice president has
one vote in the Senate) and Chamber of Representatives or Camara de
Representantes (99 seats; members are elected by popular vote to
serve five-year terms)
elections: Chamber of Senators - last held 31 October 2004 (next to
be held October 2009); Chamber of Representatives - last held 31
October 2004 (next to be held October 2009)
election results: Chamber of Senators - percent of vote by party -
NA%; seats by party - EP-FA 16, Blanco 11, Colorado Party 3; Chamber
of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party
- EP-FA 52, Blanco 36, Colorado Party 10, Independent Party 1

Uzbekistan
bicameral Supreme Assembly or Oliy Majlis consists of an
Upper House or Senate (100 seats; 84 members are elected by regional
governing councils to serve five-year terms and 16 are appointed by
the president) and a Lower House or Legislative Chamber (120 seats;
elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 26 December 2004 and 9 January 2005 (next to be
held December 2009)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by
party - NA; Legislative Chamber - percent of vote by party - NA%;
seats by party - LDPU 41, NDP 32, Fidokorlar 17, MTP 11, Adolat 9,
unaffiliated 10
note: all parties in the Supreme Assembly support President KARIMOV

Vanuatu
unicameral Parliament (52 seats; members elected by popular
vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 6 July 2004 (next to be held 2008)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
NUP 10, UMP 8, VP 8, VRP 4, MPP 3, VGP 3, other and independent 16;
note - political party associations are fluid
note: the National Council of Chiefs advises on matters of culture
and language

Venezuela
unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional (167
seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms;
three seats reserved for the indigenous peoples of Venezuela)
elections: last held 4 December 2005 (next to be held in 2010)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
pro-government 167 (MVR 114, PODEMOS 15, PPT 11, indigenous 2, other
25), opposition 0

Vietnam
unicameral National Assembly or Quoc-Hoi (498 seats; members
elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 19 May 2002 (next to be held 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - CPV 90%, other 10% (the
10% are not CPV members but are approved by the CPV to stand for
election); seats by party - CPV 447, CPV-approved 51

Virgin Islands
unicameral Senate (15 seats; members are elected by
popular vote to serve two-year terms)
elections: last held 7 November 2006 (next to be held November 2008)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
Democratic Party 8, ICM 4, independent 3
note: the Virgin Islands elects one non-voting representative to the
US House of Representatives; election last held 7 November 2006
(next to be held November 2008); results - Donna M. CHRISTENSEN
(Democrat) reelected

Wallis and Futuna
unicameral Territorial Assembly or Assemblee
Territoriale (20 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve
five-year terms)
elections: last held 11 March 2002 (next to be held March 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
RPR and affiliates 13, Socialists and affiliates 7
note: Wallis and Futuna elects one senator to the French Senate and
one deputy to the French National Assembly; French Senate -
elections last held 27 September 1998 (next to be held by September
2007); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats - RPR (now
UMP) 1; French National Assembly - elections last held 16 June 2002
(next to be held by in 2007); results - percent of vote by party -
NA; seats - RPR (UMP) 1

Yemen
a new constitutional amendment ratified on 20 February 2001
created a bicameral legislature consisting of a Shura Council (111
seats; members appointed by the president) and a House of
Representatives (301 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve
six-year terms)
elections: last held 27 April 2003 (next to be held in April 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
GPC 228, Islah 47, YSP 7, Nasserite Unionist Party 3, National Arab
Socialist Ba'th Party 2, independents 14

Zambia
unicameral National Assembly (158 seats; 150 members are
elected by popular vote, eight members are appointed by the
president, to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 27 December 2001 (next to be held December 2006)
election results: percent of vote by party - MMD 45.9%, UPND 32.4%,
UNIP 8.8%, FDD 8.1%, HP 2.7%, PF 0.7%, ZRP 0.7%, independents 0.7%;
seats by party - MMD 68, UPND 48, UNIP 13, FDD 12, HP 4, PF 1, ZRP
1, independents 1; seats not determined 2

Zimbabwe
bicameral Parliament consists of a House of Assembly (150
seats - 120 elected by popular vote for five-year terms, 12
nominated by the president, 10 occupied by traditional chiefs chosen
by their peers, and eight occupied by provincial governors appointed
by the president) and a Senate (66 seats - 50 elected by popular
vote for a five-year term, six nominated by the president, 10
nominated by the Council of Chiefs)
elections: House of Assembly last held 31 March 2005 (next to be
held in 2010), Senate last held 26 November 2005 (next to be held in
2010)
election results: House of Assembly - percent of vote by party -
ZANU-PF 59.6%, MDC 39.5%, other 0.9%; seats by party - ZANU-PF 78,
MDC 41, independents 1; Senate - percent of vote by party - ZANU-PF
73.7%, MDC 20.3%, other 4.4%, independents 1.6%; seats by party -
ZANU-PF 43, MDC 7

This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006

======================================================================

@2102 Life expectancy at birth (years)

Afghanistan
total population: 43.34 years
male: 43.16 years
female: 43.53 years (2006 est.)

Albania
total population: 77.43 years
male: 74.78 years
female: 80.34 years (2006 est.)

Algeria
total population: 73.26 years
male: 71.68 years
female: 74.92 years (2006 est.)

American Samoa
total population: 76.05 years
male: 72.48 years
female: 79.82 years (2006 est.)

Andorra
total population: 83.51 years
male: 80.61 years
female: 86.61 years (2006 est.)

Angola
total population: 38.62 years
male: 37.47 years
female: 39.83 years (2006 est.)

Anguilla
total population: 77.28 years
male: 74.35 years
female: 80.3 years (2006 est.)

Antigua and Barbuda
total population: 72.16 years
male: 69.78 years
female: 74.66 years (2006 est.)

Argentina
total population: 76.12 years
male: 72.38 years
female: 80.05 years (2006 est.)

Armenia
total population: 71.84 years
male: 68.25 years
female: 76.02 years (2006 est.)

Aruba
total population: 79.28 years
male: 75.95 years
female: 82.78 years (2006 est.)

Australia
total population: 80.5 years
male: 77.64 years
female: 83.52 years (2006 est.)

Austria
total population: 79.07 years
male: 76.17 years
female: 82.11 years (2006 est.)

Azerbaijan
total population: 63.85 years
male: 59.78 years
female: 68.13 years (2006 est.)

Bahamas, The
total population: 65.6 years
male: 62.24 years
female: 69.03 years (2006 est.)

Bahrain
total population: 74.45 years
male: 71.97 years
female: 77 years (2006 est.)

Bangladesh
total population: 62.46 years
male: 62.47 years
female: 62.45 years (2006 est.)

Barbados
total population: 72.79 years
male: 70.79 years
female: 74.82 years (2006 est.)

Belarus
total population: 69.08 years
male: 63.47 years
female: 74.98 years (2006 est.)

Belgium
total population: 78.77 years
male: 75.59 years
female: 82.09 years (2006 est.)

Belize
total population: 68.3 years
male: 66.43 years
female: 70.26 years (2006 est.)

Benin
total population: 53.04 years
male: 51.9 years
female: 54.22 years (2006 est.)

Bermuda
total population: 77.96 years
male: 75.85 years
female: 80.1 years (2006 est.)

Bhutan
total population: 54.78 years
male: 55.02 years
female: 54.53 years (2006 est.)

Bolivia
total population: 65.84 years
male: 63.21 years
female: 68.61 years (2006 est.)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
total population: 78 years
male: 74.39 years
female: 81.88 years (2006 est.)

Botswana
total population: 33.74 years
male: 33.9 years
female: 33.56 years (2006 est.)

Brazil
total population: 71.97 years
male: 68.02 years
female: 76.12 years (2006 est.)

British Virgin Islands
total population: 76.68 years
male: 75.56 years
female: 77.84 years (2006 est.)

Brunei
total population: 75.01 years
male: 72.57 years
female: 77.59 years (2006 est.)

Bulgaria
total population: 72.3 years
male: 68.68 years
female: 76.13 years (2006 est.)

Burkina Faso
total population: 48.85 years
male: 47.33 years
female: 50.42 years (2006 est.)

Burma
total population: 60.97 years
male: 58.07 years
female: 64.03 years (2006 est.)

Burundi
total population: 50.81 years
male: 50.07 years
female: 51.58 years (2006 est.)

Cambodia
total population: 59.29 years
male: 57.35 years
female: 61.32 years (2006 est.)

Cameroon
total population: 51.16 years
male: 50.98 years
female: 51.34 years (2006 est.)

Canada
total population: 80.22 years
male: 76.86 years
female: 83.74 years (2006 est.)

Cape Verde
total population: 70.73 years
male: 67.41 years
female: 74.15 years (2006 est.)

Cayman Islands
total population: 80.07 years
male: 77.45 years
female: 82.74 years (2006 est.)

Central African Republic
total population: 43.54 years
male: 43.46 years
female: 43.62 years (2006 est.)

Chad
total population: 47.52 years
male: 45.88 years
female: 49.21 years (2006 est.)

Chile
total population: 76.77 years
male: 73.49 years
female: 80.21 years (2006 est.)

China
total population: 72.58 years
male: 70.89 years
female: 74.46 years (2006 est.)

Christmas Island
total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA

Cocos (Keeling) Islands
total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA

Colombia
total population: 71.99 years
male: 68.15 years
female: 75.96 years (2006 est.)

Comoros
total population: 62.33 years
male: 60 years
female: 64.72 years (2006 est.)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
total population: 51.46 years
male: 50.01 years
female: 52.94 years (2006 est.)

Congo, Republic of the
total population: 52.8 years
male: 51.65 years
female: 53.98 years (2006 est.)

Cook Islands
total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA

Costa Rica
total population: 77.02 years
male: 74.43 years
female: 79.74 years (2006 est.)

Cote d'Ivoire
total population: 48.82 years
male: 46.24 years
female: 51.48 years (2006 est.)

Croatia
total population: 74.68 years
male: 71.03 years
female: 78.53 years (2006 est.)

Cuba
total population: 77.41 years
male: 75.11 years
female: 79.85 years (2006 est.)

Cyprus
total population: 77.82 years
male: 75.44 years
female: 80.31 years (2006 est.)

Czech Republic
total population: 76.22 years
male: 72.94 years
female: 79.69 years (2006 est.)

Denmark
total population: 77.79 years
male: 75.49 years
female: 80.22 years (2006 est.)

Djibouti
total population: 43.17 years
male: 41.86 years
female: 44.52 years (2006 est.)

Dominica
total population: 74.87 years
male: 71.95 years
female: 77.93 years (2006 est.)

Dominican Republic
total population: 71.73 years
male: 70.21 years
female: 73.33 years (2006 est.)

East Timor
total population: 66.26 years
male: 63.96 years
female: 68.67 years (2006 est.)

Ecuador
total population: 76.42 years
male: 73.55 years
female: 79.43 years (2006 est.)

Egypt
total population: 71.29 years
male: 68.77 years
female: 73.93 years (2006 est.)

El Salvador
total population: 71.49 years
male: 67.88 years
female: 75.28 years (2006 est.)

Equatorial Guinea
total population: 49.54 years
male: 48 years
female: 51.13 years (2006 est.)

Eritrea
total population: 59.03 years
male: 57.44 years
female: 60.66 years (2006 est.)

Estonia
total population: 72.04 years
male: 66.58 years
female: 77.83 years (2006 est.)

Ethiopia
total population: 49.03 years
male: 47.86 years
female: 50.24 years (2006 est.)

European Union
total population: 78.3 years
male: 75.1 years
female: 81.6 years (2006 est.)

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA

Faroe Islands
total population: 79.35 years
male: 75.91 years
female: 82.8 years (2006 est.)

Fiji
total population: 69.82 years
male: 67.32 years
female: 72.45 years (2006 est.)

Finland
total population: 78.5 years
male: 74.99 years
female: 82.17 years (2006 est.)

France
total population: 79.73 years
male: 76.1 years
female: 83.54 years (2006 est.)

French Guiana
total population: 77.27 years
male: 73.95 years
female: 80.75 years (2006 est.)

French Polynesia
total population: 76.1 years
male: 73.69 years
female: 78.63 years (2006 est.)

Gabon
total population: 54.49 years
male: 53.21 years
female: 55.81 years (2006 est.)

Gambia, The
total population: 54.14 years
male: 52.3 years
female: 56.03 years (2006 est.)

Gaza Strip
total population: 71.97 years
male: 70.67 years
female: 73.34 years (2006 est.)

Georgia
total population: 76.09 years
male: 72.8 years
female: 79.87 years (2006 est.)

Germany
total population: 78.8 years
male: 75.81 years
female: 81.96 years (2006 est.)

Ghana
total population: 58.87 years
male: 58.07 years
female: 59.69 years (2006 est.)

Gibraltar
total population: 79.8 years
male: 76.92 years
female: 82.83 years (2006 est.)

Greece
total population: 79.24 years
male: 76.72 years
female: 81.91 years (2006 est.)

Greenland
total population: 69.94 years
male: 66.36 years
female: 73.6 years (2006 est.)

Grenada
total population: 64.87 years
male: 63.06 years
female: 66.68 years (2006 est.)

Guadeloupe
total population: 78.06 years
male: 74.91 years
female: 81.37 years (2006 est.)

Guam
total population: 78.58 years
male: 75.52 years
female: 81.83 years (2006 est.)

Guatemala
total population: 69.38 years
male: 67.65 years
female: 71.18 years (2006 est.)

Guernsey
total population: 80.42 years
male: 77.41 years
female: 83.53 years (2006 est.)

Guinea
total population: 49.5 years
male: 48.34 years
female: 50.7 years (2006 est.)

Guinea-Bissau
total population: 46.87 years
male: 45.05 years
female: 48.75 years (2006 est.)

Guyana
total population: 65.86 years
male: 63.21 years
female: 68.65 years (2006 est.)

Haiti
total population: 53.23 years
male: 51.89 years
female: 54.6 years (2006 est.)

Honduras
total population: 69.33 years
male: 67.75 years
female: 70.98 years (2006 est.)

Hong Kong
total population: 81.59 years
male: 78.9 years
female: 84.5 years (2006 est.)

Hungary
total population: 72.66 years
male: 68.45 years
female: 77.14 years (2006 est.)

Iceland
total population: 80.31 years
male: 78.23 years
female: 82.48 years (2006 est.)

India
total population: 64.71 years
male: 63.9 years
female: 65.57 years (2006 est.)

Indonesia
total population: 69.87 years
male: 67.42 years
female: 72.45 years (2006 est.)

Iran
total population: 70.26 years
male: 68.86 years
female: 71.74 years (2006 est.)

Iraq
total population: 69.01 years
male: 67.76 years
female: 70.31 years (2006 est.)

Ireland
total population: 77.73 years
male: 75.11 years
female: 80.52 years (2006 est.)

Isle of Man
total population: 78.49 years
male: 75.14 years
female: 82.02 years (2006 est.)

Israel
total population: 79.46 years
male: 77.33 years
female: 81.7 years (2006 est.)

Italy
total population: 79.81 years
male: 76.88 years
female: 82.94 years (2006 est.)

Jamaica
total population: 73.24 years
male: 71.54 years
female: 75.03 years (2006 est.)

Japan
total population: 81.25 years
male: 77.96 years
female: 84.7 years (2006 est.)

Jersey
total population: 79.38 years
male: 76.89 years
female: 82.05 years (2006 est.)

Jordan
total population: 78.4 years
male: 75.9 years
female: 81.05 years (2006 est.)

Kazakhstan
total population: 66.89 years
male: 61.56 years
female: 72.52 years (2006 est.)

Kenya
total population: 48.93 years
male: 49.78 years
female: 48.07 years (2006 est.)

Kiribati
total population: 62.08 years
male: 59.06 years
female: 65.24 years (2006 est.)

Korea, North
total population: 71.65 years
male: 68.92 years
female: 74.51 years (2006 est.)

Korea, South
total population: 77.04 years
male: 73.61 years
female: 80.75 years (2006 est.)

Kuwait
total population: 77.2 years
male: 76.13 years
female: 78.31 years (2006 est.)

Kyrgyzstan
total population: 68.49 years
male: 64.48 years
female: 72.7 years (2006 est.)

Laos
total population: 55.49 years
male: 53.45 years
female: 57.61 years (2006 est.)

Latvia
total population: 71.33 years
male: 66.08 years
female: 76.85 years (2006 est.)

Lebanon
total population: 72.88 years
male: 70.41 years
female: 75.48 years (2006 est.)

Lesotho
total population: 34.4 years
male: 35.55 years
female: 33.21 years (2006 est.)

Liberia
total population: 39.65 years
male: 37.99 years
female: 41.35 years (2006 est.)

Libya
total population: 76.69 years
male: 74.46 years
female: 79.02 years (2006 est.)

Liechtenstein
total population: 79.68 years
male: 76.1 years
female: 83.28 years (2006 est.)

Lithuania
total population: 74.2 years
male: 69.2 years
female: 79.49 years (2006 est.)

Luxembourg
total population: 78.89 years
male: 75.6 years
female: 82.38 years (2006 est.)

Macau
total population: 82.19 years
male: 79.36 years
female: 85.17 years (2006 est.)

Macedonia
total population: 73.97 years
male: 71.51 years
female: 76.62 years (2006 est.)

Madagascar
total population: 57.34 years
male: 54.93 years
female: 59.82 years (2006 est.)

Malawi
total population: 41.7 years
male: 41.93 years
female: 41.45 years (2006 est.)

Malaysia
total population: 72.5 years
male: 69.8 years
female: 75.38 years (2006 est.)

Maldives
total population: 64.41 years
male: 63.08 years
female: 65.8 years (2006 est.)

Mali
total population: 49 years
male: 47.05 years
female: 51.01 years (2006 est.)

Malta
total population: 79.01 years
male: 76.83 years
female: 81.31 years (2006 est.)

Marshall Islands
total population: 70.31 years
male: 68.33 years
female: 72.39 years (2006 est.)

Martinique
total population: 79.18 years
male: 79.5 years
female: 78.85 years (2006 est.)

Mauritania
total population: 53.12 years
male: 50.88 years
female: 55.42 years (2006 est.)

Mauritius
total population: 72.63 years
male: 68.66 years
female: 76.66 years (2006 est.)

Mayotte
total population: 61.76 years
male: 59.57 years
female: 64.02 years (2006 est.)

Mexico
total population: 75.41 years
male: 72.63 years
female: 78.33 years (2006 est.)

Micronesia, Federated States of
total population: 70.05 years
male: 68.24 years
female: 71.95 years (2006 est.)

Moldova
total population: 65.65 years
male: 61.61 years
female: 69.88 years (2006 est.)

Monaco
total population: 79.69 years
male: 75.85 years
female: 83.74 years (2006 est.)

Mongolia
total population: 64.89 years
male: 62.64 years
female: 67.25 years (2006 est.)

Montserrat
total population: 78.85 years
male: 76.67 years
female: 81.14 years (2006 est.)

Morocco
total population: 70.94 years
male: 68.62 years
female: 73.37 years (2006 est.)

Mozambique
total population: 39.82 years
male: 39.53 years
female: 40.13 years (2006 est.)

Namibia
total population: 43.39 years
male: 44.46 years
female: 42.29 years (2006 est.)

Nauru
total population: 63.08 years
male: 59.5 years
female: 66.84 years (2006 est.)

Nepal
total population: 60.18 years
male: 60.43 years
female: 59.91 years (2006 est.)

Netherlands
total population: 78.96 years
male: 76.39 years
female: 81.67 years (2006 est.)

Netherlands Antilles
total population: 76.03 years
male: 73.76 years
female: 78.41 years (2006 est.)

New Caledonia
total population: 74.27 years
male: 71.29 years
female: 77.39 years (2006 est.)

New Zealand
total population: 78.81 years
male: 75.82 years
female: 81.93 years (2006 est.)

Nicaragua
total population: 70.63 years
male: 68.55 years
female: 72.81 years (2006 est.)

Niger
total population: 43.76 years
male: 43.8 years
female: 43.73 years (2006 est.)

Nigeria
total population: 47.08 years
male: 46.52 years
female: 47.66 years (2006 est.)

Niue
total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA

Norfolk Island
total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA

Northern Mariana Islands
total population: 76.09 years
male: 73.5 years
female: 78.83 years (2006 est.)

Norway
total population: 79.54 years
male: 76.91 years
female: 82.31 years (2006 est.)

Oman
total population: 73.37 years
male: 71.14 years
female: 75.72 years (2006 est.)

Pakistan
total population: 63.39 years
male: 62.4 years
female: 64.44 years (2006 est.)

Palau
total population: 70.42 years
male: 67.26 years
female: 73.77 years (2006 est.)

Panama
total population: 75.22 years
male: 72.68 years
female: 77.87 years (2006 est.)

Papua New Guinea
total population: 65.28 years
male: 63.08 years
female: 67.58 years (2006 est.)

Paraguay
total population: 75.1 years
male: 72.56 years
female: 77.78 years (2006 est.)

Peru
total population: 69.84 years
male: 68.05 years
female: 71.71 years (2006 est.)

Philippines
total population: 70.21 years
male: 67.32 years
female: 73.24 years (2006 est.)

Pitcairn Islands
total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA

Poland
total population: 74.97 years
male: 70.95 years
female: 79.23 years (2006 est.)

Portugal
total population: 77.7 years
male: 74.43 years
female: 81.2 years (2006 est.)

Puerto Rico
total population: 78.4 years
male: 74.46 years
female: 82.54 years (2006 est.)

Qatar
total population: 73.9 years
male: 71.37 years
female: 76.57 years (2006 est.)

Reunion
total population: 74.18 years
male: 70.78 years
female: 77.75 years (2006 est.)

Romania
total population: 71.63 years
male: 68.14 years
female: 75.34 years (2006 est.)

Russia
total population: 67.08 years
male: 60.45 years
female: 74.1 years (2006 est.)

Rwanda
total population: 47.3 years
male: 46.26 years
female: 48.38 years (2006 est.)

Saint Helena
total population: 77.93 years
male: 75.02 years
female: 80.98 years (2006 est.)

Saint Kitts and Nevis
total population: 72.4 years
male: 69.56 years
female: 75.42 years (2006 est.)

Saint Lucia
total population: 73.84 years
male: 70.29 years
female: 77.65 years (2006 est.)

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
total population: 78.61 years
male: 76.27 years
female: 81.06 years (2006 est.)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
total population: 73.85 years
male: 71.99 years
female: 75.77 years (2006 est.)

Samoa
total population: 71 years
male: 68.2 years
female: 73.94 years (2006 est.)

San Marino
total population: 81.71 years
male: 78.23 years
female: 85.5 years (2006 est.)

Sao Tome and Principe
total population: 67.31 years
male: 65.73 years
female: 68.95 years (2006 est.)

Saudi Arabia
total population: 75.67 years
male: 73.66 years
female: 77.78 years (2006 est.)

Senegal
total population: 59.25 years
male: 57.7 years
female: 60.85 years (2006 est.)

Serbia
total population: 74 years
male: 71 years
female: 76 years

Seychelles
total population: 72.08 years
male: 66.69 years
female: 77.63 years (2006 est.)

Sierra Leone
total population: 40.22 years
male: 38.05 years
female: 42.46 years (2006 est.)

Singapore
total population: 81.71 years
male: 79.13 years
female: 84.49 years (2006 est.)

Slovakia
total population: 74.73 years
male: 70.76 years
female: 78.89 years (2006 est.)

Slovenia
total population: 76.33 years
male: 72.63 years
female: 80.29 years (2006 est.)

Solomon Islands
total population: 72.91 years
male: 70.4 years
female: 75.55 years (2006 est.)

Somalia
total population: 48.47 years
male: 46.71 years
female: 50.28 years (2006 est.)

South Africa
total population: 42.73 years
male: 43.25 years
female: 42.19 years (2006 est.)

Spain
total population: 79.65 years
male: 76.32 years
female: 83.2 years (2006 est.)

Sri Lanka
total population: 73.41 years
male: 70.83 years
female: 76.12 years (2006 est.)

Sudan
total population: 58.92 years
male: 57.69 years
female: 60.21 years (2006 est.)

Suriname
total population: 69.01 years
male: 66.66 years
female: 71.47 years (2006 est.)

Svalbard
total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA

Swaziland
total population: 32.62 years
male: 32.1 years
female: 33.17 years (2006 est.)

Sweden
total population: 80.51 years
male: 78.29 years
female: 82.87 years (2006 est.)

Switzerland
total population: 80.51 years
male: 77.69 years
female: 83.48 years (2006 est.)

Syria
total population: 70.32 years
male: 69.01 years
female: 71.7 years (2006 est.)

Taiwan
total population: 77.43 years
male: 74.67 years
female: 80.47 years (2006 est.)

Tajikistan
total population: 64.94 years
male: 62.03 years
female: 68 years (2006 est.)

Tanzania
total population: 45.64 years
male: 44.93 years
female: 46.37 years (2006 est.)

Thailand
total population: 72.25 years
male: 69.95 years
female: 74.68 years (2006 est.)

Togo
total population: 57.42 years
male: 55.41 years
female: 59.49 years (2006 est.)

Tokelau
total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA

Tonga
total population: 69.82 years
male: 67.32 years
female: 72.45 years (2006 est.)

Trinidad and Tobago
total population: 66.76 years
male: 65.71 years
female: 67.86 years (2006 est.)

Tunisia
total population: 75.12 years
male: 73.4 years
female: 76.96 years (2006 est.)

Turkey
total population: 72.62 years
male: 70.18 years
female: 75.18 years (2006 est.)

Turkmenistan
total population: 61.83 years
male: 58.43 years
female: 65.41 years (2006 est.)

Turks and Caicos Islands
total population: 74.73 years
male: 72.48 years
female: 77.08 years (2006 est.)

Tuvalu
total population: 68.32 years
male: 66.08 years
female: 70.66 years (2006 est.)

Uganda
total population: 52.67 years
male: 51.68 years
female: 53.69 years (2006 est.)

Ukraine
total population: 69.98 years
male: 64.71 years
female: 75.59 years (2006 est.)

United Arab Emirates
total population: 75.44 years
male: 72.92 years
female: 78.08 years (2006 est.)

United Kingdom
total population: 78.54 years
male: 76.09 years
female: 81.13 years (2006 est.)

United States
total population: 77.85 years
male: 75.02 years
female: 80.82 years (2006 est.)

Uruguay
total population: 76.33 years
male: 73.12 years
female: 79.65 years (2006 est.)

Uzbekistan
total population: 64.58 years
male: 61.19 years
female: 68.14 years (2006 est.)

Vanuatu
total population: 62.85 years
male: 61.34 years
female: 64.44 years (2006 est.)

Venezuela
total population: 74.54 years
male: 71.49 years
female: 77.81 years (2006 est.)

Vietnam
total population: 70.85 years
male: 68.05 years
female: 73.85 years (2006 est.)

Virgin Islands
total population: 79.05 years
male: 75.24 years
female: 83.09 years (2006 est.)

Wallis and Futuna
total population: NA years
male: NA years
female: NA years

West Bank
total population: 73.27 years
male: 71.5 years
female: 75.15 years (2006 est.)

Western Sahara
total population: NA years
male: NA years
female: NA years

World
total population: 64.77 years
male: 63.16 years
female: 66.47 years (2006 est.)

Yemen
total population: 62.12 years
male: 60.23 years
female: 64.11 years (2006 est.)

Zambia
total population: 40.03 years
male: 39.76 years
female: 40.31 years (2006 est.)

Zimbabwe
total population: 39.29 years
male: 40.39 years
female: 38.16 years (2006 est.)

This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006

======================================================================

@2103 Literacy (%)

Afghanistan
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 36%
male: 51%
female: 21% (1999 est.)

Albania
definition: age 9 and over can read and write
total population: 86.5%
male: 93.3%
female: 79.5% (2003 est.)

Algeria
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 70%
male: 78.8%
female: 61% (2003 est.)

American Samoa
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97%
male: 98%
female: 97% (1980 est.)

Andorra
definition: NA
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100%

Angola
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 66.8%
male: 82.1%
female: 53.8% (2001 est.)

Anguilla
definition: age 12 and over can read and write
total population: 95%
male: 95%
female: 95% (1984 est.)

Antigua and Barbuda
definition: age 15 and over has completed five
or more years of schooling
total population: 85.8%
male: NA%
female: NA% (2003 est.)

Argentina
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.1%
male: 97.1%
female: 97.1% (2003 est.)

Armenia
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.6%
male: 99.4%
female: 98% (2003 est.)

Aruba
definition: NA
total population: 97%
male: NA%
female: NA%

Australia
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)

Austria
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98%
male: NA
female: NA

Azerbaijan
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.8%
male: 99.5%
female: 98.2% (2003 est.)

Bahamas, The
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 95.6%
male: 94.7%
female: 96.5% (2003 est.)

Bahrain
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 89.1%
male: 91.9%
female: 85% (2003 est.)

Bangladesh
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 43.1%
male: 53.9%
female: 31.8% (2003 est.)

Barbados
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 99.7%
male: 99.7%
female: 99.7% (2002 est.)

Belarus
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.6%
male: 99.8%
female: 99.5% (2003 est.)

Belgium
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)

Belize
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 94.1%
male: 94.1%
female: 94.1% (2003 est.)

Benin
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 33.6%
male: 46.4%
female: 22.6% (2002 est.)

Bermuda
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98%
male: 98%
female: 99% (2005 est.)

Bhutan
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 47%
male: 60%
female: 34% (2003 est.)

Bolivia
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 87.2%
male: 93.1%
female: 81.6% (2003 est.)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 94.6%
male: 98.4%
female: 91.1% (2000 est.)

Botswana
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 79.8%
male: 76.9%
female: 82.4% (2003 est.)

Brazil
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 86.4%
male: 86.1%
female: 86.6% (2003 est.)

British Virgin Islands
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.8% (1991 est.)
male: NA%
female: NA%

Brunei
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93.9%
male: 96.3%
female: 91.4% (2002)

Bulgaria
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.6%
male: 99.1%
female: 98.2% (2003 est.)

Burkina Faso
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 26.6%
male: 36.9%
female: 16.6% (2003 est.)

Burma
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 85.3%
male: 89.2%
female: 81.4% (2002)

Burundi
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 51.6%
male: 58.5%
female: 45.2% (2003 est.)

Cambodia
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 73.6%
male: 84.7%
female: 64.1% (2004 est.)

Cameroon
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 79%
male: 84.7%
female: 73.4% (2003 est.)

Canada
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)

Cape Verde
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 76.6%
male: 85.8%
female: 69.2% (2003 est.)

Cayman Islands
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 98%
male: 98%
female: 98% (1970 est.)

Central African Republic
definition: age 15 and over can read and
write
total population: 51%
male: 63.3%
female: 39.9% (2003 est.)

Chad
definition: age 15 and over can read and write French or Arabic
total population: 47.5%
male: 56%
female: 39.3% (2003 est.)

Chile
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96.2%
male: 96.4%
female: 96.1% (2003 est.)

China
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 90.9%
male: 95.1%
female: 86.5% (2002)

Christmas Island
NA

Cocos (Keeling) Islands
NA

Colombia
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.5%
male: 92.4%
female: 92.6% (2003 est.)

Comoros
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 56.5%
male: 63.6%
female: 49.3% (2003 est.)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
definition: age 15 and over can
read and write French, Lingala, Kingwana, or Tshiluba
total population: 65.5%
male: 76.2%
female: 55.1% (2003 est.)

Congo, Republic of the
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 83.8%
male: 89.6%
female: 78.4% (2003 est.)

Cook Islands
definition: NA
total population: 95%
male: NA%
female: NA%

Costa Rica
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96%
male: 95.9%
female: 96.1% (2003 est.)

Cote d'Ivoire
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 50.9%
male: 57.9%
female: 43.6% (2003 est.)

Croatia
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.5%
male: 99.4%
female: 97.8% (2003 est.)

Cuba
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97%
male: 97.2%
female: 96.9% (2003 est.)

Cyprus
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.6%
male: 98.9%
female: 96.3% (2003 est.)

Czech Republic
definition: NA
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)

Denmark
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)

Djibouti
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 67.9%
male: 78%
female: 58.4% (2003 est.)

Dominica
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 94%
male: 94%
female: 94% (2003 est.)

Dominican Republic
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 84.7%
male: 84.6%
female: 84.8% (2003 est.)

East Timor
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 58.6%
male: NA%
female: NA% (2002)

Ecuador
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.5%
male: 94%
female: 91% (2003 est.)

Egypt
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 57.7%
male: 68.3%
female: 46.9% (2003 est.)

El Salvador
definition: age 10 and over can read and write
total population: 80.2%
male: 82.8%
female: 77.7% (2003 est.)

Equatorial Guinea
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 85.7%
male: 93.3%
female: 78.4% (2003 est.)

Eritrea
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 58.6%
male: 69.9%
female: 47.6% (2003 est.)

Estonia
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.8%
male: 99.8%
female: 99.8% (2003 est.)

Ethiopia
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 42.7%
male: 50.3%
female: 35.1% (2003 est.)

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
NA

Faroe Islands
definition: NA
total population: NA%
male: NA%
female: NA%
note: probably 100%, the same as Denmark proper

Fiji
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93.7%
male: 95.5%
female: 91.9% (2003 est.)

Finland
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100% (2000 est.)

France
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)

French Guiana
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 83%
male: 84%
female: 82% (1982 est.)

French Polynesia
definition: age 14 and over can read and write
total population: 98%
male: 98%
female: 98% (1977 est.)

Gabon
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 63.2%
male: 73.7%
female: 53.3% (1995 est.)

Gambia, The
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 40.1%
male: 47.8%
female: 32.8% (2003 est.)

Gaza Strip
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 91.9%
male: 96.3%
female: 87.4% (2003 est.)

Georgia
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100% (2004 est.)