The month of May was chosen to commemorate the immigration of the first Japanese to the United States on May 7, 1843, and to mark the anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869. The majority of the workers who laid the tracks were Chinese immigrants.

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, takes place in May. It celebrates the culture, traditions, and history of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the United States.

Afghanistan Islamic Republic of Afghanistan ﻣﺟ یروﮭ ﯽﻣﻼﺳا نﺎﺗﺳﻧﺎﻐﻓا

Capital & Largest City – Kabul

Official Language – Pashto, Dari

Ethnic groups – 42% Pashtun, 27% Tajik, 9% Hazara, 9% Uzbek, 4% Aimaq, 3% Turkmen, 2% Baloch

Religion – Islam

Government – Unitary presidential Islamic republic

Legislature – National Assembly

Formation – Hotak Empire 21 April 1709

Area – 652,230 km2

Population – 32,225,560 (43rd)

Currency – Afghani (AFN) American Samoa American Samoa Amerika Sāmoa

Sovereign State – United States

Capital & Largest City – Pago Pago

Official Language – English, Samoan

Ethnic groups – 89% Samoan, 3% Tongan, 3% Multiracial, 2% Filipino, 3% other

Religion – 98% Christian, 2% other

Government – Devolved presidential constitutional dependency

Legislature – Fono

Area – 200 km2

Population – 55,191

Currency – US Dollar Armenia Republic of Armenia

Հանրապետություն

Capital & Largest City – Yerevan

Official Language – Armenian

Religion – Armenian, Orthodoxy

Government – Unitary parliamentary republic

Legislature – National Assembly

Establishment – Orontid Dynasty 6th century BC Independence from the Soviet Union – 21 September 1991

Area – 29,743 km2

Population – 2,951,745 (99th)

Currency – Dram (AMD) Republic of Azerbaijan Azerbaijan Azərbaycan Respublikası

Capital & Largest City – Baku

Official Language – Azerbaijani

Ethnic groups – 92% Azerbaijani, 2% Lezgian, 1% Armenian, Russian, Talysh, 2.4% others

Religion – 97% Islam, 3% Christianity

Government – Unitary dominant- party semi-presidential republic

Legislature – National Assembly

Independence from the Soviet Union – 30 August 1991

Area 86,600 km2

Population – 10, 027,874(90th)

Currency - Manat Bahrain Kingdom of Bahrain ﻣﻣ ﻠ ﺔﻛ نﯾرﺣﺑﻟا

Capital & Largest City – Manama

Official Language – Arabic, English

Ethnic groups – 50.7% Arab, (46% Bahraini people, 4.7% Other Arabs), 45.5% Asian, 1% European

Religion – Islam

Government – Unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy

Legislature – National Assembly

Independence from the United Kingdom – 14 August 1971

Area 780 km2

Population – 1, 569, 446 (149th) People’s Republic of Bangladesh Bangladesh গণজাতী বাংলােদশ

Capital & Largest City – Dhaka

Official Language – Bengali

Ethnic groups – 98% Bengalis 2% Minorities

Religion – 89.5% Islam, 8.5% Hinduism, .6% Buddhism, .4% Christianity

Government – Unitary parliamentary constitutional republic

Legislature – Jatiya Sangsad

Independence declared 26 March 1971

Area 147,570 km2

Population – 161,376,708 (8th) Bhutan Kingdom of Bhutan

འག་ལ་ཁབ་

Capital & Largest City – Thimphu

Official Language – Dzongkha

Religion – 77.4% Vajrayana Buddhism, 22.6% Hinduism

Government – Unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy

Legislature – Parliment

Formation – Unification of Bhutan 1616 – 1634

Area 38,394 km2

Population – 741,700 (165th)

Currency – Ngultrum (BTN) Nation of Brunei, the Abode of Peace Brunei

ارﺎﻧ ﻲﻧورﺑ اراد مﻼﺳﻟ ردﻲوﺑ ر

Capital & Largest City – Bandar Seri Begawan

Official Language – Malay, English

Ethnic groups – 66% Malays, 10% Chinese, 24% others

Religion – Sunni Islam

Government – Unitary Islamic absolute monarchy

Legislature – Legislative Council

Formation – Creation of the Sultanate – 1368 Independence from the United Kingdom – 1 January 1984

Area 5,765 km2

Population – 442, 400 (168th) Cambodia Kingdom of Cambodia ពះចកកម

Capital & Largest City – Phnom Penh

Official Language – Khmer, English, French

Ethnic groups – 98% Khmer, 1%Cham, .1% Vietnamese, .1% Chinese, 1% other

Religion – 98% Buddhism, 1% Islam, .5% Christianity

Government – Unitary dominant- party parliamentary elective constitutional monarchy

Legislature – Parliament

Formation – Funan Empire 50/69 AD – 550/627 AD

Area 181,035 km2

Population – 15,288,489 (72nd) People’s Republic of China China 中华人民共和国

Capital – Beijing Largest City – Shanghai & Chongqing

Official Language – Chinese

Ethnic groups – Majority Han 55 minorities

Religion – 74% non- religious/Chinese folk religion, 16% Buddhism, 8% Other, 3% Christianity, .5% Islam

Government – Unitary Marxist- Leninist one-party socialist republic

Legislature – National People’s Congress

Formation – 1st pre-imperial dynasty c. 2070 BCE

Area 9,596,961 km2

Population – 1,427,647,786 (1st) Cook Islands Cook Islands Kūki 'Āirani

Capital & Largest City – Avarua

Official Language – English, Cook Islands Maori

Ethnic groups – 78% Maori, 8% Part-Maori, 14% Other

Government – Unitary constitutional monarchy

Legislature – Parliament

Associated State of New Zealand 4 August 1965

Area 236.7 km2

Population – 17,518

Currency – New Zealand dollar (NZD) Republic of Cyprus Cyprus Κυπριακή Δημοκρατία

Capital & Largest City – Nicosia

Official Language – Greek, Turkish

Ethnic groups – Greek Cypriots, Turkish Cypriots, Armenians, Maronites

Religion – 89% Church of Cyprus

Government – Unitary presidential constitutional republic

Legislature – House of Representatives

Independence from the United Kingdom – 19 February 1959

Area 9,251 km2

Population – 1,189,265 (158th)

Currency – Euro (EUR) Easter Island Easter Island

Rapa Nui

Capital & Largest City – Hanga Roa

Official Language – Spanish, Rapa Nui

Government – Municipality Municipal Council Provincial Governor – Laura Alarcon Rapu Alcalde – Pedro Edmunds Paoa

Legislature – National Assembly

Special Territory of Chile

Area 163.6 km2

Population – 7,750

Currency – Peso (CLP) Republic of Fiji Fiji

Matanitu Tugalala o Viti

Capital & Largest City – Suva

Official Language – Fijian, English

Ethnic groups – 57% Fijians, 38% Indo-Fijians, 1% Rotumand, 4.5% other Europeans & Pacific Islanders

Religion – 64% Christianity, 28% Hinduism, 6% Islam, .3% Sikhism

Government – Unitary parliamentary representative democratic republic

Legislature – Parliament

Independence from the United Kingdom – 10 October 1970

Area 18,274 km2

Population – 926, 276 (161st) French Polynesia French Polynesia Polynésie française

Capital – Papeete Largest City – Fa’a’a

Official Language – French, Tahitian, Austral

Ethnic groups – 66.5% Polynesians, 7% mixed Polynesians, 9% Demis, 12% Europeans, 5% East Asians

Government – Devolved parliamentary dependency

Legislature – Assembly of French Polynesia

Sovereign state of France

Area 4,167 km2

Population – 275,918 (177th)

Currency – CFP Franc (XPF) Georgia Georgia საქართველო

Capital & Largest City – Tbilisi

Official Language – Georgian, Abkhazian

Ethnic groups – 87% Georgians, 6% Azerbaijanis, 5% Armenians, 1% Russians, 2% other

Religion – 83% Eastern Orthodoxy, 11% Islam, 4% Oriental Orthodoxy, 1% Roman Catholic

Government – Unitary parliamentary constitutional republic

Legislature – Parliament

Establishment – Colchis & Iberia 13th c BC – 580 AD

Area 69,700 km2

Population – 3,723,464 (129th) Guam Guam Guåhån

Capital – Hagatna Largest City – Dededo

Official Language – English, Chamorro

Ethnic groups – 37% Chamorro, 26% Filipino, 7% White, 7% Chuukese, 2% Korean, 2% Other Asian, 2% Chinese, 2% Palauan,

Religion – 75% Catholicism, 18% Protestantism, 1% Buddism

Government – Devolved presidential constitutional dependency

Legislature – Legislature of Guam

Sovereign State of United States

Area 540 km2

Population – 162,742 Hawaiian Islands Hawaiian Islands Mokupuni o Hawai‘i

Capital & Largest City – Honolulu

Official Language – English

A archipelago of eight major islands, several atolls, numerous smaller islets, and seamounts in the North Pacific Ocean, extending some 1,500 miles (2,400 kilometers) from the island of Hawaiʻi in the south to northernmost Kure Atoll.

Total Islands – 137

Highest Point – Mauna Kea 13,796 ft

Became a state – 21 August 1959

Area 780 km2

Population – 1,428,446

Currency – US Dollar India Republic of India Bhārat Gaṇarājya

Capital – New Delhi Largest City – Mumbai

Official Language – Hindi, English

Religion – 80% Hinduism, 14% Islam, 2% Christianity, 2% Sikhism, 1% Buddhism, and others

Government – Federal parliamentary constitutional republic

Legislature – Parliament

Independence from the United Kingdom – 15 August 1947

Area 3,287,263 km2 (7th)

Population – 1,352,642,280 (2nd)

Currency – Indian rupee (INR) Republic of Indonesia Indonesia Republik Indonesia

Capital & Largest City – Jakarta

Official Language – Indonesian & Over 700 regional languages

Ethnic groups – Over 300 ethnic groups

Religion – 87% Islam, 10% Christianity, 2% Hinduism, 1% Buddhism, and others

Government – Unitary presidential constitutional republic

Legislature – People’s Consultative Assembly

Formation – Hindu & Buddhist kingdoms – 2nd Century

Area 1,904,569 km2

Population – 267,670,543 (4th) Iran Islamic Republic of Iran ﻣﺟ یروﮭ ﯽﻣﻼﺳا نارﯾا

Capital & Largest City – Tehran

Official Language – Persian

Ethnic groups – 61% Persian, 16% Azerbaijani, 10% Kurd, 6% Lur, 2% Turkman, and others

Religion – Islam

Government – Unitary Khomeinist presidential theocratic- constitutional Islamic republic

Legislature – Upper & Lower House

Establishment – Median Empire c 678 BC

Area 1,648,195 km2

th Population – 83,183,741 (17 ) Republic of Iraq Iraq ﻣﺟ روﮭ ﯾ ﺔ قارﻌﻟا Motto: “God is the Greatest”

Capital & Largest City – Baghdad

Official Language – Arabic – Kirdish, Mandaic, Shabaki, Persian Other languages – Turkish, Assyrian, Armenian

Religion – 98% Islam (Inc Shia and Sunni), 1% Christianity

Government – Federal parliamentary constitutional republic

Legislature – Council of Representatives

Independence from the United Kingdom – 3 October 1932

Area 437, 072 km2

Population – 38, 433, 600 (36th) Israel Israel לארשי

Capital & Largest City – Jerusalem

Official Language – Hebrew

Ethnic groups – 74% Jewish, 21% Arab, 5% Other

Religion – 74% Judaism, 18% Islam, 2% Christianity, 2% Druze

Government – Unitary parliamentary republic

Legislature – Knesset

Independence declared 14 May 1948

Area 20,770 km2

Population – 9,190,350 (99th)

Currency – New shekel (ILS) Japan Japan 日本国

Capital & Largest City – Tokyo

Official Language – Japanese

Ethnic groups – 98% Japanese, 1% Chinese, .4% Korean, 1% Other

Government – Unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy

Legislature – National Diet

Formation – 11 February 660 BC

Area 377,975 km2

Population – 126,150,000 (11th)

Currency – Japanese Yen (JPY)

Hiragana – にっぽんこく

Jordan Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan ﺔﻛﻠﻣﻣﻟا درﻷا ﻧ ﯾ ﺔ ﺔﯾﻣﺷﺎﮭﻟا

Motto: “God, Country, King”

Capital & Largest City – Amman

Official Language – Arabic

Ethnic groups – 98% Arab, 1% Circassian, Chechens, 1% Armenian

Religion – 95% Islam, 4% Christianity, 1% Druze, Bahá'í

Government – Unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy

Legislature – Parliament

Independence from the United Kingdom – 11 April 1921

Area 89, 342 km2

Population – 10, 407, 793 (86th) Kazakhstan Republic of Kazakhstan Қазақстан Республикасы

Capital – Nur-Sultan Largest City – Almaty

Official Language – Kazakh, Russian

Ethnic groups – 66% Kazakh, 22% Russian, 3% Uzbek, 2% Ukranian, 1% Uyghur, 1% Tatar, 1% German

Religion – 70% Muslims, 26% Christians, 4% Other

Government – Unitary Presidential constitutional republic

Legislature – Parliament

Formation – Kazakh Khanate: 1465

Area – 2,724,900 km2

Population – 18,448,600 (63rd) State of Kuwait Kuwait ود ﻟ ﺔ تﯾوﻛﻟا

Capital & Largest City – Kuwait City

Official Language – Arabic

Ethnic groups –40.4% Asian, 30.4% Kuwaiti, 27.3% Other Arabs, 1% African, .4% European, .5% Other

Religion – 74.4% Islam (Official), 18.2% Christianity, 7.5% Other

Government – Unitary constitutional monarchy

Legislature – National Assembly

Independence from the Emirate of Al Hasa – 1752

Area 17, 818 km2

Population – 4, 621, 638 (128th) Kyrgyzstan Kyrgyz Republic Кыргыз Республикасы

Capital & Largest City – Bishkek

Official Language – Kyrgyz, Russian

Ethnic groups – 73% Kyrgyz, 15% Uzbek, 6% Russian, 1% Dungan, 1% Uyghur, 1% Tajik

Religion – 83% Islam, 16% Christianity, 1% Others

Government – Unitary parliamentary constitutional republic

Legislature – Joğorqu Keñeş

Independence from the Soviet Union – 14 October 1924

Area 199,951 km2

Population – 6,389,500 (110th) Lao People’s Democratic Republic Laos ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ

Capital & Largest City – Vientiane

Official Language – Lao, French

Ethnic groups – 53% Lao, 11% Khmu, 9% Hmong, 3% Phouthai, 3% Tai, 3% Makong, 2% Katang, 2% Lue, 2% Akha, Others

Religion – 66% Buddhism, 31% Tai Folk religion, 2% Christianity, .1% Islam, Other

Government – Unitary Markist- Leninist One-party socialist republic

Legislature – National Assembly

Formation – Kingdom of Lan Xang 1353 – 1707

Area 237,955 km2

Population – 7,061,507 (103rd) Labanese Republic Lebanon ﺔﯾروﮭﻣﺟﻟ ا ﻟ ﻠ ﺑ ﻧ ﺎ ﻧ ﺔﯾ ﺔرﮭﺟ

Capital & Largest City – Beirut

Official Language – Arabic Local vernacular – Lebanese Arabic

Religion – 61.1% Muslim,33.7% Christianity, 5.2% Druze

Government – Unitary confessionalist parliamentary republic

Legislature – Parliament

Establishment – Great Lebanon – 1 September 1920 Constitution – 23 May 1926

Area 10, 452 km2

Population – 6, 859, 408 (112th)

Currency – Lebanese Pound Malaysia Malaysia Malaysia

Capital & Largest City – Kuala Lumpur

Official Language – Malay, English

Ethnic groups – 69% Bumiputera, 23% Malaysian Chinese, 7% Malaysian Indian, 1% Others

Religion – 61% Islam, 20% Buddhism, 9% Christianity, 6% Hinduism, 1% Chinese folk

Government – Federal parliamentary elective constitutional monarchy

Legislature – Parliament

Independence from the United Kingdom – 31 August 1957

Area 330,803 km2

Population – 32,772,100 (42nd) Republic of Maldives Maldives

ޔާ އް ރި ހޫ މް ޖު ގެ ޭޖއް ރާ ހި ވެ ދި

Capital & Largest City – Malé

Official Language – Dhivehi, English

Ethnic groups – 100% Maldivians

Religion – Islam (Mandated by law)

Government – Unitary presidential republic

Legislature – People’s Majlis

Independence from the United Kingdom – 26 July 1965

Area 298 km2

Population – 392, 473 (175th)

Currency – Maldivian rufiyaa Unincorporated US Territory Midway Atoll Midway Islands

It is near the northwestern end of the Hawaiian archipelago about a third of the way from Honolulu to Tokyo

Official Language – English

Government – United States Minor Outlying Islands

Claimed by U.S. – 28 August 1867

Area – 66 km2

Population : 100 – 200 people live on the atoll which includes staff of the US Fish and Wildlife Service and contract workers. Entry into the Midway Islands is heavily restricted and requires a special-use permit to visit, often from the US Military or US Fish & Wildlife Services – mainly given to scientists and educators. Mongolia Mongolia Монгол Улс

Capital & Largest City – Ulaanbaatar

Official Language – Mongolian

Ethnic groups – 96% Mongols, 4% Kazakhs

Religion – 53% Buddhism, 39% non-religious, 3% Islam, 3% Shamanish, 2% Christianity

Government – Unitary semi- presidential republic

Legislature – State Great Khural

Formation – Xiongnu Empire – formed 209 BC

Area 1,566,000 km2

Population – 3,278,290 (134th) Republic of the Union of Myanmar Myanmar (formerly Burma) ြပည်ေထာင်စ သမတ ြမန်မာိင်ငံေတာ်

Capital – Naypyidaw Largest City – Yangon

Official Language – Burmese, Kachin, Kayah, Karen, Chin, Mon, Rakhine, Shan

Ethnic groups – 68% Bamar, 9% Shan, 7% Karen, 4% Rakhine, 2% Mon, 1% Hindus, 9% Others

Religion – 88% Theravada Buddhism, 6% Christianity, 4% Islam, 2% Other

Government – Unitary parliamentary constitutional republic

Legislature –Assembly of the Union

Formation – Pagan Kingdom 23 December 849

Area – 676,578 km2

Population – 53,582,855 (26th) Nepal Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal सीय लोकताक गणत नेपाल

Capital & Largest City – Kathmadu

Official Language – Nepali

Ethnic groups – 17% Chhetri, 12% Bahun, 7% Magar, 7% Tharu, 6% Tamang, 5% Newar, 5% Kami, 4% Muslims, 4% Yadav, 33% Others

Religion – 81% Hinduism, 9% Buddhism, 4% Islam, 3% Kirant, 1% Christianity, .5% Prakriti

Government – Federal parliamentary republic

Legislature – Federal Parliament

Formation – Kingdom 1769

Area – 147,181 km2

Population – 28,095,714 (49th) New Zealand New Zealand Aotearoa

Capital – Wellington Largest City – Auckland

Official Language – English, Maori, NZ Sign Language

Ethnic groups – 72 % European, 17% Maori, 15% Asian, 9% Pacific Peoples, 2% ME/LA/African

Government – Unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy Monarch – Elizabeth II

Legislature – Parliament

Independence from the United Kingdom – 7 May 1856

Area – 268,021 km2

Population – 4,980,810 (120th) North Korea Democratic People’s Republic of Korea 조선민주주의인민공화국

Capital & Largest City – Pyongyang

Official Language – Korean

Ethnic groups – 100% Korean

Religion – Buddhism, Confucianism, Korean Shamanism

Government – Unitary one-party republic

Legislature – Supreme People’s Assembly

Formation – First Kingdom c. 7th century BC

Area – 120,540 km2

Population – 25,549,604 (52nd)

Currency – Korean People’s won Commonwealth of the Northern Northern Marianas Mariana Islands Sankattan Siha Na Islas Mariånas

Capital & Largest City – Saipan

Official Language – English, Chamorro, Carolinian

Ethnic groups – 35% Filipino, 24% Chamorro, 13% Multiracial, 7% Chinese, 5% Japanese, 5% Carolinian, 4% Korean, 2% Chuukese, 2% Palauan, 2% White

Government – Devolved Presidential constitutional dependency

Legislature – Commonwealth Legislature

U.S. Commonwealth Unincorporated and organized U.S. Territory

Area – 464 km2

Population – 53,883 Oman Sultanate of Oman ﺳﻠطﻧﺔ ﻋُﻣﺎن

Capital & Largest City – Muscat

Official Language – Arabic

Religion – Islam (Ibadi)

Government – Unitary parliamentary absolute monarchy

Legislature – Parliament

Establishment The Azd tribe migration – 130 Al-Julanda - 629

Area 309, 500 km2

Population – 4, 829, 473 (125th)

Currency – Rial Islamic Republic of Pakistan Pakistan ِاﺳﻼﻣﯽ ﻤﺟ ﮩ رﻮ ﯾ ہ ﭘﺎ ِﻛﺴﺘﺎن

Capital – Islamabad Largest City – Karachi

Official Language – Urdu, English, Punjabi, Pashto, Sindhi, Balochi

Ethnic groups – 45% Punjabis, 15% Pashtuns, 14% Sindhis, 8% Sarakis, 8% Muhajirs, 4% Balochs

Religion – 96% Islam, 2% Hinduism, 2% Christianity

Government – Federal parliamentary constitutional republic

Legislature – Parliament

Independence from the United Kingdom – 14 August 1947

Area – 881,913 km2

Population – 212,228,286 (5th) Palestine National Authority Palestine National Authority ﺔطﻠﺳﻟا ﺔﯾﻧﯾطﺳﻠﻔﻟا

Capital & Largest City – Gaza

Official Language – Arabic

Religion – 95% Islam, 4% Christianity, 1% Druze, Bahá'í

Type – Provisional Self-government body

Government – Semi-Presidential with a President and Prime Minister

Legislature – Legislative Council

Autonomy from Israeli Administration – 13 September 1993

Currency – Egyptian Pound, Israeli new Shekel, and Jordanian Dinar

Population – 5.052 million Republic of the Philippines Philippines Republika ng Pilipinas

Capital – Manila Largest City – Quezon City

Official Language – Filipino, English, 19 others

Ethnic groups – 33% Visayan, 30% Tagalog, 10% Moro, 10% Ilocano, 6% Bicolano, 3% Kapampangan, 2% Igorot, 2% Pangasinesnse

Religion – Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Protestantism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism

Government – Unitary presidential constitutional republic

Legislature – Congress

Independence from Spain – 12 June 1898

Area – 300,000 km2

Population – 100,981,437 (13th) Qatar State of Qatar ود ﻟ ﺔ رطﻗ

Capital & Largest City – Doha

Official Language – Arabic Common language - English

Ethnic groups – 11.6% Qatari, 88.4% non-Qatari

Religion – Islam

Government – Hereditary monarchy

Legislature – Consultative Assembly

Establishment – Qatar National Day – 18 December 1878

Area 11, 581 km2

Population – 2, 641, 669 140th)

Currency – Riyal Rotuma Rotuma Island Rotuma

Capital & Largest City – Ahau

Official Language – Rotuman, English, Fijian

Ethnic groups – Rotuman

Government – Dependency of Fiji

Independence from the United Kingdom – as part of Fiji 10 October 1970

Area – 47 km2

Population – 1,594 (149th)

Currency – Fiji dollar (FJD)

Rotuma is a shield volcano made of alkali-olivine basalt and hawaiite, with many small cones, and reaches 256 metres (840 ft) above sea level at Mount Suelhof near the center of the island. Russian Federation Russia Российская Федерация

Capital & Largest City – Moscow

Official Language – Russian

Ethnic groups – 81% Russian, 4% Tatar, 1% Ukrainian, 1% Armenian, 1% Bashkir, 1% Chuvash

Religion – 71% Russian Orthodoxy, 15% No religion, 10% Islam, 1% Roman Catholicism, others

Government – Federal dominant- party semi-presidential constitutional republic

Legislature – Federal Assembly

Formation – Arrival of Rurik 862

Area – 17,098,246 km2

Population – 146,745,098 (9th) Samoa Independent State of Samoa Malo Saʻoloto Tutoʻatasi o Sāmoa

Capital & Largest City – Apia

Official Language – Samoan, English

Ethnic groups – 93% Samoans, 7% Eironesians, .4% European

Religion – Christianity

Government – Unitary dominant- party parliamentary republic

Legislature – Legislative Assembly

Independence from New Zealand – 14 June 1889

Area – 2,842 km2

Population – 195,843

Currency – Tālā (WST) Saudi Arabia Kingdom of Saudi Arabia ٱ ْﻟ َﻣ ْﻣﻠَ َﻛﺔ ٱ ْﻟﻌَ َر ِﺑﯾﱠﺔ ٱﻟ ﱠﺳﻌُ ْو ِدﯾﱠﺔ

Capital & Largest City – Riyadh

Official Language – Arabic

Religion – Sunni Islam (Wahhabism)

Government – Unitary Islamic absolute monarchy

Legislature – None

Establishment Kingdom founded 23 September 1932

Area 2, 149, 690 km2

Population – 34, 218, 169 (40th)

Curency – Saudi Riyal Republic of Singapore Singapore

ங்கப்ர் யர

Capital & Largest City – Singapore

Official Language – English, Malay, Chinese, Tamil

Ethnic groups – 74% Chinese, 13% Malay, 9% Indian, 3% other

Religion – 33% Buddhism, 19% Christianity, 19% Irreligious, 14% Islam, 10% Taoism/Sintua, 5% Hinduism

Government – Unitary dominant- party parliamentary constitutional republic

Legislature – Parliament

Formation of the modern Republic – Singapore Treaty 6 February 1819

Area – 725.7 km2

Population – 5,638,700 (113th) Republic of Korea South Korea

대한민국/大韓民國

Capital & Largest City – Seoul

Official Language – Korean

Ethnic groups – Predominantly Korean

Religion – 57% No religion, 28% Christianity, 16% Korean Buddhism

Government – Unitary presidential constitutional republic

Legislature – National Assembly

Establishment – First Kingdom c. 7th century BC

Area – 100,363 km2

Population – 51,709,098 (28th)

Currency – Korean Republic Won Sri Lanka Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka ලංකා ජාතාක සමාජවා ජනරජය

Capital – Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte Largest City – Colombo

Official Language – English

Ethnic groups – 75% Sinhalese, 11% Sri Lankan Tamils, 9% Moors, 4% Indian Tamils

Religion – 70% Buddhism, 13% Hinduism, 10% Islam, 7% Christianity

Government – Unitary presidential constitutional republic

Legislature – Parliament

Independence from the United Kingdom – 4 February 1948

Area – 65,610 km2

Population – 21,670,000 (57th) Syria Syrian Arab Republic ﺔﯾروﮭﻣﺟﻟا ﺔﯾﺑرﻌﻟا ﺔﯾروﺳﻟا ﺔﯾﺑرﻌﻟا ﺔﯾروﮭﻣﺟﻟا

Capital & Largest City – Damascus

Official Language – Arabic

Ethnic groups – Syrian Arabs, Arameans, Kurds, Turkomans, Assyrians, Circassians, Greeks

Religion – 87% Islam, 10% Christianity, 3% Druzism

Government – Unitary dominant party semi-presidential Ba’athist republic

Legislature – People’s COuncil

Establishment – Arab Kingdom of Syria – 8 March 1920

Area – 185,180 km2

Population – 17,500,657 (65th) Taiwan Republic of China (Taiwan) 中華民國

Capital & Largest City – Taipei

Official Language – Formosan languages, Hakka, Hokkien, Mandarin, Matsu, Sign language

Ethnic groups – 95% Han Chinese, 2% Malayo-Polynesian, 2% other

Religion – 35% Buddhism, 33% Taoism, 19% Unaffiliated, 4% Christianity, 9% Other

Government – Unitary semi- presidential republic

Legislature – Legislative Yuan

Formation – Republic proclaimed 1 January 1912

Area – 36,197 km2

Population – 23,780,452 (53rd) Tajikistan Republic of Tajikistan Ҷумҳурии Тоҷикистон

Capital & Largest City – Dushanabe

Official Language – Tajik, Russian

Ethnic groups – 84% Tajik, 14% Uzbek, 1% Kyrgyz, .4% Russian

Religion – 98% Islam, 1% Zoroastianism, 1% Christianity, .3% Atheists & Others

Government – Unitary dominant- party presidential constitutional republic

Legislature – Supreme Assembly

Formation – Tajik ASSR 27 October 1924

Area – 143,100 km2

Population – 9,275,827 (96th) Thailand Kingdom of Thailand ราชอาณาจักรไทย

Capital & Largest City – Bangkok

Official Language – Thai

Ethnic groups – 86% Thais, 3% Khmer, 2% Malays 9% 68 others

Religion – 94% Buddhism, 4% Islam, 1% Christianity

Government – Unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy

Legislature – National Assembly

Formation – Sukhothai Kingdom 1238 – 1448

Area – 513,120 km2

Population – 69,428,453 (20th) Democratic Republic of Timor- Timor-Leste Leste

Repúblika Demokrátika Timór-Leste

Capital & Largest City – Dili

Official Language – Tetum, Portuguese

Religion – 98% Roman Catholic, 2% other religionis

Government – Unitary semi- presidential constitutional republic

Legislature – National Parliament

Independence from Portugal and Indonesia – 28 November 1975

Area – 15,007 km2

Population – 1,183,643

Currency – United States dollar Tonga Kingdom of Tonga Puleʻanga Fakatuʻi ʻo Tonga

Capital & Largest City – Nuku’alofa

Official Language – Tongan, English

Ethnic groups – 97% Tongan, 1% Euronesians, 2% Other

Religion – Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga

Government – Unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy

Legislature – Legislative Assembly

Independence from British protection – 4 June 1970

Area 748 km2

Population – 100,651 (149th) Turkey Republic of Turkey Türkiye Cumhuriyeti

Capital – Ankara Largest City – Istanbul

Official Language – Turkish

Ethnic groups – Turks, Kurds, Arabs, Laz, Cicassians, Bosniaks

Religion – Secular state

Government – Unitary presidential constitutional republic

Legislature – Grand National Assembly

Establishment – War of Independence 19 May 1919

Area – 783,356 km2

Population – 83,154,997 (18th) Turkmenistan Republic of Turkmenistan Türkmenistan Respublikasy

Capital & Largest City – Ashgabat

Official Language – Turkmen, Russian

Ethnic groups – 79% Turkmen, 9% Uzbek, 3% Russian, 3% Kazakh, 6% Others

Religion – 94% Islam, 6% Christianity

Government – Unitary presidential republic

Legislature – People’s Council

Formation – Khanate of Khiva 1511

Area – 491,210 km2

Population – 5,850,901 (117th)

Currency – Turkmen new Manat Tuvalu Tuvalu

Motto – Tuvalu for the Almighty

Capital & Largest City – Funafuti

Official Language – Tuvaluan, English

Ethnic groups – 96% Polynesian, 4% Micronesian

Religion – Christian: Church of Tuvaluan

Government – Unitary non-partisan parliamentary constitutional monarchy

Legislature – Parliament

Independence from the United Kingdom – 1 October 1978

Area – 26 km2

Population – 11,192 (196th) United Arab Emirates United تارﺎﻣﻹا ا ﺑرﻌﻟ ﺔﯾ ا ةدﺣﺗﻣﻟا ﯾﺑﻌ اﺎﻹ Arab Emirates Capital – Abu Dhabi Largest City – Dubai

Official Language – Arabic

Ethnic groups – 11.6% Emirati, 59.4% South Asian, 10.2% Egyptian, 6% Filipino, 12.8% Others

Religion – Islam

Government – Federal elective constitutional monarchy

Legislature – Federal National Council

Independence from the United Kingdom and the Trucial States – 1708, 1727, 1761

Area 83, 600 km2

Population – 9, 599, 353 (92nd) Republic of Uzbekistan Uzbekistan Oʻzbekiston Respublikasi

Capital & Largest City – Tashkent

Official Language – Uzbek, Karakalpak, Karakalpakstan

Ethnic groups – 84% Uzbeks, 5% Tajiks, 3% Kazakhs, 2% Russians, 2% Karakalpaks, 2% Tatars

Religion – 89% Muslims, 9% Christians, others

Government – Unitary presidential constitutional secular republic

Legislature – Supreme Assembly

Formation – Emirate of Bukhara proclaimed 1785

Area – 448,978 km2

Population – 33,961,708 (41st) Vietnam Socialist Republic of Vietnam Cộng hòa xã hội chủ nghĩa Việt Nam

Capital – Hanoi Largest City – Ho Chi Minh City

Official Language – Vietnamese

Ethnic groups – 86% Vietnamese, 53 Minorities

Religion – 73% Fold or Irreligious, 12% Buddhism, 8% Christianity, 5% Caodaism, 1% Hoahaoism

Government – Unitary Marxist- Leninst one-party socialist republic

Legislature – National Assembly

Formation – First imperial dunasty c. 2879 BC

Area – 331,212 km2

Population – 95,545,962 (15th) Republic of Yemen Yemen اَ ْﻟ ُﺟ ْﻣ ُﮭو ِرﯾﱠﺔُ ٱ ْﻟﯾَ َﻣ ِﻧﯾﱠﺔُ Motto: “God, Country, Revolution, Unity”

Capital & Largest City – Sana’a

Official Language – Arabic

Ethnic groups – 92.8% Arab, 3.7% Somalis, 1.1% Afro-Arab, 1% Indo- Pakistani, 1.4% Other

Religion – Islam

Government – Unitary Presidential Constitutional republic

Legislature – Parliament

Establishment: North Yemen 30 October 1918

Area 527, 968 km2

Population – 28, 498, 683 (48th)