1
Introduction
This book has been created to help students research
different regions of the world. It is very important to know
information about the country that we live in, but it is just
as important to understand our neighbors and what makes
us different. No two countries are the same in size,
shape, population, or culture. Each of these things make
a country special.
I hope that you enjoy studying the different regions of the
world with this book.
Ms. Samantha McSparrin
Volunteer English Teacher
Peam Chikang High School
2010-2012
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General World Information

There are 7 continents around the world. These include Africa, Antarctica, Asia,
Australia, Europe, North America and South America.

There are 5 oceans in the world. These include the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian,
Southern and Arctic Oceans.

There are currently 196 countries in the world and 192 countries are members of the
United Nations (an international organization for law, peace and security).

There are about 7 billion people living in the world.

The largest population is in China, followed by India and the United States of
America.

The smallest population is in the Vatican City.

The largest country in the world (land area) is Russia.

The smallest country in the world (land area) is the Vatican City.

The top 3 languages with the most native speakers are Mandarin (Chinese),
Spanish, and English.

Several places in the world are going to disappear because of global warming,
pollution, and changes in the water level. The sites include Glacier National Park
(USA), Venice, Italy, the Dead Sea (near Israel, the West Bank, and Jordan), and
Mexico City, Mexico.

The newest country in the world is South Sudan, which gained independence from
Sudan on July 9, 2011.

Christianity is the most common religion in the world with 2.1 billion followers, which
equals 33% of the world population. This is followed by Islam with 1.5 billion (21%),
Hinduism with 900 million (14%), Buddhism with 376 million (6%), Sikhism with 23
million (0.36%) and Judaism with 14 million (0.22%).
3
ASEAN- Association of Southeast Asian Nations
4
ASEAN- Association of Southeast Asian Nations
General Information

Southeast Asia is a sub region of Asia that is south of China, east of India, west of
New Guinea and north of Australia.

Not all countries in Southeast Asia are members of ASEAN. East Timor, Christmas
Island, Hong Kong, Macau and some of the islands off of the coast of India do not
have membership in the association.

The total population of ASEAN members is approximately 593,000,000.

The total area of ASEAN members totals approximately 5,000,000 𝑘𝑚2 .

Islam is the most commonly practiced religion in the region, followed by Christianity
and Hinduism.

There are many volcanoes in the region because of the geological plates. Many of
these are still active.

Many of the countries in Southeast Asia are made of groups of small islands. These
islands have been formed after volcanoes erupt and leave lava which hardens and
forms land.

The climate is mostly tropical. It is hot and humid during most of the year and there
is a lot of rainfall. There is a hot and cool season, as well as a monsoon season.

There are hundreds, possibly thousands of different languages spoken in Southeast
Asia. Minority groups within each country often have their own languages, such as
the Cham in Cambodia. Many of these languages are only spoken and have no
system of writing.

Just like other areas of the world, Southeast Asia has had many wars and a lot of
violence in recent history. Many countries were affected by World War II and the
Vietnam War. Many countries have also have problems within the country, such as
in Cambodia during the Khmer Rouge and the civil war in Burma that began in 1948.
5
ASEAN- Association of Southeast Asian Nations
Flags of Member Nations
Indonesia
Brunei
Malaysia
Vietnam
The Philippines
Laos
Singapore
Myanmar
Thailand
Cambodia
6
ASEAN- Association of Southeast Asian Nations
Overview
ESTABLISHMENT
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, was established on 8 August
1967 in Bangkok, Thailand, with the signing of the ASEAN Declaration (Bangkok
Declaration) by the Founding Fathers of ASEAN, who were Indonesia, Malaysia, the
Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.
Brunei then joined on 7 January 1984, Vietnam on 28 July 1995, Laos and Myanmar on
23 July 1997, and Cambodia on 30 April 1999, making up what is today the ten Member
States of ASEAN.
AIMS AND PURPOSES
As set out in the ASEAN Declaration, the aims and purposes of ASEAN are:
1. To accelerate the economic growth, social progress and cultural development in
the region through joint endeavors in the spirit of equality and partnership in
order to strengthen the foundation for a prosperous and peaceful community of
Southeast Asian Nations;
2. To promote regional peace and stability through abiding respect for justice and
the rule of law in the relationship among countries of the region and adherence to
the principles of the United Nations Charter;
3. To promote active collaboration and mutual assistance on matters of common
interest in the economic, social, cultural, technical, scientific and administrative
fields;
4. To provide assistance to each other in the form of training and research facilities
in the educational, professional, technical and administrative spheres;
5. To collaborate more effectively for the greater utilization of their agriculture and
industries, the expansion of their trade, including the study of the problems of
international commodity trade, the improvement of their transportation and
communications facilities and the raising of the living standards of their peoples;
6. To promote Southeast Asian studies; and
7. To maintain close and beneficial cooperation with existing international and
regional organizations with similar aims and purposes, and explore all avenues
for even closer cooperation among themselves.
Information from:
http://www.aseansec.org/about_ASEAN.html
7
Brunei Darussalam
Official Name: State of Brunei Darussalem or the Nation of Brunei, the Abode of Peace
Head of State: His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin
Head of Government : Prime Minister Hassanal Bolkiah
Capital City: Bandar Seri Begawan
Other major cities: Sengkurong, Gadong, Berakas
Language(s): Malay, English
Currency: Bruneian Dollar (1.3 BND = $1 USD)
Religion: Islam (66%), Buddhism, Christianity
Land area: 5,765 𝑘𝑚2
Population: 401,890
Bordering country: Malaysia
Tourist Attractions: Royal Regalia Museum, Omar, Ali, Saifuddien and Mosque, Ulu
Temburong National Park
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Recent History:
Brunei became a protectorate of Britain in 1888, after it had been having trouble
and losing some land to other countries. During World War II (1941-1945), the
Japanese Empire took control. After the war, the United Kingdom was in control of the
country again. In 1959, a new constitution was written that let the people of Brunei be in
control of their business domestically, while the United Kingdom was still in control of
Brunei’s foreign affairs, security and defense internationally. In 1984, Brunei gained its
independence and took control of both domestic and international affairs. Today it is an
absolute monarchy with a sultan (ruler of an Islamic country) as leader.
In 1962, there was a small group of people who wanted to fight against the
monarchy. The United Kingdom helped to stop this fighting, which was called the
“Brunei Revolt”. The fighting caused problems with other countries on the island of
Borneo, and was partially responsible for the failure to create the North Borneo
Federation.
This country has had a lot of economic growth. Brunei is now considered to be
an industrialized (developed) country. It is considered to have the second highest
development rating in Southeast Asia, after Singapore who is number one. It also has
very good rating from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). This country is very
strong and is able to buy very many things.
The current sultan of Brunei, Sultan Bolkiah, was crowned in 1967 when he was
only 22 years old. This family has been in power for many generations. The sultan
became very wealthy for selling an oil field. Brunei is a very rich country, and the sultan
is believed to be one of the richest men in the world.
9
Cambodia
Official Name: The Kingdom of Cambodia
Head of State: His Majesty King Norodom Sihamoni
Head of Government: Prime Minister Hun Sen
Capital City: Phnom Penh
Other major cities: Siem Reap, Sihanoukville, Battambang, Kampong Cham
Language: Khmer
Currency: Riel (4100 riel = $1 USD)
Religion: Theravada Buddhism (97%), Islam, Christianity
Land area: 181, 035 𝑘𝑚2
Population: 14 million
Bordering countries: Vietnam, Thailand and Laos
Tourist Attractions: Angkor Wat, Bayon Temple, National Museum, Royal Palace, Killing
Fields, Beaches, Eco-Tourism
10
Recent history:
King Norodom asked for protection from the French in 1863 because of problems
with Thailand and Vietnam. Cambodia became a part of French Indochina and was
also occupied by the Japanese Empire from 1941-1945 during World War II. Cambodia
gained full independence from France in 1953.
Fighting between the Vietnam and Cambodia resulted in bombing and many
Cambodians becoming refugees. During this time there were very few resources in
Cambodia, little money, and not enough food for the people. The Khmer Rouge came
into power in 1975 and claimed to want to solve these problems. This regime was
officially called Democratic Kampuchea and was led by Pol Pot. The cities were
immediately evacuated and the people were made to become rice farmers and go back
to the lifestyle of the 11th century. They did not allow Western medicine, religion,
education or any Western influence during this time. At least 1 million Cambodians died
because of lack of food, lack of medicine, overwork and execution, but there may have
been many more people who died during the regime. In November 1978, Vietnamese
troops invaded Cambodia because the Khmer Rouge had caused problems at the
border. During the 1980s, the Khmer Rouge stayed in power in Cambodia with support
from China, Thailand, The United States and The United Kingdom. The Khmer Rouge
controlled the country and made attacks to places where they were not in control.
These attacks left a lot of damage in Cambodia and made the financial problems even
worse for the country. Peace efforts began in 1989 and finally resulted in 1991 when
the United Nations came to Cambodia. In 1993, King Norodom Sihanouk was restored
as king of Cambodia. This is the only country which has had a king who returned to
power after a communist regime.
Trials are currently happening for the leaders of the Khmer Rouge. Kang Kek
Lew (known as Duch) was the first member of the group that was found guilty of war
crimes and crimes against humanity. He was the leader of the S21 extermination camp
in Phnom Penh. He was sentenced to 35 years in prison. The trials for three other
members, Nuon Chea, Khieu Samphan and Ieng Sary, began in November 2011. Pol
Pot passed away in 1998 before he was ever tried or punished for any crimes.
11
Indonesia
Official Name: Republic of Indonesia
Head of State: President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
Capital City: Jakarta
Other major cities: Surabaya, Bandung, Bali
Language: Indonesian
Currency: Rupiah (9,075 IDR = $1 USD)
Religion: Islam (87%), Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism
Land area: 1,919,440 𝑘𝑚2
Population: 437,424,363
Bordering countries: Papua New Guinea, East Timor and Malaysia
Tourist Attractions: Beach resorts of Bali and Lombok, crater lakes in Kelimutu and
Danua Toba, monument to Buddha in Borobudur
12
Recent history:
Foreign powers have been attracted to the many natural resources on the islands
of Indonesia for centuries. Muslims came to the Indonesia and brought the religion on
Islam. Later Europeans came and introduced Christianity. The Dutch arrived in the
early 1600s and established the Dutch East Indies. They were in power for over 3
centuries.
During the National Revolution, the Indonesians fought for their independence.
They were occupied they the Japanese Empire during World War II, when an estimated
4 million Indonesians died because of starvation and forced labor. After the war, the
Dutch tried to regain control, but they were not successful and Indonesia finally gained
their independence in 1949.
The communist party in Indonesia was blamed for trying to overthrow the state in
1965. During this time, approximately 500,000 people were killed. The military stopped
the communists and the country formed a “New Order” to help control the situation.
Indonesia suffered very much during the Asian financial crisis in the late 1990s.
People were very unhappy with the government and blamed the problems on the “New
Order”. These problems caused the military leader, General Suharto, to resign in 1998.
After that, East Timor decided to secede from Indonesia and stop the 25 year military
occupation. Since that time, Indonesia has focused on strengthening the democratic
process. There have been problems with political and economic stability, social unrest,
corruption and terrorism. The many different religious, social and ethnic groups do not
usually have problems, but occasionally there are disagreements which lead to
violence. Things have been better recently and the country was able to have the first
direct presidential election in 2004.
The country is made up of about 17,508 islands. These often suffer from storms
and earthquakes. Heavy rains sometimes cause landslides which have killed many
people. There are also many volcanoes that are active on the islands
13
Laos
Official Name: Lao People’s Democratic Republic
Head of State: President Choummaly Sayasone
Head of Government: Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong
Capital City: Vientiane
Other major cities: Luang Prabang, Savannakhet, and Pakse
Language: Lao
Currency: Kip (7,965 LAK = $1 USD)
Religion: Theravada Buddhism (67%), Christianity, Islam
Land area: 236,800 𝑘𝑚2
Population: 6.8 million
Bordering countries: Burma, China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand
Tourist Attractions: Luang Prabang, temples in Vientiane, trekking and visiting hill tribes
14
Recent history:
This country once consisted of 3 kingdoms: the Kingdom of Luang Prabang, the
Kingdom of Vientiane, and the Kingdom of Champasak. In 1893, it became a French
protectorate and came together to form what we now call Laos. Like many other
countries in Southeast Asia, it was occupied the Japanese Empire during World War II
(1941-1945). For a short time after the war, Laos became independent, but they were
soon controlled by the French again. They became independent in 1954 with a
constitutional monarchy.
Not long after Laos gained its independence, a long civil war ended the
monarchy and the communist party took control of the country. The northern part of
Laos became involved with the northern Vietnamese and allowed them to use land and
weapons to attack South Vietnam during the Vietnam War (1955-1975). At that time,
the United States was supporting South Vietnam and helped to bomb Laos and invade
the country to attack the communists. Laos is thought to be the most heavily bombed
country in the world, and many Laotians died as a result of these weapons. These
problems caused a civil war in Laos. The Pathet Lao (a communist political group), with
support from the Vietnam People’s Army and the Soviet Union, took control in 1975.
Laos is now a socialist republic.
Laos is very important for providing electricity to its neighboring countries such as
Thailand, China, and Vietnam. The country’s economy is also growing because of the
growing need for its metals.
15
Malaysia
Official Name: Malaysia
Head of State: Mazan Zainal Abidin of Terengganu
Head of Government: Najib Razak
Capital City: Kuala Lumpur
Other major cities: Subang Jaya, Klang, Johor Bahru
Language(s): Malay, English, Chinese, Tamil
Currency: Ringgit (3.16 MYR = $1 USD)
Religion: Islam (61%), Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism
Land area: 329,847 𝑘𝑚2
Population: 28,334,135
Bordering countries: Thailand, Brunei, and Indonesia
Tourist Attractions: Islands groups of Pulau Langkawi and Palau Perhentian, night
market in Kota Bharu, and tea plantations in Cameron Highlands
16
Recent history:
Malaysia was a colony of Britain until 1957. The country became independent,
but there were still many challenges for them to manage. They had to decide which of
the territories would become a part of the new state of Malaysia. In 1961, Sabah,
Sarawak and Singapore joined Malaysia to make up a new federal union. In 1965,
Singapore peacefully decided to leave the union. Because Malaysia was growing,
Indonesia’s president decided to attack parts of Malaysia on the island of Borneo and
on the peninsula. Indonesia was unsuccessful though.
Malaysia also had problems because there were many people from different
races and cultures. It was difficult for the country to decide what a national identity
would be. The majority of the population was Malay and they had a lot of power in the
government. Malay was the national language and Islam became the national religion.
The Chinese were very powerful in business and trading and the Malay people were
suffering financially. The government (which was controlled by the United Malay
National Organization) passed a new law that would help the Malay people to have
better opportunities and give them an advantage over the Chinese. The Chinese were
not happy about the new situation, so they created a new government party to oppose
the Malay. In 1969, there were riots in Kuala Lumpur because they two parties were
still fighting. Malaysia was in a state of emergency for two years. This was a bad time
for the country and many people try to forget about it.
Malaysia has become very powerful in the last 20 years. The country has grown
very much and now has very good race relations. Many people think that the leader,
Prime Minister Mahathir bin Mohammed was very important in helping the country grow
between 1981 and 2003.
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Myanmar (Burma)
Official Name: Republic of the Union of
Myanmar
Head of State: President Thein Sein
Capital City: Nay Pyi Taw
Other major cities: Rangoon, Mandalay,
Mawlamyine
Language: Burmese
Currency: Kyat (6.14 MK = $1 USD)
Religion: Buddhism (89%), Christianity,
Islam
Land area: 676,578 𝑘𝑚2
Population: 60,280,000
Bordering countries: China, Laos,
Thailand, Bangladesh, and India
Tourist Attractions: Buddhist temples in
Bagan, Inle Lake, the old city of
Mandalay, trekking
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Recent history:
During the Anglo-Burmese War (1824-1826) and the years that followed, the
British East India Company took control of the country of Burma. In 1886, Burma
became a part of India, then is became a separate colony in 1937. During World War II,
Burma was a very important country for supplying goods to China. The Japanese
Empire came into the country by December 1941 and by May 1942 they were in control
of the country. Other countries came in to help Burma remove the Japanese at the end
of the war in 1945.
Burma became an independent country in 1948. In 1962, there were problems
with politics and the constitution was suspended. The group who took over wanted a
“Burmese way of socialism”. The problems continued for 25 years, which caused
economic problems for the country. In 1987 and 1988, the people of Burma began to
demand a change but the government would not let them speak up. In 1989, the
military government officially changed the name of the country to Myanmar.
During the 1990s, different government parties continued to fight and argue over
who would take control of the country. Many were protesting, but this caused some
people to be arrested or go into hiding. During this time, the people were repressed and
life was very difficult.
There are problems with disagreements between ethnic groups, bad finances,
bombings and corruption. The country has been fighting against drugs, a lack of
university education and the AIDS epidemic. The military has been known to attack
citizens who are protesting against the government, even shooting people in crowds
and arresting Buddhist monks. Many people have died, many are homeless, and others
have been held in prison because of their political beliefs. It is difficult for foreigners to
enter the country, even if they are trying to help development.
In October 2010, the country had the first elections in 20 years. The previous
leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, (who was detained because of her political beliefs) was
finally released. She asked the people to have a “peaceful revolution”. Now the country
is considered to be democratic. The new government began meeting in January 2011.
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The Philippines
Official Name:
The Republic of the Philippines
Head of State:
President Benigno S. Aquino III
Capital City: Manila
Other major cities: Quezon City,
Caloocan, Davoa City
Language(s): Filipino, English, Spanish
Currency: Peso (43 PHP = $1 USD)
Religion: Christianity (90%), Islam
Land area: 299,764 𝑘𝑚2
Population: 94,013,200
Bordering Countries: none
Tourist Attractions: Islands and
beaches, trekking in Banaue and
Rice Terraces, Cordillera
Mountains
20
Recent history:
During the 1800s, the Philippines were a Spanish colony. In 1898, the SpanishAmerican War began in Cuba and moved to the Philippines. The president claimed
independence from Spain at that time and created the First Philippine Republic.
Because of the war at that time, the islands were given from Spain to the United States.
The United States did not recognize the First Philippine Republic and wanted to keep
control, which caused the Philippine-American War. America was in control until World
War II (1941) when the Japanese Empire invaded the islands. This was a very difficult
time and many war crimes were committed. The allies (China, France, the United
States, the United Kingdom and others) came to the Philippines and stopped the
Japanese. About 1 million Philippine people died during this time.
The Philippines finally got its independence on July 4, 1946. They had many
problems at that time because they were trying to recover from the war. In 1965,
Ferdinand Marcos was elected president. He served a second term as president, but
was not allowed to serve a third. He declared martial law, which means that he took
control by himself without permission from the government. Because of the other
problems in the country at the time, he was able to keep control until 1983. There was
another election in 1986 and Marcos won, but many people were not happy about this
and he eventually had to leave the country. Corazon Aquino was recognized as
president.
After 1986, the country had problems with national debt, government corruption,
people who wanted to take control and problems with different religions. The economy
is now improving and the Philippines is growing and developing.
21
Singapore
Official Name: The Republic of Singapore
Head of State: President Tony Tan Keng Yam
Head of Government: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong
Capital City: Singapore
Other major cities: none
Language(s): English, Malay, Mandarin, Tamil
Currency: Singapore Dollar (1.3 SGD = $1 USD)
Religion: Buddhism (33%), Christianity, Islam, Taoism, Hinduism
Land area: 694 𝑘𝑚2
Population: 5,183,700
Bordering countries: Malaysia and Indonesia
Tourist Attractions: Asian Civilizations Museum, Little India, Singapore Zoo/ night safari
22
Recent history:
In 1819, Thomas Raffles arrived in Singapore to develop a trading post with the
British East India Company. Five years later, the entire island became a British colony.
When Raffles first arrived in Singapore, there were only 1,000 people there. After 50
years, there were more than 100,000 people because of immigration.
During World War II (1941-1945), Singapore was invaded by the Japanese
Empire. They did not want to give up their land, so they fought the Battle of Singapore.
The British were defeated and the Japanese took the land in February 1942. The Prime
Minister of Britain, Winston Churchill, called this “the worst disaster and largest
capitulation in British history.” There was also a massacre of ethnic Chinese in
Singapore, during which time 5,000 to 25,000 were killed. The Japanese were on the
island until the war ended in 1945 and Britain took back the land.
Singapore had their first elections in 1955. The leaders wanted complete control
but the British would not allow it. The new leader convinced Britain to let Singapore
control their own government, but Britain was in control of defense and foreign affairs.
In 1963, Singapore declared independence from Britain. They joined the new
Federation of Malaysia, but soon after decided to leave the group. In 1965, the country
became the Republic of Singapore.
In 1967, Singapore helped to create the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
It now has a very strong economy and is a very important country for trade, health care,
and education in the region.
23
Thailand
Official Name: The Kingdom of Thailand
Head of State: His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej
Head of Government: Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra
Capital City: Bangkok
Other major cities: Nakhon, Muneang, Tambon
Language: Thai
Currency: Baht (31 TBH = $1 USD)
Religion: Theravada Buddhism (95%), Islam, Christianity
Land area: 513,120 𝑘𝑚2
Population: 66,720,153
Bordering countries: Burma, Laos, Cambodia, and Malaysia
Tourist Attractions: Beaches and islands, trekking in Pai, Kao Sok National Park, Phuket
24
Recent history:
Thailand is the only country in Southeast Asia which has never been colonized
by another country. There have been many good rulers during the past 400 years
which have been strong enough to prevent the French or British from taking control of
the country. There has been some land that was traded back and forth between
Thailand and Cambodia, and they lost some of the land in the south to Malaysia.
In 1932, there was a revolution because the people wanted to have a constitution
and end the centuries of having an absolute monarchy. A few years later during World
War II, the Japanese Empire demanded to move their military across Thailand. This
caused fighting between the Japanese and Thai armies, but shortly after the fighting
stopped and the soldiers were allowed to cross the country. Because of this, Japan
helped Thailand get some land back from France and Britain. Thailand joined the war
against the United States and the United Kingdom in 1942 to help Japan. After the war,
Thailand once again became a friend of the United States.
The 1997 Constitution was the first to be written by people who were elected,
rather than people who were chosen by the leader. This set up a more honest system
of government and allows the people better representation. The 2001 election was
considered to be the most open and corruption free election in Thai history. Even
though things seemed to be going well, the military still came in and took control of the
government. There were many different leaders over the next several years because of
scandals and corruption.
In April 2010, there were protests by the “Red Shirt” group who opposed the
government. During this time, 87 people died and 1,378 were injured. The army was
shooting the crowds and using bombs.
Since the most recent election on July 3, 2011, the fighting has stopped within
the government. There has been some fighting though with their neighbors, Cambodia,
because both sides want to take control of Preah Vihear Temple on the border.
25
Vietnam
Official Name: The Socialist Republic of Vietnam
Head of State: President Nguyen Minh Triet
Head of Government: Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung
Capital City: Ha Noi
Other major cities: Ho Chi Minh, Hai Phong, Can Tho
Language: Vietnamese
Currency: Dong (21,000 VND = $1 USD)
Religion: Buddhism (85%), Christianity
Land area: 331,698 𝑘𝑚2
Population: 90,549,390
Bordering countries: China, Laos and Cambodia
Tourist Attractions: Halong Bay, beach at Nha Trang, historic town of Hoi An, Phong
Nha Cave
26
Recent history:
Vietnam was a part of French Indochina after 1985. The French made a lot of
political and cultural changes to the Vietnamese, including religion and trade. They
were in control until World War II (1941-1945) when the Japanese Empire invaded the
country. Life was very difficult during this time, and approximately 2 million Vietnamese
died because there was not enough food.
During the war, a communist group developed who wanted to get independence
from France and Japan. At the end of the war in 1945, the group (called Viet Minh) took
control of Hanoi and claimed independence. The French tried to return, but this time
the Vietnamese fought back. This was called the First Indochina War and it lasted until
1954. The Vietnamese communist leader, Ho Chi Minh, made negotiations with France
to stop the fighting, and the country became divided between the north and south.
Soon after, many northern Vietnamese moved south because they were afraid of the
communist government.
In the north, guerrilla fighters tried to take control of the government. Many
people were killed or did not have enough food. The south also had many problems.
The leaders there banned communism and supported the Catholic religion. Many
people died during this time, and the United States stopped supporting the South
Vietnam. Several military groups tried to take control, but they were all very short and
unstable. That allowed the North Vietnamese to move in. The United States military
began to help the south to keep the communists out. In 1965, there were 500,000
American soldiers in Vietnam. North Vietnam used a route called the Ho Chi Minh Trail
(which passed through Laos and Cambodia) to get to South Vietnam. The United
States bombed parts of Laos and Cambodia to stop the spread of communism. In
1973, America sent soldiers back home because so many were dying and the rest of
the world did not like the war and what was happening to Vietnam. Some fighting
continued, and the North Vietnamese took control of parts of the south. In 1976, the
north and south came together to become the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
In 1978, the Vietnamese military invaded Cambodia to stop the Khmer Rouge.
The Khmer Rouge had caused genocide in Cambodia but had also attacked many
villages on the Vietnam border. They stayed in Cambodia until 1989.
27
Africa
28
List of Countries in Africa
Algeria
Malawi
Angola
Mali
Benin
Mauritania
Botswana
Mauritius
Burkina Faso
Morocco
Burundi
Mozambique
Cameroon
Namibia
Cape Verde
Niger
Central African Republic
Nigeria
Chad
Rwanda
Comoros
Sao Tome and Principe
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Senegal
Republic of the Congo
Seychelles
Cote d’Ivoire
Sierra Leone
Djibouti
Somalia
Egypt
South Africa
Equatorial Guinea
South Sudan
Eritrea
Sudan
Ethiopia
Swaziland
Gabon
Tanzania
The Gambia
Togo
Ghana
Tunisia
Guinea
Uganda
Guinea- Bissau
Zambia
Kenya
Zimbabwe
Lesotho
Liberia
**Some countries may be listed in multiple
Libya
regions because they are at the border of two
Madagascar
geographical or cultural areas.**
29
General Information about Africa
Africa is the second largest continent with the second largest population, after Asia.
Most scientists believe that the earliest humans came from this area, particularly in
eastern Africa near Ethiopia. They have found evidence of human life from
approximately 200,000 years ago. During the 1800-1900s, many European countries
colonized parts of Africa. Since African countries have gained their independence,
there have been problems with instability, corruption, violence and authoritarian leaders.
Most countries in Africa now have a presidential system of government.
Population: 1,022,234,000 (about 14.72% of the world’s total population)
Area: 30,221,532 𝑘𝑚2 (20.4% of the world’s total land area)
Languages: There are approximately 2000 different languages spoken in Africa. It is
the most multilingual continent in the world.
Religions: Islam and Christianity are two major religions, but there are also many
traditional African religions.
Climate: Africa is situated on the equator and is the only continent to stretch from both
the northern temperate climate to the southern temperate climate. It is the hottest
continent on Earth. There are many different climates including tropical and subarctic
areas, jungles and deserts.
Largest Country: Algeria
Smallest Country: Seychelles
Economy: Even though Africa has many natural resources, it is still the poorest and
least developed continent in the world. This could be because of the many diseases
(including malaria and HIV/AIDS), government corruption and illiteracy that make it
difficult for people to improve their standard of living.
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31
List of Countries in Asia
Afghanistan
Maldives
Armenia
Mongolia
Azerbaijan
Myanmar
Bahrain
Nepal
Bangladesh
Oman
Bhutan
Pakistan
Brunei
The Philippines
Cambodia
Qatar
China
Russia
Cyprus
Saudi Arabia
Georgia
Singapore
India
Sri Lanka
Indonesia
Syria
Iran
Taiwan (territory of China)
Iraq
Tajikistan
Israel
Thailand
Japan
Timor Leste
Jordan
Turkey
Kazakhstan
Turkmenistan
Korea, North
United Arab Emirates
Korea, South
Uzbekistan
Kuwait
Vietnam
Kyrgyzstan
Yemen
Laos
Lebanon
**Some countries may be listed in multiple
Malaysia
regions because they are at the border of two
geographical or cultural areas.**
32
General Information about Asia
Asia is the world’s largest and most populated continent. Because Asia is so large,
there are many different cultures, ethnic groups, climates and historical records. There
are several mountain ranges on the continent, especially in the east. The top 10 tallest
mountains in the world are located in Asia.
Population: 3,879,000,000 (about 60% of the world’s total population)
Area: 44,579,000 𝑘𝑚2 (30% of the world’s total land area)
Languages: Most countries in Asia have more than one language. For example,
Indonesia has approximately 600 spoken languages and there are about 800 in India.
Religions: There are many different religions and philosophical beliefs in Asia.
Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam and Christianity are popular religions. Jainism, Taoism,
Confucianism and Sikhism and Animism are also practiced in some regions.
Climate: Because Asia is so large, there are many different climates. Some of the
hottest and coldest places in the world are located there. The north and the mountains
in the east are very cold. The south is tropical and there are monsoons during much of
the year.
Largest Country: Russia
Smallest Country: Maldives
Economy: Asia has the second largest gross domestic product (GDP) after Europe.
The largest economies are in China, Japan, India, South Korea and Indonesia. There
are many mineral-rich countries in western Asia. East and Southeast Asia are
important for manufacturing.
33
Antarctica
34
General Information about Antarctica
Antarctica is the world’s southernmost continent, located around the South Pole. About
98% of the continent is covered in a layer of ice that is about 1.6 kilometers thick. There
are no people who live in Antarctica permanently, only researchers and scientists who
go there to study. Only plants and animals which are able to survive in the extremely
cold weather live on the continent.
Population: There are no permanent residents, but approximately 1,000 people are
there doing research in the winter and 5,000 in the summer. Most people only stay
there for 1 year.
Area: 14,000,000 𝑘𝑚2 (the world’s 5th largest continent)
Languages: English, French, Russian, Norwegian and Spanish speaking countries have
large research stations in Antarctica.
Religions: There is a Christian church which was built by the Russian explorers. The
continent has no religion and people are free to practice their own religion.
Climate: This is the coldest, driest and windiest continent. It is considered to be a
desert because it has very little rainfall. The temperature has reached -89 degrees
Celsius.
Economy: There is very small economy in Antarctica because many countries have
agreed to protect the environment and to not fight over the resources. There are few
resources and they would be difficult to collect because of the cold temperature. The
main industry is fishing.
35
Australia and Oceania
36
List of Countries in Australia and Oceania
Australia
Federated States of
East Timor
Micronesia
Samoa
Solomon Islands
Fiji
Nauru
Tonga
Kiribati
New Zealand
Tuvalu
Marshall Islands
Palau
Vanuatu
Papua New Guinea
General Information about Australia and Oceania
Oceania is a group of approximately 30,000 islands in the Pacific Ocean, including
Australia and New Zealand.
Population: 35,670,000
Area: 8,563,716 𝑘𝑚2
Languages: English is most common, but there 28 other official languages on the
islands.
Religions: Christianity is the largest religion in the area, but some believe in animism or
claim to have no religion.
Climate: Much of Oceania is tropical or subtropical. The weather varies in Australia, but
the seasons are opposite from America or Europe because the whole continent is south
of the equator.
Largest Country: Australia
Economy: Australia and New Zealand have very strong economies and many of the
small islands depend on trade with these countries. Many people in this region work in
the tourism industry.
37
Europe
38
List of Countries in Europe
Albania
Macedonia
Andorra
Malta
Armenia
Moldova
Austria
Monaco
Belarus
Montenegro
Belgium
Netherlands
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Norway
Bulgaria
Poland
Croatia
Portugal
Cyprus
Romania
Czech Republic
Russia
Denmark
San Marino
Estonia
Serbia
Finland
Slovakia
France
Slovenia
Georgia
Spain
Germany
Sweden
Greece
Switzerland
Hungary
Turkey
Iceland
Ukraine
Ireland
United Kingdom (England,
Italy
Scotland, Wales, Northern
Kosovo
Ireland)
Latvia
Vatican City
Liechenstein
Lithuania
**Some countries may be listed in multiple
Luxembourg
regions because they are at the border of two
geographical or cultural areas.**
39
General Information about Europe
Europe is the birthplace of “Western” culture. This region has been very important for
international affairs and economy for centuries. It was one of the leaders of colonialism
during the 1700-1900s, when many countries in Europe took control of weaker countries
on other continents (many in Africa and Asia). The leading political organization in
Europe is the European Union, which includes 27 countries. These members are able
to trade, travel and share a common currency, the euro.
Population: 731,000,000
Area: 10,180,000 𝑘𝑚2
Languages: Many of the European languages are called “Romance” languages, which
come from the Latin languages. Another group of languages is called “Germanic” and
they have many similarities amongst themselves. The third group is known as “Slavic”.
There are about 230 languages spoken in Europe.
Religions: The largest religion is Christianity, followed by Islam. Others include Judaism
and Hinduism. Many people in Europe claim to have no religion or they are not
practicing.
Climate: Europe is mostly in the temperate climate zone. There are 4 seasons with
different temperatures depending on the country. There is a wind that blows across
parts of Europe which causes the weather to be a little bit warmer than other countries
at the same latitude.(for example, Italy is a little bit warmer than New York).
Largest Country: Russia
Smallest Country: Vatican City
Economy: Europe is considered to have the largest economy and be the richest of all
the continents. Germany, the United Kingdom, Russia, France and Italy are some of
the world’s strongest economies.
40
41
List of Countries in the Middle East and North Africa
The Middle East:
North Africa:
Afghanistan
Algeria
Azerbaijan
Egypt
Bahrain
Libya
Iran
Morocco
Iraq
Somalia
Jordan
Tunisia
Israel
Kuwait
**Some countries may be listed in multiple
regions because they are at the border of two
Lebanon
geographical or cultural areas.**
Oman
Pakistan
Palestinian Territories
Qatar
Saudi Arabia
Sudan
Syria
Turkey
United Arab Emirates
Yemen
42
General Information about the Middle East and North Africa
This region stretches from the northern part of Africa and across to western Asia.
During ancient times, this area was a major center for world affairs. Nowadays, the
Middle East is an economically, politically, culturally and religiously sensitive region.
There are many different options about where the borders are for this area and what
exactly the Middle East is.
Population and Area: It is very difficult to determine a population or area for this region
because there are various ideas about which countries are included.
Languages: Arabic, Persian and Turkish are the 3 most common languages. There are
many other spoken by the different ethnic groups. English and French are common
second languages.
Religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam are believed to have begun in this area.
Religion has been the cause of a lot of the instability in this area for centuries.
Climate: This area is mostly hot and arid and very dry. There are many deserts
covering the region
Largest Country: Algeria
Smallest Country: Bahrain
Economy: Many countries around the Persian Gulf have large amounts of crude oil,
which help to bring money to the region. Countries in this part of the world are either
very wealthy (Qatar or Saudi Arabia) or very poor (such as Yemen). Tourism is
undeveloped in the region.
43
North America, Central America and the Caribbean
44
List of Countries in North America, Central America and the
Caribbean
North America:
Cuba
Canada
Dominica
Mexico
Dominican Republic
The United States of America
Grenada
Haiti
Central America:
Jamaica
Belize
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Costa Rica
Saint Lucia
El Salvador
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Guatemala
Trinidad and Tobago
Honduras
Nicaragua
**Some countries may be listed in multiple
regions because they are at the border of two
Panama
geographical or cultural areas.**
The Caribbean:
Antigua and Barbados
Bahamas
Barbados
45
General Information about North America, Central America and
the Caribbean
North America is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and the Pacific Ocean to
the west. Central America stretches between Mexico and Columbia (South America).
The Caribbean island group is located in the Caribbean Sea. When many people say
America, they are thinking about the United States. Actually any country in North,
Central or South America would be an American.
Population: 529 million (4th largest following Asia, Africa and Europe)
Area: 24,709,000 (about 16.5% of the world’s total land area)
Languages: English and Spanish are the most common, but French is also spoken.
Many of the islands have their own indigenous languages.
Religions: Christianity is the most popular religion in the region. The highest percentage
of Christianity is in Mexico (97%). Many fewer people claim to have no religion, practice
Islam, Judaism, or Buddhism.
Climate: Because the region begins very far north and reaches to the area around the
equator, there are many different climates. Many places are cool and humid.
Largest Country: Canada
Smallest Country: Saint Kitts and Nevis
Economy: Canada and the United States are the wealthiest and most developed
countries in the region. There is a lot of diversity between the economies of different
countries. Some are developed, while others have little money and a poor standard of
living.
46
47
List of Countries in South America
Argentina
Suriname
Bolivia
Uruguay
Brazil
Venezuela
Chile
Colombia
**Some countries may be listed in multiple
regions because they are at the border of two
Ecuador
geographical or cultural areas.**
Guyana
Paraguay
Peru
48
General Information about South America
South America is a continent in the southern hemisphere, located between the Atlantic
and Pacific Oceans. Music and dancing are very popular in this region. Many people
also enjoy watching and playing sports, especially football (American soccer).
Population: 385,724,554
Area: 17,840,000 𝑘𝑚2
Languages: Spanish and Portuguese are the two most common languages. More
countries have Spanish as an official language, put Brazil is large and has a very large
population of Portuguese speakers. Dutch, English and French are less common.
Religions: Christianity is the most common religion in South America. Islam, Hinduism,
Judaism and some local religions may also be practiced.
Climate: Most of the continent is wet and hot all year. There are mountains in the
southern part of the continent and the weather can be very cold. There is also a desert,
where weather can be very hot and dry.
Largest Country: Brazil
Smallest Country: Suriname
Economy: Many economies have grown in the last 20 years. Some of the biggest
exports are natural resources. Tourism is also very important. There is a huge
difference between people who have money and those who don’t. Several countries in
South America are known for having slums and difficult living conditions.
49
References
About.com
Provides general information, maps, statistics and quizzes for a wide variety of topics.
http://geography.about.com/
ASEAN- Association of Southeast Asian Nations
Provides information about the member states, structure and current news regarding the
organization.
http://www.aseansec.org/index2008.html
The British Broadcasting Company
Offers news, sports, weather and travel information from around the world.
http://www.bbc.com
The CIA World Factbook
The United States Central Intelligence Agency provides up-to-date information about
history, people, governments, etc from around the world.
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/index.html
Fact Monster
Offers educational resources for children, such as dictionaries, encyclopedias, games
and homework help.
http://www.factmonster.com/
Famous Wonders
Provides list of top cities and tourists attractions in the world, including lists of wonders in
each region of the world.
http://famouswonders.com/
Forbes
Provides business, financial and technological information, as well as news about the
world’s top business leaders.
http://www.forbes.com/
Fun-Interesting Facts
Has funny, cool, weird, stupid, and random facts about many different topics.
http://www.fun-interesting-facts.com/
Geographia
Offers information and news articles about countries and regions of the world.
http://www.geographia.com/
50
Infoplease
Has calendars, historical articles and many research materials, including dictionaries,
encyclopedias and quizzes.
http://www.infoplease.com/
The History Channel
Provides information about world history, people and events with articles, videos and
television shows.
http://www.history.com/
Lonely Planet
A travel site for people who are planning a vacation, want to research countries, or offer
information to help other travelers.
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/
Time
Provides information about important people, business, science, technology, politics and
other topics from around the world.
http://www.time.com/time/
The Travel Channel
Offers articles, pictures and videos about vacation destinations and helps tourist to make
travel plans.
http://www.travelchannel.com/
Unimaps
Has information about maps and flags from around the world.
http://www.unimaps.com/
The United Nations
The official site of the organization provides information about member countries,
organization news and policies, human rights and development.
http://www.un.org/en/
Wikipedia
A website used to research any topic, articles can be written and shared by anyone so
this might not always be accurate, but a good source for quick information.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page
51
Provinces of Cambodia
Banteay MeanchayPopulation: 678,033
Area: 6,679 𝑘𝑚2
BattambangPopulation: 1,036,523
Area: 11,702 𝑘𝑚2
Kampong ChamPopulation: 1,680,694
Area: 9,799 𝑘𝑚2
Kampong ChhnangPopulation: 472,616
Area: 5,521 𝑘𝑚2
Kampong SomPopulation: 199,902
Area: 868 𝑘𝑚2
Kampong SpeuPopulation: 716,517
Area: 7,017 𝑘𝑚2
Kampong ThomPopulation: 708,398
Area: 13,814 𝑘𝑚2
KampotPopulation: 585,110
Area: 4,873 𝑘𝑚2
KandalPopulation: 1,265,805
Area: 3,568 𝑘𝑚2
KepPopulation: 40,208
Area: 336 𝑘𝑚2
Koh KongPopulation: 139,722
Area: 11,160 𝑘𝑚2
KratiePopulation: 318,523
Area: 11,094 𝑘𝑚2
MondulkiriPopulation: 60,811
Area: 14,288 𝑘𝑚2
Oddar MeanchayPopulation: 185,443
Area: 6,158 𝑘𝑚2
PailinPopulation: 70,482
Area: 803 𝑘𝑚2
Preah VihearPopulation: 170,852
Area: 13,788 𝑘𝑚2
Prey VengPopulation: 947,357
Area: 4,883 𝑘𝑚2
PursatPopulation: 397,107
Area: 12,692 𝑘𝑚2
RatanakiriPopulation: 149,997
Area: 10,782 𝑘𝑚2
Siem ReapPopulation: 896,309
Area: 10,299 𝑘𝑚2
Stung TrengPopulation: 111,734
Area: 11,092 𝑘𝑚2
Svay RiengPopulation: 482,785
Area: 2,966 𝑘𝑚2
TakeoPopulation: 843,931
Area: 3,563 𝑘𝑚2
52
Members of the United Nations
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Afghanistan
Albania
Algeria
Andorra
Angola
Antigua and
Barbuda
Argentina
Armenia
Australia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Bahamas
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Barbados
Belarus
Belgium
Belize
Benin
Bhutan
Bolivia
Bosnia and
Herzegovina
Botswana
Brazil
Brunei Darussalam
Bulgaria
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cambodia
Cameroon
Canada
Cape Verde
Central African
Republic
Chad
Chile
China
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Columbia
Comoros
Congo
Costa Rica
Cote D’Ivoire
Croatia
Cuba
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Democratic People’s
Republic of Korea
Democratic
Republic of the
Congo
Denmark
Djibouti
Dominica
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Estonia
Ethiopia
Fiji
Finland
France
Gabon
Gambia
Georgia
Germany
Ghana
Greece
Grenada
Guatemala
Guinea
Guinea Bissau
Guyana
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Haiti
Honduras
Hungary
Iceland
India
Indonesia
Iran (Islamic
Republic of)
Iraq
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kiribati
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
Lao People’s
Democratic
Republic
Latvia
Lebanon
Lesotho
Liberia
Libya
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Madagascar
Malawi
Malaysia
Maldives
Mali
Malta
Marshall Islands
Mauritania
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Mauritius
Mexico
Micronesia
(Federated States
of)
Monaco
Mongolia
Montenegro
Morocco
Mozambique
Myanmar
Namibia
Nauru
Nepal
Netherlands
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Niger
Nigeria
Norway
Oman
Pakistan
Palau
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Qatar
Republic of Korea
Republic of Moldova
Romania
Russian Federation
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Rwanda
Saint Kitts and
Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Vincent and
the Grenadines
Samoa
San Marino
Sao Tome and
Principe
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Serbia
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
Solomon Islands
Somalia
South Africa
South Sudan
Spain
Sri Lanka
Sudan
Suriname
Swaziland
Sweden
Switzerland
Syrian Arab
Republic
Tajikistan
Thailand
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The Former
Yugoslav Republic
of Macedonia
Timor-Leste
Togo
Tonga
Trinidad and
Tobago
Tunisia
Turkey
Turkmenistan
Tuvalu
Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab
Emirates
United Kingdom of
Great Britain and
Northern Ireland
United Republic of
Tanzania
United States of
America
Uruguay
Uzbekistan
Vanuatu
Venezuela
(Bolivarian Republic
of)
Vietnam
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe
54
5 Most Popular Countries for Tourism
1. France
Capital City: Paris
Annual Visitors: 76.8 million
3. China
Capital City: Beijing
Annual Visitors: 55.67 million
4. Spain
Capital City: Madrid
Annual Visitors: 52.68 million
2. The United States of America
Capital City: Washington, D.C.
Annual Visitors: 59.75 million
5. Italy
Capital City: Rome
Annual Visitors: 43.63 million
55
10 Richest People in the World
1. Carlos Slim Helu and family
Nationality: Mexican
Age: 71 years old
Net worth: $74 billion
Source of income: telecommunication
2. Bill Gates
Nationality: American
Age: 56 years old
Net worth: $56 billion
Source of income: Microsoft
3. Warren Buffet
Nationality: American
Age: 81 years old
Net worth: $50 billion
Source of income: Berkshire Hathaway
company, insurance
4. Bernard Arnault
Nationality: French
Age: 62 years old
Net worth: $41 billion
Source of income: Louis Vuitton (LVMH)
5. Larry Ellison
Nationality: American
Age: 67 years old
Net worth: $39.5 billion
Source of income: Oracle, software
56
10 Richest People in the World
6. Lakshmi Mittal
Nationality: Indian
Age: 61 years old
Net worth: $31.1 billion
Source of income: Steel
7. Amancio Ortega
Nationality: Spanish
Age: 75 years old
Net worth: $31 billion
Source of income: Zara stores
8. Eike Batista
Nationality: Brazilian
Age: 55 years old
Net worth: $30 billion
Source of income: mining, oil
9. Mukesh Ambani
Nationality: Indian
Age: 54 years old
Net worth: $27 billion
Source of income: petrochemicals, oil
and gas
10. Christy Walton and family
Nationality: American
Age: 57 years old
Net worth: $26.5 billion
Source of income: Walmart stores
57
7 Natural Wonders of the World
These wonders of the world have been created by nature, and are amazing to see.
Many people visit these sites every year admire their beauty and the power of nature. It
is important to protect these sites so that future generations can also enjoy them.
The Grand Canyon
Arizona, United States
Description: The canyon is 446km long,
6-29km wide and over 1.83 km deep. It
was created by the Colorado River.
Scientists estimate that this took 2 billion
years for the rock to be carved. People
can enjoy hiking, rafting, and running
there.
The Great Barrier Reef
Queensland, Australia
Description: This is the world’s largest
coral reef system. It is made up of about
3,000 individual reefs and 900 islands
that cover 554,260 𝑘𝑚2. The reef can be
seen from space and is sometimes
called the largest organism in the world.
The Harbor of Rio De Janeiro
Brazil, South America
Description: This is one of the most
beautiful natural harbors. There are
mountains located near the city and a
world famous statue of Jesus
overlooking the city of Rio.
Mount Everest
Nepal/China, Asia
Description: Everest is the tallest
mountain in the world. It is about 8,848
meters above sea level. Many people
have tried to climb up the mountain, but
200 people have died. In 1953, Edmund
Hillary (from New Zealand) was the first
person to reach the top.
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7 Natural Wonders of the World
Auroras (northern and southern)
Alaska/Canada and Antarctica
Description: Auroras are sometimes
called the northern and southern lights.
These can be seen at the poles, usually
at night. They can be seen best during
certain times during the year. Some
people call these “the dance of the
spirits”.
Victoria Falls
Zambia/Zimbabwe, Southern Africa
Description: This waterfall is 108 meters
tall and 1.7 km wide. It is located on the
Zambezi River. The most water flows
during the wet season, from October to
April. This is one of the major tourist
attractions in southern Africa.
Paracutin Volcano
Mexico, North America
Description: This cone shaped volcano
was born in 1943 and continued to grow
from the ash and lava that it created. It
had eruptions during 9 years, but it is
impossible for this volcano to ever have
another eruption.
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