World
World as the 1991 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 38 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.
No fields match. Try a shorter word.
Geography
10 fieldsCoastline
- 359,000 km Contiguous zone: generally 24 nm, but varies from 4 nm to 25 nm;
- Continental shelf: generally 200 nm, but some are 200 meters in depth;
- Exclusive fishing zone: most are 200 nm, but varies from 3 nm to 200 nm;
- Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;
- only the Maldives varies from 35-310 nm;
- Territorial sea: generally 12 nm, but varies from 3 nm to 50 nm;
- note--32 nations and miscellaneous areas are landlocked and include
Disputes
major international land boundary disputes--Argentina-Uruguay, Bangladesh-India, Brazil-Paraguay, Brazil-Uruguay, Cambodia-Vietnam, Chad-Libya, China-India, China-USSR, Ecuador-Peru, Egypt-Sudan, El Salvador-Honduras, Ethiopia-Somalia, French Guiana-Suriname, Guyana-Suriname, Guyana-Venezuela, Israel-Jordan, Israel-Syria, North Korea-South Korea, Oman-UAE, Oman-Yemen, Qatar-UAE, Saudi Arabia-Yemen
Climate
two large areas of polar climates separated by two rather narrow temperate zones from a wide equatorial band of tropical to subtropical climates
Terrain
- highest elevation is Mt. Everest at 8,848 meters and lowest depression is the Dead Sea at 392 meters below sea level;
- greatest ocean depth is the Marianas Trench at 10,924 meters
Natural resources
the oceans represent the last major frontier for the discovery and development of natural resources
Land use
- arable land 10%;
- permanent crops 1%;
- meadows and pastures 24%;
- forest and woodland 31%;
- other 34%;
- includes irrigated 1.6%
Environment
large areas subject to severe weather (tropical cyclones), natural disasters (earthquakes, landslides, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions), overpopulation, industrial disasters, pollution (air, water, acid rain, toxic substances), loss of vegetation (overgrazing, deforestation, desertification), loss of wildlife resources, soil degradation, soil depletion, erosion
People
9 fieldsPer 1,000 population(1991)
Government
3 fieldsLegal system
varies among each of the entities; 162 are parties to the United Nations International Court of Justice (ICJ) or World Court
Economy
In 1990 the world economy grew at an estimated 1.0%, considerably lower than the estimated 3.0% for 1989 and the 3.4% for 1988.
12 fieldsOverview
In 1990 the world economy grew at an estimated 1.0%, considerably lower than the estimated 3.0% for 1989 and the 3.4% for 1988. The technologically advanced areas--North America, Japan, and Western Europe--together account for 67% of the gross world product (GWP) of $20.9 trillion;
these developed areas grew in the aggregate at 2.3% in 1990. In contrast, output in the USSR and Eastern Europe fell an average of 5.2%; these countries account for 15% of GWP. Experience in the developing countries continued mixed, with the newly industrializing economies generally maintaining their rapid growth, and many others struggling with debt, rampant inflation, and inadequate investment.
This third group contributed 18% of GWP and grew on average 2.3% in 1990; output in this group is probably understated because of lack of data and the method of calculation used. The year 1990 witnessed continued political and economic upheavals in the USSR and Eastern Europe, which are in between systems, lacking both the rough discipline of the command economy and the institutions of the market economy.
As for prospects in the 1990s, the addition of nearly 100 million people a year to an already overcrowded globe will exacerbate the problems of pollution, desertification, underemployment, epidemics, and famine.
Exports
- $3.33 trillion (f.o.b., 1990 est.);
- commodities--the whole range of industrial and agricultural goods and services;
- partners--in value, 74% of exports from industrial countries
Imports
- $3.45 trillion (c.i.f., 1990 est.);
- commodities--the whole range of industrial and agricultural goods and services;
- partners--in value, about 75% of imports by the industrial countries
Agriculture
cereals (wheat, maize, rice), sugar, livestock products, tropical crops, fruit, vegetables, fish
Communications
1 fieldPorts
Mina al Ahmadi (Kuwait), Chiba, Houston, Kawasaki, Kobe, Marseille, New Orleans, New York, Rotterdam, Yokohama
Defense Forces
Ground, maritime, and air forces at all levels of technology
3 fieldsCite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “World.” The World Factbook 1991. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/world/1991.