Profiles various countries on the planet. This work combines social and developmental analysis with historical and political content. Drawing on United Nations data, it includes the facts, history, political and economic analysis. It also contains tables of factual information on issues such as debt, communications, corruption, and trade.

The key features include: up-to-date information plus a complete history for every country of the world, including Montenegro, Palestine, Somaliland, West Papua and Western Sahara; clear, easy-to-use two-color layout; In Focus box showing at-a-glance information on each country's human rights, indigenous peoples, health, education and environment; 25 new reports on topical global issues such as green economics, energy scenarios, the gender gap, Latin American politics and security; the World in Figures - a comprehensive section of data and statistics on child health, literacy, maternal mortality, land use, public expenditure and other issues; and, tables of factual information on key issues such as debt, communications, corruption and trade, plus a unique guide to Sexual Minorities and the Law.

How to read The World Guide. 4 - 14
Preface. 15 Roberto Bissio.
Staff / Acknowledgements. 16
section I:
Global issues. 17 - 59
Hopes and fears
The world according to...
60
The World Bank, UN Development Program and UNICEF
Non-governmental organizations/campaigns. 61 - 62
section II:
Countries. 65 - 584
History, society, politics, environment and main issues country by country.
A basic bibliography. 585 - 586
Index. 587 - 592
section III:
The whole world in figures. 593 - 623
All the countries
their main statistics.