examples:
Sri Lanka
a republic on the island of Ceylon; became independent of the United Kingdom in 1948
Kuba
a communist state in the Caribbean on the island of Cuba
Haiti
a republic in the West Indies on the western part of the island of Hispaniola; achieved independence from France in 1804; the poorest and most illiterate nation in the western hemisphere
Dominikanische Republik
a republic in the West Indies; located on the eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola
Fidschiinseln
an independent state within the British Commonwealth located on the Fiji Islands
Israel
Jewish republic in southwestern Asia at eastern end of Mediterranean; formerly part of Palestine
Australien
a nation occupying the whole of the Australian continent; Aboriginal tribes are thought to have migrated from southeastern Asia 20,000 years ago; first Europeans were British convicts sent there as a penal colony
Burkina Faso
a desperately poor landlocked country in western Africa; was formerly Upper Volta under French rule but gained independence in 1960
Indonesien
a republic in southeastern Asia on an archipelago including more than 13,000 islands; achieved independence from the Netherlands in 1945; the principal oil producer in the Far East and Pacific regions
Neuseeland
an independent country within the British Commonwealth; achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1907; known for sheep and spectacular scenery
Sowjetunion
a former communist country in eastern Europe and northern Asia; established in 1922; included Russia and 14 other soviet socialist republics (Ukraine and Byelorussia and others); officially dissolved 31 December 1991
Russland
a federation in northeastern Europe and northern Asia; formerly Soviet Russia; since 1991 an independent state
Ukraine
a republic in southeastern Europe; formerly a European soviet; the center of the original Russian state which came into existence in the ninth century
Türkei
a Eurasian republic in Asia Minor and the Balkans; on the collapse of the Ottoman Empire in 1918, the Young Turks, led by Kemal Ataturk, established a republic in 1923
Südwestafrika
a republic in southwestern Africa on the south Atlantic coast (formerly called South West Africa); achieved independence from South Africa in 1990; the greater part of Namibia forms part of the high Namibian plateau of South Africa
Afghanistan
a mountainous landlocked country in central Asia; bordered by Iran to the west and Russia to the north and Pakistan to the east and south
Algerien
a republic in northwestern Africa on the Mediterranean Sea with a population that is predominantly Sunni Muslim; colonized by France in the 19th century but gained autonomy in the early 1960s
Angola
a republic in southwestern Africa on the Atlantic Ocean; achieved independence from Portugal in 1975 and was the scene of civil war until 1990
Argentinien
a republic in southern South America; second largest country in South America
Burma
a mountainous republic in southeastern Asia on the Bay of Bengal
Burundi
a landlocked republic in east central Africa on the northeastern shore of Lake Tanganyika
Kambodscha
a nation in southeastern Asia; was part of Indochina under French rule until 1946
Kamerun
a republic on the western coast of central Africa; was under French and British control until 1960
Zentralafrika
a landlocked country in central Africa; formerly under French control; became independent in 1960
Tschad
a landlocked desert republic in north-central Africa; was under French control until 1960
Chile
a republic in southern South America on the western slopes of the Andes on the south Pacific coast
China
a communist nation that covers a vast territory in eastern Asia; the most populous country in the world
Kolumbien
a republic in northwestern South America with a coastline on the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea; achieved independence from Spain in 1821 under the leadership of Simon Bolivar; Spanish is the official language
Kongo
a republic in central Africa; achieved independence from Belgium in 1960
Elfenbeinküste
a republic in western Africa on the Gulf of Guinea; one of the most prosperous and politically stable countries in Africa
Mexiko
a republic in southern North America; became independent from Spain in 1810
Benin
a country on western coast of Africa; formerly under French control
Togo
a republic on the western coast of Africa on the Gulf of Guinea; formerly under French control
Deutschland
a republic in central Europe; split into East Germany and West Germany after World War II and reunited in 1990
Ecuador
a republic in northwestern South America; became independent from Spain in 1822; the landscape is dominated by the Andes
Äthiopien
Ethiopia is a republic in northeastern Africa on the Red Sea; formerly called Abyssinia
Finnland
republic in northern Europe; achieved independence from Russia in 1917
Italien
a republic in southern Europe on the Italian Peninsula; was the core of the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire between the 4th century BC and the 5th century AD
Rumänien
a republic in southeastern Europe with a short coastline on the Black Sea
Ruanda
a landlocked republic in central Africa; formerly a German colony
Kroatien
a republic in the western Balkans in south-central Europe in the eastern Adriatic coastal area; formerly part of the Habsburg monarchy and Yugoslavia; became independent in 1991
Jugoslawien
a mountainous republic in southeastern Europe bordering on the Adriatic Sea; formed from two of the six republics that made up Yugoslavia until 1992; Serbia and Montenegro were known as the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia until 2003 when they adopted the name of the Union of Serbia and Montenegro
Slowenien
a mountainous republic in central Europe; formerly part of the Habsburg monarchy and Yugoslavia; achieved independence in 1991
Kanada
a nation in northern North America; the French were the first Europeans to settle in mainland Canada
Österreich
a mountainous republic in central Europe; under the Habsburgs (1278-1918) Austria maintained control of the Holy Roman Empire and was a leader in European politics until the 19th century
Bangladesh
a Muslim republic in southern Asia bordered by India to the north and west and east and the Bay of Bengal to the south; formerly part of India and then part of Pakistan; it achieved independence in 1971
Belgien
a monarchy in northwestern Europe; headquarters for the European Union and for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization
Bhutan
a landlocked principality in the Himalayas to the northeast of India
Botswana
a landlocked republic in south-central Africa that became independent from British control in the 1960s
Bolivien
a landlocked republic in central South America; Simon Bolivar founded Bolivia in 1825 after winning independence from Spain
Brasilien
the largest Latin American country and the largest Portuguese speaking country in the world; located in the central and northeastern part of South America; world's leading coffee exporter
Großbritannien
a monarchy in northwestern Europe occupying most of the British Isles; divided into England and Scotland and Wales and Northern Ireland; `Great Britain' is often used loosely to refer to the United Kingdom
England
a division of the United Kingdom
Irland
a republic consisting of 26 of 32 counties comprising the island of Ireland; achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1921
Schottland
one of the four countries that make up the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; located on the northern part of the island of Great Britain; famous for bagpipes and plaids and kilts
Ägypten
a republic in northeastern Africa known as the United Arab Republic until 1971; site of an ancient civilization that flourished from 2600 to 30 BC
Indien
a republic in the Asian subcontinent in southern Asia; second most populous country in the world; achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1947
Nepal
a small landlocked Asian country high in the Himalayas between India and China
Tibet
an autonomous region of the Peoples Republic of China; located in the Himalayas
Iran
a theocratic Islamic republic in the Middle East in western Asia; Iran was the core of the ancient empire that was known as Persia until 1935; rich in oil
Irak
a republic in the Middle East in western Asia; the ancient civilization of Mesopotamia was in the area now known as Iraq
Japan
a constitutional monarchy occupying the Japanese Archipelago; a world leader in electronics and automobile manufacture and ship building
Kenia
a republic in eastern Africa; achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1963; major archeological discoveries have been made in the Great Rift Valley in Kenya
Kuwait
an Arab kingdom in Asia on the northwestern coast of the Persian Gulf; a major source of petroleum
Frankreich
a republic in western Europe; the largest country wholly in Europe
Gabun
a republic on the west coast of Africa
Ghana
a republic in West Africa on the Gulf of Guinea
Guinea
a republic in western Africa on the Atlantic; formerly a French colony; achieved independence from France in 1958
Guyana
a republic in northeastern South America; formerly part of the British Empire, but it achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1966
Niederlande
a constitutional monarchy in western Europe on the North Sea; half the country lies below sea level
Ungarn
a republic in central Europe
Island
an island republic on the island of Iceland; became independent of Denmark in 1944
Nordkorea
a communist country in the northern half of the Korean Peninsula; established in 1948
Südkorea
a republic in the southern half of the Korean Peninsula; established in 1948
Laos
a mountainous landlocked communist state in southeastern Asia; achieved independence from France in 1949
Libanon
an Asian republic at east end of Mediterranean
Lesotho
a landlocked constitutional monarchy in southern Africa; achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1966
Libyen
a military dictatorship in northern Africa on the Mediterranean; consists almost entirely of desert; a major exporter of petroleum
Liechtenstein
a small landlocked principality (constitutional monarchy) in central Europe located in the Alps between Austria and Switzerland
Luxemburg
a grand duchy (a constitutional monarchy) landlocked in northwestern Europe between France and Belgium and Germany; an international financial center
Madagaskar
a republic on the island of Madagascar; achieved independence from France in 1960
Malaysia
a constitutional monarchy in southeastern Asia on Borneo and the Malay Peninsula; achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1957
Mali
a landlocked republic in northwestern Africa; achieved independence from France in 1960; Mali was a center of West African civilization for more than 4,000 years
Mauretanien
a country in northwestern Africa with a provisional military government; achieved independence from France in 1960; largely western Sahara Desert
Monacco
a constitutional monarchy in a tiny enclave on the French Riviera
Mongolei
a landlocked socialist republic in central Asia
Marokko
a kingdom (constitutional monarchy) in northwestern Africa with a largely Muslim population; achieved independence from France in 1956
Mosambik
a republic on the southeastern coast of Africa on the Mozambique Channel; became independent from Portugal in 1975
Niger
a landlocked republic in West Africa; gained independence from France in 1960; most of the country is dominated by the Sahara Desert
Nigeria
a republic in West Africa on the Gulf of Guinea; gained independence from Britain in 1960; most populous African country
Oman
a strategically located monarchy on the southern and eastern coasts of the Arabian Peninsula; the economy is dominated by oil
Pakistan
a Muslim republic that occupies the heartland of ancient south Asian civilization in the Indus River valley; formerly part of India; achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1947
Paraguay
a landlocked republic in south central South America; achieved independence from Spain in 1811
Peru
a republic in western South America; achieved independence from Spain in 1821; was the heart of the Inca empire from the 12th to 16th centuries
Polen
a republic in central Europe; the invasion of Poland by Germany in 1939 started World War II
Portugal
a republic in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula; Portuguese explorers and colonists in the 15th and 16th centuries created a vast overseas empire (including Brazil)
Saudi-Arabien
an absolute monarchy occupying most of the Arabian Peninsula in southwest Asia; vast oil reserves dominate the economy
Senegal
a republic in northwestern Africa on the coast of the Atlantic; formerly a French colony but achieved independence in 1960
Sierra Leone
a republic in West Africa; achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1961
Singapur
a country in southeastern Asia on the island of Singapore; achieved independence from Malaysia in 1965
Somalia
a republic in extreme eastern Africa on the Somali peninsula; subject to tribal warfare
Südafrika
a republic at the southernmost part of Africa; achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1910; first European settlers were Dutch (known as Boers)
Andorra
a small republic in the eastern Pyrenees between Spain and France
Spanien
a parliamentary monarchy in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula; a former colonial power
Sudan
a republic in northeastern Africa on the Red Sea; achieved independence from Egypt and the United Kingdom in 1956
Surinam
a republic in northeastern South America on the Atlantic; achieved independence from the Netherlands in 1975
Swasiland
a landlocked monarchy in southeastern Africa; member of the commonwealth that achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1968
Schweiz
a landlocked federal republic in central Europe
Syrien
an Asian republic in the Middle East at the east end of the Mediterranean; site of some of the world's most ancient centers of civilization
Thailand
a country of southeastern Asia that extends southward along the Isthmus of Kra to the Malay Peninsula
Uganda
a landlocked republic in eastern Africa; achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1962
Vereinigte Arabische Emirate
a federation of seven Arab emirates on the eastern Arabian peninsula; achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1971; rich in oil reserves
Vereinigte Staaten von Amerika
North American republic containing 50 states - 48 conterminous states in North America plus Alaska in northwest North America and the Hawaiian Islands in the Pacific Ocean; achieved independence in 1776
Uruguay
a South American republic on the southeast coast of South America; achieved independence from Brazil in 1825
Venezuela
a republic in northern South America on the Caribbean; achieved independence from Spain in 1811; rich in oil
Vietnam
a communist state in Indochina on the South China Sea; achieved independence from France in 1945
Sambia
a republic in central Africa; formerly controlled by Great Britain and called Northern Rhodesia until it gained independence within the commonwealth in 1964
Zimbabwe
a landlocked republic in south central Africa formerly called Rhodesia; achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1980
Albanien
a republic in southeastern Europe on the Adriatic coast of the Balkan Peninsula
Bulgarien
a republic in the eastern part of the Balkan Peninsula in southeastern Europe
Costa Rica
a republic in Central America; one of the most politically stable countries in Latin America
Guatemala
a republic in Central America; achieved independence from Spain in 1821; noted for low per capita income and illiteracy; politically unstable
Belize
a country on the northeastern coast of Central America on the Caribbean; formerly under British control
Honduras
a republic in Central America; achieved independence from Spain in 1821; an early center of Mayan culture
El Salvador
a republic on the Pacific coast of Central America
Nicaragua
a republic in Central America; achieved independence from Spain in 1821
Dänemark
a constitutional monarchy in northern Europe; consists of the mainland of Jutland and many islands between the North Sea and the Baltic Sea
Norwegen
a constitutional monarchy in northern Europe on the western side of the Scandinavian Peninsula; achieved independence from Sweden in 1905
Schweden
a Scandinavian kingdom in the eastern part of the Scandinavian Peninsula
Griechenland
a republic in southeastern Europe on the southern part of the Balkan peninsula; known for grapes and olives and olive oil