examples:
Namibia
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
Afganistán
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
Albania
a republic in southeastern Europe on the Adriatic coast of the Balkan Peninsula
Algeria
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
Argentina
a republic in southern South America; second largest country in South America
Bulgaria
a republic in the eastern part of the Balkan Peninsula in southeastern Europe
Birmania
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
Camboia
a nation in southeastern Asia; was part of Indochina under French rule until 1946
Camerún
a republic on the western coast of central Africa; was under French and British control until 1960
Cabo Verde
an island country in the Atlantic off the coast of Senegal
Sri lanka
a republic on the island of Ceylon; became independent of the United Kingdom in 1948
Chad
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
Colombia
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
Costa Rica
a republic in Central America; one of the most politically stable countries in Latin America
Costa de Marfil
a republic in western Africa on the Gulf of Guinea; one of the most prosperous and politically stable countries in Africa
Guatemala
a republic in Central America; achieved independence from Spain in 1821; noted for low per capita income and illiteracy; politically unstable
Belice
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
Panamá
a republic on the Isthmus of Panama; achieved independence from Colombia in 1903
Méjico
a republic in southern North America; became independent from Spain in 1810
Cuba
a communist state in the Caribbean on the island of Cuba
Haití
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
República Dominica
a republic in the West Indies; located on the eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola
Jamaica
a country on the island of Jamaica; became independent of England in 1962; much poverty; the major industry is tourism
Trinidad y Tobago
an island republic in the West Indies off the northeastern coast of Venezuela; achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1962
Chipre
a country on the island of Cyprus; 80% of the people are of Greek origin and 20% or Turkish origin
Dahomei
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
Dinamarca
a constitutional monarchy in northern Europe; consists of the mainland of Jutland and many islands between the North Sea and the Baltic Sea
Yibuti
a country in northeastern Africa on the Somali peninsula; formerly under French control but became independent in 1997
Dominica
a country on the island of Dominica
Guinea Ecuatorial
a country of west central Africa (including islands in the Gulf of Guinea); became independent from Spain in 1968
Noruega
a constitutional monarchy in northern Europe on the western side of the Scandinavian Peninsula; achieved independence from Sweden in 1905
Suecia
a Scandinavian kingdom in the eastern part of the Scandinavian Peninsula
República Federal Alemana
a republic in central Europe; split into East Germany and West Germany after World War II and reunited in 1990
República Democrárica Alemana
a republic in north central Europe on the Baltic; established by the Soviet Union in 1954; reunified with West Germany in 1990
Berlín
capital of Germany located in eastern Germany
Ecuador
a republic in northwestern South America; became independent from Spain in 1822; the landscape is dominated by the Andes
Etiopía
Ethiopia is a republic in northeastern Africa on the Red Sea; formerly called Abyssinia
Fiji
an independent state within the British Commonwealth located on the Fiji Islands
Finlandia
republic in northern Europe; achieved independence from Russia in 1917
Grecia
a republic in southeastern Europe on the southern part of the Balkan peninsula; known for grapes and olives and olive oil
ilion
an ancient city in Asia Minor that was the site of the Trojan War
Israel
Jewish republic in southwestern Asia at eastern end of Mediterranean; formerly part of Palestine
Italia
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
Rumanía
a republic in southeastern Europe with a short coastline on the Black Sea
Ruanda
a landlocked republic in central Africa; formerly a German colony
Croacia
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
Yugoslavia
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
Eslovenia
a mountainous republic in central Europe; formerly part of the Habsburg monarchy and Yugoslavia; achieved independence in 1991
Canadá
a nation in northern North America; the French were the first Europeans to settle in mainland Canada
Australia
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
Nauru
an island republic on Nauru Island; phosphate exports support the economy
Nueva Guinea
a parliamentary democracy on the eastern half of the island of New Guinea; in 1975 it became an independent state within the Commonwealth of Nations
Austria
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
Las Bahamas
island country in the Atlantic to the east of Florida and Cuba; a popular winter resort
Bahrain
an island country in the Persian Gulf off the coast of Saudi Arabia; oil revenues funded progressive programs until reserves were exhausted in 1970s
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
Flandes
a medieval country in northern Europe that included regions now parts of northern France and Belgium and southwestern Netherlands
Bélgica
a monarchy in northwestern Europe; headquarters for the European Union and for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization
Bruselas
the capital and largest city of Belgium; seat of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization
Bhután
a landlocked principality in the Himalayas to the northeast of India
Botsuana
a landlocked republic in south-central Africa that became independent from British control in the 1960s
Bolivia
a landlocked republic in central South America; Simon Bolivar founded Bolivia in 1825 after winning independence from Spain
Brasil
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
Irlanda del Norte
a division of the United Kingdom located on the northern part of the island of Ireland
Irlanda
a republic consisting of 26 of 32 counties comprising the island of Ireland; achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1921
Escocia
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
Newport
a port city in southeastern Wales
Burkina Faso
a desperately poor landlocked country in western Africa; was formerly Upper Volta under French rule but gained independence in 1960
Egipto
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
India
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
Tíbet
an autonomous region of the Peoples Republic of China; located in the Himalayas
Indonesia
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
Persia
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
Japón
a constitutional monarchy occupying the Japanese Archipelago; a world leader in electronics and automobile manufacture and ship building
Jordania
an Arab kingdom in southwestern Asia on the Red Sea
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
Francia
a republic in western Europe; the largest country wholly in Europe
París
the capital and largest city of France; and international center of culture and commerce
Gabón
a republic on the west coast of Africa
Gambia
a narrow republic surrounded by Senegal in West Africa
Ghana
a republic in West Africa on the Gulf of Guinea
Granada
an island state in the West Indies in the southeastern Caribbean Sea; an independent state within the British Commonwealth
Guinea francesa
a republic in western Africa on the Atlantic; formerly a French colony; achieved independence from France in 1958
Guinea portuguesa
a republic on the northwestern coast of Africa; recognized as independent by Portugal in 1974
Guayana inglesa
a republic in northeastern South America; formerly part of the British Empire, but it achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1966
Países Bajos
a constitutional monarchy in western Europe on the North Sea; half the country lies below sea level
Hungría
a republic in central Europe
Islandia
an island republic on the island of Iceland; became independent of Denmark in 1944
Corea del Norte
a communist country in the northern half of the Korean Peninsula; established in 1948
Corea del Sur
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
Líbano
an Asian republic at east end of Mediterranean
Lesoto
a landlocked constitutional monarchy in southern Africa; achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1966
Liberia
a republic in West Africa; established in 1822 by Americans as a way to free negro slaves
Libia
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
Luxemburgo
a grand duchy (a constitutional monarchy) landlocked in northwestern Europe between France and Belgium and Germany; an international financial center
Madagascar
a republic on the island of Madagascar; achieved independence from France in 1960
Malawi
a landlocked republic in southern central Africa; achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1964
Malasia
a constitutional monarchy in southeastern Asia on Borneo and the Malay Peninsula; achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1957
Maldivas
a republic on the Maldive Islands; achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1965
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
Malta
a republic on the island of Malta in the Mediterranean; achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1964
Mauritania
a country in northwestern Africa with a provisional military government; achieved independence from France in 1960; largely western Sahara Desert
Monaco
a constitutional monarchy in a tiny enclave on the French Riviera
Marruecos
a kingdom (constitutional monarchy) in northwestern Africa with a largely Muslim population; achieved independence from France in 1956
Mozambique
a republic on the southeastern coast of Africa on the Mozambique Channel; became independent from Portugal in 1975
Nueva Zelanda
an independent country within the British Commonwealth; achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1907; known for sheep and spectacular scenery
Níger
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
Omán
a strategically located monarchy on the southern and eastern coasts of the Arabian Peninsula; the economy is dominated by oil
Pakistán
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
Paraguai
a landlocked republic in south central South America; achieved independence from Spain in 1811
Perú
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
Filipinas
a republic on the Philippine Islands; achieved independence from the United States in 1946
papel de estraza
the capital and largest city of the Philippines; located on southern Luzon
Polonia
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)
Katar
an Arab country on the peninsula of Qatar; achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1971; the economy is dominated by oil
Santa Lucía
a country on the island of Saint Lucia; gained independence from Great Britain in 1979
Samoa
a constitutional monarchy on the western part of the islands of Samoa in the South Pacific
San Marino
the smallest republic in the world; the oldest independent country in Europe (achieved independence in 301); located in the Apennines and completely surrounded by Italy
Arabia Saudita
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
Seychelles
a republic on the Seychelles islands; achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1976
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
Islas Salomón
the southern Solomon Islands that since 1978 form an independent state in the British Commonwealth
Repúblia de Somalia
a republic in extreme eastern Africa on the Somali peninsula; subject to tribal warfare
República de Sudáfrica
a republic at the southernmost part of Africa; achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1910; first European settlers were Dutch (known as Boers)
Unión Soviética
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
Rusia
a federation in northeastern Europe and northern Asia; formerly Soviet Russia; since 1991 an independent state
Andorra
a small republic in the eastern Pyrenees between Spain and France
España
a parliamentary monarchy in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula; a former colonial power
República del Sudán
a republic in northeastern Africa on the Red Sea; achieved independence from Egypt and the United Kingdom in 1956
Guayana holandesa
a republic in northeastern South America on the Atlantic; achieved independence from the Netherlands in 1975
Socilandia
a landlocked monarchy in southeastern Africa; member of the commonwealth that achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1968
Suiza
a landlocked federal republic in central Europe
Siria
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
Tailandia
a country of southeastern Asia that extends southward along the Isthmus of Kra to the Malay Peninsula
Tonga
a monarchy on a Polynesian archipelago in the South Pacific; achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1970
Túnez
a republic in northwestern Africa on the Mediterranean coast; achieved independence from France in 1956
Turquía
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
Uganda
a landlocked republic in eastern Africa; achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1962
Unión de los Emiratos árabes
a federation of seven Arab emirates on the eastern Arabian peninsula; achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1971; rich in oil reserves
Estados Unidos
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
San Francisco
a port in western California near the Golden Gate that is one of the major industrial and transportation centers; it has one of the world's finest harbors; site of the Golden Gate Bridge
Georgia
a state in southeastern United States; one of the Confederate states during the American Civil War
Atlanta
state capital and largest city of Georgia; chief commercial center of the southeastern United States; was plundered and burned by Sherman's army during the American Civil War
Chicago
largest city in Illinois; a bustling Great Lakes port that extends 26 miles along the southwestern shoreline of Lake Michigan
Nueva York
the largest city in New York State and in the United States; located in southeastern New York at the mouth of the Hudson river; a major financial and cultural center
Newport
a resort city in southeastern Rhode Island; known for the summer homes of millionaires; important yachting center
charlestón
a port city in southeastern South Carolina
Texas
the second largest state; located in southwestern United States on the Gulf of Mexico
Dallas
a large commercial and industrial city in northeastern Texas located in the heart of the northern Texas oil fields
Houston
the largest city in Texas; located in southeastern Texas near the Gulf of Mexico; site of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
charlestón
state capital of West Virginia in the central part of the state on the Kanawha river
Uruguay
a South American republic on the southeast coast of South America; achieved independence from Brazil in 1825
Nuevas Híbridas
a volcanic island republic in Melanesia; independent since 1980
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
Zambia
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