The Statesman's Yearbook 2009

Time Zones Map
Flags of the World/Map of the World (Colour Pullout Section)
Key World Facts
Chronology of World Events from April 2007 to March 2008
Addenda
PART 1
In Defence of Scepticism by Barry Turner
International Organizations
PART 2: Countries of the World A-Z, including the following sections:
Key Historical Events
Territory and Population
Social Statistics
Climate
Constitution and Government
Government Chronology
Recent Elections
Current Administration
Current Leaders
Defence
International Relations
Economy
Energy and Natural Resources
Environment
Industry
International Trade
Communications
Social Institutions
Culture
Diplomatic Representatives
Further Reading
Abbreviations
Place and International Organizations Index
Index of Current Leaders

BARRY TURNER is the seventh editor in the 142-year history of' The Statesman's Yearbook'. He has a PhD in Political History and has been a full-time writer for 30 years. He has worked as a journalist and broadcaster in the field of politics, biography, travel and education, and is the author of over 20 books. He is a regular contributor to'The Times'as a book reviewer and serializer, and is the editor of the annual 'Writer's Handbook'.

'The most comprehensive guide to world political and economic affairs.' - Robert Thomson, Publisher, Dow Jones and the Wall Street Journal 'The Stateman's Yearbook is a well respected world reference book. We feel great privilege in sharing information on our country with the rest of the world' - Statistical Institute of Belize Reviews of Previous Editions:'the most convenient and reliable starting point for information on international affairs. Its coverage is unparalleled for a one-volume resource, and it has never let me down.' - George J. Mitchell, US Senator 'full of invaluable material about every country in the world. For someone like me who spends much of my time travelling, it is an invaluable treasure trove. I would warmly recommend it to other readers' - The Right Honourable Christopher F. Patten, CH, Chancellor of Oxford University 'All you need to know about the population of various states and countries, officials, exports, constitutions, governments, diplomatic representatives, religion, finance and basic histories' - The New York Times'a miracle of compression: the key facts about the entire world crisply collated in [its] tightly edited pages. It is an essential desktop guide for anyone who needs to think, write or talk about the nature and future of our unimaginably odd and constantly surprising planet. Buy this book and qualify at once as a citizen of the world.' - Godfrey Smith, The Sunday Times'On the desert island of the imagination this title should certainly be up there with the Bible and Shakespeare.' - Parliamentary Maritime Review'You need more than one of everything because no information is value-free - except perhaps in [Palgrave's] annual The Statesman's Yearbook...a masterpiece of pure quantification.' - Daily Telegraph (Victoria Glendinning's choice of Top Reference Book)'The book should be in every office which is concerned with world trade and, indeed, in every school which produces the future traders. It is an essential tool of