- Summary
- Contents
- Countries A-Z
- Political & Electoral Systems
- Intergovernmental Organizations
The Political Handbook of the World provides timely, thorough, and accurate political information, with more in-depth coverage of current political controversies than any other reference guide. The updated 2020-2021 edition will continue to be the most authoritative source for finding complete facts and analysis on each country’s governmental and political makeup. Compiling in one place more than 200 entries on countries and territories throughout the world, this volume is renowned for its extensive coverage of all major and minor political parties and groups in each political system. It also provides names of key ambassadors and international memberships of each country, plus detailed profiles of more than 30 intergovernmental organizations and UN agencies. And this update will aim to include coverage of current events, issues, crises, and controversies from the course of the last two years.
-
Regime Type
icon angle down-
dictatorship
- Afghanistan
- Algeria
- Angola
- Azerbaijan
- Bahrain
- Belarus
- Brunei
- Burundi
- Cambodia
- Cameroon
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- China: People’s Republic Of
- Democratic Republic of The Congo
- Republic of The Congo
- Cuba
- Djibouti
- Egypt
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Eswatini
- Ethiopia
- Fiji
- Gabon
- Gambia
- Iran
- Iraq
- Kazakhstan
- Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
- Laos
- Libya
- Mauritania
- Oman
- Qatar
- Russia
- Rwanda
- Saudi Arabia
- Somalia
- South Sudan
- Sudan
- Syria
- Tajikistan
- Thailand
- Tonga
- Turkey
- Turkmenistan
- Uganda
- United Arab Emirates
- Uzbekistan
- Venezuela
- Vietnam
- Yemen
- Zimbabwe
-
democracy
- Albania
- Andorra
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Armenia
- Australia
- Austria
- Bahamas
- Bangladesh
- Barbados
- Belgium
- Belize
- Benin
- Bhutan
- Bolivia
- Bosnia And Herzegovina
- Botswana
- Brazil
- Bulgaria
- Burkina Faso
- Canada
- Cape Verde
- Chile
- China: Taiwan
- Colombia
- Comoros
- Costa Rica
- Côte D’ivoire
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Dominica
- Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- El Salvador
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Georgia
- Germany
- Ghana
- Greece
- Grenada
- Guatemala
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Guyana
- Haiti
- Honduras
- Hungary
- Iceland
- India
- Indonesia
- Ireland
- Israel
- Italy
- Jamaica
- Japan
- Jordan
- Kenya
- Kiribati
- Republic of Korea
- Kosovo
- Kuwait
- Kyrgyzstan
- Latvia
- Lebanon
- Lesotho
- Liberia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Malaysia
- Maldives
- Mali
- Malta
- Marshall Islands
- Mauritius
- Mexico
- Federated States Of Micronesia
- Moldova
- Monaco
- Mongolia
- Montenegro
- Morocco
- Mozambique
- Myanmar (Burma)
- Namibia
- Nauru
- Nepal
- Netherlands
- Netherlands: Aruba
- Netherlands: Curaçao
- New Zealand
- Nicaragua
- Niger
- Nigeria
- North Macedonia
- Norway
- Pakistan
- Palau
- Panama
- Papua New Guinea
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Philippines
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- St. Kitts and Nevis
- St. Lucia
- St. Vincent and the grenadines
- Samoa
- San Marino
- São Tomé and Príncipe
- Senegal
- Serbia
- Seychelles
- Sierra Leone
- Singapore
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Solomon Islands
- Somaliland
- South Africa
- Spain
- Sri Lanka
- Suriname
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Tanzania
- Timor-Leste (East Timor)
- Togo
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Tunisia
- Tuvalu
- Ukraine
- United Kingdom
- United Kingdom: Northern Ireland
- United States
- Uruguay
- Vanuatu
- Zambia
-
-
Democracy Type
icon angle down-
non-democracy
- Afghanistan
- Algeria
- Angola
- Azerbaijan
- Bahrain
- Belarus
- Brunei
- Burundi
- Cambodia
- Cameroon
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- China: People’s Republic Of
- Democratic Republic of The Congo
- Republic of The Congo
- Cuba
- Djibouti
- Egypt
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Eswatini
- Ethiopia
- Gabon
- Gambia
- Iran
- Kazakhstan
- Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
- Laos
- Libya
- Mauritania
- Oman
- Qatar
- Russia
- Rwanda
- Saudi Arabia
- Somalia
- South Sudan
- Sudan
- Syria
- Tajikistan
- Thailand
- Tonga
- Turkey
- Turkmenistan
- Uganda
- United Arab Emirates
- Uzbekistan
- Venezuela
- Vietnam
- Yemen
- Zimbabwe
-
semi-democracy
- Albania
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Armenia
- Bangladesh
- Bolivia
- Bosnia And Herzegovina
- Burkina Faso
- Colombia
- Comoros
- Côte D’ivoire
- Ecuador
- Fiji
- Georgia
- Guatemala
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Haiti
- Honduras
- Indonesia
- Iraq
- Jordan
- Kenya
- Kosovo
- Kuwait
- Kyrgyzstan
- Lebanon
- Lesotho
- Liberia
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Malaysia
- Maldives
- Mali
- Mexico
- Moldova
- Monaco
- Montenegro
- Morocco
- Mozambique
- Myanmar (Burma)
- Nepal
- Nicaragua
- Niger
- Nigeria
- North Macedonia
- Pakistan
- Papua New Guinea
- Paraguay
- Philippines
- Seychelles
- Sierra Leone
- Singapore
- Somaliland
- Sri Lanka
- Tanzania
- Togo
- Ukraine
- Zambia
-
newer democracy
- Andorra
- Argentina
- Belize
- Benin
- Bhutan
- Botswana
- Brazil
- Bulgaria
- Cape Verde
- Chile
- China: Taiwan
- Croatia
- Czech Republic
- Dominican Republic
- El Salvador
- Estonia
- Ghana
- Grenada
- Guyana
- Hungary
- Republic of Korea
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Marshall Islands
- Federated States Of Micronesia
- Mongolia
- Namibia
- Nauru
- Palau
- Panama
- Peru
- Poland
- Romania
- St. Kitts and Nevis
- Samoa
- São Tomé and Príncipe
- Senegal
- Serbia
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- South Africa
- Suriname
- Timor-Leste (East Timor)
- Tunisia
- Tuvalu
- United Kingdom: Northern Ireland
- Vanuatu
-
older democracy
- Australia
- Austria
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- Belgium
- Canada
- Costa Rica
- Cyprus
- Denmark
- Dominica
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Iceland
- India
- Ireland
- Italy
- Jamaica
- Japan
- Kiribati
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Mauritius
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Norway
- Portugal
- St. Lucia
- St. Vincent and the grenadines
- San Marino
- Solomon Islands
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Trinidad and Tobago
- United Kingdom
- United States
- Uruguay
-
not rated
-
-
Freedom House Rating
icon angle down-
not free
- Afghanistan
- Algeria
- Angola
- Azerbaijan
- Bahrain
- Belarus
- Brunei
- Burundi
- Cambodia
- Cameroon
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- China: People’s Republic Of
- Democratic Republic of The Congo
- Republic of The Congo
- Cuba
- Djibouti
- Egypt
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Eswatini
- Ethiopia
- Gabon
- Iran
- Iraq
- Kazakhstan
- Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
- Laos
- Libya
- Mauritania
- Oman
- Qatar
- Russia
- Rwanda
- Saudi Arabia
- Somalia
- South Sudan
- Sudan
- Syria
- Tajikistan
- Thailand
- Turkey
- Turkmenistan
- United Arab Emirates
- Uzbekistan
- Venezuela
- Vietnam
- Yemen
- Zimbabwe
- Palestinian Authority/Palestine Liberation Organization
-
partly free
- Albania
- Armenia
- Bangladesh
- Bhutan
- Bolivia
- Bosnia And Herzegovina
- Burkina Faso
- Colombia
- Comoros
- Côte D’ivoire
- Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- Fiji
- Gambia
- Georgia
- Guatemala
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Haiti
- Honduras
- Hungary
- Indonesia
- Jordan
- Kenya
- Kosovo
- Kuwait
- Kyrgyzstan
- Lebanon
- Lesotho
- Liberia
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Malaysia
- Maldives
- Mali
- Mexico
- Moldova
- Montenegro
- Morocco
- Mozambique
- Myanmar (Burma)
- Nepal
- Nicaragua
- Niger
- Nigeria
- North Macedonia
- Pakistan
- Papua New Guinea
- Paraguay
- Philippines
- Seychelles
- Sierra Leone
- Singapore
- Somaliland
- Sri Lanka
- Tanzania
- Togo
- Uganda
- Ukraine
- Zambia
-
free
- Andorra
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Argentina
- Australia
- Austria
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- Belgium
- Belize
- Benin
- Botswana
- Brazil
- Bulgaria
- Canada
- Cape Verde
- Chile
- China: Taiwan
- Costa Rica
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Dominica
- El Salvador
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Ghana
- Greece
- Grenada
- Guyana
- Iceland
- India
- Ireland
- Israel
- Italy
- Jamaica
- Japan
- Kiribati
- Republic of Korea
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Marshall Islands
- Mauritius
- Federated States Of Micronesia
- Monaco
- Mongolia
- Namibia
- Nauru
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Norway
- Palau
- Panama
- Peru
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- St. Kitts and Nevis
- St. Lucia
- St. Vincent and the grenadines
- Samoa
- San Marino
- São Tomé and Príncipe
- Senegal
- Serbia
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Solomon Islands
- South Africa
- Spain
- Suriname
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Timor-Leste (East Timor)
- Tonga
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Tunisia
- Tuvalu
- United Kingdom
- United States
- Uruguay
- Vanuatu
-
not rated
-
-
Election System
icon angle down-
not rated
-
proportional representation (pr)
- Albania
- Algeria
- Angola
- Argentina
- Armenia
- Austria
- Belgium
- Benin
- Bosnia And Herzegovina
- Brazil
- Bulgaria
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Cambodia
- Cape Verde
- Chile
- Colombia
- Costa Rica
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- El Salvador
- Equatorial Guinea
- Estonia
- Fiji
- Finland
- Greece
- Guatemala
- Guinea-Bissau
- Guyana
- Honduras
- Iceland
- Indonesia
- Iraq
- Ireland
- Israel
- Jordan
- Kazakhstan
- Kosovo
- Kyrgyzstan
- Latvia
- Lebanon
- Liechtenstein
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Montenegro
- Morocco
- Mozambique
- Namibia
- Netherlands
- Nicaragua
- Niger
- North Macedonia
- Norway
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Rwanda
- San Marino
- São Tomé and Príncipe
- Serbia
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Somaliland
- South Africa
- Spain
- Sri Lanka
- Suriname
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Timor-Leste (East Timor)
- Togo
- Tunisia
- Turkey
- United Kingdom: Northern Ireland
- Uruguay
-
combined
- Andorra
- Bolivia
- Cameroon
- Chad
- China: Taiwan
- Democratic Republic of The Congo
- Djibouti
- Georgia
- Germany
- Guinea
- Hungary
- Italy
- Japan
- Republic of Korea
- Lesotho
- Libya
- Lithuania
- Madagascar
- Mauritania
- Mexico
- Moldova
- Monaco
- Nepal
- New Zealand
- Pakistan
- Panama
- Philippines
- Russia
- Senegal
- Seychelles
- Sudan
- Tajikistan
- Thailand
- Ukraine
- Venezuela
- Zimbabwe
- Palestinian Authority/Palestine Liberation Organization
-
majoritarian
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Australia
- Azerbaijan
- Bahamas
- Bahrain
- Bangladesh
- Barbados
- Belarus
- Belize
- Bhutan
- Botswana
- Canada
- Central African Republic
- Comoros
- Republic of The Congo
- Côte D’ivoire
- Cuba
- Dominica
- Egypt
- Eswatini
- Ethiopia
- France
- Gabon
- Gambia
- Ghana
- Grenada
- Haiti
- India
- Iran
- Jamaica
- Kenya
- Kiribati
- Kuwait
- Laos
- Liberia
- Malawi
- Malaysia
- Maldives
- Mali
- Marshall Islands
- Mauritius
- Federated States Of Micronesia
- Mongolia
- Myanmar (Burma)
- Nauru
- Nigeria
- Oman
- Palau
- Papua New Guinea
- St. Kitts and Nevis
- St. Lucia
- St. Vincent and the grenadines
- Samoa
- Sierra Leone
- Singapore
- Solomon Islands
- Syria
- Tanzania
- Tonga
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Turkmenistan
- Tuvalu
- Uganda
- United Kingdom
- United States
- Uzbekistan
- Vietnam
- Yemen
- Zambia
-
no elections
-
-
Election Rules
icon angle down-
single non-transferable vote
-
list proportional representation
- Albania
- Algeria
- Angola
- Argentina
- Armenia
- Austria
- Belgium
- Benin
- Bosnia And Herzegovina
- Brazil
- Bulgaria
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Cambodia
- Cape Verde
- Chile
- Colombia
- Costa Rica
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- El Salvador
- Equatorial Guinea
- Estonia
- Fiji
- Finland
- Greece
- Guatemala
- Guinea-Bissau
- Guyana
- Honduras
- Iceland
- Indonesia
- Iraq
- Israel
- Jordan
- Kazakhstan
- Kosovo
- Kyrgyzstan
- Latvia
- Lebanon
- Liechtenstein
- Luxembourg
- Montenegro
- Morocco
- Mozambique
- Namibia
- Netherlands
- Nicaragua
- Niger
- North Macedonia
- Norway
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Poland
- Portugal
- Rwanda
- San Marino
- São Tomé and Príncipe
- Serbia
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Somaliland
- South Africa
- Spain
- Sri Lanka
- Suriname
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Timor-Leste (East Timor)
- Togo
- Tunisia
- Turkey
- Uruguay
-
parallel system
- Andorra
- Cameroon
- Chad
- China: Taiwan
- Democratic Republic of The Congo
- Georgia
- Guinea
- Italy
- Japan
- Republic of Korea
- Lithuania
- Madagascar
- Mauritania
- Moldova
- Monaco
- Nepal
- Pakistan
- Panama
- Philippines
- Russia
- Senegal
- Seychelles
- Sudan
- Tajikistan
- Ukraine
- Venezuela
- Zimbabwe
- Palestinian Authority/Palestine Liberation Organization
-
first past the post
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Azerbaijan
- Bahamas
- Bangladesh
- Barbados
- Belarus
- Belize
- Bhutan
- Botswana
- Canada
- Côte D’ivoire
- Dominica
- Eswatini
- Ethiopia
- Gambia
- Ghana
- Grenada
- India
- Jamaica
- Kenya
- Liberia
- Malawi
- Malaysia
- Maldives
- Marshall Islands
- Federated States Of Micronesia
- Mongolia
- Myanmar (Burma)
- Nigeria
- Oman
- Palau
- St. Kitts and Nevis
- St. Lucia
- St. Vincent and the grenadines
- Samoa
- Sierra Leone
- Singapore
- Solomon Islands
- Tanzania
- Tonga
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Uganda
- United Kingdom
- United States
- Yemen
- Zambia
-
alternative vote
-
two round system
-
mixed member proportional system
-
no free elections
-
single transferrable vote
-
block vote
-
multi party-limited competition
-
not rated
-
list proportional system
-
-
Party System
icon angle down-
multi party-hyper competitive
- Afghanistan
- Belgium
- Benin
- Brazil
- Central African Republic
- Chile
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- Germany
- Greece
- Guyana
- India
- Israel
- Italy
- Japan
- Republic of Korea
- Latvia
- Liberia
- Malaysia
- Montenegro
- Morocco
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- North Macedonia
- Norway
- Pakistan
- Panama
- Papua New Guinea
- Peru
- Philippines
- Romania
- San Marino
- São Tomé and Príncipe
- Serbia
- Sierra Leone
- Slovakia
- Suriname
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Timor-Leste (East Timor)
- Ukraine
- United Kingdom
- United Kingdom: Northern Ireland
- Uruguay
- Vanuatu
- Venezuela
-
multi party-limited competition
- Albania
- Algeria
- Andorra
- Argentina
- Armenia
- Australia
- Austria
- Bahamas
- Bosnia And Herzegovina
- Bulgaria
- Burkina Faso
- Canada
- Chad
- China: Taiwan
- Colombia
- Comoros
- Democratic Republic of The Congo
- Republic of The Congo
- Costa Rica
- Côte D’ivoire
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Djibouti
- Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- Egypt
- El Salvador
- Fiji
- France
- Gabon
- Gambia
- Georgia
- Guatemala
- Guinea-Bissau
- Haiti
- Honduras
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Indonesia
- Iran
- Iraq
- Ireland
- Jordan
- Kenya
- Kosovo
- Kuwait
- Kyrgyzstan
- Lebanon
- Lesotho
- Libya
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Marshall Islands
- Mauritius
- Mexico
- Moldova
- Mongolia
- Myanmar (Burma)
- Namibia
- Nauru
- Nepal
- Nicaragua
- Niger
- Nigeria
- Paraguay
- Poland
- Portugal
- Russia
- Rwanda
- St. Kitts and Nevis
- Senegal
- Singapore
- Slovenia
- Solomon Islands
- Somaliland
- South Africa
- Spain
- Sri Lanka
- Sudan
- Tajikistan
- Tanzania
- Thailand
- Tunisia
- Turkey
- Uganda
- Uzbekistan
-
two party
-
one party
-
not rated
-
-
System of Government
icon angle down-
unitary
- Afghanistan
- Albania
- Algeria
- Angola
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Azerbaijan
- Bahamas
- Bahrain
- Bangladesh
- Barbados
- Belarus
- Belize
- Benin
- Brunei
- Bulgaria
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Cambodia
- Cape Verde
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- Chile
- China: People’s Republic Of
- China: Taiwan
- Democratic Republic of The Congo
- Republic of The Congo
- Costa Rica
- Côte D’ivoire
- Croatia
- Cuba
- Cyprus
- Cyprus: Turkish Sector
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Djibouti
- Dominica
- Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- Egypt
- El Salvador
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Estonia
- Eswatini
- Finland
- France
- Gabon
- Gambia
- Georgia
- Ghana
- Greece
- Grenada
- Guatemala
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Guyana
- Haiti
- Honduras
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Iran
- Iraq
- Ireland
- Israel
- Italy
- Jamaica
- Japan
- Jordan
- Kazakhstan
- Kenya
- Kiribati
- Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
- Republic of Korea
- Kuwait
- Kyrgyzstan
- Laos
- Latvia
- Lebanon
- Lesotho
- Liberia
- Libya
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Maldives
- Mali
- Malta
- Marshall Islands
- Mauritania
- Mauritius
- Moldova
- Monaco
- Mongolia
- Montenegro
- Morocco
- Mozambique
- Nauru
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Nicaragua
- Niger
- North Macedonia
- Norway
- Oman
- Panama
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Philippines
- Poland
- Qatar
- Romania
- Rwanda
- St. Lucia
- St. Vincent and the grenadines
- Samoa
- San Marino
- São Tomé and Príncipe
- Saudi Arabia
- Senegal
- Serbia
- Seychelles
- Sierra Leone
- Singapore
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Somaliland
- Sri Lanka
- Suriname
- Sweden
- Syria
- Tajikistan
- Tanzania
- Thailand
- Timor-Leste (East Timor)
- Togo
- Tonga
- Tunisia
- Turkey
- Turkmenistan
- Tuvalu
- Uganda
- United Arab Emirates
- United Kingdom
- Uruguay
- Uzbekistan
- Vanuatu
- Vatican City State
- Vietnam
- Yemen
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
-
federal
- Andorra
- Argentina
- Armenia
- Australia
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bhutan
- Bosnia And Herzegovina
- Botswana
- Brazil
- Cameroon
- Canada
- Colombia
- Comoros
- Ethiopia
- Fiji
- Germany
- India
- Indonesia
- Malaysia
- Mexico
- Federated States Of Micronesia
- Myanmar (Burma)
- Namibia
- Nepal
- Nigeria
- Pakistan
- Papua New Guinea
- Portugal
- Russia
- St. Kitts and Nevis
- Solomon Islands
- Somalia
- South Africa
- Spain
- Sudan
- Switzerland
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Ukraine
- United Kingdom: Northern Ireland
- United States
- Venezuela
-
- African Union (AU)
- Arab League
- Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)
- Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean)
- Caribbean Community and Common Market (Caricom)
- Common Market For Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA)
- Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)
- Council of Europe
- Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)
- European Atomic Energy Community (EURATOM)
- European Free Trade Association (EFTA)
- European Union (EU)
- Group of Eight
- Group of Twenty
- International Criminal Court (ICC)
- International Energy Agency (IEA)
- International Organization For Migration (IOM)
- Non-Aligned Movement
- North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
- Organization For Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)
- Organization For Security And Cooperation In Europe (OSCE)
- Organization of American States (OAS)
- Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS)
- Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)
- Organization of The Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)
- Pacific Islands Forum (PIF)
- Regional Development Banks
- Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)
- South Asian Association For Regional Cooperation (SAARC)
- Southern African Development Community (SADC)
- Southern Cone Common Market (Mercosur/Mercosul)
- The Commonwealth
- United Nations (UN)
- United Nations: Related Organizations
- United Nations: Specialized Agencies
- World Trade Organization (WTO)