Regions we cover

Move the mouse over the world regions to show a summary here.

Middle East

The Middle East is estimated to account for 56 per cent of the world's oil reserves, 36 per cent of the gas reserves, and 63 per cent of current OPEC production. Its oil revenues are expected to rise by 60 per cent from $300 billion in 2007 to $800 billion in 2008.

North Africa

Libya's Colonel Qadhafi, who seized power from King Idris on 1 September 1969, is the world's second longest serving non-royal head of state. Only Gabon's President Omar Bongo has a longer record.

Sub-Saharan Africa

US imports of oil from Africa rose by 65 per cent between 2000 and 2007, from 1.6 to 2.7 million b/d. The African share of all US oil imports rose from 14.5 to 20 per cent in the same period.

Former Soviet Union

For more than a decade after the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia's population fell by over 750,000 annually, before rising slowly over the past two to three years. The average life expectancy for men fell to under 62 years by 2007.

South Asia

India's population is 1.1 billion and is forecast to overtake China by 2030. It has the 12th largest economy in the world, but as the second fastest growing it will soon overtake some Western economies. The economy of Pakistan ranks 47th.

East and Southeast Asia

China's economy has been growing at over 9 per cent per year. Based on purchasing power, it will overtake the United States as the world's largest economy by 2020. Its foreign currency reserves have risen 43 per cent in 2008 alone, to $1,809 billion.

Latin America

The Amazon is the largest river in the world, accounting for 20 per cent of the world's total river flow. It releases 300,000 m3 of water per second into the Atlantic in the rainy season.

Island states

Although many are very poor, the island states also include tax havens. Jersey alone holds over $500 billion of assets, and hedge funds have invested an estimated $746 billion in the Caribbean.