Country Profiles

Country profiles provide a quick guide to the history, politics and economic background of Asian and Asia-Pacific countries. To read, select a country below or from the left navigation menu.

North Korea Communist North Korea's nuclear ambitions led to tensions with the west. more	Northern Mariana Islands The Northern Mariana Islands make up 14 islands in the northwest Pacific. more
Pakistan Military coups and regional conflicts have shaped Pakistan's recent history. more	Palau Palau consists of a barrier reef and more than 200 coral and volcanic islands. more
Papua New Guinea Most of Papua New Guinea's linguistically diverse people are rural. more	Philippines The Philippines is threatened by militant groups and a large debt. more
Pitcairn Islands The British territory Pitcairn is an island home to less than 50 people. more	Singapore Singapore's services and strong trade links make it an economic giant. more
Solomon Islands Ethnic conflicts and civil war nearly bankrupted the Solomon Islands. more	South Korea Relations with its northern counterpart concern the wealthy South Korea. more
Sri Lanka Consumed by ethnic conflict for 25 years, Sri Lanka is peaceful at last. more	Taiwan Though isolated by Chinese policies, the island Taiwan has a booming economy. more
Tajikistan Tajikistan, a poor nation, grappled with civil war soon after independence. more	Thailand Numerous coups and a declining economy are two issues Thailand faces. more
Tonga Tonga, the last Polynesian monarchy, consists of more than 170 islands. more	Turkmenistan Unable to profit from its resources, authoritarian- led Turkmenistan is poor. more