REGIONS OF THE

WORLD

NORTH AMERICA Some countries: 3 Nations: USA, Mexico, Canada

Population: Main Languages: English, Spanish, French Religion: Mostly Christian, but many other groups Number of people: ~500 million

Power: USA → Strongest military, most wealth, most people, cultural influence

Wealth: YES → High average salary, many companies based there.

Tensions & Conflicts: - USA involved in “War on Terror” around the world - Conflicts in Mexico involving drugs/gangs - Keystone Pipeline Project (oil from Canada to USA)

Environment: - Some natural disasters (hurricanes, earthquakes) - Tar Sands Oil in Alberta causing concern for many

OCEANIA

Some countries: ~15 Nations including: Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea (smallest continent)

Population: Main Languages: English, Polynesian languages Religion: Mostly Christian, but many other groups Number of people: ~37 million

Power: AUSTRALIA → Strongest military, most wealth, most people, largest territory

Wealth: Australia/New Zealand → Yes ; Some poorer nations as well.

Tensions & Conflicts: - Australia involved in “War on Terror”

Environment: - Dry Climate - Forest Fires

CENTRAL AMERICA

Some countries: ~15 Nations including: Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama,

Population: Main Languages: Spanish Religion: Christianity Number of people: ~40 million

Power: No country really stands out as the “power”. Region is heavily influenced by regions to the North and South

Wealth: Developing region, many in poverty

Tensions & Conflicts: - Internal conflicts, people seeking a better life have migrated to other countries.

Environment: - Dry Climate - Earthquakes/Hurricanes - Forest Fires

SOUTH AMERICA

Some countries: ~15 Nations including: Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Venezuela

Population: Main Languages: Spanish and Portuguese (Brazil) Religion: Christianity Number of people: ~390 million

Power: Brazil (largest in size, population, and economy).

Wealth: Developing region, many still in poverty but a rising middle class.

Tensions & Conflicts: Brazil → internal tensions over world cup, Olympic costs. Colombia → Conflicts with drug lords

Environment: - Deforestation of the Amazon

NORTH AFRICA

Some countries: 7 Countries including: Egypt, Libya, Algeria, Morocco

Population: Main Languages: Arabic, French Religion: Islam Number of people: ~180 million

Power: Egypt → Military, Population Algeria & Libya → Size, Oil/Gas Reserves

Wealth: Developing region, not very wealthy but has some natural resources.

Tensions & Conflicts: “Arab Spring” → some dictators have been overthrown and has led to transitions in government. Migrants → poor, desperate people trying to escape to Europe

Environment: - Good clean water is a challenge in some parts - Desertification

SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

Some countries: ~50 Nations including: Kenya, Sudan, South Africa, Nigeria

Population: Main Languages: Over 1000, some prominent ones: Swahili, French, English Religion: Christianity, Islam, many indigenous Number of people: ~870 million (high birth rate but many migrating out as well)

Power: South Africa and Nigeria → Military, Population, Economically most dominant

Wealth: Many of the poorest countries of the world are found here. Many in primary sector jobs, many natural resources.

Tensions & Conflicts: - Many ethnic and governmental conflicts in the region: Central African Republic (CAR), Mali, Somalia, Nigeria.

- Also, resource-based conflicts (coltan, diamonds, water)

Environment: - Good clean water is a challenge in some parts - Desertification, drought, soil erosion.

EUROPE

Some countries: ~50 Nations including: Germany, France, United Kingdom, Spain, Italy

Population: Main Languages: Many including: Spanish, German, French, English Religion: Mostly Christian but also other groups (Muslims, Jews, Buddhist, etc.) Number of people: ~750 million

Power: Germany and the UK stand out → they have the strongest economies, large influence in region and internationally.

Wealth: One of the wealthier regions of the world, but economies of many

nations (Spain, Portugal, Greece, Italy) are facing major problems.

Tensions & Conflicts: - Ukraine → Rebels within the Crimean part are seeking to join Russia - Migrant Crisis → Refugees arriving seeking help, tensions arising. - “War on Terror” → Some nations involved in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria

Environment: - Air quality, Greenhouse gas emissions, climate change.

NORTH-CENTRAL ASIA

Some countries: ~10 Nations including: Russia, Kazakhistan, Uzbekhistan

Population: Main Languages: Russian and other local languages Religion: Mostly Christian (Russian Orthodox) but many Muslims Number of people: ~250 million

Power: Russia → Largest territory, most people, strongest military and economy.

Wealth: - Lots of natural resources (oil, gas).

- Some very wealthy individuals but overall not very wealthy region.

Tensions & Conflicts: - Ukraine → Russia has given “support” to rebels in Crimea - Separation movements→ especially within Russia (Chechnya) while

some in Russia question Putin’s grip on power.

Environment: - Lack of environmental regulations. - Chernobyl Incident (1986) at the nuclear power plant

EAST ASIA

Some countries: ~8 Nations including: Japan, China, South & North Korea

Population: Main Languages: Mandarin, Cantonese, Japanese, Korean Religion: Taoism, Shintoism, Confucianism, Buddhism Number of people: ~1.6 Billion

Power: China → Largest territory, most people, strongest military and economy. Japan → Strong economy

Wealth: - Some nations very wealthy per person (Japan, South Korea)

- China very wealthy overall and a growing middle class.

Tensions & Conflicts: - North/South Korea → Officially at war but no fighting for years, missile testing in North Korea with threat of assaults on neighbours

- China→ restrictions on religious, democratic freedoms

Environment: - Zone prone to earthquakes, tsunamis. - Air quality, especially in China

SOUTH ASIA Some countries: ~10 Nations including: India, Pakistan, Bangledesh

Population: Main Languages: Hindi, Punjabi, Urdu, Bengali Religion: Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, many other groups. Number of people: ~1.8 Billion

Power: India → Largest territory, most people, strongest military and economy. Pakistan → Military

Wealth: Nations are seeing a growing middle class, but still many poor people.

Tensions & Conflicts: - India/Pakistan → Tensions over territory/weapons. - Afghanistan→ decades of conflict (Russians, Civil War, War on Terror) - Burma → Religious violence

Environment: - Lack of regulations have led to pollution of air and water. - Rising sea levels have led to problems for island nations in

the Indian Ocean.

MIDDLE EAST

Some countries: ~12 Nations including: Syria, Turkey, Iran, Israel, Iraq, Saudi Arabia

Population: Main Languages: Arabic, Turkish, Hebrew Religion: Mostly Islam, Judaism (Israel), Christian minorities. Number of people: ~400 Million

Power: Israel/Turkey → Military Saudi Arabia → Most oil in region can influence overall price

Wealth: Oil rich countries have a mostly high income, some nations who have

had conflict in recent years have high unemployment.

Tensions & Conflicts: - Israel vs. Palestine → Decades long conflict over land - Syria/Iraq → Civil war, conflict with ISIS

Environment: - Access to water - Desertification