6 Characteristics of a COUNTRY 1) POPULATION 2) SOVEREIGNTY * freedom and power to decide on politics and actions without outside interference

3) CLEARLY DEFINED TERRITORY Size *historically, size was a measure of a country’s pride *microstate- a country so small you can walk across it in a single day ex. Vatican City Shape *compact nation- land areas are not separated by large bodies of water or by the territory of other countries ex. Nigeria, Poland *fragmented nation - nation that has land areas that are geographically separated from other parts of the country ex. U.S.A., New Zealand

Location- relative location is important * landlocked- surrounded by land with no sea/ocean coastline * coastal location - brings trade, cultural ideas * hostile neighboring countries can limit economic potential Boundaries- sets the limit of the territory or region *natural boundaries - borders based on a physical features such as a river, lake, or mountain chain *artificial boundaries - a fixed line generally following a line of latitude or longitude - border can be the result of a war or treaty agreement

4) GOVERNMENT * Democracy- rule by the people constitutional monarchy- monarch has very limited power and their role is symbolic * Monarchy - monarch has real power, position is usually inherited * Dictatorship - one person or group has control * Communism - government and economic system in which the government owns and controls everything in the name of the people

5) ECONOMY- where the money comes from; the production and exchange of goods and services * market economy (capitalism, free-enterprise system)- individuals and private corporations own most of the businesses, government has some regulations * command economy (communism, planned economy) - government owns almost all the businesses and controls the entire economy * mixed economy (socialism) - government owns some or parts of businesses for the benefit of the people; individuals maintain basic right as consumers

Traditional economy (barter)- customs, habits, laws, and religion form the basis of economic activity; goods and services still produced the same way for centuries; agriculture is the main activity; trade is primary means of getting goods and services 6) RECOGNITION A country must be officially recognized to be considered a country. Usually it is the United Nations.

Economic Activity 4 Levels of Economic Activity Primary - gathering raw materials for the making of finished products’ farming, logging Secondary - using the raw materials to make finished materials; manufacturing Tertiary service industries; banking, healthcare Quaternary - providing information, management, and research services; information technology/IT

Natural Resources renewable- resources that can be replaced in a reasonable amount of time such as trees, soil, water, or seafood non-renewable- resources that cannot be replaced such as gold, iron, gemstones, oil, or natural gas inexhaustible energy sources- unlimited quantity such as wind, sunlight, or geothermal heat.

Economic Development Per capita income- average amount of money earned by each person; the higher the income, the better off the country is. highest - Qatar: $145,000* 2nd place – Luxembourg: $102,900* lowest – Somalia: $400* GNP (Gross National Product)- total value of all goods and services produced BY a country over a year GDP (Gross Domestic Product)- total value of all goods and services produced WITHIN a country in a year highest – China: $19,510* billion lowest - Tokelau: $1.5* million * CIA World Factbook