1. Regions of the world

3. North america 3 Nations: USA, Mexico, Canada Some countries:
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

5. 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

7. 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:
Deforestation - Earthquakes/Hurricanes
Forest Fires

9. South america Brazil (largest in size, population, and economy).
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

11. 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

13. 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.

15. 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
Separation movements → Groups in UK, Spain, France
“War on Terror” → Some nations involved in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria
Environment:
Air quality, Greenhouse gas emissions, climate change.

17. 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)
Environment:
Lack of environmental regulations.
Chernobyl Incident (1986) at the nuclear power plant

19. 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, missine testing in North
China→ restrictions on religious, democratic freedoms
Environment:
Zone prone to earthquakes, tsunamis.
Air quality, especially in China

21. 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.

23. 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