Category Smallest Countries of the World

               Jordan, the Hashemite Kingdom in the Middle East, is situated west of Israel and the Jordan River. It is a country at the crossroads of the continents of Asia, Africa, and Europe.

               Jordan is a young state that occupies an ancient land, one that bears the traces of many civilizations. Separated from ancient Palestine by the Jordan River, the region played a prominent role in biblical history.

               Much of Jordan is covered by the Arabian Desert. Jordan has a population around 9.4 million people. The capital and largest city is Amman.

               Arid hills and mountains make up most of the country. The southern section of the Jordan River flows through the country. Jordan is a country with few natural resources. The Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature was set up in 1966 to protect and manage Jordan’s natural resources. The official language is Arabic and the currency is the Dinar.

               Serbia is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of central and southern Europe.

               It is bordered by four of the six former Yugoslavian socialist republics, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, the Republic of Macedonia, and Montenegro. It also shares borders with Albania, Bulgaria, Hungary, and Romania.

               Serbia was one of six republics that made up the country of Yugoslavia, which broke up in the 1990s. In February 2003, Serbia and Montenegro were the remaining two republics of rump Yugoslavia, forming a loose federation. In 2006, Montenegro split from Serbia. Serbia is a parliamentary republic, with the government divided into legislative; executive and judiciary branches.

               The capital of Serbia is Belgrade, a cosmopolitan city at the confluence of the Danube and Sava rivers. The official language of the country is Serbian.

               It is largely mountainous and has a rich diversity of wild animals. Among the larger mammals, deer and bear abound in forested areas.

               Located in the continent of Asia, Azerbaijan covers a total area of 86,600 square kilometres. Azerbaijan became an independent state in 1991, after gaining its sovereignty from Russia.

               Azerbaijan is a country of eastern Transcaucasia. Historically, the name Azerbaijan refers to a larger region that formed part of Persia (Iran). Despite the oil rich country’s wealth, and increased influence in the wider region, poverty and corruption continue to overshadow the country’s development.

               According to the 1995 constitution, Azerbaijan is a republic with a presidential government system. But the political system of Azerbaijan has been characterized since 1992 by the authoritarian leadership of Azerbaijan’s presidents, and undermined by corruption.

               It is home to a vast variety of landscapes. The capital and largest city is Baku. The official language is Azerbaijani. The currency is the Azerbaijanian Manat.

               Austria is a landlocked country in East Central Europe which borders the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Liechtenstein, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Switzerland. Austria is a largely mountainous country, due to its location at the eastern end of the Alps. The official language of Austria is German.

               Austria is a federation of nine autonomous federal states. In fact, it is a federal parliamentary representative democratic republic. The capital and largest city, with a population exceeding 1.8, million, is Vienna. The country has developed a high standard of living and in 2014, was ranked 21st in the world for its Human Development index.

               Austria is now a member of European Union. A large number of international organizations that call its capital Vienna their home, these include, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the International Atomic Energy Agency, and The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries.

               Austria, with its well-developed market economy, skilled labour force, and high standard of living, is closely tied to other EU economies.

               The United, Arab Emirates is a constitutional federation of seven emirates; Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm al-Quwain, Ras al-Khaimah and Fujairah. The federation was formally established on 2nd December 1971.

               The UAE occupies an area of 83,600 square kilometres along the south-eastern tip of the Arabian Peninsula. It has grown from a quiet backwater, to one of the Middle East’s most important economic centres. The capital city is Abu Dhabi.

               The UAE’s oil reserves are the seventh-largest in the world while its natural gas reserves are the world’s seventeenth-largest. Arabic is the official language. The UAE joined the Arab League in 1971. It was a founding member of the Gulf Cooperation Council.

            The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe that became a separate state in 1993 after Czechoslovakia split into two countries. Like many other European countries, the Czech Republic too is smaller in size. The Czech Republic covers an area of 78,866 square kilometres.

            The capital and largest city is Prague. The official language is Czech. The president is the formal head of state with limited and specific powers, most importantly to return bills to the parliament.

            Although large areas of the original forest cover have been cleared for cultivation and for timber, woodlands remain a characteristic feature of the Czech landscape.

            The Czech Republic possesses a developed high-income economy. The Czech Republic joined NATO in 1999 and the European Union in 2004. The nation’s currency is the Czech koruna.