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Tables |
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The tables are numbered by section and
display the identifying icon of the
section. Tables 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, and 1.5
are presented by World Bank region, with
the economies for each region listed
alphabetically within the region. For
other tables countries and economies are
listed alphabetically (except for Hong
Kong, China, which appears after China).
Data are shown for 152 economies with
populations of more than 1 million, as
well as for Taiwan, China, in selected
tables. Table 1.6 presents selected
indicators for 56 other economies—small
economies with populations between
30,000 and 1 million and smaller
economies if they are members of the
International Bank for Reconstruction
and Development (IBRD) or, as it is
commonly known, the World Bank. The term
country, used interchangeably with
economy, does not imply political
independence, but refers to any
territory for which authorities report
separate social or economic statistics.
When available, aggregate measures for
income and regional groups appear at the
end of each table. |
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Indicators are shown for the most recent
year or period for which data are
available and, in most tables, for an
earlier year or period (usually 1990 in
this edition). Time-series data are
available on the World Development Indicators CD-ROM and in
WDI Online. |
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Known deviations from standard
definitions or breaks in comparability
over time or across countries are either
footnoted in the tables or noted in
About the data. When available data are
deemed to be too weak to provide
reliable measures of levels and trends
or do not adequately adhere to
international standards, the data are
not shown. |
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The aggregate measures for income groups
include 208 economies (the economies
listed in the main tables plus those in
table 1.6) wherever data are available.
To maintain consistency in the aggregate
measures over time and between tables,
missing data are imputed where possible.
The aggregates are totals (designated by
a t if the aggregates include gap-filled
estimates for missing data and by an s,
for simple totals, where they do not),
median values (m), weighted averages
(w), or simple averages (u). Gap filling
of amounts not allocated to countries
may result in discrepancies between
subgroup aggregates and overall totals.
For further discussion of aggregation
methods, see Statistical methods. |
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The aggregate measures for regions
include only low- and middle-income
economies (note that these measures
include developing economies with
populations of less than 1 million,
including those listed in table 1.6). |
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The country composition of regions is
based on the World Bank’s analytical
regions and may differ from common
geographic usage. For regional
classifications, see the map on the
inside back cover and the list on the
back cover flap. For further discussion
of aggregation methods, see Statistical
methods. |
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Statistics |
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Data are shown for economies as they
were constituted in 2004, and historical
data are revised to reflect current
political arrangements. Exceptions are
noted throughout the tables. |
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Additional information about the data is
provided in Primary data documentation.
That section summarizes national and
international efforts to improve basic
data collection and gives information on
primary sources, census years, fiscal
years, and other background. Statistical
methods provides technical information
on some of the general calculations and
formulas used throughout the book. |
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Considerable effort has been made to
standardize the data, but full
comparability cannot be assured, and
care must be taken in interpreting the
indicators. Many factors affect data
availability, comparability, and
reliability. Statistical systems in many
developing economies are still weak;
statistical methods, coverage,
practices, and definitions differ
widely; and cross-country and
intertemporal comparisons involve
complex technical and conceptual
problems that cannot be unequivocally
resolved. Data coverage may not be
complete because of special
circumstances or for economies
experiencing problems (such as those
stemming from conflicts) affecting the
collection and reporting of data. For
these reasons, although data are drawn
from the sources thought to be most
authoritative, they should be construed
only as indicating trends and
characterizing major differences among
economies rather than offering precise
quantitative measures of those
differences. |
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Discrepancies in data presented in
different editions of World Development
Indicators reflect updates by countries
as well as revisions to historical
series and changes in methodology. Thus
readers are advised not to compare data
series between editions of World
Development Indicators or between
different World Bank publications.
Consistent time-series data for
1960–2004 are available on the World
Development Indicators CD-ROM and in
WDI
Online. |
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Except where otherwise noted, growth
rates are in real terms. (See
Statistical methods for information on
the methods used to calculate growth
rates.) Data for some economic
indicators for some economies are
presented in fiscal years rather than
calendar years; see Primary data
documentation. All dollar figures are
current U.S. dollars unless otherwise
stated. The methods used for converting
national currencies are described in
Statistical methods. |
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Unless otherwise noted, data for China do not include data for Hong Kong, China;
Macao, China; or Taiwan, China. |
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Data for Indonesia include Timor-Leste
through 1999 unless otherwise noted. |
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External debt data presented for the Russian Federation prior to 1992 are for
the former Soviet Union. See About the data for table 4.16 for details. |
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World Development Indicators uses
terminology in line with the 1993 United
Nations System of National Accounts (SNA).
For example, in the 1993 SNA gross
national income (GNI) replaces gross
national product (GNP). See About the
data for tables 1.1 and 4.8. |
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Most economies continue to compile their
national accounts according to the 1968
SNA, but more and more are adopting the
1993 SNA. Economies that use the 1993
SNA are identified in Primary data
documentation. A few low-income
economies still use concepts from older SNA guidelines, including valuations
such as factor cost, in describing major
economic aggregates. |
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Classification of economies |
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For operational and analytical purposes
the World Bank’s main criterion for
classifying economies is GNI per capita.
Each economy is classified as low
income, middle income (subdivided into
lower middle and upper middle), or high
income. For income classifications see
the map on the inside front cover and
the list on the front cover flap. Low-
and middle-income economies are
sometimes referred to as developing
economies. The use of the term is
convenient; it is not intended to imply
that all economies in the group are
experiencing similar development or that
other economies have reached a preferred
or final stage of development. Note that
classification by income does not
necessarily reflect development status. |
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Because GNI per capita changes over
time, the country composition of income
groups may change from one edition of
World Development Indicators to the
next. Once the classification is fixed
for an edition, based on GNI per capita
in the most recent year for which data
are available (2004 in this edition),
all historical data presented are based
on the same country grouping. |
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Low-income economies are those with a
GNI per capita of $825 or less in 2004.
Middle-income economies are those with a
GNI per capita of more than $825 but
less than $10,066. Lower-middle-income
and upper-middle-income economies are
separated at a GNI per capita of $3,255.
High-income economies are those with a
GNI per capita of $10,066 or more. The
12 participating member countries of the
European Monetary Union (EMU) are
presented as a subgroup under
high-income economies. |
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Symbols |
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.. |
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means that data are not available or
that aggregates cannot be calculated
because of missing data in the years
shown. |
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0 or 0.0 |
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means zero or less than half the unit
shown. |
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/ |
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in dates, as in 2003/04, means that the
period of time, usually 12 months,
straddles two calendar years and refers
to a crop year, a survey year, an
academic year, or a fiscal year. |
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$ |
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means current U.S. dollars unless
otherwise noted. |
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> |
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means more than. |
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< |
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means less than. |
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Data presentation conventions |
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A blank means not
applicable or, for an aggregate, not
analytically meaningful. |
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A billion is 1,000 million. |
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A trillion is 1,000 billion. |
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Figures in italics refer to years or periods other than those specified or to
growth rates calculated for less than the full period specified. |
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Data for years that are more than three years from the range shown are
footnoted. |
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The cutoff date for data is February 1,
2006. |
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