Spanish Speaking Countries of the World By: Asma Akther

Cuba Capital: La Habana Population: 11,477,459 Primary Language: Spanish Primary Language: nominally 85% Roman Catholic prior to CASTRO assuming power; Protestants; Jehovah’s Witnesses, Jews and Santeria are also represented. Government type: Communist state. Imports: petroleum, food, machinery and equipment, chemicals. Exports: sugar, nickel, tobacco, fish, medical products, citrus, coffee. Major Geographical Features: mostly flat to rolling plains with rugged hills and mountains in the southeast.

Dominican Republic Capital: Santo Domingo Population: 9, 784, 487 Primary Language: Spanish Primary Religion: Roman Catholic 95%; other 5% Government type: Democratic Republic Imports: foodstuffs, petroleum, cotton and fabrics, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals. Exports: ferronickel, sugar, gold, silver, coffee, cocoa, tobacco, meats, consumer goods. Major Geographical Features: Cordillera Central (Pico Duarte, 3,175 m), Lake Enriquillo

Puerto Rico Capital: San Juan Population: 3, 977, 663 Primary Language: Spanish, English Primary Religion: Roman Catholic 85%; Protestant and other 15%. Government Type: Commonwealth Imports: chemicals, machinery and equipment, clothing, food, fish, petroleum products. Exports: chemicals, electronics, apparel, canned tuna, rum, beverage concentrates, medical equipment. Major Geographical Features: Central Interior Mountain Ranges, Northern Karst, Coastal Plains.

Mexico Capital: Mexico City Population: 111,211,789 Primary Language: Spanish only 92.7%, Spanish and indigenous languages 5.7%, indigenous only 0.8%, unspecified 0.8%; note - indigenous languages include various Mayan, Nahuatl, and other regional languages Primary Religion: Roman Catholic 76.5%, Protestant 6.3% (Pentecostal 1.4%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.1%, other 3.8%), other 0.3%, unspecified 13.8%, none 3.1% Government Type: Federal Republic Imports: metalworking machines, steel mill products, agricultural machinery, electrical equipment, car parts for assembly, repair parts for motor vehicles, aircraft, and aircraft parts Exports: manufactured goods, oil and oil products, silver, fruits, vegetables, coffee, cotton. Major Geographical Features: Sierra Madre Occidental, Sierra Madre Oriental, and the Sierra Madre Del Sur

Guatemala Capitol: Guatemala Population:13,276,517 Primary Language: Spanish 60%, Amerindian languages 40% (23 officially recognized Amerindian languages, including Quiche, Cakchiquel, Kekchi, Mam, Garifuna, and Xinca) Primary Religion: Roman Catholic, Protestant, indigenous Mayan beliefs Government Type: Constitutional Democratic Republic Imports: fuels, machinery and transport equipment, construction materials, grain, fertilizers, electricity Exports: coffee, sugar, petroleum, apparel, bananas, fruits and vegetables, cardamom Major Geographical Features: Guatemala has 33 volcanoes!, Lake Peten Itza, Lake de Atitlan, Lake de Izaba

El Salvador Capitol: San Salvador Population: 7,185, 218 Primary Language: Spanish, Nahua (among some Amerindians) Primary Religion: Roman Catholic 57.1%, Protestant 21.2%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.9%, Mormon 0.7%, other religions 2.3%, none 16.8% Government Type: Republic Imports: raw materials, consumer goods, capital goods, fuels, foodstuffs, petroleum, electricity Exports: offshore assembly exports, coffee, sugar, textiles and apparel, gold, ethanol, chemicals, electricity, iron and steel manufactures Major Geographical Features: El Salvador has over 300 rivers, the most important of which is the Rio Lempa

Honduras Capitol: Tegucigalpa Population: 7,833,696 Primary Language: Spanish, Amerindian dialects Primary Religion: Roman Catholic 97%, Protestant 3% Government Type: Democratic Constitutional Republic Imports: machinery and transport equipment, industrial raw materials, chemical products, fuels, foodstuffs Exports: apparel, coffee, shrimp, wire harnessing, cigars, bananas, gold, palm oil, fruit, lobster, lumber Major Geographical Features: the islands of Roatán (Isla de Roatán), Utila, and Guanaja together form Islas de la Bahia (Bay Islands),

Nicaragua Capitol: Managua Population: 5,891,199 Primary Language: Spanish 97.5% (official), Miskito 1.7%, other 0.8% Primary Religion: Roman Catholic 58.5%, Evangelical 21.6%, Moravian 1.6%, Jehovah's Witness 0.9%, other 1.7%, none 15.7% Government Type: Republic Imports: consumer goods, machinery and equipment, raw materials, petroleum products Exports: coffee, beef, shrimp and lobster, tobacco, sugar, gold, peanuts, textiles and apparel Major Geographical Features: the Pacific Lowlands, the Amerrique Mountains(North-Central Highlands), and the Mosquito Coast (Atlantic Lowlands).