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

2. 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

3. 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. 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. 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

6. 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.

7. 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

8. 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.

9. 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