World Introduction - 2022

GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES 

Background

Globally, the 20th century was marked by: (a) two devastating World Wars; (b) the Great Depression of the 1930s; (c) the end of vast colonial empires; (d) rapid advances in science and technology, from the first airplane flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina (US) to the landing on the moon; (e) the Cold War between the Western alliance and the Warsaw Pact nations; (f) a sharp rise in living standards in North America, Europe, and Japan; (g) increased concerns about environmental degradation including deforestation, energy and water shortages, declining biological diversity, and air pollution; (h) the onset of the AIDS epidemic; and (i) the ultimate emergence of the US as the only world superpower. The planet's population continues to explode: from 1 billion in 1820 to 2 billion in 1930, 3 billion in 1960, 4 billion in 1974, 5 billion in 1987, 6 billion in 1999, 7 billion in 2012, and 8 billion in 2022. For the 21st century, the continued exponential growth in science and technology raises both hopes (e.g., advances in medicine and agriculture) and fears (e.g., development of even more lethal weapons of war).

World Cup 2022

Special World Cup One-Page Country Summaries of the eight quarterfinalists of this quadrennial football (soccer) tournament.

FIFA World Cup 2022 Quarterfinalist - ArgentinaFIFA World Cup 2022 Quarterfinalist - BrazilFIFA World Cup 2022 Quarterfinalist - CroatiaFIFA World Cup 2022 Quarterfinalist - EnglandFIFA World Cup 2022 Quarterfinalist - FranceFIFA World Cup 2022 Quarterfinalist - MoroccoFIFA World Cup 2022 Quarterfinalist - NetherlandsFIFA World Cup 2022 Quarterfinalist - Portugal

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Definitions and Notes

NOTE: The information regarding World on this page is re-published from the 2022 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency and other sources. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of World 2022 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about World 2022 should be addressed to the CIA or the source cited on each page.