One of the strengths of the "Factbook .." is its standardarized format, but at the same time this is also one of its weaknesses. For example, for every country there's a 'slot' for
'Independence', but for some countries this is a nonsensical concept. The 2002ed. gives 486 as the year of independence for France. From what or whom did who exactly gain independence in 486? Is it something that the French themselves are aware of? France didn't 'gain independence'; it emerged during the Middle Ages, like a number of other European countries. N'doubt 486 was a date of some significance in the consolidation of the Kingdom of the Franks, but France didn't exist then even as a concept ...

It seems to me that the editors sometimes are unable to make essential conceptual leaps.

I'm just cracking up at that one there...as that's old Clovis and the battle of Soissons...I'll give the little one a heads up on that, probably a date to remember.

Quote:

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Anglican 26.1%, Roman Catholic 26%, other Christian 24.3%, non-Christian 11%, other 12.6%

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I don't understand, what is the difference between "non-Christian" and "other"?

Here in Ireland apparently the religious percentages goes as follows:
Catholic 91.6% Anglican 2.5% Other 5.9%
Now theres a shocker, who would have thought - sarcasm mode off now - I think this may be changing a little at the moment and the fugures are slightly out of date. We have quite an influx of asylum seekers theese days, mostly North African and Eastern European and they are having families here so I think the make up will alter a little from now on. Ireland is finally growing up I think.