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P O L I T Y -- NATIONS OF THE WORLD DATABASE

The polity dataset: Some 120 socioeconomic and political variables
on 111 nations for the early 1980s

It is available in SPSS form as polity.por


These data consist of 117 variables on 111 nations of the world. The observations were taken about 1980. The data came from a database compiled by Magoula Popi at North Carolina State University. The original 116 variables are explained in a paper, "Nations of the World Database," edited by G. David Garson. The explanations in that paper have been reproduced and linked to the variables below. Before doing any serious research with this data set, be sure to study the variables that you plan to use. The 117th variable, REGION, was added to the original set of 116 variables described in that paper.

SPSS Name

Description of the variable

Minimum

Mean

Maximum

Skew
ness

Kurto
sis

Valid Cases

NATION

ALPHABETIC NAME
go here to see the list of nations

REGION

REGIONAL PLACEMENT

1

4.24

7

-0.1

-1.27

111

 

REGION    seven world regions
                                     Valid     Cum
Value Label   Value  Frequency  Percent  Percent  Percent
                        
ANGLO-AMERICAN    1       5      4.5      4.5      4.5
EUROPEAN          2      17     15.3     15.3     19.8
LATIN AMERICAN    3      23     20.7     20.7     40.5
ASIA              4      15     13.5     13.5     54.1
MIDDLE EAST       5      11      9.9      9.9     64.0
AFRICA            6      32     28.8     28.8     92.8
EASTERN EUROPE    7       8      7.2      7.2    100.0
                        -----  ------  ------
   Total                111    100.0    100.0
Population Variables
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POPULA60

POPULATION SIZE IN 1960

292000

26484757

683000000

6.44

46.49

111

POPULA70

POPULATION SIZE IN 1970

326000

32109829

839000000

6.54

47.45

111

POPULA81

POPULATION SIZE IN 1981

366000

40448135

1060000000

6.6

47.85

111

POPUGROW

ANNUAL POPULATION GROWTH RATE

-2.4

1.97

6.2

-0.13

0.92

111

BIRTHRAT

LIVE BIRTHS PER 1000 INHABITANTS

9.5

33.28

50.8

-0.36

-1.48

111

DEATHRAT

NUMBER DEATHS PER 1000 INHABITANTS

4.1

13.21

25.4

0.56

-0.94

111

FERTRATE

LIVE BIRTHS PER 1000 FEMALES 15 TO 49

38.9

144.77

262.7

-0.22

-1.41

111

POPUDENS

POPULATION DENSITY PER SQUARE KM

2

127.37

4067

8.65

82.11

107

POPURBAN

% POPULATION LIVING IN URBAN LOCALITIES

5

48.27

100

0.16

-1.04

108

MALEPOPU

% OF MALES IN TOTAL POPULATION

46.8

49.83

57.2

1.35

6.96

108
Political Variables
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AGENATIO

AGE OF NATIONS IN 1983

8

168.91

4900

7.88

70.9

111

SIZECABI

NUMBER OF CABINET MEMBERS

9

21.23

49

1.21

1.85

111

CIVILDOR

CIVIL DISORDER INDEX

2

692.46

8470

3.84

16.34

109

DEATHPOL

DEATHS FROM POLITICAL VIOLENCE

1

32634.54

1995417

8.84

82.83

104

EXECHANG

CHANGES IN THE EXECUTIVE CABINET

3

39.07

245

2.43

11.15

109

DEMOCIND

INDEX OF DEMOCRATIZATION

0

7.8

40.3

1.46

0.78

105

ELECTPCN

DEGREE OF ELECTORAL PARTICIPATION

0

26.49

72.1

0.5

-0.96

105

FORMGVMT

VERBAL DESCRIPTION OF GOVT

POLTYPE

RECODE 'FORMGVMT' TO NOMINAL SCALE

1

7.26

20

0.59

-0.8

103

PRACRELI

PERSONAL RIGHTS TO PRACTICE ANY RELIGION

0

2.56

3

-2.13

4.38

81

SOCECEQW

RIGHT TO SOCIAL/ECONOMIC EQUALITY WOMEN

0

1.44

2

-0.76

-0.45

81

SOCECEQM

RIGHT TO SOCIAL/ECON EQUALITY MINORITIES

0

2

3

-0.53

-0.26

81
Social Homogeneity, Rights
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POLEGEQW

POLITICAL/LEGAL EQUALITY FOR WOMEN

0

1.59

3

-0.61

0.19

81

HOMOGEIN

HOMOGENEITY INDEX, IN PERCENTAGE

7

59.74

100

-0.18

-1.51

110

CHRISTIA

% OF CHRISTIANS IN NATIONAL POPULATIONS

0

55.36

99.5

-0.32

-1.62

111

HUMARIGH

HUMAN RIGHTS RATING %

0

60.6

98

-0.11

-1.18

82
Income and Finance
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GNPPCA65

GNP PER CAPITA IN US DOLLARS-1965

55

556.99

3270

1.98

4.09

108

GNP1980

GNP IN US MILLION DOLLLARS-1980

530

105304.81

2582460

5.85

40.48

106

GNPPCA80

GNP PER CAPITA IN US DOLLARS-1980

120

3559.33

22080

1.68

2.41

105

GNPGROW

PER CAPITA GNP GROWTH RATE IN %

-9.6

2.31

11

-0.31

2.08

105

CURRENCY

GAIN OR LOSS IN EXCHANGE PER US DOLLAR

-14124.4

-257

111.35

-9.14

87.71

101

SAVINGRA

AVERAGE NATIONAL SAVING RATE IN %

-5.1

18.71

67.6

1.37

4.74

94

CPIALL

CONSUMER PRICE INDEX-- ALL ITEMS

100.7

17571.84

1104718

7.95

66.02

99
Government Spending and Military
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PUBREVPC

GOVERNMENT REVENUES PER CAPITA IN $

10.37

1145.36

19604.23

5.5

40.23

110

PUBEXPC

PUBLIC EXPENDITURES PER CAPITA IN $

1.31

1136.65

8538.33

2.01

4.23

111

ECOAIDUS

U.S. ECONOMIC AID RECEIVED FROM 1946-81

0.8

966.25

10397.2

3.1

10.44

106

ARMENWOM

MEN AND WOMEN UNDER ARMS

690

213910.33

4750000

5.91

37.78

106

SOLCIVRA

SOLDIER/CIVILIAN RATIO PER 1,000

0.3

6.94

44.6

2.42

8.34

111

DFNSEXPE

DEFENSE SPENDING AS % OF GNP

0.2

4.18

29.8

3.09

11.52

107
Agricultural Sector
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AGRIGROW

AVERAGE ANNUAL AGRICULTURAL GROWTH RATE

-2.9

2.25

9.2

0.38

1.63

108

LANDCULT

% OF LAND UNDER ACTUAL CULTIVATION

0.2

18.51

66

1.02

0.34

107

FOODPROD

AVG INDEX OF FOOD PRODUCTION PER CAPITA

69

103.58

157

0.49

0.23

106

LANDIRRI

IRRIGATED LAND AS % OF TOTAL CROPLAND

0.1

2.93

18.6

1.72

2.85

91

FORESTLA

% OF LAND UNDER FORESTS

1

28.12

72

0.46

-0.89

102

LVCKGROW

LIVESTOCK GROWTH RATE IN %

-13.7

3.28

13.5

-0.88

11.52

111
Labor Force
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WORKPOPU

% OF POPULATION WORKING AGE 15-64

20.7

38.37

59.5

0.11

-0.78

110

WOMENLBR

% OF WOMEN IN LABOR FORCE

4

28.49

49

-0.38

-0.7

111

CHILDLBR

CHILDREN IN LABOR FORCE PER 100 PEOPLE

1

11.42

42

1.05

0.17

100

DEPENDRA

DEPENDENCY RATIO: DEPENDENTS TO INDEP

464.8

771.45

1023.5

-0.33

-1.42

110

AGRICLBR

% OF LABOR FORCE IN AGRICULTURE

1.3

42.21

94.4

0.11

-1.21

110

INDUSLBR

% OF LABOR FORCE IN INDUSTRY

2

23.73

53

0.22

-0.93

107

UNEMPLOY

% OF UNEMPLOYED

0.1

4.61

27.4

1.96

7.76

82

SERVILBR

% OF LABOR FORCE IN SERVICES

5

34.7

66

0.03

-1.22

107

LABORGRO

ANNUAL GROWTH RATE OF LABOR FORCE

0

2.05

3.6

-0.52

-1.03

107
Communications
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MAILDOME

DOMESTIC MAIL PER CAPITA

0.1

56.01

416

1.85

3.13

93

TELEPHON

TELEPHONES PER 100 INHABITANTS

0.1

12.32

77

1.84

2.6

106

RADIOREC

RADIO RECEIVERS PER 1000 INHABITANTS

8

251.44

2099

3.18

15.25

110

TELEVSET

PER CAPITA TV SETS PER 1000 INHABITANTS

0.1

134.11

624

1.11

0.52

103

NEWSPRCO

CONSUMPTION OF NEWSPRINT PER 1000 PEOPLE

16

6367.25

45430

2.07

3.6

102

CINEMAST

COMMERCIAL CINEMA SEATS PER 1000 PEOPLE

0.6

19.78

112.4

2.1

4.82

71

NEWSPCRN

CIRCULATION OF DAILY NEWSPAPERS PER 1000

0.5

121.77

569

1.37

0.99

100

INDRDTVN

INDEPENDENT RADIO/TV NETWORKS

0

1.23

3

0.26

-1.56

81

POLCENPR

POLITICAL CENSORSHIP OF PRESS

0

1.4

3

0.16

-1.42

81

CENMAITE

CENSORSHIP OF MAIL OR PHONE-TAPPING

0

1.57

3

-0.07

-1.5

81
Public Health
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PHYSICIA

NUMBER OF INHABITANTS PER PHYSICIAN

289

7129.76

73191

3.05

12.42

110

NURSMDWV

NUMBER OF INHABITANT PER NURSE/MIDWIFE

101

1112.88

3822

0.97

0.34

104

PUBHEALT

PUBLIC HEALTH EXPENDITURES PER CAPITA

1

115.24

924

2.24

4.52

108

MALELIFE

LIFE EXPECTATION FOR MALES

29

55.82

72.31

-0.31

-1.21

111

FEMALIFE

LIFE EXPECTANCE FOR FEMALES

35

59.96

78.65

-0.18

-1.38

111

INFANMOR

DEATHS OF INFANTS UNDER 1/1000 BIRTHS

7.3

70.39

259

0.88

-0.42

109

PHYQUAIN

PHYSICAL QUALITY OF LIFE INDEX

17

65.63

98

-0.36

-1.32

111

HOSPBEDS

POPULATION PER HOSPITAL BED

65

656.06

6204

3.92

17.7

111
Education
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MALELTRC

MALE LITERACY RATE AS A %

2

64.35

100

-0.49

-1.14

108

FEMALTRC

FEMALE LITERACY RATE AS A %

0

51.75

100

-0.09

-1.62

105

PRIMASCH

GROSS PRIMARY SCHOOL ENROLLMENT RATIO

23

90.68

128

-1.24

0.8

108

SECONSCH

GROSS SECONDARY SCHOOL ENROLLMENT RATIO

3

47.55

105

0.17

-1.27

110

POSTENR

NUMBER POST SECONDARY STUDENTS/1000

8

1006.61

5227

1.32

2.64

110

PUPLTCHR

SCHOOL AGE POPULATION PER TEACHER

18

68.82

337

2.5

6.95

110

EDUCEXPC

EDUCATIONAL EXPENDITURES PER CAPITA

2

164.35

1164

1.97

3.23

110

WOMUNIV

% OF WOMEN IN UNIVERSITY ENROLLMENT

5

33.35

57

-0.18

-0.8

110

UNIVPROF

TOTAL NUMBER OF UNIVERSITY PROFESSORS

62

31446.04

822000

6.29

46.97

97

EDUEXPEN

EDUCATION EXPENSES AS A % OF GNP

1.3

4.51

9.8

0.47

-0.26

108
Trade
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PRIMPREX

% OF PRIMARY COMMODITIES IN EXPORTS

2.8

62.77

99.7

-0.42

-1.24

105

BALOFTRA

TOTAL BALANCE OF TRADE IN US DOLLARS

-39086

-919.12

20292

-2.8

27.31

107

EXPORTPC

EXPORTS PER CAPITA IN US DOLLARS

7

905.68

8689

2.67

7.78

106

IMPORTPC

IMPORTS PER CAPITA IN US DOLLARS

10

914.86

7472

2.47

6.43

107

AGRSHGDP

AGRICULTURE^S % SHARE OF THE GDP

1

21.89

76

0.95

0.44

92

INDSHGDP

INDUSTRY'S % SHARE OF THE GDP

5

34.9

79

0.8

0.65

93

SERSHGDP

SERVICES' % SHARE OF THE GDP

13

43.25

65

-0.49

-0.51

93

TOURIARR

ANNUAL REPORTED TOURIST ARRIVALS IN 1000

5

3076.39

38027

3.37

11.65

107

TOURIREC

TOTAL TOURIST RECEIPTS IN MILLION $

3

902.75

10087

3.13

9.23

106

HOTELBED

NUMBER OF HOTEL BEDS IN 1000

1

142.28

4000

6.59

51.1

98
Energy Production and Consumption
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ENERGPRO

TOTAL PRODUCTION OF ENERGY

1

91225.76

2090349

5.73

34.84

99

ENERGCON

PER CAPITA CONSUMPTION OF ENERGY KG

11

1987.98

14906

2

5.01

110

ENPROGRO

AVG ANNUAL GROWTH RATE ENERGY PROD

-62.2

6.43

60

-0.2

10.71

97

ENCONGRO

ANNUAL GROWTH RATE OF ENERGY CONSUM

-8.1

5.22

27.6

1.03

3.15

107
Housing
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HSHDSIZE

AVERAGE SIZE OF HOUSEHOLDS

1.1

4.28

6

-0.45

-0.91

102

HOMEOSHP

% HOUSEHOLDS OWNING THEIR DWELLINGS

-2

56.19

91.7

-0.58

0.31

78

DWELLSIZ

AVG NUMBER ROOMS PER DWELLING

1.1

3.18

6.4

0.61

-0.22

79

LIVNGSPC

AVG NUMBER OF PERSONS PER ROOM

0.4

1.69

3.4

0.24

-1.05

83

DWELWATE

% OCCUPIED DWELLINGS W/O SAFE WATER

0.1

40.85

97.1

0.03

-1.32

77
Food and Consumer Welfare
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CEREALCO

CEREAL--GRAMS/DAY PER CAP. CONSUMPTION

79

310.1

575

0.1

-0.44

109

FISHCONS

FISH--GRAMS/DAY PER CAP. CONSUMPTION

0.5

25.53

114

1.68

2.98

109

MEATCONS

MEAT--GRAMS/DAY PER CAP. CONSUMPTION

4

90.43

304

1.18

0.41

109

VEGETBCO

VEGETABLES-GRAMS/DAY PER/CAP CONSUMPTION

4

139.06

453

1.07

0.49

109

MILKCONS

MILK--GRAMS/DAY PER CAP. CONSUMPTION

0.5

8.97

32

0.98

0.02

108

PROTECON

PROTEIN-% OF FAO AND WHO DAILY REQUIR.

90

177.08

311

0.45

-0.81

109

CALORCON

CALORIES-% OF FAO AND WHO DAILY REQUIR.

74

110.12

150

0.12

-1.02

110

CONSUMPC

PER CAPITA CONSUMPTION INDEX, 1970

55.8

121.71

276.7

1.93

10.39

97

CONSEXPC

CONSUMER EXPENDITURES PER CAPITA IN US $

45

1891.99

10706

1.74

2.06

109

ELECTCON

PER CAPITA CONSUMPTION ELECTRIC KWH

14

2035.09

20228

2.79

10.14

111

INSP

INDEX OF NET SOCIAL PROGRESS

-19

105.14

196

-0.06

-0.76

97
Transportation
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RAILTRAC

SQ KM OF NATIONAL TERR PER KM RAILRD

7.3

971.83

67447.9

9.94

99.44

101

ROADLENG

NATIONAL TERR IN SQ KM PER KM ROADS

0.24

17

154.07

3.32

12.35

111

CARPASSE

REGISTERED PASSENGER CARS/1000 PEOPLE

0.78

104.07

529.92

1.45

0.91

94

AIRCRCIV

TOTAL REGISTERED CIVIL AIRCRAFT

1

84.07

3208

8.98

85.73

101