Brazil
Population: 189.6 million
Climate: Varies from tropical in north, temperate in south.
Economy: GDP of $1.58 trillion, major trading partners include China, US, Argentina and Germany.
Government: Federal republic with President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
Famous for: Football, the Rio Carnival, beaches.
Star Player: TOTUS.
Top IT industry: Software and IT services.
Major IT contributions: Lua - a scripting language that's become the standard for games - was created in Brazil.
Ivory Coast
Population: 20,000,000
Climate: Tropical
Economy: GDP of $23.4 billion, major trading partners include France and the US.
Government: Presidential republic with president Laurent Gbagbo
Famous for: Didier Drogba, Comoe National Park
Star Player: Cote D'Ivoire Telecom
Top IT industry: Telecoms
Portugal
Population: 10.6 million
Climate: Mediterranean
Economy: GDP of $243 billion, major trading partners include EU nations, the US and Brazil.
Government: Parliamentary democracy, with President Cavaco Silva.
Famous for: Figo, the Algarve, beaches.
Star Player: Novabase
Top IT industry: Software/telecoms
Major IT contributions: Known as a major supporter of solar power. The 46 MW Moura photovoltaic power station is one of the biggest of its kind in Europe.
North Korea
Population: 23 million
Climate: Cool, continental
Economy: GDP CIA estimate of $40 billion
Government: Centralist one-party state led by Workers' Party of Korea. Kim Il Sung is the Eternal President, but Kim Jong Il is the de facto leader.
Famous for: Political problems over nuclear weapons, Kim Jong Il.
Star Player: Korea Computer Centre Sinhung Company software development group.
Top IT industry: Software
Major IT contributions: Nothing of mention at yet, although the nation is becoming increasingly involved in outsourcing, Nosotek being one notable firm in the country.
