v, 457 pages ; 29 cm

"Contains statistical and narrative details about political subdivisions of each country in the world ... recommended"--Booklist/RBB

"Useful ... should be part of ready reference collections in libraries of all sizes"--Choice

"A fascinating sociopolitical look at how the earth has been divided into more or less discrete sections ... essential"--C & RL News

"Extensive reference work ... contains a great deal of onomastic information"--Names

In marked contrast to the United States, with its territorial stability, some countries, such as Bulgaria and Ethiopia, reorganize their regional subdivisions frequently. This large-format reference work simplifies the comparison of decades' worth of data from such countries: "With this book in hand, one can answer any administrative subdivision question about any state or province in the world from 1900 through 1998"--Abstracts of Public Administration, Development and Environment

For each country there is at least one table, and usually several. Histories of subdivision changes and lists of alternate names for subdivisions in each country add to the work's research value. All relevant national and international standards such as ISO and FIPS codes are listed, as well as time zones, populations, areas and capitals for each subdivision. There is a comprehensive index of names

A former mathematics professor, Gwillim Law is a data administrator for a company that maintains worldwide geographical information. He lives in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. --Book Jacket

Includes bibliographical references (pages 419-420) and index