Argentina (ARG) is located in the Southeastern portion of South America, spanning along the coastline of the Atlantic Ocean, east of Chile and south of Bolivia and Paraguay. The government of Argentina is a republic. The legal system is based on a mixture of US and Western European legal systems.

The country had a 1999 population of some 36.7 million, with a density of 13.28 per square kilometer. The population is fairly young with 27% under 14 years of age and 11% over 65 years. The population growth rate is a positive 1.29%, due to a strong birth/death rate, a high fertility rate (2.66/woman), a life expectancy around 75 years, and a moderate net in-migration rate.

Australia (AST) , popularly known as "Down Under" is located on an island continent in the Southeastern region of Asia. Due to its remote location, Australia is sometimes classified into a separate region (e.g., Austra-Oceana). As the sixth largest country in the world, it has a diverse range of geographic regions ranging from tropical forests to snowy mountains. The government is a democratic, federal-state system with strong ties to the British monarchy and a legal system based on English common law.

The country has a 1999 population of some 18.7 million, with a low density of 2.5 per square kilometer. The age composition is somewhat bimodal, with a somewhat higher than average concentration under 14 years (21%) and over 65 years (13%). Life expectancy is relatively long (80 years), with strong net immigration (2.66/1000). The birth/death ratio is above average (13/7), with fertility at 1.8/woman).

Austria (AUS) is located in Central Europe, north of Italy and Slovenia, south of Germany and The Czech Republic, and west of Hungary and Slovakia. The country is formally known as the Republic of Austria, with a federal republic governmental structure and a civil law legal system with Roman law origins.

The country had a 1999 population count of some 8.2 million. In terms of age distribution, the under 14 year category was above average at 17%, while the 65+ group accounted for 15% of the population. The population growth rate is flat, despited a 1.32/1000 net in-migration rate. Although life expectancy is solid, the aging population (15% over 65 years) and the negative birth/death ratio of 9.6/10 will pose additional challenges going forward.

Belgium (BEL) is located in Western Europe, lying north of France, west of Germany and Luxembourg, and south of the Netherlands and the North Sea. The government is a federal parliamentary democracy that is run by a constitutional monarch. The legal system is a civil law system which is influenced by English constitutional law.

Belgium had a 1999 population of 10.2 million, with a higher than average (17%) concentration in the "under 14 year" and "over 65" groupings. The population growth rate is rather flat, with moderate in-migration offsetting a slightly higher death rate versus the birth rate.

Belize (BEL) is a small country located in Central America, extending south from the eastern tip of Mexico, lying between Guatemala to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east. The government is a parliamentary democracy with a legal ssytem built on English law.

Formerly known as British Honduras, Belize had a 1999 population of some 235,000, ranking it among the smaller countries. Demograhically, Belize is poised for strong internal growth (2.42%), with 42% under 14 years of age, a strong birth/death rate of 30.2/5.4, and a high fertility rate (3.74/woman). Despite strong internal growth, net migration is slightly negative, due in part to limited domestic opportunities.