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BBC Country Profiles

This tutorial introduces SQL as a query language. We will be using the SELECT command on the table bbc:
name region area population gdp
Afghanistan South Asia 652225 26000000
Albania Europe 28728 3200000 6656000000
Algeria Middle East 2400000 32900000 75012000000
Andorra Europe 468 64000
...

Exercises

Using the SELECT statement.

1a. Read the notes about this table. Issue the command: SELECT name, region, population FROM bbc. Look at the output.

Results

Before attempting the following questions read this! How to use WHERE to filter records.

2a. Show the name for the four countries that have a population of at least 200 million. (200 million is 200000000, there are eight zeros)

Results
2b. Give the name and the per capita GDP for those countries with a population of at least 200 million.

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2c. Show the name and population in millions for the countries of 'Asia' (Simply divide the population by 1000000 and round to the nearest integer).

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2d. Show the name and population for 'France', 'Germany', 'Italy'

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2e. Identify the countries which have names including the word 'United'

Results

That's enough for the first tutorial. You can play an instructive game: Be the delete! or Unique Keys

Or you can learn about nested statements, these are instructive and entertaining, but rarely useful. Nested SELECT statements using the bbc table.

Or you can to continue practicing the the same techniques and gain more experience of these vital skills on the Nobel table. The WHERE statement using the nobel table.