The Project Gutenberg EBook of The 1999 CIA Factbook, by
United States. Central Intelligence Agency.
This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
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re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
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Title: The 1999 CIA Factbook
Author: United States. Central Intelligence Agency.
Release Date: December 31, 2008 [EBook #27676]
Language: English
*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE 1999 CIA FACTBOOK ***
Produced by Al Haines
The World Factbook 1999
In general, information available as of 1 January 1999 was used in the
preparation of this edition.
The World Factbook is prepared by the Central Intelligence Agency for
the use of US Government officials, and the style, format, coverage,
and content are designed to meet their specific requirements.
Information is provided by the Bureau of the Census (Department of
Commerce), Bureau of Labor Statistics (Department of Labor), Central
Intelligence Agency, Council of Managers of National Antarctic
Programs, Defense Intelligence Agency (Department of Defense), Defense
Threat Reduction Agency (Department of Defense), Department of State,
Fish and Wildlife Service (Department of the Interior), Maritime
Administration (Department of Transportation), National Imagery and
Mapping Agency (Department of Defense), Antarctic Information Program
(National Science Foundation), Naval Facilities Engineering Command
(Department of Defense), Office of Insular Affairs (Department of the
Interior), Office of Naval Intelligence (Department of Defense), US
Board on Geographic Names (Department of the Interior), and other
public and private sources.
The Factbook is in the public domain. Accordingly, it may be copied
freely without permission of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). The
official seal of the CIA, however, may NOT be copied without permission
as required by the CIA Act of 1949 (50 U.S.C. section 403m). Misuse of
the official seal of the CIA could result in civil and criminal
penalties.
Comments and queries are welcome and may be addressed to:
Central Intelligence Agency
Attn.: Office of Public Affairs
Washington, DC 20505
Telephone: [1] (703) 482-0623
FAX: [1] (703) 482-1739
=====================================================================
Country Listings
A
Afghanistan
Albania
Algeria
American Samoa
Andorra
Angola
Anguilla
Antarctica
Antigua and Barbuda
Arctic Ocean
Argentina
Armenia
Aruba
Ashmore and Cartier Islands
Atlantic Ocean
Australia
Austria
Azerbaijan
B
Bahamas, The
Bahrain
Baker Island
Bangladesh
Barbados
Bassas da India
Belarus
Belgium
Belize
Benin
Bermuda
Bhutan
Bolivia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Bouvet Island
Brazil
British Indian Ocean Territory
British Virgin Islands
Brunei
Bulgaria
Burkina Faso
Burma
Burundi
C
Cambodia
Cameroon
Canada
Cape Verde
Cayman Islands
Central African Republic
Chad
Chile
China
Christmas Island
Clipperton Island
Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Colombia
Comoros
Congo, Democratic Republic of the
Congo, Republic of the
Cook Islands
Coral Sea Islands
Costa Rica
Cote d'Ivoire
Croatia
Cuba
Cyprus
Czech Republic
D
Denmark
Djibouti
Dominica
Dominican Republic
E
Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Estonia
Ethiopia
Europa Island
F
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
Faroe Islands
Fiji
Finland
France
French Guiana
French Polynesia
French Southern and Antarctic Lands
G
Gabon
Gambia, The
Gaza Strip
Georgia
Germany
Ghana
Gibraltar
Glorioso Islands
Greece
Greenland
Grenada
Guadeloupe
Guam
Guatemala
Guernsey
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Guyana
H
Haiti
Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Holy See (Vatican City)
Honduras
Hong Kong
Howland Island
Hungary
I
Iceland
India
Indian Ocean
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Ireland
Israel
Italy
J
Jamaica
Jan Mayen
Japan
Jarvis Island
Jersey
Johnston Atoll
Jordan
Juan de Nova Island
K
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kingman Reef
Kiribati
Korea, North
Korea, South
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
L
Laos
Latvia
Lebanon
Lesotho
Liberia
Libya
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
M
Macau
Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
Madagascar
Malawi
Malaysia
Maldives
Mali
Malta
Man, Isle of
Marshall Islands
Martinique
Mauritania
Mauritius
Mayotte
Mexico
Micronesia, Federated States of
Midway Islands
Moldova
Monaco
Mongolia
Montserrat
Morocco
Mozambique
N
Namibia
Nauru
Navassa Island
Nepal
Netherlands
Netherlands Antilles
New Caledonia
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Niger
Nigeria
Niue
Norfolk Island
Northern Mariana Islands
Norway
O
Oman
P
Pacific Ocean
Pakistan
Palau
Palmyra Atoll
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Paracel Islands
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Pitcairn Islands
Poland
Portugal
Puerto Rico
Q
Qatar
R
Reunion
Romania
Russia
Rwanda
S
Saint Helena
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Samoa
San Marino
Sao Tome and Principe
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Serbia and Montenegro
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
Solomon Islands
Somalia
South Africa
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
Spain
Spratly Islands
Sri Lanka
Sudan
Suriname
Svalbard
Swaziland
Sweden
Switzerland
Syria
T
Taiwan entry follows Zimbabwe
Tajikistan
Tanzania
Thailand
Togo
Tokelau
Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago
Tromelin Island
Tunisia
Turkey
Turkmenistan
Turks and Caicos Islands
Tuvalu
U
Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom
United States
Uruguay
Uzbekistan
V
Vanuatu
Venezuela
Vietnam
Virgin Islands
W
Wake Atoll
Wallis and Futuna
West Bank
Western Sahara
World
Y
Yemen
Z
Zaire (see Democratic Republic of the Congo)
Zambia
Zimbabwe
Taiwan
=====================================================================
Appendixes
A. Abbreviations
B. United Nations System
C. International Organizations and Groups
D. Selected International Environmental Agreements
E. Weights and Measures
F. Cross-Reference List of Country Data Codes
G. Cross-Reference List of Hydrographic Data Codes
H. Cross-Reference List of Geographic Names
=====================================================================
Notes and Definitions
In addition to the updating of information, the following
changes have been made in this edition of The World
Factbook. The name Wake Island has been officially changed
to Wake Atoll. The Historical perspective and Current issues
entries in the Introduction category have been combined into
a new Background entry. It appears in only a few country
profiles at this time. There are new entries on Population
below poverty line, Household income or consumption by
percentage share, Electricity--production by source (fossil
fuel, hydro, nuclear, other), Electricity--exports, and
Electricity--imports. A new reference map of Kosovo has been
included and terrain has been added to most of the reference
maps.
Abbreviations: This information is included in Appendix A:
Abbreviations, which includes all abbreviations and acronyms
used in the Factbook, with their expansions.
Administrative divisions: This entry generally gives the
numbers, designatory terms, and first-order administrative
divisions as approved by the US Board on Geographic Names
(BGN). Changes that have been reported but not yet acted on
by BGN are noted.
Age structure: This entry provides the distribution of the
population according to age. Information is included by sex
and age group (0-14 years, 15-64 years, 65 years and over).
The age structure of a population affects a nation's key
socioeconomic issues. Countries with young populations (high
percentage under age 15) need to invest more in schools,
while countries with older populations (high percentage ages
65 and over) need to invest more in the health sector. The
age structure can also be used to help predict potential
political issues. For example, the rapid growth of a young
adult population unable to find employment can lead to
unrest.
Agriculture--products: This entry is a rank ordering of major
crops and products starting with the most important.
Airports: This entry gives the total number of airports. The
runway(s) may be paved (concrete or asphalt surfaces) or
unpaved (grass, dirt, sand, or gravel surfaces), but must be
usable. Not all airports have facilities for refueling,
maintenance, or air traffic control.
Airports--with paved runways: This entry gives the total
number of airports with paved runways (concrete or asphalt
surfaces). For airports with more than one runway, only the
longest runway is included according to the following five
groups --(1) over 3,047 m, (2) 2,438 to 3,047 m, (3) 1,524 to
2,437 m, (4) 914 to 1,523 m, and (5) under 914 m. Only
airports with usable runways are included in this listing.
Not all airports have facilities for refueling, maintenance,
or air traffic control.
Airports--with unpaved runways: This entry gives the total
number of airports with unpaved runways (grass, dirt, sand,
or gravel surfaces). For airports with more than one runway,
only the longest runway is included according to the
following five groups--(1) over 3,047 m, (2) 2,438 to 3,047
m, (3) 1,524 to 2,437 m, (4) 914 to 1,523 m, and (5) under
914 m. Only airports with usable runways are included in
this listing. Not all airports have facilities for
refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control.
Appendixes: This section includes Factbook-related material
by topic.
Area: This entry includes three subfields. Total area is the
sum of all land and water areas delimited by international
boundaries and/or coastlines. Land area is the aggregate of
all surfaces delimited by international boundaries and/or
coastlines, excluding inland water bodies (lakes,
reservoirs, rivers). Water area is the sum of all water
surfaces delimited by international boundaries and/or
coastlines, including inland water bodies (lakes,
reservoirs, rivers).
Area--comparative: This entry provides an area comparison
based on total area equivalents. Most entities are compared
with the entire US or one of the 50 states based on area
measurements (1990 revised) provided by the US Bureau of the
Census. The smaller entities are compared with Washington,
DC (178 sq km, 69 sq mi) or The Mall in Washington, DC (0.59
sq km, 0.23 sq mi, 146 acres).
Background: This entry usually highlights major historic
events, current issues, and may include a statement about
one or two key future trends. This entry appears for only a
few countries at the present time, but will be added to all
countries in the future.
Birth rate: This entry gives the average annual number of
births during a year per 1,000 persons in the population at
midyear; also known as crude birth rate. The birth rate is
usually the dominant factor in determining the rate of
population growth. It depends on both the level of fertility
and the age structure of the population.
Budget: This entry includes revenues, total expenditures,
and capital expenditures. These figures are calculated on an
exchange rate basis, i.e., not in purchasing power parity
(PPP) terms.
Capital: This entry gives the location of the seat of
government.
Climate: This entry includes a brief description of typical
weather regimes throughout the year.
Coastline: This entry gives the total length of the boundary
between the land area (including islands) and the sea.
Communications: This category deals with the means of
exchanging information and includes the telephone, radio,
and television entries.
Communications--note: This entry includes miscellaneous
communications information of significance not included
elsewhere.
Constitution: This entry includes the dates of adoption,
revisions, and major amendments.
Country map: Most versions of the Factbook provide a country
map in color. The maps were produced from the best
information available at the time of preparation. Names
and/or boundaries may have changed subsequently.
Country name: This entry includes all forms of the country's
name approved by the US Board on Geographic Names (Italy is
used as an example): conventional long form (Italian
Republic), conventional short form (Italy), local long form
(Repubblica Italiana), local short form (Italia), former
(Kingdom of Italy), as well as the abbreviation. Also see
the Terminology note.
Currency: This entry identifies the national medium of
exchange and its basic subunit.
Data code: This entry gives the official US Government
digraph that precisely identifies every land entity without
overlap, duplication, or omission. AF, for example, is the
data code for Afghanistan. This two-letter country code is a
standardized geopolitical data element promulgated in the
Federal Information Processing Standards Publication (FIPS)
10-4 by the National Institute of Standards and Technology
at the US Department of Commerce and maintained by the
Office of the Geographer and Global Issues at the US
Department of State. The data code is used to eliminate
confusion and incompatibility in the collection, processing,
and dissemination of area-specific data and is particularly
useful for interchanging data between databases. Appendix F
cross-references various country data codes and Appendix G
does the same thing for hydrographic data codes.
Data codes--country: This information is presented in
Appendix F: Cross-Reference List of Country Data Codes which
includes the US Government approved Federal Information
Processing Standards (FIPS) codes, the International
Organization for Standardization (ISO) codes, and Internet
codes for land entities.
Data codes--hydrographic: This information is presented in
Appendix G: Cross-Reference List of Hydrographic Data Codes
which includes the International Hydrographic Organization
(IHO) codes, Aeronautical Chart and Information Center
(ACIC; now National Imagery and Mapping Agency or NIMA)
codes, and Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) codes for
hydrographic entities. The US Government has not yet
approved a standard for hydrographic data codes similar to
the FIPS 10-4 standard for country data codes.
Date of information: In general, information available as of
1 January 1999, was used in the preparation of this edition.
Death rate: This entry gives the average annual number of
deaths during a year per 1,000 population at midyear; also
known as crude death rate. The death rate, while only a
rough indicator of the mortality situation in a country,
accurately indicates the current mortality impact on
population growth. This indicator is significantly affected
by age distribution, and most countries will eventually show
a rise in the overall death rate, in spite of continued
decline in mortality at all ages, as declining fertility
results in an aging population.
Debt--external: This entry gives the total amount of public
foreign financial obligations.
Dependency status: This entry describes the formal
relationship between a particular nonindependent entity and
an independent state.
Dependent areas: This entry contains an alphabetical listing
of all nonindependent entities associated in some way with a
particular independent state.
Diplomatic representation: The US Government has diplomatic
relations with 184 independent states, including 178 of the
185 UN members (excluded UN members are Bhutan, Cuba, Iran,
Iraq, North Korea, former Yugoslavia, and the US itself). In
addition, the US has diplomatic relations with 6 independent
states that are not in the UN--Holy See, Kiribati, Nauru,
Switzerland, Tonga, and Tuvalu.
Diplomatic representation from the US: This entry includes
the chief of mission, embassy address, mailing address,
telephone number, FAX number, branch office locations,
consulate general locations, and consulate locations.
Diplomatic representation in the US: This entry includes the
chief of the foreign mission, chancery address, telephone
number, FAX number, consulate general locations, consulate
locations, honorary consulate general locations, and
honorary consulate locations.
Disputes--international: This entry includes a wide variety
of situations that range from traditional bilateral boundary
disputes to unilateral claims of one sort or another.
Information regarding disputes over international
terrestrial and maritime boundaries has been reviewed by the
US Department of State. References to other situations
involving borders or frontiers may also be included, such as
resource disputes, geopolitical questions, or irredentist
issues; however, inclusion does not necessarily constitute
official acceptance or recognition by the US Government.
Economic aid--donor: This entry refers to net official
development assistance (ODA) from OECD nations to developing
countries and multilateral organizations. ODA is defined as
financial assistance that is concessional in character, has
the main objective to promote economic development and
welfare of LDCs, and contains a grant element of at least
25%. The entry does not cover other official flows (OOF) or
private flows.
Economic aid--recipient: This entry, which is subject to
major problems of definition and statistical coverage,
refers to the net inflow of Official Development Finance
(ODF) to recipient countries. The figure includes assistance
from the World Bank, the IMF, and other international
organizations and from individual nation donors. Formal
commitments of aid are included in the data. Omitted from
the data are grants by private organizations. Aid comes in
various forms including outright grants and loans. The entry
thus is the difference between new inflows and repayments.
Economy: This category includes the entries dealing with the
size, development, and management of productive resources,
i.e., land, labor, and capital.
Economy--overview: This entry briefly describes the type of
economy, including the degree of market orientation, the
level of economic development, the most important natural
resources, and the unique areas of specialization. It also
characterizes major economic events and policy changes in
the most recent 12 months and may include a statement about
one or two key future macroeconomic trends.
Electricity--consumption: This entry consists of total
electricity generated annually plus imports and minus
exports, expressed in kilowatt hours.
Electricity--exports: This entry is the total exported
electricity in kilowatt hours.
Electricity--imports: This entry is the total imported
electricity in kilowatt hours.
Electricity--production: This entry is the annual electricity
generated expressed in kilowatt hours.
Electricity--production by source: This entry indicates the
percentage share of annual electricity production of each
energy source. These are fossil fuel, hydro, nuclear, and
other (solar, geothermal, and wind).
Elevation extremes: This entry includes both the highest
point and the lowest point.
Entities: Some of the independent states, dependencies,
areas of special sovereignty, and governments included in
this publication are not independent, and others are not
officially recognized by the US Government. "Independent
state" refers to a people politically organized into a
sovereign state with a definite territory. "Dependencies"
and "areas of special sovereignty" refer to a broad category
of political entities that are associated in some way with
an independent state. "Country" names used in the table of
contents or for page headings are usually the short-form
names as approved by the US Board on Geographic Names and
may include independent states, dependencies, and areas of
special sovereignty, or other geographic entities. There are
a total of 266 separate geographic entities in The World
Factbook that may be categorized as follows:
INDEPENDENT STATES
191 Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua
and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria,
Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados,
Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia
and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria,
Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada,
Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China,
Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo,
Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire,
Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti,
Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El
Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia,
Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia,
Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea,
Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Holy See, Honduras,
Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland,
Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya,
Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan,
Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya,
Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia,
Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania,
Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia,
Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia,
Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria,
Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea,
Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar,
Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint
Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San
Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal,
Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone,
Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia,
South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname,
Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan,
Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago,
Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine,
UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela,
Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe
OTHER
1 Taiwa
n
DEPENDENCIES AND AREAS OF SPECIAL SOVEREIGNTY
6 Australia--Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Christmas Island,
Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Coral Sea Islands, Heard Island
and McDonald Islands, Norfolk Island
1 China--Hong Kong
2 Denmark--Faroe Islands, Greenland
16 France--Bassas da India, Clipperton Island, Europa Island,
French Guiana, French Polynesia, French Southern and
Antarctic Lands, Glorioso Islands, Guadeloupe, Juan de
Nova Island, Martinique, Mayotte, New Caledonia, Reunion,
Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Tromelin Island, Wallis and
Futuna
2 Netherlands--Aruba, Netherlands Antilles
3 New Zealand--Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau
3 Norway--Bouvet Island, Jan Mayen, Svalbard
1 Portugal--Macau
15 UK--Anguilla, Bermuda, British Indian Ocean Territory,
British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands,
Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey, Isle of Man, Montserrat,
Pitcairn Islands, Saint Helena, South Georgia and the
South Sandwich Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands
14 US--American Samoa, Baker Island, Guam, Howland Island,
Jarvis Island, Johnston Atoll, Kingman Reef, Midway
Islands, Navassa Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Palmyra
Atoll, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Wake Atoll
MISCELLANEOUS
6 Antarctica, Gaza Strip, Paracel Islands, Spratly Islands,
West Bank, Western Sahara
OTHER ENTITIES
4 oceans--Arctic Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean,
Pacific Ocean
1 World
266 Tota
l
Environment--current issues: This entry lists the most
pressing and important environmental problems.
Environment--international agreements: This entry separates
country participation in international environmental
agreements into two levels--party to and signed but not
ratified. Agreements are listed in alphabetical order by the
abbreviated form of the full name.
Environmental agreements: This information is presented in
Appendix D: Selected International Environmental Agreements,
which includes the name, abbreviation, date opened for
signature, date entered into force, objective, and parties
by category.
Ethnic groups: This entry provides a rank ordering of ethnic
groups starting with the largest and normally includes the
percent of total population.
Exchange rates: This entry provides the official value of a
country's monetary unit at a given date or over a given
period of time, as expressed in units of local currency per
US dollar and as determined by international market forces
or official fiat.
Executive branch: This entry includes several subfields.
Chief of state includes the name and title of the titular
leader of the country who represents the state at official
and ceremonial functions but may not be involved with the
day-to-day activities of the government. Head of government
includes the name and title of the top administrative leader
who is designated to manage the day-to-day activities of the
government. Cabinet includes the official name for this body
of high-ranking advisers and the method for selection of
members. Elections includes the nature of election process
or accession to power, date of the last election, and date
of the next election. Election results includes the percent
of vote for each candidate in the last election. In the UK,
the monarch is the chief of state, and the prime minister is
the head of government. In the US, the president is both the
chief of state and the head of government.
Exports: This entry provides the total US dollar amount of
exports on an f.o.b. (free on board) basis.
Exports--commodities: This entry provides a rank ordering of
exported products starting with the most important; it
sometimes includes the percent of total dollar value.
Exports--partners: This entry provides a rank ordering of
trading partners starting with the most important; it
sometimes includes the percent of total dollar value.
Fiscal year: This entry identifies the beginning and ending
months for a country's accounting period of 12 months, which
often is the calendar year but which may begin in any month.
FY93/94 refers to the fiscal year that began in calendar
year 1993 and ended in calendar year 1994. All yearly
references are for the calendar year (CY) unless indicated
as a noncalendar fiscal year (FY).
Flag description: This entry provides a written flag
description produced from actual flags or the best
information available at the time the entry was written. The
flags of independent states are used by their dependencies
unless there is an officially recognized local flag. Some
disputed and other areas do not have flags.
Flag graphic: Most versions of the Factbook include a color
flag at the beginning of the country profile. The flag
graphics were produced from actual flags or the best
information available at the time of preparation. The flags
of independent states are used by their dependencies unless
there is an officially recognized local flag. Some disputed
and other areas do not have flags.
GDP: This entry gives the gross domestic product (GDP) or
value of all final goods and services produced within a
nation in a given year. GDP dollar estimates in the Factbook
are derived from purchasing power parity (PPP) calculations.
See the note on GDP methodology for more information.
GDP methodology: In the Economy section, GDP dollar
estimates for all countries are derived from purchasing
power parity (PPP) calculations rather than from conversions
at official currency exchange rates. The PPP method involves
the use of standardized international dollar price weights,
which are applied to the quantities of final goods and
services produced in a given economy. The data derived from
the PPP method provide the best available starting point for
comparisons of economic strength and well-being between
countries. The division of a GDP estimate in domestic
currency by the corresponding PPP estimate in dollars gives
the PPP conversion rate. Whereas PPP estimates for OECD
countries are quite reliable, PPP estimates for developing
countries are often rough approximations. Most of the GDP
estimates are based on extrapolation of PPP numbers
published by the UN International Comparison Program (UNICP)
and by Professors Robert Summers and Alan Heston of the
University of Pennsylvania and their colleagues. In
contrast, currency exchange rates depend on a variety of
international and domestic financial forces that often have
little relation to domestic output. In developing countries
with weak currencies the exchange rate estimate of GDP in
dollars is typically one-fourth to one-half the PPP
estimate. Furthermore, exchange rates may suddenly go up or
down by 10% or more because of market forces or official
fiat whereas real output has remained unchanged. On 12
January 1994, for example, the 14 countries of the African
Financial Community (whose currencies are tied to the French
franc) devalued their currencies by 50%. This move, of
course, did not cut the real output of these countries by
half. One important caution: the proportion of, say, defense
expenditures as a percentage of GDP in local currency
accounts may differ substantially from the proportion when
GDP accounts are expressed in PPP terms, as, for example,
when an observer tries to estimate the dollar level of
Russian or Japanese military expenditures. Note: the numbers
for GDP and other economic data can not be chained together
from successive volumes of the Factbook because of changes
in the US dollar measuring rod, revisions of data by
statistical agencies, use of new or different sources of
information, and changes in national statistical methods and
practices. For statistical series on GDP and other economic
variables, see the Handbook of International Economic
Statistics available from the same sources as The World
Factbook.
GDP--composition by sector: This entry gives the percentage
contribution of agriculture, industry, and services to total
GDP.
GDP--per capita: This entry shows GDP on a purchasing power
parity basis divided by population as of 1 July for the same
year.
GDP--real growth rate: This entry gives GDP growth on an
annual basis adjusted for inflation and expressed as a
percent.
Geographic coordinates: This entry includes rounded latitude
and longitude figures for the purpose of finding the
approximate geographic center of an entity and is based on
the Gazetteer of Conventional Names, Third Edition, August
1988, US Board on Geographic Names and on other sources.
Geographic names: This information is presented in Appendix
H: Cross-Reference List of Geographic Names which indicates
where various geographic names--including alternate names,
former names, political or geographical portions of larger
entities, and the location of all US Foreign Service
posts--can be found in The World Factbook. Spellings are
normally, but not always, those approved by the US Board on
Geographic Names (BGN). Alternate names are included in
parentheses, while additional information is included in
brackets.
Geography: This category includes the entries dealing with
the natural environment and the effects of human activity.
Geography--note: This entry includes miscellaneous geographic
information of significance not included elsewhere.
GNP: Gross national product (GNP) is the value of all final
goods and services produced within a nation in a given year,
plus income earned by its citizens abroad, minus income
earned by foreigners from domestic production. The Factbook,
following current practice, uses GDP rather than GNP to
measure national production. However, the user must realize
that in certain countries net remittances from citizens
working abroad may be important to national well-being.
Government: This category includes the entries dealing with
the system for the adoption and administration of public
policy.
Government type: This entry gives the basic form of
government (e.g., republic, constitutional monarchy, federal
republic, parliamentary democracy, military dictatorship).
Government--note: This entry includes miscellaneous
government information of significance not included
elsewhere.
Gross domestic product: see GDP
Gross national product: see GNP
Gross world product: see GWP
GWP: This entry gives the gross world product (GWP) or
aggregate value of all final goods and services produced
worldwide in a given year.
Heliports: This entry gives the total number of established
helicopter takeoff and landing sites (which may or may not
have fuel or other services).
Highways: This entry includes the total length of the
highway system as well as the length of the paved and
unpaved components.
Household income or consumption by percentage share: Data on
household income or consumption come from household surveys,
the results adjusted for household size. Nations use
different standards and procedures in collecting and
adjusting the data. Surveys based on income will normally
show a more unequal distribution than surveys based on
consumption. The quality of surveys is improving with time,
yet caution is still necessary in making inter-country
comparisons.
Illicit drugs: This entry gives information on the five
categories of illicit drugs--narcotics, stimulants,
depressants (sedatives), hallucinogens, and cannabis. These
categories include many drugs legally produced and
prescribed by doctors as well as those illegally produced
and sold outside of medical channels.
Cannabis (Cannabis sativa) is the common hemp plant, which
provides hallucinogens with some sedative properties, and
includes marijuana (pot, Acapulco gold, grass, reefer),
tetrahydrocannabinol (THC, Marinol), hashish (hash), and
hashish oil (hash oil).
Coca (mostly Erythroxylum coca) is a bush with leaves that
contain the stimulant used to make cocaine. Coca is not to
be confused with cocoa, which comes from cacao seeds and is
used in making chocolate, cocoa, and cocoa butter.
Cocaine is a stimulant derived from the leaves of the coca
bush.
Depressants (sedatives) are drugs that reduce tension and
anxiety and include chloral hydrate, barbiturates (Amytal,
Nembutal, Seconal, phenobarbital), benzodiazepines (Librium,
Valium), methaqualone (Quaalude), glutethimide (Doriden),
and others (Equanil, Placidyl, Valmid).
Drugs are any chemical substances that effect a physical,
mental, emotional, or behavioral change in an individual.
Drug abuse is the use of any licit or illicit chemical
substance that results in physical, mental, emotional, or
behavioral impairment in an individual.
Hallucinogens are drugs that affect sensation, thinking,
self-awareness, and emotion. Hallucinogens include LSD
(acid, microdot), mescaline and peyote (mexc, buttons,
cactus), amphetamine variants (PMA, STP, DOB), phencyclidine
(PCP, angel dust, hog), phencyclidine analogues (PCE, PCPy,
TCP), and others (psilocybin, psilocyn).
Hashish is the resinous exudate of the cannabis or hemp
plant (Cannabis sativa).
Heroin is a semisynthetic derivative of morphine.
Mandrax is a trade name for methaqualone, a pharmaceutical
depressant.
Marijuana is the dried leaves of the cannabis or hemp plant
(Cannabis sativa).
Methaqualone is a pharmaceutical depressant, referred to as
mandrax in Southwest Asia.
Narcotics are drugs that relieve pain, often induce sleep,
and refer to opium, opium derivatives, and synthetic
substitutes. Natural narcotics include opium (paregoric,
parepectolin), morphine (MS-Contin, Roxanol), codeine
(Tylenol with codeine, Empirin with codeine, Robitussan AC),
and thebaine. Semisynthetic narcotics include heroin (horse,
smack), and hydromorphone (Dilaudid). Synthetic narcotics
include meperidine or Pethidine (Demerol, Mepergan),
methadone (Dolophine, Methadose), and others (Darvon,
Lomotil).
Opium is the brown, gummy exudate of the incised, unripe
seedpod of the opium poppy.
Opium poppy (Papaver somniferum) is the source for the
natural and semisynthetic narcotics.
Poppy straw concentrate is the alkaloid derived from the
mature, dried opium poppy.
Qat (kat, khat) is a stimulant from the buds or leaves of
Catha edulis that is chewed or drunk as tea.
Quaaludes is the North American slang term for methaqualone,
a pharmaceutical depressant.
Stimulants are drugs that relieve mild depression, increase
energy and activity, and include cocaine (coke, snow,
crack), amphetamines (Desoxyn, Dexedrine), phenmetrazine
(Preludin), methylphenidate (Ritalin), and others (Cylert,
Sanorex, Tenuate).
Imports: This entry provides the total US dollar amount of
imports on a c.i.f. (cost, insurance, and freight)or f.o.b.
(free on board) basis.
Imports--commodities: This entry provides a rank ordering of
imported products starting with the most important; it
sometimes includes the percent of total dollar value.
Imports--partners: This entry provides a rank ordering of
trading partners starting with the most important; it
sometimes includes the percent of total dollar value.
Independence: For most countries, this entry gives the date
that sovereignty was achieved, and from which nation,
empire, or trusteeship. For the other countries, the date
given may not represent "independence" in the strict sense,
but rather some significant nationhood event such as
traditional founding date, date of unification, federation,
confederation, establishment, fundamental change in the form
of government, or state succession. Dependent areas include
the notation "none" followed by the nature of their
dependency status. Also see the Terminology note.
Industrial production growth rate: This entry gives the
annual percentage increase in industrial production
(includes manufacturing, mining, and construction).
Industries: This entry provides a rank ordering of
industries starting with the largest by value of annual
output.
Infant mortality rate: This entry gives the number of deaths
of infants under one year old in a given year per 1,000 live
births in the same year. This rate is often used an
indicator of the level of health in a country.
Inflation rate (consumer prices): This entry furnishes the
annual percent change in consumer prices compared with the
previous year's consumer prices.
International disputes: see Disputes--international
International organization participation: This entry lists
in alphabetical order by abbreviation those international
organizations in which the subject country is a member or
participates in some other way.
International organizations: This information is presented
in Appendix C: International Organizations and Groups which
includes the name, abbreviation, address, telephone, FAX,
date established, aim, and members by category.
Introduction: This category includes one entry, Background.
At present it appears in only a few country profiles, but
will be added to others in the future.
Irrigated land: This entry gives the number of square
kilometers of land area that is artificially supplied with
water.
Judicial branch: This entry contains the name(s) of the
highest court(s) and a brief description of the selection
process for members.
Labor force: This entry contains the total labor force
figure.
Labor force--by occupation: This entry contains a rank
ordering of component parts of the labor force by
occupation.
Land boundaries: This entry contains the total length of all
land boundaries and the individual lengths for each of the
contiguous border countries.
Land use: This entry contains the percentage shares of total
land area for five different types of land use. Arable
land--land cultivated for crops that are replanted after each
harvest like wheat, maize, and rice. Permanent crops--land
cultivated for crops that are not replanted after each
harvest like citrus, coffee, and rubber. Permanent
pastures--land permanently used for herbaceous forage crops.
Forests and woodland--land under dense or open stands of
trees. Other--any land type not specifically mentioned above,
such as urban areas, roads, desert, etc.
Languages: This entry provides a rank ordering of languages
starting with the largest and sometimes includes the percent
of total population speaking that language.
Legal system: This entry contains a brief description of the
legal system's historical roots, role in government, and
acceptance of International Court of Justice (ICJ)
jurisdiction.
Legislative branch: This entry contains information on the
structure (unicameral, bicameral, tricameral), formal name,
number of seats, and term of office. Elections includes the
nature of election process or accession to power, date of
the last election, and date of the next election. Election
results includes the percent of vote and/or number of seats
held by each party in the last election.
Life expectancy at birth: This entry contains the average
number of years to be lived by a group of people born in the
same year, if mortality at each age remains constant in the
future. The entry includes total population as well as the
male and female components. Life expectancy at birth is also
a measure of overall quality of life in a country and
summarizes the mortality at all ages. It can also be thought
of as indicating the potential return on investment in human
capital and is necessary for the calculation of various
actuarial measures.
Literacy: This entry includes a definition of literacy and
Census Bureau percentages for the total population, males,
and females. There are no universal definitions and
standards of literacy. Unless otherwise specified, all rates
are based on the most common definition--the ability to read
and write at a specified age. Detailing the standards that
individual countries use to assess the ability to read and
write is beyond the scope of the Factbook. Information on
literacy, while not a perfect measure of educational
results, is probably the most easily available and valid for
international comparisons. Low levels of literacy, and
education in general, can impede the economic development of
a country in the current rapidly changing, technology-driven
world.
Location: This entry identifies the country's regional
location, neighboring countries, and adjacent bodies of
water.
Map references: This entry includes the name of the Factbook
reference map on which a country may be found. The entry on
Geographic coordinates may be helpful in finding some
smaller countries.
Maritime claims: This entry includes the following claims:
contiguous zone, continental shelf, exclusive economic zone,
exclusive fishing zone, extended fishing zone, none (usually
for a landlocked country), other (unique maritime claims
like Libya's Gulf of Sidra Closing Line or North Korea's
Military Boundary Line), and territorial sea. The proximity
of neighboring states may prevent some national claims from
being extended the full distance.
Merchant marine: Merchant marine may be defined as all ships
engaged in the carriage of goods; all commercial vessels (as
opposed to all nonmilitary ships), which excludes tugs,
fishing vessels, offshore oil rigs, etc.; or a grouping of
merchant ships by nationality or register. This entry
contains information in two subfields--total and ships by
type. Total includes the total number of ships (1,000 GRT or
over), total DWT for those ships, and total GRT for those
ships. Ships by type includes a listing of barge carriers,
bulk cargo ships, cargo ships, combination bulk carriers,
combination ore/oil carriers, container ships, intermodal
ships, liquefied gas tankers, livestock carriers,
multifunction large--load carriers, oil tankers, passenger
ships, passenger-cargo ships, railcar carriers, refrigerated
cargo ships, roll-on/roll-off cargo ships, short-sea
passenger ships, specialized tankers, tanker tug-barges, and
vehicle carriers.
A captive register is a register of ships maintained by a
territory, possession, or colony primarily or exclusively
for the use of ships owned in the parent country; it is also
referred to as an offshore register, the offshore equivalent
of an internal register. Ships on a captive register will
fly the same flag as the parent country, or a local variant
of it, but will be subject to the maritime laws and taxation
rules of the offshore territory. Although the nature of a
captive register makes it especially desirable for ships
owned in the parent country, just as in the internal
register, the ships may also be owned abroad. The captive
register then acts as a flag of convenience register, except
that it is not the register of an independent state.
A flag of convenience register is a national register
offering registration to a merchant ship not owned in the
flag state. The major flags of convenience (FOC) attract
ships to their registers by virtue of low fees, low or
nonexistent taxation of profits, and liberal manning
requirements. True FOC registers are characterized by having
relatively few of the registered ships actually owned in the
flag state. Thus, while virtually any flag can be used for
ships under a given set of circumstances, an FOC register is
one where the majority of the merchant fleet is owned
abroad. It is also referred to as an open register.
A flag state is the nation in which a ship is registered and
which holds legal jurisdiction over operation of the ship,
whether at home or abroad. Maritime legislation of the flag
state determines how a ship is crewed and taxed and whether
a foreign-owned ship may be placed on the register. An
internal register is a register of ships maintained as a
subset of a national register. Ships on the internal
register fly the national flag and have that nationality but
are subject to a separate set of maritime rules from those
on the main national register. These differences usually
include lower taxation of profits, use of foreign nationals
as crew members, and, usually, ownership outside the flag
state (when it functions as an FOC register). The Norwegian
International Ship Register and Danish International Ship
Register are the most notable examples of an internal
register. Both have been instrumental in stemming flight
from the national flag to flags of convenience and in
attracting foreign-owned ships to the Norwegian and Danish
flags.
A merchant ship is a vessel that carries goods against
payment of freight; it is commonly used to denote any
nonmilitary ship but accurately restricted to commercial
vessels only.
A register is the record of a ship's ownership and
nationality as listed with the maritime authorities of a
country; also, it is the compendium of such individual
ships' registrations. Registration of a ship provides it
with a nationality and makes it subject to the laws of the
country in which registered (the flag state) regardless of
the nationality of the ship's ultimate owner.
Military: This category includes the entries dealing with a
country's military structure, manpower, and expenditures.
Military branches: This entry lists the names of the ground,
naval, air, marine, and other defense or security forces.
Military expenditures--dollar figure: This entry gives
current military expenditures in US dollars; the figure is
calculated by multiplying the estimated defense spending in
percentage terms by the gross domestic product (GDP)
calculated on an exchange rate basis not purchasing power
parity (PPP) terms. The figure should be treated with
caution because of different price patterns and accounting
methods among nations, as well as wide variations in the
strength of their currencies.
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: This entry gives
current military expenditures as an estimated percent of
gross domestic product (GDP).
Military manpower--availability: This entry gives the total
numbers of males and females age 15-49 and assumes that
every individual is fit to serve.
Military manpower--fit for military service: This entry gives
the number of males and females age 15-49 fit for military
service. This is a more refined measure of potential
military manpower availability which tries to correct for
the health situation in the country and reduces the maximum
potential number to a more realistic estimate of the actual
number fit to serve.
Military manpower--military age: This entry gives the minimum
age at which an individual may volunteer for military
service or be subject to conscription.
Military manpower--reaching military age annually: This entry
gives the number of draft-age males and females entering the
military manpower pool in any given year and is a measure of
the availability of draft-age young adults.
Military--note: This entry includes miscellaneous military
information of significance not included elsewhere.
Money figures: All money figures are expressed in
contemporaneous US dollars unless otherwise indicated.
National holiday: This entry gives the primary national day
of celebration--usually independence day.
Nationality: This entry provides the identifying terms for
citizens--noun and adjective.
Natural hazards: This entry lists potential natural
disasters.
Natural resources: This entry lists a country's mineral,
petroleum, hydropower, and other resources of commercial
importance.
Net migration rate: This entry includes the figure for the
difference between the number of persons entering and
leaving a country during the year per 1,000 persons (based
on midyear population). An excess of persons entering the
country is referred to as net immigration (e.g., 3.56
migrants/1,000 population); an excess of persons leaving the
country as net emigration (e.g., -9.26 migrants/1,000
population). The net migration rate indicates the
contribution of migration to the overall level of population
change. High levels of migration can cause problems such as
increasing unemployment and potential ethnic strife (if
people are coming in) or a reduction in the labor force,
perhaps in certain key sectors (if people are leaving).
People: This category includes the entries dealing with the
characteristics of the people and their society.
People--note: This entry includes miscellaneous demographic
information of significance not included elsewhere.
Personal Names--Capitalization: The Factbook capitalizes the
surname or family name of individuals for the convenience of
our users who are faced with a world of different cultures
and naming conventions. An example would be President SADDAM
Husayn of Iraq. Saddam is his name and Husayn is his
father's name. He may be referred to as President SADDAM
Husayn or President SADDAM, but not President Husayn. The
need for capitalization, bold type, underlining, italics, or
some other indicator of the individual's surname is apparent
in the following examples: MAO Zedong, Fidel CASTRO Ruz,
William Jefferson CLINTON, and TUNKU SALAHUDDIN Abdul Aziz
Shah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Hisammuddin Alam Shah. By knowing
the surname, a short form without all capital letters can be
used with confidence as in President Saddam, President
Castro, Chairman Mao, President Clinton, or Sultan Tunku
Salahuddin. The same system of capitalization is extended to
the names of leaders with surnames that are not commonly
used such as Queen ELIZABETH II.
Personal Names--Spelling: The romanization of personal names
in the Factbook normally follows the same transliteration
system used by the US Board on Geographic Names for spelling
place names. At times, however, a foreign leader expressly
indicates a preference for, or the media or official
documents regularly use, a romanized spelling that differs
from the transliteration derived from the US Government
standard. In such cases, the Factbook uses the alternative
spelling.
Personal Names--Titles: The Factbook capitalizes any valid
title (or short form of it) immediately preceding a person's
name. A title standing alone is lowercased. Examples:
President YEL'TSIN and President CLINTON are chiefs of
state. In Russia, the president is chief of state and the
premier is the head of the government, while in the US, the
president is both chief of state and head of government.
Pipelines: This entry gives the lengths and types of
pipelines for transporting products like natural gas, crude
oil, or petroleum products.
Political parties and leaders: This entry includes a listing
of significant political organizations and their leaders.
Political pressure groups and leaders: This entry includes a
listing of organizations with leaders involved in politics,
but not standing for legislative election.
Population: This entry gives an estimate from the US Bureau
of the Census based on statistics from population censuses,
vital statistics registration systems, or sample surveys
pertaining to the recent past and on assumptions about
future trends. The total population presents one overall
measure of the potential impact of the country on the world
and within its region. Note: starting with the 1993
Factbook, demographic estimates for some countries (mostly
African) have taken into account the effects of the growing
incidence of AIDS infections. These countries are Botswana,
Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon,
Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo,
Republic of the Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Guyana,
Haiti, Honduras, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria,
Rwanda, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Thailand, Uganda,
Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Population below poverty line: National estimates of the
percentage of the population lying below the poverty line
are based on surveys of sub-groups, with the results
weighted by the number of people in each group. Definitions
of poverty vary considerably among nations. For example,
rich nations generally employ more generous standards of
poverty than poor nations.
Population growth rate: The average annual percent change in
the population, resulting from a surplus (or deficit) of
births over deaths and the balance of migrants entering and
leaving a country. The rate may be positive or negative. The
growth rate is a factor in determining how great a burden
would be imposed on a country by the changing needs of its
people for infrastructure (e.g., schools, hospitals,
housing, roads), resources (e.g., food, water, electricity),
and jobs. Rapid population growth can be seen as threatening
by neighboring countries.
Ports and harbors: This entry lists the major ports and
harbors selected on the basis of overall importance to each
country. This is determined by evaluating a number of
factors (e.g., dollar value of goods handled, gross tonnage,
facilities, military significance).
Radio broadcast stations: This entry includes the total
number of AM, FM, and shortwave broadcast stations.
Radios: This entry gives the total number of radio
receivers.
Railways: This entry includes the total length of the
railway network and component parts by gauge: broad, dual,
narrow, standard, and other.
Reference maps: This section includes world, regional, and
special or current interest maps.
Religions: This entry includes a rank ordering of religions
starting with the largest and sometimes includes the percent
of total population.
Sex ratio: This entry includes the number of males for each
female in five age groups--at birth, under 15 years, 15-64
years, 65 years and over, and for the total population. Sex
ratio at birth has recently emerged as an indicator of
certain kinds of sex discrimination in some countries. For
instance, high sex ratios at birth in some Asian countries
are now attributed to sex-selective abortion and infanticide
due to a strong preference for sons. This will affect future
marriage patterns and fertility patterns. Eventually it
could cause unrest among young adult males who are unable to
find partners. The sex ratio at birth for the World is 1.06
(1999 est.).
Suffrage: This entry gives the age at enfranchisement and
whether the right to vote is universal or restricted.
Telephone numbers: All telephone numbers in the Factbook
consist of the country code in brackets, the city or area
code (where required) in parentheses, and the local number.
The one component that is not presented is the international
access code, which varies from country to country. For
example, an international direct dial telephone call placed
from the US to Madrid, Spain, would be as follows:
011 [34] (1) 577-xxxx where
011 is the international access code for station-to-station
calls
(01 is for calls other than station-to-station calls),
[34] is the country code for Spain,
(1) is the city code for Madrid,
577 is the local exchange, and
xxxx is the local telephone number.
An international direct dial telephone call placed from
another country to the US would be as follows:
international access code + [1] (202) 939-xxxx, where
[1] is the country code for the US,
(202) is the area code for Washington, DC,
939 is the local exchange, and
xxxx is the local telephone number.
Telephone system: This entry includes a brief
characterization of the system with details on the domestic
and international components. The following terms and
abbreviations are used throughout the entry:
Arabsat--Arab Satellite Communications Organization (Riyadh,
Saudi Arabia).
Autodin--Automatic Digital Network (US Department of
Defense).
CB--citizen's band mobile radio communications.
cellular telephone system--the telephones in this system are
radio
transceivers, with each instrument having its own private
radio frequency and sufficient radiated power to reach the
booster station in its area (cell), from which the telephone
signal is fed to a regular telephone exchange.
Central American Microwave System--a trunk microwave radio
relay system that links the countries of Central America and
Mexico with each other.
coaxial cable--a multichannel communication cable consisting
of a central conducting wire, surrounded by and insulated
from a cylindrical conducting shell; a large number of
telephone channels can be made available within the
insulated space by the use of a large number of carrier
frequencies.
Comsat--Communications Satellite Corporation (US).
DSN--Defense Switched Network (formerly Automatic Voice
Network or Autovon); basic general-purpose, switched voice
network of the Defense Communications System (US Department
of Defense).
Eutelsat--European Telecommunications Satellite Organization
(Paris).
fiber-optic cable--a multichannel communications cable using
a thread of optical glass fibers as a transmission medium in
which the signal (voice, video, etc.) is in the form of a
coded pulse of light.
HF-- high-frequency; any radio frequency in the 3,000- to
30,000-kHz range.
Inmarsat--International Mobile Satellite Organization
(London); provider of global mobile satellite communications
for commercial, distress, and safety applications at sea, in
the air, and on land.
Intelsat--International Telecommunications Satellite
Organization (Washington, DC).
Intersputnik--International Organization of Space
Communications (Moscow); first established in the former
Soviet Union and the East European countries, it is now
marketing its services worldwide with earth stations in
North America, Africa, and East Asia.
landline--communication wire or cable of any sort that is
installed on poles or buried in the ground.
Marecs--Maritime European Communications Satellite used in
the Inmarsat system on lease from the European Space Agency.
Marisat--satellites of the Comsat Corporation that
participate in the Inmarsat system.
Medarabtel--the Middle East Telecommunications Project of the
International Telecommunications Union (ITU) providing a
modern telecommunications network, primarily by microwave
radio relay, linking Algeria, Djibouti, Egypt, Jordan,
Libya, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria,
Tunisia, and Yemen; it was initially started in Morocco in
1970 by the Arab Telecommunications Union (ATU) and was
known at that time as the Middle East Mediterranean
Telecommunications Network.
microwave radio relay--transmission of long distance
telephone calls and television programs by highly
directional radio microwaves that are received and sent on
from one booster station to another on an optical path.
NMT--Nordic Mobile Telephone; an analog cellular telephone
system that was developed jointly by the national
telecommunications authorities of the Nordic countries
(Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden).
Orbita--a Russian television service; also the trade name of
a packet--switched digital telephone network.
radiotelephone communications--the two-way transmission and
reception of sounds by broadcast radio on authorized
frequencies using telephone handsets.
satellite communication system--a communication system
consisting of two or more earth stations and at least one
satellite that provides long distance transmission of voice,
data, and television; the system usually serves as a trunk
connection between telephone exchanges; if the earth
stations are in the same country, it is a domestic system.
satellite earth station--a communications facility with a
microwave radio transmitting and receiving antenna and
required receiving and transmitting equipment for
communicating with satellites.
satellite link--a radio connection between a satellite and an
earth station permitting communication between them, either
one-way (down link from satellite to earth
station--television receive-only transmission) or two-way
(telephone channels).
SHF--super-high-frequency; any radio frequency in the 3,000-
to 30,000-MHz range.
shortwave--radio frequencies (from 1.605 to 30 MHz) that fall
above the commercial broadcast band and are used for
communication over long distances.
Solidaridad--geosynchronous satellites in Mexico's system of
international telecommunications in the Western Hemisphere.
Statsionar--Russia's geostationary system for satellite
telecommunications.
submarine cable--a cable designed for service under water.
TAT--Trans-Atlantic Telephone; any of a number of high-
capacity submarine coaxial telephone cables linking Europe
with North America.
telefax--facsimile service between subscriber stations via
the public switched telephone network or the international
Datel network.
telegraph--a telecommunications system designed for
unmodulated electric impulse transmission.
telex--a communication service involving teletypewriters
connected by wire through automatic exchanges.
tropospheric scatter--a form of microwave radio transmission
in which the troposphere is used to scatter and reflect a
fraction of the incident radio waves back to earth;
powerful, highly directional antennas are used to transmit
and receive the microwave signals; reliable over-the-horizon
communications are realized for distances up to 600 miles in
a single hop; additional hops can extend the range of this
system for very long distances.
trunk network--a network of switching centers, connected by
multichannel trunk lines.
UHF-- ultra-high-frequency; any radio frequency in the 300-
to 3,000-MHz range.
VHF--very-high-frequency; any radio frequency in the 30- to
300-MHz range.
Telephones: This entry gives the total number of
subscribers.
Television--broadcast stations: This entry gives the total
number of separate broadcast stations plus any repeater
stations.
Televisions: This entry gives the total number of television
sets.
Terminology: Due to the highly structured nature of the
Factbook database, some collective generic terms have to be
used. For example, the word Country in the Country name
entry refers to a wide variety of dependencies, areas of
special sovereignty, uninhabited islands, and other entities
in addition to the traditional countries or independent
states. Military is also used as an umbrella term for
various civil defense, security, and defense activities in
many entries. The Independence entry includes the usual
colonial independence dates and former ruling states as well
as other significant nationhood dates such as the
traditional founding date or the date of unification,
federation, confederation, establishment, or state
succession that are not strictly independence dates.
Dependent areas have the nature of their dependency status
noted in this same entry.
Terrain: This entry contains a brief description of the
topography.
Total fertility rate: This entry gives a figure for the
average number of children that would be born per woman if
all women lived to the end of their childbearing years and
bore children according to a given fertility rate at each
age. The total fertility rate is a more direct measure of
the level of fertility than the crude birth rate, since it
refers to births per woman. This indicator shows the
potential for population growth in the country. High rates
will also place some limits on the labor force participation
rates for women. Large numbers of children born to women
indicate large family sizes that might limit the ability of
the families to feed and educate their children.
Transnational Issues: This category includes only two
entries at the present time --Disputes--international and
Illicit drugs--that deal with current issues going beyond
national boundaries.
Transportation: This category includes the entries dealing
with the means for movement of people and goods.
Transportation--note: This entry includes miscellaneous
transportation information of significance not included
elsewhere.
Unemployment rate: This entry contains the percent of the
labor force that is without jobs. Substantial
underemployment might be noted.
United Nations System: This information is presented in
Appendix B: United Nations System as a chart, table, or text
(depending on the version of the Factbook) that shows the
organization of the UN in detail.
Waterways: This entry gives the total length and individual
names of navigable rivers, canals, and other inland bodies
of water.
Weights and measures: This information is presented in
Appendix E: Weights and Measures and includes mathematical
notations (mathematical powers and names), metric
interrelationships (prefix; symbol; length, weight, or
capacity; area; volume), and standard conversion factors.
Years: All year references are for the calendar year (CY)
unless indicated as fiscal year (FY). The calendar year is
an accounting period of 12 months from 1 January to 31
December. The fiscal year is an accounting period of 12
months other than 1 January to 31 December. FY93/94 refers
to the fiscal year that began in calendar year 1993 and
ended in calendar year 1994.
Note: Information for the US and US dependencies was
compiled from material in the public domain and does not
represent Intelligence Community estimates. The Handbook of
International Economic Statistics, published annually in
September by the Central Intelligence Agency, contains
detailed economic information for the Organization for
Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries, the
successor nations to the Soviet Union, and selected other
countries. The Handbook can be obtained wherever the
Factbook is available.
=====================================================================
A Brief History of Basic Intelligence and The World Factbook
The Intelligence Cycle is the process by which information is acquired,
converted into intelligence, and made available to policymakers.
Information is raw data from any source, data that may be fragmentary,
contradictory, unreliable, ambiguous, deceptive, or wrong. Intelligence
is information that has been collected, integrated, evaluated,
analyzed, and interpreted. Finished intelligence is the final product
of the Intelligence Cycle ready to be delivered to the policymaker.
The three types of finished intelligence are: basic, current, and
estimative. Basic intelligence provides the fundamental and factual
reference material on a country or issue. Current intelligence reports
on new developments. Estimative intelligence judges probable outcomes.
The three are mutually supportive: basic intelligence is the foundation
on which the other two are constructed; current intelligence
continually updates the inventory of knowledge; and estimative
intelligence revises overall interpretations of country and issue
prospects for guidance of basic and current intelligence. The World
Factbook, The President's Daily Brief, and the National Intelligence
Estimates are examples of the three types of finished intelligence.
The United States has carried on foreign intelligence activities since
the days of George Washington, but only since World War II have they
been coordinated on a governmentwide basis. Three programs have
highlighted the development of coordinated basic intelligence since
that time: (1) the Joint Army Navy Intelligence Studies (JANIS), (2)
the National Intelligence Survey (NIS), and (3) The World Factbook.
During World War II, intelligence consumers realized that the
production of basic intelligence by different components of the US
Government resulted in a great duplication of effort and conflicting
information. The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 brought home
to leaders in Congress and the executive branch the need for
integrating departmental reports to national policymakers. Detailed
coordinated information was needed not only on such major powers as
Germany and Japan, but also on places of little previous interest. In
the Pacific Theater, for example, the Navy and Marines had to launch
amphibious operations against many islands about which information was
unconfirmed or nonexistent. Intelligence authorities resolved that the
United States should never again be caught unprepared.
In 1943, Gen. George B. Strong (G-2), Adm. H. C. Train (Office of Naval
Intelligence--ONI), and Gen. William J. Donovan (Director of the Office
of Strategic Services--OSS) decided that a joint effort should be
initiated. A steering committee was appointed on 27 April 1943 that
recommended the formation of a Joint Intelligence Study Publishing
Board to assemble, edit, coordinate, and publish the Joint Army Navy
Intelligence Studies (JANIS). JANIS was the first interdepartmental
basic intelligence program to fulfill the needs of the US Government
for an authoritative and coordinated appraisal of strategic basic
intelligence. Between April 1943 and July 1947, the board published 34
JANIS studies. JANIS performed well in the war effort, and numerous
letters of commendation were received, including a statement from Adm.
Forrest Sherman, Chief of Staff, Pacific Ocean Areas, which said,
"JANIS has become the indispensable reference work for the shore-based
planners."
The need for more comprehensive basic intelligence in the postwar world
was well expressed in 1946 by George S. Pettee, a noted author on
national security. He wrote in The Future of American Secret
Intelligence (Infantry Journal Press, 1946, page 46) that world
leadership in peace requires even more elaborate intelligence than war.
"The conduct of peace involves all countries, all human activities--not
just the enemy and his war production."
The Central Intelligence Agency was established on 26 July 1947 and
officially began operating on 18 September 1947. Effective 1 October
1947, the Director of Central Intelligence assumed operational
responsibility for JANIS. On 13 January 1948, the National Security
Council issued Intelligence Directive (NSCID) No. 3, which authorized
the National Intelligence Survey (NIS) program as a peacetime
replacement for the wartime JANIS program. Before adequate NIS country
sections could be produced, government agencies had to develop more
comprehensive gazetteers and better maps. The US Board on Geographic
Names (BGN) compiled the names; the Department of the Interior produced
the gazetteers; and CIA produced the maps.
The Hoover Commission's Clark Committee, set up in 1954 to study the
structure and administration of the CIA, reported to Congress in 1955
that: "The National Intelligence Survey is an invaluable publication
which provides the essential elements of basic intelligence on all
areas of the world. . . . There will always be a continuing requirement
for keeping the Survey up-to-date." The Factbook was created as an
annual summary and update to the encyclopedic NIS studies. The first
classified Factbook was published in August 1962, and the first
unclassified version was published in June 1971. The NIS program was
terminated in 1973 except for the Factbook, map, and gazetteer
components. The 1975 Factbook was the first to be made available to the
public with sales through the US Government Printing Office (GPO). The
1996 edition was printed by GPO and the 1997 edition was reprinted by
GPO. The year 1999 marks the 52nd anniversary of the establishment of
the Central Intelligence Agency and the 56th year of continuous basic
intelligence support to the US Government by The World Factbook and its
two predecessor programs
=====================================================================
Purchasing Information
The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) prepares The World Factbook in
printed, CD-ROM, and Internet versions. US Government officials may
obtain information about availability of the Factbook directly from
their own organizations or through liaison channels to the CIA. Other
users may obtain sales information about printed copies and CD-ROMs
from the following:
Superintendent of Documents
P.O. Box 371954
Pittsburgh, PA 15250-7954
Telephone: [1] (202) 512-1800
FAX: [1] (202) 512-2250
http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/
National Technical Information Service
5285 Port Royal Road
Springfield, VA 22161
Telephone: [1] (800) 553-6847 (only in the US);
[1] (703) 605-6000 (for outside US)
FAX: [1] (703) 605-6900
http://www.ntis.gov/
The Internet version may be accessed through the following World-Wide
Web uniform resource locator (URL): http://www.cia.gov
Electronic file preparation by Printing and Photography Group, Central
Intelligence Agency.
=====================================================================
@Afghanistan
-----------
Geography
Location: Southern Asia, north and west of Pakistan, east of Iran
Geographic coordinates: 33 00 N, 65 00 E
Map references: Asia
Area:
total: 647,500 sq km
land: 647,500 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than Texas
Land boundaries:
total: 5,529 km
border countries: China 76 km, Iran 936 km, Pakistan 2,430 km,
Tajikistan 1,206 km, Turkmenistan 744 km, Uzbekistan 137 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: arid to semiarid; cold winters and hot summers
Terrain: mostly rugged mountains; plains in north and southwest
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Amu Darya 258 m
highest point: Nowshak 7,485 m
Natural resources: natural gas, petroleum, coal, copper, talc,
barites, sulfur, lead, zinc, iron ore, salt, precious and
semiprecious stones
Land use:
arable land: 12%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 46%
forests and woodland: 3%
other: 39% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 30,000 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: damaging earthquakes occur in Hindu Kush
mountains; flooding
Environment--current issues: soil degradation; overgrazing;
deforestation (much of the remaining forests are being cut down for
fuel and building materials); desertification
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban
signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Hazardous
Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation
Geography--note: landlocked
People
Population: 25,824,882 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 43% (male 5,640,841; female 5,422,460)
15-64 years: 54% (male 7,273,681; female 6,776,750)
65 years and over: 3% (male 374,666; female 336,484) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.95% (1999 est.)
note: this rate reflects the continued return of refugees
Birth rate: 41.93 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 17.02 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 14.62 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.11 male(s)/female
total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 140.55 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 47.33 years
male: 47.82 years
female: 46.82 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.94 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Afghan(s)
adjective: Afghan
Ethnic groups: Pashtun 38%, Tajik 25%, Uzbek 6%, Hazara 19%,
minor ethnic groups (Aimaks, Turkmen, Baloch, and others)
Religions: Sunni Muslim 84%, Shi'a Muslim 15%, other 1%
Languages: Pashtu 35%, Afghan Persian (Dari) 50%, Turkic
languages (primarily Uzbek and Turkmen) 11%, 30 minor languages
(primarily Balochi and Pashai) 4%, much bilingualism
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 31.5%
male: 47.2%
female: 15% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Islamic State of Afghanistan; note--the
self-proclaimed Taliban government refers to the country as Islamic
Emirate of Afghanistan
conventional short form: Afghanistan
local long form: Dowlat-e Eslami-ye Afghanestan
local short form: Afghanestan
former: Republic of Afghanistan
Data code: AF
Government type: transitional government
Capital: Kabul
Administrative divisions: 30 provinces (velayat,
singular--velayat); Badakhshan, Badghis, Baghlan, Balkh, Bamian,
Farah, Faryab, Ghazni, Ghowr, Helmand, Herat, Jowzjan, Kabol,
Kandahar, Kapisa, Konar, Kondoz, Laghman, Lowgar, Nangarhar, Nimruz,
Oruzgan, Paktia, Paktika, Parvan, Samangan, Sar-e Pol, Takhar,
Vardak, Zabol
note: there may be two new provinces of Nurestan (Nuristan) and
Khowst
Independence: 19 August 1919 (from UK control over Afghan foreign
affairs)
National holiday: Victory of the Muslim Nation, 28 April;
Remembrance Day for Martyrs and Disabled, 4 May; Independence Day,
19 August
Constitution: none
Legal system: a new legal system has not been adopted but all
factions tacitly agree they will follow Shari'a (Islamic law)
Suffrage: undetermined; previously males 15-50 years of age
Executive branch: on 27 September 1996, the ruling members of the
Afghan Government were displaced by members of the Islamic Taliban
movement; the Islamic State of Afghanistan has no functioning
government at this time, and the country remains divided among
fighting factions
note: the Taliban have declared themselves the legitimate government
of Afghanistan; the UN has deferred a decision on credentials and
the Organization of the Islamic Conference has left the Afghan seat
vacant until the question of legitimacy can be resolved through
negotiations among the warring factions; the country is essentially
divided along ethnic lines; the Taliban controls the capital of
Kabul and approximately two-thirds of the country including the
predominately ethnic Pashtun areas in southern Afghanistan; opposing
factions have their stronghold in the ethnically diverse north
Legislative branch: non-functioning as of June 1993
Judicial branch: non-functioning as of March 1995, although there
are local Shari'a (Islamic law) courts throughout the country
Political parties and leaders: Taliban (Religious Students
Afghanistan comprised of Jumbesh-i-Melli Islami (National Islamic
other smaller parties are Hizbi Islami-Gulbuddin (Islamic Party)
SAYYAF]; Harakat-Inqilab-i-Islami (Islamic Revolutionary Movement)
GAILANI]; Hizbi Wahdat-Akbari faction (Islamic Unity Party)
Political pressure groups and leaders: tribal elders represent
traditional Pashtun leadership; Afghan refugees in Pakistan,
Australia, US, and elsewhere have organized politically; Peshawar,
Pakistan-based groups such as the Coordination Council for National
International organization participation: AsDB, CP, ECO, ESCAP,
FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,
IMF, Intelsat, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WToO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
note: embassy operations suspended 21 August 1997
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant)
chancery: 2341 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US embassy in Kabul
has been closed since January 1989 due to security concerns
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of green (top),
white, and black with a gold emblem centered on the three bands; the
emblem features a temple-like structure with Islamic inscriptions
above and below, encircled by a wreath on the left and right and by
a bolder Islamic inscription above, all of which are encircled by
two crossed scimitars
note: the Taliban uses a plain white flag
Economy
Economy--overview: Afghanistan is an extremely poor, landlocked
country, highly dependent on farming and livestock raising (sheep
and goats). Economic considerations have played second fiddle to
political and military upheavals during two decades of war,
including the nearly 10-year Soviet military occupation (which ended
15 February 1989). During that conflict one-third of the population
fled the country, with Pakistan and Iran sheltering a combined peak
of more than 6 million refugees. Now, only 750,000 registered Afghan
refugees remain in Pakistan and about 1.2 million in Iran. Another 1
million have probably moved into and around urban areas within
Afghanistan. Gross domestic product has fallen substantially over
the past 20 years because of the loss of labor and capital and the
disruption of trade and transport. Much of the population continues
to suffer from insufficient food, clothing, housing, and medical
care. Inflation remains a serious problem throughout the country,
with one estimate putting the rate at 240% in Kabul in 1996.
International aid can deal with only a fraction of the humanitarian
problem, let alone promote economic development. Government efforts
to encourage foreign investment have not worked. The economic
situation did not improve in 1998. Numerical data are likely to be
either unavailable or unreliable.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$20 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: NA%
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$800 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 53%
industry: 28.5%
services: 18.5% (1990)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 240% (1996 est.)
Labor force: 7.1 million
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture and animal husbandry
67.8%, industry 10.2%, construction 6.3%, commerce 5%, services and
other 10.7% (1980 est.)
Unemployment rate: 8% (1995 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Industries: small-scale production of textiles, soap, furniture,
shoes, fertilizer, and cement; handwoven carpets; natural gas, oil,
coal, copper
Electricity--production: 540 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 35.19%
hydro: 64.81%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 660 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996) (1996)
Electricity--imports: 120 million kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: wheat, fruits, nuts, karakul pelts; wool,
mutton
Exports: $80 million (1996 est.)
Exports--commodities: fruits and nuts, handwoven carpets, wool,
cotton, hides and pelts, precious and semi-precious gems
Exports--partners: FSU, Pakistan, Iran, Germany, India, UK,
Belgium, Luxembourg, Czech Republic
Imports: $150 million (1996 est.)
Imports--commodities: food and petroleum products; most consumer
goods
Imports--partners: FSU, Pakistan, Iran, Japan, Singapore, India,
South Korea, Germany
Debt--external: $2.3 billion (March 1991 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $214.6 million (1995); note?US provided
$450 million in bilateral assistance (1985-93); US continues to
contribute to multilateral assistance through the UN programs of
food aid, immunization, land mine removal, and a wide range of aid
to refugees and displaced persons
Currency: 1 afghani (AF) = 100 puls
Exchange rates: afghanis (Af) per US$1--4,750 (February 1999),
17,000 (December 1996), 7,000 (January 1995), 1,900 (January 1994),
1,019 (March 1993), 850 (1991); note--these rates reflect the free
market exchange rates rather than the official exchange rate, which
was fixed at 50.600 afghanis to the dollar until 1996, when it rose
to 2,262.65 per dollar, and finally became fixed again at 3,000.00
per dollar on April 1996
Fiscal year: 21 March--20 March
Communications
Telephones: 31,200 (1983 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: very limited telephone and telegraph service; in 1997,
telecommunications links were established between Mazar-e Sharif,
Herat, Kandahar, Jalalabad, and Kabul through satellite and
microwave systems
international: satellite earth stations--1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
linked only to Iran and 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region);
commercial satellite telephone center in Ghazni
Radio broadcast stations: AM 6 (5 are inactive), FM 1, shortwave
3 (1998)
Radios: 1.67 million (1998 est.)
Television broadcast stations: NA
note: in 1997, there was a station in Mazar-e Sharif reaching four
northern Afghanistan provinces; also, the government ran a central
television station in Kabul and regional stations in nine of the 30
provinces; it is unknown if any of these stations currently operate
Televisions: 100,000 (1998 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 24.6 km
broad gauge: 9.6 km 1.524-m gauge from Gushgy (Turkmenistan) to
Towraghondi; 15 km 1.524-m gauge from Termiz (Uzbekistan) to
Kheyrabad transshipment point on south bank of Amu Darya
Highways:
total: 21,000 km
paved: 2,793 km
unpaved: 18,207 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 1,200 km; chiefly Amu Darya, which handles vessels up
to about 500 DWT
Pipelines: petroleum products--Uzbekistan to Bagram and
Turkmenistan to Shindand; natural gas 180 km
Ports and harbors: Kheyrabad, Shir Khan
Merchant marine:
total: 1 container ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 11,982
GRT/14,101 DWT (1998 est.)
Airports: 44 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 11
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 33
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 14
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 10 (1998 est.)
Heliports: 3 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: NA; note--the military does not exist on a
national basis; some elements of the former Army, Air and Air
Defense Forces, National Guard, Border Guard Forces, National Police
Force (Sarandoi), and tribal militias still exist but are
factionalized among the various groups
Military manpower--military age: 22 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 6,326,135 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 3,392,336 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 248,320 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $NA
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: NA%
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: support to Islamic militants worldwide by
some factions; question over which group should hold Afghanistan's
seat at the UN
Illicit drugs: world's second-largest illicit opium producer
after Burma (cultivation in 1998--41,720 hectares, a 7% increase over
1997; potential production in 1998--1,350 metric tons) and a major
source of hashish; increasing number of heroin-processing
laboratories being set up in the country; major political factions
in the country profit from drug trade
======================================================================
@Albania
-------
Geography
Location: Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea and
Ionian Sea, between Greece and Serbia and Montenegro
Geographic coordinates: 41 00 N, 20 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area:
total: 28,750 sq km
land: 27,400 sq km
water: 1,350 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than Maryland
Land boundaries:
total: 720 km
border countries: Greece 282 km, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia 151 km, Serbia and Montenegro 287 km (114 km with Serbia,
173 km with Montenegro)
Coastline: 362 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: mild temperate; cool, cloudy, wet winters; hot, clear,
dry summers; interior is cooler and wetter
Terrain: mostly mountains and hills; small plains along coast
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m
highest point: Maja e Korabit (Golem Korab) 2,753 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, coal, chromium,
copper, timber, nickel
Land use:
arable land: 21%
permanent crops: 5%
permanent pastures: 15%
forests and woodland: 38%
other: 21% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 3,410 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: destructive earthquakes; tsunamis occur along
southwestern coast
Environment--current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; water
pollution from industrial and domestic effluents
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography--note: strategic location along Strait of Otranto (links
Adriatic Sea to Ionian Sea and Mediterranean Sea)
People
Population: 3,364,571 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 33% (male 568,642; female 530,088)
15-64 years: 61% (male 957,561; female 1,105,870)
65 years and over: 6% (male 84,280; female 118,130) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.05% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 20.74 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 7.35 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -2.93 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.87 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 42.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 69 years
male: 65.92 years
female: 72.33 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.5 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Albanian(s)
adjective: Albanian
Ethnic groups: Albanian 95%, Greeks 3%, other 2% (Vlachs,
Gypsies, Serbs, and Bulgarians) (1989 est.)
note: in 1989, other estimates of the Greek population ranged from
1% (official Albanian statistics) to 12% (from a Greek organization)
Religions: Muslim 70%, Albanian Orthodox 20%, Roman Catholic 10%
note: all mosques and churches were closed in 1967 and religious
observances prohibited; in November 1990, Albania began allowing
private religious practice
Languages: Albanian (Tosk is the official dialect), Greek
Literacy:
definition: age 9 and over can read and write
total population: 93%
male: NA%
female: NA% (1997 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Albania
conventional short form: Albania
local long form: Republika e Shqiperise
local short form: Shqiperia
former: People's Socialist Republic of Albania
Data code: AL
Government type: emerging democracy
Capital: Tirana
Administrative divisions: 36 districts (rrethe, singular--rreth)
and 1 municipality* (bashki); Berat, Bulqize, Delvine, Devoll
(Bilisht), Diber (Peshkopi), Durres, Elbasan, Fier, Gjirokaster,
Gramsh, Has (Krume), Kavaje, Kolonje (Erseke), Korce, Kruje, Kucove,
Kukes, Lac, Lezhe, Librazhd, Lushnje, Malesi e Madhe (Koplik),
Mallakaster (Ballsh), Mat (Burrel), Mirdite (Rreshen), Peqin,
Permet, Pogradec, Puke, Sarande, Shkoder, Skrapar (Corovode),
Tepelene, Tirane (Tirana), Tirane* (Tirana), Tropoje (Bajram Curri),
Vlore
note: administrative divisions have the same names as their
administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center
name following in parentheses)
Independence: 28 November 1912 (from Ottoman Empire)
National holiday: Independence Day, 28 November (1912)
Constitution: a new constitution was adopted by popular
referendum on 28 November 1998; note--the opposition Democratic Party
boycotted the vote
Legal system: has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state: President of the Republic Rexhep MEIDANI (since 24
July 1997)
head of government: Prime Minister Pandeli MAJKO (since 2 October
1998)
cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister and
approved by the president
elections: president elected by the People's Assembly for a
five-year term; election last held 24 July 1997 (next to be held NA
2002); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Rexhep MEIDANI elected president; People's
Assembly vote by number--total votes 122, for 110, against 3,
abstained 2, invalid 7
Legislative branch: unicameral People's Assembly or Kuvendi
Popullor (155 seats; most members are elected by direct popular vote
and some by proportional vote for four-year terms)
elections: last held 29 June 1997 (next to be held NA 2001)
election results: percent of vote by party--PS 53.36%, PD 25.33%, PSD
2.5%, PBDNJ 2.78%, PBK 2.36%, PAD 2.85%, PR 2.25%, PLL 3.09%, PDK
1.00%, PBSD 0.84%; seats by party--PS 101, PD 27, PSD 8, PBDNJ 4, PBK
3, PAD 2, PR 2, PLL 2, PDK 1, PBSD 1, PUK 1, independents 3
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, chairman of the Supreme Court is
elected by the People's Assembly for a four-year term
Political parties and leaders: Albanian Socialist Party or PS
International organization participation: BSEC, CCC, CE, CEI,
EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA,
IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user),
Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOMIG, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
(applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Petrit BUSHATI
chancery: 2100 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Marisa R. LINO
embassy: Rruga Elbasanit 103, Tirana
mailing address: American Embassy, Tirana, Department of State,
Washington, DC 20521-9510
Flag description: red with a black two-headed eagle in the center
Economy
Economy--overview: An extremely poor country by European
standards, Albania is making the difficult transition to a more
open-market economy. The economy rebounded in 1993-95 after a severe
depression accompanying the collapse of the previous centrally
planned system in 1990 and 1991. However, a weakening of government
resolve to maintain stabilization policies in the election year of
1996 contributed to renewal of inflationary pressures, spurred by
the budget deficit which exceeded 12%. The collapse of financial
pyramid schemes in early 1997--which had attracted deposits from a
substantial portion of Albania's population--triggered severe social
unrest which led to more than 1,500 deaths, widespread destruction
of property, and an 8% drop in GDP. The new government installed in
July 1997 has taken strong measures to restore public order and to
revive economic activity and trade. The economy continues to be
bolstered by remittances of some 20% of the labor force which works
abroad, mostly in Greece and Italy. These remittances supplement GDP
and help offset the large foreign trade deficit. Most agricultural
land was privatized in 1992, substantially improving peasant
incomes. In 1998, Albania probably recovered most if not all of the
7% drop in GDP of 1997.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$5 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 7% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,490 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 56%
industry: 21%
services: 23% (1997)
Population below poverty line: 19.6% (1996 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 40% (1997 est.)
Labor force: 1.692 million (1994 est.) (including 352,000
emigrant workers and 261,000 domestically unemployed)
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture (nearly all private; but
some state employed) 49.5%, private business sector 22.2%, state
business sector 28.3% (including state-owned industry 7.8%);
note--includes only those domestically employed
Unemployment rate: 14% (October 1997) officially, but likely to
be as high as 28%
Budget:
revenues: $624 million
expenditures: $996 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
Industries: food processing, textiles and clothing; lumber, oil,
cement, chemicals, mining, basic metals, hydropower
Industrial production growth rate: 6% (1995 est.)
Electricity--production: 5.12 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 4.3%
hydro: 95.7%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 5.27 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996) (1996)
Electricity--imports: 150 million kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: wide range of temperate-zone crops and
livestock
Exports: $212 million (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Exports--commodities: asphalt, metals and metallic ores,
electricity, crude oil, vegetables, fruits, tobacco
Exports--partners: Italy, Greece, Germany, Belgium, US
Imports: $791 million (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Imports--commodities: machinery, consumer goods, grains
Imports--partners: Italy, Greece, Bulgaria, Turkey, The Former
Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
Debt--external: $645 million (1996)
Economic aid--recipient: $630 million (1997 pledged)
Currency: 1 lek (L) = 100 qintars
Exchange rates: leke (L) per US$1--139.93 (January 1999), 150.63
(1998), 148.93 (1997), 104.50 (1996), 92.70 (1995), 94.62 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 55,000
Telephone system:
domestic: obsolete wire system; no longer provides a telephone for
every village; in 1992, following the fall of the communist
government, peasants cut the wire to about 1,000 villages and used
it to build fences
international: inadequate; international traffic carried by
microwave radio relay from the Tirana exchange to Italy and Greece
Radio broadcast stations: AM 16, FM 3, shortwave 4 (1998)
Radios: 577,000 (1991 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 13 (1997)
Televisions: 300,000 (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 447 km (none electrified)
standard gauge: 447 km 1.435-m gauge (1995)
Highways:
total: 18,000 km
paved: 5,400 km
unpaved: 12,600 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 43 km plus Albanian sections of Lake Scutari, Lake
Ohrid, and Lake Prespa (1990)
Pipelines: crude oil 145 km; petroleum products 55 km; natural
gas 64 km (1991)
Ports and harbors: Durres, Sarande, Shengjin, Vlore
Merchant marine:
total: 8 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 28,394 GRT/41,429
DWT (1998 est.)
Airports: 9 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 6
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces,
Interior Ministry Troops, Border Guards
Military manpower--military age: 19 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 763,949 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 622,013 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 32,954 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $60 million (1998)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 2% (1998)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: the Albanian Government supports
protection of the rights of ethnic Albanians outside of its borders
but has downplayed them to further its primary foreign policy goal
of regional cooperation; Albanian majority in Kosovo seeks
independence from Serbian Republic; Albanians in The Former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia claim discrimination in education, access to
public-sector jobs, and representation in government
Illicit drugs: increasingly active transshipment point for
Southwest Asian opiates, hashish, and cannabis transiting the Balkan
route and--to a far lesser extent--cocaine from South America destined
for Western Europe; limited opium and cannabis production; ethnic
Albanian narcotrafficking organizations active and rapidly expanding
in Europe
======================================================================
@Algeria
-------
Geography
Location: Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea,
between Morocco and Tunisia
Geographic coordinates: 28 00 N, 3 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area:
total: 2,381,740 sq km
land: 2,381,740 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly less than 3.5 times the size of Texas
Land boundaries:
total: 6,343 km
border countries: Libya 982 km, Mali 1,376 km, Mauritania 463 km,
Morocco 1,559 km, Niger 956 km, Tunisia 965 km, Western Sahara 42 km
Coastline: 998 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone: 32-52 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: arid to semiarid; mild, wet winters with hot, dry
summers along coast; drier with cold winters and hot summers on high
plateau; sirocco is a hot, dust/sand-laden wind especially common in
summer
Terrain: mostly high plateau and desert; some mountains; narrow,
discontinuous coastal plain
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Chott Melrhir -40 m
highest point: Tahat 3,003 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates,
uranium, lead, zinc
Land use:
arable land: 3%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 13%
forests and woodland: 2%
other: 82% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 5,550 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: mountainous areas subject to severe earthquakes;
mud slides
Environment--current issues: soil erosion from overgrazing and
other poor farming practices; desertification; dumping of raw
sewage, petroleum refining wastes, and other industrial effluents is
leading to the pollution of rivers and coastal waters; Mediterranean
Sea, in particular, becoming polluted from oil wastes, soil erosion,
and fertilizer runoff; inadequate supplies of potable water
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Nuclear Test Ban
Geography--note: second-largest country in Africa (after Sudan)
People
Population: 31,133,486 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 37% (male 5,911,910; female 5,696,538)
15-64 years: 59% (male 9,255,702; female 9,063,954)
65 years and over: 4% (male 559,570; female 645,812) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.1% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 27 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 5.52 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.49 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 43.82 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 69.24 years
male: 68.07 years
female: 70.46 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.27 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Algerian(s)
adjective: Algerian
Ethnic groups: Arab-Berber 99%, European less than 1%
Religions: Sunni Muslim (state religion) 99%, Christian and
Jewish 1%
Languages: Arabic (official), French, Berber dialects
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 61.6%
male: 73.9%
female: 49% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria
conventional short form: Algeria
local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Jaza'iriyah ad Dimuqratiyah ash
Shabiyah
local short form: Al Jaza'ir
Data code: AG
Government type: republic
Capital: Algiers
Administrative divisions: 48 provinces (wilayas,
singular--wilaya); Adrar, Ain Defla, Ain Temouchent, Alger, Annaba,
Batna, Bechar, Bejaia, Biskra, Blida, Bordj Bou Arreridj, Bouira,
Boumerdes, Chlef, Constantine, Djelfa, El Bayadh, El Oued, El Tarf,
Ghardaia, Guelma, Illizi, Jijel, Khenchela, Laghouat, Mascara,
Medea, Mila, Mostaganem, M'Sila, Naama, Oran, Ouargla, Oum el
Bouaghi, Relizane, Saida, Setif, Sidi Bel Abbes, Skikda, Souk Ahras,
Tamanghasset, Tebessa, Tiaret, Tindouf, Tipaza, Tissemsilt, Tizi
Ouzou, Tlemcen
Independence: 5 July 1962 (from France)
National holiday: Anniversary of the Revolution, 1 November (1954)
Constitution: 19 November 1976, effective 22 November 1976;
revised 3 November 1988, 23 February 1989, and 28 November 1996;
note--referendum approving the revisions of 28 November 1996 was
signed into law 7 December 1996
Legal system: socialist, based on French and Islamic law;
judicial review of legislative acts in ad hoc Constitutional Council
composed of various public officials, including several Supreme
Court justices; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Liamine ZEROUAL (appointed president 31
January 1994, elected president 16 November 1995)
head of government: Interim Prime Minister Smail HAMDANI (since 15
December 1998); note--appointed as interim prime minister until April
1999 presidential elections
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 16 November 1995 (next to be held NA April 1999;
note--ZEROUAL announced in September 1998 his intention to step down
after early presidential elections); prime minister appointed by the
president
election results: Liamine ZEROUAL elected president; percent of
vote--Liamine ZEROUAL 61.3%
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of the National
People's Assembly or Al-Majlis Ech-Chaabi Al-Watani (380 seats;
members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) and the
Council of Nations (144 seats; one-third of the members appointed by
the president, two-thirds elected by indirect vote; members serve
six-year terms; created as a result of the constitutional revision
of November 1996)
elections: National People's Assembly--last held 5 June 1997 (next to
be held NA 2001); elections for two-thirds of the Council of
Nations--last held 25 December 1997 (next to be held NA 2003)
election results: National People's Assembly--percent of vote by
party--NA%; seats by party--RND 156, MSP 69, FLN 62, Nahda Movement
34, FFS 20, RCD 19, PT 4, Republican Progressive Party 3, Union for
Democracy and Freedoms 1, Liberal Social Party 1, independents 11;
Council of Nations--percent of vote by party--NA%; seats by party--RND
80, FLN 10, FFS 4, MSP 2 (remaining 48 seats appointed by the
president, party breakdown NA)
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)
Political parties and leaders: Islamic Salvation Front or FIS
BENHAMOUDA, secretary general]; Socialist Forces Front or FFS
note: the government established a multiparty system in September
1989 and, as of 31 December 1990, over 50 legal parties existed; a
new party law was enacted in March 1997
International organization participation: ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AL,
AMF, AMU, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OAS
(observer), OAU, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, OSCE (partner), UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
(applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Ramtane LAMAMRA
chancery: 2118 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Cameron R. HUME
embassy: 4 Chemin Cheikh Bachir El-Ibrahimi, Algiers
mailing address: B. P. Box 549, Alger-Gare, 16000 Algiers
Flag description: two equal vertical bands of green (hoist side)
and white with a red, five-pointed star within a red crescent; the
crescent, star, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam
(the state religion)
Economy
Economy--overview: The hydrocarbons sector is the backbone of the
economy, accounting for roughly 52% of budget revenues, 25% of GDP,
and over 95% of export earnings. Algeria has the fifth-largest
reserves of natural gas in the world and is the second largest gas
exporter; it ranks fourteenth for oil reserves. Algiers' efforts to
reform one of the most centrally planned economies in the Arab world
began after the 1986 collapse of world oil prices plunged the
country into a severe recession. In 1989, the government launched a
comprehensive, IMF-supported program to achieve economic
stabilization and to introduce market mechanisms into the economy.
Despite substantial progress toward economic adjustment, in 1992 the
reform drive stalled as Algiers became embroiled in political
turmoil. In September 1993, a new government was formed, and one
priority was the resumption and acceleration of the structural
adjustment process. Burdened with a heavy foreign debt, Algiers
concluded a one-year standby arrangement with the IMF in April 1994
and the following year signed onto a three-year extended fund
facility which ended 30 April 1998. Progress on economic reform, a
Paris Club debt rescheduling in 1995, and oil and gas sector
expansion have contributed to a recovery since 1995. Investments in
developing hydrocarbon resources have spurred growth, but the
economy remains heavily dependent on volatile oil and gas revenues.
The government has continued efforts to diversify the economy by
attracting foreign and domestic investment outside the energy sector
in order to reduce high unemployment and improve living standards.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$140.2 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 3.2% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$4,600 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 12%
industry: 51%
services: 37% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: 22.6% (1995 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.8%
highest 10%: 26.8% (1995)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 9% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 7.8 million (1996 est.)
Labor force--by occupation: government 29.5%, agriculture 22%,
construction and public works 16.2%, industry 13.6%, commerce and
services 13.5%, transportation and communication 5.2% (1989)
Unemployment rate: 30% (1998 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $14.4 billion
expenditures: $15.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $4.4
million (1998 est.)
Industries: petroleum, natural gas, light industries, mining,
electrical, petrochemical, food processing
Industrial production growth rate: -4% (1997 est.)
Electricity--production: 18.4 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 98.91%
hydro: 1.09%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 18.13 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 490 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 220 million kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: wheat, barley, oats, grapes, olives,
citrus, fruits; sheep, cattle
Exports: $14 billion (f.o.b., 1997 est.)
Exports--commodities: petroleum and natural gas 97%
Exports--partners: Italy 18.8%, US 14.8%, France 11.8%, Spain 8%,
Germany 7.9% (1995 est.)
Imports: $8.5 billion (f.o.b., 1997 est.)
Imports--commodities: capital goods, food and beverages, consumer
goods
Imports--partners: France 29%, Spain 10.5%, Italy 8.2%, US 8%,
Germany 5.6% (1995 est.)
Debt--external: $31.4 billion (1998 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $897.5 million (1994)
Currency: 1 Algerian dinar (DA) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: Algerian dinars (DA) per US$1--61.264 (January
1999), 58.739 (1998), 57.707 (1997), 54.749 (1996), 47.663 (1995),
35.059 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 1,381,342 (5,200 cellular telephone subscribers)
(1997)
Telephone system:
domestic: good service in north but sparse in south; domestic
satellite system with 12 earth stations (20 additional domestic
earth stations are planned)
international: 5 submarine cables; microwave radio relay to Italy,
France, Spain, Morocco, and Tunisia; coaxial cable to Morocco and
Tunisia; participant in Medarabtel; satellite earth stations--2
Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), 1 Intersputnik, and
1 Arabsat
Radio broadcast stations: AM 23, FM 1, shortwave 8 (1998 est.)
Radios: 3.5 million (1998 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 18 (not including low-power
stations) (1997)
Televisions: 2 million (1998 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 4,772 km
standard gauge: 3,616 km 1.435-m gauge (301 km electrified; 215 km
double track)
narrow gauge: 1,156 km 1.055-m gauge
Highways:
total: 102,424 km
paved: 70,570 km (including 608 km of expressways)
unpaved: 31,854 km (1995 est.)
Pipelines: crude oil 6,612 km; petroleum products 298 km; natural
gas 2,948 km
Ports and harbors: Algiers, Annaba, Arzew, Bejaia, Beni Saf,
Dellys, Djendjene, Ghazaouet, Jijel, Mostaganem, Oran, Skikda, Tenes
Merchant marine:
total: 78 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 933,672 GRT/1,094,104
DWT
ships by type: bulk 9, cargo 27, chemical tanker 7, liquefied gas
tanker 11, oil tanker 5, roll-on/roll-off cargo 13, short-sea
passenger 5, specialized tanker 1 (1998 est.)
Airports: 137 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 51
over 3,047 m: 8
2,438 to 3,047 m: 24
1,524 to 2,437 m: 13
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 86
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 24
914 to 1,523 m: 40
under 914 m: 19 (1998 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: National Popular Army, Navy, Air Force,
Territorial Air Defense, National Gendarmerie
Military manpower--military age: 19 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 8,237,682 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 5,046,931 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 359,592 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $1.3 billion (1994)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 2.7% (1994)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: part of southeastern region claimed by
Libya
======================================================================
@American Samoa
--------------
Geography
Location: Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean,
about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Geographic coordinates: 14 20 S, 170 00 W
Map references: Oceania
Area:
total: 199 sq km
land: 199 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes Rose Island and Swains Island
Area--comparative: slightly larger than Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 116 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical marine, moderated by southeast trade winds;
annual rainfall averages 124 inches; rainy season from November to
April, dry season from May to October; little seasonal temperature
variation
Terrain: five volcanic islands with rugged peaks and limited
coastal plains, two coral atolls (Rose Island, Swains Island)
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Lata 966 m
Natural resources: pumice, pumicite
Land use:
arable land: 5%
permanent crops: 10%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 70%
other: 15% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: typhoons common from December to March
Environment--current issues: limited natural fresh water
resources; the water division of the government has spent
substantial funds in the past few years to improve water catchments
and pipelines
Environment--international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography--note: Pago Pago has one of the best natural deepwater
harbors in the South Pacific Ocean, sheltered by shape from rough
seas and protected by peripheral mountains from high winds;
strategic location in the South Pacific Ocean
People
Population: 63,786 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 39% (male 12,840; female 12,074)
15-64 years: 56% (male 17,933; female 18,035)
65 years and over: 5% (male 1,494; female 1,410) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.64% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 26.53 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 4.04 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 3.92 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.06 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 10.19 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.46 years
male: 71.23 years
female: 79.95 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.66 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: American Samoan(s)
adjective: American Samoan
Ethnic groups: Samoan (Polynesian) 89%, Caucasian 2%, Tongan 4%,
other 5%
Religions: Christian Congregationalist 50%, Roman Catholic 20%,
Protestant denominations and other 30%
Languages: Samoan (closely related to Hawaiian and other
Polynesian languages), English
note: most people are bilingual
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97%
male: 98%
female: 97% (1980 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Territory of American Samoa
conventional short form: American Samoa
abbreviation: AS
Data code: AQ
Dependency status: unincorporated and unorganized territory of
the US; administered by the Office of Insular Affairs, US Department
of the Interior
Government type: NA
Capital: Pago Pago
Administrative divisions: none (territory of the US); there are
no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US
Government, but there are three districts and two islands* at the
second order; Eastern, Manu'a, Rose Island*, Swains Island*, Western
Independence: none (territory of the US)
National holiday: Territorial Flag Day, 17 April (1900)
Constitution: ratified 1966, in effect 1967
Legal system: NA
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President William Jefferson CLINTON of the US (since
20 January 1993) and Vice President Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20
January 1993)
head of government: Governor Tauese P. SUNIA (since 3 January 1997)
and Lieutenant Governor Togiola TULAFONO (since 3 January 1997)
cabinet: NA
elections: US president and vice president elected on the same
ticket for four-year terms; governor and lieutenant governor elected
on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election
last held 3 November 1996 (next to be held 7 November 2000)
election results: Tauese P. SUNIA elected governor; percent of
vote--Tauese P. SUNIA (Democrat) 51%, Peter REID (independent) 49%
Legislative branch: bicameral Fono or Legislative Assembly
consists of the House of Representatives (21 seats--20 of which are
elected by popular vote and 1 is an appointed, nonvoting delegate
from Swains Island; members serve two-year terms) and the Senate (18
seats; members are elected from local chiefs and serve four-year
terms)
elections: House of Representatives--last held NA November 1998 (next
to be held NA November 2000); Senate--last held 3 November 1996 (next
to be held 7 November 2000)
election results: House of Representatives--percent of vote by
party--NA; seats by party--NA; Senate--percent of vote by party--NA;
seats by party--NA
note: American Samoa elects one delegate to the US House of
Representatives; election last held 3 November 1998 (next to be held
7 November 2000); results--Eni R. F. H. FALEOMAVAEGA (Democrat)
reelected as delegate for a sixth term
Judicial branch: High Court (chief justice and associate justices
are appointed by the US Secretary of the Interior)
Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party [leader NA];
International organization participation: ESCAP (associate),
Interpol (subbureau), IOC, SPC
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (territory of the US)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (territory of the US)
Flag description: blue, with a white triangle edged in red that
is based on the outer side and extends to the hoist side; a brown
and white American bald eagle flying toward the hoist side is
carrying two traditional Samoan symbols of authority, a staff and a
war club
Economy
Economy--overview: This is a traditional Polynesian economy in
which more than 90% of the land is communally owned. Economic
activity is strongly linked to the US, with which American Samoa
conducts the great bulk of its foreign trade. Tuna fishing and tuna
processing plants are the backbone of the private sector, with
canned tuna the primary export. Transfers from the US Government add
substantially to American Samoa's economic well-being. According to
one observer, attempts by the government to develop a larger and
broader economy are restrained by Samoa's remote location, its
limited transportation, and its devastating hurricanes. Tourism, a
developing sector, may be held back by the current financial
difficulties in East Asia.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$150 million (1995 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: NA%
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$2,600 (1995 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
Labor force: 13,949 (1996)
Labor force--by occupation: government 33%, tuna canneries 34%,
other 33% (1990)
Unemployment rate: 12% (1991)
Budget:
revenues: $121 million (37% in local revenue and 63% in US grants )
expenditures: $127 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY96/97)
Industries: tuna canneries (largely dependent on foreign fishing
vessels), handicrafts
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: 105 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 105 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: bananas, coconuts, vegetables, taro,
breadfruit, yams, copra, pineapples, papayas; dairy products,
livestock
Exports: $313 million (1996)
Exports--commodities: canned tuna 93%
Exports--partners: US 99.6%
Imports: $471 million (1996)
Imports--commodities: materials for canneries 56%, food 8%,
petroleum products 7%, machinery and parts 6%
Imports--partners: US 62%, Japan 9%, NZ 7%, Australia 11%, Fiji
4%, other 7%
Debt--external: $NA
Economic aid--recipient: $NA; note?important financial support
from the US
Currency: 1 US dollar (US$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: US currency is used
Fiscal year: 1 October--30 September
Communications
Telephones: 9,000 (1994 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: good telex, telegraph, facsimile and cellular phone
services; domestic satellite system with 1 Comsat earth station
international: satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1997)
Televisions: 12,000 (1994 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 350 km
paved: 150 km
unpaved: 200 km
Ports and harbors: Aunu'u (new construction), Auasi, Faleosao,
Ofu, Pago Pago, Ta'u
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 4 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 2
under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)
Military
Military--note: defense is the responsibility of the US
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
======================================================================
@Andorra
-------
Geography
Location: Southwestern Europe, between France and Spain
Geographic coordinates: 42 30 N, 1 30 E
Map references: Europe
Area:
total: 450 sq km
land: 450 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
total: 125 km
border countries: France 60 km, Spain 65 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: temperate; snowy, cold winters and warm, dry summers
Terrain: rugged mountains dissected by narrow valleys
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Riu Valira 840 m
highest point: Coma Pedrosa 2,946 m
Natural resources: hydropower, mineral water, timber, iron ore,
lead
Land use:
arable land: 2%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 56%
forests and woodland: 22%
other: 20% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: snowslides, avalanches
Environment--current issues: deforestation; overgrazing of
mountain meadows contributes to soil erosion
Environment--international agreements:
party to: none of the selected agreements
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography--note: landlocked
People
Population: 65,939 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 14% (male 4,880; female 4,527)
15-64 years: 73% (male 25,811; female 22,444)
65 years and over: 13% (male 4,196; female 4,081) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.24% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 10.27 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 5.46 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 17.61 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.15 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.03 male(s)/female
total population: 1.12 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 4.08 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 83.46 years
male: 80.55 years
female: 86.55 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.25 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Andorran(s)
adjective: Andorran
Ethnic groups: Spanish 61%, Andorran 30%, French 6%, other 3%
Religions: Roman Catholic (predominant)
Languages: Catalan (official), French, Castilian
Literacy: NA
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Principality of Andorra
conventional short form: Andorra
local long form: Principat d'Andorra
local short form: Andorra
Data code: AN
Government type: parliamentary democracy (since March 1993) that
retains as its heads of state a coprincipality; the two princes are
the president of France and bishop of Seo de Urgel, Spain, who are
represented locally by officials called veguers
Capital: Andorra la Vella
Administrative divisions: 7 parishes (parroquies,
singular--parroquia); Andorra, Canillo, Encamp, La Massana, Les
Escaldes, Ordino, Sant Julia de Loria
Independence: 1278
National holiday: Mare de Deu de Meritxell, 8 September
Constitution: Andorra's first written constitution was drafted in
1991; adopted 14 March 1993
Legal system: based on French and Spanish civil codes; no
judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: French Coprince Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May 1995)
represented by Veguer Jean-Pierre COURTOIS (since NA); and Spanish
Coprince Episcopal Monseigneur Joan MARTI Alanis (since 31 January
1971) represented by Veguer Francesc BADIA Battalla (since NA)
head of government: Executive Council President Marc FORNE Molne
(since 21 December 1994)
cabinet: Executive Council designated by the Executive Council
president
elections: Executive Council president elected by the General
Council and formally appointed by the coprinces; election last held
16 February 1997 (next to be held NA 2001)
election results: Marc FORNE Molne elected executive council
president; percent of General Council vote--NA
Legislative branch: unicameral General Council of the Valleys or
Consell General de las Valls (28 seats; members are elected by
direct popular vote, 14 from a single national constituency and 14
to represent each of the 7 parishes; members serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 16 February 1997 (next to be held NA February
2001)
election results: percent of vote by party--UL 57%, AND 21%, IDN 7%,
ND 7%, other 8%; seats by party--UL 16, AND 6, ND 2, IDN 2, UPO 2
Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Andorra at Perpignan, France,
(two civil judges appointed by the veguers, one appeals judge
appointed by the coprinces alternately); Ecclesiastical Court of the
Bishop of Seo de Urgel (Spain); Tribunal of the Courts or Tribunal
des Cortes, (presided over by the two civil judges, one appeals
judge, the veguers, and two members of the General Council)
Political parties and leaders: National Democratic Group or AND
note: there are two other small parties
International organization participation: CE, ECE, ICRM, IFRCS,
Interpol, IOC, ITU, OSCE, UN, UNESCO, WHO, WIPO, WToO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Juli MINOVES-TRIQUELL (also Permanent
Representative to the UN)
chancery: 2 United Nations Plaza, 25th Floor, New York, NY 10017
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an
embassy in Andorra; the US Ambassador to Spain is accredited to
Andorra; US interests in Andorra are represented by the Consulate
General's office in Barcelona (Spain); mailing address: Paseo Reina
Elisenda, 23, 08034 Barcelona, Spain; telephone: (3493) 280-2227;
FAX: (3493) 205-7705; note--Consul General Douglas R. SMITH makes
periodic visits to Andorra
Flag description: three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist
side), yellow, and red with the national coat of arms centered in
the yellow band; the coat of arms features a quartered shield;
similar to the flags of Chad and Romania that do not have a national
coat of arms in the center
Economy
Economy--overview: Tourism, the mainstay of Andorra's tiny,
well-to-do economy, accounts for roughly 80% of GDP. An estimated 10
million tourists visit annually, attracted by Andorra's duty-free
status and by its summer and winter resorts. Andorra's comparative
advantage has recently eroded as the economies of neighboring France
and Spain have been opened up, providing broader availability of
goods and lower tariffs. The banking sector, with its "tax haven"
status, also contributes substantially to the economy. Agricultural
production is limited by a scarcity of arable land, and most food
has to be imported. The principal livestock activity is sheep
raising. Manufacturing consists mainly of cigarettes, cigars, and
furniture. Andorra is a member of the EU Customs Union and is
treated as an EU member for trade in manufactured goods (no tariffs)
and as a non-EU member for agricultural products.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$1.2 billion (1995 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: NA%
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$18,000 (1995 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
Labor force: NA
Unemployment rate: 0%
Budget:
revenues: $138 million
expenditures: $177 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1993)
Industries: tourism (particularly skiing), sheep, timber,
tobacco, banking
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: 140 million kWh (1992)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: NA%
hydro: NA%
nuclear: NA%
other: NA%
Electricity--consumption: NA kWh
Electricity--exports: NA kWh
Electricity--imports: NA kWh
Agriculture--products: tobacco, rye, wheat, barley, oats,
vegetables; sheep
Exports: $47 million (f.o.b., 1995)
Exports--commodities: electricity, tobacco products, furniture
Exports--partners: France 49%, Spain 47%
Imports: $1 billion (1995)
Imports--commodities: consumer goods, food
Imports--partners: France, Spain, US 4.2%
Debt--external: $NA
Economic aid--recipient: none
Currency: 1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes; 1 peseta (Pta) = 100
centimos; the French and Spanish currencies are used
Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1--5.65 (January 1999),
5.8995 (1998), 5.8367 (1997), 5.1155 (1996), 4.9915 (1995), 5.5520
(1994); Spanish pesetas (Ptas) per US$1--143.39 (January 1999),
149.40 (1998), 146.41 (1997), 126.66 (1996), 124.69 (1995), 133.96
(1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 21,258 (1983 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: modern system with microwave radio relay connections
between exchanges
international: landline circuits to France and Spain
Radio broadcast stations: AM 0, FM 15, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios: 10,000 (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 0 (1997)
Televisions: 7,000 (1991 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 269 km
paved: 198 km
unpaved: 71 km (1991 est.)
Ports and harbors: none
Airports: none
Military
Military--note: defense is the responsibility of France and Spain
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
======================================================================
@Angola
------
Geography
Location: Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean,
between Namibia and Democratic Republic of the Congo
Geographic coordinates: 12 30 S, 18 30 E
Map references: Africa
Area:
total: 1,246,700 sq km
land: 1,246,700 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly less than twice the size of Texas
Land boundaries:
total: 5,198 km
border countries: Democratic Republic of the Congo 2,511 km of which
220 km is the boundary of discontiguous Cabinda Province, Republic
of the Congo 201 km, Namibia 1,376 km, Zambia 1,110 km
Coastline: 1,600 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: semiarid in south and along coast to Luanda; north has
cool, dry season (May to October) and hot, rainy season (November to
April)
Terrain: narrow coastal plain rises abruptly to vast interior
plateau
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Morro de Moco 2,620 m
Natural resources: petroleum, diamonds, iron ore, phosphates,
copper, feldspar, gold, bauxite, uranium
Land use:
arable land: 2%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 23%
forests and woodland: 43%
other: 32% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 750 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: locally heavy rainfall causes periodic flooding
on the plateau
Environment--current issues: the overuse of pastures and
subsequent soil erosion attributable to population pressures;
desertification; deforestation of tropical rain forest, in response
to both international demand for tropical timber and to domestic use
as fuel, resulting in loss of biodiversity; soil erosion
contributing to water pollution and siltation of rivers and dams;
inadequate supplies of potable water
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Desertification, Law of the Sea
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change
Geography--note: Cabinda is separated from rest of country by the
Democratic Republic of the Congo
People
Population: 11,177,537 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 45% (male 2,545,006; female 2,473,732)
15-64 years: 52% (male 2,938,178; female 2,909,844)
65 years and over: 3% (male 143,074; female 167,703) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.84% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 43.11 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 16.35 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 1.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 129.19 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 48.39 years
male: 46.08 years
female: 50.82 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.12 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Angolan(s)
adjective: Angolan
Ethnic groups: Ovimbundu 37%, Kimbundu 25%, Bakongo 13%, mestico
(mixed European and Native African) 2%, European 1%, other 22%
Religions: indigenous beliefs 47%, Roman Catholic 38%, Protestant
15% (1998 est.)
Languages: Portuguese (official), Bantu and other African
languages
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 42%
male: 56%
female: 28% (1998 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Angola
conventional short form: Angola
local long form: Republica de Angola
local short form: Angola
former: People's Republic of Angola
Data code: AO
Government type: transitional government, nominally a multiparty
democracy with a strong presidential system
Capital: Luanda
Administrative divisions: 18 provinces (provincias,
singular--provincia); Bengo, Benguela, Bie, Cabinda, Cuando Cubango,
Cuanza Norte, Cuanza Sul, Cunene, Huambo, Huila, Luanda, Lunda
Norte, Lunda Sul, Malanje, Moxico, Namibe, Uige, Zaire
Independence: 11 November 1975 (from Portugal)
National holiday: Independence Day, 11 November (1975)
Constitution: 11 November 1975; revised 7 January 1978, 11 August
1980, 6 March 1991, and 26 August 1992
Legal system: based on Portuguese civil law system and customary
law; recently modified to accommodate political pluralism and
increased use of free markets
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS (since 21
September 1979); note--the president is both chief of state and head
of government
head of government: President Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS (since January
1999); note--the president is both chief of state and head of
government
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: President DOS SANTOS originally elected without
opposition under a one-party system and stood for reelection in
Angola's first multiparty elections in 28-29 September 1992, the
last elections to be held (next to be held NA)
election results: DOS SANTOS received 49.6% of the total vote,
making a run-off election necessary between him and second-place
finisher Jonas SAVIMBI; the run-off was not held and SAVIMBI's
National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA)
repudiated the results of the first election; the civil war resumed
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Assembleia
Nacional (220 seats; members elected by proportional vote to serve
four-year terms)
elections: last held 29-30 September 1992 (next to be held NA)
election results: percent of vote by party--MPLA 54%, UNITA 34%,
others 12%; seats by party--MPLA 129, UNITA 70, PRS 6, FNLA 5, PLD 3,
others 7
Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Tribunal da Relacao, judges of
the Supreme Court are appointed by the president
Political parties and leaders: Popular Movement for the
in power since 1975; National Union for the Total Independence of
years of armed resistance before joining the current unity
note: about a dozen minor parties participated in the 1992 elections
but won few seats and have little influence in the National Assembly
Political pressure groups and leaders: Front for the Liberation
of the Enclave of Cabinda or FLEC
note: FLEC is waging a small-scale, highly factionalized, armed
struggle for the independence of Cabinda Province
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEEAC,
ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, NAM, OAS (observer), OAU,
SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Antonio dos Santos FRANCA "N'dalu"
chancery: 1615 M Street, NW, Suite 900, Washington, DC 20036
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph G. SULLIVAN
embassy: number 32 Rua Houari Boumedienne, Miramar, Luanda
mailing address: international mail: Caixa Postal 6484, Luanda;
pouch: American Embassy Luanda, Department of State, Washington, DC
20521-2550
Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and
black with a centered yellow emblem consisting of a five-pointed
star within half a cogwheel crossed by a machete (in the style of a
hammer and sickle)
Economy
Economy--overview: Angola is an economy in disarray because of
more than 20 years of nearly continuous warfare. Despite its
abundant natural resources, output per capita is among the world's
lowest. Subsistence agriculture provides the main livelihood for 85%
of the population. Oil production and the supporting activities are
vital to the economy, contributing about 45% to GDP. Notwithstanding
the signing of a peace accord in November 1994, sporadic violence
continues, millions of land mines remain, and many farmers are
reluctant to return to their fields. As a result, much of the
country's food must still be imported. To take advantage of its rich
resources--gold, diamonds, extensive forests, Atlantic fisheries,
arable land, and large oil deposits--Angola will need to implement
the peace agreement and reform government policies. The increase in
the pace of civil warfare in late 1998 dims economic prospects for
1999 especially if the oil sector were to be damaged.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$11 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 0.5% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,000 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 13%
industry: 53%
services: 34% (1998 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 90% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 5 million (1997 est.)
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 85%, industry and services
15% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate: extensive unemployment and underemployment
affecting more than half the population (1997 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $928 million
expenditures: $2.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $963
million (1992 est.)
Industries: petroleum; diamonds, iron ore, phosphates, feldspar,
bauxite, uranium, and gold; cement; basic metal products; fish
processing; food processing; brewing; tobacco products; sugar;
textiles
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: 1.86 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 24.73%
hydro: 75.27%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 1.86 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: bananas, sugarcane, coffee, sisal, corn,
cotton, manioc (tapioca), tobacco, vegetables, plantains; livestock;
forest products; fish
Exports: $3.4 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Exports--commodities: crude oil 90%, diamonds, refined petroleum
products, gas, coffee, sisal, fish and fish products, timber, cotton
(1998)
Exports--partners: US 65%, EU, China (1997)
Imports: $2.2 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Imports--commodities: machinery and electrical equipment, vehicles
and spare parts; medicines, food, textiles and clothing; substantial
military goods
Imports--partners: Portugal 21%, US 15%, France 14%, South Africa
(1997)
Debt--external: $13 billion (1998 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $493.1 million (1995)
Currency: 1 kwanza (NKz) = 100 lwei
Exchange rates: kwanza (NKz) per US$1--350,000 (February 1999),
392,824 (1998), 229,040 (1997), 128,029 (1996), 2,750 (1995), 59,515
(1994); note--readjusted Kwanzas per US$1,000 through 1994, per US$1
thereafter
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 78,000 (1991 est.)
Telephone system: telephone service limited mostly to government
and business use; HF radiotelephone used extensively for military
links
domestic: limited system of wire, microwave radio relay, and
tropospheric scatter
international: satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 16, FM 8, shortwave 8 (1998)
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 7 (1997)
Televisions: 50,000 (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 2,952 km (limited trackage in use because of land mines still
in place from the civil war) (1997 est.)
narrow gauge: 2,798 km 1.067-m gauge; 154 km 0.600-m gauge
Highways:
total: 76,626 km
paved: 19,156 km
unpaved: 57,470 km (1997 est.)
Waterways: 1,295 km navigable
Pipelines: crude oil 179 km
Ports and harbors: Ambriz, Cabinda, Lobito, Luanda, Malongo,
Namibe, Porto Amboim, Soyo
Merchant marine:
total: 10 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 48,384 GRT/78,357 DWT
ships by type: cargo 9, oil tanker 1 (1998 est.)
Airports: 252 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 32
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 9
1,524 to 2,437 m: 12
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 220
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 32
914 to 1,523 m: 100
under 914 m: 82 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces,
National Police Force
Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 2,544,203 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,280,377 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 111,168 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $1 billion (FY97/98)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 25% (FY97/98)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
Illicit drugs: increasingly used as a transshipment point for
cocaine and heroin destined for Western Europe and other African
states
======================================================================
@Anguilla
--------
Geography
Location: Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, east of Puerto
Rico
Geographic coordinates: 18 15 N, 63 10 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 91 sq km
land: 91 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: about half the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 61 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 3 nm
Climate: tropical; moderated by northeast trade winds
Terrain: flat and low-lying island of coral and limestone
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Crocus Hill 65 m
Natural resources: salt, fish, lobster
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 100% (mostly rock with sparse scrub oak, few trees, some
commercial salt ponds)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: frequent hurricanes and other tropical storms
(July to October)
Environment--current issues: supplies of potable water sometimes
cannot meet increasing demand largely because of poor distribution
system
Environment--international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA
People
Population: 11,510 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 27% (male 1,581; female 1,529)
15-64 years: 66% (male 3,874; female 3,695)
65 years and over: 7% (male 366; female 465) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.16% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 16.68 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 5.3 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 20.24 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 18.72 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.71 years
male: 74.72 years
female: 80.78 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.95 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Anguillan(s)
adjective: Anguillan
Ethnic groups: black
Religions: Anglican 40%, Methodist 33%, Seventh-Day Adventist 7%,
Baptist 5%, Roman Catholic 3%, other 12%
Languages: English (official)
Literacy:
definition: age 12 and over can read and write
total population: 95%
male: 95%
female: 95% (1984 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Anguilla
Data code: AV
Dependency status: overseas territory of the UK
Government type: NA
Capital: The Valley
Administrative divisions: none (overseas territory of the UK)
Independence: none (overseas territory of the UK)
National holiday: Anguilla Day, 30 May
Constitution: Anguilla Constitutional Order 1 April 1982; amended
1990
Legal system: based on English common law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952);
represented by Governor Alan HOOLE (since 1 November 1995)
head of government: Chief Minister Hubert HUGHES (since 16 March
1994)
cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor from among the
elected members of the House of Assembly
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by
the monarch; chief minister appointed by the governor from among the
members of the House of Assembly
Legislative branch: unicameral House of Assembly (11 seats total,
7 elected by direct popular vote; members serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 4 March 1999 (next to be held March 2004)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--ANA 2,
AUP 2, ADP 2, independent 1
Judicial branch: High Court (judge provided by Eastern Caribbean
Supreme Court)
Political parties and leaders: Anguilla National Alliance or ANA
International organization participation: Caricom (observer),
CDB, Interpol (subbureau), OECS (associate), ECLAC (associate)
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory of
the UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (overseas territory
of the UK)
Flag description: blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper
hoist-side quadrant and the Anguillan coat of arms centered in the
outer half of the flag; the coat of arms depicts three orange
dolphins in an interlocking circular design on a white background
with blue wavy water below
Economy
Economy--overview: Anguilla has few natural resources, and the
economy depends heavily on luxury tourism, offshore banking, lobster
fishing, and remittances from emigrants. The economy, and especially
the tourism sector, suffered a setback in late 1995 due to the
effects of Hurricane Luis in September but recovered in 1996.
Increased activity in the tourism industry, which has spurred the
growth of the construction sector, contributed to economic growth in
1997-98. Anguillan officials have put substantial effort into
developing the offshore financing sector. A comprehensive package of
financial services legislation was enacted in late 1994. In the
medium term, prospects for the economy will depend on the tourism
sector and, therefore, on continuing income growth in the
industrialized nations.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$81 million (1997 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 6.5% (1997 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$7,300 (1997 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 4%
industry: 16%
services: 80% (1996 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.6% (1997)
Labor force: 4,400 (1992)
Labor force--by occupation: commerce 36%, services 29%,
construction 18%, transportation and utilities 10%, manufacturing
3%, agriculture/fishing/forestry/mining 4%
Unemployment rate: 7% (1992 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $20.4 million
expenditures: $23.3 million, including capital expenditures of $3.8
million (1997 est.)
Industries: tourism, boat building, offshore financial services
Industrial production growth rate: 3.1% (1997 est.)
Electricity--production: NA kWh
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: NA%
hydro: NA%
nuclear: NA%
other: NA%
Electricity--consumption: NA kWh
Electricity--exports: NA kWh
Electricity--imports: NA kWh
Agriculture--products: pigeon peas, corn, sweet potatoes; sheep,
goats, pigs, cattle, poultry; fish, lobsters
Exports: $1.6 million (1997)
Exports--commodities: lobster, fish, livestock, salt
Exports--partners: NA
Imports: $54.2 million (1997)
Imports--commodities: NA
Imports--partners: NA
Debt--external: $8.5 million (1996)
Economic aid--recipient: $3.5 million (1995)
Currency: 1 East Caribbean dollar (EC$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1--2.7000
(fixed rate since 1976)
Fiscal year: 1 April--31 March
Communications
Telephones: 890
Telephone system:
domestic: modern internal telephone system
international: microwave radio relay to island of Saint Martin
(Guadeloupe and Netherlands Antilles)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 6, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios: 2,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1997)
Televisions: NA
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 105 km
paved: 65 km
unpaved: 40 km (1992 est.)
Ports and harbors: Blowing Point, Road Bay
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 3 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 2
under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)
Military
Military--note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
======================================================================
@Antarctica
----------
Geography
Location: continent mostly south of the Antarctic Circle
Geographic coordinates: 90 00 S, 0 00 E
Map references: Antarctic Region
Area:
total: 14 million sq km
land: 14 million sq km (280,000 sq km ice-free, 13.72 million sq km
ice-covered) (est.)
note: second-smallest continent (after Australia)
Area--comparative: slightly less than 1.5 times the size of the US
Land boundaries: 0 km
note: see entry on International disputes
Coastline: 17,968 km
Maritime claims: none, but see entry on International disputes
Climate: severe low temperatures vary with latitude, elevation,
and distance from the ocean; East Antarctica is colder than West
Antarctica because of its higher elevation; Antarctic Peninsula has
the most moderate climate; higher temperatures occur in January
along the coast and average slightly below freezing
Terrain: about 98% thick continental ice sheet and 2% barren
rock, with average elevations between 2,000 and 4,000 meters;
mountain ranges up to about 5,000 meters; ice-free coastal areas
include parts of southern Victoria Land, Wilkes Land, the Antarctic
Peninsula area, and parts of Ross Island on McMurdo Sound; glaciers
form ice shelves along about half of the coastline, and floating ice
shelves constitute 11% of the area of the continent
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Vinson Massif 5,140 m
Natural resources: none presently exploited; iron ore, chromium,
copper, gold, nickel, platinum and other minerals, and coal and
hydrocarbons have been found in small, uncommercial quantities
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 100% (ice 98%, barren rock 2%)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1993)
Natural hazards: katabatic (gravity-driven) winds blow coastward
from the high interior; frequent blizzards form near the foot of the
plateau; cyclonic storms form over the ocean and move clockwise
along the coast; volcanism on Deception Island and isolated areas of
West Antarctica; other seismic activity rare and weak
Environment--current issues: in 1998, NASA satellite data showed
that the antarctic ozone hole was the largest on record, covering 27
million square kilometers; researchers in 1997 found that increased
ultraviolet light coming through the hole damages the DNA of
icefish, an antarctic fish lacking hemoglobin; ozone depletion
earlier was shown to harm one-celled antarctic marine plants
Environment--international agreements:
party to: none of the selected agreements
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography--note: the coldest, windiest, highest, and driest
continent; during summer, more solar radiation reaches the surface
at the South Pole than is received at the Equator in an equivalent
period; mostly uninhabitable
People
Population: no indigenous inhabitants, but there are seasonally
staffed research stations
note: approximately 29 nations, all signatory to the Antarctic
Treaty, send personnel to perform seasonal (summer) and year-round
research on the continent and in its surrounding oceans; the
population of persons doing and supporting science on the continent
and its nearby islands south of 60 degrees south latitude (the
region covered by the Antarctic Treaty) varies from approximately
4,000 in summer to 1,000 in winter; in addition, approximately 1,000
personnel including ship's crew and scientists doing onboard
research are present in the waters of the treaty region; Summer
(January) population--3,687 total; Argentina 302, Australia 201,
Belgium 13, Brazil 80, Bulgaria 16, Chile 352, China 70, Finland 11,
France 100, Germany 51, India 60, Italy 106, Japan 136, South Korea
14, Netherlands 10, NZ 60, Norway 40, Peru 28, Poland 70, Russia
254, South Africa 80, Spain 43, Sweden 20, UK 192, US 1,378
(1998-99); Winter (July) population--964 total; Argentina 165,
Australia 75, Brazil 12, Chile 129, China 33, France 33, Germany 9,
India 25, Japan 40, South Korea 14, NZ 10, Poland 20, Russia 102,
South Africa 10, UK 39, US 248 (1998-99); year-round stations--42
total; Argentina 6, Australia 4, Brazil 1, Chile 4, China 2, Finland
1, France 1, Germany 1, India 1, Italy 1, Japan 1, South Korea 1, NZ
1, Norway 1, Poland 1, Russia 6, South Africa 1, Spain 1, Ukraine 1,
UK 2, US 3, Uruguay 1 (1998-99); Summer-only stations--32 total;
Argentina 3, Australia 4, Bulgaria 1, Chile 7, Germany 1, India 1,
Japan 3, NZ 1, Peru 1, Russia 3, Sweden 2, UK 5 (1998-99) in
addition, during the austral summer some nations have numerous
occupied locations such as tent camps, summer-long temporary
facilities, and mobile traverses in support of research
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Antarctica
Data code: AY
Government type: Antarctic Treaty Summary--the Antarctic Treaty,
signed on 1 December 1959 and entered into force on 23 June 1961,
establishes the legal framework for the management of Antarctica.
Administration is carried out through consultative member
meetings--the 22nd Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting was in
Norway in May 1998. At the end of 1998, there were 43 treaty member
nations: 27 consultative and 16 acceding. Consultative (voting)
members include the seven nations that claim portions of Antarctica
as national territory (some claims overlap) and 20 nonclaimant
nations. The US and some other nations that have made no claims have
reserved the right to do so. The US does not recognize the claims of
others. The year in parentheses indicates when an acceding nation
was voted to full consultative (voting) status, while no date
indicates the country was an original 1959 treaty signatory.
Claimant nations are--Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, New
Zealand, Norway, and the UK. Nonclaimant consultative nations
are--Belgium, Brazil (1983), Bulgaria (1978) China (1985), Ecuador
(1990), Finland (1989), Germany (1981), India (1983), Italy (1987),
Japan, South Korea (1989), Netherlands (1990), Peru (1989), Poland
(1977), Russia, South Africa, Spain (1988), Sweden (1988), Uruguay
(1985), and the US. Acceding (nonvoting) members, with year of
accession in parentheses, are--Austria (1987), Canada (1988),
Colombia (1988), Cuba (1984), Czech Republic (1993), Denmark (1965),
Greece (1987), Guatemala (1991), Hungary (1984), North Korea (1987),
Papua New Guinea (1981), Romania (1971), Slovakia (1993),
Switzerland (1990), Turkey (1995), and Ukraine (1992). Article
1--area to be used for peaceful purposes only; military activity,
such as weapons testing, is prohibited, but military personnel and
equipment may be used for scientific research or any other peaceful
purpose; Article 2--freedom of scientific investigation and
cooperation shall continue; Article 3--free exchange of information
and personnel in cooperation with the UN and other international
agencies; Article 4--does not recognize, dispute, or establish
territorial claims and no new claims shall be asserted while the
treaty is in force; Article 5 --prohibits nuclear explosions or
disposal of radioactive wastes; Article 6--includes under the treaty
all land and ice shelves south of 60 degrees 00 minutes south;
Article 7--treaty-state observers have free access, including aerial
observation, to any area and may inspect all stations,
installations, and equipment; advance notice of all activities and
of the introduction of military personnel must be given; Article
8--allows for jurisdiction over observers and scientists by their own
states; Article 9--frequent consultative meetings take place among
member nations; Article 10--treaty states will discourage activities
by any country in Antarctica that are contrary to the treaty;
Article 11--disputes to be settled peacefully by the parties
concerned or, ultimately, by the ICJ; Articles 12, 13, 14--deal with
upholding, interpreting, and amending the treaty among involved
nations. Other agreements--some 200 recommendations adopted at treaty
consultative meetings and ratified by governments include --Agreed
Measures for the Conservation of Antarctic Fauna and Flora (1964);
Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Seals (1972);
Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources
(1980); a mineral resources agreement was signed in 1988 but was
subsequently rejected; the Protocol on Environmental Protection to
the Antarctic Treaty was signed 4 October 1991 and entered into
force 14 January 1998; this agreement provides for the protection of
the Antarctic environment through five specific annexes on marine
pollution, fauna, and flora, environmental impact assessments, waste
management, and protected areas; it prohibits all activities
relating to mineral resources except scientific research.
Legal system: US law, including certain criminal offenses by or
against US nationals, such as murder, may apply to areas not under
jurisdiction of other countries. Some US laws directly apply to
Antarctica. For example, the Antarctic Conservation Act, 16 U.S.C.
section 2401 et seq., provides civil and criminal penalties for the
following activities, unless authorized by regulation of statute:
the taking of native mammals or birds; the introduction of
nonindigenous plants and animals; entry into specially protected or
scientific areas; the discharge or disposal of pollutants; and the
importation into the US of certain items from Antarctica. Violation
of the Antarctic Conservation Act carries penalties of up to $10,000
in fines and one year in prison. The Departments of Treasury,
Commerce, Transportation, and Interior share enforcement
responsibilities. Public Law 95-541, the US Antarctic Conservation
Act of 1978, requires expeditions from the US to Antarctica to
notify, in advance, the Office of Oceans and Polar Affairs, Room
5801, Department of State, Washington, DC 20520, which reports such
plans to other nations as required by the Antarctic Treaty. For more
information, contact Permit Office, Office of Polar Programs,
National Science Foundation, Arlington, Virginia 22230 (703)
306-1031, or see their website at www.nsf.gov.
Economy
Economy--overview: No economic activity is conducted at present,
except for fishing off the coast and small-scale tourism, both based
abroad. Antarctic fisheries in 1997-98 reported landing 92,456
metric tons. Unregulated fishing landed five to six times more than
the regulated fishery, and allegedly illegal fishing in antarctic
waters in 1998 resulted in the seizure (by France and Australia) of
at least eight fishing ships. A total of 9,604 tourists visited in
the 1997-98 summer, up from the 7,413 who visited the previous year.
Nearly all of them were passengers on 13 commercial
(nongovernmental) ships that made 92 trips during the summer. Around
200 tourists were on yachts or commercial aircraft. Most tourist
trips lasted approximately two weeks.
Communications
Telephones: NA
Telephone system:
domestic: NA
international: NA
Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM 2 (American Forces Antarctic
Network), shortwave 1 (Argentina Antarctic Base de Egercito
Esperanza) (1998)
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 1 (American Forces Antarctic
Network-McMurdo) (1997)
Televisions: NA
Transportation
Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage
Airports: 17; 27 stations, operated by 16 national governments
party to the Antarctic Treaty, have landing facilities for either
helicopters and/or fixed-wing aircraft; commercial enterprises
operate two additional air facilities; helicopter pads are available
at 27 stations; runways at 15 locations are gravel, sea-ice,
blue-ice, or compacted snow suitable for landing wheeled, fixed-wing
aircraft; of these, 1 is greater than 3 km in length, 6 are between
2 km and 3 km in length, 3 are between 1 km and 2 km in length, 3
are less than 1 km in length, and 2 are of unknown length; snow
surface skiways, limited to use by ski-equipped, fixed-wing
aircraft, are available at another 15 locations; of these, 4 are
greater than 3 km in length, 3 are between 2 km and 3 km in length,
2 are between 1 km and 2 km in length, 2 are less than 1 km in
length, and 4 are of unknown length; airports generally subject to
severe restrictions and limitations resulting from extreme seasonal
and geographic conditions; airports do not meet ICAO standards;
advance approval from the respective governmental or nongovernmental
operating organization required for landing (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 17
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 5 (1998 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military--note: the Antarctic Treaty prohibits any measures of a
military nature, such as the establishment of military bases and
fortifications, the carrying out of military maneuvers, or the
testing of any type of weapon; it permits the use of military
personnel or equipment for scientific research or for any other
peaceful purposes
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: Antarctic Treaty defers claims (see
Antarctic Treaty Summary above); sections (some overlapping) claimed
by Argentina, Australia, Chile, France (Adelie Land), New Zealand
(Ross Dependency), Norway (Queen Maud Land), and UK; the US and most
other nations do not recognize the territorial claims of other
nations and have made no claims themselves (the US reserves the
right to do so); no formal claims have been made in the sector
between 90 degrees west and 150 degrees west
======================================================================
@Antigua and Barbuda
-------------------
Geography
Location: Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the
North Atlantic Ocean, east-southeast of Puerto Rico
Geographic coordinates: 17 03 N, 61 48 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 440 sq km
land: 440 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes Redonda
Area--comparative: 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 153 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical marine; little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain: mostly low-lying limestone and coral islands, with some
higher volcanic areas
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Boggy Peak 402 m
Natural resources: NEGL; pleasant climate fosters tourism
Land use:
arable land: 18%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 9%
forests and woodland: 11%
other: 62% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: hurricanes and tropical storms (July to
October); periodic droughts
Environment--current issues: water management?a major concern
because of limited natural fresh water resources--is further hampered
by the clearing of trees to increase crop production, causing
rainfall to run off quickly
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping,
Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
People
Population: 64,246 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 26% (male 8,414; female 8,137)
15-64 years: 69% (male 21,936; female 22,227)
65 years and over: 5% (male 1,504; female 2,028) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.36% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 16.22 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 5.76 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -6.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 20.69 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 71.46 years
male: 69.06 years
female: 73.98 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.72 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Antiguan(s), Barbudan(s)
adjective: Antiguan, Barbudan
Ethnic groups: black, British, Portuguese, Lebanese, Syrian
Religions: Anglican (predominant), other Protestant sects, some
Roman Catholic
Languages: English (official), local dialects
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over has completed five or more years of
schooling
total population: 89%
male: 90%
female: 88% (1960 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Antigua and Barbuda
Data code: AC
Government type: parliamentary democracy
Capital: Saint John's
Administrative divisions: 6 parishes and 2 dependencies*;
Barbuda*, Redonda*, Saint George, Saint John, Saint Mary, Saint
Paul, Saint Peter, Saint Philip
Independence: 1 November 1981 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 1 November (1981)
Constitution: 1 November 1981
Legal system: based on English common law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Governor General James B. CARLISLE (since NA 1993)
head of government: Prime Minister Lester Bryant BIRD (since 8 March
1994)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the governor general on
the advice of the prime minister
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general chosen
by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister; prime minister
appointed by the governor general
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate
(17-member body appointed by the governor general) and the House of
Representatives (17 seats; members are elected by proportional
representation to serve five-year terms)
elections: House of Representatives--last held 9 March 1999 (next to
be held NA March 2004)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--ALP
12, UPP 4, independent 1
Judicial branch: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (based in Saint
Lucia) (one judge of the Supreme Court is a resident of the islands
and presides over the Court of Summary Jurisdiction)
Political parties and leaders: Antigua Labor Party or ALP [Lester
coalition of three opposition political parties--United National
Democratic Party or UNDP, Antigua Caribbean Liberation Movement or
ACLM, and the Progressive Labor Movement or PLM
Political pressure groups and leaders: Antigua Trades and Labor
International organization participation: ACP, C, Caricom, CDB,
ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,
IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ISO
(subscriber), ITU, NAM (observer), OAS, OECS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Lionel Alexander HURST
chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016
consulate(s) general: Miami
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an
embassy in Antigua and Barbuda (embassy closed 30 June 1994); the US
Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Antigua and Barbuda
Flag description: red, with an inverted isosceles triangle based
on the top edge of the flag; the triangle contains three horizontal
bands of black (top), light blue, and white, with a yellow rising
sun in the black band
Economy
Economy--overview: Tourism continues to be by far the dominant
activity in the economy accounting directly or indirectly for more
than half of GDP. Increased tourist arrivals have helped spur growth
in the construction and transport sectors. The dual island nation's
agricultural production is mainly directed to the domestic market;
the sector is constrained by the limited water supply and labor
shortages that reflect the pull of higher wages in tourism and
construction. Manufacturing comprises enclave-type assembly for
export with major products being bedding, handicrafts, and
electronic components. Prospects for economic growth in the medium
term will continue to depend on income growth in the industrialized
world, especially in the US, which accounts for about half of all
tourist arrivals.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$503 million (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 6% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$7,900 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 4%
industry: 12.5%
services: 83.5% (1996 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): -1.1% (1997)
Labor force: 30,000
Labor force--by occupation: commerce and services 82%, agriculture
11%, industry 7% (1983)
Unemployment rate: 9% (1997 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $122.6 million
expenditures: $141.2 million, including capital expenditures of
$17.3 million (1997 est.)
Industries: tourism, construction, light manufacturing (clothing,
alcohol, household appliances)
Industrial production growth rate: 6% (1997 est.)
Electricity--production: 95 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 95 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: cotton, fruits, vegetables, bananas,
coconuts, cucumbers, mangoes, sugarcane; livestock
Exports: $37.8 million (1997)
Exports--commodities: petroleum products 48%, manufactures 23%,
food and live animals 4%, machinery and transport equipment 17%
Exports--partners: OECS 26%, Barbados 15%, Guyana 4%, Trinidad and
Tobago 2%, US 0.3%
Imports: $325.5 million (1997)
Imports--commodities: food and live animals, machinery and
transport equipment, manufactures, chemicals, oil
Imports--partners: US 27%, UK 16%, Canada 4%, OECS 3%, other 50%
Debt--external: $240 million (1997 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $2.3 million (1995)
Currency: 1 East Caribbean dollar (EC$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1--2.7000
(fixed rate since 1976)
Fiscal year: 1 April--31 March
Communications
Telephones: 6,700
Telephone system:
domestic: good automatic telephone system
international: 1 coaxial submarine cable; satellite earth station--1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); tropospheric scatter to Saba (Netherlands
Antilles) and Guadeloupe
Radio broadcast stations: AM 4, FM 2, shortwave 0 (repeater
transmitters for Deutsche Welle and BBC world broadcasts) (1998)
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 2 (1997)
Televisions: 28,000 (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 77 km
narrow gauge: 64 km 0.760-m gauge; 13 km 0.610-m gauge (used almost
exclusively for handling sugarcane)
Highways:
total: 250 km (1996 est.)
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km
Ports and harbors: Saint John's
Merchant marine:
total: 517 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,706,126
GRT/3,542,664 DWT
ships by type: bulk 21, cargo 338, chemical tanker 7, combination
bulk 2, container 111, liquefied gas tanker 2, multifunctional
large-load carrier 1, oil tanker 4, refrigerated cargo 9,
roll-on/roll-off cargo 21, vehicle carrier 1
note: a flag of convenience registry: Germany owns 10 ships,
Slovenia 2, and Cyprus 2 (1998 est.)
Airports: 3 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Royal Antigua and Barbuda Defense Force, Royal
Antigua and Barbuda Police Force (includes Coast Guard)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $NA
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: NA%
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
Illicit drugs: over the long-term, considered a relatively minor
transshipment point for narcotics bound for the US and Europe and
recently, a transshipment point for heroin from Europe to the US;
potentially more significant as a drug-money-laundering center
======================================================================
@Arctic Ocean
------------
Geography
Location: body of water mostly north of the Arctic Circle
Geographic coordinates: 90 00 N, 0 00 E
Map references: Arctic Region
Area:
total: 14.056 million sq km
note: includes Baffin Bay, Barents Sea, Beaufort Sea, Chukchi Sea,
East Siberian Sea, Greenland Sea, Hudson Bay, Hudson Strait, Kara
Sea, Laptev Sea, Northwest Passage, and other tributary water bodies
Area--comparative: slightly less than 1.5 times the size of the
US; smallest of the world's four oceans (after Pacific Ocean,
Atlantic Ocean, and Indian Ocean)
Coastline: 45,389 km
Climate: polar climate characterized by persistent cold and
relatively narrow annual temperature ranges; winters characterized
by continuous darkness, cold and stable weather conditions, and
clear skies; summers characterized by continuous daylight, damp and
foggy weather, and weak cyclones with rain or snow
Terrain: central surface covered by a perennial drifting polar
icepack that averages about 3 meters in thickness, although pressure
ridges may be three times that size; clockwise drift pattern in the
Beaufort Gyral Stream, but nearly straight-line movement from the
New Siberian Islands (Russia) to Denmark Strait (between Greenland
and Iceland); the icepack is surrounded by open seas during the
summer, but more than doubles in size during the winter and extends
to the encircling landmasses; the ocean floor is about 50%
continental shelf (highest percentage of any ocean) with the
remainder a central basin interrupted by three submarine ridges
(Alpha Cordillera, Nansen Cordillera, and Lomonsov Ridge)
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Fram Basin -4,665 m
highest point: sea level 0 m
Natural resources: sand and gravel aggregates, placer deposits,
polymetallic nodules, oil and gas fields, fish, marine mammals
(seals and whales)
Natural hazards: ice islands occasionally break away from
northern Ellesmere Island; icebergs calved from glaciers in western
Greenland and extreme northeastern Canada; permafrost in islands;
virtually icelocked from October to June; ships subject to
superstructure icing from October to May
Environment--current issues: endangered marine species include
walruses and whales; fragile ecosystem slow to change and slow to
recover from disruptions or damage
Environment--international agreements:
party to: none of the selected agreements
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography--note: major chokepoint is the southern Chukchi Sea
(northern access to the Pacific Ocean via the Bering Strait);
strategic location between North America and Russia; shortest marine
link between the extremes of eastern and western Russia; floating
research stations operated by the US and Russia; maximum snow cover
in March or April about 20 to 50 centimeters over the frozen ocean;
snow cover lasts about 10 months
Government
Data code: none; the US Government has not approved a standard
for hydrographic codes--see the Cross-Reference List of Hydrographic
Data Codes appendix
Economy
Economy--overview: Economic activity is limited to the
exploitation of natural resources, including petroleum, natural gas,
fish, and seals.
Communications
Telephone system:
international: no submarine cables
Transportation
Ports and harbors: Churchill (Canada), Murmansk (Russia), Prudhoe
Bay (US)
Transportation--note: sparse network of air, ocean, river, and
land routes; the Northwest Passage (North America) and Northern Sea
Route (Eurasia) are important seasonal waterways
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: some maritime disputes (see littoral
states); Svalbard is the focus of a maritime boundary dispute
between Norway and Russia
======================================================================
@Argentina
---------
Introduction
Background: A part of the Spanish empire until independence in
1816, Argentina subsequently experienced periods of internal
political conflict between conservatives and liberals and between
civilian and military factions. Meantime, thanks to rich natural
resources and foreign investment, a modern agriculture and a
diversified industry were gradually developed. After World War II, a
long period of Peronist dictatorship was followed by rule by a
military junta. Democratic elections finally came in 1983, but both
the political and economic atmosphere remain susceptible to turmoil.
Geography
Location: Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic
Ocean, between Chile and Uruguay
Geographic coordinates: 34 00 S, 64 00 W
Map references: South America
Area:
total: 2,766,890 sq km
land: 2,736,690 sq km
water: 30,200 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly less than three-tenths the size of the
US
Land boundaries:
total: 9,665 km
border countries: Bolivia 832 km, Brazil 1,224 km, Chile 5,150 km,
Paraguay 1,880 km, Uruguay 579 km
Coastline: 4,989 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: mostly temperate; arid in southeast; subantarctic in
southwest
Terrain: rich plains of the Pampas in northern half, flat to
rolling plateau of Patagonia in south, rugged Andes along western
border
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Salinas Chicas -40 m (located on Peninsula Valdes)
highest point: Cerro Aconcagua 6,962 m
Natural resources: fertile plains of the pampas, lead, zinc, tin,
copper, iron ore, manganese, petroleum, uranium
Land use:
arable land: 9%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 52%
forests and woodland: 19%
other: 19% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 17,000 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: San Miguel de Tucuman and Mendoza areas in the
Andes subject to earthquakes; pamperos are violent windstorms that
can strike the Pampas and northeast; heavy flooding
Environment--current issues: erosion results from inadequate flood
controls and improper land use practices; irrigated soil
degradation; desertification; air pollution in Buenos Aires and
other major cities; water pollution in urban areas; rivers becoming
polluted due to increased pesticide and fertilizer use
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty,
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine
Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Marine Life
Conservation
Geography--note: second-largest country in South America (after
Brazil); strategic location relative to sea lanes between South
Atlantic and South Pacific Oceans (Strait of Magellan, Beagle
Channel, Drake Passage)
People
Population: 36,737,664 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 27% (male 5,124,087; female 4,932,060)
15-64 years: 62% (male 11,457,399; female 11,469,346)
65 years and over: 11% (male 1,553,158; female 2,201,614) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.29% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 19.91 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 7.64 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.65 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 18.41 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 74.76 years
male: 71.13 years
female: 78.56 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.66 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Argentine(s)
adjective: Argentine
Ethnic groups: white 85%, mestizo, Amerindian, or other nonwhite
groups 15%
Religions: nominally Roman Catholic 90% (less than 20%
practicing), Protestant 2%, Jewish 2%, other 6%
Languages: Spanish (official), English, Italian, German, French
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96.2%
male: 96.2%
female: 96.2% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Argentine Republic
conventional short form: Argentina
local long form: Republica Argentina
local short form: Argentina
Data code: AR
Government type: republic
Capital: Buenos Aires
Administrative divisions: 23 provinces (provincias,
singular--provincia), and 1 federal district* (distrito federal);
Buenos Aires; Catamarca; Chaco; Chubut; Cordoba; Corrientes;
Distrito Federal*; Entre Rios; Formosa; Jujuy; La Pampa; La Rioja;
Mendoza; Misiones; Neuquen; Rio Negro; Salta; San Juan; San Luis;
Santa Cruz; Santa Fe; Santiago del Estero; Tierra del Fuego,
Antartida e Islas del Atlantico Sur; Tucuman
note: the US does not recognize any claims to Antarctica
Independence: 9 July 1816 (from Spain)
National holiday: Revolution Day, 25 May (1810)
Constitution: 1 May 1853; revised August 1994
Legal system: mixture of US and West European legal systems; has
not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Carlos Saul MENEM (since 8 July 1989);
Vice President Carlos RUCKAUF (since 8 July 1995); note--the
president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Carlos Saul MENEM (since 8 July 1989);
Vice President Carlos RUCKAUF (since 8 July 1995); note--the
president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket
by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 14 May 1995
(next to be held NA October 1999)
election results: Carlos Saul MENEM reelected president; percent of
vote--NA
Legislative branch: bicameral National Congress or Congreso
Nacional consists of the Senate (72 seats; formerly, three members
appointed by each of the provincial legislatures; presently
transitioning to one-third of the members being elected every two
years to a six-year term) and the Chamber of Deputies (257 seats;
one-half of the members elected every two years to four-year terms)
elections: Senate--transition phase will continue through 2001
elections when all seats will be fully contested; winners will
randomly draw to determine whether they will serve a two-year,
four-year, or full six-year term; Chamber of Deputies--last held 26
October 1997 (next to be held NA October 1999)
election results: Senate--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by
party--PJ 39, UCR 1, others 32; Chamber of Deputies--percent of vote
by party--NA; seats by party--PJ 119, UCR 69, Frepaso 36, other 33
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Corte Suprema), the nine Supreme
Court judges are appointed by the president with approval of the
Senate
Political parties and leaders: Justicialist Party or PJ [Carlos
Saul MENEM] (Peronist umbrella political organization); Radical
NA]; Front for a Country in Solidarity or Frepaso (a four-party
Political pressure groups and leaders: Peronist-dominated labor
movement; General Confederation of Labor or CGT (Peronist-leaning
umbrella labor organization); Argentine Industrial Union
(manufacturers' association); Argentine Rural Society (large
landowners' association); Argentine Association of Pharmaceutical
Labs (CILFA); business organizations; students; the Roman Catholic
Church; the Armed Forces
International organization participation: AfDB, Australia Group,
BCIE, CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G- 6, G-11, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, IADB,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,
IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES,
LAIA, Mercosur, MINURSO, MIPONUH, MTCR, NSG, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA,
RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR,
UNMIBH, UNMOP, UNPREDEP, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Diego Ramiro GUELAR
chancery: 1600 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami,
New York, and San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant)
embassy: 4300 Colombia, 1425 Buenos Aires
mailing address: international mail: use street address; APO
address: Unit 4334, APO AA 34034
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of light blue
(top), white, and light blue; centered in the white band is a
radiant yellow sun with a human face known as the Sun of May
Economy
Economy--overview: Argentina benefits from rich natural resources,
a highly literate population, an export-oriented agricultural
sector, and a diversified industrial base. However, when President
Carlos MENEM took office in 1989, the country had piled up huge
external debts, inflation had reached 200% per month, and output was
plummeting. To combat the economic crisis, the government embarked
on a path of trade liberalization, deregulation, and privatization.
In 1991, it implemented radical monetary reforms which pegged the
peso to the US dollar and limited the growth in the monetary base by
law to the growth in reserves. Inflation fell sharply in subsequent
years. The Mexican peso crisis produced capital flight, the loss of
banking system deposits, and a severe, but short-lived, recession in
1995; a series of reforms to bolster the domestic banking system
followed. Real GDP growth recovered strongly, reaching almost 9% in
1997. In 1998, increasing investor anxiety over Brazil, its largest
trading partner, produced the highest domestic interest rates in
more than three years and slowed growth to 4.3%. Despite the
relatively high level of growth in recent years, double-digit
unemployment rates have persisted, largely because of rigidities in
Argentina's labor laws.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$374 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 4.3% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$10,300 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 7%
industry: 37%
services: 56% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: 25.5% (1991 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 14 million (1997)
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 12%, industry 31%,
services 57% (1985 est.)
Unemployment rate: 12% (October 1998)
Budget:
revenues: $56 billion
expenditures: $60 billion, including capital expenditures of $4
billion (1998 est.)
Industries: food processing, motor vehicles, consumer durables,
textiles, chemicals and petrochemicals, printing, metallurgy, steel
Industrial production growth rate: 2% (1998)
Electricity--production: 64.669 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 45%
hydro: 44.3%
nuclear: 10.7%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 67.509 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 330 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 3.17 billion kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: sunflower seeds, lemons, soybeans, grapes,
corn, tobacco, peanuts, tea, wheat; livestock
Exports: $26 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Exports--commodities: cereals, feed, motor vehicles, crude
petroleum, steel manufactures
Exports--partners: Brazil 31%, US 8%, Chile 7.0%, China 3%,
Uruguay 3% (1997 est.)
Imports: $32 billion (c.i.f., 1998 est.)
Imports--commodities: motor vehicles, motor vehicle parts, organic
chemicals, telecommunications equipment, plastics
Imports--partners: Brazil 23%, US 20%, Italy 6%, Germany 5%,
France 5% (1997)
Debt--external: $133 billion (1998 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $2.833 billion (1995)
Currency: 1 peso = 100 centavos
Exchange rates: peso is pegged to the US dollar at an exchange
rate of 1 peso = $1
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 4.6 million (1990)
Telephone system: 12,000 public telephones; extensive modern
system but many families do not have telephones; despite extensive
use of microwave radio relay, the telephone system frequently
grounds out during rainstorms, even in Buenos Aires
domestic: microwave radio relay and a domestic satellite system with
40 earth stations serve the trunk network
international: satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 260 (including 10 inactive
stations), FM NA (probably more than 1,000, mostly unlicensed),
shortwave 6 (1998 est.)
Radios: 22.3 million (1991 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 42 (in addition, there are 444
repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 7.165 million (1991 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 37,830 km
broad gauge: 23,992 km 1.676-m gauge (167 km electrified)
standard gauge: 2,765 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 11,073 km 1.000-m gauge (26 km electrified)
Highways:
total: 208,350 km
paved: 47,550 km (including 567 km of expressways)
unpaved: 160,800 km (1998 est.)
Waterways: 11,000 km navigable
Pipelines: crude oil 4,090 km; petroleum products 2,900 km;
natural gas 9,918 km
Ports and harbors: Bahia Blanca, Buenos Aires, Comodoro
Rivadavia, Concepcion del Uruguay, La Plata, Mar del Plata,
Necochea, Rio Gallegos, Rosario, Santa Fe, Ushuaia
Merchant marine:
total: 29 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 233,856 GRT/363,335 DWT
ships by type: cargo 10, container 1, oil tanker 13, railcar carrier
1, refrigerated cargo 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1, short-sea
passenger 1 (1998 est.)
Airports: 1,374 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 141
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 26
1,524 to 2,437 m: 58
914 to 1,523 m: 45
under 914 m: 7 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 1,233
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 67
914 to 1,523 m: 621
under 914 m: 541 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Argentine Army, Navy of the Argentine Republic
(includes Naval Aviation, Marines, and Coast Guard), Argentine Air
Force, National Gendarmerie, National Aeronautical Police Force
Military manpower--military age: 20 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 9,169,681 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 7,435,551 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 343,038 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $4.6 billion (1998)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 1.4% (1998)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: short section of the southwestern
boundary with Chile is indefinite--process to resolve boundary issues
is underway; claims UK-administered Falkland Islands (Islas
Malvinas); claims UK-administered South Georgia and the South
Sandwich Islands; territorial claim in Antarctica
Illicit drugs: increasing use as a transshipment country for
cocaine headed for Europe and the US; increasing money-laundering
center
======================================================================
@Armenia
-------
Introduction
Background: Armenia was one of the 15 successor republics to the
USSR in December 1991. Its leaders remain preoccupied by the long
conflict with Azerbaijan over the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave. Although
a cease-fire has been in effect since May 1994, the sides have not
made substantial progress toward a peaceful resolution. In January
1998, differences between President TER-PETROSSIAN and members of
his cabinet over the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process came to a head.
With the prime minister, defense minister, and security minister
arrayed against him, an isolated TER-PETROSSIAN resigned the
presidency on 3 February 1998. Prime Minister Robert KOCHARIAN was
elected president in March 1998. Concerns about Armenia's economic
performance have continued since 1997 with a slowdown in growth and
the serious impact of the 1998 financial crisis in Russia.
Geography
Location: Southwestern Asia, east of Turkey
Geographic coordinates: 40 00 N, 45 00 E
Map references: Commonwealth of Independent States
Area:
total: 29,800 sq km
land: 28,400 sq km
water: 1,400 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than Maryland
Land boundaries:
total: 1,254 km
border countries: Azerbaijan-proper 566 km, Azerbaijan-Naxcivan
exclave 221 km, Georgia 164 km, Iran 35 km, Turkey 268 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: highland continental, hot summers, cold winters
Terrain: Armenian Highland with mountains; little forest land;
fast flowing rivers; good soil in Aras River valley
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Debed River 400 m
highest point: Aragats Lerr 4,095 m
Natural resources: small deposits of gold, copper, molybdenum,
zinc, alumina
Land use:
arable land: 17%
permanent crops: 3%
permanent pastures: 24%
forests and woodland: 15%
other: 41% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 2,870 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: occasionally severe earthquakes; droughts
Environment--current issues: soil pollution from toxic chemicals
such as DDT; energy blockade, the result of conflict with
Azerbaijan, has led to deforestation when citizens scavenged for
firewood; pollution of Hrazdan (Razdan) and Aras Rivers; the
draining of Sevana Lich (Lake Sevan), a result of its use as a
source for hydropower, threatens drinking water supplies; restart of
Metsamor nuclear power plant without adequate (IAEA-recommended)
safety and backup systems
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Desertification, Nuclear Test Ban, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants
Geography--note: landlocked
People
Population: 3,409,234 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 25% (male 442,117; female 425,561)
15-64 years: 66% (male 1,100,334; female 1,148,595)
65 years and over: 9% (male 122,170; female 170,457) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: -0.38% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 13.53 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 9.03 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -8.26 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 41.12 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 66.56 years
male: 62.21 years
female: 71.13 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.68 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Armenian(s)
adjective: Armenian
Ethnic groups: Armenian 93%, Azeri 3%, Russian 2%, other (mostly
Yezidi Kurds) 2% (1989)
note: as of the end of 1993, virtually all Azeris had emigrated from
Armenia
Religions: Armenian Orthodox 94%
Languages: Armenian 96%, Russian 2%, other 2%
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 98% (1989 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Armenia
conventional short form: Armenia
local long form: Hayastani Hanrapetut'yun
local short form: Hayastan
former: Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic; Armenian Republic
Data code: AM
Government type: republic
Capital: Yerevan
Administrative divisions: 10 provinces (marzer, singular--marz)
and 1 city* (k'aghak'ner, singular--k'aghak'); Aragatsotn, Ararat,
Armavir, Geghark'unik', Kotayk', Lorri, Shirak, Syunik', Tavush,
Vayots' Dzor, Yerevan*
Independence: 28 May 1918-2 December 1920 (First Armenian
Republic); 23 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday: Referendum Day, 21 September
Constitution: adopted by nationwide referendum 5 July 1995
Legal system: based on civil law system
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Robert KOCHARIAN (since 30 March 1998)
head of government: Prime Minister Armen DARBINYAN (since 10 April
1998)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
special election last held 30 March 1998 (next election to be held
March 2003); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Robert KOCHARIAN elected president; percent of
vote--Robert KOCHARIAN 59%, Karen DEMIRCHYAN 41%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (Parliament) or
Azgayin Zhoghov (190 seats; members serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 5 July 1995 (next to be held in the spring of
1999)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by
party--Republican Bloc 159 (ANM 63, DLP-Hanrapetutyun Bloc 6,
Republic Party 4, CDU 3, Intellectual Armenia 3, Social Democratic
Party 2, independents 78), SWM 8, ACP 7, NDU 5, NSDU 3, DLP 1, ARF
1, other 4, vacant 2; note--seats by party change frequently
Judicial branch: Supreme Court; Constitutional Court
Political parties and leaders: Armenian National Movement or ANM
International organization participation: BSEC, CCC, CE (guest),
CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ESCAP, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM
(observer), OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Rouben R. SHUGARIAN
chancery: 2225 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Michael LEMMON
embassy: 18 General Bagramian Avenue, Yerevan
mailing address: American Embassy Yerevan, Department of State,
Washington, DC 20521-7020
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top),
blue, and gold
Economy
Economy--overview: Under the old Soviet central planning system,
Armenia had developed a modern industrial sector, supplying machine
tools, textiles, and other manufactured goods to sister republics in
exchange for raw materials and energy. Since the implosion of the
USSR in December 1991, Armenia has switched to small-scale
agriculture away from the large agroindustrial complexes of the
Soviet area. The agricultural sector has long-term needs for more
investment and updated technology. The privatization of industry has
been at a slower pace, but has been given renewed emphasis by the
current administration. Armenia is a food importer, and its mineral
deposits (gold, bauxite) are small. The ongoing conflict with
Azerbaijan over the ethnic Armenian-dominated region of
Nagorno-Karabakh and the breakup of the centrally directed economic
system of the former Soviet Union contributed to a severe economic
decline in the early 1990s. By 1994, however, the Armenian
Government had launched an ambitious IMF-sponsored economic program
that has resulted in positive growth rates in 1995-98. Armenia also
managed to slash inflation and to privatize most small- and
medium-sized enterprises. The chronic energy shortages Armenia
suffered in recent years have been largely offset by the energy
supplied by one of its nuclear power plants at Metsamor. The Russian
financial crisis generated concerns about Armenia's economic
performance in 1998. Although inflation dropped to 10% and GDP grew
about 6%, the industrial sector remained moribund. Much of Armenia's
population remains heavily dependent on remittances from relatives
abroad, and remittances from Russia fell off sharply in 1998.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$9.2 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 6% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$2,700 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 35%
industry: 30%
services: 35% (1998 est.)
Population below poverty line: 50% (1998 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 10% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 1.6 million (1997)
Labor force--by occupation: manufacturing, mining, and
construction 25%, agriculture 38%, services 37%
Unemployment rate: 20% (1998 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $322 million
expenditures: $424 million, including capital expenditures of $80
million (1998 est.)
Industries: much of industry is shut down; metal-cutting machine
tools, forging-pressing machines, electric motors, tires, knitted
wear, hosiery, shoes, silk fabric, washing machines, chemicals,
trucks, watches, instruments, microelectronics
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: 7.6 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 46.05%
hydro: 26.32%
nuclear: 27.63%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 7.6 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: fruit (especially grapes), vegetables;
livestock
Exports: $230 million (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Exports--commodities: gold and jewelry, aluminum, transport
equipment, electrical equipment, scrap metal
Exports--partners: Iran, Russia, Turkmenistan, Georgia
Imports: $840 million (c.i.f., 1998 est.)
Imports--commodities: grain, other foods, fuel, other energy
Imports--partners: Iran, Russia, Turkmenistan, Georgia, US, EU
Debt--external: $820 million (of which $75 million to Russia)
(1997 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $245.5 million (1995)
Currency: 1 dram = 100 luma
Exchange rates: dram per US$1--535.62 (January 1999), 504.92
(1998), 490.85 (1997), 414.04 (1996), 405.91 (1995), 288.65 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 730,000 (1998 est.)
Telephone system: the Ministry of Communications oversees the
Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications; the national operator is
Armentel; the Greek Telecoms Company owns 90% of Armentel and will
provide a $60 million eight-year loan; Armenia has about 4,000
Internet users on one satellite channel
domestic: local--350,000 telephones are located in Yerevan; a
fiber-optic loop provides digital service to 80,000 of Yerevan's
customers; GSM cellular is available in Yerevan, as is paging;
intercity--the former Soviet system provides service to 380,000
numbers mostly governmental
international: Yerevan is connected to the Trans-Asia-Europe line
through Iran; additional international service is available by
microwave, land line, and satellite through the Moscow switch; 1
INTELSAT earth station
Radio broadcast stations: AM 9, FM 6, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 3 (in addition, programs are
received by relay from Russia; 100% of the population receive
Armenian and Russian TV programs) (1997)
Televisions: NA
Transportation
Railways:
total: 825 km in common carrier service; does not include industrial
lines
broad gauge: 825 km 1.520-m gauge (1992)
Highways:
total: 8,580 km
paved: 8,580 km
unpaved: 0 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: NA km
Pipelines: natural gas 900 km (1991)
Ports and harbors: none
Airports: 11 (1996 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 5
over 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (1996 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 1 (1996 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Air Force and Air Defense Aviation, Air
Defense Force, Security Forces (internal and border troops)
Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 922,124 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 732,495 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 32,052 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $72.1 million (1999)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 4% (1999)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: Armenia supports ethnic Armenians in the
Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan in the longstanding,
separatist conflict against the Azerbaijani Government; traditional
demands on former Armenian lands in Turkey have subsided
Illicit drugs: illicit cultivator of cannabis mostly for domestic
consumption; increasingly used as a transshipment point for illicit
drugs--mostly opium and hashish--to Western Europe and the US via
Iran, Central Asia, and Russia
======================================================================
@Aruba
-----
Geography
Location: Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, north of
Venezuela
Geographic coordinates: 12 30 N, 69 58 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 193 sq km
land: 193 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly larger than Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 68.5 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical marine; little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain: flat with a few hills; scant vegetation
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Jamanota 188 m
Natural resources: NEGL; white sandy beaches
Land use:
arable land: 11%
permanent crops: NA%
permanent pastures: NA%
forests and woodland: NA%
other: 89% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: lies outside the Caribbean hurricane belt
Environment--current issues: NA
Environment--international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA
People
Population: 68,675 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 22% (male 7,724; female 7,106)
15-64 years: 69% (male 22,723; female 24,747)
65 years and over: 9% (male 2,623; female 3,752) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.55% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 13.28 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 6.48 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.09 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 7.84 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.04 years
male: 73.33 years
female: 80.94 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.8 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Aruban(s)
adjective: Aruban
Ethnic groups: mixed white/Caribbean Amerindian 80%
Religions: Roman Catholic 82%, Protestant 8%, Hindu, Muslim,
Confucian, Jewish
Languages: Dutch (official), Papiamento (a Spanish, Portuguese,
Dutch, English dialect), English (widely spoken), Spanish
Literacy: NA
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Aruba
Data code: AA
Dependency status: part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; full
autonomy in internal affairs obtained in 1986 upon separation from
the Netherlands Antilles
Government type: parliamentary
Capital: Oranjestad
Administrative divisions: none (part of the Kingdom of the
Netherlands)
Independence: none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; in
1990, Aruba requested and received from the Netherlands cancellation
of the agreement to automatically give independence to the island in
1996)
National holiday: Flag Day, 18 March
Constitution: 1 January 1986
Legal system: based on Dutch civil law system, with some English
common law influence
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen BEATRIX Wilhelmina Armgard of the Netherlands
(since 30 April 1980), represented by Governor General Olindo
KOOLMAN (since 1 January 1992)
head of government: Prime Minister Jan (Henny) H. EMAN (since 29
July 1994) and Deputy Prime Minister Glenbert F. CROES
cabinet: Council of Ministers (elected by the Staten)
elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed for
a six-year term by the monarch; prime minister and deputy prime
minister elected by the Staten for a four-year term; election last
held 12 July 1997 (next to be held by December 2001)
election results: inconclusive; no party won majority in December
1997 parliamentary elections; no new government formed as of May 1998
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislature or Staten (21 seats;
members elected by direct popular vote and serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 12 December 1997 (next to be held by NA
December 2001)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--AVP
10, MEP 9, OLA 2
Judicial branch: Joint High Court of Justice (judges are
appointed by the monarch)
Political parties and leaders: Electoral Movement Party or MEP
International organization participation: Caricom (observer),
ECLAC (associate), Interpol, IOC, UNESCO (associate), WCL, WToO
(associate)
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (represented by the
Kingdom of the Netherlands)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Consul General James L. WILLIAMS
embassy: J. B. Gorsiraweg #1, Curacao
mailing address: P. O. Box 158, Willemstad, Curacao
Flag description: blue, with two narrow, horizontal, yellow
stripes across the lower portion and a red, four-pointed star
outlined in white in the upper hoist-side corner
Economy
Economy--overview: Tourism is the mainstay of the Aruban economy,
although offshore banking and oil refining and storage are also
important. The rapid growth of the tourism sector over the last
decade has resulted in a substantial expansion of other activities.
Construction has boomed, with hotel capacity five times the 1985
level. In addition, the reopening of the country's oil refinery in
1993, a major source of employment and foreign exchange earnings,
has further spurred growth. Aruba's small labor force and less than
1% unemployment rate have led to a large number of unfilled job
vacancies, despite sharp rises in wage rates in recent years.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$1.5 billion (1997 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 6% (1997)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$22,000 (1997 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3% (1997)
Labor force: NA
Labor force--by occupation: most employment is in the tourist
industry (1996)
Unemployment rate: 0.6% (1996 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $345.3 million
expenditures: $378.5 million, including capital expenditures of $107
million (1997 est.)
Industries: tourism, transshipment facilities, oil refining
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: 470 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 470 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: aloes; livestock; fish
Exports: $1.73 billion (including oil reexports)(1997)
Exports--commodities: mostly refined petroleum products
Exports--partners: US 64%, EU
Imports: $2.12 billion (1997)
Imports--commodities: food, consumer goods, manufactures,
petroleum products, crude oil for refining and reexport
Imports--partners: US 55.5%, Netherlands 12.3%, Japan 3.5%
Debt--external: $285 million (1996)
Economic aid--recipient: $26 million (1995); note?the Netherlands
provided a $127 million aid package to Aruba and Suriname in 1996
Currency: 1 Aruban florin (Af.) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Aruban florins (Af.) per US$1--1.7900 (fixed rate
since 1986)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 22,922 (1993 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: more than adequate
international: 1 submarine cable to Sint Maarten (Netherlands
Antilles); extensive interisland microwave radio relay links
Radio broadcast stations: AM 4, FM 6, shortwave 0
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1997)
Televisions: 19,000 (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 300 km
paved: 130 km
unpaved: 170 km
note: most coastal roads are paved, while unpaved roads serve large
tracts of the interior
Ports and harbors: Barcadera, Oranjestad, Sint Nicolaas
Merchant marine:
total: 1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,366 GRT/1,595 DWT
(1998 est.)
Airports: 2 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military--note: defense is the responsibility of the Kingdom of
the Netherlands
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
Illicit drugs: drug-money-laundering center and transit point for
narcotics bound for the US and Europe; added to the US list of major
drug producing or drug transit countries in December 1996
======================================================================
@Ashmore and Cartier Islands
---------------------------
Geography
Location: Southeastern Asia, islands in the Indian Ocean,
northwest of Australia
Geographic coordinates: 12 14 S, 123 05 E
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area:
total: 5 sq km
land: 5 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes Ashmore Reef (West, Middle, and East Islets) and
Cartier Island
Area--comparative: about eight times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 74.1 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 12 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 3 nm
Climate: tropical
Terrain: low with sand and coral
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 3 m
Natural resources: fish
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 100% (all grass and sand)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1993)
Natural hazards: surrounded by shoals and reefs that can pose
maritime hazards
Environment--current issues: NA
Environment--international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography--note: Ashmore Reef National Nature Reserve established
in August 1983
People
Population: no indigenous inhabitants
note: there are only seasonal caretakers
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands
conventional short form: Ashmore and Cartier Islands
Data code: AT
Dependency status: territory of Australia; administered from
Canberra by the Australian Department of the Environment, Sport, and
Territories
Legal system: relevant laws of the Northern Territory of Australia
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (territory of Australia)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (territory of
Australia)
Flag description: the flag of Australia is used
Economy
Economy--overview: no economic activity
Transportation
Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only
Military
Military--note: defense is the responsibility of Australia;
periodic visits by the Royal Australian Navy and Royal Australian
Air Force
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
======================================================================
@Atlantic Ocean
--------------
Geography
Location: body of water between Africa, Europe, Antarctica, and
the Western Hemisphere
Geographic coordinates: 0 00 N, 25 00 W
Map references: World
Area:
total: 82.217 million sq km
note: includes Baltic Sea, Black Sea, Caribbean Sea, Davis Strait,
Denmark Strait, Drake Passage, Gulf of Mexico, Mediterranean Sea,
North Sea, Norwegian Sea, Scotia Sea, Weddell Sea, and other
tributary water bodies
Area--comparative: slightly less than nine times the size of the
US; second-largest of the world's four oceans (after the Pacific
Ocean, but larger than Indian Ocean or Arctic Ocean)
Coastline: 111,866 km
Climate: tropical cyclones (hurricanes) develop off the coast of
Africa near Cape Verde and move westward into the Caribbean Sea;
hurricanes can occur from May to December, but are most frequent
from August to November
Terrain: surface usually covered with sea ice in Labrador Sea,
Denmark Strait, and Baltic Sea from October to June; clockwise
warm-water gyre (broad, circular system of currents) in the northern
Atlantic, counterclockwise warm-water gyre in the southern Atlantic;
the ocean floor is dominated by the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a rugged
north-south centerline for the entire Atlantic basin
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Puerto Rico Trench -8,605 m
highest point: in the Milwaukee Deep at sea level 0 m
Natural resources: oil and gas fields, fish, marine mammals
(seals and whales), sand and gravel aggregates, placer deposits,
polymetallic nodules, precious stones
Natural hazards: icebergs common in Davis Strait, Denmark Strait,
and the northwestern Atlantic Ocean from February to August and have
been spotted as far south as Bermuda and the Madeira Islands;
icebergs from Antarctica occur in the extreme southern Atlantic
Ocean; ships subject to superstructure icing in extreme northern
Atlantic from October to May and extreme southern Atlantic from May
to October; persistent fog can be a maritime hazard from May to
September
Environment--current issues: endangered marine species include the
manatee, seals, sea lions, turtles, and whales; drift net fishing is
hastening the decline of fish stocks and contributing to
international disputes; municipal sludge pollution off eastern US,
southern Brazil, and eastern Argentina; oil pollution in Caribbean
Sea, Gulf of Mexico, Lake Maracaibo, Mediterranean Sea, and North
Sea; industrial waste and municipal sewage pollution in Baltic Sea,
North Sea, and Mediterranean Sea
Environment--international agreements:
party to: none of the selected agreements
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography--note: major chokepoints include the Dardanelles, Strait
of Gibraltar, access to the Panama and Suez Canals; strategic
straits include the Strait of Dover, Straits of Florida, Mona
Passage, The Sound (Oresund), and Windward Passage; the Equator
divides the Atlantic Ocean into the North Atlantic Ocean and South
Atlantic Ocean
Government
Data code: none; the US Government has not approved a standard
for hydrographic codes--see the Cross-Reference List of Hydrographic
Data Codes appendix
Economy
Economy--overview: The Atlantic Ocean provides some of the world's
most heavily trafficked sea routes, between and within the Eastern
and Western Hemispheres. Other economic activity includes the
exploitation of natural resources, e.g., fishing, the dredging of
aragonite sands (The Bahamas), and production of crude oil and
natural gas (Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, and North Sea).
Communications
Telephone system:
international: numerous submarine cables with most between
continental Europe and the UK, between North America and the UK, and
in the Mediterranean; numerous direct links across Atlantic via
satellite networks
Transportation
Ports and harbors: Alexandria (Egypt), Algiers (Algeria), Antwerp
(Belgium), Barcelona (Spain), Buenos Aires (Argentina), Casablanca
(Morocco), Colon (Panama), Copenhagen (Denmark), Dakar (Senegal),
Gdansk (Poland), Hamburg (Germany), Helsinki (Finland), Las Palmas
(Canary Islands, Spain), Le Havre (France), Lisbon (Portugal),
London (UK), Marseille (France), Montevideo (Uruguay), Montreal
(Canada), Naples (Italy), New Orleans (US), New York (US), Oran
(Algeria), Oslo (Norway), Peiraiefs or Piraeus (Greece), Rio de
Janeiro (Brazil), Rotterdam (Netherlands), Saint Petersburg
(Russia), Stockholm (Sweden)
Transportation--note: Kiel Canal and Saint Lawrence Seaway are two
important waterways
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: some maritime disputes (see littoral
states)
======================================================================
@Australia
---------
Introduction
Background: Australia became a British commonwealth in 1901.
Blessed by rich natural resources, the country enjoyed rapid gains
in herding, agriculture, and manufacturing and made a major
contribution to the British effort in World Wars I and II. Australia
subsequently developed its minerals, metals, and fossil fuel
markets, all of which have become key Australian exports. Long-term
concerns include pollution, particularly depletion of the ozone
layer, and management and conservation of coastal areas, especially
the Great Barrier Reef. Sydney will host the 2000 summer Olympics.
Geography
Location: Oceania, continent between the Indian Ocean and the
South Pacific Ocean
Geographic coordinates: 27 00 S, 133 00 E
Map references: Oceania
Area:
total: 7,686,850 sq km
land: 7,617,930 sq km
water: 68,920 sq km
note: includes Lord Howe Island and Macquarie Island
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than the US
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 25,760 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: generally arid to semiarid; temperate in south and east;
tropical in north
Terrain: mostly low plateau with deserts; fertile plain in
southeast
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Lake Eyre -15 m
highest point: Mount Kosciusko 2,229 m
Natural resources: bauxite, coal, iron ore, copper, tin, silver,
uranium, nickel, tungsten, mineral sands, lead, zinc, diamonds,
natural gas, petroleum
Land use:
arable land: 6%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 54%
forests and woodland: 19%
other: 21% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 21,070 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: cyclones along the coast; severe droughts
Environment--current issues: soil erosion from overgrazing,
industrial development, urbanization, and poor farming practices;
soil salinity rising due to the use of poor quality water;
desertification; clearing for agricultural purposes threatens the
natural habitat of many unique animal and plant species; the Great
Barrier Reef off the northeast coast, the largest coral reef in the
world, is threatened by increased shipping and its popularity as a
tourist site; limited natural fresh water resources
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty,
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping,
Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection,
Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands,
Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,
Desertification
Geography--note: world's smallest continent but sixth-largest
country; population concentrated along the eastern and southeastern
coasts; regular, tropical, invigorating, sea breeze known as "the
Doctor" occurs along the west coast in the summer
People
Population: 18,783,551 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 21% (male 2,023,569; female 1,926,901)
15-64 years: 66% (male 6,317,045; female 6,172,735)
65 years and over: 13% (male 1,022,485; female 1,320,816) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.9% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 13.21 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 6.9 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 2.66 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 5.11 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 80.14 years
male: 77.22 years
female: 83.23 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.81 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Australian(s)
adjective: Australian
Ethnic groups: Caucasian 92%, Asian 7%, aboriginal and other 1%
Religions: Anglican 26.1%, Roman Catholic 26%, other Christian
24.3%, non-Christian 11%
Languages: English, native languages
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100% (1980 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Commonwealth of Australia
conventional short form: Australia
Data code: AS
Government type: democratic, federal-state system recognizing the
British monarch as sovereign
Capital: Canberra
Administrative divisions: 6 states and 2 territories*; Australian
Capital Territory*, New South Wales, Northern Territory*,
Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia
Dependent areas: Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Christmas Island,
Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Coral Sea Islands, Heard Island and
McDonald Islands, Norfolk Island
Independence: 1 January 1901 (federation of UK colonies)
National holiday: Australia Day, 26 January (1788)
Constitution: 9 July 1900, effective 1 January 1901
Legal system: based on English common law; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Governor General Sir William DEANE (since 16 February
1996)
head of government: Prime Minister John Winston HOWARD (since 11
March 1996); Deputy Prime Minister Timothy Andrew FISCHER (since 11
March 1996)
cabinet: Cabinet selected from among the members of Federal
Parliament by the governor general on the advice of the prime
minister
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general
appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the
leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition is
usually appointed prime minister by the governor general for a
three-year term
Legislative branch: bicameral Federal Parliament consists of the
Senate (76 seats--12 from each of the six states and two from each of
the two territories; one-half of the members elected every three
years by popular vote to serve six-year terms) and the House of
Representatives (148 seats; members elected by popular vote on the
basis of proportional representation to serve three-year terms; no
state can have fewer than five representatives)
elections: Senate--last held 3 October 1998 (next to be held by
October 2001); House of Representatives--last held 3 October 1998
(next to be held by October 2001)
election results: Senate--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by
party--Liberal-National 35, Labor 29, Australian Democrats 9, Greens
1, One Nation 1, independent 1; House of Representatives--percent of
vote by party--NA; seats by party--Liberal-National 80, Labor 67,
independent 1
Judicial branch: High Court, the Chief Justice and six other
justices are appointed by the governor general
Political parties and leaders:
Political pressure groups and leaders: Australian Democratic
Labor Party (anti-Communist Labor Party splinter group); Peace and
Nuclear Disarmament Action (Nuclear Disarmament Party splinter group)
International organization participation: ANZUS, APEC, AsDB,
Australia Group, BIS, C, CCC, CP, EBRD, ESCAP, FAO, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF,
IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MTCR, NAM
(guest), NEA, NSG, OECD, OPCW, PCA, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNITAR, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Andrew Sharp PEACOCK
chancery: 1601 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York, and
San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Genta Hawkins HOLMES
embassy: Moonah Place, Yarralumla, Canberra, Australian Capital
Territory 2600
mailing address: APO AP 96549
consulate(s) general: Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney
Flag description: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper
hoist-side quadrant and a large seven-pointed star in the lower
hoist-side quadrant; the remaining half is a representation of the
Southern Cross constellation in white with one small five-pointed
star and four, larger, seven-pointed stars
Economy
Economy--overview: Australia has a prosperous Western-style
capitalist economy, with a per capita GDP at the level of the four
dominant West European economies. Rich in natural resources,
Australia is a major exporter of agricultural products, minerals,
metals, and fossil fuels. Commodities account for 57% of the value
of total exports, so that a downturn in world commodity prices can
have a big impact on the economy. The government is pushing for
increased exports of manufactured goods, but competition in
international markets continues to be severe. Australia has suffered
from the low growth and high unemployment characterizing the OECD
countries in the early 1990s, but the economy has expanded at
reasonably steady rates in recent years. Canberra's emphasis on
reforms is a key factor behind the economy's resilience to the
regional crisis and its stronger than expected growth rate that
reached 4.5% last year. After a slow start in 1998, exports
rebounded in the second half of the year because of a sharp currency
depreciation and a redirection of sales to Europe, North America,
and Latin America.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$393.9 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 4.5% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$21,200 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 4%
industry: 31%
services: 65% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.5%
highest 10%: 24.8% (1989)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1% (1998)
Labor force: 9.2 million (December 1997)
Labor force--by occupation: services 73%, industry 22%,
agriculture 5% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate: 8.1% (1998)
Budget:
revenues: $90.73 billion
expenditures: $89.04 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY98/99 est.)
Industries: mining, industrial and transportation equipment, food
processing, chemicals, steel
Industrial production growth rate: 1.2% (1995)
Electricity--production: 166.683 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 91.14%
hydro: 8.84%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0.02% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 166.683 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: wheat, barley, sugarcane, fruits; cattle,
sheep, poultry
Exports: $56 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Exports--commodities: coal, gold, meat, wool, alumina, iron ore,
wheat, machinery and transport equipment
Exports--partners: Japan 20%, ASEAN 16%, EU 10%, South Korea 9%,
US 9%, NZ 8%, Taiwan, Hong Kong, China (1997)
Imports: $61 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Imports--commodities: machinery and transport equipment, computers
and office machines, telecommunication equipment and parts; crude
oil and petroleum products
Imports--partners: EU 25%, US 23%, Japan 13%, China, NZ (1997)
Debt--external: $156 billion (June 1997)
Economic aid--donor: ODA, $1.43 billion (FY97/98)
Currency: 1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Australian dollars ($A) per US$1--1.56 (February
1999), 1.5888 (1998), 1.3439 (1997), 1.2773 (1996), 1.3486 (1995),
1.3668 (1994)
Fiscal year: 1 July--30 June
Communications
Telephones: 8.7 million (1987 est.)
Telephone system: excellent domestic and international service
domestic: domestic satellite system
international: submarine cables to New Zealand, Papua New Guinea,
and Indonesia; satellite earth stations--10 Intelsat (4 Indian Ocean
and 6 Pacific Ocean), 2 Inmarsat (Indian and Pacific Ocean Regions)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 262, FM 345, shortwave 1
(Australia's only shortwave station, Radio Australia, broadcasts to
the world in seven languages, using 23 frequencies) (1998)
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 104 (64 of these stations are
government-owned and 40 are commercial) (1997)
Televisions: 9.2 million (1992 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 38,563 km (2,914 km electrified)
broad gauge: 6,083 km 1.600-m gauge
standard gauge: 16,752 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 15,728 km 1.067-m gauge
dual gauge: 172 km NA gauges
Highways:
total: 913,000 km
paved: 353,331 km (including 13,630 km of expressways)
unpaved: 559,669 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 8,368 km; mainly by small, shallow-draft craft
Pipelines: crude oil 2,500 km; petroleum products 500 km; natural
gas 5,600 km
Ports and harbors: Adelaide, Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin, Devonport
(Tasmania), Fremantle, Geelong, Hobart (Tasmania), Launceston
(Tasmania), Mackay, Melbourne, Sydney, Townsville
Merchant marine:
total: 57 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,767,387 GRT/2,426,710
DWT
ships by type: bulk 29, cargo 3, chemical tanker 4, container 4,
liquefied gas tanker 4, oil tanker 8, passenger 1, roll-on/roll-off
cargo 4 (1998 est.)
Airports: 408 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 262
over 3,047 m: 11
2,438 to 3,047 m: 11
1,524 to 2,437 m: 112
914 to 1,523 m: 120
under 914 m: 8 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 146
1,524 to 2,437 m: 19
914 to 1,523 m: 114
under 914 m: 13 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Australian Army, Royal Australian Navy, Royal
Australian Air Force
Military manpower--military age: 17 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 4,882,693 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 4,212,272 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 130,570 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $6.9 billion (FY97/98)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 1.9% (FY97/98)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: territorial claim in Antarctica
(Australian Antarctic Territory)
Illicit drugs: Tasmania is one of the world's major suppliers of
licit opiate products; government maintains strict controls over
areas of opium poppy cultivation and output of poppy straw
concentrate
======================================================================
@Austria
-------
Introduction
Background: Once the center of power for the large
Austro-Hungarian empire, Austria was reduced to a small republic
after its defeat in World War I. After the annexation to Nazi
Germany in 1938 and subsequent occupation by the victorious Allied
powers, Austria's 1955 State Treaty declared the country
"permanently neutral" as a condition of the Soviet military
withdrawal. The Soviet collapse relieved the external pressure to
remain unaligned, but neutrality had evolved into a part of Austrian
cultural identity, which has led to an ongoing public debate over
whether Vienna legitimately can remain outside of European security
structures. A wealthy country, Austria joined the European Union in
1995 and, like many EU members, is adjusting to the new European
currency and struggling with high unemployment.
Geography
Location: Central Europe, north of Italy and Slovenia
Geographic coordinates: 47 20 N, 13 20 E
Map references: Europe
Area:
total: 83,858 sq km
land: 82,738 sq km
water: 1,120 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than Maine
Land boundaries:
total: 2,562 km
border countries: Czech Republic 362 km, Germany 784 km, Hungary 366
km, Italy 430 km, Liechtenstein 35 km, Slovakia 91 km, Slovenia 330
km, Switzerland 164 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: temperate; continental, cloudy; cold winters with
frequent rain in lowlands and snow in mountains; cool summers with
occasional showers
Terrain: in the west and south mostly mountains (Alps); along the
eastern and northern margins mostly flat or gently sloping
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Neusiedler See 115 m
highest point: Grossglockner 3,797 m
Natural resources: iron ore, oil, timber, magnesite, lead, coal,
lignite, copper, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 17%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 23%
forests and woodland: 39%
other: 20% (1996 est.)
Irrigated land: 40 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment--current issues: some forest degradation caused by air
and soil pollution; soil pollution results from the use of
agricultural chemicals; air pollution results from emissions by
coal- and oil-fired power stations and industrial plants and from
trucks transiting Austria between northern and southern Europe
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air
Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty,
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea,
Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical
Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol
Geography--note: landlocked; strategic location at the crossroads
of central Europe with many easily traversable Alpine passes and
valleys; major river is the Danube; population is concentrated on
eastern lowlands because of steep slopes, poor soils, and low
temperatures elsewhere
People
Population: 8,139,299 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 17% (male 702,261; female 666,310)
15-64 years: 68% (male 2,792,484; female 2,713,397)
65 years and over: 15% (male 478,071; female 786,776) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.09% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 9.62 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 10.04 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 1.32 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.61 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 5.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.48 years
male: 74.31 years
female: 80.82 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.37 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Austrian(s)
adjective: Austrian
Ethnic groups: German 99.4%, Croatian 0.3%, Slovene 0.2%, other
0.1%
Religions: Roman Catholic 78%, Protestant 5%, other 17%
Languages: German
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99% (1974 est.)
male: NA%
female: NA%
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Austria
conventional short form: Austria
local long form: Republik Oesterreich
local short form: Oesterreich
Data code: AU
Government type: federal republic
Capital: Vienna
Administrative divisions: 9 states (bundeslaender,
singular--bundesland); Burgenland, Kaernten, Niederoesterreich,
Oberoesterreich, Salzburg, Steiermark, Tirol, Vorarlberg, Wien
Independence: 1156 (from Bavaria)
National holiday: National Day, 26 October (1955)
Constitution: 1920; revised 1929 (reinstated 1 May 1945)
Legal system: civil law system with Roman law origin; judicial
review of legislative acts by the Constitutional Court; separate
administrative and civil/penal supreme courts; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal; compulsory for presidential
elections
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Thomas KLESTIL (since 8 July 1992)
head of government: Chancellor Viktor KLIMA (since 28 January 1997);
Vice Chancellor Wolfgang SCHUESSEL (since 22 April 1995)
cabinet: Council of Ministers chosen by the president on the advice
of the chancellor
elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term;
presidential election last held 19 April 1998 (next to be held in
the spring of 2004); chancellor chosen by the president from the
majority party in the National Council; vice chancellor chosen by
the president on the advice of the chancellor
election results: Thomas KLESTIL reelected president; percent of
vote--Thomas KLESTIL 63%, Gertraud KNOLL 14%, Heide SCHMIDT 11%,
Richard LUGNER 10%, Karl NOWAK 2%
Legislative branch: bicameral Federal Assembly or
Bundesversammlung consists of Federal Council or Bundesrat (64
members; members represent each of the states on the basis of
population, but with each state having at least three
representatives; members serve a four- or six-year term) and the
National Council or Nationalrat (183 seats; members elected by
direct popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: National Council--last held 17 December 1995 (next to be
held in the fall of 1999)
election results: National Council--percent of vote by party--SPOe
38.3%, OeVP 28.3%, FPOe 22.1%, LF 5.3%, Greens 4.6%, other 1.4%;
seats by party--SPOe 71, OeVP 53, FPOe 40, LF 10, Greens 9
Judicial branch: Supreme Judicial Court or Oberster Gerichtshof;
Administrative Court or Verwaltungsgerichtshof; Constitutional Court
or Verfassungsgerichtshof
Political parties and leaders: Social Democratic Party of Austria
caucus floor leader and Alexander VAN DER BELLEN, party spokesman];
Political pressure groups and leaders: Federal Chamber of Trade
and Commerce; Austrian Trade Union Federation (primarily Socialist)
or OeGB; three composite leagues of the Austrian People's Party or
OeVP representing business, labor, and farmers; OeVP-oriented League
of Austrian Industrialists or VOeI; Roman Catholic Church, including
its chief lay organization, Catholic Action
International organization participation: AfDB, AsDB, Australia
Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CCC, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE,
EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU,
ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MTCR, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OAS
(observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO,
UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMIBH, UNMOT, UNOMIG, UNTSO,
UNU, UPU, WCL, WEU (observer), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Helmut TUERK
chancery: 3524 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008-3035
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Kathryn Walt HALL
embassy: Boltzmanngasse 16, A-1091, Vienna
mailing address: use embassy street address
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top),
white, and red
Economy
Economy--overview: Austria has a well-developed market economy
with a high standard of living. As a member of the European Monetary
Union (EMU), Austria's economy is closely integrated with other EU
member countries, especially with Germany. Austria's membership in
the EU has drawn an influx of foreign investors attracted by
Austria's access to the single European market. Through
privatization efforts, the 1996-98 budget consolidation programs,
and austerity measures, Austria brought its total public sector
deficit down to 2.5% of GDP in 1997 and public debt--at 66% of GDP in
1997--more or less in line with the 60% of GDP required by the EU's
Maastricht criteria. Cuts mainly affect the civil service and
Austria's generous social system, the two major causes of the
government deficit. To meet increased competition from both EU and
Central European countries, Austria will need to emphasize
knowledge-based sectors of the economy and deregulate the service
sector, particularly telecommunications and energy. The strong GDP
growth of 1998 is expected to dwindle back to 2.3% in 1999, and
observers caution that this projection may be revised downwards in
view of the Asian and Brazilian crises and Germany's lower growth
projection.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$184.5 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 2.9% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$22,700 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 1.4%
industry: 30.8%
services: 67.8% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.9% (1998)
Labor force: 3.7 million (1998)
Labor force--by occupation: services 67.7%, industry and crafts
29%, agriculture and forestry 0.7% (salaried employees, 1997 est.)
Unemployment rate: 7% (1999 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $50.4 billion
expenditures: $55.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1998 est.)
Industries: construction, machinery, vehicles and parts, food,
chemicals, lumber and wood processing, paper and paperboard,
communications equipment, tourism (1997)
Industrial production growth rate: 4% (1998 est.)
Electricity--production: 52.15 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 34.4%
hydro: 65.6%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1997)
Electricity--consumption: 56.1 billion kWh (1997)
Electricity--exports: 9.8 billion kWh (1997)
Electricity--imports: 9 billion kWh (1997)
Agriculture--products: grains, potatoes, sugar beets, wine, fruit;
dairy products, cattle, pigs, poultry; lumber
Exports: $62.5 billion (1998)
Exports--commodities: vehicles, machinery and equipment, paper and
paperboard, metal goods, iron and steel, telecommunication
equipment, textiles, medical and pharmaceutical products (1997)
Exports--partners: EU 62% (Germany 35.1%, Italy 8.3%), Central and
Eastern Europe 17.6% (Hungary 4.9%), Japan 1.3%, US 3.7% (1997)
Imports: $65.8 billion (1998)
Imports--commodities: vehicles, machinery and equipment, apparel,
metal goods, oil and oil products, office and data-processing
machinery, medical and pharmaceutical products, telecommunication
equipment, textiles (1997)
Imports--partners: EU 68.9% (Germany 41.7%, Italy 8%), Central and
Eastern Europe 11% (Hungary 3.1%), Asia 7.1% (Japan 2.2%), US 5.4%
(1997)
Debt--external: $24.33 billion (1997)
Economic aid--donor: ODA, $513 million (1997); of which, bilateral
$298 million, multilateral $215 million
Currency: 1 Austrian schilling (AS) = 100 groschen
Exchange rates: Austrian schillings (AS) per US$1--11.86 (January
1999), 12.379 (1998), 12.204 (1997), 10.587 (1996), 10.081 (1995),
11.422 (1994)
note: on 9 January 1999, the European Union introduced a common
currency that is now being used by financial institutions in some
member countries at the rate of 0.8597 euros per US$ and a fixed
rate of 13.7603 Austrian shillings per euro; the euro will replace
the local currency in consenting countries for all transactions in
2002
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 3.47 million (1986 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: highly developed and efficient
international: satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean
and 1 Indian Ocean) and 2 Eutelsat
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 61 (several hundred
repeaters), shortwave 1 (Austria's single shortwave station, Radio
Austria International, transmits its programs to the world in six
languages using 12 frequencies and six communication satellite
relays) (1998)
Radios: 70% of all households had radiosaccoding to the 1993
census
Television broadcast stations: 51 (in addition, there are 920
repeaters) (1998)
Televisions: 2,418,584 (1984 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 5,849 km (there is also 594 km of private tracks)
standard gauge: 5,470 km 1.435-m gauge (3,418 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 379 km 1.000-m and 0.760-m gauge (84 km electrified)
(1997)
Highways: 129,061 km
paved: 129,061 km (including 1,613 km of expressways)
unpaved: 0 km (1997 est.)
Waterways: 358 km (1997)
Pipelines: crude oil 777 km; natural gas 840 km (1997)
Ports and harbors: Linz, Vienna, Enns, Krems
Merchant marine:
total: 22 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 67,066 GRT/95,693 DWT
ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 18, combination bulk 2, container 1
(1998 est.)
Airports: 55 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 22
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 12 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 33
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 29 (1998 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army (includes Flying Division)
Military manpower--military age: 19 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 2,091,902 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,735,469 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 48,872 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $1.8 billion (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 0.82% (1999 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and
South American cocaine destined for Western Europe
======================================================================
@Azerbaijan
----------
Introduction
Background: In 1806, Azerbaijan, a region of Turkic Muslim
people, was conquered by the Russians. In 1918, Azerbaijan declared
independence from Russia, but was incorporated into the Soviet Union
in 1920. It again declared its independence in 1991, following the
collapse of the USSR. The conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia
over the Nagorno-Karabakh region is still unresolved after 10 years
and Baku has yet to settle disputes with its neighbors over oil
rights in the Caspian Sea. During the war, Karabakh Armenians
declared independence and seized almost 20% of the country's
territory, creating some 750,000 Azerbaijani refugees in the
process. Both sides have generally observed a Russian-mediated
cease-fire in place since May 1994.
Geography
Location: Southwestern Asia, bordering the Caspian Sea, between
Iran and Russia
Geographic coordinates: 40 30 N, 47 30 E
Map references: Commonwealth of Independent States
Area:
total: 86,600 sq km
land: 86,100 sq km
water: 500 sq km
note: includes the exclave of Naxcivan Autonomous Republic and the
Nagorno-Karabakh region; the region's autonomy was abolished by
Azerbaijani Supreme Soviet on 26 November 1991
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than Maine
Land boundaries:
total: 2,013 km
border countries: Armenia (with Azerbaijan-proper) 566 km, Armenia
(with Azerbaijan-Naxcivan exclave) 221 km, Georgia 322 km, Iran
(with Azerbaijan-proper) 432 km, Iran (with Azerbaijan-Naxcivan
exclave) 179 km, Russia 284 km, Turkey 9 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
note: Azerbaijan borders the Caspian Sea (800 km, est.)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: dry, semiarid steppe
Terrain: large, flat Kur-Araz Ovaligi (Kura-Araks Lowland) (much
of it below sea level) with Great Caucasus Mountains to the north,
Qarabag Yaylasi (Karabakh Upland) in west; Baku lies on Abseron
Yasaqligi (Apsheron Peninsula) that juts into Caspian Sea
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caspian Sea -28 m
highest point: Bazarduzu Dagi 4,485 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, nonferrous
metals, alumina
Land use:
arable land: 18%
permanent crops: 5%
permanent pastures: 25%
forests and woodland: 11%
other: 41% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 10,000 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: droughts; some lowland areas threatened by
rising levels of the Caspian Sea
Environment--current issues: local scientists consider the Abseron
Yasaqligi (Apsheron Peninsula) (including Baku and Sumqayit) and the
Caspian Sea to be the ecologically most devastated area in the world
because of severe air, water, and soil pollution; soil pollution
results from the use of DDT as a pesticide and also from toxic
defoliants used in the production of cotton
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Climate Change, Desertification, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity
Geography--note: landlocked
People
Population: 7,908,224 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 32% (male 1,292,018; female 1,240,745)
15-64 years: 61% (male 2,361,792; female 2,496,721)
65 years and over: 7% (male 202,755; female 314,193) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.63% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 21.58 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 9.5 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -5.76 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.65 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 82.52 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 63.08 years
male: 58.76 years
female: 67.63 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.67 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Azerbaijani(s)
adjective: Azerbaijani
Ethnic groups: Azeri 90%, Dagestani Peoples 3.2%, Russian 2.5%,
Armenian 2%, other 2.3% (1998 est.)
note: almost all Armenians live in the separatist Nagorno-Karabakh
region
Religions: Muslim 93.4%, Russian Orthodox 2.5%, Armenian Orthodox
2.3%, other 1.8% (1995 est.)
note: religious affiliation is still nominal in Azerbaijan;
percentages for actual practicing adherents are much lower
Languages: Azeri 89%, Russian 3%, Armenian 2%, other 6% (1995
est.)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97%
male: 99%
female: 96% (1989 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Azerbaijani Republic
conventional short form: Azerbaijan
local long form: Azarbaycan Respublikasi
local short form: none
former: Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic
Data code: AJ
Government type: republic
Capital: Baku (Baki)
Administrative divisions: 59 rayons (rayonlar; rayon--singular),
11 cities* (saharlar; sahar--singular), 1 autonomous republic**
(muxtar respublika); Abseron Rayonu, Agcabadi Rayonu, Agdam Rayonu,
Agdas Rayonu, Agstafa Rayonu, Agsu Rayonu, Ali Bayramli Sahari*,
Astara Rayonu, Baki Sahari*, Balakan Rayonu, Barda Rayonu, Beylaqan
Rayonu, Bilasuvar Rayonu, Cabrayil Rayonu, Calilabad Rayonu,
Daskasan Rayonu, Davaci Rayonu, Fuzuli Rayonu, Gadabay Rayonu, Ganca
Sahari*, Goranboy Rayonu, Goycay Rayonu, Haciqabul Rayonu, Imisli
Rayonu, Ismayilli Rayonu, Kalbacar Rayonu, Kurdamir Rayonu, Lacin
Rayonu, Lankaran Rayonu, Lankaran Sahari*, Lerik Rayonu, Masalli
Rayonu, Mingacevir Sahari*, Naftalan Sahari*, Naxcivan Muxtar
Respublikasi**, Neftcala Rayonu, Oguz Rayonu, Qabala Rayonu, Qax
Rayonu, Qazax Rayonu, Qobustan Rayonu, Quba Rayonu, Qubadli Rayonu,
Qusar Rayonu, Saatli Rayonu, Sabirabad Rayonu, Saki Rayonu, Saki
Sahari*, Salyan Rayonu, Samaxi Rayonu, Samkir Rayonu, Samux Rayonu,
Siyazan Rayonu, Sumqayit Sahari*, Susa Rayonu, Susa Sahari*, Tartar
Rayonu, Tovuz Rayonu, Ucar Rayonu, Xacmaz Rayonu, Xankandi Sahari*,
Xanlar Rayonu, Xizi Rayonu, Xocali Rayonu, Xocavand Rayonu, Yardimli
Rayonu, Yevlax Rayonu, Yevlax Sahari*, Zangilan Rayonu, Zaqatala
Rayonu, Zardab Rayonu
Independence: 30 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday: Independence Day, 28 May
Constitution: adopted 12 November 1995
Legal system: based on civil law system
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Heydar ALIYEV (since 18 June 1993)
head of government: Prime Minister Artur RASIZADE (since 26 November
1996)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president and
confirmed by the National Assembly
elections: president elected by popular vote to a five-year term;
election last held 11 October 1998 (next to be held October 2003);
prime minister and first deputy prime ministers appointed by the
president and confirmed by the National Assembly
election results: Heydar ALIYEV elected president; percent of
vote--Heydar ALIYEV 76%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Milli Mejlis
(125 seats; members serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 12 and 26 November 1995 (next to be held NA
2000)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--NAP
and allies 115, APF 4, PNIA 3, Musavat Party 1, vacant 2
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: New Azerbaijan Party or NAP
ELCHIBEY, chairman]; Party for National Independence of Azerbaijan
Political pressure groups and leaders: self-proclaimed Armenian
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic; Talysh independence movement; Sadval,
Lezgin movement
International organization participation: BSEC, CCC, CE (guest),
CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ECO, ESCAP, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM
(observer), OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Hafiz Mir Jalal PASHAYEV
chancery: (temporary) Suite 700, 927 15th Street NW, Washington, DC
20005 or P. O. Box 28790, Washington, DC 20038-8790
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Stanley T. ESCUDERO
embassy: Azadliq Prospekt 83, Baku 370007
mailing address: American Embassy Baku, Department of State,
Washington, DC 20521-7050
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of blue (top),
red, and green; a crescent and eight-pointed star in white are
centered in red band
Economy
Economy--overview: Azerbaijan is less developed industrially than
either Armenia or Georgia, the other Caucasian states. It resembles
the Central Asian states in its majority Muslim population, high
structural unemployment, and low standard of living. The economy's
most prominent products are oil, cotton, and natural gas. Production
from the Caspian oil field declined through 1997 but registered an
increase in 1998. Negotiation of more than a dozen
production-sharing arrangements (PSAs) with foreign firms, which
have thus far committed $30 billion to oil field development, should
generate the funds needed to spur future industrial development. Oil
production under the first of these PSAs, with the Azerbaijan
International Operating Company, began in November 1997. Azerbaijan
shares all the formidable problems of the former Soviet republics in
making the transition from a command to a market economy, but its
considerable energy resources brighten its long-term prospects. Baku
has only recently begun making progress on economic reform, and old
economic ties and structures are slowly being replaced. A major
short-term obstacle to economic progress, including stepped up
foreign investment, is the continuing conflict with Armenia over the
Nagorno-Karabakh region. Trade with Russia and the other former
Soviet republics is declining in importance while trade is building
up with Turkey, Iran, the UAE, and the nations of Europe. A serious
long-term challenge is the maintenance of the competitiveness of
non-oil exports in world markets.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$12.9 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 10% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,640 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 22%
industry: 18%
services: 60% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): -7.6% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 2.9 million (1997)
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture and forestry 32%, industry
and construction 15%, services 53% (1997)
Unemployment rate: 20% (1996 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $565 million
expenditures: $682 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1996 est.)
Industries: petroleum and natural gas, petroleum products,
oilfield equipment; steel, iron ore, cement; chemicals and
petrochemicals; textiles
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: 16.035 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 90.55%
hydro: 9.45%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 16.8 billion kWh (1997)
Electricity--exports: 600 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 745 million kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: cotton, grain, rice, grapes, fruit,
vegetables, tea, tobacco; cattle, pigs, sheep, goats
Exports: $781 million (f.o.b., 1997 est.)
Exports--commodities: oil and gas, chemicals, oilfield equipment,
textiles, cotton
Exports--partners: CIS, European countries, Turkey
Imports: $794 million (c.i.f., 1997 est.)
Imports--commodities: machinery and parts, consumer durables,
foodstuffs, textiles
Imports--partners: CIS, European countries, Turkey
Debt--external: $100 million (of which $75 million to Russia)
Economic aid--recipient: ODA, $113 million (1996)
Currency: manat=100 gopiks
Exchange rates: manats per US$1--3,865.00 (November 1998),
3,985.38 (1997), 4,301.26 (1996), 4,413.54 (1995), 1,570.23 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 1.414 million (1998)
Telephone system: Azerbaijani telecommunications fall under the
Ministry of Communications; Azerbaijan's telephone system is a
combination of old Soviet era technology used by Azerbaijani
citizens and small- to medium-size commercial establishments, and
modern cellular phones used by an increasing middle class, large
commercial ventures, international companies, and most government
officials; the average citizen waits on a 200,000-person list for
telephone service; Internet and E-mail service are available in Baku
domestic: local--the majority of telephones are in Baku or other
industrial centers; intercity--about 700 villages still do not have
public phone service; all long distance service must use Azertel's
(Ministry of Communications) lines; satellite service connects Baku
to a modern switch in its separated enclave to Nakhichevan
international: the old Soviet system of cable and microwave is still
serviceable; satellite service between Baku and Turkey provides
access to 200 countries; additional satellite providers supply
services between Baku and specific countries; Azerbaijan is a
signator of the Trans-Asia-Europe Fiber-Optic Line (TAE); their
lines are not laid but the Turkish satellite and a microwave between
Azerbaijan and Iran can provide Azerbaijan worldwide access through
this system
Radio broadcast stations: AM 10, FM 17, shortwave 1 (Azerbaijan's
single shortwave station transmits its programs to the Middle East
in eight languages)
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 2; note--the Ministry of
Communications is the monopoly broadcaster and rebroadcaster of
television in Azerbaijan; Azerbaijani, Russian, Armenian, Iranian,
British broadcasting companies, Voice of America, and other European
channels are available via satellite; television is broadcast to
Nakhichevan by satellite
Televisions: NA
Transportation
Railways:
total: 2,125 km in common carrier service; does not include
industrial lines
broad gauge: 2,125 km 1.520-m gauge (1,278 km electrified) (1993)
Highways:
total: 57,770 km
paved: 54,188 km
unpaved: 3,582 km (1995 est.)
Pipelines: crude oil 1,130 km; petroleum products 630 km; natural
gas 1,240 km
Ports and harbors: Baku (Baki)
Merchant marine:
total: 57 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 251,404 GRT/ 306,264 DWT
ships by type: cargo 12, oil tanker 42, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2,
short-sea passenger 1 (1998 est.)
Airports: 69 (1996 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 29
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 17
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 1 (1996 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 40
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 33 (1996 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, Border
Guards
Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 2,041,863 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,639,144 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 73,486 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $121 million (1999)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 2.6% (1999)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: Armenia supports ethnic Armenians in the
Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan in the longstanding,
separatist conflict against the Azerbaijani Government; Caspian Sea
boundaries are not yet determined among Azerbaijan, Iran,
Kazakhstan, Russia, and Turkmenistan
Illicit drugs: limited illicit cultivation of cannabis and opium
poppy, mostly for CIS consumption; limited government eradication
program; transshipment point for opiates via Iran, Central Asia, and
Russia to Western Europe
======================================================================
@Bahamas, The
------------
Geography
Location: Caribbean, chain of islands in the North Atlantic
Ocean, southeast of Florida
Geographic coordinates: 24 15 N, 76 00 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 13,940 sq km
land: 10,070 sq km
water: 3,870 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than Connecticut
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 3,542 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical marine; moderated by warm waters of Gulf Stream
Terrain: long, flat coral formations with some low rounded hills
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Alvernia, on Cat Island 63 m
Natural resources: salt, aragonite, timber
Land use:
arable land: 1%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 32%
other: 67% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: hurricanes and other tropical storms that cause
extensive flood and wind damage
Environment--current issues: coral reef decay; solid waste disposal
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography--note: strategic location adjacent to US and Cuba;
extensive island chain
People
Population: 283,705 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 27% (male 39,271; female 38,740)
15-64 years: 67% (male 92,830; female 96,814)
65 years and over: 6% (male 6,696; female 9,354) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.36% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 20.58 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 5.43 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.55 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 18.38 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 74.25 years
male: 70.94 years
female: 77.64 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.31 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Bahamian(s)
adjective: Bahamian
Ethnic groups: black 85%, white 15%
Religions: Baptist 32%, Anglican 20%, Roman Catholic 19%,
Methodist 6%, Church of God 6%, other Protestant 12%, none or
unknown 3%, other 2%
Languages: English, Creole (among Haitian immigrants)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.2%
male: 98.5%
female: 98% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Commonwealth of The Bahamas
conventional short form: The Bahamas
Data code: BF
Government type: commonwealth
Capital: Nassau
Administrative divisions: 21 districts; Acklins and Crooked
Islands, Bimini, Cat Island, Exuma, Freeport, Fresh Creek,
Governor's Harbour, Green Turtle Cay, Harbour Island, High Rock,
Inagua, Kemps Bay, Long Island, Marsh Harbour, Mayaguana, New
Providence, Nicholls Town and Berry Islands, Ragged Island, Rock
Sound, Sandy Point, San Salvador and Rum Cay
Independence: 10 July 1973 (from UK)
National holiday: National Day, 10 July (1973)
Constitution: 10 July 1973
Legal system: based on English common law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Governor General Sir Orville TURNQUEST (since 2
January 1995)
head of government: Prime Minister Hubert Alexander INGRAHAM (since
19 August 1992) and Deputy Prime Minister Frank WATSON (since
December 1994)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the prime
minister's recommendation
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general
appointed by the monarch; prime minister and deputy prime minister
appointed by the governor general
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate
(16-member body appointed by the governor general upon the advice of
the prime minister and the opposition leader for a five-year term)
and the House of Assembly (40 seats; members elected by direct
popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 14 March 1997 (next to be held by March 2002)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--FNM
35, PLP 5
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: Progressive Liberal Party or PLP
INGRAHAM]
International organization participation: ACP, C, Caricom, CCC,
CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS,
ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAS,
OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
(applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Arlington Griffith BUTLER
chancery: 2220 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: Miami and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Arthur SCHECHTER
embassy: Queen Street, Nassau
mailing address: local or express mail address: P.O. Box N-8197,
Nassau; stateside address: American Embassy Nassau, P.O. Box 599009,
Miami, FL 33159-9009; pouch address: Nassau, Department of State,
Washington, DC 20521-3370
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of aquamarine
(top), gold, and aquamarine, with a black equilateral triangle based
on the hoist side
Economy
Economy--overview: The Bahamas is a stable, developing nation with
an economy heavily dependent on tourism and offshore banking.
Tourism alone accounts for more than 60% of GDP and directly or
indirectly employs 40% of the archipelago's labor force. Moderate
growth in tourism receipts and a boom in construction of new hotels,
resorts, and residences led to an increase of the country's GDP by
an estimated 4% in 1998. Manufacturing and agriculture together
contribute less than 10% of GDP and show little growth, despite
government incentives aimed at those sectors. Overall growth
prospects in the short run will depend heavily on the fortunes of
the tourism sector and continued income growth in the US, which
accounts for the majority of tourist visitors.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$5.63 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 4% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$20,100 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 3%
industry: 5%
services: 92% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.4% (1997)
Labor force: 148,000 (1996)
Labor force--by occupation: government 30%, tourism 40%, business
services 10%, agriculture 5% (1995 est.)
Unemployment rate: 9% (1998 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $766 million
expenditures: $845 million, including capital expenditures of $97
million (FY97/98)
Industries: tourism, banking, cement, oil refining and
transshipment, salt production, rum, aragonite, pharmaceuticals,
spiral-welded steel pipe
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: 1 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 1 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: citrus, vegetables; poultry
Exports: $300 million (1998)
Exports--commodities: pharmaceuticals, cement, rum, crawfish,
refined petroleum products
Exports--partners: US 24.5%, EU (excluding UK) 23.9%, UK 12.6%,
Singapore 5.6% (1997)
Imports: $1.37 billion (1998)
Imports--commodities: foodstuffs, manufactured goods, crude oil,
vehicles, electronics
Imports--partners: US 34.9%, EU 24.3%, Japan 15.5%, Russia 6.3%
(1997)
Debt--external: $381.7 million (1997)
Economic aid--recipient: $9.8 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Bahamian dollar (B$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Bahamian dollar (B$) per US$1--1.000 (fixed rate
pegged to the dollar)
Fiscal year: 1 July--30 June
Communications
Telephones: 200,000 (1997 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: 91,183 telephone subscribers; totally automatic system;
highly developed
international: tropospheric scatter and submarine cable to Florida;
3 coaxial submarine cables; satellite earth station--1 Intelsat
(Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios: 200,000 (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1997)
Televisions: 60,000 (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 2,693 km
paved: 1,546 km
unpaved: 1,147 km (1997 est.)
Ports and harbors: Freeport, Matthew Town, Nassau
Merchant marine:
total: 1,079 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 26,631,924
GRT/41,196,326 DWT
ships by type: bulk 209, cargo 241, chemical tanker 43, combination
bulk 13, combination ore/oil 22, container 61, liquefied gas tanker
34, livestock carrier 1, oil tanker 170, passenger 62,
passenger-cargo 1, railcar carrier 1, refrigerated cargo 140,
roll-on/roll-off cargo 48, short-sea passenger 12, specialized
tanker 2, vehicle carrier 19
note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 49
countries among which are Norway 177, Greece 141, UK 113, US 61,
Denmark 39, Finland 27, Japan 25, Sweden 24, France 22, and Italy 22
(1998 est.)
Airports: 62 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 33
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 15
914 to 1,523 m: 13
under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 29
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 21 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Royal Bahamas Defense Force (Coast Guard
only), Royal Bahamas Police Force
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $20 million (FY95/96)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: NA%
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for cocaine and marijuana
bound for US and Europe; banking industry vulnerable to money
laundering
======================================================================
@Bahrain
-------
Geography
Location: Middle East, archipelago in the Persian Gulf, east of
Saudi Arabia
Geographic coordinates: 26 00 N, 50 33 E
Map references: Middle East
Area:
total: 620 sq km
land: 620 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: 3.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 161 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: extending to boundaries to be determined
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers
Terrain: mostly low desert plain rising gently to low central
escarpment
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
highest point: Jabal ad Dukhan 122 m
Natural resources: oil, associated and nonassociated natural gas,
fish
Land use:
arable land: 1%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 6%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 92% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 10 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: periodic droughts; dust storms
Environment--current issues: desertification resulting from the
degradation of limited arable land, periods of drought, and dust
storms; coastal degradation (damage to coastlines, coral reefs, and
sea vegetation) resulting from oil spills and other discharges from
large tankers, oil refineries, and distribution stations; no natural
fresh water resources so that groundwater and sea water are the only
sources for all water needs
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous
Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography--note: close to primary Middle Eastern petroleum
sources; strategic location in Persian Gulf which much of Western
world's petroleum must transit to reach open ocean
People
Population: 629,090 (July 1999 est.)
note: includes 227,801 non-nationals (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 31% (male 97,316; female 94,708)
15-64 years: 67% (male 249,594; female 169,337)
65 years and over: 2% (male 9,241; female 8,894) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 2% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 21.86 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 3.24 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 1.42 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.47 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.04 male(s)/female
total population: 1.3 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 14.81 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.32 years
male: 72.75 years
female: 77.96 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.97 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Bahraini(s)
adjective: Bahraini
Ethnic groups: Bahraini 63%, Asian 13%, other Arab 10%, Iranian
8%, other 6%
Religions: Shi'a Muslim 75%, Sunni Muslim 25%
Languages: Arabic, English, Farsi, Urdu
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 85.2%
male: 89.1%
female: 79.4% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: State of Bahrain
conventional short form: Bahrain
local long form: Dawlat al Bahrayn
local short form: Al Bahrayn
Data code: BA
Government type: traditional monarchy
Capital: Manama
Administrative divisions: 12 municipalities (manatiq,
singular--mintaqah); Al Hadd, Al Manamah, Al Mintaqah al Gharbiyah,
Al Mintaqah al Wusta, Al Mintaqah ash Shamaliyah, Al Muharraq, Ar
Rifa' wa al Mintaqah al Janubiyah, Jidd Hafs, Madinat Hamad, Madinat
'Isa, Juzur Hawar, Sitrah
note: all municipalities administered from Manama
Independence: 15 August 1971 (from UK)
National holiday: National Day, 16 December (1971)
Constitution: 26 May 1973, effective 6 December 1973
Legal system: based on Islamic law and English common law
Suffrage: none
Executive branch:
chief of state: Amir HAMAD bin Isa Al Khalifa (since 6 March 1999);
Heir Apparent Crown Prince SALMAN bin Hamad (son of the monarch,
born NA 1969)
head of government: Prime Minister KHALIFA bin Salman Al Khalifa
(since 19 January 1970)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister appointed
by the monarch
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly was dissolved 26
August 1975 and legislative powers were assumed by the Cabinet;
appointed Advisory Council established 16 December 1992
Judicial branch: High Civil Appeals Court
Political parties and leaders: political parties prohibited
Political pressure groups and leaders: several small, clandestine
leftist and Islamic fundamentalist groups are active; following the
arrest of a popular Shi'a cleric, Shi'a activists have fomented
unrest sporadically since late 1994, demanding the return of an
elected National Assembly and an end to unemployment
International organization participation: ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF,
ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDB, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,
IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent),
ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, UN, UN Security Council (temporary),
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Dr. Muhammad ABD AL-GHAFFAR Abdallah
chancery: 3502 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Johnny YOUNG
embassy: Building No. 979, Road 3119 (next to Al-Ahli Sports Club),
Block 3119, Zinj District, Manama
mailing address: American Embassy Manama, PSC 451, FPO AE
09834-5100; International Mail: American Embassy, Box 26431, Manama
Flag description: red with a white serrated band (eight white
points) on the hoist side
Economy
Economy--overview: In Bahrain, petroleum production and processing
account for about 60% of export receipts, 60% of government
revenues, and 30% of GDP. Economic conditions have fluctuated with
the changing fortunes of oil since 1985, for example, during and
following the Gulf crisis of 1990-91. With its highly developed
communication and transport facilities, Bahrain is home to numerous
multinational firms with business in the Gulf. A large share of
exports consists of petroleum products made from imported crude.
Construction proceeds on several major industrial projects.
Unemployment, especially among the young, and the depletion of both
oil and underground water resources are major long-term economic
problems.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$8.2 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: -2% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$13,100 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 1%
industry: 46%
services: 53% (1996 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): -0.2% (1996 est.)
Labor force: 150,000 (1997 est.)
note: 44% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national
(July 1998 est.)
Labor force--by occupation: industry, commerce, and service 79%,
government 20%, agriculture 1% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate: 15% (1996 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $1.5 billion
expenditures: $1.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1999 budget)
Industries: petroleum processing and refining, aluminum smelting,
offshore banking, ship repairing; tourism
Industrial production growth rate: 3.4% (1995)
Electricity--production: 4.7 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 4.7 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: fruit, vegetables; poultry, dairy products;
shrimp, fish
Exports: $4.7 billion (f.o.b., 1997)
Exports--commodities: petroleum and petroleum products 61%,
aluminum 7%
Exports--partners: India 18%, Japan 11%, Saudi Arabia 8%, South
Korea 7%, UAE 5% (1997)
Imports: $4.4 billion (f.o.b., 1997)
Imports--commodities: nonoil 59%, crude oil 41%
Imports--partners: Saudi Arabia 45%, US 10%, UK 6%, Japan 5%,
Germany 4% (1997)
Debt--external: $2 billion (1997)
Economic aid--recipient: $48.4 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Bahraini dinar (BD) = 1,000 fils
Exchange rates: Bahraini dinars (BD) per US$1--0.3760 (fixed rate)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 73,552 (1987 est.)
Telephone system: modern system; good domestic services and
excellent international connections
domestic: NA
international: tropospheric scatter to Qatar and UAE; microwave
radio relay to Saudi Arabia; submarine cable to Qatar, UAE, and
Saudi Arabia; satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean
and 1 Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios: 320,000 (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 4 (1997)
Televisions: 270,000 (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 3,103 km
paved: 2,374 km
unpaved: 729 km (1997 est.)
Pipelines: crude oil 56 km; petroleum products 16 km; natural gas
32 km
Ports and harbors: Manama, Mina' Salman, Sitrah
Merchant marine:
total: 8 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 228,273 GRT/304,654 DWT
ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 3, container 2, oil tanker 1 (1998 est.)
Airports: 3 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 2
over 3,047 m: 2 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Ground Force, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard,
Police Force
Military manpower--military age: 15 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 220,670 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 121,451 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: NA
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $276.9 million (1994)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 4.5% (1998)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: territorial dispute with Qatar over the
Hawar Islands and maritime boundary dispute with Qatar currently
before the International Court of Justice (ICJ)
======================================================================
@Baker Island
------------
Geography
Location: Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about
one-half of the way from Hawaii to Australia
Geographic coordinates: 0 13 N, 176 31 W
Map references: Oceania
Area:
total: 1.4 sq km
land: 1.4 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: about 2.5 times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 4.8 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: equatorial; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun
Terrain: low, nearly level coral island surrounded by a narrow
fringing reef
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 8 m
Natural resources: guano (deposits worked until 1891)
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 100%
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1993)
Natural hazards: the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island
can be a maritime hazard
Environment--current issues: no natural fresh water resources
Environment--international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography--note: treeless, sparse, and scattered vegetation
consisting of grasses, prostrate vines, and low growing shrubs;
primarily a nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds,
shorebirds, and marine wildlife
People
Population: uninhabited
note: American civilians evacuated in 1942 after Japanese air and
naval attacks during World War II; occupied by US military during
World War II, but abandoned after the war; public entry is by
special-use permit from US Fish and Wildlife Service only and
generally restricted to scientists and educators; a cemetery and
remnants of structures from early settlement are located near the
middle of the west coast; visited annually by US Fish and Wildlife
Service
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Baker Island
Data code: FQ
Dependency status: unincorporated territory of the US;
administered from Washington, DC by the Fish and Wildlife Service of
the US Department of the Interior as part of the National Wildlife
Refuge system
Legal system: NA
Flag description: the flag of the US is used
Economy
Economy--overview: no economic activity
Transportation
Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only; note--there is
one boat landing area along the middle of the west coast
Airports: 1 abandoned World War II runway of 1,665 m, completely
covered with vegetation and unusable
Transportation--note: there is a day beacon near the middle of the
west coast
Military
Military--note: defense is the responsibility of the US; visited
annually by the US Coast Guard
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
======================================================================
@Bangladesh
----------
Geography
Location: Southern Asia, bordering the Bay of Bengal, between
Burma and India
Geographic coordinates: 24 00 N, 90 00 E
Map references: Asia
Area:
total: 144,000 sq km
land: 133,910 sq km
water: 10,090 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than Wisconsin
Land boundaries:
total: 4,246 km
border countries: Burma 193 km, India 4,053 km
Coastline: 580 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 18 nm
continental shelf: up to the outer limits of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; cool, dry winter (October to March); hot,
humid summer (March to June); cool, rainy monsoon (June to October)
Terrain: mostly flat alluvial plain; hilly in southeast
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Keokradong 1,230 m
Natural resources: natural gas, arable land, timber
Land use:
arable land: 73%
permanent crops: 2%
permanent pastures: 5%
forests and woodland: 15%
other: 5% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 31,000 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: droughts, cyclones; much of the country
routinely flooded during the summer monsoon season
Environment--current issues: many people are landless and forced
to live on and cultivate flood-prone land; limited access to potable
water; water-borne diseases prevalent; water pollution especially of
fishing areas results from the use of commercial pesticides;
intermittent water shortages because of falling water tables in the
northern and central parts of the country; soil degradation;
deforestation; severe overpopulation
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test
Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
People
Population: 127,117,967 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 38% (male 24,516,722; female 23,346,904)
15-64 years: 59% (male 38,441,064; female 36,586,743)
65 years and over: 3% (male 2,303,613; female 1,922,921) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.59% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 25.2 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 8.5 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.79 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.2 male(s)/female
total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 69.68 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 60.6 years
male: 60.73 years
female: 60.46 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.86 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Bangladeshi(s)
adjective: Bangladesh
Ethnic groups: Bengali 98%, Biharis 250,000, tribals less than 1
million
Religions: Muslim 88.3%, Hindu 10.5%, other 1.2%
Languages: Bangla (official), English
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 38.1%
male: 49.4%
female: 26.1% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: People's Republic of Bangladesh
conventional short form: Bangladesh
former: East Pakistan
Data code: BG
Government type: republic
Capital: Dhaka
Administrative divisions: 5 divisions; Barisal, Chittagong,
Dhaka, Khulna, Rajshahi
note: there may be one additional division named Sylhet
Independence: 16 December 1971 (from Pakistan)
National holiday: Independence Day, 26 March (1971)
Constitution: 4 November 1972, effective 16 December 1972,
suspended following coup of 24 March 1982, restored 10 November
1986, amended many times
Legal system: based on English common law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Shahabuddin AHMED (since 9 October 1996);
note--the president's duties are normally ceremonial, but with the
13th amendment to the constitution ("Caretaker Government
Amendment"), the president's role becomes significant at times when
Parliament is dissolved and a caretaker government is installed--at
presidential direction--to supervise the elections
head of government: Prime Minister Sheikh HASINA Wajed (since 23
June 1996)
cabinet: Cabinet selected by the prime minister and appointed by the
president
elections: president elected by National Parliament for a five-year
term; election last held 24 July 1996 (next to be held by NA October
2001); following legislative elections, the leader of the party that
wins the most seats is usually appointed prime minister by the
president
election results: Shahabuddin AHMED elected president without
opposition; percent of National Parliament vote--NA
Legislative branch: unicameral National Parliament or Jatiya
Sangsad (330 seats; 300 elected by popular vote from single
territorial constituencies, 30 seats reserved for women; members
serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 12 June 1996 (next to be held NA 2001)
election results: percent of vote by party--AL 33.87%, BNP 30.87%;
seats by party--AL 178, BNP 113, JP 33, JI 3, other 2, election still
to be held 1; note--the elections of 12 June 1996 brought to power an
Awami League government for the first time in twenty-one years; held
under a neutral, caretaker administration, the elections were
characterized by a peaceful, orderly process and massive voter
turnout, ending a bitter two-year impasse between the former BNP and
opposition parties that had paralyzed National Parliament and led to
widespread street violence
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, the Chief Justices and other
judges are appointed by the president
Political parties and leaders: Bangladesh Nationalist Party or
International organization participation: AsDB, C, CCC, CP,
ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat,
Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MONUA, NAM, OIC,
OPCW, SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH,
UNMOP, UNMOT, UNOMIG, UNOMIL, UNPREDEP, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Khwaja Mohammad SHEHABUDDIN
chancery: 2201 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador John C. HOLZMAN
embassy: Diplomatic Enclave, Madani Avenue, Baridhara, Dhaka 1212
mailing address: G.P.O. Box 323, Dhaka 1000
Flag description: green with a large red disk slightly to the
hoist side of center; the red sun of freedom represents the blood
shed to achieve independence; the green field symbolizes the lush
countryside, and secondarily, the traditional color of Islam
Economy
Economy--overview: Despite sustained domestic and international
efforts to improve economic and demographic prospects, Bangladesh
remains one of the world's poorest, most densely populated, and
least developed nations. The economy is largely agricultural, with
the cultivation of rice the single most important activity in the
economy. Major impediments to growth include frequent cyclones and
floods, the inefficiency of state-owned enterprises, a rapidly
growing labor force that cannot be absorbed by agriculture, delays
in exploiting energy resources (natural gas), inadequate power
supplies, and slow implementation of economic reforms. Prime
Minister Sheikh HASINA Wajed's Awami League government has made some
headway improving the climate for foreign investors and liberalizing
the capital markets; for example, it has negotiated with foreign
firms for oil and gas exploration, better countrywide distribution
of cooking gas, and the construction of natural gas pipelines and
power plants. Progress on other economic reforms has been halting
because of opposition from the bureaucracy, public sector unions,
and other vested interest groups. Severe floods, lasting from July
to October 1998, endangered the livelihoods of more than 20 million
people. Foodgrain production fell by 4 million tons, forcing Dhaka
to triple its normal foodgrain imports and placing severe pressure
on Bangladesh's balance of payments. The floods increased the
country's reliance on large-scale international aid. So far the East
Asian financial crisis has not had major impact on the economy.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$175.5 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 4% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,380 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 30%
industry: 17%
services: 53% (1997)
Population below poverty line: 35.6% (1995-96 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 4.1%
highest 10%: 23.7% (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7% (1998)
Labor force: 56 million
note: extensive export of labor to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE, and
Oman (1996)
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 65%, services 25%,
industry and mining 10% (1996)
Unemployment rate: 35.2% (1996)
Budget:
revenues: $3.8 billion
expenditures: $5.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1997)
Industries: jute manufacturing, cotton textiles, food processing,
steel, fertilizer
Industrial production growth rate: 3.6% (1997)
Electricity--production: 11.5 billion kWh (1997)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 97.35%
hydro: 2.65%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 11.3 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: rice, jute, tea, wheat, sugarcane,
potatoes; beef, milk, poultry
Exports: $4.4 billion (1997)
Exports--commodities: garments, jute and jute goods, leather,
frozen fish and seafood
Exports--partners: Western Europe 42%, US 30%, Hong Kong 4%, Japan
3% (FY95/96 est.)
Imports: $7.1 billion (1997)
Imports--commodities: capital goods, textiles, food, petroleum
products
Imports--partners: India 21%, China 10%, Western Europe 8%, Hong
Kong 7%, Singapore 6% (FY95/96 est.)
Debt--external: $16.7 billion (1997)
Economic aid--recipient: $1.475 billion (FY96/97)
Currency: 1 taka (Tk) = 100 poisha
Exchange rates: taka (Tk) per US$1--48.500 (January 1999), 46.906
(1998), 43.892 (1997), 41.794 (1996), 40.278 (1995), 40.212 (1994)
Fiscal year: 1 July--30 June
Communications
Telephones: 249,800 (1994 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: poor domestic telephone service
international: satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (Indian Ocean);
international radiotelephone communications and landline service to
neighboring countries
Radio broadcast stations: AM 12, FM 12, shortwave 2 (one of
Bangladesh's two shortwave stations, Bangladesh Betar or Radio
Bangladesh, transmits its programs to the world in six languages on
four frequencies) (1998)
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 11 (1997)
Televisions: 350,000 (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 2,745 km
broad gauge: 923 km 1.676-m gauge
narrow gauge: 1,822 km 1.000-m gauge (1998 est.)
Highways:
total: 204,022 km
paved: 25,095 km
unpaved: 178,927 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 5,150-8,046 km navigable waterways (includes
2,575-3,058 km main cargo routes)
Pipelines: natural gas 1,220 km
Ports and harbors: Chittagong, Dhaka, Mongla Port
Merchant marine:
total: 40 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 315,855 GRT/453,002 DWT
ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 33, oil tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 1,
roll-on/roll-off cargo 2 (1998 est.)
Airports: 16 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 15
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 7 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary forces
(includes Bangladesh Rifles, Bangladesh Ansars, Village Defense
Parties, National Cadet Corps)
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 33,374,195 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 19,772,013 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $559 million (FY96/97)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 1.8% (FY96/97)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: a portion of the boundary with India is
indefinite; dispute with India over South Talpatty/New Moore Island
Illicit drugs: transit country for illegal drugs produced in
neighboring countries
======================================================================
@Barbados
--------
Geography
Location: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the
North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela
Geographic coordinates: 13 10 N, 59 32 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 430 sq km
land: 430 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 97 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; rainy season (June to October)
Terrain: relatively flat; rises gently to central highland region
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Hillaby 336 m
Natural resources: petroleum, fish, natural gas
Land use:
arable land: 37%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 5%
forests and woodland: 12%
other: 46% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: infrequent hurricanes; periodic landslides
Environment--current issues: pollution of coastal waters from
waste disposal by ships; soil erosion; illegal solid waste disposal
threatens contamination of aquifers
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity
Geography--note: easternmost Caribbean island
People
Population: 259,191 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 23% (male 30,132; female 29,359)
15-64 years: 67% (male 85,437; female 88,131)
65 years and over: 10% (male 9,862; female 16,270) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.04% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 14.46 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 8.16 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -5.86 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.61 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 16.74 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 74.98 years
male: 72.22 years
female: 77.81 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.83 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Barbadian(s)
adjective: Barbadian
Ethnic groups: black 80%, white 4%, other 16%
Religions: Protestant 67% (Anglican 40%, Pentecostal 8%,
Methodist 7%, other 12%), Roman Catholic 4%, none 17%, other 12%
Languages: English
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 97.4%
male: 98%
female: 96.8% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Barbados
Data code: BB
Government type: parliamentary democracy
Capital: Bridgetown
Administrative divisions: 11 parishes; Christ Church, Saint
Andrew, Saint George, Saint James, Saint John, Saint Joseph, Saint
Lucy, Saint Michael, Saint Peter, Saint Philip, Saint Thomas
note: the city of Bridgetown may be given parish status
Independence: 30 November 1966 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 30 November (1966)
Constitution: 30 November 1966
Legal system: English common law; no judicial review of
legislative acts
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Governor General Sir Clifford Straughn HUSBANDS
(since 1 June 1996)
head of government: Prime Minister Owen Seymour ARTHUR (since 6
September 1994); Deputy Prime Minister Billie MILLER (since 6
September 1994)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of
the prime minister
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary monarch; governor general
appointed by the monarch; prime minister appointed by the governor
general
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate
(21-member body appointed by the governor general) and the House of
Assembly (28 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to
serve five-year terms)
elections: House of Assembly--last held 20 January 1999 (next to be
held by January 2004)
election results: House of Assembly--percent of vote by party--NA;
seats by party--BLP 26, DLP 2
Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Judicature (judges are
appointed by the Service Commissions for the Judicial and Legal
Service)
Political parties and leaders: Democratic Labor Party or DLP
Political pressure groups and leaders: Barbados Workers Union
International organization participation: ACP, C, Caricom, CDB,
ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU,
LAES, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Courtney N. BLACKMAN
chancery: 2144 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: Coral Gables (Florida), Miami, and New York
consulate(s): Los Angeles
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador E. William CROTTY
embassy: Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Building, Broad Street,
Bridgetown
mailing address: P.O. Box 302, Bridgetown; FPO AA 34055
Flag description: three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist
side), gold, and blue with the head of a black trident centered on
the gold band; the trident head represents independence and a break
with the past (the colonial coat of arms contained a complete
trident)
Economy
Economy--overview: Historically, the Barbadian economy had been
dependent on sugarcane cultivation and related activities, but
production in recent years has diversified into manufacturing and
tourism. The start of the Port Charles Marina project in
Speightstown helped the tourism industry continue to expand in
1996-98. Offshore finance and informatics are important foreign
exchange earners, and there is also a light manufacturing sector.
The government continues its efforts to reduce the unacceptably high
unemployment rate, encourage direct foreign investment, and
privatize remaining state-owned enterprises.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$2.9 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 3% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$11,200 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 6%
industry: 15%
services: 79% (1996)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.6% (1997)
Labor force: 136,000 (1998 est.)
Labor force--by occupation: services 75%, industry 15%,
agriculture 10% (1996 est.)
Unemployment rate: 12% (1998 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $725.5 million
expenditures: $750.6 million, including capital expenditures of
$126.3 million (FY97/98 est.)
Industries: tourism, sugar, light manufacturing, component
assembly for export
Industrial production growth rate: 0.8% (1996)
Electricity--production: 600 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 600 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: sugarcane, vegetables, cotton
Exports: $280 million (1997)
Exports--commodities: sugar and molasses, rum, other foods and
beverages, chemicals, electrical components, clothing
Exports--partners: Caricom 34.8%, US 18.4%, UK 16.6%, Canada 4.4%
(1996)
Imports: $982 million (1997)
Imports--commodities: consumer goods, machinery, foodstuffs,
construction materials, chemicals, fuel, electrical components
Imports--partners: US 40.5%, Caricom 14.7%, UK 8.4%, Canada 5%
(1996)
Debt--external: $581.4 million (1996)
Economic aid--recipient: $9.1 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Barbadian dollar (Bds$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Barbadian dollars (Bds$) per US$1--2.0000 (fixed
rate pegged to the dollar)
Fiscal year: 1 April--31 March
Communications
Telephones: 87,343 (1991 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: island wide automatic telephone system
international: satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean);
tropospheric scatter to Trinidad and Saint Lucia
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 1 (in addition, there are two
cable channels) (1997)
Televisions: 69,350 (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 1,650 km
paved: 1,582 km
unpaved: 68 km (1998 est.)
Ports and harbors: Bridgetown, Speightstown (Port Charles Marina)
Merchant marine:
total: 44 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 641,550 GRT/1,087,042
DWT
ships by type: bulk 11, cargo 26, combination bulk 1, oil tanker 4,
refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1
note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships of 2 countries:
Canada owns 2 ships, Hong Kong 1 (1998 est.)
Airports: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Royal Barbados Defense Force (includes Ground
Forces and Coast Guard), Royal Barbados Police Force
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 72,111 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 49,600 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $NA
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: NA%
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
Illicit drugs: one of many Caribbean transshipment points for
narcotics bound for the US and Europe
======================================================================
@Bassas da India
---------------
Geography
Location: Southern Africa, islands in the southern Mozambique
Channel, about one-half of the way from Madagascar to Mozambique
Geographic coordinates: 21 30 S, 39 50 E
Map references: Africa
Area:
total: 0.2 sq km
land: 0.2 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: about one-third the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 35.2 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical
Terrain: a volcanic rock 2.4 m high
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 2.4 m
Natural resources: none
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 100% (all rock)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1993)
Natural hazards: maritime hazard since it is usually under water
during high tide and surrounded by reefs; subject to periodic
cyclones
Environment--current issues: NA
Environment--international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA
People
Population: uninhabited
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Bassas da India
Data code: BS
Dependency status: possession of France; administered by a high
commissioner of the Republic, resident in Reunion
Legal system: NA
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (possession of France)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (possession of France)
Flag description: the flag of France is used
Economy
Economy--overview: no economic activity
Transportation
Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only
Military
Military--note: defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: claimed by Madagascar
======================================================================
@Belarus
-------
Introduction
Background: For centuries Byelorussia has been fought over,
devastated, and partitioned among Russia, Poland, Lithuania, and, in
World Wars I and II, Germany. After seven decades as a Soviet
republic, the newly named Belarus declared its independence in
August 1991. It has retained closer political and economic ties to
Russia than any of the other former Soviet republics. On 25 December
1998, Russian President Boris YEL'TSIN and Belarusian President
Aleksandr LUKASHENKO signed several agreements intended to provide
greater political, economic, and social integration while preserving
both states' sovereignty.
Geography
Location: Eastern Europe, east of Poland
Geographic coordinates: 53 00 N, 28 00 E
Map references: Commonwealth of Independent States
Area:
total: 207,600 sq km
land: 207,600 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than Kansas
Land boundaries:
total: 3,098 km
border countries: Latvia 141 km, Lithuania 502 km, Poland 605 km,
Russia 959 km, Ukraine 891 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: cold winters, cool and moist summers; transitional
between continental and maritime
Terrain: generally flat and contains much marshland
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Nyoman River 90 m
highest point: Dzyarzhynskaya Hara 346 m
Natural resources: forests, peat deposits, small quantities of
oil and natural gas
Land use:
arable land: 29%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 15%
forests and woodland: 34%
other: 21% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 1,000 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment--current issues: soil pollution from pesticide use;
southern part of the country contaminated with fallout from 1986
nuclear reactor accident at Chornobyl' in northern Ukraine
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Sulphur 85, Biodiversity, Environmental Modification,
Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change, Law of the Sea
Geography--note: landlocked
People
Population: 10,401,784 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 19% (male 1,027,974; female 985,342)
15-64 years: 67% (male 3,390,552; female 3,591,245)
65 years and over: 14% (male 463,369; female 943,302) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: -0.09% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 9.7 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 13.71 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 3.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.49 male(s)/female
total population: 0.88 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 14.39 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 68.13 years
male: 62.04 years
female: 74.52 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.32 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Belarusian(s)
adjective: Belarusian
Ethnic groups: Byelorussian 77.9%, Russian 13.2%, Polish 4.1%,
Ukrainian 2.9%, other 1.9%
Religions: Eastern Orthodox 80%, other (including Roman Catholic,
Protestant, Jewish, and Muslim) 20% (1997 est.)
Languages: Byelorussian, Russian, other
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98%
male: 99%
female: 97% (1989 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Belarus
conventional short form: Belarus
local long form: Respublika Byelarus'
local short form: none
former: Belorussian (Byelorussian) Soviet Socialist Republic
Data code: BO
Government type: republic
Capital: Minsk
Administrative divisions: 6 voblastsi (singular--voblasts') and
one municipality* (harady, singular--horad); Brestskaya (Brest),
Homyel'skaya (Homyel'), Horad Minsk*, Hrodzyenskaya (Hrodna),
Mahilyowskaya (Mahilyow), Minskaya, Vitsyebskaya (Vitsyebsk)
note: administrative divisions have the same names as their
administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center
name following in parentheses)
Independence: 25 August 1991 (Belarusian Supreme Soviet
declaration of independence from the Soviet Union)
National holiday: Independence Day, 3 July (1944); note--date set
by referendum of 24 November 1996; represents Minsk liberation from
German occupation
Constitution: 30 March 1994; revised by national referendum of 24
November 1996 giving the presidency greatly expanded powers and
became effective 27 November 1996
Legal system: based on civil law system
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Aleksandr LUKASHENKO (since 20 July 1994)
head of government: Prime Minister Sergey LING (acting since 18
November 1996, confirmed 19 February 1997); First Deputy Prime
Ministers Petr PROKOPOVICH (since 23 December 1996) and Vasiliy
DOLGOLEV (since 2 December 1998); Deputy Prime Ministers Valeriy
KOKOREV (since 23 August 1994), Vladimir ZAMETALIN (since 15 July
1997), Ural LATYPOV (since 30 December 1997), Gennadiy NOVITSKIY
(since 11 February 1997), Leonid KOZIK (since 4 February 1997),
Aleksandr POPKOV (since 10 November 1998)
cabinet: Council of Ministers
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 24 June and 10 July 1994 (next to be held NA;
according to the 1994 constitution, the next election should be in
1999, however LUKASHENKO extended his term to 2001 via the November
1996 referendum); prime minister and deputy prime ministers
appointed by the president
election results: Aleksandr LUKASHENKO elected president; percent of
vote--Aleksandr LUKASHENKO 85%, Vyacheslav KEBICH 15%
note: first presidential elections took place in June-July 1994
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament or Natsionalnoye
Sobranie consists of the Council of the Republic or Soviet
Respubliki (64 seats; eight appointed by the president and 56
indirectly elected by deputies of local councils for four-year
terms) and the Chamber of Representatives or Palata Pretsaviteley
(110 seats; note--present members came from the former Supreme Soviet
which LUKASHENKO disbanded in November 1996)
elections: last held May and November-December 1995 (two rounds,
each with a run-off; disbanded after the November 1996 referendum;
next to be held NA)
election results: after the November 1996 referendum, seats for the
Chamber of Representatives were filled by former Supreme Soviet
members as follows: PKB 24, Agrarian 14, Party of Peoples Concord 5,
LDPB 1, UPNAZ 1, Green World Party 1, Belarusian Social Sports Party
1, Ecological Party 1, Republican Party of Labor and Justice 1,
independents 61; 58 of the 64 seats in the Council of the Republic
have been appointed/elected
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the
president; Constitutional Court, half of the judges appointed by the
president and half appointed by the Chamber of Representatives
Political parties and leaders: Party of Communists Belarusian or
chairman]; Belarusian Patriotic Movement (Belarusian Patriotic
International organization participation: CCC, CEI, CIS, EAPC,
EBRD, ECE, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Inmarsat,
Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO,
ITU, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires CHEREPANSKY
chancery: 1619 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Daniel V. SPECKHARD (recalled to
Washington in June 1998; Charge d'Affaires Randall LE COCQ)
embassy: Starovilenskaya #46-220002, Minsk
mailing address: use embassy street address
Flag description: red horizontal band (top) and green horizontal
band one-half the width of the red band; a white vertical stripe of
white on the hoist side bears the Belarusian national ornament in red
Economy
Economy--overview: Belarus has seen little structural reform since
1995, when President LUKASHENKO launched the country on the path of
"market socialism". In keeping with this policy, LUKASHENKO
re-imposed administrative controls over prices and currency exchange
rates and expanded the state's right to intervene in the management
of private enterprise. This produced a climate hostile to private
business, inhibiting domestic and foreign investment. The Government
of Belarus has artificially revived economic output since mid-1996
by pursuing a policy of rapid credit expansion. In a vain attempt to
keep the rapidly rising inflation in check, the government placed
strict price controls on food and consumer products, which resulted
in food shortages. Long lines for dairy products, chicken, and pork
became common in the closing months of 1998. With the goal of
slowing down the devaluation of the Belarusian ruble, LUKASHENKO in
1997 introduced a new, complex system of legal buying/selling hard
currencies. The new "command" system proved to be totally unworkable
and resulted in galloping devaluation. In addition to the burdens
imposed on businesses by high inflation and an artificial currency
regime, businesses have also been subject to pressure on the part of
central and local governments, e.g., arbitrary changes in
regulations, numerous rigorous inspections, and retroactive
application of new business regulations prohibiting practices that
had been legal. A further economic problem is the sizable trade
deficit.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$53.7 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 7% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$5,200 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 20%
industry: 43%
services: 37% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: 77% (1997 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 4.9%
highest 10%: 19.4% (1993)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 182% (1998)
Labor force: 4.3 million (1998)
Labor force--by occupation: industry and construction 40%,
agriculture and forestry 19%, services 41% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate: 2.3% officially registered unemployed
(December 1998); large number of underemployed workers
Budget:
revenues: $4 billion
expenditures: $4.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $180
million (1997 est.)
Industries: tractors, metal-cutting machine tools, off-highway
dump trucks up to 110-metric-ton load capacity, wheel-type earth
movers for construction and mining, eight-wheel-drive,
high-flotation trucks with cargo capacity of 25 metric tons for use
in tundra and roadless areas, equipment for animal husbandry and
livestock feeding, motorcycles, television sets, chemical fibers,
fertilizer, linen fabric, wool fabric, radios, refrigerators, other
consumer goods
Industrial production growth rate: 11% (1998 est.)
Electricity--production: 26.1 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 99.92%
hydro: 0.08%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1997)
Electricity--consumption: 33.7 billion kWh (1997)
Electricity--exports: 2.7 billion kWh (1997)
Electricity--imports: 10.3 billion kWh (1997)
Agriculture--products: grain, potatoes, vegetables, sugar beets,
flax; beef, milk
Exports: $7 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports--commodities: machinery and transport equipment,
chemicals, foodstuffs
Exports--partners: Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Germany
Imports: $8.5 billion (c.i.f., 1998)
Imports--commodities: fuel, natural gas, industrial raw materials,
textiles, sugar, foodstuffs
Imports--partners: Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Germany
Debt--external: $1.03 billion (1998 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $194.3 million (1995)
Currency: Belarusian rubel (BR)
Exchange rates: Belarusian rubels per US$1--139,000 (25 January
1999 official Belarusian exchange rate), 46,080 (2nd qtr 1998),
25,964 (1997), 15,500 (yearend 1996), 11,500 (yearend 1995), 10,600
(yearend 1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 2.55 million (October 1998)
Telephone system: the Ministry of Telecommunications controls all
telecommunications through its carrier (a joint stock company)
Beltelcom which is a monopoly
domestic: local--Minsk has a digital metropolitan network and a
cellular NMT-450 network; waiting lists for telephones are long;
local service outside Minsk is neglected and poor; intercity--Belarus
has a partly developed fiber-optic backbone system presently serving
at least 13 major cities (1998); Belarus's fiber optics form
synchronous digital hierarchy rings through other countries'
systems; an inadequate analog system remains operational
international: Belarus is a member of the Trans-European Line (TEL),
Trans-Asia-Europe Fiber-Optic Line (TAE) and has access to the
Trans-Siberia Line (TSL); three fiber-optic segments provide
connectivity to Latvia, Poland, Russia, and Ukraine; worldwide
service is available to Belarus due to this infrastructure;
additional analog lines to Russia; Intelsat, Eutelsat and
Intersputnik earth stations
Radio broadcast stations: AM 28, FM 37, shortwave 11
Radios: 3.17 million (1991 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 17 (1997); note--Belarus has a
state-run television broadcasting network; independent local
television stations exist
Televisions: 9,686,854 (1996)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 5,563 km
broad gauge: 5,563 km 1.520-m gauge (894 km electrified)
Highways:
total: 53,407 km
paved: 52,446 km
unpaved: 961 km (1997 est.)
Waterways: NA km; note--Belarus has extensive and widely used
canal and river systems
Pipelines: crude oil 1,470 km; refined products 1,100 km; natural
gas 1,980 km (1992)
Ports and harbors: Mazyr
Airports: 118 (1996 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 36
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 18
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
under 914 m: 11 (1996 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 82
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 9
under 914 m: 62 (1996 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Air Force, Air Defense Force, Interior
Ministry Troops, Border Guards
Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 2,700,034 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 2,115,121 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 79,905 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $100 million (1998)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 2% (1998)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
Illicit drugs: limited cultivation of opium poppy and cannabis,
mostly for the domestic market; transshipment point for illicit
drugs to and via Russia, and to the Baltics and Western Europe
======================================================================
@Belgium
-------
Introduction
Background: Belgium became independent from the Netherlands in
1830 and was occupied by Germany during World Wars I and II. In the
half century following, it has prospered as a small, modern,
technologically advanced European state and member of the European
Union. Its unique political circumstance is the long-standing
differences between the wealthier Dutch-speaking Flemings of the
north and the poorer French-speaking Walloons of the south,
differences that are becoming increasingly acute.
Geography
Location: Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between France
and the Netherlands
Geographic coordinates: 50 50 N, 4 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area:
total: 30,510 sq km
land: 30,230 sq km
water: 280 sq km
Area--comparative: about the size of Maryland
Land boundaries:
total: 1,385 km
border countries: France 620 km, Germany 167 km, Luxembourg 148 km,
Netherlands 450 km
Coastline: 64 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: median line with neighbors
exclusive fishing zone: median line with neighbors (extends about 68
km from coast)
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: temperate; mild winters, cool summers; rainy, humid,
cloudy
Terrain: flat coastal plains in northwest, central rolling hills,
rugged mountains of Ardennes Forest in southeast
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: North Sea 0 m
highest point: Signal de Botrange 694 m
Natural resources: coal, natural gas
Land use:
arable land: 24%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 20%
forests and woodland: 21%
other: 34%
Irrigated land: 10 sq km including Luxembourg (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: flooding is a threat in areas of reclaimed
coastal land, protected from the sea by concrete dikes
Environment--current issues: the environment is exposed to intense
pressures from human activities: urbanization, dense transportation
network, industry, intense animal breeding and crop cultivation; air
and water pollution also have repercussions for neighboring
countries; uncertainties regarding federal and regional
responsibilities (now resolved) have impeded progress in tackling
environmental challenges
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85,
Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity,
Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping,
Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection,
Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94,
Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol
Geography--note: crossroads of Western Europe; majority of West
European capitals within 1,000 km of Brussels which is the seat of
both the EU and NATO
People
Population: 10,182,034 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 17% (male 895,987; female 853,494)
15-64 years: 66% (male 3,389,572; female 3,318,266)
65 years and over: 17% (male 703,933; female 1,020,782) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.06% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 9.98 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 10.43 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 1.01 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 6.17 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.53 years
male: 74.31 years
female: 80.9 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.49 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Belgian(s)
adjective: Belgian
Ethnic groups: Fleming 55%, Walloon 33%, mixed or other 12%
Religions: Roman Catholic 75%, Protestant or other 25%
Languages: Flemish 56%, French 32%, German 1%, legally bilingual
11%
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99% (1980 est.)
male: NA%
female: NA%
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Belgium
conventional short form: Belgium
local long form: Royaume de Belgique/Koninkrijk Belgie
local short form: Belgique/Belgie
Data code: BE
Government type: federal parliamentary democracy under a
constitutional monarch
Capital: Brussels
Administrative divisions: 10 provinces (French: provinces,
singular--province; Flemish: provincien, singular--provincie);
Antwerpen, Brabant Wallon, Hainaut, Liege, Limburg, Luxembourg,
Namur, Oost-Vlaanderen, Vlaams Brabant, West-Vlaanderen
note: the Brussels Capitol Region is not included within the 10
provinces
Independence: 4 October 1830 (from the Netherlands)
National holiday: National Day, 21 July (ascension of King
LEOPOLD I to the throne in 1831)
Constitution: 7 February 1831, last revised 14 July 1993;
parliament approved a constitutional package creating a federal state
Legal system: civil law system influenced by English
constitutional theory; judicial review of legislative acts; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state: King ALBERT II (since 9 August 1993); Heir Apparent
Prince PHILIPPE, son of the monarch
head of government: Prime Minister Jean-Luc DEHAENE (since 6 March
1992)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch and approved
by Parliament
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister appointed
by the monarch and then approved by Parliament
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of a Senate or
Senaat in Flemish, Senat in French (71 seats; 40 members are
directly elected by popular vote, 31 are indirectly elected; members
serve four-year terms) and a Chamber of Deputies or Kamer van
Volksvertegenwoordigers in Flemish, Chambre des Representants in
French (150 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote on
the basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms)
elections: Senate and Chamber of Deputies--last held 21 May 1995
(next to be held in June 1999)
election results: Senate--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by
party--CVP 7, SP 6, VLD 6, VU 2, AGALEV 1, VB 3, PS 5, PRL 5, PSC 3,
ECOLO 2; note--before the 1995 elections, there were 184 seats;
Chamber of Deputies--percent of vote by party--CVP 17.2%, PS 11.9%, SP
12.6%, VLD 13.1%, PRL 10.3%, PSC 7.7%, VB 7.8%, VU 4.7%, ECOLO 4.0%,
AGALEV 4.4%, FN 2.3%; seats by party--CVP 29, PS 21, SP 20, VLD 21,
PRL 18, PSC 12, VB 11, VU 5, ECOLO 6, AGALEV 5, FN 2; note--before
the 1995 elections, there were 212 seats
note: as a result of the 1993 constitutional revision that furthered
devolution into a federal state, there are now three levels of
government (federal, regional, and linguistic community) with a
complex division of responsibilities; this reality leaves six
governments each with its own legislative assembly; for other
acronyms of the listed parties see Political parties and leaders
Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice or Hof van Cassatie in
Flemish, Cour de Cassation in French, judges are appointed for life
by the Belgian monarch
Political parties and leaders: Flemish Christian Democrats or CVP
Political pressure groups and leaders: Christian and Socialist
Trade Unions; Federation of Belgian Industries; numerous other
associations representing bankers, manufacturers, middle-class
artisans, and the legal and medical professions; various
organizations represent the cultural interests of Flanders and
Wallonia; various peace groups such as the Flemish Action Committee
Against Nuclear Weapons and Pax Christi
International organization participation: ACCT, AfDB, AsDB,
Australia Group, Benelux, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EIB,
EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 9, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU,
ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat,
Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MTCR, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS
(observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,
UNMOGIP, UNMOP, UNPREDEP, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Alexis REYN
chancery: 3330 Garfield Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Paul CEJAS
embassy: 27 Boulevard du Regent, B-1000 Brussels
mailing address: PSC 82, Box 002, APO AE 09710
Flag description: three equal vertical bands of black (hoist
side), yellow, and red; the design was based on the flag of France
Economy
Economy--overview: This highly developed private enterprise
economy has capitalized on its central geographic location, highly
developed transport network, and diversified industrial and
commercial base. Industry is concentrated mainly in the populous
Flemish area in the north, although the government is encouraging
reinvestment in the southern region of Wallonia. With few natural
resources, Belgium must import substantial quantities of raw
materials and export a large volume of manufactures, making its
economy unusually dependent on the state of world markets.
Two-thirds of its trade is with other EU countries. Belgium's public
debt fell from 127% of GDP in 1996 to 122% of GDP in 1998 and the
government is trying to control its expenditures to bring the figure
more into line with other industrialized countries. Belgium became a
charter member of the European Monetary Union (EMU) in January 1999.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$236 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 2.8% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$23,400 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 1.9%
industry: 27.2%
services: 70.9% (1996)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.7%
highest 10%: 20.2% (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 4.283 million (1997)
Labor force--by occupation: services 69.7%, industry 27.7%,
agriculture 2.6% (1992)
Unemployment rate: 12% (1998 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Industries: engineering and metal products, motor vehicle
assembly, processed food and beverages, chemicals, basic metals,
textiles, glass, petroleum, coal
Industrial production growth rate: 9.7% (1995)
Electricity--production: 71.066 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 41.73%
hydro: 0.33%
nuclear: 57.93%
other: 0.01% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 75.266 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 5.4 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 9.6 billion kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: sugar beets, fresh vegetables, fruits,
grain, tobacco; beef, veal, pork, milk
Exports: $145.1 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports--commodities: iron and steel, transportation equipment,
tractors, diamonds, petroleum products
Exports--partners: EU 67.2% (Germany 19%), US 5.8% (1994)
Imports: $137.1 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports--commodities: fuels, grains, chemicals, foodstuffs
Imports--partners: EU 75% (Germany 22.1%), US 5% (1997)
Debt--external: $22.3 billion (1998 est.)
Economic aid--donor: ODA, $1 billion (1995)
Currency: 1 Belgian franc (BF) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: Belgian francs (BF) per US$1--34.77 (January
1999), 36.229 (1998), 35.774 (1997), 30.962 (1996), 29.480 (1995),
33.456 (1994)
note: on 1 January 1999, the European Union introduced a common
currency that is now being used by financial institutions in some
member countries at the rate of 0.8597 euros per US$ and a fixed
rate of 40.3399 Belgian francs per euro; the euro will replace the
local currency in consenting countries for all transactions in 2002
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 5.691 million (1992 est.); 1.7 million cellular
telephone subscribers (1998)
Telephone system: highly developed, technologically advanced, and
completely automated domestic and international telephone and
telegraph facilities
domestic: nationwide cellular telephone system; extensive cable
network; limited microwave radio relay network
international: 5 submarine cables; satellite earth stations--2
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Eutelsat
Radio broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 77, shortwave 1 (Belgium's
single shortwave station, Radio Vlaanderen Internationaal, transmits
its programs internationally in Dutch, English, French, and German,
using 21 shortwave frequencies)
Radios: 100,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 24 (in addition, there are Dutch
programs on cable, TV-5 Europe by satellite relay, and American
Forces Network by relay from Germany) (1997)
Televisions: 3,315,662 (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 3,380 km (2,459 km electrified; 2,563 km double track)
standard gauge: 3,380 km 1.435-m gauge (1996)
Highways:
total: 143,175 km
paved: 143,175 km (including 1,674 km of expressways)
unpaved: 0 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 2,043 km (1,528 km in regular commercial use)
Pipelines: crude oil 161 km; petroleum products 1,167 km; natural
gas 3,300 km
Ports and harbors: Antwerp (one of the world's busiest ports),
Brugge, Gent, Hasselt, Liege, Mons, Namur, Oostende, Zeebrugge
Merchant marine:
total: 23 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 35,668 GRT/56,412 DWT
ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 8, chemical tanker 8, oil tanker 6
(1998 est.)
Airports: 42 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 24
over 3,047 m: 6
2,438 to 3,047 m: 8
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 6 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 18
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 16 (1998 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie
Military manpower--military age: 19 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 2,537,544 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 2,098,883 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 64,180 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $4.6 billion (1995)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 1.7% (1995)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
Illicit drugs: source of precursor chemicals for South American
cocaine processors; transshipment point for cocaine, heroin,
hashish, and marijuana entering Western Europe
======================================================================
@Belize
------
Geography
Location: Middle America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between
Guatemala and Mexico
Geographic coordinates: 17 15 N, 88 45 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 22,960 sq km
land: 22,800 sq km
water: 160 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than Massachusetts
Land boundaries:
total: 516 km
border countries: Guatemala 266 km, Mexico 250 km
Coastline: 386 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm in the north, 3 nm in the south; note--from
the mouth of the Sarstoon River to Ranguana Cay, Belize's
territorial sea is 3 nm; according to Belize's Maritime Areas Act,
1992, the purpose of this limitation is to provide a framework for
the negotiation of a definitive agreement on territorial differences
with Guatemala
Climate: tropical; very hot and humid; rainy season (May to
February)
Terrain: flat, swampy coastal plain; low mountains in south
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Victoria Peak 1,160 m
Natural resources: arable land potential, timber, fish
Land use:
arable land: 2%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 2%
forests and woodland: 92%
other: 3% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 20 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: frequent, devastating hurricanes (September to
December) and coastal flooding (especially in south)
Environment--current issues: deforestation; water pollution from
sewage, industrial effluents, agricultural runoff; Hurricane Mitch
damage
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertication, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection,
Marine Dumping, Ship Pollution, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography--note: national capital moved 80 km inland from Belize
City to Belmopan because of hurricanes; only country in Central
America without a coastline on the North Pacific Ocean
People
Population: 235,789 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 42% (male 49,991; female 48,074)
15-64 years: 55% (male 65,507; female 63,796)
65 years and over: 3% (male 4,129; female 4,292) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.42% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 30.22 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 5.39 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.67 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.96 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 31.57 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 69.2 years
male: 67.23 years
female: 71.26 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.74 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Belizean(s)
adjective: Belizean
Ethnic groups: mestizo 44%, Creole 30%, Maya 11%, Garifuna 7%,
other 8%
Religions: Roman Catholic 62%, Protestant 30% (Anglican 12%,
Methodist 6%, Mennonite 4%, Seventh-Day Adventist 3%, Pentecostal
2%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1%, other 2%), none 2%, other 6% (1980)
Languages: English (official), Spanish, Mayan, Garifuna (Carib)
Literacy:
definition: age 14 and over has ever attended school
total population: 70.3%
male: 70.3%
female: 70.3% (1991 est.)
note: other sources list the literacy rate as high as 75%
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Belize
former: British Honduras
Data code: BH
Government type: parliamentary democracy
Capital: Belmopan
Administrative divisions: 6 districts; Belize, Cayo, Corozal,
Orange Walk, Stann Creek, Toledo
Independence: 21 September 1981 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 21 September (1981)
Constitution: 21 September 1981
Legal system: English law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Governor General Sir Colville YOUNG (since 17
November 1993)
head of government: Prime Minister Said MUSA (since 2 August 1998);
Deputy Prime Minister Dean BARROW (since NA July 1993)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of
the prime minister
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general
appointed by the monarch; prime minister appointed by the governor
general
Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly consists of the
Senate (eight members; members are appointed for five-year terms,
five on the advice of the prime minister, two on the advice of the
leader of the opposition, and one after consultation with the Belize
Advisory Council--this council serves as an independent body to
advise the governor general with respect to difficult decisions such
as granting pardons, commutations, stays of execution, the removal
of justices of appeal who appear to be incompetent, etc.) and the
National Assembly (29 seats; members are elected by direct popular
vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: National Assembly--last held 1 August 1998 (next to be
held NA August 2003)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--PUP
26, UDP 3
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, the chief justice is appointed by
the governor general on advice of the prime minister
Political parties and leaders: People's United Party or PUP [Said
GOLDSON]
Political pressure groups and leaders: Society for the Promotion
Front
International organization participation: ACP, C, Caricom, CDB,
ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC,
IOM (observer), ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador James Schofield MURPHY
chancery: 2535 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Carolyn CURIEL
embassy: Gabourel Lane and Hutson Street, Belize City
mailing address: P. O. Box 286, Unit 7401, APO AA 34025
Flag description: blue with a narrow red stripe along the top and
the bottom edges; centered is a large white disk bearing the coat of
arms; the coat of arms features a shield flanked by two workers in
front of a mahogany tree with the related motto SUB UMBRA FLOREO (I
Flourish in the Shade) on a scroll at the bottom, all encircled by a
green garland
Economy
Economy--overview: The small, essentially private enterprise
economy is based primarily on agriculture, agro-based industry, and
merchandising, with tourism and construction assuming greater
importance. Sugar, the chief crop, accounts for nearly half of
exports, while the banana industry is the country's largest
employer. The government's tough austerity program in 1997 resulted
in an economic slowdown that continued in 1998. The trade deficit
has been growing, mostly as a result of low export prices for sugar
and bananas. The new government faces important challenges to
economic stability. Rapid action to improve tax collection has been
promised, but a lack of progress in reigning in spending could bring
the exchange rate under pressure.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$700 million (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 0.5% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$3,000 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 22%
industry: 22%
services: 56% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): -0.5% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 71,000
note: shortage of skilled labor and all types of technical personnel
(1997 est.)
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 30%, services 16%,
government 15.4%, commerce 11.2%, manufacturing 10.3%
Unemployment rate: 13% (1997 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $140 million
expenditures: $142 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY97/98 est.)
Industries: garment production, food processing, tourism,
construction
Industrial production growth rate: 0.2% (1996 est.)
Electricity--production: 145 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 145 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: bananas, coca, citrus, sugarcane; lumber;
fish, cultured shrimp
Exports: $95.3 million (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports--commodities: sugar 46%, bananas 26%, citrus fruits,
clothing, fish products, molasses, wood
Exports--partners: US 45%, UK 30%, Mexico 3%, Canada 3% (1997)
Imports: $149.7 million (c.i.f., 1998)
Imports--commodities: machinery and transportation equipment,
manufactured goods, food, fuels, chemicals, pharmaceuticals
Imports--partners: US 52%, Mexico 13%, UK 5% (1997)
Debt--external: $288 million (1996)
Economic aid--recipient: $23.4 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Belizean dollar (Bz$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Belizean dollars (Bz$) per US$1--2.0000 (fixed
rate)
Fiscal year: 1 April--31 March
Communications
Telephones: 29,000 (1996 est.)
Telephone system: above-average system
domestic: trunk network depends primarily on microwave radio relay
international: satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1 (Voice of America relay station),
FM 12, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 2 (1997)
Televisions: 27,048 (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 2,248 km
paved: 427 km
unpaved: 1,821 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 825 km river network used by shallow-draft craft;
seasonally navigable
Ports and harbors: Belize City, Big Creek, Corozol, Punta Gorda
Merchant marine:
total: 403 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,740,325
GRT/2,511,709 DWT
ships by type: bulk 34, cargo 259, chemical tanker 5, container 9,
liquefied gas tanker 1, oil tanker 58, passenger-cargo 2,
refrigerated cargo 21, roll-on/roll-off cargo 8, short-sea/passenger
3, specialized tanker 2, vehicle carrier 1
note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships of 7 countries:
Cuba 2, Cyprus 1, Greece 1, Singapore 2, UAE 12, UK 1, and US 1
(1998 est.)
Airports: 44 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 41
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 10
under 914 m: 30 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Belize Defense Force (includes Ground Forces,
Maritime Wing, Air Wing, and Volunteer Guard), Belize National Police
Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 58,201 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 34,531 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 2,619 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $15 million (FY97/98)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 2% (FY97/98)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: border with Guatemala in dispute
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for cocaine; small-scale
illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade; minor
money-laundering center
======================================================================
@Benin
-----
Geography
Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean,
between Nigeria and Togo
Geographic coordinates: 9 30 N, 2 15 E
Map references: Africa
Area:
total: 112,620 sq km
land: 110,620 sq km
water: 2,000 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
Land boundaries:
total: 1,989 km
border countries: Burkina Faso 306 km, Niger 266 km, Nigeria 773 km,
Togo 644 km
Coastline: 121 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 200 nm
Climate: tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north
Terrain: mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low
mountains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Sokbaro 658 m
Natural resources: small offshore oil deposits, limestone,
marble, timber
Land use:
arable land: 13%
permanent crops: 4%
permanent pastures: 4%
forests and woodland: 31%
other: 48% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 100 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: hot, dry, dusty harmattan wind may affect north
in winter
Environment--current issues: recent droughts have severely
affected marginal agriculture in north; inadequate supplies of
potable water; poaching threatens wildlife populations;
deforestation; desertification
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography--note: no natural harbors
People
Population: 6,305,567 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 48% (male 1,510,703; female 1,501,437)
15-64 years: 50% (male 1,511,114; female 1,637,155)
65 years and over: 2% (male 62,459; female 82,699) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.3% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 45.37 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 12.4 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 97.76 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 54.08 years
male: 51.98 years
female: 56.24 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.4 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Beninese (singular and plural)
adjective: Beninese
Ethnic groups: African 99% (42 ethnic groups, most important
being Fon, Adja, Yoruba, Bariba), Europeans 5,500
Religions: indigenous beliefs 70%, Muslim 15%, Christian 15%
Languages: French (official), Fon and Yoruba (most common
vernaculars in south), tribal languages (at least six major ones in
north)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 37%
male: 48.7%
female: 25.8% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Benin
conventional short form: Benin
local long form: Republique du Benin
local short form: Benin
former: Dahomey
Data code: BN
Government type: republic under multiparty democratic rule;
dropped Marxism-Leninism December 1989; democratic reforms adopted
February 1990; transition to multiparty system completed 4 April 1991
Capital: Porto-Novo is the official capital; Cotonou is the seat
of government
Administrative divisions: 6 provinces; Atakora, Atlantique,
Borgou, Mono, Oueme, Zou
note: six additional provinces have been reported but not confirmed;
they are Alibori, Collines, Couffo, Donga, Littoral, and Plateau;
moreover, the term "province" may have been changed to "department"
Independence: 1 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday: National Day, 1 August (1990)
Constitution: December 1990
Legal system: based on French civil law and customary law; has
not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Mathieu KEREKOU (since 4 April 1996);
note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Mathieu KEREKOU (since 4 April 1996);
note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 18 March 1996 (next to be held NA March 2001)
election results: Mathieu KEREKOU elected president; percent of
vote--Mathieu KEREKOU 52.49%, Nicephore SOGLO 47.51%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee
Nationale (83 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to
serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 28 March 1995 (next to be held 28 March 1999)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--PRB
20, PRD 19, FARD-ALAFIA 10, PSD 7, NCC 3, RDL-VIVOTEN 3, PCB 2, AC
1, RDP 1, other 17
Judicial branch: Constitutional Court or Cour Constitutionnelle,
Supreme Court or Cour Supreme, High Court of Justice
Political parties and leaders: Alliance for Civic Renewal or ARC
Sylvain AKINDES]; Alliance of the Social Democratic Party or PSD and
KINA]; Liberal Democrats' Rally for National Reconstruction-Vivoten
note: as of December 1998, more than 110 political parties were
officially recognized; among them are Benin Renaissance Party or
PRB, Our Common Cause or NCC, Cameleon Alliance or AC, Rally for
Democracy and Pan-Africanism or RDP
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, ECA,
ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO
(subscriber), ITU, MINURCA, MIPONUH, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WADB, WAEMU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Lucien Edgar TONOUKOUIN
chancery: 2737 Cathedral Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Robert C. FELDER
embassy: Rue Caporal Bernard Anani, Cotonou
mailing address: B. P. 2012, Cotonou
Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and
red with a vertical green band on the hoist side
Economy
Economy--overview: The economy of Benin remains underdeveloped and
dependent on subsistence agriculture, cotton production, and
regional trade. Growth in real output has averaged a sound 4% in
1990-95 and 5% in 1996-98. Rapid population growth has offset much
of this growth in output. Inflation has subsided over the past three
years. Commercial and transport activities, which make up a large
part of GDP, are vulnerable to developments in Nigeria, particularly
fuel shortages. Support by the Paris Club and official bilateral
creditors has eased the external debt situation in recent years. The
government, still burdened with money-losing state enterprises and a
bloated civil service, has been gradually implementing a World Bank
supported structural adjustment program since 1991.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$7.6 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 4.4% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,300 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 34%
industry: 14%
services: 52% (1997)
Population below poverty line: 33% (1995 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5.6% (1998 est.)
Labor force: NA
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $299 million
expenditures: $445 million, including capital expenditures of $14
million (1995 est.)
Industries: textiles, cigarettes; beverages, food; construction
materials, petroleum
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: 6 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 251 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 245 million kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: corn, sorghum, cassava (tapioca), yams,
beans, rice, cotton, palm oil, peanuts; poultry, livestock
Exports: $250 million (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports--commodities: cotton, crude oil, palm products, cocoa
Exports--partners: Brazil 18%, Portugal 11%, Morocco 10%, Libya
6%, France (1997)
Imports: $314 million (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports--commodities: foodstuffs, beverages, tobacco, petroleum
products, intermediate goods, capital goods, light consumer goods
Imports--partners: France 21%, UK 9%, Thailand 9%, Hong Kong 8%,
China (1997)
Debt--external: $1.6 billion (1996 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $281.2 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100
centimes
Exchange rates: CFA francs (CFAF) per US$1--566.36 (January 1999),
589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1996), 499.15 (1995), 555.20
(1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 38,354 (6,286 cellular telephone subscribers) (1998
est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: fair system of open wire, microwave radio relay, and
cellular connections
international: satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean);
submarine cable
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 4 (1998 est.)
Radios: 400,000 (1998 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 2 (one privately owned) (1997)
Televisions: 30,000 (1998 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 578 km (single track)
narrow gauge: 578 km 1.000-m gauge (1995 est.)
Highways:
total: 6,787 km
paved: 1,357 km (including 10 km of expressways)
unpaved: 5,430 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: navigable along small sections, important only locally
Ports and harbors: Cotonou, Porto-Novo
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 5 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Armed Forces (includes Army, Navy, Air Force),
National Gendarmerie
Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 1,363,878
females age 15-49: 1,425,987 (1999 est.)
note: both sexes are liable for military service
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 697,715
females age 15-49: 722,323 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 67,622
females: 67,238 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $27 million (1996)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 1.2% (1996)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for narcotics associated with
Nigerian trafficking organizations and most commonly destined for
Western Europe and the US
======================================================================
@Bermuda
-------
Geography
Location: North America, group of islands in the North Atlantic
Ocean, east of North Carolina (US)
Geographic coordinates: 32 20 N, 64 45 W
Map references: North America
Area:
total: 50 sq km
land: 50 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 103 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: subtropical; mild, humid; gales, strong winds common in
winter
Terrain: low hills separated by fertile depressions
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Town Hill 76 m
Natural resources: limestone, pleasant climate fostering tourism
Land use:
arable land: 6%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 94% (1997 est.)
note: developed (55%) and rural/open space (39%) comprise 94% of
Bermudian land area
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: hurricanes (June to November)
Environment--current issues: asbestos disposal; water pollution;
preservation of open space
Environment--international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography--note: consists of about 360 small coral islands with
ample rainfall, but no rivers or freshwater lakes; some land,
reclaimed and otherwise, was leased by US Government from 1941 to
1995
People
Population: 62,472 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 20% (male 6,174; female 6,023)
15-64 years: 70% (male 21,479; female 22,041)
65 years and over: 10% (male 2,897; female 3,858) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.72% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 11.83 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 7.27 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 2.67 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 9.27 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 76.97 years
male: 75.19 years
female: 78.83 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.71 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Bermudian(s)
adjective: Bermudian
Ethnic groups: black 61%, white and other 39%
Religions: Anglican 28%, Roman Catholic 15%, African Methodist
Episcopal (Zion) 12%, Seventh-Day Adventist 6%, Methodist 5%, other
34% (1991)
Languages: English (official), Portuguese
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98%
male: 98%
female: 99% (1970 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Bermuda
Data code: BD
Dependency status: overseas territory of the UK
Government type: NA
Capital: Hamilton
Administrative divisions: 9 parishes and 2 municipalities*;
Devonshire, Hamilton, Hamilton*, Paget, Pembroke, Saint George*,
Saint Georges, Sandys, Smiths, Southampton, Warwick
Independence: none (overseas territory of the UK)
National holiday: Bermuda Day, 24 May
Constitution: 8 June 1968
Legal system: English law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Governor Thorold MASEFIELD (since NA June 1997)
head of government: Premier Jennifer SMITH (since 10 November 1998)
cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the premier, appointed by the governor
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by
the monarch; premier appointed by the governor
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate
(an 11-member body appointed by the governor) and the House of
Assembly (40 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve
five-year terms)
elections: last held 9 November 1998 (next to be held NA November
2003)
election results: percent of vote by party--PLP 54%, UBP 44%, NLP 1%,
independents 1%; seats by party--PLP 26, UBP 14
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: United Bermuda Party or UBP
Political pressure groups and leaders: Bermuda Industrial Union
International organization participation: Caricom (observer),
CCC, ICFTU, Interpol (subbureau), IOC
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory of
the UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Consul General Robert A. FARMER
consulate(s) general: Crown Hill, 16 Middle Road, Devonshire,
Hamilton
mailing address: P.O. Box HM325, Hamilton HMBX; American Consulate
General Hamilton, Department of State, Washington, DC 20520-5300
Flag description: red, with the flag of the UK in the upper
hoist-side quadrant and the Bermudian coat of arms (white and blue
shield with a red lion holding a scrolled shield showing the sinking
of the ship Sea Venture off Bermuda in 1609) centered on the outer
half of the flag
Economy
Economy--overview: Bermuda enjoys one of the highest per capita
incomes in the world, having successfully exploited its location by
providing financial services for international firms and luxury
tourist facilities for 360,000 visitors annually. The tourist
industry, which accounts for an estimated 28% of GDP, attracts 84%
of its business from North America. The industrial sector is small,
and agriculture is severely limited by a lack of suitable land.
About 80% of food needs are imported. International business
contributes over 60% of Bermuda's economic output; a failed
independence vote in late 1995 can be partially attributed to
Bermudian fears of scaring away foreign firms.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$1.9 billion (1997 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 3% (1997 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$30,000 (1997 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.1% (1997)
Labor force: 35,296 (1997)
Labor force--by occupation: clerical 23%, services 22%, laborers
17%, professional and technical 17%, administrative and managerial
12%, sales 7%, agriculture and fishing 2% (1996)
Unemployment rate: NEGL% (1995)
Budget:
revenues: $504.6 million
expenditures: $537 million, including capital expenditures of $75
million (FY97/98)
Industries: tourism, finance, insurance, structural concrete
products, paints, perfumes, pharmaceuticals, ship repairing
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: 480 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 480 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: bananas, vegetables, citrus, flowers; dairy
products
Exports: $57 million (1997)
Exports--commodities: reexports of pharmaceuticals
Exports--partners: Netherlands 50%, Brazil 13%, Canada 6% (1996)
Imports: $617 million (1997)
Imports--commodities: miscellaneous manufactured articles,
machinery and transport equipment, food and live animals, chemicals
Imports--partners: US 73%, UK 5%, Canada 4% (1996 est.)
Debt--external: $NA
Economic aid--recipient: $27.9 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Bermudian dollar (Bd$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Bermudian dollar (Bd$) per US$1--1.0000 (fixed
rate)
Fiscal year: 1 April--31 March
Communications
Telephones: 54,000 (1991 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: modern, fully automatic telephone system
international: 3 submarine cables; satellite earth stations--3
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 3, shortwave 0
Radios: 78,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 3 (1997)
Televisions: 57,000 (1992 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 225 km
paved: 225 km
unpaved: 0 km (1997 est.)
note: in addition, there are 232 km of paved and unpaved roads that
are privately owned
Ports and harbors: Hamilton, Saint George
Merchant marine:
total: 97 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,647,576 GRT/7,612,686
DWT
ships by type: bulk 18, cargo 3, chemical tanker 1, container 20,
liquefied gas tanker 7, oil tanker 27, refrigerated cargo 15,
roll-on/roll-off cargo 4, short-sea passenger 2
note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 11
countries among which are UK 24, Canada 12, Hong Kong 11, US 11,
Nigeria 4, Sweden 4, Norway 3, and Switzerland 2 (1998 est.)
Airports: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Bermuda Regiment, Bermuda Police Force,
Bermuda Reserve Constabulary
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $NA
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: NA%
Military--note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
======================================================================
@Bhutan
------
Geography
Location: Southern Asia, between China and India
Geographic coordinates: 27 30 N, 90 30 E
Map references: Asia
Area:
total: 47,000 sq km
land: 47,000 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: about half the size of Indiana
Land boundaries:
total: 1,075 km
border countries: China 470 km, India 605 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: varies; tropical in southern plains; cool winters and
hot summers in central valleys; severe winters and cool summers in
Himalayas
Terrain: mostly mountainous with some fertile valleys and savanna
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Drangme Chhu 97 m
highest point: Kula Kangri 7,553 m
Natural resources: timber, hydropower, gypsum, calcium carbide
Land use:
arable land: 2%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 6%
forests and woodland: 66%
other: 26% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 340 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: violent storms coming down from the Himalayas
are the source of the country's name which translates as Land of the
Thunder Dragon; frequent landslides during the rainy season
Environment--current issues: soil erosion; limited access to
potable water
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Nuclear Test Ban
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography--note: landlocked; strategic location between China and
India; controls several key Himalayan mountain passes
People
Population: 1,951,965 (July 1999 est.)
note: other estimates range as low as 600,000
Age structure:
0-14 years: 40% (male 405,745; female 376,738)
15-64 years: 56% (male 561,754; female 530,420)
65 years and over: 4% (male 39,251; female 38,057) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.25% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 36.76 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 14.26 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.03 male(s)/female
total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 109.33 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 52.75 years
male: 53.19 years
female: 52.29 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.16 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Bhutanese (singular and plural)
adjective: Bhutanese
Ethnic groups: Bhote 50%, ethnic Nepalese 35%, indigenous or
migrant tribes 15%
Religions: Lamaistic Buddhism 75%, Indian- and
Nepalese-influenced Hinduism 25%
Languages: Dzongkha (official), Bhotes speak various Tibetan
dialects, Nepalese speak various Nepalese dialects
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 42.2%
male: 56.2%
female: 28.1% (1995 est.)
People--note: refugee issue over the presence in Nepal of
approximately 91,000 Bhutanese refugees, 90% of whom are in seven
United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
camps
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Bhutan
conventional short form: Bhutan
Data code: BT
Government type: monarchy; special treaty relationship with India
Capital: Thimphu
Administrative divisions: 18 districts (dzongkhag, singular and
plural); Bumthang, Chhukha, Chirang, Daga, Geylegphug, Ha, Lhuntshi,
Mongar, Paro, Pemagatsel, Punakha, Samchi, Samdrup Jongkhar,
Shemgang, Tashigang, Thimphu, Tongsa, Wangdi Phodrang
Independence: 8 August 1949 (from India)
National holiday: National Day, 17 December (1907) (Ugyen
WANGCHUCK became first hereditary king)
Constitution: no written constitution or bill of rights
note: Bhutan uses 1953 Royal decree for the Constitution of the
National Assembly
Legal system: based on Indian law and English common law; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: each family has one vote in village-level elections
Executive branch:
chief of state: King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK (since 24 July 1972);
note--the monarch is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK (since 24 July
1972); note--the monarch is both the chief of state and head of
government
cabinet: Council of Ministers (Lhengye Shungtsog) appointed by the
monarch, approved by the National Assembly
note: there is also a Royal Advisory Council (Lodoi Tsokde), members
nominated by the monarch
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Tshogdu (150
seats; 105 elected from village constituencies, 10 represent
religious bodies, and 35 are designated by the monarch to represent
government and other secular interests; members serve three-year
terms)
elections: last held NA (next to be held NA)
election results: NA
Judicial branch: the Supreme Court of Appeal is the monarch; High
Court, judges appointed by the monarch
Political parties and leaders: no legal parties
Political pressure groups and leaders: United Front for Democracy
(exiled); Buddhist clergy; Indian merchant community; ethnic
Nepalese organizations leading militant antigovernment campaign
International organization participation: AsDB, CP, ESCAP, FAO,
G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IMF, Intelsat, IOC, ITU, NAM, OPCW,
SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO
Diplomatic representation in the US: none; note--Bhutan has a
Permanent Mission to the UN; address: 2 United Nations Plaza, 27th
Bhutanese mission to the UN has consular jurisdiction in the US
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US and Bhutan have no
formal diplomatic relations, although informal contact is maintained
between the Bhutanese and US Embassy in New Delhi (India)
Flag description: divided diagonally from the lower hoist side
corner; the upper triangle is yellow and the lower triangle is
orange; centered along the dividing line is a large black and white
dragon facing away from the hoist side
Economy
Economy--overview: The economy, one of the world's smallest and
least developed, is based on agriculture and forestry, which provide
the main livelihood for 90% of the population and account for about
40% of GDP. Agriculture consists largely of subsistence farming and
animal husbandry. Rugged mountains dominate the terrain and make the
building of roads and other infrastructure difficult and expensive.
The economy is closely aligned with India's through strong trade and
monetary links. The industrial sector is technologically backward,
with most production of the cottage industry type. Most development
projects, such as road construction, rely on Indian migrant labor.
Bhutan's hydropower potential and its attraction for tourists are
key resources. The Bhutanese Government has made some progress in
expanding the nation's productive base and improving social welfare.
Model education, social, and environment programs in Bhutan are
underway with support from multilateral development organizations.
Each economic program takes into account the government's desire to
protect the country's environment and cultural traditions. Detailed
controls and uncertain policies in areas like industrial licensing,
trade, labor, and finance continue to hamper foreign investment.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$1.9 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 6.5% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,000 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 38%
industry: 38%
services: 24% (1997)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7.4% (1997 est.)
Labor force: NA
note: massive lack of skilled labor
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 93%, services 5%, industry
and commerce 2%
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $146 million
expenditures: $152 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY95/96 est.)
note: the government of India finances nearly three-fifths of
Bhutan's budget expenditures
Industries: cement, wood products, processed fruits, alcoholic
beverages, calcium carbide
Industrial production growth rate: 9.3% (1996 est.)
Electricity--production: 1.717 billion kWh (1996)
note: exports electricity to India
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 0.41%
hydro: 99.59%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 246 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 1.475 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 4 million kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: rice, corn, root crops, citrus, foodgrains;
dairy products, eggs
Exports: $99 million (f.o.b., 1997 est.)
Exports--commodities: cardamom, gypsum, timber, handicrafts,
cement, fruit, electricity (to India), precious stones, spices
Exports--partners: India 94%, Bangladesh
Imports: $131 million (c.i.f., 1997 est.)
Imports--commodities: fuel and lubricants, grain, machinery and
parts, vehicles, fabrics, rice
Imports--partners: India 77%, Japan, UK, Germany, US
Debt--external: $87 million (1996)
Economic aid--recipient: $73.8 million (1995)
Currency: 1 ngultrum (Nu) = 100 chetrum; note--Indian currency is
also legal tender
Exchange rates: ngultrum (Nu) per US$1--42.508 (January 1999),
41.259 (1998), 36.313 (1997), 35.433 (1996), 32.427 (1995), 31.374
(1994); note--the Bhutanese ngultrum is at par with the Indian rupee
Fiscal year: 1 July--30 June
Communications
Telephones: 4,620 (1991 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: domestic telephone service is very poor with very few
telephones in use
international: international telephone and telegraph service is by
landline through India; a satellite earth station was planned (1990)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 0, FM 1, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios: 23,000 (1989 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 0 (1997)
Televisions: 200 (1985 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 3,285 km
paved: 1,994 km
unpaved: 1,291 km (1996 est.)
Ports and harbors: none
Airports: 2 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Royal Bhutan Army, Palace Guard, Militia,
Royal Police Force
Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 477,944 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 254,992 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 19,424 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $NA
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: NA%
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: with Nepal over 91,000 Bhutanese refugees
in Nepal
======================================================================
@Bolivia
-------
Introduction
Background: Bolivia broke away from Spanish rule in 1825. Its
subsequent history has been marked by a seemingly endless series of
coups, counter-coups, and abrupt changes in leaders and policies.
Comparatively democratic civilian rule was established in the 1980s,
but the leaders have faced difficult problems of deep-seated
poverty, social unrest, strikes, and drug dealing. Current issues
include encouraging and negotiating the terms for foreign
investment; strengthening the educational system; continuing the
privatization program; pursuing judicial reform and an
anti-corruption campaign.
Geography
Location: Central South America, southwest of Brazil
Geographic coordinates: 17 00 S, 65 00 W
Map references: South America
Area:
total: 1,098,580 sq km
land: 1,084,390 sq km
water: 14,190 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly less than three times the size of
Montana
Land boundaries:
total: 6,743 km
border countries: Argentina 832 km, Brazil 3,400 km, Chile 861 km,
Paraguay 750 km, Peru 900 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: varies with altitude; humid and tropical to cold and
semiarid
Terrain: rugged Andes Mountains with a highland plateau
(Altiplano), hills, lowland plains of the Amazon Basin
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Rio Paraguay 90 m
highest point: Nevado Sajama 6,542 m
Natural resources: tin, natural gas, petroleum, zinc, tungsten,
antimony, silver, iron, lead, gold, timber
Land use:
arable land: 2%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 24%
forests and woodland: 53%
other: 21% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 1,750 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: cold, thin air of high plateau is obstacle to
efficient fuel combustion, as well as to physical activity by those
unaccustomed to it from birth; flooding in the northeast
(March-April)
Environment--current issues: the clearing of land for agricultural
purposes and the international demand for tropical timber are
contributing to deforestation; soil erosion from overgrazing and
poor cultivation methods (including slash-and-burn agriculture);
desertification; loss of biodiversity; industrial pollution of water
supplies used for drinking and irrigation
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban,
Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,
Environmental Modification, Marine Dumping, Marine Life
Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection
Geography--note: landlocked; shares control of Lago Titicaca,
world's highest navigable lake (elevation 3,805 m), with Peru
People
Population: 7,982,850 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 39% (male 1,573,391; female 1,540,123)
15-64 years: 56% (male 2,199,077; female 2,307,490)
65 years and over: 5% (male 164,213; female 198,556) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.96% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 30.72 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 9.61 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 62.02 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 61.43 years
male: 58.51 years
female: 64.51 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.93 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Bolivian(s)
adjective: Bolivian
Ethnic groups: Quechua 30%, Aymara 25%, mestizo (mixed white and
Amerindian ancestry) 30%, white 15%
Religions: Roman Catholic 95%, Protestant (Evangelical Methodist)
Languages: Spanish (official), Quechua (official), Aymara
(official)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 83.1%
male: 90.5%
female: 76% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Bolivia
conventional short form: Bolivia
local long form: Republica de Bolivia
local short form: Bolivia
Data code: BL
Government type: republic
Capital: La Paz (seat of government); Sucre (legal capital and
seat of judiciary)
Administrative divisions: 9 departments (departamentos,
singular--departamento); Chuquisaca, Cochabamba, Beni, La Paz, Oruro,
Pando, Potosi, Santa Cruz, Tarija
Independence: 6 August 1825 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day, 6 August (1825)
Constitution: 2 February 1967; revised in August 1994
Legal system: based on Spanish law and Napoleonic Code; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age, universal and compulsory (married); 21
years of age, universal and compulsory (single)
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Hugo BANZER Suarez (since 6 August 1997);
Vice President Jorge Fernando QUIROGA Ramirez (since 6 August 1997);
note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Hugo BANZER Suarez (since 6 August
1997); Vice President Jorge Fernando QUIROGA Ramirez (since 6 August
1997); note--the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from a panel of
candidates proposed by the Senate
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket
by popular vote for five-year terms; election last held 1 June 1997
(next to be held June 2002)
election results: Hugo BANZER Suarez elected president; percent of
vote--Hugo BANZER Suarez (ADN) 22%; Jaime PAZ Zamora (MIR) 17%, Juan
Carlos DURAN (MNR) 18%, Ivo KULJIS (UCS) 16%, Remedios LOZA
(CONDEPA) 17%; no candidate received a majority of the popular vote;
Hugo BANZER Suarez won a congressional runoff election on 5 August
1997 after forming a "megacoalition" with MIR, UCS, CONDEPA, NFR and
PDC
Legislative branch: bicameral National Congress or Congreso
Nacional consists of Chamber of Senators or Camara de Senadores (27
seats; members are directly elected by popular vote to serve
five-year terms) and Chamber of Deputies or Camara de Diputados (130
seats; members are directly elected by popular vote to serve
five-year terms)
elections: Chamber of Senators and Chamber of Deputies--last held 1
June 1997 (next to be held June 2002)
election results: Chamber of Senators--percent of vote by party--NA;
seats by party--ADN 11, MIR 7, MNR 4, CONDEPA 3, UCS 2; Chamber of
Deputies--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--ADN 32, MNR 26,
MIR 23, UCS 21, CONDEPA 19, MBL 5, IU 4
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Corte Suprema), judges appointed
for a 10-year term by National Congress
Political parties and leaders:
Center-Left Parties: Movement of the Revolutionary Left or MIR
SANCHEZ DE LOZADA]
FERNANDEZ, Hugo VILLEGAS]
Indigenous Parties: Tupac Katari Revolutionary Liberation Movement
International organization participation: CAN, ECLAC, FAO, G-11,
G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LAES,
LAIA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Marcelo PEREZ Monasterios
chancery: 3014 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, Miami, New York, and San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Donna Jean HRINAK
embassy: Avenida Arce 2780, San Jorge, La Paz
mailing address: P. O. Box 425, La Paz; APO AA 34032
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top),
yellow, and green with the coat of arms centered on the yellow band;
similar to the flag of Ghana, which has a large black five-pointed
star centered in the yellow band
Economy
Economy--overview: With its long history of semifeudal social
controls, dependence on mineral exports, and bouts of
hyperinflation, Bolivia has remained one of the poorest and least
developed Latin American countries. However, Bolivia has experienced
generally improving economic conditions since the PAZ Estenssoro
administration (1985-89) introduced market-oriented policies which
reduced inflation from 11,700% in 1985 to about 20% in 1988. PAZ
Estenssoro was followed as president by Jaime PAZ Zamora (1989-93)
who continued the free-market policies of his predecessor, despite
opposition from his own party and from Bolivia's once powerful labor
movement. President SANCHEZ DE LOZADA (1993-1997) vowed to advance
the market-oriented economic reforms he helped launch as PAZ
Estenssoro's planning minister. His successes included the signing
of a free trade agreement with Mexico and the Southern Cone Common
Market (Mercosur) as well as the privatization of the state airline,
telephone company, railroad, electric power company, and oil
company. Hugo BANZER Suarez has tried to further improve the
country's investment climate with an anticorruption campaign. With
the scheduled completion of a $2 billion natural gas pipeline to
Brazil in 1999, Bolivia hopes to become an energy hub in the region.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$23.4 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 4.7% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$3,000 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 17%
industry: 26%
services: 57% (1995 est.)
Population below poverty line: 66%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.3%
highest 10%: 31.7% (1990)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.4% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 2.5 million
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture NA%, services and
utilities NA%, manufacturing, mining and construction NA%
Unemployment rate: 11.4% (1997) with widespread underemployment
Budget:
revenues: $2.7 billion
expenditures: $2.7 billion (1998)
Industries: mining, smelting, petroleum, food and beverages,
tobacco, handicrafts, clothing
Industrial production growth rate: 4% (1995 est.)
Electricity--production: 2.95 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 40.68%
hydro: 59.32%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 2.948 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 2 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: soybeans, coffee, coca, cotton, corn,
sugarcane, rice, potatoes; timber
Exports: $1.1 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Exports--commodities: metals 34%, natural gas 9.4%, soybeans 8.4%,
jewelry 11%, wood 6.9%
Exports--partners: US 22%, UK 9.3%, Colombia 8.7%, Peru 7.4%,
Argentina 7.2%
Imports: $1.7 billion (c.i.f. 1998)
Imports--commodities: capital goods 48%, chemicals 11%, petroleum
5%, food 5% (1993 est.)
Imports--partners: US 20%, Japan 13%, Brazil 12, Chile 7.5% (1996)
Debt--external: $4.1 billion (1998)
Economic aid--recipient: $588 million (1997)
Currency: 1 boliviano ($B) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates: bolivianos ($B) per US$1--5.6491 (January 1999),
5.5101 (1998), 5.2543 (1997), 5.0746 (1996), 4.8003 (1995), 4.6205
(1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 144,300 (1987 est.)
Telephone system: new subscribers face bureaucratic difficulties;
most telephones are concentrated in La Paz and other cities
domestic: microwave radio relay system being expanded
international: satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 177, FM 68, shortwave 112 (1998)
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 48 (1997)
Televisions: 500,000 (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 3,691 km (single track)
narrow gauge: 3,652 km 1.000-m gauge; 39 km 0.760-m gauge (13 km
electrified) (1995)
Highways:
total: 52,216 km
paved: 2,872 km (including 27 km of expressways)
unpaved: 49,344 km (1995 est.)
Waterways: 10,000 km of commercially navigable waterways
Pipelines: crude oil 1,800 km; petroleum products 580 km; natural
gas 1,495 km
Ports and harbors: none; however, Bolivia has free port
privileges in the maritime ports of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and
Paraguay
Merchant marine:
total: 6 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 34,948 GRT/58,472 DWT
ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 5 (1998 est.)
Airports: 1,130 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 12
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 1,118
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 70
914 to 1,523 m: 224
under 914 m: 821 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army (Ejercito Boliviano), Navy (Fuerza Naval
Boliviana, includes Marines), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Boliviana),
National Police Force (Policia Nacional de Bolivia)
Military manpower--military age: 19 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 1,908,454 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,241,311 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 84,481 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $154 million (1998)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 1.8% (1998)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: has wanted a sovereign corridor to the
South Pacific Ocean since the Atacama area was lost to Chile in
1884; dispute with Chile over Rio Lauca water rights
Illicit drugs: world's third-largest cultivator of coca (after
Peru and Colombia) with an estimated 46,900 hectares under
cultivation in 1997, a 2.5% decrease in overall cultivation of coca
from 1996 levels; Bolivia, however, is the second-largest producer
of coca leaf; even so, farmer abandonment and voluntary and forced
eradication programs resulted in leaf production dropping from
75,100 metric tons in 1996 to 73,000 tons in 1997, a 3% decrease
from 1996; government considers all but 12,000 hectares illicit;
intermediate coca products and cocaine exported to or through
Colombia, Brazil, Argentina, and Chile to the US and other
international drug markets; alternative crop program aims to reduce
illicit coca cultivation
======================================================================
@Bosnia and Herzegovina
----------------------
Introduction
Background: On 21 November 1995, in Dayton, Ohio, the former
Yugoslavia's three warring parties signed a peace agreement that
brought to a halt over three years of interethnic civil strife in
Bosnia and Herzegovina (the final agreement was signed in Paris on
14 December 1995). The Dayton Agreement, signed then by Bosnian
President IZETBEGOVIC, Croatian President TUDJMAN, and Serbian
President MILOSEVIC, divides Bosnia and Herzegovina roughly equally
between the Muslim/Croat Federation and the Republika Srpska while
maintaining Bosnia's currently recognized borders. In 1995-96, a
NATO-led international peacekeeping force (IFOR) of 60,000 troops
served in Bosnia to implement and monitor the military aspects of
the agreement. IFOR was succeeded by a smaller, NATO-led
Stabilization Force (SFOR) whose mission is to deter renewed
hostilities. SFOR remains in place. A High Representative appointed
by the UN Security Council is responsible for civilian
implementation of the accord, including monitoring implementation,
facilitating any difficulties arising in connection with civilian
implementation, and coordinating activities of the civilian
organizations and agencies in Bosnia. The Bosnian conflict began in
the spring of 1992 when the government of Bosnia and Herzegovina
held a referendum on independence and the Bosnian Serbs--supported by
neighboring Serbia--responded with armed resistance aimed at
partitioning the republic along ethnic lines and joining Serb-held
areas to form a "greater Serbia." In March 1994, Bosnia's Muslims
and Croats reduced the number of warring factions from three to two
by signing an agreement in Washington creating their joint
Muslim/Croat Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Federation,
formed by the Muslims and Croats in March 1994, is one of two
entities (the other being the Bosnian Serb-led Republika Srpska)
that comprise Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Geography
Location: Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea and
Croatia
Geographic coordinates: 44 00 N, 18 00 E
Map references: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Europe
Area:
total: 51,233 sq km
land: 51,233 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than West Virginia
Land boundaries:
total: 1,459 km
border countries: Croatia 932 km, Serbia and Montenegro 527 km (312
km with Serbia, 215 km with Montenegro)
Coastline: 20 km
Maritime claims: NA
Climate: hot summers and cold winters; areas of high elevation
have short, cool summers and long, severe winters; mild, rainy
winters along coast
Terrain: mountains and valleys
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m
highest point: Maglic 2,386 m
Natural resources: coal, iron, bauxite, manganese, forests,
copper, chromium, lead, zinc
Land use:
arable land: 14%
permanent crops: 5%
permanent pastures: 20%
forests and woodland: 39%
other: 22% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 20 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: frequent and destructive earthquakes
Environment--current issues: air pollution from metallurgical
plants; sites for disposing of urban waste are limited; widespread
casualties, water shortages, and destruction of infrastructure
because of the 1992-95 civil strife
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life
Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography--note: within Bosnia and Herzegovina's recognized
borders, the country is divided into a joint Muslim/Croat Federation
(about 51% of the territory) and the Bosnian Serb-led Republika
Herzegovina is contiguous to Croatia and traditionally has been
settled by an ethnic Croat majority
People
Population: 3,482,495 (July 1999 est.)
note: all data dealing with population is subject to considerable
error because of the dislocations caused by military action and
ethnic cleansing
Age structure:
0-14 years: 17% (male 310,430; female 294,298)
15-64 years: 71% (male 1,221,791; female 1,240,097)
65 years and over: 12% (male 166,876; female 249,003) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.2% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 9.36 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 10.81 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 33.42 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 24.52 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 66.98 years
male: 62.55 years
female: 71.71 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.21 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Bosnian(s), Herzegovinian(s)
adjective: Bosnian, Herzegovinian
Ethnic groups: Serb 40%, Muslim 38%, Croat 22% (est.); note--the
Croats claim they now make up only 17% of the total population
Religions: Muslim 40%, Orthodox 31%, Catholic 15%, Protestant 4%,
other 10%
Languages: Croatian, Serbian, Bosnian
Literacy: NA
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Bosnia and Herzegovina
local long form: none
local short form: Bosna i Hercegovina
Data code: BK
Government type: emerging democracy
Capital: Sarajevo
Administrative divisions: there are two first-order
administrative divisions--the Muslim/Croat Federation of Bosnia and
Herzegovina (Federacija Bosna i Hercegovina) and the Bosnian
Serb-led Republika Srpska; note--the status of Brcko in north eastern
Bosnia is to be determined by arbitration
Independence: NA April 1992 (from Yugoslavia)
National holiday: Republika Srpska--"Republic Day," 9 January;
Independence Day, 1 March; Federation of Bosnia and
Herzegovina--"Republic Day," 25 November
Constitution: the Dayton Agreement, signed 14 December 1995,
included a new constitution now in force
Legal system: based on civil law system
Suffrage: 16 years of age, if employed; 18 years of age, universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Chairman of the Presidency Zivko RADISIC (since 13
October 1998--Serb); other members of the three-member rotating
(every 8 months) presidency: Ante JELAVIC (since NA September
1998--Croat) and Alija IZETBEGOVIC (since 14 March 1996--Muslim)
head of government: Cochairman of the Council of Ministers Haris
SILAJDZIC (since NA January 1997); Cochairman of the Council of
Ministers Suetozar MIHAJLOVIC (since 3 February 1999)
cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the council chairmen
note: President of the Muslim/Croat Federation of Bosnia and
Herzegovina: Ivo ANDRIC-LUZANIC (since 1 January 1999); Vice
President is Ejup GANIC; note--president and vice president rotate
every 3 months; President of the Republika Srpska: Nikola POPLASEN
(since 29 October 1998)
elections: the three-person presidency members (one Muslim, one
Croat, one Serb) are elected by popular vote for a four-year term;
the president with the most votes becomes the chairman unless he was
the incumbent chairman at the time of the election; election last
held 12-13 September 1998 (next to be held September 2002); the
cochairmen of the Council of Ministers are appointed by the
presidency
election results: percent of vote--Zivko RADISIC with 52% of the Serb
vote was elected chairman of the collective presidency for the first
8 months; Ante JELAVIC with 52% of the Croat vote will follow
RADISIC in the rotation; Alija IZEBEGOVIC with 87% of the Muslim
vote won the highest number of votes in the election but was
ineligible to serve consecutive terms as chairman
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliamentary Assembly or Skupstina
consists of the National House of Representatives or Vijece Opcina
(42 seats--14 Serb, 14 Croat, and 14 Muslim; members elected by
popular vote to serve two-year terms) and the House of Peoples or
Vijece Gradanstvo (15 seats--5 Muslim, 5 Croat, 5 Serb; members
elected by the Muslim/Croat Federation's House of Representatives
and the Republika Srpska's National Assembly to serve two-year terms)
elections: National House of Representatives--elections last held
12-13 September 1998 (next to be held in the fall 2000); House of
Peoples--last held NA (next to be held NA)
election results: National House of Representatives--percent of vote
by party/coalition--NA; seats by party/coalition--KCD 17, HDZ-BiH 6,
SDP 4, Sloga 4, SDS 4, SDBIH 2, SRS-RS 2, DNZ 1, NHI 1, RSRS 1;
House of Peoples--percent of vote by party/coalition--NA; seats by
party/coalition--NA
note: the Muslim/Croat Federation has a House of Representatives
(140 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve NA year terms);
elections last held NA (next to be held NA); percent of vote by
party--NA; seats by party/coalition--KCD 68, HDZ-BiH 28, SDP 19, SDBIH
6, NHI 4, DNZ 3, DSP 2, BPS 2, HSP 2, SPRS 2, BSP 1, KC 1, BOSS 1,
HSS 1; the Republika Srpska has a National Assembly (83 seats;
members elected by popular vote to serve NA year terms); elections
last held NA (next to be held NA); percent of vote by party--NA;
seats by party/coalition--SDS 19, KCD 15, SNS 12, SRS-RS 11, SPRS 10,
SNSD 6, RSRS 3, SKRS 2, SDP 2, KKO 1, HDZ-BiH 1, NHI 1
Judicial branch: Constitutional Court, consists of nine members:
four members are selected by the Muslim/Croat Federation's House of
Representatives, two members by the Republika Srpska National
Assembly, and three non-Bosnian members by the president of the
European Court of Human Rights
Political parties and leaders: Bosnian Party of Rights or BSP
IZETBEGOVIC; includes SDA, SBH, GDS, LS]; Croatian Democratic Union
BIH or SDP (formerly the Democratic Party of Socialists or DSS)
note: note--SDP and SDBIH announced a merger in 1999
Political pressure groups and leaders: NA
International organization participation: CE (guest), CEI, EBRD,
ECE, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NAM (guest), OAS
(observer), OIC (observer), OPCW, OSCE, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Dragan BOZANIC
chancery: 2109 E Street NW, Washington, DC 20037
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Richard D. KAUZLARICH
embassy: Alipasina 43, 71000 Sarajevo
mailing address: use street address
Flag description: a wide medium blue vertical band on the fly
side with a yellow isosceles triangle abutting the band and the top
of the flag; the remainder of the flag is medium blue with seven
full five-pointed white stars and two half stars top and bottom
along the hypotenuse of the triangle
Government--note: Until declaring independence in spring 1992,
Bosnia and Herzegovina existed as a republic in the former
Yugoslavia. Bosnia was partitioned by fighting during 1992-95 and
governed by competing ethnic factions. Bosnia's current governing
structures were created by the Dayton Agreement, the 1995 peace
agreement which was officially signed in Paris on 14 December 1995
by then Bosnian President IZETBEGOVIC, Croatian President TUDJMAN,
and then Serbian President MILOSEVIC. This agreement retained
Bosnia's exterior border and created a joint multi-ethnic and
democratic government. This national government--based on
proportional representation similar to that which existed in the
former socialist regime--is charged with conducting foreign,
economic, and fiscal policy. The Dayton Agreement also recognized a
second tier of government, comprised of two entities--a joint
Muslim/Croat Federation and the Bosnian Serb Republika Srpska
(RS)--each presiding over roughly one-half the territory. The
Federation and RS governments are charged with overseeing internal
functions.
Economy
Economy--overview: Bosnia and Herzegovina ranked next to The
Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia as the poorest republic in the
old Yugoslav federation. Although agriculture has been almost all in
private hands, farms have been small and inefficient, and the
republic traditionally has been a net importer of food. Industry has
been greatly overstaffed, one reflection of the rigidities of
communist central planning and management. TITO had pushed the
development of military industries in the republic with the result
that Bosnia hosted a large share of Yugoslavia's defense plants. The
bitter interethnic warfare in Bosnia caused production to plummet by
80% from 1990 to 1995, unemployment to soar, and human misery to
multiply. With an uneasy peace in place, output has recovered in
1996-98 at high percentage rates on a low base, but remains far
below the 1990 level. Key achievements in 1998 included approval of
privatization legislation, the introduction of a national
currency--the convertible mark, agreement with the Paris Club to
reschedule official debt, and the conclusion of a Standby Agreement
with the IMF. Economic data are of limited use because, although
both entities issue figures, national-level statistics are not
available. Moreover, official data do not capture the large share of
activity that occurs on the black market. The country receives
substantial amounts of reconstruction assistance and humanitarian
aid from the international community. Wide regional differences in
war damage and access to the outside world have resulted in
substantial variations in living conditions among local areas and
individual families. In 1999, Bosnia's major goals are to implement
privatization and make progress in fiscal reform and management. In
addition, Bosnia will have to prepare for an era of declining
assistance from the international community.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$5.8 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 30% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,720 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 19%
industry: 23%
services: 58% (1996 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
Labor force: 1,026,254
Labor force--by occupation: NA%
Unemployment rate: 40%-50% (1996 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Industries: steel, coal, iron ore, lead, zinc, manganese,
bauxite, vehicle assembly, textiles, tobacco products, wooden
furniture, tank and aircraft assembly, domestic appliances, oil
refining (much of capacity damaged or shut down) (1995)
Industrial production growth rate: 35% (1998 est.)
Electricity--production: 2.3 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 34.78%
hydro: 65.22%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 2.504 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 182 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 386 million kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: wheat, corn, fruits, vegetables; livestock
Exports: $152 million (1995 est.)
Exports--commodities: NA
Exports--partners: NA
Imports: $1.1 billion (1995 est.)
Imports--commodities: NA
Imports--partners: NA
Debt--external: $3.5 billion (yearend 1995 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $1.2 billion (1997 pledged)
Currency: 1 convertible marka (KM) = 100 convertible pfenniga
Exchange rates: NA
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 727,000
Telephone system: telephone and telegraph network is in need of
modernization and expansion; many urban areas are below average when
compared with services in other former Yugoslav republics
domestic: NA
international: no satellite earth stations
Radio broadcast stations: AM 8, FM 16, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios: 840,000
Television broadcast stations: 21 (1997)
Televisions: 1,012,094
Transportation
Railways:
total: 1,021 km (electrified 795 km; operating as diesel or steam
until grids are repaired)
standard gauge: 1,021 km 1.435-m gauge (1995); note--some segments
still need repair and/or reconstruction
Highways:
total: 21,846 km
paved: 11,425 km
unpaved: 10,421 km (1996 est.)
note: roads need maintenance and repair
Waterways: NA km; large sections of Sava blocked by downed
bridges, silt, and debris
Pipelines: crude oil 174 km; natural gas 90 km (1992);
note--pipelines now disrupted
Ports and harbors: Bosanska Gradiska, Bosanski Brod, Bosanski
Samac, and Brcko (all inland waterway ports on the Sava none of
which are fully operational), Orasje
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 25 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 9
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 16
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 8 (1998 est.)
Heliports: 3 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Federation Army or VF (composed of both
Croatian and Bosnian Muslim elements), Army of the Serb Republic
(composed of Bosnian Serb elements); note--within both of these
forces air and air defense are subordinate commands
Military manpower--military age: 19 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 951,541 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 764,992 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 28,438 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $NA
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: NA%
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: disputes with Serbia over Serbian
populated areas
Illicit drugs: minor transit point for marijuana and opiate
trafficking routes to Western Europe
======================================================================
@Botswana
--------
Geography
Location: Southern Africa, north of South Africa
Geographic coordinates: 22 00 S, 24 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area:
total: 600,370 sq km
land: 585,370 sq km
water: 15,000 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than Texas
Land boundaries:
total: 4,013 km
border countries: Namibia 1,360 km, South Africa 1,840 km, Zimbabwe
813 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: semiarid; warm winters and hot summers
Terrain: predominantly flat to gently rolling tableland; Kalahari
Desert in southwest
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: junction of the Limpopo and Shashe Rivers 513 m
highest point: Tsodilo Hills 1,489 m
Natural resources: diamonds, copper, nickel, salt, soda ash,
potash, coal, iron ore, silver
Land use:
arable land: 1%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 46%
forests and woodland: 47%
other: 6% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 20 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: periodic droughts; seasonal August winds blow
from the west, carrying sand and dust across the country, which can
obscure visibility
Environment--current issues: overgrazing; desertification; limited
fresh water resources
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone
Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography--note: landlocked; population concentrated in eastern
part of the country
People
Population: 1,464,167 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 42% (male 310,578; female 303,495)
15-64 years: 54% (male 379,836; female 416,073)
65 years and over: 4% (male 20,224; female 33,961) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.05% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 31.46 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 21 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.6 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 59.08 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 39.89 years
male: 39.42 years
female: 40.37 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.91 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural)
adjective: Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural)
Ethnic groups: Batswana 95%, Kalanga, Basarwa, and Kgalagadi 4%,
white 1%
Religions: indigenous beliefs 50%, Christian 50%
Languages: English (official), Setswana
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 69.8%
male: 80.5%
female: 59.9% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Botswana
conventional short form: Botswana
former: Bechuanaland
Data code: BC
Government type: parliamentary republic
Capital: Gaborone
Administrative divisions: 10 districts and four town councils*;
Central, Chobe, Francistown*, Gaborone*, Ghanzi, Kgalagadi,
Kgatleng, Kweneng, Lobatse*, Ngamiland, North-East, Selebi-Pikwe*,
South-East, Southern
Independence: 30 September 1966 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 30 September (1966)
Constitution: March 1965, effective 30 September 1966
Legal system: based on Roman-Dutch law and local customary law;
judicial review limited to matters of interpretation; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Festus MOGAE (since 1 April 1998) and Vice
President Seretse Ian KHAMA (since NA April 1998); note--the
president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Festus MOGAE (since 1 April 1998) and
Vice President Seretse Ian KHAMA (since NA April 1998); note--the
president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president elected by the National Assembly for a
five-year term; election last held 15 October 1994 (next to be held
NA October 1999); vice president appointed by the president
election results: Sir Ketumile MASIRE elected president; percent of
National Assembly vote--NA
note: President MASIRE resigned on 31 March 1998; Vice President
MOGAE assumed the presidency pending elections to be held in 1999;
on 2 April 1998, Festus MOGAE, then president, designated Seretse
Ian KHAMA to be vice president
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of the House of
Chiefs (a largely advisory 15-member body consisting of the chiefs
of the eight principal tribes, four elected subchiefs, and three
members selected by the other 12) and the National Assembly (44
seats, 40 members are directly elected by popular vote and 4
appointed by the majority party; members serve five-year terms)
elections: National Assembly--elections last held 15 October 1994
(next to be held NA October 1999)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--BDP
27, BNF 13
Judicial branch: High Court; Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders: Botswana Democratic Party or BDP
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA,
FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Archibald Mooketsa MOGWE
chancery: 1531-1533 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Robert C. KRUEGER
embassy: address NA, Gaborone
mailing address: P. O. Box 90, Gaborone
Flag description: light blue with a horizontal white-edged black
stripe in the center
Economy
Economy--overview: Agriculture still provides a livelihood for
more than 80% of the population but supplies only about 50% of food
needs and accounts for only 4% of GDP. Subsistence farming and
cattle raising predominate. Diamond mining and tourism also are
important to the economy. The sector is plagued by erratic rainfall
and poor soils. Substantial mineral deposits were found in the 1970s
and the mining sector grew from 25% of GDP in 1980 to 35% in 1997.
Unemployment officially is 21% but unofficial estimates place it
closer to 40%.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$5.25 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 3% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$3,600 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 4%
industry: 45% (including 35% mining)
services: 51% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 9% (1997 est.)
Labor force: 235,000 formal sector employees (1995)
Labor force--by occupation: 100,000 public sector; 135,000 private
sector, including 14,300 who are employed in various mines in South
Africa; most others engaged in cattle raising and subsistence
agriculture (1995 est.)
Unemployment rate: 20-40% (1997 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $1.6 billion
expenditures: $1.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $560
million (FY96/97)
Industries: diamonds, copper, nickel, coal, salt, soda ash,
potash; livestock processing
Industrial production growth rate: 4.6% (FY92/93)
Electricity--production: 990 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 1.675 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 685 million kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: sorghum, maize, millet, pulses, groundnuts
(peanuts), beans, cowpeas, sunflower seed; livestock
Exports: $2.25 billion (f.o.b. 1998 est.)
Exports--commodities: diamonds 76%, copper, nickel 4%, meat (1997)
Exports--partners: EU 74%, Southern African Customs Union (SACU)
21%, Zimbabwe 3% (1996)
Imports: $2.43 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Imports--commodities: foodstuffs, vehicles and transport
equipment, textiles, petroleum products
Imports--partners: Southern African Customs Union (SACU) 78%,
Europe 8%, Zimbabwe 6% (1996)
Debt--external: $610 million (1997)
Economic aid--recipient: $73 million (1995)
Currency: 1 pula (P) = 100 thebe
Exchange rates: pulas (P) per US$1--4.5725 (January 1999), 4.2258
(1998), 3.6508 (1997), 3.3242 (1996), 2.7722 (1995), 2.6846 (1994)
Fiscal year: 1 April--31 March
Communications
Telephones: 19,109 (1985 est.)
Telephone system: sparse system
domestic: small system of open-wire lines, microwave radio relay
links, and a few radiotelephone communication stations
international: microwave radio relay links to Zambia, Zimbabwe, and
South Africa; satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 7, FM 15, shortwave 5 (1998)
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 0 (1997)
Televisions: 13,800 (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 971 km
narrow gauge: 971 km 1.067-m gauge (1995)
Highways:
total: 18,482 km
paved: 4,343 km
unpaved: 14,139 km (1996 est.)
Ports and harbors: none
Airports: 92 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 12
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 9
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 80
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 57
under 914 m: 21 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Botswana Defense Force (includes Army and Air
Wing), Botswana National Police
Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 344,587 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 182,279 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 18,654 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $61 million (FY99/00)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 1.2% (FY99/00)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: quadripoint with Namibia, Zambia, and
Zimbabwe is in disagreement; dispute with Namibia over uninhabited
Kasikili (Sidudu) Island in Linyanti (Chobe) River is presently at
the ICJ; at least one other island in Linyanti River is contested
======================================================================
@Bouvet Island
-------------
Geography
Location: Southern Africa, island in the South Atlantic Ocean,
south-southwest of the Cape of Good Hope (South Africa)
Geographic coordinates: 54 26 S, 3 24 E
Map references: Antarctic Region
Area:
total: 58 sq km
land: 58 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 29.6 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 4 nm
Climate: antarctic
Terrain: volcanic; maximum elevation about 800 m; coast is mostly
inaccessible
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 780 m
Natural resources: none
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 100% (all ice)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1993)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment--current issues: NA
Environment--international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography--note: covered by glacial ice
People
Population: uninhabited
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Bouvet Island
Data code: BV
Dependency status: territory of Norway; administered from Oslo
Legal system: NA
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (territory of Norway)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (territory of Norway)
Flag description: the flag of Norway is used
Economy
Economy--overview: no economic activity; declared a nature reserve
Communications
Communications--note: automatic meteorological station
Transportation
Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only
Military
Military--note: defense is the responsibility of Norway
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
======================================================================
@Brazil
------
Geography
Location: Eastern South America, bordering the Atlantic Ocean
Geographic coordinates: 10 00 S, 55 00 W
Map references: South America
Area:
total: 8,511,965 sq km
land: 8,456,510 sq km
water: 55,455 sq km
note: includes Arquipelago de Fernando de Noronha, Atol das Rocas,
Ilha da Trindade, Ilhas Martin Vaz, and Penedos de Sao Pedro e Sao
Paulo
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than the US
Land boundaries:
total: 14,691 km
border countries: Argentina 1,224 km, Bolivia 3,400 km, Colombia
1,643 km, French Guiana 673 km, Guyana 1,119 km, Paraguay 1,290 km,
Peru 1,560 km, Suriname 597 km, Uruguay 985 km, Venezuela 2,200 km
Coastline: 7,491 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: mostly tropical, but temperate in south
Terrain: mostly flat to rolling lowlands in north; some plains,
hills, mountains, and narrow coastal belt
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Pico da Neblina 3,014 m
Natural resources: bauxite, gold, iron ore, manganese, nickel,
phosphates, platinum, tin, uranium, petroleum, hydropower, timber
Land use:
arable land: 5%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 22%
forests and woodland: 58%
other: 14% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 28,000 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: recurring droughts in northeast; floods and
occasional frost in south
Environment--current issues: deforestation in Amazon Basin
destroys the habitat and endangers the existence of a multitude of
plant and animal species indigenous to the area; air and water
pollution in Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, and several other large
cities; land degradation and water pollution caused by improper
mining activities
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty,
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine
Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography--note: largest country in South America; shares common
boundaries with every South American country except Chile and Ecuador
People
Population: 171,853,126 (July 1999 est.)
note: Brazil took a census in August 1996 which reported a
population of 157,079,573; that figure was about 5% lower than
projections by the US Census Bureau, and is close to the implied
underenumeration of 4.6% for 1991; the Factbook's demographic
statistics for Brazil do not take into consideration the results of
the1996 census since the full results have not been released for
analysis
Age structure:
0-14 years: 30% (male 26,059,687; female 25,095,236)
15-64 years: 65% (male 55,037,161; female 56,727,196)
65 years and over: 5% (male 3,626,893; female 5,306,953) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.16% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 20.42 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 8.79 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 35.37 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 64.06 years
male: 59.35 years
female: 69.01 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.28 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Brazilian(s)
adjective: Brazilian
Ethnic groups: white (includes Portuguese, German, Italian,
Spanish, Polish) 55%, mixed white and black 38%, black 6%, other
(includes Japanese, Arab, Amerindian) 1%
Religions: Roman Catholic (nominal) 70%
Languages: Portuguese (official), Spanish, English, French
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 83.3%
male: 83.3%
female: 83.2% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Federative Republic of Brazil
conventional short form: Brazil
local long form: Republica Federativa do Brasil
local short form: Brasil
Data code: BR
Government type: federal republic
Capital: Brasilia
Administrative divisions: 26 states (estados, singular--estado)
and 1 federal district* (distrito federal); Acre, Alagoas, Amapa,
Amazonas, Bahia, Ceara, Distrito Federal*, Espirito Santo, Goias,
Maranhao, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais, Para,
Paraiba, Parana, Pernambuco, Piaui, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do
Norte, Rio Grande do Sul, Rondonia, Roraima, Santa Catarina, Sao
Paulo, Sergipe, Tocantins
Independence: 7 September 1822 (from Portugal)
National holiday: Independence Day, 7 September (1822)
Constitution: 5 October 1988
Legal system: based on Roman codes; has not accepted compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: voluntary between 16 and 18 years of age and over 70;
compulsory over 18 and under 70 years of age
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Fernando Henrique CARDOSO (since 1 January
1995); Vice President Marco MACIEL (since 1 January 1995); note--the
president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Fernando Henrique CARDOSO (since 1
January 1995); Vice President Marco MACIEL (since 1 January 1995);
note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket
by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 4 October
1998 (next to be held NA October 2002)
election results: Fernando Henrique CARDOSO reelected president;
percent of vote--53%
Legislative branch: bicameral National Congress or Congresso
Nacional consists of the Federal Senate or Senado Federal (81 seats;
three members from each state or federal district elected according
to the principle of majority to serve eight-year terms; one-third
elected after a four year period, two-thirds elected after the next
four-year period) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camara dos
Deputados (513 seats; members are elected by proportional
representation to serve four-year terms)
elections: Federal Senate--last held 4 October 1998 for one-third of
Senate (next to be held NA October 2002 for two-thirds of the
Senate); Chamber of Deputies--last held 4 October 1998 (next to be
held NA October 2002)
election results: Federal Senate--percent of vote by party--NA%; seats
by party--PMDB 27, PFL 20, PSDB 16, PT 7, PPB 5; Chamber of
Deputies--percent of vote by party--NA%; seats by party--PFL 106, PSDB
99, PMDB 82, PPB 60, PT 58
Judicial branch: Supreme Federal Tribunal, 11 judges are
appointed for life by the president and confirmed by the Senate
Political parties and leaders: Brazilian Democratic Movement
Political pressure groups and leaders: left wing of the Catholic
Church, Landless Worker's Movement, and labor unions allied to
leftist Workers' Party are critical of government's social and
economic policies
International organization participation: AfDB, BIS, CCC, ECLAC,
FAO, G-11, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat,
Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA,
Mercosur, MONUA, MTCR, NAM (observer), NSG, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA,
RG, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,
UNIDO, UNMOP, UNPREDEP, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO,
WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Rubens Antonio BARBOSA
chancery: 3006 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los
Angeles, Miami, New York, San Juan (Puerto Rico), and San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador-designate J. Brian ATWOOD
embassy: Avenida das Nacoes, Quadra 801, Lote 3, Brasilia, Distrito
Federal Cep 70403-900 Brazil
mailing address: Unit 3500, APO AA 34030
consulate(s) general: Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo
consulate(s): Recife
Flag description: green with a large yellow diamond in the center
bearing a blue celestial globe with 27 white five-pointed stars (one
for each state and the Federal District) arranged in the same
pattern as the night sky over Brazil; the globe has a white
equatorial band with the motto ORDEM E PROGRESSO (Order and Progress)
Economy
Economy--overview: Possessing large and well-developed
agricultural, mining, manufacturing, and service sectors, Brazil's
economy outweighs that of all other South American countries and is
expanding its presence in world markets. Prior to the institution of
a stabilization plan--the Plano Real (Real Plan) in mid-1994,
stratospheric inflation rates had disrupted economic activity and
discouraged foreign investment. Since then, tight monetary policy
has brought inflation under control--consumer prices increased by 2%
in 1998 compared to more than 1,000% in 1994. At the same time, GDP
growth slowed from 5.7% in 1994 to about 3.0% in 1997 due to tighter
credit. The Real Plan faced its strongest challenge in 1998, as the
world financial crisis caused investors to more closely examine the
country's structural weaknesses. The most severe spillover for
Brazil--after Russia's debt default in August 1998--created
unrelenting pressure on the currency which forced the country to
hike annual interest rates to 50%. Approximately $30 billion in
capital left the country in August and September. After crafting a
fiscal adjustment program and pledging progress on structural
reform, Brazil received a $41.5 billion IMF-led international
support program in November 1998. Capital continued to leach out of
the country, and investors, concerned about the rising mountain of
debt and currency widely-viewed as overvalued, stayed on the
sidelines. In January 1999, Brazil made an abrupt shift of course in
exchange rate policy, abandoning the strong currency anti-inflation
anchor of the Real Plan. On 13 January 1999, Central Bank officials
announced a one-time 8% devaluation of the real, and on 15 January
1999, the currency was declared to be freely floating. President
CARDOSO remains committed to limiting inflation and weathering the
financial crisis through austerity and sacrifice as the country
rides out a deep recession. He hopes the country will resume
economic growth in the second half of 1999, so that he can once
again focus on his longer-term goal of reducing poverty and income
inequality. CARDOSO still hopes to address mandated revenue sharing
with the states and cumbersome procedures to amend the constitution
before the end of his second term.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$1.0352 trillion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 0.5% (1998)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$6,100 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 14%
industry: 36%
services: 50% (1997)
Population below poverty line: 17.4% (1990 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 0.8%
highest 10%: 47.9% (1995)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2% (1998)
Labor force: 57 million (1989 est.)
Labor force--by occupation: services 42%, agriculture 31%,
industry 27%
Unemployment rate: 8.5% (1998 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $151 billion
expenditures: $149 billion, including capital expenditures of $36
billion (1998)
Industries: textiles, shoes, chemicals, cement, lumber, iron ore,
tin, steel, aircraft, motor vehicles and parts, other machinery and
equipment
Industrial production growth rate: 4.5% (1997 est.)
Electricity--production: 291.63 billion kWh (1997)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 4.38%
hydro: 92.09%
nuclear: 0.8%
other: 2.73% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 323.215 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 8 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 37.5 billion kWh (1996)
note: imported electricity from Paraguay
Agriculture--products: coffee, soybeans, wheat, rice, corn,
sugarcane, cocoa, citrus; beef
Exports: $51 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports--commodities: iron ore, soybean bran, orange juice,
footwear, coffee, motor vehicle parts
Exports--partners: EU 28%, Latin America (excluding Argentina)
23%, US 20%, Argentina 12% (1996)
Imports: $57.6 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports--commodities: crude oil, capital goods, chemical products,
foodstuffs, coal
Imports--partners: EU 26%, US 22%, Argentina 13%, Japan 5% (1996)
Debt--external: $258.1 billion (December 1998)
Economic aid--recipient: $1.012 billion (1995)
Currency: 1 real (R$) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates: reals (R$) per US$1--1.501 (January 1999), 1.161
(1998), 1.078 (1997), 1.005 (1996), 0.918 (1995), 0.639 (1994); CR$
per US$1--390.845 (January 1994)
note: the real (R$) was introduced on 1 July 1994, equal to 2,750
cruzeiro reais; from October 1994 through 14 January 1999, the
official rate was determined by a managed float; since 15 January
1999, the official rate floats independently with respect to the US$
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 14,426,673 (1992 est.)
Telephone system: good working system
domestic: extensive microwave radio relay system and a domestic
satellite system with 64 earth stations
international: 3 coaxial submarine cables; satellite earth
stations--3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean
Region East)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1,627, FM 251, shortwave 114 (of
which 91 are associated with AM stations) (1998)
Radios: 60 million (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 138 (1997)
Televisions: 30 million (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 28,862 km (1,187 km electrified)
broad gauge: 4,123 km 1.600-m gauge
narrow gauge: 24,390 km 1.000-m gauge; 13 km 0.760-m gauge
dual gauge: 336 km 1.000-m and 1.600-m gauges (three rails)
Highways:
total: 1.98 million km
paved: 184,140 km
unpaved: 1,795,860 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 50,000 km navigable
Pipelines: crude oil 2,980 km; petroleum products 4,762 km;
natural gas 4,246 km (1998)
Ports and harbors: Belem, Fortaleza, Ilheus, Imbituba, Manaus,
Paranagua, Porto Alegre, Recife, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande,
Salvador, Santos, Vitoria
Merchant marine:
total: 179 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,132,037
GRT/6,642,442 DWT
ships by type: bulk 35, cargo 28, chemical tanker 6, combination
ore/oil 10, container 10, liquefied gas tanker 10, multifunction
large-load carrier 1, oil tanker 61, passenger-cargo 5, refrigerated
cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 11, short-sea passenger 1 (1998 est.)
Airports: 3,265 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 514
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 19
1,524 to 2,437 m: 134
914 to 1,523 m: 325
under 914 m: 31 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 2,751
1,524 to 2,437 m: 73
914 to 1,523 m: 1,312
under 914 m: 1,366 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Brazilian Army, Brazilian Navy (includes naval
air and marines), Brazilian Air Force, Federal Police (paramilitary)
Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 47,230,426 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 31,723,597 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 1,841,858 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $14.7 billion (1998)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 1.9% (1998)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: two short sections of boundary with
Uruguay are in dispute--Arroio Invernada (Arroyo de la Invernada)
area of the Rio Quarai (Rio Cuareim) and the islands at the
confluence of the Rio Quarai and the Uruguay River
Illicit drugs: limited illicit producer of cannabis, minor coca
cultivation in the Amazon region, mostly used for domestic
consumption; government has a large-scale eradication program to
control cannabis; important transshipment country for Bolivian,
Colombian, and Peruvian cocaine headed for the US and Europe;
increasingly used by traffickers as a way station for narcotics air
transshipments between Peru and Colombia
======================================================================
@British Indian Ocean Territory
------------------------------
Geography
Location: Southern Asia, archipelago in the Indian Ocean, about
one-half the way from Africa to Indonesia
Geographic coordinates: 6 00 S, 71 30 E
Map references: World
Area:
total: 60 sq km
land: 60 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes the entire Chagos Archipelago
Area--comparative: about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 698 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 3 nm
Climate: tropical marine; hot, humid, moderated by trade winds
Terrain: flat and low (up to four meters in elevation)
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Diego Garcia 15 m
Natural resources: coconuts, fish
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: NA%
other: NA%
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1993)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment--current issues: NA
Environment--international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography--note: archipelago of 2,300 islands; Diego Garcia,
largest and southernmost island, occupies strategic location in
central Indian Ocean; island is site of joint US-UK military facility
People
Population: no indigenous inhabitants
note: approximately 3,000 native inhabitants, known as the
Chagosians or Ilois, were evacuated to Mauritius before construction
of UK-US military facilities; now there are UK and US military
personnel and civilian contractors living on the island
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: British Indian Ocean Territory
conventional short form: none
abbreviation: BIOT
Data code: IO
Dependency status: overseas territory of the UK; administered by
a commissioner, resident in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in
London
Legal system: NA
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
head of government: Commissioner David Ross MACLENNAN (since NA
1994); Administrator Don CAIRNS (since NA); note--both reside in the
UK
cabinet: NA
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; commissioner and
administrator appointed by the monarch
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory of
the UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (overseas territory
of the UK)
Flag description: white with the flag of the UK in the upper
hoist-side quadrant and six blue wavy horizontal stripes bearing a
palm tree and yellow crown centered on the outer half of the flag
Economy
Economy--overview: All economic activity is concentrated on the
largest island of Diego Garcia, where joint UK-US defense facilities
are located. Construction projects and various services needed to
support the military installations are done by military and contract
employees from the UK, Mauritius, the Philippines, and the US. There
are no industrial or agricultural activities on the islands.
Electricity--production: NA kWh
note: electricity supplied by the US military
Electricity--consumption: NA kWh
Communications
Telephones: NA
Telephone system: facilities for military needs only
domestic: NA
international: NA
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1997)
Televisions: NA
Transportation
Highways:
total: NA km
paved: short stretch of paved road of NA km between port and
airfield on Diego Garcia
unpaved: NA km
Ports and harbors: Diego Garcia
Airports: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military--note: defense is the responsibility of the UK; the US
lease on Diego Garcia expires in 2016
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: the Chagos Archipelago is claimed by
Mauritius and Seychelles
======================================================================
@British Virgin Islands
----------------------
Geography
Location: Caribbean, between the Caribbean Sea and the North
Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico
Geographic coordinates: 18 30 N, 64 30 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 150 sq km
land: 150 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes the island of Anegada
Area--comparative: about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 80 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 3 nm
Climate: subtropical; humid; temperatures moderated by trade winds
Terrain: coral islands relatively flat; volcanic islands steep,
hilly
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Sage 521 m
Natural resources: NEGL
Land use:
arable land: 20%
permanent crops: 7%
permanent pastures: 33%
forests and woodland: 7%
other: 33% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October)
Environment--current issues: limited natural fresh water resources
(except for a few seasonal streams and springs on Tortola, most of
the islands' water supply comes from wells and rainwater catchment)
Environment--international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography--note: strong ties to nearby US Virgin Islands and
Puerto Rico
People
Population: 19,156 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 21% (male 2,012; female 1,965)
15-64 years: 74% (male 7,300; female 6,896)
65 years and over: 5% (male 539; female 444) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.37% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 15.92 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 4.65 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 12.37 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.21 male(s)/female
total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 22.17 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.13 years
male: 74.37 years
female: 75.92 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.71 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: British Virgin Islander(s)
adjective: British Virgin Islander
Ethnic groups: black 90%, white, Asian
Religions: Protestant 86% (Methodist 45%, Anglican 21%, Church of
God 7%, Seventh-Day Adventist 5%, Baptist 4%, Jehovah's Witnesses
2%, other 2%), Roman Catholic 6%, none 2%, other 6% (1981)
Languages: English (official)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.8% (1991 est.)
male: NA%
female: NA%
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: British Virgin Islands
abbreviation: BVI
Data code: VI
Dependency status: overseas territory of the UK
Government type: NA
Capital: Road Town
Administrative divisions: none (overseas territory of the UK)
Independence: none (overseas territory of the UK)
National holiday: Territory Day, 1 July
Constitution: 1 June 1977
Legal system: English law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Governor David MACKILLIGIN (since NA June 1995)
head of government: Chief Minister Ralph T. O'NEAL (since 15 May
1995; appointed after the death of former Chief Minister H. Lavity
STOUTT)
cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor from members of
the Legislative Council
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by
the monarch; chief minister appointed by the governor from among the
members of the Legislative Council
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Council (13 seats;
members are elected by direct popular vote, one member from each of
9 electoral districts, four at-large members; members serve
five-year terms)
elections: last held 20 February 1995 (next to be held NA February
2000)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--VIP 6,
CCM 2, UP 2, independents 3
Judicial branch: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, consisting of
the High Court of Justice and the Court of Appeal; (one judge of the
Supreme Court is a resident of the islands and presides over the
High Court); Magistrate's Court; Juvenile Court; Court of Summary
Jurisdiction
Political parties and leaders: United Party or UP [Conrad
International organization participation: Caricom (associate),
CDB, ECLAC (associate), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, OECS (associate),
UNESCO (associate)
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory of
the UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (overseas territory
of the UK)
Flag description: blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper
hoist-side quadrant and the Virgin Islander coat of arms centered in
the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms depicts a woman flanked
on either side by a vertical column of six oil lamps above a scroll
bearing the Latin word VIGILATE (Be Watchful)
Economy
Economy--overview: The economy, one of the most prosperous in the
Caribbean, is highly dependent on tourism, which generates an
estimated 45% of the national income. In the mid-1980s, the
government began offering offshore registration to companies wishing
to incorporate in the islands, and incorporation fees now generate
substantial revenues. An estimated 250,000 companies were on the
offshore registry by yearend 1997. The adoption of a comprehensive
insurance law in late 1994, which provides a blanket of
confidentiality with regulated statutory gateways for investigation
of criminal offenses, is expected to make the British Virgin Islands
even more attractive to international business. Livestock raising is
the most important agricultural activity; poor soils limit the
islands' ability to meet domestic food requirements. Because of
traditionally close links with the US Virgin Islands, the British
Virgin Islands has used the dollar as its currency since 1959.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$183 million (1997 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 4.7% (1997)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$10,000 (1997 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 1%
industry: 1.4%
services: 97.6% (1991-95 average)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6.5% (1997)
Labor force: 4,911 (1980)
Labor force--by occupation: tourism NA%
Unemployment rate: 3% (1995)
Budget:
revenues: $121.5 million
expenditures: $115.5 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1997)
Industries: tourism, light industry, construction, rum, concrete
block, offshore financial center
Industrial production growth rate: 4% (1985)
Electricity--production: 42 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 42 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: fruits, vegetables; livestock, poultry; fish
Exports: $23.9 million (1996)
Exports--commodities: rum, fresh fish, fruits, animals; gravel,
sand
Exports--partners: Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US
Imports: $121.5 million (1996)
Imports--commodities: building materials, automobiles, foodstuffs,
machinery
Imports--partners: Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US
Debt--external: $34.8 million (1996)
Economic aid--recipient: $2.6 million (1995)
Currency: 1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: US currency is used
Fiscal year: 1 April--31 March
Communications
Telephones: 6,291 (1990 est.)
Telephone system: worldwide telephone service
domestic: NA
international: submarine cable to Bermuda
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios: 9,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (in addition, there is one cable
company) (1997)
Televisions: 4,000 (1992 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 113 km (1995 est.)
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km
Ports and harbors: Road Town
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 3 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military--note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
======================================================================
@Brunei
------
Geography
Location: Southeastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and
Malaysia
Geographic coordinates: 4 30 N, 114 40 E
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area:
total: 5,770 sq km
land: 5,270 sq km
water: 500 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than Delaware
Land boundaries:
total: 381 km
border countries: Malaysia 381 km
Coastline: 161 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm or to median line
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; hot, humid, rainy
Terrain: flat coastal plain rises to mountains in east; hilly
lowland in west
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: Bukit Pagon 1,850 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, timber
Land use:
arable land: 1%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 1%
forests and woodland: 85%
other: 12% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 10 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: typhoons, earthquakes, and severe flooding are
very rare
Environment--current issues: seasonal smoke/haze resulting from
forest fires in Indonesia
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography--note: close to vital sea lanes through South China Sea
linking Indian and Pacific Oceans; two parts physically separated by
Malaysia; almost an enclave of Malaysia
People
Population: 322,982 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 33% (male 54,154; female 51,766)
15-64 years: 63% (male 106,492; female 95,921)
65 years and over: 4% (male 7,945; female 6,704) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.38% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 24.69 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 5.21 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 4.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.11 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.19 male(s)/female
total population: 1.09 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 22.83 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 71.84 years
male: 70.35 years
female: 73.42 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.33 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Bruneian(s)
adjective: Bruneian
Ethnic groups: Malay 64%, Chinese 20%, other 16%
Religions: Muslim (official) 63%, Buddhism 14%, Christian 8%,
indigenous beliefs and other 15% (1981)
Languages: Malay (official), English, Chinese
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 88.2%
male: 92.6%
female: 83.4% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Negara Brunei Darussalam
conventional short form: Brunei
Data code: BX
Government type: constitutional sultanate
Capital: Bandar Seri Begawan
Administrative divisions: 4 districts (daerah-daerah,
singular--daerah); Belait, Brunei and Muara, Temburong, Tutong
Independence: 1 January 1984 (from UK)
National holiday: National Day, 23 February (1984)
Constitution: 29 September 1959 (some provisions suspended under
a State of Emergency since December 1962, others since independence
on 1 January 1984)
Legal system: based on English common law; for Muslims, Islamic
Shari'a law supersedes civil law in a number of areas
Suffrage: none
Executive branch:
chief of state: Sultan and Prime Minister His Majesty Paduka Seri
Baginda Sultan Haji HASSANAL Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah (since 5
October 1967); note--the monarch is both the chief of state and head
of government
head of government: Sultan and Prime Minister His Majesty Paduka
Seri Baginda Sultan Haji HASSANAL Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah
(since 5 October 1967); note--the monarch is both the chief of state
and head of government
cabinet: Council of Cabinet Ministers appointed and presided over by
the monarch; deals with executive matters
note: there is also a Religious Council (members appointed by the
monarch) that advises on religious matters, a Privy Council (members
appointed by the monarch) that deals with constitutional matters,
and the Council of Succession (members appointed by the monarch)
that determines the succession to the throne if the need arises
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Council or Majlis
Masyuarat Megeri (a privy council that serves only in a consultative
capacity; NA seats; members appointed by the monarch)
elections: last held in March 1962
note: in 1970 the Council was changed to an appointive body by
decree of the monarch; an elected Legislative Council is being
considered as part of constitutional reform, but elections are
unlikely for several years
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, chief justice and judges are
sworn in by the monarch for three-year terms
Political parties and leaders: Brunei Solidarity National Party
president]; the PPKB is the only legal political party in Brunei; it
was registered in 1985, but became largely inactive after 1988; it
has less than 200 registered party members; other parties include
Brunei People's Party or PRB (banned in 1962) and Brunei National
Democratic Party (registered in May 1985, deregistered by the Brunei
Government in 1988)
International organization participation: APEC, ASEAN, C, CCC,
ESCAP, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDB, IFRCS, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat,
Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW,
UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Pengiran Anak Dato Haji PUTEH Ibni
Mohammad Alam
chancery: Watergate, Suite 300, 3rd floor, 2600 Virginia Avenue NW,
Washington, DC 20037
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Glen Robert RASE
embassy: Third Floor, Teck Guan Plaza, Jalan Sultan, Bandar Seri
Begawan
mailing address: PSC 470 (BSB), FPO AP 96534-0001
Flag description: yellow with two diagonal bands of white (top,
almost double width) and black starting from the upper hoist side;
the national emblem in red is superimposed at the center; the emblem
includes a swallow-tailed flag on top of a winged column within an
upturned crescent above a scroll and flanked by two upraised hands
Economy
Economy--overview: This small, wealthy economy is a mixture of
foreign and domestic entrepreneurship, government regulation and
welfare measures, and village tradition. It is almost totally
supported by exports of crude oil and natural gas, with revenues
from the petroleum sector accounting for over half of GDP. Per
capita GDP is far above most other Third World countries, and
substantial income from overseas investment supplements income from
domestic production. The government provides for all medical
services and subsidizes food and housing. The government is
beginning to show progress on its basic policy of diversifying the
economy away from oil and gas. Brunei's leaders are concerned that
steadily increased integration in the world economy will undermine
internal social cohesion. Because of low world oil prices and the
Asian crisis, growth in 1999 is expected to be moderate.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$5.4 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: -1% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$17,000 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 5%
industry: 46%
services: 49% (1996 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2% (1997 est.)
Labor force: 144,000 (1995 est.); note--includes foreign workers
and military personnel
note: temporary residents make up 41% of labor force (1991)
Labor force--by occupation: government 48%, production of oil,
natural gas, services, and construction 42%, agriculture, forestry,
and fishing 4%, other 6% (1986 est.)
Unemployment rate: 4.8% (1994 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $2.5 billion
expenditures: $2.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $768
million (1995 est.)
Industries: petroleum, petroleum refining, liquefied natural gas,
construction
Industrial production growth rate: 4% (1997 est.)
Electricity--production: 1.48 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 1.48 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: rice, cassava (tapioca), bananas; water
buffalo
Exports: $2.62 billion (f.o.b., 1996 est.)
Exports--commodities: crude oil, liquefied natural gas, petroleum
products
Exports--partners: ASEAN 31%, Japan 27%, South Korea 26%, UK,
Taiwan (1996 est.)
Imports: $2.65 billion (c.i.f., 1996 est.)
Imports--commodities: machinery and transport equipment,
manufactured goods, food, chemicals
Imports--partners: Singapore 29%, UK 19%, US 13%, Malaysia 9%,
Japan 5% (1994 est.)
Debt--external: $0
Economic aid--recipient: $4.3 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Bruneian dollar (B$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Bruneian dollars (B$) per US$1--1.6781 (January
1999), 1.6736 (1998), 1.4848 (1997), 1.4100 (1996), 1.4174 (1995),
1.5274 (1994); note--the Bruneian dollar is at par with the Singapore
dollar
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 90,000 (1997 est.)
Telephone system: service throughout country is excellent;
international service good to Europe, US, and East Asia
domestic: NA
international: satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean
and 1 Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 10, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios: 284,000 (1995 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 2 (1997)
Televisions: 173,000 (1995 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 13 km (private line)
narrow gauge: 13 km 0.610-m gauge
Highways:
total: 1,150 km
paved: 399 km
unpaved: 751 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 209 km; navigable by craft drawing less than 1.2 m
Pipelines: crude oil 135 km; petroleum products 418 km; natural
gas 920 km
Ports and harbors: Bandar Seri Begawan, Kuala Belait, Muara,
Seria, Tutong
Merchant marine:
total: 7 liquefied gas tankers (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 348,476
GRT/340,635 DWT (1998 est.)
Airports: 2 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Heliports: 3 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Land Forces, Navy, Air Force, Royal Brunei
Police
Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 88,628 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 51,270 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 3,078 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $343 million (1997)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 6% (1997)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: possibly involved in a complex dispute
over the Spratly Islands with China, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan,
and Vietnam; in 1984, Brunei established an exclusive fishing zone
that encompasses Louisa Reef in the southern Spratly Islands, but
has not publicly claimed the island
======================================================================
@Bulgaria
--------
Introduction
Background: A Slavic state, Bulgaria achieved independence in
1908 after 500 years of Ottoman rule. Bulgaria fought on the losing
side in both World Wars. After World War II it fell within the
Soviet sphere of influence. Communist domination ended in 1991 with
the dissolution of the USSR, and Bulgaria began the contentious
process of moving toward political democracy and a market economy.
In addition to the problems of structural economic reform,
particularly privatization, Bulgaria faces the serious issues of
keeping inflation under control and unemployment, combatting
corruption, and curbing black-market and mafia-style crime.
Geography
Location: Southeastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between
Romania and Turkey
Geographic coordinates: 43 00 N, 25 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area:
total: 110,910 sq km
land: 110,550 sq km
water: 360 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly larger than Tennessee
Land boundaries:
total: 1,808 km
border countries: Greece 494 km, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia 148 km, Romania 608 km, Serbia and Montenegro 318 km (all
with Serbia), Turkey 240 km
Coastline: 354 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: temperate; cold, damp winters; hot, dry summers
Terrain: mostly mountains with lowlands in north and southeast
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Black Sea 0 m
highest point: Musala 2,925 m
Natural resources: bauxite, copper, lead, zinc, coal, timber,
arable land
Land use:
arable land: 37%
permanent crops: 2%
permanent pastures: 16%
forests and woodland: 35%
other: 10% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 12,370 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: earthquakes, landslides
Environment--current issues: air pollution from industrial
emissions; rivers polluted from raw sewage, heavy metals,
detergents; deforestation; forest damage from air pollution and
resulting acid rain; soil contamination from heavy metals from
metallurgical plants and industrial wastes
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity,
Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography--note: strategic location near Turkish Straits; controls
key land routes from Europe to Middle East and Asia
People
Population: 8,194,772 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 16% (male 674,643; female 641,943)
15-64 years: 68% (male 2,744,634; female 2,800,816)
65 years and over: 16% (male 570,766; female 761,970) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: -0.52% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 8.71 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 13.2 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.66 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 12.37 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 72.27 years
male: 68.72 years
female: 76.03 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.23 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Bulgarian(s)
adjective: Bulgarian
Ethnic groups: Bulgarian 85%, Turk 9%, other 6%
Religions: Bulgarian Orthodox 85%, Muslim 13%, Jewish 0.8%, Roman
Catholic 0.5%, Uniate Catholic 0.2%, Protestant, Gregorian-Armenian,
and other 0.5%
Languages: Bulgarian, secondary languages closely correspond to
ethnic breakdown
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98%
male: 99%
female: 97% (1992 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Bulgaria
conventional short form: Bulgaria
Data code: BU
Government type: republic
Capital: Sofia
Administrative divisions: 9 provinces (oblasti, singular--oblast);
Burgas, Grad Sofiya, Khaskovo, Lovech, Montana, Plovdiv, Ruse,
Sofiya, Varna
Independence: 22 September 1908 (from Ottoman Empire)
National holiday: Independence Day, 3 March (1878)
Constitution: adopted 12 July 1991
Legal system: civil law and criminal law based on Roman law;
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Petar STOYANOV (since 22 January 1997);
Vice President Todor KAVALDZHIEV (since 22 January 1997)
head of government: Chairman of the Council of Ministers (Prime
Minister) Ivan Kostov (since 19 May 1997); Deputy Prime Ministers
Aleksandur BOZHKOV (since 12 February 1997), Evgeniy BAKURDZHIEV
(since 21 May 1997), Veselin METODIEV (since 21 May 1997)
cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the National Assembly
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket
by popular vote for five-year terms; election last held 27 October
and 3 November 1996 (next to be held NA 2001); chairman of the
Council of Ministers (prime minister) nominated by the president;
deputy prime ministers nominated by the prime minister
election results: Petar STOYANOV elected president; percent of
vote--Petar STOYANOV 59.73%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Narodno
Sobranie (240 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve
four-year terms)
elections: last held 19 April 1997 (next to be held NA 2001)
election results: percent of vote by party--UDF 52%, BSP 22%, ANS 7%,
Euro-left 5.5%, BBB 4.95%; seats by party--UDF 137, BSP 58, ANS 19,
Euro-left 14, BBB 12
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, chairman appointed for a
seven-year term by the president; Constitutional Court, 12 justices
appointed or elected for nine-year terms
Political parties and leaders: Bulgarian Socialist Party or BSP
(coalition led mainly by Movement for Rights and Freedoms or DPS
cochairmen]
Political pressure groups and leaders: Democratic Alliance for
the Republic or DAR; New Union for Democracy or NUD; Podkrepa Labor
Confederation; Confederation of Independent Trade Unions of Bulgaria
or CITUB; Bulgarian Agrarian National Union--United or BZNS;
Bulgarian Democratic Center; "Nikola Petkov" Bulgarian Agrarian
National Union; Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization or
IMRO; agrarian movement; numerous regional, ethnic, and national
interest groups with various agendas
International organization participation: ACCT, BIS, BSEC, CCC,
CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, G- 9, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO (pending member),
ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU,
MONUA, NAM (guest), NSG, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UNMIBH, UNMOP, UPU, WEU (associate partner), WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Philip DIMITROV
chancery: 1621 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s): New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Avis T. BOHLEN
embassy: 1 Saborna Street, Sofia
mailing address: American Embassy Sofia, Department of State,
Washington, DC 20521-5740
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of white (top),
green, and red; the national emblem formerly on the hoist side of
the white stripe has been removed--it contained a rampant lion within
a wreath of wheat ears below a red five-pointed star and above a
ribbon bearing the dates 681 (first Bulgarian state established) and
1944 (liberation from Nazi control)
Economy
Economy--overview: In April 1997, the current ruling Union of
Democratic Forces (UDF) government won pre-term parliamentary
elections and introduced an IMF currency board system which
succeeded in stabilizing the economy. The triple digit inflation of
1996 and 1997 has given way to an official consumer price increase
of 1% in 1998. Following declines in GDP in both 1996 and 1997, the
economy grew an officially estimated 4% in 1998. In September 1998,
the IMF approved a three-year Extended Fund Facility, which provides
credits worth approximately $864 million, designed to support
Bulgaria's reform efforts. The government's structural reform
program includes: (a) privatization and, where appropriate,
liquidation of state-owned enterprises (SOEs); (b) liberalization of
agricultural policies, including creating conditions for the
development of a land market; (c) reform of the country's social
insurance programs; and, (d) reforms to strengthen contract
enforcement and fight crime and corruption.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$33.6 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 4% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$4,100 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 26%
industry: 29%
services: 45% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.3%
highest 10%: 24.7% (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 3.57 million (1996 est.)
Labor force--by occupation: NA
Unemployment rate: 12.2% (1998 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $4.1 billion
expenditures: $3.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1998 est.)
Industries: machine building and metal working, food processing,
chemicals, textiles, construction materials, ferrous and nonferrous
metals
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: 41.575 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 51.17%
hydro: 6.1%
nuclear: 42.73%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 41.08 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 2.045 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 1.55 billion kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: grain, oilseed, vegetables, fruits,
tobacco; livestock
Exports: $4.5 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports--commodities: machinery and equipment; metals, minerals,
and fuels; chemicals and plastics; food, textiles (1997)
Exports--partners: Italy 12%, Germany 10%, Turkey, Greece, Russia
(1997)
Imports: $4.6 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Imports--commodities: fuels, minerals, and raw materials;
machinery and equipment; metals and ores; chemicals and plastics;
food, textiles (1997)
Imports--partners: Russia 28%, Germany 11%, Italy, Greece, US
(1997)
Debt--external: $9.3 billion (1998 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $NA
Currency: 1 lev (Lv) = 100 stotinki
Exchange rates: leva (Lv) per US$1--1,685.10 (January 1999),
1,760.36 (1998), 1,681.88 (1997), 177.89 (1996), 67.17 (1995), 54.13
(1994)
note: the official rate is pegged to the euro as of 1 January 1999
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 2,773,293 (1993 est.)
Telephone system: almost two-thirds of the lines are residential
domestic: extensive but antiquated transmission system of coaxial
cable and microwave radio relay; telephone service is available in
most villages
international: direct dialing to 36 countries; satellite earth
stations--1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region); Intelsat available
through a Greek earth station
Radio broadcast stations: AM 24, FM 93, shortwave 2 (1998)
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 33 (in addition, there are two
relays of Russian program OK-1 and two relays of TV-5 Europe) (1997)
Televisions: 2.1 million (May 1990 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 4,292 km
standard gauge: 4,047 km 1.435-m gauge (2,650 km electrified; 917 km
double track)
narrow gauge: 245 km 0.760-m gauge (1995)
Highways:
total: 36,724 km
paved: 33,786 km (including 314 km of expressways)
unpaved: 2,938 km (1997 est.)
Waterways: 470 km (1987)
Pipelines: crude oil 193 km; petroleum products 525 km; natural
gas 1,400 km (1992)
Ports and harbors: Burgas, Lom, Nesebur, Ruse, Varna, Vidin
Merchant marine:
total: 89 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,005,092 GRT/1,508,614
DWT
ships by type: bulk 44, cargo 20, chemical tanker 4, container 2,
oil tanker 8, passenger-cargo 1, railcar carrier 2, refrigerated
cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 6, short-sea passenger 1 (1998 est.)
Airports: 61 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 56
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 19
1,524 to 2,437 m: 11
under 914 m: 25 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 4 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, Border
Troops, Internal Troops
Military manpower--military age: 19 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 2,028,930 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,693,597 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 59,887 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $226.8 million (1997)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 2.2% (1997)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: twenty bilateral agreements remain
unsigned in a dispute over Bulgarian nonrecognition of Macedonian as
a language distinct from Bulgarian
Illicit drugs: major European transshipment point for Southwest
Asian heroin and, to a lesser degree, South American cocaine for the
European market; limited producer of precursor chemicals;
significant producer of amphetamines, much of which are consumed in
the Middle East
======================================================================
@Burkina Faso
------------
Geography
Location: Western Africa, north of Ghana
Geographic coordinates: 13 00 N, 2 00 W
Map references: Africa
Area:
total: 274,200 sq km
land: 273,800 sq km
water: 400 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly larger than Colorado
Land boundaries:
total: 3,192 km
border countries: Benin 306 km, Ghana 548 km, Cote d'Ivoire 584 km,
Mali 1,000 km, Niger 628 km, Togo 126 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: tropical; warm, dry winters; hot, wet summers
Terrain: mostly flat to dissected, undulating plains; hills in
west and southeast
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Mouhoun (Black Volta) River 200 m
highest point: Tena Kourou 749 m
Natural resources: manganese, limestone, marble; small deposits
of gold, antimony, copper, nickel, bauxite, lead, phosphates, zinc,
silver
Land use:
arable land: 13%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 22%
forests and woodland: 50%
other: 15% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 200 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: recurring droughts
Environment--current issues: recent droughts and desertification
severely affecting agricultural activities, population distribution,
and the economy; overgrazing; soil degradation; deforestation
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban
Geography--note: landlocked
People
Population: 11,575,898 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 48% (male 2,792,895; female 2,759,072)
15-64 years: 49% (male 2,700,253; female 2,978,168)
65 years and over: 3% (male 147,017; female 198,493) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.7% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 45.84 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 17.56 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.25 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 107.19 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 45.89 years
male: 44.97 years
female: 46.84 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.56 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Burkinabe (singular and plural)
adjective: Burkinabe
Ethnic groups: Mossi about 24%, Gurunsi, Senufo, Lobi, Bobo,
Mande, Fulani
Religions: indigenous beliefs 40%, Muslim 50%, Christian (mainly
Roman Catholic) 10%
Languages: French (official), tribal languages belonging to
Sudanic family, spoken by 90% of the population
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 19.2%
male: 29.5%
female: 9.2% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Burkina Faso
former: Upper Volta
Data code: UV
Government type: parliamentary
Capital: Ouagadougou
Administrative divisions: 30 provinces; Bam, Bazega, Bougouriba,
Boulgou, Boulkiemde, Ganzourgou, Gnagna, Gourma, Houe, Kadiogo,
Kenedougou, Komoe, Kossi, Kouritenga, Mouhoun, Namentenga, Naouri,
Oubritenga, Oudalan, Passore, Poni, Sanguie, Sanmatenga, Seno,
Sissili, Soum, Sourou, Tapoa, Yatenga, Zoundweogo
note: a new electoral code was approved by the National Assembly in
January 1997; the number of administrative provinces was increased
from 30 to 45 (Bale, Bam, Banwa, Bazega, Bougouriba, Boulgou,
Boulkiemde, Comoe, Ganzourgou, Gnagna, Gourma, Houet, Ioba, Kadiogo,
Kenedougou, Komandjari, Kompienga, Kossi, Koupelogo, Kouritenga,
Kourweogo, Leraba, Loroum, Mouhoun, Nahouri, Namentenga, Nayala,
Naumbiel, Oubritenga, Oudalan, Passore, Poni, Samentenga, Sanguie,
Seno, Sissili, Soum, Sourou, Tapoa, Tuy, Yagha, Yatenga, Ziro,
Zondomo, Zoundweogo)
Independence: 5 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday: Anniversary of the Revolution, 4 August (1983)
Constitution: 2 June 1991
Legal system: based on French civil law system and customary law
Suffrage: universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Captain Blaise COMPAORE (since 15 October
1987)
head of government: Prime Minister Kadre Desire OUEDRAOGO (since 6
February 1996)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the
recommendation of the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term;
the number of terms which a president may serve is not limited;
election last held 15 November 1998 (next to be held NA 2005); prime
minister appointed by the president with the consent of the
legislature
election results: Blaise COMPAORE reelected president with 88%
percent of the vote, with 56% of voter turnout
Legislative branch: bicameral; consists of a National Assembly or
Assemblee des Deputes Populaires (ADP) (111 seats; members are
elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and the purely
consultative Chamber of Representations or Chambre des Representants
(120 seats; members are appointed to serve three-year terms)
elections: National Assembly election last held 11 May 1997 (next to
be held NA 2002)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--CDP
101, PDP 6, RDA 2, ADF 2
Judicial branch: Supreme Court; Appeals Court
Political parties and leaders: Alliance for Democracy and
Nongma OUEDRAOGO, president]; Burkinabe Environmentalist Party or
Political pressure groups and leaders: watchdog/political action
groups throughout the country in both organizations and communities;
Burkinabe Movement for Human Rights or HBDHP; Burkinabe General
Confederation of Labor or CGTB; National Confederation of Burkinabe
Workers or CNTB; National Organization of Free Unions or ONSL; Group
of 14 February
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC,
ECA, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM,
IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU,
MINURCA, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,
WADB, WAEMU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Gaetan Rimwangulya OUEDRAOGO
chancery: 2340 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Sharon P. WILKINSON
embassy: Avenue Raoul Follerau, Ouagadougou
mailing address: 01 B. P. 35, Ouagadougou
Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and
green with a yellow five-pointed star in the center; uses the
popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia
Economy
Economy--overview: One of the poorest countries in the world,
landlocked Burkina Faso has a high population density, few natural
resources, and a fragile soil. About 85% of the population is
engaged in (mainly subsistence) agriculture which is highly
vulnerable to variations in rainfall. Industry remains dominated by
unprofitable government-controlled corporations. Following the
African franc currency devaluation in January 1994 the government
updated its development program in conjunction with international
agencies, and exports and economic growth have increased.
Maintenance of its macroeconomic progress in 1999-2000 depends on
continued low inflation, reduction in the trade deficit, and reforms
designed to encourage private investment.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$11.6 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 6% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,000 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 35%
industry: 25%
services: 40% (1997)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.5% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 4.679 million (persons 10 years old and over,
according to a sample survey taken in 1991)
note: a large part of the male labor force migrates annually to
neighboring countries for seasonal employment
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 85%, industry, commerce,
services, government (1998)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $277 million
expenditures: $492 million, including capital expenditures of $233
million (1995 est.)
Industries: cotton lint, beverages, agricultural processing,
soap, cigarettes, textiles, gold
Industrial production growth rate: 4.2% (1995)
Electricity--production: 220 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 63.64%
hydro: 36.36%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 220 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: peanuts, shea nuts, sesame, cotton,
sorghum, millet, corn, rice; livestock
Exports: $400 million (f.o.b., 1997 est.)
Exports--commodities: cotton, animal products, gold
Exports--partners: Cote d'Ivoire, France, Italy, Mali
Imports: $700 million (f.o.b., 1997 est.)
Imports--commodities: machinery, food products, petroleum
Imports--partners: Cote d'Ivoire, France, Togo, Nigeria
Debt--external: $715 million (December 1996)
Economic aid--recipient: $484.1 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100
centimes
Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per
US$1--560.01 (December 1998), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55
(1996), 499.15 (1995), 555.20 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 21,000 (1993 est.)
Telephone system: all services only fair
domestic: microwave radio relay, open wire, and radiotelephone
communication stations
international: satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 17, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1997)
Televisions: 49,000 (1991 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 622 km (517 km from Ouagadougou to the Cote d'Ivoire border
and 105 km from Ouagadougou to Kaya)
narrow gauge: 622 km 1.000-m gauge (1995 est.)
Highways:
total: 12,506 km
paved: 2,001 km
unpaved: 10,505 km (1995 est.)
Ports and harbors: none
Airports: 33 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 2
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 31
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 13
under 914 m: 16 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Air Force, National Gendarmerie,
National Police, People's Militia
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 2,399,724 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,230,713 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $66 million (1996)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 2% (1996)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
======================================================================
@Burma
-----
Geography
Location: Southeastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the
Bay of Bengal, between Bangladesh and Thailand
Geographic coordinates: 22 00 N, 98 00 E
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area:
total: 678,500 sq km
land: 657,740 sq km
water: 20,760 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than Texas
Land boundaries:
total: 5,876 km
border countries: Bangladesh 193 km, China 2,185 km, India 1,463 km,
Laos 235 km, Thailand 1,800 km
Coastline: 1,930 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical monsoon; cloudy, rainy, hot, humid summers
(southwest monsoon, June to September); less cloudy, scant rainfall,
mild temperatures, lower humidity during winter (northeast monsoon,
December to April)
Terrain: central lowlands ringed by steep, rugged highlands
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Andaman Sea 0 m
highest point: Hkakabo Razi 5,881 m
Natural resources: petroleum, timber, tin, antimony, zinc,
copper, tungsten, lead, coal, some marble, limestone, precious
stones, natural gas
Land use:
arable land: 15%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 1%
forests and woodland: 49%
other: 34% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 10,680 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: destructive earthquakes and cyclones; flooding
and landslides common during rainy season (June to September);
periodic droughts
Environment--current issues: deforestation; industrial pollution
of air, soil, and water; inadequate sanitation and water treatment
contribute to disease
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Law of the
Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography--note: strategic location near major Indian Ocean
shipping lanes
People
Population: 48,081,302 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 36% (male 8,883,099; female 8,542,087)
15-64 years: 60% (male 14,343,888; female 14,293,233)
65 years and over: 4% (male 906,517; female 1,112,478) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.61% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 28.48 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 12.39 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 76.25 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 54.74 years
male: 53.24 years
female: 56.32 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.63 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Burmese (singular and plural)
adjective: Burmese
Ethnic groups: Burman 68%, Shan 9%, Karen 7%, Rakhine 4%, Chinese
3%, Mon 2%, Indian 2%, other 5%
Religions: Buddhist 89%, Christian 4% (Baptist 3%, Roman Catholic
1%), Muslim 4%, animist beliefs 1%, other 2%
Languages: Burmese, minority ethnic groups have their own
languages
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 83.1%
male: 88.7%
female: 77.7% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Union of Burma
conventional short form: Burma
local long form: Pyidaungzu Myanma Naingngandaw (translated by the
US Government as Union of Myanma and by the Burmese as Union of
Myanmar)
local short form: Myanma Naingngandaw
former: Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma
Data code: BM
Government type: military regime
Capital: Rangoon (regime refers to the capital as Yangon)
Administrative divisions: 7 divisions* (yin-mya, singular--yin)
and 7 states (pyine-mya, singular--pyine); Chin State, Ayeyarwady*,
Bago*, Kachin State, Kayin State, Kayah State, Magway*, Mandalay*,
Mon State, Rakhine State, Sagaing*, Shan State, Tanintharyi*, Yangon*
Independence: 4 January 1948 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 4 January (1948)
Constitution: 3 January 1974 (suspended since 18 September 1988);
national convention started on 9 January 1993 to draft a new
constitution; chapter headings and three of 15 sections have been
approved
Legal system: does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Prime Minister and Chairman of the State Peace and
Development Council Gen. THAN SHWE (since 23 April 1992); note--the
prime minister is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: Prime Minister and Chairman of the State Peace
and Development Council Gen. THAN SHWE (since 23 April 1992);
note--the prime minister is both the chief of state and head of
government
cabinet: State Peace and Development Council (SPDC); military junta,
so named 15 November 1997, which initially assumed power 18
September 1988 under the name State Law and Order Restoration
Council; the SPDC oversees the cabinet
elections: none; the prime minister assumed power upon resignation
of the former prime minister
Legislative branch: unicameral People's Assembly or Pyithu
Hluttaw (485 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve
four-year terms)
elections: last held 27 May 1990, but Assembly never convened
election results: percent of vote by party--NA%; seats by party--NLD
396, NUP 10, other 79
Judicial branch: limited; remnants of the British-era legal
system in place, but there is no guarantee of a fair public trial;
the judiciary is not independent of the executive
Political parties and leaders: National Unity Party or NUP
SHWE, chairman, AUNG SAN SUU KYI, general secretary]; Union
Solidarity and Development Association or USDA (proregime, a social
eight minor legal parties
Political pressure groups and leaders: National Coalition
individuals legitimately elected to the People's Assembly but not
recognized by the military regime; the group fled to a border area
and joined with insurgents in December 1990 to form a parallel
government; Kachin Independence Army or KIA; United Wa State Army or
UWSA; Karen National Union or KNU; several Shan factions; All Burma
Student Democratic Front or ABSDF
International organization participation: AsDB, ASEAN, CCC, CP,
ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU,
NAM, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador TIN WINN
chancery: 2300 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Kent M.
WIEDEMANN
embassy: 581 Merchant Street, Rangoon (GPO 521)
mailing address: Box B, APO AP 96546
Flag description: red with a blue rectangle in the upper
hoist-side corner bearing, all in white, 14 five-pointed stars
encircling a cogwheel containing a stalk of rice; the 14 stars
represent the 14 administrative divisions
Economy
Economy--overview: Burma has a mixed economy with private activity
dominant in agriculture, light industry, and transport, and with
substantial state-controlled activity, mainly in energy, heavy
industry, and the rice trade. Government policy in the last 10
years, 1989-98, has aimed at revitalizing the economy after three
decades of tight central planning. Thus, private activity has
markedly increased; foreign investment has been encouraged, so far
with moderate success; and efforts continue to increase the
efficiency of state enterprises. Published estimates of Burma's
foreign trade are greatly understated because of the volume of
black-market trade. A major ongoing problem is the failure to
achieve monetary and fiscal stability. Although Burma remains a poor
Asian country, its rich resources furnish the potential for
substantial long-term increases in income, exports, and living
standards. The short-term outlook is for continued sluggish growth
because of internal unrest, minimal foreign investment, and the
large trade deficit.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$56.1 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 1.1% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,200 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 59%
industry: 11%
services: 30% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 50% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 18.8 million (FY95/96 est.)
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 65.2%, industry 14.3%,
trade 10.1%, government 6.3%, other 4.1% (FY88/89 est.)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $7.9 billion
expenditures: $12.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $5.7
billion (FY96/97)
Industries: agricultural processing; textiles and footwear; wood
and wood products; copper, tin, tungsten, iron; construction
materials; pharmaceuticals; fertilizer
Industrial production growth rate: 9.2% (FY95/96 est.)
Electricity--production: 3.75 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 61.33%
hydro: 38.67%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 3.75 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: paddy rice, corn, oilseed, sugarcane,
pulses; hardwood
Exports: $940 million (1997)
Exports--commodities: pulses and beans, teak, rice, rubber,
hardwood
Exports--partners: India 17%, Singapore 14%, China 11%, Thailand
9%, Japan 4% (1997)
Imports: $2.2 billion (1997)
Imports--commodities: machinery, transport equipment, construction
materials, food products
Imports--partners: Singapore 30%, Japan 17%, China 10%, Thailand
10%, Malaysia 7% (1997)
Debt--external: $4.3 billion (1997 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $156.9 million (1995)
Currency: 1 kyat (K) = 100 pyas
Exchange rates: kyats (K) per US$1--6.1163 (January 1999), 6.3432
(1998), 6.2418 (1997), 5.9176 (1996), 5.6670 (1995), 5.9749 (1994);
unofficial--310-350 (1998)
Fiscal year: 1 April--31 March
Communications
Telephones: 122,195 (1993 est.)
Telephone system: meets minimum requirements for local and
intercity service for business and government; international service
is good
domestic: NA
international: satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 3 (1998)
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 2 (1998 est.)
Televisions: 88,000 (1992 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 3,740 km
narrow gauge: 3,740 km 1.000-m gauge (1997)
Highways:
total: 28,200 km
paved: 3,440 km
unpaved: 24,760 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 12,800 km; 3,200 km navigable by large commercial
vessels
Pipelines: crude oil 1,343 km; natural gas 330 km
Ports and harbors: Bassein, Bhamo, Chauk, Mandalay, Moulmein,
Myitkyina, Rangoon, Akyab (Sittwe), Tavoy
Merchant marine:
total: 41 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 464,478 GRT/695,923 DWT
ships by type: bulk 14, cargo 20, container 2, oil tanker 3,
passenger-cargo 2
note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships of 2 countries:
Japan owns 2 ships, US 3 (1998 est.)
Airports: 80 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 11
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 69
over 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 12
914 to 1,523 m: 23
under 914 m: 32 (1998 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force
Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 12,475,987
females age 15-49: 12,224,947 (1999 est.)
note: both sexes liable for military service
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 6,660,309
females age 15-49: 6,510,730 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 496,912
females: 477,803 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $3.904 billion (FY97/98)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 2.1% (FY97/98)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: sporadic conflict with Thailand over
alignment of border
Illicit drugs: world's largest producer of illicit opium
(cultivation in 1998--130,300 hectares, a 16% decline from 1997;
potential production--1,750 metric tons, down 26% due to drought and
the first eradication effort since the current government took power
in 1987) and a minor producer of cannabis for the international drug
trade; surrender of drug warlord KHUN SA's Mong Tai Army in January
1996 was hailed by Rangoon as a major counternarcotics success, but
lack of serious government commitment and resources continues to
hinder the overall antidrug effort; growing role in the production
of methamphetamines for regional consumption
======================================================================
@Burundi
-------
Introduction
Background: Since the end of the Belgian trusteeship in 1962,
Burundi has suffered from ethnic uprisings, coups, and other
societal dislocations. In a series of waves since October 1993,
hundreds of thousands of refugees have fled the ethnic violence
between the Hutu and Tutsi factions in Burundi and have crossed into
Rwanda, Tanzania, and Zaire (now called the Democratic Republic of
the Congo or DROC). Since October 1996, an estimated 120,000
Burundian Hutu refugees from the DROC have been compelled to return
to Burundi because of insecurity in the region. Continuing ethnic
violence with the Tutsi has caused additional Hutu to flee to
Tanzania, thus raising their numbers in the United Nations Office of
the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) camps in that country to
about 260,000. Burundian troops have joined armies from Rwanda and
Uganda and Congolese Tutsi in trying to overthrow DROC President
KABILA and restore security to their borders with the Democratic
Republic of the Congo.
Geography
Location: Central Africa, east of Democratic Republic of the Congo
Geographic coordinates: 3 30 S, 30 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area:
total: 27,830 sq km
land: 25,650 sq km
water: 2,180 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than Maryland
Land boundaries:
total: 974 km
border countries: Democratic Republic of the Congo 233 km, Rwanda
290 km, Tanzania 451 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: equatorial; high plateau with considerable altitude
variation (772 m to 2,760 m); average annual temperature varies with
altitude from 23 to 17 degrees centigrade but is generally moderate
as the average altitude is about 1,700 m; average annual rainfall is
about 150 cm; wet seasons from February to May and September to
November, and dry seasons from June to August and December to January
Terrain: hilly and mountainous, dropping to a plateau in east,
some plains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Lake Tanganyika 772 m
highest point: Mount Heha 2,670 m
Natural resources: nickel, uranium, rare earth oxides, peat,
cobalt, copper, platinum (not yet exploited), vanadium
Land use:
arable land: 44%
permanent crops: 9%
permanent pastures: 36%
forests and woodland: 3%
other: 8% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 140 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: flooding, landslides
Environment--current issues: soil erosion as a result of
overgrazing and the expansion of agriculture into marginal lands;
deforestation (little forested land remains because of uncontrolled
cutting of trees for fuel); habitat loss threatens wildlife
populations
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban
Geography--note: landlocked; straddles crest of the Nile-Congo
watershed
People
Population: 5,735,937 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 47% (male 1,349,995; female 1,345,201)
15-64 years: 50% (male 1,392,880; female 1,479,835)
65 years and over: 3% (male 69,748; female 98,278) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.54% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 41.27 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 17.23 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 11.33 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 99.36 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 45.44 years
male: 43.54 years
female: 47.41 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.33 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Burundian(s)
adjective: Burundi
Ethnic groups: Hutu (Bantu) 85%, Tutsi (Hamitic) 14%, Twa (Pygmy)
1%, Europeans 3,000, South Asians 2,000
Religions: Christian 67% (Roman Catholic 62%, Protestant 5%),
indigenous beliefs 32%, Muslim 1%
Languages: Kirundi (official), French (official), Swahili (along
Lake Tanganyika and in the Bujumbura area)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 35.3%
male: 49.3%
female: 22.5% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Burundi
conventional short form: Burundi
local long form: Republika y'u Burundi
local short form: Burundi
Data code: BY
Government type: republic
Capital: Bujumbura
Administrative divisions: 15 provinces; Bubanza, Bujumbura,
Bururi, Cankuzo, Cibitoke, Gitega, Karuzi, Kayanza, Kirundo,
Makamba, Muramvya, Muyinga, Ngozi, Rutana, Ruyigi
note: there may be a new province named Mwaro
Independence: 1 July 1962 (from UN trusteeship under Belgian
administration)
National holiday: Independence Day, 1 July (1962)
Constitution: 13 March 1992; provided for establishment of a
plural political system; supplanted on 6 June 1998 by a Transitional
Constitution which enlarged the National Assembly and created two
vice presidents
Legal system: based on German and Belgian civil codes and
customary law; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: NA years of age; universal adult
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Pierre BUYOYA (interim president since 27
September 1996 and officially sworn in on 11 June 1998) is chief of
state and head of government and is assisted by First Vice President
Frederic BAMVUGINYUMVIRA (since NA) and Second Vice President
Mathias SINAMENYA (since NA); note--former President NTIBANTUNGANYA
was overthrown in a coup on 25 July 1996
head of government: President Pierre BUYOYA is both chief of state
and head of government; assisted by First Vice President Frederic
BAMVUGINYUMVIRA (since NA) and Second Vice President Mathias
SINAMENYA (since NA)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by president
elections: NA
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee
Nationale (81 seats; note--new Transitional Constitution calls for
121 seats; members are elected by popular vote on a proportional
basis to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 29 June 1993 (next was scheduled to be held in
1998, but suspended by presidential decree in 1996)
election results: percent of vote by party--FRODEBU 71%, UPRONA
21.4%; seats by party--FRODEBU 65, UPRONA 16; other parties won too
small shares of the vote to win seats in the assembly
Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Cour Supreme
Political parties and leaders: Unity for National Progress or
note: opposition parties, legalized in March 1992, include Burundi
African Alliance for the Salvation or ABASA; Rally for Democracy and
BAGAZA]
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC,
CEEAC, CEPGL, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU,
NAM, OAU, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas NDIKUMANA
chancery: Suite 212, 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Morris N. HUGHES, Jr.
embassy: Avenue des Etats-Unis, Bujumbura
mailing address: B. P. 1720, Bujumbura
Flag description: divided by a white diagonal cross into red
panels (top and bottom) and green panels (hoist side and outer side)
with a white disk superimposed at the center bearing three red
six-pointed stars outlined in green arranged in a triangular design
(one star above, two stars below)
Economy
Economy--overview: Burundi is a landlocked, resource-poor country
with a poorly developed manufacturing sector. The economy is
predominately agricultural with roughly 90% of the population
dependent on subsistence agriculture. Its economic health depends on
the coffee crop, which accounts for 80% of foreign exchange
earnings. The ability to pay for imports therefore rests largely on
the vagaries of the climate and the international coffee market.
Since October 1993 the nation has suffered from massive ethnic-based
violence which has resulted in the death of perhaps 250,000 persons
and the displacement of about 800,000 others. Foods, medicines, and
electricity remain in short supply.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$4.1 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 4.5% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$740 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 58%
industry: 18%
services: 24% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: 36.2% (1990 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 17% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 1.9 million
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 93%, government 4%,
industry and commerce 1.5%, services 1.5% (1983 est.)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $NA
expenditures: $165 million, including capital expenditures of $42.6
million (1998 est.)
Industries: light consumer goods such as blankets, shoes, soap;
assembly of imported components; public works construction; food
processing
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: 122 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 1.64%
hydro: 98.36%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 152 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 30 million kWh (1996)
note: imports some electricity from Democratic Republic of the Congo
Agriculture--products: coffee, cotton, tea, corn, sorghum, sweet
potatoes, bananas, manioc (tapioca); beef, milk, hides
Exports: $49 million (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports--commodities: coffee, tea, cotton, hides
Exports--partners: UK, Germany, Benelux, Switzerland (1997)
Imports: $102 million f.o.b., 1998)
Imports--commodities: capital goods, petroleum products,
foodstuffs, consumer goods
Imports--partners: Benelux, France, Germany, Japan (1997)
Debt--external: $1.1 billion (1995 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $286.1 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Burundi franc (FBu) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: Burundi francs (FBu) per US$1--508 (January 1999),
477.77 (1998), 352.35 (1997), 302.75 (1996), 249.76 (1995), 252.66
(1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 7,200 (1987 est.)
Telephone system: primitive system
domestic: sparse system of open wire, radiotelephone communications,
and low-capacity microwave radio relay
international: satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1997)
Televisions: 4,500 (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 14,480 km
paved: 1,028 km
unpaved: 13,452 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: Lake Tanganyika
Ports and harbors: Bujumbura
Airports: 4 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army (includes naval and air units),
paramilitary Gendarmerie
Military manpower--military age: 16 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 1,260,909 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 658,115 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 73,271 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $25 million (1993)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 2.6% (1993)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
======================================================================
@Cambodia
--------
Geography
Location: Southeastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand,
between Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos
Geographic coordinates: 13 00 N, 105 00 E
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area:
total: 181,040 sq km
land: 176,520 sq km
water: 4,520 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than Oklahoma
Land boundaries:
total: 2,572 km
border countries: Laos 541 km, Thailand 803 km, Vietnam 1,228 km
Coastline: 443 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; rainy, monsoon season (May to November); dry
season (December to April); little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain: mostly low, flat plains; mountains in southwest and north
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Gulf of Thailand 0 m
highest point: Phnum Aoral 1,810 m
Natural resources: timber, gemstones, some iron ore, manganese,
phosphates, hydropower potential
Land use:
arable land: 13%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 11%
forests and woodland: 66%
other: 10% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 920 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: monsoonal rains (June to November); flooding;
occasional droughts
Environment--current issues: illegal logging activities throughout
the country and strip mining for gems in the western region along
the border with Thailand are resulting in habitat loss and declining
biodiversity (in particular, destruction of mangrove swamps
threatens natural fisheries); soil erosion; in rural areas, a
majority of the population does not have access to potable water;
toxic waste delivery from Taiwan sparked unrest in Kampong Saom
(Sihanoukville) in December 1998
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Marine Life Conservation, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 94
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping
Geography--note: a land of paddies and forests dominated by the
Mekong River and Tonle Sap
People
Population: 11,626,520 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 45% (male 2,667,768; female 2,587,590)
15-64 years: 52% (male 2,821,772; female 3,197,604)
65 years and over: 3% (male 143,016; female 208,770) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.49% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 41.05 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 16.2 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.88 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 105.06 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 48.24 years
male: 46.81 years
female: 49.75 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.81 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Cambodian(s)
adjective: Cambodian
Ethnic groups: Khmer 90%, Vietnamese 5%, Chinese 1%, other 4%
Religions: Theravada Buddhism 95%, other 5%
Languages: Khmer (official), French
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 35%
male: 48%
female: 22% (1990 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Cambodia
conventional short form: Cambodia
local long form: Preahreacheanachakr Kampuchea
local short form: Kampuchea
Data code: CB
Government type: multiparty liberal democracy under a
constitutional monarchy established in September 1993
Capital: Phnom Penh
Administrative divisions: 20 provinces (khett, singular and
plural) and 3 municipalities* (krong, singular and plural); Banteay
Mean Cheay, Batdambang, Kampong Cham, Kampong Chhnang, Kampong Spoe,
Kampong Thum, Kampot, Kandal, Kaoh Kong, Keb*, Krachen, Mondol Kiri,
Otdar Mean Cheay, Phnum Penh*, Pouthisat, Preah Seihanu*
(Sihanoukville), Preah Vihear, Prey Veng, Rotanah Kiri, Siem Reab,
Stoeng Treng, Svay Rieng, Takev
note: there may be a new municipality called Pailin
Independence: 9 November 1953 (from France)
National holiday: Independence Day, 9 November (1953)
Constitution: promulgated 21 September 1993
Legal system: primarily a civil law mixture of French-influenced
codes from the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia
(UNTAC) period, royal decrees, and acts of the legislature, with
influences of customary law and remnants of communist legal theory;
increasing influence of common law in recent years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: King Norodom SIHANOUK (reinstated 24 September 1993)
head of government: Prime Minister HUN SEN (since 30 November 1998)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister appointed
by the monarch after a vote of confidence by the National Assembly
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (122 seats;
members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 26 July 1998 (next to be held NA 2003)
election results: percent of vote by party--CPP 41%, FUNCINPEC 32%,
SRP 14%, other 13%; seats by party--CPP 64, FUNCINPEC 43, SRP 15
note: pursuant to the coalition agreement signed in November 1998, a
Senate is being created and the legislature will thus become
bicameral
Judicial branch: Supreme Council of the Magistracy, provided for
in the constitution, was formed in December 1997; a Supreme Court
and lower courts exercise judicial authority
Political parties and leaders: National United Front for an
Independent, Neutral, Peaceful, and Cooperative Cambodia or
International organization participation: ACCT, AsDB, ASEAN
(observer), CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol,
IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, NAM, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador VAR HUOTH
chancery: 4500 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Kenneth M. QUINN
embassy: 27 EO Street 240, Phnom Penh
mailing address: Box P, APO AP 96546
Flag description: three horizontal bands of blue (top), red
(double width), and blue with a white three-towered temple
representing Angkor Wat outlined in black in the center of the red
band
Economy
Economy--overview: After four years of solid macroeconomic
performance, Cambodia's economy slowed dramatically in 1997-98 due
to the regional economic crisis, civil violence, and political
infighting. Foreign investment fell off, and tourism has declined
from 1996 levels. Also, in 1998 the main harvest was hit by drought.
The long-term development of the economy after decades of war
remains a daunting challenge. Human resource levels in the
population are low, particularly in the poverty-ridden countryside.
The almost total lack of basic infrastructure in the countryside
will continue to hinder development. Recurring political instability
and corruption within government discourage foreign investment and
delay foreign aid. Even so, growth may resume in 1999 at, say, 2%.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$7.8 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 0% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$700 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 51%
industry: 15%
services: 34% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 15% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 2.5 million to 3 million
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 80% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $261 million
expenditures: $496 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1995 est.)
Industries: rice milling, fishing, wood and wood products,
rubber, cement, gem mining, textiles
Industrial production growth rate: 7% (1995 est.)
Electricity--production: 195 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 61.54%
hydro: 38.46%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 195 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: rice, rubber, corn, vegetables
Exports: $736 million (f.o.b., 1997 est.)
Exports--commodities: timber, garments, rubber, soybeans, sesame
Exports--partners: Singapore, Japan, Thailand, Hong Kong,
Indonesia, Malaysia, US
Imports: $1.1 billion (f.o.b., 1997 est.)
Imports--commodities: cigarettes, gold, construction materials,
petroleum products, machinery, motor vehicles
Imports--partners: Singapore, Vietnam, Japan, Australia, Hong
Kong, Indonesia, Thailand
Debt--external: $2.2 billion (1996 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $569.8 million (1995)
Currency: 1 new riel (CR) = 100 sen
Exchange rates: riels (CR) per US$1--3,772.0 (January 1999),
3,744.4 (1998), 2,946.3 (1997), 2,624.1 (1996), 2,450.8 (1995),
2,545.3 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 7,000 (1981 est.)
Telephone system: adequate landline and/or cellular service in
Phnom Penh and other provincial cities; rural areas have little
telephone service
domestic: NA
international: adequate but expensive landline and cellular service
available to all countries from Phnom Penh and major provincial
cities; satellite earth station--1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean Region)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 7, FM 3, shortwave 3 (1998)
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 1 government-operated station and
four commercial stations broadcasting to Phnom Penh and major
provincial cities via relay (1998)
Televisions: 800,000 (1996 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 603 km
narrow gauge: 603 km 1.000-m gauge
Highways:
total: 35,769 km
paved: 4,165 km
unpaved: 31,604 km (1997 est.)
Waterways: 3,700 km navigable all year to craft drawing 0.6 m;
282 km navigable to craft drawing 1.8 m
Ports and harbors: Kampong Saom (Sihanoukville), Kampot, Krong
Kaoh Kong, Phnom Penh
Merchant marine:
total: 141 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 598,867 GRT/841,240 DWT
ships by type: barge carrier 1, bulk 16, cargo 108, container 4,
livestock carrier 2, multifunctional large-load carrier 1, oil
tankers 1, refrigerated cargo 4, roll-on/roll-off cargo 4
note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships of 8 countries:
Aruba 1, Cyprus 7, Egypt 1, South Korea 1, Malta 1, Panama 1, Russia
5, Singapore 1 (1998 est.)
Airports: 20 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 7
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 13
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 10 (1998 est.)
Heliports: 3 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF)--created in
1993 by the merger of the Cambodian People's Armed Forces and the
two noncommunist resistance armies
note: there are also resistance forces comprised of the Khmer Rouge
(also known as the National United Army or NUA) and a separate
royalist resistance movement
Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 2,562,112 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,428,523 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 119,839 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $85.3 million (1998)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 2.4% (1998)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: offshore islands and sections of the
boundary with Vietnam are in dispute; maritime boundary with Vietnam
not defined; parts of border with Thailand are indefinite; maritime
boundary with Thailand not clearly defined
Illicit drugs: transshipment site for Golden Triangle heroin;
possible money laundering; narcotics-related corruption reportedly
involving some in the government, military, and police; possible
small-scale opium, heroin, and amphetamine production; large
producer of cannabis for the international market
======================================================================
@Cameroon
--------
Geography
Location: Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Biafra, between
Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria
Geographic coordinates: 6 00 N, 12 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area:
total: 475,440 sq km
land: 469,440 sq km
water: 6,000 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly larger than California
Land boundaries:
total: 4,591 km
border countries: Central African Republic 797 km, Chad 1,094 km,
Republic of the Congo 523 km, Equatorial Guinea 189 km, Gabon 298
km, Nigeria 1,690 km
Coastline: 402 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 50 nm
Climate: varies with terrain, from tropical along coast to
semiarid and hot in north
Terrain: diverse, with coastal plain in southwest, dissected
plateau in center, mountains in west, plains in north
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Fako 4,095 m
Natural resources: petroleum, bauxite, iron ore, timber,
hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 13%
permanent crops: 2%
permanent pastures: 4%
forests and woodland: 78%
other: 3% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 210 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: recent volcanic activity with release of
poisonous gases
Environment--current issues: water-borne diseases are prevalent;
deforestation; overgrazing; desertification; poaching; overfishing
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83,
Tropical Timber 94
signed, but not ratified: Nuclear Test Ban
Geography--note: sometimes referred to as the hinge of Africa
People
Population: 15,456,092 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 46% (male 3,562,553; female 3,528,778)
15-64 years: 51% (male 3,907,946; female 3,943,035)
65 years and over: 3% (male 231,521; female 282,259) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.79% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 41.84 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 13.95 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1,000 population; note--there
may be some migration but figures are not available
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 75.69 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 51.32 years
male: 49.75 years
female: 52.94 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.8 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Cameroonian(s)
adjective: Cameroonian
Ethnic groups: Cameroon Highlanders 31%, Equatorial Bantu 19%,
Kirdi 11%, Fulani 10%, Northwestern Bantu 8%, Eastern Nigritic 7%,
other African 13%, non-African less than 1%
Religions: indigenous beliefs 51%, Christian 33%, Muslim 16%
Languages: 24 major African language groups, English (official),
French (official)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 63.4%
male: 75%
female: 52.1% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Cameroon
conventional short form: Cameroon
former: French Cameroon
Data code: CM
Government type: unitary republic; multiparty presidential regime
(opposition parties legalized in 1990)
Capital: Yaounde
Administrative divisions: 10 provinces; Adamaoua, Centre, Est,
Extreme-Nord, Littoral, Nord, Nord-Ouest, Ouest, Sud, Sud-Ouest
Independence: 1 January 1960 (from UN trusteeship under French
administration)
National holiday: National Day, 20 May (1972)
Constitution: 20 May 1972
Legal system: based on French civil law system, with common law
influence; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Paul BIYA (since 6 November 1982)
head of government: Prime Minister Peter Mafany MUSONGE (since 19
September 1996)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term;
election last held 12 October 1997 (next to be held NA October
2004); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: President Paul BIYA reelected; percent of
vote--Paul BIYA 93%; note--supporters of the opposition candidates
boycotted the elections, making a comparison of vote shares
relatively meaningless
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee
Nationale (180 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to
serve five-year terms; note--the president can either lengthen or
shorten the term of the legislature)
elections: last held 11 May 1997 (next to be held NA 2002)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--CDPM
109, SDF 43, UNDP 13, UDC 5, UPC-K 1, MDR 1, MLJC 1; note--7
contested seats will be filled in an election at a time to be set by
the Supreme Court
note: the constitution calls for an upper chamber for the
legislature, to be called Senate, which the government proposed to
establish in 1998
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the
president
Political parties and leaders: Cameroon People's Democratic
Movement or CPDM (government-controlled and the only party until
major opposition parties: Cameroonian Democratic Union or UDC
Frederick KODOG]; Union of Cameroonian Democratic Forces or UFOC
Political pressure groups and leaders: Alliance for Change or
general]
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC,
C, CCC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-19, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat,
Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, PCA, UDEAC, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNITAR, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO,
WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Jerome MENDOUGA
chancery: 2349 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador John M. YATES
embassy: Rue Nachtigal, Yaounde
mailing address: B. P. 817, Yaounde; pouch: American Embassy,
Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-2520
Flag description: three equal vertical bands of green (hoist
side), red, and yellow with a yellow five-pointed star centered in
the red band; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia
Economy
Economy--overview: Because of its oil resources and favorable
agricultural conditions, Cameroon has one of the best-endowed
primary commodity economies in sub-Saharan Africa. Still, it faces
many of the serious problems facing other underdeveloped countries,
such as a top-heavy civil service and a generally unfavorable
climate for business enterprise. Since 1990, the government has
embarked on various IMF and World Bank programs designed to spur
business investment, increase efficiency in agriculture, improve
trade, and recapitalize the nation's banks. The government, however,
has failed to press forward vigorously with these programs. The
latest enhanced structural adjustment agreement was signed in
October 1997; the parties hope this will prove more successful, yet
government mismanagement and corruption remain problems. Inflation
has been brought back under control. Progress toward privatization
of remaining state industry may support economic growth in 1999-2000.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$29.6 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 5% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$2,000 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 42%
industry: 22%
services: 36% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: 40% (1984 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.5% (1998 est.)
Labor force: NA
Unemployment rate: 30% (1998 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $2.23 billion
expenditures: $2.23 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY96/97 est.)
Industries: petroleum production and refining, food processing,
light consumer goods, textiles, lumber
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: 2.73 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 2.93%
hydro: 97.07%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 2.73 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: coffee, cocoa, cotton, rubber, bananas,
oilseed, grains, root starches; livestock; timber
Exports: $1.6 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports--commodities: crude oil and petroleum products, lumber,
cocoa beans, aluminum, coffee, cotton
Exports--partners: Italy 25%, Spain 20%, France 16%, Netherlands
7% (1997 est.)
Imports: $1.3 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports--commodities: machines and electrical equipment, transport
equipment, fuel, food
Imports--partners: France 25%, Nigeria 8%, US 8%, Germany 6% (1997
est.)
Debt--external: $8.7 billion (1998 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $606.1 million (1995); note?France signed
two loan agreements totaling $55 million in September 1997, and the
Paris Club agreed in October 1997 to reduce the official debt by 50%
and to reschedule it on favorable terms with a consolidation of
payments due through 2000
Currency: 1 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100
centimes
Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per
US$1--575 (January 1999), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55
(1996), 499.15 (1995), 555.20 (1994)
Fiscal year: 1 July--30 June
Communications
Telephones: 36,737 (1991 est.)
Telephone system: available only to business and government
domestic: cable, microwave radio relay, and tropospheric scatter
international: satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 11, FM 8, shortwave 3 (1998)
Radios: 6 million (1998 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1998)
Televisions: 15,000 (1998)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 1,104 km
narrow gauge: 1,104 km 1.000-m gauge (1995 est.)
Highways:
total: 34,300 km
paved: 4,288 km
unpaved: 30,012 km (1995 est.)
Waterways: 2,090 km; of decreasing importance
Ports and harbors: Bonaberi, Douala, Garoua, Kribi, Tiko
Airports: 52 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 11
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 41
1,524 to 2,437 m: 8
914 to 1,523 m: 21
under 914 m: 12 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy (includes Naval Infantry), Air
Force, National Gendarmerie, Presidential Guard
Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 3,388,643 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,716,285 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 165,670 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $155 million (FY98/99)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 1.4% (FY98/99)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: delimitation of international boundaries
in the vicinity of Lake Chad, the lack of which led to border
incidents in the past, is completed and awaits ratification by
Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria; dispute with Nigeria over land
and maritime boundaries around the Bakasi Peninsula and Lake Chad is
currently before the International Court of Justice
======================================================================
@Canada
------
Introduction
Background: A land of vast distances and rich natural resources,
from 1867 on Canada has enjoyed de facto independence while
retaining, even to the present day, certain formal ties to the
British crown. Economically and technologically the nation has
developed in parallel with the US, its neighbor to the south across
an unfortified border. Its paramount political problem continues to
be the relationship of the province of Quebec, with its
French-speaking residents and unique culture, to the remainder of
the country.
Geography
Location: Northern North America, bordering the North Atlantic
Ocean and North Pacific Ocean, north of the conterminous US
Geographic coordinates: 60 00 N, 95 00 W
Map references: North America
Area:
total: 9,976,140 sq km
land: 9,220,970 sq km
water: 755,170 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly larger than the US
Land boundaries:
total: 8,893 km
border countries: US 8,893 km (includes 2,477 km with Alaska)
Coastline: 243,791 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: varies from temperate in south to subarctic and arctic
in north
Terrain: mostly plains with mountains in west and lowlands in
southeast
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Logan 5,950 m
Natural resources: nickel, zinc, copper, gold, lead, molybdenum,
potash, silver, fish, timber, wildlife, coal, petroleum, natural gas
Land use:
arable land: 5%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 3%
forests and woodland: 54%
other: 38% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 7,100 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: continuous permafrost in north is a serious
obstacle to development; cyclonic storms form east of the Rocky
Mountains, a result of the mixing of air masses from the Arctic,
Pacific, and North American interior, and produce most of the
country's rain and snow
Environment--current issues: air pollution and resulting acid rain
severely affecting lakes and damaging forests; metal smelting,
coal-burning utilities, and vehicle emissions impacting on
agricultural and forest productivity; ocean waters becoming
contaminated due to agricultural, industrial, mining, and forestry
activities
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85,
Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate
Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical
Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Law
of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation
Geography--note: second-largest country in world (after Russia);
strategic location between Russia and US via north polar route;
nearly 90% of the population is concentrated within 160 km of the
US/Canada border
People
Population: 31,006,347 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 20% (male 3,105,944; female 2,960,171)
15-64 years: 68% (male 10,587,553; female 10,461,455)
65 years and over: 12% (male 1,652,044; female 2,239,180) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.06% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 11.86 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 7.26 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 5.96 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 5.47 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 79.37 years
male: 76.12 years
female: 82.79 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.65 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Canadian(s)
adjective: Canadian
Ethnic groups: British Isles origin 40%, French origin 27%, other
European 20%, Amerindian 1.5%, other, mostly Asian 11.5%
Religions: Roman Catholic 45%, United Church 12%, Anglican 8%,
other 35% (1991)
Languages: English (official), French (official)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97% (1986 est.)
male: NA%
female: NA%
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Canada
Data code: CA
Government type: federation with parliamentary democracy
Capital: Ottawa
Administrative divisions: 10 provinces and 3 territories*;
Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland,
Northwest Territories*, Nova Scotia, Nunavut*, Ontario, Prince
Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon Territory*
Independence: 1 July 1867 (from UK)
National holiday: Canada Day, 1 July (1867)
Constitution: 17 April 1982 (Constitution Act); originally, the
machinery of the government was set up in the British North America
Act of 1867; charter of rights and unwritten customs
Legal system: based on English common law, except in Quebec,
where civil law system based on French law prevails; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Governor General Romeo Le BLANC (since 8 February
1995)
head of government: Prime Minister Jean CHRETIEN (since 4 November
1993)
cabinet: Federal Ministry chosen by the prime minister from among
the members of his own party sitting in Parliament
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general
appointed by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister for a
five-year term; following legislative elections, the leader of the
majority party in the House of Commons is automatically designated
by the governor general to become prime minister
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament or Parlement consists of
the Senate or Senat (a body whose members are appointed to serve
until reaching 75 years of age by the governor general and selected
on the advice of the prime minister; its normal limit is 104
senators) and the House of Commons or Chambre des Communes (301
seats; members elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year
terms)
elections: House of Commons--last held 2 June 1997 (next to be held
by NA June 2002)
election results: percent of vote by party--Liberal Party 38%, Reform
Party 19%, Tories 19%, Bloc Quebecois 11%, New Democratic Party 11%,
other 2%; seats by party--Liberal Party 155, Reform Party 60, Bloc
Quebecois 44, New Democratic Party 21, Progressive Conservative
Party 20, independents 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the prime
minister through the governor general
Political parties and leaders: Liberal Party [Jean CHRETIEN];
International organization participation: ACCT, AfDB, APEC, AsDB,
Australia Group, BIS, C, CCC, CDB (non-regional), CE (observer), CP,
EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ECLAC, ESA (cooperating state), FAO, G- 7, G-10,
IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
ISO, ITU, MINURCA, MIPONUH, MTCR, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS,
OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR,
UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNMOP, UNPREDEP, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Raymond A. J. CHRETIEN
chancery: 501 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20001
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Buffalo, Chicago, Dallas,
Detroit, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New York, and Seattle
consulate(s): Miami, Princeton, San Francisco, and San Jose
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Gordon D. GIFFIN
embassy: 100 Wellington Street, K1P 5T1, Ottawa
mailing address: P. O. Box 5000, Ogdensburg, NY 13669-0430
consulate(s) general: Calgary, Halifax, Montreal, Quebec, Toronto,
and Vancouver
Flag description: three vertical bands of red (hoist side), white
(double width, square), and red with a red maple leaf centered in
the white band
Economy
Economy--overview: As an affluent, high-tech industrial society,
Canada today closely resembles the US in its market-oriented
economic system, pattern of production, and high living standards.
Since World War II, the impressive growth of the manufacturing,
mining, and service sectors has transformed the nation from a
largely rural economy into one primarily industrial and urban. Real
rates of growth have averaged nearly 3.0% since 1993. Unemployment
is falling and government budget surpluses are being partially
devoted to reducing the large public sector debt. The 1989 US-Canada
Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and 1994 North American Free Trade
Agreement (NAFTA) (which included Mexico) have touched off a
dramatic increase in trade and economic integration with the US.
With its great natural resources, skilled labor force, and modern
capital plant Canada can anticipate solid economic prospects in the
future. The continuing constitutional impasse between English- and
French-speaking areas is raising the possibility of a split in the
federation, making foreign investors somewhat edgy.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$688.3 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 3% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$22,400 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 3%
industry: 31%
services: 66% (1998)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.8%
highest 10%: 23.8% (1994)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.9% (1998)
Labor force: 15.8 million (1998)
Labor force--by occupation: services 75%, manufacturing 16%,
construction 5%, agriculture 3%, other 1% (1997)
Unemployment rate: 7.8% (December 1998)
Budget:
revenues: $121.3 billion
expenditures: $112.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.7
billion (1998)
Industries: processed and unprocessed minerals, food products,
wood and paper products, transportation equipment, chemicals, fish
products, petroleum and natural gas
Industrial production growth rate: 0.8% (1998 est.)
Electricity--production: 549.162 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 20.34%
hydro: 63.59%
nuclear: 16.05%
other: 0.02% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 511.586 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 45.28 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 7.705 billion kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: wheat, barley, oilseed, tobacco, fruits,
vegetables; dairy products; forest products; fish
Exports: $210.7 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports--commodities: motor vehicles and parts, newsprint, wood
pulp, timber, crude petroleum, machinery, natural gas, aluminum,
telecommunications equipment
Exports--partners: US 81%, Japan 4%, UK, Germany, South Korea,
Netherlands, China (1997)
Imports: $202.7 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports--commodities: machinery and equipment, crude oil,
chemicals, motor vehicles and parts, durable consumer goods
Imports--partners: US 76%, Japan 3%, UK, Germany, France, Mexico,
Taiwan, South Korea (1997)
Debt--external: $253 billion (1996)
Economic aid--donor: ODA, $2.1 billion (1995)
Currency: 1 Canadian dollar (Can$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Canadian dollars (Can$) per US$1--1.5192 (January
1999), 1.4835 (1998), 1.3846 (1997), 1.3635 (1996), 1.3724 (1995),
1.3656 (1994)
Fiscal year: 1 April--31 March
Communications
Telephones: 15.3 million (1990)
Telephone system: excellent service provided by modern technology
domestic: domestic satellite system with about 300 earth stations
international: 5 coaxial submarine cables; satellite earth
stations--5 Intelsat (4 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean) and 2
Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 334, FM 35, shortwave 7 (one of the
shortwave stations, Radio Canada International, has six
transmitters, 48 frequencies, and broadcasts in seven languages; the
transmissions are relayed by repeaters in Europe and Asia) (1998)
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 80 (in addition, there are many
repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 11.53 million (1983 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 67,773 km; note--there are two major transcontinental freight
railway systems: Canadian National (privatized November 1995) and
Canadian Pacific Railway; passenger service provided by
government-operated firm VIA, which has no trackage of its own
standard gauge: 67,773 km 1.435-m gauge (183 km electrified) (1996)
Highways:
total: 912,200 km
paved: 246,400 km (including 16,600 km of expressways)
unpaved: 665,800 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 3,000 km, including Saint Lawrence Seaway
Pipelines: crude and refined oil 23,564 km; natural gas 74,980 km
Ports and harbors: Becancour (Quebec), Churchill, Halifax,
Hamilton, Montreal, New Westminster, Prince Rupert, Quebec, Saint
John (New Brunswick), St. John's (Newfoundland), Sept Isles, Sydney,
Trois-Rivieres, Thunder Bay, Toronto, Vancouver, Windsor
Merchant marine:
total: 109 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,489,110
GRT/2,205,274 DWT
ships by type: barge carrier 1, bulk 56, cargo 11, chemical tanker
5, combination bulk 2, oil tanker 16, passenger 3, passenger-cargo
1, railcar carrier 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 7, short-sea passenger
4, specialized tanker 1
note: does not include ships used exclusively in the Great Lakes
(1998 est.)
Airports: 1,395 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 515
over 3,047 m: 16
2,438 to 3,047 m: 16
1,524 to 2,437 m: 154
914 to 1,523 m: 238
under 914 m: 91 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 880
1,524 to 2,437 m: 73
914 to 1,523 m: 353
under 914 m: 454 (1998 est.)
Heliports: 16 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Canadian Armed Forces (includes Land Forces
Command or LC, Maritime Command or MC, Air Command or AC,
Communications Command or CC, Training Command or TC), Royal
Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)
Military manpower--military age: 17 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 8,243,859 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 7,061,937 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 210,884 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $7.1 billion (FY97/98)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 1.2% (FY97/98)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: maritime boundary disputes with the US
(Dixon Entrance, Beaufort Sea, Strait of Juan de Fuca, Machias Seal
Island)
Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis for the domestic drug
market; use of hydroponics technology permits growers to plant large
quantities of high-quality marijuana indoors; growing role as a
transit point for heroin and cocaine entering the US market
======================================================================
@Cape Verde
----------
Geography
Location: Western Africa, group of islands in the North Atlantic
Ocean, west of Senegal
Geographic coordinates: 16 00 N, 24 00 W
Map references: World
Area:
total: 4,030 sq km
land: 4,030 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly larger than Rhode Island
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 965 km
Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: temperate; warm, dry summer; precipitation meager and
very erratic
Terrain: steep, rugged, rocky, volcanic
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mt. Fogo 2,829 m (a volcano on Fogo Island)
Natural resources: salt, basalt rock, pozzuolana (a siliceous
volcanic ash used to produce hydraulic cement), limestone, kaolin,
fish
Land use:
arable land: 11%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 6%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 83% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 30 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: prolonged droughts; harmattan wind can obscure
visibility; volcanically and seismically active
Environment--current issues: overgrazing of livestock and improper
land use such as the cultivation of crops on steep slopes has led to
soil erosion; demand for wood used as fuel has resulted in
deforestation; desertification; environmental damage has threatened
several species of birds and reptiles; overfishing
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear
Test Ban
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography--note: strategic location 500 km from west coast of
Africa near major north-south sea routes; important communications
station; important sea and air refueling site
People
Population: 405,748 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 45% (male 92,721; female 91,083)
15-64 years: 49% (male 92,658; female 104,264)
65 years and over: 6% (male 9,936; female 15,086) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.44% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 33.49 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 6.78 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -12.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.89 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female
total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 45.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 70.96 years
male: 67.66 years
female: 74.36 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.95 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Cape Verdean(s)
adjective: Cape Verdean
Ethnic groups: Creole (mulatto) 71%, African 28%, European 1%
Religions: Roman Catholic (infused with indigenous beliefs);
Protestant (mostly Church of the Nazarene)
Languages: Portuguese, Crioulo (a blend of creole Portuguese and
West African words)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 71.6%
male: 81.4%
female: 63.8% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Cape Verde
conventional short form: Cape Verde
local long form: Republica de Cabo Verde
local short form: Cabo Verde
Data code: CV
Government type: republic
Capital: Praia
Administrative divisions: 14 districts (concelhos,
singular--concelho); Boa Vista, Brava, Fogo, Maio, Paul, Praia, Porto
Novo, Ribeira Grande, Sal, Santa Catarina, Santa Cruz, Sao Nicolau,
Sao Vicente, Tarrafal
note: there may be a new administrative structure of 16 districts
(Boa Vista, Brava, Maio, Mosteiros, Paul, Praia, Porto Novo, Ribeira
Grande, Sal, Santa Catarina, Santa Cruz, Sao Domingos, Sao Nicolau,
Sao Filipe, Sao Vicente, Tarrafal)
Independence: 5 July 1975 (from Portugal)
National holiday: Independence Day, 5 July (1975)
Constitution: new constitution came into force 25 September 1992
Legal system: derived from the legal system of Portugal
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Antonio MASCARENHAS Monteiro (since 22
March 1991)
head of government: Prime Minister Carlos Alberto Wahnon de Carvalho
VEIGA (since 13 January 1991)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the
recommendation of the prime minister from among the members of the
National Assembly
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 18 February 1996 (next to be held NA February
2001); prime minister nominated by the National Assembly and
appointed by the president
election results: Antonio MASCARENHAS Monteiro elected president;
percent of vote--Antonio MASCARENHAS Monteiro (independent) 80.1%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Assembleia
Nacional (72 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve
five-year terms)
elections: last held 17 December 1995 (next to be held NA 2000)
election results: percent of vote by party--MPD 59%, PAICV 28%, PCD
6%; seats by party--MPD 50, PAICV 21, PCD 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Tribunal of Justice or Supremo Tribunal
de Justia
Political parties and leaders: Movement for Democracy or MPD
Eurico MONTEIRO, president]; Party of Work and Solidarity or PTS
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC,
ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU,
NAM, OAU, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Ferdinand Amilcar Spencer LOPES
chancery: 3415 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
consulate(s) general: Boston
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Lawrence Neal BENEDICT
embassy: Rua Abilio Macedo 81, Praia
mailing address: C. P. 201, Praia
Flag description: three horizontal bands of light blue (top,
double width), white (with a horizontal red stripe in the middle
third), and light blue; a circle of 10 yellow five-pointed stars is
centered on the hoist end of the red stripe and extends into the
upper and lower blue bands
Economy
Economy--overview: Cape Verde's low per capita GDP reflects a poor
natural resource base, including serious water shortages exacerbated
by cycles of long-term drought. The economy is service-oriented,
with commerce, transport, and public services accounting for almost
70% of GDP. Although nearly 70% of the population lives in rural
areas, the share of agriculture in GDP in 1995 was only 8%, of which
fishing accounts for 1.5%. About 90% of food must be imported. The
fishing potential, mostly lobster and tuna, is not fully exploited.
Cape Verde annually runs a high trade deficit, financed by foreign
aid and remittances from emigrants; remittances constitute a
supplement to GDP of more than 20%. Economic reforms, launched by
the new democratic government in 1991, are aimed at developing the
private sector and attracting foreign investment to diversify the
economy. Prospects for 1999 depend heavily on the maintenance of aid
flows, remittances, and the momentum of the government's development
program.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$581 million (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 7% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,450 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 8%
industry: 18%
services: 74% (1996 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.3% (1998)
Labor force: NA
Unemployment rate: NA %
Budget:
revenues: $188 million
expenditures: $228 million, including capital expenditures of $116
million (1996)
Industries: food and beverages, fish processing, shoes and
garments, salt mining, ship repair,
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: 40 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 40 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: bananas, corn, beans, sweet potatoes,
sugarcane, coffee, peanuts; fish
Exports: $43 million (f.o.b., 1997 est.)
Exports--commodities: shoes, garments, fish, bananas, hides,
Exports--partners: Portugal, Germany, Spain, France, UK, Malaysia
Imports: $215 million (f.o.b., 1997 est.)
Imports--commodities: foodstuffs, consumer goods, industrial
products, transport equipment, fuels
Imports--partners: Portugal 25%, Netherlands, France, UK, Spain, US
Debt--external: $220 million (1998)
Economic aid--recipient: $111.3 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Cape Verdean escudo (CVEsc) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates: Cape Verdean escudos (CVEsc) per US$1--96.400
(November 1998), 99.41 (1998), 93.177 (1997), 82.591 (1996), 76.853
(1995), 81.891 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 22,900 (1995 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: interisland microwave radio relay system with both analog
and digital exchanges; work is in progress on a submarine
fiber-optic cable system which was scheduled for completion in 1998
international: 2 coaxial submarine cables; HF radiotelephone to
Senegal and Guinea-Bissau; satellite earth station--1 Intelsat
(Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 6, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1997 est.)
Televisions: 7,000 (1991 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 1,100 km
paved: 858 km
unpaved: 242 km (1996 est.)
Ports and harbors: Mindelo, Praia, Tarrafal
Merchant marine:
total: 4 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 9,620 GRT/13,920 DWT
ships by type: cargo 3, chemical tanker 1 (1998 est.)
Airports: 6 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 6
over 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 5 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Armed Forces (AF) (includes all armed force
elements, both ground and naval)
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 84,018 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 47,672 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $3.8 million (1996)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 1.8% (1996)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
Illicit drugs: used as a transshipment point for illicit drugs
moving from Latin America and Africa destined for Western Europe
======================================================================
@Cayman Islands
--------------
Geography
Location: Caribbean, island group in Caribbean Sea, nearly
one-half of the way from Cuba to Honduras
Geographic coordinates: 19 30 N, 80 30 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 260 sq km
land: 260 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 160 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical marine; warm, rainy summers (May to October)
and cool, relatively dry winters (November to April)
Terrain: low-lying limestone base surrounded by coral reefs
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: The Bluff 43 m
Natural resources: fish, climate and beaches that foster tourism
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 8%
forests and woodland: 23%
other: 69% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: hurricanes (July to November)
Environment--current issues: no natural fresh water resources;
drinking water supplies must be met by rainwater catchment
Environment--international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography--note: important location between Cuba and Central
America
People
Population: 39,335 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate: 4.19% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 13.66 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 4.98 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 33.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
note: major destination for Cubans trying to migrate to the US
Infant mortality rate: 8.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.1 years
male: 75.37 years
female: 78.81 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.31 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Caymanian(s)
adjective: Caymanian
Ethnic groups: mixed 40%, white 20%, black 20%, expatriates of
various ethnic groups 20%
Religions: United Church (Presbyterian and Congregational),
Anglican, Baptist, Roman Catholic, Church of God, other Protestant
denominations
Languages: English
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 98%
male: 98%
female: 98% (1970 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Cayman Islands
Data code: CJ
Dependency status: overseas territory of the UK
Government type: NA
Capital: George Town
Administrative divisions: 8 districts; Creek, Eastern, Midland,
South Town, Spot Bay, Stake Bay, West End, Western
Independence: none (overseas territory of the UK)
National holiday: Constitution Day (first Monday in July)
Constitution: 1959, revised 1972 and 1992
Legal system: British common law and local statutes
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
head of government: Governor and President of the Executive Council
John Wynne OWEN (since 15 September 1995)
cabinet: Executive Council (three members appointed by the governor,
four members elected by the Legislative Assembly)
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; the governor is
appointed by the monarch
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly (18 seats,
three official members and 15 elected by popular vote; members serve
four-year terms)
elections: last held 20 November 1996 (next to be held NA November
2000)
election results: percent of vote--NA; seats--National Team coalition
9, independents 6
Judicial branch: Grand Court; Cayman Islands Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders: no formal political parties
International organization participation: Caricom (observer),
CDB, Interpol (subbureau), IOC
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory of
the UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (overseas territory
of the UK)
Flag description: blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper
hoist-side quadrant and the Caymanian coat of arms on a white disk
centered on the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms includes a
pineapple and turtle above a shield with three stars (representing
the three islands) and a scroll at the bottom bearing the motto HE
HATH FOUNDED IT UPON THE SEAS
Economy
Economy--overview: With no direct taxation, the islands are a
thriving offshore financial center. More than 40,000 companies were
registered in the Cayman Islands as of 1997, including almost 600
banks and trust companies; banking assets exceed $500 billion. A
stock exchange was opened in 1997. Tourism is also a mainstay,
accounting for about 70% of GDP and 75% of foreign currency
earnings. The tourist industry is aimed at the luxury market and
caters mainly to visitors from North America. Total tourist arrivals
exceeded 1.2 million visitors in 1997. About 90% of the islands'
food and consumer goods must be imported. The Caymanians enjoy one
of the highest outputs per capita and one of the highest standards
of living in the world.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$930 million (1997 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 5.5% (1997 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$24,500 (1997 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 1.4%
industry: 3.2%
services: 95.4% (1994 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.7% (1997)
Labor force: 19,820 (1995)
Labor force--by occupation: service workers 18.7%, clerical 18.6%,
construction 12.5%, finance and investment 6.7%, directors and
business managers 5.9% (1979)
Unemployment rate: 5.1% (1996)
Budget:
revenues: $265.2 million
expenditures: $248.9 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1997)
Industries: tourism, banking, insurance and finance,
construction, construction materials, furniture
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: 290 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 290 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: vegetables, fruit; livestock, turtle farming
Exports: $2.65 million (1996)
Exports--commodities: turtle products, manufactured consumer goods
Exports--partners: mostly US
Imports: $379.4 million (1996)
Imports--commodities: foodstuffs, manufactured goods
Imports--partners: US, Trinidad and Tobago, UK, Netherlands
Antilles, Japan
Debt--external: $70 million (1996)
Economic aid--recipient: $NA
Currency: 1 Caymanian dollar (CI$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Caymanian dollars (CI$) per US$1--0.83 (3 November
1995), 0.85 (22 November 1993)
Fiscal year: 1 April--31 March
Communications
Telephones: 21,584 (1993 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: NA
international: 1 submarine coaxial cable; satellite earth station--1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 4 (the four stations have a
total of six frequencies), shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios: 28,200 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: NA
Televisions: 6,000 (1992 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 406 km
paved: 304 km
unpaved: 102 km
Ports and harbors: Cayman Brac, George Town
Merchant marine:
total: 76 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,264,113 GRT/1,970,959
DWT
ships by type: bulk 13, cargo 10, chemical tanker 11, container 4,
liquefied gas tanker 1, oil tanker 7, refrigerated cargo 22,
roll-on/roll-off cargo 6, specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 1
note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 11
countries among which are: Greece 15, US 5, UK 5, Cyprus 2, Denmark
2, Norway 3 (1998 est.)
Airports: 3 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Royal Cayman Islands Police Force (RCIPF)
Military--note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
Illicit drugs: vulnerable to drug money laundering and drug
transshipment
======================================================================
@Central African Republic
------------------------
Introduction
Background: In 1996, the country experienced three mutinies by
dissident elements of the armed forces, which demanded back pay as
well as political and military reforms. Subsequent violence between
the government and rebel military groups over pay issues, living
conditions, and lack of opposition party representation in the
government, destroyed many businesses in the capital, reduced tax
revenues, and exacerbated the government's problems in meeting
expenses. African peacekeepers restored order in 1997; in April 1998
the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic (MINURCA)
assumed responsibility for peacekeeping operations.
Geography
Location: Central Africa, north of Democratic Republic of the
Congo
Geographic coordinates: 7 00 N, 21 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area:
total: 622,980 sq km
land: 622,980 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than Texas
Land boundaries:
total: 5,203 km
border countries: Cameroon 797 km, Chad 1,197 km, Democratic
Republic of the Congo 1,577 km, Republic of the Congo 467 km, Sudan
1,165 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: tropical; hot, dry winters; mild to hot, wet summers
Terrain: vast, flat to rolling, monotonous plateau; scattered
hills in northeast and southwest
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Oubangui River 335 m
highest point: Mont Ngaoui 1,420 m
Natural resources: diamonds, uranium, timber, gold, oil
Land use:
arable land: 3%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 5%
forests and woodland: 75%
other: 17% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds affect northern
areas; floods are common
Environment--current issues: tap water is not potable; poaching
has diminished its reputation as one of the last great wildlife
refuges; desertification; deforestation
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 94
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography--note: landlocked; almost the precise center of Africa
People
Population: 3,444,951 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 44% (male 757,422; female 749,289)
15-64 years: 53% (male 885,087; female 927,282)
65 years and over: 3% (male 56,309; female 69,562) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.04% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 38.28 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 16.46 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.45 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 103.42 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 47.19 years
male: 45.35 years
female: 49.09 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.03 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Central African(s)
adjective: Central African
Ethnic groups: Baya 34%, Banda 27%, Sara 10%, Mandjia 21%, Mboum
4%, M'Baka 4%, Europeans 6,500 (including 3,600 French)
Religions: indigenous beliefs 24%, Protestant 25%, Roman Catholic
25%, Muslim 15%, other 11%
note: animistic beliefs and practices strongly influence the
Christian majority
Languages: French (official), Sangho (lingua franca and national
language), Arabic, Hunsa, Swahili
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 60%
male: 68.5%
female: 52.4% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Central African Republic
conventional short form: none
local long form: Republique Centrafricaine
local short form: none
former: Central African Empire
abbreviation: CAR
Data code: CT
Government type: republic
Capital: Bangui
Administrative divisions: 14 prefectures (prefectures,
singular--prefecture), 2 economic prefectures* (prefectures
economiques, singular--prefecture economique), and 1 commune**;
Bamingui-Bangoran, Bangui**, Basse-Kotto, Gribingui*, Haute-Kotto,
Haute-Sangha, Haut-Mbomou, Kemo-Gribingui, Lobaye, Mbomou,
Nana-Mambere, Ombella-Mpoko, Ouaka, Ouham, Ouham-Pende, Sangha*,
Vakaga
Independence: 13 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday: National Day, 1 December (1958) (proclamation
of the republic)
Constitution: passed by referendum 29 December 1994; adopted 7
January 1995
Legal system: based on French law
Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Ange-Felix PATASSE (since 22 October 1993)
head of government: Prime Minister Anicet Georges DOLOGUELE (since
January 1999)
cabinet: Council of Ministers
elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term;
election last held 19 September 1993 (next to be held NA 1999);
prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Ange-Felix PATASSE elected president; percent of
vote--PATASSE 52.45%, Abel GOUMBA 45.62%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee
Nationale (109 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve
five-year terms; note--there were 85 seats in the National Assembly
before the 1998 election)
elections: last held 22-23 November and NA December 1998 (next to be
held NA 2003)
election results: percent of vote by party--MLPC 43%, RDC 18%, MDD
9%, FPP 6%, PSD 5%, ADP 4%, PUN 3%, FODEM 2%, PLD 2%, UPR 1%, FC 1%,
independents 6%; seats by party--MLPC 47, RDC 20, MDD 10, FPP 7, PSD
5, ADP 4, PUN 3, FODEM 2, PLD 2, UPR 1, FC 1, independents 7;
note--results of election are being contested
note: the National Assembly is advised by the Economic and Regional
Council or Conseil Economique et Regional; when they sit together
they are called the Congress or Congres
Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Cour Supreme, judges appointed
by the president; Constitutional Court, judges appointed by the
president
Political parties and leaders: Alliance for Democracy and
of the president, Ange-Felix PATASSE]; Movement for Democracy and
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC,
CCC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC
(observer), OPCW, UDEAC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Henri KOBA
chancery: 1618 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Robert C. PERRY
embassy: Avenue David Dacko, Bangui
mailing address: B. P. 924, Bangui
Flag description: four equal horizontal bands of blue (top),
white, green, and yellow with a vertical red band in center; there
is a yellow five-pointed star on the hoist side of the blue band
Economy
Economy--overview: Subsistence agriculture, together with
forestry, remains the backbone of the economy of the Central African
Republic (CAR), with more than 70% of the population living in
outlying areas. The agricultural sector generates half of GDP.
Timber has accounted for about 16% of export earnings and the
diamond industry for nearly 54%. Important constraints to economic
development include the CAR's landlocked position, a poor
transportation system, a largely unskilled work force, and a legacy
of misdirected macroeconomic policies. The 50% devaluation of the
currencies of 14 Francophone African nations on 12 January 1994 had
mixed effects on the CAR's economy. Diamond, timber, coffee, and
cotton exports increased, leading an estimated rise of GDP of 7% in
1994 and nearly 5% in 1995. Military rebellions and social unrest in
1996 were accompanied by widespread destruction of property and a
drop in GDP of 2%. Ongoing violence between the government and rebel
military groups over pay issues, living conditions, and political
representation has destroyed many businesses in the capital and
reduced tax revenues for the government. The IMF approved an
Extended Structure Adjustment Facility in 1998.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$5.5 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 5.5% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,640 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 53%
industry: 21%
services: 26% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.6% (1998 est.)
Labor force: NA
Unemployment rate: 6% (1993)
Budget:
revenues: $638 million
expenditures: $1.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $888
million (1994 est.)
Industries: diamond mining, sawmills, breweries, textiles,
footwear, assembly of bicycles and motorcycles
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: 100 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 20%
hydro: 80%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 100 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: cotton, coffee, tobacco, manioc (tapioca),
yams, millet, corn, bananas; timber
Exports: $182 million (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports--commodities: diamonds, timber, cotton, coffee, tobacco
Exports--partners: Belgium-Luxembourg 36%, Cote d'Ivoire 5%, Spain
4%, Egypt 3%, France
Imports: $155 million (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports--commodities: food, textiles, petroleum products,
machinery, electrical equipment, motor vehicles, chemicals,
pharmaceuticals, consumer goods, industrial products
Imports--partners: France 30%, Cote d'Ivoire 18%, Cameroon 11%,
Germany 4%, Japan
Debt--external: $930 million (1997 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $172.2 million (1995); note?traditional
budget subsidies from France
Currency: 1 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100
centimes
Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per
US$1--560.01 (December 1998), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55
(1996), 499.15 (1995), 555.20 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 16,867 (1992 est.)
Telephone system: fair system
domestic: network consists principally of microwave radio relay and
low-capacity, low-powered radiotelephone communication
international: satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 3 (including Africa No. 1 and
R. France Internationale stations located in Bangui), shortwave 1
(1998)
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: NA
Televisions: 7,500 (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 23,810 km
paved: 429 km
unpaved: 23,381 km (1995 est.)
Waterways: 800 km; traditional trade carried on by means of
shallow-draft dugouts; Oubangui is the most important river
Ports and harbors: Bangui, Nola
Airports: 52 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 49
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 10
914 to 1,523 m: 23
under 914 m: 15 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Central African Armed Forces (includes
Republican Guard and Air Force), Presidential Guard, National
Gendarmerie, Police Force
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 782,678 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 409,044 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $29 million (1996)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 2.2% (1996)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
======================================================================
@Chad
----
Introduction
Background: In 1960, Chad gained full independence from France.
In December 1990, after Chad had endured three decades of ethnic
warfare as well as invasions by Libya, former northern guerrilla
leader Idriss DEBY seized control of the government. His
transitional government eventually suppressed or came to terms with
most political-military groups, settled the territorial dispute with
Libya on terms favorable to Chad, drafted a democratic constitution
which was ratified by popular referendum in 1996, held multiparty
national presidential elections in 1996 (DEBY won with 69% of the
vote), and held multiparty elections for the National Assembly in
1997 (DEBY's Patriotic Salvation Movement won a majority of the
seats). But by the end of 1998, DEBY was beset with numerous
problems including heavy casualties in the Democratic Republic of
the Congo where Chadian troops had been deployed to support
embattled President KABILA, a new rebellion in northern Chad, and
further delays in the Doba Basin oil project in the south.
Geography
Location: Central Africa, south of Libya
Geographic coordinates: 15 00 N, 19 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area:
total: 1.284 million sq km
land: 1,259,200 sq km
water: 24,800 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly more than three times the size of
California
Land boundaries:
total: 5,968 km
border countries: Cameroon 1,094 km, Central African Republic 1,197
km, Libya 1,055 km, Niger 1,175 km, Nigeria 87 km, Sudan 1,360 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: tropical in south, desert in north
Terrain: broad, arid plains in center, desert in north, mountains
in northwest, lowlands in south
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Djourab Depression 160 m
highest point: Emi Koussi 3,415 m
Natural resources: petroleum (unexploited but exploration under
way), uranium, natron, kaolin, fish (Lake Chad)
Land use:
arable land: 3%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 36%
forests and woodland: 26%
other: 35% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 140 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds occur in north;
periodic droughts; locust plagues
Environment--current issues: inadequate supplies of potable water;
improper waste disposal in rural areas contributes to soil and water
pollution; desertification
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping
Geography--note: landlocked; Lake Chad is the most significant
water body in the Sahel
People
Population: 7,557,436 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 44% (male 1,675,394; female 1,667,717)
15-64 years: 53% (male 1,953,251; female 2,034,883)
65 years and over: 3% (male 99,783; female 126,408) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.65% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 43.06 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 16.57 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 115.27 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 48.56 years
male: 46.13 years
female: 51.09 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.69 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Chadian(s)
adjective: Chadian
Ethnic groups: Muslims (Arabs, Toubou, Hadjerai, Fulbe, Kotoko,
Kanembou, Baguirmi, Boulala, Zaghawa, and Maba), non-Muslims (Sara,
Ngambaye, Mbaye, Goulaye, Moundang, Moussei, Massa), nonindigenous
150,000 (of whom 1,000 are French)
Religions: Muslim 50%, Christian 25%, indigenous beliefs (mostly
animism) 25%
Languages: French (official), Arabic (official), Sara and Sango
(in south), more than 100 different languages and dialects
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write French or Arabic
total population: 48.1%
male: 62.1%
female: 34.7% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Chad
conventional short form: Chad
local long form: Republique du Tchad
local short form: Tchad
Data code: CD
Government type: republic
Capital: N'Djamena
Administrative divisions: 14 prefectures (prefectures,
singular--prefecture); Batha, Biltine, Borkou-Ennedi-Tibesti,
Chari-Baguirmi, Guera, Kanem, Lac, Logone Occidental, Logone
Oriental, Mayo-Kebbi, Moyen-Chari, Ouaddai, Salamat, Tandjile
Independence: 11 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday: Independence Day, 11 August (1960)
Constitution: 31 March 1995, passed by referendum
Legal system: based on French civil law system and Chadian
customary law; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY (since 4 December
1990)
head of government: Prime Minister Nassour Guelengdouksia OUAIDOU
(since 16 May 1997)
cabinet: Council of State appointed by the president on the
recommendation of the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote to serve five-year
terms; if no candidate receives at least 50% of the total vote, the
two candidates receiving the most votes must stand for a second
round of voting; last held 2 June and 11 July 1996 (next to be held
NA 2001); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: in the first round of voting none of the 15
candidates received the required 50% of the total vote; percent of
vote, first round--Lt. Gen. Idress DEBY 47.8%; percent of vote,
second round--Lt. Gen. DEBY 69.1%, Wadal Abdelkader KAMOUGUE 30.9%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (125 seats;
members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms); replaces
the Higher Transitional Council or the Conseil Superieur de
Transition
elections: National Assembly--last held in two rounds on 5 January
and 23 February 1997, (next to be held NA 2001); in the first round
of voting some candidates won clear victories by receiving 50% or
more of the vote; where that did not happen, the two highest scoring
candidates stood for a second round of voting
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--MPS
65, URD 29, UNDR 15, RDP 3, others 13
Judicial branch: Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; Criminal Courts;
Magistrate Courts
Political parties and leaders: Patriotic Salvation Movement or
the party in power and the party of the president); National Union
mid-1996 Chad had about 60 political parties, of which these are the
most prominent in the new National Assembly
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC,
CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, MINURCA, NAM,
OAU, OIC, OPCW, UDEAC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Hassaballah Abdelhadi Ahmat SOUBIANE
chancery: 2002 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador David C. HALSTED
embassy: Avenue Felix Eboue, N'Djamena
mailing address: B. P. 413, N'Djamena
Flag description: three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist
side), yellow, and red; similar to the flag of Romania; also similar
to the flag of Andorra, which has a national coat of arms featuring
a quartered shield centered in the yellow band; design was based on
the flag of France
Economy
Economy--overview: Landlocked Chad's economic development suffers
from it's geographic remoteness, drought, lack of infrastructure,
and political turmoil. About 85% of the population depends on
agriculture, including the herding of livestock. Of Africa's
Francophone countries, Chad benefited least from the 50% devaluation
of their currencies in January 1994. Financial aid from the World
Bank, the African Development Fund, and other sources is directed
largely at the improvement of agriculture, especially livestock
production. Lack of financing and low oil prices, however, are
stalling the development of an oil field in the Doba Basin and the
construction of a proposed oil pipeline through Cameroon.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$7.5 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 2.9% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,000 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 39%
industry: 15%
services: 46% (1997)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 15% (1997 est.)
Labor force: NA
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 85% (subsistence farming,
herding, and fishing)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $198 million
expenditures: $218 million, including capital expenditures of $146
million (1998 est.)
Industries: cotton textiles, meat packing, beer brewing, natron
(sodium carbonate), soap, cigarettes, construction materials
Industrial production growth rate: 5% (1995)
Electricity--production: 90 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 90 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: cotton, sorghum, millet, peanuts, rice,
potatoes, manioc (tapioca); cattle, sheep, goats, camels
Exports: $220 million (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Exports--commodities: cotton, cattle, textiles
Exports--partners: Portugal 30%, Germany 14%, Thailand, Costa
Rica, South Africa, France (1997)
Imports: $252 million (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Imports--commodities: machinery and transportation equipment,
industrial goods, petroleum products, foodstuffs, textiles
Imports--partners: France 41%, Nigeria 10%, Cameroon 7%, India 6%
(1997)
Debt--external: $875 million (1995 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $238.3 million (1995); note?$125 million
committed by Taiwan (August 1997); $30 million committed by African
Development Bank
Currency: 1 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100
centimes
Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine Francs (CFAF) per
US$1--560.01 (December 1998), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55
(1996), 499.15 (1995), 555.20 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 5,000 (1987 est.)
Telephone system: primitive system
domestic: fair system of radiotelephone communication stations
international: satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 3 (one of the
shortwave stations has three frequencies) (1998)
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 1 (broadcasts 1800 to 2100 hours,
four days per week) (1997)
Televisions: 7,000 (1991 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 33,400 km
paved: 267 km
unpaved: 33,133 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 2,000 km navigable
Ports and harbors: none
Airports: 52 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 8
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 44
1,524 to 2,437 m: 12
914 to 1,523 m: 22
under 914 m: 10 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Armed Forces (includes Ground Force, Air
Force, and Gendarmerie), Republican Guard, Rapid Intervention Force,
Police
Military manpower--military age: 20 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 1,689,112 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 875,541 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 70,464 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $39 million (1996)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 3.5% (1996)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: delimitation of international boundaries
in the vicinity of Lake Chad, the lack of which led to border
incidents in the past, is completed and awaits ratification by
Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria
======================================================================
@Chile
-----
Geography
Location: Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic
Ocean and South Pacific Ocean, between Argentina and Peru
Geographic coordinates: 30 00 S, 71 00 W
Map references: South America
Area:
total: 756,950 sq km
land: 748,800 sq km
water: 8,150 sq km
note: includes Easter Island (Isla de Pascua) and Isla Sala y Gomez
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than twice the size of Montana
Land boundaries:
total: 6,171 km
border countries: Argentina 5,150 km, Bolivia 861 km, Peru 160 km
Coastline: 6,435 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: temperate; desert in north; cool and damp in south
Terrain: low coastal mountains; fertile central valley; rugged
Andes in east
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Cerro Aconcagua 6,962 m
Natural resources: copper, timber, iron ore, nitrates, precious
metals, molybdenum
Land use:
arable land: 5%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 18%
forests and woodland: 22%
other: 55% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 12,650 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: severe earthquakes; active volcanism; tsunamis
Environment--current issues: air pollution from industrial and
vehicle emissions; water pollution from raw sewage; deforestation
contributing to loss of biodiversity; soil erosion; desertification
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty,
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine
Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography--note: strategic location relative to sea lanes between
Atlantic and Pacific Oceans (Strait of Magellan, Beagle Channel,
Drake Passage); Atacama Desert is one of world's driest regions
People
Population: 14,973,843 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 28% (male 2,137,255; female 2,044,605)
15-64 years: 65% (male 4,845,523; female 4,885,328)
65 years and over: 7% (male 440,010; female 621,122) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.23% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 17.81 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 5.53 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 10.02 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.46 years
male: 72.33 years
female: 78.75 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.25 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Chilean(s)
adjective: Chilean
Ethnic groups: white and white-Amerindian 95%, Amerindian 3%,
other 2%
Religions: Roman Catholic 89%, Protestant 11%, Jewish less than 1%
Languages: Spanish
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 95.2%
male: 95.4%
female: 95% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Chile
conventional short form: Chile
local long form: Republica de Chile
local short form: Chile
Data code: CI
Government type: republic
Capital: Santiago
Administrative divisions: 13 regions (regiones, singular--region);
Aisen del General Carlos Ibanez del Campo, Antofagasta, Araucania,
Atacama, Bio-Bio, Coquimbo, Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins,
Los Lagos, Magallanes y de la Antartica Chilena, Maule, Region
Metropolitana, Tarapaca, Valparaiso
note: the US does not recognize claims to Antarctica
Independence: 18 September 1810 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day, 18 September (1810)
Constitution: 11 September 1980, effective 11 March 1981; amended
30 July 1989
Legal system: based on Code of 1857 derived from Spanish law and
subsequent codes influenced by French and Austrian law; judicial
review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; does not accept
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Eduardo FREI Ruiz-Tagle (since 11 March
1994); note--the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Eduardo FREI Ruiz-Tagle (since 11
March 1994); note--the president is both the chief of state and head
of government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term;
election last held 11 December 1993 (next to be held NA December
1999)
election results: Eduardo FREI Ruiz-Tagle elected president; percent
of vote--Eduardo FREI Ruiz-Tagle (PDC) 58%, Arturo ALESSANDRI 24.4%,
other 17.6%
Legislative branch: bicameral National Congress or Congreso
Nacional consists of the Senate or Senado (48 seats, 38 elected by
popular vote; members serve eight-year terms--one-half elected every
four years) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camara de Diputados (120
seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: Senate--last held 11 December 1997 (next to be held NA
December 2001); Chamber of Deputies--last held 11 December 1997 (next
to be held NA December 2001)
election results: Senate--percent of vote by party--NA%; seats by
party--CPD (PDC 14, PS 4, PPD 2), UPP 17 (RN 7, UDI 10), Chile 2000
(UCCP) 1, independent 10; Chamber of Deputies--percent of vote by
party--CPD 50.55% (PDC 22.98%, PS 11.10%, PPD 12.55%, PRSD 3.13%),
UPP 36.23% (RN 16.78%, UDI 14.43%); seats by party--CPD 70 (PDC 39,
PPD 16, PRSD 4, PS 11), UPP 46 (RN 24, UDI 21, Party of the South
1), right-wing independents 4
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Corte Suprema), judges are
appointed by the president and ratified by the Senate from lists of
candidates provided by the court itself; the president of the
Supreme Court is elected by the 21-member court
Political parties and leaders: Coalition of Parties for Democracy
or CPD consists mainly of: Christian Democratic Party or PDC
Javier ERRAZURIZ]
Political pressure groups and leaders: revitalized university
student federations at all major universities; United Labor Central
or CUT includes trade unionists from the country's five largest
labor confederations; Roman Catholic Church
International organization participation: APEC, CCC, ECLAC, FAO,
G-11, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC,
IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur (associate), NAM, OAS, OPANAL,
OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMIBH, UNMOGIP,
UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Genaro Luis ARRIAGADA Herrera
chancery: 1732 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New
York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador John O'LEARY
embassy: Avenida Andres Bello 2800, Santiago
mailing address: APO AA 34033
Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and
red; there is a blue square the same height as the white band at the
hoist-side end of the white band; the square bears a white
five-pointed star in the center; design was based on the US flag
Economy
Economy--overview: Chile has a prosperous, essentially free market
economy. Civilian governments--which took over from the military in
March 1990--have continued to reduce the government's role in the
economy while shifting the emphasis of public spending toward social
programs. Growth in real GDP averaged more than 7.0% in 1991-1997
but fell to about half of that average in 1998 because of spillover
from the global financial crisis. Inflation has been on a downward
trend and hit a 60-year low in 1998. Chile's currency and foreign
reserves also are strong, as sustained foreign capital
inflows--including significant direct investment--have more than
offset current account deficits and public debt buy-backs. President
FREI, who took office in March 1994, has placed improving Chile's
education system and developing foreign export markets at the top of
his economic agenda. The Chilean economy remains largely dependent
on a few sectors--particularly copper mining, fishing, and forestry.
Success in meeting the government's goal of sustained annual
economic growth of 5% depends largely on world prices for these
commodities, continued foreign investor confidence, and the
government's ability to maintain a conservative fiscal stance. In
1996, Chile became an associate member of Mercosur and concluded a
free trade agreement with Canada.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$184.6 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 3.5% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$12,500 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 6%
industry: 33%
services: 61% (1997)
Population below poverty line: 20.5% (1994 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.4%
highest 10%: 46.1% (1994)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.7% (1998)
Labor force: 5.8 million (1998 est.)
Labor force--by occupation: services 38.3% (includes government
12%), industry and commerce 33.8%, agriculture, forestry, and
fishing 19.2%, mining 2.3%, construction 6.4% (1990)
Unemployment rate: 6.4% (1998)
Budget:
revenues: $17 billion
expenditures: $17 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1996 est.)
Industries: copper, other minerals, foodstuffs, fish processing,
iron and steel, wood and wood products, transport equipment, cement,
textiles
Industrial production growth rate: -1.1% (1998)
Electricity--production: 35.81 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 41.89%
hydro: 58.11%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 35.81 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: wheat, corn, grapes, beans, sugar beets,
potatoes, fruit; beef, poultry, wool; timber; fish
Exports: $14.9 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports--commodities: copper 37%, other metals and minerals 8.2%,
wood products 7.1%, fish and fishmeal 9.8%, fruits 8.4% (1994)
Exports--partners: EU 25%, US 15%, Asia 34%, Latin America 20%
(1995 est.)
Imports: $17.5 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports--commodities: capital goods 25.2%, spare parts 24.8%, raw
materials 15.4%, petroleum 10%, foodstuffs 5.7% (1994)
Imports--partners: EU 18%, US 25%, Asia 16%, Latin America 26%
(1995 est.)
Debt--external: $31.5 billion (1998)
Economic aid--recipient: ODA, $50.3 million (1996 est.)
Currency: 1 Chilean peso (Ch$) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates: Chilean pesos (Ch$) per US$1--475.68 (January
1999), 460.29 (1998), 419.30 (1997), 412.27 (1996), 396.78 (1995),
420.08 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 1.5 million (1994 est.)
Telephone system: modern system based on extensive microwave
radio relay facilities
domestic: extensive microwave radio relay links; domestic satellite
system with 3 earth stations
international: satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 180 (eight inactive), FM 64,
shortwave 17 (one inactive) (1998)
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 63 (in addition, there are 121
repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 2.85 million (1992 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 6,782 km
broad gauge: 3,743 km 1.676-m gauge (1,653 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 116 km 1.067-m gauge; 2,923 km 1.000-m gauge (40 km
electrified) (1995)
Highways:
total: 79,800 km
paved: 11,012 km
unpaved: 68,788 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 725 km
Pipelines: crude oil 755 km; petroleum products 785 km; natural
gas 320 km
Ports and harbors: Antofagasta, Arica, Chanaral, Coquimbo,
Iquique, Puerto Montt, Punta Arenas, San Antonio, San Vicente,
Talcahuano, Valparaiso
Merchant marine:
total: 42 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 527,201 GRT/787,719 DWT
ships by type: bulk 11, cargo 10, chemical tanker 5, container 2,
liquefied gas tanker 1, oil tanker 4, passenger 3, roll-on/roll-off
cargo 4, vehicle carrier 2 (1998 est.)
Airports: 378 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 58
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 19
914 to 1,523 m: 19
under 914 m: 9 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 320
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 13
914 to 1,523 m: 73
under 914 m: 229 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army of the Nation, National Navy (includes
Naval Air, Coast Guard, and Marines), Air Force of the Nation,
Carabineros of Chile (National Police), Investigations Police
Military manpower--military age: 19 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 3,968,176 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 2,943,206 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 132,202 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $2.12 billion (1998);
note--includes earnings from CODELCO Company and costs of pensions;
does not include funding for the National Police (Carabineros) and
Investigations Police
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 2.79% (1998)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: short section of the southwestern
boundary with Argentina is indefinite--process to resolve boundary
issues is underway; Bolivia has wanted a sovereign corridor to the
South Pacific Ocean since the Atacama area was lost to Chile in
1884; dispute with Bolivia over Rio Lauca water rights; territorial
claim in Antarctica (Chilean Antarctic Territory) partially overlaps
Argentine and British claims
Illicit drugs: a growing transshipment country for cocaine
destined for the US and Europe; economic prosperity has made Chile
more attractive to traffickers seeking to launder drug profits;
imported precursors pass on to Bolivia
======================================================================
@China
-----
Introduction
Background: For most of its 3,500 years of history, China led the
world in agriculture, crafts, and science, then fell behind in the
19th century when the Industrial Revolution gave the West clear
superiority in military and economic affairs. In the first half of
the 20th century, China continued to suffer from major famines,
civil unrest, military defeat, and foreign occupation. After World
War II, the Communists under MAO Zedong established a dictatorship
that, while ensuring China's autonomy, imposed strict controls over
all aspects of life and cost the lives of tens of millions of
people. After 1978, his successor DENG Xiaoping decentralized
economic decision making; output quadrupled in the next 20 years.
Political controls remain tight at the same time economic controls
have been weakening. Present issues are: incorporating Hong Kong
into the Chinese system; closing down inefficient state-owned
enterprises; modernizing the military; fighting corruption; and
providing support to tens of millions of displaced workers.
Geography
Location: Eastern Asia, bordering the East China Sea, Korea Bay,
Yellow Sea, and South China Sea, between North Korea and Vietnam
Geographic coordinates: 35 00 N, 105 00 E
Map references: Asia
Area:
total: 9,596,960 sq km
land: 9,326,410 sq km
water: 270,550 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than the US
Land boundaries:
total: 22,143.34 km
border countries: Afghanistan 76 km, Bhutan 470 km, Burma 2,185 km,
Hong Kong 30 km, India 3,380 km, Kazakhstan 1,533 km, North Korea
1,416 km, Kyrgyzstan 858 km, Laos 423 km, Macau 0.34 km, Mongolia
4,673 km, Nepal 1,236 km, Pakistan 523 km, Russia (northeast) 3,605
km, Russia (northwest) 40 km, Tajikistan 414 km, Vietnam 1,281 km
Coastline: 14,500 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: extremely diverse; tropical in south to subarctic in
north
Terrain: mostly mountains, high plateaus, deserts in west;
plains, deltas, and hills in east
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Turpan Pendi -154 m
highest point: Mount Everest 8,848 m
Natural resources: coal, iron ore, petroleum, natural gas,
mercury, tin, tungsten, antimony, manganese, molybdenum, vanadium,
magnetite, aluminum, lead, zinc, uranium, hydropower potential
(world's largest)
Land use:
arable land: 10%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 43%
forests and woodland: 14%
other: 33% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 498,720 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: frequent typhoons (about five per year along
southern and eastern coasts); damaging floods; tsunamis;
earthquakes; droughts
Environment--current issues: air pollution (greenhouse gases,
sulfur dioxide particulates) from reliance on coal, produces acid
rain; water shortages, particularly in the north; water pollution
from untreated wastes; deforestation; estimated loss of one-fifth of
agricultural land since 1949 to soil erosion and economic
development; desertification; trade in endangered species
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty,
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94,
Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Nuclear
Test Ban
Geography--note: world's fourth-largest country (after Russia,
Canada, and US)
People
Population: 1,246,871,951 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 26% (male 169,206,275; female 149,115,216)
15-64 years: 68% (male 435,047,915; female 408,663,265)
65 years and over: 6% (male 39,824,361; female 45,014,919) (1999
est.)
Population growth rate: 0.77% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 15.1 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 6.98 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.41 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.15 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.13 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female
total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 43.31 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 69.92 years
male: 68.57 years
female: 71.48 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.8 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Chinese (singular and plural)
adjective: Chinese
Ethnic groups: Han Chinese 91.9%, Zhuang, Uygur, Hui, Yi,
Tibetan, Miao, Manchu, Mongol, Buyi, Korean, and other nationalities
8.1%
Religions: Daoism (Taoism), Buddhism, Muslim 2%-3%, Christian 1%
(est.)
note: officially atheist, but traditionally pragmatic and eclectic
Languages: Standard Chinese or Mandarin (Putonghua, based on the
Beijing dialect), Yue (Cantonese), Wu (Shanghaiese), Minbei
(Fuzhou), Minnan (Hokkien-Taiwanese), Xiang, Gan, Hakka dialects,
minority languages (see Ethnic divisions entry)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 81.5%
male: 89.9%
female: 72.7% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: People's Republic of China
conventional short form: China
local long form: Zhonghua Renmin Gongheguo
local short form: Zhong Guo
abbreviation: PRC
Data code: CH
Government type: Communist state
Capital: Beijing
Administrative divisions: 23 provinces (sheng, singular and
plural), 5 autonomous regions* (zizhiqu, singular and plural), and 4
municipalities** (shi, singular and plural); Anhui, Beijing**,
Chongqing**, Fujian, Gansu, Guangdong, Guangxi*, Guizhou, Hainan,
Hebei, Heilongjiang, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Jilin,
Liaoning, Nei Mongol*, Ningxia*, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Shandong,
Shanghai**, Shanxi, Sichuan, Tianjin**, Xinjiang*, Xizang* (Tibet),
Yunnan, Zhejiang
note: China considers Taiwan its 23rd province; see separate entry
for the special administrative region of Hong Kong
Independence: 221 BC (unification under the Qin or Ch'in Dynasty
221 BC; Qing or Ch'ing Dynasty replaced by the Republic on 12
February 1912; People's Republic established 1 October 1949)
National holiday: National Day, 1 October (1949)
Constitution: most recent promulgation 4 December 1982
Legal system: a complex amalgam of custom and statute, largely
criminal law; rudimentary civil code in effect since 1 January 1987;
new legal codes in effect since 1 January 1980; continuing efforts
are being made to improve civil, administrative, criminal, and
commercial law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President JIANG Zemin (since 27 March 1993) and Vice
President HU Jintao (since 16 March 1998)
head of government: Premier ZHU Rongji (since 18 March 1998); Vice
Premiers QIAN Qichen (since 29 March 1993), LI Lanqing (29 March
1993), WU Bangguo (since 17 March 1995), and WEN Jiabao (since 18
March 1998)
cabinet: State Council appointed by the National People's Congress
(NPC)
elections: president and vice president elected by the National
People's Congress for five-year terms; elections last held 16-18
March 1998 (next to be held NA March 2003); premier nominated by the
president, confirmed by the National People's Congress
election results: JIANG Zemin reelected president by the Ninth
National People's Congress with a total of 2,882 votes (36 delegates
voted against him, 29 abstained, and 32 did not vote); HU Jintao
elected vice president by the Ninth National People's Congress with
a total of 2,841 votes (67 delegates voted against him, 39
abstained, and 32 did not vote)
Legislative branch: unicameral National People's Congress or
Quanguo Renmin Daibiao Dahui (2,979 seats; members elected by
municipal, regional, and provincial people's congresses to serve
five-year terms)
elections: last held NA December-NA February 1998 (next to be held
late 2002-NA March 2003)
election results: percent of vote--NA; seats--NA
Judicial branch: Supreme People's Court, judges appointed by the
National People's Congress
Political parties and leaders: Chinese Communist Party or CCP
registered small parties controlled by CCP
Political pressure groups and leaders: no meaningful political
opposition groups exist
International organization participation: AfDB, APEC, AsDB, BIS,
CCC, CDB (non-regional), ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat,
Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, LAIA (observer), MINURSO, NAM
(observer), OPCW, PCA, UN, UN Security Council, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNOMSIL, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador LI Zhaoxing
chancery: 2300 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, and
San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador James R. SASSER
embassy: Xiu Shui Bei Jie 3, 100600 Beijing
mailing address: PSC 461, Box 50, FPO AP 96521-0002
consulate(s) general: Chengdu, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Shenyang
Flag description: red with a large yellow five-pointed star and
four smaller yellow five-pointed stars (arranged in a vertical arc
toward the middle of the flag) in the upper hoist-side corner
Economy
Economy--overview: Beginning in late 1978 the Chinese leadership
has been trying to move the economy from a sluggish Soviet-style
centrally planned economy to a more market-oriented economy but
still within a rigid political framework of Communist Party control.
To this end the authorities switched to a system of household
responsibility in agriculture in place of the old collectivization,
increased the authority of local officials and plant managers in
industry, permitted a wide variety of small-scale enterprise in
services and light manufacturing, and opened the economy to
increased foreign trade and investment. The result has been a
quadrupling of GDP since 1978. Agricultural output doubled in the
1980s, and industry also posted major gains, especially in coastal
areas near Hong Kong and opposite Taiwan, where foreign investment
helped spur output of both domestic and export goods. On the darker
side, the leadership has often experienced in its hybrid system the
worst results of socialism (bureaucracy, lassitude, corruption) and
of capitalism (windfall gains and stepped-up inflation). Beijing
thus has periodically backtracked, retightening central controls at
intervals. In late 1993 China's leadership approved additional
long-term reforms aimed at giving still more play to market-oriented
institutions and at strengthening the center's control over the
financial system; state enterprises would continue to dominate many
key industries in what was now termed "a socialist market economy".
In 1995-97 inflation dropped sharply, reflecting tighter monetary
policies and stronger measures to control food prices. At the same
time, the government struggled to (a) collect revenues due from
provinces, businesses, and individuals; (b) reduce corruption and
other economic crimes; and (c) keep afloat the large state-owned
enterprises, most of which had not participated in the vigorous
expansion of the economy and many of which had been losing the
ability to pay full wages and pensions. From 60 to 100 million
surplus rural workers are adrift between the villages and the
cities, many subsisting through part-time low-paying jobs. Popular
resistance, changes in central policy, and loss of authority by
rural cadres have weakened China's population control program, which
is essential to maintaining growth in living standards. Another
long-term threat to continued rapid economic growth is the
deterioration in the environment, notably air pollution, soil
erosion, and the steady fall of the water table especially in the
north. China continues to lose arable land because of erosion and
economic development. The next few years may witness increasing
tensions between a highly centralized political system and an
increasingly decentralized economic system. Economic growth probably
will slow to more moderate levels in 1999-2000.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$4.42 trillion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 7.8% (1998 est.) (official figures may
substantially overstate growth)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$3,600 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 19%
industry: 49%
services: 32% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.2%
highest 10%: 30.9% (1995)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): -0.8% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 696 million (1997 est.)
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 50%, industry 24%,
services 26% (1997)
Unemployment rate: officially 3% in urban areas; probably 8%-10%;
substantial unemployment and underemployment in rural areas (1998
est.)
Budget:
revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Industries: iron and steel, coal, machine building, armaments,
textiles and apparel, petroleum, cement, chemical fertilizers,
footwear, toys, food processing, autos, consumer electronics,
telecommunications
Industrial production growth rate: 8.8% (1998 est.)
Electricity--production: 1.16 trillion kWh (1998)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 93%
hydro: 6%
nuclear: 1%
other: 0% (1996 est.)
Electricity--consumption: 994.921 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 6.025 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 755 million kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: rice, wheat, potatoes, sorghum, peanuts,
tea, millet, barley, cotton, oilseed; pork; fish
Exports: $183.8 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports--commodities: electrical machinery and equipment,
machinery and mechanical appliances, woven apparel, knit apparel,
footwear, toys and sporting goods (1998)
Exports--partners: Hong Kong 21%, US 21%, Japan 14%, Germany,
South Korea, Netherlands, UK, Singapore, Taiwan (1997)
Imports: $140.17 billion (c.i.f., 1998)
Imports--commodities: electrical machinery and equipment,
machinery and mechanical appliances, plastics, iron and steel,
scientific and photograph equipment, paper and paper board (1998)
Imports--partners: Japan 20%, US 12%, Taiwan 12%, South Korea 11%,
Germany, Hong Kong, Singapore, Russia (1997)
Debt--external: $159 billion (1998 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $6.222 billion (1995)
Currency: 1 yuan (Y) = 10 jiao
Exchange rates: yuan (Y) per US$1--8.28 (February 1999), 8.2779
(December 1998), 8.2790 (1998), 8.2898 (1997), 8.3142 (1996), 8.3514
(1995), 8.6187 (1994)
note: beginning 1 January 1994, the People's Bank of China quotes
the midpoint rate against the US dollar based on the previous day's
prevailing rate in the interbank foreign exchange market
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 105 million (1998 est.)
Telephone system: domestic and international services are
increasingly available for private use; unevenly distributed
domestic system serves principal cities, industrial centers, and all
townships
domestic: interprovincial fiber-optic trunk lines and cellular
telephone systems have been installed; a domestic satellite system
with 55 earth stations is in place
international: satellite earth stations--5 Intelsat (4 Pacific Ocean
and 1 Indian Ocean), 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean Region) and 1
Inmarsat (Pacific and Indian Ocean Regions); several international
fiber-optic links to Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Russia, and
Germany
Radio broadcast stations: AM 569, FM NA, shortwave 173
Radios: 216.5 million (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 209 (China Central Television,
government-owned; in addition there are 31 provincial TV stations
and nearly 3,000 city TV stations) (1997)
Televisions: 300 million
Transportation
Railways:
total: 64,900 km (including 5,400 km of provincial "local" rails)
standard gauge: 61,300 km 1.435-m gauge (12,000 km electrified;
20,000 km double track)
narrow gauge: 3,600 km 0.750-m gauge local industrial lines (1998
est.)
note: a new total of 68,000 km has been estimated for early 1999
Highways:
total: 1.21 million km
paved: 271,300 km (with at least 24,474 km of motorways)
unpaved: 938,700 km (1998 est.)
Waterways: 109,800 km navigable (1997)
Pipelines: crude oil 9,070 km; petroleum products 560 km; natural
gas 9,383 km (1998)
Ports and harbors: Dalian, Fuzhou, Guangzhou, Haikou, Huangpu,
Lianyungang, Nanjing, Nantong, Ningbo, Qingdao, Qinhuangdao,
Shanghai, Shantou, Tianjin, Xiamen, Xingang, Yantai, Zhanjiang
Merchant marine:
total: 1,759 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 16,828,349
GRT/24,801,291 DWT
ships by type: barge carrier 2, bulk 330, cargo 855, chemical tanker
21, combination bulk 10, combination ore/oil 1, container 121,
liquefied gas tanker 20, multifunction large-load carrier 6, oil
tanker 245, passenger 8, passenger-cargo 47, refrigerated cargo 25,
roll-on/roll-off cargo 24, short-sea passenger 43, vehicle carrier 1
(1998 est.)
Airports: 206 (1996 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 192
over 3,047 m: 18
2,438 to 3,047 m: 65
1,524 to 2,437 m: 90
914 to 1,523 m: 13
under 914 m: 6 (1996 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 14
1,524 to 2,437 m: 8
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 1 (1996 est.)
Military
Military branches: People's Liberation Army (PLA), which includes
the Ground Forces, Navy (includes Marines and Naval Aviation), Air
Force, Second Artillery Corps (the strategic missile force),
People's Armed Police (internal security troops, nominally
subordinate to Ministry of Public Security, but included by the
Chinese as part of the "armed forces" and considered to be an
adjunct to the PLA in wartime)
Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 361,267,706 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 198,398,601 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 10,273,696 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $12.608 billion (FY99);
note-Western analysts believe that China's real defense spending is
several times higher than the official figure because several
significant items are funded elsewhere
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: NA%
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: boundary with India in dispute; dispute
over at least two small sections of the boundary with Russia remain
to be settled, despite 1997 boundary agreement; most of the boundary
with Tajikistan in dispute; 33-km section of boundary with North
Korea in the Paektu-san (mountain) area is indefinite; involved in a
complex dispute over the Spratly Islands with Malaysia, Philippines,
Taiwan, Vietnam, and possibly Brunei; maritime boundary dispute with
Vietnam in the Gulf of Tonkin; Paracel Islands occupied by China,
but claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan; claims Japanese-administered
Senkaku-shoto (Senkaku Islands/Diaoyu Tai), as does Taiwan; sections
of land border with Vietnam are indefinite
Illicit drugs: major transshipment point for heroin produced in
the Golden Triangle; growing domestic drug abuse problem
======================================================================
@Christmas Island
----------------
Geography
Location: Southeastern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of
Indonesia
Geographic coordinates: 10 30 S, 105 40 E
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area:
total: 135 sq km
land: 135 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: about 0.7 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 138.9 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 3 nm
Climate: tropical; heat and humidity moderated by trade winds
Terrain: steep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central plateau
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Murray Hill 361 m
Natural resources: phosphate
Land use:
arable land: NA%
permanent crops: NA%
permanent pastures: NA%
forests and woodland: NA%
other: 100% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island
can be a maritime hazard
Environment--current issues: NA
Environment--international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography--note: located along major sea lanes of Indian Ocean
People
Population: 2,373 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate: 7.77% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: NA births/1,000 population
Death rate: NA deaths/1,000 population
Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
Infant mortality rate: NA deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA
Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman
Nationality:
noun: Christmas Islander(s)
adjective: Christmas Island
Ethnic groups: Chinese 61%, Malay 25%, European 11%, other 3%, no
indigenous population
Religions: Buddhist 55%, Christian 15%, Muslim 10%, other 20%
(1991)
Languages: English
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Territory of Christmas Island
conventional short form: Christmas Island
Data code: KT
Dependency status: territory of Australia; administered from
Canberra by the Australian Department of the Environment, Sport and
Territories
Government type: NA
Capital: The Settlement
Administrative divisions: none (territory of Australia)
Independence: none (territory of Australia)
National holiday: NA
Constitution: Christmas Island Act of 1958
Legal system: under the authority of the governor general of
Australia and Australian law
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by the Australian governor general
head of government: Administrator (acting) Graham NICHOLLS (since NA)
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointed
by the governor general of Australia and represents the monarch and
Australia
Legislative branch: unicameral Christmas Island Shire Council (9
seats; members elected by popular vote to serve one-year terms)
elections: last held NA December 1998 (next to be held NA December
1999)
election results: percent of vote--NA; seats--independents 9
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: none
International organization participation: none
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (territory of Australia)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (territory of
Australia)
Flag description: the flag of Australia is used
Economy
Economy--overview: Phosphate mining had been the only significant
economic activity, but in December 1987 the Australian Government
closed the mine. In 1990, the mine was reopened by private
operators. Australian-based Casinos Austria International Ltd. built
a $45 million casino on Christmas Island.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$NA
GDP--real growth rate: NA%
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$NA
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
Labor force: NA
Labor force--by occupation: tourism 400 people, mining 100 people
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Industries: tourism, phosphate extraction (near depletion)
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: NA kWh
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: NA%
hydro: NA%
nuclear: NA%
other: NA%
Electricity--consumption: NA kWh
Electricity--exports: NA kWh
Electricity--imports: NA kWh
Agriculture--products: NA
Exports: $NA
Exports--commodities: phosphate
Exports--partners: Australia, NZ
Imports: $NA
Imports--commodities: consumer goods
Imports--partners: principally Australia
Debt--external: $NA
Economic aid--recipient: $NA
Currency: 1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Australian dollars ($A) per US$1--1.5853 (January
1999), 1.5888 (1998), 1.3439 (1997), 1.2773 (1996), 1.3486 (1995),
1.3667 (1994)
Fiscal year: 1 July--30 June
Communications
Telephones: NA
Telephone system:
domestic: NA
international: NA
note: external telephone and telex services are provided by Intelsat
satellite
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: 500 (1992)
Television broadcast stations: NA (1997)
Televisions: 350 (1992)
Transportation
Railways: 24 km to serve phosphate mines
Highways:
total: NA km
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km
Ports and harbors: Flying Fish Cove
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military--note: defense is the responsibility of Australia
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
======================================================================
@Clipperton Island
-----------------
Geography
Location: Middle America, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, 1,120
km southwest of Mexico
Geographic coordinates: 10 17 N, 109 13 W
Map references: World
Area:
total: 7 sq km
land: 7 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: about 12 times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 11.1 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical, humid, average temperature 20-32 degrees C,
rains May-October
Terrain: coral atoll
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Rocher Clipperton 29 m
Natural resources: none
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 100% (all coral)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1993)
Natural hazards: subject to tornadoes
Environment--current issues: NA
Environment--international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography--note: reef about 8 km in circumference
People
Population: uninhabited
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Clipperton Island
local long form: none
local short form: Ile Clipperton
former: sometimes called Ile de la Passion
Data code: IP
Dependency status: possession of France; administered by France
from French Polynesia by a high commissioner of the Republic
Legal system: NA
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (dependent territory of
France)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (dependent territory
of France)
Flag description: the flag of France is used
Economy
Economy--overview: Although 115 species of fish have been
identified in the territorial waters of Clipperton Island, the only
economic activity is a tuna fishing station.
Transportation
Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only
Military
Military--note: defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
======================================================================
@Cocos (Keeling) Islands
-----------------------
Geography
Location: Southeastern Asia, group of islands in the Indian
Ocean, south of Indonesia, about one-half of the way from Australia
to Sri Lanka
Geographic coordinates: 12 30 S, 96 50 E
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area:
total: 14 sq km
land: 14 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes the two main islands of West Island and Home Island
Area--comparative: about 24 times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 2.6 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 3 nm
Climate: pleasant, modified by the southeast trade wind for about
nine months of the year; moderate rainfall
Terrain: flat, low-lying coral atolls
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 5 m
Natural resources: fish
Land use:
arable land: NA%
permanent crops: NA%
permanent pastures: NA%
forests and woodland: NA%
other: 100% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: cyclones may occur in the early months of the
year
Environment--current issues: fresh water resources are limited to
rainwater accumulations in natural underground reservoirs
Environment--international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography--note: two coral atolls thickly covered with coconut
palms and other vegetation
People
Population: 636 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: -0.21% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: NA births/1,000 population
Death rate: NA deaths/1,000 population
Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
Infant mortality rate: NA deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA
Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman
Nationality:
noun: Cocos Islander(s)
adjective: Cocos Islander
Ethnic groups: Europeans, Cocos Malays
Religions: Sunni Muslim 57%, Christian 22%, other 21% (1981 est.)
Languages: English, Malay
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands
conventional short form: Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Data code: CK
Dependency status: territory of Australia; administered from
Canberra by the Australian Department of the Environment, Sport and
Territories
Government type: NA
Capital: West Island
Administrative divisions: none (territory of Australia)
Independence: none (territory of Australia)
National holiday: NA
Constitution: Cocos (Keeling) Islands Act of 1955
Legal system: based upon the laws of Australia and local laws
Suffrage: NA
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by the Australian governor general
head of government: Administrator (acting) Maureen ELLIS (since NA)
cabinet: NA
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointed
by the governor general of Australia and represents the monarch and
Australia
Legislative branch: unicameral Cocos (Keeling) Islands Shire
Council (NA seats)
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: none
International organization participation: none
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (territory of Australia)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (territory of
Australia)
Flag description: the flag of Australia is used
Economy
Economy--overview: Grown throughout the islands, coconuts are the
sole cash crop. Copra and fresh coconuts are the major export
earners. Small local gardens and fishing contribute to the food
supply, but additional food and most other necessities must be
imported from Australia.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$NA
GDP--real growth rate: NA%
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$NA
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
Labor force: NA
Labor force--by occupation: the Cocos Islands Cooperative Society
Ltd. employs construction workers, stevedores, and lighterage worker
operations; tourism employs others
Budget:
revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Industries: copra products and tourism
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: NA kWh
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: NA%
hydro: NA%
nuclear: NA%
other: NA%
Electricity--consumption: NA kWh
Electricity--exports: NA kWh
Electricity--imports: NA kWh
Agriculture--products: vegetables, bananas, pawpaws, coconuts
Exports: $NA
Exports--commodities: copra
Exports--partners: Australia
Imports: $NA
Imports--commodities: foodstuffs
Imports--partners: Australia
Debt--external: $NA
Economic aid--recipient: $NA
Currency: 1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Australian dollars ($A) per US$1--1.5853 (January
1999), 1.5888 (1998), 1.3439 (1997), 1.2773 (1996), 1.3486 (1995),
1.3667 (1994)
Fiscal year: 1 July--30 June
Communications
Telephones: NA
Telephone system:
domestic: NA
international: telephone, telex, and facsimile communications with
Australia and elsewhere via satellite; 1 satellite earth station of
NA type
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: 300 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 0 (1997)
Televisions: NA
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: NA km
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km
Ports and harbors: none; lagoon anchorage only
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military--note: defense is the responsibility of Australia
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
======================================================================
@Colombia
--------
Introduction
Background: Colombia gained its independence from Spain in 1819.
Earlier than most countries in the area, it established traditions
of civilian government with regular, free elections. In recent
years, however, assassinations, widespread guerrilla activities, and
drug trafficking have severely disrupted normal public and private
activities.
Geography
Location: Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea,
between Panama and Venezuela, and bordering the North Pacific Ocean,
between Ecuador and Panama
Geographic coordinates: 4 00 N, 72 00 W
Map references: South America, Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 1,138,910 sq km
land: 1,038,700 sq km
water: 100,210 sq km
note: includes Isla de Malpelo, Roncador Cay, Serrana Bank, and
Serranilla Bank
Area--comparative: slightly less than three times the size of
Montana
Land boundaries:
total: 7,408 km
border countries: Brazil 1,643 km, Ecuador 590 km, Panama 225 km,
Peru 2,900 km, Venezuela 2,050 km
Coastline: 3,208 km (Caribbean Sea 1,760 km, North Pacific Ocean
1,448 km)
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical along coast and eastern plains; cooler in
highlands
Terrain: flat coastal lowlands, central highlands, high Andes
Mountains, eastern lowland plains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Nevado del Huila 5,750 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, coal, iron ore,
nickel, gold, copper, emeralds
Land use:
arable land: 4%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 39%
forests and woodland: 48%
other: 8% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 5,300 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: highlands subject to volcanic eruptions;
occasional earthquakes; periodic droughts
Environment--current issues: deforestation; soil damage from
overuse of pesticides; air pollution, especially in Bogota, from
vehicle emissions
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test
Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83,
Tropical Timber 94
signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol,
Desertification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping
Geography--note: only South American country with coastlines on
both North Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea
People
Population: 39,309,422 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 33% (male 6,556,566; female 6,402,115)
15-64 years: 62% (male 11,966,306; female 12,593,685)
65 years and over: 5% (male 807,282; female 983,468) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.85% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 24.45 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 5.59 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.34 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 24.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 70.48 years
male: 66.54 years
female: 74.54 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.87 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Colombian(s)
adjective: Colombian
Ethnic groups: mestizo 58%, white 20%, mulatto 14%, black 4%,
mixed black-Amerindian 3%, Amerindian 1%
Religions: Roman Catholic 95%
Languages: Spanish
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 91.3%
male: 91.2%
female: 91.4% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Colombia
conventional short form: Colombia
local long form: Republica de Colombia
local short form: Colombia
Data code: CO
Government type: republic; executive branch dominates government
structure
Capital: Bogota
Administrative divisions: 32 departments (departamentos,
singular--departamento) and 1 capital district* (distrito capital);
Amazonas, Antioquia, Arauca, Atlantico, Bolivar, Boyaca, Caldas,
Caqueta, Casanare, Cauca, Cesar, Choco, Cordoba, Cundinamarca,
Guainia, Guaviare, Huila, La Guajira, Magdalena, Meta, Narino, Norte
de Santander, Putumayo, Quindio, Risaralda, San Andres y
Providencia, Distrito Capital de Santa Fe de Bogota*, Santander,
Sucre, Tolima, Valle del Cauca, Vaupes, Vichada
Independence: 20 July 1810 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day, 20 July (1810)
Constitution: 5 July 1991
Legal system: based on Spanish law; a new criminal code modeled
after US procedures was enacted in 1992-93; judicial review of
executive and legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction,
with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Andres PASTRANA (since 7 August 1998);
Vice President Gustavo BELL (since 7 August 1998); note--the
president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Andres PASTRANA (since 7 August 1998);
Vice President Gustavo BELL (since 7 August 1998); note--the
president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet
elections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term;
election last held 31 May 1998 (next to be held NA May 2002); vice
president elected by popular vote for a four-year term in a new
procedure that replaces the traditional designation of vice
presidents by newly elected presidents; election last held 31 May
1998 (next to be held NA May 2002)
election results: no candidate received more than 50% of the total
vote, therefore, a run-off election to select a president from the
two leading candidates was held 21 June 1998; Andres PASTRANA
elected president; percent of vote--NA; Gustavo BELL elected vice
president; percent of vote--NA
Legislative branch: bicameral Congress or Congreso consists of
the Senate or Senado (102 seats; members are elected by popular vote
to serve four-year terms) and the House of Representatives or Camara
de Representantes (161 seats; members are elected by popular vote to
serve four-year terms)
elections: Senate--last held NA March 1998 (next to be held NA March
2002); House of Representatives--last held NA March 1998 (next to be
held NA March 2002)
election results: Senate--percent of vote by party--PL 50%, PC 24%,
smaller parties (many aligned with conservatives) 26%; seats by
party--PL 51, PC 24, smaller parties 27; House of
Representatives--percent of vote by party--PL 52%, PC 17%, other 31%;
seats by party--NA
Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de
Justical), highest court of criminal law, judges are selected from
the nominees of the Higher Council of Justice for eight-year terms;
Council of State, highest court of administrative law, judges are
selected from the nominees of the Higher Council of Justice for
eight-year terms; Constitutional Court, guards integrity and
supremacy of the constitution, rules on constitutionality of laws,
amendments to the constitution, and international treaties
Political parties and leaders: Liberal Party or PL [Horaero
AD/M-19 is a coalition of small leftist parties and dissident
legal political party formed by Revolutionary Armed Forces of
Political pressure groups and leaders: two largest insurgent
groups active in Colombia--Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia or
FARC; and National Liberation Army or ELN
International organization participation: BCIE, CAN, Caricom
(observer), CCC, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G- 3, G-11, G-24, G-77, IADB,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO
(pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC,
IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Luis Alberto MORENO Mejia
chancery: 2118 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami,
New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico), and
Washington, DC
consulate(s): Atlanta and Tampa
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Curtis Warren KAMMAN
embassy: Calle 22D-BIS, numbers 47-51, Apartado Aereo 3831
mailing address: APO AA 34038
Flag description: three horizontal bands of yellow (top,
double-width), blue, and red; similar to the flag of Ecuador, which
is longer and bears the Ecuadorian coat of arms superimposed in the
center
Economy
Economy--overview: Colombia ended 1998 in recession with 0.2% GDP
growth due to a combination of low world oil prices, reduced export
demand, guerrilla violence, and diminished investment flows. The
Central Bank resorted to interest rate hikes and tight monetary
policy to defend the peso against pressure from Colombia's worsening
trade and fiscal deficits. President PASTRANA'S well-respected
financial team is working to deal with the myriad economic problems
the country faces, including the highest unemployment level in
decades and a fiscal deficit of close to 5% of GDP in 1998. The
government implemented austerity measures, declared emergency
measures to guard against a potential banking crisis resulting from
the country's economic slowdown, and is seeking international
assistance to fund a peace plan with the guerrillas. Guerrilla
violence and low world oil prices will likely continue to undermine
the economy in 1999.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$254.7 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 0.2% (1998)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$6,600 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 19%
industry: 26%
services: 55% (1996)
Population below poverty line: 17.7% (1992 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1%
highest 10%: 46.9% (1995)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 16.7% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 16.8 million (1997 est.)
Labor force--by occupation: services 46%, agriculture 30%,
industry 24% (1990)
Unemployment rate: 15.7% (1998 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $26 billion (1996 est.)
expenditures: $30 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1996 est.)
Industries: textiles, food processing, oil, clothing and
footwear, beverages, chemicals, cement; gold, coal, emeralds
Industrial production growth rate: -1.2% (1996)
Electricity--production: 53.725 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 19.26%
hydro: 80.74%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 53.857 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 132 million kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: coffee, cut flowers, bananas, rice,
tobacco, corn, sugarcane, cocoa beans, oilseed, vegetables; forest
products; shrimp
Exports: $11.3 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Exports--commodities: petroleum, coffee, coal, gold, bananas, cut
flowers
Exports--partners: US 38%, EU 23%, Andean Community 18%, Japan 3%
(1997)
Imports: $14.4 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Imports--commodities: industrial equipment, transportation
equipment, consumer goods, chemicals, paper products, fuels
Imports--partners: US 42%, EU 23%, Andean Community 14%, Japan 4%
(1997)
Debt--external: $18 billion (1998 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $40.7 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Colombian peso (Col$) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates: Colombian pesos (Col$) per US$1--1,562.0 (February
1999), 1,426.04 (1998), 1,140.96 (1997), 1,036.69 (1996), 912.83
(1995), 844.84 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 1.89 million (1986 est.)
Telephone system: modern system in many respects
domestic: nationwide microwave radio relay system; domestic
satellite system with 11 earth stations
international: satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 463, FM 35, shortwave 45 (1998 est.)
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 60 (includes seven low-power
stations) (1997)
Televisions: 5.5 million (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 3,380 km
standard gauge: 150 km 1.435-m gauge (connects Cerrejon coal mines
to maritime port at Bahia de Portete)
narrow gauge: 3,230 km 0.914-m gauge (1,830 km in use) (1995)
Highways:
total: 115,564 km
paved: 13,868 km
unpaved: 101,696 km (1997 est.)
Waterways: 14,300 km, navigable by river boats
Pipelines: crude oil 3,585 km; petroleum products 1,350 km;
natural gas 830 km; natural gas liquids 125 km
Ports and harbors: Bahia de Portete, Barranquilla, Buenaventura,
Cartagena, Leticia, Puerto Bolivar, San Andres, Santa Marta, Tumaco,
Turbo
Merchant marine:
total: 14 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 64,7575 GRT/84,518 DWT
ships by type: bulk 4, cargo 5, container 1, multifunction
large-load carrier 2, oil tanker 2 (1998 est.)
Airports: 1,120 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 89
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 9
1,524 to 2,437 m: 36
914 to 1,523 m: 35
under 914 m: 7 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 1,031
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 63
914 to 1,523 m: 339
under 914 m: 628 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army (Ejercito Nacional), Navy (Armada
Nacional, includes Marines and Coast Guard), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea
Colombiana), National Police (Policia Nacional)
Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 10,418,211 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 6,980,700 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 360,820 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $4 billion (1998)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 4.2% (1998)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: maritime boundary dispute with Venezuela
in the Gulf of Venezuela; territorial disputes with Nicaragua over
Archipelago de San Andres y Providencia and Quita Sueno Bank
Illicit drugs: illicit producer of coca, opium poppies, and
cannabis; cultivation of coca in 1997--79,500 hectares, an 18%
increase over 1996; potential production of cocaine in 1997--125
metric tons, a 14% increase over 1996; cultivation of opium in
1997--6,600 hectares, a 5% increase over 1996; potential production
of opium in 1997--66 metric tons, a 5% increase over 1996; the
world's largest processor of coca derivatives into cocaine; supplier
of cocaine to the US and other international drug markets; active
aerial eradication program seeks to virtually eliminate coca and
opium crops
======================================================================
@Comoros
-------
Introduction
Background: Comoros has had difficulty in achieving political
stability, having endured 18 coups or attempted coups since
receiving independence from France in 1975. Most recently, in August
1997, the islands of Anjouan and Moheli declared their independence
from Comoros. An attempt in September 1997 by the government to
reestablish control over the rebellious islands by force failed, and
presently the Organization of African Unity is brokering
negotiations to effect a reconciliation.
Geography
Location: Southern Africa, group of islands in the Mozambique
Channel, about two-thirds of the way between northern Madagascar and
northern Mozambique
Geographic coordinates: 12 10 S, 44 15 E
Map references: Africa
Area:
total: 2,170 sq km
land: 2,170 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly more than 12 times the size of
Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 340 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical marine; rainy season (November to May)
Terrain: volcanic islands, interiors vary from steep mountains to
low hills
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Le Kartala 2,360 m
Natural resources: NEGL
Land use:
arable land: 35%
permanent crops: 10%
permanent pastures: 7%
forests and woodland: 18%
other: 30% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: cyclones possible during rainy season (December
to April); Le Kartala on Grand Comore is an active volcano
Environment--current issues: soil degradation and erosion results
from crop cultivation on slopes without proper terracing;
deforestation
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography--note: important location at northern end of Mozambique
Channel
People
Population: 562,723 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 43% (male 120,397; female 119,945)
15-64 years: 54% (male 150,851; female 154,990)
65 years and over: 3% (male 7,878; female 8,662) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.11% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 40.29 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 9.23 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.91 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 81.63 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 60.85 years
male: 58.39 years
female: 63.38 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.43 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Comoran(s)
adjective: Comoran
Ethnic groups: Antalote, Cafre, Makoa, Oimatsaha, Sakalava
Religions: Sunni Muslim 86%, Roman Catholic 14%
Languages: Arabic (official), French (official), Comoran (a blend
of Swahili and Arabic)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 57.3%
male: 64.2%
female: 50.4% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Federal Islamic Republic of the Comoros
conventional short form: Comoros
local long form: Republique Federale Islamique des Comores
local short form: Comores
Data code: CN
Government type: independent republic
Capital: Moroni
Administrative divisions: three islands; Grande Comore
(Njazidja), Anjouan (Nzwani), and Moheli (Mwali)
note: there are also four municipalities named Domoni, Fomboni,
Moroni, and Moutsamoudou
Independence: 6 July 1975 (from France)
National holiday: Independence Day, 6 July (1975)
Constitution: 20 October 1996
Legal system: French and Muslim law in a new consolidated code
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Interim President TADJIDDINE Ben Said Massounde
(since 6 November 1998); note--President Mohamed TAKI Abdulkarim died
in office 6 November 1998 and was succeeded by Interim President
MASSOUNDE
head of government: Prime Minister Abbas DJOUSSOUF (since 22
November 1998)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote to a five-year term;
election last held 16 March 1996 (next to be held NA); prime
minister appointed by the president
election results: Mohamed TAKI Abdulkarim elected president; percent
of vote--64%
note: the Comoran constitution stipulates that upon the death of the
president, a new president is to be elected within 90 days; however,
Interim President TADJIDDINE has stated that a new election cannot
be held until Anjouan is reunited with the rest of the country
Legislative branch: bicameral legislature consists of the Senate
(15 seats; members selected by regional councils for six-year terms)
and a Federal Assembly or Assemblee Federale (43 seats; members
elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: Federal Assembly--last held 1 and 8 December 1996 (next to
be held NA)
election results: Federal Assembly--percent of vote by party--NA;
seats by party--RND 39, RND candidate running as independent 1, FNJ 3
Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Cour Supremes, two members are
appointed by the president, two members are elected by the Federal
Assembly, one by the Council of each island, and former presidents
of the republic
Political parties and leaders: Rassemblement National pour le
NA]
note: under a new constitution ratified in October 1996, a two-party
system was established; former President Mohamed TAKI Abdulkarim
called for all parties to dissolve and join him in creating the RND;
the constitution stipulates that only parties that win six seats in
the Federal Assembly (two from each island) are permitted to be in
opposition, but if no party accomplishes that the second most
successful party will be in opposition; in the elections of December
1996 the FNJ appeared to qualify as opposition
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AFESD,
AL, CCC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS
(associate), ILO, IMF, InOC, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), IOC, ITU,
NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WTrO
(applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador-designate Ahmed DJABIR (ambassador to
the US and Canada and permanent representative to the UN)
chancery: (temporary) care of the Permanent Mission of the Federal
and Islamic Republic of the Comoros to the United Nations, 336 East
45th Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10017
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an
embassy in Comoros; the ambassador to Mauritius is accredited to
Comoros
Flag description: green with a white crescent in the center of
the field, its points facing downward; there are four white
five-pointed stars placed in a line between the points of the
crescent; the crescent, stars, and color green are traditional
symbols of Islam; the four stars represent the four main islands of
the archipelago--Mwali, Njazidja, Nzwani, and Mayotte (a territorial
collectivity of France, but claimed by Comoros); the design, the
most recent of several, is described in the constitution approved by
referendum on 7 June 1992
Economy
Economy--overview: One of the world's poorest countries, Comoros
is made up of three islands that have inadequate transportation
links, a young and rapidly increasing population, and few natural
resources. The low educational level of the labor force contributes
to a subsistence level of economic activity, high unemployment, and
a heavy dependence on foreign grants and technical assistance.
Agriculture, including fishing, hunting, and forestry, is the
leading sector of the economy. It contributes 40% to GDP, employs
80% of the labor force, and provides most of the exports. The
country is not self-sufficient in food production; rice, the main
staple, accounts for the bulk of imports. The government is
struggling to upgrade education and technical training, to privatize
commercial and industrial enterprises, to improve health services,
to diversify exports, to promote tourism, and to reduce the high
population growth rate. Continued foreign support is essential if
the goal of 4% annual GDP growth is to be maintained.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$400 million (1997 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 3.5% (1997 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$700 (1997 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 40%
industry: 14%
services: 46% (1996 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.5% (1997)
Labor force: 144,500 (1996 est.)
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 80%, government 3%
Unemployment rate: 20% (1996 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $48 million
expenditures: $53 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1997)
Industries: tourism, perfume distillation, textiles, furniture,
jewelry, construction materials, soft drinks
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: 15 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 86.67%
hydro: 13.33%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 15 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: vanilla, cloves, perfume essences, copra,
coconuts, bananas, cassava (tapioca)
Exports: $11.4 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.)
Exports--commodities: vanilla, ylang-ylang, cloves, perfume oil,
copra
Exports--partners: France 43%, US 43%, Germany 7% (1996)
Imports: $70 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.)
Imports--commodities: rice and other foodstuffs, consumer goods;
petroleum products, cement, transport equipment
Imports--partners: France 59%, South Africa 15%, Kenya 6% (1996)
Debt--external: $219 million (1996 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $43.3 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Comoran franc (CF) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: Comoran francs (CF) per US$1--420.01 (December
1998), 442.46 (1998), 437.75 (1997), 383.66 (1996), 374.36 (1995),
416.40 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 4,000 (1993 est.)
Telephone system: sparse system of microwave radio relay and HF
radiotelephone communication stations
domestic: HF radiotelephone communications and microwave radio relay
international: HF radiotelephone communications to Madagascar and
Reunion
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 1, shortwave 0
Radios: 81,000 (1994)
Television broadcast stations: 0 (1998)
Televisions: 200 (1994
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 880 km
paved: 673 km
unpaved: 207 km (1996 est.)
Ports and harbors: Fomboni, Moroni, Moutsamoudou
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 4 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Comoran Security Force
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 132,969 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 79,224 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $3 million (1994 est.)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: NA%
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: claims French-administered Mayotte; the
islands of Anjouan (Nzwani) and Moheli (Mwali) have moved to secede
from Comoros
======================================================================
@Congo, Democratic Republic of the
---------------------------------
Geography
Location: Central Africa, northeast of Angola
Geographic coordinates: 0 00 N, 25 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area:
total: 2,345,410 sq km
land: 2,267,600 sq km
water: 77,810 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly less than one-fourth the size of the US
Land boundaries:
total: 10,271 km
border countries: Angola 2,511 km, Burundi 233 km, Central African
Republic 1,577 km, Republic of the Congo 2,410 km, Rwanda 217 km,
Sudan 628 km, Uganda 765 km, Zambia 1,930 km
Coastline: 37 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: boundaries with neighbors
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; hot and humid in equatorial river basin;
cooler and drier in southern highlands; cooler and wetter in eastern
highlands; north of Equator--wet season April to October, dry season
December to February; south of Equator--wet season November to March,
dry season April to October
Terrain: vast central basin is a low-lying plateau; mountains in
east
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Pic Marguerite on Mont Ngaliema (Mount Stanley) 5,110
m
Natural resources: cobalt, copper, cadmium, petroleum, industrial
and gem diamonds, gold, silver, zinc, manganese, tin, germanium,
uranium, radium, bauxite, iron ore, coal, hydropower potential,
timber
Land use:
arable land: 3%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 7%
forests and woodland: 77%
other: 13% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 100 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: periodic droughts in south; volcanic activity
Environment--current issues: poaching threatens wildlife
populations; water pollution; deforestation; refugees who arrived in
mid-1994 were responsible for significant deforestation, soil
erosion, and wildlife poaching in the eastern part of the country
(most of those refugees were repatriated in November and December
1996)
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear
Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical
Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
Geography--note: straddles Equator; very narrow strip of land that
controls the lower Congo river and is only outlet to South Atlantic
Ocean; dense tropical rain forest in central river basin and eastern
highlands
People
Population: 50,481,305 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 48% (male 12,200,532; female 12,136,372)
15-64 years: 49% (male 12,135,901; female 12,692,057)
65 years and over: 3% (male 564,084; female 752,359) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.96% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 46.37 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 14.99 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.78 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
note: in 1994, about a million refugees fled into Zaire (now called
the Democratic Republic of the Congo or DROC), to escape the
fighting between the Hutus and the Tutsis in Rwanda and Burundi; the
outbreak of widespread fighting in the DROC between rebels and
government forces in October 1996 spurred about 875,000 refugees to
return to Rwanda in late 1996 and early 1997; additionally,the DROC
is host to 200,000 Angolan, 110,000 Burundi, 100,000 Sudanese, and
15,000 Ugandan refugees; renewed fighting in the DROC in August 1998
resulted in more internal displacement and refugee outflows
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 99.45 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 49.44 years
male: 47.28 years
female: 51.67 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.45 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Congolese (singular and plural)
adjective: Congolese or Congo
Ethnic groups: over 200 African ethnic groups of which the
majority are Bantu; the four largest tribes--Mongo, Luba, Kongo (all
Bantu), and the Mangbetu-Azande (Hamitic) make up about 45% of the
population
Religions: Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 20%, Kimbanguist 10%,
Muslim 10%, other syncretic sects and traditional beliefs 10%
Languages: French (official), Lingala (a lingua franca trade
language), Kingwana (a dialect of Kiswahili or Swahili), Kikongo,
Tshiluba
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write French, Lingala,
Kingwana, or Tshiluba
total population: 77.3%
male: 86.6%
female: 67.7% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Democratic Republic of the Congo
conventional short form: none
local long form: Republique Democratique du Congo
local short form: none
former: Belgian Congo, Congo/Leopoldville, Congo/Kinshasa, Zaire
abbreviation: DROC
Data code: CG
Government type: dictatorship; presumably undergoing a transition
to representative government
Capital: Kinshasa
Administrative divisions: 10 provinces (provinces,
singular--province) and one city* (ville); Bandundu, Bas-Congo,
Equateur, Kasai-Occidental, Kasai-Oriental, Katanga, Kinshasa*,
Maniema, Nord-Kivu, Orientale, Sud-Kivu
Independence: 30 June 1960 (from Belgium)
National holiday: anniversary of independence from Belgium, 30
June (1960)
Constitution: 24 June 1967, amended August 1974, revised 15
February 1978, amended April 1990; transitional constitution
promulgated in April 1994; following successful rebellion the new
government announced on 29 May 1997 a program of constitutional
reform and, in November 1998, a draft constitution was approved by
President KABILA and awaits ratification by national referendum
Legal system: based on Belgian civil law system and tribal law;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state: Laurent Desire KABILA (since 17 May 1997); note--the
president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government: Laurent Desire KABILA (since 17 May 1997);
note--the president is both chief of state and head of government
cabinet: National Executive Council, appointed by the president
elections: before Laurent Desire KABILA seized power, the president
was elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; election last
held 29 July 1984 (next was to be held in May 1997); formerly, the
prime minister was elected by the High Council of the Republic;
note--the term of the former government expired in 1991, elections
were not held, and former president MOBUTU continued in office until
his government was militarily defeated by KABILA on 17 May 1997
election results: MOBUTU Sese Seko Kuku Ngbendu wa Za Banga
reelected president in 1984 without opposition
note: Marshal MOBUTU Sese Seko Kuku Ngbendu wa Za Banga was
president from 24 November 1965 until forced into exile on 16 May
1997 when his government was overturned militarily by Laurent Desire
KABILA, who immediately assumed governing authority; in his 29 May
1997 inaugural address, President KABILA announced a two-year time
table for political reform leading to elections by April 1999;
subsequently, in December 1998, President KABILA announced that
elections would be postponed until all foreign military forces
attempting his overthrow had withdrawn from the country
Legislative branch: legislative activity has been suspended
pending the establishment of KABILA's promised constitutional
reforms and the elections to be held by April 1999 (now postponed
indefinitely)
elections: the country's first multi-party presidential and
legislative elections had been scheduled for May 1997 but were not
held; instead KABILA overthrew the MOBUTU government and seized
control of the country
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)
Political parties and leaders: sole legal party until January
parties include Union for Democracy and Social Progress or UDPS
note: President KABILA, who has banned political party activity
indefinitely, currently leads the Alliance of Democratic Forces for
the Liberation of Congo-Zaire or AFDL
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC,
CEEAC, CEPGL, ECA, FAO, G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU,
ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol,
IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, PCA, SADC, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Faida MITIFU
chancery: 1800 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador William Lacy SWING
embassy: 310 Avenue des Aviateurs, Kinshasa
mailing address: Unit 31550, APO AE 09828
Flag description: light blue with a large yellow five-pointed
star in the center and a columnar arrangement of six small yellow
five-pointed stars along the hoist side
Economy
Economy--overview: The economy of the Democratic Republic of the
Congo--a nation endowed with vast potential wealth--has declined
significantly since the mid-1980s. The new government instituted a
tight fiscal policy that initially curbed inflation and currency
depreciation, but these small gains were quickly reversed when the
foreign-backed rebellion in the eastern part of the country began in
August 1998. The war has dramatically reduced government revenue,
and increased external debt. Foreign businesses have curtailed
operations due to uncertainty about the outcome of the conflict and
because of increased government harassment and restrictions. Poor
infrastructure, an uncertain legal framework, corruption, and lack
of transparency in government economic policy remain a brake on
investment and growth. A number of IMF and World Bank missions have
met with the new government to help it develop a coherent economic
plan but associated reforms are on hold.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$34.9 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: -3.5% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$710 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 59%
industry: 15%
services: 26% (1995 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 147% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 14.51 million (1993 est.)
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 65%, industry 16%,
services 19% (1991 est.)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $269 million
expenditures: $244 million, including capital expenditures of $24
million (1996 est.)
Industries: mining, mineral processing, consumer products
(including textiles, footwear, cigarettes, processed foods and
beverages), cement, diamonds
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: 6.4 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 6.25%
hydro: 93.75%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 6.265 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 195 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 60 million kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: coffee, sugar, palm oil, rubber, tea,
quinine, cassava (tapioca), palm oil, bananas, root crops, corn,
fruits; wood products
Exports: $1.6 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Exports--commodities: diamonds, copper, coffee, cobalt, crude oil
Exports--partners: Benelux 43%, US 22%, South Africa 8%, France,
Germany, Italy, UK, Japan (1997)
Imports: $819 million (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Imports--commodities: consumer goods, foodstuffs, mining and other
machinery, transport equipment, fuels
Imports--partners: South Africa 21%, Benelux 14%, China 8%,
Netherlands, US, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, UK (1997)
Debt--external: $15 billion (1997 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $195.3 million (1995)
Currency: Congolese franc (CF)
Exchange rates: Congolese francs (CF) per US$1--2.5 (January
1999); new zaires (Z) per US$1--115,000 (January 1998), 83,764
(October 1996), 7,024 (1995), 1,194 (1994)
note: on 30 June 1998 the Congolese franc (CF) was introduced,
replacing the new zaire; 1 Congolese franc (CF)=100,000 new zaires
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 34,000 (1991 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: barely adequate wire and microwave radio relay service in
and between urban areas; domestic satellite system with 14 earth
stations
international: satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 10, FM 4, shortwave 0
Radios: 3.87 million (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 18 (1997)
Televisions: 55,000 (1992 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 5,138 km (1995); note--severely reduced route-distance in use
because of damage to facilities by civil strife
narrow gauge: 3,987 km 1.067-m gauge (858 km electrified); 125 km
1.000-m gauge; 1,026 km 0.600-m gauge
Highways:
total: 145,000 km
paved: 2,500 km
unpaved: 142,500 km (1993 est.)
Waterways: 15,000 km including the Congo, its tributaries, and
unconnected lakes
Pipelines: petroleum products 390 km
Ports and harbors: Banana, Boma, Bukavu, Bumba, Goma, Kalemie,
Kindu, Kinshasa, Kisangani, Matadi, Mbandaka
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 233 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 23
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 14
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 210
1,524 to 2,437 m: 21
914 to 1,523 m: 95
under 914 m: 94 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Presidential Security
Group, Gendarmerie
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 10,874,744 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 5,536,277 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $250 million (1997)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 4.6% (1997)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: the Democratic Republic of the Congo is
in the grip of a civil war that has drawn in military forces from
neighboring states, with Uganda and Rwanda supporting the rebel
movement which occupies much of the eastern portion of the state;
most of the Congo River boundary with the Republic of the Congo is
indefinite (no agreement has been reached on the division of the
river or its islands, except in the Pool Malebo/Stanley Pool area)
Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis, mostly for domestic
consumption
======================================================================
@Congo, Republic of the
----------------------
Geography
Location: Western Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean,
between Angola and Gabon
Geographic coordinates: 1 00 S, 15 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area:
total: 342,000 sq km
land: 341,500 sq km
water: 500 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than Montana
Land boundaries:
total: 5,504 km
border countries: Angola 201 km, Cameroon 523 km, Central African
Republic 467 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 2,410 km, Gabon
1,903 km
Coastline: 169 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 200 nm
Climate: tropical; rainy season (March to June); dry season (June
to October); constantly high temperatures and humidity; particularly
enervating climate astride the Equator
Terrain: coastal plain, southern basin, central plateau, northern
basin
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Berongou 903 m
Natural resources: petroleum, timber, potash, lead, zinc,
uranium, copper, phosphates, natural gas
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 29%
forests and woodland: 62%
other: 9% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 10 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: seasonal flooding
Environment--current issues: air pollution from vehicle emissions;
water pollution from the dumping of raw sewage; tap water is not
potable; deforestation
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Ozone
Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94
signed, but not ratified: Desertification, Law of the Sea
Geography--note: about 70% of the population lives in Brazzaville,
Pointe-Noire, or along the railroad between them
People
Population: 2,716,814 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 42% (male 579,940; female 573,847)
15-64 years: 54% (male 718,820; female 751,911)
65 years and over: 4% (male 36,987; female 55,309) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.16% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 37.96 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 16.33 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 100.58 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 47.14 years
male: 45.42 years
female: 48.92 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.89 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Congolese (singular and plural)
adjective: Congolese or Congo
Ethnic groups: Kongo 48%, Sangha 20%, M'Bochi 12%, Teke 17%,
Europeans NA%; note--Europeans estimated at 8,500, mostly French,
before the 1997 civil war; may be half of that in 1998, following
the widespread destruction of foreign businesses in 1997
Religions: Christian 50%, animist 48%, Muslim 2%
Languages: French (official), Lingala and Monokutuba (lingua
franca trade languages), many local languages and dialects (of which
Kikongo has the most users)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 74.9%
male: 83.1%
female: 67.2% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of the Congo
conventional short form: none
local long form: Republique du Congo
local short form: none
former: Congo/Brazzaville, Congo
Data code: CF
Government type: republic
Capital: Brazzaville
Administrative divisions: 9 regions (regions, singular--region)
and 1 commune*; Bouenza, Brazzaville*, Cuvette, Kouilou, Lekoumou,
Likouala, Niari, Plateaux, Pool, Sangha
Independence: 15 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday: Congolese National Day, 15 August (1960)
Constitution: new constitution approved by referendum March 1992
but is now being redrafted by President SASSOU-NGUESSO
Legal system: based on French civil law system and customary law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO (since 25 October
1997, following the civil war in which he toppled elected president
Pascal LISSOUBA); note--the president is both the chief of state and
head of government
head of government: normally the prime minister, appointed from the
majority party by the president; however, since his inauguration,
President Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO has been both chief of state and head
of government
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 16 August 1992 (next was to be held 27 July 1997
but will be delayed for several years pending the drafting of a new
constitution)
election results: Pascal LISSOUBA elected president in 1992; percent
of vote--Pascal LISSOUBA 61%, Bernard KOLELAS 39%; note--LISSOUBA was
deposed in 1997, replaced by Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO
Legislative branch: unicameral National Transitional Council (75
seats, members elected by reconciliation forum of 1,420 delegates;
note--the National Transitioanl Council replaced the bicameral
Paarliament in mid-1997
elections: National Transitional Council--last held NA January 1998
(next to be held NA 2001); note--at that election the National
Transitional Council is to be replaced by a bicameral assembly
election results: National Transitional Council--percent of vote by
party--NA; seats by party--NA
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)
Political parties and leaders: the most important of the many
SASSOU-NGUESSO, president]; Association for Democracy and
TCHICAYA, president]; Congolese Movement for Democracy and Integral
BOKAMBA-YANGOUMA]
Political pressure groups and leaders: Union of Congolese
Socialist Youth or UJSC; Congolese Trade Union Congress or CSC;
Revolutionary Union of Congolese Women or URFC; General Union of
Congolese Pupils and Students or UGEEC
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC,
CCC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, MONUA, NAM,
OAU, OPCW, UDEAC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WToO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: (vacant); Charge d'Affaires ad interim Serge
MOMBOULI
chancery: 4891 Colorado Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20011
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador J. Aubrey HOOKS
embassy: Avenue Amilcar Cabral, Brazzaville
mailing address: B. P. 1015, Brazzaville
note: the embassy is temporarily collocated with the US Embassy in
the Democratic Republic of the Congo (US Embassy Kinshasa, 310
Avenue des Aviateurs, Kinshasa)
Flag description: divided diagonally from the lower hoist side by
a yellow band; the upper triangle (hoist side) is green and the
lower triangle is red; uses the popular pan-African colors of
Ethiopia
Economy
Economy--overview: The economy is a mixture of village agriculture
and handicrafts, an industrial sector based largely on oil, support
services, and a government characterized by budget problems and
overstaffing. Oil has supplanted forestry as the mainstay of the
economy, providing a major share of government revenues and exports.
In the early 1980s, rapidly rising oil revenues enabled the
government to finance large-scale development projects with GDP
growth averaging 5% annually, one of the highest rates in Africa.
Subsequently, falling oil prices cut GDP growth by half. Moreover,
the government has mortgaged a substantial portion of its oil
earnings, contributing to the government's shortage of revenues. The
12 January 1994 devaluation of Franc Zone currencies by 50% resulted
in inflation of 61% in 1994 but inflation has subsided since.
Economic reform efforts continued with the support of international
organizations, notably the World Bank and the IMF. The reform
program came to a halt in June 1997 when civil war erupted. Denis
SASSOU-NGUESSO, who returned to power when the war ended in October
1997, publicly expressed interest in moving forward on economic
reforms and privatization and in renewing cooperation with
international financial institutions. However, economic progress was
badly hurt by slumping oil prices in 1998, which worsened the
Republic of the Congo's budget deficit. A second blow was the
resumption of armed conflict in December 1998.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$3.9 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 2.5% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,500 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 10%
industry: 59%
services: 31% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5% (1997 est.)
Labor force: NA
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $870 million
expenditures: $970 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1997 est.)
Industries: petroleum extraction, cement kilning, lumbering,
brewing, sugar milling, palm oil, soap, cigarette making
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: 438 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 0.68%
hydro: 99.32%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 553 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 115 million kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: cassava (tapioca), sugar, rice, corn,
peanuts, vegetables, coffee, cocoa; forest products
Exports: $1.7 billion (f.o.b., 1997)
Exports--commodities: petroleum 50%, lumber, plywood, sugar,
cocoa, coffee, diamonds
Exports--partners: US 37%, Belgium-Luxembourg 34%, Taiwan, China
(1997 est.)
Imports: $803 million (f.o.b. 1997)
Imports--commodities: intermediate manufactures, capital
equipment, construction materials, foodstuffs, petroleum products
Imports--partners: France 22%, Italy 16%, US 9%, UK 6% (1997 est.)
Debt--external: $6 billion (1996)
Economic aid--recipient: $159.1 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100
centimes
Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per
US$1--550 (January 1999), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55
(1996), 499.15 (1995), 555.20 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 18,000 (1983 est.)
Telephone system: services barely adequate for government use;
key exchanges are in Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, and Loubomo;
inter-city lines frequently out-of-order
domestic: primary network consists of microwave radio relay and
coaxial cable
international: satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 4, FM 1, shortwave 0
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1997)
Televisions: 8,500 (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 795 km (includes 285 km private track)
narrow gauge: 795 km 1.067-m gauge (1995 est.)
Highways:
total: 12,800 km
paved: 1,242 km
unpaved: 11,558 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: the Congo and Ubangi (Oubangui) Rivers provide 1,120
km of commercially navigable water transport; other rivers are used
for local traffic only
Pipelines: crude oil 25 km
Ports and harbors: Brazzaville, Impfondo, Ouesso, Oyo,
Pointe-Noire
Airports: 36 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 4
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 32
1,524 to 2,437 m: 8
914 to 1,523 m: 14
under 914 m: 10 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: NA
Military manpower--military age: 20 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 641,543 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 326,834 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 28,976 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $110 million (1993)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 3.8% (1993)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: most of the Congo River boundary with the
Democratic Republic of the Congo is indefinite (no agreement has
been reached on the division of the river or its islands, except in
the Stanley Pool/Pool Malebo area)
======================================================================
@Cook Islands
------------
Introduction
Background: Named after Captain Cook, who sighted them in 1770,
the islands became a British protectorate in 1888. By 1900,
administrative control was transferred to New Zealand. Residents
chose self-government with free association with New Zealand in
1965. The emigration of Cook Islanders to New Zealand in large
numbers and resulting loss of skilled labor and government deficits
are continuing problems.
Geography
Location: Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean,
about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Geographic coordinates: 21 14 S, 159 46 W
Map references: Oceania
Area:
total: 240 sq km
land: 240 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: 1.3 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 120 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; moderated by trade winds
Terrain: low coral atolls in north; volcanic, hilly islands in
south
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Te Manga 652 m
Natural resources: NEGL
Land use:
arable land: 9%
permanent crops: 13%
permanent pastures: NA%
forests and woodland: NA%
other: 78% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: typhoons (November to March)
Environment--current issues: NA
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertication, Law of the Sea
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
People
Population: 20,200 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate: 1.04% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 22.35 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 5.2 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -6.75 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 24.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 71.14 years
male: 69.2 years
female: 73.1 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.17 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Cook Islander(s)
adjective: Cook Islander
Ethnic groups: Polynesian (full blood) 81.3%, Polynesian and
European 7.7%, Polynesian and non-European 7.7%, European 2.4%,
other 0.9%
Religions: Christian (majority of populace are members of the
Cook Islands Christian Church)
Languages: English (official), Maori
Literacy: NA
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Cook Islands
Data code: CW
Dependency status: self-governing in free association with New
Zealand; Cook Islands is fully responsible for internal affairs; New
Zealand retains responsibility for external affairs, in consultation
with the Cook Islands
Government type: self-governing parliamentary democracy
Capital: Avarua
Administrative divisions: none
Independence: none (became self-governing in free association
with New Zealand on 4 August 1965 and has the right at any time to
move to full independence by unilateral action)
National holiday: Constitution Day, 4 August
Constitution: 4 August 1965
Legal system: based on New Zealand law and English common law
Suffrage: NA years of age; universal adult
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Apenera SHORT (since NA); New Zealand High
Commissioner Jon JONESSEN (since NA January 1998), representative of
New Zealand
head of government: Prime Minister Sir Geoffrey A. HENRY (since 1
February 1989); Deputy Prime Minister Inatio AKARURU (since 1
February 1989)
cabinet: Cabinet chosen by the prime minister; collectively
responsible to Parliament
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; the UK representative is
appointed by the monarch; the New Zealand high commissioner is
appointed by the New Zealand Government; following legislative
elections, the leader of the party that wins the most seats usually
becomes prime minister
Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament (25 seats; members
elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 6 March 1994 (next to be held by June 1999)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--Cook
Islands Party 20, Democratic Party 3, Democratic Alliance Party 2
note: the House of Arikis (chiefs) advises on traditional matters,
but has no legislative powers
Judicial branch: High Court
Political parties and leaders: Cook Islands Party [Sir Geoffrey
International organization participation: AsDB, ESCAP
(associate), FAO, ICAO, ICFTU, IFAD, Intelsat (nonsignatory user),
IOC, OPCW, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UNESCO, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (self-governing in free
association with New Zealand)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (self-governing in
free association with New Zealand)
Flag description: blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper
hoist-side quadrant and a large circle of 15 white five-pointed
stars (one for every island) centered in the outer half of the flag
Economy
Economy--overview: Like many other South Pacific island nations,
the Cook Islands' economic development is hindered by the isolation
of the country from foreign markets, lack of natural resources,
periodic devastation from natural disasters, and inadequate
infrastructure. Agriculture provides the economic base with major
exports made up of copra and citrus fruit. Manufacturing activities
are limited to fruit-processing, clothing, and handicrafts. Trade
deficits are made up for by remittances from emigrants and by
foreign aid, overwhelmingly from New Zealand. In 1996, the
government declared bankruptcy, citing a $120 million public debt.
Efforts to exploit tourism potential and expanding the mining and
fishing industries have not been enough to adequately deal with the
financial crisis. In an effort to stem further erosion of the
economy, the government slashed public service salaries by 50%,
condensed the number of government ministries from 52 to 22, reduced
the number of civil servants by more than half, began selling
government assets, and closed all overseas diplomatic posts except
for the one in New Zealand.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$79 million (1994 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: NA%
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$4,000 (1994 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 17%
industry: 6%
services: 77% (FY90/91)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.6% (1994 est.)
Labor force: 6,601 (1993)
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 29%, government 27%,
services 25%, industry 15%, other 4% (1981)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Industries: fruit processing, tourism
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: 15 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 15 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: copra, citrus, pineapples, tomatoes, beans,
pawpaws, bananas, yams, taro, coffee
Exports: $4.2 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
Exports--commodities: copra, fresh and canned citrus fruit,
coffee; fish; pearls and pearl shells; clothing
Exports--partners: NZ 80%, Japan, Hong Kong (1993)
Imports: $85 million (c.i.f., 1994)
Imports--commodities: foodstuffs, textiles, fuels, timber, capital
goods
Imports--partners: NZ 49%, Italy, Australia (1993)
Debt--external: $160 million (1994)
Economic aid--recipient: $13.1 million (1995); note?New Zealand
furnishes the greater part
Currency: 1 New Zealand dollar (NZ$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1--1.8560
(January 1999), 1.8629 (1998), 1.5083 (1997), 1.4543 (1996), 1.5235
(1995), 1.6844 (1994)
Fiscal year: 1 April--31 March
Communications
Telephones: 4,180 (1994)
Telephone system:
domestic: the individual islands are connected by a combination of
satellite earth stations, microwave systems, and VHF and HF
radiotelephone; within the islands, service is provided by small
exchanges connected to subscribers by open wire, cable, and
fiber-optic cable
international: satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 1
Radios: 13,000 (1994 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 2 (in addition, eight low-power
repeaters provide good coverage on the island of Rarotonga) (1997)
Televisions: 3,500 (1995 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 187 km
paved: 35 km
unpaved: 152 km (1980 est.)
Ports and harbors: Avarua, Avatiu
Merchant marine:
total: 1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,310 GRT/2,181 DWT
(1998 est.)
Airports: 7 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (1998 est.)
Military
Military--note: defense is the responsibility of New Zealand, in
consultation with the Cook Islands and at its request
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
======================================================================
@Coral Sea Islands
-----------------
Geography
Location: Oceania, islands in the Coral Sea, northeast of
Australia
Geographic coordinates: 18 00 S, 152 00 E
Map references: Oceania
Area:
total: less than 3 sq km
land: less than 3 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes numerous small islands and reefs scattered over a sea
area of about 1 million sq km, with the Willis Islets the most
important
Area--comparative: NA
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 3,095 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 3 nm
Climate: tropical
Terrain: sand and coral reefs and islands (or cays)
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Cato Island 6 m
Natural resources: NEGL
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 100% (mostly grass or scrub cover)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1993)
Natural hazards: occasional, tropical cyclones
Environment--current issues: no permanent fresh water resources
Environment--international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography--note: important nesting area for birds and turtles
People
Population: no indigenous inhabitants
note: there is a staff of three to four at the meteorological station
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Coral Sea Islands Territory
conventional short form: Coral Sea Islands
Data code: CR
Dependency status: territory of Australia; administered from
Canberra by the Department of the Environment, Sport and Territories
Legal system: the laws of Australia, where applicable, apply
Executive branch: administered from Canberra by the Department of
the Environment, Sport and Territories
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (territory of Australia)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (territory of
Australia)
Flag description: the flag of Australia is used
Economy
Economy--overview: no economic activity
Communications
Communications--note: there are automatic weather relay stations
on many of the isles and reefs relaying data to the mainland
Transportation
Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only
Military
Military--note: defense is the responsibility of Australia;
visited regularly by the Royal Australian Navy; Australia has
control over the activities of visitors
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
======================================================================
@Costa Rica
----------
Introduction
Background: Costa Rica declared its independence from Spain in
1821. After a turbulent beginning it inaugurated an era of peaceful
democracy in 1889, subsequently interrupted only twice, by a
dictatorial interlude in 1917-19 and an armed uprising in 1948.
Increasing the role of the private sector while maintaining the
government's social safety net and keeping under control the budget
deficit, unemployment, and inflation are key current issues.
Geography
Location: Middle America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and
the North Pacific Ocean, between Nicaragua and Panama
Geographic coordinates: 10 00 N, 84 00 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 51,100 sq km
land: 50,660 sq km
water: 440 sq km
note: includes Isla del Coco
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than West Virginia
Land boundaries:
total: 639 km
border countries: Nicaragua 309 km, Panama 330 km
Coastline: 1,290 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; dry season (December to April); rainy season
(May to November)
Terrain: coastal plains separated by rugged mountains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Cerro Chirripo 3,810 m
Natural resources: hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 6%
permanent crops: 5%
permanent pastures: 46%
forests and woodland: 31%
other: 12% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 1,200 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: occasional earthquakes, hurricanes along
Atlantic coast; frequent flooding of lowlands at onset of rainy
season; active volcanoes
Environment--current issues: deforestation, largely a result of
the clearing of land for cattle ranching; soil erosion
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection,
Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Marine Life
Conservation
People
Population: 3,674,490 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 33% (male 622,260; female 593,720)
15-64 years: 62% (male 1,150,900; female 1,121,970)
65 years and over: 5% (male 85,526; female 100,114) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.89% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 22.46 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 4.16 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.63 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 12.89 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 76.04 years
male: 73.6 years
female: 78.61 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.76 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Costa Rican(s)
adjective: Costa Rican
Ethnic groups: white (including mestizo) 96%, black 2%,
Amerindian 1%, Chinese 1%
Religions: Roman Catholic 95%
Languages: Spanish (official), English spoken around Puerto Limon
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 94.8%
male: 94.7%
female: 95% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Costa Rica
conventional short form: Costa Rica
local long form: Republica de Costa Rica
local short form: Costa Rica
Data code: CS
Government type: democratic republic
Capital: San Jose
Administrative divisions: 7 provinces (provincias,
singular--provincia); Alajuela, Cartago, Guanacaste, Heredia, Limon,
Puntarenas, San Jose
Independence: 15 September 1821 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Constitution: 9 November 1949
Legal system: based on Spanish civil law system; judicial review
of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Miguel Angel RODRIGUEZ (since 8 May 1998);
First Vice President Astrid FISCHEL Volio (since 8 May 1998), Second
Vice President Elizabeth ODIO Benito (since 8 May 1998);
note--president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Miguel Angel RODRIGUEZ (since 8 May
1998); First Vice President Astrid FISCHEL Volio (since 8 May 1998),
Second Vice President Elizabeth ODIO Benito (since 8 May 1998);
note--president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet selected by the president
elections: president and vice presidents elected on the same ticket
by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 1 February
1998 (next to be held NA February 2002)
election results: Miguel Angel RODRIGUEZ elected president; percent
of vote--Miguel Angel RODRIGUEZ (PUSC) 46.6%, Jose Miguel CORRALES
(PLN) 44.6%
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly or Asamblea
Legislativa (57 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to
serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 1 February 1998 (next to be held NA February
2002)
election results: percent of vote by party--PUSC 41%, PLN 35%,
minority parties 24%; seats by party--PUSC 27, PLN 23, minority
parties 7
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Corte Suprema), justices are
elected for eight-year terms by the Legislative Assembly
Political parties and leaders: Social Christian Unity Party or
NA]
note: mainly a two-party system--PUSC and PLN; numerous small parties
share less than 25% of population's support
Political pressure groups and leaders: Costa Rican Confederation
of Democratic Workers or CCTD (Liberation Party affiliate);
Confederated Union of Workers or CUT (Communist Party affiliate);
Authentic Confederation of Democratic Workers or CATD (Communist
Party affiliate); Chamber of Coffee Growers; National Association
for Economic Development or ANFE; Free Costa Rica Movement or MCRL
(rightwing militants); National Association of Educators or ANDE;
Federation of Public Service Workers or FTSP
International organization participation: BCIE, CACM, ECLAC, FAO,
G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU,
LAES, LAIA (observer), NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UN
Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WCL,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Jaime DAREMBLUM
chancery: 2114 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: Albuquerque, Atlanta, Chicago, Durham,
Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia,
San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico), and
Tampa
consulate(s): Austin
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas J. DODD
embassy: Pavas Road, San Jose
mailing address: APO AA 34020
Flag description: five horizontal bands of blue (top), white, red
(double width), white, and blue, with the coat of arms in a white
disk on the hoist side of the red band
Economy
Economy--overview: Costa Rica's basically stable economy depends
on tourism, agriculture, and electronics exports. Poverty has been
substantially reduced over the past 15 years and a strong social
safety net has been put into place. Economic growth has rebounded
from -0.9% in 1996 to 3% in 1997 and an estimated 5.5% in 1998.
Inflation rose to 22.5% in 1995, dropped to 11.1% in 1997, and
reached an estimated 12% in 1998. Unemployment appears moderate at
5.6%, but substantial underemployment continues. Furthermore, large
government deficits--fueled by interest payments on the massive
internal debt--have undermined efforts to maintain the quality of
social services. Curbing inflation, reducing the deficit, and
improving public sector efficiency remain key challenges to the
government. President RODRIGUEZ has called for an increased economic
role for the private sector, but political resistance to
privatization has stalled much of his economic program.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$24 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 5.5% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$6,700 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 15%
industry: 24%
services: 61% (1997)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.3%
highest 10%: 34.7% (1996)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 12% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 868,300
Labor force--by occupation: industry and commerce 23.3%,
government and services 55.1%, agriculture 21.6% (1996 est.)
Unemployment rate: 5.6% (1998 est.); much underemployment
Budget:
revenues: $1.1 billion
expenditures: $1.34 billion, including capital expenditures of $110
million (1991 est.)
Industries: food processing, textiles and clothing, construction
materials, fertilizer, plastic products
Industrial production growth rate: 10.5% (1992)
Electricity--production: 4.785 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 14.11%
hydro: 75.44%
nuclear: 0%
other: 10.45% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 4.931 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 44 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 190 million kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: coffee, bananas, sugar, corn, rice, beans,
potatoes; beef; timber
Exports: $3.9 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports--commodities: manufactured products, coffee, bananas,
textiles, sugar (1997)
Exports--partners: US, Benelux, Germany, Italy, Guatemala, El
Salvador, Netherlands, UK, France (1997)
Imports: $4.5 billion (c.i.f., 1998)
Imports--commodities: raw materials, consumer goods, capital
equipment, petroleum (1997)
Imports--partners: US, Japan, Mexico, Venezuela, Guatemala,
Germany (1997)
Debt--external: $3.2 billion (October 1996 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $107.1 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Costa Rican colon (C) = 100 centimos
Exchange rates: Costa Rican colones (C) per US$1--272.58 (January
1999), 257.23 (1998), 232.60 (1997), 207.69 (1996), 179.73 (1995),
157.07 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 281,042 (1983 est.)
Telephone system: very good domestic telephone service
domestic: NA
international: connected to Central American Microwave System;
satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 71, FM 0, shortwave 13
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 6 (in addition, there are 11
repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 340,000 (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 950 km
narrow gauge: 950 km 1.067-m gauge (260 km electrified)
Highways:
total: 35,597 km
paved: 6,051 km
unpaved: 29,546 km (1997 est.)
Waterways: about 730 km, seasonally navigable
Pipelines: petroleum products 176 km
Ports and harbors: Caldera, Golfito, Moin, Puerto Limon, Puerto
Quepos, Puntarenas
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 156 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 28
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 18
under 914 m: 7 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 128
914 to 1,523 m: 29
under 914 m: 99 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Coast Guard, Air Section, Ministry of Public
Security Force (Fuerza Publica); note--during 1996, the Ministry of
Public Security reorganized and eliminated the Civil Guard, Rural
Assistance Guard, and Frontier Guards as separate entities; they are
now under the Ministry and operate on a geographic command basis
performing ground security, law enforcement, counternarcotics, and
national security (border patrol) functions; the constitution
prohibits armed forces
Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 988,887 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 662,827 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 36,751 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $55 million (1995)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 2% (1995)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
Illicit drugs: transshipment country for cocaine and heroin from
South America; illicit production of cannabis on small, scattered
plots
======================================================================
@Cote d'Ivoire
-------------
Geography
Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean,
between Ghana and Liberia
Geographic coordinates: 8 00 N, 5 00 W
Map references: Africa
Area:
total: 322,460 sq km
land: 318,000 sq km
water: 4,460 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly larger than New Mexico
Land boundaries:
total: 3,110 km
border countries: Burkina Faso 584 km, Ghana 668 km, Guinea 610 km,
Liberia 716 km, Mali 532 km
Coastline: 515 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical along coast, semiarid in far north; three
seasons--warm and dry (November to March), hot and dry (March to
May), hot and wet (June to October)
Terrain: mostly flat to undulating plains; mountains in northwest
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Gulf of Guinea 0 m
highest point: Mont Nimba 1,752 m
Natural resources: petroleum, diamonds, manganese, iron ore,
cobalt, bauxite, copper
Land use:
arable land: 8%
permanent crops: 4%
permanent pastures: 41%
forests and woodland: 22%
other: 25% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 680 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: coast has heavy surf and no natural harbors;
during the rainy season torrential flooding is possible
Environment--current issues: deforestation (most of the country's
forests--once the largest in West Africa--have been cleared by the
timber industry); water pollution from sewage and industrial and
agricultural effluents
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear
Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber
83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
People
Population: 15,818,068 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 47% (male 3,702,051; female 3,664,672)
15-64 years: 51% (male 4,154,440; female 3,952,999)
65 years and over: 2% (male 174,065; female 169,841) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.35% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 41.76 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 16.17 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -2.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
note: after Liberia's civil war started in 1990, more than 350,000
refugees fled to Cote d'Ivoire and, by September 1998, according to
the UNHCR, about 85,000 remain
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.02 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 94.17 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 46.05 years
male: 44.48 years
female: 47.67 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.89 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Ivorian(s)
adjective: Ivorian
Ethnic groups: Baoule 23%, Bete 18%, Senoufou 15%, Malinke 11%,
Agni, Africans from other countries (mostly Burkinabe and Malians,
about 3 million), non-Africans 130,000 to 330,000 (French 30,000 and
Lebanese 100,000 to 300,000)
Religions: Muslim 60%, Christian 22%, indigenous 18% (some of
these are also numbered among the Christians and Muslims)
Languages: French (official), 60 native dialects with Dioula the
most widely spoken
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 48.5%
male: 57%
female: 40%
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Cote d'Ivoire
conventional short form: Cote d'Ivoire
local long form: Republique de Cote d'Ivoire
local short form: Cote d'Ivoire
former: Ivory Coast
Data code: IV
Government type: republic; multiparty presidential regime
established 1960
Capital: Yamoussoukro
note: although Yamoussoukro has been the capital since 1983, Abidjan
remains the administrative center; the US, like other countries,
maintains its Embassy in Abidjan
Administrative divisions: 50 departments (departements,
singular--departement); Abengourou, Abidjan, Aboisso, Adzope,
Agboville, Agnibilekrou, Bangolo, Beoumi, Biankouma, Bondoukou,
Bongouanou, Bouafle, Bouake, Bouna, Boundiali, Dabakala, Daloa,
Danane, Daoukro, Dimbokro, Divo, Duekoue, Ferkessedougou, Gagnoa,
Grand-Lahou, Guiglo, Issia, Katiola, Korhogo, Lakota, Man, Mankono,
Mbahiakro, Odienne, Oume, Sakassou, San-Pedro, Sassandra, Seguela,
Sinfra, Soubre, Tabou, Tanda, Tingrela, Tiassale, Touba, Toumodi,
Vavoua, Yamoussoukro, Zuenoula
note: Cote d'Ivoire may have a new administrative structure
consisting of 58 departments; the following additional departments
have been reported but not yet confirmed by the US Board on
Geographic Names (BGN); Adiake', Ale'pe', Dabon, Grand Bassam,
Jacqueville, Tiebissou, Toulepleu, Bocanda
Independence: 7 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday: National Day, 7 August
Constitution: 3 November 1960; has been amended numerous times,
last time July 1998
Legal system: based on French civil law system and customary law;
judicial review in the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Henri Konan BEDIE (since 7 December 1993);
note--succeeded to the presidency following the death of President
Felix HOUPHOUET-BOIGNY, who had served continuously since November
1960
head of government: Prime Minister Daniel Kablan DUNCAN (since 10
December 1993)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 22 October 1995 (next to be held October 2000);
prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Henri Konan BEDIE elected president; percent of
vote--Henri Konan BEDIE 96%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee
Nationale (175 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to
serve five-year terms)
elections: elections last held 27 November 1995 (next to be held NA
November 2000)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--PDCI
150, RDR 13, FPI 12
note: a Senate will be created in 2000
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)
Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party of the Cote
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC,
ECA, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat,
Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MINURCA, NAM, OAU, OPCW,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WADB, WAEMU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Koffi Moise KOUMOUE-KOFFI
chancery: 2424 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador George MU
embassy: 5 Rue Jesse Owens, Abidjan
mailing address: 01 B. P. 1712, Abidjan
Flag description: three equal vertical bands of orange (hoist
side), white, and green; similar to the flag of Ireland, which is
longer and has the colors reversed--green (hoist side), white, and
orange; also similar to the flag of Italy, which is green (hoist
side), white, and red; design was based on the flag of France
Economy
Economy--overview: Cote d'Ivoire is among the world's largest
producers and exporters of coffee, cocoa beans, and palm oil.
Consequently, the economy is highly sensitive to fluctuations in
international prices for these products and to weather conditions.
Despite attempts by the government to diversify the economy, it is
still largely dependent on agriculture and related activities, which
engage roughly 68% of the population. After several years of lagging
performance, the Ivorian economy began a comeback in 1994, due to
the devaluation of the CFA franc and improved prices for cocoa and
coffee, growth in nontraditional primary exports such as pineapples
and rubber, limited trade and banking liberalization, offshore oil
and gas discoveries, and generous external financing and debt
rescheduling by multilateral lenders and France. The 50% devaluation
of Franc Zone currencies on 12 January 1994 caused a one-time jump
in the inflation rate to 26% in 1994, but the rate fell sharply in
1996-98. Moreover, government adherence to donor-mandated reforms
led to a jump in growth to 6% annually in 1996-98. Growth may slow
in 1999-2000 because of the difficulty of meeting the conditions of
international donors and continued low prices of key exports.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$24.2 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 6% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,680 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 31%
industry: 20%
services: 49% (1995)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.8%
highest 10%: 28.5% (1988)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6% (1998 est.)
Labor force: NA
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $2.3 billion
expenditures: $2.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $640
million (1997 est.)
Industries: foodstuffs, beverages; wood products, oil refining,
automobile assembly, textiles, fertilizer, construction materials,
electricity
Industrial production growth rate: 15% (annual rate, first half
1998)
Electricity--production: 1.88 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 22%
hydro: 47%
nuclear: 0%
other: 31% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 1.88 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: coffee, cocoa beans, bananas, palm kernels,
corn, rice, manioc (tapioca), sweet potatoes, sugar, cotton, rubber;
timber
Exports: $4.3 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports--commodities: cocoa 36%, coffee, tropical woods,
petroleum, cotton, bananas, pineapples, palm oil, cotton, fish
Exports--partners: Netherlands 17%, France 15%, Germany 7%, US 6%,
Italy 5% (1997)
Imports: $2.5 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports--commodities: food, consumer goods; capital goods, fuel,
transport equipment
Imports--partners: France 28%, Nigeria 20%, US 6%, Italy 5%,
Germany 4% (1997)
Debt--external: $16.8 billion (1998 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: ODA, $1 billion (1996 est.)
Currency: 1 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100
centimes
Exchange rates: CFA francs (CFAF) per US$1--560.01 (January 1999),
589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1996), 499.15 (1995), 555.20
(1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 200,000 (1988 est.)
Telephone system: well-developed by African standards but
operating well below capacity
domestic: open-wire lines and microwave radio relay
international: satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean
and 1 Indian Ocean); 2 coaxial submarine cables
Radio broadcast stations: AM 71, FM 4, shortwave 13
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 14 (1997)
Televisions: 810,000 (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 660 km
narrow gauge: 660 km 1.000-meter gauge; 25 km double track (1995
est.)
Highways:
total: 50,400 km
paved: 4,889 km
unpaved: 45,511 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 980 km navigable rivers, canals, and numerous coastal
lagoons
Ports and harbors: Abidjan, Aboisso, Dabou, San-Pedro
Merchant marine:
total: 1 oil tanker (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,200 GRT/1,500 DWT
(1998 est.)
Airports: 36 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 7
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 29
1,524 to 2,437 m: 8
914 to 1,523 m: 12
under 914 m: 9 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary
Gendarmerie, Republican Guard (includes Presidential Guard),
Sapeur-Pompier (Military Fire Group)
Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 3,677,627 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,917,433 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 178,860 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $94 million (1998)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 0.9% (1996)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis, mostly for local
consumption; minor transshipment point for Southwest and Southeast
Asian heroin to Europe and occasionally to the US, and for Latin
American cocaine destined for Europe
======================================================================
@Croatia
-------
Geography
Location: Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea,
between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Slovenia
Geographic coordinates: 45 10 N, 15 30 E
Map references: Europe
Area:
total: 56,538 sq km
land: 56,410 sq km
water: 128 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than West Virginia
Land boundaries:
total: 2,197 km
border countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina 932 km, Hungary 329 km,
Serbia and Montenegro 266 km (241 km with Serbia; 25 km with
Montenegro), Slovenia 670 km
Coastline: 5,790 km (mainland 1,778 km, islands 4,012 km)
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: Mediterranean and continental; continental climate
predominant with hot summers and cold winters; mild winters, dry
summers along coast
Terrain: geographically diverse; flat plains along Hungarian
border, low mountains and highlands near Adriatic coast, coastline,
and islands
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m
highest point: Dinara 1,830 m
Natural resources: oil, some coal, bauxite, low-grade iron ore,
calcium, natural asphalt, silica, mica, clays, salt
Land use:
arable land: 21%
permanent crops: 2%
permanent pastures: 20%
forests and woodland: 38%
other: 19% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 30 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: frequent and destructive earthquakes
Environment--current issues: air pollution (from metallurgical
plants) and resulting acid rain is damaging the forests; coastal
pollution from industrial and domestic waste; widespread casualties
and destruction of infrastructure in border areas affected by civil
strife
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Hazardous
Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection,
Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,
Desertification
Geography--note: controls most land routes from Western Europe to
Aegean Sea and Turkish Straits
People
Population: 4,676,865 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 17% (male 404,761; female 383,088)
15-64 years: 68% (male 1,591,831; female 1,591,106)
65 years and over: 15% (male 272,219; female 433,860) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.1% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 10.34 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 11.14 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 1.81 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.63 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 7.84 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 74 years
male: 70.69 years
female: 77.52 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.52 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Croat(s)
adjective: Croatian
Ethnic groups: Croat 78%, Serb 12%, Muslim 0.9%, Hungarian 0.5%,
Slovenian 0.5%, others 8.1% (1991)
Religions: Catholic 76.5%, Orthodox 11.1%, Muslim 1.2%,
Protestant 0.4%, others and unknown 10.8%
Languages: Serbo-Croatian 96%, other 4% (including Italian,
Hungarian, Czech, Slovak, and German)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97%
male: 99%
female: 95% (1991 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Croatia
conventional short form: Croatia
local long form: Republika Hrvatska
local short form: Hrvatska
Data code: HR
Government type: presidential/parliamentary democracy
Capital: Zagreb
Administrative divisions: 21 counties (zupanije,
zupanija--singular): Bjelovar-Bilogora, City of Zagreb,
Dubrovnik-Neretva, Istra, Karlovac, Koprivnica-Krizevci,
Krapina-Zagorje, Lika-Senj, Medimurje, Osijek-Baranja,
Pozega-Slavonia, Primorje-Gorski Kotar, Sibenik, Sisak-Moslavina,
Slavonski Brod-Posavina, Split-Dalmatia, Varazdin,
Virovitica-Podravina, Vukovar-Srijem, Zadar-Knin, Zagreb
note: there are two special self-governing districts (kotari,
kotar--singular) under local Serb control: Glina, Knin
Independence: 25 June 1991 (from Yugoslavia)
National holiday: Statehood Day, 30 May (1990)
Constitution: adopted on 22 December 1990
Legal system: based on civil law system
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal (16 years of age, if
employed)
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Franjo TUDJMAN (since 30 May 1990)
head of government: Prime Minister Zlatko MATESA (since 7 November
1995); Deputy Prime Ministers Mate GRANIC (since 8 September 1992),
Ivica KOSTOVIC (since 14 October 1993), Jure RADIC (since NA October
1994), Borislav SKEGRO (since 3 April 1993), and Ljerka MINTAS-HODAK
(since November 1995)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 15 June 1997 (next to be held NA 2002); prime
minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the president
election results: President Franjo TUDJMAN reelected; percent of
vote--Franjo TUDJMAN 61%, Zdravko TOMAC 21%, Vlado GOTOVAC 18%
Legislative branch: bicameral Assembly or Sabor consists of the
House of Counties or Zupanijski Dom (68 seats--63 directly elected by
popular vote, 5 appointed by the president; members serve four-year
terms) and House of Representatives or the Zastupnicki Dom (127
seats; members are directly elected by popular vote to serve
four-year terms)
elections: House of Counties--last held 13 April 1997 (next to be
held NA 2001); House of Representatives--last held 29 October 1995
(next to be held NA 1999)
election results: House of Counties--percent of vote by party--NA;
seats by party--HDZ 42, HDZ/HSS 11, HSS 2, IDS 2, SDP/PGS/HNS 2,
SDP/HNS 2, HSLS/HSS/HNS 1, HSLS 1; note--in some districts certain
parties ran as coalitions, while in others they ran alone; House of
Representatives--percent of vote by party--HDZ 45.23%,
HSS/IDS/HNS/HKDU/SBHS 18.26%, HSLS 11.55%, SDP 8.93%, HSP 5.01%;
seats by party--HDZ 75, HSLS 12, HSS 10, SDP 10, IDS 4, HSP 4, HNS 2,
SNS 2, HND 1, ASH 1, HKDU 1, SBHS 1, independents 4
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges appointed for eight-year
terms by the Judicial Council of the Republic, which is elected by
the House of Representatives; Constitutional Court, judges appointed
for eight-year terms by the Judicial Council of the Republic, which
is elected by the House of Representatives
Political parties and leaders: Croatian Democratic Union or HDZ
Political pressure groups and leaders: NA
International organization participation: BIS (pending member),
CCC, CE, CEI, EBRD, ECE, FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM (observer), OAS (observer), OPCW,
OSCE, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
(applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Miomir ZUZUL
chancery: 2343 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: Cleveland, Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador William D. MONTGOMERY
embassy: Andrije Hebranga 2, Zagreb
mailing address: use street address
Flag description: red, white, and blue horizontal bands with
Croatian coat of arms (red and white checkered)
Economy
Economy--overview: Before the dissolution of Yugoslavia, the
Republic of Croatia, after Slovenia, was the most prosperous and
industrialized area, with a per capita output perhaps one-third
above the Yugoslav average. Croatia faces considerable economic
problems stemming from: the legacy of longtime communist
mismanagement of the economy; damage during the internecine fighting
to bridges, factories, power lines, buildings, and houses; the large
refugee and displaced population, both Croatian and Bosnian; and the
disruption of economic ties. Western aid and investment, especially
in the tourist and oil industries, would help restore the economy.
The government has been successful in some reform efforts--partially
macroeconomic stabilization policies--and it has normalized relations
with its creditors. Yet it still is struggling with privatization of
large state enterprises and with bank reform. In 1998, Croatia made
progress in reducing its current account deficit to about 8% of GDP
from 12% the previous year. Economic growth continues to lag,
however, and growing levels of inter-enterprise debt plague the
domestic economy. Four commercial banks were put under government
control and a major conglomerate is teetering on collapse.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$23.6 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 3% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$5,100 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 12%
industry: 24%
services: 64% (1995 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5.4% (1998)
Labor force: 1.63 million (1998)
Labor force--by occupation: industry and mining 31.1%, agriculture
4.3%, government 19.1% (including education and health), other 45.5%
(1993)
Unemployment rate: 18.6% (yearend 1998)
Budget:
revenues: $5.3 billion
expenditures: $6.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $78.5
million (1997 est.)
Industries: chemicals and plastics, machine tools, fabricated
metal, electronics, pig iron and rolled steel products, aluminum,
paper, wood products, construction materials, textiles,
shipbuilding, petroleum and petroleum refining, food and beverages;
tourism
Industrial production growth rate: 3.7% (1998 est.)
Electricity--production: 10.682 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 29.25%
hydro: 70.75%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 14.632 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 1 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 4.95 billion kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: wheat, corn, sugar beets, sunflower seed,
alfalfa, clover, olives, citrus, grapes, vegetables; livestock,
dairy products
Exports: $4.5 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports--commodities: machinery and transport equipment 13.6%,
miscellaneous manufactures 27.6%, chemicals 14.2%, food and live
animals 12.2%, raw materials 6.1%, fuels and lubricants 9.4%,
beverages and tobacco 2.7% (1993)
Exports--partners: Germany 22%, Italy 21%, Slovenia 18% (1994)
Imports: $8.4 billion (c.i.f., 1998)
Imports--commodities: machinery and transport equipment 23.1%,
fuels and lubricants 8.8%, food and live animals 9.0%, chemicals
14.2%, miscellaneous manufactured articles 16.0%, raw materials
3.5%, beverages and tobacco 1.4% (1993)
Imports--partners: Germany 21%, Italy 19%, Slovenia 10% (1994)
Debt--external: $8 billion (October 1998)
Economic aid--recipient: $NA
Currency: 1 Croatian kuna (HRK) = 100 lipas
Exchange rates: Croatian kuna per US$1--6.317 (January 1999),
6.362 (1998), 6.157 (1997), 5.434 (1996), 5.230 (1995), 5.996 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 1.216 million (1993 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: NA
international: no satellite earth stations
Radio broadcast stations: AM 14, FM 8, shortwave 0
Radios: 1.1 million
Television broadcast stations: 18 (in addition, there are 145
repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 1.52 million (1992 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 2,296 km
standard gauge: 2,296 km 1.435-m gauge (796 km electrified)
note: some lines remain inoperative or not in use; disrupted by
territorial dispute (1997)
Highways:
total: 27,840 km
paved: 22,690 km (including 330 km of expressways)
unpaved: 5,150 km (1997 est.)
Waterways: 785 km perennially navigable; large sections of Sava
blocked by downed bridges, silt, and debris
Pipelines: crude oil 670 km; petroleum products 20 km; natural
gas 310 km (1992); note--under repair following territorial dispute
Ports and harbors: Dubrovnik, Dugi Rat, Omisalj, Ploce, Pula,
Rijeka, Sibenik, Split, Vukovar (inland waterway port on Danube),
Zadar
Merchant marine:
total: 64 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 810,226 GRT/1,227,468
DWT
ships by type: bulk 15, cargo 26, chemical tanker 2, combination
bulk 5, container 5, liquefied gas 1, multifunction large-load
carrier 3, oil tanker 1, passenger 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2,
short-sea passenger 3 (1998 est.)
Airports: 72 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 21
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 7 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 51
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 8
under 914 m: 42 (1998 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Ground Forces, Naval Forces, Air and Air
Defense Forces, Frontier Guard, Home Guard
Military manpower--military age: 19 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 1,188,898 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 943,719 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 33,722 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $950 million (1999)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 5% (1999)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: Eastern Slavonia, which was held by
ethnic Serbs during the ethnic conflict, was returned to Croatian
control by the UN Transitional Administration for Eastern Slavonia
on 15 January 1998; Croatia and Italy made progress toward resolving
a bilateral issue dating from World War II over property and ethnic
minority rights; significant progress has been made with Slovenia
toward resolving a maritime border dispute over direct access to the
sea in the Adriatic; Serbia and Montenegro is disputing Croatia's
claim to the Prevlaka Peninsula in southern Croatia because it
controls the entrance to Boka Kotorska in Montenegro; Prevlaka is
currently under observation by the UN military observer mission in
Prevlaka (UNMOP)
Illicit drugs: transit point along the Balkan route for Southwest
Asian heroin to Western Europe; a minor transit point for maritime
shipments of South American cocaine bound for Western Europe
======================================================================
@Cuba
----
Introduction
Background: Fidel CASTRO led a rebel army to victory in 1959, and
his guiding vision has defined Cuba's Communist revolution while his
iron will has held the country together for more than four decades.
CASTRO brought Cuba onto the world stage by inviting Soviet support
in the 1960s, inciting revolutionary movements throughout Latin
America and Africa in the 1970s, and sending his army to fight in
Angola in the 1980s. At home, Havana provided Cubans with high
levels of healthcare, education, and social security while
suppressing the Roman Catholic Church and arresting political
dissidents. Cuba is slowly recovering from severe economic recession
following the withdrawal of former-Soviet subsidies, worth
$4billion-$6 billion per year, in 1990.
Geography
Location: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the
North Atlantic Ocean, south of Florida
Geographic coordinates: 21 30 N, 80 00 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 110,860 sq km
land: 110,860 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
Land boundaries:
total: 29 km
border countries: US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay 29 km
note: Guantanamo Naval Base is leased by the US and thus remains
part of Cuba
Coastline: 3,735 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; moderated by trade winds; dry season (November
to April); rainy season (May to October)
Terrain: mostly flat to rolling plains, with rugged hills and
mountains in the southeast
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Pico Turquino 2,005 m
Natural resources: cobalt, nickel, iron ore, copper, manganese,
salt, timber, silica, petroleum
Land use:
arable land: 24%
permanent crops: 7%
permanent pastures: 27%
forests and woodland: 24%
other: 18% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 9,100 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: the east coast is subject to hurricanes from
August to October (in general, the country averages about one
hurricane every other year); droughts are common
Environment--current issues: pollution of Havana Bay; overhunting
threatens wildlife populations; deforestation
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Marine
Life Conservation
Geography--note: largest country in Caribbean
People
Population: 11,096,395 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 22% (male 1,236,899; female 1,172,560)
15-64 years: 69% (male 3,820,255; female 3,801,768)
65 years and over: 9% (male 496,772; female 568,141) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.4% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 12.9 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 7.38 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.52 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 7.81 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.78 years
male: 73.41 years
female: 78.3 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.58 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Cuban(s)
adjective: Cuban
Ethnic groups: mulatto 51%, white 37%, black 11%, Chinese 1%
Religions: nominally 85% Roman Catholic prior to CASTRO assuming
power; Protestants, Jehovah's Witnesses, Jews, and Santeria are also
represented
Languages: Spanish
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 95.7%
male: 96.2%
female: 95.3% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Cuba
conventional short form: Cuba
local long form: Republica de Cuba
local short form: Cuba
Data code: CU
Government type: Communist state
Capital: Havana
Administrative divisions: 14 provinces (provincias,
singular--provincia) and 1 special municipality* (municipio
especial); Camaguey, Ciego de Avila, Cienfuegos, Ciudad de La
Habana, Granma, Guantanamo, Holguin, Isla de la Juventud*, La
Habana, Las Tunas, Matanzas, Pinar del Rio, Sancti Spiritus,
Santiago de Cuba, Villa Clara
Independence: 20 May 1902 (from Spain 10 December 1898;
administered by the US from 1898 to 1902)
National holiday: Rebellion Day, 26 July (1953); Liberation Day,
1 January (1959)
Constitution: 24 February 1976
Legal system: based on Spanish and American law, with large
elements of Communist legal theory; does not accept compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Suffrage: 16 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President of the Council of State and President of
the Council of Ministers Fidel CASTRO Ruz (prime minister from
February 1959 until 24 February 1976, when office was abolished;
president since 2 December 1976); First Vice President of the
Council of State and First Vice President of the Council of
Ministers Gen. Raul CASTRO Ruz (since 2 December 1976); note--the
president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President of the Council of State and President
of the Council of Ministers Fidel CASTRO Ruz (prime minister from
February 1959 until 24 February 1976 when office was abolished;
president since 2 December 1976); First Vice President of the
Council of State and First Vice President of the Council of
Ministers Gen. Raul CASTRO Ruz (since 2 December 1976); note--the
president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Council of Ministers proposed by the president of the
Council of State, appointed by the National Assembly
note: there is also a Council of State whose members are elected by
the National Assembly
elections: president and vice president elected by the National
Assembly; election last held 24 February 1998 (next election
unscheduled)
election results: Fidel CASTRO Ruz elected president; percent of
legislative vote--100%; Raul CASTRO Ruz elected vice president;
percent of legislative vote--100%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly of People's
Power or Asemblea Nacional del Poder Popular (601 seats, elected
directly from slates approved by special candidacy commissions;
members serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 11 January 1998 (next to be held in 2003)
election results: percent of vote--PCC 94.39%; seats--PCC 601
Judicial branch: People's Supreme Court or Tribunal Supremo
Popular (president, vice president, and other judges are elected by
the National Assembly)
Political parties and leaders: only party--Cuban Communist Party
International organization participation: CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-77,
IAEA, ICAO, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat
(nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LAES,
LAIA, NAM, OAS (excluded from formal participation since 1962),
OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: none; note--Cuba has an
Interests Section in the Swiss Embassy, headed by Principal Officer
Fernando REMIREZ DE ESTENOZ; address: Cuban Interests Section, Swiss
(202) 797-8518
Diplomatic representation from the US: none; note--the US has an
Interests Section in the Swiss Embassy, headed by Principal Officer
Michael G. KOZAK; address: USINT, Swiss Embassy, Calzada between L
and M Streets, Vedado Seccion, Havana; telephone: 33-3551 through
3559 and 33-3543 through 3547 (operator assistance required); FAX:
33-3700; protecting power in Cuba is Switzerland
Flag description: five equal horizontal bands of blue (top and
bottom) alternating with white; a red equilateral triangle based on
the hoist side bears a white, five-pointed star in the center
Economy
Economy--overview: The state plays the primary role in the economy
and controls practically all foreign trade. The government has
undertaken several reforms in recent years to stem excess liquidity,
increase labor incentives, and alleviate serious shortages of food,
consumer goods, and services. The liberalized agricultural markets
introduced in October 1994, at which state and private farmers sell
above-quota production at unrestricted prices, have broadened legal
consumption alternatives and reduced black market prices. Government
efforts to lower subsidies to unprofitable enterprises and to shrink
the money supply caused the semi-official exchange rate for the
Cuban peso to move from a peak of 120 to the dollar in the summer of
1994 to 21 to the dollar by yearend 1998. New taxes introduced in
1996 helped drive down the number of self-employed workers from
208,000 in January 1996 to 155,000 by July 1998. Havana announced in
1995 that GDP declined by 35% during 1989-93, the result of lost
Soviet aid and domestic inefficiencies. The drop in GDP apparently
halted in 1994, when Cuba reported 0.7% growth, followed by
increases of 2.5% in 1995 and 7.8% in 1996. Growth slowed again in
1997 and 1998 to 2.5% and 1.2% respectively. Export earnings
declined 22% in 1998, to $1.4 billion, the result of lower sugar
export volume and lower world prices for nickel and sugar. Import
expenditures also fell 15% to $3.0 billion, in part due to lower
world oil prices. Tourism and remittances play a key role in foreign
currency earnings. Living standards for the average Cuban remain at
a depressed level compared with 1990.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$17.3 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 1.2% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,560 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 7.4%
industry: 36.5%
services: 56.1% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
Labor force: 4.5 million economically active population (1996
est.)
note: state sector 76%, non-state sector 24% (1996 est.)
Labor force--by occupation: services and government 30%, industry
22%, agriculture 20%, commerce 11%, construction 10%, transportation
and communications 7% (June 1990)
Unemployment rate: 6.8% (1997 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $12.3 billion
expenditures: $13 billion , including capital expenditures of $NA
(1998 est.)
Industries: sugar, petroleum, food, tobacco, textiles, chemicals,
paper and wood products, metals (particularly nickel), cement,
fertilizers, consumer goods, agricultural machinery
Industrial production growth rate: 6% (1995 est.)
Electricity--production: 14.1 billion kWh (1997)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 98.96%
hydro: 1.04%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 14.1 billion kWh (1997)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: sugarcane, tobacco, citrus, coffee, rice,
potatoes, beans; livestock
Exports: $1.4 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Exports--commodities: sugar, nickel, tobacco, shellfish, medical
products, citrus, coffee
Exports--partners: Russia 27%, Canada 18%, Spain 8% (1998 est.)
Imports: $3 billion (c.i.f., 1998 est.)
Imports--commodities: petroleum, food, machinery, chemicals
Imports--partners: Spain 17%, France 9%, Canada 9% (1998 est.)
Debt--external: $10.1 billion (convertible currency, 1997);
another $20 billion owed to Russia (1997)
Economic aid--recipient: $46 million (1997 est.)
Currency: 1 Cuban peso (Cu$) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates: Cuban pesos (Cu$) per US$1--1.0000
(nonconvertible, official rate, linked to the US dollar)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 229,000
Telephone system: among the world's least developed telephone
systems
domestic: NA
international: satellite earth station--1 Intersputnik (Atlantic
Ocean region)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 150, FM 5, shortwave 1
Radios: 2.14 million (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 58 (1997)
Televisions: 2.5 million (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 4,807 km
standard gauge: 4,807 km 1.435-m gauge (147 km electrified)
note: a large amount of track is in private use by sugar plantations
Highways:
total: 60,858 km
paved: 29,820 km (including 638 km of expressway)
unpaved: 31,038 km (1997 est.)
Waterways: 240 km
Ports and harbors: Cienfuegos, Havana, Manzanillo, Mariel,
Matanzas, Nuevitas, Santiago de Cuba
Merchant marine:
total: 18 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 89,091 GRT/125,463 DWT
ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 9, liquefied gas tanker 1, oil tanker
2, refrigerated cargo 5 (1998 est.)
Airports: 170 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 77
over 3,047 m: 7
2,438 to 3,047 m: 9
1,524 to 2,437 m: 14
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 36 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 93
914 to 1,523 m: 32
under 914 m: 61 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR) includes
ground forces, Revolutionary Navy (MGR), Air and Air Defense Force
(DAAFAR), Territorial Troops Militia (MTT), and Youth Labor Army
(EJT); the Border Guard (TGF) is controlled by the Interior Ministry
Military manpower--military age: 17 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 3,068,140
females age 15-49: 3,014,686 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,900,893
females age 15-49: 1,862,411 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 76,328
females: 72,551 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $NA
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: roughly 4% (1995 est.)
Military--note: Moscow, for decades the key military supporter and
supplier of Cuba, cut off almost all military aid by 1993
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay is leased
to US and only mutual agreement or US abandonment of the area can
terminate the lease
Illicit drugs: territory serves as transshipment zone for cocaine
bound for the US and Europe
======================================================================
@Cyprus
------
Geography
Location: Middle East, island in the Mediterranean Sea, south of
Turkey
Geographic coordinates: 35 00 N, 33 00 E
Map references: Middle East
Area:
total: 9,250 sq km (note--of which 3,355 sq km are in the Turkish
Cypriot area)
land: 9,240 sq km
water: 10 sq km
Area--comparative: about 0.6 times the size of Connecticut
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 648 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: temperate, Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool,
wet winters
Terrain: central plain with mountains to north and south;
scattered but significant plains along southern coast
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Olympus 1,952 m
Natural resources: copper, pyrites, asbestos, gypsum, timber,
salt, marble, clay earth pigment
Land use:
arable land: 12%
permanent crops: 5%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 13%
other: 70% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 390 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: moderate earthquake activity
Environment--current issues: water resource problems (no natural
reservoir catchments, seasonal disparity in rainfall; sea water
intrusion to island's largest aquifer; increased salination in the
north); water pollution from sewage and industrial wastes; coastal
degradation; loss of wildlife habitats from urbanization
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants
People
Population: 754,064 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 24% (male 92,626; female 88,127)
15-64 years: 65% (male 249,083; female 244,750)
65 years and over: 11% (male 34,612; female 44,866) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.67% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 13.64 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 7.42 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.44 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 7.68 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.1 years
male: 74.91 years
female: 79.39 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Cypriot(s)
adjective: Cypriot
Ethnic groups: Greek 78% (99.5% of the Greeks live in the Greek
Cypriot area; 0.5% of the Greeks live in the Turkish Cypriot area),
Turkish 18% (1.3% of the Turks live in the Greek Cypriot area; 98.7%
of the Turks live in the Turkish Cypriot area), other 4% (99.2% of
the other ethnic groups live in the Greek Cypriot area; 0.8% of the
other ethnic groups live in the Turkish Cypriot area)
Religions: Greek Orthodox 78%, Muslim 18%, Maronite, Armenian
Apostolic, and other 4%
Languages: Greek, Turkish, English
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 94%
male: 98%
female: 91% (1987 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Cyprus
conventional short form: Cyprus
note: the Turkish Cypriot area refers to itself as the "Turkish
Republic of Northern Cyprus" (TRNC)
Data code: CY
Government type: republic
note: a disaggregation of the two ethnic communities inhabiting the
island began after the outbreak of communal strife in 1963; this
separation was further solidified following the Turkish intervention
in July 1974 following a Greek junta-based coup attempt, which gave
the Turkish Cypriots de facto control in the north; Greek Cypriots
control the only internationally recognized government; on 15
November 1983 Turkish Cypriot "President" Rauf DENKTASH declared
independence and the formation of a "Turkish Republic of Northern
Cyprus" (TRNC), which has been recognized only by Turkey; both sides
publicly call for the resolution of intercommunal differences and
creation of a new federal system of government
Capital: Nicosia
note: the Turkish Cypriot area's capital is Lefkosa (Nicosia)
Administrative divisions: 6 districts; Famagusta, Kyrenia,
Larnaca, Limassol, Nicosia, Paphos; note--Turkish Cypriot area's
administrative divisions include Kyrenia, all but a small part of
Famagusta, and small parts of Lefkosa (Nicosia) and Larnaca
Independence: 16 August 1960 (from UK)
note: Turkish Cypriot area proclaimed self-rule on 13 February 1975
from Republic of Cyprus
National holiday: Independence Day, 1 October; note--Turkish
Cypriot area celebrates 15 November as Independence Day
Constitution: 16 August 1960; negotiations to create the basis
for a new or revised constitution to govern the island and to better
relations between Greek and Turkish Cypriots have been held
intermittently; in 1975 Turkish Cypriots created their own
constitution and governing bodies within the "Turkish Federated
State of Cyprus," which was renamed the "Turkish Republic of
Northern Cyprus" in 1983; a new constitution for the Turkish Cypriot
area passed by referendum on 5 May 1985
Legal system: based on common law, with civil law modifications
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Glafcos CLERIDES (since 28 February 1993);
note--the president is both the chief of state and head of
government; post of vice president is currently vacant; under the
1960 constitution, the post is reserved for a Turkish Cypriot
head of government: President Glafcos CLERIDES (since 28 February
1993); note--the president is both the chief of state and head of
government; post of vice president is currently vacant; under the
1960 constitution, the post is reserved for a Turkish Cypriot
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed jointly by the president and
vice president
elections: president elected by popular vote for five-year terms;
election last held 15 February 1998 (next to be held NA February
2003)
election results: Glafcos CLERIDES elected president; percent of
vote--Glafcos CLERIDES 50.8%, George IAKOVOU 49.2%
note: Rauf R. DENKTASH has been "president" of the Turkish Cypriot
area since 13 February 1975 ("president" elected by popular vote for
a five-year term); elections last held 15 and 22 April 1995 (next to
be held NA April 2000); results--Rauf R. DENKTASH 62.5%, Dervis
EROGLU 37.5%; Dervis EROGLU has been "prime minister" of the Turkish
Cypriot area since 16 August 1996; there is a Council of Ministers
(cabinet) in the Turkish Cypriot area
Legislative branch: unicameral--Greek Cypriot area: House of
Representatives or Vouli Antiprosopon (80 seats; 56 assigned to the
Greek Cypriots. 24 to Turkish Cypriots; note--only those assigned to
Greek Cypriots are filled; members are elected by popular vote to
serve five-year terms); Turkish Cypriot area: Assembly of the
Republic or Cumhuriyet Meclisi (50 seats; members are elected by
popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: Greek area: last held 26 May 1996 (next to be held May
2001); Turkish area: last held 6 December 1998 (next to be held
December 2003)
election results: Greek area: House of Representatives--percent of
vote by party--DISY 34.5%, AKEL (Communist) 33.0%, DIKO 16.4%, EDEK
8.1%, KED 3.7%, others 4.3%; seats by party--DISY 20, AKEL
(Communist) 19, DIKO 10, EDEK 5, KED 2; Turkish area: Assembly of
the Republic--percent of vote by party--UBP 40.3%, DP 22.6%, TKP
15.4%, CTP 13.4%, UDP 4.6%, YBH 2.5%, BP 1.2%; seats by party--UBP
24, DP 13, TKP 7, CTP 6
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the
Supreme Council of Judicature
note: there is also a Supreme Court in the Turkish Cypriot area
Political parties and leaders: Greek Cypriot area: Restorative
PERDHIKIS]; Turkish Cypriot area: National Unity Party or UBP
Political pressure groups and leaders: Pan-Cyprian Labor
Federation or PEO (Communist controlled); Confederation of Cypriot
Workers or SEK (pro-West); Federation of Turkish Cypriot Labor
Unions or Turk-Sen; Confederation of Revolutionary Labor Unions or
Dev-Is
International organization participation: C, CCC, CE, EBRD, ECE,
EU (applicant), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS (associate), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Erato KOZAKOU-MARCOULLIS
chancery: 2211 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: New York
note: representative of the Turkish Cypriot area in the US is Ahmet
(202) 887-6198
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Kenneth C. BRILL
embassy: corner of Metochiou and Ploutarchou Streets, Engomi, Nicosia
mailing address: P. O. Box 4536, FPO AE 09836
Flag description: white with a copper-colored silhouette of the
island (the name Cyprus is derived from the Greek word for copper)
above two green crossed olive branches in the center of the flag;
the branches symbolize the hope for peace and reconciliation between
the Greek and Turkish communities
note: the Turkish Cypriot flag has a horizontal red stripe at the
top and bottom between which is a red crescent and red star on a
white field
Economy
Economy--overview: Economic affairs are dominated by the division
of the country into the southern (Greek) area controlled by the
Cyprus Government and the northern Turkish Cypriot-administered
area. The Greek Cypriot economy is prosperous but highly susceptible
to external shocks. Erratic growth rates in the 1990s reflect the
economy's vulnerability to swings in tourist arrivals, caused by
political instability on the island and fluctuations in economic
conditions in Western Europe. Economic policy in the south is
focused on meeting the criteria for admission to the EU. As in the
Turkish sector, water shortage is a growing problem, and several
desalination plants are planned. The Turkish Cypriot economy has
about one-fifth the population and one-third the per capita GDP of
the south. Because it is recognized only by Turkey, it has had much
difficulty arranging foreign financing, and foreign firms have
hesitated to invest there. The economy remains heavily dependent on
agriculture and government service, which together employ about half
of the work force. Moreover, the small, vulnerable economy has
suffered because the Turkish lira is legal tender. To compensate for
the economy's weakness, Turkey provides direct and indirect aid to
nearly every sector, e.g. tourism, education, and industry.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$10 billion (1997 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 2.3% (1997 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$13,000 (1997 est.)
GDP--composition by sector: Greek Cypriot area: agriculture 4.4%;
industry 22.4%; services 73.2% (1996); Turkish Cypriot area:
agriculture 10%; industry 24.6%; services 65.4% (1995)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): Greek Cypriot area: 2.3% (1998
est.); Turkish Cypriot area: 87.5% (1997 est.)
Labor force: Greek Cypriot area: 299,700; Turkish Cypriot area:
76,500 (1996)
Labor force--by occupation: Greek Cypriot area: services 62%,
industry 25%, agriculture 13% (1995); Turkish Cypriot area: services
66%, industry 11%, agriculture 23% (1995)
Unemployment rate: Greek Cypriot area: 3.3% (1998 est.); Turkish
Cypriot area: 6.4% (1996)
Budget:
revenues: Greek Cypriot area--$2.9 billion, Turkish Cypriot area--$171
million
expenditures: Greek Cypriot area--$3.4 billion, including capital
expenditures of $345 million, Turkish Cypriot area--$306 million,
including capital expenditures of $56.8 million (1997 est.)
Industries: food, beverages, textiles, chemicals, metal products,
tourism, wood products
Industrial production growth rate: Greek Cypriot area: -4%
(1996); Turkish Cypriot area: 5.1% (1995)
Electricity--production: 2.2 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 2.2 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: potatoes, citrus, vegetables, barley,
grapes, olives, vegetables
Exports: Greek Cypriot area: $1.2 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.);
Turkish Cypriot area: $70.5 million (f.o.b., 1996)
Exports--commodities: Greek Cypriot area: citrus, potatoes,
grapes, wine, cement, clothing and shoes (1996); Turkish Cypriot
area: citrus, potatoes, textiles (1996)
Exports--partners: Greek Cypriot area: Russia 19.1%, Bulgaria
16.4%, UK 11.3%, Greece 6.3%, Germany 4.8%; Turkish Cypriot area:
Turkey 48.2%, UK 21.3%, other EU 13.7% (1997)
Imports: Greek Cypriot area: $3.8 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.);
Turkish Cypriot area: $318.4 million (f.o.b., 1996)
Imports--commodities: Greek Cypriot area: consumer goods,
petroleum and lubricants, food and feed grains, machinery (1996);
Turkish Cypriot area: food, minerals, chemicals, machinery (1996)
Imports--partners: Greek Cypriot area: US 17.8%, UK 11.9%, Italy
9.7%, Germany 7.5%, Greece 7.6% (1997); Turkish Cypriot area: Turkey
55.3%, UK 13.8%, other EU 11.6% (1997)
Debt--external: Greek Cypriot area: $1.56 billion (1997)
Economic aid--recipient: Greek Cypriot area?$187 million in grants
(1990-94); Turkish Cypriot area-- $700 million from Turkey in grants
and loans (1990-97) that are usually forgiven
Currency: Greek Cypriot area: 1 Cypriot pound (LC) = 100 cents;
Turkish Cypriot area: 1 Turkish lira (TL) = 100 kurus
Exchange rates: Cypriot pounds per US1$--0.5013 (January 1999),
0.5170 (1998), 0.5135 (1997), 0.4663 (1996), 0.4522 (1995), 0.4915
(1994); Turkish liras (TL) per US$1--331,400 (January 1999), 260,724
(1998), 151,865 (1997), 81,405 (1996), 45,845.1 (1995), 29,608.7
(1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: Greek Cypriot area: 367,000 (1996 est.); Turkish
Cypriot area: 80,000 (1996 est.)
Telephone system: excellent in both the Greek Cypriot and Turkish
Cypriot areas
domestic: open wire, fiber-optic cable, and microwave radio relay
international: tropospheric scatter; 3 coaxial and 5 fiber-optic
submarine cables; satellite earth stations--3 Intelsat (1 Atlantic
Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean), 2 Eutelsat, 2 Intersputnik, and 1 Arabsat
Radio broadcast stations: Greek Cypriot area: AM 4, FM 36,
shortwave 1, Turkish Cypriot area: AM 2, FM 6, shortwave 0
Radios: Greek Cypriot area: 500,000 (1996 est.); Turkish Cypriot
area: 130,000 (1996 est.)
Television broadcast stations: Greek Cypriot area: 7 (in
addition, there are 35 low-power repeaters) (1997); Turkish Cypriot
area: 3 (in addition, there are 4 repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: Greek Cypriot area: 300,000 (1996 est.); Turkish
Cypriot area: 90,000 (1996 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: Greek Cypriot area: 10,415 km; Turkish Cypriot area: 2,350 km
paved: Greek Cypriot area: 5,947 km; Turkish Cypriot area: 1,370 km
unpaved: Greek Cypriot area: 4,468 km; Turkish Cypriot area: 980 km
(1996 est.)
Ports and harbors: Famagusta, Kyrenia, Larnaca, Limassol, Paphos,
Vasilikos Bay
Merchant marine:
total: 1,469 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 23,362,067
GRT/36,945,331 DWT
ships by type: barge carrier 2, bulk 430, cargo 530, chemical tanker
23, combination bulk 42, combination ore/oil 11, container 141,
liquefied gas tanker 6, oil tanker 152, passenger 7, refrigerated
cargo 58, roll-on/roll-off cargo 49, short-sea passenger 14,
specialized tanker 3, vehicle carrier 1
note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 37
countries among which are Greece 611, Germany 129, Russia 49, Latvia
278, Netherlands 20, Japan 28, Cuba 16, China 15, Hong Kong 13, and
Poland 15 (1998 est.)
Airports: 15 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 12
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)
Heliports: 4 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Greek Cypriot area: Greek Cypriot National
Guard (GCNG; includes air and naval elements), Hellenic Forces
Regiment on Cyprus (ELDYK), Greek Cypriot Police; Turkish Cypriot
area: Turkish Cypriot Security Force (TCSF), Turkish Forces Regiment
on Cyprus (KTKA), Turkish mainland army units
Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 194,337 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 133,559 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 6,410 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $405 million (1996)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 5.4% (1996)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: 1974 hostilities divided the island into
two de facto autonomous areas, a Greek Cypriot area controlled by
the internationally recognized Cypriot Government (59% of the
island's land area) and a Turkish-Cypriot area (37% of the island),
that are separated by a UN buffer zone (4% of the island); there are
two UK sovereign base areas within the Greek Cypriot portion of the
island
Illicit drugs: transit point for heroin and hashish via air
routes and container traffic to Europe, especially from Lebanon and
Turkey; some cocaine transits as well
======================================================================
@Czech Republic
--------------
Introduction
Background: Once part of the Holy Roman Empire and, later, the
Austro-Hungarian monarchy, Czechoslovakia became an independent
nation at the end of World War I. Independence ended with the German
takeover in 1939. After World War II, Czechoslovakia fell within the
Soviet sphere of influence, and in 1968 an invasion by Warsaw Pact
troops snuffed out anti-communist demonstrations and riots. With the
collapse of Soviet authority in 1991, Czechoslovakia regained its
freedom. On 1 January 1993, the country peacefully split into its
two ethnic components, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The Czech
Republic, largely by aspiring to become a NATO and EU member, has
moved toward integration in world markets, a development that poses
both opportunities and risks. But Prague has had a difficult time
convincing the public that membership in NATO is crucial to Czech
security. At the same time, support for eventual EU membership is
waning. Coupled with the country's worsening economic situation,
Prague's political scene, troubled for the past three years, will
remain so for the foreseeable future.
Geography
Location: Central Europe, southeast of Germany
Geographic coordinates: 49 45 N, 15 30 E
Map references: Europe
Area:
total: 78,703 sq km
land: 78,645 sq km
water: 58 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than South Carolina
Land boundaries:
total: 1,881 km
border countries: Austria 362 km, Germany 646 km, Poland 658 km,
Slovakia 215 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: temperate; cool summers; cold, cloudy, humid winters
Terrain: Bohemia in the west consists of rolling plains, hills,
and plateaus surrounded by low mountains; Moravia in the east
consists of very hilly country
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Elbe River 115 m
highest point: Snezka 1,602 m
Natural resources: hard coal, soft coal, kaolin, clay, graphite
Land use:
arable land: 41%
permanent crops: 2%
permanent pastures: 11%
forests and woodland: 34%
other: 12% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 240 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: flooding
Environment--current issues: air and water pollution in areas of
northwest Bohemia and in northern Moravia around Ostrava present
health risks; acid rain damaging forests
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air
Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty,
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol
Geography--note: landlocked; strategically located astride some of
oldest and most significant land routes in Europe; Moravian Gate is
a traditional military corridor between the North European Plain and
the Danube in central Europe
People
Population: 10,280,513 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 17% (male 888,292; female 845,662)
15-64 years: 69% (male 3,569,677; female 3,558,844)
65 years and over: 14% (male 545,305; female 872,733) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: -0.01% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 9.84 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 10.86 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.91 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 6.67 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 74.35 years
male: 71.01 years
female: 77.88 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.28 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Czech(s)
adjective: Czech
note: 300,000 Slovaks declared themselves Czech citizens in 1994
Ethnic groups: Czech 94.4%, Slovak 3%, Polish 0.6%, German 0.5%,
Gypsy 0.3%, Hungarian 0.2%, other 1%
Religions: atheist 39.8%, Roman Catholic 39.2%, Protestant 4.6%,
Orthodox 3%, other 13.4%
Languages: Czech, Slovak
Literacy:
definition: NA
total population: 99% (est.)
male: NA%
female: NA%
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Czech Republic
conventional short form: Czech Republic
local long form: Ceska Republika
local short form: Ceska Republika
Data code: EZ
Government type: parliamentary democracy
Capital: Prague
Administrative divisions: 73 districts (okresi, singular--okres)
and 4 municipalities* (mesta, singular--mesto); Benesov, Beroun,
Blansko, Breclav, Brno*, Brno-Venkov, Bruntal, Ceske Budejovice,
Ceska Lipa, Cesky Krumlov, Cheb, Chomutov, Chrudim, Decin,
Domazlice, Frydek-Mistek, Havlickuv Brod, Hodonin, Hradec Kralove,
Jablonec nad Nisou, Jesenik, Jicin, Jihlava, Jindrichuv Hradec,
Karlovy Vary, Karvina, Kladno, Klatovy, Kolin, Kromeriz, Kutna Hora,
Liberec, Litomerice, Louny, Melnik, Mlada Boleslav, Most, Nachod,
Novy Jicin, Nymburk, Olomouc, Opava, Ostrava*, Pardubice, Pelhrimov,
Pisek, Plzen*, Plzen-Jih, Plzen-Sever, Prachatice, Praha*,
Praha-Vychod, Praha Zapad, Prerov, Pribram, Prostejov, Rakovnik,
Rokycany, Rychnov nad Kneznou, Semily, Sokolov, Strakonice, Sumperk,
Svitavy, Tabor, Tachov, Teplice, Trebic, Trutnov, Uherske Hradiste,
Usti nad Labem, Usti nad Orlici, Vsetin, Vyskov, Zdar nad Sazavou,
Zlin, Znojmo
Independence: 1 January 1993 (from Czechoslovakia)
National holiday: National Liberation Day, 8 May; Founding of the
Republic, 28 October
Constitution: ratified 16 December 1992; effective 1 January 1993
Legal system: civil law system based on Austro-Hungarian codes;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; legal code modified to
bring it in line with Organization on Security and Cooperation in
Europe (OSCE) obligations and to expunge Marxist-Leninist legal
theory
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Vaclav HAVEL (since 2 February 1993)
head of government: Prime Minister Milos ZEMAN (since 17 July 1998);
Deputy Prime Ministers Vladimir SPIDLA (since 17 July 1998), Pavel
RYCHETSKY since 17 July 1998), Egon LANSKY (since 17 July 1998),
Pavel MERTLIK (since 17 July 1998)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of
the prime minister
elections: president elected by Parliament for a five-year term;
election last held 20 January 1998 (next to be held NA January
2003); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Vaclav HAVEL reelected president; Vaclav HAVEL
received 47 of 81 votes in the Senate and 99 out of 200 votes in the
Chamber of Deputies (second round of voting)
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament or Parlament consists of
the Senate or Senat (81 seats; members are elected by popular vote
to serve staggered two-, four-, and six-year terms) and the Chamber
of Deputies or Snemovna Poslancu (200 seats; members are elected by
popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: Senate--last held 13-14 and 20-21 November 1998 (next to
be held NA November 2000--to replace/reelect 20 senators serving
two-year terms); Chamber of Deputies--last held 19-20 June 1998
(early elections to be held NA June 2000)
election results: Senate--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by
party--governing coalition (CSSD 23), opposition (ODS 26, KDU-CSL 16,
KCSM 4, ODA 7, US 4, DEU 1); Chamber of Deputies--percent of vote by
party--NA; seats by party--governing coalition (CSSD 74), opposition
(ODS 63, KDU-CSL 20, US 19, KCSM 24)
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, chairman and deputy chairmen are
appointed by the president for life; Constitutional Court, chairman
and deputy chairmen are appointed by the president for life
Political parties and leaders: Civic Democratic Party or ODS
KROUPA, chairman]; Christian Democratic Union-Czech People's Party
Political pressure groups and leaders: Czech-Moravian Chamber of
Trade Unions; Civic Movement
International organization participation: Australia Group, BIS,
CCC, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA (observer), IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NEA, NSG, OAS
(observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UNMOP, UNOMIG, UNPREDEP, UPU, WEU (associate partner), WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Aleksandr VONDRA
chancery: 3900 Spring of Freedom Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador John SHATTUCK
embassy: Trziste 15, 11801 Prague 1
mailing address: use embassy street address
Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and
red with a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist side (almost
identical to the flag of the former Czechoslovakia)
Economy
Economy--overview: Political and financial crises in 1997
shattered the Czech Republic's image as one of the most stable and
prosperous of post-Communist states. Delays in enterprise
restructuring and failure to develop a well-functioning capital
market played major roles in Czech economic troubles, which
culminated in a currency crisis in May. The currency was forced out
of its fluctuation band as investors worried that the current
account deficit, which reached nearly 8% of GDP in 1996, would
become unsustainable. After expending $3 billion in vain to support
the currency, the central bank let it float. The growing current
account imbalance reflected a surge in domestic demand and poor
export performance, as wage increases outpaced productivity. The
government was forced to introduce two austerity packages later in
the spring which cut government spending by 2.5% of GDP. A tough
1998 budget continued the painful medicine. These problems were
compounded in the summer of 1997 by unprecedented flooding which
inundated much of the eastern part of the country. Czech
difficulties contrast with earlier achievements of strong GDP
growth, a balanced budget, and inflation and unemployment that were
among the lowest in the region. The Czech economy's transition
problems continue to be too much direct and indirect government
influence on the privatized economy, the sometimes ineffective
management of privatized firms, and a shortage of experienced
financial analysts for the banking system. The country slipped into
a mild recession in 1998, but hopes to rebound with 1% growth in
1999.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$116.7 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: -1.5% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$11,300 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 5%
industry: 33.8%
services: 61.2% (1996)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 4.6%
highest 10%: 23.5% (1993)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 10.7% (1998)
Labor force: 3.655 million (1998)
Labor force--by occupation: industry 33.1%, agriculture 6.9%,
construction 9.1%, transport and communications 7.2%, services 43.7%
(1994)
Unemployment rate: 7% (1998 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $16.1 billion
expenditures: $16.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1997)
Industries: fuels, ferrous metallurgy, machinery and equipment,
coal, motor vehicles, glass, armaments
Industrial production growth rate: 6.7% (1998 est.)
Electricity--production: 60.214 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 76.69%
hydro: 3.04%
nuclear: 20.27%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 60.164 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 8.8 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 8.75 billion kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: grains, potatoes, sugar beets, hops, fruit;
pigs, cattle, poultry; forest products
Exports: $23.8 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports--commodities: manufactured goods 40.5%, machinery and
transport equipment 37.7%, chemicals 8.8%, raw materials and fuel
7.8% (1997)
Exports--partners: Germany 35.7%, Slovakia 12.9%, Austria 6.4%,
Poland 5.7%, Russia 3.4%, Italy 3.3%, France 2.5% (1997)
Imports: $26.8 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports--commodities: machinery and transport equipment 38.1%,
manufactured goods 19.3%, raw materials and fuels 12.4%, chemicals
12.2%, and food 5.2% (1997)
Imports--partners: Germany 26.6%, Slovakia 8.4%, Italy 5.3%,
Austria 4.4%, FSU 3.4%, UK 3.4%, Poland 3.2% (1997)
Debt--external: $21.6 billion (1997 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $351.6 million (1995)
Currency: 1 koruna (Kc) = 100 haleru
Exchange rates: koruny (Kcs) per US$1--30.214 (December 1998),
32.294 (1998), 31.698 (1997), 27.145 (1996), 26.541 (1995), 28.785
(1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 3,349,539 (1993 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: NA
international: satellite earth stations--2 Intersputnik (Atlantic and
Indian Ocean regions)
Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 67 (in addition, there are 35
low-power stations and about 51 low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: NA
Transportation
Railways:
total: 9,440 km
standard gauge: 9,344 km 1.435-m standard gauge (2,743 km
electrified at three voltages; 1,885 km double track)
narrow gauge: 96 km 0.760-m narrow gauge (1996)
Highways:
total: 55,489 km
paved: 55,489 km (including 423 km of expressways)
unpaved: 0 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: NA km; the Elbe (Labe) is the principal river
Pipelines: natural gas 5,400 km
Ports and harbors: Decin, Prague, Usti nad Labem
Airports: 69 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 35
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 8
1,524 to 2,437 m: 11
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 13 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 34
914 to 1,523 m: 17
under 914 m: 17 (1998 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Air and Air Defense Forces, Civil
Defense, Railroad Units
Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 2,684,817 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 2,046,079 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 73,072 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $1.1 billion (1998)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 1.8% (1998)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: Liechtenstein claims restitution for
1,600 sq km of property in the Czech Republic confiscated from its
royal family in 1918; the Czech Republic insists that restitution
does not go back before February 1948, when the communists seized
power; individual Sudeten German claims for restitution of property
confiscated in connection with their expulsion after World War II;
unresolved property issues with Slovakia over redistribution of
former Czechoslovak federal property
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and
hashish and Latin American cocaine to Western Europe; domestic
consumption--especially of locally produced synthetic drugs--on the
rise
======================================================================
@Denmark
-------
Introduction
Background: Once the seat of rapacious Viking raiders and later a
major power in northwestern Europe, Denmark has evolved into a
modern, prosperous nation that is participating in the political and
economic integration of Europe. So far, however, they have opted out
of some aspects of the European Union's Maastricht Treaty including
the new monetary system launched on 1 January 1999.
Geography
Location: Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and the North
Sea, on a peninsula north of Germany
Geographic coordinates: 56 00 N, 10 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area:
total: 43,094 sq km
land: 42,394 sq km
water: 700 sq km
note: includes the island of Bornholm in the Baltic Sea and the rest
of metropolitan Denmark, but excludes the Faroe Islands and Greenland
Area--comparative: slightly less than twice the size of
Massachusetts
Land boundaries:
total: 68 km
border countries: Germany 68 km
Coastline: 7,314 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 4 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 3 nm
Climate: temperate; humid and overcast; mild, windy winters and
cool summers
Terrain: low and flat to gently rolling plains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Lammefjord -7 m
highest point: Ejer Bavnehoj 173 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, fish, salt, limestone,
stone, gravel and sand
Land use:
arable land: 60%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 5%
forests and woodland: 10%
other: 25% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 4,350 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: flooding is a threat in some areas of the
country (e.g., parts of Jutland, along the southern coast of the
island of Lolland) that are protected from the sea by a system of
dikes
Environment--current issues: air pollution, principally from
vehicle and power plant emissions; nitrogen and phosphorus pollution
of the North Sea; drinking and surface water becoming polluted from
animal wastes and pesticides
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air
Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty,
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine
Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Law of the Sea
Geography--note: controls Danish Straits (Skagerrak and Kattegat)
linking Baltic and North Seas; about one-quarter of the population
lives in Copenhagen
People
Population: 5,356,845 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 18% (male 504,182; female 478,547)
15-64 years: 67% (male 1,811,445; female 1,765,038)
65 years and over: 15% (male 331,207; female 466,426) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.38% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 11.57 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 10.97 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 3.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 5.11 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 76.51 years
male: 73.83 years
female: 79.33 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.62 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Dane(s)
adjective: Danish
Ethnic groups: Scandinavian, Eskimo, Faroese, German
Religions: Evangelical Lutheran 91%, other Protestant and Roman
Catholic 2%, other 7% (1988)
Languages: Danish, Faroese, Greenlandic (an Eskimo dialect),
German (small minority)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99% (1980 est.)
male: NA%
female: NA%
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Denmark
conventional short form: Denmark
local long form: Kongeriget Danmark
local short form: Danmark
Data code: DA
Government type: constitutional monarchy
Capital: Copenhagen
Administrative divisions: metropolitan Denmark--14 counties
(amter, singular--amt) and 2 kommunes*; Arhus, Bornholm,
Fredericksberg*, Frederiksborg, Fyn, Kobenhavn, Kobenhavns*,
Nordjylland, Ribe, Ringkobing, Roskilde, Sonderjylland, Storstrom,
Vejle, Vestsjalland, Viborg
note: see separate entries for the Faroe Islands and Greenland,
which are part of the Kingdom of Denmark and are self-governing
administrative divisions
Independence: first organized as a unified state in 10th century;
in 1849 became a constitutional monarchy
National holiday: Birthday of the Queen, 16 April (1940)
Constitution: 1849 was the original constitution; there was a
major overhaul 5 June 1953, allowing for a unicameral legislature
and a female chief of state
Legal system: civil law system; judicial review of legislative
acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen MARGRETHE II (since 14 January 1972); Heir
Apparent Crown Prince FREDERIK, elder son of the monarch (born 26
May 1968)
head of government: Prime Minister Poul Nyrup RASMUSSEN (since 25
January 1993)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister appointed
by the monarch
Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Folketing (179
seats; members are elected by popular vote on the basis of
proportional representation to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 11 March 1998 (next to be held NA 2002)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by
party--progovernment parties: Social Democrats 65, Socialist People's
Party 13, Radical Liberal Party 7, Unity Party 5; opposition:
Liberal Party 43, Conservative Party 17, Danish People's Party 13,
Center Democrats 8, Christian People's Party 4, Progress Party 4
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the
monarch for life
Political parties and leaders: Social Democratic Party [Poul
International organization participation: AfDB, AsDB, Australia
Group, BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EIB, ESA, EU, FAO,
G- 9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
ISO, ITU, MTCR, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNMOGIP, UNMOP, UNMOT,
UNOMIG, UNPREDEP, UNTSO, UPU, WEU (observer), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO,
ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Knud-Erik TYGESEN
chancery: 3200 Whitehaven Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Edward E. ELSON
embassy: Dag Hammarskjolds Alle 24, 2100 Copenhagen
mailing address: PSC 73, APO AE 09716
Flag description: red with a white cross that extends to the
edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the
hoist side, and that design element of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)
was subsequently adopted by the other Nordic countries of Finland,
Iceland, Norway, and Sweden
Economy
Economy--overview: This thoroughly modern market economy features
high-tech agriculture, up-to-date small-scale and corporate
industry, extensive government welfare measures, comfortable living
standards, and high dependence on foreign trade. Denmark is a net
exporter of food. The center-left coalition government will
concentrate on reducing the persistently high unemployment rate and
the budget deficit as well as following the previous government's
policies of maintaining low inflation and a current account surplus.
The coalition also vows to maintain a stable currency. The coalition
has lowered marginal income taxes while maintaining overall tax
revenues; boosted industrial competitiveness through labor market
and tax reforms and increased research and development funds; and
improved welfare services for the neediest while cutting paperwork
and delays. Denmark chose not to join the 11 other EU members who
launched the euro on 1 January 1999. Because of the global slowdown,
GDP growth may fall to 1% in 1999.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$124.4 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 2.6% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$23,300 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 4%
industry: 27%
services: 69% (1997)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.6%
highest 10%: 20.5% (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.8% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 2,895,950
Labor force--by occupation: private services 40%, government
services 30%, manufacturing and mining 19%, construction 6%,
agriculture, forestry, and fishing 5% (1995)
Unemployment rate: 6.5% (1998 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $62.1 billion
expenditures: $66.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1996 est.)
Industries: food processing, machinery and equipment, textiles
and clothing, chemical products, electronics, construction,
furniture, and other wood products, shipbuilding
Industrial production growth rate: 1.3% (1996)
Electricity--production: 50.608 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 97.6%
hydro: 0.05%
nuclear: 0%
other: 2.35% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 35.208 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 19.2 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 3.8 billion kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: grain, potatoes, rape, sugar beets; beef,
dairy products; fish
Exports: $48.8 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports--commodities: machinery and instruments, meat and meat
products, fuels, dairy products, ships, fish, chemicals
Exports--partners: Germany 21.4%, Sweden 11.6%, UK 9.6%, Norway
6.2%, France 5.3%, US 4.6%, Netherlands 4.5% (1997)
Imports: $46.1 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports--commodities: machinery and equipment, petroleum,
chemicals, grain and foodstuffs, textiles, paper
Imports--partners: Germany 21.7%, Sweden 12.7%, Netherlands 7.8%,
UK 7.6%, France 5.6%, Norway 5.2%, US 5.0%, Japan (1997)
Debt--external: $44 billion (1996 est.)
Economic aid--donor: ODA, $1.6 billion (1995)
Currency: 1 Danish krone (DKr) = 100 oere
Exchange rates: Danish kroner (DKr) per US$1--6.408 (January
1999), 6.701 (1998), 6.604 (1997), 5.799 (1996), 5.602 (1995), 6.361
(1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 3.2 million (1995 est.); 822,000 cellular telephone
subscribers
Telephone system: excellent telephone and telegraph services
domestic: buried and submarine cables and microwave radio relay form
trunk network, four cellular radio communications systems
international: 18 submarine fiber-optic cables linking Denmark with
Norway, Sweden, Russia, Poland, Germany, Netherlands, UK, Faroe
Islands, Iceland, and Canada; satellite earth stations--6 Intelsat,
10 Eutelsat, 1 Orion, 1 Inmarsat (Blaavand-Atlantic-East); note--the
Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden)
share the Danish earth station and the Eik, Norway, station for
world-wide Inmarsat access
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 78 (of which 35 are low-power
stations; in addition, there are 51 low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 3 million (1996 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 3,323 km (458 km privately owned and operated)
standard gauge: 3,323 km 1.435-m gauge (440 km electrified; 760 km
double track) (1996)
Highways:
total: 71,600 km
paved: 71,600 km (including 880 km of expressways)
unpaved: 0 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 417 km
Pipelines: crude oil 110 km; petroleum products 578 km; natural
gas 700 km
Ports and harbors: Alborg, Arhus, Copenhagen, Esbjerg,
Fredericia, Grena, Koge, Odense, Struer
Merchant marine:
total: 337 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,130,643
GRT/6,880,248 DWT
ships by type: bulk 14, cargo 130, chemical tanker 19, container 73,
liquefied gas tanker 26, livestock carrier 6, oil tanker 20, railcar
carrier 1, refrigerated cargo 15, roll-on/roll-off cargo 21,
short-sea passenger 9, specialized tanker 3
note: Denmark has created its own internal register, called the
Danish International Ship register (DIS); DIS ships do not have to
meet Danish manning regulations, and they amount to a flag of
convenience within the Danish register (1998 est.)
Airports: 118 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 28
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 13
under 914 m: 3 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 90
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 82 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Royal Danish Army, Royal Danish Navy, Royal
Danish Air Force, Home Guard
Military manpower--military age: 20 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 1,316,584 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,129,870 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 32,130 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $2.5 billion (1999)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 1.6% (1999)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: Rockall continental shelf dispute
involving Iceland, Ireland, and the UK (Ireland and the UK have
signed a boundary agreement in the Rockall area)
======================================================================
@Djibouti
--------
Geography
Location: Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Red
Sea, between Eritrea and Somalia
Geographic coordinates: 11 30 N, 43 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area:
total: 22,000 sq km
land: 21,980 sq km
water: 20 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than Massachusetts
Land boundaries:
total: 508 km
border countries: Eritrea 113 km, Ethiopia 337 km, Somalia 58 km
Coastline: 314 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: desert; torrid, dry
Terrain: coastal plain and plateau separated by central mountains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Lac Assal -155 m
highest point: Moussa Ali 2,028 m
Natural resources: geothermal areas
Land use:
arable land: NA%
permanent crops: NA%
permanent pastures: 9%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 91% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: earthquakes; droughts; occasional cyclonic
disturbances from the Indian Ocean bring heavy rains and flash floods
Environment--current issues: inadequate supplies of potable water;
desertification
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Law of the Sea, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography--note: strategic location near world's busiest shipping
lanes and close to Arabian oilfields; terminus of rail traffic into
Ethiopia; mostly wasteland
People
Population: 447,439 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 43% (male 96,222; female 96,023)
15-64 years: 54% (male 128,506; female 114,767)
65 years and over: 3% (male 6,155; female 5,766) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.51% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 41.23 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 14.41 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -11.73 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.12 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.07 male(s)/female
total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 100.24 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 51.54 years
male: 49.48 years
female: 53.67 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.87 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Djiboutian(s)
adjective: Djiboutian
Ethnic groups: Somali 60%, Afar 35%, French, Arab, Ethiopian, and
Italian 5%
Religions: Muslim 94%, Christian 6%
Languages: French (official), Arabic (official), Somali, Afar
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 46.2%
male: 60.3%
female: 32.7% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Djibouti
conventional short form: Djibouti
former: French Territory of the Afars and Issas, French Somaliland
Data code: DJ
Government type: republic
Capital: Djibouti
Administrative divisions: 5 districts (cercles, singular--cercle);
'Ali Sabih, Dikhil, Djibouti, Obock, Tadjoura
Independence: 27 June 1977 (from France)
National holiday: Independence Day, 27 June (1977)
Constitution: multiparty constitution approved in referendum 4
September 1992
Legal system: based on French civil law system, traditional
practices, and Islamic law
Suffrage: NA years of age; universal adult
Executive branch:
chief of state: President HASSAN GOULED Aptidon (since 24 June
1977); note--President HASSAN GOULED announced early in the year that
he would resign in April 1999
head of government: Prime Minister BARKAT Gourad Hamadou (since 30
September 1978)
cabinet: Council of Ministers responsible to the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term;
election last held 7 May 1993 (next to be held 9 April 1999); prime
minister appointed by the president
election results: President HASSAN GOULED reelected; percent of
vote--NA
Legislative branch: unicameral Chamber of Deputies or Chambre des
Deputes (65 seats; members elected by popular vote for five-year
terms)
elections: last held 19 December 1997 (next to be held NA 2002)
election results: percent of vote--NA; seats--RPP 65; note--RPP (the
ruling party) dominated
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)
Political parties and leaders:
Aptidon]
Political pressure groups and leaders: Front for the Restoration
of Unity and Democracy or FRUD, and affiliates; Movement for Unity
and Democracy or MUD
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AFESD,
AL, AMF, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user),
Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador ROBLE Olhaye Oudine
chancery: Suite 515, 1156 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Lange SCHERMERHORN
embassy: Plateau du Serpent, Boulevard Marechal Joffre, Djibouti
mailing address: B. P. 185, Djibouti
Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of light blue (top)
and light green with a white isosceles triangle based on the hoist
side bearing a red five-pointed star in the center
Economy
Economy--overview: The economy is based on service activities
connected with the country's strategic location and status as a free
trade zone in northeast Africa. Two-thirds of the inhabitants live
in the capital city, the remainder being mostly nomadic herders.
Scanty rainfall limits crop production to fruits and vegetables, and
most food must be imported. Djibouti provides services as both a
transit port for the region and an international transshipment and
refueling center. It has few natural resources and little industry.
The nation is, therefore, heavily dependent on foreign assistance to
help support its balance of payments and to finance development
projects. An unemployment rate of 40% to 50% continues to be a major
problem. Per capita consumption dropped an estimated 35% over the
last seven years because of recession, civil war, and a high
population growth rate (including immigrants and refugees). Also,
renewed fighting between Ethiopia and Eritrea has disturbed normal
external channels of commerce. Faced with a multitude of economic
difficulties, the government has fallen in arrears on long-term
external debt and has been struggling to meet the stipulations of
foreign aid donors.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$530 million (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 0.6% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,200 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 3%
industry: 20%
services: 77% (1996 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3% (1997 est.)
Labor force: 282,000
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 75%, industry 11%,
services 14% (1991 est.)
Unemployment rate: 40%-50% (1996 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $156 million
expenditures: $175 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1997 est.)
Industries: limited to a few small-scale enterprises, such as
dairy products and mineral-water bottling
Industrial production growth rate: 3% (1996 est.)
Electricity--production: 175 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 175 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: fruits, vegetables; goats, sheep, camels
Exports: $39.6 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.)
Exports--commodities: hides and skins, coffee (in transit) (1995)
Exports--partners: Ethiopia 45%, Somalia, Yemen, Saudi Arabia
(1996)
Imports: $200.5 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.)
Imports--commodities: foods, beverages, transport equipment,
chemicals, petroleum products (1995)
Imports--partners: France, Ethiopia, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Thailand
(1996)
Debt--external: $276 million (1996 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $106.3 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Djiboutian franc (DF) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: Djiboutian francs (DF) per US$1--177.721 (fixed
rate since 1973)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 7,200 (1986 est.)
Telephone system: telephone facilities in the city of Djibouti
are adequate as are the microwave radio relay connections to
outlying areas of the country
domestic: microwave radio relay network
international: submarine cable to Jiddah, Suez, Sicily, Marseilles,
Colombo, and Singapore; satellite earth stations--1 Intelsat (Indian
Ocean) and 1 Arabsat; Medarabtel regional microwave radio relay
telephone network
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0
Radios: 35,000
Television broadcast stations: 1 (in addition, there are 5
low-power repeaters) (1998)
Televisions: 17,000 (1998)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 97 km (Djibouti segment of the Addis Ababa-Djibouti railroad)
narrow gauge: 97 km 1.000-m gauge
note: in April 1998, Djibouti and Ethiopia announced plans to
revitalize the century-old railroad that links their capitals
Highways:
total: 2,890 km
paved: 364 km
unpaved: 2,526 km (1996 est.)
Ports and harbors: Djibouti
Merchant marine:
total: 1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,369 GRT/3,030 DWT
(1998 est.)
Airports: 11 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 2
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 9
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Djibouti National Army (includes Navy and Air
Force)
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 105,075 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 61,712 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $22.5 million (1997)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 4.5% (1997)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
======================================================================
@Dominica
--------
Geography
Location: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the
North Atlantic Ocean, about one-half of the way from Puerto Rico to
Trinidad and Tobago
Geographic coordinates: 15 25 N, 61 20 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 750 sq km
land: 750 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly more than four times the size of
Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 148 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; moderated by northeast trade winds; heavy
rainfall
Terrain: rugged mountains of volcanic origin
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Morne Diablatins 1,447 m
Natural resources: timber
Land use:
arable land: 9%
permanent crops: 13%
permanent pastures: 3%
forests and woodland: 67%
other: 8% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: flash floods are a constant threat; destructive
hurricanes can be expected during the late summer months
Environment--current issues: NA
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone
Layer Protection, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
People
Population: 64,881 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 27% (male 8,680; female 8,530)
15-64 years: 64% (male 21,090; female 20,294)
65 years and over: 9% (male 2,570; female 3,717) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: -1.41% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 16.92 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 6.35 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -24.69 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 8.75 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.01 years
male: 75.15 years
female: 81.01 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.89 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Dominican(s)
adjective: Dominican
Ethnic groups: black, Carib Amerindian
Religions: Roman Catholic 77%, Protestant 15% (Methodist 5%,
Pentecostal 3%, Seventh-Day Adventist 3%, Baptist 2%, other 2%),
none 2%, other 6%
Languages: English (official), French patois
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 94%
male: 94%
female: 94% (1970 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Commonwealth of Dominica
conventional short form: Dominica
Data code: DO
Government type: parliamentary democracy
Capital: Roseau
Administrative divisions: 10 parishes; Saint Andrew, Saint David,
Saint George, Saint John, Saint Joseph, Saint Luke, Saint Mark,
Saint Patrick, Saint Paul, Saint Peter
Independence: 3 November 1978 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 3 November (1978)
Constitution: 3 November 1978
Legal system: based on English common law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Vernon Lorden SHAW (since 7 October 1998)
head of government: Prime Minister Edison C. JAMES (since 12 June
1995)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of the
prime minister
elections: president elected by the House of Assembly for a
five-year term; election last held 7 October 1998 (next to be held
NA October 2003); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Vernon Lorden SHAW elected president; percent of
legislative vote--NA
Legislative branch: unicameral House of Assembly (30 seats, 9
appointed senators, 21 elected by popular vote representatives;
members serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 12 June 1995 (next to be held by October 2000);
byelections held 13 August 1996
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--UWP
12, DLP 5, DFP 4
Judicial branch: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (located in
Saint Lucia), one of the six judges must reside in Dominica and
preside over the Court of Summary Jurisdiction
Political parties and leaders: Dominica Freedom Party or DFP
Political pressure groups and leaders: Dominica Liberation
Movement or DLM (a small leftist party)
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, C, Caricom,
CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM (observer), OAS, OECS,
OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Nicholas J. O. LIVERPOOL (resident in
Dominica)
chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an
embassy in Dominica; the Ambassador to Dominica resides in
Bridgetown (Barbados), but travels frequently to Dominica
Flag description: green, with a centered cross of three equal
bands--the vertical part is yellow (hoist side), black, and white and
the horizontal part is yellow (top), black, and white; superimposed
in the center of the cross is a red disk bearing a sisserou parrot
encircled by 10 green, five-pointed stars edged in yellow; the 10
stars represent the 10 administrative divisions (parishes)
Economy
Economy--overview: The economy depends on agriculture and is
highly vulnerable to climatic conditions, notably tropical storms.
Agriculture, primarily bananas, accounts for 20% of GDP and employs
40% of the labor force. Development of the tourist industry remains
difficult because of the rugged coastline, lack of beaches, and the
lack of an international airport. Hurricane Luis devastated the
country's banana crop in September 1995; tropical storms had wiped
out one-quarter of the crop in 1994 as well. The economy began to
recover in mid-1998, fueled by increases in construction, soap
production, and tourist arrivals. The government is attempting to
develop an offshore financial industry in order to diversify the
island's production base.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$216 million (1997 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 1.8% (1997)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$3,300 (1997 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 20%
industry: 16%
services: 64% (1996 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.2% (1997)
Labor force: 25,000
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 40%, industry and commerce
32%, services 28%
Unemployment rate: 15% (1992 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $72 million
expenditures: $79.9 million, including capital expenditures of $11.5
million (FY97/98)
Industries: soap, coconut oil, tourism, copra, furniture, cement
blocks, shoes
Industrial production growth rate: -10% (1997 est.)
Electricity--production: 40 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 50%
hydro: 50%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 40 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: bananas, citrus, mangoes, root crops,
coconuts; forest and fishery potential not exploited
Exports: $50.4 million (1997)
Exports--commodities: bananas 50%, soap, bay oil, vegetables,
grapefruit, oranges
Exports--partners: Caricom countries 47%, UK 36%, US 7% (1996 est.)
Imports: $104.2 million (1997)
Imports--commodities: manufactured goods, machinery and equipment,
food, chemicals
Imports--partners: US 41%, Caricom 25%, UK 13%, Netherlands, Canada
Debt--external: $105 million (1997 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $24.4 million (1995)
Currency: 1 East Caribbean dollar (EC$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1--2.7000
(fixed rate since 1976)
Fiscal year: 1 July--30 June
Communications
Telephones: 14,613 (1993 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: fully automatic network
international: microwave radio relay and SHF radiotelephone links to
Martinique and Guadeloupe; VHF and UHF radiotelephone links to Saint
Lucia
Radio broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 2, shortwave 0
Radios: 45,000 (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 0 (there is one cable television
company) (1997)
Televisions: 5,200 (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 780 km
paved: 393 km
unpaved: 387 km (1996 est.)
Ports and harbors: Portsmouth, Roseau
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 2 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force
(includes Special Service Unit, Coast Guard)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $NA
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: NA%
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for narcotics bound for the US
and Europe; minor cannabis producer; banking industry is vulnerable
to money laundering
======================================================================
@Dominican Republic
------------------
Geography
Location: Caribbean, eastern two-thirds of the island of
Hispaniola, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean,
east of Haiti
Geographic coordinates: 19 00 N, 70 40 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 48,730 sq km
land: 48,380 sq km
water: 350 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly more than twice the size of New
Hampshire
Land boundaries:
total: 275 km
border countries: Haiti 275 km
Coastline: 1,288 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 6 nm
Climate: tropical maritime; little seasonal temperature
variation; seasonal variation in rainfall
Terrain: rugged highlands and mountains with fertile valleys
interspersed
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Lago Enriquillo -46 m
highest point: Pico Duarte 3,175 m
Natural resources: nickel, bauxite, gold, silver
Land use:
arable land: 21%
permanent crops: 9%
permanent pastures: 43%
forests and woodland: 12%
other: 15% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 2,300 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: lies in the middle of the hurricane belt and
subject to severe storms from June to October; occasional flooding;
periodic droughts
Environment--current issues: water shortages; soil eroding into
the sea damages coral reefs; deforestation; Hurricane Georges damage
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban,
Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography--note: shares island of Hispaniola with Haiti (eastern
two-thirds is the Dominican Republic, western one-third is Haiti)
People
Population: 8,129,734 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 35% (male 1,447,435; female 1,393,122)
15-64 years: 61% (male 2,501,206; female 2,426,564)
65 years and over: 4% (male 171,049; female 190,358) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.62% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 25.97 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 5.66 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -4.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 42.52 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 70.07 years
male: 67.86 years
female: 72.4 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.03 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Dominican(s)
adjective: Dominican
Ethnic groups: white 16%, black 11%, mixed 73%
Religions: Roman Catholic 95%
Languages: Spanish
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 82.1%
male: 82%
female: 82.2% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Dominican Republic
conventional short form: none
local long form: Republica Dominicana
local short form: none
Data code: DR
Government type: republic
Capital: Santo Domingo
Administrative divisions: 29 provinces (provincias,
singular--provincia) and 1 district* (distrito); Azua, Baoruco,
Barahona, Dajabon, Distrito Nacional*, Duarte, Elias Pina, El Seibo,
Espaillat, Hato Mayor, Independencia, La Altagracia, La Romana, La
Vega, Maria Trinidad Sanchez, Monsenor Nouel, Monte Cristi, Monte
Plata, Pedernales, Peravia, Puerto Plata, Salcedo, Samana, Sanchez
Ramirez, San Cristobal, San Juan, San Pedro de Macoris, Santiago,
Santiago Rodriguez, Valverde
Independence: 27 February 1844 (from Haiti)
National holiday: Independence Day, 27 February (1844)
Constitution: 28 November 1966
Legal system: based on French civil codes
Suffrage: 18 years of age, universal and compulsory; married
persons regardless of age
note: members of the armed forces and police cannot vote
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna (since 16 August
1996); Vice President Jaime David FERNANDEZ Mirabal (since 16 August
1996); note--the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna (since 16
August 1996); Vice President Jaime David FERNANDEZ Mirabal (since 16
August 1996); note--the president is both the chief of state and head
of government
cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the president
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket
by popular vote for four-year term; election last held 16 May 1996;
runoff election held 30 June 1996 (next to be held 16 May 2000)
election results: Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna elected president; percent
of vote--Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna (PLD) 51.25%, Jose Francisco PENA
Gomez (PRD) 48.75%
Legislative branch: bicameral National Congress or Congreso
Nacional consists of the Senate or Senado (30 seats; members are
elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) and the Chamber of
Deputies or Camara de Diputados (120 seats; members are elected by
popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: Senate--last held 16 May 1998 (next to be held NA May
2002); Chamber of Deputies--last held 16 May 1998 (next to be held NA
May 2002)
election results: Senate--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by
party--PRD 24, PLD 4, PRSC 2; Chamber of Deputies--percent of vote by
party--NA; seats by party--PRD 83, PLD 49, PRSC 17
Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (judges are
elected by a Council made up of legislative and executive members
with the president presiding)
Political parties and leaders:
Rene BEAUCHAMPS Javier]; Liberal Party of the Dominican Republic or
note: in 1983 several leftist parties, including the PCD, joined to
form the Dominican Leftist Front or FID; however, they still retain
individual party structures
Political pressure groups and leaders: Collective of Popular
Organizations or COP
International organization participation: ACP, Caricom
(observer), ECLAC, FAO, G-11, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU,
ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, ISO (subscriber), ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), NAM (guest),
OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU,
WHO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Bernardo VEGA Boyrie
chancery: 1715 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Mayaguez (Puerto
Rico), Miami, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco,
and San Juan (Puerto Rico)
consulate(s): Charlotte Amalie (Virgin Islands), Detroit, Houston,
Jacksonville, Mobile, and Ponce (Puerto Rico)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant)
embassy: corner of Calle Cesar Nicolas Penson and Calle Leopoldo
Navarro, Santo Domingo
mailing address: Unit 5500, APO AA 34041-5500
Flag description: a centered white cross that extends to the
edges divides the flag into four rectangles--the top ones are blue
(hoist side) and red, the bottom ones are red (hoist side) and blue;
a small coat of arms is at the center of the cross
Economy
Economy--overview: In December 1996, incoming President FERNANDEZ
presented a bold reform package for this Caribbean economy--including
the devaluation of the peso, income tax cuts, a 50% increase in
sales taxes, reduced import tariffs, and increased gasoline
prices--in an attempt to create a market-oriented economy that can
compete internationally. Even though most reforms are stalled in the
legislature, the economy grew vigorously in 1997-98, with tourism
and telecommunications leading the advance. The government is
working to increase electric generating capacity, a key to continued
economic growth, but the privatization of the state electricity
company has met numerous delays. In late September 1998, Hurricane
Georges caused approximately $1.3 billion in damages, largely to
agriculture and infrastructure.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$39.8 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 7% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$5,000 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 19%
industry: 25%
services: 56% (1996 est.)
Population below poverty line: 20.6% (1992 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.6%
highest 10%: 39.6% (1989)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 2.3 million to 2.6 million
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 50%, services and
government 32%, industry 18% (1991 est.)
Unemployment rate: 16% (1997 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $2.3 billion
expenditures: $2.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $867
million (1999 est.)
Industries: tourism, sugar processing, ferronickel and gold
mining, textiles, cement, tobacco
Industrial production growth rate: 6.3% (1995 est.)
Electricity--production: 6.7 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 70.15%
hydro: 29.85%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 6.7 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: sugarcane, coffee, cotton, cocoa, tobacco,
rice, beans, potatoes, corn, bananas; cattle, pigs, dairy products,
beef, eggs
Exports: $997 million (1997 est.)
Exports--commodities: ferronickel, sugar, gold, coffee, cocoa
Exports--partners: US 45%, EU 19.9%, Canada 3.6%, South Korea 3.3%
(1996)
Imports: $3.6 billion (1998)
Imports--commodities: foodstuffs, petroleum, cotton and fabrics,
chemicals and pharmaceuticals
Imports--partners: US 44%, EU 16%, Venezuela 11%, Netherlands
Antilles, Mexico, Japan (1995)
Debt--external: $3.6 billion (1997)
Economic aid--recipient: $239.6 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Dominican peso (RD$) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates: Dominican pesos (RD$) per US$1--15.949 (January
1999), 15.267 (1998), 14.265 (1997), 13.775 (1996), 13.597 (1995),
13.160 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 190,000 (1987 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: relatively efficient system based on islandwide microwave
radio relay network
international: 1 coaxial submarine cable; satellite earth station--1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 120, FM 0, shortwave 6
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 25 (1997)
Televisions: 728,000 (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 757 km
standard gauge: 375 km 1.435-m gauge (Central Romana Railroad)
narrow gauge: 142 km 0.762-m gauge (Dominica Government Railway);
240 km operated by sugar companies in various gauges (0.558-m,
0.762-m, 1.067-m gauges) (1995)
Highways:
total: 12,600 km
paved: 6,224 km
unpaved: 6,376 km (1996 est.)
Pipelines: crude oil 96 km; petroleum products 8 km
Ports and harbors: Barahona, La Romana, Puerto Plata, San Pedro
de Macoris, Santo Domingo
Merchant marine:
total: 1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,587 GRT/1,165 DWT
(1998 est.)
Airports: 36 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 14
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 22
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 15 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, National Police
Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 2,156,827 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,355,342 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 82,902 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $180 million (1998)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 1.1% (1998)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for South American drugs
destined for the US
======================================================================
@Ecuador
-------
Geography
Location: Western South America, bordering the Pacific Ocean at
the Equator, between Colombia and Peru
Geographic coordinates: 2 00 S, 77 30 W
Map references: South America
Area:
total: 283,560 sq km
land: 276,840 sq km
water: 6,720 sq km
note: includes Galapagos Islands
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than Nevada
Land boundaries:
total: 2,010 km
border countries: Colombia 590 km, Peru 1,420 km
Coastline: 2,237 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: claims continental shelf between mainland and
Galapagos Islands
territorial sea: 200 nm
Climate: tropical along coast becoming cooler inland
Terrain: coastal plain (costa), inter-Andean central highlands
(sierra), and flat to rolling eastern jungle (oriente)
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Chimborazo 6,267 m
Natural resources: petroleum, fish, timber
Land use:
arable land: 6%
permanent crops: 5%
permanent pastures: 18%
forests and woodland: 56%
other: 15% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 5,560 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: frequent earthquakes, landslides, volcanic
activity; periodic droughts
Environment--current issues: deforestation; soil erosion;
desertification; water pollution; pollution from oil production
wastes
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty,
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography--note: Cotopaxi in Andes is highest active volcano in
world
People
Population: 12,562,496 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 35% (male 2,250,690; female 2,172,302)
15-64 years: 60% (male 3,745,390; female 3,833,841)
65 years and over: 5% (male 261,090; female 299,183) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.78% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 22.26 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 5.06 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.55 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 30.69 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 72.16 years
male: 69.54 years
female: 74.9 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.63 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Ecuadorian(s)
adjective: Ecuadorian
Ethnic groups: mestizo (mixed Amerindian and Spanish) 55%,
Amerindian 25%, Spanish 10%, black 10%
Religions: Roman Catholic 95%
Languages: Spanish (official), Amerindian languages (especially
Quechua)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 90.1%
male: 92%
female: 88.2% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Ecuador
conventional short form: Ecuador
local long form: Republica del Ecuador
local short form: Ecuador
Data code: EC
Government type: republic
Capital: Quito
Administrative divisions: 21 provinces (provincias,
singular--provincia); Azuay, Bolivar, Canar, Carchi, Chimborazo,
Cotopaxi, El Oro, Esmeraldas, Galapagos, Guayas, Imbabura, Loja, Los
Rios, Manabi, Morona-Santiago, Napo, Pastaza, Pichincha, Sucumbios,
Tungurahua, Zamora-Chinchipe
note: a new province, Orellana, was reported to have been formed in
1998
Independence: 24 May 1822 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day, 10 August (1809)
(independence of Quito)
Constitution: 10 August 1998
Legal system: based on civil law system; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal, compulsory for literate
persons ages 18-65, optional for other eligible voters
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Jamil MAHUAD (since 10 August 1998); Vice
President Gustavo NOBOA (since 10 August 1998); note--the president
is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Jamil MAHUAD (since 10 August 1998);
Vice President Gustavo NOBOA (since 10 August 1998); note--the
president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket
by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 31 May 1998;
runoff election held 12 July 1998 (next to be held NA 2002)
election results: Jamil MAHUAD elected president; percent of vote--51%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Congress or Congreso
Nacional (121 seats; 79 members are popularly elected at-large
nationally to serve four-year terms; 42 members are popularly
elected by province--two per province--for four-year terms)
elections: last held 31 May 1998 (next to be held NA May 2002)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--DP 32,
PSC 27, PRE 24, ID 18, P-NP 9, FRA 5, PCE 3, MPD 2, CFP 1;
note--defections by members of National Congress are commonplace,
resulting in frequent changes in the numbers of seats held by the
various parties
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Corte Suprema), new justices are
elected by the full Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
BRAVO]
director]
EHLERS]
Gonzalez]
International organization participation: CAN, ECLAC, FAO, G-11,
G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU,
LAES, LAIA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Ivonne A-BAKI
chancery: 2535 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New
Orleans, New York, Newark, Philadelphia, and San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Leslie M. ALEXANDER
embassy: Avenida 12 de Octubre y Avenida Patria, Quito
mailing address: APO AA 34039
consulate(s) general: Guayaquil
Flag description: three horizontal bands of yellow (top, double
width), blue, and red with the coat of arms superimposed at the
center of the flag; similar to the flag of Colombia that is shorter
and does not bear a coat of arms
Economy
Economy--overview: Ecuador has substantial oil resources and rich
agricultural areas. Because the country exports primary products
such as oil, bananas, and shrimp, fluctuations in world market
prices can have a substantial domestic impact. Ecuador joined the
World Trade Organization in 1996, but has failed to comply with many
of its accession commitments. In recent years, growth has been
uneven due to ill-conceived fiscal stabilization measures. The
populist government of Abdala BUCARAM Ortiz proposed a major
currency reform in 1996, but popular discontent with BUCARAM'S
austerity measures and rampant official corruption led to his
replacement by National Congress with Fabian ALARCON in February
1997. ALARCON adopted a minimalist economic program that put off
necessary reforms until August 1998 when President Jamil MAHUAD was
elected. MAHAUD inherited an economy in crisis due to mismanagement,
El Nino damage to key export sectors such as agriculture, and low
world commodity prices in the wake of the Asian financial crisis.
MAHAUD announced a fiscal austerity package and expressed interest
in an IMF agreement but faces major difficulties in promoting
economic growth, including possible political objections to further
reform.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$58.7 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 1% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$4,800 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 12%
industry: 37%
services: 51% (1996 est.)
Population below poverty line: 35% (1994 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.3%
highest 10%: 37.6% (1994)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 43% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 4.2 million
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 29%, manufacturing 18%,
commerce 15%, services and other activities 38% (1990)
Unemployment rate: 12% with widespread underemployment (November
1998 est.)
Budget:
revenues: planned $5.1 billion not including revenue from potential
privatizations
expenditures: $5.1 billion (1999)
Industries: petroleum, food processing, textiles, metal work,
paper products, wood products, chemicals, plastics, fishing, lumber
Industrial production growth rate: 2.4% (1997 est.)
Electricity--production: 8.45 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 17.16%
hydro: 82.84%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 8.45 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: bananas, coffee, cocoa, rice, potatoes,
manioc (tapioca), plantains, sugarcane; cattle, sheep, pigs, beef,
pork, dairy products; balsa wood; fish, shrimp
Exports: $3.4 billion (f.o.b., 1997)
Exports--commodities: petroleum 30%, bananas 26%, shrimp 16%, cut
flowers 2%, fish 1.9%
Exports--partners: US 39%, Latin America 25%, EU countries 22%,
Asia 12%
Imports: $2.9 billion (c.i.f., 1997)
Imports--commodities: transport equipment, consumer goods,
vehicles, machinery, chemicals
Imports--partners: US 32%, EU 19%, Latin America 35%, Asia 11%
Debt--external: $12.5 billion (1997)
Economic aid--recipient: $695.7 million (1995)
Currency: 1 sucre (S/) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates: sucres (S/) per US$1--7,133.1 (January 1999),
5,446.6 (1998), 3,988.3 (1997), 3,189.5 (1996), 2,564.5 (1995),
2,196.7 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 586,300 (1994 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: facilities generally inadequate and unreliable
international: satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 272, FM 0, shortwave 39
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 15 (including one station on the
Galapagos Islands) (1997)
Televisions: 940,000 (1992 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 965 km (single track)
narrow gauge: 965 km 1.067-m gauge
Highways:
total: 42,874 km
paved: 5,752 km
unpaved: 37,122 km (1998 est.)
Waterways: 1,500 km
Pipelines: crude oil 800 km; petroleum products 1,358 km
Ports and harbors: Esmeraldas, Guayaquil, La Libertad, Manta,
Puerto Bolivar, San Lorenzo
Merchant marine:
total: 23 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 99,078 GRT/162,423 DWT
ships by type: chemical tanker 2, liquefied gas tanker 1, oil tanker
17, passenger 3 (1998 est.)
Airports: 183 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 56
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 15
914 to 1,523 m: 14
under 914 m: 19 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 127
914 to 1,523 m: 37
under 914 m: 90 (1998 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army (Ejercito Ecuatoriano), Navy (Armada
Ecuatoriana, includes Marines), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea
Ecuatoriana), National Police
Military manpower--military age: 20 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 3,259,534 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 2,199,704 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 130,208 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $720 million (1998)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 3.4% (1998)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: on October 26, 1998, Peru and Ecuador
concluded treaties on commerce and navigation and on boundary
integration, to complete a package of agreements settling the
long-standing boundary dispute between them; demarcation of the
agreed-upon boundary was scheduled to begin in mid-January 1999
Illicit drugs: significant transit country for derivatives of
coca originating in Colombia, Bolivia, and Peru; importer of
precursor chemicals used in production of illicit narcotics;
important money-laundering hub
======================================================================
@Egypt
-----
Introduction
Background: One of the four great ancient civilizations, Egypt,
ruled by powerful pharaohs, bequeathed to Western civilization
numerous advances in technology, science, and the arts. For the last
two millennia, however, Egypt has served a series of foreign
masters--Persians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Turks, and the
British. Formal independence came in 1922, and the remnants of
British control ended after World War II. The completion of the
Aswan High Dam in 1981 altered the time-honored place of the Nile
River in the agriculture and ecology of Egypt. A rapidly growing
population will stress Egyptian society and resources as it enters
the new millenium.
Geography
Location: Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea,
between Libya and the Gaza Strip
Geographic coordinates: 27 00 N, 30 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area:
total: 1,001,450 sq km
land: 995,450 sq km
water: 6,000 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly more than three times the size of New
Mexico
Land boundaries:
total: 2,689 km
border countries: Gaza Strip 11 km, Israel 255 km, Libya 1,150 km,
Sudan 1,273 km
Coastline: 2,450 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: desert; hot, dry summers with moderate winters
Terrain: vast desert plateau interrupted by Nile valley and delta
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Qattara Depression -133 m
highest point: Mount Catherine 2,629 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates,
manganese, limestone, gypsum, talc, asbestos, lead, zinc
Land use:
arable land: 2%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 98% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 32,460 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: periodic droughts; frequent earthquakes, flash
floods, landslides, volcanic activity; hot, driving windstorm called
khamsin occurs in spring; dust storms, sandstorms
Environment--current issues: agricultural land being lost to
urbanization and windblown sands; increasing soil salination below
Aswan High Dam; desertification; oil pollution threatening coral
reefs, beaches, and marine habitats; other water pollution from
agricultural pesticides, raw sewage, and industrial effluents; very
limited natural fresh water resources away from the Nile which is
the only perennial water source; rapid growth in population
overstraining natural resources
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography--note: controls Sinai Peninsula, only land bridge
between Africa and remainder of Eastern Hemisphere; controls Suez
Canal, shortest sea link between Indian Ocean and Mediterranean Sea;
size, and juxtaposition to Israel, establish its major role in
Middle Eastern geopolitics
People
Population: 67,273,906 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 36% (male 12,260,845; female 11,712,752)
15-64 years: 61% (male 20,604,620; female 20,211,012)
65 years and over: 3% (male 1,099,517; female 1,385,160) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.82% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 26.8 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 8.27 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 67.46 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 62.39 years
male: 60.39 years
female: 64.49 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.33 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Egyptian(s)
adjective: Egyptian
Ethnic groups: Eastern Hamitic stock (Egyptians, Bedouins, and
Berbers) 99%, Greek, Nubian, Armenian, other European (primarily
Italian and French) 1%
Religions: Muslim (mostly Sunni) 94% (official estimate), Coptic
Christian and other 6% (official estimate)
Languages: Arabic (official), English and French widely
understood by educated classes
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 51.4%
male: 63.6%
female: 38.8% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Arab Republic of Egypt
conventional short form: Egypt
local long form: Jumhuriyat Misr al-Arabiyah
local short form: Misr
former: United Arab Republic (with Syria)
Data code: EG
Government type: republic
Capital: Cairo
Administrative divisions: 26 governorates (muhafazat,
singular--muhafazah); Ad Daqahliyah, Al Bahr al Ahmar, Al Buhayrah,
Al Fayyum, Al Gharbiyah, Al Iskandariyah, Al Isma'iliyah, Al Jizah,
Al Minufiyah, Al Minya, Al Qahirah, Al Qalyubiyah, Al Wadi al Jadid,
Ash Sharqiyah, As Suways, Aswan, Asyut, Bani Suwayf, Bur Sa'id,
Dumyat, Janub Sina', Kafr ash Shaykh, Matruh, Qina, Shamal Sina',
Suhaj
Independence: 28 February 1922 (from UK)
National holiday: Anniversary of the Revolution, 23 July (1952)
Constitution: 11 September 1971
Legal system: based on English common law, Islamic law, and
Napoleonic codes; judicial review by Supreme Court and Council of
State (oversees validity of administrative decisions); accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Mohammed Hosni MUBARAK (since 14 October
1981)
head of government: Prime Minister Kamal Ahmed El-GANZOURI (since 4
January 1996)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president nominated by the People's Assembly for a
six-year term, the nomination must then be validated by a national,
popular referendum; national referendum last held 4 October 1993
(next to be held NA October 1999); prime minister appointed by the
president
election results: national referendum validated President MUBARAK's
nomination by the People's Assembly to a third term
Legislative branch: bicameral system consists of the People's
Assembly or Majlis al-Sha'b (454 seats; 444 elected by popular vote,
10 appointed by the president; members serve five-year terms) and
the Advisory Council or Majlis al-Shura--which functions only in a
consultative role (264 seats; 176 elected by popular vote, 88
appointed by the president; members serve NA-year terms)
elections: People's Assembly--last held 29 November 1995 (next to be
held NA 2000); Advisory Council--last held 7 June 1995 (next to be
held NA)
election results: People's Assembly--percent of vote by party--NDP
72%, independents 25%, opposition 3%; seats by party--NDP 317,
independents 114, NWP 6, NPUG 5, Nasserist Arab Democratic Party 1,
Liberals 1; Advisory Council--percent of vote by party--NDP 99%,
independents 1%; seats by party--NA
Judicial branch: Supreme Constitutional Court
Political parties and leaders: National Democratic Party or NDP
legal opposition parties are as follows: New Wafd Party or NWP
note: formation of political parties must be approved by government
Political pressure groups and leaders: despite a constitutional
ban against religious-based parties, the technically illegal Muslim
Brotherhood constitutes MUBARAK's potentially most significant
political opposition; MUBARAK tolerated limited political activity
by the Brotherhood for his first two terms, but has moved more
aggressively in the past two years to block its influence; trade
unions and professional associations are officially sanctioned
International organization participation: ABEDA, ACC, ACCT
(associate), AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, BSEC (observer), CAEU, CCC, EBRD,
ECA, ESCWA, FAO, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat,
Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURCA, MINURSO, MONUA,
NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OAU, OIC, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMIBH, UNMOP, UNOMIG, UNOMIL,
UNOMSIL, UNPREDEP, UNRWA, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Ahmed MAHER al-Sayed
chancery: 3521 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, New York, and San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Daniel C. KURTZER
embassy: (North Gate) 8, Kamel El-Din Salah Street, Garden City,
Cairo
mailing address: Unit 64900, APO AE 09839-4900
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top),
white, and black with the national emblem (a shield superimposed on
a golden eagle facing the hoist side above a scroll bearing the name
of the country in Arabic) centered in the white band; similar to the
flag of Yemen, which has a plain white band; also similar to the
flag of Syria that has two green stars and to the flag of Iraq,
which has three green stars (plus an Arabic inscription) in a
horizontal line centered in the white band
Economy
Economy--overview: At the end of the 1980s, Egypt faced problems
of low productivity and poor economic management, compounded by the
adverse social effects of excessive population growth, high
inflation, and massive urban overcrowding. In the face of these
pressures, in 1991 Egypt undertook wide-ranging macroeconomic
stabilization and structural reform measures. This reform effort has
been supported by three IMF arrangements, the last of which expired
in September 1998. Egypt's reform efforts--and its participation in
the Gulf war coalition--also led to massive debt relief under the
Paris Club arrangements. Substantial progress has been made in
improving macroeconomic performance. Cairo tamed inflation, slashed
budget deficits, and built up foreign reserves to an all-time high.
Although the pace of structural reforms--such as privatization and
new business legislation--has been slower than envisioned under the
IMF program, Egypt's steps toward a more market-oriented economy
have prompted increased foreign investment. The November 1997
massacre of foreign tourists in Luxor affected tourism enough to
slow the GDP growth rate for 1998 compared to earlier projections.
Tourism's slow recovery, coupled with low world oil prices, caused a
downturn in foreign exchange earnings in 1998, but external payments
are not in crisis.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$188 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 5% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$2,850 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 16%
industry: 31%
services: 53% (1997)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.9%
highest 10%: 26.7% (1991)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.6% (1998)
Labor force: 17.4 million (1998 est.)
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 40%, services, including
government 38%, industry 22% (1990 est.)
Unemployment rate: 10% (1998 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $20 billion
expenditures: $20.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $4.4
billion (FY97/98)
Industries: textiles, food processing, tourism, chemicals,
petroleum, construction, cement, metals
Industrial production growth rate: 9.4% (1997 est.)
Electricity--production: 46 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 76.09%
hydro: 23.91%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 46 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: cotton, rice, corn, wheat, beans, fruits,
vegetables; cattle, water buffalo, sheep, goats; fish
Exports: $5.5 billion (f.o.b., FY97/98 est.)
Exports--commodities: crude oil and petroleum products, cotton
yarn, raw cotton, textiles, metal products, chemicals
Exports--partners: EU, US, Japan
Imports: $16.7 billion (c.i.f., FY97/98 est.)
Imports--commodities: machinery and equipment, foods, fertilizers,
wood products, durable consumer goods, capital goods
Imports--partners: US, EU, Japan
Debt--external: $28 billion (FY97/98 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: ODA, $2.4 billion (1996)
Currency: 1 Egyptian pound (LE) = 100 piasters
Exchange rates: Egyptian pounds (LE) per US$1--3.4 (November
1994); market rate--3.3880 (January 1999), 3.3880 (1998), 3.3880
(1997), 3.3880 (1996), 3.3900 (1995), 3.3910 (1994)
Fiscal year: 1 July--30 June
Communications
Telephones: 3.168 million (1996); 70,000 digital cellular
telephone subscribers (1998); 7,400 analog cellular telephone
subscribers (1997)
Telephone system: large system by Third World standards but
inadequate for present requirements and undergoing extensive
upgrading
domestic: principal centers at Alexandria, Cairo, Al Mansurah,
Ismailia, Suez, and Tanta are connected by coaxial cable and
microwave radio relay
international: satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean
and Indian Ocean), 1 Arabsat, and 1 Inmarsat; 5 coaxial submarine
cables; tropospheric scatter to Sudan; microwave radio relay to
Israel; participant in Medarabtel
Radio broadcast stations: AM 57, FM 14, shortwave 3 (1998 est.)
Radios: 16.45 million (1998 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 42 (in addition, there are nine
channels received from Europe by satellite) (1997)
Televisions: 5 million (1998 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 4,751 km
standard gauge: 4,751 km 1,435-m gauge (42 km electrified; 951 km
double track)
Highways:
total: 64,000 km
paved: 49,984 km
unpaved: 14,016 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 3,500 km (including the Nile, Lake Nasser,
Alexandria-Cairo Waterway, and numerous smaller canals in the
delta); Suez Canal, 193.5 km long (including approaches), used by
oceangoing vessels drawing up to 16.1 m of water
Pipelines: crude oil 1,171 km; petroleum products 596 km; natural
gas 460 km
Ports and harbors: Alexandria, Al Ghardaqah, Aswan, Asyut, Bur
Safajah, Damietta, Marsa Matruh, Port Said, Suez
Merchant marine:
total: 180 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,334,406
GRT/2,022,785 DWT
ships by type: bulk 25, cargo 63, container 1, liquefied gas tanker
1, oil tanker 14, passenger 56, refrigerated cargo 1,
roll-on/roll-off cargo 16, short-sea passenger 3 (1998 est.)
Airports: 89 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 70
over 3,047 m: 10
2,438 to 3,047 m: 37
1,524 to 2,437 m: 16
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 4 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 19
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 9 (1998 est.)
Heliports: 2 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Command
Military manpower--military age: 20 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 17,756,706 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 11,507,058 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 694,468 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $3.28 billion (FY95/96)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 8.2% (FY95/96)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: Egypt asserts its claim to the "Hala'ib
Triangle," a barren area of 20,580 sq km under partial Sudanese
administration that is defined by an administrative boundary which
supersedes the treaty boundary of 1899
Illicit drugs: a transit point for Southwest Asian and Southeast
Asian heroin and opium moving to Europe and the US; popular transit
stop for Nigerian couriers
======================================================================
@El Salvador
-----------
Geography
Location: Middle America, bordering the North Pacific Ocean,
between Guatemala and Honduras
Geographic coordinates: 13 50 N, 88 55 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 21,040 sq km
land: 20,720 sq km
water: 320 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than Massachusetts
Land boundaries:
total: 545 km
border countries: Guatemala 203 km, Honduras 342 km
Coastline: 307 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 200 nm
Climate: tropical; rainy season (May to October); dry season
(November to April)
Terrain: mostly mountains with narrow coastal belt and central
plateau
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Cerro El Pital 2,730 m
Natural resources: hydropower, geothermal power, petroleum
Land use:
arable land: 27%
permanent crops: 8%
permanent pastures: 29%
forests and woodland: 5%
other: 31% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 1,200 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: known as the Land of Volcanoes; frequent and
sometimes very destructive earthquakes and volcanic activity
Environment--current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; water
pollution; contamination of soils from disposal of toxic wastes;
Hurricane Mitch damage
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone
Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography--note: smallest Central American country and only one
without a coastline on Caribbean Sea
People
Population: 5,839,079 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 37% (male 1,091,500; female 1,044,658)
15-64 years: 58% (male 1,612,847; female 1,786,318)
65 years and over: 5% (male 138,052; female 165,704) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.53% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 26.19 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 6.2 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -4.66 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 28.38 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 70.02 years
male: 66.7 years
female: 73.5 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.99 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Salvadoran(s)
adjective: Salvadoran
Ethnic groups: mestizo 94%, Amerindian 5%, white 1%
Religions: Roman Catholic 75%
note: there is extensive activity by Protestant groups throughout
the country; by the end of 1992, there were an estimated 1 million
Protestant evangelicals in El Salvador
Languages: Spanish, Nahua (among some Amerindians)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 71.5%
male: 73.5%
female: 69.8% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of El Salvador
conventional short form: El Salvador
local long form: Republica de El Salvador
local short form: El Salvador
Data code: ES
Government type: republic
Capital: San Salvador
Administrative divisions: 14 departments (departamentos,
singular--departamento); Ahuachapan, Cabanas, Chalatenango,
Cuscatlan, La Libertad, La Paz, La Union, Morazan, San Miguel, San
Salvador, Santa Ana, San Vicente, Sonsonate, Usulutan
Independence: 15 September 1821 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Constitution: 20 December 1983
Legal system: based on civil and Roman law, with traces of common
law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court;
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
note: Legislative Assembly passed landmark judicial reforms in 1996
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Armando CALDERON Sol (since 1 June 1994);
Vice President Enrique BORGO Bustamante (since 1 June 1994);
note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Armando CALDERON Sol (since 1 June
1994); Vice President Enrique BORGO Bustamante (since 1 June 1994);
note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Council of Ministers
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket
by popular vote for five-year terms; election last held 20 March
1994, with a run-off election held 24 April 1994 (next to be held 7
March 1999)
election results: Armando CALDERON Sol elected president; percent of
vote--Armando CALDERON Sol (ARENA) 49.03%, Ruben ZAMORA Rivas
(CD/FMLN/MNR) 24.09%, Fidel CHAVEZ Mena (PDC) 16.39%, other 10.49%;
because no candidate received a majority, a run-off election was
held and the results were as follows--Armando CALDERON Sol (ARENA)
68.35%, Ruben ZAMORA Rivas (CD/FMLN/MNR) 31.65%
note: in the election held 7 March 1999, Francisco FLORES elected
president, Carlos QUINTANILLA elected vice president (will take
office 1 June 1999); percent of vote--Francisco FLORES (ARENA) 52%,
Facundo GUARDADO (FMLN/USC) 29%, Ruben ZAMORA (CD) 8%, other parties
11%
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly or Asamblea
Legislativa (84 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to
serve three-year terms)
elections: last held 16 March 1997 (next to be held NA March 2000)
election results: percent of vote by party--ARENA 35.4%, FMLN 34.3%,
PCN 8.1%, PDC 7.9%, CD 3.8%, PRSC 3.4%, PLD 3.2%, MU 2.1%, PD 1.0%,
other 0.8%; seats by party--ARENA 28, FMLN 27, PCN 9, PDC 8, PRSC 3,
CD 2, PLD 2, MU 1, PD 1, independent 3
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Corte Suprema), judges are
selected by the Legislative Assembly
Political parties and leaders: National Republican Alliance or
MARTINEZ, president]
note: the Social Christian Union or USC is formed by the union of
the Social Christian Renovation Party or PRSC, the Unity Movement or
MU, and the MSN
Political pressure groups and leaders:
labor organizations: National Confederation of Salvadoran Workers or
CNTS; National Union of Salvadoran Workers or UNTS; Federation of
the Construction Industry, Similar Transport and other activities,
or FESINCONTRANS; Salvadoran Workers Central or CTS; Port Industry
Union of El Salvador or SIPES; Electrical Industry Union of El
Salvador or SIES; Workers Union of Electrical Corporation or STCEL
business organizations: Salvadoran Industrial Association or ASI;
Salvadoran Assembly Industry Association or ASIC; National
Association of Small Enterprise or ANEP
International organization participation: BCIE, CACM, ECLAC, FAO,
G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent),
ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), MINURSO, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL,
OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Rene A. LEON
chancery: 2308 California Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami,
New Orleans, New York, and San Francisco
consulate(s): Boston
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Anne W. PATTERSON
embassy: Final Boulevard Santa Elena, Antiguo Cuscatlan, San Salvador
mailing address: Unit 3116, APO AA 34023
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of blue (top),
white, and blue with the national coat of arms centered in the white
band; the coat of arms features a round emblem encircled by the
words REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL; similar to the
flag of Nicaragua, which has a different coat of arms centered in
the white band--it features a triangle encircled by the words
REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on top and AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom;
also similar to the flag of Honduras, which has five blue stars
arranged in an X pattern centered in the white band
Economy
Economy--overview: In recent years inflation has fallen to
unprecedented levels, and exports have grown substantially. Even so,
El Salvador has experienced sizable deficits in both its trade and
its fiscal accounts. The trade deficit has been offset by
remittances from the large number of Salvadorans living abroad and
from external aid. El Salvador sustained damage from Hurricane
Mitch, but not as much as other Central American countries.
Inflation and the trade deficit are expected to rise somewhat as a
result.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$17.5 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 3.7% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$3,000 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 15%
industry: 24%
services: 61% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: 48.3% (1992 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.2%
highest 10%: 38.3% (1995)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.6% (1998)
Labor force: 2.26 million (1997 est.)
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 40%, commerce 16%,
manufacturing 15%, government 13%, financial services 9%,
transportation 6%, other 1%
Unemployment rate: 7.7% (1997 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $1.75 billion
expenditures: $1.82 billion, including capital expenditures of $317
million (1997 est.)
Industries: food processing, beverages, petroleum, chemicals,
fertilizer, textiles, furniture, light metals
Industrial production growth rate: 7% (1997 est.)
Electricity--production: 3.575 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 22.38%
hydro: 61.54%
nuclear: 0%
other: 16.08% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 3.547 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 60 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 32 million kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: coffee, sugarcane, corn, rice, beans,
oilseed, cotton, sorghum; beef, dairy products; shrimp
Exports: $1.96 billion (f.o.b., 1997 est.)
Exports--commodities: coffee, sugar; shrimp; textiles
Exports--partners: US, Guatemala, Germany, Costa Rica, Honduras
Imports: $3.5 billion (c.i.f., 1997 est.)
Imports--commodities: raw materials, consumer goods, capital
goods, fuels
Imports--partners: US, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, Venezuela, Japan
Debt--external: $2.6 billion (yearend 1997)
Economic aid--recipient: $391.7 million (1995); note?US has
committed $280 million in economic assistance to El Salvador for
1995-97 (excludes military aid)
Currency: 1 Salvadoran colon (C) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates: Salvadoran colones (C) per US$1 (end of
period)--8.755 (January 1999-1995), 8.750 (1994)
note: as of 1 June 1990, the rate is based on the average of the
buying and selling rates, set on a weekly basis, for official
receipts and payments, imports of petroleum, and coffee exports;
prior to that date, a system of floating was in effect
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 350,000 (1997 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: nationwide microwave radio relay system
international: satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean);
connected to Central American Microwave System
Radio broadcast stations: AM 18, FM 80, shortwave 2
Radios: 1.5 million (1997 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 5 (1997)
Televisions: 700,000 (1997 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 602 km (single track; note--some sections abandoned, unusable,
or operating at reduced capacity)
narrow gauge: 602 km 0.914-m gauge
Highways:
total: 10,029 km
paved: 1,986 km (including 327 km of expressways)
unpaved: 8,043 km (1997 est.)
Waterways: Rio Lempa partially navigable
Ports and harbors: Acajutla, Puerto Cutuco, La Libertad, La
Union, Puerto El Triunfo
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 86 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 4
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 82
914 to 1,523 m: 17
under 914 m: 65 (1998 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force
Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 1,393,986 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 884,093 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 65,224 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $105 million (1998)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 0.9% (1998)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: demarcation of boundary with Honduras
defined by 1992 International Court of Justice (ICJ) decision has
not been completed; small boundary section left unresolved by ICJ
decision not yet reported to have been settled; with respect to the
maritime boundary in the Golfo de Fonseca, ICJ referred to an
earlier agreement in this century and advised that some tripartite
resolution among El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua likely would be
required
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for cocaine; marijuana
produced for local consumption
======================================================================
@Equatorial Guinea
-----------------
Geography
Location: Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Biafra, between
Cameroon and Gabon
Geographic coordinates: 2 00 N, 10 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area:
total: 28,050 sq km
land: 28,050 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than Maryland
Land boundaries:
total: 539 km
border countries: Cameroon 189 km, Gabon 350 km
Coastline: 296 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; always hot, humid
Terrain: coastal plains rise to interior hills; islands are
volcanic
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Pico Basile 3,008 m
Natural resources: petroleum, timber, small unexploited deposits
of gold, manganese, uranium
Land use:
arable land: 5%
permanent crops: 4%
permanent pastures: 4%
forests and woodland: 46%
other: 41% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: violent windstorms, flash floods
Environment--current issues: tap water is not potable;
desertification
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of
the Sea, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography--note: insular and continental regions rather widely
separated
People
Population: 465,746 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 43% (male 100,334; female 99,826)
15-64 years: 53% (male 118,248; female 129,777)
65 years and over: 4% (male 7,801; female 9,760) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.55% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 38.49 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 12.98 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
note: migration to Spain is a traditional and continuing factor;
between 80% and 90% of Equatorial Guinean nationals going to Spain
do not return
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 91.18 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 54.39 years
male: 52.03 years
female: 56.83 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Equatorial Guinean(s) or Equatoguinean(s)
adjective: Equatorial Guinean or Equatoguinean
Ethnic groups: Bioko (primarily Bubi, some Fernandinos), Rio Muni
(primarily Fang), Europeans less than 1,000, mostly Spanish
Religions: nominally Christian and predominantly Roman Catholic,
pagan practices
Languages: Spanish (official), French (official), pidgin English,
Fang, Bubi, Ibo
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 78.5%
male: 89.6%
female: 68.1% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Equatorial Guinea
conventional short form: Equatorial Guinea
local long form: Republica de Guinea Ecuatorial
local short form: Guinea Ecuatorial
former: Spanish Guinea
Data code: EK
Government type: republic in transition to multiparty democracy
(the transition appears to have halted)
Capital: Malabo
Administrative divisions: 7 provinces (provincias,
singular--provincia); Annobon, Bioko Norte, Bioko Sur, Centro Sur,
Kie-Ntem, Litoral, Wele-Nzas
Independence: 12 October 1968 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day, 12 October (1968)
Constitution: approved by national referendum 17 November 1991;
amended January 1995
Legal system: partly based on Spanish civil law and tribal custom
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal adult
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA
MBASOGO (since 3 August 1979)
head of government: Prime Minister Serafin Seriche DOUGAN (since NA
April 1996); First Vice Prime Minister for Foreign Affairs Miguel
OYONO NDONG (since NA January 1998); Second Vice Prime Minister for
Internal Affairs Demetrio Elo NDONG NGEFUMU (since NA January 1998)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote to a seven-year term;
election last held 25 February 1996 (next to be held NA February
2003); prime minister and vice prime ministers appointed by the
president
election results: President OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO reelected with 98%
of popular vote in elections marred by widespread fraud
Legislative branch: unicameral House of People's Representatives
or Camara de Representantes del Pueblo (80 seats; members directly
elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 21 November 1993 (next to be held NA 1999)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--PDGE
68, CSDP 6, UDS 5, CLD 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Tribunal
Political parties and leaders:
ruling party: Democratic Party for Equatorial Guinea or PDGE
opposition parties: Convergence Party for Social Democracy or CPDS
BOKESA, president]; Party of the Social Democratic Coalition or PCSD
mayor of Malabo]; Social Democratic and Popular Convergence or CSDP
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC,
CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAS (observer),
OAU, OPCW, UDEAC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WToO,
WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Pastor Micha ONDO BILE
chancery: 1712 I Street NW, Suite 410, Washington, DC 20005
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an
embassy in Equatorial Guinea (embassy closed September 1995); US
relations with Equatorial Guinea are handled through the US Embassy
in Yaounde, Cameroon; the US State Department is considering opening
a Consulate Agency in Malabo
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of green (top),
white, and red with a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist
side and the coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of
arms has six yellow six-pointed stars (representing the mainland and
five offshore islands) above a gray shield bearing a silk-cotton
tree and below which is a scroll with the motto UNIDAD, PAZ,
JUSTICIA (Unity, Peace, Justice)
Economy
Economy--overview: The discovery and exploitation of large oil
reserves have contributed to dramatic economic growth in recent
years. Several large oil companies are expected to bid on oil
licenses by May 1999. Forestry, farming, and fishing are also major
components of GDP. Subsistence farming predominates. Although
pre-independence Equatorial Guinea counted on cocoa production for
hard currency earnings, the deterioration of the rural economy under
successive brutal regimes has diminished potential for
agriculture-led growth. A number of aid programs sponsored by the
World Bank and the IMF have been cut off since 1993 because of the
government's gross corruption and mismanagement. Businesses, for the
most part, are owned by government officials and their family
members. Undeveloped natural resources include titanium, iron ore,
manganese, uranium, and alluvial gold. The country responded
favorably to the devaluation of the CFA franc in January 1994.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$660 million (1997 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: NA%
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,500 (1997 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 46%
industry: 33%
services: 21% (1995 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6% (1996 est.)
Labor force: NA
Unemployment rate: 30% (1998 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $47 million
expenditures: $43 million, including capital expenditures of $7
million (1996 est.)
Industries: petroleum, fishing, sawmilling, natural gas
Industrial production growth rate: 7.4% (1994 est.)
Electricity--production: 19 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 89.47%
hydro: 10.53%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 19 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: coffee, cocoa, rice, yams, cassava
(tapioca), bananas, palm oil nuts, manioc (tapioca); livestock;
timber
Exports: $197 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.)
Exports--commodities: petroleum, timber, cocoa
Exports--partners: US 34%, Japan 17%, Spain 13%, China 13%, Nigeria
Imports: $248 million (c.i.f., 1996 est.)
Imports--commodities: petroleum, food, beverages, clothing,
machinery
Imports--partners: Cameroon 40%, Spain 18%, France 14%, US 8%
Debt--external: $254 million (1996 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $33.8 million (1995)
Currency: Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) is used
Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per
US$1--560.01 (December 1998), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55
(1996), 499.15 (1995), 555.20 (1994)
Fiscal year: 1 April--31 March
Communications
Telephones: 2,000 (1987 est.)
Telephone system: poor system with adequate government services
domestic: NA
international: international communications from Bata and Malabo to
African and European countries; satellite earth station--1 Intelsat
(Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1997)
Televisions: 4,000 (1992 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 0 km
Highways:
total: 2,880 km
paved: 0 km
unpaved: 2,880 km (1996 est.)
Ports and harbors: Bata, Luba, Malabo
Merchant marine:
total: 12 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 23,370 GRT/25,194 DWT
ships by type: cargo 9, passenger 2, passenger-cargo 1 (1998 est.)
Airports: 3 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Rapid Intervention
Force, National Police
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 102,269 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 51,979 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $2.5 million (FY97/98)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: NA%
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: maritime boundary dispute with Gabon
because of disputed sovereignty over islands in Corisco Bay;
maritime boundary dispute with Nigeria because of disputed
jurisdiction over oil-rich areas in the Gulf of Guinea
======================================================================
@Eritrea
-------
Introduction
Background: On 29 May 1991, ISAIAS Afworki, secretary general of
the People's Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ), which then
served as the country's legislative body, announced the formation of
the Provisional Government in Eritrea (PGE) in preparation for the
23-25 April 1993 referendum on independence from Ethiopia. The
referendum resulted in a landslide vote for independence, which
became effective on 24 May 1993.
Geography
Location: Eastern Africa, bordering the Red Sea, between Djibouti
and Sudan
Geographic coordinates: 15 00 N, 39 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area:
total: 121,320 sq km
land: 121,320 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly larger than Pennsylvania
Land boundaries:
total: 1,630 km
border countries: Djibouti 113 km, Ethiopia 912 km, Sudan 605 km
Coastline: 2,234 km total; mainland on Red Sea 1,151 km, islands
in Red Sea 1,083 km
Maritime claims: NA
Climate: hot, dry desert strip along Red Sea coast; cooler and
wetter in the central highlands (up to 61 cm of rainfall annually);
semiarid in western hills and lowlands; rainfall heaviest during
June-September except on coastal desert
Terrain: dominated by extension of Ethiopian north-south trending
highlands, descending on the east to a coastal desert plain, on the
northwest to hilly terrain and on the southwest to flat-to-rolling
plains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: near Kulul within the Denakil depression -75 m
highest point: Soira 3,018 m
Natural resources: gold, potash, zinc, copper, salt, probably oil
and natural gas (currently under exploration), fish
Land use:
arable land: 12%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 48%
forests and woodland: 20%
other: 19% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 280 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: frequent droughts
Environment--current issues: deforestation; desertification; soil
erosion; overgrazing; loss of infrastructure from civil warfare
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography--note: strategic geopolitical position along world's
busiest shipping lanes; Eritrea retained the entire coastline of
Ethiopia along the Red Sea upon de jure independence from Ethiopia
on 27 April 1993
People
Population: 3,984,723 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 43% (male 859,899; female 852,329)
15-64 years: 54% (male 1,061,921; female 1,078,102)
65 years and over: 3% (male 67,969; female 64,503) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.88% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 42.56 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 12.32 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 8.53 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
note: it is estimated that approximately 315,000 Eritrean refugees
were still living in Sudan by the end of 1997 according to the UNHCR
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.05 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 76.84 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 55.74 years
male: 53.61 years
female: 57.95 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.96 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Eritrean(s)
adjective: Eritrean
Ethnic groups: ethnic Tigrinya 50%, Tigre and Kunama 40%, Afar
4%, Saho (Red Sea coast dwellers) 3%
Religions: Muslim, Coptic Christian, Roman Catholic, Protestant
Languages: Afar, Amharic, Arabic, Tigre and Kunama, Tigrinya,
minor ethnic group languages
Literacy: NA
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: State of Eritrea
conventional short form: Eritrea
local long form: Hagere Ertra
local short form: Ertra
former: Eritrea Autonomous Region in Ethiopia
Data code: ER
Government type: transitional government
note: following a successful referendum on independence for the
Autonomous Region of Eritrea on 23-25 April 1993, a National
Assembly, composed entirely of the People's Front for Democracy and
Justice or PFDJ, was established as a transitional legislature; a
Constitutional Commission was also established to draft a
constitution; ISAIAS Afworki was elected president by the
transitional legislature
Capital: Asmara (formerly Asmera)
Administrative divisions: 8 provinces (singular--awraja); Akale
Guzay, Barka, Denkel, Hamasen, Sahil, Semhar, Senhit, Seraye
note: in May 1995 the National Assembly adopted a resolution stating
that the administrative structure of Eritrea, which had been
established by former colonial powers, would consist of only six
provinces when the new constitution, then being drafted, became
effective in 1997; the new provinces, the names of which had not
been recommended by the US Board on Geographic Names for recognition
by the US Government, pending acceptable definition of the
boundaries, were: Anseba, Debub, Debubawi Keyih Bahri, Gash-Barka,
Maakel, and Semanawi Keyih Bahri; more recently, it has been
reported that these provinces have been redesignated regions and
renamed Southern Red Sea, Northern Red Sea, Anseba, Gash-Barka,
Southern, and Central
Independence: 24 May 1993 (from Ethiopia; formerly the Eritrea
Autonomous Region)
National holiday: National Day (independence from Ethiopia), 24
May (1993)
Constitution: the transitional constitution, decreed on 19 May
1993, was replaced by a new constitution that was promulgated in May
1997
Legal system: NA
Suffrage: NA; note--it seems likely that the final version of the
constitution would follow the example set in the referendum of 1993
and extend suffrage to all persons 18 years of age or older
Executive branch:
chief of state: President ISAIAS Afworki (since 8 June 1993);
note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President ISAIAS Afworki (since 8 June 1993);
note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: State Council is the collective executive authority
note: the president is head of the State Council and National
Assembly
elections: president elected by the National Assembly; election last
held 8 June 1993 (next to be held NA)
election results: ISAIAS Afworki elected president; percent of
National Assembly vote--ISAIAS Afworki 95%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (150 seats; term
limits not established)
elections: in May 1997, following the adoption of the new
constitution, 75 members of the PFDJ Central Committee (the old
Central Committee of the EPLF), 60 members of the 527-member
Constituent Assembly which had been established in 1997 to discuss
and ratify the new constitution, and 15 representatives of Eritreans
living abroad were formed into a Transitional National Assembly to
serve as the country's legislative body until country-wide elections
to a National Assembly are held; only 75 members will be elected to
the National Assembly--the other 75 will be members of the Central
Committee of the PFDJ
Judicial branch: the Supreme Court; 10 provincial courts; 29
district courts
Political parties and leaders: People's Front for Democracy and
Afworki, PETROS Solomon]
Political pressure groups and leaders: Eritrean Islamic Jihad or
NAWUD]; Eritrean Liberation Front-Revolutionary Council or ELF-RC
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA,
FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Intelsat (nonsignatory user), ITU, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador SEMERE Russom
chancery: 1708 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador William CLARK
embassy: Franklin D. Roosevelt Street, Asmara
mailing address: P.O. Box 211, Asmara
Flag description: red isosceles triangle (based on the hoist
side) dividing the flag into two right triangles; the upper triangle
is green, the lower one is blue; a gold wreath encircling a gold
olive branch is centered on the hoist side of the red triangle
Economy
Economy--overview: With independence from Ethiopia on 24 May 1993,
Eritrea faced the bitter economic problem of a small, desperately
poor African country. The economy is largely based on subsistence
agriculture, with over 70% of the population involved in farming and
herding. The small industrial sector consists mainly of light
industries with outmoded technologies. Domestic output (GDP) is
substantially augmented by worker remittances from abroad.
Government revenues come from custom duties and taxes on income and
sales. Road construction is a top domestic priority. Eritrea has
long-term prospects for revenues from the development of offshore
oil, offshore fishing, and tourism. Eritrea's economic future
depends on its ability to master fundamental social and economic
problems, e.g., overcoming illiteracy, promoting job creation,
expanding technical training, attracting foreign investment, and
streamlining the bureaucracy. The most immediate threat to the
economy, however, is the possible expansion of the armed conflict
with Ethiopia.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$2.5 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 5% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$660 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 18%
industry: 20%
services: 62% (1995 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 8% (1998 est.)
Labor force: NA
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $226 million
expenditures: $453 million, including capital expenditures of $88
million (1996 est.)
Industries: food processing, beverages, clothing and textiles
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: NA kWh
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: NA%
hydro: NA%
nuclear: NA%
other: NA%
Electricity--consumption: NA kWh
Electricity--exports: NA kWh
Electricity--imports: NA kWh
Agriculture--products: sorghum, lentils, vegetables, maize,
cotton, tobacco, coffee, sisal; livestock, goats; fish
Exports: $95 million (1996 est.)
Exports--commodities: livestock, sorghum, textiles, food, small
manufactures
Exports--partners: Ethiopia 67%, Sudan 10%, US 8%, Italy 4%, Saudi
Arabia, Yemen (1996)
Imports: $514 million (1996 est.)
Imports--commodities: processed goods, machinery, petroleum
products
Imports--partners: Ethiopia, Saudi Arabia, Italy, United Arab
Emirates (1996)
Debt--external: $46 million (1996 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $149.9 million (1995)
Currency: 1 nafka = 100 cents
Exchange rates: nakfa per US$1 = 7.6 (January 1999), 7.2 (March
1998 est.)
note: following independence from Ethiopia, Eritrea continued to use
Ethiopian currency until November 1997 when Eritrea issued its own
currency, the nakfa, at approximately the same rate as the birr,
i.e., 7.2 nakfa per US$1
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: NA
Telephone system:
domestic: very inadequate; about 4 telephones per 100 families, most
of which are in Asmara; government is seeking international tenders
to improve the system
international: NA
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 0, shortwave 1
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 1 (government controlled) (1997)
Televisions: NA
Transportation
Railways:
total: 307 km
narrow gauge: 307 km 0.950-m gauge (1995 est.)
note: nonoperational since 1978 except for about a 5 km stretch that
was reopened in Massawa in 1994; rehabilitation of the remainder and
of the rolling stock is under way; links Ak'ordat and Asmara
(formerly Asmera) with the port of Massawa (formerly Mits'iwa)
Highways:
total: 4,010 km
paved: 874 km
unpaved: 3,136 km (1996 est.)
Ports and harbors: Assab (Aseb), Massawa (Mits'iwa)
Merchant marine:
total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,947 GRT/5,747 DWT
ships by type: oil tanker 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1 (1998 est.)
Airports: 20 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 2
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 18
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 3 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $196 million (1997)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 28.6% (1997)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: dispute over alignment of boundary with
Ethiopia led to armed conflict in 1998, which is still unresolved
despite arbitration efforts; Hanish Islands dispute with Yemen
resolved by arbitral tribunal in October 1998
======================================================================
@Estonia
-------
Introduction
Background: In and out of Swedish and Russian control over the
centuries, this little Baltic state was re-incorporated into the
USSR after German occupation in World War II. Independence came with
the collapse of the USSR in 1991; the last Russian troops left in
1994. Estonia thus became free to promote economic and political
ties with Western Europe. The position of ethnic Russians (29% of
the population) remains an issue of concern to Moscow. European
Union (EU) membership negotiations, which began in 1998, remain a
domestic issue.
Geography
Location: Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and Gulf of
Finland, between Latvia and Russia
Geographic coordinates: 59 00 N, 26 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area:
total: 45,226 sq km
land: 43,211 sq km
water: 2,015 sq km
note: includes 1,520 islands in the Baltic Sea
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than New Hampshire and Vermont
combined
Land boundaries:
total: 633 km
border countries: Latvia 339 km, Russia 294 km
Coastline: 3,794 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: limits fixed in coordination with
neighboring states
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: maritime, wet, moderate winters, cool summers
Terrain: marshy, lowlands
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m
highest point: Suur Munamagi 318 m
Natural resources: shale oil (kukersite), peat, phosphorite,
amber, cambrian blue clay, limestone, dolomite
Land use:
arable land: 25%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 11%
forests and woodland: 44%
other: 20% (1996 est.)
Irrigated land: 110 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: flooding occurs frequently in the spring
Environment--current issues: air heavily polluted with sulfur
dioxide from oil-shale burning power plants in northeast;
contamination of soil and groundwater with petroleum products,
chemicals at former Soviet military bases; Estonia has more than
1,400 natural and manmade lakes, the smaller of which in
agricultural areas are heavily affected by organic waste; coastal
sea water is polluted in many locations
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Ship Pollution, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
People
Population: 1,408,523 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 18% (male 130,883; female 126,112)
15-64 years: 67% (male 455,112; female 491,819)
65 years and over: 15% (male 66,700; female 137,897) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: -0.82% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 9.05 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 14.21 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -3.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.48 male(s)/female
total population: 0.86 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 13.83 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 68.65 years
male: 62.61 years
female: 75 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.28 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Estonian(s)
adjective: Estonian
Ethnic groups: Estonian 65.1%, Russian 28.1%, Ukrainian 2.5%,
Byelorussian 1.5%, Finn 1%, other 1.8% (1998)
Religions: Evangelical Lutheran, Russian Orthodox, Estonian
Orthodox, others include Baptist, Methodist, Seventh Day Adventist,
Roman Catholic, Pentecostal, Word of Life, Seventh Day Baptist,
Judaism
Languages: Estonian (official), Russian, Ukrainian, English,
Finnish, other
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100% (1998 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Estonia
conventional short form: Estonia
local long form: Eesti Vabariik
local short form: Eesti
former: Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic
Data code: EN
Government type: parliamentary democracy
Capital: Tallinn
Administrative divisions: 15 counties (maakonnad,
singular--maakond): Harjumaa (Tallinn), Hiiumaa (Kardla), Ida-Virumaa
(Johvi), Jarvamaa (Paide), Jogevamaa (Jogeva), Laanemaa (Haapsalu),
Laane-Virumaa (Rakvere), Parnumaa (Parnu), Polvamaa (Polva),
Raplamaa (Rapla), Saaremaa (Kuessaare), Tartumaa (Tartu), Valgamaa
(Valga), Viljandimaa (Viljandi), Vorumaa (Voru)
note: administrative divisions have the same names as their
administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center
name following in parentheses)
Independence: 6 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday: Independence Day, 24 February (1918)
Constitution: adopted 28 June 1992
Legal system: based on civil law system; no judicial review of
legislative acts
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal for all Estonian citizens
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Lennart MERI (since 5 October 1992)
head of government: Prime Minister Mart SIIMANN (since 12 March 1997)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister,
approved by Parliament
elections: president elected by Parliament for a five-year term; if
he or she does not secure two-thirds of the votes after three rounds
of balloting, then an electoral assembly (made up of Parliament plus
members of local governments) elects the president, choosing between
the two candidates with the largest percentage of votes; election
last held August-September 1996 (next to be held fall 2001); prime
minister nominated by the president and approved by Parliament
election results: Lennart MERI elected president by an electoral
assembly after Parliament was unable to break a deadlock between
MERI and RUUTEL; percent of electoral assembly vote--Lennart MERI
61%, Arnold RUUTEL 39%
Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Riigikogu (101
seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 5 March 1995 (next to be held 7 March 1999)
election results: percent of vote by party--KMU 32.22%, RE 16.18%, K
14.17%, Pro Patria and ERSP 7.85%, M 5.98%, Our Home is Estonia and
Right-Wingers 5.0%; seats by party--KMU 41, RE 19, K 16, Pro Patria
8, Our Home is Estonia 6, M 6, Right-Wingers 5
Judicial branch: National Court, chairman appointed by Parliament
for life
Political parties and leaders: Coalition Party and Rural Union or
SAVISAAR, chairman]; Union of Pro Patria or Fatherland League
ANDREJEV] made up of two parties: United People's Party and the
Russian Party of Estonia; note--Our Home is Estonia split when two
Russian Party of Estonia members withdrew; United People's Party
parties: Social Democratic Party or ESDP and Rural Center Party or
VEIDEMANN, chairwoman] (created by defectors from Center Party in
late spring 1996, Development Party faction split and now holds five
International organization participation: BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE,
EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM,
IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent),
ITU, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNMIBH, UNTSO, UPU, WEU
(associate partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Grigore-Kaleu STOICESCU
chancery: 2131 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Melissa WELLS
embassy: Kentmanni 20, Tallinn EE 0001
mailing address: use embassy street address
Flag description: pre-1940 flag restored by Supreme Soviet in May
1990--three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), black, and white
Economy
Economy--overview: Estonia's continued adherence to market
reforms, disciplined fiscal and monetary policies, and a liberal
free trade regime resulted in GDP growth in 1998 of 5.5% and a
decrease in inflation to 6.5% from 11.2% in 1997. A high but
slightly decreased current account deficit was estimated at 8.6%.
The fall in GDP growth is largely due to the impact of Russia's
financial crisis and reduced investment in emerging markets in the
wake of the Asian financial crisis. Like other small emerging
markets, Estonia will face difficulties in 1999 as a result of
continuing fallout from Asia. Key events of 1998 were the start of
official EU accession talks, banking sector consolidation--nine banks
were reduced to five--and the important role that Swedish capital
played in the large banks (Swedbank's acquisition of a majority
stake in Hansapank has accounted for the large increase in foreign
direct investment). The IMF urged Estonia to maintain a stable
economy and good reputation in international markets and to avoid
populist policies in the run-up to March 1999 parliamentary
elections. The government completed restructuring of
state-controlled Estonian Telecom, the sale of 49% of which will be
the flagship privatization in 1999 and the largest public equity
transaction in the Baltics. Estonia expects to join the World Trade
Organization in 1999.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$7.8 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 5.5% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$5,500 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 6.2%
industry: 24.3%
services: 69.5% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: 6.3% (1994 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.2%
highest 10%: 28.5% (1996)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6.5% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 717,000 (1997 est.)
Labor force--by occupation: industry 42%, agriculture and forestry
11%, services 47% (1996 est.)
Unemployment rate: 9.6% (1998 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $1.37 billion
expenditures: $1.37 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1997 est.)
Industries: oil shale, shipbuilding, phosphates, electric motors,
excavators, cement, furniture, clothing, textiles, paper, shoes,
apparel
Industrial production growth rate: 3% (1996 est.)
Electricity--production: 8.065 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 99.96%
hydro: 0.04%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 5.581 billion kWh (1997)
Electricity--exports: 1.2 billion kWh (1997)
Electricity--imports: 210 million kWh (1997)
Agriculture--products: potatoes, fruits, vegetables; livestock and
dairy products; fish
Exports: $2.6 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports--commodities: machinery and equipment 17%, textiles 16%,
food products 8%, transport equipment 8%, mineral products 8%,
chemical products 8% (1997)
Exports--partners: Finland, Russia, Sweden, Germany, Latvia (1997)
Imports: $3.9 billion (c.i.f., 1998)
Imports--commodities: machinery and equipment 21%, transport
equipment 12%, foodstuffs 10%, minerals 9%, textiles 8%, metals 8%,
chemical products 8% (1997)
Imports--partners: Finland, Germany, Russia, Sweden, Japan, US
(1997)
Debt--external: $270 million (January 1996)
Economic aid--recipient: $137.3 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Estonian kroon (EEK) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: krooni (EEK) per US$1--13.473 (January 1999),
14.075 (1998), 13.882 (1997), 12.034 (1996), 11.465 (1995), 12.991
(1994); note--krooni are tied to the German deutsche mark at a fixed
rate of 8 to 1
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 531,000 (1997)
Telephone system: the Ministry of Transportation and
Communications (MOTC) administers Estonia's telephone system;
Internet services available throughout most of the country; about
150,000 unfilled subscriber requests
domestic: local--cellular phones services are growing and expanding
to develop rural networks under direction of the MOTC;
intercity--Estonia has a highly developed fiber-optic backbone
(double loop) system presently serving at least 16 major cities
(1998)
international: foreign investment in the form of joint business
ventures greatly improved Estonia's telephone service; fiber-optic
cables to Finland, Sweden, Latvia, and Russia provide worldwide
packet switched service
Radio broadcast stations: 27 commercial broadcast stations, 1
government broadcast station (1997); note--by law 51% of shows must
be produced within the EU; equal air time must be given to all
candidates during elections by public and private stations
Radios: 1.12 million (1997 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 7 (1997); note--Ministry of Culture
administers television licensing; mainly Estonian, European, and
Russian programming; by law 51% of shows must be produced within the
EU; equal air time must be given to all candidates during elections
by public and private stations
Televisions: 1.132 million (1997 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 1,018 km common carrier lines only; does not include
dedicated industrial lines
broad gauge: 1,018 km 1.520-m gauge (132 km electrified) (1995)
Highways:
total: 16,437 km
paved: 8,343 km (including 65 km of expressways)
unpaved: 8,094 km (1997 est.)
Waterways: 320 km perennially navigable
Pipelines: natural gas 420 km (1992)
Ports and harbors: Haapsalu, Kunda, Muuga, Paldiski, Parnu,
Tallinn
Merchant marine:
total: 52 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 337,163 GRT/348,749 DWT
ships by type: bulk 4, cargo 22, combination bulk 1, container 5,
oil tanker 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 12, short-sea passenger 6 (1998
est.)
Airports: 5 (1997 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 5
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (1997 est.)
Military
Military branches: Ground Forces, Navy/Coast Guard, Air and Air
Defense Force (not officially sanctioned), Maritime Border Guard,
Volunteer Defense League (Kaitseliit), Security Forces (internal and
border troops)
Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 349,263 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 274,276 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 10,503 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $70 million (1999)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 1.2% (1999)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: Estonian and Russian negotiators reached
a technical border agreement in December 1996 which has not been
ratified
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for opiates and cannabis from
Southwest Asia and the Caucasus via Russia, and cocaine from Latin
America to Western Europe and Scandinavia; possible precursor
manufacturing and/or trafficking
======================================================================
@Ethiopia
--------
Introduction
Background: On 28 May 1991 the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary
Democratic Front (EPRDF) toppled the authoritarian government of
MENGISTU Haile-Mariam and took control in Addis Ababa. A new
constitution was promulgated in December 1994 and national and
regional popular elections were held in May and June 1995.
Geography
Location: Eastern Africa, west of Somalia
Geographic coordinates: 8 00 N, 38 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area:
total: 1,127,127 sq km
land: 1,119,683 sq km
water: 7,444 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly less than twice the size of Texas
Land boundaries:
total: 5,311 km
border countries: Djibouti 337 km, Eritrea 912 km, Kenya 830 km,
Somalia 1,626 km, Sudan 1,606 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: tropical monsoon with wide topographic-induced variation
Terrain: high plateau with central mountain range divided by
Great Rift Valley
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Denakil -125 m
highest point: Ras Dashen Terara 4,620 m
Natural resources: small reserves of gold, platinum, copper,
potash, natural gas
Land use:
arable land: 12%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 40%
forests and woodland: 25%
other: 22% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 1,900 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: geologically active Great Rift Valley
susceptible to earthquakes, volcanic eruptions; frequent droughts
Environment--current issues: deforestation; overgrazing; soil
erosion; desertification
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Law of the
Sea, Nuclear Test Ban
Geography--note: landlocked?entire coastline along the Red Sea was
lost with the de jure independence of Eritrea on 24 May 1993
People
Population: 59,680,383 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 46% (male 13,787,810; female 13,703,546)
15-64 years: 51% (male 15,398,123; female 15,141,892)
65 years and over: 3% (male 745,737; female 903,275) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.16% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 44.34 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 21.43 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
note: repatriation of Ethiopians who fled to Sudan, Kenya, and
Somalia for refuge from war and famine in earlier years, is expected
to continue slowly in 1998; small numbers of Sudanese and Somali
refugees, who fled to Ethiopia from the fighting in their own
countries, began returning to their homes in 1998
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 124.57 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 40.46 years
male: 39.22 years
female: 41.73 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.81 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Ethiopian(s)
adjective: Ethiopian
Ethnic groups: Oromo 40%, Amhara and Tigrean 32%, Sidamo 9%,
Shankella 6%, Somali 6%, Afar 4%, Gurage 2%, other 1%
Religions: Muslim 45%-50%, Ethiopian Orthodox 35%-40%, animist
12%, other 3%-8%
Languages: Amharic, Tigrinya, Orominga, Guaraginga, Somali,
Arabic, English (major foreign language taught in schools)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 35.5%
male: 45.5%
female: 25.3% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
conventional short form: Ethiopia
local long form: YeItyop'iya Federalawi Demokrasiyawi Ripeblik
local short form: YeItyop'iya
abbreviation: FDRE
Data code: ET
Government type: federal republic
Capital: Addis Ababa
Administrative divisions: 9 states and 2 chartered cities*: Addis
Ababa*; Afar; Amhara; Benshangul/Gumuz (Benishangul-Gumaz); Dire
Dawa*; Gambela (Gambella); Harari (Harar); Oromia (Oromiya); Somalia
(Somali); Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples (SNNP);
Tigray (Tigre)
Independence: oldest independent country in Africa and one of the
oldest in the world--at least 2,000 years
National holiday: National Day, 28 May (1991) (defeat of MENGISTU
regime)
Constitution: promulgated December 1994
Legal system: currently transitional mix of national and regional
courts
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President NEGASSO Gidada (since 22 August 1995)
head of government: Prime Minister MELES Zenawi (since August 1995)
cabinet: Council of Ministers as provided in the December 1994
constitution; ministers are selected by the prime minister and
approved by the House of People's Representatives
elections: president elected by the House of People's
Representatives for a six-year term; election last held June 1995
(next to be held NA 2001); prime minister designated by the party in
power following legislative elections
election results: NEGASSO Gidada elected president; percent of vote
by the House of People's Representatives--NA
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of the House of
Federation or upper chamber (117 seats; members are chosen by state
assemblies to serve five-year terms) and the House of People's
Representatives or lower chamber (548 seats; members are directly
elected by popular vote from single-member districts to serve
five-year terms)
elections: regional and national popular elections were held in May
and June 1995 (next to be held NA 2000)
election results: percent of vote--NA; seats--NA; note--EPRDF won
nearly all seats
Judicial branch: Federal Supreme Court; the president and vice
president of the Federal Supreme Court are recommended by the prime
minister and appointed by the House of People's Representatives; for
other federal judges, the prime minister submits candidates selected
by the Federal Judicial Administrative Council to the House of
People's Representatives for appointment
Political parties and leaders: Ethiopian People's Revolutionary
Political pressure groups and leaders: Oromo Liberation Front or
OLF; All Amhara People's Organization; Southern Ethiopia People's
Democratic Coalition; numerous small, ethnically-based groups have
formed since former President MENGISTU'S defeat, including several
Islamic militant groups
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA,
FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAU,
OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WToO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador BERHANE Gebre-Christos
chancery: 2134 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador David H. SHINN
embassy: Entoto Street, Addis Ababa
mailing address: P. O. Box 1014, Addis Ababa
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of green (top),
yellow, and red with a yellow pentagram and single yellow rays
emanating from the angles between the points on a light blue disk
centered on the three bands; Ethiopia is the oldest independent
country in Africa, and the colors of her flag were so often adopted
by other African countries upon independence that they became known
as the pan-African colors
Economy
Economy--overview: Ethiopia remains one of the least developed
countries in the world. Its economy is based on agriculture, which
accounts for more than half of GDP, 90% of exports, and 80% of total
employment; coffee generates 60% of export earnings. The
agricultural sector suffers from frequent periods of drought, poor
cultivation practices, and deterioration of internal security
conditions. The manufacturing sector is heavily dependent on inputs
from the agricultural sector. Over 90% of large-scale industry, but
less than 10% of agriculture, is state-run. The government is
considering selling off a portion of state-owned plants and is
implementing reform measures that are gradually liberalizing the
economy. A major medium-term problem is the improvement of roads,
water supply, and other parts of an infrastructure badly neglected
during years of civil strife. Renewed fighting with Eritrea dims
economic prospects for 1999.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$32.9 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 6% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$560 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 55%
industry: 12%
services: 33% (1995 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.9% (1998 est.)
Labor force: NA
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture and animal husbandry 80%,
government and services 12%, industry and construction 8% (1985)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $1 billion
expenditures: $1.48 billion, including capital expenditures of $415
million (FY96/97)
Industries: food processing, beverages, textiles, chemicals,
metals processing, cement
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: 1.32 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 7.58%
hydro: 87.12%
nuclear: 0%
other: 5.3% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 1.32 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: cereals, pulses, coffee, oilseed,
sugarcane, potatoes; hides, cattle, sheep, goats
Exports: $550 million (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports--commodities: coffee, leather products, gold, oilseeds
(1995)
Exports--partners: Germany 26%, Japan 11%, Italy 10%, UK 8%,
Djibouti, Saudi Arabia (1996 est.)
Imports: $1.3 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Imports--commodities: food and live animals, petroleum and
petroleum products, chemicals, machinery, motor vehicles and
aircraft (1994)
Imports--partners: Italy 11%, US 11%, Germany 7%, Saudi Arabia 4%
(1996 est.)
Debt--external: $10 billion (1996)
Economic aid--recipient: $367 million (FY95/96)
Currency: 1 birr (Br) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: birr (Br) per US$1 (end of period)--7.58 (January
1999), 6.8640 (1997), 6.4260 (1996), 6.3200 (1995), 5.9500 (1994)
note: since May 1993, the birr market rate has been determined in an
interbank market supported by weekly wholesale auction; prior to
that date, the official rate was pegged to US$1 = 5.000 birr
Fiscal year: 8 July--7 July
Communications
Telephones: 100,000 (1983 est.)
Telephone system: open wire and microwave radio relay system
adequate for government use
domestic: open wire and microwave radio relay
international: open wire to Sudan and Djibouti; microwave radio
relay to Kenya and Djibouti; satellite earth stations--3 Intelsat (1
Atlantic Ocean and 2 Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 0, shortwave 1
Radios: 9 million (1998 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 25 (1998)
Televisions: 150,000 (1998 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 681 km (Ethiopian segment of the Addis Ababa-Djibouti
railroad)
narrow gauge: 681 km 1.000-m gauge
note: in April 1998, Djibouti and Ethiopia announced plans to
revitalize the century-old railroad that links their capitals
Highways:
total: 28,500 km
paved: 4,275 km
unpaved: 24,225 km (1996 est.)
Ports and harbors: none; Ethiopia is landlocked and was by
agreement with Eritrea using the ports of Assab and Massawa, but
since the border dispute with Eritrea flared, Ethiopia has used the
port of Djibouti
Merchant marine:
total: 11 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 71,264 GRT/94,489 DWT
ships by type: cargo 7, oil tanker 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 3 (1998
est.)
Airports: 84 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 11
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 73
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 8
1,524 to 2,437 m: 9
914 to 1,523 m: 36
under 914 m: 18 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Ground Forces, Air Force, Police
note: Ethiopia is landlocked and has no navy; following the de jure
independence of Eritrea, Ethiopian naval facilities remained in
Eritrean possession and ships which belonged to the former Ethiopian
Navy and based at Djibouti have been sold
Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 13,520,302 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 7,052,710 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 655,290 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $138 million (FY98/99)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 2.5% (FY98/99)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: most of the southern half of the boundary
with Somalia is a Provisional Administrative Line; territorial
dispute with Somalia over the Ogaden; dispute over alignment of
boundary with Eritrea led to armed conflict in 1998, which is still
unresolved despite arbitration efforts
Illicit drugs: transit hub for heroin originating in Southwest
and Southeast Asia and destined for Europe and North America as well
as cocaine destined for markets in southern Africa; cultivates qat
(chat) for local use and regional export
======================================================================
@Europa Island
-------------
Geography
Location: Southern Africa, island in the Mozambique Channel,
about one-half of the way from southern Madagascar to southern
Mozambique
Geographic coordinates: 22 20 S, 40 22 E
Map references: Africa
Area:
total: 28 sq km
land: 28 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: about 0.16 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 22.2 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical
Terrain: NA
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 24 m
Natural resources: negligible
Land use:
arable land: NA%
permanent crops: NA%
permanent pastures: NA%
forests and woodland: NA%
other: NA%
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1993)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment--current issues: NA
Environment--international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography--note: wildlife sanctuary
People
Population: no indigenous inhabitants
note: there is a small French military garrison
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Europa Island
local long form: none
local short form: Ile Europa
Data code: EU
Dependency status: possession of France; administered by a high
commissioner of the Republic, resident in Reunion
Independence: none (possession of France)
Legal system: NA
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (possession of France)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (possession of France)
Flag description: the flag of France is used
Economy
Economy--overview: no economic activity
Communications
Communications--note: 1 meteorological station
Transportation
Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only
Airports: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military--note: defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: claimed by Madagascar
======================================================================
@Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
---------------------------------
Geography
Location: Southern South America, islands in the South Atlantic
Ocean, east of southern Argentina
Geographic coordinates: 51 45 S, 59 00 W
Map references: South America
Area:
total: 12,173 sq km
land: 12,173 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes the two main islands of East and West Falkland and
about 200 small islands
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than Connecticut
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 1,288 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: cold marine; strong westerly winds, cloudy, humid; rain
occurs on more than half of days in year; occasional snow all year,
except in January and February, but does not accumulate
Terrain: rocky, hilly, mountainous with some boggy, undulating
plains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Usborne 705 m
Natural resources: fish, wildlife
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 99%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 1% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: strong winds persist throughout the year
Environment--current issues: NA
Environment--international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography--note: deeply indented coast provides good natural
harbors; short growing season
People
Population: 2,758 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate: 2.43% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: NA births/1,000 population
Death rate: NA deaths/1,000 population
Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
Infant mortality rate: NA deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: NA years
male: NA years
female: NA years
Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman
Nationality:
noun: Falkland Islander(s)
adjective: Falkland Island
Ethnic groups: British
Religions: primarily Anglican, Roman Catholic, United Free
Church, Evangelist Church, Jehovah's Witnesses, Lutheran,
Seventh-Day Adventist
Languages: English
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Colony of the Falkland Islands
conventional short form: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
Data code: FA
Dependency status: overseas territory of the UK, also claimed by
Argentina
Government type: NA
Capital: Stanley
Administrative divisions: none (overseas territory of the UK;
also claimed by Argentina)
Independence: none (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by
Argentina)
National holiday: Liberation Day, 14 June (1982)
Constitution: 3 October 1985; amended 1997
Legal system: English common law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
head of government: Governor Richard RALPH (since 29 January 1996;
to be replaced in May 1999 by Donald LAMONT); Chief Executive A. M.
GURR (since NA); Financial Secretary D. F. HOWATT (since NA)
cabinet: Executive Council; three members elected by the Legislative
Council, two ex officio members (chief executive and the financial
secretary), and the governor
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by
the monarch
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Council (10 seats--8
elected, 2 ex officio; members are elected by popular vote to serve
five-year terms)
elections: last held 9 October 1997 (next to be held NA October 2001)
election results: percent of vote--NA; seats--independents 8
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, chief justice is a nonresident
Political parties and leaders: none; all independents
International organization participation: ICFTU
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory of
the UK; also claimed by Argentina)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (overseas territory
of the UK; also claimed by Argentina)
Flag description: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper
hoist-side quadrant and the Falkland Island coat of arms in a white
disk centered on the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms
contains a white ram (sheep raising is the major economic activity)
above the sailing ship Desire (whose crew discovered the islands)
with a scroll at the bottom bearing the motto DESIRE THE RIGHT
Economy
Economy--overview: The economy was formerly based on agriculture,
mainly sheep farming, but today fishing contributes the bulk of
economic activity. In 1987 the government began selling fishing
licenses to foreign trawlers operating within the Falklands
exclusive fishing zone. These license fees total more than $40
million per year, which goes to support the island's health,
education, and welfare system. Squid accounts for 75% of the fish
taken. Dairy farming supports domestic consumption; crops furnish
winter fodder. Exports feature shipments of high-grade wool to the
UK and the sale of postage stamps and coins. To encourage tourism,
the Falkland Islands Development Corporation has built three lodges
for visitors attracted by the abundant wildlife and trout fishing.
The islands are now self-financing except for defense. The British
Geological Survey announced a 200-mile oil exploration zone around
the islands in 1993, and early seismic surveys suggest substantial
reserves capable of producing 500,000 barrels per day; to date no
exploitable site has been identified. An agreement between Argentina
and the UK in 1995 seeks to defuse licensing and sovereignty
conflicts that would dampen foreign interest in exploiting potential
oil reserves.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$NA
GDP--real growth rate: NA%
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$NA
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
Labor force: 1,100 (est.)
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 95% (mostly sheepherding
and fishing)
Unemployment rate: full employment; labor shortage
Budget:
revenues: $66.1 million
expenditures: $66.8 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY97/98 est.)
Industries: wool and fish processing; sale of stamps and coins
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: 10 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 10 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: fodder and vegetable crops; sheep, dairy
products
Exports: $7.6 million (1995)
Exports--commodities: wool, hides, meat
Exports--partners: UK, Netherlands, Japan (1992)
Imports: $24.7 million (1995)
Imports--commodities: fuel, food and drink, building materials,
clothing
Imports--partners: UK, Netherlands Antilles, Japan (1992)
Debt--external: $NA
Economic aid--recipient: $1.7 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Falkland pound (LF) = 100 pence
Exchange rates: Falkland pound (LF) per US$1--0.6057 (January
1999), 0.5037 (1998), 0.6106 (1997), 0.6403 (1996), 0.6335 (1995),
0.6529 (1994); note--the Falkland pound is at par with the British
pound
Fiscal year: 1 April--31 March
Communications
Telephones: 1,180 (1991 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: government-operated radiotelephone and private VHF/CB
radiotelephone networks provide effective service to almost all
points on both islands
international: satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
with links through London to other countries
Radio broadcast stations: 1 (government operated)
Radios: 1,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 2 (operated by the British Forces
Broadcasting Service) (1997)
Televisions: NA
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 348 km
paved: 83 km
unpaved: 265 km
Ports and harbors: Stanley
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 5 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 3
under 914 m: 3 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: British Forces Falkland Islands (includes
Army, Royal Air Force, Royal Navy, and Royal Marines), Police Force
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $NA
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: NA%
Military--note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: claimed by Argentina
======================================================================
@Faroe Islands
-------------
Geography
Location: Northern Europe, island group between the Norwegian Sea
and the north Atlantic Ocean, about one-half of the way from Iceland
to Norway
Geographic coordinates: 62 00 N, 7 00 W
Map references: Europe
Area:
total: 1,399 sq km
land: 1,399 sq km
water: 0 sq km (some lakes and streams)
Area--comparative: eight times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 1,117 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 3 nm
Climate: mild winters, cool summers; usually overcast; foggy,
windy
Terrain: rugged, rocky, some low peaks; cliffs along most of coast
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Slaettaratindur 882 m
Natural resources: fish, whales
Land use:
arable land: 6%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 94% (1996)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km
Natural hazards: NA
Environment--current issues: NA
Environment--international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography--note: archipelago of 17 inhabited islands and one
uninhabited island, and a few uninhabited islets; strategically
located along important sea lanes in northeastern Atlantic;
precipitous terrain limits habitation to small coastal lowlands
People
Population: 41,059 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 23% (male 4,819; female 4,629)
15-64 years: 62% (male 13,600; female 11,811)
65 years and over: 15% (male 2,786; female 3,414) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: -2.03% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 12.54 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 9.08 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -23.72 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.15 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female
total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 10.26 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.56 years
male: 75.66 years
female: 81.58 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.36 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Faroese (singular and plural)
adjective: Faroese
Ethnic groups: Scandinavian
Religions: Evangelical Lutheran
Languages: Faroese (derived from Old Norse), Danish
Literacy: NA
note: similar to Denmark proper
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Faroe Islands
local long form: none
local short form: Foroyar
Data code: FO
Dependency status: part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing
overseas administrative division of Denmark since 1948
Government type: NA
Capital: Torshavn
Administrative divisions: none (part of the Kingdom of Denmark;
self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
Independence: none (part of the Kingdom of Denmark;
self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
National holiday: Birthday of the Queen, 16 April (1940)
Constitution: 5 June 1953 (Danish constitution)
Legal system: Danish
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen MARGRETHE II of Denmark (since 14 January
1972), represented by High Commissioner Bente KLINTE, chief
administrative officer (since NA)
head of government: Prime Minister Anfinn KALLSBERG (since 9 May
1998)
cabinet: Landsstyri elected by the Faroese Parliament
elections: the monarch is hereditary; high commissioner appointed by
the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the
party that wins the most seats is usually elected prime minister by
the Faroese Parliament; election last held 30 April 1998 (next to be
held NA 2002)
election results: Anfinn KALLSBERG elected prime minister; percent
of parliamentary vote--NA
Legislative branch: unicameral Faroese Parliament or Logting (32
seats; members are elected by popular vote on a proportional basis
from the seven constituencies to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 30 April 1998 (next to be held by NA July 2002)
election results: percent of vote by party--Republicans 23.8%,
People's Party 21.3%, Social Democrats 21.9%, Coalition Party (Union
Party, Labor Front, Home Rule Party) 15%; seats by party--Republicans
8, People's Party 8, Social Democrats 7, Coalition Party 6, other
parties 3
note: election of 2 seats to the Danish Parliament was last held on
11 March 1998 (next to be held by NA 2002); results--percent of vote
by party--NA; seats by party--Social Democrats 1, Conservatives 1
Judicial branch: none
Political parties and leaders: Social Democratic Party [Joannes
KALLSBERG]
International organization participation: NC, NIB
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (self-governing
overseas administrative division of Denmark)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (self-governing
overseas administrative division of Denmark)
Flag description: white with a red cross outlined in blue that
extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is
shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)
Economy
Economy--overview: After the severe economic troubles of the early
1990s, brought on by a drop in the vital fish catch, the Faroe
Islands have come back in the last few years, with unemployment down
to 5% in mid-1998. Nevertheless the total dependence on fishing
means the economy remains extremely vulnerable. The Faroese hope to
broaden their economic base by building new fish-processing plants.
Oil finds close to the Faroese area give hope for deposits in the
immediate Faroese area, which may lay the basis for sustained
economic prosperity. The Faroese are supported by a substantial
annual subsidy from Denmark.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$700 million (1996 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 6% (1996 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$16,000 (1996 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 20%
industry: 16%
services: 64% (1996 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.8% (1996 est.)
Labor force: 20,345 (1995 est.)
Labor force--by occupation: largely engaged in fishing,
manufacturing, transportation, and commerce
Unemployment rate: 5% (1998 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $467 million
expenditures: $468 million, including capital expenditures of $11
million (1996 est.)
Industries: fishing, shipbuilding, construction, handicrafts
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: 170 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 52.94%
hydro: 47.06%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 170 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: milk, potatoes, vegetables; sheep; salmon,
other fish
Exports: $362 million (f.o.b., 1995)
Exports--commodities: fish and fish products 92%, animal
feedstuffs, transport equipment (ships)
Exports--partners: Denmark 22.2%, UK 25.8%, Germany 9.7%, France
8.3%, Norway 6.2%, US 2.0%
Imports: $315.6 (c.i.f., 1995)
Imports--commodities: machinery and transport equipment 17.0%,
consumer goods 33%, raw materials and semi-manufactures 26.9%, fuels
11.4%, fish and salt 6.7%
Imports--partners: Denmark 34.5%, Norway 15.9%, UK 8.4% Germany
7.8%, Sweden 5.8%, US 1.5%
Debt--external: $767 million (1995 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $150 million (annual subsidy from
Denmark) (1995)
Currency: 1 Danish krone (DKr) = 100 oere
Exchange rates: Danish kroner (DKr) per US$1--6.408 (January
1999), 6.701 (1998), 6.604 (1997), 5.799 (1966), 5.602 (1995), 6.361
(1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 22,500 (3,500 cellular telephone subscribers) (1996)
Telephone system: good international communications; good
domestic facilities
domestic: digitalization was to hve been completed in 1998
international: satellite earth stations--1 Orion; 1 fiber-optic
submarine cable linking the Faroe Islands with Denmark and Iceland
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 1 (repeaters 13), shortwave 0
Radios: 11,800 (1996 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 3 (in addition, there are 29
low-power repeaters; satellite relays of MTV Europe, BBC World, and
Scansat TV3 Eurosport are also available) (1997)
Televisions: 11,600 (1996 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 458 km
paved: 450 km
unpaved: 8 km (1995 est.)
Ports and harbors: Torshavn, Klaksvik, Tvoroyri, Runavik,
Fuglafjorour
Merchant marine:
total: 6 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 22,853 GRT/13,481 DWT
ships by type: cargo 2, oil tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 1,
roll-on/roll-off cargo 1, short-sea passenger 1 (1998 est.)
Airports: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: no organized native military forces; only a
small Police Force and Coast Guard are maintained
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $NA
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: NA%
Military--note: defense is the responsibility of Denmark
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
======================================================================
@Fiji
----
Geography
Location: Oceania, island group in the South Pacific Ocean, about
two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Geographic coordinates: 18 00 S, 175 00 E
Map references: Oceania
Area:
total: 18,270 sq km
land: 18,270 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 1,129 km
Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation;
rectilinear shelf claim added
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical marine; only slight seasonal temperature
variation
Terrain: mostly mountains of volcanic origin
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Tomanivi 1,324 m
Natural resources: timber, fish, gold, copper, offshore oil
potential
Land use:
arable land: 10%
permanent crops: 4%
permanent pastures: 10%
forests and woodland: 65%
other: 11% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 10 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: cyclonic storms can occur from November to
January
Environment--current issues: deforestation; soil erosion
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertication, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine
Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection,
Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography--note: includes 332 islands of which approximately 110
are inhabited
People
Population: 812,918 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 33% (male 138,796; female 133,428)
15-64 years: 63% (male 257,130; female 256,834)
65 years and over: 4% (male 12,527; female 14,203) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.28% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 22.76 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 6.21 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -3.78 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 16.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 66.59 years
male: 64.19 years
female: 69.11 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.7 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Fijian(s)
adjective: Fijian
Ethnic groups: Fijian 51%, Indian 44%, European, other Pacific
Islanders, overseas Chinese, and other 5% (1998 est.)
Religions: Christian 52% (Methodist 37%, Roman Catholic 9%),
Hindu 38%, Muslim 8%, other 2%
note: Fijians are mainly Christian, Indians are Hindu, and there is
a Muslim minority (1986)
Languages: English (official), Fijian, Hindustani
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 91.6%
male: 93.8%
female: 89.3% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of the Fiji Islands
conventional short form: Fiji
Data code: FJ
Government type: republic
note: military coup leader Maj. Gen. Sitiveni RABUKA formally
declared Fiji a republic on 6 October 1987
Capital: Suva
Administrative divisions: 4 divisions and 1 dependency*; Central,
Eastern, Northern, Rotuma*, Western
Independence: 10 October 1970 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 10 October (1970)
Constitution: 10 October 1970 (suspended 1 October 1987); a new
constitution was proposed on 23 September 1988 and promulgated on 25
July 1990; amended 25 July 1997 to allow non-ethnic Fijians greater
say in government and to make multi-party government mandatory;
entered into force 28 July 1998; note-- the May 1999 election will be
the first test of the amended constitution and will introduce open
voting--not racially prescribed--for the first time at the national
level
Legal system: based on British system
Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Ratu Sir Kamisese MARA (acting president
since 15 December 1993, president since 12 January 1994); Vice
President Ratu Josefa Iloilo ULUIVUDA (since 18 January 1999)
head of government: Prime Minister Sitiveni RABUKA (since 2 June
1992); Deputy Prime Minister Taufa VAKATALE (since 7 August 1997)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister from among the
members of Parliament and is responsible to Parliament
note: there is also a Presidential Council that advises the
president on matters of national importance and a Great Council of
Chiefs which consists of the highest ranking members of the
traditional chiefly system
elections: president elected by the Great Council of Chiefs for a
five-year term; prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Ratu Sir Kamisese MARA elected president; percent
of Great Council of Chiefs vote--NA
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate
(34 seats; 24 reserved for ethnic Fijians, 9 for Indians and others,
and 1 for the island of Rotuma; members appointed by the president
to serve five-year terms) and the House of Representatives (70
seats; 37 reserved for ethnic Fijians, 27 reserved for ethnic
Indians, and 6 for independents and others; members elected by
popular vote on a communal basis to serve five-year terms)
elections: House of Representatives--last held 18-25 February 1994
(next to be held 11 May 1999)
election results: House of Representatives--percent of vote by
party--NA; seats by party--SVT 31, NFP 20, FLP 7, FAP 5, GVP 4,
independents 2, ANC 1; note--results are for the last election before
the new constitution came into force
note: when the new constitution is applied to the upcoming May
elections, the composition of the legislative branch will change to
the following: Senate--32 seats (14 appointed by the Great Council of
Chiefs, nine appointed by the prime minister, eight appointed by the
leader of the opposition, and one appointed by the council of
Rotuma) and House of Representatives--71 seats (23 reserved for
ethnic Fijians, 19 reserved for ethnic Indians, three reserved for
other ethnic groups, one reserved for the Rotuman constituency
encompassing the whole of Fiji, and 25 open seats)
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the
president
Political parties and leaders: Fijian Political Party or SVT
Lewenivanua Vakarisito Party or VLV or Christian Fellowship Party
note: in early 1995, ethnic Fijian members of the All National
Congress or ANC merged with the Fijian Association or FA; the
remaining members of the ANC have renamed their party the General
Electors' Association
International organization participation: ACP, AsDB, C, CP,
ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU,
OPCW, PCA, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL,
UNIKOM, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador "Ratu" Napolioni MASIREWA
chancery: Suite 240, 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
consulate(s): New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Larry M.
DINGER
embassy: 31 Loftus Street, Suva
mailing address: P. O. Box 218, Suva
Flag description: light blue with the flag of the UK in the upper
hoist-side quadrant and the Fijian shield centered on the outer half
of the flag; the shield depicts a yellow lion above a white field
quartered by the cross of Saint George featuring stalks of
sugarcane, a palm tree, bananas, and a white dove
Economy
Economy--overview: Fiji, endowed with forest, mineral, and fish
resources, is one of the most developed of the Pacific island
economies, though still with a large subsistence sector. Sugar
exports and a growing tourist industry are the major sources of
foreign exchange. Sugar processing makes up one-third of industrial
activity. Roughly 250,000 tourists visit each year. Political
uncertainty and drought, however, contribute to substantial
fluctuations in earnings from tourism and sugar and to the
emigration of skilled workers. Fiji's growth slowed in 1997 because
the sugar industry suffered from low world prices and rent disputes
between farmers and landowners. Drought in 1998 further damaged the
sugar industry. Overall growth in 1991-98 has averaged less than 2%
per year, with long-term problems of low investment and uncertain
property rights. The central bank predicts growth of 2% to 3% in
1999.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$5.4 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 2.4% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$6,700 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 19%
industry: 22%
services: 59% (1996 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3% (1997 est.)
Labor force: 235,000
Labor force--by occupation: subsistence agriculture 67%, wage
earners 18%, salary earners 15% (1987)
Unemployment rate: 6% (1997 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $540.65 million
expenditures: $742.65 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1997 est.)
Industries: sugar, tourism, copra, gold, silver, clothing,
lumber, small cottage industries
Industrial production growth rate: 2.9% (1995)
Electricity--production: 545 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 21.1%
hydro: 78.9%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 545 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: sugarcane, coconuts, cassava (tapioca),
rice, sweet potatoes, bananas; cattle, pigs, horses, goats; fish
Exports: $655 million (f.o.b., 1996)
Exports--commodities: sugar 32%, clothing, gold, processed fish,
lumber
Exports--partners: Australia 27%, UK 14%, NZ 12%, US 8%, Japan
(1996)
Imports: $838 million (f.o.b., 1996)
Imports--commodities: machinery and transport equipment, petroleum
products, food, chemicals
Imports--partners: Australia 44%, NZ 15%, US 9%, Japan 5%,
Singapore 5% (1996)
Debt--external: $217 million (1996 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $40.3 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Fijian dollar (F$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Fijian dollars (F$) per US$1--1.9556 (January
1999), 1.9868 (1998), 1.4437 (1997), 1.4033 (1996), 1.4063 (1995),
1.4641 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 60,017 (1987 est.)
Telephone system: modern local, interisland, and international
(wire/radio integrated) public and special-purpose telephone,
telegraph, and teleprinter facilities; regional radio communications
center
domestic: NA
international: access to important cable link between US and Canada
and NZ and Australia; satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Pacific
Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 7, FM 1, shortwave 0
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 0
Televisions: 12,000 (1992 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 597 km; note--belongs to the government-owned Fiji Sugar
Corporation
narrow gauge: 597 km 0.610-m gauge (1995)
Highways:
total: 3,440 km
paved: 1,692 km
unpaved: 1,748 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 203 km; 122 km navigable by motorized craft and
200-metric-ton barges
Ports and harbors: Labasa, Lautoka, Levuka, Savusavu, Suva
Merchant marine:
total: 5 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 10,721 GRT/13,145 DWT
ships by type: chemical tanker 2, passenger 1, roll-on/roll-off
cargo 1, specialized tanker 1 (1998 est.)
Airports: 24 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 3
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 21
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 17 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF;
includes ground and naval forces)
Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 218,853 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 120,555 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 9,326 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $34 million (1997)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 1.6% (1997)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
======================================================================
@Finland
-------
Introduction
Background: Long ruled by foreign powers, including Sweden and
the pre-revolutionary Russian Empire, Finland finally declared
independence in 1917. During World War II, Finland fought the USSR
twice and then the Germans toward the end of the war. In the
following half-century, the Finns made a remarkable transformation
from a farm/forest economy to a diversified modern industrial
economy. Per capita income has risen to the West European level;
Finland is a member of the European Union and is the only Nordic
state to join the euro system at its initiation in January 1999.
Geography
Location: Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of
Bothnia, and Gulf of Finland, between Sweden and Russia
Geographic coordinates: 64 00 N, 26 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area:
total: 337,030 sq km
land: 305,470 sq km
water: 31,560 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than Montana
Land boundaries:
total: 2,628 km
border countries: Norway 729 km, Sweden 586 km, Russia 1,313 km
Coastline: 1,126 km (excludes islands and coastal indentations)
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 6 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm (in the Gulf of Finland--3 nm)
Climate: cold temperate; potentially subarctic, but comparatively
mild because of moderating influence of the North Atlantic Current,
Baltic Sea, and more than 60,000 lakes
Terrain: mostly low, flat to rolling plains interspersed with
lakes and low hills
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m
highest point: Haltiatunturi 1,328 m
Natural resources: timber, copper, zinc, iron ore, silver
Land use:
arable land: 8%
permanent crops: NA%
permanent pastures: NA%
forests and woodland: 76%
other: 16% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 640 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment--current issues: air pollution from manufacturing and
power plants contributing to acid rain; water pollution from
industrial wastes, agricultural chemicals; habitat loss threatens
wildlife populations
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air
Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental
Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life
Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography--note: long boundary with Russia; Helsinki is
northernmost national capital on European continent; population
concentrated on small southwestern coastal plain
People
Population: 5,158,372 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 18% (male 483,700; female 464,431)
15-64 years: 67% (male 1,743,340; female 1,706,873)
65 years and over: 15% (male 289,405; female 470,623) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.15% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 10.77 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 9.67 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.61 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 3.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.32 years
male: 73.81 years
female: 80.98 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.68 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Finn(s)
adjective: Finnish
Ethnic groups: Finn 93%, Swede 6%, Lapp 0.11%, Gypsy 0.12%, Tatar
0.02%
Religions: Evangelical Lutheran 89%, Greek Orthodox 1%, none 9%,
other 1%
Languages: Finnish 93.5% (official), Swedish 6.3% (official),
small Lapp- and Russian-speaking minorities
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100% (1980 est.)
male: NA%
female: NA%
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Finland
conventional short form: Finland
local long form: Suomen Tasavalta
local short form: Suomi
Data code: FI
Government type: republic
Capital: Helsinki
Administrative divisions: 6 provinces (laanit, singular--laani);
Aland, Etela-Suomen Laani, Ita-Suomen Lanni, Lansi-Suomen Laani,
Lappi, Oulun Laani
Independence: 6 December 1917 (from Russia)
National holiday: Independence Day, 6 December (1917)
Constitution: 17 July 1919
Legal system: civil law system based on Swedish law; Supreme
Court may request legislation interpreting or modifying laws;
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Martti AHTISAARI (since 1 March 1994)
head of government: Prime Minister Paavo LIPPONEN (since 13 April
1995) and Deputy Prime Minister Sauli NIINISTO (since 13 April 1995)
cabinet: Council of State or Valtioneuvosto appointed by the
president, responsible to Parliament
elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term;
election last held 31 January-6 February 1994 (next to be held NA
January 2000); prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed
from the majority party by the president after parliamentary
elections
election results: Martti AHTISAARI elected president; percent of
vote--Martti AHTISAARI 54%, Elisabeth REHN 46%
Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Eduskunta (200
seats; members are elected by popular vote on a proportional basis
to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 21 March 1999 (next to be held NA March 2003)
election results: percent of vote by party--Social Democratic Party
22.9%, Center Party 22.5%, National Coalition (Conservative) Party
21.0%, Leftist Alliance (Communist) 10.9%, Swedish People's Party
5.1%, Green Union 7.2%, Finnish Christian League 4.2%; seats by
party--Social Democratic Party 51, Center Party 48, National
Coalition (Conservative) Party 46, Leftist Alliance (Communist) 20,
Swedish People's Party 11, Green Union 11, Finnish Christian League
10, other 3
Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Korkein Oikeus, judges
appointed by the president
Political parties and leaders:
Alliance (Communist) composed of People's Democratic League and
Political pressure groups and leaders: Finnish Communist
International organization participation: AfDB, AsDB, Australia
Group, BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU,
FAO, G- 9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC,
IOM, ISO, ITU, MTCR, NAM (guest), NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer),
OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR,
UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNMOGIP, UNMOP, UNPREDEP, UNTSO, UPU,
WEU (observer), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Jaakko Tapani LAAJAVA
chancery: 3301 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Eric EDELMAN
embassy: Itainen Puistotie 14A, FIN-00140, Helsinki
mailing address: APO AE 09723
Flag description: white with a blue cross that extends to the
edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the
hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)
Economy
Economy--overview: Finland has a highly industrialized, largely
free-market economy, with per capita output roughly that of the UK,
France, Germany, and Italy. Its key economic sector is
manufacturing--principally the wood, metals, engineering,
telecommunications, and electronics industries. Trade is important,
with the export of goods representing about 30% of GDP. Except for
timber and several minerals, Finland depends on imports of raw
materials, energy, and some components for manufactured goods.
Because of the climate, agricultural development is limited to
maintaining self-sufficiency in basic products. Forestry, an
important export earner, provides a secondary occupation for the
rural population. The economy has come back from the recession of
1990-92, which had been caused by economic overheating, depressed
foreign markets, and the dismantling of the barter system between
Finland and the former Soviet Union. Rapidly increasing integration
with Western Europe--Finland was one of the 11 countries joining the
euro monetary system (EMU) on 1 January 1999--will dominate the
economic picture over the next several years. Growth in 1999
probably will slow, perhaps to 3%, a barrier to any substantial drop
in unemployment.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$103.6 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 5.1% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$20,100 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 5%
industry: 32%
services: 63% (1997)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 4.2%
highest 10%: 21.6% (1991)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.5% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 2.533 million
Labor force--by occupation: public services 30.4%, industry 20.9%,
commerce 15%, finance, insurance, and business services 10.2%,
agriculture and forestry 8.6%, transport and communications 7.7%,
construction 7.2%
Unemployment rate: 12% (1998 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $33 billion
expenditures: $40 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1996 est.)
Industries: metal products, shipbuilding, pulp and paper, copper
refining, foodstuffs, chemicals, textiles, clothing
Industrial production growth rate: 7.4% (1995)
Electricity--production: 67.469 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 54.73%
hydro: 17.35%
nuclear: 27.9%
other: 0.02% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 71.169 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 1.7 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 5.4 billion kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: cereals, sugar beets, potatoes; dairy
cattle; fish
Exports: $43 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports--commodities: machinery and equipment, chemicals, metals;
timber, paper, and pulp
Exports--partners: Germany 11%, UK 10%, Sweden 10%, US 7%, Russia
7%, France 4%, Japan (1997)
Imports: $30.7 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports--commodities: foodstuffs, petroleum and petroleum
products, chemicals, transport equipment, iron and steel, machinery,
textile yarn and fabrics, fodder grains
Imports--partners: Germany 15%, Sweden 12%, UK 8%, Russia 8%, US
7%, Japan 5% (1997)
Debt--external: $30 billion (December 1993)
Economic aid--donor: ODA, $388 million (1995)
Currency: 1 markka (FMk) or Finmark = 100 pennia
Exchange rates: markkaa (FMk) per US$1--5.12 (January 1999),
5.3441 (1998), 5.1914 (1997), 4.5936 (1996), 4.3667 (1995), 5.2235
(1994);
note: on 1 January 1999, the European Union introduced a common
currency that is now being used by financial institutions in some
member countries at the rate of 0.8597 euros per US$ and a fixed
rate of 5.93472 Markkaa per euro; the euro will replace the local
currency in consenting countries for all transactions in 2002
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 2.5 million (1995 est.)
Telephone system: modern system with excellent service
domestic: cable, microwave radio relay, and an extensive cellular
net care for domestic needs
international: 1 submarine cable; satellite earth stations--access to
Intelsat transmission service via a Swedish satellite earth station,
1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions); note--Finland shares
the Inmarsat earth station with the other Nordic countries (Denmark,
Iceland, Norway, and Sweden)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 6, FM 105, shortwave 0
Radios: 4.98 million (1991 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 120 (in addition, there are 431
low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 1.92 million (1995 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 5,859 km
broad gauge: 5,859 km 1.524-m gauge (2,073 km electrified; 480 km
double- or more-track) (1996)
Highways:
total: 77,796 km
paved: 49,789 km (including 444 km of expressways)
unpaved: 28,007 km (1997 est.)
Waterways: 6,675 km total (including Saimaa Canal); 3,700 km
suitable for steamers
Pipelines: natural gas 580 km
Ports and harbors: Hamina, Helsinki, Kokkola, Kotka, Loviisa,
Oulu, Pori, Rauma, Turku, Uusikaupunki, Varkaus
Merchant marine:
total: 101 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,192,559
GRT/1,161,594 DWT
ships by type: bulk 9, cargo 23, chemical tanker 6, oil tanker 11,
passenger 1, railcar carrier 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 38, short-sea
passenger 12 (1998 est.)
Airports: 157 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 68
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 26
1,524 to 2,437 m: 10
914 to 1,523 m: 20
under 914 m: 9 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 89
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 83 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Frontier Guard
(includes Sea Guard)
Military manpower--military age: 17 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 1,274,654 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,050,944 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 34,336 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $1.8 billion (1999)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 2% (1999)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
Illicit drugs: minor transshipment point for Latin American
cocaine for the West European market
======================================================================
@France
------
Introduction
Background: Although ultimately a victor in World Wars I and II,
France lost many men, much wealth, its extensive empire, and its
rank as a dominant nation-state. France has struggled since
1958--arguably with success--to construct a presidential democracy
resistant to the severe instabilities inherent in the parliamentary
democracy of early 20th century France. In recent years, its
reconciliation and cooperation with Germany have proved central to
the economic integration of Europe, including the advent of the euro
in January 1999.
Geography
Location: Western Europe, bordering the Bay of Biscay and English
Channel, between Belgium and Spain southeast of the UK; bordering
the Mediterranean Sea, between Italy and Spain
Geographic coordinates: 46 00 N, 2 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area:
total: 547,030 sq km
land: 545,630 sq km
water: 1,400 sq km
note: includes only metropolitan France, but excludes the overseas
administrative divisions
Area--comparative: slightly less than twice the size of Colorado
Land boundaries:
total: 2,892.4 km
border countries: Andorra 60 km, Belgium 620 km, Germany 451 km,
Italy 488 km, Luxembourg 73 km, Monaco 4.4 km, Spain 623 km,
Switzerland 573 km
Coastline: 3,427 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm (does not apply to the Mediterranean)
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: generally cool winters and mild summers, but mild
winters and hot summers along the Mediterranean
Terrain: mostly flat plains or gently rolling hills in north and
west; remainder is mountainous, especially Pyrenees in south, Alps
in east
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Rhone River delta -2 m
highest point: Mont Blanc 4,807 m
Natural resources: coal, iron ore, bauxite, fish, timber, zinc,
potash
Land use:
arable land: 33%
permanent crops: 2%
permanent pastures: 20%
forests and woodland: 27%
other: 18% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 16,300 sq km (1995 est.)
Natural hazards: flooding; avalanches
Environment--current issues: some forest damage from acid rain;
air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution
from urban wastes, agricultural runoff
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air
Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental
Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94,
Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography--note: largest West European nation; occasional strong,
cold, dry, north-to-northwesterly wind known as mistral
People
Population: 58,978,172 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 19% (male 5,638,462; female 5,375,911)
15-64 years: 65% (male 19,302,121; female 19,235,235)
65 years and over: 16% (male 3,825,232; female 5,601,211) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.27% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 11.38 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 9.17 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.53 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 5.62 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.63 years
male: 74.76 years
female: 82.71 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.61 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Frenchman(men), Frenchwoman(women)
adjective: French
Ethnic groups: Celtic and Latin with Teutonic, Slavic, North
African, Indochinese, Basque minorities
Religions: Roman Catholic 90%, Protestant 2%, Jewish 1%, Muslim
(North African workers) 1%, unaffiliated 6%
Languages: French 100%, rapidly declining regional dialects and
languages (Provencal, Breton, Alsatian, Corsican, Catalan, Basque,
Flemish)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (1980 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: French Republic
conventional short form: France
local long form: Republique Francaise
local short form: France
Data code: FR
Government type: republic
Capital: Paris
Administrative divisions: 22 regions (regions, singular--region);
Alsace, Aquitaine, Auvergne, Basse-Normandie, Bourgogne, Bretagne,
Centre, Champagne-Ardenne, Corse, Franche-Comte, Haute-Normandie,
Ile-de-France, Languedoc-Roussillon, Limousin, Lorraine,
Midi-Pyrenees, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, Pays de la Loire, Picardie,
Poitou-Charentes, Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur, Rhone-Alpes
note: metropolitan France is divided into 22 regions (including the
"territorial collectivity" of Corse or Corsica) and is subdivided
into 96 departments; see separate entries for the overseas
departments (French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Reunion) and the
overseas territorial collectivities (Mayotte, Saint Pierre and
Miquelon)
Dependent areas: Bassas da India, Clipperton Island, Europa
Island, French Polynesia, French Southern and Antarctic Lands,
Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island, New Caledonia, Tromelin
Island, Wallis and Futuna
note: the US does not recognize claims to Antarctica
Independence: 486 (unified by Clovis)
National holiday: National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July
(1789)
Constitution: 28 September 1958, amended concerning election of
president in 1962, amended to comply with provisions of EC
Maastricht Treaty in 1992; amended to tighten immigration laws 1993
Legal system: civil law system with indigenous concepts; review
of administrative but not legislative acts
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May 1995)
head of government: Prime Minister Lionel JOSPIN (since 3 June 1997)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the
suggestion of the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term;
election last held 23 April and 7 May 1995 (next to be held by May
2002); prime minister nominated by the National Assembly majority
and appointed by the president
election results: Jacques CHIRAC elected president; percent of vote,
second ballot--Jacques CHIRAC 52.64%, Lionel JOSPIN 47.36%
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament or Parlement consists of
the Senate or Senat (321 seats--296 for metropolitan France, 13 for
overseas departments and territories, and 12 for French nationals
abroad; members are indirectly elected by an electoral college to
serve nine-year terms; elected by thirds every three years) and the
National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (577 seats; members are
elected by popular vote under a single-member majoritarian system to
serve five-year terms)
elections: Senate--last held 27 September 1998 (next to be held
September 2001); National Assembly--last held 25 May-1 June 1997
(next to be held NA May 2002)
election results: Senate--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by
party--RPR 99, Centrist Union 52, Republicans and independents 47, PS
78, PCF 16, other 29; National Assembly--percent of vote by party--NA;
seats by party--PS 245, RPR 140, UDF 109, PCF 37, PRS 13, Ecologists
8, MDC 7, LDI-MPF 1, FN 1, various left 9, various right 7
Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Appeals or Cour de Cassation,
judges are appointed by the president from nominations of the High
Council of the Judiciary; Constitutional Council or Conseil
Constitutionnel, three members appointed by the president, three
members appointed by the president of the National Assembly, and
three appointed by the president of the Senate; Council of State or
Conseil d'Etat
Political parties and leaders: Rally for the Republic or RPR
Political pressure groups and leaders: Communist-controlled labor
union (Confederation Generale du Travail) or CGT, nearly 2.4 million
members (claimed); Socialist-leaning labor union (Confederation
Francaise Democratique du Travail) or CFDT, about 800,000 members
(est.); independent labor union or Force Ouvriere, 1 million members
(est.); independent white-collar union or Confederation Generale des
Cadres, 340,000 members (claimed); National Council of French
Employers (Conseil National du Patronat Francais) or CNPF or Patronat
International organization participation: ACCT, AfDB, AsDB,
Australia Group, BDEAC, BIS, CCC, CDB (non-regional), CE, CERN,
EAPC, EBRD, ECA (associate), ECE, ECLAC, EIB, EMU, ESA, ESCAP, EU,
FAO, FZ, G- 5, G- 7, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM,
IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, InOC,
Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURCA, MINURSO, MIPONUH,
MONUA, MTCR, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA,
SPC, UN, UN Security Council, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL,
UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMIBH, UNOMIG, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WEU,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Francois V. BUJON DE L'ESTANG
chancery: 4101 Reservoir Road NW, Washington, DC 20007
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los
Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, and San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Felix G. ROHATYN
embassy: 2 Avenue Gabriel, 75382 Paris Cedex 08
mailing address: PSC 116, APO AE 09777
consulate(s) general: Marseille, Strasbourg
Flag description: three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist
side), white, and red; known as the French Tricouleur (Tricolor);
the design and colors are similar to a number of other flags,
including those of Belgium, Chad, Ireland, Cote d'Ivoire, and
Luxembourg; the official flag for all French dependent areas
Economy
Economy--overview: One of the four West European trillion-dollar
economies, France matches a growing services sector with a
diversified industrial base and substantial agricultural resources.
Industry generates one-quarter of GDP and more than 80% of export
earnings. The government retains considerable influence over key
segments of each sector, with majority ownership of railway,
electricity, aircraft, and telecommunication firms. It has been
gradually relaxing its control over these sectors since the early
1990s. The government is slowly selling off its holdings in France
Telecom, in Air France, and in the insurance, banking, and defense
industries. Meanwhile, large tracts of fertile land, the application
of modern technology, and subsidies have combined to make France the
leading agricultural producer in Western Europe. A major exporter of
wheat and dairy products, France is practically self-sufficient in
agriculture. The economy expanded by 3% in 1998, following a 2.3%
gain in 1997. Persistently high unemployment still poses a major
problem for the government. France has shied away from cutting
exceptionally generous social welfare benefits or the enormous state
bureaucracy, preferring to pare defense spending and raise taxes to
keep the deficit down. The JOSPIN administration has pledged both to
lower unemployment and trim spending, pinning its hopes for new jobs
on economic growth and on legislation to gradually reduce the
workweek from 39 to 35 hours by 2002. France joined 10 other EU
members to launch the euro on 1 January 1999.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$1.32 trillion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 3% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$22,600 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 2.4%
industry: 28.4%
services: 69.2% (1997)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.5%
highest 10%: 24.9% (1989)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.7% (1998)
Labor force: 25.4 million
Labor force--by occupation: services 69%, industry 26%,
agriculture 5% (1995)
Unemployment rate: 11.5% (1998)
Budget:
revenues: $222 billion
expenditures: $265 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1998 est.)
Industries: steel, machinery, chemicals, automobiles, metallurgy,
aircraft, electronics, mining, textiles, food processing, tourism
Industrial production growth rate: 3.9% (1998)
Electricity--production: 480.783 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 8.72%
hydro: 12.92%
nuclear: 78.25%
other: 0.11% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 411.743 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 72.64 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 3.6 billion kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: wheat, cereals, sugar beets, potatoes, wine
grapes; beef, dairy products; fish
Exports: $289 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports--commodities: machinery and transportation equipment,
chemicals, foodstuffs, agricultural products, iron and steel
products, textiles and clothing
Exports--partners: Germany 16%, UK 10%, Italy 9%, Spain 8%,
Belgium-Luxembourg 8%, US 6.5%, Netherlands 4.5%, Japan 2%, Russia
0.9% (1997)
Imports: $255 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports--commodities: crude oil, machinery and equipment,
agricultural products, chemicals, iron and steel products
Imports--partners: Germany 17%, Italy 10%, US 9%,
Belgium-Luxembourg 8%, UK 8%, Spain 7%, Netherlands 5%, Japan 3%,
China 2.5% (1997)
Debt--external: $117.6 billion (1996 est.)
Economic aid--donor: ODA, $8.4 billion (1995)
Currency: 1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1--5.65 (January 1999),
5.8995 (1998), 5.8367 (1997), 5.1155 (1996), 4.9915 (1995), 5.5520
(1994)
note: on 1 January 1999, the European Union introduced a common
currency that is now being used by financial institutions in some
member countries at the rate of 0.8597 euros per US$ and a fixed
rate of 6.55957 French francs per euro; the euro will replace the
local currency in consenting countries for all transactions in 2002
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 35 million (1987 est.)
Telephone system: highly developed
domestic: extensive cable and microwave radio relay; extensive
introduction of fiber-optic cable; domestic satellite system
international: satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (with total of 5
antennas--2 for Indian Ocean and 3 for Atlantic Ocean), NA Eutelsat,
1 Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean region); HF radiotelephone communications
with more than 20 countries
Radio broadcast stations: AM 41, FM 800 (mostly repeaters),
shortwave 0
Radios: 49 million (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 310 (in addition, there are about
1,400 repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 29.3 million (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 32,027 km ( 31,940 km are operated by French National
Railways (SNCF); 13,803 km of SNCF routes are electrified and 12,132
km are double- or multiple-tracked)
standard gauge: 31,928 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 99 km 1.000-m gauge
note: does not include 33 tourist railroads, totaling 469 km, many
being of very narrow gauge (1996)
Highways:
total: 892,900 km
paved: 892,900 km (including 9,900 km of expressways)
unpaved: 0 km (1997 est.)
Waterways: 14,932 km; 6,969 km heavily traveled
Pipelines: crude oil 3,059 km; petroleum products 4,487 km;
natural gas 24,746 km
Ports and harbors: Bordeaux, Boulogne, Cherbourg, Dijon,
Dunkerque, La Pallice, Le Havre, Lyon, Marseille, Mullhouse, Nantes,
Paris, Rouen, Saint Nazaire, Saint Malo, Strasbourg
Merchant marine:
total: 64 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,826,364 GRT/2,962,338
DWT
ships by type: bulk 5, cargo 5, chemical tanker 6, combination bulk
1, container 6, liquefied gas tanker 4, multifunction large-load
carrier 2, oil tanker 20, passenger 3, roll-on/roll-off cargo 5,
short-sea passenger 6, specialized tanker 1
note: France also maintains a captive register for French-owned
ships in Iles Kerguelen (French Southern and Antarctic Lands) (1998
est.)
Airports: 474 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 267
over 3,047 m: 13
2,438 to 3,047 m: 31
1,524 to 2,437 m: 94
914 to 1,523 m: 73
under 914 m: 56 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 207
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 75
under 914 m: 129 (1998 est.)
Heliports: 3 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army (includes Marines), Navy (includes Naval
Air), Air Force (includes Air Defense, National Gendarmerie
Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 14,666,286 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 12,203,675 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 411,911 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $39.831 billion (1997)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 2.5% (1995)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: Madagascar claims Bassas da India, Europa
Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island, and Tromelin Island;
Comoros claims Mayotte; Mauritius claims Tromelin Island;
territorial dispute between Suriname and French Guiana; territorial
claim in Antarctica (Adelie Land); Matthew and Hunter Islands east
of New Caledonia claimed by France and Vanuatu
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for and consumer of South
American cocaine and Southwest Asian heroin
======================================================================
@French Guiana
-------------
Geography
Location: Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic
Ocean, between Brazil and Suriname
Geographic coordinates: 4 00 N, 53 00 W
Map references: South America
Area:
total: 91,000 sq km
land: 89,150 sq km
water: 1,850 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than Indiana
Land boundaries:
total: 1,183 km
border countries: Brazil 673 km, Suriname 510 km
Coastline: 378 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; hot, humid; little seasonal temperature
variation
Terrain: low-lying coastal plains rising to hills and small
mountains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Bellevue de l'Inini 851 m
Natural resources: bauxite, timber, gold (widely scattered),
cinnabar, kaolin, fish
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 83%
other: 17% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 20 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: high frequency of heavy showers and severe
thunderstorms; flooding
Environment--current issues: NA
Environment--international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography--note: mostly an unsettled wilderness
People
Population: 167,982 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 31% (male 26,713; female 25,514)
15-64 years: 64% (male 57,935; female 48,959)
65 years and over: 5% (male 4,479; female 4,382) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.19% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 23.27 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 4.52 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 13.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.18 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.02 male(s)/female
total population: 1.13 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 12.93 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 76.61 years
male: 73.41 years
female: 79.97 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.31 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: French Guianese (singular and plural)
adjective: French Guianese
Ethnic groups: black or mulatto 66%, white 12%, East Indian,
Chinese, Amerindian 12%, other 10%
Religions: Roman Catholic
Languages: French
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 83%
male: 84%
female: 82% (1982 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Department of Guiana
conventional short form: French Guiana
local long form: none
local short form: Guyane
Data code: FG
Dependency status: overseas department of France
Government type: NA
Capital: Cayenne
Administrative divisions: none (overseas department of France)
Independence: none (overseas department of France)
National holiday: National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July
(1789)
Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system: French legal system
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May
1995), represented by Prefect Dominique VIAN (since NA January 1997)
head of government: President of the General Council Stephan PHINERA
(since NA March 1994); President of the Regional Council Antoine
KARAM (since NA March 1992)
cabinet: NA
elections: French president elected by popular vote for a seven-year
term; prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of the
French Ministry of Interior; presidents of the General and Regional
Councils are appointed by the members of those councils
Legislative branch: unicameral General Council or Conseil General
(19 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve six-year
terms) and a unicameral Regional Council or Conseil Regional (31
seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms)
elections: General Council--last held 20-27 March 1994 (next to be
held NA 2000); Regional Council--last held 15 March 1998 (next to be
held NA 2004)
election results: General Council--percent of vote by party--NA; seats
by party--PSG 8, FDG 4, RPR 1, other left 2, other right 2, other 2;
Regional Council--percent of vote by party--PS 28.28%, various left
parties 22.56%, RPR 15.91%, independents 8.6%, Walwari 6%; seats by
party--PS 11, various left parties 9, RPR 6, independents 3, Walwari 2
note: one seat was elected to the French Senate on 27 September 1998
(next to be held NA September 2007); results--percent of vote by
party--NA; seats by party--NA; 2 seats were elected to the French
National Assembly on 25 May--1 June 1997 (next to be held NA 2002);
results--percent of vote by party --NA; seats by party--RPR 1, PSG 1
Judicial branch: Court of Appeals or Cour d'Appel (highest local
court based in Martinique with jurisdiction over Martinique,
Guadeloupe, and French Guiana)
Political parties and leaders: Guianese Socialist Party or PSG
subset of PSG); Nationalist Popular Party of Guyana (Parti
LECANTE]; Democratic and European Rally of the Senate or RDSE
International organization participation: FZ, WCL, WFTU
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas department of
France)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (overseas department
of France)
Flag description: the flag of France is used
Economy
Economy--overview: The economy is tied closely to that of France
through subsidies and imports. Besides the French space center at
Kourou, fishing and forestry are the most important economic
activities, with exports of fish and fish products (mostly shrimp)
accounting for more than 60% of total revenue in 1992. The large
reserves of tropical hardwoods, not fully exploited, support an
expanding sawmill industry which provides sawn logs for export.
Cultivation of crops is limited to the coastal area, where the
population is largely concentrated; sugar cane is the major cash
crop. French Guiana is heavily dependent on imports of food and
energy. Unemployment is a serious problem, particularly among
younger workers.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$1 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: NA%
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$6,000 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.5% (1992)
Labor force: 58,800 (1997)
Labor force--by occupation: services, government, and commerce
60.6%, industry 21.2%, agriculture 18.2% (1980)
Unemployment rate: 25.7% (1997 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $191 million
expenditures: $332 million, including capital expenditures of $88
million (1996)
Industries: construction, shrimp processing, forestry products,
rum, gold mining
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: 425 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 425 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: sugar, rice, corn, manioc (tapioca), cocoa,
vegetables, bananas; cattle, pigs, poultry
Exports: $148 million (f.o.b., 1997)
Exports--commodities: shrimp, timber, gold, rum, rosewood essence,
clothing
Exports--partners: France 60%, EU 7% (1994)
Imports: $600 million (c.i.f., 1997)
Imports--commodities: food (grains, processed meat), machinery and
transport equipment, fuels and chemicals
Imports--partners: France 62%, Germany 4%, Belgium-Luxembourg 4%,
US 2% (1994)
Debt--external: $1.2 billion (1988)
Economic aid--recipient: $NA
Currency: 1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1--5.65 (January 1999),
5.8995 (1998), 5.8367 (1997), 5.1155 (1996), 4.9915 (1995), 5.5520
(1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 31,000 (1990 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: fair open wire and microwave radio relay system
international: satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 7, shortwave 0
Radios: 79,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 3 (in addition, there are eight
low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 22,000 (1992 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km (1995)
Highways:
total: 1,817 km (national 432 km, departmental 385 km, community
1,000 km)
paved: 727 km
unpaved: 1,090 km (1995 est.)
Waterways: 460 km, navigable by small oceangoing vessels and
river and coastal steamers; 3,300 km navigable by native craft
Ports and harbors: Cayenne, Degrad des Cannes, Saint-Laurent du
Maroni
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 11 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 4
over 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 5 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: French Forces, Gendarmerie
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 47,354 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 30,656 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $NA
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: NA%
Military--note: defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: Suriname claims area between Riviere
Litani and Riviere Marouini (both headwaters of the Lawa)
Illicit drugs: small amount of marijuana grown for local
consumption; minor transshipment point to Europe
======================================================================
@French Polynesia
----------------
Geography
Location: Oceania, archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, about
one-half of the way from South America to Australia
Geographic coordinates: 15 00 S, 140 00 W
Map references: Oceania
Area:
total: 4,167 sq km (118 islands and atolls)
land: 3,660 sq km
water: 507 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly less than one-third the size of
Connecticut
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 2,525 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical, but moderate
Terrain: mixture of rugged high islands and low islands with reefs
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Orohena 2,241 m
Natural resources: timber, fish, cobalt
Land use:
arable land: 1%
permanent crops: 6%
permanent pastures: 5%
forests and woodland: 31%
other: 57% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: occasional cyclonic storms in January
Environment--current issues: NA
Environment--international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography--note: includes five archipelagoes; Makatea in French
Polynesia is one of the three great phosphate rock islands in the
Pacific Ocean--the others are Banaba (Ocean Island) in Kiribati and
Nauru
People
Population: 242,073 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 33% (male 40,422; female 38,913)
15-64 years: 63% (male 78,637; female 72,832)
65 years and over: 4% (male 5,642; female 5,627) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.72% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 22.08 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 5.06 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.19 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1 male(s)/female
total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 13.59 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 72.33 years
male: 69.93 years
female: 74.85 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.64 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: French Polynesian(s)
adjective: French Polynesian
Ethnic groups: Polynesian 78%, Chinese 12%, local French 6%,
metropolitan French 4%
Religions: Protestant 54%, Roman Catholic 30%, other 16%
Languages: French (official), Tahitian (official)
Literacy:
definition: age 14 and over can read and write
total population: 98%
male: 98%
female: 98% (1977 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Territory of French Polynesia
conventional short form: French Polynesia
local long form: Territoire de la Polynesie Francaise
local short form: Polynesie Francaise
Data code: FP
Dependency status: overseas territory of France since 1946
Government type: NA
Capital: Papeete
Administrative divisions: none (overseas territory of France);
there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the
US Government, but there are 5 archipelagic divisions named Archipel
des Marquises, Archipel des Tuamotu, Archipel des Tubuai, Iles du
Vent, and Iles Sous-le-Vent
note: Clipperton Island is administered by France from French
Polynesia
Independence: none (overseas territory of France)
National holiday: National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July
(1789)
Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system: based on French system
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May
1995), represented by High Commissioner of the Republic Paul
RONCIERE (since NA 1994)
head of government: President of the Territorial Government of
French Polynesia Gaston FLOSSE (since 4 April 1991); President of
the Territorial Assembly Justin ARAPARI (since 13 May 1996)
cabinet: Council of Ministers; president submits a list of members
of the Territorial Assembly for approval by them to serve as
ministers
elections: French president elected by popular vote for a seven-year
term; high commissioner appointed by the French president on the
advice of the French Ministry of Interior; president of the
Territorial Government and the president of the Territorial Assembly
are elected by the members of the assembly
Legislative branch: unicameral Territorial Assembly or Assemblee
Territoriale (41 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve
five-year terms)
elections: last held 12 May 1996 (next to be held NA 2001)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by
party--People's Rally for the Republic (Gaullist) 22, Polynesian
Liberation Front 10, New Fatherland Party 5, other 4
note: one seat was elected to the French Senate on 24 September 1989
(next to be held NA September 1998); results--percent of vote by
party--NA; seats by party--UC 1; two seats were elected to the French
National Assembly on 25 May--1 June 1997 (next to be held NA 2002);
results--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--People's Rally
for the Republic (Gaullist) 2
Judicial branch: Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; Court of the
First Instance or Tribunal de Premiere Instance; Court of
Administrative Law or Tribunal Administratif
Political parties and leaders: People's Rally for the Republic
Independent Front for the Liberation of Polynesia (Tavini
International organization participation: ESCAP (associate), FZ,
ICFTU, SPC, WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory of
France)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (overseas territory
of France)
Flag description: two narrow red horizontal bands encase a wide
white band; centered on the white band is a disk with blue and white
wave pattern on the lower half and gold and white ray pattern on the
upper half; a stylized red, blue and white ship rides on the wave
pattern; the French flag is used for official occasions
Economy
Economy--overview: Since 1962, when France stationed military
personnel in the region, French Polynesia has changed from a
subsistence economy to one in which a high proportion of the work
force is either employed by the military or supports the tourist
industry. Tourism accounts for about 20% of GDP and is a primary
source of hard currency earnings. The small manufacturing sector
primarily processes agricultural products. The territory benefited
from a five-year (1994-98) development agreement with France aimed
principally at creating new jobs.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$2.6 billion (1997 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: NA%
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$10,800 (1997 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 4%
industry: 18%
services: 78% (1997)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.5% (1994)
Labor force: 118,744 (of which 70,044 are employed) (1988)
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 13%, industry 19%,
services 68% (1997)
Unemployment rate: 15% (1992 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $652 million
expenditures: $613 million, including capital expenditures of $155
million (1996)
Industries: tourism, pearls, agricultural processing, handicrafts
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: 350 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 57.14%
hydro: 42.86%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 350 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: coconuts, vanilla, vegetables, fruits;
poultry, beef, dairy products
Exports: $212 million (f.o.b., 1996)
Exports--commodities: cultured pearls 53.8%, coconut products,
mother-of-pearl, vanilla, shark meat (1992)
Exports--partners: France 33%, US 8.5% (1994)
Imports: $860 million (c.i.f., 1996)
Imports--commodities: fuels, foodstuffs, equipment
Imports--partners: France 44.7%, US 13.9% (1994)
Debt--external: $NA
Economic aid--recipient: $450.4 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique franc (CFPF) = 100
centimes
Exchange rates: Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (CFPF) per
US$1--102.72 (January 1999), 107.25 (1998), 106.11 (1997), 93.00
(1996), 90.75 (1995), 100.94 (1994); note--linked at the rate of
18.18 to the French franc
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 33,200 (1983 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: NA
international: satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 2, shortwave 0
Radios: 116,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 7 (in addition, there are 17
low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 35,000 (1992 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 792 km
paved: 792 km (1995 est.)
Ports and harbors: Mataura, Papeete, Rikitea, Uturoa
Merchant marine:
total: 4 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,240 GRT/7,765 DWT
ships by type: cargo 1, passenger-cargo 2, refrigerated cargo 1
(1998 est.)
Airports: 45 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 29
over 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 17
under 914 m: 5 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 16
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 11 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: French Forces (includes Army, Navy, Air
Force), Gendarmerie
Military--note: defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
======================================================================
@French Southern and Antarctic Lands
-----------------------------------
Geography
Location: south of Africa, islands in the southern Indian Ocean,
about equidistant between Africa, Antarctica, and Australia;
note--French Southern and Antarctic Lands includes Ile Amsterdam, Ile
Saint-Paul, Iles Crozet, and Iles Kerguelen in the southern Indian
Ocean, along with the French-claimed sector of Antarctica, "Adelie
Land"; the US does not recognize the French claim to "Adelie Land"
Geographic coordinates: 43 00 S, 67 00 E
Map references: Antarctic Region
Area:
total: 7,781 sq km
land: 7,781 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes Ile Amsterdam, Ile Saint-Paul, Iles Crozet and Iles
Kerguelen; excludes "Adelie Land" claim of about 500,000 sq km in
Antarctica that is not recognized by the US
Area--comparative: slightly less than 1.3 times the size of
Delaware
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 1,232 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm from Iles Kerguelen only
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: antarctic
Terrain: volcanic
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Ross on Ile Kerguelen 1,850 m
Natural resources: fish, crayfish
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 100%
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1993)
Natural hazards: Ile Amsterdam and Ile Saint-Paul are extinct
volcanoes
Environment--current issues: NA
Environment--international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography--note: remote location in the southern Indian Ocean
People
Population: no indigenous inhabitants
note: in 1997 there were about 100 researchers whose numbers vary
from winter (July) to summer (January)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Territory of the French Southern and
Antarctic Lands
conventional short form: French Southern and Antarctic Lands
local long form: Territoire des Terres Australes et Antarctiques
Francaises
local short form: Terres Australes et Antarctiques Francaises
Data code: FS
Dependency status: overseas territory of France since 1955;
administered from Paris by a high commissioner of the Republic
Administrative divisions: none (overseas territory of France);
there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the
US Government, but there are 3 districts named Ile Crozet, Iles
Kerguelen, and Iles Saint-Paul et Amsterdam; excludes "Adelie Land"
claim in Antarctica that is not recognized by the US
Legal system: NA
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory of
France)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (overseas territory
of France)
Flag description: the flag of France is used
Economy
Economy--overview: Economic activity is limited to servicing
meteorological and geophysical research stations and French and
other fishing fleets. The fish catches landed on Iles Kerguelen by
foreign ships are exported to France and Reunion.
Budget:
revenues: $19 million
expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997)
Transportation
Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only
Merchant marine:
total: 66 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,201,120 GRT/3,832,935
DWT
ships by type: bulk 3, cargo 7, chemical tanker 10, container 9,
liquefied gas tanker 6, oil tanker 19, refrigerated cargo 2,
roll-on/roll-off cargo 10 (1998 est.)
Airports: none
Military
Military--note: defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: "Adelie Land" claim in Antarctica is not
recognized by the US
======================================================================
@Gabon
-----
Geography
Location: Western Africa, bordering the Atlantic Ocean at the
Equator, between Republic of the Congo and Equatorial Guinea
Geographic coordinates: 1 00 S, 11 45 E
Map references: Africa
Area:
total: 267,670 sq km
land: 257,670 sq km
water: 10,000 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than Colorado
Land boundaries:
total: 2,551 km
border countries: Cameroon 298 km, Republic of the Congo 1,903 km,
Equatorial Guinea 350 km
Coastline: 885 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; always hot, humid
Terrain: narrow coastal plain; hilly interior; savanna in east
and south
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Iboundji 1,575 m
Natural resources: petroleum, manganese, uranium, gold, timber,
iron ore
Land use:
arable land: 1%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 18%
forests and woodland: 77%
other: 3% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 40 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment--current issues: deforestation; poaching
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone
Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical
Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
People
Population: 1,225,853 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 33% (male 205,076; female 205,198)
15-64 years: 61% (male 376,181; female 370,479)
65 years and over: 6% (male 34,078; female 34,841) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.48% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 27.89 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 13.07 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.98 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 83.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 56.98 years
male: 53.98 years
female: 60.08 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.77 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Gabonese (singular and plural)
adjective: Gabonese
Ethnic groups: Bantu tribes including four major tribal groupings
(Fang, Eshira, Bapounou, Bateke), other Africans and Europeans
154,000, including 6,000 French and 11,000 persons of dual
nationality
Religions: Christian 55%-75%, Muslim less than 1%, animist
Languages: French (official), Fang, Myene, Bateke,
Bapounou/Eschira, Bandjabi
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 63.2%
male: 73.7%
female: 53.3% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Gabonese Republic
conventional short form: Gabon
local long form: Republique Gabonaise
local short form: Gabon
Data code: GB
Government type: republic; multiparty presidential regime
(opposition parties legalized 1990)
Capital: Libreville
Administrative divisions: 9 provinces; Estuaire, Haut-Ogooue,
Moyen-Ogooue, Ngounie, Nyanga, Ogooue-Ivindo, Ogooue-Lolo,
Ogooue-Maritime, Woleu-Ntem
Independence: 17 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday: Independence Day, 17 August (1960) (Gabon
granted full independence from France)
Constitution: adopted 14 March 1991
Legal system: based on French civil law system and customary law;
judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Chamber of the
Supreme Court; compulsory ICJ jurisdiction not accepted
Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President El Hadj Omar BONGO (since 2 December 1967)
head of government: Prime Minister Jean-Francois NTOUTOUME-EMANE
(since 23 January 1999)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister in
consultation with the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term;
election last held 6 December 1998 (next to be held NA 2005); prime
minister appointed by the president
election results: President El Hadj Omar BONGO reelected; percent of
vote--El Hadj Omar BONGO 66%, Pierre MAMBOUNDOU 17%, Fr. Paul
M'BA-ABESSOLE 13%
Legislative branch: bicameral legislature consists of the Senate
(91 seats) and the National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (120
seats); members are elected by direct popular vote to serve
five-year terms
elections: National Assembly--last held in December 1996 (next to be
held NA December 2001); Senate--last held 12 January 1997 (next to be
held in January 2002)
election results: National Assembly--percent of vote by party--NA;
seats by party--PDG 100, Morena-Bucherons/RNB 8, PUP 3, CLR 3, FAR 1,
UPG 1, USG 2, PGP 2; Senate--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by
party--PDG 51, RNB 17, PGP 4, ADERE 3, RDP 1, others 15
Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Cour Supreme consisting of
three chambers--Judicial, Administrative, and Accounts;
Constitutional Court; Courts of Appeal; Court of State Security;
County Courts
Political parties and leaders: African Forum for Reconstruction
NA]
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC,
CCC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA,
IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS (associate), ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat,
Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, MINURCA, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UDEAC,
UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,
WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Paul BOUNDOUKOU-LATHA
chancery: Suite 200, 2034 20th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
consulate(s): New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador James V. LEDESMA
embassy: Boulevard de la Mer, Libreville
mailing address: B. P. 4000, Libreville
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of green (top),
yellow, and blue
Economy
Economy--overview: Gabon enjoys a per capita income four times
that of most nations of sub-Saharan Africa. This has supported a
sharp decline in extreme poverty; yet because of high income
inequality a large proportion of the population remains poor. Gabon
depended on timber and manganese until oil was discovered offshore
in the early 1970s. The oil sector now accounts for 50% of GDP.
Gabon continues to face fluctuating prices for its oil, timber,
manganese, and uranium exports. Despite the abundance of natural
wealth, the economy is hobbled by poor fiscal management. In 1992,
the fiscal deficit widened to 2.4% of GDP, and Gabon failed to
settle arrears on its bilateral debt, leading to a cancellation of
rescheduling agreements with official and private creditors.
Devaluation of its Francophone currency by 50% on 12 January 1994
sparked a one-time inflationary surge, to 35%; the rate dropped to
6% in 1996. The IMF provided a one-year standby arrangement in
1994-95 and a three-year Enhanced Financing Facility (EFF) at near
commercial rates beginning in late 1995. Those agreements mandate
progress in privatization and fiscal discipline. France provided
additional financial support in January 1997 after Gabon had met IMF
targets for mid-1996. In 1997, an IMF mission to Gabon criticized
the government for overspending on off-budget items, overborrowing
from the central bank, and slipping on its schedule for
privatization and administrative reform. Growth in 1999 will depend
mainly on how world oil prices move.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$7.7 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 1.7% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$6,400 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 8%
industry: 67%
services: 25% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1% (1998 est.)
Labor force: NA
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 65%, industry and
commerce, services
Unemployment rate: 21% (1997 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $1.5 billion
expenditures: $1.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $302
million (1996 est.)
Industries: food and beverage; textile; lumbering and plywood;
cement; petroleum extraction and refining; manganese, uranium, and
gold mining; chemicals; ship repair
Industrial production growth rate: 2.3% (1995)
Electricity--production: 930 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 22.04%
hydro: 77.96%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 930 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: cocoa, coffee, sugar, palm oil, rubber;
cattle; okoume (a tropical softwood); fish
Exports: $2.1 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Exports--commodities: crude oil 81%, timber 12%, manganese 5%,
uranium (1996)
Exports--partners: US 67%, China 9%, France 8%, Japan 3% (1997)
Imports: $890 million (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Imports--commodities: machinery and equipment, foodstuffs,
chemicals, petroleum products, construction materials
Imports--partners: France 38%, US 8%, Cameroon 5%, Netherlands 4%,
Cote d'Ivoire, Japan (1997)
Debt--external: $4.1 billion (1997)
Economic aid--recipient: $331 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100
centimes
Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per
US$1--577.61 (January 1999), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55
(1996), 499.15 (1995), 555.20 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 22,000 (1991 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: adequate system of cable, microwave radio relay,
tropospheric scatter, radiotelephone communication stations, and a
domestic satellite system with 12 earth stations
international: satellite earth stations--3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 6, FM 6, shortwave 0
Radios: 250,000 (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 4 (in addition, there are five
low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 40,000 (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 649 km Gabon State Railways (OCTRA)
standard gauge: 649 km 1.435-m gauge; single track (1994)
Highways:
total: 7,670 km
paved: 629 km (including 30 km of expressways)
unpaved: 7,041 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 1,600 km perennially navigable
Pipelines: crude oil 270 km; petroleum products 14 km
Ports and harbors: Cap Lopez, Kango, Lambarene, Libreville,
Mayumba, Owendo, Port-Gentil
Merchant marine:
total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 13,613 GRT/22,599 DWT
(1998 est.)
ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 1 (1998 est.)
Airports: 62 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 10
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 52
1,524 to 2,437 m: 10
914 to 1,523 m: 16
under 914 m: 26 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Republican Guard
(charged with protecting the president and other senior officials),
National Gendarmerie, National Police
Military manpower--military age: 20 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 280,719 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 144,133 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 11,392 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $91 million (1996)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 1.6% (1996)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: maritime boundary dispute with Equatorial
Guinea because of disputed sovereignty over islands in Corisco Bay
======================================================================
@Gambia, The
-----------
Geography
Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and
Senegal
Geographic coordinates: 13 28 N, 16 34 W
Map references: Africa
Area:
total: 11,300 sq km
land: 10,000 sq km
water: 1,300 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly less than twice the size of Delaware
Land boundaries:
total: 740 km
border countries: Senegal 740 km
Coastline: 80 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 18 nm
continental shelf: not specified
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; hot, rainy season (June to November); cooler,
dry season (November to May)
Terrain: flood plain of the Gambia River flanked by some low hills
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 53 m
Natural resources: fish
Land use:
arable land: 18%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 9%
forests and woodland: 28%
other: 45% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 150 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: rainfall has dropped by 30% in the last 30 years
Environment--current issues: deforestation; desertification;
water-borne diseases prevalent
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone
Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography--note: almost an enclave of Senegal; smallest country on
the continent of Africa
People
Population: 1,336,320 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 46% (male 305,839; female 304,905)
15-64 years: 52% (male 341,947; female 348,163)
65 years and over: 2% (male 18,706; female 16,760) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.35% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 42.76 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 12.57 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 3.34 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.12 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 75.33 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 54.39 years
male: 52.02 years
female: 56.83 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.83 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Gambian(s)
adjective: Gambian
Ethnic groups: African 99% (Mandinka 42%, Fula 18%, Wolof 16%,
Jola 10%, Serahuli 9%, other 4%), non-African 1%
Religions: Muslim 90%, Christian 9%, indigenous beliefs 1%
Languages: English (official), Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, other
indigenous vernaculars
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 38.6%
male: 52.8%
female: 24.9% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of The Gambia
conventional short form: The Gambia
Data code: GA
Government type: republic under multiparty democratic rule
Capital: Banjul
Administrative divisions: 5 divisions and 1 city*; Banjul*, Lower
River, MacCarthy Island, North Bank, Upper River, Western
note: it has been reported but not verified that the name of the
MacCarthy Island division has been changed to Central River
Independence: 18 February 1965 (from UK); note--The Gambia and
Senegal signed an agreement on 12 December 1981 that called for the
creation of a loose confederation to be known as Senegambia, but the
agreement was dissolved on 30 September 1989
National holiday: Independence Day, 18 February (1965)
Constitution: 24 April 1970; suspended July 1994; rewritten and
approved by national referendum 8 August 1996; reestablished in
January 1997
Legal system: based on a composite of English common law, Koranic
law, and customary law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with
reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH (since 12 October
1996); Vice President Isatou Njie SAIDY (since 20 March 1997);
note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH (since 18
October 1996); Vice President Isatou Njie SAIDY (since 20 March
1997); note--the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
cabinet: Cabinet is appointed by the president
elections: the president is elected by popular vote to a five-year
term; the number of terms is not restricted; election last held 26
September 1996 (next to be held NA 2001)
election results: Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH elected president; percent
of vote--Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH 55.5%, Ousainou DARBOE 35.8%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly; 49 seats (45
elected by popular vote, 4 appointed by the president; all for
five-year terms)
elections: last popular election held 2 January 1997 (next to be
held NA 2002)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--APRC
33, UDP 7, NRP 2, PDOIS 1, independents 2
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: Alliance for Patriotic
Democratic Organization for Independence and Socialism or PDOIS
note--in August 1996 the government banned the following from
participation in the elections of 1996: People's Progressive Party
President Sheriff DIBBA] and the Gambian People's Party or GPP
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA,
ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC,
ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UN Security Council (temporary),
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Crispin GREY-JOHNSON
chancery: Suite 1000, 1155 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador George W. HALEY
embassy: Fajara, Kairaba Avenue, Banjul
mailing address: P. M. B. No. 19, Banjul
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue
with white edges, and green
Economy
Economy--overview: The Gambia has no important mineral or other
natural resources and has a limited agricultural base. About 75% of
the population depends on crops and livestock for its livelihood.
Small-scale manufacturing activity features the processing of
peanuts, fish, and hides. Reexport trade normally constitutes a
major segment of economic activity, but the 50% devaluation of the
CFA franc in January 1994 made Senegalese goods more competitive and
hurt the reexport trade. The Gambia has benefited from a rebound in
tourism after its decline in response to the military's takeover in
July 1994. Short-run economic progress remains highly dependent on
sustained bilateral and multilateral aid and on responsible
government economic management as forwarded by IMF technical help
and advice.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$1.3 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 3.8% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,000 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 23%
industry: 13%
services: 64% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3% (1998 est.)
Labor force: NA
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 75%, industry, commerce,
and services 19%, government 6%
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $88.6 million
expenditures: $98.2 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY96/97 est.)
Industries: processing peanuts, fish, and hides; tourism;
beverages; agricultural machinery assembly, woodworking,
metalworking; clothing
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: 70 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 70 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: peanuts, millet, sorghum, rice, corn,
cassava (tapioca), palm kernels; cattle, sheep, goats; forest and
fishery resources not fully exploited
Exports: $120 million (f.o.b., 1997)
Exports--commodities: peanuts and peanut products, fish, cotton
lint, palm kernels
Exports--partners: Belgium, Japan, Senegal, Hong Kong, France,
Switzerland, UK, US, Indonesia (1997)
Imports: $207 million (f.o.b., 1997)
Imports--commodities: foodstuffs, manufactures, raw materials,
fuel, machinery and transport equipment
Imports--partners: Cote d'Ivoire, Hong Kong, UK, Germany,
Netherlands, France, Belgium (1997)
Debt--external: $426 million (1995 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $45.4 million (1995)
Currency: 1 dalasi (D) = 100 butut
Exchange rates: dalasi (D) per US$1--10.947 (December 1998),
10.643 (1998), 10.200 (1997), 9.789 (1996), 9.546 (1995), 9.576
(1994)
Fiscal year: 1 July--30 June
Communications
Telephones: 11,000 (1991 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: adequate network of microwave radio relay and open wire
international: microwave radio relay links to Senegal and
Guinea-Bissau; satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 5, shortwave 0
Radios: 180,000 (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (government owned) (1997)
Televisions: NA
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 2,700 km
paved: 956 km
unpaved: 1,744 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 400 km
Ports and harbors: Banjul
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army (includes marine unit), National Police,
National Guard
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 296,976 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 149,670 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $1.2 million (FY96/97)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 2% (FY96/97)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: short section of boundary with Senegal is
indefinite
======================================================================
@Gaza Strip
----------
Introduction
Background: The Israel-PLO Declaration of Principles on Interim
Self-Government Arrangements ("the DOP"), signed in Washington on 13
September 1993, provides for a transitional period not exceeding
five years of Palestinian interim self-government in the Gaza Strip
and the West Bank. Permanent status negotiations began on 5 May
1996, but have not resumed since the initial meeting. Under the DOP,
Israel agreed to transfer certain powers and responsibilities to the
Palestinian Authority, which includes a Palestinian Legislative
Council elected in January 1996, as part of interim self-governing
arrangements in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. A transfer of powers
and responsibilities for the Gaza Strip and Jericho took place
pursuant to the Israel-PLO 4 May 1994 Cairo Agreement on the Gaza
Strip and the Jericho Area and in additional areas of the West Bank
pursuant to the Israel-PLO 28 September 1995 Interim Agreement, the
Israel-PLO 15 January 1997 Protocol Concerning Redeployment in
Hebron, and the Israel-PLO 23 October 1998 Wye River Memorandum. The
DOP provides that Israel will retain responsibility during the
transitional period for external security and for internal security
and public order of settlements and Israelis. Permanent status is to
be determined through direct negotiations.
Geography
Location: Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between
Egypt and Israel
Geographic coordinates: 31 25 N, 34 20 E
Map references: Middle East
Area:
total: 360 sq km
land: 360 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly more than twice the size of
Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
total: 62 km
border countries: Egypt 11 km, Israel 51 km
Coastline: 40 km
Maritime claims: Israeli-occupied with current status subject to
the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement--permanent status to be
determined through further negotiation
Climate: temperate, mild winters, dry and warm to hot summers
Terrain: flat to rolling, sand- and dune-covered coastal plain
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Abu 'Awdah (Joz Abu 'Auda) 105 m
Natural resources: NEGL
Land use:
arable land: 24%
permanent crops: 39%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 11%
other: 26% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 120 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment--current issues: desertification; salination of fresh
water; sewage treatment
Environment--international agreements:
party to: none of the selected agreements
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography--note: there are 24 Israeli settlements and civilian
land use sites in the Gaza Strip (August 1998 est.)
People
Population: 1,112,654 (July 1999 est.)
note: in addition, there are some 6,000 Israeli settlers in the Gaza
Strip (August 1998 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 52% (male 294,196; female 280,017)
15-64 years: 46% (male 255,209; female 251,317)
65 years and over: 2% (male 13,475; female 18,440) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 4.44% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 48.24 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 3.8 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 22.92 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 73.44 years
male: 72.01 years
female: 74.95 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 7.46 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: NA
adjective: NA
Ethnic groups: Palestinian Arab and other 99.4%, Jewish 0.6%
Religions: Muslim (predominantly Sunni) 98.7%, Christian 0.7%,
Jewish 0.6%
Languages: Arabic, Hebrew (spoken by Israeli settlers and many
Palestinians), English (widely understood)
Literacy: NA
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Gaza Strip
local long form: none
local short form: Qita Ghazzah
Data code: GZ
Economy
Economy--overview: Economic conditions in the Gaza Strip?under the
responsibility of the Palestinian Authority since the Cairo
Agreement of May 1994--have deteriorated since the early 1990s. Real
per capita GDP for the West Bank and Gaza Strip (WBGS) declined 36%
between 1992 and 1996 owing to the combined effect of falling
aggregate incomes and robust population growth. The downturn in
economic activity was largely the result of Israeli closure
policies--the imposition of generalized border closures in response
to security incidents in Israel--which disrupted previously
established labor and commodity market relationships between Israel
and the WBGS. The most serious negative social effect of this
downturn has been the emergence of chronic unemployment; average
unemployment rates in the WBGS during the 1980s were generally under
5%, by the mid-1990s this level had risen to over 20%. Since 1997
Israel's use of comprehensive closures has decreased and, in 1998,
Israel implemented new policies to reduce the impact of closures and
other security procedures on the movement of Palestinian goods and
labor. These positive changes to the conduct of economic activity,
combined with international donor pledges of over $3 billion made to
the Palestinian Authority in November, may fuel a moderate economic
recovery in 1999.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$1.1 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 2.2% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,000 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 33%
industry: 25%
services: 42% (1995 est., includes West Bank)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 8.8% (1997 est.)
Labor force: NA
note: excluding Israeli settlers
Labor force--by occupation: services 66%, industry 21%,
agriculture 13% (1996)
Unemployment rate: 26.8% (1997 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $816 million
expenditures: $866 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1997 est.)
note: includes West Bank
Industries: generally small family businesses that produce
textiles, soap, olive-wood carvings, and mother-of-pearl souvenirs;
the Israelis have established some small-scale modern industries in
an industrial center
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: NA kWh
note: electricity supplied by Israel
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: NA%
hydro: NA%
nuclear: NA%
other: NA%
Electricity--consumption: NA kWh
Electricity--exports: NA kWh
Electricity--imports: NA kWh
Agriculture--products: olives, citrus, vegetables; beef, dairy
products
Exports: $781 million (f.o.b., 1997 est.) (includes West Bank)
Exports--commodities: citrus
Exports--partners: Israel, Egypt, West Bank
Imports: $2.1 billion (c.i.f., 1997 est.) (includes West Bank)
Imports--commodities: food, consumer goods, construction materials
Imports--partners: Israel, Egypt, West Bank
Debt--external: $108 million (1997 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $NA
Currency: 1 new Israeli shekel (NIS) = 100 new agorot
Exchange rates: new Israeli shekels (NIS) per US$1--4.2260
(November 1998), 3.4494 (1997), 3.1917 (1996), 3.0113 (1995), 3.0111
(1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year (since 1 January 1992)
Communications
Telephones: NA; 3.1% of Palestinian households have telephones
Telephone system:
domestic: NA
international: NA
Radio broadcast stations: AM 0, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: NA; note--95% of Palestinian households have radios (1992
est.)
Television broadcast stations: 2 (operated by the Palestinian
Broadcasting Corp.) (1997)
Televisions: NA; note--59% of Palestinian households have
televisions (1992 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: NA km; note--one line, abandoned and in disrepair, little
trackage remains
Highways:
total: NA km
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km
note: small, poorly developed road network
Ports and harbors: Gaza
Airports: 2 (1998 est.)
note: includes Gaza International Airport that opened on 24 November
1998 as part of agreements stipulated in the 23 October 1998 Wye
River Memorandum
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: NA
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $NA
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: NA%
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: West Bank and Gaza Strip are
Israeli-occupied with current status subject to the
Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement--permanent status to be
determined through further negotiation
======================================================================
@Georgia
-------
Introduction
Background: Beset by ethnic and civil strife since independence
from the Soviet Union in December 1991, Georgia began to stabilize
in 1994. Political settlements for separatist conflicts in South
Ossetia and Abkhazia remain elusive. The conflict in South Ossetia
has been dormant since spring 1994, but sporadic violence continues
between Abkhaz forces and Georgian partisans in western Georgia.
Russian peacekeepers are deployed in both regions and a UN Observer
Mission is operating in Abkhazia. As a result of these conflicts,
Georgia still has about 250,000 internally displaced people. In
1995, Georgia adopted a new constitution and conducted generally
free and fair nationwide presidential and parliamentary elections.
In 1996, the government focused its attention on implementing an
ambitious economic reform program and professionalizing its
parliament. Violence and organized crime were sharply curtailed in
1995 and 1996, but corruption remains rife. Georgia has taken some
steps to reduce its dependence on Russia, acquiring coastal patrol
boats in 1997 to replace Russian border units along the Black Sea
coast. In 1998, Georgia assumed control of its Black Sea coast and
about half of its land border with Turkey in line with a June 1998
agreement with Russia. Since 1997, Georgia's parliament has
sharpened its rhetoric against Russia's continued military presence
on Georgian territory. In February 1998 an assassination attempt was
made against President SHEVARDNADZE by supporters of the late former
president Zviad GAMSAKHURDIA. In October 1998, a disaffected
military officer led a failed mutiny in western Georgia; the armed
forces continue to feel the ripple effect of the uprising. Georgia
faces parliamentary elections this fall, and presidential elections
next spring. After two years of robust growth, the economy, hurt by
the financial crisis in Russia, slowed in 1998.
Geography
Location: Southwestern Asia, bordering the Black Sea, between
Turkey and Russia
Geographic coordinates: 42 00 N, 43 30 E
Map references: Commonwealth of Independent States
Area:
total: 69,700 sq km
land: 69,700 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than South Carolina
Land boundaries:
total: 1,461 km
border countries: Armenia 164 km, Azerbaijan 322 km, Russia 723 km,
Turkey 252 km
Coastline: 310 km
Maritime claims: NA
Climate: warm and pleasant; Mediterranean-like on Black Sea coast
Terrain: largely mountainous with Great Caucasus Mountains in the
north and Lesser Caucasus Mountains in the south; Kolkhet'is Dablobi
(Kolkhida Lowland) opens to the Black Sea in the west; Mtkvari River
Basin in the east; good soils in river valley flood plains,
foothills of Kolkhida Lowland
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Black Sea 0 m
highest point: Mt'a Mqinvartsveri (Gora Kazbek) 5,048 m
Natural resources: forests, hydropower, manganese deposits, iron
ore, copper, minor coal and oil deposits; coastal climate and soils
allow for important tea and citrus growth
Land use:
arable land: 9%
permanent crops: 4%
permanent pastures: 25%
forests and woodland: 34%
other: 28% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 4,000 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: earthquakes
Environment--current issues: air pollution, particularly in
Rust'avi; heavy pollution of Mtkvari River and the Black Sea;
inadequate supplies of potable water; soil pollution from toxic
chemicals
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the
Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Desertification
People
Population: 5,066,499 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 21% (male 544,055; female 522,491)
15-64 years: 67% (male 1,628,993; female 1,753,527)
65 years and over: 12% (male 236,124; female 381,309) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: -0.74% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 11.64 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 14.3 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -4.69 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female
total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 52.01 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 64.63 years
male: 61.13 years
female: 68.32 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.53 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Georgian(s)
adjective: Georgian
Ethnic groups: Georgian 70.1%, Armenian 8.1%, Russian 6.3%, Azeri
5.7%, Ossetian 3%, Abkhaz 1.8%, other 5%
Religions: Christian Orthodox 75% (Georgian Orthodox 65%, Russian
Orthodox 10%), Muslim 11%, Armenian Apostolic 8%, unknown 6%
Languages: Georgian 71% (official), Russian 9%, Armenian 7%,
Azeri 6%, other 7%
note: Abkhaz (official in Abkhazia)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 100%
female: 98% (1989 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Georgia
local long form: none
local short form: Sak'art'velo
former: Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic
Data code: GG
Government type: republic
Capital: T'bilisi
Administrative divisions: 53 rayons (raionebi, singular--raioni),
9 cities* (k'alak'ebi, singular--k'alak'i), and 2 autonomous
republics** (avtomnoy respubliki, singular--avtom respublika);
Abashis, Abkhazia or Ap'khazet'is Avtonomiuri Respublika**
(Sokhumi), Adigenis, Ajaria or Acharis Avtonomiuri Respublika**
(Bat'umi), Akhalgoris, Akhalk'alak'is, Akhalts'ikhis, Akhmetis,
Ambrolauris, Aspindzis, Baghdat'is, Bolnisis, Borjomis, Chiat'ura*,
Ch'khorotsqus, Ch'okhatauris, Dedop'listsqaros, Dmanisis, Dushet'is,
Gardabanis, Gori*, Goris, Gurjaanis, Javis, K'arelis, Kaspis,
Kharagaulis, Khashuris, Khobis, Khonis, K'ut'aisi*, Lagodekhis,
Lanch'khut'is, Lentekhis, Marneulis, Martvilis, Mestiis,
Mts'khet'is, Ninotsmindis, Onis, Ozurget'is, P'ot'i*, Qazbegis,
Qvarlis, Rust'avi*, Sach'kheris, Sagarejos, Samtrediis, Senakis,
Sighnaghis, T'bilisi*, T'elavis, T'erjolis, T'et'ritsqaros,
T'ianet'is, Tqibuli*, Ts'ageris, Tsalenjikhis, Tsalkis, Tsqaltubo*,
Vanis, Zestap'onis, Zugdidi*, Zugdidis
note: administrative divisions have the same names as their
administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center
name following in parentheses)
Independence: 9 April 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday: Independence Day, 26 May (1991)
Constitution: adopted 17 October 1995
Legal system: based on civil law system
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Eduard Amvrosiyevich SHEVARDNADZE
(previously elected chairman of the Government Council 10 March
1992, Council has since been disbanded; previously elected chairman
of Parliament 11 October 1992; president since 26 November 1995;
note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Eduard Amvrosiyevich SHEVARDNADZE
(previously elected chairman of the Government Council 10 March
1992, Council has since been disbanded; previously elected chairman
of Parliament 11 October 1992; president since 26 November 1995;
note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 5 November 1995 (next to be held NA 2000)
election results: Eduard SHEVARDNADZE elected president; percent of
vote--Eduard SHEVARDNADZE 74%
Legislative branch: unicameral Supreme Council (commonly referred
to as Parliament) or Umaghiesi Sabcho (235 seats; members are
elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 5 November 1995 (next to be held NA 1999)
election results: percent of vote by party--CUG 24%, NDP 8%, AGUR 7%,
all other parties received less than 5% each; seats by party--CUG
107, NDP 34, AGUR 32, Progress Bloc 4, SPG 4, others 9, Abkazian
deputies 12, independents 29, not filled 4
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges elected by the Supreme
Council on the president's recommendation; Constitutional Court
Political parties and leaders: Citizen's Union of Georgia or CUG
groups: Democratic Union of Georgia or DUG, Political Association
"Georgian Proprietors"--Electoral Association "T'bilisi", Political
Union of Young Democrats "Our Choice", Political Union Tanadgoma)
Political pressure groups and leaders: supporters of the late
ousted President Zviad GAMSAKHURDYA remain a source of opposition;
separatist elements in the breakaway region of Abkhazia; Georgian
refugees from Abkhazia (Abkhaz faction in Georgian Parliament)
International organization participation: BSEC, CCC, CE (guest),
CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO
(correspondent), ITU, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Tedo JAPARIDZE
chancery: Suite 300, 1615 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC
20009
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Kenneth S. YALOWITZ
embassy: #25 Antoneli Street, T'bilisi 380026
mailing address: use embassy street address
Flag description: maroon field with small rectangle in upper
hoist side corner; rectangle divided horizontally with black on top,
white below
Economy
Economy--overview: Georgia's economy has traditionally revolved
around Black Sea tourism; cultivation of citrus fruits, tea, and
grapes; mining of manganese and copper; and output of a small
industrial sector producing wine, metals, machinery, chemicals, and
textiles. The country imports the bulk of its energy needs,
including natural gas and oil products. Its only sizable internal
energy resource is hydropower. Despite the severe damage the economy
has suffered due to civil strife, Georgia, with the help of the IMF
and World Bank, made substantial economic gains since 1995,
increasing GDP growth and slashing inflation. The Georgian economy
suffered some setbacks in late 1998, including a large budget
deficit due to a failure to collect tax revenue and to the impact of
the Russian economic crisis. Georgia also still suffers from energy
shortages; it privatized the distribution network in 1998, and
deliveries are steadily improving. Georgia is pinning its hopes for
long-term recovery on the development of an international
transportation corridor through the key Black Sea ports of P'ot'i
and Bat'umi. The construction of a Caspian oil pipeline through
Georgia--scheduled to open in early 1999--should spur greater Western
investment in the economy. The global economic slowdown, a growing
trade deficit, continuing problems with corruption, and political
uncertainties cloud the short-term economic picture.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$11.2 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 4% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$2,200 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 29%
industry: 16%
services: 55% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 10.5% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 3.08 million (1997)
Labor force--by occupation: industry and construction 31%,
agriculture and forestry 25%, other 44% (1990)
Unemployment rate: 16% (1996 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $364 million
expenditures: $568 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1998)
Industries: steel, aircraft, machine tools, foundry equipment,
electric locomotives, tower cranes, electric welding equipment,
machinery for food preparation and meat packing, electric motors,
process control equipment, trucks, tractors, textiles, shoes,
chemicals, wood products, wine
Industrial production growth rate: -0.3% (1998 est.)
Electricity--production: 6.845 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 29.88%
hydro: 70.12%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 6.949 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 300 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 404 million kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: citrus, grapes, tea, vegetables, potatoes;
livestock
Exports: $230 million (f.o.b., 1997 est.)
Exports--commodities: citrus fruits, tea, wine, other agricultural
products; diverse types of machinery; ferrous and nonferrous metals;
textiles; chemicals; fuel reexports
Exports--partners: Russia, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Ukraine, Armenia,
Bulgaria, Turkey, US, UK, Italy, Germany, Romania (1997)
Imports: $931 million (c.i.f., 1997 est.)
Imports--commodities: fuel, grain and other foods, machinery and
parts, transport equipment
Imports--partners: Russia, Turkey, Azerbaijan (1996); note?EU and
US send humanitarian food shipments
Debt--external: $1.3 billion (1996 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $212.7 million (1995)
Currency: lari introduced September 1995 replacing the coupon
Exchange rates: lari per US$1 (end of period)--1.82 (December
1998), 1.32 (December 1997), 1.28 (December 1996), 1.24 (December
1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 760,000 (1996 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: local--T'bilisi and K'ut'aisi have cellular telephone
networks with about 10,000 customers total; urban areas 20
telephones/100 people; rural areas 4 phones/100 people; intercity--a
fiber-optic line connects T'bilisi to K'ut'aisi (Georgia's second
largest city); nationwide pager service
international: Georgia and Russia are working on a fiber-optic line
between P'ot'i and Sochi (Russia); present international service is
available by microwave, land line, and satellite through the Moscow
switch; international electronic mail and telex service available
Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA; note 2
national broadcast stations, 3 regional broadcast stations
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 3
Televisions: NA
Transportation
Railways:
total: 1,583 km in common carrier service; does not include
industrial lines
broad gauge: 1,583 km 1.520-m gauge (1993)
Highways:
total: 20,700 km
paved: 19,354 km
unpaved: 1,346 km (1996 est.)
Pipelines: crude oil 370 km; refined products 300 km; natural gas
440 km (1992)
Ports and harbors: Bat'umi, P'ot'i, Sokhumi
Merchant marine:
total: 8 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 86,667 GRT/121,679 DWT
ships by type: cargo 2, oil tanker 5, short-sea passenger 1 (1998
est.)
Airports: 28 (1994 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 14
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (1994 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 14
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 6 (1994 est.)
Transportation--note: transportation network is in poor condition
and disrupted by ethnic conflict, criminal activities, and fuel
shortages; network lacks maintenance and repair
Military
Military branches: Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense
Forces, National Guard, Republic Security Forces (internal and
border troops)
Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 1,287,225 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,018,309 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 40,604 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $57 million (1998)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 1% (1998)
Military--note: a CIS peacekeeping force consisting of Russian
troops is deployed in the Abkhazia region of Georgia together with a
UN military observer group; a Russian peacekeeping battalion is
deployed in South Ossetia
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
Illicit drugs: limited cultivation of cannabis and opium poppy,
mostly for domestic consumption; used as transshipment point for
opiates via Central Asia to Western Europe
======================================================================
@Germany
-------
Introduction
Background: Germany--first united in 1871?suffered defeats in
successive world wars and was occupied by the victorious Allied
powers of the US, UK, France, and the Soviet Union in 1945. With the
beginning of the Cold War and increasing tension between the US and
Soviet Union, two German states were formed in 1949: the western
Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) and the eastern German Democratic
Republic (GDR). The newly democratic FRG embedded itself in key
Western economic and security organizations, the EU and NATO, while
the Communist GDR was on the front line of the Soviet-led Warsaw
Pact. The decline of the Soviet Union and end of the Cold War
cleared the path for the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and German
re-unification in 1990. Germany has expended considerable
funds--roughly $100 billion a year--in subsequent years working to
bring eastern productivity and wages up to western standards, with
mixed results. Unemployment--which in the east is nearly double that
in the west--has grown over the last several years, primarily as a
result of structural problems like an inflexible labor market. In
January 1999, Germany and 10 other members of the EU formed a common
European currency, the euro, and the German government is now
looking toward reform of the EU budget and enlargement of the Union
into Central Europe.
Geography
Location: Central Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and the North
Sea, between the Netherlands and Poland, south of Denmark
Geographic coordinates: 51 00 N, 9 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area:
total: 356,910 sq km
land: 349,520 sq km
water: 7,390 sq km
note: includes the formerly separate Federal Republic of Germany,
the German Democratic Republic, and Berlin, following formal
unification on 3 October 1990
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than Montana
Land boundaries:
total: 3,621 km
border countries: Austria 784 km, Belgium 167 km, Czech Republic 646
km, Denmark 68 km, France 451 km, Luxembourg 138 km, Netherlands 577
km, Poland 456 km, Switzerland 334 km
Coastline: 2,389 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: temperate and marine; cool, cloudy, wet winters and
summers; occasional warm, tropical foehn wind; high relative humidity
Terrain: lowlands in north, uplands in center, Bavarian Alps in
south
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Freepsum Lake -2 m
highest point: Zugspitze 2,962 m
Natural resources: iron ore, coal, potash, timber, lignite,
uranium, copper, natural gas, salt, nickel
Land use:
arable land: 33%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 15%
forests and woodland: 31%
other: 20% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 4,750 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: flooding
Environment--current issues: emissions from coal-burning utilities
and industries and lead emissions from vehicle exhausts (the result
of continued use of leaded fuels) contribute to air pollution; acid
rain, resulting from sulfur dioxide emissions, is damaging forests;
pollution in the Baltic Sea from raw sewage and industrial effluents
from rivers in eastern Germany; hazardous waste disposal
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air
Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental
Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical
Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography--note: strategic location on North European Plain and
along the entrance to the Baltic Sea
People
Population: 82,087,361 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 15% (male 6,495,882; female 6,172,359)
15-64 years: 69% (male 28,687,267; female 27,526,698)
65 years and over: 16% (male 4,990,090; female 8,215,065) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.01% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 8.68 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 10.76 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 2.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.61 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 5.14 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.17 years
male: 74.01 years
female: 80.5 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.26 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: German(s)
adjective: German
Ethnic groups: German 91.5%, Turkish 2.4%, Italians 0.7%, Greeks
0.4%, Poles 0.4%, other 4.6% (made up largely of people fleeing the
war in the former Yugoslavia)
Religions: Protestant 38%, Roman Catholic 34%, Muslim 1.7%,
unaffiliated or other 26.3%
Languages: German
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99% (1977 est.)
male: NA%
female: NA%
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Federal Republic of Germany
conventional short form: Germany
local long form: Bundesrepublik Deutschland
local short form: Deutschland
Data code: GM
Government type: federal republic
Capital: Berlin
note: the shift from Bonn to Berlin will take place over a period of
years, with Bonn retaining many administrative functions and several
ministries even after parliament moves in 1999
Administrative divisions: 16 states (Laender, singular--Land);
Baden-Wuerttemberg, Bayern, Berlin, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg,
Hessen, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Niedersachsen, Nordrhein-Westfalen,
Rheinland-Pfalz, Saarland, Sachsen, Sachsen-Anhalt,
Schleswig-Holstein, Thueringen
Independence: 18 January 1871 (German Empire unification);
divided into four zones of occupation (UK, US, USSR, and later,
France) in 1945 following World War II; Federal Republic of Germany
(FRG or West Germany) proclaimed 23 May 1949 and included the former
UK, US, and French zones; German Democratic Republic (GDR or East
Germany) proclaimed 7 October 1949 and included the former USSR
zone; unification of West Germany and East Germany took place 3
October 1990; all four powers formally relinquished rights 15 March
1991
National holiday: German Unity Day (Day of Unity), 3 October
(1990)
Constitution: 23 May 1949, known as Basic Law; became
constitution of the united German people 3 October 1990
Legal system: civil law system with indigenous concepts; judicial
review of legislative acts in the Federal Constitutional Court; has
not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Roman HERZOG (since 1 July 1994)
head of government: Chancellor Gerhard SCHROEDER (since 27 October
1998)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president upon the proposal of the
chancellor
elections: president elected for a five-year term by a Federal
Convention including all members of the Federal Assembly and an
equal number of delegates elected by the Land Parliaments; election
last held 23 May 1994 (next to be held 23 May 1999); chancellor
elected by an absolute majority of the Federal Assembly for a
four-year term; election last held 27 September 1998 (next to be
held in the fall of 2002)
election results: Roman HERZOG elected president; percent of Federal
Convention vote--52.6%; Gerhard SCHROEDER elected chancellor; percent
of Federal Assembly--52.8%
Legislative branch: bicameral chamber (no official name for the
two chambers as a whole) consists of the Federal Assembly or
Bundestag (656 seats usually, but 669 for the 1998 term; elected by
popular vote under a system combining direct and proportional
representation; a party must win 5% of the national vote or three
direct mandates to gain representation; members serve four-year
terms) and the Federal Council or Bundesrat (69 votes; state
governments are directly represented by votes; each has 3 to 6 votes
depending on population and are required to vote as a block)
elections: Federal Assembly--last held 27 September 1998 (next to be
held by the fall of 2002); note--there are no elections for the
Bundesrat; composition is determined by the composition of the
state-level governments; the composition of the Bundesrat has the
potential to change any time one of the 16 states holds an election
election results: Federal Assembly--percent of vote by party--SPD
40.9%, Alliance 90/Greens 6.7%, CDU/CSU 35.1%, FDP 6.2%, PDS 5.1%;
seats by party--SPD 298, Alliance 90/Greens 47, CDU/CSU 245, FDP 43,
PDS 36; Federal Council--current composition--votes by party--SPD-led
states 45, CDU-led states 24
Judicial branch: Federal Constitutional Court or
Bundesverfassungsgericht, half the judges are elected by the
Bundestag and half by the Bundesrat
Political parties and leaders: Christian Democratic Union or CDU
Political pressure groups and leaders: employers' organizations,
expellee, refugee, trade unions, and veterans groups
International organization participation: AfDB, AsDB, Australia
Group, BDEAC, BIS, CBSS, CCC, CDB (non-regional), CE, CERN, EAPC,
EBRD, ECE, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 5, G- 7, G-10, IADB, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,
IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MTCR,
NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNOMIG, UPU, WEU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Juergen CHROBOG
chancery: 4645 Reservoir Road NW, Washington, DC 20007
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Houston,
Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco, Seattle
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador John C. KORNBLUM
embassy: Deichmanns Aue 29, 53170 Bonn
mailing address: PSC 117, APO AE 09080
branch office: Berlin; mailing address: Neustaedtische Kirchstrasse
consulate(s) general: Dusseldorf, Frankfurt am Main, Hamburg,
Leipzig, Munich
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of black (top),
red, and gold
Economy
Economy--overview: Germany possesses the world's third most
powerful economy, with its capitalist market system tempered by
generous welfare benefits. On 1 January 1999, Germany and 10 other
European Union countries launched the European Monetary Union (EMU)
by permanently fixing their bilateral exchange rates and giving the
new European Central Bank control over the zone's monetary policy.
Germans expect to have the new European currency, the euro, in
pocket by 2002. Domestic demand contributed to a moderate economic
upswing in early 1998, although unemployment remains high.
Job-creation measures have helped superficially, but structural
rigidities--like high wages and costly benefits--make unemployment a
long-term, not just a cyclical, problem. Although minimally affected
by the Asian crisis in 1998, Germany revised its 1999 forecast
downward at the beginning of the year to reflect anticipated effects
from the global economic slowdown. Over the long term, Germany faces
budgetary problems--lower tax revenues and higher pension outlays--as
its population ages. Meanwhile, the German nation continues to
wrestle with the integration of eastern Germany, whose adjustment
may take decades to complete despite annual transfers from the west
of roughly $100 billion a year.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$1.813 trillion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 2.7% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$22,100 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 1.1%
industry: 33.1%
services: 65.8% (1998)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.9% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 38.2 million (1998)
Labor force--by occupation: industry 33.7%, agriculture 2.7%,
services 63.6% (1998)
Unemployment rate: 10.6% (1998 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $977 billion
expenditures: $1.024 trillion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1998 est.)
Industries: western: among world's largest and technologically
advanced producers of iron, steel, coal, cement, chemicals,
machinery, vehicles, machine tools, electronics, food and beverages;
eastern: metal fabrication, chemicals, brown coal, shipbuilding,
machine building, food and beverages, textiles, petroleum refining
Industrial production growth rate: 5% (1998)
Electricity--production: 515.058 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 66.23%
hydro: 3.5%
nuclear: 29.81%
other: 0.46% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 509.458 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 42.5 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 36.9 billion kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: western?potatoes, wheat, barley, sugar
beets, fruit, cabbages; cattle, pigs, poultry; eastern--wheat, rye,
barley, potatoes, sugar beets, fruit; pork, beef, chickens, milk,
hides
Exports: $510 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Exports--commodities: machinery 31%, vehicles 17%, chemicals 13%,
metals and manufactures, foodstuffs, textiles (1997)
Exports--partners: EU 55.5% (France 10.7%, UK 8.5%, Italy 7.4%,
Netherlands 7.0%, Belgium-Luxembourg 5.8%), US 8.6%, Japan 2.3%
(1997 est.)
Imports: $426 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Imports--commodities: machinery 22%, vehicles 10%, chemicals 9%,
foodstuffs 8%, textiles, metals (1997)
Imports--partners: EU 54.3% (France 10.5%, Netherlands 8.5%, Italy
7.8%, UK 7.0%, Belgium-Luxembourg 6.2%), US 7.7%, Japan 4.9% (1997)
Debt--external: $NA
Economic aid--donor: ODA, $7.5 billion (1995)
Currency: 1 deutsche mark (DM) = 100 pfennige
Exchange rates: deutsche marks (DM) per US$1--1.69 (January 1999),
1.7597 (1998), 1.7341 (1997), 1.5048 (1996), 1.4331 (1995), 1.6228
(1994)
note: on 1 January 1999, the European Union introduced a common
currency that is now being used by financial institutions in some
member countries at the rate of 0.8597 euros per US$ and a fixed
rate of 1.95583 deutsche marks per euro; the euro will replace the
local currency in consenting countries for all transactions in 2002
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 44 million
Telephone system: Germany has one of the world's most
technologically advanced telecommunications systems; as a result of
intensive capital expenditures since reunification, the formerly
backward system of the eastern part of the country has been
modernized and integrated with that of the western part
domestic: the region which was formerly West Germany is served by an
extensive system of automatic telephone exchanges connected by
modern networks of fiber-optic cable, coaxial cable, microwave radio
relay, and a domestic satellite system; cellular telephone service
is widely available and includes roaming service to many foreign
countries; since the reunification of Germany, the telephone system
of the eastern region has been upgraded and enjoys all of the
advantages of the national system
international: satellite earth stations--14 Intelsat (12 Atlantic
Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean), 1 Eutelsat, 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean
region), 2 Intersputnik (1 Atlantic Ocean region and 1 Indian Ocean
region); 7 submarine cable connections; 2 HF radiotelephone
communication centers; tropospheric scatter links
Radio broadcast stations: AM 77, FM 1,621, shortwave 37, digital
audio broadcasting 130
Radios: 47.1 million (1998 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 9,513 (including repeaters)
Televisions: 51.4 million (1998 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 46,300 km including 18,866 km electrified and 14,768 km
double- or multiple-tracked (1996)
note: since privatization in 1994, Deutsche Bahn AG (DBAG) no longer
publishes details of the tracks it owns; in addition to the DBAG
system there are 102 privately owned railway companies which own an
approximate 3,000 km to 4,000 km of the total tracks
Highways:
total: 656,074 km
paved: 650,169 km (including 11,309 km of expressways)
unpaved: 5,905 km all-weather (1997 est.)
Waterways: 7,467 km (1997); major rivers include the Rhine and
Elbe; Kiel Canal is an important connection between the Baltic Sea
and North Sea
Pipelines: crude oil 2,460 km (1997)
Ports and harbors: Berlin, Bonn, Brake, Bremen, Bremerhaven,
Cologne, Dresden, Duisburg, Emden, Hamburg, Karlsruhe, Kiel, Lubeck,
Magdeburg, Mannheim, Rostock, Stuttgart
Merchant marine:
total: 594 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 7,699,596
GRT/9,629,163 DWT
ships by type: cargo 227, chemical tanker 15, combination bulk 1,
container 306, liquefied gas tanker 5, multifunction large-load
carrier 5, oil tanker 7, passenger 3, railcar carrier 2,
refrigerated cargo 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 14, short-sea passenger
7 (1998 est.)
Airports: 618 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 319
over 3,047 m: 14
2,438 to 3,047 m: 62
1,524 to 2,437 m: 68
914 to 1,523 m: 54
under 914 m: 121 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 299
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 58
under 914 m: 227 (1998 est.)
Heliports: 61 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy (includes Naval Air Arm), Air
Force, Medical Corps, Border Police, Coast Guard
Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 20,860,710 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 17,799,070 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 472,708 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $32.8 billion (1998)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 1.5% (1998)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: individual Sudeten German claims for
restitution of property confiscated in connection with their
expulsion after World War II
Illicit drugs: source of precursor chemicals for South American
cocaine processors; transshipment point for and consumer of
Southwest Asian heroin and hashish, Latin American cocaine, and
European-produced synthetic drugs
======================================================================
@Ghana
-----
Geography
Location: Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between
Cote d'Ivoire and Togo
Geographic coordinates: 8 00 N, 2 00 W
Map references: Africa
Area:
total: 238,540 sq km
land: 230,020 sq km
water: 8,520 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than Oregon
Land boundaries:
total: 2,093 km
border countries: Burkina Faso 548 km, Cote d'Ivoire 668 km, Togo
877 km
Coastline: 539 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; warm and comparatively dry along southeast
coast; hot and humid in southwest; hot and dry in north
Terrain: mostly low plains with dissected plateau in
south-central area
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Afadjato 880 m
Natural resources: gold, timber, industrial diamonds, bauxite,
manganese, fish, rubber
Land use:
arable land: 12%
permanent crops: 7%
permanent pastures: 22%
forests and woodland: 35%
other: 24% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 60 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: dry, dusty, harmattan winds occur from January
to March; droughts
Environment--current issues: recent drought in north severely
affecting agricultural activities; deforestation; overgrazing; soil
erosion; poaching and habitat destruction threatens wildlife
populations; water pollution; inadequate supplies of potable water
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test
Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83,
Tropical Timber 94
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
Geography--note: Lake Volta is the world's largest artificial
lake; northeasterly harmattan wind (January to March)
People
Population: 18,887,626 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 42% (male 4,020,493; female 3,982,816)
15-64 years: 54% (male 5,050,736; female 5,231,951)
65 years and over: 4% (male 284,423; female 317,207) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.05% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 31.79 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 10.4 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.88 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 76.15 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 57.14 years
male: 55.08 years
female: 59.27 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.11 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Ghanaian(s)
adjective: Ghanaian
Ethnic groups: black African 99.8% (major tribes--Akan 44%,
Moshi-Dagomba 16%, Ewe 13%, Ga 8%), European and other 0.2%
Religions: indigenous beliefs 38%, Muslim 30%, Christian 24%,
other 8%
Languages: English (official), African languages (including Akan,
Moshi-Dagomba, Ewe, and Ga)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 64.5%
male: 75.9%
female: 53.5% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Ghana
conventional short form: Ghana
former: Gold Coast
Data code: GH
Government type: constitutional democracy
Capital: Accra
Administrative divisions: 10 regions; Ashanti, Brong-Ahafo,
Central, Eastern, Greater Accra, Northern, Upper East, Upper West,
Volta, Western
Independence: 6 March 1957 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 6 March (1957)
Constitution: new constitution approved 28 April 1992
Legal system: based on English common law and customary law; has
not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Jerry John RAWLINGS (since 7 January
1993); Vice President John Evans Atta MILLS (since 7 January 1993);
note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Jerry John RAWLINGS (since 7 January
1993); Vice President John Evans Atta MILLS (since 7 January 1993);
note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Council of Ministers; president nominates members subject
to approval by the Parliament
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket
by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 7 December
1996 (next to be held NA 2000)
election results: Jerry John RAWLINGS reelected president; percent
of vote--RAWLINGS 57%
Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament (200 seats; members are
elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 7 December 1996 (next to be held NA December
2000)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--NDC
133, NPP 61, PCP 5, PNC 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: National Democratic Congress or
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA,
ECOWAS, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM
(observer), ISO, ITU, MINURSO, NAM, OAU, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNMOP, UNMOT, UNPREDEP, UNU, UPU,
WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Kobena KOOMSON
chancery: 3512 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Kathryn Dee ROBINSON
embassy: Ring Road East, East of Danquah Circle, Accra
mailing address: P. O. Box 194, Accra
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top),
yellow, and green with a large black five-pointed star centered in
the yellow band; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia;
similar to the flag of Bolivia, which has a coat of arms centered in
the yellow band
Economy
Economy--overview: Well endowed with natural resources, Ghana has
twice the per capita output of the poorer countries in West Africa.
Even so, Ghana remains heavily dependent on international financial
and technical assistance. Gold, timber, and cocoa production are
major sources of foreign exchange. The domestic economy continues to
revolve around subsistence agriculture, which accounts for 41% of
GDP and employs 60% of the work force, mainly small landholders. In
1995-97, Ghana made mixed progress under a three-year structural
adjustment program in cooperation with the IMF. On the minus side,
public sector wage increases and regional peacekeeping commitments
have led to continued inflationary deficit financing, depreciation
of the cedi, and rising public discontent with Ghana's austerity
measures. Power shortages also helped slow growth in 1998.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$33.6 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 3% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,800 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 41%
industry: 14%
services: 45% (1996 est.)
Population below poverty line: 31.4% (1992 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.4%
highest 10%: 27.3% (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 27.7% (1997 est.)
Labor force: NA
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture and fishing 61%, industry
10%, services 29% (1996 est.)
Unemployment rate: 20% (1997 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $1.39 billion
expenditures: $1.47 billion, including capital expenditures of $370
million (1996 est.)
Industries: mining, lumbering, light manufacturing, aluminum
smelting, food processing
Industrial production growth rate: 4.2% (1996 est.)
Electricity--production: 6.1 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 0.66%
hydro: 99.34%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 5.88 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 225 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 5 million kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: cocoa, rice, coffee, cassava (tapioca),
peanuts, corn, shea nuts, bananas; timber
Exports: $1.5 billion (f.o.b., 1997)
Exports--commodities: gold 39%, cocoa 35%, timber 9.4%, tuna,
bauxite, aluminum, manganese ore, and diamonds (1996 est.)
Exports--partners: UK, Germany, US, Netherlands, Japan, Nigeria
Imports: $2.1 billion (f.o.b., 1997)
Imports--commodities: capital equipment, petroleum, consumer
goods, foods, intermediate goods
Imports--partners: UK, Nigeria, US, Germany, Japan, Netherlands
Debt--external: $5.2 billion (1996 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $477.3 million (1995)
Currency: 1 new cedi (C) = 100 pesewas
Exchange rates: new cedis per US$1--2,324.70 (September 1998),
2,050.17 (1997), 1,637.23 (1996), 1,200.43 (1995), 956.71 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 100,000 (1997 est.)
Telephone system: poor to fair system
domestic: primarily microwave radio relay
international: satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 4, FM 23, shortwave 0 (1997)
Radios: 12.5 million (1997 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 7 (in addition, there are eight
repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 1.9 million (1997 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 953 km (undergoing major rehabilitation)
narrow gauge: 953 km 1.067-m gauge (32 km double track) (1997 est.)
Highways:
total: 39,409 km
paved: 11,653 km (including 30 km of expressways)
unpaved: 27,756 km (1997 est.)
Waterways: Volta, Ankobra, and Tano Rivers provide 168 km of
perennial navigation for launches and lighters; Lake Volta provides
1,125 km of arterial and feeder waterways
Pipelines: 0 km
Ports and harbors: Takoradi, Tema
Merchant marine:
total: 5 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 10,552 GRT/14,839 DWT
ships by type: oil tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 3 (1998 est.)
Airports: 12 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 6
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, National Police Force,
Palace Guard, Civil Defense
Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 4,520,125 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 2,507,954 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 184,360 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $53 million (1999)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 0.7% (1999)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis for the international
drug trade; transit hub for Southwest and Southeast Asian heroin and
South American cocaine destined for Europe and the US
======================================================================
@Gibraltar
---------
Geography
Location: Southwestern Europe, bordering the Strait of Gibraltar,
which links the Mediterranean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, on
the southern coast of Spain
Geographic coordinates: 36 11 N, 5 22 W
Map references: Europe
Area:
total: 6.5 sq km
land: 6.5 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: about 11 times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
total: 1.2 km
border countries: Spain 1.2 km
Coastline: 12 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 3 nm
Climate: Mediterranean with mild winters and warm summers
Terrain: a narrow coastal lowland borders the Rock of Gibraltar
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Rock of Gibraltar 426 m
Natural resources: NEGL
Land use:
arable land: NA%
permanent crops: NA%
permanent pastures: NA%
forests and woodland: NA%
other: 100% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: NA
Environment--current issues: limited natural freshwater resources;
large concrete or natural rock water catchments collect rain water
Environment--international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography--note: strategic location on Strait of Gibraltar that
links the North Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea
People
Population: 29,165 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 20% (male 3,129; female 2,749)
15-64 years: 66% (male 10,888; female 8,247)
65 years and over: 14% (male 1,729; female 2,423) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.39% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 12.65 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 8.81 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.14 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.32 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 1.17 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 6.47 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.37 years
male: 75.1 years
female: 81.81 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.16 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Gibraltarian(s)
adjective: Gibraltar
Ethnic groups: Italian, English, Maltese, Portuguese, Spanish
Religions: Roman Catholic 74%, Protestant 11% (Church of England
8%, other 3%), Muslim 8%, Jewish 2%, none or other 5% (1981)
Languages: English (used in schools and for official purposes),
Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Russian
Literacy:
definition: NA
total population: above 95%
male: NA%
female: NA%
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Gibraltar
Data code: GI
Dependency status: overseas territory of the UK
Government type: NA
Capital: Gibraltar
Administrative divisions: none (overseas territory of the UK)
Independence: none (overseas territory of the UK)
National holiday: Commonwealth Day (second Monday of March)
Constitution: 30 May 1969
Legal system: English law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal, plus other UK subjects who
have been residents six months or more
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Governor and Commander-in-Chief, the Right Honorable
Sir Richard LUCE (since 24 February 1997)
head of government: Chief Minister Peter CARUANA (since 17 May 1996)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed from among the elected
members of the House of Assembly by the governor in consultation
with the chief minister
note: there is also a Gibraltar Council that advises the governor
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by
the monarch; chief minister appointed by the governor
Legislative branch: unicameral House of Assembly (18 seats--15
elected, on for the Speaker, and two ex officio; members are elected
by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 16 May 1996 (next to be held NA May 2000)
election results: percent of vote by party--SD 53%, SL 42%, NP 3%;
seats by party--SD 8, SL 7
Judicial branch: Supreme Court; Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders: Gibraltar Socialist Labor Party or
Political pressure groups and leaders: Housewives Association;
Chamber of Commerce; Gibraltar Representatives Organization
International organization participation: Interpol (subbureau)
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory of
the UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (overseas territory
of the UK)
Flag description: two horizontal bands of white (top, double
width) and red with a three-towered red castle in the center of the
white band; hanging from the castle gate is a gold key centered in
the red band
Economy
Economy--overview: Gibraltar benefits from an extensive shipping
trade, offshore banking, and its position as an international
conference center. The British military presence has been sharply
reduced and now contributes about 11% to the local economy. The
financial sector accounts for 15% of GDP; tourism (more than 5
million visitors in 1995), shipping services fees, and duties on
consumer goods also generate revenue. Because more than 70% of the
economy is in the public sector, changes in government spending have
a major impact on the level of employment.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$500 million (1997 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: NA%
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$17,500 (1997 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.1% (1996)
Labor force: 14,800 (including non-Gibraltar laborers)
Labor force--by occupation: services 60%, industry 40%,
agriculture NEGL%
Unemployment rate: 13.5% (1996)
Budget:
revenues: $111.6 million
expenditures: $115.6 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY95/96)
Industries: tourism, banking and finance, ship-building and
repairing; support to large UK naval and air bases; tobacco, mineral
water, beer, canned fish
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: 85 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 85 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: none
Exports: $83.7 million (f.o.b., 1995)
Exports--commodities: (principally reexports) petroleum 51%,
manufactured goods 41%, other 8%
Exports--partners: UK, Morocco, Portugal, Netherlands, Spain, US,
FRG
Imports: $778 million (c.i.f., 1995)
Imports--commodities: fuels, manufactured goods, and foodstuffs
Imports--partners: UK, Spain, Japan, Netherlands
Debt--external: $NA
Economic aid--recipient: $NA
Currency: 1 Gibraltar pound (LG) = 100 pence
Exchange rates: Gibraltar pounds (LG) per US$1--0.6057 (January
1999), 0.6037 (1998), 0.6106 (1997), 0.6403 (1996), 0.6335 (1995),
0.6529 (1994); note--the Gibraltar pound is at par with the British
pound
Fiscal year: 1 July--30 June
Communications
Telephones: 19,356 (1994)
Telephone system: adequate, automatic domestic system and
adequate international facilities
domestic: automatic exchange facilities
international: radiotelephone; microwave radio relay; satellite
earth station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 6, shortwave 0
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 1 (in addition, there are 3
low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: NA
Transportation
Railways:
total: NA km; 1.000-m gauge system in dockyard area only
Highways:
total: 49.9 km
paved: 49.9 km
unpaved: 0 km
Pipelines: 0 km
Ports and harbors: Gibraltar
Merchant marine:
total: 18 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 346m951 GRT/588,765 DWT
ships by type: chemical tanker 2, container 4, oil tanker 11,
roll-on/roll-off cargo 1 (1998 est.)
Airports: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: British Army, Royal Navy, Royal Air Force
Military--note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: source of friction between Spain and the
UK
======================================================================
@Glorioso Islands
----------------
Geography
Location: Southern Africa, group of islands in the Indian Ocean,
northwest of Madagascar
Geographic coordinates: 11 30 S, 47 20 E
Map references: Africa
Area:
total: 5 sq km
land: 5 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes Ile Glorieuse, Ile du Lys, Verte Rocks, Wreck Rock,
and South Rock
Area--comparative: about eight times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 35.2 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical
Terrain: NA
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 12 m
Natural resources: guano, coconuts
Land use:
arable land: NA%
permanent crops: NA%
permanent pastures: NA%
forests and woodland: NA%
other: 100% (all lush vegetation and coconut palms)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1993)
Natural hazards: periodic cyclones
Environment--current issues: NA
People
Population: uninhabited
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Glorioso Islands
local long form: none
local short form: Iles Glorieuses
Data code: GO
Dependency status: possession of France; administered by a high
commissioner of the Republic, resident in Reunion
Legal system: NA
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (possession of France)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (possession of France)
Flag description: the flag of France is used
Economy
Economy--overview: no economic activity
Transportation
Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only
Airports: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military--note: defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: claimed by Madagascar
======================================================================
@Greece
------
Geography
Location: Southern Europe, bordering the Aegean Sea, Ionian Sea,
and the Mediterranean Sea, between Albania and Turkey
Geographic coordinates: 39 00 N, 22 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area:
total: 131,940 sq km
land: 130,800 sq km
water: 1,140 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than Alabama
Land boundaries:
total: 1,210 km
border countries: Albania 282 km, Bulgaria 494 km, Turkey 206 km,
The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 228 km
Coastline: 13,676 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
territorial sea: 6 nm
Climate: temperate; mild, wet winters; hot, dry summers
Terrain: mostly mountains with ranges extending into sea as
peninsulas or chains of islands
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Olympus 2,917 m
Natural resources: bauxite, lignite, magnesite, petroleum, marble
Land use:
arable land: 19%
permanent crops: 8%
permanent pastures: 41%
forests and woodland: 20%
other: 12% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 13,140 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: severe earthquakes
Environment--current issues: air pollution; water pollution
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic
Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography--note: strategic location dominating the Aegean Sea and
southern approach to Turkish Straits; a peninsular country,
possessing an archipelago of about 2,000 islands
People
Population: 10,707,135 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 16% (male 878,349; female 818,311)
15-64 years: 67% (male 3,619,982; female 3,587,591)
65 years and over: 17% (male 799,053; female 1,003,849) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.41% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 9.54 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 9.44 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 4.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 7.13 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.43 years
male: 75.87 years
female: 81.18 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.3 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Greek(s)
adjective: Greek
Ethnic groups: Greek 98%, other 2%
note: the Greek Government states there are no ethnic divisions in
Greece
Religions: Greek Orthodox 98%, Muslim 1.3%, other 0.7%
Languages: Greek (official), English, French
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 95%
male: 98%
female: 93% (1991 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Hellenic Republic
conventional short form: Greece
local long form: Elliniki Dhimokratia
local short form: Ellas or Ellada
former: Kingdom of Greece
Data code: GR
Government type: parliamentary republic; monarchy rejected by
referendum 8 December 1974
Capital: Athens
Administrative divisions: 51 prefectures (nomoi,
singular--nomos)and 1 autonomous region*; Ayion Oros* (Mt. Athos),
Aitolia kai Akarnania, Akhaia, Argolis, Arkadhia, Arta, Attiki,
Dhodhekanisos, Drama, Evritania, Evros, Evvoia, Florina, Fokis,
Fthiotis, Grevena, Ilia, Imathia, Ioannina, Irakleion, Kardhitsa,
Kastoria, Kavala, Kefallinia, Kerkyra, Khalkidhiki, Khania, Khios,
Kikladhes, Kilkis, Korinthia, Kozani, Lakonia, Larisa, Lasithi,
Lesvos, Levkas, Magnisia, Messinia, Pella, Pieria, Preveza,
Rethimni, Rodhopi, Samos, Serrai, Thesprotia, Thessaloniki, Trikala,
Voiotia, Xanthi, Zakinthos
Independence: 1829 (from the Ottoman Empire)
National holiday: Independence Day, 25 March (1821) (proclamation
of the war of independence)
Constitution: 11 June 1975
Legal system: based on codified Roman law; judiciary divided into
civil, criminal, and administrative courts
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Konstandinos (Kostis) STEPHANOPOULOS
(since 10 March 1995)
head of government: Prime Minister Konstandinos SIMITIS (since 19
January 1996)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of
the prime minister
elections: president elected by Parliament for a five-year term;
election last held 10 March 1995 (next to be held by NA March 2000);
prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Konstandinos STEPHANOPOULOS elected president;
percent of Parliament vote--NA
Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Vouli ton Ellinon
(300 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve
four-year terms)
elections: elections last held 22 September 1996 (next to be held by
NA September 2000)
election results: percent of vote by party--PASOK 41.5%, ND 38.1%,
KKE 5.6%, Coalition of the Left and Progress 5.1%, DIKKI 4.4%,
Political Spring 2.9%; seats by party--PASOK 162, ND 108, KKE 11,
Coalition of the Left and Progress 10, DIKKI 9; note--seating has
subsequently changed as a result of disciplinary actions by PASOK,
ND, and DIKKI; 1998 seating is PASOK 162, ND 105, KKE 11, Coalition
of the Left and Progress 10, DIKKI 8, independents 4
Judicial branch: Supreme Judicial Court, judges appointed for
life by the president after consultation with a judicial council;
Special Supreme Tribunal, judges appointed for life by the president
after consultation with a judicial council
Political parties and leaders: New Democracy or ND (conservative)
International organization participation: Australia Group, BIS,
BSEC, CCC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EIB, EU, FAO, G- 6, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,
IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO,
MTCR, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE,
PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNOMIG, UPU,
WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Alexandre PHILON
chancery: 2221 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and
San Francisco
consulate(s): Atlanta, Houston, and New Orleans
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador R. Nicholas BURNS
embassy: 91 Vasilissis Sophias Boulevard, 10160 Athens
mailing address: PSC 108, APO AE 09842-0108
consulate(s) general: Thessaloniki
Flag description: nine equal horizontal stripes of blue
alternating with white; there is a blue square in the upper
hoist-side corner bearing a white cross; the cross symbolizes Greek
Orthodoxy, the established religion of the country
Economy
Economy--overview: Greece has a mixed capitalist economy with the
public sector accounting for about half of GDP, although the
government plans to privatize some leading state enterprises.
Tourism is a key industry, providing a large portion of GDP and
foreign exchange earnings. Greece is a major beneficiary of EU aid,
equal to about 4% of GDP. The economy has improved steadily over the
last few years, as the government has tightened policy with the goal
of qualifying Greece to join the EU's single currency (the euro) in
2001. In particular, Greece has cut its budget deficit to just over
2% of GDP and tightened monetary policy, with the result that
inflation fell below 4% by the end of 1998--the lowest rate in 26
years. The outlook for 1999 is good with the budget deficit and
inflation both expected to decline further, while GDP growth stays
near 3% and the current account deficit remains below 2% of GDP.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$143 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 3% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$13,400 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 8.5%
industry: 23.5%
services: 68% (1996)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.9% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 4.28 million (1998)
Labor force--by occupation: services 59.2%, agriculture 19.8%,
industry 21% (1998)
Unemployment rate: 10% (1998 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $45 billion
expenditures: $47.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1998 est.)
Industries: tourism; food and tobacco processing, textiles;
chemicals, metal products; mining, petroleum
Industrial production growth rate: 7.3% (1998 est.)
Electricity--production: 40.028 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 89.16%
hydro: 10.75%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0.09% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 41.388 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 1.3 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 2.66 billion kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: wheat, corn, barley, sugar beets, olives,
tomatoes, wine, tobacco, potatoes; beef, dairy products
Exports: $12.4 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports--commodities: manufactured goods, foodstuffs, fuels (1998)
Exports--partners: EU 56% (Germany 25%, Italy 11%, UK 8%, France
6%), US 16% (1997)
Imports: $27.7 billion (c.i.f., 1998)
Imports--commodities: manufactured goods, foodstuffs, fuels,
chemicals (1998)
Imports--partners: EU 61% (Italy 16%, Germany 16%, France 8%, UK
7%, Netherlands 5%) US 11% (1997)
Debt--external: $40.8 billion (1997)
Economic aid--recipient: $5.4 billion from EU (1997 est.)
Currency: 1 drachma (Dr) = 100 lepta
Exchange rates: drachmae (Dr) per US$1--278.78 (January 1999),
295.53 (1998), 273.06 (1997), 240.71 (1996), 231.66 (1995), 242.60
(1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 5,571,293 (1993 est.)
Telephone system: adequate, modern networks reach all areas;
microwave radio relay carries most traffic; extensive open-wire
network; submarine cables to off-shore islands
domestic: microwave radio relay, open wire, and submarine cable
international: tropospheric scatter; 8 submarine cables; satellite
earth stations--2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), 1
Eutelsat, and 1 Inmarsat (Indian Ocean region)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 29, FM 17 (repeaters 20), shortwave 0
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 64 (in addition, there are about
1,000 low-power repeaters and two stations in the US armed forces
network) (1997)
Televisions: 2.3 million (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 2,548 km
standard gauge: 1,565 km 1.435-m gauge (36 km electrified; 23 km
double track)
narrow gauge: 961 km 1.000-m gauge; 22 km 0.750-m gauge (a rack type
railway for steep grades)
Highways:
total: 117,000 km
paved: 107,406 km (including 470 km of expressways)
unpaved: 9,594 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 80 km; system consists of three coastal canals;
including the Corinth Canal (6 km) which crosses the Isthmus of
Corinth connecting the Gulf of Corinth with the Saronic Gulf and
shortens the sea voyage from the Adriatic to Peiraiefs (Piraeus) by
325 km; and three unconnected rivers
Pipelines: crude oil 26 km; petroleum products 547 km
Ports and harbors: Alexandroupolis, Elefsis, Irakleion (Crete),
Kavala, Kerkyra, Chalkis, Igoumenitsa, Lavrion, Patrai, Peiraiefs
(Piraeus), Thessaloniki, Volos
Merchant marine:
total: 810 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 24,798,431
GRT/44,056,618 DWT
ships by type: bulk 307, cargo 66, chemical tanker 19, combination
bulk 9, combination ore/oil 12, container 45, liquefied gas tanker
5, multifunction large-load carrier 1, oil tanker 229, passenger 15,
passenger-cargo 2, refrigerated cargo 4, roll-on/roll-off cargo 17,
short-sea passenger 76, specialized tanker 3 (1998 est.)
Airports: 78 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 63
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 15
1,524 to 2,437 m: 18
914 to 1,523 m: 16
under 914 m: 9 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 15
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 11 (1998 est.)
Heliports: 2 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Hellenic Army, Hellenic Navy, Hellenic Air
Force, National Guard, Police
Military manpower--military age: 21 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 2,707,628 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 2,071,670 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 79,376 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $4.04 billion (1998 est.)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: NA%
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: complex maritime, air, and territorial
disputes with Turkey in Aegean Sea; Cyprus question with Turkey;
dispute with The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia over name; in
September 1995, Skopje and Athens signed an interim accord resolving
their dispute over symbols and certain constitutional provisions;
Athens also lifted its economic embargo on The Former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia
Illicit drugs: a gateway to Europe for traffickers smuggling
cannabis and heroin from the Middle East and Southwest Asia to the
West and precursor chemicals to the East; some South American
cocaine transits or is consumed in Greece
======================================================================
@Greenland
---------
Geography
Location: Northern North America, island between the Arctic Ocean
and the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Canada
Geographic coordinates: 72 00 N, 40 00 W
Map references: Arctic Region
Area:
total: 2,175,600 sq km
land: 2,175,600 sq km (341,600 sq km ice-free, 1,834,000 sq km
ice-covered) (est.)
Area--comparative: slightly more than three times the size of Texas
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 44,087 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 3 nm
Climate: arctic to subarctic; cool summers, cold winters
Terrain: flat to gradually sloping icecap covers all but a
narrow, mountainous, barren, rocky coast
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Gunnbjorn 3,700 m
Natural resources: zinc, lead, iron ore, coal, molybdenum, gold,
platinum, uranium, fish, seals, whales
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 1%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 99% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: continuous permafrost over northern two-thirds
of the island
Environment--current issues: protection of the arctic environment;
preservation of their traditional way of life, including whaling;
note--Greenland participates actively in Inuit Circumpolar Conference
(ICC)
Environment--international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography--note: dominates North Atlantic Ocean between North
America and Europe; sparse population confined to small settlements
along coast
People
Population: 59,827 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 26% (male 7,789; female 7,728)
15-64 years: 68% (male 22,248; female 18,678)
65 years and over: 6% (male 1,562; female 1,822) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.84% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 15.23 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 6.79 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.19 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
total population: 1.12 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 20.06 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 70.1 years
male: 65.98 years
female: 74.24 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.14 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Greenlander(s)
adjective: Greenlandic
Ethnic groups: Greenlander 87% (Eskimos and Greenland-born
whites), Danish and others 13%
Religions: Evangelical Lutheran
Languages: Eskimo dialects, Danish, Greenlandic (an Inuit dialect)
Literacy: NA
note: similar to Denmark proper
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Greenland
local long form: none
local short form: Kalaallit Nunaat
Data code: GL
Dependency status: part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing
overseas administrative division of Denmark since 1979
Government type: NA
Capital: Nuuk (Godthab)
Administrative divisions: 3 districts (landsdele); Avannaa
(Nordgronland), Tunu (Ostgronland), Kitaa (Vestgronland)
Independence: none (part of the Kingdom of Denmark;
self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark since
1979)
National holiday: Birthday of the Queen, 16 April (1940)
Constitution: 5 June 1953 (Danish constitution)
Legal system: Danish
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen MARGRETHE II of Denmark (since 14 January
1972), represented by High Commissioner Gunnar MARTENS (since NA
1995)
head of government: Prime Minister Jonathan MOTZFELDT (since NA
September 1997)
cabinet: Landsstyre is formed from the Parliament on the basis of
the strength of parties
elections: the monarch is hereditary; high commissioner appointed by
the monarch; prime minister is elected by the Parliament (usually
the leader of the majority party); election last held 11 March 1999
(next to be held NA 2003)
election results: Jonathan MOTZFELDT reelected prime minister;
percent of parliamentary vote--23 out of 31 votes
Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Landsting (31 seats;
members are elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional
representation to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held on 17 February 1999 (next to be held by NA 2003)
election results: percent of vote by party--Siumut 35.2%, Inuit
Ataqatigiit 22%, Atassut Party 25.2%, Candidates' League 12.3%;
seats by party--Siumut 11, Atassut Party 8, Inuit Ataqatigiit 7,
Candidates' League 4, independent 1
note: 2 representatives were elected to the Danish Parliament or
Folketing on NA March 1998 (next to be held by NA 2002); percent of
vote by party--Siumut 35.6%, Atassut 35.2%; seats by party--Siumut 1,
Atassut 1; Greenlandic representatives are affiliated with Danish
political parties
Judicial branch: High Court or Landsret
Political parties and leaders: two-party ruling coalition; Siumut
(Forward Party, a moderate socialist party that advocates more
distinct Greenlandic identity and greater autonomy from Denmark)
Brotherhood, a Marxist-Leninist party that favors complete
Atassut Party (Solidarity, a more conservative party that favors
International organization participation: NC, NIB
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (self-governing
overseas administrative division of Denmark)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (self-governing
overseas administrative division of Denmark)
Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and
red with a large disk slightly to the hoist side of center--the top
half of the disk is red, the bottom half is white
Economy
Economy--overview: Greenland suffered negative economic growth in
the early 1990s, but since 1993 the economy has improved. The
Greenland Home Rule Government (GHRG) has pursued a light fiscal
policy since the late 1980s which has helped create surpluses in the
public budget and low inflation. Since 1990, Greenland has
registered a foreign trade deficit following the closure of the last
remaining lead and zinc mine in 1989. Greenland today is critically
dependent on fishing and fish exports; the shrimp fishery is by far
the largest income earner. Despite resumption of several interesting
hydrocarbon and minerals exploration activities, it will take
several years before production can materialize. Tourism is the only
sector offering any near-term potential and even this is limited due
to a short season and high costs. The public sector, including
publicly owned enterprises and the municipalities, plays the
dominant role in Greenland's economy. About half the government
revenues come from grants from the Danish Government, an important
supplement of GDP.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$945 million (1997 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 0.6% (1997 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$16,100 (1997 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.6% (1997 est.)
Labor force: 24,500 (1995 est.)
Unemployment rate: 10.5% (1995 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $706 million
expenditures: $697 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1995)
Industries: fish processing (mainly shrimp), handicrafts, furs,
small shipyards
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: 245 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 245 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: forage crops, garden vegetables; sheep; fish
Exports: $363.4 million (f.o.b., 1995)
Exports--commodities: fish and fish products 95%
Exports--partners: Denmark 89%, Japan 5%, UK 5%
Imports: $421 million (c.i.f., 1995)
Imports--commodities: machinery and transport equipment 25%,
manufactured goods 18%, food and live animals 11%, petroleum
products 6%
Imports--partners: Denmark 7.5%, Iceland 3.8%, Japan 3.3%, Norway
3.1%, US 2.4%, Germany 2.4%, Sweden 1.8%
Debt--external: $243 million (1995)
Economic aid--recipient: $427 million (annual subsidy from
Denmark) (1995)
Currency: 1 Danish krone (DKr) = 100 oere
Exchange rates: Danish kroner (DKr) per US$1--6.401 (January
1999), 6.701 (1998), 6.604 (1997), 5.799 (1996), 5.602 (1995), 6.361
(1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 19,600 (1995 est.)
Telephone system: adequate domestic and international service
provided by cables and microwave radio relay; totally digitalized in
1995
domestic: microwave radio relay
international: 2 coaxial submarine cables; satellite earth station--1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: 1 publicly-owned station and some local
radio and TV stations
Radios: 23,000 (1991 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 1 publicly-owned station and some
local low-power stations; in addition, there are three AFRTS (US Air
Force) stations which broadcast in the NTSC system (1997)
Televisions: 12,000 (1991 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 150 km
paved: 60 km
unpaved: 90 km
Ports and harbors: Kangerluarsoruseq, Kangerlussuaq, Nanortalik,
Narsarsuaq, Nuuk (Godthab), Sisimiut
Merchant marine:
total: 1 passenger (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,211 GRT/162 DWT
(1998 est.)
Airports: 13 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 9
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 4 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military--note: defense is the responsibility of Denmark
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
======================================================================
@Grenada
-------
Geography
Location: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and
Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago
Geographic coordinates: 12 07 N, 61 40 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 340 sq km
land: 340 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 121 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; tempered by northeast trade winds
Terrain: volcanic in origin with central mountains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Saint Catherine 840 m
Natural resources: timber, tropical fruit, deepwater harbors
Land use:
arable land: 15%
permanent crops: 18%
permanent pastures: 3%
forests and woodland: 9%
other: 55% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: lies on edge of hurricane belt; hurricane season
lasts from June to November
Environment--current issues: NA
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Law of the
Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography--note: the administration of the islands of the
Grenadines group is divided between Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
and Grenada
People
Population: 97,008 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 43% (male 21,055; female 20,365)
15-64 years: 53% (male 27,524; female 23,766)
65 years and over: 4% (male 2,034; female 2,264) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.87% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 27.62 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 5.15 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -13.74 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.16 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/female
total population: 1.09 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 11.13 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 71.6 years
male: 68.97 years
female: 74.29 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.57 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Grenadian(s)
adjective: Grenadian
Ethnic groups: black
Religions: Roman Catholic 53%, Anglican 13.8%, other Protestant
sects 33.2%
Languages: English (official), French patois
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98%
male: 98%
female: 98% (1970 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Grenada
Data code: GJ
Government type: parliamentary democracy
Capital: Saint George's
Administrative divisions: 6 parishes and 1 dependency*; Carriacou
and Petit Martinique*, Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George,
Saint John, Saint Mark, Saint Patrick
Independence: 7 February 1974 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 7 February (1974)
Constitution: 19 December 1973
Legal system: based on English common law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Governor General Daniel WILLIAMS (since 9 August 1996)
head of government: Prime Minister Keith MITCHELL (since 22 June
1995)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of
the prime minister
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general
appointed by the monarch; prime minister appointed by the governor
general from among the members of the House of Assembly
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate
(a 13-member body, 10 appointed by the government and three by the
leader of the opposition) and the House of Representatives (15
seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held on 18 January 1999 (next to be held by NA
October 2004)
election results: House of Representatives--percent of vote by
party--NA; seats by party--NNP 15
Judicial branch: West Indies Associate States Supreme Court (an
associate judge resides in Grenada)
Political parties and leaders: National Democratic Congress or
International organization participation: ACP, C, Caricom, CDB,
ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS,
OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WToO,
WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Denis G. ANTOINE
chancery: 1701 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
consulate(s): New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: the ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Grenada
embassy: Point Salines, Saint George's
mailing address: P. O. Box 54, Saint George's, Grenada, West Indies
Flag description: a rectangle divided diagonally into yellow
triangles (top and bottom) and green triangles (hoist side and outer
side), with a red border around the flag; there are seven yellow,
five-pointed stars with three centered in the top red border, three
centered in the bottom red border, and one on a red disk
superimposed at the center of the flag; there is also a symbolic
nutmeg pod on the hoist-side triangle (Grenada is the world's
second-largest producer of nutmeg, after Indonesia); the seven stars
represent the seven administrative divisions
Economy
Economy--overview: In this island economy progress in fiscal
reforms and prudent macroeconomic management have boosted annual
growth to nearly 5% in 1997-98. The increase in economic activity
has been led by construction and trade. Tourist facilities are being
expanded; tourism is the leading foreign exchange earner. Major
short-term concerns are the rising fiscal deficit and the
deterioration in the external account balance. Grenada shares a
common central bank and a common currency with seven other members
of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).
GDP: purchasing power parity--$340 million (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 5% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$3,500 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 9.7%
industry: 15%
services: 75.3% (1996 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.4% (1998)
Labor force: 36,000
Labor force--by occupation: services 31%, agriculture 24%,
construction 8%, manufacturing 5%, other 32% (1985)
Unemployment rate: 20% (1 October 1996)
Budget:
revenues: $85.8 million
expenditures: $102.1 million, including capital expenditures of $28
million (1997)
Industries: food and beverages, textiles, light assembly
operations, tourism, construction
Industrial production growth rate: 0.7% (1997 est.)
Electricity--production: 70 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 70 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: bananas, cocoa, nutmeg, mace, citrus,
avocados, root crops, sugarcane, corn, vegetables
Exports: $22 million (1997)
Exports--commodities: bananas, cocoa, nutmeg, fruit and
vegetables, clothing, mace
Exports--partners: Caricom 32.3%, UK 20%, US 13%, Netherlands 8.8%
(1991)
Imports: $166.5 million (1997)
Imports--commodities: food 25%, manufactured goods 22%, machinery
20%, chemicals 10%, fuel 6% (1989)
Imports--partners: US 31.2%, Caricom 23.6%, UK 13.8%, Japan 7.1%
(1991)
Debt--external: $74 million (1997 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $8.3 million (1995)
Currency: 1 East Caribbean dollar (EC$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1--2.7000
(fixed rate since 1976)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 5,650 (1988 est.)
Telephone system: automatic, islandwide telephone system
domestic: interisland VHF and UHF radiotelephone links
international: new SHF radiotelephone links to Trinidad and Tobago
and Saint Vincent; VHF and UHF radio links to Trinidad
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: 80,000 (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 2 (1997)
Televisions: 30,000 (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 1,040 km
paved: 638 km
unpaved: 402 km (1996 est.)
Ports and harbors: Grenville, Saint George's
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 3 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Royal Grenada Police Force (includes Special
Service Unit), Coast Guard
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $NA
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: NA%
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
Illicit drugs: small-scale cannabis cultivation; lesser
transshipment point for marijuana and cocaine to US
======================================================================
@Guadeloupe
----------
Geography
Location: Caribbean, islands in the eastern Caribbean Sea,
southeast of Puerto Rico
Geographic coordinates: 16 15 N, 61 35 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 1,780 sq km
land: 1,706 sq km
water: 74 sq km
note: Guadeloupe is an archipelago of nine inhabited islands,
including Basse-Terre, Grande-Terre, Marie-Galante, La Desirade,
Iles des Saintes, Saint Barthelemy, and part of Saint Martin
Area--comparative: 10 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
total: 10.2 km
border countries: Netherlands Antilles (Sint Maarten) 10.2 km
Coastline: 306 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: subtropical tempered by trade winds; moderately high
humidity
Terrain: Basse-Terre is volcanic in origin with interior
mountains; Grande-Terre is low limestone formation; most of the
seven other islands are volcanic in origin
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Soufriere 1,467 m
Natural resources: cultivable land, beaches and climate that
foster tourism
Land use:
arable land: 14%
permanent crops: 4%
permanent pastures: 14%
forests and woodland: 39%
other: 29% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 30 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: hurricanes (June to October); Soufriere is an
active volcano
Environment--current issues: NA
Environment--international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA
People
Population: 420,943 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 25% (male 53,427; female 51,234)
15-64 years: 66% (male 138,215; female 141,243)
65 years and over: 9% (male 15,536; female 21,288) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.06% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 16.33 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 5.62 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.16 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 8.54 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.01 years
male: 74.98 years
female: 81.18 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.82 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Guadeloupian(s)
adjective: Guadeloupe
Ethnic groups: black or mulatto 90%, white 5%, East Indian,
Lebanese, Chinese less than 5%
Religions: Roman Catholic 95%, Hindu and pagan African 4%,
Protestant sects 1%
Languages: French (official) 99%, Creole patois
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 90%
male: 90%
female: 90% (1982 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Department of Guadeloupe
conventional short form: Guadeloupe
local long form: Departement de la Guadeloupe
local short form: Guadeloupe
Data code: GP
Dependency status: overseas department of France
Government type: NA
Capital: Basse-Terre
Administrative divisions: none (overseas department of France)
Independence: none (overseas department of France)
National holiday: National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July
(1789)
Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system: French legal system
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May
1995), represented by Prefect Jean FEDINI (since NA 1996)
head of government: President of the General Council Marcellin
LUBETH (since NA 1998); President of the Regional Council Lucette
MICHAUX-CHEVRY (since 22 March 1992)
cabinet: NA
elections: French president elected by popular vote for a seven-year
term; prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of the
French Ministry of Interior; the presidents of the General and
Regional Councils are elected by the members of those councils
election results: NA
Legislative branch: unicameral General Council or Conseil General
(42 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve six-year
terms) and the unicameral Regional Council or Conseil Regional (41
seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms)
elections: General Council--last held 22 March 1998 (next to be held
by NA 2002); Regional Council--last held 15 March 1998 (next to be
held NA 2004)
election results: General Council--percent of vote by party--NA; seats
by party--various left parties 11, PS 8, RPR 8, PPDG 6, various right
parties 5, PCC 3, UDF 1; Regional Council--percent of vote by
party--RPR 48.03%, PS/PPDG/DVG 24.49%, PCG 5.29%, DVD 5.73%; seats by
party--RPR 25, PS/PPDG/DVG 12, PCG 2, DVD 2
note: Guadeloupe elects two representatives to the French Senate;
elections last held NA September 1995 (next to be held NA September
2004); percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--RPR 1, FGPS 1;
Guadeloupe elects four representatives to the French National
Assembly; elections last held 25 May--1 June 1997 (next to be held NA
2002); percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--FGPS 2, RPR 1,
PPDG 1
Judicial branch: Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel with
jurisdiction over Guadeloupe, French Guiana, and Martinique
Political parties and leaders: Rally for the Republic or RPR
REIETTE]; Christian Movement for the Liberation of Guadeloupe or
IBO]
Political pressure groups and leaders: Movement for Independent
Guadeloupe or MPGI; General Union of Guadeloupe Workers or UGTG;
General Federation of Guadeloupe Workers or CGT-G; Christian
Movement for the Liberation of Guadeloupe or KLPG
International organization participation: FZ, WCL, WFTU
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas department of
France)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (overseas department
of France)
Flag description: three horizontal bands, a narrow green band
(top), a wide red band, and a narrow green band; the green bands are
separated from the red band by two narrow white stripes; a
five-pointed gold star is centered in the red band toward the hoist
side; the flag of France is used for official occasions
Economy
Economy--overview: The economy depends on agriculture, tourism,
light industry, and services. It also depends on France for large
subsidies and imports. Tourism is a key industry, with most tourists
from the US; an increasingly large number of cruise ships visit the
islands. The traditional sugarcane crop is slowly being replaced by
other crops, such as bananas (which now supply about 50% of export
earnings), eggplant, and flowers. Other vegetables and root crops
are cultivated for local consumption, although Guadeloupe is still
dependent on imported food, mainly from France. Light industry
features sugar and rum production. Most manufactured goods and fuel
are imported. Unemployment is especially high among the young.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$3.7 billion (1996 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: NA%
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$9,000 (1996 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 6%
industry: 9%
services: 85% (1993 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.7% (1990)
Labor force: 128,000
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 15%, industry 20%,
services 65% (1993)
Unemployment rate: 29.5% (1997)
Budget:
revenues: $200 million
expenditures: $350 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1997)
Industries: construction, cement, rum, sugar, tourism
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: 960 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 960 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: bananas, sugarcane, tropical fruits and
vegetables; cattle, pigs, goats
Exports: $133 million (f.o.b., 1997)
Exports--commodities: bananas, sugar, rum
Exports--partners: France 75%, Martinique 13% (1994)
Imports: $1.7 billion (c.i.f., 1997)
Imports--commodities: foodstuffs, fuels, vehicles, clothing and
other consumer goods, construction materials
Imports--partners: France 64%, EU 13%, Martinique 4%, US, Japan
(1994)
Debt--external: $NA
Economic aid--recipient: $NA; note?substantial annual French
subsidies
Currency: 1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1--5.65 (January 1999),
5.8995 (1998), 5.8367 (1997), 5.1155(1996), 4.9915 (1995), 5.5520
(1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 64,916 (1984 est.)
Telephone system: domestic facilities inadequate
domestic: NA
international: satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean);
microwave radio relay to Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, and
Martinique
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 8 (private stations licensed
to broadcast FM 30), shortwave 0
Radios: 100,000 (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 5 (in addition, there are several
low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 150,000 (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: NA km; privately owned, narrow-gauge plantation lines
Highways:
total: 2,082 km
paved: 1,742 km
unpaved: 340 km (1985 est.)
note: in 1996 there were a total of 3,200 km of roads
Ports and harbors: Basse-Terre, Gustavia (on Saint Barthelemy),
Marigot, Pointe-a-Pitre
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 9 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 8
over 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 5 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: French Forces, Gendarmerie
Military--note: defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
======================================================================
@Guam
----
Geography
Location: Oceania, island in the North Pacific Ocean, about
three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines
Geographic coordinates: 13 28 N, 144 47 E
Map references: Oceania
Area:
total: 541.3 sq km
land: 541.3 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: three times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 125.5 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical marine; generally warm and humid, moderated by
northeast trade winds; dry season from January to June, rainy season
from July to December; little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain: volcanic origin, surrounded by coral reefs; relatively
flat coralline limestone plateau (source of most fresh water), with
steep coastal cliffs and narrow coastal plains in north, low-rising
hills in center, mountains in south
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Lamlam 406 m
Natural resources: fishing (largely undeveloped), tourism
(especially from Japan)
Land use:
arable land: 11%
permanent crops: 11%
permanent pastures: 15%
forests and woodland: 18%
other: 45% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: frequent squalls during rainy season; relatively
rare, but potentially very destructive typhoons (especially in
August)
Environment--current issues: extirpation of native bird population
by the rapid proliferation of the brown tree snake, an exotic species
Environment--international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography--note: largest and southernmost island in the Mariana
Islands archipelago; strategic location in western North Pacific
Ocean
People
Population: 151,716 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 35% (male 27,301; female 25,106)
15-64 years: 60% (male 47,691; female 42,714)
65 years and over: 5% (male 4,486; female 4,418) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.67% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 26.52 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 4.35 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -5.45 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.11 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.09 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.12 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.02 male(s)/female
total population: 1.1 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 7.81 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.78 years
male: 74.6 years
female: 81.31 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.92 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Guamanian(s)
adjective: Guamanian
Ethnic groups: Chamorro 47%, Filipino 25%, white 10%, Chinese,
Japanese, Korean, and other 18%
Religions: Roman Catholic 98%, other 2%
Languages: English, Chamorro, Japanese
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (1990 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Territory of Guam
conventional short form: Guam
Data code: GQ
Dependency status: organized, unincorporated territory of the US
with policy relations between Guam and the US under the jurisdiction
of the Office of Insular Affairs, US Department of the Interior
Government type: NA
Capital: Hagatna (Agana)
Administrative divisions: none (territory of the US)
Independence: none (territory of the US)
National holiday: Guam Discovery Day (first Monday in March)
(1521); Liberation Day, 21 July (1944)
Constitution: Organic Act of 1 August 1950
Legal system: modeled on US; US federal laws apply
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal; US citizens, but do not
vote in US presidential elections
Executive branch:
chief of state: President William Jefferson CLINTON of the US (since
20 January 1993); Vice President Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January
1993)
head of government: Governor Carl GUTIERREZ (since 8 November 1994)
and Lieutenant Governor Madeleine BORDALLO (since 8 November 1994)
cabinet: executive departments; heads appointed by the governor with
the consent of the Guam legislature
elections: US president and vice president elected on the same
ticket for a four-year term; governor and lieutenant governor
elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms;
election last held 3 November 1998 (next to be held NA November 2002)
election results: Carl GUTIERREZ reelected governor; percent of
vote--Carl GUTIERREZ (Democrat) 53.2%, Joseph ADA (Republican) 46.8%
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislature (15 seats; members are
elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms)
elections: last held 3 November 1998 (next to be held NA November
2000)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by
party--Republican 12, Democratic 3
note: Guam elects one delegate to the US House of Representatives;
election last held 3 November 1998 (next to be held NA November
2000); results--Robert UNDERWOOD was reelected as delegate; percent
of vote by party--NA; seats by party--Democratic 1
Judicial branch: Federal District Court (judge is appointed by
the president); Territorial Superior Court (judges appointed for
eight-year terms by the governor)
Political parties and leaders: Republican Party (controls the
International organization participation: ESCAP (associate),
Interpol (subbureau), IOC, SPC
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (territory of the US)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (territory of the US)
Flag description: territorial flag is dark blue with a narrow red
border on all four sides; centered is a red-bordered, pointed,
vertical ellipse containing a beach scene, outrigger canoe with
sail, and a palm tree with the word GUAM superimposed in bold red
letters; US flag is the national flag
Economy
Economy--overview: The economy depends mainly on US military
spending and on tourist revenue. Over the past 20 years, the tourist
industry has grown rapidly, creating a construction boom for new
hotels and the expansion of older ones. More than 1 million tourists
visit Guam each year. The industry suffered a setback in 1998
because of the continuing Japanese recession; the Japanese normally
make up almost 90% of the tourists. Most food and industrial goods
are imported. Guam faces the problem of building up the civilian
economic sector to offset the impact of military downsizing.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$3 billion (1996 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: NA%
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$19,000 (1996 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4% (1992 est.)
Labor force: 65,660 (1995)
Labor force--by occupation: federal and territorial government
31%, private 69% (trade 21%, services 33%, construction 12%, other
3%) (1995)
Unemployment rate: 2% (1992 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $524.3 million
expenditures: $361.4 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1995)
Industries: US military, tourism, construction, transshipment
services, concrete products, printing and publishing, food
processing, textiles
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: 800 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 800 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: fruits, copra, vegetables; eggs, pork,
poultry, beef
Exports: $86.1 million (f.o.b., 1992)
Exports--commodities: mostly transshipments of refined petroleum
products, construction materials, fish, food and beverage products
Exports--partners: US 25%
Imports: $202.4 million (c.i.f., 1992)
Imports--commodities: petroleum and petroleum products, food,
manufactured goods
Imports--partners: US 23%, Japan 19%, other 58%
Debt--external: $NA
Economic aid--recipient: $NA; note?although Guam receives no
foreign aid, it does receive large transfer payments from the
general revenues of the US Federal Treasury into which Guamanians
pay no income or excise taxes; under the provisions of a special law
of Congress, the Guam Treasury, rather than the US Treasury,
receives federal income taxes paid by military and civilian Federal
employees stationed in Guam
Currency: 1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: US currency is used
Fiscal year: 1 October--30 September
Communications
Telephones: 74,317 (March 1997)
Telephone system:
domestic: NA
international: satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean);
submarine cables to US and Japan
Radio broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 3, shortwave 0
Radios: 206,000 (1994)
Television broadcast stations: 5 (1997)
Televisions: 97,000 (1994 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 885 km
paved: 675 km
unpaved: 210 km
note: there is another 685 km of roads classified non-public,
including roads located on federal government installations
Ports and harbors: Apra Harbor
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 5 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 4
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military--note: defense is the responsibility of the US
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
======================================================================
@Guatemala
---------
Geography
Location: Middle America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between
Honduras and Belize and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between
El Salvador and Mexico
Geographic coordinates: 15 30 N, 90 15 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 108,890 sq km
land: 108,430 sq km
water: 460 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than Tennessee
Land boundaries:
total: 1,687 km
border countries: Belize 266 km, El Salvador 203 km, Honduras 256
km, Mexico 962 km
Coastline: 400 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; hot, humid in lowlands; cooler in highlands
Terrain: mostly mountains with narrow coastal plains and rolling
limestone plateau (Peten)
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Volcan Tajumulco 4,211 m
Natural resources: petroleum, nickel, rare woods, fish, chicle
Land use:
arable land: 12%
permanent crops: 5%
permanent pastures: 24%
forests and woodland: 54%
other: 5% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 1,250 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: numerous volcanoes in mountains, with occasional
violent earthquakes; Caribbean coast subject to hurricanes and other
tropical storms
Environment--current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; water
pollution; Hurricane Mitch damage
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Desertication, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography--note: no natural harbors on west coast
People
Population: 12,335,580 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 43% (male 2,688,402; female 2,578,934)
15-64 years: 54% (male 3,312,360; female 3,314,102)
65 years and over: 3% (male 207,014; female 234,768) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.68% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 35.57 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 6.8 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.93 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 46.15 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 66.45 years
male: 63.78 years
female: 69.24 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.74 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Guatemalan(s)
adjective: Guatemalan
Ethnic groups: Mestizo (mixed Amerindian-Spanish--in local Spanish
called Ladino) 56%, Amerindian or predominantly Amerindian 44%
Religions: Roman Catholic, Protestant, traditional Mayan
Languages: Spanish 60%, Amerindian languages 40% (23 Amerindian
languages, including Quiche, Cakchiquel, Kekchi)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 55.6%
male: 62.5%
female: 48.6% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Guatemala
conventional short form: Guatemala
local long form: Republica de Guatemala
local short form: Guatemala
Data code: GT
Government type: republic
Capital: Guatemala
Administrative divisions: 22 departments (departamentos,
singular--departamento); Alta Verapaz, Baja Verapaz, Chimaltenango,
Chiquimula, El Progreso, Escuintla, Guatemala, Huehuetenango,
Izabal, Jalapa, Jutiapa, Peten, Quetzaltenango, Quiche, Retalhuleu,
Sacatepequez, San Marcos, Santa Rosa, Solola, Suchitepequez,
Totonicapan, Zacapa
Independence: 15 September 1821 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Constitution: 31 May 1985, effective 14 January 1986
note: suspended 25 May 1993 by President SERRANO; reinstated 5 June
1993 following ouster of president
Legal system: civil law system; judicial review of legislative
acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Alvaro Enrique ARZU Irigoyen (since 14
January 1996); Vice President Luis Alberto FLORES Asturias (since 14
January 1996); note--the president is both the chief of state and
head of government
head of government: President Alvaro Enrique ARZU Irigoyen (since 14
January 1996); Vice President Luis Alberto FLORES Asturias (since 14
January 1996); note--the president is both the chief of state and
head of government
cabinet: Council of Ministers named by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term;
election last held 12 November 1995; runoff held 7 January 1996
(next to be held NA November 1999)
election results: Alvaro Enrique ARZU Irigoyen elected president;
percent of vote--Alvaro Enrique ARZU Irigoyen (PAN) 51.2%, Jorge
PORTILLO Cabrera (FRG) 48.8%
Legislative branch: unicameral Congress of the Republic or
Congreso de la Republica (80 seats; members are elected by popular
vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held on 12 November 1995 (next to be held in
November 1999)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--PAN
43, FRG 21, FDNG 6, DCG 4, UCN 3, UD 2, MLN 1
note: on 11 November 1993 the congress approved a procedure that
reduced its number from 116 seats to 80; the procedure provided for
a special election in mid-1994 to elect an interim congress of 80
members to serve until replaced in the November 1995 general
election; the plan was approved in a general referendum in January
1994 and the special election was held on 14 August 1994
Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de
Justicia); additionally the Court of Constitutionality is presided
over by the president of the Supreme Court, judges are elected for a
five-year term by Congress
Political parties and leaders: National Centrist Union or UCN
ARRIAGA Martinez]; Guatemalan National Revolutionary Union or URNG
Political pressure groups and leaders: Coordinating Committee of
Agricultural, Commercial, Industrial, and Financial Associations or
CACIF; Mutual Support Group or GAM; Agrarian Owners Group or UNAGRO;
Committee for Campesino Unity or CUC; Alliance Against Impunity or
AAI
International organization participation: BCIE, CACM, CCC, ECLAC,
FAO, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO
(correspondent), ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW,
PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador William STIXRUD
chancery: 2220 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New
York, and San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Donald J. PLANTY
embassy: 7-01 Avenida de la Reforma, Zone 10, Guatemala City
mailing address: APO AA 34024
Flag description: three equal vertical bands of light blue (hoist
side), white, and light blue with the coat of arms centered in the
white band; the coat of arms includes a green and red quetzal (the
national bird) and a scroll bearing the inscription LIBERTAD 15 DE
SEPTIEMBRE DE 1821 (the original date of independence from Spain)
all superimposed on a pair of crossed rifles and a pair of crossed
swords and framed by a wreath
Economy
Economy--overview: The agricultural sector accounts for one-fourth
of GDP and two-thirds of exports and employs more than half of the
labor force. Coffee, sugar, and bananas are the main products.
Manufacturing and construction account for one-fifth of GDP. Since
assuming office in January 1996, President ARZU has worked to
implement a program of economic liberalization and political
modernization. The signing of the peace accords in December 1996,
which ended 36 years of civil war, removed a major obstacle to
foreign investment. In 1998, Hurricane Mitch caused relatively
little damage to Guatemala compared to its neighbors. Nevertheless,
growth will be somewhat smaller due to the storm. Remaining
challenges include increasing government revenues, and negotiating a
program with the IMF.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$45.7 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 5% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$3,800 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 24%
industry: 21%
services: 55% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 0.6%
highest 10%: 46.6% (1989)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6.4% (1998)
Labor force: 3.32 million (1997 est.)
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 58%, services 14%,
manufacturing 14%, commerce 7%, construction 4%, transport 2.6%,
utilities 0.3%, mining 0.1% (1995)
Unemployment rate: 5.2% (1997 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA
Industries: sugar, textiles and clothing, furniture, chemicals,
petroleum, metals, rubber, tourism
Industrial production growth rate: 1.9% (1996)
Electricity--production: 3.1 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 29.03%
hydro: 70.97%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 3.1 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: sugarcane, corn, bananas, coffee, beans,
cardamom; cattle, sheep, pigs, chickens
Exports: $2.9 billion (f.o.b., 1997 est.)
Exports--commodities: coffee, sugar, bananas, cardamom, petroleum
Exports--partners: US 37%, El Salvador 13%, Honduras 7%, Costa
Rica 5%, Germany 5%
Imports: $3.3 billion (c.i.f., 1997 est.)
Imports--commodities: fuel and petroleum products, machinery,
grain, fertilizers, motor vehicles
Imports--partners: US 44%, Mexico 10%, Venezuela 4.6%, Japan,
Germany
Debt--external: $3.38 billion (1996 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $211.9 million (1995)
Currency: 1 quetzal (Q) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates: quetzales (Q) per US$1--6.7284 (January 1999),
6.3947 (1998), 6.0653 (1997), 6.0495 (1996), 5.8103 (1995), 5.7512
(1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 210,000 (1993 est.)
Telephone system: fairly modern network centered in the city of
Guatemala
domestic: NA
international: connected to Central American Microwave System;
satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 91, FM 0, shortwave 15
Radios: 400,000 (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 6 (in addition, there are 17
repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 475,000 (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 884 km (102 km privately owned)
narrow gauge: 884 km 0.914-m gauge (single track)
Highways:
total: 13,100 km
paved: 3,616 km (including 140 km of expressways)
unpaved: 9,484 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 260 km navigable year round; additional 730 km
navigable during high-water season
Pipelines: crude oil 275 km
Ports and harbors: Champerico, Puerto Barrios, Puerto Quetzal,
San Jose, Santo Tomas de Castilla
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 478 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 12
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 466
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 9
914 to 1,523 m: 124
under 914 m: 332 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force
Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 2,915,169 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,903,382 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 134,964 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $124 million (1998)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 0.7% (1998)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: border with Belize in dispute
Illicit drugs: transit country for cocaine shipments; minor
producer of illicit opium poppy and cannabis for the international
drug trade; active eradication program of cannabis crop effectively
eliminated in 1996
======================================================================
@Guernsey
--------
Geography
Location: Western Europe, islands in the English Channel,
northwest of France
Geographic coordinates: 49 28 N, 2 35 W
Map references: Europe
Area:
total: 194 sq km
land: 194 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes Alderney, Guernsey, Herm, Sark, and some other
smaller islands
Area--comparative: slightly larger than Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 50 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm
territorial sea: 3 nm
Climate: temperate with mild winters and cool summers; about 50%
of days are overcast
Terrain: mostly level with low hills in southwest
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Sark 114 m
Natural resources: cropland
Land use:
arable land: NA%
permanent crops: NA%
permanent pastures: NA%
forests and woodland: NA%
other: NA%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: NA
Environment--current issues: NA
Environment--international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography--note: large, deepwater harbor at Saint Peter Port
People
Population: 65,386 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 18% (male 6,012; female 5,875)
15-64 years: 66% (male 21,287; female 22,165)
65 years and over: 16% (male 4,069; female 5,978) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.27% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 14.16 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 9.44 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 8.01 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female
total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 8.42 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.72 years
male: 75.78 years
female: 81.77 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.74 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Channel Islander(s)
adjective: Channel Islander
Ethnic groups: UK and Norman-French descent
Religions: Anglican, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Baptist,
Congregational, Methodist
Languages: English, French, Norman-French dialect spoken in
country districts
Literacy: NA
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Bailiwick of Guernsey
conventional short form: Guernsey
Data code: GK
Dependency status: British crown dependency
Government type: NA
Capital: Saint Peter Port
Administrative divisions: none (British crown dependency)
Independence: none (British crown dependency)
National holiday: Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)
Constitution: unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and
practice
Legal system: English law and local statute; justice is
administered by the Royal Court
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
head of government: Lieutenant Governor Sir John COWARD (since NA
1994) and Bailiff Sir Graham Martyn DOREY (since NA February 1992)
cabinet: Advisory and Finance Committee appointed by the Assembly of
the States
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; lieutenant governor
appointed by the monarch; bailiff appointed by the monarch
Legislative branch: unicameral Assembly of the States (60
seats--33 elected by popular vote; members serve six-year terms)
elections: last held 20 April 1994 (next to be held NA 2000)
election results: percent of vote--NA; seats--all independents
Judicial branch: Royal Court
Political parties and leaders: none; all independents
International organization participation: none
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (British crown
dependency)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (British crown
dependency)
Flag description: white with the red cross of Saint George
(patron saint of England) extending to the edges of the flag
Economy
Economy--overview: Financial services?banking, fund management,
insurance, etc.--account for about 55% of total income in this tiny
Channel Island economy. Tourism, manufacturing, and horticulture,
mainly tomatoes and cut flowers, have been declining. Light tax and
death duties make Guernsey a popular tax haven. The evolving
economic integration of the EU nations is changing the rules of the
game under which Guernsey operates.
GDP: $NA
GDP--real growth rate: NA%
GDP--per capita: $NA
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7% (1988)
Labor force: NA
Unemployment rate: 3%-4% (1994 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $277.9 million
expenditures: $248.8 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1995 est.)
Industries: tourism, banking
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: NA kWh
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: NA%
hydro: NA%
nuclear: NA%
other: NA%
Electricity--consumption: NA kWh
Electricity--exports: NA kWh
Electricity--imports: NA kWh
Agriculture--products: tomatoes, greenhouse flowers, sweet
peppers, eggplant, fruit; Guernsey cattle
Exports: $NA
Exports--commodities: tomatoes, flowers and ferns, sweet peppers,
eggplant, other vegetables
Exports--partners: UK (regarded as internal trade)
Imports: $NA
Imports--commodities: coal, gasoline, oil, machinery and equipment
Imports--partners: UK (regarded as internal trade)
Debt--external: $NA
Economic aid--recipient: $NA
Currency: 1 Guernsey (LG) pound = 100 pence
Exchange rates: Guernsey pounds (LG) per US$1--0.6057 (January
1999), 0.6037 (1998), 0.6106 (1997), 0.6403 (1996), 0.6335 (1995),
0.6529 (1994); note--the Guernsey pound is at par with the British
pound
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 41,850 (1983 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: NA
international: 1 submarine cable
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1997)
Televisions: NA
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: NA km
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km
Ports and harbors: Saint Peter Port, Saint Sampson
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 2 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military--note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
======================================================================
@Guinea
------
Geography
Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean,
between Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone
Geographic coordinates: 11 00 N, 10 00 W
Map references: Africa
Area:
total: 245,860 sq km
land: 245,860 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than Oregon
Land boundaries:
total: 3,399 km
border countries: Guinea-Bissau 386 km, Cote d'Ivoire 610 km,
Liberia 563 km, Mali 858 km, Senegal 330 km, Sierra Leone 652 km
Coastline: 320 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: generally hot and humid; monsoonal-type rainy season
(June to November) with southwesterly winds; dry season (December to
May) with northeasterly harmattan winds
Terrain: generally flat coastal plain, hilly to mountainous
interior
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Nimba 1,752 m
Natural resources: bauxite, iron ore, diamonds, gold, uranium,
hydropower, fish
Land use:
arable land: 2%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 22%
forests and woodland: 59%
other: 17% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 930 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: hot, dry, dusty harmattan haze may reduce
visibility during dry season
Environment--current issues: deforestation; inadequate supplies of
potable water; desertification; soil contamination and erosion;
overfishing, overpopulation in forest region
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection,
Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
People
Population: 7,538,953 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 44% (male 1,640,158; female 1,653,184)
15-64 years: 54% (male 1,974,849; female 2,068,221)
65 years and over: 2% (male 83,859; female 118,682) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.82% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 40.62 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 17.3 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -15.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
note: over the years Guinea has received up to several hundred
thousand refugees from the civil wars in Liberia and Sierra Leone,
some of whom are now returning to their own countries
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 126.32 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 46.5 years
male: 44.02 years
female: 49.06 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.53 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Guinean(s)
adjective: Guinean
Ethnic groups: Peuhl 40%, Malinke 30%, Soussou 20%, smaller
tribes 10%
Religions: Muslim 85%, Christian 8%, indigenous beliefs 7%
Languages: French (official), each tribe has its own language
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 35.9%
male: 49.9%
female: 21.9% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Guinea
conventional short form: Guinea
local long form: Republique de Guinee
local short form: Guinee
former: French Guinea
Data code: GV
Government type: republic
Capital: Conakry
Administrative divisions: 4 administrative regions (regions
administrative, singular--region administrative) and 1 special zone
(zone speciale)*; Conakry*, Guinee, Guinee-Forestiere, Haute-Guinee,
Moyen-Guinee
Independence: 2 October 1958 (from France)
National holiday: Anniversary of the Second Republic, 3 April
(1984)
Constitution: 23 December 1990 (Loi Fundamentale)
Legal system: based on French civil law system, customary law,
and decree; legal codes currently being revised; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Lansana CONTE (head of military government
since 5 April 1984, elected president 19 December 1993)
head of government: Prime Minister Lamine SIDIME (since 8 March 1999)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
candidate must receive a majority of the votes cast to be elected
president; election last held 14 December 1998 (next to be held NA
December 2003); the prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Lansana CONTE reelected president; percent of
vote--Lansana CONTE (PUP) 56%, Alpha CONDE (RPG) 16%, Mamadou Boye BA
(UNR-PRP) 24%
Legislative branch: unicameral People's National Assembly or
Assemblee Nationale Populaire (114 seats; members are elected by
direct popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 11 June 1995 (next to be held NA 2000)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--PUP
71, RPG 19, PRP 9, UNR 9, UPG 2, PDG 1, UNP 1, PDG-RDA 1, other 1
Judicial branch: Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel
Political parties and leaders: political parties were legalized
on 1 April 1992; of the more than 40 with legal status, the
following won seats in the legislature in the 11 June 1995 elections
other: Democratic Party of Guinea-African Democratic Rally or
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC,
ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer),
ISO (correspondent), ITU, MINURSO, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Mohamed Aly THIAM
chancery: 2112 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Tibor P. NAGY, Jr.
embassy: Rue Ka 038, Conakry
mailing address: B. P. 603, Conakry
Flag description: three equal vertical bands of red (hoist side),
yellow, and green; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia;
similar to the flag of Rwanda, which has a large black letter R
centered in the yellow band
Economy
Economy--overview: Guinea possesses major mineral, hydropower, and
agricultural resources, yet remains a poor underdeveloped nation.
The agricultural sector employs 80% of the work force. Guinea
possesses over 25% of the world's bauxite reserves and is the second
largest bauxite producer. The mining sector accounted for about 75%
of exports in 1998. Long-run improvements in government fiscal
arrangements, literacy, and the legal framework are needed if the
country is to move out of poverty. The government made encouraging
progress in budget management in 1997-98. Except in the mining
industry, foreign investment remains minimal but is expected to pick
up in 1999.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$8.8 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 4.9% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,180 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 24%
industry: 31%
services: 45% (1996 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 0.9%
highest 10%: 31.7% (1991)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.5% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 2.4 million (1983)
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 80%, industry and commerce
11%, services 5.4%, civil service 3.6%
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $553 million
expenditures: $652 million, including capital expenditures of $317
million (1995 est.)
Industries: bauxite, gold, diamonds; alumina refining; light
manufacturing and agricultural processing industries
Industrial production growth rate: 3.2% (1994)
Electricity--production: 525 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 63.81%
hydro: 36.19%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 525 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: rice, coffee, pineapples, palm kernels,
cassava (tapioca), bananas, sweet potatoes; cattle, sheep, goats;
timber
Exports: $695 million (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Exports--commodities: bauxite, alumina, diamonds, gold, coffee,
fish, agricultural products
Exports--partners: Russia, US, Belgium, Ukraine, Ireland, Spain
(1997)
Imports: $560 million (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Imports--commodities: petroleum products, metals, machinery,
transport equipment, textiles, grain and other foodstuffs (1997)
Imports--partners: France, Cote d'Ivoire, US, Belgium, Hong Kong
(1997)
Debt--external: $3.15 billion (1998 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $433.6 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Guinean franc (FG) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: Guinean francs (FG) per US$1--1,292.5 (January
1999), 1,095.3 (1997), 1,004.0 (1996), 991.4 (1995), 976.6 (1994)
note: the official exchange rate of the Guinean franc was set and
quoted weekly against the US dollar until the end of October 1993;
since 1 November 1994, the exchange rate is determined in the
interbank market for foreign exchange
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 18,000 (1994 est.)
Telephone system: poor to fair system of open-wire lines, small
radiotelephone communication stations, and new microwave radio relay
system
domestic: microwave radio relay and radiotelephone communication
international: satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 1, shortwave 0
Radios: 257,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 6 (1997)
Televisions: 65,000 (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 1,086 km
standard gauge: 279 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 807 km 1.000-m gauge (includes 662 km in common
carrier service from Kankan to Conakry)
Highways:
total: 30,500 km
paved: 5,033 km
unpaved: 25,467 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 1,295 km navigable by shallow-draft native craft
Ports and harbors: Boke, Conakry, Kamsar
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 15 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 5
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 10
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Republican Guard,
Presidential Guard, paramilitary National Gendarmerie, National
Police Force (Surete National)
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 1,726,933 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 871,615 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $56 million (1996)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 1.4% (1996)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
======================================================================
@Guinea-Bissau
-------------
Geography
Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean,
between Guinea and Senegal
Geographic coordinates: 12 00 N, 15 00 W
Map references: Africa
Area:
total: 36,120 sq km
land: 28,000 sq km
water: 8,120 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly less than three times the size of
Connecticut
Land boundaries:
total: 724 km
border countries: Guinea 386 km, Senegal 338 km
Coastline: 350 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; generally hot and humid; monsoonal-type rainy
season (June to November) with southwesterly winds; dry season
(December to May) with northeasterly harmattan winds
Terrain: mostly low coastal plain rising to savanna in east
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location in the northeast corner of the
country 300 m
Natural resources: fish, timber, phosphates, bauxite, unexploited
deposits of petroleum
Land use:
arable land: 11%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 38%
forests and woodland: 38%
other: 12% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 17 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: hot, dry, dusty harmattan haze may reduce
visibility during dry season; brush fires
Environment--current issues: deforestation; soil erosion;
overgrazing; overfishing
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Law of the Sea, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
People
Population: 1,234,555 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 42% (male 260,821; female 259,520)
15-64 years: 55% (male 322,607; female 356,513)
65 years and over: 3% (male 16,233; female 18,861) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.31% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 38.23 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 15.13 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 109.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 49.57 years
male: 47.91 years
female: 51.28 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.09 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Guinean (s)
adjective: Guinean
Ethnic groups: African 99% (Balanta 30%, Fula 20%, Manjaca 14%,
Mandinga 13%, Papel 7%), European and mulatto less than 1%
Religions: indigenous beliefs 50%, Muslim 45%, Christian 5%
Languages: Portuguese (official), Crioulo, African languages
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 53.9%
male: 67.1%
female: 40.7% (1997 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Guinea-Bissau
conventional short form: Guinea-Bissau
local long form: Republica da Guine-Bissau
local short form: Guine-Bissau
former: Portuguese Guinea
Data code: PU
Government type: republic, multiparty since mid-1991
Capital: Bissau
Administrative divisions: 9 regions (regioes, singular--regiao);
Bafata, Biombo, Bissau, Bolama, Cacheu, Gabu, Oio, Quinara, Tombali
note: Bolama may have been renamed Bolama/Bijagos
Independence: 24 September 1973 (unilaterally declared by
Guinea-Bissau); 10 September 1974 (recognized by Portugal)
National holiday: Independence Day, 24 September (1973)
Constitution: 16 May 1984, amended 4 May 1991, 4 December 1991,
26 February 1993, 9 June 1993, and 1996
Legal system: NA
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Joao Bernardo VIEIRA (initially assumed
power 14 November 1980 in a coup d'etat)
head of government: Prime Minister Francisco FADUL (since NA
November 1998); note--named in an agreement between President VIEIRA
and a military-led junta which rebelled against the President
FADUL's administration in June 1998
cabinet: none; an interim National Unity Government was provided for
in the agreement between President VIEIRA and the military junta and
was scheduled be inaugurated in February 1999
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 3 July and 7 August 1994 (next to be held NA July
1999); prime minister appointed by the president after consultation
with party leaders in the legislature
election results: Joao Bernardo VIEIRA elected president; percent of
vote--Joao Bernardo VIEIRA 52%, Koumba YALLA 48%
Legislative branch: unicameral National People's Assembly or
Assembleia Nacional Popular (100 seats; members are elected by
popular vote to serve a maximum of four years)
elections: last held 3 July and 7 August 1994 (next to be held by NA)
election results: percent of vote by party--PAIGC 46.0%, RGB-MB
19.2%, PRS 10.3%, UM 12.8%, FLING 2.5%, PCD 5.3%, PUSD 2.9%, FCG
0.2%, others 0.8%; seats by party--PAIGC 62, RGB 19, PRS 12, UM 6,
FLING 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Supremo Tribunal da Justica,
consists of 9 justices who are appointed by the president and serve
at his pleasure, final court of appeals in criminal and civil cases;
Regional Courts, one in each of nine regions, first court of appeals
for sectoral court decisions, hear all felony cases and civil cases
valued at over $1,000; 24 Sectoral Courts, judges are not
necessarily trained lawyers, hear civil cases under $1,000 and
misdemeanor criminal cases
Political parties and leaders: African Party for the Independence
secretary general]; Front for the Liberation and Independence of
president]; National Union for Democracy and Progress or UNDP
president, Dr. Anne SAAD, secretary general]; United Social
International organization participation: ACCT (associate), ACP,
AfDB, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user),
Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, MONUA, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WAEMU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Henrique
Adriano DA SILVA
chancery: Suite 519, 1511 K Street, NW, Washington, DC 20005
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US Embassy suspended
operations on 14 June 1998 in the midst of violent conflict between
forces loyal to President VIEIRA and military-led junta
Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and
green with a vertical red band on the hoist side; there is a black
five-pointed star centered in the red band; uses the popular
pan-African colors of Ethiopia
Economy
Economy--overview: One of the 20 poorest countries in the world,
Guinea-Bissau depends mainly on farming and fishing. Cashew crops
have increased remarkably in recent years, and the country now ranks
sixth in cashew production. Guinea-Bissau exports fish and seafood
along with small amounts of peanuts, palm kernels, and timber. Rice
is the major crop and staple food. However, intermittent fighting
between Senegalese-backed government troops and a military junta
destroyed much of the country's infrastructure and caused widespread
damage to the economy in 1998. Before the war, trade reform and
price liberalization were the most successful part of the country's
structural adjustment program under IMF sponsorship. The tightening
of monetary policy and the development of the private sector had
also begun to reinvigorate the economy. Inflation dropped sharply in
the first quarter of 1997. Membership in the WAMU (West African
Monetary Union), begun in May 1997, was expected to support 5%
annual growth and contribute to fiscal discipline. Because of high
costs, the development of petroleum, phosphate, and other mineral
resources was not a near-term prospect.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$1.2 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 3.5% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,000 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 54%
industry: 11%
services: 35% (1996 est.)
Population below poverty line: 48.8% (1991 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 0.5%
highest 10%: 42.4% (1991)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 25.6% (1997)
Labor force: 480,000
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: $NA
Industries: agricultural products processing, beer, soft drinks
Industrial production growth rate: 2.6% (1997 est.)
Electricity--production: 40 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 40 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: rice, corn, beans, cassava (tapioca),
cashew nuts, peanuts, palm kernels, cotton; timber; fish
Exports: $25.8 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.)
Exports--commodities: cashews 95%, fish, peanuts, palm kernels,
sawn lumber (1994)
Exports--partners: Spain 35%, India 30%, Thailand 10%, Italy 10%
(1995)
Imports: $63 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.)
Imports--commodities: foodstuffs, transport equipment, petroleum
products, machinery and equipment (1994)
Imports--partners: Portugal 29.2%, Thailand 8.4%, Netherlands
8.4%, US 7.5% (1996)
Debt--external: $953 million (1996 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $115.4 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100
centimes; note--on 1 May 1997, Guinea-Bissau adopted as its currency
the CFA franc following its membership into the BCEAO
Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per
US$1--566.65 (January 1999), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997);
Guinea-Bissauan pesos (PG) per US$1-- 26,373 (1996), 18,073 (1995),
12,892 (1994)
note: as of 2 May 1997, Guinea-Bissau has adopted the CFA franc as
the national currency following its membership in BCEAO
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 13,120 (1997 est.)
Telephone system: small system
domestic: combination of microwave radio relay, open-wire lines,
radiotelephone, and cellular communications
international: NA
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0
Radios: 40,000 (1994 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 2 (1997)
Televisions: NA
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 4,400 km
paved: 453 km
unpaved: 3,947 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: several rivers are accessible to coastal shipping
Ports and harbors: Bissau, Buba, Cacheu, Farim
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 30 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 3
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 27
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 22 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: People's Revolutionary Armed Force (FARP;
includes Army, Navy, and Air Force), paramilitary force
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 284,998 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 162,485 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $8 million (1996)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 2.8% (1996)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
======================================================================
@Guyana
------
Geography
Location: Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic
Ocean, between Suriname and Venezuela
Geographic coordinates: 5 00 N, 59 00 W
Map references: South America
Area:
total: 214,970 sq km
land: 196,850 sq km
water: 18,120 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than Idaho
Land boundaries:
total: 2,462 km
border countries: Brazil 1,119 km, Suriname 600 km, Venezuela 743 km
Coastline: 459 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the outer edge of the continental
margin
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; hot, humid, moderated by northeast trade
winds; two rainy seasons (May to mid-August, mid-November to
mid-January)
Terrain: mostly rolling highlands; low coastal plain; savanna in
south
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Roraima 2,835 m
Natural resources: bauxite, gold, diamonds, hardwood timber,
shrimp, fish
Land use:
arable land: 2%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 6%
forests and woodland: 84%
other: 8% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 1,300 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: flash floods are a constant threat during rainy
seasons
Environment--current issues: water pollution from sewage and
agricultural and industrial chemicals; deforestation
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83,
Tropical Timber 94
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
People
Population: 705,156 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 30% (male 109,156; female 105,017)
15-64 years: 65% (male 230,624; female 227,677)
65 years and over: 5% (male 14,684; female 17,998) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: -0.32% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 18.23 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 9.04 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -12.43 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 48.64 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 61.82 years
male: 59.15 years
female: 64.61 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.09 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Guyanese (singular and plural)
adjective: Guyanese
Ethnic groups: East Indian 49%, black 32%, mixed 12%, Amerindian
6%, white and Chinese 1%
Religions: Christian 57%, Hindu 33%, Muslim 9%, other 1%
Languages: English, Amerindian dialects
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 98.1%
male: 98.6%
female: 97.5% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Co-operative Republic of Guyana
conventional short form: Guyana
former: British Guiana
Data code: GY
Government type: republic
Capital: Georgetown
Administrative divisions: 10 regions; Barima-Waini,
Cuyuni-Mazaruni, Demerara-Mahaica, East Berbice-Corentyne, Essequibo
Islands-West Demerara, Mahaica-Berbice, Pomeroon-Supenaam,
Potaro-Siparuni, Upper Demerara-Berbice, Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo
Independence: 26 May 1966 (from UK)
National holiday: Republic Day, 23 February (1970)
Constitution: 6 October 1980
Legal system: based on English common law with certain admixtures
of Roman-Dutch law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Janet JAGAN (since NA December 1997)
head of government: Prime Minister Samuel HINDS (since NA December
1997)
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president,
responsible to the legislature
elections: president elected by the majority party in the National
Assembly after legislative elections, which must be held within five
years; legislative elections last held 15 December 1997 (next to be
held NA 2000; this date was part of a negotiated settlement between
the two main political parties following a dispute over the December
elections); prime minister appointed by the president
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (65 seats, 53
popularly elected; members serve five-year terms)
elections: last held on 15 December 1997 (next to be held by March
2000; this date was negotiated following a dispute over the December
elections)
election results: percent of vote by party--PPP 54%, PNC 41%, AFG 1%,
TUF 1%; seats by party--PPP 36, PNC 25, AFG 2, TUF 2
Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Judicature
Political parties and leaders: People's Progressive Party or PPP
Political pressure groups and leaders: Trades Union Congress or
TUC; Guyana Council of Indian Organizations or GCIO; Civil Liberties
Action Committee or CLAC
note: the latter two organizations are small and active but not well
organized
International organization participation: ACP, C, Caricom, CCC,
CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol,
IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OIC (observer), OPANAL,
OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Dr. Ali Odeen ISHMAEL
chancery: 2490 Tracy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador James F. MACK
embassy: 99-100 Young and Duke Streets, Kingston, Georgetown
mailing address: P. O. Box 10507, Georgetown
Flag description: green, with a red isosceles triangle (based on
the hoist side) superimposed on a long, yellow arrowhead; there is a
narrow, black border between the red and yellow, and a narrow, white
border between the yellow and the green
Economy
Economy--overview: In 1997, Guyana, one of the poorest countries
in the Western Hemisphere, posted its sixth straight year of
economic growth of 5% or better, with the advance led by gold and
bauxite mining and by sugar growing. Favorable growth factors have
included expansion in the key agricultural and mining sectors, a
more favorable atmosphere for business initiative, a more realistic
exchange rate, a moderate inflation rate, and the continued support
of international organizations. However, a severe drought and
political turmoil following the 1997 elections contributed to a
negative growth rate for 1998. Serious underlying economic problems
will continue. Electricity has been in short supply and constitutes
a major barrier to future gains in national output. The government
must persist in efforts to manage its sizable external debt and
extend its privatization program.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$1.8 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: -1.8% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$2,500 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 37%
industry: 22%
services: 41% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.1% (1998)
Labor force: 245,492 (1992)
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture, hunting and forestry
30.2%, commerce 16%, manufacturing 11% (1992)
Unemployment rate: 12% (1992 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $253.7 million
expenditures: $304.1 million, including capital expenditures of
$108.8 million (1997 est.)
Industries: bauxite, sugar, rice milling, timber, fishing
(shrimp), textiles, gold mining
Industrial production growth rate: 7.1% (1997 est.)
Electricity--production: 325 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 98.46%
hydro: 1.54%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 339 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 14 million kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: sugar, rice, wheat, vegetable oils; beef,
pork, poultry, dairy products; forest and fishery potential not
exploited
Exports: $593.4 million (1997 est.)
Exports--commodities: sugar, gold, bauxite/alumina, rice, shrimp,
molasses
Exports--partners: Canada 25.9%, US 20.4%, UK 22.7%, Netherlands
Antilles 8.4%, Germany 4.3% (1996)
Imports: $641.6 million (1997 est.)
Imports--commodities: manufactures, machinery, petroleum, food
Imports--partners: US 27.6%, Trinidad and Tobago 17.7%,
Netherlands Antilles 12.1%, UK 10.7%, Japan 4.2% (1996)
Debt--external: $1.5 billion (1997)
Economic aid--recipient: $84 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Guyanese dollar (G$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Guyanese dollars (G$) per US$1--163.7 (December
1998), 150.5 (1998), 142.4 (1997), 140.4 (1996), 142.0 (1995), 138.3
(1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 33,000 (1987 est.)
Telephone system: fair system for long-distance calling
domestic: microwave radio relay network for trunk lines
international: tropospheric scatter to Trinidad; satellite earth
station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 4, FM 3, shortwave 1
Radios: 398,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 1 public station; two private
stations relay US satellite services (1997)
Televisions: 32,000 (1992 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 88 km (all dedicated to ore transport)
standard gauge: 40 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 48 km 0.914-m gauge
Highways:
total: 7,970 km
paved: 590 km
unpaved: 7,380 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 6,000 km total of navigable waterways; Berbice,
Demerara, and Essequibo Rivers are navigable by oceangoing vessels
for 150 km, 100 km, and 80 km, respectively
Ports and harbors: Bartica, Georgetown, Linden, New Amsterdam,
Parika
Merchant marine:
total: 2 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,340 GRT/4,530
DWT (1998 est.)
Airports: 48 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 44
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 35 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Guyana Defense Force (GDF; includes Ground
Forces, Coast Guard, and Air Corps), Guyana People's Militia (GPM),
Guyana National Service (GNS), Guyana Police Force
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 202,509 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 152,839 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $7 million (1994)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 1.7% (1994)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: all of the area west of the Essequibo
River claimed by Venezuela; Suriname claims area between New (Upper
of the Courantyne)
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for narcotics from South
America--primarily Venezuela--to Europe and the US; producer of
cannabis
======================================================================
@Haiti
-----
Geography
Location: Caribbean, western one-third of the island of
Hispaniola, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean,
west of the Dominican Republic
Geographic coordinates: 19 00 N, 72 25 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 27,750 sq km
land: 27,560 sq km
water: 190 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than Maryland
Land boundaries:
total: 275 km
border countries: Dominican Republic 275 km
Coastline: 1,771 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: to depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; semiarid where mountains in east cut off trade
winds
Terrain: mostly rough and mountainous
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Chaine de la Selle 2,680 m
Natural resources: none
Land use:
arable land: 20%
permanent crops: 13%
permanent pastures: 18%
forests and woodland: 5%
other: 44% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 750 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: lies in the middle of the hurricane belt and
subject to severe storms from June to October; occasional flooding
and earthquakes; periodic droughts
Environment--current issues: extensive deforestation (much of the
remaining forested land is being cleared for agriculture and used as
fuel); soil erosion; inadequate supplies of potable water
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Law of the
Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation
signed, but not ratified: Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban
Geography--note: shares island of Hispaniola with Dominican
Republic (western one-third is Haiti, eastern two-thirds is the
Dominican Republic)
People
Population: 6,884,264 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 42% (male 1,464,529; female 1,420,772)
15-64 years: 54% (male 1,783,884; female 1,932,240)
65 years and over: 4% (male 140,932; female 141,907) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.53% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 32.55 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 13.97 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -3.26 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.99 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 97.64 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 51.65 years
male: 49.53 years
female: 53.88 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.59 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Haitian(s)
adjective: Haitian
Ethnic groups: black 95%, mulatto plus white 5%
Religions: Roman Catholic 80%, Protestant 16% (Baptist 10%,
Pentecostal 4%, Adventist 1%, other 1%), none 1%, other 3% (1982)
note: roughly one-half of the population also practices Voodoo
Languages: French (official) 20%, Creole
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 45%
male: 48%
female: 42.2% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Haiti
conventional short form: Haiti
local long form: Republique d'Haiti
local short form: Haiti
Data code: HA
Government type: republic
Capital: Port-au-Prince
Administrative divisions: 9 departments, (departements,
singular--departement); Artibonite, Centre, Grand'Anse, Nord,
Nord-Est, Nord-Ouest, Ouest, Sud, Sud-Est
Independence: 1 January 1804 (from France)
National holiday: Independence Day, 1 January (1804)
Constitution: approved March 1987; suspended June 1988, with most
articles reinstated March 1989; in October 1991, government claimed
to be observing the constitution; return to constitutional rule,
October 1994
Legal system: based on Roman civil law system; accepts compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Rene Garcia PREVAL (since 7 February 1996)
head of government: Prime Minister Rosny SMARTH resigned June 1997;
currently no prime minister; ratification of a new prime minister
held up in political gridlock stemming from controversy over the 6
April 1997 elections
cabinet: Cabinet; chosen by the prime minister in consultation with
the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 17 December 1995 (next to be held by December
2000); prime minister appointed by the president, ratified by the
Congress
election results: Rene Garcia PREVAL elected president; percent of
vote--Rene Garcia PREVAL 88%, Leon JEUNE 2.5%, Victor BENOIT 2.3%
Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly or Assemblee
Nationale consists of the Senate (27 seats; members serve six-year
terms; one-third elected every two years) and the Chamber of
Deputies (83 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve
four-year terms)
elections: Senate--last held 25 June 1995, with reruns on 13 August
and runoffs on 17 September (election held for nine seats 6 April
1997; results disputed and runoffs postponed indefinitely); Chamber
of Deputies--last held 25 June 1995, with reruns on 13 August and
runoffs on 17 September (next Senate and Chamber of Deputies
elections due November 1998 but delayed indefinitely)
election results: Senate--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by
party--OPL 7, FL-leaning 7, independents 3, vacant 10; Chamber of
Deputies--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--OPL 32,
antineoliberal bloc 24, minor parties and independents 22, vacant 5
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour de Cassation)
Political parties and leaders: Lavalas Family or FL
ROUMAIN]; Alliance for the Liberation and Advancement of Haiti or
Political pressure groups and leaders: Roman Catholic Church;
Confederation of Haitian Workers or CTH; Federation of Workers Trade
Unions or FOS; Autonomous Haitian Workers or CATH; National Popular
Assembly or APN; Papaye Peasants Movement or MPP; Popular
Organizations Gathering Power or PROP
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, Caricom
(observer), CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
ITU, LAES, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,
WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Louis
Harold JOSEPH
chancery: 2311 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Miami, New York, and San Juan
(Puerto Rico)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Timothy Michael CARNEY
embassy: 5 Harry Truman Boulevard, Port-au-Prince
mailing address: P. O. Box 1761, Port-au-Prince
Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and
red with a centered white rectangle bearing the coat of arms, which
contains a palm tree flanked by flags and two cannons above a scroll
bearing the motto L'UNION FAIT LA FORCE (Union Makes Strength)
Economy
Economy--overview: About 75% of the population lives in abject
poverty. Nearly 70% of all Haitians depend on the agriculture
sector, which consists mainly of small-scale subsistence farming and
employs about two-thirds of the economically active work force. The
country has experienced little job creation since President PREVAL
took office in February 1996, although the informal economy is
growing. Failure to reach agreements with international sponsors
have denied Haiti badly needed budget and development assistance.
Meeting aid conditions in 1999 will be especially challenging in the
face of mounting popular criticism of reforms.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$8.9 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 3% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,300 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 42%
industry: 14%
services: 44% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: 75% (1998 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 8% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 3.6 million (1995)
note: shortage of skilled labor, unskilled labor abundant (1998)
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 66%, services 25%,
industry 9%
Unemployment rate: 60% (1996 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $323 million
expenditures: $363 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY97/98 est.)
Industries: sugar refining, flour milling, textiles, cement,
tourism, light assembly industries based on imported parts
Industrial production growth rate: 0.6% (1997 est.)
Electricity--production: 415 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 60.24%
hydro: 39.76%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 415 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: coffee, mangoes, sugarcane, rice, corn,
sorghum; wood
Exports: $110 million (f.o.b., 1997)
Exports--commodities: light manufactures 80.5%, coffee 7.6%, other
agriculture 7.2%
Exports--partners: US 76%, EU 19% (1997)
Imports: $486 million (f.o.b., 1997)
Imports--commodities: machines and manufactures 50%, food and
beverages 39%, petroleum products 2%, chemicals 5%, fats and oils 4%
Imports--partners: US 60%, EU 12% (1997)
Debt--external: $1 billion (1997 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $730.6 million (1995)
Currency: 1 gourde (G) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: gourdes (G) per US$1--16.778 (January 1999),
16.205 (1998), 17.311 (1997), 15.093 (1996), 16.160 (1995), 12.947
(1994)
Fiscal year: 1 October--30 September
Communications
Telephones: 50,000 (1990 est.)
Telephone system: domestic facilities barely adequate;
international facilities slightly better
domestic: NA
international: satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 33, FM 0, shortwave 2
Radios: 320,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 2 (in addition, there is a cable
TV station) (1997)
Televisions: 32,000 (1992 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 40 km (single track; privately owned industrial line)--closed
in early 1990s
narrow gauge: 40 km 0.760-m gauge
Highways:
total: 4,160 km
paved: 1,011 km
unpaved: 3,149 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: NEGL; less than 100 km navigable
Ports and harbors: Cap-Haitien, Gonaives, Jacmel, Jeremie, Les
Cayes, Miragoane, Port-au-Prince, Port-de-Paix, Saint-Marc
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 13 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 10
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 5 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Haitian National Police (HNP)
note: the regular Haitian Army, Navy, and Air Force have been
demobilized but still exist on paper until/unless constitutionally
abolished
Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 1,541,402 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 835,578 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 80,158 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $NA; note?mainly for police
and security activities
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: NA%
Military--note: the Haitian Armed Forces have been demobilized and
replaced by the Haitian National Police
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: claims US-administered Navassa Island
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for cocaine and marijuana en
route to the US and Europe
======================================================================
@Heard Island and McDonald Islands
---------------------------------
Geography
Location: Southern Africa, islands in the Indian Ocean, about
two-thirds of the way from Madagascar to Antarctica
Geographic coordinates: 53 06 S, 72 31 E
Map references: Antarctic Region
Area:
total: 412 sq km
land: 412 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly more than 2 times the size of
Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 101.9 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 3 nm
Climate: antarctic
Terrain: Heard Island--bleak and mountainous, with a quiescent
volcano; McDonald Islands--small and rocky
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Big Ben 2,745 m
Natural resources: none
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 100%
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1993)
Natural hazards: Heard Island is dominated by a dormant volcano
called Big Ben
Environment--current issues: NA
Environment--international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography--note: primarily used for research stations
People
Population: uninhabited
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Territory of Heard Island and McDonald
Islands
conventional short form: Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Data code: HM
Dependency status: territory of Australia; administered from
Canberra by the Department of the Environment, Sport and Territories
Legal system: NA
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (territory of Australia)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (territory of
Australia)
Flag description: the flag of Australia is used
Economy
Economy--overview: no economic activity
Transportation
Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only
Military
Military--note: defense is the responsibility of Australia
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
======================================================================
@Holy See (Vatican City)
-----------------------
Introduction
Background: Popes in their secular role ruled much of the Italian
peninsula, including Rome, for about a thousand years, until 1870. A
dispute between a series of popes and Italy was settled in 1929 by
treaties that recognized the Vatican City as an independent
sovereignty and gave Roman Catholicism special status in Italy. The
US established formal diplomatic relationships with the Vatican in
1984. Present issues in the Vatican concern the ill health of Pope
John Paul II, who turns 79 on 20 May 1999, inter-religious dialogue
and reconciliation, and the adjustment of church doctrine in an era
of rapid change. About 1 billion people worldwide profess the Roman
Catholic faith.
Geography
Location: Southern Europe, an enclave of Rome (Italy)
Geographic coordinates: 41 54 N, 12 27 E
Map references: Europe
Area:
total: 0.44 sq km
land: 0.44 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: about 0.7 times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
total: 3.2 km
border countries: Italy 3.2 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: temperate; mild, rainy winters (September to mid-May)
with hot, dry summers (May to September)
Terrain: low hill
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: unnamed location 19 m
highest point: unnamed location 75 m
Natural resources: none
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 100% (urban area)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1993)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment--current issues: NA
Environment--international agreements:
party to: none of the selected agreements
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution, Environmental Modification
Geography--note: urban; landlocked; enclave of Rome, Italy;
world's smallest state; outside the Vatican City, 13 buildings in
Rome and Castel Gandolfo (the pope's summer residence) enjoy
extraterritorial rights
People
Population: 870 (July 1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.15% (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: none
adjective: none
Ethnic groups: Italians, Swiss, other
Religions: Roman Catholic
Languages: Italian, Latin, various other languages
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: The Holy See (State of the Vatican City)
conventional short form: Holy See (Vatican City)
local long form: Santa Sede (Stato della Citta del Vaticano)
local short form: Santa Sede (Citta del Vaticano)
Data code: VT
Government type: monarchical-sacerdotal state
Capital: Vatican City
Independence: 11 February 1929 (from Italy)
National holiday: Installation Day of the Pope (John Paul II), 22
October (1978)
Constitution: Apostolic Constitution of 1967 (effective 1 March
1968)
Legal system: NA
Suffrage: limited to cardinals less than 80 years old
Executive branch:
chief of state: Pope JOHN PAUL II (since 16 October 1978)
head of government: Secretary of State Archbishop Angelo Cardinal
SODANO (since 2 December 1990)
cabinet: Pontifical Commission appointed by the pope
elections: pope elected for life by the College of Cardinals;
election last held 16 October 1978 (next to be held after the death
of the current pope); secretary of state appointed by the pope
election results: Karol WOJTYLA elected pope
Legislative branch: unicameral Pontifical Commission
Judicial branch: none; normally handled by Italy
Political parties and leaders: none
Political pressure groups and leaders: none (exclusive of
influence exercised by church officers)
International organization participation: IAEA, ICFTU, Intelsat,
IOM (observer), ITU, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, UN (observer),
UNCTAD, UNHCR, UPU, WIPO, WToO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Gabriel MONTALVO
chancery: 3339 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Corrine C. BOGGS
embassy: Villa Domiziana, Via Delle Terme Deciane 26, 00153 Rome
mailing address: PSC 59, Box F, APO AE 09624
Flag description: two vertical bands of yellow (hoist side) and
white with the crossed keys of Saint Peter and the papal miter
centered in the white band
Economy
Economy--overview: This unique, noncommercial economy is supported
financially by contributions (known as Peter's Pence) from Roman
Catholics throughout the world, the sale of postage stamps and
tourist mementos, fees for admission to museums, and the sale of
publications. The incomes and living standards of lay workers are
comparable to, or somewhat better than, those of counterparts who
work in the city of Rome.
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Labor force: NA
Labor force--by occupation: dignitaries, priests, nuns, guards,
and 3,000 lay workers who live outside the Vatican
Budget:
revenues: $175.5 million
expenditures: $175 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1994)
Industries: printing and production of a small amount of mosaics
and staff uniforms; worldwide banking and financial activities
Electricity--production: 0 kWh
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: NA%
hydro: NA%
nuclear: NA%
other: NA%
Electricity--consumption: NA kWh
Electricity--exports: NA kWh
Electricity--imports: NA kWh; note?electricity supplied by Italy
Economic aid--recipient: none
Currency: 1 Vatican lira (VLit) = 100 centesimi
Exchange rates: Vatican lire (VLit) per US$1--1,688.7 (January
1998), 1,736.2 (1998), 1,703.1 (1997), 1,542.9 (1996), 1,628.9
(1995), 1,612.4 (1994); note--the Vatican lira is at par with the
Italian lira which circulates freely
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 2,000
Telephone system: automatic exchange
domestic: tied into Italian system
international: uses Italian system
Radio broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 4, shortwave 0
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1996)
Televisions: NA
Transportation
Railways:
total: 862 m; note--connects to Italy's network at Rome's Saint
Peter's station
narrow gauge: 862 m 1.435-m gauge
Highways: none; all city streets
Ports and harbors: none
Airports: none
Heliports: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military--note: defense is the responsibility of Italy; Swiss
Papal Guards are posted at entrances to the Vatican City
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
======================================================================
@Honduras
--------
Geography
Location: Middle America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between
Guatemala and Nicaragua and bordering the North Pacific Ocean,
between El Salvador and Nicaragua
Geographic coordinates: 15 00 N, 86 30 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 112,090 sq km
land: 111,890 sq km
water: 200 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly larger than Tennessee
Land boundaries:
total: 1,520 km
border countries: Guatemala 256 km, El Salvador 342 km, Nicaragua
922 km
Coastline: 820 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: natural extension of territory or to 200 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: subtropical in lowlands, temperate in mountains
Terrain: mostly mountains in interior, narrow coastal plains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Cerro Las Minas 2,870 m
Natural resources: timber, gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc, iron
ore, antimony, coal, fish
Land use:
arable land: 15%
permanent crops: 3%
permanent pastures: 14%
forests and woodland: 54%
other: 14% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 740 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: frequent, but generally mild, earthquakes;
damaging hurricanes and floods along Caribbean coast
Environment--current issues: urban population expanding;
deforestation results from logging and the clearing of land for
agricultural purposes; further land degradation and soil erosion
hastened by uncontrolled development and improper land use practices
such as farming of marginal lands; mining activities polluting Lago
de Yojoa (the country's largest source of fresh water) as well as
several rivers and streams with heavy metals; severe Hurricane Mitch
damage
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear
Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical
Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
People
Population: 5,997,327 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 41% (male 1,262,190; female 1,217,752)
15-64 years: 55% (male 1,643,550; female 1,665,666)
65 years and over: 4% (male 98,715; female 109,454) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.24% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 30.98 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 7.14 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.46 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 40.84 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 64.68 years
male: 63.16 years
female: 66.27 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.97 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Honduran(s)
adjective: Honduran
Ethnic groups: mestizo (mixed Amerindian and European) 90%,
Amerindian 7%, black 2%, white 1%
Religions: Roman Catholic 97%, Protestant minority
Languages: Spanish, Amerindian dialects
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 72.7%
male: 72.6%
female: 72.7% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Honduras
conventional short form: Honduras
local long form: Republica de Honduras
local short form: Honduras
Data code: HO
Government type: republic
Capital: Tegucigalpa
Administrative divisions: 18 departments (departamentos,
singular--departamento) plus probable Central District (Tegucigalpa);
Atlantida, Choluteca, Colon, Comayagua, Copan, Cortes, El Paraiso,
Francisco Morazan, Gracias a Dios, Intibuca, Islas de la Bahia, La
Paz, Lempira, Ocotepeque, Olancho, Santa Barbara, Valle, Yoro
Independence: 15 September 1821 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Constitution: 11 January 1982, effective 20 January 1982
Legal system: rooted in Roman and Spanish civil law; some
influence of English common law; accepts ICJ jurisdiction, with
reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Carlos Roberto FLORES Facusse (since 27
January 1998); note--the president is both the chief of state and
head of government
head of government: President Carlos Roberto FLORES Facusse (since
27 January 1998); note--the president is both the chief of state and
head of government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term;
election last held 30 November 1997 (next to be held NA November
2001)
election results: Carlos Roberto FLORES Facusse elected president;
percent of vote--Carlos Roberto FLORES Facusse (PLH) 53%, Nora de
MELGAR (PNH) 42%, other 5%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea
Nacional (128 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve
four-year terms)
elections: last held on 30 November 1997 (next to be held November
2001)
election results: percent of vote by party--PLH 50%, PNH 42%, PINU-SD
4%, PDCH 2%, other 2%; seats by party--PLH 70, PNH 55, PINU-SD 3
Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de
Justica), judges are elected for four-year terms by the National
Assembly
Political parties and leaders: Liberal Party or PLH [Raphael
MELGAR, president]; National Innovation and Unity Party-Social
Political pressure groups and leaders: National Association of
Honduran Campesinos or ANACH; Honduran Council of Private Enterprise
or COHEP; Confederation of Honduran Workers or CTH; National Union
of Campesinos or UNC; General Workers Confederation or CGT; United
Federation of Honduran Workers or FUTH; Committee for the Defense of
Human Rights in Honduras or CODEH; Coordinating Committee of Popular
Organizations or CCOP
International organization participation: BCIE, CACM, ECLAC, FAO,
G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,
IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer),
MINURSO, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant)
chancery: 3007 Tilden Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New
Orleans, New York, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)
consulate(s): Boston, Detroit, and Jacksonville
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador James Francis CREAGAN
embassy: Avenida La Paz, Apartado Postal No. 3453, Tegucigalpa
mailing address: American Embassy, APO AA 34022, Tegucigalpa
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of blue (top),
white, and blue with five blue five-pointed stars arranged in an X
pattern centered in the white band; the stars represent the members
of the former Federal Republic of Central America--Costa Rica, El
Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua; similar to the flag of
El Salvador, which features a round emblem encircled by the words
REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL centered in the white
band; also similar to the flag of Nicaragua, which features a
triangle encircled by the word REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on top and
AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom, centered in the white band
Economy
Economy--overview: Prior to Hurricane Mitch in the fall of 1998,
Honduras had been pursuing a moderate economic reform program and
had posted strong annual growth numbers. The storm has dramatically
changed economic forecasts for Honduras, one of the poorest
countries in Central America and the hardest hit by Mitch. Honduras
sustained approximately $3 billion in damages and will probably see
GDP shrink by 2% in 1999 and unemployment rise. Hardest hit was the
all-important agricultural sector, which is responsible for the
majority of exports. As a result, the trade deficit is likely to
balloon in 1999 to $445 million. However, significant aid has helped
to stabilize the country. In addition, the Paris Club and bilateral
creditors have offered substantial debt relief, and Tegucigalpa is
currently under consideration for inclusion in the IMF-World Bank
Highly Indebted Poor Countries Initiative (HIPC). Additional
financing will be needed to restore the economy to its pre-Mitch
level.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$14.4 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 3% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$2,400 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 20%
industry: 19%
services: 61% (1997)
Population below poverty line: 50% (1992 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.2%
highest 10%: 42.1% (1996)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 14.5% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 1.3 million (1997 est.)
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 37%, services 39%,
industry 24% (1996)
Unemployment rate: 6.3% (1997); underemployed 30% (1997 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $655 million
expenditures: $850 million, including capital expenditures of $150
million (1997 est.)
Industries: sugar, coffee, textiles, clothing, wood products
Industrial production growth rate: 10% (1992 est.)
Electricity--production: 2.73 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 12.09%
hydro: 87.91%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 2.734 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 4 million kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: bananas, coffee, citrus; beef; timber;
shrimp
Exports: $1.3 billion (f.o.b., 1996)
Exports--commodities: bananas, coffee, shrimp, lobster, minerals,
meat, lumber
Exports--partners: US 54%, Germany 7%, Belgium 5%, Japan 4%, Spain
3% (1995)
Imports: $1.8 billion (c.i.f. 1996)
Imports--commodities: machinery and transport equipment,
industrial raw materials, chemical products, manufactured goods,
fuel and oil, foodstuffs
Imports--partners: US 43%, Guatemala 5%, Japan 5%, Germany 4%,
Mexico 3%, El Salvador 3% (1995)
Debt--external: $4.1 billion (1995)
Economic aid--recipient: $418.7 million (1995)
Currency: 1 lempira (L) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates: lempiras (L) per US$1 (end of period)--13.8076
(December 1998), 13.8076 (1998), 13.0942 (1997), 12.8694 (1996),
10.3432 (1995), 9.4001 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 105,000 (1992 est.)
Telephone system: inadequate system
domestic: NA
international: satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean);
connected to Central American Microwave System
Radio broadcast stations: AM 176, FM 0, shortwave 7
Radios: 2.115 million (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 11 (in addition, there are 17
repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 400,000 (1992 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 595 km
narrow gauge: 190 km 1.067-m gauge; 128 km 1.057-m gauge; 277 km
0.914-m gauge
Highways:
total: 14,173 km
paved: 3,126 km
unpaved: 11,047 km (1998 est.)
Waterways: 465 km navigable by small craft
Ports and harbors: La Ceiba, Puerto Castilla, Puerto Cortes, San
Lorenzo, Tela, Puerto Lempira
Merchant marine:
total: 247 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 555,534 GRT/730,602 DWT
ships by type: bulk 21, cargo 157, chemical tanker 4, container 7,
livestock carrier 1, oil tanker 25, passenger 1, passenger-cargo 4,
refrigerated cargo 15, roll-on/roll-off cargo 6, short-sea passenger
5, vehicle carrier 1
note: a flag of convenience registry; Russia owns 6 ships, Vietnam
1, Singapore 3, North Korea 1 (1998 est.)
Airports: 122 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 11
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 111
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 21
under 914 m: 87 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy (includes Marines), Air Force
Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 1,455,053 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 866,492 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 69,646 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $33 million (1998)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 0.6% (1998)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: demarcation of boundary with El Salvador
defined by 1992 International Court of Justice (ICJ) decision has
not been completed; small boundary section left unresolved by ICJ
decision not yet reported to have been settled; with respect to the
maritime boundary in the Golfo de Fonseca, ICJ referred to an
earlier agreement in this century and advised that some tripartite
resolution among El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua likely would
be required; maritime boundary dispute with Nicaragua
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for drugs and narcotics;
illicit producer of cannabis, cultivated on small plots and used
principally for local consumption
======================================================================
@Hong Kong
---------
Introduction
Background: Pursuant to the agreement signed by China and the UK
on 19 December 1984, Hong Kong became the Hong Kong Special
Administrative Region (SAR) of China on 1 July 1997. Under the terms
of this agreement, China has promised that under its "one country,
two systems" formula its socialist economic system will not be
practiced in Hong Kong, and that Hong Kong shall enjoy a high degree
of autonomy in all matters except foreign and defense affairs.
Geography
Location: Eastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and China
Geographic coordinates: 22 15 N, 114 10 E
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area:
total: 1,092 sq km
land: 1,042 sq km
water: 50 sq km
Area--comparative: six times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
total: 30 km
border countries: China 30 km
Coastline: 733 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 3 nm
Climate: tropical monsoon; cool and humid in winter, hot and
rainy from spring through summer, warm and sunny in fall
Terrain: hilly to mountainous with steep slopes; lowlands in north
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: Tai Mo Shan 958 m
Natural resources: outstanding deepwater harbor, feldspar
Land use:
arable land: 6%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 1%
forests and woodland: 20%
other: 72% (1997 est.)
Irrigated land: 20 sq km (1997 est.)
Natural hazards: occasional typhoons
Environment--current issues: air and water pollution from rapid
urbanization
Environment--international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography--note: more than 200 islands
People
Population: 6,847,125 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 18% (male 644,982; female 598,188)
15-64 years: 71% (male 2,397,277; female 2,490,745)
65 years and over: 11% (male 323,949; female 391,984) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.9% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 12.9 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 5.96 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 12.07 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 5.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.91 years
male: 76.15 years
female: 81.85 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.39 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Chinese
adjective: Chinese
Ethnic groups: Chinese 95%, other 5%
Religions: eclectic mixture of local religions 90%, Christian 10%
Languages: Chinese (Cantonese), English
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 92.2%
male: 96%
female: 88.2% (1996 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
conventional short form: Hong Kong
local long form: Xianggang Tebie Xingzhengqu
local short form: Xianggang
abbreviation: HK
Data code: HK
Dependency status: special administrative region of China
Government type: NA
Capital: Victoria
Administrative divisions: none (special administrative region of
China)
Independence: none (special administrative region of China)
National holiday: National Day, 1-2 October; note--1 July 1997 is
celebrated as Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Establishment
Day
Constitution: Basic Law approved in March 1990 by China's
National People's Congress is Hong Kong's "mini-constitution"
Legal system: based on English common law
Suffrage: direct election 18 years of age; universal for
permanent residents living in the territory of Hong Kong for the
past seven years; indirect election limited to about 100,000 members
of functional constituencies and an 800-member Election Commission
drawn from broad regional groupings and other central government
bodies
Executive branch:
chief of state: President of China JIANG Zemin (since 27 March 1993)
head of government: Chief Executive TUNG Chee-hwa (since 1 July 1997)
cabinet: Executive Council consists of three ex-officio members and
10 appointed members; ex-officio members are: Chief Secretary Anson
CHAN (since 29 November 1993), Financial Secretary Donald TSANG
(since 7 March 1995), and Secretary of Justice Elsie LEUNG (since 1
July 1997)
elections: NA
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Council or LEGCO (60
seats; 30 indirectly elected by functional constituencies, 20
elected by popular vote, and 10 elected by an 800-member election
committee; members serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 25 May 1998 (next to be held NA 2002)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by
party--Democratic Party 13, Liberal Party 9, Democratic Alliance for
the Betterment of Hong Kong 9, Hong Kong Progressive Alliance 5,
Frontier Party 3, Citizens Party 1, independents 20
Judicial branch: The Court of Final Appeal in the Hong Kong
Special Administrative Region
Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party [Martin LEE,
Political pressure groups and leaders: Association for Democracy
Kowloon Trade Union Council (pro-Taiwan); Confederation of Trade
Chamber of Commerce; Chinese General Chamber of Commerce
(pro-China); Federation of Hong Kong Industries; Chinese
Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong; Hong Kong Professional
chairman]
International organization participation: APEC, AsDB, BIS, CCC,
ESCAP (associate), ICFTU, IMO (associate), Interpol (subbureau),
IOC, ISO (correspondent), WCL, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (special administrative
region of China)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Consul General Richard A. BOUCHER
consulate(s) general: 26 Garden Road, Hong Kong
mailing address: PSC 464, Box 30, FPO AP 96522-0002
Flag description: red with a stylized, white, five-petal bauhinia
flower in the center
Economy
Economy--overview: Hong Kong has a bustling free market economy
highly dependent on international trade. Natural resources are
limited, and food and raw materials must be imported. Indeed,
imports and exports, including reexports, each exceed GDP in dollar
value. Even before Hong Kong reverted to Chinese administration on 1
July 1997 it had extensive trade and investment ties with China.
Real GDP growth averaged a remarkable 8% in 1987-88 and a still
strong 5% in 1989-97. The widespread Asian economic difficulties in
1998 hit this trade-dependent economy quite hard, with GDP down 5%.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$168.1 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: -5% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$25,100 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 0.1%
industry: 15.9%
services: 84% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.9% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 3.216 million (1998 est.)
Labor force--by occupation: wholesale and retail trade,
restaurants, and hotels 31.9%, social services 9.9%, manufacturing
9.2%, financing, insurance, and real estate 13.1%, transport and
communications 5.7%, construction 2.6%, other 27.6% (October 1998)
Unemployment rate: 5.5% (1998 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $30.1 billion
expenditures: $26 billion, including capital expenditures of $289
million (FY97/98)
Industries: textiles, clothing, tourism, electronics, plastics,
toys, watches, clocks
Industrial production growth rate: -3.7% (1998)
Electricity--production: 27 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 28.598 billion kWh (1997)
Electricity--exports: 1.483 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 5.875 billion kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: fresh vegetables; poultry
Exports: $188.08 billion (including reexports; f.o.b., 1997)
Exports--commodities: clothing, textiles, yarn and fabric,
footwear, electrical appliances, watches and clocks, toys
Exports--partners: China 35%, US 22%, Japan 6%, Germany 4%, UK 4%
(1997)
Imports: $208.63 billion (c.i.f., 1997)
Imports--commodities: foodstuffs, transport equipment, raw
materials, semimanufactures, petroleum; a large share is reexported
Imports--partners: China 38%, Japan 14%, Taiwan 8%, US 8%,
Singapore 5% (1997)
Debt--external: none (1996)
Economic aid--recipient: none
Currency: 1 Hong Kong dollar (HK$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Hong Kong dollars (HK$) per US$--7.74 (1997-99),
7.730 (1996), 7.800 (1995), 7.800 (1994); note--linked to the US
dollar at the rate of about 7.8 HK$ per 1 US$
Fiscal year: 1 April--31 March
Communications
Telephones: 4.47 million (1998)
Telephone system: modern facilities provide excellent domestic
and international services
domestic: microwave radio relay links and extensive fiber-optic
network
international: satellite earth stations--3 Intelsat (1 Pacific Ocean
and 2 Indian Ocean); coaxial cable to Guangzhou, China; access to 5
international submarine cables providing connections to ASEAN member
nations, Japan, Taiwan, Australia, Middle East, and Western Europe
Radio broadcast stations: AM 6, FM 6, shortwave 0
Radios: 3 million (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 4 (in addition, there are two
repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 1.75 million (1992 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 34 km
standard gauge: 34 km 1.435-m gauge (all electrified) (1996 est.)
Highways:
total: 1,831 km
paved: 1,831 km
unpaved: 0 km (1997)
Ports and harbors: Hong Kong
Merchant marine:
total: 195 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 6,075,304
GRT/10,133,186 DWT
ships by type: barge carrier 1, bulk 117, cargo 18, chemical tanker
2, combination bulk 2, container 40, liquefied gas tanker 1,
multifunction large-load carrier 2, oil tanker 6, refrigerated cargo
1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1, short-sea passenger 1, vehicle carrier 3
note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 13
countries among which are UK 16, South Africa 3, China 9, Japan 6,
Bermuda 2, Germany 3, Canada 2, Cyprus 1, Belgium 1, and Norway 1
(1998 est.)
Airports: 3 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 3
over 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Heliports: 2 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Hong Kong garrison of the PLA including
elements of the PLA Army, the PLA Navy and PLA Air Force; these
forces are under the direct leadership of the Central Military
Commission in Beijing and under administrative control of the
adjacent Guangzhou Military Region
Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 1,924,304 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,452,110 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 45,656 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $NA
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: NA%
Military--note: defense is the responsibility of China
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
Illicit drugs: a hub for Southeast Asian heroin trade;
transshipment and money-laundering center; increasing indigenous
amphetamine abuse
======================================================================
@Howland Island
--------------
Geography
Location: Oceania, island in the North Pacific Ocean, about
one-half of the way from Hawaii to Australia
Geographic coordinates: 0 48 N, 176 38 W
Map references: Oceania
Area:
total: 1.6 sq km
land: 1.6 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: about three times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 6.4 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: equatorial; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun
Terrain: low-lying, nearly level, sandy, coral island surrounded
by a narrow fringing reef; depressed central area
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 3 m
Natural resources: guano (deposits worked until late 1800s)
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 5%
other: 95%
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1998)
Natural hazards: the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island
can be a maritime hazard
Environment--current issues: no natural fresh water resources
Environment--international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography--note: almost totally covered with grasses, prostrate
vines, and low-growing shrubs; small area of trees in the center;
primarily a nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds,
shorebirds, and marine wildlife
People
Population: uninhabited
note: American civilians evacuated in 1942 after Japanese air and
naval attacks during World War II; occupied by US military during
World War II, but abandoned after the war; public entry is by
special-use permit from US Fish and Wildlife Service only and
generally restricted to scientists and educators; visited annually
by US Fish and Wildlife Service
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Howland Island
Data code: HQ
Dependency status: unincorporated territory of the US;
administered from Washington, DC, by the Fish and Wildlife Service
of the US Department of the Interior as part of the National
Wildlife Refuge system
Legal system: NA
Flag description: the flag of the US is used
Economy
Economy--overview: no economic activity
Transportation
Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only; note--there is
one boat landing area along the middle of the west coast
Airports: airstrip constructed in 1937 for scheduled refueling
stop on the round-the-world flight of Amelia Earhart and Fred
Noonan--they left Lae, New Guinea, for Howland Island, but were never
seen again; the airstrip is no longer serviceable
Transportation--note: Earhart Light is a day beacon near the
middle of the west coast that was partially destroyed during World
War II, but has since been rebuilt; named in memory of famed
aviatrix Amelia Earhart
Military
Military--note: defense is the responsibility of the US; visited
annually by the US Coast Guard
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
======================================================================
@Hungary
-------
Introduction
Background: After World War II Hungary became part of
Soviet-dominated Eastern Europe, and its government and economy were
refashioned on the communist model. Increased nationalist
opposition, which culminated in the government's announcement of
withdrawal from the Warsaw Pact in 1956, led to massive military
intervention by Moscow and the swift crushing of the revolt. In the
more open GORBACHEV years, Hungary led the movement to dissolve the
Warsaw Pact and steadily moved toward multiparty democracy and a
market-oriented economy. Following the collapse of the USSR in 1991,
Hungary has developed close political and economic relations with
western Europe and is now being considered a possible future member
of the European Union.
Geography
Location: Central Europe, northwest of Romania
Geographic coordinates: 47 00 N, 20 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area:
total: 93,030 sq km
land: 92,340 sq km
water: 690 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than Indiana
Land boundaries:
total: 2,009 km
border countries: Austria 366 km, Croatia 329 km, Romania 443 km,
Serbia and Montenegro 151 km (all with Serbia), Slovakia 515 km,
Slovenia 102 km, Ukraine 103 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: temperate; cold, cloudy, humid winters; warm summers
Terrain: mostly flat to rolling plains; hills and low mountains
on the Slovakian border
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Tisza River 78 m
highest point: Kekes 1,014 m
Natural resources: bauxite, coal, natural gas, fertile soils
Land use:
arable land: 51%
permanent crops: 2%
permanent pastures: 13%
forests and woodland: 19%
other: 15% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 2,060 sq km (1993 est.)
Environment--current issues: the approximation of Hungary's
standards in waste management, energy efficiency, and air, soil, and
water pollution with environmental requirements for EU accession
will require large investments, estimated by the Government of
Hungary at $4 billion over six years; the 1997 budget allocated $9.7
million for this purpose; the 1998 budget allocated $11.3 million;
the Central Environmental Fund, which collects monies from product
charges, environmental fines, and mining taxes, provided
approximately $76.2 million in 1997 and is expected to provide
$109.5 million in 1998
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping,
Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic-Environmental
Protocol, Law of the Sea
Geography--note: landlocked; strategic location astride main land
routes between Western Europe and Balkan Peninsula as well as
between Ukraine and Mediterranean basin
People
Population: 10,186,372 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 17% (male 908,434; female 865,621)
15-64 years: 68% (male 3,406,512; female 3,524,260)
65 years and over: 15% (male 552,337; female 929,208) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: -0.2% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 10.8 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 13.29 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.59 male(s)/female
total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 9.46 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 71.18 years
male: 66.85 years
female: 75.74 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.45 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Hungarian(s)
adjective: Hungarian
Ethnic groups: Hungarian 89.9%, Gypsy 4%, German 2.6%, Serb 2%,
Slovak 0.8%, Romanian 0.7%
Religions: Roman Catholic 67.5%, Calvinist 20%, Lutheran 5%,
atheist and other 7.5%
Languages: Hungarian 98.2%, other 1.8%
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 98% (1980 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Hungary
conventional short form: Hungary
local long form: Magyar Koztarsasag
local short form: Magyarorszag
Data code: HU
Government type: republic
Capital: Budapest
Administrative divisions: 19 counties (megyek, singular--megye),
20 urban counties* (singular--megyei varos), and 1 capital city**
(fovaros); Bacs-Kiskun, Baranya, Bekes, Bekescsaba*,
Borsod-Abauj-Zemplen, Budapest**, Csongrad, Debrecen*, Dunaujvaros*,
Eger*, Fejer, Gyor*, Gyor-Moson-Sopron, Hajdu-Bihar, Heves,
Hodmezovasarhely*, Jasz-Nagykun-Szolnok, Kaposvar*, Kecskemet*,
Komarom-Esztergom, Miskolc*, Nagykanizsa*, Nograd, Nyiregyhaza*,
Pecs*, Pest, Somogy, Sopron*, Szabolcs-Szatmar-Bereg, Szeged*,
Szekesfehervar*, Szolnok*, Szombathely*, Tatabanya*, Tolna, Vas,
Veszprem, Veszprem*, Zala, Zalaegerszeg*
Independence: 1001 (unification by King Stephen I)
National holiday: St. Stephen's Day, 20 August (commemorates the
coronation of King Stephen in 1000 AD)
Constitution: 18 August 1949, effective 20 August 1949, revised
19 April 1972; 18 October 1989 revision ensured legal rights for
individuals and constitutional checks on the authority of the prime
minister and also established the principle of parliamentary
oversight; 1997 amendment streamlined the judicial system
Legal system: in process of revision, moving toward rule of law
based on Western model
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Arpad GONCZ (since 3 August 1990;
previously interim president since 2 May 1990)
head of government: Prime Minister Viktor ORBAN (since 6 July 1998)
cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the National Assembly on
the recommendation of the president
elections: president elected by the National Assembly for a
four-year term; election last held 19 June 1995 (next to be held NA
1999); prime minister elected by the National Assembly on the
recommendation of the president
election results: Arpad GONCZ reelected president; a total of 335
votes were cast by the National Assembly, Arpad GONCZ received 259;
Viktor ORBAN elected prime minister; percent of legislative vote--NA
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Orszaggyules
(386 seats; members are elected by popular vote under a system of
proportional and direct representation to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held on 10 and 24 May 1998 (next to be held May/June
2002)
election results: percent of vote by party (5% or more of the vote
required for parliamentary representation in the first round)--MSZP
32.0%, FIDESZ 28.2%, FKGP 13.8%, SZDSZ 7.9%, MIEP 5.5%, MMP 4.1%,
MDF 2.8%, KDNP 2.3%, MDNP 1.5%; seats by party--MSZP 134, FIDESZ 148,
FKGP 48, SZDSZ 24, MDF 17, MIEP 14, independent 1; note--the MDF won
17 single-member district seats
Judicial branch: Constitutional Court, judges are elected by the
National Assembly for a nine-year term
Political parties and leaders: Hungarian Democratic Forum or MDF
GICZY, president]; Hungarian Democratic People's Party or MDNP
note: the Hungarian Socialist (Communist) Workers' Party or MSZMP
renounced communism and became the Hungarian Socialist Party or MSZP
in October 1989; the MDNP was formed in March 1996 by breakaway
members of the Hungarian Democratic Forum
International organization participation: Australia Group, BIS,
CCC, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, G- 9,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MONUA, MTCR, NAM
(guest), NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNOMIG, UNU,
UPU, WEU (associate partner), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Geza JESZENSZKY
chancery: 3910 Shoemaker Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Peter F. TUFO
embassy: V. 1054 Szabadsag Ter 12, Budapest
mailing address: pouch: American Embassy Budapest, Department of
State, Washington, DC 20521-5270
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top),
white, and green
Economy
Economy--overview: Hungary has consolidated its March 1995
stabilization program and undergone enough restructuring to become
an established market economy. The country appears to have entered a
period of sustainable growth, gradually falling inflation, and
stable external balances. The government's main economic priorities
are to complete structural reforms, particularly the implementation
of the 1997 pension reform act (the first in the region), taxation
reform, and planning for comprehensive health care, local government
finance reform, and the reform of education at all levels. Foreign
investment has totaled more than $17 billion through 1998. In
recognition of Hungary's improved macroeconomic situation, all major
credit-rating agencies listed the country's foreign currency debt
issuances as investment grade in 1996. The current IMF stand-by
arrangement expired in February 1998, and Budapest and the IMF agree
that there is no need to renew it. The OECD welcomed Hungary as a
member in May 1996, and in December 1997 the EU invited Hungary to
begin the accession process. Forecasters expect 4%-5% growth in 1999.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$75.4 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 5% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$7,400 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 3%
industry: 30.3%
services: 66.7% (1996)
Population below poverty line: 25.3% (1993 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 4.1%
highest 10%: 24% (1993)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 14% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 4.2 million (1997)
Labor force--by occupation: services 65%, industry 26.7%,
agriculture 8.3 (1996)
Unemployment rate: 10.8% (1997)
Budget:
revenues: $11.2 billion
expenditures: $13.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1998 est.)
Industries: mining, metallurgy, construction materials, processed
foods, textiles, chemicals (especially pharmaceuticals), motor
vehicles
Industrial production growth rate: 11.1% (1997 est.)
Electricity--production: 33.162 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 58.76%
hydro: 0.62%
nuclear: 40.62%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 35.362 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 2.2 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 4.4 billion kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: wheat, corn, sunflower seed, potatoes,
sugar beets; pigs, cattle, poultry, dairy products
Exports: $20.7 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports--commodities: machinery and equipment 51.9%, other
manufactures 32.7%, agriculture and food products 10.5%, raw
materials 2.9%, fuels and electricity 1.9% (1998)
Exports--partners: Germany 37.3%, Austria 11.4%, Italy 6.1%,
Russia 5.0% (1997)
Imports: $22.9 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports--commodities: machinery and equipment 46.5%, other
manufactures 40.2%, fuels and electricity 6.6%, agricultural and
food products 3.7%, raw materials 3.0% (1998)
Imports--partners: Germany 26.7%, Austria 10.5%, Italy 9.5%,
Russia 7.4% (1997)
Debt--external: $22.1 billion (1997)
Economic aid--recipient: $122.7 million (1995)
Currency: 1 forint (Ft) = 100 filler
Exchange rates: forints per US$1--215.960 (January 1999), 214.402
(1998), 186.789 (1997), 152.647 (1996), 125.681 (1995),105.160 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 2.16 million (267,000 cellular telephone subscribers)
(1996)
Telephone system: 14,213 telex lines; automatic telephone network
based on microwave radio relay system; the average waiting time for
telephones is expected to drop to one year by the end of 1997 (down
from over 10 years in the early 1990s); note--the former state-owned
telecommunications firm MATAV--now privatized and managed by a
US/German consortium--has ambitious plans to upgrade the inadequate
system, including a contract with the German firm Siemens and the
Swedish firm Ericsson to provide 600,000 new telephone lines
domestic: microwave radio relay
international: satellite earth stations--1 Intelsat and 1
Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 32, FM 15, shortwave 0
Radios: 6 million (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 39 (in addition, there are
low-power stations) (1997)
Televisions: 4.38 million (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 7,606 km
broad gauge: 36 km 1.524-m gauge
standard gauge: 7,394 km 1.435-m gauge (2,207 km electrified; 1,236
km double track)
narrow gauge: 176 km 0.760-m gauge (1996)
note: Hungary and Austria jointly manage the cross-border
standard-gauge railway between Gyor, Sopron, Ebenfurt
(Gyor-Sopron-Ebenfurti Vasut Rt) a distance of about 101 km in
Hungary and 65 km in Austria
Highways:
total: 188,203 km
paved: 81,680 km (including 438 km of expressways)
unpaved: 106,523 km (1997 est.)
Waterways: 1,622 km (1988)
Pipelines: crude oil 1,204 km; natural gas 4,387 km (1991)
Ports and harbors: Budapest, Dunaujvaros
Merchant marine:
total: 3 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 16,210 GRT/19,810
DWT (1998 est.)
Airports: 25 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 15
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 8
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 10
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Ground Forces, Air Force, Border Guard
Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 2,601,741 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 2,073,419 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 70,393 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $645 million (1997)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 1.4% (1997)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: ongoing Gabcikovo Dam dispute with
Slovakia is before the International Court of Justice
Illicit drugs: major transshipment point for Southwest Asian
heroin and cannabis and transit point for South American cocaine
destined for Western Europe; limited producer of precursor
chemicals, particularly for amphetamines and methamphetamines
======================================================================
@Iceland
-------
Introduction
Background: Iceland boasts the oldest surviving parliament in the
world, the Althing, established in 930. Subsequently this Nordic
island, whose small population has largely depended on fishing and
sheep-herding for a living, came under the rule of Norway and then
Denmark. It gained home rule in 1874 and full independence in 1944.
Literacy, longevity, and social cohesion are topnotch by world
standards. Tensions continue with Norway, Russia, and other nearby
countries over fishing rights in the North Atlantic and adjacent
seas.
Geography
Location: Northern Europe, island between the Greenland Sea and
the North Atlantic Ocean, northwest of the UK
Geographic coordinates: 65 00 N, 18 00 W
Map references: Arctic Region
Area:
total: 103,000 sq km
land: 100,250 sq km
water: 2,750 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than Kentucky
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 4,988 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: temperate; moderated by North Atlantic Current; mild,
windy winters; damp, cool summers
Terrain: mostly plateau interspersed with mountain peaks,
icefields; coast deeply indented by bays and fiords
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Hvannadalshnukur 2,119 m
Natural resources: fish, hydropower, geothermal power, diatomite
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 23%
forests and woodland: 1%
other: 76% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: earthquakes and volcanic activity
Environment--current issues: water pollution from fertilizer
runoff; inadequate wastewater treatment
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping,
Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands,
Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Environmental Modification, Marine Life Conservation
Geography--note: strategic location between Greenland and Europe;
westernmost European country; more land covered by glaciers than in
all of continental Europe
People
Population: 272,512 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 23% (male 32,608; female 31,061)
15-64 years: 65% (male 89,258; female 87,449)
65 years and over: 12% (male 14,510; female 17,626) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.57% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 14.87 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 7.01 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -2.17 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 5.22 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.96 years
male: 76.85 years
female: 81.19 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.03 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Icelander(s)
adjective: Icelandic
Ethnic groups: homogeneous mixture of descendants of Norwegians
and Celts
Religions: Evangelical Lutheran 96%, other Protestant and Roman
Catholic 3%, none 1% (1988)
Languages: Icelandic
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100% (1976 est.)
male: NA%
female: NA%
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Iceland
conventional short form: Iceland
local long form: Lyoveldio Island
local short form: Island
Data code: IC
Government type: constitutional republic
Capital: Reykjavik
Administrative divisions: 23 counties (syslar, singular--sysla)
and 14 independent towns* (kaupstadhir, singular--kaupstadhur);
Akranes*, Akureyri*, Arnessysla, Austur-Bardhastrandarsysla,
Austur-Hunavatnssysla, Austur-Skaftafellssysla, Borgarfjardharsysla,
Dalasysla, Eyjafjardharsysla, Gullbringusysla, Hafnarfjordhur*,
Husavik*, Isafjordhur*, Keflavik*, Kjosarsysla, Kopavogur*,
Myrasysla, Neskaupstadhur*, Nordhur-Isafjardharsysla,
Nordhur-Mulasys-la, Nordhur-Thingeyjarsysla, Olafsfjordhur*,
Rangarvallasysla, Reykjavik*, Saudharkrokur*, Seydhisfjordhur*,
Siglufjordhur*, Skagafjardharsysla, Snaefellsnes-og Hnappadalssysla,
Strandasysla, Sudhur-Mulasysla, Sudhur-Thingeyjarsysla,
Vesttmannaeyjar*, Vestur-Bardhastrandarsysla, Vestur-Hunavatnssysla,
Vestur-Isafjardharsysla, Vestur-Skaftafellssysla
Independence: 17 June 1944 (from Denmark)
National holiday: Anniversary of the Establishment of the
Republic, 17 June (1944)
Constitution: 16 June 1944, effective 17 June 1944
Legal system: civil law system based on Danish law; does not
accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Olafur Ragnar GRIMSSON (since 1 August
1996)
head of government: Prime Minister David ODDSSON (since 30 April
1991)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term;
election last held 29 June 1996 (next to be held NA June 2000);
prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Olafur Ragnar GRIMSSON elected president; percent
of vote--41.4%
Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Althing (63 seats;
members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held on 8 April 1995 (next to be held by April 1999)
election results: percent of vote by party--Independence Party 37.1%,
Progressive Party 23.3%, Social Democratic Party 11.4%, Socialists
14.3%, People's Movement 7.2%, Women's Party 4.9%; seats by
party--Independence 25, Progressive 15, Social Democratic 7,
Socialists 9, People's Movement 4, Women's Party 3
Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Haestirettur, justices are
appointed for life by the president
Political parties and leaders: Independence Party (conservative)
International organization participation: Australia Group, BIS,
CBSS, CCC, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat,
Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, MTCR, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, OECD,
OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNMIBH, UNU, UPU, WEU
(associate), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Jon-Baldvin HANNIBALSSON
chancery: Suite 1200, 1156 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Day Olin MOUNT
embassy: Laufasvegur 21, Reykjavik
mailing address: US Embassy, PSC 1003, Box 40, FPO AE 09728-0340
Flag description: blue with a red cross outlined in white that
extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is
shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)
Economy
Economy--overview: Iceland's Scandinavian-type economy is
basically capitalistic, yet with an extensive welfare system, low
unemployment, and remarkably even distribution of income. The
economy depends heavily on the fishing industry, which provides 75%
of export earnings and employs 12% of the work force. In the absence
of other natural resources--except energy--Iceland's economy is
vulnerable to changing world fish prices. The economy remains
sensitive to declining fish stocks as well as to drops in world
prices for its main exports: fish and fish products, aluminum, and
ferrosilicon. The center-right government plans to continue its
policies of reducing the budget and current account deficits,
limiting foreign borrowing, containing inflation, revising
agricultural and fishing policies, diversifying the economy, and
privatizing state-owned industries. The government remains opposed
to EU membership, primarily because of Icelanders' concern about
losing control over their fishing resources. Iceland's economy has
been diversifying into manufacturing and service industries in the
last decade, and new developments in software production,
biotechnology, and financial services are taking place. The tourism
sector is also expanding, with the recent trends in ecotourism and
whale-watching. Growth is likely to slow in 1999, to a still
respectable 4.6%.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$6.06 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 5.1% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$22,400 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 13%
industry: 24%
services: 63% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.7% (1998)
Labor force: 130,000 (1998 est.)
Labor force--by occupation: manufacturing 12.9%, fishing and fish
processing 11.8%, construction 10.7%, other services 59.5%,
agriculture 5.1% (1996 est.)
Unemployment rate: 3% (1998 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $1.9 billion
expenditures: $2.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $146
million (1996 est.)
Industries: fish processing; aluminum smelting, ferrosilicon
production, geothermal power; tourism
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: 5.048 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 0.06%
hydro: 93.43%
nuclear: 0%
other: 6.51%
Electricity--consumption: 5.532 billion kWh (1997)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: potatoes, turnips; cattle, sheep; fish
Exports: $1.9 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports--commodities: fish and fish products 70%, animal products,
aluminum, diatomite and ferrosilicon
Exports--partners: EU 60% (UK 19%, Germany 13%, France 6%, Denmark
6%), US 14% (1997)
Imports: $2.4 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports--commodities: machinery and equipment, petroleum products,
foodstuffs, textiles
Imports--partners: EU 58% (Germany 12%, Norway 12%, UK 10%,
Denmark 9%, Sweden 7%), US 9% (1997)
Debt--external: $2.2 billion (1996 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $NA
Currency: 1 Icelandic krona (IKr) = 100 aurar
Exchange rates: Icelandic kronur (IKr) per US$1--69.250 (January
1999), 70.958 (1998), 70.904 (1997), 66.500 (1996), 64.692 (1995),
69.944 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 143,600 (1993 est.)
Telephone system: adequate domestic service
domestic: the trunk network consists of coaxial and fiber-optic
cables and microwave radio relay links
international: satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean),
1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions); note--Iceland shares
the Inmarsat earth station with the other Nordic countries (Denmark,
Finland, Norway, and Sweden)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 147 (transmitters and
repeaters), shortwave 0
Radios: 91,500 licensed (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 14 (in addition, there are 156
low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 96,100 (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 12,691 km
paved: 3,262 km
unpaved: 9,429 km (1997 est.)
Ports and harbors: Akureyri, Hornafjordur, Isafjordhur, Keflavik,
Raufarhofn, Reykjavik, Seydhisfjordhur, Straumsvik, Vestmannaeyjar
Merchant marine:
total: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 13,085 GRT/16,938 DWT
ships by type: chemical tanker 1, container 1, oil tanker 1 (1998
est.)
Airports: 87 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 10
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 5 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 77
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 21
under 914 m: 53 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: no regular armed forces; Police, Coast Guard;
note--Iceland's defense is provided by the US-manned Icelandic
Defense Force (IDF) headquartered at Keflavik
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 70,958 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 62,570 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: none
Military--note: Iceland's defense is provided by the US-manned
Icelandic Defense Force (IDF) headquartered at Keflavik
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: Rockall continental shelf dispute
involving Denmark, Ireland, and the UK (Ireland and the UK have
signed a boundary agreement in the Rockall area)
======================================================================
@India
-----
Geography
Location: Southern Asia, bordering the Arabian Sea and the Bay of
Bengal, between Burma and Pakistan
Geographic coordinates: 20 00 N, 77 00 E
Map references: Asia
Area:
total: 3,287,590 sq km
land: 2,973,190 sq km
water: 314,400 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly more than one-third the size of the US
Land boundaries:
total: 14,103 km
border countries: Bangladesh 4,053 km, Bhutan 605 km, Burma 1,463
km, China 3,380 km, Nepal 1,690 km, Pakistan 2,912 km
Coastline: 7,000 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: varies from tropical monsoon in south to temperate in
north
Terrain: upland plain (Deccan Plateau) in south, flat to rolling
plain along the Ganges, deserts in west, Himalayas in north
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Kanchenjunga 8,598 m
Natural resources: coal (fourth-largest reserves in the world),
iron ore, manganese, mica, bauxite, titanium ore, chromite, natural
gas, diamonds, petroleum, limestone
Land use:
arable land: 56%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 4%
forests and woodland: 23%
other: 16% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 480,000 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: droughts, flash floods, severe thunderstorms
common; earthquakes
Environment--current issues: deforestation; soil erosion;
overgrazing; desertification; air pollution from industrial
effluents and vehicle emissions; water pollution from raw sewage and
runoff of agricultural pesticides; tap water is not potable
throughout the country; huge and rapidly growing population is
overstraining natural resources
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty,
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea,
Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical
Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography--note: dominates South Asian subcontinent; near
important Indian Ocean trade routes
People
Population: 1,000,848,550 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 34% (male 175,463,726; female 165,722,164)
15-64 years: 61% (male 318,004,920; female 295,245,556)
65 years and over: 5% (male 23,571,270; female 22,840,914) (1999
est.)
Population growth rate: 1.68% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 25.39 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 8.5 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.03 male(s)/female
total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 60.81 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 63.4 years
male: 62.54 years
female: 64.29 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.18 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Indian(s)
adjective: Indian
Ethnic groups: Indo-Aryan 72%, Dravidian 25%, Mongoloid and other
3%
Religions: Hindu 80%, Muslim 14%, Christian 2.4%, Sikh 2%,
Buddhist 0.7%, Jains 0.5%, other 0.4%
Languages: English enjoys associate status but is the most
important language for national, political, and commercial
communication, Hindi the national language and primary tongue of 30%
of the people, Bengali (official), Telugu (official), Marathi
(official), Tamil (official), Urdu (official), Gujarati (official),
Malayalam (official), Kannada (official), Oriya (official), Punjabi
(official), Assamese (official), Kashmiri (official), Sindhi
(official), Sanskrit (official), Hindustani (a popular variant of
Hindi/Urdu spoken widely throughout northern India)
note: 24 languages each spoken by a million or more persons;
numerous other languages and dialects, for the most part mutually
unintelligible
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 52%
male: 65.5%
female: 37.7% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of India
conventional short form: India
Data code: IN
Government type: federal republic
Capital: New Delhi
Administrative divisions: 25 states and 7 union territories*;
Andaman and Nicobar Islands*, Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh,
Assam, Bihar, Chandigarh*, Dadra and Nagar Haveli*, Daman and Diu*,
Delhi*, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir,
Karnataka, Kerala, Lakshadweep*, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra,
Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Orissa, Pondicherry*, Punjab,
Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal
Independence: 15 August 1947 (from UK)
National holiday: Anniversary of the Proclamation of the
Republic, 26 January (1950)
Constitution: 26 January 1950
Legal system: based on English common law; limited judicial
review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction,
with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Kicheril Raman NARAYANAN (since 25 July
1997); Vice President Krishnan KANT (since 21 August 1997)
head of government: Prime Minister Atal Behari VAJPAYEE (since 19
March 1998)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the
recommendation of the prime minister
elections: president elected by an electoral college consisting of
elected members of both houses of Parliament and the legislatures of
the states for a five-year term; election last held 14 July 1997
(next to be held NA July 2002); vice president elected by both
houses of Parliament; election last held 16 August 1997 (next to be
held NA August 2002); prime minister elected by parliamentary
members of the majority party following legislative elections;
election last held NA March 1998 (next to be held NA March 2003)
election results: Kicheril Raman NARAYANAN elected president;
percent of electoral college vote--NA; Krishnan KANT elected vice
president; percent of Parliament vote--NA; Atal Behari VAJPAYEE
elected prime minister; percent of vote--NA
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament or Sansad consists of
the Council of States or Rajya Sabha (a body consisting of not more
than 250 members, up to 12 of which are appointed by the president,
the remainder are chosen by the elected members of the state and
territorial assemblies; members serve six-year terms) and the
People's Assembly or Lok Sabha (545 seats; 543 elected by popular
vote, 2 appointed by the president; members serve five-year terms)
elections: People's Assembly--last held 16 February through 7 March
1998 (next to be held NA March 2003)
election results: People's Assembly--percent of vote by party--NA;
seats by party--BJP 178, Congress (I) Party 141, CPI/M 32, SP 20,
ADMK 18, RJD 17, Telugu Desam 12, SAP 12, CPI 9, BJD 9, Akali Dal
factions 8, Trinamool Congress 7, SHS 6, DMK 6, Janata Dal Party 6,
BSP 5, RSP 5, independents and others 44, vacant 8, appointed by the
president 2
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the
president and remain in office until they reach the age of 65
Political parties and leaders: Bharatiya Janata Party or BJP
PALIWAL (chairman), Chitta BASU (general secretary)]; Muslim League
factions representing Sikh religious community in the Punjab;
National Conference or NC (a regional party in Jammu and Kashmir)
NA]
Political pressure groups and leaders: various separatist groups
seeking greater communal and/or regional autonomy; numerous
religious or militant/chauvinistic organizations, including Adam
Sena, Ananda Marg, Vishwa Hindu Parishad, and Rashtriya Swayamsevak
Sangh
International organization participation: AfDB, AsDB, BIS, C,
CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G- 6, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA (observer), IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,
IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO,
ITU, MIPONUH, MONUA, NAM, OAS (observer), OPCW, PCA, SAARC, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMIBH, UNOMIL,
UNOMSIL, UNU, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Naresh CHANDRA
chancery: 2107 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008;
note--Embassy located at 2536 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC
20008
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, New York, and San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Richard F. CELESTE
embassy: Shanti Path, Chanakyapuri 110021, New Delhi
mailing address: use embassy street address
consulate(s) general: Calcutta, Chennai (Madras), Mumbai (Bombay)
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of orange (top),
white, and green with a blue chakra (24-spoked wheel) centered in
the white band; similar to the flag of Niger, which has a small
orange disk centered in the white band
Economy
Economy--overview: India's economy encompasses traditional village
farming, modern agriculture, handicrafts, a wide range of modern
industries, and a multitude of support services. 67% of India's
labor force work in agriculture, which contributes 25% of the
country's GDP. Production, trade, and investment reforms since 1991
have provided new opportunities for Indian businesspersons and an
estimated 300 million middle class consumers. New Delhi has avoided
debt rescheduling, attracted foreign investment, and revived
confidence in India's economic prospects since 1991. Many of the
country's fundamentals--including savings rates (26% of GDP) and
reserves (now about $30 billion)--are healthy. Even so, the Indian
Government needs to restore the early momentum of reform, especially
by continuing reductions in the extensive remaining government
regulations. India's exports, currency, and foreign institutional
investment were affected by the East Asian crisis in late 1997 and
1998; but capital account controls, a low ratio of short-term debt
to reserves, and enhanced supervision of the financial sector helped
insulate it from near term balance-of-payments problems. Exports
fell 5% in 1998 mainly because of the fall in Asian currencies
relative to the rupee. Energy, telecommunications, and
transportation bottlenecks continue to constrain growth. A series of
weak coalition governments have lacked the political strength to
push reforms forward to address these and other problems. Indian
think tanks project GDP growth of about 4.5% in 1999. Inflation will
remain a worrisome problem.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$1.689 trillion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 5.4% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,720 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 25%
industry: 30%
services: 45% (1997)
Population below poverty line: 35% (1994 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 4.1%
highest 10%: 25% (1994)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 14% (1998 est.)
Labor force: NA
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 67%, services 18%,
industry 15% (1995 est.)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $42.12 billion
expenditures: $63.79 billion, including capital expenditures of
$13.8 billion (FY98/99 budget est.)
Industries: textiles, chemicals, food processing, steel,
transportation equipment, cement, mining, petroleum, machinery
Industrial production growth rate: 5.5% (1997)
Electricity--production: 404.475 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 80.35%
hydro: 17.8%
nuclear: 1.83%
other: 0.02% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 406.02 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 130 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 1.675 billion kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: rice, wheat, oilseed, cotton, jute, tea,
sugarcane, potatoes; cattle, water buffalo, sheep, goats, poultry;
fish
Exports: $32.17 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports--commodities: textile goods, gems and jewelry, engineering
goods, chemicals, leather manufactures
Exports--partners: US 19%, Hong Kong 6%, UK 6%, Japan 6%, Germany
5% (1997)
Imports: $41.34 billion (c.i.f., 1998)
Imports--commodities: crude oil and petroleum products, machinery,
gems, fertilizer, chemicals
Imports--partners: US 10%, Belgium 7%, UK 7%, Germany 7%, Saudi
Arabia 6%, Japan 6% (1997)
Debt--external: $93 billion (1998)
Economic aid--recipient: $1.604 billion (1995)
Currency: 1 Indian rupee (Re) = 100 paise
Exchange rates: Indian rupees (Rs) per US$1--42.508 (January
1999), 41.259 (1998), 36.313 (1997), 35.433 (1996), 32.427 (1995),
31.374 (1994)
Fiscal year: 1 April--31 March
Communications
Telephones: 12 million (1996)
Telephone system: mediocre; local and long distance service
provided throughout all regions of the country, with services
primarily concentrated in the urban areas; major objective is to
continue to expand and modernize long-distance network in order to
keep pace with rapidly growing number of local subscriber lines;
steady improvement is taking place with the recent admission of
private and private-public investors, but demand for communication
services is also growing rapidly
domestic: local service is provided by microwave radio relay and
coaxial cable, with open wire and obsolete electromechanical and
manual switchboard systems still in use in rural areas; starting in
the 1980s, a substantial amount of digital switch gear has been
introduced for local- and long-distance service; long-distance
traffic is carried mostly by coaxial cable and low-capacity
microwave radio relay; since 1985, however, significant trunk
capacity has been added in the form of fiber-optic cable and a
domestic satellite system with 254 earth stations; cellular
telephone service in four metropolitan cities
international: satellite earth stations--8 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
and 1 Inmarsat (Indian Ocean Region); four gateway exchanges
operating from Mumbai, New Delhi, Calcutta, and Chennai; submarine
cables to Malaysia, UAE, Singapore, and Japan
Radio broadcast stations: AM 153, FM 91, shortwave 62 (1998 est.)
Radios: 111 million (1998 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 562 (82 stations have 1 kW or
greater power and 480 stations have less than 1 kW of power) (1997)
Televisions: 50 million (1999 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 62,915 km (12,307 km electrified; 12,617 km double track)
broad gauge: 40,620 km 1.676-m gauge
narrow gauge: 18,501 km 1.000-m gauge; 3,794 km 0.762-m and 0.610-m
gauge (1998 est.)
Highways:
total: 3,319,644 km
paved: 1,517,077 km
unpaved: 1,802,567 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 16,180 km; 3,631 km navigable by large vessels
Pipelines: crude oil 3,005 km; petroleum products 2,687 km;
natural gas 1,700 km (1995)
Ports and harbors: Calcutta, Chennai (Madras), Cochin, Jawaharal
Nehru, Kandla, Mumbai (Bombay), Vishakhapatnam
Merchant marine:
total: 311 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 6,627,497
GRT/11,038,723 DWT
ships by type: bulk 126, cargo 63, chemical tanker 11, combination
bulk 2, combination ore/oil 3, container 12, liquefied gas tanker
10, oil tanker 76, passenger-cargo 5, short-sea passenger 1,
specialized tanker 2 (1998 est.)
Airports: 341 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 230
over 3,047 m: 11
2,438 to 3,047 m: 48
1,524 to 2,437 m: 82
914 to 1,523 m: 70
under 914 m: 19 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 111
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 8
914 to 1,523 m: 50
under 914 m: 51 (1998 est.)
Heliports: 17 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy (including naval air arm), Air
Force, various security or paramilitary forces (includes Border
Security Force, Assam Rifles, and Rashtriya Rifles)
Military manpower--military age: 17 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 269,339,985 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 158,141,508 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 10,661,786 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $10.012 billion (FY98/99)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 2.7% (FY98/99)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: boundary with China in dispute; status of
Kashmir with Pakistan; water-sharing problems with Pakistan over the
Indus River (Wular Barrage); a portion of the boundary with
Bangladesh is indefinite; dispute with Bangladesh over New
Moore/South Talpatty Island
Illicit drugs: world's largest producer of licit opium for the
pharmaceutical trade, but an undetermined quantity of opium is
diverted to illicit international drug markets; major transit
country for illicit narcotics produced in neighboring countries;
illicit producer of hashish and methaqualone; cultivated 2,050
hectares of illicit opium in 1997, a 34% decrease from 1996, with a
potential production of 30 metric tons, a 36% decrease from 1996
======================================================================
@Indian Ocean
------------
Geography
Location: body of water between Africa, Antarctica, Asia, and
Australia
Geographic coordinates: 30 00 S, 80 00 E
Map references: World
Area:
total: 73.6 million sq km
note: includes Andaman Sea, Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, Great
Australian Bight, Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Oman, Mozambique Channel,
Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Strait of Malacca, and other tributary water
bodies
Area--comparative: slightly less than eight times the size of the
US; third-largest ocean (after the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Ocean,
but larger than the Arctic Ocean)
Coastline: 66,526 km
Climate: northeast monsoon (December to April), southwest monsoon
(June to October); tropical cyclones occur during May/June and
October/November in the northern Indian Ocean and January/February
in the southern Indian Ocean
Terrain: surface dominated by counterclockwise gyre (broad,
circular system of currents) in the southern Indian Ocean; unique
reversal of surface currents in the northern Indian Ocean; low
atmospheric pressure over southwest Asia from hot, rising, summer
air results in the southwest monsoon and southwest-to-northeast
winds and currents, while high pressure over northern Asia from
cold, falling, winter air results in the northeast monsoon and
northeast-to-southwest winds and currents; ocean floor is dominated
by the Mid-Indian Ocean Ridge and subdivided by the Southeast Indian
Ocean Ridge, Southwest Indian Ocean Ridge, and Ninetyeast Ridge
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Java Trench -7,258 m
highest point: sea level 0 m
Natural resources: oil and gas fields, fish, shrimp, sand and
gravel aggregates, placer deposits, polymetallic nodules
Natural hazards: ships subject to superstructure icing in extreme
south near Antarctica from May to October
Environment--current issues: endangered marine species include the
dugong, seals, turtles, and whales; oil pollution in the Arabian
Sea, Persian Gulf, and Red Sea
Environment--international agreements:
party to: none of the selected agreements
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography--note: major chokepoints include Bab el Mandeb, Strait
of Hormuz, Strait of Malacca, southern access to the Suez Canal, and
the Lombok Strait
Government
Data code: none; the US Government has not approved a standard
for hydrographic codes--see the Cross-Reference List of Hydrographic
Codes appendix
Economy
Economy--overview: The Indian Ocean provides major sea routes
connecting the Middle East, Africa, and East Asia with Europe and
the Americas. It carries a particularly heavy traffic of petroleum
and petroleum products from the oilfields of the Persian Gulf and
Indonesia. Its fish are of great and growing importance to the
bordering countries for domestic consumption and export. Fishing
fleets from Russia, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan also exploit the
Indian Ocean, mainly for shrimp and tuna. Large reserves of
hydrocarbons are being tapped in the offshore areas of Saudi Arabia,
Iran, India, and western Australia. An estimated 40% of the world's
offshore oil production comes from the Indian Ocean. Beach sands
rich in heavy minerals and offshore placer deposits are actively
exploited by bordering countries, particularly India, South Africa,
Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.
Communications
Telephone system:
international: submarine cables from India to UAE and Malaysia and
from Sri Lanka to Djibouti and Indonesia
Transportation
Ports and harbors: Calcutta (India), Chennai (Madras; India),
Colombo (Sri Lanka), Durban (South Africa), Jakarta (Indonesia),
Melbourne (Australia), Mumbai (Bombay; India), Richards Bay (South
Africa)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: some maritime disputes (see littoral
states)
======================================================================
@Indonesia
---------
Introduction
Background: Indonesia declared its independence in 1945 from the
Netherlands, a claim disputed, then recognized by the Dutch in 1949.
In 1975 Indonesian troops occupied Portuguese East Timor. Current
issues include implementing IMF-mandated reforms (particularly
restructuring and recapitalizing the insolvent banking sector),
effecting a transition to a popularly elected government, addressing
longstanding grievances over the role of the ethnic Chinese business
class and charges of cronyism and corruption, alleged human rights
violations by the military, the role of the military and religion in
politics, and growing pressures for some form of independence or
autonomy by Aceh, Irian Jaya, and East Timor.
Geography
Location: Southeastern Asia, archipelago between the Indian Ocean
and the Pacific Ocean
Geographic coordinates: 5 00 S, 120 00 E
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area:
total: 1,919,440 sq km
land: 1,826,440 sq km
water: 93,000 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly less than three times the size of Texas
Land boundaries:
total: 2,602 km
border countries: Malaysia 1,782 km, Papua New Guinea 820 km
Coastline: 54,716 km
Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; hot, humid; more moderate in highlands
Terrain: mostly coastal lowlands; larger islands have interior
mountains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Puncak Jaya 5,030 m
Natural resources: petroleum, tin, natural gas, nickel, timber,
bauxite, copper, fertile soils, coal, gold, silver
Land use:
arable land: 10%
permanent crops: 7%
permanent pastures: 7%
forests and woodland: 62%
other: 14% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 45,970 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: occasional floods, severe droughts, tsunamis,
earthquakes, volcanoes
Environment--current issues: deforestation; water pollution from
industrial wastes, sewage; air pollution in urban areas; smoke and
haze from forest fires
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertication, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone
Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical
Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Marine Life
Conservation
Geography--note: archipelago of 17,000 islands (6,000 inhabited);
straddles Equator; strategic location astride or along major sea
lanes from Indian Ocean to Pacific Ocean
People
Population: 216,108,345 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 30% (male 33,367,287; female 32,411,786)
15-64 years: 65% (male 70,541,893; female 70,866,972)
65 years and over: 5% (male 3,936,415; female 4,983,992) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.46% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 22.78 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 8.14 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 57.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 62.92 years
male: 60.67 years
female: 65.29 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.57 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Indonesian(s)
adjective: Indonesian
Ethnic groups: Javanese 45%, Sundanese 14%, Madurese 7.5%,
coastal Malays 7.5%, other 26%
Religions: Muslim 88%, Protestant 5%, Roman Catholic 3%, Hindu
2%, Buddhist 1%, other 1% (1998)
Languages: Bahasa Indonesia (official, modified form of Malay),
English, Dutch, local dialects, the most widely spoken of which is
Javanese
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 83.8%
male: 89.6%
female: 78% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Indonesia
conventional short form: Indonesia
local long form: Republik Indonesia
local short form: Indonesia
former: Netherlands East Indies; Dutch East Indies
Data code: ID
Government type: republic
Capital: Jakarta
Administrative divisions: 24 provinces (propinsi-propinsi,
singular--propinsi), 2 special regions* (daerah-daerah istimewa,
singular--daerah istimewa), and 1 special capital city district**
(daerah khusus ibukota); Aceh*, Bali, Bengkulu, Irian Jaya, Jakarta
Raya**, Jambi, Jawa Barat, Jawa Tengah, Jawa Timur, Kalimantan
Barat, Kalimantan Selatan, Kalimantan Tengah, Kalimantan Timur,
Lampung, Maluku, Nusa Tenggara Barat, Nusa Tenggara Timur, Riau,
Sulawesi Selatan, Sulawesi Tengah, Sulawesi Tenggara, Sulawesi
Utara, Sumatera Barat, Sumatera Selatan, Sumatera Utara, Timor
Timur, Yogyakarta*
Independence: 17 August 1945 (proclaimed independence; on 27
December 1949, Indonesia became legally independent from the
Netherlands)
National holiday: Independence Day, 17 August (1945)
Constitution: August 1945, abrogated by Federal Constitution of
1949 and Provisional Constitution of 1950, restored 5 July 1959
Legal system: based on Roman-Dutch law, substantially modified by
indigenous concepts and by new criminal procedures code; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 17 years of age; universal and married persons
regardless of age
Executive branch:
note: on 21 May 1998--less than three months after being selected for
a seventh five-year term--President Gen. (Ret.) SOEHARTO resigned
from office; immediately following his resignation he announced that
Vice President HABIBIE would assume the presidency for the remainder
of the term which expires in 2003; on 28 May 1998, HABIBIE and
legislative leaders announced an agreement to select a new president
in 1999
chief of state: President Bacharuddin J. HABIBIE (since 21 May
1998); note--the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Bacharuddin J. HABIBIE (since 21 May
1998); note--the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
cabinet: Cabinet
election: president and vice president selected by consensus by the
People's Consultative Assembly for five-year terms; selection last
held 10 March 1998 (next to be held by 10 November 1999)
election results: Gen. (Ret.) SOEHARTO selected president by
consensus by the People's Consultative Assembly; Bacharuddin J.
HABIBIE selected vice president by consensus by the People's
Consultative Assembly; note--Vice President HABIBIE assumed the
presidency after SOEHARTO's resignation
Legislative branch: unicameral House of Representatives or Dewan
Perwakilan Rakyat (DPR) (500 seats; 425 elected by popular vote, 75
are appointed military representatives; members serve five-year
terms)
elections: last held 29 May 1997 (next to be held 7 June 1999)
election results: percent of vote by party--Golkar 74.5%, PPP 22.43%,
PDI 3.07%; seats by party--Golkar 325, PPP 89, PDI 11
note: the People's Consultative Assembly (Majelis Permusyawaratan
Rakyat or MPR) includes the DPR plus 200 indirectly selected
members; it meets every five years to elect the president and vice
president and to approve the broad outlines of national policy
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Mahkamah Agung), the judges are
appointed by the president
Political parties and leaders: Golkar (de facto ruling political
Indonesia Democracy Party or PDI (federation of former Nationalist
chairman]
International organization participation: APEC, AsDB, ASEAN, CCC,
CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-15, G-19, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU,
ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat,
Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW,
OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNMOP, UNMOT,
UNOMIG, UNPREDEP, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador DORODJATUN Kuntoro-Jakti
chancery: 2020 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, and
San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador J. Stapleton ROY
embassy: Medan Merdeka Selatan 5, Jakarta
mailing address: Unit 8129, Box 1, APO AP 96520
consulate(s) general: Surabaya
Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and
white; similar to the flag of Monaco, which is shorter; also similar
to the flag of Poland, which is white (top) and red
Economy
Economy--overview: The collapse of the rupiah in late 1997 and
early 1998 caused GDP to contract by an estimated 13.7% in 1998
because of Indonesian firms' reliance on short-term
dollar-denominated debt and high levels of nonperforming loans in
the banking sector. The Indonesian Government initially wavered on
meeting the conditions it agreed to in exchange for a $42 billion
IMF assistance package, contributing to further loss in investor
confidence and outflows of capital. Riots that in many cases
targeted ethnic Chinese business owners also set back chances that
Indonesia would quickly stabilize its financial crisis and
contributed to President SOEHARTO's resignation on 21 May 1998. His
successor, B.J. HABIBIE, improved cooperation with the IMF. The
money supply--which expanded rapidly early in the year to prop up
banks hit by deposit runs--was tightened within a few months, and by
October, inflation--which reached a 77% annual rate--was significantly
dampened. The government also announced a bank recapitalization
program in late 1998, but by early 1999 the plan faced growing
challenges over its reliance on public funds. Doubts about whether
the program is adequate underlie forecasts of continued--although
much less severe--GDP contraction for 1999. Signs of spreading unrest
and sectarian violence and concern that social instability will
increase as the 7 June 1999 national election approaches also
contribute to pessimism about the economy, particularly because
foreign investors remain reluctant to begin to increase capital
inflows again. The next government will face the challenge of
establishing a macroeconomic policy framework that addresses
longstanding grievances and inequities underlying much of the
current unrest without hampering an economic recovery.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$602 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: -13.7% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$2,830 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 18.8%
industry: 40.3%
services: 40.9% (1998 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.6%
highest 10%: 28.3% (1995)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 77% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 87 million (1997 est.)
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 41%, trade, restaurant,
and hotel 19.8%, manufacturing 14%, construction 4.8%, transport and
communications 4.75%, other 15.65% (1997)
Unemployment rate: 15%-20% (1998 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $35 billion (of which $15 billion is from international
financial institutions)
expenditures: $35 billion, including capital expenditures of $12
billion (FY98/99 est.)
Industries: petroleum and natural gas; textiles, apparel, and
footwear; mining, cement, chemical fertilizers, plywood; rubber;
food; tourism
Industrial production growth rate: -13.7% (1998 est.)
Electricity--production: 66.8 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 82.34%
hydro: 14.97%
nuclear: 0%
other: 2.69% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 66.8 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: rice, cassava (tapioca), peanuts, rubber,
cocoa, coffee, palm oil, copra; poultry, beef, pork, eggs
Exports: $49 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Exports--commodities: garments 7.9%, textiles 7.3%, gas 6.4%,
electrical appliances 5.9%, pulp and paper 5.3%, oil 4.7%, plywood
4.7%
Exports--partners: Japan 18%, EU 15%, US 14%, Singapore 13%, South
Korea 5%, Hong Kong 4%, China 3.9%, Taiwan 3.4% (1998 est.)
Imports: $24 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Imports--commodities: manufactures 75.3%, raw materials 9.0%,
foodstuffs 7.8%, fuels 7.7%
Imports--partners: Japan 20%, US 13%, Germany 9%, Singapore 9%,
Australia 6.4%, South Korea 5.4%, Taiwan 3.4%, China 3.1% (1998 est.)
Debt--external: $136 billion (yearend 1997 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $43 billion from IMF program and other
official external financing (1997-2000)
Currency: Indonesian rupiah (Rp)
Exchange rates: Indonesian rupiahs (Rp) per US$1--8,714.3 (January
1999), 10,013.6 (1998), 2,909.4 (1997), 2,342.3 (1996), 2,248.6
(1995), 2,160.8 (1994)
Fiscal year: 1 April--31 March
Communications
Telephones: 1,276,600 (1993 est.)
Telephone system: domestic service fair, international service
good
domestic: interisland microwave system and HF radio police net;
domestic satellite communications system
international: satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean
and 1 Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 618, FM 38, shortwave 0
Radios: 28.1 million (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 41 (of which 18 are
government-owned and 23 are commercial) (1997)
Televisions: 11.5 million (1992 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 6,458 km
narrow gauge: 5,961 km 1.067-m gauge (101 km electrified; 101 km
double track); 497 km 0.750-m gauge (1995)
Highways:
total: 342,700 km
paved: 158,670 km
unpaved: 184,030 km (1997 est.)
Waterways: 21,579 km total; Sumatra 5,471 km, Java and Madura 820
km, Kalimantan 10,460 km, Sulawesi (Celebes) 241 km, Irian Jaya
4,587 km
Pipelines: crude oil 2,505 km; petroleum products 456 km; natural
gas 1,703 km (1989)
Ports and harbors: Cilacap, Cirebon, Jakarta, Kupang, Palembang,
Semarang, Surabaya, Ujungpandang
Merchant marine:
total: 587 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,707,004
GRT/3,701,001 DWT
ships by type: bulk 37, cargo 348, chemical tanker 8, container 20,
liquefied gas tanker 5, livestock carrier 1, oil tanker 116,
passenger 9, passenger-cargo 13, roll-on/roll-off cargo 11,
short-sea passenger 7, specialized tanker 7, vehicle carrier 5 (1998
est.)
Airports: 443 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 125
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 11
1,524 to 2,437 m: 41
914 to 1,523 m: 39
under 914 m: 30 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 318
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 31
under 914 m: 282 (1998 est.)
Heliports: 4 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, National Police
Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 61,087,521 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 35,804,125 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 2,268,638 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $959.7 million (FY97/98)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 1% (FY97/98)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: Indonesian sovereignty over Timor Timur
(East Timor Province), which is not recognized by the UN, is the
subject of discussions between the UN, Indonesia, and Portugal; two
islands in dispute with Malaysia
Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis largely for domestic
use; possible growing role as transshipment point for Golden
Triangle heroin
======================================================================
@Iran
----
Geography
Location: Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman, the Persian
Gulf, and the Caspian Sea, between Iraq and Pakistan
Geographic coordinates: 32 00 N, 53 00 E
Map references: Middle East
Area:
total: 1.648 million sq km
land: 1.636 million sq km
water: 12,000 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly larger than Alaska
Land boundaries:
total: 5,440 km
border countries: Afghanistan 936 km, Armenia 35 km,
Azerbaijan-proper 432 km, Azerbaijan-Naxcivan exclave 179 km, Iraq
1,458 km, Pakistan 909 km, Turkey 499 km, Turkmenistan 992 km
Coastline: 2,440 km
note: Iran also borders the Caspian Sea (740 km)
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: natural prolongation
exclusive economic zone: bilateral agreements, or median lines in
the Persian Gulf
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: mostly arid or semiarid, subtropical along Caspian coast
Terrain: rugged, mountainous rim; high, central basin with
deserts, mountains; small, discontinuous plains along both coasts
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caspian Sea -28 m
highest point: Qolleh-ye Damavand 5,671 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, coal, chromium,
copper, iron ore, lead, manganese, zinc, sulfur
Land use:
arable land: 10%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 27%
forests and woodland: 7%
other: 55% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 94,000 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: periodic droughts, floods; dust storms,
sandstorms; earthquakes along western border and in the northeast
Environment--current issues: air pollution, especially in urban
areas, from vehicle emissions, refinery operations, and industrial
effluents; deforestation; overgrazing; desertification; oil
pollution in the Persian Gulf; inadequate supplies of potable water
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone
Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Law of the
Sea, Marine Life Conservation
People
Population: 65,179,752 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 36% (male 11,963,438; female 11,447,191)
15-64 years: 60% (male 19,549,935; female 19,276,784)
65 years and over: 4% (male 1,561,877; female 1,380,527) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.07% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 20.71 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 5.39 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -4.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.13 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 29.73 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 69.76 years
male: 68.43 years
female: 71.16 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.45 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Iranian(s)
adjective: Iranian
Ethnic groups: Persian 51%, Azerbaijani 24%, Gilaki and
Mazandarani 8%, Kurd 7%, Arab 3%, Lur 2%, Baloch 2%, Turkmen 2%,
other 1%
Religions: Shi'a Muslim 89%, Sunni Muslim 10%, Zoroastrian,
Jewish, Christian, and Baha'i 1%
Languages: Persian and Persian dialects 58%, Turkic and Turkic
dialects 26%, Kurdish 9%, Luri 2%, Balochi 1%, Arabic 1%, Turkish
1%, other 2%
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 72.1%
male: 78.4%
female: 65.8% (1994 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Islamic Republic of Iran
conventional short form: Iran
local long form: Jomhuri-ye Eslami-ye Iran
local short form: Iran
Data code: IR
Government type: theocratic republic
Capital: Tehran
Administrative divisions: 25 provinces (ostanha, singular--ostan);
Ardabil, Azarbayjan-e Gharbi, Azarbayjan-e Sharqi, Bushehr, Chahar
Mahall va Bakhtiari, Esfahan, Fars, Gilan, Hamadan, Hormozgan, Ilam,
Kerman, Kermanshahan, Khorasan, Khuzestan, Kohkiluyeh va Buyer
Ahmadi, Kordestan, Lorestan, Markazi, Mazandaran, Semnan, Sistan va
Baluchestan, Tehran, Yazd, Zanjan
note: there may be three new provinces named Golestan, Qom, and
Qazvin
Independence: 1 April 1979 (Islamic Republic of Iran proclaimed)
National holiday: Islamic Republic Day, 1 April (1979)
Constitution: 2-3 December 1979; revised 1989 to expand powers of
the presidency and eliminate the prime ministership
Legal system: the Constitution codifies Islamic principles of
government
Suffrage: 15 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ali
Hoseini-KHAMENEI (since 4 June 1989)
head of government: President (Ali) Mohammad KHATAMI-Ardakani (since
3 August 1997); First Vice President Hasan Ebrahim HABIBI (since NA
August 1989)
cabinet: Council of Ministers selected by the president with
legislative approval
elections: leader of the Islamic Revolution appointed for life by
the Assembly of Experts; president elected by popular vote for a
four-year term; election last held 23 May 1997 (next to be held NA
May 2001)
election results: (Ali) Mohammad KHATAMI-Ardakani elected president;
percent of vote--(Ali) Mohammad KHATAMI-Ardakani 69%
Legislative branch: unicameral Islamic Consultative Assembly or
Majles-e-Shura-ye-Eslami (270 seats; members elected by popular vote
to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 8 March and 19 April 1996 (next to be held NA
March 2000)
election results: percent of vote--NA; seats--NA
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: since President KHATAMI's election
in May 1997, several political parties have been licensed including
Executives of Construction, Islamic Iran Solidarity Party, and
Islamic Partnership Front; other important political groupings are:
MAHDAVI-KARUBI and Mohammad Asqar MUSAVI-KHOINIHA]; Islamic
Political pressure groups and leaders: groups that generally
support the Islamic Republic include Ansar-e Hizballah, Mojahedin of
the Islamic Revolution, Muslim Students Following the Line of the
Imam, and the Islamic Coalition Association; opposition groups
include the Liberation Movement of Iran and the Nation of Iran
party; armed political groups that have been almost completely
repressed by the government include Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization
(MEK), People's Fedayeen, Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan; the
Society for the Defense of Freedom
International organization participation: CCC, CP, ECO, ESCAP,
FAO, G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC,
IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WToO
Diplomatic representation in the US: none; note--Iran has an
Interests Section in the Pakistani Embassy, headed by Fariborz
JAHANSUZAN; address: Iranian Interests Section, Pakistani Embassy,
965-4990
Diplomatic representation from the US: none; note--protecting
power in Iran is Switzerland
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of green (top),
white, and red; the national emblem (a stylized representation of
the word Allah) in red is centered in the white band; ALLAH AKBAR
(God is Great) in white Arabic script is repeated 11 times along the
bottom edge of the green band and 11 times along the top edge of the
red band
Economy
Economy--overview: Iran's economy is a mixture of central
planning, state ownership of oil and other large enterprises,
village agriculture, and small-scale private trading and service
ventures. President KHATAMI has continued to follow the market
reform plans of former President RAFSANJANI and has indicated that
he will pursue diversification of Iran's oil-reliant economy
although he has made little progress toward that goal. In the early
1990s, Iran experienced a financial crisis and was forced to
reschedule $15 billion in debt. The strong oil market in 1996 helped
ease financial pressures on Iran and allowed for Tehran's timely
debt service payments. Iran's financial situation tightened in 1997
and deteriorated further in 1998 because of lower oil prices. As a
result Iran has begun to cut imports and fall into arrears on its
debt payments.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$339.7 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: -2.1% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$5,000 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Population below poverty line: 53% (1996 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 24% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 15.4 million
note: shortage of skilled labor
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 33%, manufacturing 21%
(1988 est.)
Unemployment rate: more than 30% (January 1998 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $34.6 billion
expenditures: $34.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $11.8
billion (FY96/97)
Industries: petroleum, petrochemicals, textiles, cement and other
construction materials, food processing (particularly sugar refining
and vegetable oil production), metal fabricating, armaments
Industrial production growth rate: 5.7% (FY95/96 est.)
Electricity--production: 79.5 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 90.57%
hydro: 9.43%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 79.5 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: wheat, rice, other grains, sugar beets,
fruits, nuts, cotton; dairy products, wool; caviar
Exports: $12.2 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Exports--commodities: petroleum 80%, carpets, fruits, nuts, hides,
iron, steel
Exports--partners: Japan, Italy, Greece, France, Spain, South Korea
Imports: $13.8 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Imports--commodities: machinery, military supplies, metal works,
foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals, technical services, refined oil products
Imports--partners: Germany, Italy, Japan, UAE, UK, Belgium
Debt--external: $21.9 billion (1996 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $116.5 million (1995)
Currency: 10 Iranian rials (IR) = 1 toman; note--domestic figures
are generally referred to in terms of the toman
Exchange rates: Iranian rials (IR) per US$1--1,754.63 (January
1999), 1,751.86 (1998), 1,752.92 (1997), 1,750.76 (1996), 1,747.93
(1995), 1,748.75 (1994); black market rate: 7,000 rials per US$1
(December 1998); note--as of May 1995, the "official rate" of 1,750
rials per US$1 is used for imports of essential goods and services
and for oil exports, whereas the "official export rate" of 3,000
rials per US$1 is used for non-oil exports and imports not covered
by the official rate
Fiscal year: 21 March--20 March
Communications
Telephones: 8,991,797 (1997 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: 25 regional telecommunications authorities created in
1996; these authorities are responsible for implementing paging
services and cellular systems; microwave radio relay extends
throughout the country with the system centered in Tehran; system is
moving toward digitization and direct-dial capability; 255
long-distance circuits (1999 est.); 366 telephone exchanges (1995
est.); 204,400 microwave channels (1996 est.); 230,000 cellular
telephone subscribers (1997 est.); 3,930 pager subscribers (1995
est.)
international: 13,985 international circuits (1999 est.) with a plan
to reach 14,000 by March 1999; satellite earth stations--9 Intelsat
(with 50 terminals) and 4 Inmarsat; HF radio and microwave radio
relay to Turkey, Azerbaijan, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan,
Syria, Kuwait, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan; submarine fiber-optic
cable to UAE with access to Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe
(FLAG); Trans Asia Europe (TAE) fiber-optic line runs from
Azerbaijan through the northern portion of Iran to Turkmenistan with
expansion to Georgia and Azerbaijan; four Internet service providers
as of 1997 with the number increasing (service limited to electronic
mail to promote Iranian culture)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 72, FM 6, shortwave 5 (1998 est.)
Radios: 13 million (1999 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 28 (in addition, there are 450
low-power repeaters, all government controlled) (1997)
Televisions: 7 million (1999 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 7,286 km
broad gauge: 94 km 1.676-m gauge
standard gauge: 7,192 km 1.435-m gauge (146 km electrified) (1996
est.)
Highways:
total: 162,000 km
paved: 81,000 km (including 470 km of expressways)
unpaved: 81,000 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 904 km; the Shatt al Arab is usually navigable by
maritime traffic for about 130 km; channel has been dredged to 3 m
and is in use
Pipelines: crude oil 5,900 km; petroleum products 3,900 km;
natural gas 4,550 km
Ports and harbors: Abadan (largely destroyed in fighting during
1980-88 war), Ahvaz, Bandar 'Abbas, Bandar-e Anzali, Bushehr,
Bandar-e Imam Khomeyni, Bandar-e Lengeh, Bandar-e Mahshahr, Bandar-e
Torkaman, Chabahar (Bandar Beheshti), Jazireh-ye Khark, Jazireh-ye
Lavan, Jazireh-ye Sirri, Khorramshahr (limited operation since
November 1992), Now Shahr
Merchant marine:
total: 132 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,238,293
GRT/5,658,259 DWT
ships by type: bulk 46, cargo 35, chemical tanker 4, combination
bulk 1, container 5, liquefied gas tanker 1, multifunction
large-load carrier 6, oil tanker 21, refrigerated cargo 2,
roll-on/roll-off cargo 10, short-sea passenger 1 (1998 est.)
Airports: 288 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 110
over 3,047 m: 38
2,438 to 3,047 m: 18
1,524 to 2,437 m: 25
914 to 1,523 m: 23
under 914 m: 6 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 178
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 14
914 to 1,523 m: 126
under 914 m: 32 (1998 est.)
Heliports: 11 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Islamic Republic of Iran regular forces
(includes Ground Forces, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces),
Revolutionary Guards (includes Ground, Air, Navy, Qods, and
Basij-mobilization-forces), Law Enforcement Forces
Military manpower--military age: 21 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 17,203,360 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 10,217,269 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 767,152 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $5.787 billion (FY98/99)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 2.9% (FY98/99)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: Iran and Iraq restored diplomatic
relations in 1990 but are still trying to work out written
agreements settling outstanding disputes from their eight-year war
concerning border demarcation, prisoners-of-war, and freedom of
navigation and sovereignty over the Shatt al Arab waterway; Iran
occupies two islands in the Persian Gulf claimed by the UAE: Lesser
Tunb (called Tunb as Sughra in Arabic by UAE and Jazireh-ye Tonb-e
Kuchek in Persian by Iran) and Greater Tunb (called Tunb al Kubra in
Arabic by UAE and Jazireh-ye Tonb-e Bozorg in Persian by Iran); it
jointly administers with the UAE an island in the Persian Gulf
claimed by the UAE (called Abu Musa in Arabic by UAE and Jazireh-ye
Abu Musa in Persian by Iran)--over which Iran has taken steps to
exert unilateral control since 1992, including access restrictions
and a military build-up on the island; the UAE has garnered
significant diplomatic support in the region in protesting these
Iranian actions; Caspian Sea boundaries are not yet determined among
Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Turkmenistan
Illicit drugs: despite substantial interdiction efforts, Iran
remains a key transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin to
Europe; domestic consumption of narcotics remains a persistent
problem and Iranian press reports estimate that there are at least
1.2 million drug users in the country
======================================================================
@Iraq
----
Introduction
Background: Iraq lies in the lower part of the Tigris-Euphrates
valley, the heart of one of the four great ancient civilizations.
The area was overrun by Arab, Mongol, and Turkish conquerors and
became a British mandate following World War I. Independence came in
1932. Iraq's pro-Western stance ended in 1958 with the overthrow of
the monarchy. Its subsequent turbulent history has witnessed the
dictatorship of SADDAM Husayn, civil war with the Kurds, a bloody
conflict with neighboring Iran, and, in 1990, an invasion of Kuwait,
swiftly turned back by a Western coalition led by the US.
Noncooperation with UN Security Council resolution obligations and
the UN's inspection of Iraq's nuclear, chemical, biological, and
long-range missile weapons programs remain major problems.
Geography
Location: Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iran
and Kuwait
Geographic coordinates: 33 00 N, 44 00 E
Map references: Middle East
Area:
total: 437,072 sq km
land: 432,162 sq km
water: 4,910 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly more than twice the size of Idaho
Land boundaries:
total: 3,631 km
border countries: Iran 1,458 km, Jordan 181 km, Kuwait 242 km, Saudi
Arabia 814 km, Syria 605 km, Turkey 331 km
Coastline: 58 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: not specified
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: mostly desert; mild to cool winters with dry, hot,
cloudless summers; northern mountainous regions along Iranian and
Turkish borders experience cold winters with occasionally heavy
snows that melt in early spring, sometimes causing extensive
flooding in central and southern Iraq
Terrain: mostly broad plains; reedy marshes along Iranian border
in south with large flooded areas; mountains along borders with Iran
and Turkey
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
highest point: Gundah Zhur 3,608 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, phosphates, sulfur
Land use:
arable land: 12%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 9%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 79% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 25,500 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: dust storms, sandstorms, floods
Environment--current issues: government water control projects
have drained most of the inhabited marsh areas east of An Nasiriyah
by drying up or diverting the feeder streams and rivers; a once
sizable population of Shi'a Muslims, who have inhabited these areas
for thousands of years, has been displaced; furthermore, the
destruction of the natural habitat poses serious threats to the
area's wildlife populations; inadequate supplies of potable water;
development of Tigris-Euphrates Rivers system contingent upon
agreements with upstream riparian Turkey; air and water pollution;
soil degradation (salination) and erosion; desertification
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
People
Population: 22,427,150 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 44% (male 4,982,510; female 4,825,129)
15-64 years: 53% (male 6,030,417; female 5,889,543)
65 years and over: 3% (male 326,223; female 373,328) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.19% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 38.42 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 6.56 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 62.41 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 66.52 years
male: 65.54 years
female: 67.56 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.12 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Iraqi(s)
adjective: Iraqi
Ethnic groups: Arab 75%-80%, Kurdish 15%-20%, Turkoman, Assyrian
or other 5%
Religions: Muslim 97% (Shi'a 60%-65%, Sunni 32%-37%), Christian
or other 3%
Languages: Arabic, Kurdish (official in Kurdish regions),
Assyrian, Armenian
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 58%
male: 70.7%
female: 45% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Iraq
conventional short form: Iraq
local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Iraqiyah
local short form: Al Iraq
Data code: IZ
Government type: republic
Capital: Baghdad
Administrative divisions: 18 provinces (muhafazat,
singular--muhafazah); Al Anbar, Al Basrah, Al Muthanna, Al Qadisiyah,
An Najaf, Arbil, As Sulaymaniyah, At Ta'mim, Babil, Baghdad, Dahuk,
Dhi Qar, Diyala, Karbala', Maysan, Ninawa, Salah ad Din, Wasit
Independence: 3 October 1932 (from League of Nations mandate
under British administration)
National holiday: Anniversary of the Revolution, 17 July (1968)
Constitution: 22 September 1968, effective 16 July 1970
(provisional Constitution); new constitution drafted in 1990 but not
adopted
Legal system: based on Islamic law in special religious courts,
civil law system elsewhere; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President SADDAM Husayn (since 16 July 1979); Vice
President Taha Muhyi al-Din MARUF (since 21 April 1974); Vice
President Taha Yasin RAMADAN (since 23 March 1991)
head of government: Prime Minister SADDAM Husayn (since 29 May
1994); Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Mikhail AZIZ (since NA 1979);
Deputy Prime Minister Taha Yasin RAMADAN (since NA May 1994); Deputy
Prime Minister Muhammad Hamza al-ZUBAYDI (since NA May 1994)
cabinet: Council of Ministers
note: there is also a Revolutionary Command Council; Chairman SADDAM
Husayn, Vice Chairman Izzat IBRAHIM al-Duri
elections: president and vice presidents elected by a two-thirds
majority of the Revolutionary Command Council; election last held 17
October 1995 (next to be held NA 2002)
election results: SADDAM Husayn reelected president; percent of
vote--99%; Taha Muhyi al-Din MARUF and Taha Yasin RAMADAN elected
vice presidents; percent of vote--NA
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Majlis
al-Watani (250 seats; 30 appointed by SADDAM Husayn to represent the
three northern provinces of Dahuk, Arbil, and As Sulaymaniyah; 220
elected by popular vote; members serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 24 March 1996 (next to be held NA 2000)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--NA
Judicial branch: Court of Cassation
Political parties and leaders: Ba'th Party [SADDAM Husayn,
central party leader]
Political pressure groups and leaders: any formal political
activity must be sanctioned by the government; opposition to regime
from Kurdish groups and southern Shi'a dissidents
International organization participation: ABEDA, ACC, AFESD, AL,
AMF, CAEU, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-19, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA,
IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol,
IOC, ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO
Diplomatic representation in the US: none; note--Iraq has an
Interest Section in the Algerian Embassy headed by Dr. Khairi AL
ZUBAYDI; address: Iraqi Interests Section, Algerian Embassy, 2118
Diplomatic representation from the US: none; note--the US has an
Interests Section in the Polish Embassy in Baghdad; address: P. O.
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top),
white, and black with three green five-pointed stars in a horizontal
line centered in the white band; the phrase ALLAHU AKBAR (God is
Great) in green Arabic script--Allahu to the right of the middle star
and Akbar to the left of the middle star--was added in January 1991
during the Persian Gulf crisis; similar to the flag of Syria that
has two stars but no script and the flag of Yemen that has a plain
white band; also similar to the flag of Egypt that has a symbolic
eagle centered in the white band
Economy
Economy--overview: Iraq's economy has been dominated by the oil
sector, which has traditionally provided about 95% of foreign
exchange earnings. In the 1980s, financial problems caused by
massive expenditures in the eight-year war with Iran and damage to
oil export facilities by Iran led the government to implement
austerity measures, borrow heavily, and later reschedule foreign
debt payments; Iraq suffered economic losses of at least $100
billion from the war. After the end of hostilities in 1988, oil
exports gradually increased with the construction of new pipelines
and restoration of damaged facilities. Iraq's seizure of Kuwait in
August 1990, subsequent international economic embargoes, and
military action by an international coalition beginning in January
1991 drastically reduced economic activity and increased prices. The
Iraqi Government has been unwilling to abide by UN resolutions so
that the economic embargo could be removed. The government's
policies of supporting large military and internal security forces
and of allocating resources to key supporters of the regime have
exacerbated shortages. The implementation of the UN's oil-for-food
program in December 1996 has helped improve economic conditions. For
the first three six-month phases of the program, Iraq was allowed to
export $2 billion worth of oil in exchange for food, medicine, and
other humanitarian goods. The UN allowed Iraq to export $5.2 billion
of oil beginning with the fourth phase of the program in May 1998.
At an average volume of 1.9 million barrels per day during the last
half of 1998, oil exports are about three-quarters their prewar
level. Per capita food imports have increased significantly, while
medical supplies and health care services are steadily improving.
Per capita output and living standards are still well below the
prewar level, but any estimates have a wide range of error.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$52.3 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 10% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$2,400 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
Labor force: 4.4 million (1989)
Labor force--by occupation: services 48%, agriculture 30%,
industry 22% (1989)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Industries: petroleum, chemicals, textiles, construction
materials, food processing
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: 27.6 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 97.83%
hydro: 2.17%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 27.6 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: wheat, barley, rice, vegetables, dates,
cotton; cattle, sheep
Exports: $5 billion (1998 est.)
Exports--commodities: crude oil
Exports--partners: Russia, France, China, Turkey (1998)
Imports: $3 billion (1998 est.)
Imports--commodities: food, medicine, manufactures
Imports--partners: Russia, France, Jordan, Australia, China (1998)
Debt--external: very heavy relative to GDP but the exact amount is
unknown (1998)
Economic aid--recipient: $327.5 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Iraqi dinar (ID) = 1,000 fils
Exchange rates: Iraqi dinars (ID) per US$1--0.3109 (fixed official
rate since 1982); black market rate--Iraqi dinars (ID) per US$1--1,810
(December 1998), 1,530 (December 1997), 3,000 (December 1995);
subject to wide fluctuations
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 632,000 (1987 est.)
Telephone system: reconstitution of damaged telecommunication
facilities began after the Gulf war; most damaged facilities have
been rebuilt
domestic: the network consists of coaxial cables and microwave radio
relay links
international: satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean
and 1 Indian Ocean), 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region) and 1
Arabsat (inoperative); coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to
Jordan, Kuwait, Syria, and Turkey; Kuwait line is probably
nonoperational
Radio broadcast stations: AM 16, FM 1, shortwave 0
Radios: 3.7 million (1998 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 13 (government controlled) (1997)
Televisions: 1 million (1992 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 2,032 km
standard gauge: 2,032 km 1.435-m gauge
Highways:
total: 47,400 km
paved: 40,764 km
unpaved: 6,636 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 1,015 km; Shatt al Arab is usually navigable by
maritime traffic for about 130 km; channel has been dredged to 3
meters and is in use; Tigris and Euphrates Rivers have navigable
sections for shallow-draft watercraft; Shatt al Basrah canal was
navigable by shallow-draft craft before closing in 1991 because of
the Persian Gulf war
Pipelines: crude oil 4,350 km; petroleum products 725 km; natural
gas 1,360 km
Ports and harbors: Umm Qasr, Khawr az Zubayr, and Al Basrah have
limited functionality
Merchant marine:
total: 30 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 456,845 GRT/780,318 DWT
ships by type: cargo 14, oil tanker 11, passenger 1, passenger-cargo
1, refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2 (1998 est.)
Airports: 109 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 77
over 3,047 m: 20
2,438 to 3,047 m: 36
1,524 to 2,437 m: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 7 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 32
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 10
under 914 m: 11 (1998 est.)
Heliports: 4 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Republican Guard and Special Republican
Guard, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Force, Border Guard Force,
Internal Security Forces
Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 5,459,998 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 3,058,098 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 259,915 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $NA
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: NA%
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: Iran and Iraq restored diplomatic
relations in 1990 but are still trying to work out written
agreements settling outstanding disputes from their eight-year war
concerning border demarcation, prisoners-of-war, and freedom of
navigation and sovereignty over the Shatt al Arab waterway; in
November 1994, Iraq formally accepted the UN-demarcated border with
Kuwait which had been spelled out in Security Council Resolutions
687 (1991), 773 (1993), and 883 (1993); this formally ends earlier
claims to Kuwait and to Bubiyan and Warbah islands although the
government continues periodic rhetorical challenges; dispute over
water development plans by Turkey for the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers
======================================================================
@Ireland
-------
Introduction
Background: Growing Irish nationalism resulted in independence
from the United Kingdom in 1921, with six largely Protestant
northern counties remaining within the UK. After World War II bloody
strife between Catholics and Protestants over the status of Northern
Ireland cost thousands of lives. In 1998, substantial steps toward
peace were agreed to by the British and Irish governments and the
Roman Catholics and Protestants of Northern Ireland.
Geography
Location: Western Europe, occupying five-sixths of the island of
Ireland in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Great Britain
Geographic coordinates: 53 00 N, 8 00 W
Map references: Europe
Area:
total: 70,280 sq km
land: 68,890 sq km
water: 1,390 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly larger than West Virginia
Land boundaries:
total: 360 km
border countries: UK 360 km
Coastline: 1,448 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: not specified
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: temperate maritime; modified by North Atlantic Current;
mild winters, cool summers; consistently humid; overcast about half
the time
Terrain: mostly level to rolling interior plain surrounded by
rugged hills and low mountains; sea cliffs on west coast
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Carrauntoohill 1,041 m
Natural resources: zinc, lead, natural gas, barite, copper,
gypsum, limestone, dolomite, peat, silver
Land use:
arable land: 13%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 68%
forests and woodland: 5%
other: 14% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: NA
Environment--current issues: water pollution, especially of lakes,
from agricultural runoff
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Sulphur 94, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine
Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Endangered Species,
Marine Life Conservation, Tropical Timber 94
Geography--note: strategic location on major air and sea routes
between North America and northern Europe; over 40% of the
population resides within 97 km of Dublin
People
Population: 3,632,944 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 21% (male 399,379; female 377,366)
15-64 years: 67% (male 1,232,072; female 1,213,364)
65 years and over: 12% (male 174,519; female 236,244) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.38% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 13.58 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 8.43 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 5.94 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 76.39 years
male: 73.64 years
female: 79.32 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.81 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Irishman(men), Irishwoman(men), Irish (collective plural)
adjective: Irish
Ethnic groups: Celtic, English
Religions: Roman Catholic 92%, Anglican 3%, Islamic 0.11%,
Jehovah's Witness 0.1%, Jewish 0.04%, other 4.75% (1991)
Languages: English is the language generally used, Irish (Gaelic)
spoken mainly in areas located along the western seaboard
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98% (1981 est.)
male: NA%
female: NA%
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Ireland
Data code: EI
Government type: republic
Capital: Dublin
Administrative divisions: 26 counties; Carlow, Cavan, Clare,
Cork, Donegal, Dublin, Galway, Kerry, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois,
Leitrim, Limerick, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Meath, Monaghan, Offaly,
Roscommon, Sligo, Tipperary, Waterford, Westmeath, Wexford, Wicklow
Independence: 6 December 1921 (from UK)
National holiday: Saint Patrick's Day, 17 March
Constitution: 29 December 1937; adopted 1 July 1937 by plebiscite
Legal system: based on English common law, substantially modified
by indigenous concepts; judicial review of legislative acts in
Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Mary MCALEESE (since 11 November 1997)
head of government: Prime Minister Bertie AHERN (since 26 June 1997)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president with previous nomination
by the prime minister and approval of the House of Representatives
elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term;
election last held 31 October 1997 (next to be held NA November
2004); prime minister nominated by the House of Representatives and
appointed by the president
election results: Mary MCALEESE elected president; percent of
vote--Mary MCALEESE 44.8%, Mary BANOTTI 29.6%
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament or Oireachtas consists
of the Senate or Seanad Eireann (60 seats--49 elected by the
universities and from candidates put forward by five vocational
panels, 11 are nominated by the prime minister; members serve
five-year terms) and the House of Representatives or Dail Eireann
(166 seats; members are elected by popular vote on the basis of
proportional representation to serve five-year terms)
elections: Senate--last held NA August 1997 (next to be held NA
2002); House of Representatives--last held 6 June 1997 (next to be
held NA 2002)
election results: Senate--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by
party--NA; House of Representatives--percent of vote by party--NA;
seats by party--Fianna Fail 76, Fine Gael 53, Labor Party 19,
Progressive Democrats 4, Democratic Left 4, Greens 2, Sinn Fein 1,
independents 7
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges appointed by the president
on the advice of the government (prime minister and cabinet)
Political parties and leaders: Fianna Fail [Bertie AHERN]; Labor
note: Prime Minister AHERN heads a two-party coalition consisting of
Fianna Fail and the Progressive Democrats; Democratic Left merged
into the Labor Party on 1 February 1999
International organization participation: Australia Group, BIS,
CCC, CE, EBRD, ECE, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat,
Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MTCR, NEA, NSG,
OECD, OPCW, OSCE, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNIDO, UNIFIL,
UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMIBH, UNMOP, UNPREDEP, UNTSO, UPU, WEU (observer),
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Sean O'HUIGINN
chancery: 2234 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, New York, and San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Michael SULLIVAN
embassy: 42 Elgin Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin
mailing address: use embassy street address
Flag description: three equal vertical bands of green (hoist
side), white, and orange; similar to the flag of Cote d'Ivoire,
which is shorter and has the colors reversed--orange (hoist side),
white, and green; also similar to the flag of Italy, which is
shorter and has colors of green (hoist side), white, and red
Economy
Economy--overview: Ireland is a small, modern, trade-dependent
economy with growth averaging 9.5% in 1995-98. Agriculture, once the
most important sector, is now dwarfed by industry, which accounts
for 39% of GDP, about 80% of exports, and employs 28% of the labor
force. Although exports remain the primary engine for Ireland's
robust growth, the economy is also benefiting from a rise in
consumer spending and recovery in both construction and business
investment. Over the past decade, the Irish government has
implemented a series of national economic programs designed to curb
inflation, reduce government spending, and promote foreign
investment. Although the unemployment rate has been halved, it
remains high, and job creation is a primary concern of government
policy. Recent efforts have concentrated on improving workers
qualifications and the education system. Ireland joined in launching
the euro currency system in January 1999 along with 10 other EU
nations.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$67.1 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 9.5% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$18,600 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 7%
industry: 39%
services: 54% (1997)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.5%
highest 10%: 27.4% (1987)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.4% (1998)
Labor force: 1.52 million (1997 est.)
Labor force--by occupation: services 62.1%, manufacturing and
construction 27%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 10%, utilities
0.9% (1996 est.)
Unemployment rate: 7.7% (1998 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $23.5 billion
expenditures: $20.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1998)
Industries: food products, brewing, textiles, clothing,
chemicals, pharmaceuticals, machinery, transportation equipment,
glass and crystal
Industrial production growth rate: 15.8% (1998 est.)
Electricity--production: 17.843 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 95.83%
hydro: 3.99%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0.18% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 17.743 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 200 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 100 million kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: turnips, barley, potatoes, sugar beets,
wheat; beef, dairy products
Exports: $60.9 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports--commodities: chemicals, data processing equipment,
industrial machinery, live animals, animal products (1997)
Exports--partners: EU 67% (UK 24%, Germany 12%, France 8%), US 11%
(1997)
Imports: $43.7 billion (c.i.f., 1998)
Imports--commodities: food, animal feed, data processing
equipment, petroleum and petroleum products, machinery, textiles,
clothing (1997)
Imports--partners: EU 55% (UK 34%, Germany 6%, France 6%), US 15%
(1997)
Debt--external: $11 billion (1998)
Economic aid--donor: ODA, $153 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Irish pound (LIr) = 100 pence
Exchange rates: Irish pounds (LIr) per US$1--0.6815 (January
1999), 0.7014 (1998), 0.6588 (1997), 0.6248 (1996), 0.6235 (1995),
0.6676 (1994)
note: on 1 January 1999, the European Union introduced a common
currency that is now being used by financial institutions in some
member countries at the rate of 0.8597 euros per US$ and a fixed
rate of 0.78764 Irish pounds per euro; the euro will replace the
local currency in consenting countries for all transactions in 2002
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 900,000 (1987 est.)
Telephone system: modern digital system using cable and microwave
radio relay
domestic: microwave radio relay
international: satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 9, FM 45, shortwave 0
Radios: 2.2 million (1991 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 10 (in addition, there are 36
low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 1.025 million (1990 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 1,947 km
broad gauge: 1,947 km 1.600-m gauge (38 km electrified; 485 km
double track) (1996)
Highways:
total: 92,500 km
paved: 87,042 km (including 80 km of expressways)
unpaved: 5,458 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: limited for commercial traffic
Pipelines: natural gas 225 km
Ports and harbors: Arklow, Cork, Drogheda, Dublin, Foynes,
Galway, Limerick, New Ross, Waterford
Merchant marine:
total: 31 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 79,284 GRT/117,652 DWT
ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 28, container 2 (1998 est.)
Airports: 44 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 16
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 7 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 28
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 25 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army (includes Naval Service and Air Corps),
National Police (Garda Siochana)
Military manpower--military age: 17 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 974,226 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 790,155 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 33,810 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $771 million (1997)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 1% (1997)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: Northern Ireland issue with the UK
(historic peace agreement signed 10 April 1998); Rockall continental
shelf dispute involving Denmark, Iceland, and the UK (Ireland and
the UK have signed a boundary agreement in the Rockall area)
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for and consumer of hashish
from North Africa to the UK and Netherlands and of European-produced
synthetic drugs; transshipment point for heroin and cocaine destined
for Western Europe
======================================================================
@Israel
------
Introduction
Background: The territories occupied by Israel since the 1967 war
are not included in the data below, unless otherwise noted. In
keeping with the framework established at the Madrid Conference in
October 1991, bilateral negotiations are being conducted between
Israel and Palestinian representatives, and Israel and Syria, to
achieve a permanent settlement between them. On 25 April 1982,
Israel withdrew from the Sinai pursuant to the 1979 Israel-Egypt
Peace treaty. Outstanding territorial and other disputes with Jordan
were resolved in the 26 October 1994 Israel-Jordan Treaty of Peace.
Geography
Location: Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between
Egypt and Lebanon
Geographic coordinates: 31 30 N, 34 45 E
Map references: Middle East
Area:
total: 20,770 sq km
land: 20,330 sq km
water: 440 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries:
total: 1,006 km
border countries: Egypt 255 km, Gaza Strip 51 km, Jordan 238 km,
Lebanon 79 km, Syria 76 km, West Bank 307 km
Coastline: 273 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: to depth of exploitation
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: temperate; hot and dry in southern and eastern desert
areas
Terrain: Negev desert in the south; low coastal plain; central
mountains; Jordan Rift Valley
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Dead Sea -408 m
highest point: Har Meron 1,208 m
Natural resources: copper, phosphates, bromide, potash, clay,
sand, sulfur, asphalt, manganese, small amounts of natural gas and
crude oil
Land use:
arable land: 17%
permanent crops: 4%
permanent pastures: 7%
forests and woodland: 6%
other: 66% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 1,800 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: sandstorms may occur during spring and summer
Environment--current issues: limited arable land and natural fresh
water resources pose serious constraints; desertification; air
pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions; groundwater
pollution from industrial and domestic waste, chemical fertilizers,
and pesticides
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection,
Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Marine Life
Conservation
Geography--note: there are 216 Israeli settlements and civilian
land use sites in the West Bank, 42 in the Israeli-occupied Golan
Heights, 24 in the Gaza Strip, and 29 in East Jerusalem (August 1998
est.)
People
Population: 5,749,760 (July 1999 est.)
note: includes about 166,000 Israeli settlers in the West Bank,
about 19,000 in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, about 6,000 in
the Gaza Strip, and about 176,000 in East Jerusalem (August 1998
est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 28% (male 822,192; female 783,905)
15-64 years: 62% (male 1,792,062; female 1,783,755)
65 years and over: 10% (male 244,438; female 323,408) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.81% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 19.83 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 6.16 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 4.42 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 7.78 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.61 years
male: 76.71 years
female: 80.61 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.68 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Israeli(s)
adjective: Israeli
Ethnic groups: Jewish 80.1% (Europe/America-born 32.1%,
Israel-born 20.8%, Africa-born 14.6%, Asia-born 12.6%), non-Jewish
19.9% (mostly Arab) (1996 est.)
Religions: Judaism 80.1%, Islam 14.6% (mostly Sunni Muslim),
Christian 2.1%, other 3.2% (1996 est.)
Languages: Hebrew (official), Arabic used officially for Arab
minority, English most commonly used foreign language
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 95%
male: 97%
female: 93% (1992 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: State of Israel
conventional short form: Israel
local long form: Medinat Yisra'el
local short form: Yisra'el
Data code: IS
Government type: republic
Capital: Jerusalem
note: Israel proclaimed Jerusalem as its capital in 1950, but the
US, like nearly all other countries, maintains its Embassy in Tel
Aviv
Administrative divisions: 6 districts (mehozot, singular--mehoz);
Central, Haifa, Jerusalem, Northern, Southern, Tel Aviv
Independence: 14 May 1948 (from League of Nations mandate under
British administration)
National holiday: Independence Day, 14 May 1948; note--Israel
declared independence on 14 May 1948, but the Jewish calendar is
lunar and the holiday may occur in April or May
Constitution: no formal constitution; some of the functions of a
constitution are filled by the Declaration of Establishment (1948),
the basic laws of the parliament (Knesset), and the Israeli
citizenship law
Legal system: mixture of English common law, British Mandate
regulations, and, in personal matters, Jewish, Christian, and Muslim
legal systems; in December 1985, Israel informed the UN Secretariat
that it would no longer accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Ezer WEIZMAN (since 13 May 1993)
head of government: Prime Minister Binyamin NETANYAHU (since 18 June
1996)
cabinet: Cabinet selected from and approved by the Knesset
elections: president elected by the Knesset for a five-year term;
election last held 4 March 1998 (next to be held NA March 2003);
prime minister elected by popular vote for a four-year term;
election last held 29 May 1996 (early elections are scheduled for 17
May 1999); note--in March 1992, the Knesset approved legislation,
effective in 1996, which allowed for the direct election of the
prime minister; under the new law, each voter casts two ballots--one
for the direct election of the prime minister and one for the party
in the Knesset; the candidate that receives the largest percentage
of the popular vote then works to form a coalition with other
parties to achieve a parliamentary majority of 61 seats; finally,
the candidate must submit his or her cabinet to the Knesset for
approval and this must be done within 45 days of the election; in
contrast to the old system, under the new law, the prime minister's
party need not be the single-largest party in the Knesset
election results: Ezer WEIZMAN reelected president by the Knesset
with a total of 63 votes, other candidate, Shaul AMOR, received 49
votes (there were seven abstentions and one absence); Binyamin
NETANYAHU elected prime minister; percent of vote--Binyamin NETANYAHU
50.4%, Shimon PERES 49.5%
Legislative branch: unicameral Knesset or parliament (120 seats;
members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 29 May 1996 (early elections are scheduled for
17 May 1999)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--Labor
Party 34, Likud Party 32, SHAS 10, MERETZ 9, National Religious
Party 9, Yisra'el Ba'Aliya 7, Hadash-Balad 5, Third Way 4, United
Arab List 4, United Jewish Torah 4, Moledet 2; note--Likud, Tzomet,
and Gesher candidates ran on a joint list
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, appointed for life by the
president
Political parties and leaders:
Political pressure groups and leaders: Gush Emunim, Israeli
nationalists advocating Jewish settlement on the West Bank and Gaza
Strip; Peace Now supports territorial concessions in the West Bank
and is critical of government's Lebanon policy
International organization participation: BSEC (observer), CCC,
CE (observer), CERN (observer), EBRD, ECE, FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE (partner),
PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO,
WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Zalman SHOVAL
chancery: 3514 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los
Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, and San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Edward S. WALKER, Jr.
embassy: 71 Hayarkon Street, Tel Aviv
mailing address: PSC 98, Unit 7228, APO AE 09830
consulate(s) general: Jerusalem; note--an independent US mission,
established in 1928, whose members are not accredited to a foreign
government
Flag description: white with a blue hexagram (six-pointed linear
star) known as the Magen David (Shield of David) centered between
two equal horizontal blue bands near the top and bottom edges of the
flag
Economy
Economy--overview: Israel has a technologically advanced market
economy with substantial government participation. It depends on
imports of crude oil, grains, raw materials, and military equipment.
Despite limited natural resources, Israel has intensively developed
its agricultural and industrial sectors over the past 20 years.
Manufacturing and construction employ about 28% of Israeli workers;
agriculture, forestry, and fishing 2.6%; and services the rest.
Israel is largely self-sufficient in food production except for
grains. Diamonds, high-technology equipment, and agricultural
products (fruits and vegetables) are leading exports. Israel usually
posts sizable current account deficits, which are covered by large
transfer payments from abroad and by foreign loans. Roughly half of
the government's external debt is owed to the US, which is its major
source of economic and military aid. The influx of Jewish immigrants
from the former USSR topped 750,000 during the period 1989-98,
bringing the population of Israel from the former Soviet Union to
one million, one-sixth of the total population and adding scientific
and professional expertise of substantial value for the economy's
future. The influx, coupled with the opening of new markets at the
end of the Cold War, energized Israel's economy, which grew rapidly
in the early 1990s. But growth began slowing in 1996 when the
government imposed tighter fiscal and monetary policies and the
immigration bonus petered out.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$101.9 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 1.9% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$18,100 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 2%
industry: 17%
services: 81% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.8%
highest 10%: 26.9% (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5.4% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 2.3 million (1997)
Labor force--by occupation: public services 31.2%, manufacturing
20.2%, finance and business 13.1%, commerce 12.8%, construction
7.5%, personal and other services 6.4%, transport, storage, and
communications 6.2%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 2.6% (1996)
Unemployment rate: 8.7% (1998 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $55 billion
expenditures: $58 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1998 est.)
Industries: food processing, diamond cutting and polishing,
textiles and apparel, chemicals, metal products, military equipment,
transport equipment, electrical equipment, potash mining,
high-technology electronics, tourism
Industrial production growth rate: 5.4% (1996)
Electricity--production: 28.035 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 99.88%
hydro: 0.12%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 27.725 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 310 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: citrus, vegetables, cotton; beef, poultry,
dairy products
Exports: $22.1 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports--commodities: machinery and equipment, cut diamonds,
chemicals, textiles and apparel, agricultural products, metals
Exports--partners: US 32%, UK, Hong Kong, Benelux, Japan,
Netherlands (1997)
Imports: $26.1 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports--commodities: raw materials, military equipment,
investment goods, rough diamonds, oil, consumer goods
Imports--partners: US 19%, Benelux 12%, Germany 9%, UK 8%, Italy
7%, Switzerland 6% (1997)
Debt--external: $18.7 billion (1997)
Economic aid--recipient: $1.241 billion (1994); note?$1.2 billion
from the US (1997)
Currency: 1 new Israeli shekel (NIS) = 100 new agorot
Exchange rates: new Israeli shekels (NIS) per US$1--4.2269
(November 1998), 3.4494 (1997), 3.1917 (1996), 3.0113 (1995), 3.0111
(1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year (since 1 January 1992)
Communications
Telephones: 2.6 million (1996)
Telephone system: most highly developed system in the Middle East
although not the largest
domestic: good system of coaxial cable and microwave radio relay
international: 3 submarine cables; satellite earth stations--3
Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 9, FM 45, shortwave 0
Radios: 2.25 million (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 24 (in addition, there are 31
low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 1.5 million (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 610 km
standard gauge: 610 km 1.435-m gauge (1996)
Highways:
total: 15,464 km
paved: 15,464 km (including 56 km of expressways)
unpaved: 0 km (1997 est.)
Pipelines: crude oil 708 km; petroleum products 290 km; natural
gas 89 km
Ports and harbors: Ashdod, Ashqelon, Elat (Eilat), Hadera, Haifa,
Tel Aviv-Yafo
Merchant marine:
total: 23 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 736,419 GRT/855,497 DWT
ships by type: cargo 1, container 21, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1 (1998
est.)
Airports: 54 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 31
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 10
under 914 m: 7 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 23
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 18 (1998 est.)
Heliports: 2 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Israel Defense Forces (includes ground, naval,
and air components), Pioneer Fighting Youth (Nahal), Frontier Guard,
Chen (women); note--historically there have been no separate Israeli
military services
Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 1,474,046
females age 15-49: 1,439,569 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,206,320
females age 15-49: 1,173,818 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 50,737
females: 48,546 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $8.7 billion (1999)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 9.5% (1999)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: West Bank and Gaza Strip are
Israeli-occupied with current status subject to the
Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement--permanent status to be
determined through further negotiation; Golan Heights is
Israeli-occupied; Israeli troops in southern Lebanon since June 1982
Illicit drugs: increasingly concerned about cocaine and heroin
abuse; drugs primarily arrive in country from Lebanon
======================================================================
@Italy
-----
Introduction
Background: Italy failed to secure political unification until
the 1860s, thus lacking the military and imperial power of Spain,
Britain, and France. The fascist dictatorship of MUSSOLINI after
World War I, led to the disastrous alliance with HITLER's Germany
and defeat in World War II. Italy was a founding member of the
European Economic Community (EEC) and joined in the growing
political and economic unification of Western Europe, including the
introduction of the euro in January 1999. On-going problems include
illegal immigration, the ravages of organized crime, high
unemployment, and the low incomes and technical standards of
Southern Italy compared with the North.
Geography
Location: Southern Europe, a peninsula extending into the central
Mediterranean Sea, northeast of Tunisia
Geographic coordinates: 42 50 N, 12 50 E
Map references: Europe
Area:
total: 301,230 sq km
land: 294,020 sq km
water: 7,210 sq km
note: includes Sardinia and Sicily
Area--comparative: slightly larger than Arizona
Land boundaries:
total: 1,932.2 km
border countries: Austria 430 km, France 488 km, Holy See (Vatican
City) 3.2 km, San Marino 39 km, Slovenia 232 km, Switzerland 740 km
Coastline: 7,600 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: predominantly Mediterranean; Alpine in far north; hot,
dry in south
Terrain: mostly rugged and mountainous; some plains, coastal
lowlands
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mont Blanc (Monte Bianco) 4,807 m
Natural resources: mercury, potash, marble, sulfur, dwindling
natural gas and crude oil reserves, fish, coal
Land use:
arable land: 31%
permanent crops: 10%
permanent pastures: 15%
forests and woodland: 23%
other: 21% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 27,100 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: regional risks include landslides, mudflows,
avalanches, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, flooding; land
subsidence in Venice
Environment--current issues: air pollution from industrial
emissions such as sulfur dioxide; coastal and inland rivers polluted
from industrial and agricultural effluents; acid rain damaging
lakes; inadequate industrial waste treatment and disposal facilities
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air
Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental
Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical
Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography--note: strategic location dominating central
Mediterranean as well as southern sea and air approaches to Western
Europe
People
Population: 56,735,130 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 14% (male 4,161,841; female 3,925,413)
15-64 years: 68% (male 19,205,293; female 19,285,848)
65 years and over: 18% (male 4,169,098; female 5,987,637) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: -0.08% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 9.27 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 10.28 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.17 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 6.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.51 years
male: 75.4 years
female: 81.82 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.22 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Italian(s)
adjective: Italian
Ethnic groups: Italian (includes small clusters of German-,
French-, and Slovene-Italians in the north and Albanian-Italians and
Greek-Italians in the south)
Religions: Roman Catholic 98%, other 2%
Languages: Italian, German (parts of Trentino-Alto Adige region
are predominantly German speaking), French (small French-speaking
minority in Valle d'Aosta region), Slovene (Slovene-speaking
minority in the Trieste-Gorizia area)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97%
male: 98%
female: 96% (1990 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Italian Republic
conventional short form: Italy
local long form: Repubblica Italiana
local short form: Italia
former: Kingdom of Italy
Data code: IT
Government type: republic
Capital: Rome
Administrative divisions: 20 regions (regioni, singular--regione);
Abruzzi, Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, Emilia-Romagna,
Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Lazio, Liguria, Lombardia, Marche, Molise,
Piemonte, Puglia, Sardegna, Sicilia, Toscana, Trentino-Alto Adige,
Umbria, Valle d'Aosta, Veneto
Independence: 17 March 1861 (Kingdom of Italy proclaimed)
National holiday: Anniversary of the Republic, 2 June (1946)
Constitution: 1 January 1948
Legal system: based on civil law system, with ecclesiastical law
influence; appeals treated as trials de novo; judicial review under
certain conditions in Constitutional Court; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal (except in senatorial
elections, where minimum age is 25)
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Oscar Luigi SCALFARO (since 28 May 1992)
head of government: Prime Minister (referred to in Italy as the
president of the Council of Ministers) Massimo D'ALEMA (since 27
October 1998)
cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister and
approved by the president
elections: president elected by an electoral college consisting of
both houses of Parliament and 58 regional representatives for a
seven-year term; election last held 25 May 1992 (next to be held NA
June 1999); prime minister appointed by the president and confirmed
by parliament
election results: Oscar Luigi SCALFARO elected president; percent of
electoral college vote--NA
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament or Parlamento consists
of the Senate or Senato della Repubblica (326 seats--315 elected by
popular vote of which 232 are directly elected and 83 are elected by
regional proportional representation, 11 are appointed
senators-for-life; members serve five-year terms) and the Chamber of
Deputies or Camera dei Deputati (630 seats; 475 are directly
elected, 155 by regional proportional representation; members serve
five-year terms)
elections: Senate--last held 21 April 1996 (next to be held by NA
April 2001); Chamber of Deputies--last held 21 April 1996 (next to be
held by NA April 2001)
election results: Senate--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by
party--Olive Tree 157, Freedom Alliance 116, Northern League 27,
Refounded Communists 10, regional lists 3, Social Movement-Tricolor
Flames 1, Panella Reformers 1; Chamber of Deputies--percent of vote
by party--NA; seats by party--Olive Tree 284, Freedom Alliance 246,
Northern League 59, Refounded Communists 35, Southern Tyrol List 3,
Autonomous List 2, other 1
Judicial branch: Constitutional Court or Corte Costituzionale,
composed of 15 judges (one-third appointed by the president,
one-third elected by Parliament, one-third elected by the ordinary
and administrative supreme courts)
Political parties and leaders:
MARINI]
Political pressure groups and leaders: the Roman Catholic Church;
three major trade union confederations (Confederazione Generale
D'ANTONI] which is Catholic centrist, and Unione Italiana del Lavoro
manufacturers and merchants associations (Confindustria,
Confcommercio); organized farm groups (Confcoltivatori,
Confagricoltura)
International organization participation: AfDB, AsDB, Australia
Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CCC, CDB (non-regional), CE, CEI, CERN,
EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ECLAC, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 7, G-10, IADB,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO,
ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU,
LAIA (observer), MINURSO, MTCR, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS
(observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,
UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMIBH, UNMOGIP, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WEU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Ferdinando SALLEO
chancery: 1601 Fuller Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 and 2700 16th
Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Miami, New York, Los
Angeles, Philadelphia, and San Francisco
consulate(s): Detroit
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas M. FOGLIETTA
embassy: Via Veneto 119/A, 00187-Rome
mailing address: PSC 59, Box 100, APO AE 09624
consulate(s) general: Florence, Milan, Naples
Flag description: three equal vertical bands of green (hoist
side), white, and red; similar to the flag of Ireland, which is
longer and is green (hoist side), white, and orange; also similar to
the flag of the Cote d'Ivoire, which has the colors reversed--orange
(hoist side), white, and green
Economy
Economy--overview: Since World War II, the Italian economy has
changed from one based on agriculture into a ranking industrial
economy, with approximately the same total and per capita output as
France and the UK. This basically capitalistic economy is still
divided into a developed industrial north, dominated by private
companies, and a less developed agricultural south, with large
public enterprises and more than 20% unemployment. Most raw
materials needed by industry and over 75% of energy requirements
must be imported. In the second half of 1992, Rome became unsettled
by the prospect of not qualifying to participate in EU plans for
economic and monetary union later in the decade; thus, it finally
began to address its huge fiscal imbalances. Subsequently, the
government has adopted fairly stringent budgets, abandoned its
inflationary wage indexation system, and started to scale back its
generous social welfare programs, including pension and health care
benefits. In December 1998, Italy adopted a budget compliant with
the requirements of the European Monetary Union (EMU);
representatives of government, labor, and employers agreed to an
update of the 1993 "social pact," which has been widely credited
with having brought Italy's inflation into conformity with EMU
requirements. In 1999, Italy must adjust to the loss of an
independent monetary policy, which it has used quite liberally in
the past to help cope with external shocks. Italy also must work to
stimulate employment, promote wage flexibility, and tackle the
informal economy.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$1.181 trillion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 1.5% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$20,800 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 3.3%
industry: 33%
services: 63.7% (1994)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.9%
highest 10%: 23.7% (1991)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.8% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 23.193 million
Labor force--by occupation: services 61%, industry 32%,
agriculture 7% (1996)
Unemployment rate: 12.5% (1998 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $559 billion
expenditures: $589 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1998 est.)
Industries: tourism, machinery, iron and steel, chemicals, food
processing, textiles, motor vehicles, clothing, footwear, ceramics
Industrial production growth rate: 0.5% (1996 est.)
Electricity--production: 226.707 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 80.02%
hydro: 18.25%
nuclear: 0%
other: 1.73%
Electricity--consumption: 264.007 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 800 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 38.1 billion kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: fruits, vegetables, grapes, potatoes, sugar
beets, soybeans, grain, olives; beef, dairy products; fish
Exports: $243 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports--commodities: engineering products, textiles and clothing,
production machinery, motor vehicles, transport equipment,
chemicals; food, beverages and tobacco; minerals and nonferrous
metals
Exports--partners: Germany 16.4%, France 12.2%, US 7.9%, UK 7.1%,
Spain 5.2%, Netherlands 2.8% (1997)
Imports: $202 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports--commodities: engineering products, chemicals, transport
equipment, energy products, minerals and nonferrous metals, textiles
and clothing; food, beverages and tobacco
Imports--partners: Germany 18.0%, France 13.2%, UK 6.7%,
Netherlands 6.2%, US 5.0%, Belgium-Luxembourg 4.7% (1997)
Debt--external: $45 billion (1996 est.)
Economic aid--donor: ODA, $1.6 billion (1995)
Currency: 1 Italian lira (Lit) = 100 centesimi
Exchange rates: Italian lire (Lit) per US$1--1,688.7 (January
1999), 1,736.2 (1998), 1,703.1 (1997), 1,542.9 (1996), 1,628.9
(1995), 1,612.4 (1994)
note: on 1 January 1999, the European Union introduced a common
currency that is now being used by financial institutions in some
member countries at the rate of 0.8597 euros per US$ and a fixed
rate of 1,936.27 lire per euro; the euro will replace the local
currency in consenting countries for all transactions in 2002
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 25.6 million (1996 est.)
Telephone system: modern, well-developed, fast; fully automated
telephone, telex, and data services
domestic: high-capacity cable and microwave radio relay trunks
international: satellite earth stations--3 Intelsat (with a total of
5 antennas--3 for Atlantic Ocean and 2 for Indian Ocean), 1 Inmarsat
(Atlantic Ocean region), and NA Eutelsat; 21 submarine cables
Radio broadcast stations: AM 135, FM 28 (repeaters 1,840),
shortwave 0
Radios: 45.7 million (1996 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 6,317 (consisting of 117 public
stations with two kW of power or more, about 5,300 low-power public
stations, and about 900 low-power private stations, mostly in local
service) (1997)
Televisions: 17 million (1996 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 19,272 km
standard gauge: 17,983 km 1.435-m gauge; Italian Railways (FS)
operates 15,942 km of the total standard gauge routes (10,889 km
electrified)
narrow gauge: 112 km 1.000-m gauge (112 km electrified); 1,177 km
0.950-m gauge (19 km electrified) (1996)
Highways:
total: 317,000 km
paved: 317,000 km (including 9,500 km of expressways)
unpaved: 0 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 2,400 km for various types of commercial traffic,
although of limited overall value
Pipelines: crude oil 1,703 km; petroleum products 2,148 km;
natural gas 19,400 km
Ports and harbors: Augusta (Sicily), Bagnoli, Bari, Brindisi,
Gela, Genoa, La Spezia, Livorno, Milazzo, Naples, Porto Foxi, Porto
Torres (Sardinia), Salerno, Savona, Taranto, Trieste, Venice
Merchant marine:
total: 393 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,982,870
GRT/8,413,850 DWT
ships by type: bulk 38, cargo 46, chemical tanker 60, combination
ore/oil 2, container 16, liquefied gas tanker 35, livestock carrier
1, multifunction large-load carrier 1, oil tanker 84, passenger 6,
roll-on/roll-off cargo 53, short-sea passenger 28, specialized
tanker 12, vehicle carrier 11 (1998 est.)
Airports: 136 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 97
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 33
1,524 to 2,437 m: 17
914 to 1,523 m: 30
under 914 m: 12 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 39
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 19
under 914 m: 18 (1998 est.)
Heliports: 2 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Carabinieri
Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 14,142,889 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 12,200,780 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 315,952 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $21.095 billion (FY97)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 1.9% (1995)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: Italy and Slovenia made progress in
resolving bilateral issues; Croatia and Italy made progress toward
resolving a bilateral issue dating from World War II over property
and ethnic minority rights
Illicit drugs: important gateway for and consumer of Latin
American cocaine and Southwest Asian heroin entering the European
market
======================================================================
@Jamaica
-------
Geography
Location: Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, south of Cuba
Geographic coordinates: 18 15 N, 77 30 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 10,990 sq km
land: 10,830 sq km
water: 160 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than Connecticut
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 1,022 km
Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; hot, humid; temperate interior
Terrain: mostly mountains, with narrow, discontinuous coastal
plain
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Blue Mountain Peak 2,256 m
Natural resources: bauxite, gypsum, limestone
Land use:
arable land: 14%
permanent crops: 6%
permanent pastures: 24%
forests and woodland: 17%
other: 39% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 350 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: hurricanes (especially July to November)
Environment--current issues: deforestation; coastal waters
polluted by industrial waste, sewage, and oil spills; damage to
coral reefs; air pollution in Kingston results from vehicle emissions
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Law of the
Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography--note: strategic location between Cayman Trench and
Jamaica Channel, the main sea lanes for Panama Canal
People
Population: 2,652,443 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 31% (male 421,127; female 402,593)
15-64 years: 62% (male 819,956; female 828,176)
65 years and over: 7% (male 79,747; female 100,844) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.64% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 20.22 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 5.39 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -8.39 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 13.93 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.62 years
male: 73.22 years
female: 78.13 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.26 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Jamaican(s)
adjective: Jamaican
Ethnic groups: black 90.4%, East Indian 1.3%, white 0.2%, Chinese
0.2%, mixed 7.3%, other 0.6%
Religions: Protestant 61.3% (Church of God 21.2%, Baptist 8.8%,
Anglican 5.5%, Seventh-Day Adventist 9%, Pentecostal 7.6%, Methodist
2.7%, United Church 2.7%, Brethren 1.1%, Jehovah's Witness 1.6%,
Moravian 1.1%), Roman Catholic 4%, other, including some spiritual
cults 34.7%
Languages: English, Creole
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 85%
male: 80.8%
female: 89.1% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Jamaica
Data code: JM
Government type: parliamentary democracy
Capital: Kingston
Administrative divisions: 14 parishes; Clarendon, Hanover,
Kingston, Manchester, Portland, Saint Andrew, Saint Ann, Saint
Catherine, Saint Elizabeth, Saint James, Saint Mary, Saint Thomas,
Trelawny, Westmoreland
Independence: 6 August 1962 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day (first Monday in August) (1962)
Constitution: 6 August 1962
Legal system: based on English common law; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Governor General Sir Howard Felix COOKE (since 1
August 1991)
head of government: Prime Minister Percival James PATTERSON (since
30 March 1992) and Deputy Prime Minister Seymour MULLINGS (since NA
1993)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of
the prime minister
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general
appointed by the monarch on the recommendation of the prime
minister; prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the
governor general
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate
(a 21-member body appointed by the governor general on the
recommendations of the prime minister and the leader of the
opposition; ruling party 13 seats, opposition eight seats) and the
House of Representatives (60 seats; members are elected by popular
vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 18 December 1997 (next to be held by March 2002)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--PNP
50, JLP 10
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (judges appointed by the governor
general on the advice of the prime minister)
Political parties and leaders: People's National Party or PNP [P.
Political pressure groups and leaders: Rastafarians (black
religious/racial cultists, pan-Africanists); New Beginnings Movement
or NBM
International organization participation: ACP, C, Caricom, CCC,
CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-15, G-19, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU,
ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO,
Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS,
OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Richard Leighton BERNAL
chancery: 1520 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
consulate(s) general: Miami and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Stanley Louis MCLELLAND
embassy: Jamaica Mutual Life Center, 2 Oxford Road, 3rd floor,
Kingston
mailing address: use embassy street address
Flag description: diagonal yellow cross divides the flag into
four triangles--green (top and bottom) and black (hoist side and
outer side)
Economy
Economy--overview: Key sectors in this island economy are bauxite
(alumina and bauxite account for more than half of exports) and
tourism. Since assuming office in 1992, Prime Minister PATTERSON has
eliminated most price controls, streamlined tax schedules, and
privatized government enterprises. Continued tight monetary and
fiscal policies have helped slow inflation--although inflationary
pressures are mounting--and stabilize the exchange rate, but have
resulted in the slowdown of economic growth (moving from 1.5% in
1992 to 0.5% in 1995). In 1996, GDP showed negative growth (-1.4%)
and remained negative through 1998. Serious problems include: high
interest rates; increased foreign competition; the weak financial
condition of business in general resulting in receiverships or
closures and downsizings of companies; the shift in investment
portfolios to non-productive, short-term high yield instruments; a
pressured, sometimes sliding, exchange rate; a widening merchandise
trade deficit; and a growing internal debt for government bailouts
to various ailing sectors of the economy, particularly the financial
sector. Jamaica's medium-term prospects will depend upon encouraging
investment in the productive sectors, maintaining a competitive
exchange rate, stabilizing the labor environment, selling off
reacquired firms, and implementing proper fiscal and monetary
policies.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$8.8 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: -2% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$3,300 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 7.4%
industry: 42.1%
services: 50.5% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: 34.2% (1992 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.4%
highest 10%: 31.9% (1991)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 9.9% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 1.14 million (1996)
Labor force--by occupation: services 41%, agriculture 22.5%,
industry 19% (1989)
Unemployment rate: 16.5% (1997 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $2.27 billion
expenditures: $3.66 billion, including capital expenditures of
$1.265 billion (FY98/99 est.)
Industries: tourism, bauxite, textiles, food processing, light
manufactures
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: 6.125 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 97.96%
hydro: 2.04%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 6.125 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: sugarcane, bananas, coffee, citrus,
potatoes, vegetables; poultry, goats, milk
Exports: $1.7 billion (1997)
Exports--commodities: alumina, bauxite, sugar, bananas, rum
Exports--partners: US 33.3%, EU (excluding UK and Norway) 17.1%,
Canada 14.1%, UK 13.4%, Norway 6.1%, Caricom 3.4%
Imports: $2.8 billion (1997)
Imports--commodities: machinery and transport equipment,
construction materials, fuel, food, chemicals
Imports--partners: US 47.7%, EU (excluding UK) 12.8%, Caricom
10.2%, Latin America 6.7%, UK 3.7% (1997)
Debt--external: $4.2 billion (1997 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $102.7 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Jamaican dollar (J$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Jamaican dollars (J$) per US$1--35.57 (December
1998), 35.404 (1997), 37.120 (1996), 35.142 (1995), 33.086 (1994)
Fiscal year: 1 April--31 March
Communications
Telephones: 350,000 (1997 est.)
Telephone system: fully automatic domestic telephone network
domestic: NA
international: satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean);
3 coaxial submarine cables
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 7, shortwave 0 (1997)
Radios: 1.973 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 7 (1997)
Televisions: 330,000 (1992 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 370 km
standard gauge: 370 km 1.435-m gauge; note--207 km belong to the
Jamaica Railway Corporation in common carrier service, but are no
longer operational; the remaining track is privately owned and used
to transport bauxite
Highways:
total: 18,700 km
paved: 13,100 km
unpaved: 5,600 km (1997 est.)
Pipelines: petroleum products 10 km
Ports and harbors: Alligator Pond, Discovery Bay, Kingston,
Montego Bay, Ocho Rios, Port Antonio, Rocky Point, Port Esquivel
(Longswharf)
Merchant marine:
total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,478 GRT/5,878 DWT
ships by type: oil tanker 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1 (1998 est.)
Airports: 36 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 11
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 5 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 25
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 23 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Jamaica Defense Force (includes Ground Forces,
Coast Guard, and Air Wing), Jamaica Constabulary Force
Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 715,260 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 503,667 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 26,108 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $47.9 million (FY97/98 est.)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: NA%
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for cocaine from Central and
South America to North America and Europe; illicit cultivation of
cannabis; government has an active manual cannabis eradication
program
======================================================================
@Jan Mayen
---------
Geography
Location: Northern Europe, island between the Greenland Sea and
the Norwegian Sea, northeast of Iceland
Geographic coordinates: 71 00 N, 8 00 W
Map references: Arctic Region
Area:
total: 373 sq km
land: 373 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly more than twice the size of
Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 124.1 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 10 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 4 nm
Climate: arctic maritime with frequent storms and persistent fog
Terrain: volcanic island, partly covered by glaciers
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Norwegian Sea 0 m
highest point: Haakon VII Toppen/Beerenberg 2,277 m
Natural resources: none
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 100%
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1993)
Natural hazards: dominated by the volcano Haakon VII
Toppen/Beerenberg; volcanic activity resumed in 1970
Environment--current issues: NA
Environment--international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography--note: barren volcanic island with some moss and grass
People
Population: no indigenous inhabitants
note: there are personnel who operate the Long Range Navigation
(Loran) C base and the weather and coastal services radio station
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Jan Mayen
Data code: JN
Dependency status: territory of Norway; administered from Oslo
through a governor (sysselmann) resident in Longyearbyen (Svalbard);
however, authority has been delegated to a station commander of the
Norwegian Defense Communication Service
Legal system: NA
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (territory of Norway)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (territory of Norway)
Flag description: the flag of Norway is used
Economy
Economy--overview: Jan Mayen is a volcanic island with no
exploitable natural resources. Economic activity is limited to
providing services for employees of Norway's radio and
meteorological stations located on the island.
Communications
Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA
note: radio and meteorological station
Transportation
Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only
Airports: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military--note: defense is the responsibility of Norway
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
======================================================================
@Japan
-----
Geography
Location: Eastern Asia, island chain between the North Pacific
Ocean and the Sea of Japan, east of the Korean Peninsula
Geographic coordinates: 36 00 N, 138 00 E
Map references: Asia
Area:
total: 377,835 sq km
land: 374,744 sq km
water: 3,091 sq km
note: includes Bonin Islands (Ogasawara-gunto), Daito-shoto,
Minami-jima, Okino-tori-shima, Ryukyu Islands (Nansei-shoto), and
Volcano Islands (Kazan-retto)
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than California
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 29,751 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm; between 3 nm and 12 nm in the international
straits--La Perouse or Soya, Tsugaru, Osumi, and Eastern and Western
Channels of the Korea or Tsushima Strait
Climate: varies from tropical in south to cool temperate in north
Terrain: mostly rugged and mountainous
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Hachiro-gata -4 m
highest point: Fujiyama 3,776 m
Natural resources: negligible mineral resources, fish
Land use:
arable land: 11%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 2%
forests and woodland: 67%
other: 19% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 27,820 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: many dormant and some active volcanoes; about
1,500 seismic occurrences (mostly tremors) every year; tsunamis
Environment--current issues: air pollution from power plant
emissions results in acid rain; acidification of lakes and
reservoirs degrading water quality and threatening aquatic life;
Japan is one of the largest consumers of fish and tropical timber,
contributing to the depletion of these resources in Asia and
elsewhere
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty,
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertication, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine
Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography--note: strategic location in northeast Asia
People
Population: 126,182,077 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 15% (male 9,697,851; female 9,242,027)
15-64 years: 68% (male 43,405,024; female 43,023,885)
65 years and over: 17% (male 8,686,347; female 12,126,943) (1999
est.)
Population growth rate: 0.2% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 10.48 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 8.12 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.34 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 4.07 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 80.11 years
male: 77.02 years
female: 83.35 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.48 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Japanese (singular and plural)
adjective: Japanese
Ethnic groups: Japanese 99.4%, other 0.6% (mostly Korean)
Religions: observe both Shinto and Buddhist 84%, other 16%
(including Christian 0.7%)
Languages: Japanese
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99% (1970 est.)
male: NA%
female: NA%
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Japan
Data code: JA
Government type: constitutional monarchy
Capital: Tokyo
Administrative divisions: 47 prefectures; Aichi, Akita, Aomori,
Chiba, Ehime, Fukui, Fukuoka, Fukushima, Gifu, Gumma, Hiroshima,
Hokkaido, Hyogo, Ibaraki, Ishikawa, Iwate, Kagawa, Kagoshima,
Kanagawa, Kochi, Kumamoto, Kyoto, Mie, Miyagi, Miyazaki, Nagano,
Nagasaki, Nara, Niigata, Oita, Okayama, Okinawa, Osaka, Saga,
Saitama, Shiga, Shimane, Shizuoka, Tochigi, Tokushima, Tokyo,
Tottori, Toyama, Wakayama, Yamagata, Yamaguchi, Yamanashi
Independence: 660 BC (traditional founding by Emperor Jimmu)
National holiday: Birthday of the Emperor, 23 December (1933)
Constitution: 3 May 1947
Legal system: modeled after European civil law system with
English-American influence; judicial review of legislative acts in
the Supreme Court; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with
reservations
Suffrage: 20 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Emperor AKIHITO (since 7 January 1989)
head of government: Prime Minister Keizo OBUCHI (since 30 July 1998)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; the Diet designates the
prime minister; the constitution requires that the prime minister
must command a parliamentary majority, therefore, following
legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of
a majority coalition in the House of Representatives usually becomes
prime minister
Legislative branch: bicameral Diet or Kokkai consists of the
House of Councillors or Sangi-in (252 seats; one-half of the members
elected every three years--76 seats of which are elected from the 47
multi-seat prefectural districts and 50 of which are elected from a
single nationwide list with voters casting ballots by party; members
elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms) and the House of
Representatives or Shugi-in (500 seats--200 of which are elected from
11 regional blocks on a proportional representation basis and 300 of
which are elected from 300 single-seat districts; members elected by
popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: House of Councillors--last held 12 July 1998 (next to be
held NA July 2001); House of Representatives--last held 20 October
1996 (next to be held by October 2000)
election results: House of Councillors--percent of vote by party--NA;
seats by party--LDP 102, DPJ 47, JCP 23, Komeito 22, SDP 13, Liberal
Party 12, independents 26, others 7; note--the distribution of seats
as of January 1999 is as follows--LDP 104, DPJ 56, Komeito 24, JCP
23, SDP 14, Liberal Party 12, independents 5, others 14; House of
Representatives--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--LDP 240,
NFP 142, DPJ 52, JCP 26, SDP 15, Sun Party 10, others 15; note--the
distribution of seats as of January 1999 is as follows--LDP 266, DPJ
94, Komeito/Reform Club 52, Liberal Party 39, JCP 26, SDP 14,
independents 5, others 4
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, chief justice is appointed by the
monarch after designation by the cabinet, all other justices are
appointed by the cabinet
Political parties and leaders: Liberal Democratic Party or LDP
president, Hirohisa FUJII, secretary general]; Japan Communist Party
Katsuyuki ISHIDA, secretary general]
note: subsequent to the last legislative elections, the New Frontier
Party or NFP and the Sun Party disbanded; the DPJ was formed by
former members of the SDP and Sakigake and, in April 1998, was
joined by three additional parties which had formed after the NFP
disbanded; New Peace Party and Komei merged to form Komeito in
November 1998
International organization participation: AfDB, APEC, AsDB,
Australia Group, BIS, CCC, CE (observer), CERN (observer), CP, EBRD,
ESCAP, FAO, G- 5, G- 7, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU,
ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat,
Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MTCR, NEA, NSG, OAS
(observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UN Security Council
(temporary), UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNRWA,
UNU, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Kunihiko SAITO
chancery: 2520 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: Hagatna (Guam), Anchorage, Atlanta, Boston,
Chicago, Detroit, Honolulu, Houston, Kansas City (Missouri), Los
Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Portland (Oregon), San
Francisco, and Seattle
consulate(s): Saipan (Northern Mariana Islands)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas S. FOLEY
embassy: 10-5, Akasaka 1-chome, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-8420
mailing address: Unit 45004, Box 258, APO AP 96337-5004
consulate(s) general: Naha (Okinawa), Osaka-Kobe, Sapporo
consulate(s): Fukuoka, Nagoya
Flag description: white with a large red disk (representing the
sun without rays) in the center
Economy
Economy--overview: Government-industry cooperation, a strong work
ethic, mastery of high technology, and a comparatively small defense
allocation (1% of GDP) have helped Japan advance with extraordinary
rapidity to the rank of second most powerful economy in the world.
One notable characteristic of the economy is the working together of
manufacturers, suppliers, and distributors in closely knit groups
called keiretsu. A second basic feature has been the guarantee of
lifetime employment for a substantial portion of the urban labor
force; this guarantee is eroding. Industry, the most important
sector of the economy, is heavily dependent on imported raw
materials and fuels. The much smaller agricultural sector is highly
subsidized and protected, with crop yields among the highest in the
world. Usually self-sufficient in rice, Japan must import about 50%
of its requirements of other grain and fodder crops. Japan maintains
one of the world's largest fishing fleets and accounts for nearly
15% of the global catch. For three decades overall real economic
growth had been spectacular: a 10% average in the 1960s, a 5%
average in the 1970s, and a 4% average in the 1980s. Growth slowed
markedly in 1992-95 largely because of the aftereffects of
overinvestment during the late 1980s and contractionary domestic
policies intended to wring speculative excesses from the stock and
real estate markets. Growth picked up to 3.9% in 1996, largely a
reflection of stimulative fiscal and monetary policies as well as
low rates of inflation. But in 1997-98 Japan experienced a wrenching
recession, centered about financial difficulties in the banking
system and real estate markets and exacerbated by rigidities in
corporate structures and labor markets. In early 1999 output has
started to stabilize as emergency government spending begins to take
hold. The crowding of habitable land area and the aging of the
population are two major long-run problems.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$2.903 trillion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: -2.6% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$23,100 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 2%
industry: 38%
services: 60% (1997)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.9% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 67.72 million (November 1998)
Labor force--by occupation: trade and services 50%, manufacturing,
mining, and construction 33%, utilities and communication 7%,
agriculture, forestry, and fishing 6%, government 3% (1994)
Unemployment rate: 4.4% (November 1998)
Budget:
revenues: $407 billion
expenditures: $711 billion, including capital expenditures (public
works only) of about $86 billion (FY99/00 est.)
Industries: among world's largest and technologically advanced
producers of steel and nonferrous metallurgy, heavy electrical
equipment, construction and mining equipment, motor vehicles and
parts, electronic and telecommunication equipment, machine tools,
automated production systems, locomotives and railroad rolling
stock, ships, chemicals; textiles, processed foods
Industrial production growth rate: -6.9% (1998)
Electricity--production: 948.559 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 61.47%
hydro: 8.34%
nuclear: 29.83%
other: 0.36% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 948.559 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: rice, sugar beets, vegetables, fruit; pork,
poultry, dairy products, eggs; fish
Exports: $440 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports--commodities: manufactures 96% (including machinery 50%,
motor vehicles 19%, consumer electronics 3%)
Exports--partners: US 30%, EU 18%, Southeast Asia 12%, China 5%
Imports: $319 billion (c.i.f., 1998)
Imports--commodities: manufactures 54%, foodstuffs and raw
materials 28%, fossil fuels 16%
Imports--partners: US 24%, Southeast Asia 14%, EU 14%, China 13%
Debt--external: $NA
Economic aid--donor: ODA, $9.1 billion (1999)
Currency: yen (Y)
Exchange rates: yen (Y) per US$1--113.18 (January 1999), 130.91
(1998), 120.99 (1997), 108.78 (1996), 94.06 (1995), 102.21 (1994)
Fiscal year: 1 April--31 March
Communications
Telephones: 64 million (1987 est.)
Telephone system: excellent domestic and international service
domestic: NA
international: satellite earth stations--5 Intelsat (4 Pacific Ocean
and 1 Indian Ocean), 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean region), and 1
Inmarsat (Pacific and Indian Ocean regions); submarine cables to
China, Philippines, Russia, and US (via Guam)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 318, FM 58, shortwave 0
Radios: 97 million (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 7,549 (consisting of 6,995
non-government and non-commercial stations, of which 95 are main
stations of 1 kW or greater power and 6,900 are low-power stations,
and 554 commercial stations of which 113 are main stations and 441
are repeaters); note--in addition, US Forces are served by 3 TV
stations and 2 TV cable stations (1997)
Televisions: 100 million (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 23,670.7 km
standard gauge: 2,893.1 km 1.435-m gauge (entirely electrified)
narrow gauge: 89.8 km 1.372-m gauge (89.8 km electrified); 20,656.8
km 1.067-m gauge (10,383.6 km electrified); 31 km 0.762-m gauge (3.6
km electrified) (1994)
Highways:
total: 1.16 million km
paved: 859,560 km (including 6,070 km of expressways)
unpaved: 300,440 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: about 1,770 km; seagoing craft ply all coastal inland
seas
Pipelines: crude oil 84 km; petroleum products 322 km; natural
gas 1,800 km
Ports and harbors: Akita, Amagasaki, Chiba, Hachinohe, Hakodate,
Higashi-Harima, Himeji, Hiroshima, Kawasaki, Kinuura, Kobe, Kushiro,
Mizushima, Moji, Nagoya, Osaka, Sakai, Sakaide, Shimizu, Tokyo,
Tomakomai
Merchant marine:
total: 713 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 13,753,027
GRT/19,311,312 DWT
ships by type: bulk 159, cargo 54, chemical tanker 13, combination
bulk 16, combination ore/oil 4, container 27, liquefied gas tanker
40, oil tanker 232, passenger 10, passenger-cargo 2, refrigerated
cargo 27, roll-on/roll-off cargo 48, short-sea passenger 13, vehicle
carrier 68 (1998 est.)
Airports: 170 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 140
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 35
1,524 to 2,437 m: 39
914 to 1,523 m: 30
under 914 m: 31 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 30
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 28 (1998 est.)
Heliports: 14 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (Army), Japan
Maritime Self-Defense Force (Navy), Japan Air Self-Defense Force
(Air Force)
Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 30,646,516 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 26,438,961 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 784,658 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $42.9 billion (FY98/99)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 0.9% (FY98/99)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: islands of Etorofu, Kunashiri, Shikotan,
and the Habomai group occupied by the Soviet Union in 1945, now
administered by Russia, claimed by Japan; Liancourt Rocks
(Takeshima/Tokdo) disputed with South Korea; Senkaku-shoto (Senkaku
Islands) claimed by China and Taiwan
======================================================================
@Jarvis Island
-------------
Geography
Location: Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, about
one-half of the way from Hawaii to the Cook Islands
Geographic coordinates: 0 22 S, 160 03 W
Map references: Oceania
Area:
total: 4.5 sq km
land: 4.5 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: about eight times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 8 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun
Terrain: sandy, coral island surrounded by a narrow fringing reef
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 7 m
Natural resources: guano (deposits worked until late 1800s)
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 100%
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1998)
Natural hazards: the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island
can be a maritime hazard
Environment--current issues: no natural fresh water resources
Environment--international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography--note: sparse bunch grass, prostrate vines, and
low-growing shrubs; primarily a nesting, roosting, and foraging
habitat for seabirds, shorebirds, and marine wildlife
People
Population: uninhabited
note: Millersville settlement on western side of island occasionally
used as a weather station from 1935 until World War II, when it was
abandoned; reoccupied in 1957 during the International Geophysical
Year by scientists who left in 1958; public entry is by special-use
permit from US Fish and Wildlife Service only and generally
restricted to scientists and educators; visited annually by US Fish
and Wildlife Service
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Jarvis Island
Data code: DQ
Dependency status: unincorporated territory of the US;
administered from Washington, DC by the Fish and Wildlife Service of
the US Department of the Interior as part of the National Wildlife
Refuge system
Legal system: NA
Flag description: the flag of the US is used
Economy
Economy--overview: no economic activity
Transportation
Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only; note--there is
one boat landing area in the middle of the west coast and another
near the southwest corner of the island
Transportation--note: there is a day beacon near the middle of the
west coast
Military
Military--note: defense is the responsibility of the US; visited
annually by the US Coast Guard
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
======================================================================
@Jersey
------
Geography
Location: Western Europe, island in the English Channel,
northwest of France
Geographic coordinates: 49 15 N, 2 10 W
Map references: Europe
Area:
total: 116 sq km
land: 116 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: about 0.7 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 70 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm
territorial sea: 3 nm
Climate: temperate; mild winters and cool summers
Terrain: gently rolling plain with low, rugged hills along north
coast
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 143 m
Natural resources: agricultural land
Land use:
arable land: 66%
permanent crops: NA%
permanent pastures: NA%
forests and woodland: NA%
other: 34%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: NA
Environment--current issues: NA
Environment--international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography--note: largest and southernmost of Channel Islands;
about 30% of population concentrated in Saint Helier
People
Population: 89,721 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 18% (male 8,308; female 7,663)
15-64 years: 68% (male 30,168; female 30,754)
65 years and over: 14% (male 5,348; female 7,480) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.63% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 11.85 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 9.08 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 3.49 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.11 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 2.76 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.83 years
male: 76.08 years
female: 81.87 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.5 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Channel Islander(s)
adjective: Channel Islander
Ethnic groups: UK and Norman-French descent
Religions: Anglican, Roman Catholic, Baptist, Congregational New
Church, Methodist, Presbyterian
Languages: English (official), French (official), Norman-French
dialect spoken in country districts
Literacy: NA
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Bailiwick of Jersey
conventional short form: Jersey
Data code: JE
Dependency status: British crown dependency
Government type: NA
Capital: Saint Helier
Administrative divisions: none (British crown dependency)
Independence: none (British crown dependency)
National holiday: Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)
Constitution: unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and
practice
Legal system: English law and local statute
Suffrage: NA years of age; universal adult
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
head of government: Lieutenant Governor and Commander in Chief Sir
Michael WILKES (since NA 1995) and Bailiff Philip Martin BAILHACHE
(since NA 1995)
cabinet: committees appointed by the Assembly of the States
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; lieutenant governor and
bailiff appointed by the monarch
Legislative branch: unicameral Assembly of the States (57
seats--53 elected including 12 senators popularly elected for
six-year terms, half retiring every third year, 12 constables
popularly elected triennially, and 29 deputies popularly elected
triennially)
elections: last held NA (next to be held NA)
election results: percent of vote--NA; seats--independents 52
Judicial branch: Royal Court, judges elected by an electoral
college and the bailiff
Political parties and leaders: none; all independents
International organization participation: none
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (British crown
dependency)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (British crown
dependency)
Flag description: white with the diagonal red cross of Saint
Patrick (patron saint of Ireland) extending to the corners of the
flag
Economy
Economy--overview: The economy is based largely on financial
services, agriculture, and tourism. Potatoes, cauliflower, tomatoes,
and especially flowers are important export crops, shipped mostly to
the UK. The Jersey breed of dairy cattle is known worldwide and
represents an important export earner. Milk products go to the UK
and other EU countries. In 1996 the finance sector accounted for
about 60% of the island's output. Tourism, another mainstay of the
economy, accounts for 24% of GDP. In recent years, the government
has encouraged light industry to locate in Jersey, with the result
that an electronics industry has developed alongside the traditional
manufacturing of knitwear. All raw material and energy requirements
are imported, as well as a large share of Jersey's food needs. Light
tax and death duties make the island a popular tax haven.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$NA
GDP--real growth rate: NA%
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$NA
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 5%
industry: 2%
services: 93% (1995)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.7% (1996)
Labor force: 57,050 (1996)
Unemployment rate: 0.7% (1996)
Budget:
revenues: $666.9 million
expenditures: $618.5 million, including capital expenditures of
$128.4 million (1996 est.)
Industries: tourism, banking and finance, dairy
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: NA kWh
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: NA%
hydro: NA%
nuclear: NA%
other: NA%
Electricity--consumption: 467 million kWh (1995)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh
Electricity--imports: NA kWh; note?much electricity supplied by
France
Agriculture--products: potatoes, cauliflowers, tomatoes; beef,
dairy products
Exports: $NA
Exports--commodities: light industrial and electrical goods,
foodstuffs, textiles
Exports--partners: UK
Imports: $NA
Imports--commodities: machinery and transport equipment,
manufactured goods, foodstuffs, mineral fuels, chemicals
Imports--partners: UK
Debt--external: none
Economic aid--recipient: none
Currency: 1 Jersey pound (LJ) = 100 pence
Exchange rates: Jersey pounds (LJ) per US$1--0.6057 (January
1999), 0.6037 (1998), 0.6106 (1997), 0.6403 (1996), 0.6335 (1995),
0.6529 (1994); the Jersey pound is at par with the British pound
Fiscal year: 1 April--31 March
Communications
Telephones: 61,447 (1983 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: NA
international: 3 submarine cables
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1997)
Televisions: NA
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 577 km (1995)
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km
Ports and harbors: Gorey, Saint Aubin, Saint Helier
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military--note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
======================================================================
@Johnston Atoll
--------------
Geography
Location: Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about
one-third of the way from Hawaii to the Marshall Islands
Geographic coordinates: 16 45 N, 169 30 W
Map references: Oceania
Area:
total: 2.8 sq km
land: 2.8 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: about 4.7 times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 10 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical, but generally dry; consistent northeast trade
winds with little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain: mostly flat
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Summit Peak 5 m
Natural resources: NA; guano deposits worked until depletion
about 1890
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 100%
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1998)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment--current issues: no natural fresh water resources
Environment--international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography--note: strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean;
Johnston Island and Sand Island are natural islands, which have been
expanded by coral dredging; North Island (Akau) and East Island
(Hikina) are manmade islands formed from coral dredging; closed to
the public; former US nuclear weapons test site; site of Johnston
Atoll Chemical Agent Disposal System (JACADS); some low-growing
vegetation
People
Population: no indigenous inhabitants
note: there are 1,200 US military and civilian contractor personnel
(January 1999 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Johnston Atoll
Data code: JQ
Dependency status: unincorporated territory of the US;
administered from Washington, DC, by the US Defense Threat Reduction
Agency (DTRA) and managed cooperatively by DTRA and the Fish and
Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior as part of the
National Wildlife Refuge system
Legal system: NA
Flag description: the flag of the US is used
Economy
Economy--overview: Economic activity is limited to providing
services to US military personnel and contractors located on the
island. All food and manufactured goods must be imported.
Electricity--production: NAkWh
note: there are six 25,000 kWh generators supplied by the base
operating support contractor
Electricity--consumption: NAkWh
Communications
Telephone system: 13 outgoing and 10 incoming commercial lines;
adequate telecommunications
domestic: 60-channel submarine cable, 22 DSN circuits by satellite,
Autodin with standard remote terminal, digital telephone switch,
Military Affiliated Radio System (MARS station), UHF/VHF air-ground
radio, a link to the Pacific Consolidated Telecommunications Network
(PCTN) satellite
international: NA
Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM 5 channels; also 1 local
volunteer FM radio station;, shortwave NA;
Television broadcast stations: commercial satellite television
system, with 16 channels (1997)
Transportation
Ports and harbors: Johnston Island
Airports: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military--note: defense is the responsibility of the US
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
======================================================================
@Jordan
------
Geography
Location: Middle East, northwest of Saudi Arabia
Geographic coordinates: 31 00 N, 36 00 E
Map references: Middle East
Area:
total: 89,213 sq km
land: 88,884 sq km
water: 329 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than Indiana
Land boundaries:
total: 1,619 km
border countries: Iraq 181 km, Israel 238 km, Saudi Arabia 728 km,
Syria 375 km, West Bank 97 km
Coastline: 26 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 3 nm
Climate: mostly arid desert; rainy season in west (November to
April)
Terrain: mostly desert plateau in east, highland area in west;
Great Rift Valley separates East and West Banks of the Jordan River
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Dead Sea -408 m
highest point: Jabal Ram 1,754 m
Natural resources: phosphates, potash, shale oil
Land use:
arable land: 4%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 9%
forests and woodland: 1%
other: 85% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 630 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment--current issues: limited natural fresh water
resources; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear
Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
People
Population: 4,561,147 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 43% (male 1,005,211; female 954,968)
15-64 years: 54% (male 1,265,116; female 1,200,372)
65 years and over: 3% (male 67,852; female 67,628) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.05% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 34.31 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 3.85 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 32.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 73.06 years
male: 71.15 years
female: 75.08 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.64 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Jordanian(s)
adjective: Jordanian
Ethnic groups: Arab 98%, Circassian 1%, Armenian 1%
Religions: Sunni Muslim 96%, Christian 4% (1997 est.)
Languages: Arabic (official), English widely understood among
upper and middle classes
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 86.6%
male: 93.4%
female: 79.4% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
conventional short form: Jordan
local long form: Al Mamlakah al Urduniyah al Hashimiyah
local short form: Al Urdun
former: Transjordan
Data code: JO
Government type: constitutional monarchy
Capital: Amman
Administrative divisions: 12 governorates (muhafazat,
singular--muhafazah); Ajlun, Al 'Aqabah, Al Balqa', Al Karak, Al
Mafraq, 'Amman, At Tafilah, Az Zarqa', Irbid, Jarash, Ma'an, Madaba
Independence: 25 May 1946 (from League of Nations mandate under
British administration)
National holiday: Independence Day, 25 May (1946)
Constitution: 8 January 1952
Legal system: based on Islamic law and French codes; judicial
review of legislative acts in a specially provided High Tribunal;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 20 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: King ABDULLAH II (since 7 February 1999)
head of government: Prime Minister Fayez TARAWNEH (since 20 August
1998)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister in consultation
with the monarch
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister appointed
by the monarch
Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly or Majlis
al-'Umma consists of the Senate (a 40-member body appointed by the
monarch from designated categories of public figures; members serve
four-year terms) and the House of Representatives (80 seats; members
elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation
to serve four-year terms)
elections: House of Representatives--last held 4 November 1997 (next
to be held NA November 2001)
election results: House of Representatives--percent of vote by
party--NA; seats by party--National Constitutional Party 2, Arab Land
Party 1, independents 75, other 2
note: the House of Representatives has been convened and dissolved
by the monarch several times since 1974; in November 1989 the first
parliamentary elections in 22 years were held
Judicial branch: Court of Cassation
Political parties and leaders: Al-Ahrar (Freedom) Party [Dr.
Ahmad ZO'BI, secretary general]; Arab Ba'th Progressive Party
Ishaq al-FARHAN, secretary general]; Jordanian Arab Constitutional
MAJALI, secretary general]; National Democratic Public Movement
HNEIDI, secretary general]
International organization participation: ABEDA, ACC, AFESD, AL,
AMF, CAEU, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU,
ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol,
IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, MONUA, NAM, OIC,
OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIBH, UNMOP, UNMOT, UNOMIG,
UNPREDEP, UNRWA, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Marwan Jamil MUASHIR
chancery: 3504 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador William BURNS
embassy: Jabel Amman, Amman
mailing address: P. O. Box 354, Amman 11118 Jordan; APO AE 09892-0200
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of black (top),
white, and green with a red isosceles triangle based on the hoist
side bearing a small white seven-pointed star; the seven points on
the star represent the seven fundamental laws of the Koran
Economy
Economy--overview: Jordan is a small Arab country with inadequate
supplies of water and other natural resources such as oil and coal.
Jordan benefited from increased Arab aid during the oil boom of the
late 1970s and early 1980s, when its annual real GNP growth averaged
more than 10%. In the remainder of the 1980s, however, reductions in
both Arab aid and worker remittances slowed real economic growth to
an average of roughly 2% per year. Imports--mainly oil, capital
goods, consumer durables, and food--outstripped exports, with the
difference covered by aid, remittances, and borrowing. In mid-1989,
the Jordanian Government began debt-rescheduling negotiations and
agreed to implement an IMF-supported program designed to gradually
reduce the budget deficit and implement badly needed structural
reforms. The Persian Gulf crisis that began in August 1990, however,
aggravated Jordan's already serious economic problems, forcing the
government to shelve the IMF program, stop most debt payments, and
suspend rescheduling negotiations. Aid from Gulf Arab states, worker
remittances, and trade contracted; and refugees flooded the country,
producing serious balance-of-payments problems, stunting GDP growth,
and straining government resources. The economy rebounded in 1992,
largely due to the influx of capital repatriated by workers
returning from the Gulf, but recovery was uneven. A preliminary
agreement with the IMF in early 1999 will provide new loans over the
next three years. Sluggish growth, along with debt, poverty, and
unemployment are fundamental ongoing economic problems.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$15.5 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 2.2% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$3,500 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 6%
industry: 30%
services: 64% (1995 est.)
Population below poverty line: 30% (1998 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.4%
highest 10%: 34.7% (1991)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 1.15 million
note: in addition, there are 300,000 foreign workers (1997 est.)
Labor force--by occupation: industry 11.4%, commerce, restaurants,
and hotels 10.5%, construction 10%, transport and communications
8.7%, agriculture 7.4%, other services 52% (1992)
Unemployment rate: 15% official rate; note--actual rate is 25%-30%
(1998 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $2.8 billion
expenditures: $3 billion, including capital expenditures of $672
million (1999 est.)
Industries: phosphate mining, petroleum refining, cement, potash,
light manufacturing
Industrial production growth rate: -3.4% (1996)
Electricity--production: 5.52 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 99.64%
hydro: 0.36%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 5.52 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: wheat, barley, citrus, tomatoes, melons,
olives; sheep, goats, poultry
Exports: $1.5 billion (f.o.b., 1997 est.)
Exports--commodities: phosphates, fertilizers, potash,
agricultural products, manufactures
Exports--partners: Iraq, India, Saudi Arabia, EU, Indonesia, UAE,
Syria, Ethiopia
Imports: $3.9 billion (c.i.f., 1997 est.)
Imports--commodities: crude oil, machinery, transport equipment,
food, live animals, manufactured goods
Imports--partners: EU, Iraq, US, Japan, Turkey, Malaysia, Syria,
China
Debt--external: $7.5 billion (1998 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $1.097 billion (1995); note?received $320
million from ODA in 1998 (est.)
Currency: 1 Jordanian dinar (JD) = 1,000 fils
Exchange rates: Jordanian dinars (JD) per US$1--0.7090 (January
1999-1996), 0.7005 (1995), 0.6987 (1994), 0.6928 (1993)
note: since May 1989, the dinar has been pegged to a basket of
currencies
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 425,000 (1998)
Telephone system:
domestic: microwave radio relay, coaxial and fiber-optic cable, and
cellular; Jordan has two cellular telephone providers (with
approximately 50,000 subscribers in 1998), ten data service
providers, and four Internet service providers (with approximately
8,000 subscribers in 1998)
international: satellite earth stations--3 Intelsat, 1 Arabsat, and
29 land and maritime Inmarsat terminals (1996); coaxial cable,
fiber-optic cable, and microwave radio relay to Iraq, Saudi Arabia,
Syria, and Israel; building a Red Sea Fiber-Optic Link Around the
Globe (FLAG) fiber-optic submarine cable link and planning to update
links with Saudi Arabia and Israel to fiber-optic cable; 4,000
international circuits (1998 est.); participant in Medarabtel
Radio broadcast stations: AM 6, FM 7, shortwave 1 (1998 est.)
Radios: 1.1 million (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 8 (in addition, there are
approximately 42 repeaters and 1 TV receive-only satellite link)
(1997)
Televisions: 350,000 (1992 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 677 km
narrow gauge: 677 km 1.050-m gauge; note--an additional 110 km
stretch of the old Hejaz railroad is out of use (1998 est.)
Highways:
total: 8,000 km
paved: 8,000 km
unpaved: 0 km (1998 est.)
Pipelines: crude oil 209 km
Ports and harbors: Al 'Aqabah
Merchant marine:
total: 7 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 42,746 GRT/59,100 DWT
ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 2, container 1, livestock carrier 1,
roll-on/roll-off cargo 1 (1998 est.)
Airports: 17 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 14
over 3,047 m: 9
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF; includes Royal
Jordanian Land Force, Royal Naval Force, and Royal Jordanian Air
Force); Badiya (irregular) Border Guards; Ministry of the Interior's
Public Security Force (falls under JAF only in wartime or crisis
situations)
Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 1,113,998 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 793,002 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 49,954 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $608.9 million (FY 98)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 7.8% (1997)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
======================================================================
@Juan de Nova Island
-------------------
Geography
Location: Southern Africa, island in the Mozambique Channel,
about one-third of the way between Madagascar and Mozambique
Geographic coordinates: 17 03 S, 42 45 E
Map references: Africa
Area:
total: 4.4 sq km
land: 4.4 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: about seven times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 24.1 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 12 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to depth the of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical
Terrain: NA
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 10 m
Natural resources: guano deposits and other fertilizers
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 90%
other: 10%
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1993)
Natural hazards: periodic cyclones
Environment--current issues: NA
Environment--international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography--note: wildlife sanctuary
People
Population: uninhabited
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Juan de Nova Island
local long form: none
local short form: Ile Juan de Nova
Data code: JU
Dependency status: possession of France; administered by a high
commissioner of the Republic, resident in Reunion
Legal system: NA
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (possession of France)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (possession of France)
Flag description: the flag of France is used
Economy
Economy--overview: no economic activity
Transportation
Railways:
total: NA km; short line going to a jetty
Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only
Airports: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military--note: defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: claimed by Madagascar
======================================================================
@Kazakhstan
----------
Introduction
Background: As a republic within the USSR (1920-91), Kazakhstan
suffered greatly from Stalinist purges, from environmental damage,
and saw the ethnic Russian portion of its population rise to 37%
while other non-Kazakhs made up almost 20%. Current issues include
the pace of market reform and privatization; fair and free elections
and democratic reform; ethnic differences between Russians and
Kazakhs; environmental problems; and how to convert the country's
abundant energy resources into a better standard of living.
Geography
Location: Central Asia, northwest of China
Geographic coordinates: 48 00 N, 68 00 E
Map references: Commonwealth of Independent States
Area:
total: 2,717,300 sq km
land: 2,669,800 sq km
water: 47,500 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly less than four times the size of Texas
Land boundaries:
total: 12,012 km
border countries: China 1,533 km, Kyrgyzstan 1,051 km, Russia 6,846
km, Turkmenistan 379 km, Uzbekistan 2,203 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
note: Kazakhstan borders the Aral Sea, now split into two bodies of
water (1,070 km), and the Caspian Sea (1,894 km)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: continental, cold winters and hot summers, arid and
semiarid
Terrain: extends from the Volga to the Altai Mountains and from
the plains in western Siberia to oases and desert in Central Asia
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Vpadina Kaundy -132 m
highest point: Zhengis Shingy (Pik Khan-Tengri) 6,995 m
Natural resources: major deposits of petroleum, natural gas,
coal, iron ore, manganese, chrome ore, nickel, cobalt, copper,
molybdenum, lead, zinc, bauxite, gold, uranium
Land use:
arable land: 12%
permanent crops: 11%
permanent pastures: 57%
forests and woodland: 4%
other: 16% (1996 est.)
Irrigated land: 22,000 sq km (1996 est.)
Natural hazards: earthquakes in the south, mudslides around Almaty
Environment--current issues: radioactive or toxic chemical sites
associated with its former defense industries and test ranges are
found throughout the country and pose health risks for humans and
animals; industrial pollution is severe in some cities; because the
two main rivers which flowed into the Aral Sea have been diverted
for irrigation, it is drying up and leaving behind a harmful layer
of chemical pesticides and natural salts; these substances are then
picked up by the wind and blown into noxious dust storms; pollution
in the Caspian Sea; soil pollution from overuse of agricultural
chemicals and salination from faulty irrigation practices
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography--note: landlocked
People
Population: 16,824,825 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 28% (male 2,432,519; female 2,359,375)
15-64 years: 65% (male 5,279,877; female 5,580,271)
65 years and over: 7% (male 392,934; female 779,849) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: -0.09% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 17.16 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 10.34 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -7.73 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.5 male(s)/female
total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 58.82 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 63.39 years
male: 57.92 years
female: 69.13 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.09 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Kazakhstani(s)
adjective: Kazakhstani
Ethnic groups: Kazakh (Qazaq) 46%, Russian 34.7%, Ukrainian 4.9%,
German 3.1%, Uzbek 2.3%, Tatar 1.9%, other 7.1% (1996)
Religions: Muslim 47%, Russian Orthodox 44%, Protestant 2%, other
7%
Languages: Kazakh (Qazaq) (state language) 40%, Russian
(official, used in everyday business) 66%
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98%
male: 99%
female: 96% (1989 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Kazakhstan
conventional short form: Kazakhstan
local long form: Qazaqstan Respublikasy
local short form: none
former: Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic
Data code: KZ
Government type: republic
Capital: Astana
note: the government moved from Almaty to Astana in December 1998
Administrative divisions: 14 oblystar (singular--oblysy) and 3
cities (qala, singular--qalasy)*; Almaty, Almaty*, Aqmola (Astana),
Aqtobe, Astana*, Atyrau, Batys Qazaqstan (Oral), Bayqongyr*,
Mangghystau (Aqtau; formerly Gur'yev), Ongtustik Qazaqstan
(Shymkent), Pavlodar, Qaraghandy, Qostanay, Qyzylorda, Shyghys
Qazaqstan (Oskemen; formerly Ust'-Kamenogorsk), Soltustik Qazaqstan
(Petropavl), Zhambyl (Taraz; formerly Dzhambul)
note: administrative divisions have the same names as their
administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center
name following in parentheses); in 1995 the Governments of
Kazakhstan and Russia entered into an agreement whereby Russia would
lease for a period of 20 years an area of 6,000 sq km enclosing the
Bayqongyr (Baykonur) space launch facilities and the city of
Bayqongyr (formerly Leninsk)
Independence: 16 December 1991 (from the Soviet Union)
National holiday: Day of the Republic, 25 October (1990) (date on
which Kazakhstan declared its sovereignty)
Constitution: adopted by national referendum 30 August 1995;
first post-independence constitution was adopted 28 January 1993
Legal system: based on civil law system
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Nursultan A. NAZARBAYEV (chairman of the
Supreme Soviet from 22 February 1990-91, president since 1 December
1991)
head of government: Prime Minister Nurlan BALGIMBAYEV (since 10
October 1997) and First Deputy Prime Minister Uraz ZHANDOSOV (since
20 February 1998)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term;
election last held 10 January 1999, a year before it was previously
scheduled (next to be held NA 2006); note--President NAZARBAYEV's
previous term had been extended to 2000 by a nationwide referendum
held 30 April 1995; prime minister and first deputy prime minister
appointed by the president
election results: Nursultan A. NAZARBAYEV elected president; percent
of vote--Nursultan NAZARBAYEV 82%, Serikbolsyn ABDILDIN 12%
note: President NAZARBAYEV expanded his presidential powers by
decree: only he can initiate constitutional amendments, appoint and
dismiss the government, dissolve Parliament, call referenda at his
discretion, and appoint administrative heads of regions and cities
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate
(47 seats; 7 senators are appointed by the president; other members
are popularly elected, two from each oblast and Almaty, to serve
four-year terms) and the Majilis (67 seats; members are popularly
elected to serve four-year terms); note--with the oblasts being
reduced to 14, the Senate will eventually be reduced to 37
elections: Senate--(indirect) last held 5 December 1995 (next to be
held NA 1999); Majilis--last held 9 December and 23 December 1995
(next to be held NA 1999)
election results: Senate--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by
party--party members 13, no party affiliation 34, of which
"independent" state officials 25, nominated by the president 7,
elected by popular vote 15; Majilis--percent of vote by party--NA;
seats by party--PUP 24, December National Democratic Party 12,
Kazakhstan Agrarian Union 5, Confederation of Kazakh Trade Unions 5,
KPK 2, independents and others 19
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (44 members); Constitutional
Council (7 members)
Political parties and leaders: People's Unity Party or PUP (was
Political pressure groups and leaders: Independent Trade Union
chairman]
International organization participation: AsDB, CCC, CIS, EAPC,
EBRD, ECE, ECO, ESCAP, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, ILO, IMF,
IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, OAS (observer),
OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WToO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Bolat K. NURGALIYEV
chancery: 1401 16th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036
consulate(s): New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Richard H. JONES
embassy: 99/97A Furmanova Street, Almaty, Republic of Kazakhstan
480091
mailing address: American Embassy Almaty, Department of State,
Washington, DC 20521-7030
Flag description: sky blue background representing the endless
sky and a gold sun with 32 rays soaring above a golden steppe eagle
in the center; on the hoist side is a "national ornamentation" in
yellow
Economy
Economy--overview: Kazakhstan, the second largest of the former
Soviet republics in territory, possesses enormous untapped fossil
fuel reserves as well as plentiful supplies of other minerals and
metals. It also has considerable agricultural potential with its
vast steppe lands accommodating both livestock and grain production.
Kazakhstan's industrial sector rests on the extraction and
processing of these natural resources and also on a relatively large
machine building sector specializing in construction equipment,
tractors, agricultural machinery, and some defense items. The
breakup of the USSR and the collapse of demand for Kazakhstan's
traditional heavy industry products have resulted in a sharp
contraction of the economy since 1991, with the steepest annual
decline occurring in 1994. In 1995-97 the pace of the government
program of economic reform and privatization quickened, resulting in
a substantial shifting of assets into the private sector. The
December 1996 signing of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium agreement
to build a new pipeline from western Kazakhstan's Tengiz oil field
to the Black Sea increases prospects for substantially larger oil
exports in several years. Kazakhstan's economy turned downward in
1998 with a 2.5% decline in GDP growth due to slumping oil prices
and the August financial crisis in Russia. 1999 will also be a
difficult year.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$52.9 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: -2.5% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$3,100 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 11.5%
industry: 32.6%
services: 55.9% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.1%
highest 10%: 24.9% (1993)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 10% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 8.8 million (1997)
Labor force--by occupation: industry 27%, agriculture and forestry
23%, other 50% (1996)
Unemployment rate: 13.7% (1998 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $2.9 billion
expenditures: $4.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1998 est.)
Industries: oil, coal, iron ore, manganese, chromite, lead, zinc,
copper, titanium, bauxite, gold, silver, phosphates, sulfur, iron
and steel, nonferrous metal, tractors and other agricultural
machinery, electric motors, construction materials; much of
industrial capacity is shut down and/or is in need of repair
Industrial production growth rate: -2.1% (1998 est.)
Electricity--production: 52 billion kWh (1997)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 86.3%
hydro: 13.6%
nuclear: 0.1%
other: 0% (1997)
Electricity--consumption: 64.34 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 1.75 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 8.5 billion kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: grain (mostly spring wheat), cotton; wool,
livestock
Exports: $6.3 billion (1998 est.)
Exports--commodities: oil, ferrous and nonferrous metals,
chemicals, grain, wool, meat, coal
Exports--partners: Russia, UK, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Netherlands,
China, Italy, Germany (1997)
Imports: $7.4 billion (1998 est.)
Imports--commodities: machinery and parts, industrial materials,
oil and gas, consumer goods
Imports--partners: Russia, Ukraine, US, Uzbekistan, Turkey, UK,
Germany, South Korea (1997)
Debt--external: $3.1 billion (1998 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $409.6 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Kazakhstani tenge = 100 tiyn
Exchange rates: tenges per US$1--85.2 (February 1999), 78.30
(1998), 75.44 (1997), 67.30 (1996), 60.95 (1995), 35.54 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 2 million (1997)
Telephone system: service is poor
domestic: landline and microwave radio relay; AMPS standard cellular
systems are available in most of Kazakhstan
international: international traffic with other former Soviet
republics and China carried by landline and microwave radio relay
and with other countries by satellite and through 8 international
telecommunications circuits at the Moscow international gateway
switch; satellite earth stations--1 Intelsat and a new digital
satellite earth station established at Almaty; a third satellite
earth station at Atyrau provides teleconnectivity to the AT&T
network via Intelsat; cable connected by the Trans-Asia-Europe
Fiber-Optic Line
Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA
Radios: 4.088 million (with multiple speakers for program
diffusion 6.082 million)
Television broadcast stations: 20 (of which at least eight are
government stations and at least 12 are private stations--seven of
those are satellite TV relay stations) (1997)
Televisions: 4.75 million
Transportation
Railways:
total: 14,400 km in common carrier service; does not include
industrial lines
broad gauge: 14,400 km 1.520-m gauge (3,299 km electrified) (1997)
Highways:
total: 141,000 km
paved: 104,200 km
unpaved: 36,800 km (1997 est.)
Waterways: 3,900 km on the Syrdariya (Syr Darya) and Ertis
(Irtysh)
Pipelines: crude oil 2,850 km; refined products 1,500 km; natural
gas 3,480 km (1992)
Ports and harbors: Aqtau (Shevchenko), Atyrau (Gur'yev), Oskemen
(Ust-Kamenogorsk), Pavlodar, Semey (Semipalatinsk)
Airports: 10 (1997 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 9
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (1997 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1997 est.)
Military
Military branches: General Purpose Forces (Army), Air Force,
Border Guards, Navy, Republican Guard
Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 4,450,258 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 3,550,645 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 155,767 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $232.4 million (1998)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 1% (1998)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: Caspian Sea boundaries are not yet
determined among Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia, and
Turkmenistan; Russia leases approximately 6,000 sq km of territory
enclosing the Baykonur Cosmodrome
Illicit drugs: significant illicit cultivation of cannabis and
limited cultivation of opium poppy and ephedra (for the drug
ephedrone); limited government eradication program; cannabis
consumed largely in the CIS; used as transshipment point for illicit
drugs to Russia, North America, and Western Europe from Southwest
Asia
======================================================================
@Kenya
-----
Geography
Location: Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between
Somalia and Tanzania
Geographic coordinates: 1 00 N, 38 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area:
total: 582,650 sq km
land: 569,250 sq km
water: 13,400 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly more than twice the size of Nevada
Land boundaries:
total: 3,446 km
border countries: Ethiopia 830 km, Somalia 682 km, Sudan 232 km,
Tanzania 769 km, Uganda 933 km
Coastline: 536 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: varies from tropical along coast to arid in interior
Terrain: low plains rise to central highlands bisected by Great
Rift Valley; fertile plateau in west
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Kenya 5,199 m
Natural resources: gold, limestone, soda ash, salt barites,
rubies, fluorspar, garnets, wildlife
Land use:
arable land: 7%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 37%
forests and woodland: 30%
other: 25% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 660 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: recurring drought in northern and eastern
regions; flooding during rainy seasons
Environment--current issues: water pollution from urban and
industrial wastes; degradation of water quality from increased use
of pesticides and fertilizers; deforestation; soil erosion;
desertification; poaching
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation,
Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands,
Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography--note: the Kenyan Highlands comprise one of the most
successful agricultural production regions in Africa; glaciers on
Mt. Kenya; unique physiography supports abundant and varied wildlife
of scientific and economic value
People
Population: 28,808,658 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 43% (male 6,244,321; female 6,104,181)
15-64 years: 54% (male 7,845,083; female 7,826,442)
65 years and over: 3% (male 343,449; female 445,182) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.59% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 30.8 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 14.58 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.34 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 59.07 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 47.02 years
male: 46.56 years
female: 47.49 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.88 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Kenyan(s)
adjective: Kenyan
Ethnic groups: Kikuyu 22%, Luhya 14%, Luo 13%, Kalenjin 12%,
Kamba 11%, Kisii 6%, Meru 6%, other African 15%, non-African (Asian,
European, and Arab) 1%
Religions: Protestant 38%, Roman Catholic 28%, indigenous beliefs
26%, Muslim 7%, other 1%
Languages: English (official), Swahili (official), numerous
indigenous languages
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 78.1%
male: 86.3%
female: 70% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Kenya
conventional short form: Kenya
former: British East Africa
Data code: KE
Government type: republic
Capital: Nairobi
Administrative divisions: 7 provinces and 1 area*; Central,
Coast, Eastern, Nairobi Area*, North Eastern, Nyanza, Rift Valley,
Western
Independence: 12 December 1963 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 12 December (1963)
Constitution: 12 December 1963, amended as a republic 1964;
reissued with amendments 1979, 1983, 1986, 1988, 1991, 1992, and 1997
Legal system: based on English common law, tribal law, and
Islamic law; judicial review in High Court; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction, with reservations; constitutional amendment of 1982
making Kenya a de jure one-party state repealed in 1991
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Daniel Toroitich arap MOI (since 14
October 1978); note--the president is both the chief of state and
head of government
head of government: President Daniel Toroitich arap MOI (since 14
October 1978); note--the president is both the chief of state and
head of government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote from among the members
of the National Assembly for a five-year term; election last held 29
December 1997 (next to be held by early 2003); vice president
appointed by the president
election results: President Daniel T. arap MOI reelected; percent of
vote--Daniel T. arap MOI (KANU) 40.12%, Mwai KIBAKI (DP) 31.09%,
Raila ODINGA (NDP) 10.2%, Michael WAMALWA (FORD-Kenya) 8.29%,
Charity NGILU (SDP) 7.71%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Bunge (222
seats, 12 appointed by the president, 210 members elected by popular
vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 29 December 1997 (next to be held between 1
December 2002 and 30 April 2003)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--KANU
107, FORD-A 1, FORD-K 17, FORD-People 3, DP 39, NDP 21, SDP 15,
SAFINA 5, smaller parties 2; seats appointed by the president--KANU
6, FORD-Kenya 1, DP 2, SDP 1, NDP 1, SAFINA 1
Judicial branch: Court of Appeal, chief justice is appointed by
the president; High Court
Political parties and leaders:
Toroitich arap MOI]
SHIKUKU, chairman]; Forum for the Restoration of Democracy-Kenya or
MWANDAWIRO, secretary general]
Political pressure groups and leaders: National Convention
Executive Council or NCEC, a proreform coalition of political
Catholic and other Christian churches; human rights groups; labor
unions; Muslim organizations; Protestant National Council of
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC,
EADB, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU,
MINURSO, MONUA, NAM, OAU, OPCW, UN, UN Security Council (temporary),
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMOP, UNOMIL, UNOMSIL, UNPREDEP,
UNU, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Samuel K. CHEMAI
chancery: 2249 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Prudence B. BUSHNELL
embassy: USAID Building, The Crescent, Parklands, Nairobi (temporary
location)
mailing address: P. O. Box 30137, Box 21A, Unit 64100, APO AE 09831
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of black (top),
red, and green; the red band is edged in white; a large warrior's
shield covering crossed spears is superimposed at the center
Economy
Economy--overview: Since 1993, the government of Kenya has
implemented a program of economic liberalization and reform. Steps
have included the removal of import licensing and price controls,
removal of foreign exchange controls, fiscal and monetary restraint,
and reduction of the public sector through privatizing publicly
owned companies and downsizing the civil service. With the support
of the World Bank, IMF, and other donors, these reforms have led to
a turnaround in economic performance following a period of negative
growth in the early 1990s. Kenya's real GDP grew at 5% in 1995 and
4% in 1996, and inflation remained under control. Growth slowed in
1997-98. Political violence damaged the tourist industry, and the
IMF allowed Kenya's Enhanced Structural Adjustment Program to lapse
due to the government's failure to enact reform conditions and to
adequately address public sector corruption. Moreover, El Nino rains
destroyed crops and damaged an already crumbling infrastructure in
1997 and 1998. Long-term barriers to development include electricity
shortages, the government's continued and inefficient dominance of
key sectors, endemic corruption, and the country's high population
growth rate.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$43.9 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 1.6% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,550 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 29%
industry: 17%
services: 54% (1997)
Population below poverty line: 42% (1992 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.2%
highest 10%: 47.7% (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.5% (1998)
Labor force: 9.2 million (1998 est.)
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 75%-80%, nonagriculture
20%-25%
Unemployment rate: 50% (1998 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $2.6 billion
expenditures: $2.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1997 est.)
Industries: small-scale consumer goods (plastic, furniture,
batteries, textiles, soap, cigarettes, flour), agricultural products
processing; oil refining, cement; tourism
Industrial production growth rate: 3.8% (1995)
Electricity--production: 3.81 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 10.5%
hydro: 81.63%
nuclear: 0%
other: 7.87% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 3.985 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 175 million kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: coffee, tea, corn, wheat, sugarcane, fruit,
vegetables; dairy products, beef, pork, poultry, eggs
Exports: $2 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports--commodities: tea 18%, coffee 15%, petroleum products
(1995)
Exports--partners: Uganda 16.1%, Tanzania 12.8%, UK 10.4%, Germany
7.5% (1996)
Imports: $3.05 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports--commodities: machinery and transportation equipment 31%,
consumer goods 13%, petroleum products 12% (1995)
Imports--partners: UK 13.2%, UAE 8.2%, South Africa 7.6%, Germany
7.4% (1996)
Debt--external: $6.45 billion (1997 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $642.8 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Kenyan shilling (KSh) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Kenyan shillings (KSh) per US$1--61.802 (January
1999), 60.367 (1998), 58.732 (1997), 57.115 (1996), 51.430 (1995),
56.051 (1994)
Fiscal year: 1 July--30 June
Communications
Telephones: 383,676 (1997); 3,077 cellular telephone subscribers
(1998)
Telephone system:
domestic: primarily microwave radio relay
international: satellite earth stations--4 Intelsat
Radio broadcast stations: AM 24, FM 7, shortwave 2
Radios: 5 million
Television broadcast stations: 8 (of which six are
government-controlled and two are commercial) (1997)
Televisions: 500,000
Transportation
Railways:
total: 2,652 km
narrow gauge: 2,652 km 1.000-m gauge
Highways:
total: 63,800 km
paved: 8,868 km
unpaved: 54,932 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: part of the Lake Victoria system is within the
boundaries of Kenya
Pipelines: petroleum products 483 km
Ports and harbors: Kisumu, Lamu, Mombasa
Merchant marine:
total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,883 GRT/6,255 DWT
ships by type: oil tanker 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1 (1998 est.)
Airports: 232 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 21
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 14 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 211
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 14
914 to 1,523 m: 113
under 914 m: 83 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary General
Service Unit of the Police
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 7,094,151 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 4,397,008 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $197 million (FY98/99)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 1.9% (FY98/99)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: administrative boundary with Sudan does
not coincide with international boundary
Illicit drugs: widespread harvesting of small, wild plots of
marijuana and qat (chat); transit country for South Asian heroin
destined for Europe and, sometimes, North America; Indian
methaqualone also transits on way to South Africa
======================================================================
@Kingman Reef
------------
Geography
Location: Oceania, reef in the North Pacific Ocean, about
one-half of the way from Hawaii to American Samoa
Geographic coordinates: 6 24 N, 162 24 W
Map references: Oceania
Area:
total: 1 sq km
land: 1 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: about 1.7 times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 3 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical, but moderated by prevailing winds
Terrain: low and nearly level
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 1 m
Natural resources: none
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 100%
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1996)
Natural hazards: wet or awash most of the time, maximum elevation
of about 1 meter makes Kingman Reef a maritime hazard
Environment--current issues: none
Environment--international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography--note: barren coral atoll with deep interior lagoon;
closed to the public
People
Population: uninhabited
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Kingman Reef
Data code: KQ
Dependency status: unincorporated territory of the US;
administered from Washington, DC by the US Navy; however, it is
awash the majority of the time, so it is not usable and is
uninhabited
Capital: none; administered from Washington, DC
Legal system: NA
Flag description: the flag of the US is used
Economy
Economy--overview: no economic activity
Transportation
Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only
Airports: lagoon was used as a halfway station between Hawaii and
American Samoa by Pan American Airways for flying boats in 1937 and
1938
Military
Military--note: defense is the responsibility of the US
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
======================================================================
@Kiribati
--------
Geography
Location: Oceania, group of islands in the Pacific Ocean,
straddling the equator, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to
Australia; note--on 1 January 1995, Kiribati unilaterally moved the
International Date Line from the middle of the country to include
its easternmost islands and make it the same day throughout the
country
Geographic coordinates: 1 25 N, 173 00 E
Map references: Oceania
Area:
total: 717 sq km
land: 717 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes three island groups--Gilbert Islands, Line Islands,
Phoenix Islands
Area--comparative: four times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 1,143 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; marine, hot and humid, moderated by trade winds
Terrain: mostly low-lying coral atolls surrounded by extensive
reefs
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Banaba 81 m
Natural resources: phosphate (production discontinued in 1979)
Land use:
arable land: NA%
permanent crops: 51%
permanent pastures: NA%
forests and woodland: 3%
other: 46% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: typhoons can occur any time, but usually
November to March; occasional tornadoes
Environment--current issues: heavy pollution in lagoon of south
Tarawa atoll due to heavy migration mixed with traditional practices
such as lagoon latrines and open-pit dumping; ground water at risk
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertication, Endangered
Species, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography--note: 20 of the 33 islands are inhabited; Banaba (Ocean
Island) in Kiribati is one of the three great phosphate rock islands
in the Pacific Ocean--the others are Makatea in French Polynesia and
Nauru
People
Population: 85,501 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate: 1.78% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 26.13 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 7.53 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.77 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 48.22 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 62.88 years
male: 61.02 years
female: 64.98 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.09 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: I-Kiribati (singular and plural)
adjective: I-Kiribati
Ethnic groups: Micronesian
Religions: Roman Catholic 53%, Protestant (Congregational) 41%,
Seventh-Day Adventist, Baha'i, Church of God, Mormon 6% (1985 est.)
Languages: English (official), Gilbertese
Literacy: NA
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Kiribati
conventional short form: Kiribati
note: pronounced kir-ih-bahss
former: Gilbert Islands
Data code: KR
Government type: republic
Capital: Tarawa
Administrative divisions: 3 units; Gilbert Islands, Line Islands,
Phoenix Islands
note: in addition, there are 6 districts (Banaba, Central Gilberts,
Line Islands, Northern Gilberts, Southern Gilberts, Tarawa) and 21
island councils--one for each of the inhabited islands (Abaiang,
Abemama, Aranuka, Arorae, Banaba, Beru, Butaritari, Kanton,
Kiritimati, Kuria, Maiana, Makin, Marakei, Nikunau, Nonouti, Onotoa,
Tabiteuea, Tabuaeran, Tamana, Tarawa, Teraina)
Independence: 12 July 1979 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 12 July (1979)
Constitution: 12 July 1979
Legal system: NA
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President (Beretitenti) Teburoro TITO (since 1
October 1994); Vice President (Kauoman-ni-Beretitenti) Tewareka
TENTOA (since 12 October 1994); note--the president is both the chief
of state and head of government
head of government: President (Beretitenti) Teburoro TITO (since 1
October 1994); Vice President (Kauoman-ni-Beretitenti) Tewareka
TENTOA (since 12 October 1994); note--the president is both the chief
of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among the members
of the House of Assembly, includes the president, vice president,
attorney general, and up to eight other ministers
elections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term;
note--the House of Assembly chooses the presidential candidates from
among their members and then those candidates compete in a general
election; election last held 27 November 1998 (next to be held by NA
November 2002); vice president appointed by the president
election results: Teburoro TITO reelected president; percent of
vote--Teburoro TITO 52.3%, Dr. Harry TONG 45.8%, Amberoti NIKORA
1.9%, Taberannang TIMEON 0%
Legislative branch: unicameral House of Assembly or Maneaba Ni
Maungatabu (41 seats; 39 elected by popular vote, one ex officio
member, and one nominated to represent Banaba; members serve
four-year terms)
elections: last held 23 September 1998 (next to be held by NA
September 2002)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by
party--Maneaban Te Mauri Party 14, National Progressive Party 11,
independents 14
Judicial branch: Court of Appeal, judges at all levels are
appointed by the president; High Court, judges at all levels are
appointed by the president; 26 Magistrates' courts, judges at all
levels are appointed by the president
Political parties and leaders: National Progressive Party [Teatao
note: there is no tradition of formally organized political parties
in Kiribati; they more closely resemble factions or interest groups
because they have no party headquarters, formal platforms, or party
structures
International organization participation: ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP,
IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, Intelsat
(nonsignatory user), Interpol, ITU, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UNESCO, UPU,
WHO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US: Kiribati does not have an
embassy in the US; there is an honorary consulate in Honolulu
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an
embassy in Kiribati; the ambassador to the Marshall Islands is
accredited to Kiribati
Flag description: the upper half is red with a yellow frigate
bird flying over a yellow rising sun, and the lower half is blue
with three horizontal wavy white stripes to represent the ocean
Economy
Economy--overview: A remote country of 33 scattered coral atolls,
Kiribati has few national resources. Commercially viable phosphate
deposits were exhausted at the time of independence from the UK in
1979. Copra and fish now represent the bulk of production and
exports. The economy has fluctuated widely in recent years. Economic
development is constrained by a shortage of skilled workers, weak
infrastructure, and remoteness from international markets. The
financial sector is at an early stage of development as is the
expansion of private sector initiatives. Foreign financial aid,
largely from the UK and Japan, is a critical supplement to GDP,
equal to 25%-50% of GDP in recent years. Remittances from workers
abroad account for more than $5 million each year.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$62 million (1996 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 1.9% (1996 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$800 (1996 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 14%
industry: 7%
services: 79% (1996 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): -0.6% (1996 est.)
Labor force: 7,870 economically active, not including subsistence
farmers (1985 est.)
Unemployment rate: 2%; underemployment 70% (1992 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $33.3 million
expenditures: $47.7 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
million (1996 est.)
Industries: fishing, handicrafts
Industrial production growth rate: 0.7% (1992 est.)
Electricity--production: 7 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 7 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: copra, taro, breadfruit, sweet potatoes,
vegetables; fish
Exports: $6.7 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.)
Exports--commodities: copra 62%, seaweed, fish
Exports--partners: US, Australia, NZ (1996)
Imports: $37.4 million (c.i.f., 1996 est.)
Imports--commodities: foodstuffs, machinery and equipment,
miscellaneous manufactured goods, fuel
Imports--partners: Australia 46%, Fiji, Japan, NZ, US (1996)
Debt--external: $7.2 million (1996 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $15.5 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Australian dollars ($A) per US$1--1.5853 (January
1999), 1.5888 (1998), 1.3439 (1997), 1.2773 (1996), 1.3486 (1995),
1.3667 (1994)
Fiscal year: NA
Communications
Telephones: 1,400 (1984 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: NA
international: satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
note: Kiribati is being linked to the Pacific Ocean Cooperative
Telecommunications Network, which should improve telephone service
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: 15,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1997)
Televisions: 0 (1988)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 670 km (1996 est.)
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km
Waterways: small network of canals, totaling 5 km, in Line Islands
Ports and harbors: Banaba, Betio, English Harbor, Kanton
Merchant marine:
total: 1 passenger-cargo (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,291
GRT/1,295 DWT (1998 est.)
Airports: 21 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 17
914 to 1,523 m: 12
under 914 m: 5 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: no regular military forces; Police Force
(carries out law enforcement functions and paramilitary duties;
small police posts are on all islands)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $NA
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: NA%
Military--note: Kiribati does not have military forces; defense
assistance is provided by Australia and NZ
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
======================================================================
@Korea, North
------------
Introduction
Background: At the end of World War II, the US and the Soviet
Union agreed that US troops would accept the surrender of Japanese
forces south of the 38th parallel and the Soviet Union would do so
in the north. In 1948, the UN proposed nationwide elections; after
P'yongyang's refusal to allow UN inspectors in the north, elections
were held in the south and the Republic of Korea was established.
The Democratic People's Republic of Korea was established the
following month in the north. Communist North Korean forces invaded
South Korea in 1950. US and other UN forces intervened to defend the
South and Chinese forces intervened on behalf of the North. After a
bitter three-year war, an armistice was signed in 1953, establishing
a military demarcation line near the 38th parallel. The North's
heavy investment in military forces has produced an army of 1
million troops equipped with thousands of tanks and artillery
pieces. Despite growing economic hardships, North Korea continues to
devote a significant portion of its scarce resources to the military.
Geography
Location: Eastern Asia, northern half of the Korean Peninsula
bordering the Korea Bay and the Sea of Japan, between China and
South Korea
Geographic coordinates: 40 00 N, 127 00 E
Map references: Asia
Area:
total: 120,540 sq km
land: 120,410 sq km
water: 130 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than Mississippi
Land boundaries:
total: 1,673 km
border countries: China 1,416 km, South Korea 238 km, Russia 19 km
Coastline: 2,495 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
note: military boundary line 50 nm in the Sea of Japan and the
exclusive economic zone limit in the Yellow Sea where all foreign
vessels and aircraft without permission are banned
Climate: temperate with rainfall concentrated in summer
Terrain: mostly hills and mountains separated by deep, narrow
valleys; coastal plains wide in west, discontinuous in east
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Sea of Japan 0 m
highest point: Paektu-san 2,744 m
Natural resources: coal, lead, tungsten, zinc, graphite,
magnesite, iron ore, copper, gold, pyrites, salt, fluorspar,
hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 14%
permanent crops: 2%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 61%
other: 23% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 14,600 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: late spring droughts often followed by severe
flooding; occasional typhoons during the early fall
Environment--current issues: localized air pollution attributable
to inadequate industrial controls; water pollution; inadequate
supplies of potable water
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Environmental Modification, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Law of
the Sea
Geography--note: strategic location bordering China, South Korea,
and Russia; mountainous interior is isolated, nearly inaccessible,
and sparsely populated
People
Population: 21,386,109 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 26% (male 2,800,748; female 2,666,207)
15-64 years: 68% (male 7,143,969; female 7,447,147)
65 years and over: 6% (male 412,161; female 915,877) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.45% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 21.37 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 6.92 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.45 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 25.52 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 70.07 years
male: 67.41 years
female: 72.86 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.3 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Korean(s)
adjective: Korean
Ethnic groups: racially homogeneous; there is a small Chinese
community and a few ethnic Japanese
Religions: Buddhism and Confucianism, some Christianity and
syncretic Chondogyo
note: autonomous religious activities now almost nonexistent;
government-sponsored religious groups exist to provide illusion of
religious freedom
Languages: Korean
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write Korean
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (1990 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Democratic People's Republic of Korea
conventional short form: North Korea
local long form: Choson-minjujuui-inmin-konghwaguk
local short form: none
note: the North Koreans generally use the term "Choson" to refer to
their country
abbreviation: DPRK
Data code: KN
Government type: Communist state; one-man dictatorship
Capital: P'yongyang
Administrative divisions: 9 provinces (do, singular and plural)
and 3 special cities* (si, singular and plural); Chagang-do (Chagang
Province), Hamgyong-bukto (North Hamgyong Province), Hamgyong-namdo
(South Hamgyong Province), Hwanghae-bukto (North Hwanghae Province),
Hwanghae-namdo (South Hwanghae Province), Kaesong-si* (Kaesong
City), Kangwon-do (Kangwon Province), Namp'o-si* (Namp'o City),
P'yongan-bukto (North P'yongan Province), P'yongan-namdo (South
P'yongan Province), P'yongyang-si* (P'yongyang City), Yanggang-do
(Yanggang Province)
Independence: 9 September 1948, Democratic People's Republic of
Korea (DPRK) Foundation Day
note: 15 August 1945, date of independence from the Japanese and
celebrated in North Korea as National Liberation Day
National holiday: Foundation Day, 9 September (1948)
Constitution: adopted 1948, completely revised 27 December 1972,
revised again in April 1992 and September 1998
Legal system: based on German civil law system with Japanese
influences and Communist legal theory; no judicial review of
legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 17 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: KIM Chong-il; note--in September 1998, KIM Chong-il
was reelected Chairman of the National Defense Commission, a
position accorded the nation's "highest administrative authority";
KIM Young-nam was named President of the Supreme People's Assembly
Presidium and given the responsibility of representing the state and
receiving diplomatic credentials
head of government: Premier HONG Song-nam (since 5 September 1998)
cabinet: renamed DPRK Cabinet (naegak) on 5 September 1998; was
previously called the State Administrative Council; Cabinet members,
except for the Minister of People's Armed Forces, are appointed by
the Supreme People's Assembly
elections: premier elected by the Supreme People's Assembly
election results: NA
Legislative branch: unicameral Supreme People's Assembly or
Ch'oego Inmin Hoeui (687 seats; members elected by popular vote to
serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 26 July 1998 (next to be held NA)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--the
KWP approves a single list of candidates who are elected without
opposition; minor parties hold a few seats
Judicial branch: Central Court, judges are elected by the Supreme
People's Assembly
Political parties and leaders: major party--Korean Workers' Party
chairwoman]
International organization participation: ESCAP, FAO, ICAO, ICRM,
IFAD, IFRCS, IHO, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), IOC, ISO, ITU,
NAM, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO
Diplomatic representation in the US: none; note--North Korea has a
Permanent Mission to the UN in New York, headed by YI Hyong-chol
Diplomatic representation from the US: none
Flag description: three horizontal bands of blue (top), red
(triple width), and blue; the red band is edged in white; on the
hoist side of the red band is a white disk with a red five-pointed
star
Economy
Economy--overview: North Korea is the world's most centrally
planned economy. Agricultural land is collectivized, state-owned
industry produces nearly all manufactured goods, and heavy and
military industries have long been developed at the expense of light
and consumer industries. Open-air markets since 1995 have gained
increasing importance in the distribution of food and consumer goods
but private production remains extremely limited. Total economic
output has fallen steadily since 1991--perhaps by as much as
one-half--when the country's economic ties to the Soviet Union and
Eastern Bloc collapsed. The slide has also been fueled by serious
energy shortages, aging industrial facilities, and a lack of
maintenance and new investment. The leadership has tried to maintain
a high level of military spending but the armed forces have
nonetheless been affected by the general economic decline. Although
North Korea has long depended on imports to meet food needs, serious
fertilizer shortages in recent years have combined with structural
constraints--such as a shortage of arable land and a short growing
season--to reduce staple grain output to more than 1 million tons
below what the country needs to meet even minimal demand. Widespread
famine and disease have cost the lives of hundreds of thousands of
North Koreans in 1994-98. The US, China, the international
community, and nongovernmental organizations have sent aid but the
problems remain extremely serious.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$21.8 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: -5% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,000 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 25%
industry: 60%
services: 15% (1995 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
Labor force: 9.615 million
Labor force--by occupation: agricultural 36%, nonagricultural 64%
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $19.3 billion
expenditures: $19.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1992 est.)
Industries: military products; machine building, electric power,
chemicals; mining (coal, iron ore, magnesite, graphite, copper,
zinc, lead, and precious metals), metallurgy; textiles, food
processing
Industrial production growth rate: -7% to -9% (1992 est.)
Electricity--production: 34 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 35.29%
hydro: 64.71%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 34 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: rice, corn, potatoes, soybeans, pulses;
cattle, pigs, pork, eggs
Exports: $743 million (f.o.b., 1997 est.)
Exports--commodities: minerals, metallurgical products,
agricultural and fishery products, manufactures (including armaments)
Exports--partners: Japan 28%, South Korea 21%, China 5%, Germany
4%, Russia 1% (1995)
Imports: $1.83 billion (c.i.f., 1997 est.)
Imports--commodities: petroleum, grain, coking coal, machinery and
equipment, consumer goods
Imports--partners: China 33%, Japan 17%, Russia 5%, South Korea
4%, Germany 3% (1995)
Debt--external: $12 billion (1996 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $NA; note?an estimated $200 million to
$300 million in humanitarian aid from US, South Korea, Japan, and EU
in 1997
Currency: 1 North Korean won (Wn) = 100 chon
Exchange rates: official: North Korean won (Wn) per US$1--2.15
(May 1994), 2.13 (May 1992), 2.14 (September 1991), 2.1 (January
1990), 2.3 (December 1989); market: North Korean won (Wn) per
US$1--200
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 1.4 million (1998 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: system is being expanded with installation of fiber-optic
cable nationwide; access traditionally reserved for official and
business subscribers; public access is expected to increase
international: satellite earth stations--1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
and 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean Region); other international
connections through Moscow and Beijing
Radio broadcast stations: AM 27, FM 14, shortwave 3
Radios: 4.7 million
Television broadcast stations: 38
Televisions: 2 million
Transportation
Railways:
broad gauge: NA km
total: 5,000 km
standard gauge: 4,095 km 1.435-m gauge (3,500 km electrified; 159 km
double track)
narrow gauge: 665 km 0.762-m gauge
dual gauge: 240 km 1.435-m and 1.600-m gauges (three rails) (1996
est.)
Highways:
total: 31,200 km
paved: 1,997 km
unpaved: 29,203 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 2,253 km; mostly navigable by small craft only
Pipelines: crude oil 37 km; petroleum product 180 km
Ports and harbors: Ch'ongjin, Haeju, Hungnam (Hamhung),
Kimch'aek, Kosong, Najin, Namp'o, Sinuiju, Songnim, Sonbong
(formerly Unggi), Ungsang, Wonsan
Merchant marine:
total: 110 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 691,802 GRT/992,789 DWT
ships by type: bulk 8, cargo 91, combination bulk 1, multifunction
large-load carrier 1, oil tanker 4, passenger 2, passenger-cargo 1,
short-sea passenger 2 (1998 est.)
Airports: 49 (1994 est.) (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 22
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 15
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (1994 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 27
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 12
under 914 m: 6 (1994 est.)
Military
Military branches: Korean People's Army (includes Army, Navy, Air
Force), Civil Security Forces
Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 5,768,038 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 3,483,188 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 177,888 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $5 billion to $7 billion
(1997 est.)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 25% to 33% (1997 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: 33-km section of boundary with China in
the Paektu-san (mountain) area is indefinite; Demarcation Line with
South Korea
======================================================================
@Korea, South
------------
Introduction
Background: At the end of World War II, the US and the Soviet
Union agreed that US troops would accept the surrender of Japanese
forces south of the 38th parallel and the Soviet Union would do so
in the north. In 1948, the UN proposed nationwide elections; after
P'yongyang's refusal to allow UN inspectors in the north, elections
were held in the south and the Republic of Korea was established.
The Democratic People's Republic of Korea was established the
following month in the north. Communist North Korean forces invaded
South Korea in 1950. US and other UN forces intervened to defend the
South and Chinese forces intervened on behalf of the North. After a
bitter three-year war, an armistice was signed in 1953, establishing
a military demarcation line near the 38th parallel. Thereafter,
South Korea achieved amazing economic growth, with per capita output
rising to 13 times the level in the North. Since late 1997, however,
the nation has suffered widespread financial and organizational
difficulties. Continuing tensions between North and South have
raised concerns of provocative military actions by the North.
Geography
Location: Eastern Asia, southern half of the Korean Peninsula
bordering the Sea of Japan and the Yellow Sea
Geographic coordinates: 37 00 N, 127 30 E
Map references: Asia
Area:
total: 98,480 sq km
land: 98,190 sq km
water: 290 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly larger than Indiana
Land boundaries:
total: 238 km
border countries: North Korea 238 km
Coastline: 2,413 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: not specified
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm; between 3 nm and 12 nm in the Korea Strait
Climate: temperate, with rainfall heavier in summer than winter
Terrain: mostly hills and mountains; wide coastal plains in west
and south
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Sea of Japan 0 m
highest point: Halla-san 1,950 m
Natural resources: coal, tungsten, graphite, molybdenum, lead,
hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 19%
permanent crops: 2%
permanent pastures: 1%
forests and woodland: 65%
other: 13% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 13,350 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: occasional typhoons bring high winds and floods;
low-level seismic activity common in southwest
Environment--current issues: air pollution in large cities; water
pollution from the discharge of sewage and industrial effluents;
driftnet fishing
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty,
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical
Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,
Desertification
People
Population: 46,884,800 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 22% (male 5,504,333; female 4,874,974)
15-64 years: 71% (male 16,949,807; female 16,432,951)
65 years and over: 7% (male 1,192,688; female 1,930,047) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 15.95 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 5.68 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.13 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.13 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 7.57 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 74.3 years
male: 70.75 years
female: 78.32 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.79 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Korean(s)
adjective: Korean
Ethnic groups: homogeneous (except for about 20,000 Chinese)
Religions: Christianity 49%, Buddhism 47%, Confucianism 3%,
pervasive folk religion (shamanism), Chondogyo (Religion of the
Heavenly Way), and other 1%
Languages: Korean, English widely taught in junior high and high
school
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98%
male: 99.3%
female: 96.7% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Korea
conventional short form: South Korea
local long form: Taehan-min'guk
local short form: none
note: the South Koreans generally use the term "Han-guk" to refer to
their country
abbreviation: ROK
Data code: KS
Government type: republic
Capital: Seoul
Administrative divisions: 9 provinces (do, singular and plural)
and 6 special cities* (gwangyoksi, singular and plural); Cheju-do,
Cholla-bukto, Cholla-namdo, Ch'ungch'ong-bukto, Ch'ungch'ong-namdo,
Inch'on-gwangyoksi*, Kangwon-do, Kwangju-gwangyoksi*, Kyonggi-do,
Kyongsang-bukto, Kyongsang-namdo, Pusan-gwangyoksi*,
Soul-t'ukpyolsi*, Taegu-gwangyoksi*, Taejon-gwangyoksi*
Independence: 15 August 1945, date of liberation from Japanese
colonial rule
National holiday: Liberation Day, 15 August (1945)
Constitution: 25 February 1988
Legal system: combines elements of continental European civil law
systems, Anglo-American law, and Chinese classical thought
Suffrage: 20 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President KIM Dae-jung (since 25 February 1998)
head of government: Prime Minister KIM Chong-p'il (since 3 March
1998)
cabinet: State Council appointed by the president on the prime
minister's recommendation
elections: president elected by popular vote for a single five-year
term; election last held 18 December 1997 (next to be held by 18
December 2002); prime minister appointed by the president; deputy
prime ministers appointed by the president on the prime minister's
recommendation
election results: KIM Dae-jung elected president; percent of
vote--KIM Dae-jung (NCNP) 40.3%, YI Hoe-chang (GNP) 38.7%, YI In-che
(NPP) 19.2%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Kukhoe (299
seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 11 April 1996 (next to be held NA 2000)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--NKP
139, NCNP 79, ULD 50, DP 15, independents 16; note--the distribution
of seats as of February 1999 was GNP 137, NCNP 105, ULD 53,
independents 4
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, justices are appointed by the
president subject to the consent of the National Assembly
Political parties and leaders: Grand National Party or GNP [CHO
president]
note: subsequent to the legislative election of April 1996 the
following parties disbanded--New Korea Party or NKP and Democratic
Party or DP; New People's Party or NPP merged with the NCNP in
August 1998
Political pressure groups and leaders: Korean National Council of
Churches; National Democratic Alliance of Korea; National Federation
of Student Associations; National Federation of Farmers'
Associations; National Council of Labor Unions; Federation of Korean
Trade Unions; Korean Veterans' Association; Federation of Korean
Industries; Korean Traders Association; Korean Confederation of
Trade Unions
International organization participation: AfDB, APEC, AsDB, BIS,
CCC, CP, EBRD, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM,
IDA, IEA (observer), IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat,
Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, NEA, NSG, OAS
(observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE (partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UNMOGIP, UNOMIG, UNU, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador YI Hong-ku
chancery: 2450 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: Agana (Guam), Anchorage, Atlanta, Boston,
Chicago, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San
Francisco, and Seattle
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Stephen W. BOSWORTH
embassy: 82 Sejong-Ro, Chongro-ku, Seoul
mailing address: American Embassy, Unit 15550, APO AP 96205-0001
Flag description: white with a red (top) and blue yin-yang symbol
in the center; there is a different black trigram from the ancient I
Ching (Book of Changes) in each corner of the white field
Economy
Economy--overview: As one of the Four Dragons of East Asia, South
Korea has achieved an incredible record of growth. Three decades ago
its GDP per capita was comparable with levels in the poorer
countries of Africa and Asia. Today its GDP per capita is seven
times India's, 13 times North Korea's, and already near the lesser
economies of the European Union. This success through the late 1980s
was achieved by a system of close government business ties,
including directed credit, import restrictions, sponsorship of
specific industries, and a strong labor effort. The government
promoted the import of raw materials and technology at the expense
of consumer goods and encouraged savings and investment over
consumption. The Asian financial crisis of 1997-98 exposed certain
longstanding weaknesses in South Korea's development model,
including high debt/equity ratios, massive foreign borrowing, and an
undisciplined financial sector. By the end of 1998 it had recovered
financial stability, rebuilding foreign exchange reserves to record
levels by running a current account surplus of $40 billion. As of
December 1998, the first tentative signs of a rebound in the economy
emerged, and most forecasters expect GDP growth to turn positive at
least in the second half of 1999. Seoul has also made a positive
start on a program to get the country's largest business groups to
swap subsidiaries to promote specialization, and the administration
has directed many of the mid-sized conglomerates into debt-workout
programs with creditor banks. Challenges for the future include
cutting redundant staff, which reaches 20%-30% at most firms and
maintaining the impetus for structural reform.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$584.7 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: -6.8% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$12,600 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 6%
industry: 43%
services: 51% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7.5% (1998)
Labor force: 20 million
Labor force--by occupation: services and other 52%, mining and
manufacturing 27%, agriculture, fishing, forestry 21% (1991)
Unemployment rate: 7.9% (1998)
Budget:
revenues: $100.4 billion
expenditures: $100.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1997 est.)
Industries: electronics, automobile production, chemicals,
shipbuilding, steel, textiles, clothing, footwear, food processing
Industrial production growth rate: 3.1% (1997 est.)
Electricity--production: 194.163 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 61.18%
hydro: 2.65%
nuclear: 36.17%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 194.163 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: rice, root crops, barley, vegetables,
fruit; cattle, pigs, chickens, milk, eggs; fish
Exports: $133 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports--commodities: electronic and electrical equipment,
machinery, steel, automobiles, ships; textiles, clothing, footwear;
fish
Exports--partners: US 17%, EU 13%, Japan 12% (1995)
Imports: $94 billion (c.i.f., 1998)
Imports--commodities: machinery, electronics and electronic
equipment, oil, steel, transport equipment, textiles, organic
chemicals, grains
Imports--partners: US 22%, Japan 21%, EU 13% (1995)
Debt--external: $154 billion (1998 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $NA
Currency: 1 South Korean won (W) = 100 chun (theoretical)
Exchange rates: South Korean won (W) per US$1--1,174.00 (January
1999), 1,401.44 (1998), 951.29 (1997), 804.45 (1996), 771.27 (1995),
803.45 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 16.6 million (1993)
Telephone system: excellent domestic and international services
domestic: NA
international: fiber-optic submarine cable to China; satellite earth
stations--3 Intelsat (2 Pacific Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) and 1
Inmarsat (Pacific Ocean region)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 79, FM 46, shortwave 0
Radios: 42 million (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 121 (in addition, there are 850
relay stations and eight-channel American Forces Korea Network)
(1997)
Televisions: 9.3 million (1992 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 6,240 km
standard gauge: 6,240 km 1.435-m gauge (525 km electrified) (1998
est.)
Highways:
total: 63,500 km
paved: 46,800 km (including 1,720 km of expressways)
unpaved: 16,700 km (1998 est.)
Waterways: 1,609 km; use restricted to small native craft
Pipelines: petroleum products 455 km; note--additionally, there is
a parallel petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) pipeline being
completed
Ports and harbors: Chinhae, Inch'on, Kunsan, Masan, Mokp'o,
P'ohang, Pusan, Tonghae-hang, Ulsan, Yosu
Merchant marine:
total: 442 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,212,089
GRT/8,161,845 DWT
ships by type: bulk 106, cargo 133, chemical tanker 36, combination
bulk 5, container 52, liquefied gas tanker 13, multifunction
large-load carrier 1, oil tanker 56, passenger 3, refrigerated cargo
22, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2, short-sea passenger 1, specialized
tanker 3, vehicle carrier 9 (1998 est.)
Airports: 103 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 68
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 18
1,524 to 2,437 m: 15
914 to 1,523 m: 13
under 914 m: 21 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 35
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 32 (1998 est.)
Heliports: 200 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, National
Maritime Police (Coast Guard)
Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 13,954,916 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 8,890,144 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 400,468 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $9.9 billion (FY98/99)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 3.2% (FY98/99)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: Demarcation Line with North Korea;
Liancourt Rocks (Takeshima/Tokdo) claimed by Japan
======================================================================
@Kuwait
------
Geography
Location: Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iraq
and Saudi Arabia
Geographic coordinates: 29 30 N, 45 45 E
Map references: Middle East
Area:
total: 17,820 sq km
land: 17,820 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries:
total: 464 km
border countries: Iraq 242 km, Saudi Arabia 222 km
Coastline: 499 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: dry desert; intensely hot summers; short, cool winters
Terrain: flat to slightly undulating desert plain
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 306 m
Natural resources: petroleum, fish, shrimp, natural gas
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 8%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 92% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 20 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: sudden cloudbursts are common from October to
April; they bring inordinate amounts of rain which can damage roads
and houses; sandstorms and dust storms occur throughout the year,
but are most common between March and August
Environment--current issues: limited natural fresh water
resources; some of world's largest and most sophisticated
desalination facilities provide much of the water; air and water
pollution; desertification
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Climate Change, Desertification, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban,
Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity, Endangered Species, Marine
Dumping
Geography--note: strategic location at head of Persian Gulf
People
Population: 1,991,115 (July 1999 est.)
note: includes 1,220,935 non-nationals (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 32% (male 343,461; female 285,129)
15-64 years: 66% (male 850,689; female 468,618)
65 years and over: 2% (male 26,593; female 16,625) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.88% (1999 est.)
note: this rate reflects the continued post-Gulf crisis return of
expatriates
Birth rate: 20.45 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 2.31 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 20.65 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.2 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.82 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.6 male(s)/female
total population: 1.58 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 10.26 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.15 years
male: 75.11 years
female: 79.3 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.34 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Kuwaiti(s)
adjective: Kuwaiti
Ethnic groups: Kuwaiti 45%, other Arab 35%, South Asian 9%,
Iranian 4%, other 7%
Religions: Muslim 85% (Sunni 45%, Shi'a 40%), Christian, Hindu,
Parsi, and other 15%
Languages: Arabic (official), English widely spoken
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 78.6%
male: 82.2%
female: 74.9% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: State of Kuwait
conventional short form: Kuwait
local long form: Dawlat al Kuwayt
local short form: Al Kuwayt
Data code: KU
Government type: nominal constitutional monarchy
Capital: Kuwait
Administrative divisions: 5 governorates (muhafazat,
singular--muhafazah); Al Ahmadi, Al Farwaniyah, Al 'Asimah, Al
Jahra', Hawalli
Independence: 19 June 1961 (from UK)
National holiday: National Day, 25 February (1950)
Constitution: approved and promulgated 11 November 1962
Legal system: civil law system with Islamic law significant in
personal matters; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: adult males who have been naturalized for 30 years or
more or have resided in Kuwait since before 1920 and their male
descendants at age 21
note: only 10% of all citizens are eligible to vote; in 1996,
naturalized citizens who do not meet the pre-1920 qualification but
have been naturalized for 30 years were eligible to vote for the
first time
Executive branch:
chief of state: Amir JABIR al-Ahmad al-Jabir Al Sabah (since 31
December 1977)
head of government: Prime Minister and Crown Prince SAAD al-Abdallah
al-Salim Al Sabah (since 8 February 1978); First Deputy Prime
Minister SABAH al-Ahmad al-Jabir Al Sabah (since 17 October 1992);
Second Deputy Prime Minister SALIM al-Sabah al-Salim Al Sabah (since
7 October 1996)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister and
approved by the monarch
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister and
deputy prime ministers appointed by the monarch
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Majlis
al-Umma (50 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve
four-year terms)
elections: last held 7 October 1996 (next to be held approximately
October 2000)
election results: percent of vote--NA; seats--independents 50;
note--all cabinet ministers are also ex officio members of the
National Assembly
Judicial branch: High Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders: none
Political pressure groups and leaders: several political groups
act as de facto parties: Bedouins, merchants, Sunni and Shi'a
activists, and secular leftists and nationalists
International organization participation: ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AL,
AMF, BDEAC, CAEU, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF,
IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU,
NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU,
WHO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador MUHAMMAD al-Sabah al-Salim Al SABAH
chancery: 2940 Tilden Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador James A. LAROCCO
embassy: Bayan, near the Bayan palace, Kuwait City
mailing address: P.O. Box 77 Safat, 13001 Safat, Kuwait; Unit 69000,
APO AE 09880-9000
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of green (top),
white, and red with a black trapezoid based on the hoist side
Economy
Economy--overview: Kuwait is a small and relatively open economy
with proved crude oil reserves of about 94 billion barrels--10% of
world reserves. Petroleum accounts for nearly half of GDP, 90% of
export revenues, and 75% of government income. Kuwait lacks water
and has practically no arable land, thus preventing development of
agriculture. With the exception of fish, it depends almost wholly on
food imports. About 75% of potable water must be distilled or
imported. The economy improved moderately in 1994-97, but in 1998
suffered from the large decline in world oil prices. The Kuwaiti
cabinet approved a reform package in January 1999, including
reducing subsidies and increasing taxes on large consumer goods.
Nevertheless, Kuwait anticipates continuing budget deficits for the
next few years. Kuwait is attracting foreign oil companies to
develop fields in the northern part of the country.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$43.7 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: -5% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$22,700 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 0%
industry: 55%
services: 45% (1996)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1% (1997 est.)
Labor force: 1.1 million (1996 est.)
note: 68% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national
(July 1998 est.)
Labor force--by occupation: government and social services 50%,
services 40%, industry and agriculture 10% (1996 est.)
Unemployment rate: 1.8% (official 1996 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $8.1 billion
expenditures: $14.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY98/99 budget est.)
Industries: petroleum, petrochemicals, desalination, food
processing, construction materials, salt, construction
Industrial production growth rate: 1% (1997 est.)
Electricity--production: 23 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 23 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: practically no crops; fish
Exports: $14.3 billion (f.o.b., 1997)
Exports--commodities: oil and refined products, fertilizers
Exports--partners: Japan 24%, India 16%, US 13%, South Korea 11%,
Singapore 8% (1997)
Imports: $7.8 billion (f.o.b., 1996)
Imports--commodities: food, construction materials, vehicles and
parts, clothing
Imports--partners: US 22%, Japan 15%, UK 13%, Germany 8%, Italy 6%
(1997)
Debt--external: $7.3 billion (1997 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $27.6 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Kuwaiti dinar (KD) = 1,000 fils
Exchange rates: Kuwaiti dinars (KD) per US$1--0.3018 (January
1999), 0.3047 (1998), 0.3033 (1997), 0.2994 (1996), 0.2984 (1995),
0.2976 (1994)
Fiscal year: 1 July--30 June
Communications
Telephones: 408,000 (1998)
Telephone system: the civil network suffered some damage as a
result of the Gulf war, but most of the telephone exchanges were
left intact and, by the end of 1994, domestic and international
telecommunications had been restored to normal operation; the
quality of service is excellent
domestic: new telephone exchanges provide a large capacity for new
subscribers; trunk traffic is carried by microwave radio relay,
coaxial cable, open wire and fiber-optic cable; a cellular telephone
system operates throughout Kuwait (with approximately 150,000
subscribers in 1996) and the country is well supplied with pay
telephones; approximately 15,000 Internet subscribers in 1996
international: coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Saudi
Arabia; satellite earth stations--3 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean, 2
Indian Ocean), 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean), and 1 Arabsat
Radio broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: 720,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 13 (in addition, there are several
satellite channels) (1997)
Televisions: 800,000 (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 4,450 km
paved: 3,587 km
unpaved: 863 km (1996 est.)
Pipelines: crude oil 877 km; petroleum products 40 km; natural
gas 165 km
Ports and harbors: Ash Shu'aybah, Ash Shuwaykh, Kuwait, Mina'
'Abd Allah, Mina' al Ahmadi, Mina' Su'ud
Merchant marine:
total: 49 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,509,061 GRT/4,046,739
DWT
ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 10, container 6, liquefied gas tanker
7, livestock carrier 3, oil tanker 22 (1998 est.)
Airports: 8 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 4
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, National Police Force,
National Guard, Coast Guard
Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 718,061 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 425,126 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 20,854 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $2.7035 billion (FY98/99)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 7.9% (FY98/99)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: in November 1994, Iraq formally accepted
the UN-demarcated border with Kuwait which had been spelled out in
Security Council Resolutions 687 (1991), 773 (1993), and 883 (1993);
this formally ends earlier claims to Kuwait and to Bubiyan and
Warbah islands; ownership of Qaruh and Umm al Maradim islands
disputed by Saudi Arabia
======================================================================
@Kyrgyzstan
----------
Introduction
Background: A country of incredible natural beauty and proud
nomadic traditions, Kyrgyzstan became part of the Russian empire in
1864. In the Czarist and Soviet periods, Russian managers and
technicians were sent to Kyrgyzstan and have recently made up more
than one-fifth of the population. Many Russians have been returning
home since Kyrgyzstan gained its independence in 1991 when the USSR
collapsed. Privatization of state-owned enterprises, expansion of
democracy and political freedoms, and inter-ethnic relations are
current issues.
Geography
Location: Central Asia, west of China
Geographic coordinates: 41 00 N, 75 00 E
Map references: Commonwealth of Independent States
Area:
total: 198,500 sq km
land: 191,300 sq km
water: 7,200 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than South Dakota
Land boundaries:
total: 3,878 km
border countries: China 858 km, Kazakhstan 1,051 km, Tajikistan 870
km, Uzbekistan 1,099 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: dry continental to polar in high Tien Shan; subtropical
in southwest (Fergana Valley); temperate in northern foothill zone
Terrain: peaks of Tien Shan and associated valleys and basins
encompass entire nation
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Kara-Darya 132 m
highest point: Jengish Chokusu (Pik Pobedy) 7,439 m
Natural resources: abundant hydroelectric potential; significant
deposits of gold and rare earth metals; locally exploitable coal,
oil, and natural gas; other deposits of nepheline, mercury, bismuth,
lead, and zinc
Land use:
arable land: 7%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 44%
forests and woodland: 4%
other: 45% (1993 est.)
note: Kyrgyzstan has the world's largest natural growth walnut forest
Irrigated land: 9,000 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment--current issues: water pollution; many people get
their water directly from contaminated streams and wells; as a
result, water-borne diseases are prevalent; increasing soil salinity
from faulty irrigation practices
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography--note: landlocked
People
Population: 4,546,055 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 35% (male 804,502; female 788,076)
15-64 years: 59% (male 1,308,145; female 1,362,140)
65 years and over: 6% (male 105,442; female 177,750) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.68% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 21.83 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 8.74 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -6.28 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.59 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 75.92 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 63.57 years
male: 59.25 years
female: 68.1 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.63 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Kyrgyzstani(s)
adjective: Kyrgyzstani
Ethnic groups: Kirghiz 52.4%, Russian 18%, Uzbek 12.9%, Ukrainian
2.5%, German 2.4%, other 11.8%
Religions: Muslim 75%, Russian Orthodox 20%, other 5%
Languages: Kirghiz (Kyrgyz)--official language, Russian?official
language
note: in March 1996, the Kyrgyzstani legislature amended the
constitution to make Russian an official language, along with
Kirghiz, in territories and work places where Russian-speaking
citizens predominate
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97%
male: 99%
female: 96% (1989 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Kyrgyz Republic
conventional short form: Kyrgyzstan
local long form: Kyrgyz Respublikasy
local short form: none
former: Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic
Data code: KG
Government type: republic
Capital: Bishkek
Administrative divisions: 6 oblasttar (singular--oblast) and 1
city* (singular--shaar); Bishkek Shaary*, Chuy Oblasty (Bishkek),
Jalal-Abad Oblasty, Naryn Oblasty, Osh Oblasty, Talas Oblasty,
Ysyk-Kol Oblasty (Karakol)
note: administrative divisions have the same names as their
administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center
name following in parentheses)
Independence: 31 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday: National Day, 2 December; Independence Day, 31
August (1991)
Constitution: adopted 5 May 1993
note: amendment proposed by President AKAYEV and passed in a
national referendum on 10 February 1996 significantly expands the
powers of the president at the expense of the legislature
Legal system: based on civil law system
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Askar AKAYEV (since 28 October 1990)
head of government: Prime Minister Jumabek IBRAIMOV (since NA
December 1998)
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president on the
recommendation of the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
elections last held 24 December 1995 (next to be held NA 2000);
prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Askar AKAYEV reelected president; percent of
vote--Askar AKAYEV 75%; note--elections were held early which gave the
two opposition candidates little time to campaign; AKAYEV may have
orchestrated the "deregistration" of two other candidates, one of
whom was a major rival
Legislative branch: bicameral Supreme Council or Zhogorku Kenesh
consists of the Assembly of People's Representatives (70 seats;
members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and
the Legislative Assembly (35 seats; members are elected by popular
vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: Assembly of People's Representatives--last held 5 February
1995 (next to be held NA 2000); Legislative Assembly--last held 5
February 1995 (next to be held NA 2000)
election results: Assembly of People's Representatives--percent of
vote by party--NA; seats by party--NA; note--not all of the 70 seats
were filled at the 5 February 1995 elections; as a result, run-off
elections were held at later dates; the assembly meets twice yearly;
Legislative Assembly--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--NA;
note--not all of the 35 seats were filled at the 5 February 1995
elections; as a result, run-off elections were held at later dates
note: the legislature became bicameral for the 5 February 1995
elections
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed for 10-year
terms by the Supreme Council on recommendation of the president;
Constitutional Court; Higher Court of Arbitration
Political parties and leaders: Social Democratic Party or PSD
JEKSHEYEV, chairman]; National Unity Democratic Movement or DDNE
MASALIYEV, chairman]; Kyrgyzstan Erkin Party (Democratic Movement of
Political pressure groups and leaders: National Unity Democratic
Movement; Council of Free Trade Unions; Union of Entrepreneurs;
International organization participation: AsDB, CIS, EAPC, EBRD,
ECE, ECO, ESCAP, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO
(correspondent), ITU, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UNOMSIL, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Bakyt ABDRISAYEV
chancery: 1732 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Anne M. SIGMUND
embassy: 171 Prospect Mira, 720016 Bishkek
mailing address: use embassy street address
Flag description: red field with a yellow sun in the center
having 40 rays representing the 40 Kirghiz tribes; on the obverse
side the rays run counterclockwise, on the reverse, clockwise; in
the center of the sun is a red ring crossed by two sets of three
lines, a stylized representation of the roof of the traditional
Kirghiz yurt
Economy
Economy--overview: Kyrgyzstan is a small, poor, mountainous
country with a predominantly agricultural economy. Cotton, wool, and
meat are the main agricultural products and exports. Industrial
exports include gold, mercury, uranium, and hydropower. Kyrgyzstan
has been one of the most progressive countries of the former Soviet
Union in carrying out market reforms. Following a successful
stabilization program, which lowered inflation from 88% in 1994 to
15% for 1997, attention is turning toward stimulating growth. Much
of the government's stock in enterprises has been sold. Drops in
production have been severe since the breakup of the Soviet Union in
December 1991, but by mid-1995 production began to recover and
exports began to increase. Pensioners, unemployed workers, and
government workers with salary arrears continue to suffer. Foreign
assistance played a substantial role in the country's economic
turnaround in 1996-97. The government has adopted a series of
measures to combat some of the severe economic problems such as
excessive debt and inadequate revenue collection, encountered in
1998.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$9.8 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 1.8% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$2,200 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 47%
industry: 12%
services: 41% (1996 est.)
Population below poverty line: 40% (1993 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.7%
highest 10%: 26.2% (1993)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 18.4% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 1.7 million
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture and forestry 40%, industry
and construction 19%, other 41% (1995 est.)
Unemployment rate: 6% 1998 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $225 million
expenditures: $308 million, including capital expenditures of $11
million (1996 est.)
Industries: small machinery, textiles, food processing, cement,
shoes, sawn logs, refrigerators, furniture, electric motors, gold,
rare earth metals
Industrial production growth rate: 14% (1998 est.)
note: the gold industry spurted in 1998 giving industry as a whole a
boost on a small base while the rest of the economy, including
agriculture, lagged
Electricity--production: 13.49 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 9.56%
hydro: 90.44%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 10.92 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 6.32 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 3.75 billion kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: tobacco, cotton, potatoes, vegetables,
grapes, fruits and berries; sheep, goats, cattle, wool
Exports: $630 million (1998 est.)
Exports--commodities: cotton, wool, meat, tobacco; gold, mercury,
uranium, hydropower; machinery; shoes
Exports--partners: China, UK, FSU
Imports: $670 million (1998 est.)
Imports--commodities: grain, lumber, industrial products, ferrous
metals, fuel, machinery, textiles, footwear
Imports--partners: Turkey, Cuba, US, Germany
Debt--external: $935 million (1997 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $329.4 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Kyrgyzstani som (KGS) = 100 tyiyn
Exchange rates: soms (KGS) per US$1--30.25 (February 1999), 20.838
(1998), 17.362 (1997), 12.810 (1996), 10.822 (1995), 10.842 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 356,000 (1996 est.)
Telephone system: poorly developed; about 100,000 unsatisfied
applications for household telephones
domestic: principally microwave radio relay; one cellular provider,
probably only limited to Bishkek region
international: connections with other CIS countries by landline or
microwave radio relay and with other countries by leased connections
with Moscow international gateway switch and by satellite; satellite
earth stations--1 Intersputnik and 1 Intelsat; connected
internationally by the Trans-Asia-Europe Fiber-Optic Line
Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA; note--one
state-run radio broadcast station
Radios: 825,000 (radio receiver systems with multiple speakers
for program diffusion 748,000)
Television broadcast stations: NA (repeater stations throughout
the country relay programs from Russia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and
Turkey) (1997)
Televisions: 875,000
Transportation
Railways:
total: 370 km in common carrier service; does not include industrial
lines
broad gauge: 370 km 1.520-m gauge (1990)
Highways:
total: 18,500 km
paved: 16,854 km (including 140 km of expressways)
unpaved: 1,646 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 600 km (1990)
Pipelines: natural gas 200 km
Ports and harbors: Balykchy (Ysyk-Kol or Rybach'ye)
Airports: 54 (1994 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 14
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 9
under 914 m: 1 (1994 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 40
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 32 (1994 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, National Guard, Security Forces
(internal and border troops), Civil Defense
note: border troops controlled by Russia
Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 1,146,595 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 930,017 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 46,561 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $10.8 million (1996)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 1% (1996)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: territorial dispute with Tajikistan on
southwestern boundary in Isfara Valley area
Illicit drugs: limited illicit cultivator of cannabis and opium
poppy, mostly for CIS consumption; limited government eradication
program; increasingly used as transshipment point for illicit drugs
to Russia and Western Europe from Southwest Asia
======================================================================
@Laos
----
Geography
Location: Southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand, west of
Vietnam
Geographic coordinates: 18 00 N, 105 00 E
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area:
total: 236,800 sq km
land: 230,800 sq km
water: 6,000 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly larger than Utah
Land boundaries:
total: 5,083 km
border countries: Burma 235 km, Cambodia 541 km, China 423 km,
Thailand 1,754 km, Vietnam 2,130 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: tropical monsoon; rainy season (May to November); dry
season (December to April)
Terrain: mostly rugged mountains; some plains and plateaus
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Mekong River 70 m
highest point: Phou Bia 2,817 m
Natural resources: timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold,
gemstones
Land use:
arable land: 3%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 3%
forests and woodland: 54%
other: 40% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 1,250 sq km (1993 est.)
note: rainy season irrigation--2,169 sq km; dry season irrigation--750
sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards: floods, droughts, and blight
Environment--current issues: unexploded ordnance; deforestation;
soil erosion; a majority of the population does not have access to
potable water
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone
Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography--note: landlocked
People
Population: 5,407,453 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 45% (male 1,235,797; female 1,203,520)
15-64 years: 52% (male 1,360,991; female 1,434,378)
65 years and over: 3% (male 78,195; female 94,572) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.74% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 39.93 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 12.56 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 89.32 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 54.21 years
male: 52.63 years
female: 55.87 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.55 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Lao(s) or Laotian(s)
adjective: Lao or Laotian
Ethnic groups: Lao Loum (lowland) 68%, Lao Theung (upland) 22%,
Lao Soung (highland) including the Hmong ("Meo") and the Yao (Mien)
9%, ethnic Vietnamese/Chinese 1%
Religions: Buddhist 60%, animist and other 40%
Languages: Lao (official), French, English, and various ethnic
languages
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 60%
male: 70%
female: 48% (1998 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Lao People's Democratic Republic
conventional short form: Laos
local long form: Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao
local short form: none
Data code: LA
Government type: Communist state
Capital: Vientiane
Administrative divisions: 16 provinces (khoueng, singular and
plural), 1 municipality* (kampheng nakhon, singular and plural), and
1 special zone** (khetphiset, singular and plural); Attapu, Bokeo,
Bolikhamxai, Champasak, Houaphan, Khammouan, Louangnamtha,
Louangphabang, Oudomxai, Phongsali, Salavan, Savannakhet,
Viangchan*, Viangchan, Xaignabouli, Xaisomboun**, Xekong, Xiangkhoang
Independence: 19 July 1949 (from France)
National holiday: National Day, 2 December (1975) (proclamation
of the Lao People's Democratic Republic)
Constitution: promulgated 14 August 1991
Legal system: based on traditional customs, French legal norms
and procedures, and Socialist practice
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President KHAMTAI Siphandon (since 26 February
1998); Vice President OUDOM Khattiya (since 26 February 1998)
head of government: Prime Minister SISAVAT Keobounphan (since 26
February 1998); Senior Deputy Prime Minister BOUNGNANG Volachit
(since 20 April 1996); Deputy Prime Ministers KHAMPHOUI Keoboualapha
(since 15 August 1991), CHOUMMALI Saignason (since 26 February
1998), SOMSAVAT Lengsavad (since 26 February 1998)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president, approved
by the National Assembly
elections: president elected by the National Assembly for a
five-year term; election last held 21 December 1997 (next to be held
NA 2002); prime minister appointed by the president with the
approval of the National Assembly for a five-year term
election results: KHAMTAI Siphandon elected president; percent of
National Assembly vote--NA
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (99 seats;
members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms; note--by
presidential decree, on 27 October 1997, the number of seats
increased from 85 to 99)
elections: last held 21 December 1997 (next to be held NA 2002)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--LPRP
or LPRP-approved (independent, non-party members) 99
Judicial branch: People's Supreme Court, the president of the
People's Supreme Court is elected by the National Assembly on the
recommendation of the National Assembly Standing Committee, the vice
president of the People's Supreme Court and the judges are appointed
by the National Assembly Standing Committee
Political parties and leaders: Lao People's Revolutionary Party
proscribed
Political pressure groups and leaders: noncommunist political
groups proscribed; most opposition leaders fled the country in 1975
International organization participation: ACCT, AsDB, ASEAN, CP,
ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OPCW, PCA,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
(observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador VANG Rattanavong
chancery: 2222 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Wendy Jean CHAMBERLIN
embassy: Rue Bartholonie, B.P. 114, Vientiane
mailing address: American Embassy, Box V, APO AP 96546
Flag description: three horizontal bands of red (top), blue
(double width), and red with a large white disk centered in the blue
band
Economy
Economy--overview: The government of Laos?one of the few remaining
official communist states--has been decentralizing control and
encouraging private enterprise since 1986. The results, starting
from an extremely low base, have been striking--growth averaged 7% in
1988-96. Because Laos depends heavily on its trade with Thailand, it
fell victim to the financial crisis in the region beginning in 1997.
Laos is a landlocked country with a primitive infrastructure. It has
no railroads, a rudimentary road system, and limited external and
internal telecommunications. Electricity is available in only a few
urban areas. Subsistence agriculture accounts for half of GDP and
provides 80% of total employment. The predominant crop is glutinous
rice. In non-drought years, Laos is self-sufficient overall in food,
but each year flood, pests, and localized drought cause shortages in
various parts of the country. For the foreseeable future the economy
will continue to depend on aid from the IMF and other international
sources; Japan is currently the largest bilateral aid donor; aid
from the former USSR/Eastern Europe has been cut sharply. As in many
developing countries, deforestation and soil erosion will hamper
efforts to regain a high rate of GDP growth.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$6.6 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 4% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,260 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 51%
industry: 21%
services: 28% (1998 est.)
Population below poverty line: 46.1% (1993 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 4.2%
highest 10%: 26.4% (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 112% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 1 million-1.5 million
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 80% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate: 5.7% (1997 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $230.2 million
expenditures: $365.9 million, including capital expenditures of $317
million (1996)
Industries: tin and gypsum mining, timber, electric power,
agricultural processing, construction, garments
Industrial production growth rate: 8.9% (1998 est.)
Electricity--production: 900 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 0.04%
hydro: 99.96%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1998)
Electricity--consumption: 287 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 640 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 27 million kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: sweet potatoes, vegetables, corn, coffee,
sugarcane, tobacco, cotton; water buffalo, pigs, cattle, poultry
Exports: $330 million (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports--commodities: wood products, garments, electricity,
coffee, tin
Exports--partners: Vietnam, Thailand, Germany, France
Imports: $630 million (c.i.f., 1998)
Imports--commodities: machinery and equipment, vehicles, fuel
Imports--partners: Thailand, Japan, Vietnam, China, Singapore
Debt--external: $1.2 billion (1996)
Economic aid--recipient: $290 million (1998)
Currency: 1 new kip (NK) = 100 at
Exchange rates: new kips (NK) per US$1--4,217 (January 1999),
3,299.21 (1998), 1,256.73 (1997), 921.14 (1996), 804.69 (1995),
717.67 (1994)
note: as of September 1995, a floating exchange rate policy was
adopted
Fiscal year: 1 October--30 September
Communications
Telephones: 28,000 (1998 est.)
Telephone system: service to general public is poor but
improving, with over 28,000 telephones currently in service and an
additional 48,000 expected by 2001; the government relies on a
radiotelephone network to communicate with remote areas
domestic: radiotelephone communications
international: satellite earth station--1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean
Region)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 9, FM 5, shortwave 4 (1998)
Radios: 580,000 (1995)
Television broadcast stations: 4 (1997)
Televisions: 32,000 (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 21,716 km
paved: 9,673.5 km
unpaved: 12,042.5 km (1998 est.)
Waterways: about 4,587 km, primarily Mekong and tributaries;
2,897 additional kilometers are sectionally navigable by craft
drawing less than 0.5 m
Pipelines: petroleum products 136 km
Ports and harbors: none
Merchant marine:
total: 1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,370 GRT/3,000 DWT
(1998 est.)
Airports: 52 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 9
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 43
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 17
under 914 m: 25 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Lao People's Army (LPA; includes militia
element), Lao People's Navy (LPN; includes riverine element), Air
Force, National Police Department
Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 1,200,664 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 648,087 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 57,047 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $77.4 million (FY96/97)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 4.2% (FY96/97)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: parts of the border with Thailand are
indefinite
Illicit drugs: world's third-largest illicit opium producer
(estimated cultivation in 1998--26,100 hectares, a 7% decrease over
1997; estimated potential production in 1998--140 metric tons, a 33%
decrease over 1997); potential heroin producer; transshipment point
for heroin and methamphetamines produced in Burma; illicit producer
of cannabis
======================================================================
@Latvia
------
Introduction
Background: Along with most of the other small nations of Europe,
Latvia shares a history of invasion by a succession of expansionist
nations, e.g., Sweden, Poland, Germany, and Russia. After a brief
period of independence between the two World Wars, Latvia was
annexed by the USSR in 1940 under the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. The
USSR recaptured Latvia from its German occupiers in 1944. Latvia
reestablished its independence in August 1991, a few months prior to
the collapse of the Soviet Union; the last Russian troops left in
1994. The status of ethnic Russians, who make up 30% of the
population, is an issue of concern to Moscow. Unemployment has
become a growing problem and Latvia hopes to receive an invitation
to begin EU accession talks by the end of 1999.
Geography
Location: Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between
Estonia and Lithuania
Geographic coordinates: 57 00 N, 25 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area:
total: 64,589 sq km
land: 64,589 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly larger than West Virginia
Land boundaries:
total: 1,150 km
border countries: Belarus 141 km, Estonia 339 km, Lithuania 453 km,
Russia 217 km
Coastline: 531 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: maritime; wet, moderate winters
Terrain: low plain
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m
highest point: Gaizinkalns 312 m
Natural resources: minimal; amber, peat, limestone, dolomite
Land use:
arable land: 27%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 13%
forests and woodland: 46%
other: 14% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 160 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment--current issues: air and water pollution because of a
lack of waste conversion equipment; Gulf of Riga and Daugava River
heavily polluted; contamination of soil and groundwater with
chemicals and petroleum products at military bases
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
People
Population: 2,353,874 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 18% (male 216,369; female 207,242)
15-64 years: 67% (male 749,396; female 825,988)
65 years and over: 15% (male 114,038; female 240,841) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: -1.25% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 8.1 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 15.82 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -4.75 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.47 male(s)/female
total population: 0.85 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 17.19 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 67.3 years
male: 61.24 years
female: 73.66 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.18 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Latvian(s)
adjective: Latvian
Ethnic groups: Latvian 56.5%, Russian 30.4%, Byelorussian 4.3%,
Ukrainian 2.8%, Polish 2.6%, other 3.4%
Religions: Lutheran, Roman Catholic, Russian Orthodox
Languages: Lettish (official), Lithuanian, Russian, other
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 99% (1989 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Latvia
conventional short form: Latvia
local long form: Latvijas Republika
local short form: Latvija
former: Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic
Data code: LG
Government type: parliamentary democracy
Capital: Riga
Administrative divisions: 26 counties (singular--rajons) and 7
municipalities*: Aizkraukles Rajons, Aluksnes Rajons, Balvu Rajons,
Bauskas Rajons, Cesu Rajons, Daugavpils*, Daugavpils Rajons, Dobeles
Rajons, Gulbenes Rajons, Jekabpils Rajons, Jelgava*, Jelgavas
Rajons, Jurmala*, Kraslavas Rajons, Kuldigas Rajons, Leipaja*,
Liepajas Rajons, Limbazu Rajons, Ludzas Rajons, Madonas Rajons,
Ogres Rajons, Preilu Rajons, Rezekne*, Rezeknes Rajons, Riga*, Rigas
Rajons, Saldus Rajons, Talsu Rajons, Tukuma Rajons, Valkas Rajons,
Valmieras Rajons, Ventspils*, Ventspils Rajons
Independence: 6 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday: Independence Day, 18 November (1918)
Constitution: the 1991 Constitutional Law which supplements the
1922 constitution, provides for basic rights and freedoms
Legal system: based on civil law system
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal for Latvian citizens
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Guntis ULMANIS (since 7 July 1993)
head of government: Prime Minister Vilis KRISTOPANS (since 21
November 1998)
cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister and
appointed by the Parliament
elections: president elected by Parliament for a four-year term
(amended from a three-year term on 4 December 1997); election last
held 18 June 1996 (next to be held by NA June/July 1999); prime
minister appointed by the president
election results: Guntis ULMANIS elected president in the first
round of balloting; percent of parliamentary vote--Guntis ULMANIS
53%, Ilga KREITUSE 25%
Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Saeima (100 seats;
members are elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year
terms--amended from three-year term on 4 December 1997)
elections: last held 3 October 1998 (next to be held NA October 2002)
election results: percent of vote by party--People's Party 21%, LC
18%, TSP 14%, TVB/LNNK 14%, Social Democrats 13%, New Party 8%;
seats by party--People's Party 24, LC 21, TSP 16, TVB/LNNK 17, Social
Democrats 14, New Party 8
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges' appointments are
confirmed by Parliament
Political parties and leaders: New Party [Raimonds PAULS];
V. IVANOV]; Christian People's Party or KTP (formerly People's Front
ADAMSONS]
International organization participation: BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE,
EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM,
IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user),
Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, OAS
(observer), OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WEU
(associate partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Ojars Eriks KALNINS
chancery: 4325 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador James H. HOLMES
embassy: Raina Boulevard 7, LV-1510, Riga
mailing address: American Embassy Riga, PSC 78, Box Riga, APO AE
09723
Flag description: three horizontal bands of maroon (top), white
(half-width), and maroon
Economy
Economy--overview: Developments in 1998 include an invitation to
join the World Trade Organization (the first Baltic country
invited), GDP growth of 3.6% (down from 6% in 1997), and reduced
inflation at 4.7% (from 8.4% in 1997). The drop in GDP growth is
largely attributable to the impact of Russia's financial crisis and
reduced investment in emerging markets following the Asian financial
troubles. Unofficial sanctions that Russia imposed in the spring
initially hit Latvia's exporters--Russia is among Latvia's top three
trade partners--but also prompted them to seek alternative markets.
Latvia continued its strict fiscal and monetary policy, including
its second balanced budget and had a 1.8% budget surplus. Its draft
1999 budget is based on conservative projections of 2% to 4% GDP
growth and 4.5% inflation. Unemployment climbed to 9.2% in 1998, a
considerable increase over the 6.7% rate in 1997. Latvia continued
to have a high current account deficit, estimated at about 9%.
Privatization of large state utilities--especially the energy
sector--was postponed and is unlikely to resume before late 1999. EU
accession remains Latvia's top priority, and Latvia expects to be
invited to start EU accession talks by the end of 1999. Continued
troubles in the Russian and East Asian economies probably will hold
growth to around 2.5% in 1999.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$9.7 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 3.6% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$4,100 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 7%
industry: 28%
services: 65% (1997)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 4.3%
highest 10%: 22.1% (1993)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.7% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 1.4 million (1997)
Labor force--by occupation: industry 41%, agriculture and forestry
16%, services 43% (1990)
Unemployment rate: 9.2% (1998)
Budget:
revenues: $1.33 billion
expenditures: $1.27 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1998 est.)
Industries: buses, vans, street and railroad cars, synthetic
fibers, agricultural machinery, fertilizers, washing machines,
radios, electronics, pharmaceuticals, processed foods, textiles;
dependent on imports for energy, raw materials, and intermediate
products
Industrial production growth rate: 3% (1998 est.)
Electricity--production: 3.2 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 28.12%
hydro: 71.88%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 6.18 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 300 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 3.28 billion kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: grain, sugar beets, potatoes, vegetables;
beef, milk, eggs; fish
Exports: $1.9 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports--commodities: wood and wood products, machinery and
equipment, textiles, foodstuffs
Exports--partners: Russia 21%, Germany 14%, UK 14%, Sweden 8%
(1997)
Imports: $3.1 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports--commodities: fuels, machinery and equipment, chemicals
Imports--partners: Russia 16%, Germany 16%, Finland 10%, Sweden 8%
(1997)
Debt--external: $212 million (1998)
Economic aid--recipient: $96.2 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Latvian lat (LVL) = 100 santims
Exchange rates: lats (LVL) per US$1--0.570 (January 1999), 0.590
(1998), 0.581 (1997), 0.551 (1996), 0.528 (1995), 0.560 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 710,848 (1997)
Telephone system: Lattelekom is 51% state owned, plans to
privatize in 2000 to satisfy EU concerns; 50,000 people are on the
waiting list to receive telephone service; Internet service is
available throughout Latvia
domestic: local--two cellular service providers; NMT-450 and GSM
standards provide service nationwide; over 75% of population
covered; intercity--two synchronous digital hierarchy fiber-optic
rings form the national backbone; 11 digital switching centers, 3
service centers
international: Latvia has international fiber-optic connectivity to
Belarus, Estonia, Lithuania, and an undersea fiber-optic cable to
Sweden
Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA; note--there
are 25 stations of unknown type; 75% of commercial broadcasts must
be in the Latvian language; remainder mostly in Russian and European
languages
Radios: 1.4 million (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 30 (origin of TV broadcasts must
be 40% Latvian and 40% other European languages)
Televisions: NA; note--almost 100% of the population have TV
access, 16% have VCRs, and 20% have cable or satellite dishes (1995)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 2,412 km
broad gauge: 2,379 km 1.520-m gauge (271 km electrified) (1992)
narrow gauge: 33 km 0.750-m gauge (1994)
Highways:
total: 55,942 km
paved: 21,426 km
unpaved: 34,516 km (1997 est.)
Waterways: 300 km perennially navigable
Pipelines: crude oil 750 km; refined products 780 km; natural gas
560 km (1992)
Ports and harbors: Daugavpils, Liepaja, Riga, Ventspils
Merchant marine:
total: 11 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 42,429 GRT/44,583 DWT
ships by type: cargo 3, oil tanker 4, refrigerated cargo 3,
roll-on/roll-off cargo 1 (1998 est.)
Airports: 50 (1994 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 36
2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 27 (1994 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 14
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 10 (1994 est.)
Military
Military branches: Ground Forces, Navy, Air and Air Defense
Forces, Security Forces, Border Guard, Home Guard (Zemessardze)
Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 565,811 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 443,879 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 16,883 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $60 million (1999)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 0.9% (1999)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: draft treaty delimiting the boundary with
Russia has not been signed; ongoing talks over maritime boundary
dispute with Lithuania (primary concern is oil exploration rights)
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for opiates and cannabis from
Central and Southwest Asia to Western Europe and Scandinavia and
Latin American cocaine and some synthetics from Western Europe to
CIS; limited production of illicit amphetamines, ephedrine, and
ecstasy for export
======================================================================
@Lebanon
-------
Introduction
Background: Lebanon has made progress toward rebuilding its
political institutions and regaining its national sovereignty since
the end of the devastating 16-year civil war, which ended in 1991.
Under the Ta'if Accord--the blueprint for national reconciliation--the
Lebanese have established a more equitable political system,
particularly by giving Muslims a greater say in the political
process while institutionalizing sectarian divisions in the
government. Since the end of the civil war, the Lebanese have formed
six cabinets, conducted two legislative elections, and held their
first municipal elections in 35 years. Most of the militias have
been weakened or disbanded. The Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) has
seized vast quantities of weapons used by the militias during the
war and extended central government authority over about one-half of
the country. Hizballah, the radical Shi'a party, retains its
weapons. Foreign forces still occupy areas of Lebanon. Israel
maintains troops in southern Lebanon and continues to support a
proxy militia, the Army of South Lebanon (ASL), along a narrow
stretch of territory contiguous to its border. The ASL's enclave
encompasses this self-declared security zone and about 20 kilometers
north to the strategic town of Jazzin. Syria maintains about 25,000
troops in Lebanon based mainly in Beirut, North Lebanon, and the
Bekaa Valley. Syria's deployment was legitimized by the Arab League
during Lebanon's civil war and in the Ta'if Accord. Citing the
continued weakness of the LAF, Beirut's requests, and failure of the
Lebanese Government to implement all of the constitutional reforms
in the Ta'if Accord, Damascus has so far refused to withdraw its
troops from Lebanon.
Geography
Location: Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between
Israel and Syria
Geographic coordinates: 33 50 N, 35 50 E
Map references: Middle East
Area:
total: 10,400 sq km
land: 10,230 sq km
water: 170 sq km
Area--comparative: about 0.7 times the size of Connecticut
Land boundaries:
total: 454 km
border countries: Israel 79 km, Syria 375 km
Coastline: 225 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: Mediterranean; mild to cool, wet winters with hot, dry
summers; Lebanon mountains experience heavy winter snows
Terrain: narrow coastal plain; Al Biqa' (Bekaa Valley) separates
Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon Mountains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Jabal al Makmal 3,087 m
Natural resources: limestone, iron ore, salt, water-surplus state
in a water-deficit region
Land use:
arable land: 21%
permanent crops: 9%
permanent pastures: 1%
forests and woodland: 8%
other: 61% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 860 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: dust storms, sandstorms
Environment--current issues: deforestation; soil erosion;
desertification; air pollution in Beirut from vehicular traffic and
the burning of industrial wastes; pollution of coastal waters from
raw sewage and oil spills
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous
Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection,
Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Marine
Dumping, Marine Life Conservation
Geography--note: Nahr al Litani only major river in Near East not
crossing an international boundary; rugged terrain historically
helped isolate, protect, and develop numerous factional groups based
on religion, clan, and ethnicity
People
Population: 3,562,699 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 30% (male 535,596; female 515,776)
15-64 years: 64% (male 1,084,121; female 1,196,678)
65 years and over: 6% (male 105,133; female 125,395) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.61% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 22.5 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 6.45 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 30.53 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 70.93 years
male: 68.34 years
female: 73.66 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.25 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Lebanese (singular and plural)
adjective: Lebanese
Ethnic groups: Arab 95%, Armenian 4%, other 1%
Religions: Islam 70% (5 legally recognized Islamic groups--Alawite
or Nusayri, Druze, Isma'ilite, Shi'a, Sunni), Christian 30% (11
legally recognized Christian groups--4 Orthodox Christian, 6
Catholic, 1 Protestant), Judaism NEGL%
Languages: Arabic (official), French, English, Armenian widely
understood
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 86.4%
male: 90.8%
female: 82.2% (1997 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Lebanese Republic
conventional short form: Lebanon
local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Lubnaniyah
local short form: Lubnan
Data code: LE
Government type: republic
Capital: Beirut
Administrative divisions: 5 governorates (muhafazat,
singular--muhafazah); Al Biqa', Al Janub, Ash Shamal, Bayrut, Jabal
Lubnan
Independence: 22 November 1943 (from League of Nations mandate
under French administration)
National holiday: Independence Day, 22 November (1943)
Constitution: 23 May 1926, amended a number of times
Legal system: mixture of Ottoman law, canon law, Napoleonic code,
and civil law; no judicial review of legislative acts; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 21 years of age; compulsory for all males; authorized
for women at age 21 with elementary education
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Emile LAHUD (since 24 November 1998)
head of government: Prime Minister Salim al-HUSS (since 4 December
1998)
cabinet: Cabinet chosen by the prime minister in consultation with
the president and members of the National Assembly; the current
Cabinet was formed in 1998
elections: president elected by the National Assembly for a six-year
term; election last held 15 October 1998 (next to be held NA 2004);
prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the president
in consultation with the National Assembly; by custom, the president
is a Maronite Christian, the prime minister is a Sunni Muslim, and
the speaker of the legislature is a Shi'a Muslim
election results: Emile LAHUD elected president; National Assembly
vote--118 votes in favor, 0 against, 10 abstentions
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Majlis
Alnuwab (Arabic) or Assemblee Nationale (French) (128 seats; members
elected by popular vote on the basis of sectarian proportional
representation to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held in the summer of 1996 (next to be held NA 2000)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--NA
(one-half Christian and one-half Muslim)
Judicial branch: four Courts of Cassation (three courts for civil
and commercial cases and one court for criminal cases);
Constitutional Council (called for in Ta'if Accord) rules on
constitutionality of laws; Supreme Council (hears charges against
the president and prime minister as needed)
Political parties and leaders: political party activity is
organized along largely sectarian lines; numerous political
groupings exist, consisting of individual political figures and
followers motivated by religious, clan, and economic considerations
International organization participation: ABEDA, ACCT, AFESD, AL,
AMF, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU,
ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat,
Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC,
PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNRWA, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WToO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador-designate Farid ABBOUD
chancery: 2560 28th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: Detroit, New York, and Los Angeles
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador David SATTERFIELD
embassy: Antelias, Beirut
mailing address: P. O. Box 70-840, Beirut; PSC 815, Box 2, FPO AE
09836-0002
Flag description: three horizontal bands of red (top), white
(double width), and red with a green and brown cedar tree centered
in the white band
Economy
Economy--overview: The 1975-91 civil war seriously damaged
Lebanon's economic infrastructure, cut national output by half, and
all but ended Lebanon's position as a Middle Eastern entrepot and
banking hub. Peace has enabled the central government to restore
control in Beirut, begin collecting taxes, and regain access to key
port and government facilities. Economic recovery has been helped by
a financially sound banking system and resilient small- and
medium-scale manufacturers, with family remittances, banking
services, manufactured and farm exports, and international aid as
the main sources of foreign exchange. Lebanon's economy has made
impressive gains since the launch of "Horizon 2000," the
government's $20 billion reconstruction program in 1993. Real GDP
grew 8% in 1994 and 7% in 1995 before Israel's Operation Grapes of
Wrath in April 1996 stunted economic activity. During 1992-98,
annual inflation fell from more than 100% to 5%, and foreign
exchange reserves jumped to more than $6 billion from $1.4 billion.
Burgeoning capital inflows have generated foreign payments
surpluses, and the Lebanese pound has remained relatively stable.
Progress also has been made in rebuilding Lebanon's war-torn
physical and financial infrastructure. Solidere, a $2-billion firm,
is managing the reconstruction of Beirut's central business
district; the stock market reopened in January 1996; and
international banks and insurance companies are returning. The
government nonetheless faces serious challenges in the economic
arena. It has had to fund reconstruction by tapping foreign exchange
reserves and boosting borrowing. Reducing the government budget
deficit is a major goal of the LAHUD government. The stalled peace
process and ongoing violence in southern Lebanon could lead to wider
hostilities that would disrupt vital capital inflows. Furthermore,
the gap between rich and poor has widened in the 1990's, resulting
in grassroots dissatisfaction over the skewed distribution of the
reconstruction's benefits and leading the government to shift its
focus from rebuilding infrastructure to improving living conditions.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$15.8 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 3% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$4,500 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 4%
industry: 23%
services: 73% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 1 million
note: in addition, there are as many as 1 million foreign workers
(1996 est.)
Labor force--by occupation: services 62%, industry 31%,
agriculture 7% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate: 18% (1997 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $4.9 billion
expenditures: $7.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1998 est.)
Industries: banking; food processing; jewelry; cement; textiles;
mineral and chemical products; wood and furniture products; oil
refining; metal fabricating
Industrial production growth rate: 25% (1993 est.)
Electricity--production: 8.4 billion kWh (1997 est.)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 87.72%
hydro: 12.28%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 6.01 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 310 million kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: citrus, grapes, tomatoes, apples,
vegetables, potatoes, olives, tobacco, hemp (hashish); sheep, goats
Exports: $711 million (f.o.b., 1997)
Exports--commodities: foodstuffs and tobacco 20%, textiles 12%,
chemicals 11%, metal and metal products 11%, electrical equipment
and products 10%, jewelry 10%, paper and paper products 8% (1997)
Exports--partners: Saudi Arabia 14%, UAE 9%, France 7%, Syria 6%,
US 6%, Kuwait 4%, Jordan 4%, Turkey 4%
Imports: $7.5 billion (c.i.f., 1997)
Imports--commodities: foodstuffs 29%, machinery and transport
equipment 28%, consumer goods 18%, chemicals 9%, textiles 5%, metals
5%, fuels 3%, agricultural foods 3% (1997)
Imports--partners: Italy 13%, US 9%, France 9%, Germany 8%,
Switzerland 7%, Japan 4%, UK 4%, Syria 4% (1997)
Debt--external: $3 billion (1998 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $3.5 billion (pledges 1997-2001)
Currency: 1 Lebanese pound (LL) = 100 piasters
Exchange rates: Lebanese pounds (LL) per US$1--1,508.0 (January
1999), 1,516.1 (1998), 1,539.5 (1997), 1,571.4 (1996), 1,621.4
(1995), 1,680.1 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 150,000 (1990 est.)
Telephone system: telecommunications system severely damaged by
civil war; rebuilding well underway
domestic: primarily microwave radio relay and cable
international: satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean
and 1 Atlantic Ocean) (erratic operations); coaxial cable to Syria;
microwave radio relay to Syria but inoperable beyond Syria to
Jordan; 3 submarine coaxial cables
Radio broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 3, shortwave 1
note: government is licensing a limited number of the more than 100
AM and FM stations operated sporadically by various factions that
sprang up during the civil war
Radios: 2.37 million (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 28 (1997)
Televisions: 1.1 million (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 222 km
standard gauge: 222 km 1.435-m (from Beirut to the Syrian border)
Highways:
total: 6,270 km
paved: 6,270 km
unpaved: 0 km (1998 est.)
Pipelines: crude oil 72 km (none in operation)
Ports and harbors: Al Batrun, Al Mina', An Naqurah, Antilyas, Az
Zahrani, Beirut, Jubayl, Juniyah, Shikka, Sidon, Tripoli, Tyre
Merchant marine:
total: 64 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 267,562 GRT/403,252 DWT
ships by type: bulk 6, cargo 41, chemical tanker 1, combination bulk
1, combination ore/oil 1, container 3, livestock carrier 6,
roll-on/roll-off cargo 2, vehicle carrier 3 (1998 est.)
Airports: 9 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 7
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF; includes Army,
Navy, and Air Force)
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 925,834 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 573,093 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $445 million (1997)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 5% (1997)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: Israeli troops in southern Lebanon since
June 1982; Syrian troops in northern, central, and eastern Lebanon
since October 1976
Illicit drugs: inconsequential producer of hashish and heroin;
some heroine and cocaine processing mostly in the Bekaa valley; a
Lebanese/Syrian eradication campaign started in the early 1990s has
practically eliminated the opium and cannabis crops
======================================================================
@Lesotho
-------
Geography
Location: Southern Africa, an enclave of South Africa
Geographic coordinates: 29 30 S, 28 30 E
Map references: Africa
Area:
total: 30,350 sq km
land: 30,350 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than Maryland
Land boundaries:
total: 909 km
border countries: South Africa 909 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: temperate; cool to cold, dry winters; hot, wet summers
Terrain: mostly highland with plateaus, hills, and mountains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: junction of the Orange and Makhaleng Rivers 1,400 m
highest point: Thabana Ntlenyana 3,482 m
Natural resources: water, agricultural and grazing land, some
diamonds and other minerals
Land use:
arable land: 11%
permanent crops: NA%
permanent pastures: 66%
forests and woodland: NA%
other: 23% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 30 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: periodic droughts
Environment--current issues: population pressure forcing
settlement in marginal areas results in overgrazing, severe soil
erosion, and soil exhaustion; desertification; Highlands Water
Project controls, stores, and redirects water to South Africa
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Marine Life
Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine
Dumping
Geography--note: landlocked; surrounded by South Africa
People
Population: 2,128,950 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 40% (male 424,355; female 422,892)
15-64 years: 56% (male 573,285; female 610,636)
65 years and over: 4% (male 40,604; female 57,178) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.8% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 31.26 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 13.23 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 77.58 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 52.99 years
male: 51.37 years
female: 54.65 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.03 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Mosotho (singular), Basotho (plural)
adjective: Basotho
Ethnic groups: Sotho 99.7%, Europeans 1,600, Asians 800
Religions: Christian 80%, rest indigenous beliefs
Languages: Sesotho (southern Sotho), English (official), Zulu,
Xhosa
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 71.3%
male: 81.1%
female: 62.3% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Lesotho
conventional short form: Lesotho
former: Basutoland
Data code: LT
Government type: parliamentary constitutional monarchy
Capital: Maseru
Administrative divisions: 10 districts; Berea, Butha-Buthe,
Leribe, Mafeteng, Maseru, Mohales Hoek, Mokhotlong, Qacha's Nek,
Quthing, Thaba-Tseka
Independence: 4 October 1966 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 4 October (1966)
Constitution: 2 April 1993
Legal system: based on English common law and Roman-Dutch law;
judicial review of legislative acts in High Court and Court of
Appeal; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: King LETSIE III (since 7 February 1996, succeeded to
the throne following the death of his father, King MOSHOESHOE II, on
16 January 1996); note--King LETSIE III formerly occupied the throne
(November 1990 to February 1995) while his father was in exile
head of government: Prime Minister Pakalitha MOSISILI (since NA May
1998)
cabinet: Cabinet
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary, but, under the terms of
the constitution which came into effect after the March 1993
election, the monarch is a "living symbol of national unity" with no
executive or legislative powers; under traditional law the college
of chiefs has the power to determine who is next in the line of
succession, who shall serve as regent in the event that the
successor is not of mature age, and may even depose the monarch
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate
(33 members--22 principal chiefs and 11 other members appointed by
the ruling party) and the Assembly (80 seats; members elected by
popular vote for five-year terms); note--number of seats in the
Assembly rose from 65 to 80 in the May 1998 election
elections: last held 23 May 1998 (next to be held in late 1999 or
early 2000)
election results: percent of vote by party--LCD 61%; seats by
party--LCD 79, BCP 1
note: results contested; LCD, with only 61% of the vote, won 79 out
of 80 parliamentary seats based on a historical political consensus
for a "winner take all" formula
Judicial branch: High Court, chief justice appointed by the
monarch; Court of Appeal; Magistrate's Court; customary or
traditional court
Political parties and leaders:
MOSISILI, leader; Shakhane MOKHEHLE, secretary general]
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA,
FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW,
SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Dr. Eunice M. BULANE
chancery: 2511 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Katherine H. PETERSON
embassy: 254 Kingsway, Maseru West (Consular Section)
mailing address: P. O. Box 333, Maseru 100, Lesotho
Flag description: divided diagonally from the lower hoist side
corner; the upper half is white, bearing the brown silhouette of a
large shield with crossed spear and club; the lower half is a
diagonal blue band with a green triangle in the corner
Economy
Economy--overview: Small, landlocked, and mountainous, Lesotho's
only important natural resource is water. Its economy is based on
subsistence agriculture, livestock, and remittances from miners
employed in South Africa. The number of such mine workers has
declined steadily over the past several years. In 1996 their
remittances added about 33% to GDP compared with the addition of
roughly 67% in 1990. A small manufacturing base depends largely on
farm products which support the milling, canning, leather, and jute
industries. Agricultural products are exported primarily to South
Africa. Proceeds from membership in a common customs union with
South Africa form the majority of government revenue. Although
drought has decreased agricultural activity over the past few years,
completion of a major hydropower facility in January 1998 now
permits the sale of water to South Africa, generating royalties that
will be an important source of income for Lesotho. The pace of
parastatal privatization has increased in recent years. Civil
disorder in September 1998 destroyed 80% of the commercial
infrastructure in Maseru and two other major towns. Most firms were
not covered by insurance, and the rebuilding of small and medium
business will be a significant challenge in terms of both economic
growth and employment levels.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$5.1 billion (1997 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 10% (1997 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$2,400 (1997 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 14%
industry: 42%
services: 44% (1996 est.)
Population below poverty line: 49.2% (1993 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 0.9%
highest 10%: 43.4% (1986-87)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 8% (1997 est.)
Labor force: 689,000 economically active
Labor force--by occupation: 86% of resident population engaged in
subsistence agriculture; roughly 35% of the active male wage earners
work in South Africa
Unemployment rate: substantial unemployment and underemployment
effecting more than half of the labor force (1996 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $507 million
expenditures: $487 million, including capital expenditures of $170
million (FY96/97 est.)
Industries: food, beverages, textiles, handicrafts; construction;
tourism
Industrial production growth rate: 19.7% (1995)
Electricity--production: 0 kWh (1995)
note: electricity supplied by South Africa
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: NA%
hydro: NA%
nuclear: NA%
other: NA%
Electricity--consumption: 335 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 335 million kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: corn, wheat, pulses, sorghum, barley;
livestock
Exports: $200 million (f.o.b., 1997 est.)
Exports--commodities: manufactures 65% (clothing, footwear, road
vehicles), wool and mohair 7%, food and live animals 7% (1996)
Exports--partners: South African Customs Union 66%, North America
26%, EU 4% (1996)
Imports: $880 million (f.o.b., 1997 est.)
Imports--commodities: food; building materials, vehicles,
machinery, medicines, petroleum products (1995)
Imports--partners: South African Customs Union 90%, Asia 6%, EU 2%
(1995)
Debt--external: $660 million (1997 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $123.7 million (1995)
Currency: 1 loti (L) = 100 lisente
note: maloti (M) is the plural form of loti
Exchange rates: maloti (M) per US$1--5.98380 (January 1999),
5.52828 (1998), 4.60796 (1997), 4.29935 (1996), 3.62709 (1995),
3.55080 (1994); note--the Basotho loti is at par with the South
African rand
Fiscal year: 1 April--31 March
Communications
Telephones: 12,000 (1991 est.)
Telephone system: rudimentary system
domestic: consists of a few landlines, a small microwave radio relay
system, and a minor radiotelephone communication system
international: satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 4, shortwave 0
Radios: 66,000
Television broadcast stations: NA
Televisions: 11,000 (1992 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 2.6 km; note--owned by, operated by, and included in the
statistics of South Africa
narrow gauge: 2.6 km 1.067-m gauge (1995)
Highways:
total: 4,955 km
paved: 887 km
unpaved: 4,068 km (1996 est.)
Ports and harbors: none
Airports: 29 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 4
over 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 25
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 21 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Lesotho Defense Force (LDF; includes Army and
Air Wing), Royal Lesotho Mounted Police (RLMP)
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 504,442 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 271,925 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $NA
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: NA%
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
======================================================================
@Liberia
-------
Introduction
Background: The 1995 Abuja Peace Accords ended seven years of
civil warfare in Liberia. More than 20,000 of the estimated 33,000
factional fighters gave up their arms to the Cease-Fire Monitoring
Group of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOMOG).
Free and open presidential and legislative elections were held 19
July 1997; former faction leader, Charles TAYLOR, and his National
Patriotic Party won overwhelming victories. The years of civil
strife coupled with the flight of most business people disrupted
formal economic activity. A short-lived armed clash in September
1998 between government forces and supporters of factional leader
Roosevelt JOHNSON and continuing uncertainty about the security
situation have slowed the process of rebuilding the social and
economic structure of the war-torn country. For two centuries the US
has had uniquely close ties to Liberia and today is a major aid
donor.
Geography
Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean,
between Cote d'Ivoire and Sierra Leone
Geographic coordinates: 6 30 N, 9 30 W
Map references: Africa
Area:
total: 111,370 sq km
land: 96,320 sq km
water: 15,050 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly larger than Tennessee
Land boundaries:
total: 1,585 km
border countries: Guinea 563 km, Cote d'Ivoire 716 km, Sierra Leone
306 km
Coastline: 579 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 200 nm
Climate: tropical; hot, humid; dry winters with hot days and cool
to cold nights; wet, cloudy summers with frequent heavy showers
Terrain: mostly flat to rolling coastal plains rising to rolling
plateau and low mountains in northeast
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Wuteve 1,380 m
Natural resources: iron ore, timber, diamonds, gold
Land use:
arable land: 1%
permanent crops: 3%
permanent pastures: 59%
forests and woodland: 18%
other: 19% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 20 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: dust-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara
(December to March)
Environment--current issues: tropical rain forest subject to
deforestation; soil erosion; loss of biodiversity; pollution of
coastal waters from oil residue and raw sewage
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Desertification, Endangered Species, Nuclear Test Ban,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical
Timber 94
signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine
Life Conservation
People
Population: 2,923,725 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 45% (male 656,101; female 649,389)
15-64 years: 52% (male 775,429; female 738,904)
65 years and over: 3% (male 50,126; female 53,776) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 4.92% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 41.49 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 11.03 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 18.77 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
note: evidence from UNHCR indicates Liberians are being repatriated
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.93 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 100.63 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 59.88 years
male: 57.2 years
female: 62.64 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.02 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Liberian(s)
adjective: Liberian
Ethnic groups: indigenous African tribes 95% (including Kpelle,
Bassa, Gio, Kru, Grebo, Mano, Krahn, Gola, Gbandi, Loma, Kissi, Vai,
and Bella), Americo-Liberians 2.5% (descendants of immigrants from
the US who had been slaves)
Religions: traditional 70%, Muslim 20%, Christian 10%
Languages: English 20% (official), about 20 tribal languages, of
which a few can be written and are used in correspondence
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 38.3%
male: 53.9%
female: 22.4% (1995 est.)
note: these figures are increasing because of the improving school
system
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Liberia
conventional short form: Liberia
Data code: LI
Government type: republic
Capital: Monrovia
Administrative divisions: 13 counties; Bomi, Bong, Grand Bassa,
Grand Cape Mount, Grand Gedeh, Grand Kru, Lofa, Margibi, Maryland,
Montserrado, Nimba, River Cess, Sinoe
Independence: 26 July 1847
National holiday: Independence Day, 26 July (1847)
Constitution: 6 January 1986
Legal system: dual system of statutory law based on
Anglo-American common law for the modern sector and customary law
based on unwritten tribal practices for indigenous sector
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Charles Ghankay TAYLOR (since 2 August
1997); note--the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Charles Ghankay TAYLOR (since 2 August
1997); note--the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term
(renewable); election last held 19 July 1997 (next to be held NA
July 2001)
election results: Charles Ghankay TAYLOR elected president; percent
of vote--Charles Ghankay TAYLOR (NPP) 75.3%, Ellen Johnson SIRLEAF
(UP) 9.6%, Alhaji KROMAH (ALCOP) 4%, other 11.1%
Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly consists of the
Senate (26 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year
terms) and the House of Representatives (64 seats; members elected
by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: Senate--last held 19 July 1997 (next to be held in NA
2001); House of Representatives--last held 19 July 1997 (next to be
held in NA 2001)
election results: Senate--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by
party--NPP 21, UP 3, ALCOP 2; House of Representatives--percent of
vote by party--NA; seats by party--NPP 49, UP 7, ALCOP 3, Alliance of
Political Parties 2, UPP 2, LPP 1; note--the Alliance of Political
Parties was a coalition of the LAP and the LUP
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
TAYLOR]
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA,
ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat (nonsignatory user),
Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Rachel DIGGS
chancery: 5201 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Donald
PETTERSON
embassy: 111 United Nations Drive, Mamba Point, Monrovia
mailing address: use embassy street address
Flag description: 11 equal horizontal stripes of red (top and
bottom) alternating with white; there is a white five-pointed star
on a blue square in the upper hoist-side corner; the design was
based on the US flag
Economy
Economy--overview: A civil war in 1989-97 has destroyed much of
Liberia's economy, especially the infrastructure in and around
Monrovia. Many businessmen have fled the country, taking capital and
expertise with them. Some returned during 1997. Many will not
return. Richly endowed with water, mineral resources, forests, and a
climate favorable to agriculture, Liberia had been a producer and
exporter of basic products, while local manufacturing, mainly
foreign owned, had been small in scope. The democratically elected
government, installed in August 1997, inherited massive
international debts and currently relies on revenues from its
maritime registry to provide the bulk of its foreign exchange
earnings. The restoration of the infrastructure and the raising of
incomes in this ravaged economy depends on the implementation of
sound macro- and micro-economic policies of the new government,
including the encouragement of foreign investment.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$2.8 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: NA%
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,000 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 30%
industry: 36%
services: 34%
Population below poverty line: 80%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 70%
Unemployment rate: 70%
Budget:
revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA
Industries: rubber processing, palm oil processing, diamonds
Industrial production growth rate: 0%
Electricity--production: 480 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 480 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: rubber, coffee, cocoa, rice, cassava
(tapioca), palm oil, sugarcane, bananas; sheep, goats; timber
Exports: $1.1 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Exports--commodities: diamonds, iron ore, rubber, timber, coffee
Exports--partners: Belgium, Norway, Ukraine, Singapore (1997)
Imports: $3.65 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Imports--commodities: fuels, chemicals, machinery, transportation
equipment, manufactured goods; rice and other foodstuffs
Imports--partners: South Korea, Japan, Italy, Singapore (1997)
Debt--external: $2 billion (1997 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $122.8 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Liberian dollar (L$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Liberian dollars (L$) per US$1--1.0000 (officially
fixed rate since 1940); market exchange rate: Liberian dollars (L$)
per US$1--40 (December 1998), 50 (October 1995), 7 (January 1992);
market rate floats against the US dollar
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: fewer than 25,000 (1998 est.)
Telephone system: telephone and telegraph service via microwave
radio relay network; main center is Monrovia
domestic: NA
international: satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 10, shortwave 0
note: two of the FM radio stations are limited to a small area
Radios: 675,000 (1995 est.); note--10,000 windup radios were
distributed in the country prior to the 1997 election
Television broadcast stations: 1 (in addition, there are four
low-power repeaters; the station is located in Monrovia) (1997)
Televisions: 56,000 (1995 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 480 km (328 km single track); note--three rail systems owned
and operated by foreign steel and financial interests in conjunction
with the Liberian Government; one of these, the Lamco Railroad,
closed in 1989 after iron ore production ceased; the other two were
shut down by the civil war; large sections of the rail lines have
been dismantled; approximately 60 km of railroad track was exported
for scrap
standard gauge: NA km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: NA km 1.067-m gauge
Highways:
total: 10,037 km (there is major deterioration on all highways due
to lack of maintenance since the civil war began)
paved: 603 km
unpaved: 9,434 km (1996 est.)
Ports and harbors: Buchanan, Greenville, Harper, Monrovia
Merchant marine:
total: 1,651 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 59,804,012
GRT/96,650,752 DWT
ships by type: barge carrier 4, bulk 408, cargo 106, chemical tanker
176, combination bulk 25, combination ore/oil 50, container 193,
liquefied gas tanker 89, multifunction large-load carrier 2, oil
tanker 413, passenger 37, refrigerated cargo 69, roll-on/roll-off
cargo 19, short-sea passenger 3, specialized tanker 12, vehicle
carrier 45
note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 54
countries among which are Germany 186, US 161, Norway 142, Greece
144, Japan 124, Hong Kong 100, China 53, UK 32, Singapore 39, and
Monaco 38 (1998 est.)
Airports: 45 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 2
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 43
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 35 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Air Force, Navy
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 667,032 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 356,825 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $1.4 million (1998)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 2% (1998)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
Illicit drugs: increasingly a transshipment point for Southeast
and Southwest Asian heroin and South American cocaine for the
European and US markets
======================================================================
@Libya
-----
Geography
Location: Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea,
between Egypt and Tunisia
Geographic coordinates: 25 00 N, 17 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area:
total: 1,759,540 sq km
land: 1,759,540 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly larger than Alaska
Land boundaries:
total: 4,383 km
border countries: Algeria 982 km, Chad 1,055 km, Egypt 1,150 km,
Niger 354 km, Sudan 383 km, Tunisia 459 km
Coastline: 1,770 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
note: Gulf of Sidra closing line--32 degrees 30 minutes north
Climate: Mediterranean along coast; dry, extreme desert interior
Terrain: mostly barren, flat to undulating plains, plateaus,
depressions
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Sabkhat Ghuzayyil -47 m
highest point: Bikku Bitti 2,267 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, gypsum
Land use:
arable land: 1%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 8%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 91% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 4,700 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: hot, dry, dust-laden ghibli is a southern wind
lasting one to four days in spring and fall; dust storms, sandstorms
Environment--current issues: desertification; very limited natural
fresh water resources; the Great Manmade River Project, the largest
water development scheme in the world, is being built to bring water
from large aquifers under the Sahara to coastal cities
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Desertification, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone
Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the
Sea
People
Population: 4,992,838 (July 1999 est.)
note: includes 161,251 non-nationals (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 36% (male 930,661; female 891,046)
15-64 years: 60% (male 1,545,958; female 1,437,120)
65 years and over: 4% (male 93,726; female 94,327) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.4% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 27.33 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 3.35 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.99 male(s)/female
total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 28.15 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.73 years
male: 73.81 years
female: 77.74 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.79 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Libyan(s)
adjective: Libyan
Ethnic groups: Berber and Arab 97%, Greeks, Maltese, Italians,
Egyptians, Pakistanis, Turks, Indians, Tunisians
Religions: Sunni Muslim 97%
Languages: Arabic, Italian, English, all are widely understood in
the major cities
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 76.2%
male: 87.9%
female: 63% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya
conventional short form: Libya
local long form: Al Jumahiriyah al Arabiyah al Libiyah ash Shabiyah
al Ishtirakiyah
local short form: none
Data code: LY
Government type: Jamahiriya (a state of the masses) in theory,
governed by the populace through local councils; in fact, a military
dictatorship
Capital: Tripoli
Administrative divisions: 25 municipalities (baladiyat,
singular--baladiyah); Ajdabiya, Al 'Aziziyah, Al Fatih, Al Jabal al
Akhdar, Al Jufrah, Al Khums, Al Kufrah, An Nuqat al Khams, Ash
Shati', Awbari, Az Zawiyah, Banghazi, Darnah, Ghadamis, Gharyan,
Misratah, Murzuq, Sabha, Sawfajjin, Surt, Tarabulus, Tarhunah,
Tubruq, Yafran, Zlitan
note: the 25 municipalities may have been replaced by 13 regions
Independence: 24 December 1951 (from Italy)
National holiday: Revolution Day, 1 September (1969)
Constitution: 11 December 1969, amended 2 March 1977
Legal system: based on Italian civil law system and Islamic law;
separate religious courts; no constitutional provision for judicial
review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state: Revolutionary Leader Col. Muammar Abu Minyar
al-QADHAFI (since 1 September 1969); note--holds no official title,
but is de facto chief of state
head of government: Secretary of the General People's Committee
(Premier) Muhammad Ahmad al-MANQUSH (since NA January 1998)
cabinet: General People's Committee established by the General
People's Congress
elections: national elections are indirect through a hierarchy of
peoples' committees; head of government elected by the General
People's Congress; election last held NA (next to be held NA)
election results: Muhammad Ahmad al-MANQUSH elected head of
government; percent of General People's Congress vote--NA
Legislative branch: unicameral General People's Congress (NA
seats; members elected indirectly through a hierarchy of peoples'
committees)
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: none
Political pressure groups and leaders: various Arab nationalist
movements with almost negligible memberships may be functioning
clandestinely, as well as some Islamic elements
International organization participation: ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AL,
AMF, AMU, CAEU, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA,
IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO,
ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OAU, OIC, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UNITAR, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO
Diplomatic representation in the US: Libya does not have an
embassy in the US
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US suspended all
embassy activities in Tripoli on 2 May 1980
Flag description: plain green; green is the traditional color of
Islam (the state religion)
Economy
Economy--overview: The socialist-oriented economy depends
primarily upon revenues from the oil sector, which contributes
practically all export earnings and about one-third of GDP. These
oil revenues and a small population give Libya one of the highest
per capita GDPs in Africa, but little of this income flows down to
the lower orders of society. Low oil prices in 1998 cut back revenue
sharply, and GDP growth fell by 1%. In this statist society, import
restrictions and inefficient resource allocations have led to
periodic shortages of basic goods and foodstuffs. The nonoil
manufacturing and construction sectors, which account for about 20%
of GDP, have expanded from processing mostly agricultural products
to include the production of petrochemicals, iron, steel, and
aluminum. Agriculture accounts for only 5% of GDP; it employs 18% of
the labor force. Climatic conditions and poor soils severely limit
farm output, and Libya imports about 75% of its food requirements.
The UN sanctions imposed in April 1992 do not have a major impact on
the economy although they have increased transaction and
transportation costs.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$38 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: -1% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$6,700 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 5%
industry: 55%
services: 40% (1996 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 24.2% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 1 million
Labor force--by occupation: industry 31%, services 27%, government
24%, agriculture 18%
Unemployment rate: 30% (1998 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $3.6 billion
expenditures: $5.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1998 est.)
Industries: petroleum, food processing, textiles, handicrafts,
cement
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: 17 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 17 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: wheat, barley, olives, dates, citrus,
vegetables, peanuts; beef, eggs
Exports: $6.8 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Exports--commodities: crude oil, refined petroleum products,
natural gas
Exports--partners: Italy, Germany, Spain, France, Turkey, Greece,
Egypt
Imports: $6.9 billion (c.i.f., 1998 est.)
Imports--commodities: machinery, transport equipment, food,
manufactured goods
Imports--partners: Italy, Germany, UK, France, Spain, Turkey,
Tunisia, Eastern Europe
Debt--external: $4 billion (1998 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $8.4 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Libyan dinar (LD) = 1,000 dirhams
Exchange rates: Libyan dinars (LD) per US$1--0.3799 (November
1998), 0.3891 (1997), 0.3651 (1996), 0.3532 (1995), 0.3596 (1994);
official rate: 0.45 (December 1998)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 411,000 (1999 est.)
Telephone system: telecommunications system is being modernized;
cellular telephone system became operational in 1996
domestic: microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, cellular,
tropospheric scatter, and a domestic satellite system with 14 earth
stations
international: satellite earth stations--4 Intelsat, NA Arabsat, and
NA Intersputnik; submarine cables to France and Italy; microwave
radio relay to Tunisia and Egypt; tropospheric scatter to Greece;
participant in Medarabtel
Radio broadcast stations: AM 17, FM 3, shortwave 3 (1998 est.)
Radios: 1 million (1998 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 12 (in addition, there is one
low-power repeater) (1997)
Televisions: 550,000 (1998 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
note: Libya has had no railroad in operation since 1965, all
previous systems having been dismantled; current plans are to
construct a 1.435-m standard gauge line from the Tunisian frontier
to Tripoli and Misratah, then inland to Sabha, center of a
mineral-rich area, but there has been no progress; other plans made
jointly with Egypt would establish a rail line from As Sallum,
Egypt, to Tobruk with completion set for mid-1994; no progress has
been reported
Highways:
total: 83,200 km
paved: 47,590 km
unpaved: 35,610 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: none
Pipelines: crude oil 4,383 km; petroleum products 443 km
(includes liquefied petroleum gas or LPG 256 km); natural gas 1,947
km
Ports and harbors: Al Khums, Banghazi, Darnah, Marsa al Burayqah,
Misratah, Ra's Lanuf, Tobruk, Tripoli, Zuwarah
Merchant marine:
total: 30 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 588,928 GRT/989,662 DWT
ships by type: cargo 9, chemical tanker 1, liquefied gas tanker 3,
oil tanker 9, roll-on/roll-off cargo 4, short-sea passenger 4 (1998
est.)
Airports: 143 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 60
over 3,047 m: 24
2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 22
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 3 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 83
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 15
914 to 1,523 m: 42
under 914 m: 19 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Command
Military manpower--military age: 17 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 1,372,261 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 816,186 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 62,098 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $NA
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: NA%
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: maritime boundary dispute with Tunisia;
Libya claims about 19,400 sq km in northern Niger and part of
southeastern Algeria
======================================================================
@Liechtenstein
-------------
Geography
Location: Central Europe, between Austria and Switzerland
Geographic coordinates: 47 10 N, 9 32 E
Map references: Europe
Area:
total: 160 sq km
land: 160 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
total: 76 km
border countries: Austria 35 km, Switzerland 41 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: continental; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow or
rain; cool to moderately warm, cloudy, humid summers
Terrain: mostly mountainous (Alps) with Rhine Valley in western
third
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Ruggeller Riet 430 m
highest point: Grauspitz 2,599 m
Natural resources: hydroelectric potential
Land use:
arable land: 24%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 16%
forests and woodland: 35%
other: 25% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: NA
Environment--current issues: NA
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air
Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection,
Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea
Geography--note: along with Uzbekistan, one of only two doubly
landlocked countries in the world; variety of microclimatic
variations based on elevation
People
Population: 32,057 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 19% (male 3,076; female 2,949)
15-64 years: 70% (male 11,209; female 11,247)
65 years and over: 11% (male 1,484; female 2,092) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.08% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 12.23 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 7.33 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 5.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 5.23 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.11 years
male: 75.64 years
female: 80.69 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.6 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Liechtensteiner(s)
adjective: Liechtenstein
Ethnic groups: Alemannic 87.5%, Italian, Turkish, and other 12.5%
Religions: Roman Catholic 80%, Protestant 7.4%, unknown 7.7%,
other 4.9% (1996)
Languages: German (official), Alemannic dialect
Literacy:
definition: age 10 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100% (1981 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Principality of Liechtenstein
conventional short form: Liechtenstein
local long form: Fuerstentum Liechtenstein
local short form: Liechtenstein
Data code: LS
Government type: hereditary constitutional monarchy
Capital: Vaduz
Administrative divisions: 11 communes (Gemeinden,
singular--Gemeinde); Balzers, Eschen, Gamprin, Mauren, Planken,
Ruggell, Schaan, Schellenberg, Triesen, Triesenberg, Vaduz
Independence: 23 January 1719 (Imperial Principality of
Liechtenstein established)
National holiday: Assumption Day, 15 August
Constitution: 5 October 1921
Legal system: local civil and penal codes; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 20 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Prince Hans ADAM II (since 13 November 1989, assumed
executive powers 26 August 1984); Heir Apparent Prince ALOIS von und
zu Liechtenstein, son of the monarch (born 11 June 1968)
head of government: Head of Government Mario FRICK (since 15
December 1993) and Deputy Head of Government Michael RITTER (since 2
February 1997)
cabinet: Cabinet elected by the Diet; confirmed by the monarch
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; following legislative
elections, the leader of the majority party in the Diet is usually
appointed the head of government by the monarch and the leader of
the largest minority party in the Diet is usually appointed the
deputy head of government by the monarch
Legislative branch: unicameral Diet or Landtag (25 seats; members
are elected by direct popular vote under proportional representation
to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held on 2 February 1997 (next to be held by NA 2001)
election results: percent of vote by party--VU 50.1%, FBPL 41.3%, FL
8.5%; seats by party - VU 13, FBPL 10, FL 2
Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Oberster Gerichtshof; Superior
Court or Obergericht
Political parties and leaders: Fatherland Union or VU [Dr. Oswald
International organization participation: CE, EBRD, ECE, EFTA,
IAEA, ICRM, IFRCS, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, OPCW, OSCE, PCA,
UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WCL, WIPO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: Liechtenstein does not have
an embassy in the US, but is represented by the Swiss embassy in
routine diplomatic matters
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an
embassy in Liechtenstein, but the US Ambassador to Switzerland is
also accredited to Liechtenstein
Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and
red with a gold crown on the hoist side of the blue band
Economy
Economy--overview: Despite its small size and limited natural
resources, Liechtenstein has developed into a prosperous, highly
industrialized, free-enterprise economy with a vital financial
service sector and living standards on a par with the urban areas of
its large European neighbors. Low business taxes--the maximum tax
rate is 18%--and easy incorporation rules have induced about 73,700
holding or so-called letter box companies to establish nominal
offices in Liechtenstein, providing 30% of state revenues. The
country participates in a customs union with Switzerland and uses
the Swiss franc as its national currency. It imports more than 90%
of its energy requirements. Liechtenstein is a member of the
European Economic Area (an organization serving as a bridge between
European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and EU) since May 1995. The
government is working to harmonize its economic policies with those
of an integrated Europe.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$730 million (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: NA%
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$23,000 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.5% (1997 est.)
Labor force: 22,891 of which 13,847 are foreigners; 8,231 commute
from Austria and Switzerland to work each day
Labor force--by occupation: industry, trade, and building 45%,
services 53%, agriculture, fishing, forestry, and horticulture 2%
(1997 est.)
Unemployment rate: 1.6% (1997)
Budget:
revenues: $455 million
expenditures: $435 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1996 est.)
Industries: electronics, metal manufacturing, textiles, ceramics,
pharmaceuticals, food products, precision instruments, tourism
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: 150 million kWh (1995)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: NA%
hydro: NA%
nuclear: NA%
other: NA%
Electricity--consumption: NA kWh
Electricity--exports: NA kWh
Electricity--imports: NA kWh
Agriculture--products: wheat, barley, maize, potatoes; livestock,
dairy products
Exports: $2.47 billion (1996)
Exports--commodities: small specialty machinery, dental products,
stamps, hardware, pottery
Exports--partners: EU and EFTA countries 60.57% (Switzerland
15.7%) (1995)
Imports: $917.3 million (1996)
Imports--commodities: machinery, metal goods, textiles,
foodstuffs, motor vehicles
Imports--partners: EU countries, Switzerland (1996)
Debt--external: $0 (1996)
Economic aid--recipient: none
Currency: 1 Swiss franc, franken, or franco (SwF) = 100 centimes,
rappen, or centesimi
Exchange rates: Swiss francs, franken, or franchi (SwF) per
US$1--1.3837 (January 1999), 1.4498 (1998), 1.4513 (1997), 1.2360
(1996), 1.1825 (1995), 1.3677 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 22,857 (1996 est.)
Telephone system: automatic telephone system
domestic: NA
international: linked to Swiss networks by cable and microwave radio
relay
Radio broadcast stations: 1 broadcast station in Triesen
note: linked to Swiss networks
Radios: 12,134 (1996)
Television broadcast stations: NA (linked to Swiss networks)
(1997)
Televisions: 11,785 (1996)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 18.5 km; note--owned, operated, and included in statistics of
Austrian Federal Railways
standard gauge: 18.5 km 1.435-m gauge (electrified)
Highways:
total: 250 km
paved: 250 km
unpaved: 0 km
Ports and harbors: none
Airports: none
Military
Military--note: defense is the responsibility of Switzerland
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: claims 1,600 sq km of property in the
Czech Republic confiscated from its royal family in 1918; the Czech
Republic insists that restitution does not go back before February
1948, when the communists seized power
======================================================================
@Lithuania
---------
Geography
Location: Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between
Latvia and Russia
Geographic coordinates: 56 00 N, 24 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area:
total: 65,200 sq km
land: 65,200 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly larger than West Virginia
Land boundaries:
total: 1,273 km
border countries: Belarus 502 km, Latvia 453 km, Poland 91 km,
Russia (Kaliningrad) 227 km
Coastline: 99 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: transitional, between maritime and continental; wet,
moderate winters and summers
Terrain: lowland, many scattered small lakes, fertile soil
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m
highest point: Juozapines/Kalnas 292 m
Natural resources: peat
Land use:
arable land: 35%
permanent crops: 12%
permanent pastures: 7%
forests and woodland: 31%
other: 15% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 430 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment--current issues: contamination of soil and groundwater
with petroleum products and chemicals at military bases
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
People
Population: 3,584,966 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 20% (male 365,149; female 350,070)
15-64 years: 67% (male 1,156,161; female 1,239,145)
65 years and over: 13% (male 160,963; female 313,478) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: -0.4% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 10.52 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 12.93 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.58 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.51 male(s)/female
total population: 0.88 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 14.71 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 68.96 years
male: 62.91 years
female: 75.31 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.45 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Lithuanian(s)
adjective: Lithuanian
Ethnic groups: Lithuanian 80.6%, Russian 8.7%, Polish 7%,
Byelorussian 1.6%, other 2.1%
Religions: primarily Roman Catholic, others include Lutheran,
Russian Orthodox, Protestant, evangelical Christian Baptist, Islam,
Judaism
Languages: Lithuanian (official), Polish, Russian
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98%
male: 99%
female: 98% (1989 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Lithuania
conventional short form: Lithuania
local long form: Lietuvos Respublika
local short form: Lietuva
former: Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic
Data code: LH
Government type: parliamentary democracy
Capital: Vilnius
Administrative divisions: 44 regions (rajonai, singular--rajonas)
and 11 municipalities*: Akmenes Rajonas, Alytaus Rajonas, Alytus*,
Anyksciu Rajonas, Birstonas*, Birzu Rajonas, Druskininkai*,
Ignalinos Rajonas, Jonavos Rajonas, Joniskio Rajonas, Jurbarko
Rajonas, Kaisiadoriu Rajonas, Kaunas*, Kauno Rajonas, Kedainiu
Rajonas, Kelmes Rajonas, Klaipeda*, Klaipedos Rajonas, Kretingos
Rajonas, Kupiskio Rajonas, Lazdiju Rajonas, Marijampole*,
Marijampoles Rajonas, Mazeikiu Rajonas, Moletu Rajonas, Neringa*
Pakruojo Rajonas, Palanga*, Panevezio Rajonas, Panevezys*, Pasvalio
Rajonas, Plunges Rajonas, Prienu Rajonas, Radviliskio Rajonas,
Raseiniu Rajonas, Rokiskio Rajonas, Sakiu Rajonas, Salcininku
Rajonas, Siauliai*, Siauliu Rajonas, Silales Rajonas, Silutes
Rajonas, Sirvintu Rajonas, Skuodo Rajonas, Svencioniu Rajonas,
Taurages Rajonas, Telsiu Rajonas, Traku Rajonas, Ukmerges Rajonas,
Utenos Rajonas, Varenos Rajonas, Vilkaviskio Rajonas, Vilniaus
Rajonas, Vilnius*, Zarasu Rajonas
Independence: 6 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday: Statehood Day, 16 February (1918)
Constitution: adopted 25 October 1992
Legal system: based on civil law system; no judicial review of
legislative acts
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Valdas ADAMKUS (since 26 February 1998)
head of government: Premier Gediminas VAGNORIUS (since 28 November
1996)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the
nomination of the premier
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 21 December 1997 and 5 January 1998 (next to be
held NA 2003); premier appointed by the president on the approval of
the Parliament
election results: Valdas ADAMKUS elected president; percent of
vote--Valdas ADAMKUS 50.37%, Arturas PAULAUSKAS 49.7%
Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Seimas (141 seats,
71 members are directly elected by popular vote, 70 are elected by
proportional representation; members serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 20 October and 10 November 1996 (next to be
held NA October 2000)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--TS 69,
LKDP 15, LCS 15, LDDP 12, LSDP 10, DP 2, independents 12, others 6
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges appointed by the
Parliament; Court of Appeal, judges appointed by the Parliament
Political parties and leaders: Christian Democratic Party or LKDP
Political pressure groups and leaders: Lithuanian Future Forum
International organization participation: BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE,
EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU,
ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user),
Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, OPCW, OSCE,
PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WEU (associate partner), WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Stasys SAKALAUSKAS
chancery: 2622 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
consulate(s) general: Chicago and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Keith C. SMITH
embassy: Akmenu 6, 2600 Vilnius
mailing address: American Embassy, Vilnius, PSC 78, Box V, APO AE
09723
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of yellow (top),
green, and red
Economy
Economy--overview: Lithuania has benefited from its disciplined
approach to market reform and its adherence to strict fiscal and
monetary policies imposed by the IMF, measures that have helped
constrain the growth of the money supply, reduce inflation to 5.1%,
and support GDP growth of 6% in 1997 and 4.5% in 1998. Foreign
direct investment and the privatization program maintained their
momentum in 1998. However, the current account deficit has hovered
around 8% to 10% of GDP annually since 1995--the result of greater
demand for consumer goods and falling growth in exports. Reducing
this deficit is the immediate economic challenge for 1999.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$17.6 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 4.5% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$4,900 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 13%
industry: 32%
services: 55% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.4%
highest 10%: 28% (1993)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5.1% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 1.8 million
Labor force--by occupation: industry and construction 42%,
agriculture and forestry 20%, other 38% (1997)
Unemployment rate: 6.7% (January 1998)
Budget:
revenues: $1.5 billion
expenditures: $1.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1997 est.)
Industries: metal-cutting machine tools, electric motors,
television sets, refrigerators and freezers, petroleum refining,
shipbuilding (small ships), furniture making, textiles, food
processing, fertilizers, agricultural machinery, optical equipment,
electronic components, computers, amber
Industrial production growth rate: 4.7% (1998 est.)
Electricity--production: 14.51 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 9.65%
hydro: 3.03%
nuclear: 87.32%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 9.58 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 5.23 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 300 million kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: grain, potatoes, sugar beets, flax,
vegetables; beef, milk, eggs; fish
Exports: $4.2 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports--commodities: machinery and equipment 19%, mineral
products 16%, textiles 15%, chemicals 8%, foodstuffs 8% (1997)
Exports--partners: Russia 24%, Germany 11%, Belarus 10%, Latvia
9%, Ukraine 9% (1997)
Imports: $5.9 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports--commodities: machinery and equipment 30%, mineral
products 18%, chemicals 9%, textiles 8%, foodstuffs (1997)
Imports--partners: Russia 24%, Germany 19%, Poland, Denmark,
Finland (1997)
Debt--external: $NA
Economic aid--recipient: $228.5 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Lithuanian litas = 100 centas
Exchange rates: litai per US$1--4.000 (fixed rate since 1 May
1994), 3.978 (1994), 4.344 (1993), 1.773 (1992)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 1.08 million (1998)
Telephone system: the Ministry of Communications and Informatics,
Ministry of Defense, and Ministry of Internal Affairs oversee
Lithuania's telecommunications; the national operator is Lietuvos
Telomas; Internet is available
domestic: local--three cellular service providers; NMT-450 and GSM
standards provide services nationwide; 80% of customers are on the
two GSM networks; 157,000 cellular customers; intercity--Lithuania is
close to completing its fiber-optic backbone consisting of two small
rings inside a larger ring
international: Lithuania has international fiber-optic connectivity
to Latvia, Poland, and an undersea fiber-optic cable to Sweden
Radio broadcast stations: AM 13, FM 26, shortwave 1
Radios: 1.42 million (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 3
Televisions: NA; note--93% of the population have TV, 30% have
cable or satellite dish, and 16% own VCRs (1996)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 2,002 km
broad gauge: 2,002 km 1.524-m gauge (122 km electrified) (1994)
Highways:
total: 68,161 km
paved: 60,527 km (including 410 km of expressways)
unpaved: 7,634 km (1997 est.)
Waterways: 600 km perennially navigable
Pipelines: crude oil, 105 km; natural gas 760 km (1992)
Ports and harbors: Kaunas, Klaipeda
Merchant marine:
total: 54 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 316,616 GRT/353,683 DWT
ships by type: cargo 26, combination bulk 11, oil tanker 2, railcar
carrier 1, refrigerated cargo 10, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1,
short-sea passenger 3 (1998 est.)
Airports: 96 (1994 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 25
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 14 (1994 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 71
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 63 (1994 est.)
Military
Military branches: Ground Forces, Navy, Air and Air Defense
Force, Security Forces (internal and border troops), National Guard
(Skat)
Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 906,687 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 713,436 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 26,168 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $181 million (1999)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 1.5% (1999)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: ongoing talks over maritime boundary
dispute with Latvia (primary concern is oil exploration rights);
1997 border agreement with Russia not yet ratified
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for opiates and other illicit
drugs from Southwest Asia, Latin America, and Western Europe to
Western Europe and Scandinavia
======================================================================
@Luxembourg
----------
Geography
Location: Western Europe, between France and Germany
Geographic coordinates: 49 45 N, 6 10 E
Map references: Europe
Area:
total: 2,586 sq km
land: 2,586 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than Rhode Island
Land boundaries:
total: 359 km
border countries: Belgium 148 km, France 73 km, Germany 138 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: modified continental with mild winters, cool summers
Terrain: mostly gently rolling uplands with broad, shallow
valleys; uplands to slightly mountainous in the north; steep slope
down to Moselle floodplain in the southeast
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Moselle River 133 m
highest point: Burgplatz 559 m
Natural resources: iron ore (no longer exploited)
Land use:
arable land: 24%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 20%
forests and woodland: 21%
other: 34%
Irrigated land: 10 sq km (including Belgium (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment--current issues: air and water pollution in urban areas
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air
Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine
Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Environmental
Modification, Law of the Sea
Geography--note: landlocked
People
Population: 429,080 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 18% (male 39,701; female 37,998)
15-64 years: 67% (male 146,336; female 140,717)
65 years and over: 15% (male 26,201; female 38,127) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.88% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 10.35 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 9.32 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 7.78 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 4.99 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.65 years
male: 74.58 years
female: 80.83 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.57 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Luxembourger(s)
adjective: Luxembourg
Ethnic groups: Celtic base (with French and German blend),
Portuguese, Italian, and European (guest and worker residents)
Religions: Roman Catholic 97%, Protestant and Jewish 3%
Languages: Luxembourgian, German, French, English
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100% (1980 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
conventional short form: Luxembourg
local long form: Grand-Duche de Luxembourg
local short form: Luxembourg
Data code: LU
Government type: constitutional monarchy
Capital: Luxembourg
Administrative divisions: 3 districts; Diekirch, Grevenmacher,
Luxembourg
Independence: 1839 (from the Netherlands)
National holiday: National Day, 23 June (1921) (public
celebration of the Grand Duke's birthday)
Constitution: 17 October 1868, occasional revisions
Legal system: based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state: Grand Duke JEAN (since 12 November 1964); Heir
Apparent Prince HENRI (son of the monarch, born 16 April 1955)
head of government: Prime Minister Jean-Claude JUNCKER (since 1
January 1995) and Vice Prime Minister Jacques F. POOS (since 21 July
1984)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch, responsible
to the Chamber of Deputies
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister and vice
prime minister appointed by the monarch but are responsible to the
Chamber of Deputies
Legislative branch: unicameral Chamber of Deputies or Chambre des
Deputes (60 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to
serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 12 June 1994 (next to be held by 13 June 1999)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--CSV
21, LSAP 17, DP 12, Action Committee for Democracy and Pension
Rights 5, Greens 5
note: the Council of State or Conseil d'Etat, which has 21 members
who are appointed for life, is an advisory body whose views are
considered by the Chamber of Deputies
Judicial branch: Superior Court of Justice or Cour Superieure de
Justice, judges are appointed for life by the monarch;
Administrative Court or Tribunale Administratin, judges are
appointed for life by the monarch
Political parties and leaders: Christian Social People's Party or
Political pressure groups and leaders: group of steel companies
representing iron and steel industry; Centrale Paysanne representing
agricultural producers; Christian and Socialist labor unions;
Federation of Industrialists; Artisans and Shopkeepers Federation
International organization participation: ACCT, Australia Group,
Benelux, CCC, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EIB, EMU, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, MTCR, NATO, NEA, NSG, OECD, OPCW,
OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Arlette CONZEMIUS
chancery: 2200 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: New York and San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Marie MURRAY
embassy: 22 Boulevard Emmanuel-Servais, 2535 Luxembourg City
mailing address: American Embassy Luxembourg, Unit 1410, APO AE
09126-1410 (official mail); American Embassy Luxembourg, PSC 9, Box
9500, APO AE 09123 (personal mail)
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top),
white, and light blue; similar to the flag of the Netherlands, which
uses a darker blue and is shorter; design was based on the flag of
France
Economy
Economy--overview: The stable, prosperous economy features
moderate growth, low inflation, and low unemployment. The industrial
sector, until recently dominated by steel, has become increasingly
more diversified. During the past decades, growth in the financial
sector has more than compensated for the decline in steel. Services,
especially banking, account for a growing proportion of the economy.
Agriculture is based on small family-owned farms. Luxembourg has
especially close trade and financial ties to Belgium and the
Netherlands, and as a member of the EU, enjoys the advantages of the
open European market. It joined with 10 other EU members to launch
the euro on 1 January 1999.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$13.9 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 2.9% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$32,700 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 1%
industry: 22%
services: 77% (1998 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.4% (1998)
Labor force: 226,500 (one-third of labor force is foreign
workers, mostly from Portugal, Italy, France, Belgium, and Germany)
(1998 est.)
Labor force--by occupation: services 83.2%, industry 14.3%,
agriculture 2.5% (1998 est.)
Unemployment rate: 3% (1998 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $5.46 billion
expenditures: $5.44 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1997 est.)
Industries: banking, iron and steel, food processing, chemicals,
metal products, engineering, tires, glass, aluminum
Industrial production growth rate: 3.3% (1995 est.)
Electricity--production: 1.158 billion kWh (1997)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 90.12%
hydro: 9.88%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 5.381 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 800 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 5.8 billion kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: barley, oats, potatoes, wheat, fruits, wine
grapes; livestock products
Exports: $7.1 billion (f.o.b., 1996)
Exports--commodities: finished steel products, chemicals, rubber
products, glass, aluminum, other industrial products
Exports--partners: Germany 28%, France 18%, Belgium 15%, UK 7%,
Netherlands 5%
Imports: $9.4 billion (c.i.f., 1996)
Imports--commodities: minerals, metals, foodstuffs, quality
consumer goods
Imports--partners: Belgium 38%, Germany 25%, France 11%,
Netherlands 4%
Debt--external: $NA
Economic aid--donor: ODA, $65 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Luxembourg franc (LuxF) = 100 centimes; note--centimes
no longer in use
Exchange rates: Luxembourg francs (LuxF) per US$1--34.77 (January
1999), 36.299 (1998), 35.774 (1997), 30.962 (1996), 29.480 (1995),
33.456 (1994); note--the Luxembourg franc is at par with the Belgian
franc, which circulates freely in Luxembourg
note: on 1 January 1999, the European Union introduced a common
currency that is now being used by financial institutions in some
member countries at the rate of 0.8597 euros per US$ and a fixed
rate of 40.3399 francs per euro; the euro will replace the local
currency in consenting countries for all transactions in 2002
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 279,736 (1997)
Telephone system: highly developed, completely automated and
efficient system, mainly buried cables
domestic: nationwide cellular telephone system; buried cable
international: 3 channels leased on TAT-6 coaxial submarine cable
(Europe to North America)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 0, FM 6, shortwave 0
Radios: 230,000 (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 5 (1997)
Televisions: 100,500 (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 275 km
standard gauge: 275 km 1.435-m gauge (262 km electrified; 178 km
double track) (1995)
Highways:
total: 5,137 km
paved: 5,086 km (including 123 km of expressways)
unpaved: 51 km (1996 est.)
note: one source lists roads 2,863 km; expressways 115 km
Waterways: 37 km; Moselle
Pipelines: petroleum products 48 km
Ports and harbors: Mertert
Merchant marine:
total: 37 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,033,045 GRT/1,480,023
DWT
ships by type: bulk 1, chemical tanker 6, liquefied gas tanker 13,
oil tanker 6, passenger 4, roll-on/roll-off cargo 6, vehicle carrier
1 (1998 est.)
Airports: 2 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, National Gendarmerie
Military manpower--military age: 19 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 108,285 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 88,813 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 2,452 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $124 million (FY97)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 0.8% (1995)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
======================================================================
@Macau
-----
Geography
Location: Eastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and China
Geographic coordinates: 22 10 N, 113 33 E
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area:
total: 21 sq km
land: 21 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: about 0.1 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
total: 0.34 km
border countries: China 0.34 km
Coastline: 40 km
Maritime claims: not specified
Climate: subtropical; marine with cool winters, warm summers
Terrain: generally flat
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: Coloane Alto 174 m
Natural resources: NEGL
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 2%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 98% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: NA
Environment--current issues: NA
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Ozone Layer Protection (extended from Portugal)
signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography--note: essentially urban; one causeway and two bridges
connect the two islands of Coloane and Taipa to the peninsula on
mainland
People
Population: 437,312 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 24% (male 54,456; female 50,912)
15-64 years: 69% (male 142,575; female 158,132)
65 years and over: 7% (male 12,547; female 18,690) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.86% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 12.5 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 3.48 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 9.59 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female
total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 4.23 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 81.88 years
male: 78.79 years
female: 85.13 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.27 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Macanese (singular and plural)
adjective: Macau
Ethnic groups: Chinese 95%, Portuguese 3%, other 2%
Religions: Buddhist 50%, Roman Catholic 15%, none and other 35%
(1997 est.)
Languages: Portuguese, Chinese (Cantonese)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 90%
male: 93%
female: 86% (1981 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Macau
local long form: none
local short form: Ilha de Macau
Data code: MC
Dependency status: Chinese territory under Portuguese
administration; note--scheduled to revert to China on 20 December 1999
Government type: NA
Capital: Macau
Administrative divisions: 2 districts (concelhos,
singular--concelho); Ilhas, Macau
Independence: none (Chinese territory under Portuguese
administration; Portugal signed an agreement with China on 13 April
1987 to return Macau to Chinese administration on 20 December 1999;
in the joint declaration, China promises to respect Macau's existing
social and economic systems and lifestyle for 50 years after
transition)
National holiday: Day of Portugal, 10 June (1580)
Constitution: 17 February 1976, Organic Law of Macau; Macau's
future constitution, the "Basic Law", promulgated by China's
National People's Congress on 31 March 1993, will go into effect 20
December 1999
Legal system: Portuguese civil law system
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Jorge SAMPAIO of Portugal (since 9 March
1996)
head of government: Governor General Vasco Joachim Rocha VIEIRA
(since 20 March 1991)
cabinet: Consultative Council consists of a total of 15 members--five
appointed by the governor, two nominated by the governor, five
elected for a four-year term (two represent administrative bodies,
one represents moral, cultural, and welfare interests, and two
represent economic interests), and three statutory members
elections: Portuguese president elected by popular vote for a
five-year term; governor general appointed by the Portuguese
president after consultation with the Legislative Assembly
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly (23 seats; 8
elected by popular vote, 8 by indirect vote, and 7 appointed by the
governor; members serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 22 September 1996 (next to be held NA 2000)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--APPEM
2, CODEM 1, UDM 1, UNIPRO 2, UPD 1, ANMD 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, consisting of five magistrates
including the president; lower court judges appointed for three-year
terms by the governor
Political parties and leaders: Uniao Promotora para o Progresso
note: there are no formal political parties, but civic associations
are used instead
Political pressure groups and leaders: wealthy Macanese and
Chinese representing local interests, wealthy procommunist merchants
representing China's interests; in January 1967 the Macau Government
acceded to Chinese demands that gave China veto power over
administration
International organization participation: CCC, ESCAP (associate),
IMO (associate), Interpol (subbureau), UNESCO (associate), WMO, WToO
(associate), WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (Chinese territory
under Portuguese administration)
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US has no offices in
Macau, and US interests are monitored by the US Consulate General in
Hong Kong
Flag description: the flag of Portugal is used
Economy
Economy--overview: The economy is based largely on tourism
(including gambling) and textile and fireworks manufacturing.
Efforts to diversify have spawned other small industries--toys,
artificial flowers, and electronics. The tourist sector has
accounted for roughly 25% of GDP, and the clothing industry has
provided about two-thirds of export earnings; the gambling industry
probably represents over 40% of GDP. Macau depends on China for most
of its food, fresh water, and energy imports. Japan and Hong Kong
are the main suppliers of raw materials and capital goods. Macau is
scheduled to revert to Chinese administration on 20 December 1999.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$6.9 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: -0.1% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$16,000 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 1%
industry: 40%
services: 59% (1997)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.5% (1997)
Labor force: 277,676 (1997)
Labor force--by occupation: industry 28%, restaurants and hotels
28%, other services 44%
Unemployment rate: 3.8% (1998 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $1.3 billion
expenditures: $1.07 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1995 est.)
Industries: clothing, textiles, toys, electronics, footwear,
tourism
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: 1.125 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 1.522 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 3 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 400 million kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: rice, vegetables
Exports: $2.14 billion (f.o.b., 1997)
Exports--commodities: textiles, clothing, toys, electronics,
cement, footwear, machinery
Exports--partners: US 45%, EU 24%, Hong Kong 8%, China 6% (1997)
Imports: $2.075 billion (c.i.f., 1997)
Imports--commodities: raw materials, foodstuffs, capital goods,
fuels, lubricants
Imports--partners: China 29%, Hong Kong 25%, EU 12.4%, Japan 9%
(1997)
Debt--external: $0 (1996)
Economic aid--recipient: $NA
Currency: 1 pataca (P) = 100 avos
Exchange rates: patacas (P) per US$1--7.74 (1998), 7.99 (1997),
7.962 (1996), 8.034 (1993-95), 7.973 (1992); note--linked to the Hong
Kong dollar at the rate of 1.03 patacas per Hong Kong dollar
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 200,000 (1997 est.)
Telephone system: fairly modern communication facilities
maintained for domestic and international services
domestic: NA
international: HF radiotelephone communication facility; access to
international communications carriers provided via Hong Kong and
China; satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 4, FM 3, shortwave 0
Radios: 135,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 0 (receives Hong Kong broadcasts)
(1997)
Televisions: 34,000 (1992 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 50 km
paved: 50 km
unpaved: 0 km (1996 est.)
Ports and harbors: Macau
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: no regular military forces, Police Force
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 121,355 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 66,744 (1999 est.)
Military--note: defense is currently the responsibility of
Portugal, but will become the responsibility of China on 20 December
1999
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
======================================================================
@Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
------------------------------------------
Geography
Location: Southeastern Europe, north of Greece
Geographic coordinates: 41 50 N, 22 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area:
total: 25,333 sq km
land: 24,856 sq km
water: 477 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly larger than Vermont
Land boundaries:
total: 748 km
border countries: Albania 151 km, Bulgaria 148 km, Greece 228 km,
Serbia and Montenegro 221 km (all with Serbia)
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: warm, dry summers and autumns and relatively cold
winters with heavy snowfall
Terrain: mountainous territory covered with deep basins and
valleys; three large lakes, each divided by a frontier line; country
bisected by the Vardar River
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Vardar River 50 m
highest point: Golem Korab (Majae Korabit) 2,753 m
Natural resources: chromium, lead, zinc, manganese, tungsten,
nickel, low-grade iron ore, asbestos, sulfur, timber
Land use:
arable land: 24%
permanent crops: 2%
permanent pastures: 25%
forests and woodland: 39%
other: 10% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 830 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: high seismic risks
Environment--current issues: air pollution from metallurgical
plants
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Hazardous
Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography--note: landlocked; major transportation corridor from
Western and Central Europe to Aegean Sea and Southern Europe to
Western Europe
People
Population: 2,022,604 (July 1999 est.)
note: the Macedonian Government census of July 1994 put the
population at 1.94 million, but ethnic allocations were likely
undercounted
Age structure:
0-14 years: 23% (male 243,190; female 228,491)
15-64 years: 67% (male 680,692; female 673,923)
65 years and over: 10% (male 88,116; female 108,192) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.64% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 15.21 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 8.03 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.83 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 18.68 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 73.05 years
male: 70.93 years
female: 75.34 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Macedonian(s)
adjective: Macedonian
Ethnic groups: Macedonian 66%, Albanian 23%, Turkish 4%, Serb 2%,
Gypsies 3%, other 2%
Religions: Eastern Orthodox 67%, Muslim 30%, other 3%
Languages: Macedonian 70%, Albanian 21%, Turkish 3%,
Serbo-Croatian 3%, other 3%
Literacy: NA
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
conventional short form: none
local long form: Republika Makedonija
local short form: Makedonija
abbreviation: FYROM
Data code: MK
Government type: emerging democracy
Capital: Skopje
Administrative divisions: 34 counties (opstinas,
singular--opstina) Berovo, Bitola, Brod, Debar, Delcevo, Gevgelija,
Gostivar, Kavadarci, Kicevo, Kocani, Kratovo, Kriva Palanka,
Krusevo, Kumanovo, Murgasevo, Negotino, Ohrid, Prilep, Probistip,
Radovis, Resen, Skopje-Centar, Skopje-Cair, Skopje-Karpos,
Skopje-Kisela Voda, Skopje-Gazi Baba, Stip, Struga, Strumica, Sveti
Nikole, Tetovo, Titov Veles, Valandovo, Vinica
note: in September 1996, the Macedonian Assembly passed legislation
changing the territorial division of the country; names of the 123
new municipalities are not yet available
Independence: 17 September 1991 (from Yugoslavia)
National holiday: 8 September
Constitution: adopted 17 November 1991, effective 20 November 1991
Legal system: based on civil law system; judicial review of
legislative acts
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Kiro GLIGOROV (since 27 January 1991)
head of government: Prime Minister Ljubco GEORGIEVSKI (since 30
November 1998)
cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the majority vote of all
the deputies in the Assembly; note--cabinet formed by the government
coalition parties VMRO-DPMNE, DA, and DPA
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 16 October 1994 (next to be held NA October 1999)
election results: Kiro GLIGOROV elected president; percent of
vote--Kiro GLIGOROV 78.4%
Legislative branch: unicameral Assembly or Sobranje (120 seats--85
members are elected by popular vote; 35 members come from lists of
candidates submitted by parties based on the percentage that parties
gain from the overall vote; all serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 18 October and 1 November 1998 (next to be held
NA 2002)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--VMRO
49, SDSM 27, PDP 14, DA 13, DPA 11, LDP 4, Socialists 1, Roma Party 1
Judicial branch: Constitutional Court, judges are elected by the
Judicial Council; Judicial Court of the Republic, judges are elected
by the Judicial Council
Political parties and leaders: Social-Democratic Alliance of
president]; Internal Macedonian Revolutionary
Organization--Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity or
International organization participation: BIS (pending member),
CCC, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user),
Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Ljubica Z. ACEVSKA
chancery: 3050 K Street, NW, Suite 210, Washington, DC 20007
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Christopher Robert HILL
embassy: Bul. Ilindenska bb, 91000 Skopje
mailing address: American Embassy Skopje, Department of State,
Washington, DC 20521-7120 (pouch)
Flag description: a rising yellow sun with eight rays extending
to the edges of the red field
Economy
Economy--overview: The breakup of Yugoslavia in 1991 deprived
Macedonia, its poorest republic, of key protected markets and large
transfer payments from the center. Worker remittances and foreign
aid have softened the subsequent volatile recovery period. Continued
recovery depends on Macedonia's ability to attract investment, to
redevelop trade ties with Greece and Serbia and Montenegro, and to
maintain its commitment to economic liberalization. The economy can
meet its basic food needs but depends on outside sources for all of
its oil and gas and most of its modern machinery and parts.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$2.1 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 4.5% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,050 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 20.4%
industry: 38.6%
services: 41% (1995 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 591,773 (June 1994)
Labor force--by occupation: manufacturing and mining 40% (1992)
Unemployment rate: 30% (1998 est.); note--many employed workers
are, in fact, furloughees
Budget:
revenues: $1.06 billion
expenditures: $1 billion, including capital expenditures of $107
million (1996 est.)
Industries: coal, metallic chromium, lead, zinc, ferronickel,
textiles, wood products, tobacco
Industrial production growth rate: 3.4% (1997 est.)
Electricity--production: 6.06 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 80.2%
hydro: 19.8%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 6.06 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: rice, tobacco, wheat, corn, millet, cotton,
sesame, mulberry leaves, citrus, vegetables; beef, pork, poultry,
mutton
Exports: $1.2 billion (f.o.b., 1997)
Exports--commodities: food, beverages, tobacco 17.0%, machinery
and transport equipment 13.3%, other manufactured goods 58%
Exports--partners: Bulgaria, other former Yugoslav republics,
Germany, Italy
Imports: $1.6 billion (c.i.f., 1997)
Imports--commodities: machinery and equipment 19%, chemicals 14%,
fuels 12%
Imports--partners: other former Yugoslav republics, Germany,
Bulgaria, Italy, Austria
Debt--external: $1.06 billion (June 1997)
Economic aid--recipient: ODA, $100 million (1996 est.)
Currency: 1 Macedonian denar (MKD) = 100 deni
Exchange rates: denars per US$1--52.156 (January 1999), 54.462
(1998), 50.004 (1997), 39.981 (1996), 37.882 (1995), 43.263 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 125,000
Telephone system:
domestic: NA
international: NA
Radio broadcast stations: AM 6, FM 2, shortwave 0
Radios: 350,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 136 (of which 22 are main stations
and 114 are low-power stations) (1997)
Televisions: 327,011 (1992 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 922 km
standard gauge: 922 km 1.435-m gauge (232 km electrified) (1997)
Highways:
total: 10,591 km
paved: 5,500 km (including 133 km of expressways)
unpaved: 5,091 km (1997 est.)
Waterways: none, lake transport only
Pipelines: 0 km
Ports and harbors: none
Airports: 16 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 10
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
under 914 m: 8 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 4 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, Police
Force
Military manpower--military age: 19 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 539,329 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 434,468 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 17,291 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $71 million (1998)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 2.2% (1998)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: dispute with Greece over name; in
September 1995, Skopje and Athens signed an interim accord resolving
their dispute over symbols and certain constitutional provisions;
Athens also lifted its economic embargo on The Former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia; the border commission formed by The Former
Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Serbia and Montenegro in April
1996 to resolve differences in delineation of their mutual border
has made no progress so far; Albanians in Macedonia claim
discrimination in education, access to public-sector jobs and
representation in government; Party for Democratic Action (DPA),
which is now a member party of the government, calls for a rewrite
of the constitution to declare ethnic Albanians a national group and
allow for regional autonomy
Illicit drugs: increasing transshipment point for Southwest Asian
heroin and hashish; minor transit point for South American cocaine
destined for Europe
======================================================================
@Madagascar
----------
Geography
Location: Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of
Mozambique
Geographic coordinates: 20 00 S, 47 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area:
total: 587,040 sq km
land: 581,540 sq km
water: 5,500 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly less than twice the size of Arizona
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 4,828 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or 100 nm from the 2,500-m deep isobath
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical along coast, temperate inland, arid in south
Terrain: narrow coastal plain, high plateau and mountains in
center
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Maromokotro 2,876 m
Natural resources: graphite, chromite, coal, bauxite, salt,
quartz, tar sands, semiprecious stones, mica, fish
Land use:
arable land: 4%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 41%
forests and woodland: 40%
other: 14% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 10,870 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: periodic cyclones
Environment--current issues: soil erosion results from
deforestation and overgrazing; desertification; surface water
contaminated with raw sewage and other organic wastes; several
species of flora and fauna unique to the island are endangered
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Desertification, Endangered Species, Marine
Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change, Law of the Sea
Geography--note: world's fourth-largest island; strategic location
along Mozambique Channel
People
Population: 14,873,387 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 45% (male 3,356,104; female 3,279,056)
15-64 years: 52% (male 3,841,248; female 3,908,209)
65 years and over: 3% (male 234,549; female 254,221) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.8% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 41.52 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 13.56 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.92 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 89.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 53.24 years
male: 52.01 years
female: 54.51 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.7 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Malagasy (singular and plural)
adjective: Malagasy
Ethnic groups: Malayo-Indonesian (Merina and related Betsileo),
Cotiers (mixed African, Malayo-Indonesian, and Arab
ancestry--Betsimisaraka, Tsimihety, Antaisaka, Sakalava), French,
Indian, Creole, Comoran
Religions: indigenous beliefs 52%, Christian 41%, Muslim 7%
Languages: French (official), Malagasy (official)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 80%
male: 88%
female: 73% (1990 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Madagascar
conventional short form: Madagascar
local long form: Republique de Madagascar
local short form: Madagascar
former: Malagasy Republic
Data code: MA
Government type: republic
Capital: Antananarivo
Administrative divisions: 6 provinces (faritany); Antananarivo,
Antsiranana, Fianarantsoa, Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliara
Independence: 26 June 1960 (from France)
National holiday: Independence Day, 26 June (1960)
Constitution: 19 August 1992 by national referendum
Legal system: based on French civil law system and traditional
Malagasy law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Didier RATSIRAKA (since 10 February 1997)
head of government: Prime Minister Tantely Rene Gabriot ANDRIANARIVO
(since NA 1998)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 29 December 1996 (next to be held NA 2002); prime
minister appointed by the president from a list of candidates
nominated by the National Assembly
election results: Didier RATSIRAKA elected president; percent of
vote--Didier RATSIRAKA (AREMA) 50.7%, Albert ZAFY (AFFA) 49.3%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee
Nationale (150 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote
to serve four-year terms); note--the legislature is scheduled to
become a bicameral Paliament with the establishment of a Senate;
two-thirds of the seats of this Senate will be filled by regional
assemblies whose members will be elected by popular vote; the
remaining one-third of the seats will be appointed by the president;
the total number of seats will be determined by the National
Assembly; all members will serve four-year terms
elections: National Assembly--last held 17 May 1998 (next to be held
NA 2002)
election results: National Assembly--percent of vote by party--NA;
seats by party--AREMA 62, LEADER/Fanilo 15, AVI 14, RPSD 11, AFFA 6,
MFM 3, AKFM/Fanavaozana 3, GRAD/Iloafo 1, Fihaonana 1, independents
34
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme); High
Constitutional Court (Haute Cour Constitutionnelle)
Political parties and leaders: Association for the Rebirth of
RAKOTONIRINA]; Congress Party for Malagasy Independence or
and Action for the Development of Madagascar or GRAD/Iloafo
RAZANAMASY]
Political pressure groups and leaders: National Council of
Christian Churches or FFKM; Federalist Movement
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC,
ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer),
ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Biclair
Henri ANDRIANANTOANDRO
chancery: 2374 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Howard T.
PERLOW
embassy: 14-16 Rue Rainitovo, Antsahavola, Antananarivo
mailing address: B. P. 620, Antananarivo
Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and
green with a vertical white band of the same width on hoist side
Economy
Economy--overview: Madagascar suffers from chronic malnutrition,
underfunded health and education facilities, a roughly 3% annual
population growth rate, and severe loss of forest cover, accompanied
by erosion. Agriculture, including fishing and forestry, is the
mainstay of the economy, accounting for 32% of GDP and contributing
more than 70% to export earnings. Industry features textile
manufacturing and the processing of agricultural products. Growth in
output in 1992-97 averaged less than the growth rate of the
population. Growth has been held back by antigovernment strikes and
demonstrations, a decline in world coffee demand, and the erratic
commitment of the government to economic reform. Formidable
obstacles stand in the way of Madagascar's realizing its
considerable growth potential; the extent of government reforms,
outside financial aid, and foreign investment will be key
determinants.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$10.3 billion (1997 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 3% (1997 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$730 (1997 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 32%
industry: 13%
services: 55% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.3%
highest 10%: 34.9% (1993)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.5% (1997)
Labor force: 7 million (1995)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $477 million
expenditures: $706 million, including capital expenditures of $264
million (1996 est.)
Industries: meat processing, soap, breweries, tanneries, sugar,
textiles, glassware, cement, automobile assembly plant, paper,
petroleum, tourism
Industrial production growth rate: 3.8% (1993 est.)
Electricity--production: 595 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 41.18%
hydro: 58.82%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 595 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: coffee, vanilla, sugarcane, cloves, cocoa,
rice, cassava (tapioca), beans, bananas, peanuts; livestock products
Exports: $170 million (f.o.b., 1997)
Exports--commodities: coffee 45%, vanilla 20%, cloves, shellfish,
sugar, petroleum products (1995 est.)
Exports--partners: France 31.7%, Japan 15.8%, Germany 6.4%,
Reunion 5.7% (1996)
Imports: $477 million (f.o.b., 1997)
Imports--commodities: intermediate manufactures 30%, capital goods
28%, petroleum 15%, consumer goods 14%, food 13% (1995 est.)
Imports--partners: France 31.0%, Iran 9.1%, South Africa 8.2%,
Japan 5.8%, US 5.0% (1996)
Debt--external: $4.4 billion (1996 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $298.5 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Malagasy franc (FMG) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: Malagasy francs (FMG) per US$1--5,468.5 (January
1999), 5,441.4 (1998), 5,090.9 (1997), 4,061.3 (1996), 4,265.6
(1995), 3,067.3 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 34,000 (1994)
Telephone system: system is above average for Africa
domestic: open-wire lines, coaxial cables, microwave radio relay,
and tropospheric scatter links
international: submarine cable to Bahrain; satellite earth
stations--1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic
Ocean region)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 17, FM 3, shortwave 0
Radios: 2.74 million (1994 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (in addition, there are 36
repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 280,000 (1994 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 883 km
narrow gauge: 883 km 1.000-m gauge (1994)
Highways:
total: 49,837 km
paved: 5,781 km
unpaved: 44,056 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: of local importance only; isolated streams and small
portions of Lakandranon' Ampangalana (Canal des Pangalanes)
Ports and harbors: Antsiranana, Antsohimbondrona, Mahajanga,
Toamasina, Toliara
Merchant marine:
total: 12 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 23,311 GRT/31,533 DWT
ships by type: cargo 6, chemical tanker 1, liquefied gas tanker 1,
oil tanker 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2 (1998 est.)
Airports: 133 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 29
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 20
under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 104
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 59
under 914 m: 42 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Popular Armed Forces (includes Intervention
Forces, Development Forces, Aeronaval Forces--includes Navy and Air
Force), Gendarmerie, Presidential Security Regiment
Military manpower--military age: 20 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 3,415,726 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 2,027,757 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 144,779 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $29 million (1994)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 1% (1994)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: claims Bassas da India, Europa Island,
Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island, and Tromelin Island (all
administered by France)
Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis (cultivated and wild
varieties) used mostly for domestic consumption; transshipment point
for heroin
======================================================================
@Malawi
------
Geography
Location: Southern Africa, east of Zambia
Geographic coordinates: 13 30 S, 34 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area:
total: 118,480 sq km
land: 94,080 sq km
water: 24,400 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
Land boundaries:
total: 2,881 km
border countries: Mozambique 1,569 km, Tanzania 475 km, Zambia 837 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: tropical; rainy season (November to May); dry season
(May to November)
Terrain: narrow elongated plateau with rolling plains, rounded
hills, some mountains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: junction of the Shire River and international boundary
with Mozambique 37 m
highest point: Sapitwa 3,002 m
Natural resources: limestone, unexploited deposits of uranium,
coal, and bauxite
Land use:
arable land: 18%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 20%
forests and woodland: 39%
other: 23% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 280 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment--current issues: deforestation; land degradation;
water pollution from agricultural runoff, sewage, industrial wastes;
siltation of spawning grounds endangers fish populations
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life
Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography--note: landlocked
People
Population: 10,000,416 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 45% (male 2,265,526; female 2,246,135)
15-64 years: 52% (male 2,580,125; female 2,637,464)
65 years and over: 3% (male 112,813; female 158,353) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.57% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 39.54 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 23.84 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 132.14 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 36.3 years
male: 36.49 years
female: 36.11 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.48 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Malawian(s)
adjective: Malawian
Ethnic groups: Chewa, Nyanja, Tumbuko, Yao, Lomwe, Sena, Tonga,
Ngoni, Ngonde, Asian, European
Religions: Protestant 55%, Roman Catholic 20%, Muslim 20%,
traditional indigenous beliefs
Languages: English (official), Chichewa (official), other
languages important regionally
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 56.4%
male: 71.9%
female: 41.8% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Malawi
conventional short form: Malawi
former: Nyasaland
Data code: MI
Government type: multiparty democracy
Capital: Lilongwe
Administrative divisions: 24 districts; Blantyre, Chikwawa,
Chiradzulu, Chitipa, Dedza, Dowa, Karonga, Kasungu, Lilongwe,
Machinga (Kasupe), Mangochi, Mchinji, Mulanje, Mwanza, Mzimba,
Ntcheu, Nkhata Bay, Nkhotakota, Nsanje, Ntchisi, Rumphi, Salima,
Thyolo, Zomba
Independence: 6 July 1964 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day 6 July (1964); Republic Day 6
July (1966)
Constitution: 18 May 1995
Legal system: based on English common law and customary law;
judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court of Appeal;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Bakili MULUZI (since 21 May 1994);
note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Bakili MULUZI (since 21 May 1994);
note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet named by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 17 May 1994 (next to be held by May 1999)
election results: Bakili MULUZI elected president; percent of vote--NA
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (177 seats;
members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 17 May 1994 (next to be held by May 1999)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--UDF
84, AFORD 33, MCP 55, others 5; note--because of defections and
byelections, the distribution of seats in the National Assembly had
changed at the end of the 1996 as follows: UDF 84, MCP 47, AFORD 34,
independents 8, and vacant 4
note: the constitution of 18 May 1995, in addition to reducing the
age at which universal suffrage is conferred from 21 to 18 years,
provided for a bicameral legislature; by 1999, in addition to the
existing National Assembly, a Senate of 80 seats is to be elected
Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Appeal; High Court (chief
justice appointed by the president, puisne judges appointed on the
advice of the Judicial Service Commission); magistrate's courts
Political parties and leaders:
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA,
FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAU,
OPCW, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Willie CHOKANI
chancery: 2408 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Amelia Ellen SHIPPY
embassy: address NA, in new development area in Lilongwe
mailing address: P. O. Box 30016, Lilongwe 3, Malawi
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of black (top),
red, and green with a radiant, rising, red sun centered in the black
band
Economy
Economy--overview: Landlocked Malawi ranks among the world's least
developed countries. The economy is predominately agricultural, with
about 90% of the population living in rural areas. Agriculture
accounts for 45% of GDP and 90% of export revenues. The economy
depends on substantial inflows of economic assistance from the IMF,
the World Bank, and individual donor nations. The new government
faces strong challenges, e.g., to spur exports, to improve
educational and health facilities, and to deal with environmental
problems of deforestation and erosion.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$8.9 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 3.2% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$940 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 45%
industry: 30%
services: 25% (1995 est.)
Population below poverty line: 54% (1990-91 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 83.4% (1995)
Labor force: 3.5 million
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 86%, wage earners 14%
(1990 est.)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $530 million
expenditures: $674 million, including capital expenditures of $129
million (1993)
Industries: tea, tobacco, sugar, sawmill products, cement,
consumer goods
Industrial production growth rate: 0.9% (1995)
Electricity--production: 800 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 2.5%
hydro: 97.5%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 800 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: tobacco, sugarcane, cotton, tea, corn,
potatoes, cassava (tapioca), sorghum, pulses; cattle, goats
Exports: $405 million (f.o.b., 1995)
Exports--commodities: tobacco, tea, sugar, coffee, peanuts, wood
products
Exports--partners: US, South Africa, Germany, Japan
Imports: $475 million (f.o.b., 1995)
Imports--commodities: food, petroleum products, semimanufactures,
consumer goods, transportation equipment
Imports--partners: South Africa, Zimbabwe, Japan, US, UK, Germany
Debt--external: $2.3 billion (1996 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $416.5 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Malawian kwacha (MK) = 100 tambala
Exchange rates: Malawian kwachas (MK) per US$1--43.5426 (January
1999), 31.0727 (1998), 16.4442 (1997), 15.3085 (1996), 15.2837
(1995), 8.7364 (1994)
Fiscal year: 1 April--31 March
Communications
Telephones: 43,000 (1985 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: fair system of open-wire lines, microwave radio relay
links, and radiotelephone communications stations
international: satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean
and 1 Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 10, FM 17, shortwave 0
Radios: 1.011 million (1995)
Television broadcast stations: 0 (1997 est.)
Televisions: NA
Transportation
Railways:
total: 789 km
narrow gauge: 789 km 1.067-m gauge
Highways:
total: 28,400 km
paved: 5,254 km
unpaved: 23,146 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi); Shire River, 144 km
Ports and harbors: Chipoka, Monkey Bay, Nkhata Bay, Nkhotakota
Airports: 45 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 5
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 40
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 16
under 914 m: 23 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army (includes Air Wing and Naval Detachment),
Police (includes paramilitary Mobile Force Unit)
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 2,314,509 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,186,341 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $17 million (FY96/97)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 0.8% (FY96/97)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: dispute with Tanzania over the boundary
in Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi)
======================================================================
@Malaysia
--------
Geography
Location: Southeastern Asia, peninsula and northern one-third of
the island of Borneo, bordering Indonesia and the South China Sea,
south of Vietnam
Geographic coordinates: 2 30 N, 112 30 E
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area:
total: 329,750 sq km
land: 328,550 sq km
water: 1,200 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly larger than New Mexico
Land boundaries:
total: 2,669 km
border countries: Brunei 381 km, Indonesia 1,782 km, Thailand 506 km
Coastline: 4,675 km (Peninsular Malaysia 2,068 km, East Malaysia
2,607 km)
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation;
specified boundary in the South China Sea
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; annual southwest (April to October) and
northeast (October to February) monsoons
Terrain: coastal plains rising to hills and mountains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Gunung Kinabalu 4,100 m
Natural resources: tin, petroleum, timber, copper, iron ore,
natural gas, bauxite
Land use:
arable land: 3%
permanent crops: 12%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 68%
other: 17% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 2,941 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards: flooding, landslides
Environment--current issues: air pollution from industrial and
vehicular emissions; water pollution from raw sewage; deforestation;
smoke/haze from Indonesian forest fires
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation,
Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical
Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography--note: strategic location along Strait of Malacca and
southern South China Sea
People
Population: 21,376,066 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 35% (male 3,879,012; female 3,680,895)
15-64 years: 61% (male 6,478,910; female 6,482,909)
65 years and over: 4% (male 369,639; female 484,701) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.08% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 26.05 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 5.29 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
note: does not include illegal immigrants--large numbers from
Indonesia and smaller numbers from the Philippines, Bangladesh,
Burma, China, and India
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 21.68 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 70.67 years
male: 67.62 years
female: 73.9 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.35 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Malaysian(s)
adjective: Malaysian
Ethnic groups: Malay and other indigenous 58%, Chinese 26%,
Indian 7%, others 9%
Religions: Islam, Buddhism, Daoism, Hinduism, Christianity,
Sikhism; note--in addition, Shamanism is practiced on East Malaysia
Languages: Bahasa Melayu (official), English, Chinese dialects
(Cantonese, Mandarin, Hokkien, Hakka, Hainan, Foochow), Tamil,
Telugu, Malalalam, Panjabi, Thai; note--in addition, in East Malaysia
several indigenous languages are spoken, the largest of which are
Iban and Kadazan
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 83.5%
male: 89.1%
female: 78.1% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Malaysia
former: Malayan Union
Data code: MY
Government type: constitutional monarchy
note: Malaya (what is now Peninsular Malaysia) formed 31 August
1957; Federation of Malaysia (Malaya, Sabah, Sarawak, and Singapore)
formed 9 July 1963 (Singapore left the federation on 9 August 1965);
nominally headed by the paramount ruler (king) and a bicameral
Parliament consisting of a nonelected upper house and an elected
lower house; Peninsular Malaysian states--hereditary rulers in all
but Melaka, Penang, Sabah, and Sarawak, where governors are
appointed by the Malaysian Government; powers of state governments
are limited by the federal constitution; under terms of the
federation, Sabah and Sarawak retain certain constitutional
prerogatives (e.g., the right to maintain their own immigration
controls); Sabah--holds 20 seats in House of Representatives, with
foreign affairs, defense, internal security, and other powers
delegated to federal government; Sarawak--holds 27 seats in House of
Representatives, with foreign affairs, defense, internal security,
and other powers delegated to federal government
Capital: Kuala Lumpur
Administrative divisions: 13 states (negeri-negeri,
singular--negeri) and 2 federal territories* (wilayah-wilayah
persekutuan, singular--wilayah persekutuan); Johor, Kedah, Kelantan,
Labuan*, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Pulau
Pinang, Sabah, Sarawak, Selangor, Terengganu, Wilayah Persekutuan*
note: the city of Kuala Lumpur is located within the federal
territory of Wilayah Persekutuan; the terms therefore are not
interchangeable
Independence: 31 August 1957 (from UK)
National holiday: National Day, 31 August (1957)
Constitution: 31 August 1957, amended 16 September 1963
Legal system: based on English common law; judicial review of
legislative acts in the Supreme Court at request of supreme head of
the federation; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Paramount Ruler TUANKU JA'AFAR ibni Al-Marhum Tuanku
Abdul Rahman (since 26 April 1994) and Deputy Paramount Ruler Sultan
TUNKU SALAHUDDIN Abdul Aziz Shah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Hisammuddin
Alam Shah (since 26 April 1994)
head of government: Prime Minister Dr. MAHATHIR bin Mohamad (since
16 July 1981); Deputy Prime Minister ABDULLAH bin Ahmad Badawi
(since 8 January 1999)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister from among the
members of Parliament with consent of the paramount ruler
elections: paramount ruler and deputy paramount ruler elected by and
from the hereditary rulers of nine of the states for five-year
terms; election last held 4 February 1994 (next to be held NA 1999);
prime minister designated from among the members of the House of
Representatives; following legislative elections, the leader of the
party that wins a plurality of seats in the House of Representatives
becomes prime minister
election results: TUANKU JA'AFAR ibni Al-Marhum Tuanku Abdul Rahman
elected paramount ruler; Sultan TUNKU SALAHUDDIN Abdul Aziz Shah
ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Hisammuddin Alam Shah elected deputy paramount
ruler
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament or Parlimen consists of
nonelected Senate or Dewan Negara (69 seats; 43 appointed by the
paramount ruler, 26 appointed by the state legislatures) and the
House of Representatives or Dewan Rakyat (192 seats; members elected
by popular vote directly weighted toward the rural Malay population
to serve five-year terms)
elections: House of Representatives--last held 24-25 April 1995 (next
to be held by April 2000)
election results: House of Representatives--percent of vote by
party--National Front 63%, other 37%; seats by party--National Front
162, DAP 9, PBS 8, PAS 7, Spirit of '46 6; note--subsequent to the
election there was a change in the distribution of seats, the
current distribution is--National Front 168, DAP 8, PAS 8, PBS 5,
independents 3
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges appointed by the paramount
ruler on the advice of the prime minister
Political parties and leaders:
Peninsular Malaysia: National Front (a confederation of 13 political
parties dominated by United Malays National Organization or UMNO
Sarawak: National Front, composed of the Party Pesaka Bumiputra
note: subsequent to the election, the following parties were
president] and Sabah United Party (Parti Bersatu Sabah) or PBS
International organization participation: APEC, AsDB, ASEAN, C,
CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-15, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,
IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat,
Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MONUA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNOMIL, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Dato' GHAZZALI Sheikh Abdul Khalid
chancery: 2401 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador B. Lynn PASCOE
embassy: 376 Jalan Tun Razak, 50400 Kuala Lumpur
mailing address: P. O. Box No. 10035, 50700 Kuala Lumpur; American
Embassy Kuala Lumpur, APO AP 96535-8152
Flag description: 14 equal horizontal stripes of red (top)
alternating with white (bottom); there is a blue rectangle in the
upper hoist-side corner bearing a yellow crescent and a yellow
fourteen-pointed star; the crescent and the star are traditional
symbols of Islam; the design was based on the flag of the US
Economy
Economy--overview: After a decade of 8% average GDP growth, the
Malaysian economy--severely hit by the regional financial
crisis--declined 7% in 1998. Malaysia will likely remain in recession
for the first half of 1999; official statistics continue to show
anemic exports, and some private financial analysts forecast a
further drop in GDP of 1% in 1999. Prime Minister MAHATHIR has
imposed capital controls to protect the local currency while cutting
interest rates to stimulate the economy. Kuala Lumpur also announced
an expansionary budget for 1999 to combat rising unemployment.
Malaysia continues to seek funding from domestic and international
sources to help finance its budget deficit and recapitalize its
weakened banking sector.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$215.4 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: -7% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$10,300 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 13%
industry: 46%
services: 41% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: 15.5% (1989 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.9%
highest 10%: 37.9% (1989)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5.3% (1998)
Labor force: 8.398 million (1996 est.)
Labor force--by occupation: manufacturing 25%, agriculture,
forestry, and fisheries 21%, local trade and tourism 17%, services
12%, government 11%, construction 8% (1996)
Unemployment rate: 2.6% (1996 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $22.6 billion
expenditures: $22 billion, including capital expenditures of $5.3
billion (1996 est.)
Industries: Peninsular Malaysia--rubber and oil palm processing
and manufacturing, light manufacturing industry, electronics, tin
mining and smelting, logging and processing timber; Sabah--logging,
petroleum production; Sarawak--agriculture processing, petroleum
production and refining, logging
Industrial production growth rate: 14.4% (1995)
Electricity--production: 48 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 83.33%
hydro: 16.67%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 47.977 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 174 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 151 million kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: Peninsular Malaysia?rubber, palm oil, rice;
Sabah--subsistence crops, rubber, timber, coconuts, rice;
Sarawak--rubber, pepper; timber
Exports: $74.3 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports--commodities: electronic equipment, petroleum and
petroleum products, palm oil, wood and wood products, rubber,
textiles
Exports--partners: US 21%, Singapore 20%, Japan 12%, Hong Kong 5%,
UK 4%, Thailand 4%, Germany 3% (1995)
Imports: $59.3 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports--commodities: machinery and equipment, chemicals, food
Imports--partners: Japan 27%, US 16%, Singapore 12%, Taiwan 5%,
Germany 4%, South Korea 4% (1995)
Debt--external: $39.8 billion (1998)
Economic aid--recipient: $125 million (1995)
Currency: 1 ringgit (M$) = 100 sen
Exchange rates: ringgits (M$) per US$1--3.8000 (January 1999),
3.9244 (1998), 2.8133 (1997), 2.5159 (1996), 2.5044 (1995), 2.6243
(1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 2,550,957 (1992 est.)
Telephone system: international service good
domestic: good intercity service provided on Peninsular Malaysia
mainly by microwave radio relay; adequate intercity microwave radio
relay network between Sabah and Sarawak via Brunei; domestic
satellite system with 2 earth stations
international: submarine cables to India, Hong Kong and Singapore;
satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Pacific
Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 28, FM 3, shortwave 0
Radios: 8.08 million (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 27 (of which 26 are
government-owned and one is independent and has 15 high-power
repeater stations to relay its programs) (1997)
Televisions: 2 million (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 1,798 km
narrow gauge: 1,798 km 1.000-m gauge (148 km electrified) (1998 est.)
Highways:
total: 94,500 km
paved: 70,970 km (including 580 km of expressways)
unpaved: 23,530 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 7,296 km (Peninsular Malaysia 3,209 km, Sabah 1,569
km, Sarawak 2,518 km)
Pipelines: crude oil 1,307 km; natural gas 379 km
Ports and harbors: Bintulu, Kota Kinabalu, Kuantan, Kuching,
Kudat, Labuan, Lahad Datu, Lumut, Miri, Pasir Gudang, Penang, Port
Dickson, Port Kelang, Sandakan, Sibu, Tanjung Berhala, Tanjung
Kidurong, Tawau
Merchant marine:
total: 378 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,059,272
GRT/7,428,623 DWT
ships by type: bulk 62, cargo 128, chemical tanker 30, container 58,
liquefied gas tanker 19, livestock carrier 1, oil tanker 61,
passenger 2, refrigerated cargo 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 6,
specialized tanker 2, vehicle carrier 7 (1998 est.)
Airports: 115 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 32
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 11
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 6 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 83
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 8
under 914 m: 74 (1998 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Malaysian Army, Royal Malaysian Navy, Royal
Malaysian Air Force, Royal Malaysian Police Force, Marine Police,
Sarawak Border Scouts
Military manpower--military age: 21 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 5,526,555 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 3,349,066 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 183,928 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $2.1 billion (1998)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 2.1% (1998)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: involved in a complex dispute over the
Spratly Islands with China, Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam, and
possibly Brunei; Philippines have not fully revoked claim to Sabah
State; two islands in dispute with Singapore; two islands in dispute
with Indonesia
Illicit drugs: transit point for some illicit drugs going to
Western markets; drug trafficking prosecuted vigorously and carries
severe penalties
======================================================================
@Maldives
--------
Geography
Location: Southern Asia, group of atolls in the Indian Ocean,
south-southwest of India
Geographic coordinates: 3 15 N, 73 00 E
Map references: Asia
Area:
total: 300 sq km
land: 300 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: about 1.7 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 644 km
Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; hot, humid; dry, northeast monsoon (November
to March); rainy, southwest monsoon (June to August)
Terrain: flat, with white sandy beaches
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Wilingili island in the Addu
Atoll 2.4 m
Natural resources: fish
Land use:
arable land: 10%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 3%
forests and woodland: 3%
other: 84% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: low level of islands makes them very sensitive
to sea level rise
Environment--current issues: depletion of freshwater aquifers
threatens water supplies
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography--note: 1,190 coral islands grouped into 26 atolls;
archipelago of strategic location astride and along major sea lanes
in Indian Ocean
People
Population: 300,220 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 47% (male 72,414; female 68,764)
15-64 years: 50% (male 76,446; female 73,275)
65 years and over: 3% (male 4,944; female 4,377) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.37% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 39.3 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 5.63 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.13 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 38.14 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 68.29 years
male: 66.53 years
female: 70.15 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.73 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Maldivian(s)
adjective: Maldivian
Ethnic groups: Sinhalese, Dravidian, Arab, African
Religions: Sunni Muslim
Languages: Maldivian Divehi (dialect of Sinhala, script derived
from Arabic), English spoken by most government officials
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93.2%
male: 93.3%
female: 93% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Maldives
conventional short form: Maldives
local long form: Dhivehi Raajjeyge Jumhooriyyaa
local short form: Dhivehi Raajje
Data code: MV
Government type: republic
Capital: Male
Administrative divisions: 19 atolls (atholhu, singular and
plural) and 1 other first-order administrative division*; Alifu,
Baa, Dhaalu, Faafu, Gaafu Alifu, Gaafu Dhaalu, Gnaviyani, Haa Alifu,
Haa Dhaalu, Kaafu, Laamu, Lhaviyani, Maale*, Meemu, Noonu, Raa,
Seenu, Shaviyani, Thaa, Vaavu
Independence: 26 July 1965 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 26 July (1965)
Constitution: 4 June 1968
Legal system: based on Islamic law with admixtures of English
common law primarily in commercial matters; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM (since 11 November
1978); note--the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM (since 11
November 1978); note--the president is both the chief of state and
head of government
cabinet: Ministry of Atolls appointed by the president; note--need
not be members of Majlis
elections: president elected by secret ballot of the Majlis for a
five-year term; election last held 1 October 1993 (next to be held
NA October 1998)
election results: President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM reelected; percent
of Majlis vote--Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM 92.76%
Legislative branch: unicameral Citizens' Council or Majlis (48
seats; 40 elected by popular vote, 8 appointed by the president;
members serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 2 December 1994 (next to be held NA December
1999)
election results: percent of vote--NA; seats--independents 40
Judicial branch: High Court
Political parties and leaders: although political parties are not
banned, none exist
International organization participation: AsDB, C, CCC, CP,
ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IMF, IMO,
Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW,
SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: Maldives does not have an
embassy in the US, but does have a Permanent Mission to the UN in
New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an
embassy in Maldives; the US Ambassador to Sri Lanka is accredited to
Maldives and makes periodic visits there
Flag description: red with a large green rectangle in the center
bearing a vertical white crescent; the closed side of the crescent
is on the hoist side of the flag
Economy
Economy--overview: Tourism, Maldives largest industry, accounts
for about 18% of GDP and more than 60% of the Maldives' foreign
exchange receipts. Over 90% of government tax revenue comes from
import duties and tourism-related taxes. About 350,000 tourists
visited the islands in 1997. Fishing is a second leading growth
sector. The Maldivian Government began an economic reform program in
1989 initially by lifting import quotas and opening some exports to
the private sector. Subsequently, it has liberalized regulations to
allow more foreign investment. Agriculture and manufacturing
continue to play a minor role in the economy, constrained by the
limited availability of cultivable land and the shortage of domestic
labor. Most staple foods must be imported. Industry, which consists
mainly of garment production, boat building, and handicrafts,
accounts for about 15% of GDP. Maldivian authorities worry about the
impact of erosion and possible global warming on their low-lying
country; 80% of the area is one meter or less above sea level.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$500 million (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 5.8% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,840 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 22%
industry: 15%
services: 63% (1994 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6.3% (1996)
Labor force: 56,435 (1990 est.)
Labor force--by occupation: fishing industry and agriculture 25%,
services 21%, manufacturing and construction 21%, trade,
restaurants, and hotels 16%, transportation and communication 10%,
other 7%
Unemployment rate: NEGL%
Budget:
revenues: $88 million (excluding foreign grants)
expenditures: $141 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1995 est.)
Industries: fish processing, tourism, shipping, boat building,
coconut processing, garments, woven mats, rope, handicrafts, coral
and sand mining
Industrial production growth rate: 6.3% (1994 est.)
Electricity--production: 60 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 60 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: coconuts, corn, sweet potatoes; fish
Exports: $59 million (f.o.b., 1996)
Exports--commodities: fish, clothing
Exports--partners: Sri Lanka, US, Germany, Singapore, UK
Imports: $302 million (f.o.b., 1996)
Imports--commodities: consumer goods, intermediate and capital
goods, petroleum products
Imports--partners: Singapore, India, Sri Lanka, Hong Kong, Japan,
Thailand
Debt--external: $179 million (1996 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $NA
Currency: 1 rufiyaa (Rf) = 100 laari
Exchange rates: rufiyaa (Rf) per US$1--11.770 (1995-January 1999),
11.586 (1994), 10.957 (1993)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 8,523 (1992 est.)
Telephone system: minimal domestic and international facilities
domestic: inter-atoll communication primarily through HF
transceivers and VHF/UHF telephones
international: satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 1, shortwave 0
Radios: 28,284 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1997)
Televisions: 7,309 (1992 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: NA km
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km; note--Male has 9.6 km of coral highways within the
city (1988 est.)
Ports and harbors: Gan, Male
Merchant marine:
total: 21 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 75,585 GRT/115,590 DWT
ships by type: cargo 18, container 1, oil tanker 1, short-sea
passenger 1 (1998 est.)
Airports: 5 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 2
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: National Security Service (paramilitary police
force)
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 66,554 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 37,086 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $NA
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: NA%
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
======================================================================
@Mali
----
Geography
Location: Western Africa, southwest of Algeria
Geographic coordinates: 17 00 N, 4 00 W
Map references: Africa
Area:
total: 1.24 million sq km
land: 1.22 million sq km
water: 20,000 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly less than twice the size of Texas
Land boundaries:
total: 7,243 km
border countries: Algeria 1,376 km, Burkina Faso 1,000 km, Guinea
858 km, Cote d'Ivoire 532 km, Mauritania 2,237 km, Niger 821 km,
Senegal 419 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: subtropical to arid; hot and dry February to June;
rainy, humid, and mild June to November; cool and dry November to
February
Terrain: mostly flat to rolling northern plains covered by sand;
savanna in south, rugged hills in northeast
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Senegal River 23 m
highest point: Hombori Tondo 1,155 m
Natural resources: gold, phosphates, kaolin, salt, limestone,
uranium, bauxite, iron ore, manganese, tin, and copper deposits are
known but not exploited
Land use:
arable land: 2%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 25%
forests and woodland: 6%
other: 67% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 780 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: hot, dust-laden harmattan haze common during dry
seasons; recurring droughts
Environment--current issues: deforestation; soil erosion;
desertification; inadequate supplies of potable water; poaching
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Nuclear
Test Ban
Geography--note: landlocked
People
Population: 10,429,124 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 47% (male 2,482,301; female 2,460,894)
15-64 years: 49% (male 2,447,712; female 2,708,978)
65 years and over: 4% (male 155,178; female 174,061) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.01% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 49.5 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 18.56 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.87 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 119.44 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 47.5 years
male: 46.09 years
female: 48.96 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.96 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Malian(s)
adjective: Malian
Ethnic groups: Mande 50% (Bambara, Malinke, Sarakole), Peul 17%,
Voltaic 12%, Songhai 6%, Tuareg and Moor 10%, other 5%
Religions: Muslim 90%, indigenous beliefs 9%, Christian 1%
Languages: French (official), Bambara 80%, numerous African
languages
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 31%
male: 39.4%
female: 23.1% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Mali
conventional short form: Mali
local long form: Republique de Mali
local short form: Mali
former: French Sudan
Data code: ML
Government type: republic
Capital: Bamako
Administrative divisions: 8 regions (regions, singular--region);
Gao, Kayes, Kidal, Koulikoro, Mopti, Segou, Sikasso, Tombouctou
Independence: 22 September 1960 (from France)
National holiday: Anniversary of the Proclamation of the
Republic, 22 September (1960)
Constitution: adopted 12 January 1992
Legal system: based on French civil law system and customary law;
judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Court (which
was formally established on 9 March 1994); has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Alpha Oumar KONARE (since 8 June 1992)
head of government: Prime Minister Ibrahim Boubacar KEITA (since
March 1994)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 11 May 1997 (next to be held May 2002); prime
minister appointed by the president
election results: Alpha Oumar KONARE reelected president; percent of
vote--Alpha Oumar KONARE 85.15%, Mamadou DIABY 4.09%, other 10.76%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee
Nationale (147 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve
five-year terms)
elections: last held 20 July and 3 August 1997 (next to be held in
two rounds in 2002); note--much of the opposition boycotted the
election
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--ADEMA
130, PARENA 8, CDS 4, UDD 3, PDP 2
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)
Political parties and leaders: Alliance for Democracy or ADEMA
TRAORE]; National Congress for Democratic Initiative or CNID
Movement for the Independence, Renaissance and Integration of Africa
Political pressure groups and leaders: United Movement and Fronts
of Azawad or MFUA; Patriotic Movement of the Ghanda Koye or MPGK
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC,
ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, MINURCA,
MIPONUH, MONUA, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UNOMSIL, UPU, WADB, WAEMU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Cheick Oumar DIARRAH
chancery: 2130 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador David P. RAWSON
embassy: Rue Rochester NY and Rue Mohamed V, Bamako
mailing address: B. P. 34, Bamako
Flag description: three equal vertical bands of green (hoist
side), yellow, and red; uses the popular pan-African colors of
Ethiopia
Economy
Economy--overview: Mali is among the poorest countries in the
world, with 65% of its land area desert or semidesert. Economic
activity is largely confined to the riverine area irrigated by the
Niger. About 10% of the population is nomadic and some 80% of the
labor force is engaged in farming and fishing. Industrial activity
is concentrated on processing farm commodities. Mali is heavily
dependent on foreign aid and vulnerable to fluctuations in world
prices for cotton, its main export. In 1997, the government
continued its successful implementation of an IMF-recommended
structural adjustment program that is helping the economy grow,
diversify, and attract foreign investment. Mali's adherence to
economic reform, and the 50% devaluation of the African franc in
January 1994, has pushed up economic growth. Several multinational
corporations increased gold mining operations in 1996-98, and the
government anticipates that Mali will become a major Sub-Saharan
gold exporter in the next few years. Annual growth thus may fall in
the 5% range in 1999-2000, and inflation held to 5% or less.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$8 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 4.6% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$790 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 49%
industry: 17%
services: 34% (1995)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5% (1998 est.)
Labor force: NA
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture and fishing 80% (1998 est.)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $730 million
expenditures: $770 million, including capital expenditures of $320
million (1997 est.)
Industries: minor local consumer goods production and food
processing; construction; phosphate and gold mining
Industrial production growth rate: 0.6% (1995 est.)
Electricity--production: 288 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 21.88%
hydro: 78.12%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 288 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: cotton, millet, rice, corn, vegetables,
peanuts; cattle, sheep, goats
Exports: $590 million (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Exports--commodities: cotton 50%, gold, livestock (1998 est.)
Exports--partners: Thailand 20%, Italy 20%, China 9%, Brazil,
franc zone (1997)
Imports: $600 million (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Imports--commodities: machinery and equipment, construction
materials, petroleum, foodstuffs, textiles
Imports--partners: Cote d'Ivoire 19%, France 17%, other franc zone
and EU countries (1997)
Debt--external: $3.1 billion (1998)
Economic aid--recipient: $596.4 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100
centimes
Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per
US$1--567.81 (January 1999), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55
(1996), 499.15 (1995), 555.20 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 11,000 (1982 est.)
Telephone system: domestic system poor but improving; provides
only minimal service
domestic: network consists of microwave radio relay, open wire, and
radiotelephone communications stations; expansion of microwave radio
relay in progress
international: satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean
and 1 Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 2, shortwave 1
Radios: 430,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (in addition, there are two
repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 11,000 (1992 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 641 km; (linked to Senegal's rail system through Kayes)
narrow gauge: 641 km 1.000-m gauge (1995)
Highways:
total: 15,100 km
paved: 1,827 km
unpaved: 13,273 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 1,815 km navigable
Ports and harbors: Koulikoro
Airports: 28 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 6
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 22
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 8
under 914 m: 10 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Air Force, Gendarmerie, Republican
Guard, National Guard, National Police (Surete Nationale)
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 2,128,375 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,218,732 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $49 million (1996)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 2% (1996)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
======================================================================
@Malta
-----
Geography
Location: Southern Europe, islands in the Mediterranean Sea,
south of Sicily (Italy)
Geographic coordinates: 35 50 N, 14 35 E
Map references: Europe
Area:
total: 320 sq km
land: 320 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly less than twice the size of
Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 140 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive fishing zone: 25 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: Mediterranean with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry
summers
Terrain: mostly low, rocky, flat to dissected plains; many
coastal cliffs
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Ta'Dmejrek 253 m (near Dingli)
Natural resources: limestone, salt
Land use:
arable land: 38%
permanent crops: 3%
permanent pastures: NA%
forests and woodland: NA%
other: 59% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 10 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment--current issues: very limited natural fresh water
resources; increasing reliance on desalination
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone
Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography--note: the country comprises an archipelago, with only
the three largest islands (Malta, Ghawdex or Gozo, and Kemmuna or
Comino) being inhabited; numerous bays provide good harbors
People
Population: 381,603 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 20% (male 40,058; female 37,810)
15-64 years: 68% (male 130,282; female 128,390)
65 years and over: 12% (male 18,996; female 26,067) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.49% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 11.02 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 7.37 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 1.24 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 7.42 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.76 years
male: 75.43 years
female: 80.23 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.63 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Maltese (singular and plural)
adjective: Maltese
Ethnic groups: Maltese (descendants of ancient Carthaginians and
Phoenicians, with strong elements of Italian and other Mediterranean
stock)
Religions: Roman Catholic 98%
Languages: Maltese (official), English (official)
Literacy:
definition: age 10 and over can read and write
total population: 88%
male: 88%
female: 88% (1985)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Malta
conventional short form: Malta
local long form: Repubblika ta' Malta
local short form: Malta
Data code: MT
Government type: parliamentary democracy
Capital: Valletta
Administrative divisions: none (administered directly from
Valletta)
Independence: 21 September 1964 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 21 September (1964)
Constitution: 1964 constitution substantially amended on 13
December 1974
Legal system: based on English common law and Roman civil law;
has accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Ugo MIFSUD BONNICI (since 4 April 1994)
head of government: Prime Minister Eddie Fenech ADAMI (since 6
September 1998); Deputy Prime Minister Guido de MARCO (since 8
September 1998)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of the
prime minister
elections: president elected by the House of Representatives for a
five-year term; election last held NA April 1994 (next to be held by
NA April 1999); following House of Representatives elections, the
leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition is
usually appointed prime minister by the president for a five-year
term; the deputy prime minister is appointed by the president on the
advice of the prime minister
election results: Ugo MIFSUD BONNICI elected president; percent of
House of Representatives vote--NA
Legislative branch: unicameral House of Representatives (usually
65 seats; note--additional seats are given to the party with the
largest popular vote to ensure a legislative majority; current
total: 69 seats; members are elected by popular vote on the basis of
proportional representation to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 5 September 1998 (next to be held by September
2003)
election results: percent of vote by party--PN 51.8%, MLP 46.9%, AD
1.2%; seats by party--PN 35, MLP 30
Judicial branch: Constitutional Court, judges are appointed by
the president on the advice of the prime minister; Court of Appeal,
judges are appointed by the president on the advice of the prime
minister
Political parties and leaders: Nationalist Party or PN [Edward
International organization participation: C, CCC, CE, EBRD, ECE,
EU (applicant), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM
(observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Anthony
DARMANIN
chancery: 2017 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s): New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Kathryn Haycock PROFFITT
embassy: 2nd Floor, Development House, Saint Anne Street, Floriana,
Malta
mailing address: P. O. Box 535, Valletta
Flag description: two equal vertical bands of white (hoist side)
and red; in the upper hoist-side corner is a representation of the
George Cross, edged in red
Economy
Economy--overview: Significant resources are limestone, a
favorable geographic location, and a productive labor force. Malta
produces only about 20% of its food needs, has limited freshwater
supplies, and has no domestic energy sources. The economy is
dependent on foreign trade, manufacturing (especially electronics
and textiles), and tourism; the state-owned Malta drydocks employs
about 3,800 people. In 1998, almost 1 million tourists visited the
island. Per capita GDP of roughly $13,000 places Malta in the ranks
of the less affluent EU countries. The island is divided politically
over the question of joining the EU. The sizable budget deficit
remains a key concern.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$5 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 4% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$13,000 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 3%
industry: 26%
services: 71% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.8% (1997 est.)
Labor force: 148,085 (September 1996)
Labor force--by occupation: public services 34%, other services
32%, manufacturing and construction 22%, agriculture 2% (1996)
Unemployment rate: 5% (1997)
Budget:
revenues: $1.32 billion
expenditures: $1.76 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1998 est.)
Industries: tourism; electronics, ship building and repair,
construction; food and beverages, textiles, footwear, clothing,
tobacco
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: 1.425 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 1.425 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: potatoes, cauliflowers, grapes, wheat,
barley, tomatoes, citrus, cut flowers, green peppers; pork, milk,
poultry, eggs
Exports: $1.7 billion (f.o.b., 1997)
Exports--commodities: machinery and transport equipment,
manufactures (1996)
Exports--partners: France 18%, US 15%, Germany 15%, UK 8%, Italy
6% (1997)
Imports: $2.3 billion (f.o.b., 1997)
Imports--commodities: machinery and transport equipment,
manufactured goods; food, drink, and tobacco
Imports--partners: Italy 20%, France 16%, UK 15%, Germany 10%, US
8% (1997)
Debt--external: $130 million (1997)
Economic aid--recipient: $NA
Currency: 1 Maltese lira (LM) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Maltese liri (LM) per US$1--0.3797 (January 1999),
0.3884 (1998), 0.3857 (1997), 0.3604 (1996), 0.3529 (1995), 0.3776
(1994)
Fiscal year: 1 April--31 March
Communications
Telephones: 191,876 (1992 est.)
Telephone system: automatic system satisfies normal requirements
domestic: submarine cable and microwave radio relay between islands
international: 2 submarine cables; satellite earth station--1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 8, FM 4, shortwave 0
Radios: 189,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 2 (1997)
Televisions: 300,000 (1996 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 1,582 km
paved: 1,471 km
unpaved: 111 km (1993 est.)
Ports and harbors: Marsaxlokk, Valletta
Merchant marine:
total: 1,361 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 24,436,956
GRT/40,706,665 DWT
ships by type: bulk 370, cargo 400, chemical tanker 49, combination
bulk 18, combination ore/oil 17, container 56, liquefied gas tanker
2, livestock carrier 3, multifunction large-load carrier 3, oil
tanker 302, passenger 7, refrigerated cargo 46, roll-on/roll-off
cargo 47, short-sea passenger 19, specialized tanker 4, vehicle
carrier 18
note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 49
countries among which includes Greece 445, Russia 51, Switzerland
45, Italy 44, Norway 40, Croatia 26, Turkey 35, Germany 32, Georgia
23, and Monaco 24 (1998 est.)
Airports: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Armed Forces (including an air squadron, a
maritime squadron, and the Revenue Security Corps), Maltese Police
Force
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 99,067 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 78,855 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $65.5 million (FY96/97)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 2.7% (FY96/97)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: Malta and Tunisia are discussing the
commercial exploitation of the continental shelf between their
countries, particularly for oil exploration
Illicit drugs: minor transshipment point for hashish from North
Africa to Western Europe
======================================================================
@Man, Isle of
------------
Geography
Location: Western Europe, island in the Irish Sea, between Great
Britain and Ireland
Geographic coordinates: 54 15 N, 4 30 W
Map references: Europe
Area:
total: 588 sq km
land: 588 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly more than three times the size of
Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 113 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: cool summers and mild winters; humid; overcast about
half the time
Terrain: hills in north and south bisected by central valley
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Irish Sea 0 m
highest point: Snaefell 620 m
Natural resources: lead, iron ore
Land use:
arable land: 12%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 56%
forests and woodland: 32%
other: 0%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: NA
Environment--current issues: NA
Environment--international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography--note: one small islet, the Calf of Man, lies to the
southwest, and is a bird sanctuary
People
Population: 75,686 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 18% (male 6,906; female 6,597)
15-64 years: 65% (male 24,655; female 24,604)
65 years and over: 17% (male 5,156; female 7,768) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.71% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 12.43 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 11.52 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 6.17 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 2.45 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.79 years
male: 74.28 years
female: 81.47 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.67 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Manxman, Manxwoman
adjective: Manx
Ethnic groups: Manx (Norse-Celtic descent), Briton
Religions: Anglican, Roman Catholic, Methodist, Baptist,
Presbyterian, Society of Friends
Languages: English, Manx Gaelic
Literacy: NA
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Isle of Man
Data code: IM
Dependency status: British crown dependency
Government type: NA
Capital: Douglas
Administrative divisions: none (British crown dependency)
Independence: none (British crown dependency)
National holiday: Tynwald Day, 5 July
Constitution: 1961, Isle of Man Constitution Act
Legal system: English law and local statute
Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Lord of Mann Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February
1952), represented by Lieutenant Governor His Excellency Sir Timothy
DAUNT (since NA 1995)
head of government: President of the Tynwald and the Legislative
Council Sir Charles KERRUISH (since NA 1990)
cabinet: Council of Ministers
elections: the monarch is hereditary; lieutenant governor appointed
by the monarch for a five-year term; president of theTwnwald and the
Legislative Council elected by the Tynwald for a five-year term;
election last held NA (next to be held NA)
election results: Sir Charles KERRUISH elected president of the
Legislative Council; percent of legislative vote--NA
Legislative branch: bicameral Tynwald consists of the Legislative
Council (a 10-member body composed of the Lord Bishop of Sodor and
Man, a nonvoting attorney general, and 8 others named by the House
of Keys) and the House of Keys (24 seats; members are elected by
popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: House of Keys--last held 21 November 1996 (next to be held
NA 2001)
election results: House of Keys--percent of vote by party--NA; seats
by party--independents 24
Judicial branch: High Court of Justice, justices are appointed by
the Lord Chancellor of England on the nomination of the lieutenant
governor
Political parties and leaders: there is no party system; members
sit as independents
International organization participation: none
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (British crown
dependency)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (British crown
dependency)
Flag description: red with the Three Legs of Man emblem
(Trinacria), in the center; the three legs are joined at the thigh
and bent at the knee; in order to have the toes pointing clockwise
on both sides of the flag, a two-sided emblem is used
Economy
Economy--overview: Offshore banking, manufacturing, and tourism
are key sectors of the economy. The government's policy of offering
incentives to high-technology companies and financial institutions
to locate on the island has paid off in expanding employment
opportunities in high-income industries. As a result, agriculture
and fishing, once the mainstays of the economy, have declined in
their shares of GDP. Banking and other services now contribute more
than four fifths of GDP. Trade is mostly with the UK. The Isle of
Man enjoys free access to EU markets.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$985 million (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: NA%
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$13,100 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 2%
industry: 16%
services: 82% (1998 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.9% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 33,577 (1996)
Labor force--by occupation: manufacturing 11%, construction 10%,
transport and communication 8%, retail distribution 9%, professional
and scientific services 18%, public administration 6%, banking and
finance 18%
Unemployment rate: 1% (1998 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $437.7 million
expenditures: $432.5 million, including capital expenditures of
$102.2 million (FY98/99 est.)
Industries: financial services, light manufacturing, tourism
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: NA kWh
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0%
Electricity--consumption: NA kWh
Electricity--exports: NA kWh
Electricity--imports: NA kWh
Agriculture--products: cereals, vegetables; cattle, sheep, pigs,
poultry
Exports: $NA
Exports--commodities: tweeds, herring, processed shellfish, beef,
lamb
Exports--partners: UK
Imports: $NA
Imports--commodities: timber, fertilizers, fish
Imports--partners: UK
Debt--external: $NA
Economic aid--recipient: $NA
Currency: 1 Manx pound (LM) = 100 pence
Exchange rates: Manx pounds (LM) per US$1--0.6057 (January 1999),
0.6037 (1998), 0.6106 (1997), 0.6403 (1996), 0.6335 (1995), 0.6529
(1994)); the Manx pound is at par with the British pound
Fiscal year: 1 April--31 March
Communications
Telephones: 46,000 (1996)
Telephone system:
domestic: NA
international: NA
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 0
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 0 (receives broadcasts from the
UK) (1997)
Televisions: 24,450 (1996)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 52 km (27 km electrified)
Highways:
total: 640 km
paved: 320 km
unpaved: 320 km
Ports and harbors: Castletown, Douglas, Peel, Ramsey
Merchant marine:
total: 148 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,161,154
GRT/6,880,170 DWT
ships by type: bulk 28, cargo 7, chemical tanker 14, combination
bulk 3, container 20, liquefied gas tanker 14, oil tanker 43,
refrigerated cargo 3, roll-on/roll-off cargo 14, vehicle carrier 2
note: a flag of convenience registry; UK owns 8 ships, Denmark 1,
Sweden 1, Belgium 1, and Netherlands 1 (1998 est.)
Airports: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military--note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
======================================================================
@Marshall Islands
----------------
Geography
Location: Oceania, group of atolls and reefs in the North Pacific
Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Papua New Guinea
Geographic coordinates: 9 00 N, 168 00 E
Map references: Oceania
Area:
total: 181.3 sq km
land: 181.3 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes the atolls of Bikini, Enewetak, and Kwajalein
Area--comparative: about the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 370.4 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: wet season from May to November; hot and humid; islands
border typhoon belt
Terrain: low coral limestone and sand islands
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Likiep 10 m
Natural resources: phosphate deposits, marine products, deep
seabed minerals
Land use:
arable land: NA%
permanent crops: 60%
permanent pastures: NA%
forests and woodland: NA%
other: 40%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: occasional typhoons
Environment--current issues: inadequate supplies of potable water
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertication, Law of the
Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography--note: two archipelagic island chains of 30 atolls and
1,152 islands; Bikini and Enewetak are former US nuclear test sites;
Kwajalein, the famous World War II battleground, is now used as a US
missile test range
People
Population: 65,507 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 50% (male 16,622; female 15,957)
15-64 years: 48% (male 16,106; female 15,386)
65 years and over: 2% (male 677; female 759) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.86% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 45.31 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 6.73 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 43.38 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 64.81 years
male: 63.21 years
female: 66.5 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.67 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Marshallese (singular and plural)
adjective: Marshallese
Ethnic groups: Micronesian
Religions: Christian (mostly Protestant)
Languages: English (universally spoken and is the official
language), two major Marshallese dialects from the Malayo-Polynesian
family, Japanese
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93%
male: 100%
female: 88% (1980 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of the Marshall Islands
conventional short form: Marshall Islands
former: Marshall Islands District (Trust Territory of the Pacific
Islands)
Data code: RM
Government type: constitutional government in free association
with the US; the Compact of Free Association entered into force 21
October 1986
Capital: Majuro
Administrative divisions: 33 municipalities; Ailinginae,
Ailinglaplap, Ailuk, Arno, Aur, Bikar, Bikini, Bokak, Ebon,
Enewetak, Erikub, Jabat, Jaluit, Jemo, Kili, Kwajalein, Lae, Lib,
Likiep, Majuro, Maloelap, Mejit, Mili, Namorik, Namu, Rongelap,
Rongrik, Toke, Ujae, Ujelang, Utirik, Wotho, Wotje
Independence: 21 October 1986 (from the US-administered UN
trusteeship)
National holiday: Proclamation of the Republic of the Marshall
Islands, 1 May (1979)
Constitution: 1 May 1979
Legal system: based on adapted Trust Territory laws, acts of the
legislature, municipal, common, and customary laws
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Imata KABUA (since 14 January 1997);
note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Imata KABUA (since 14 January 1997);
note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet selected by the president from among the members of
Parliament
elections: president elected by Parliament from among its own
members for a four-year term; election last held 14 January 1997
(next to be held NA November 1999); note--Imata KABUA elected to
succeed and complete the term of the late President Amata KABUA
election results: Imata KABUA elected president; percent of
Parliament vote--63%
Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Nitijela (33 seats;
members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 20 November 1995 (next to be held NA November
1999)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--NA
note: the Council of Chiefs is a 12-member body that advises on
matters affecting customary law and practice
Judicial branch: Supreme Court; High Court
Political parties and leaders: traditionally there have been no
formally organized political parties; what has existed more closely
resembles factions or interest groups because they do not have party
headquarters, formal platforms, or party structures; the following
two "groupings" have competed in legislative balloting in recent
International organization participation: AsDB, ESCAP, G-77,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, IMF, Inmarsat, Intelsat (nonsignatory
user), Interpol, ITU, OPCW, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
WHO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Banny DE BRUM
chancery: 2433 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: Honolulu
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Joan M. PLAISTED
embassy: Oceanside, Mejen Weto, Long Island, Majuro
mailing address: P. O. Box 1379, Majuro, Republic of the Marshall
Islands 96960-1379
Flag description: blue with two stripes radiating from the lower
hoist-side corner--orange (top) and white; there is a white star with
four large rays and 20 small rays on the hoist side above the two
stripes
Economy
Economy--overview: US Government assistance is the mainstay of
this tiny island economy. Agricultural production is concentrated on
small farms, and the most important commercial crops are coconuts,
tomatoes, melons, and breadfruit. Small-scale industry is limited to
handicrafts, fish processing, and copra. The tourist industry, now a
small source of foreign exchange employing less than 10% of the
labor force, remains the best hope for future added income. The
islands have few natural resources, and imports far exceed exports.
Under the terms of the Compact of Free Association, the US provides
roughly $65 million in annual aid, equal to about 70% of GDP.
Negotiations will get underway in 1999 for an extended agreement.
Government downsizing, drought, a drop in construction, and the
decline in tourism and foreign investment due to the Asian financial
difficulties have caused GDP to fall in 1996-98.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$91 million (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: -5% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,450 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 15%
industry: 13%
services: 72% (1995)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5% (1997)
Labor force: NA
Labor force--by occupation: NA
Unemployment rate: 16% (1991 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $80.1 million
expenditures: $77.4 million, including capital expenditures of $19.5
million (FY95/96 est.)
Industries: copra, fish, tourism, craft items from shell, wood,
and pearls, offshore banking (embryonic)
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: 57 million kWh (1994)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: NA%
hydro: NA%
nuclear: NA%
other: NA%
Electricity--consumption: 57 million kWh (1994)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1994)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1994)
Agriculture--products: coconuts, cacao, taro, breadfruit, fruits;
pigs, chickens
Exports: $17.5 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.)
Exports--commodities: fish, coconut oil, fish, trochus shells
Exports--partners: US, Japan, Australia
Imports: $71.8 million (c.i.f., 1996 est.)
Imports--commodities: foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, fuels,
beverages and tobacco
Imports--partners: US, Japan, Australia, NZ
Debt--external: $125 million (FY96/97 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $NA; note?approximately $65 million
annually from the US
Currency: 1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: US currency is used
Fiscal year: 1 October--30 September
Communications
Telephones: 2,000 (1997 est.)
Telephone system: telex services
domestic: Majuro Atoll and Ebeye and Kwajalein islands have regular,
seven-digit, direct-dial telephones; other islands interconnected by
shortwave radiotelephone (used mostly for government purposes)
international: satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean);
US Government satellite communications system on Kwajalein
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 1
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 3 (of which one is an independent
station and two are US military stations) (1997)
Televisions: NA
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: NA km
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km
note: paved roads on major islands (Majuro, Kwajalein), otherwise
stone-, coral-, or laterite-surfaced roads and tracks
Ports and harbors: Majuro
Merchant marine:
total: 131 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 6,572,915
GRT/11,208,214 DWT
ships by type: bulk 56, cargo 5, chemical tanker 3, container 20,
liquefied gas tanker 2, oil tanker 42, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2,
vehicle carrier 1
note: a flag of convenience registry; includes the ships of Canada
1, China 1, Germany 1, Japan 1, and US 7 (1998 est.)
Airports: 16 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 12
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 5 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: no regular military forces (a coast guard may
be established); Police Force
Military--note: defense is the responsibility of the US
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: claims US territory of Wake Atoll
======================================================================
@Martinique
----------
Geography
Location: Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, north of
Trinidad and Tobago
Geographic coordinates: 14 40 N, 61 00 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 1,100 sq km
land: 1,060 sq km
water: 40 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly more than six times the size of
Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 350 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; moderated by trade winds; rainy season (June
to October); vulnerable to devastating cyclones (hurricanes) every
eight years on average; average temperature 17.3 degrees C; humid
Terrain: mountainous with indented coastline; dormant volcano
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Montagne Pelee 1,397 m
Natural resources: coastal scenery and beaches, cultivable land
Land use:
arable land: 8%
permanent crops: 8%
permanent pastures: 17%
forests and woodland: 44%
other: 23% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 40 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: hurricanes, flooding, and volcanic activity (an
average of one major natural disaster every five years)
Environment--current issues: NA
Environment--international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA
People
Population: 411,539 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 23% (male 47,933; female 46,957)
15-64 years: 67% (male 136,058; female 138,935)
65 years and over: 10% (male 17,530; female 24,126) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.03% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 16.3 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 5.94 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.09 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 6.76 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 79.27 years
male: 76.47 years
female: 82.13 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.8 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Martiniquais (singular and plural)
adjective: Martiniquais
Ethnic groups: African and African-white-Indian mixture 90%,
white 5%, East Indian, Lebanese, Chinese less than 5%
Religions: Roman Catholic 95%, Hindu and pagan African 5%
Languages: French, Creole patois
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93%
male: 92%
female: 93% (1982 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Department of Martinique
conventional short form: Martinique
local long form: Departement de la Martinique
local short form: Martinique
Data code: MB
Dependency status: overseas department of France
Government type: NA
Capital: Fort-de-France
Administrative divisions: none (overseas department of France)
Independence: none (overseas department of France)
National holiday: National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July
(1789)
Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system: French legal system
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May
1995); Prefect Dominique BELLION (since NA October 1998)
head of government: President of the General Council Claude LISE
(since 22 March 1992); President of the Regional Council Alfred
MARIE-JEANNE (since NA March 1998)
cabinet: NA
elections: French president elected by popular vote for a seven-year
term; prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of the
French Ministry of Interior; the presidents of the General and
Regional Councils are elected by the members of those councils
Legislative branch: unicameral General Council or Conseil General
(45 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve six-year
terms) and a unicameral Regional Assembly or Conseil Regional (41
seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms)
elections: General Council--last held NA March 1994 (next to be held
NA 2000); Regional Assembly--last held on NA March 1998 (next to be
held by March 2004)
election results: General Council--percent of vote by party--NA; seats
by party--NA; note--the PPM won a plurality; Regional Assembly--percent
of vote by party--NA; seats by party--NA
note: Martinique elects 2 seats to the French Senate; elections last
held 24 September 1995 (next to be held September 1998);
results--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--PS 2; Martinique
also elects 4 seats to the French National Assembly; elections last
held 1 June 1997 (next to be held NA 2002); results--percent of vote
by party--NA; seats by party--RPR 2, PS 1, independent 1
Judicial branch: Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel
Political parties and leaders: Rally for the Republic or RPR
Political pressure groups and leaders: Proletarian Action Group
Caribbean Revolutionary Alliance or ARC; Central Union for
League of Workers and Peasants; Association for the Protection of
International organization participation: FZ, WCL, WFTU
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas department of
France)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (overseas department
of France)
Flag description: a light blue background is divided into four
quadrants by a white cross; in the center of each rectangle is a
white snake; the flag of France is used for official occasions
Economy
Economy--overview: The economy is based on sugarcane, bananas,
tourism, and light industry. Agriculture accounts for about 6% of
GDP and the small industrial sector for 11%. Sugar production has
declined, with most of the sugarcane now used for the production of
rum. Banana exports are increasing, going mostly to France. The bulk
of meat, vegetable, and grain requirements must be imported,
contributing to a chronic trade deficit that requires large annual
transfers of aid from France. Tourism has become more important than
agricultural exports as a source of foreign exchange. The majority
of the work force is employed in the service sector and in
administration.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$4.24 billion (1996 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: NA%
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$10,700 (1996 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 6%
industry: 11%
services: 83% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.9% (1990)
Labor force: 160,000
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 10%, industry 17%,
services 73% (1997)
Unemployment rate: 24% (1997)
Budget:
revenues: $775 million
expenditures: $2.15 billion, including capital expenditures of $118
million (1996)
Industries: construction, rum, cement, oil refining, sugar,
tourism
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: 855 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 855 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: pineapples, avocados, bananas, flowers,
vegetables, sugarcane
Exports: $200 million (f.o.b., 1997)
Exports--commodities: refined petroleum products, bananas, rum,
pineapples
Exports--partners: France 57%, Guadeloupe 31%, French Guiana (1991)
Imports: $1.6 billion (c.i.f., 1997)
Imports--commodities: petroleum products, crude oil, foodstuffs,
construction materials, vehicles, clothing and other consumer goods
Imports--partners: France 62%, UK, Italy, Germany, Japan, US (1991)
Debt--external: $180 million (1994)
Economic aid--recipient: $NA; note?substantial annual aid from
France
Currency: 1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1--5.65 (January 1999),
5.8995 (1998), 5.8367 (1997), 5.1155 (1996), 4.9915 (1995), 5.5520
(1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 209,672 (1994 est.)
Telephone system: domestic facilities are adequate
domestic: NA
international: microwave radio relay to Guadeloupe, Dominica, and
Saint Lucia; satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 6, shortwave 0
Radios: 74,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 11 (in addition, there are nine
repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 65,000 (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 2,724 km
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km (1994)
Ports and harbors: Fort-de-France, La Trinite
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 2 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: French forces (Army, Navy, Air Force),
Gendarmerie
Military--note: defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for cocaine and marijuana
bound for the US and Europe
======================================================================
@Mauritania
----------
Geography
Location: Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean,
between Senegal and Western Sahara
Geographic coordinates: 20 00 N, 12 00 W
Map references: Africa
Area:
total: 1,030,700 sq km
land: 1,030,400 sq km
water: 300 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly larger than three times the size of
New Mexico
Land boundaries:
total: 5,074 km
border countries: Algeria 463 km, Mali 2,237 km, Senegal 813 km,
Western Sahara 1,561 km
Coastline: 754 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: desert; constantly hot, dry, dusty
Terrain: mostly barren, flat plains of the Sahara; some central
hills
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Sebkha de Ndrhamcha -3 m
highest point: Kediet Ijill 910 m
Natural resources: iron ore, gypsum, fish, copper, phosphate
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 38%
forests and woodland: 4%
other: 58% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 490 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind blows
primarily in March and April; periodic droughts
Environment--current issues: overgrazing, deforestation, and soil
erosion aggravated by drought are contributing to desertification;
very limited natural fresh water resources away from the Senegal
which is the only perennial river
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous
Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection,
Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography--note: most of the population concentrated in the cities
of Nouakchott and Nouadhibou and along the Senegal River in the
southern part of the country
People
Population: 2,581,738 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 47% (male 600,901; female 600,225)
15-64 years: 51% (male 641,481; female 678,951)
65 years and over: 2% (male 25,156; female 35,024) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.99% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 44.1 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 14.2 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 76.46 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 50.48 years
male: 47.39 years
female: 53.65 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.35 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Mauritanian(s)
adjective: Mauritanian
Ethnic groups: mixed Maur/black 40%, Maur 30%, black 30%
Religions: Muslim 100%
Languages: Hasaniya Arabic (official), Pular, Soninke, Wolof
(official), French
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 37.7%
male: 49.6%
female: 26.3% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Islamic Republic of Mauritania
conventional short form: Mauritania
local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Islamiyah al Muritaniyah
local short form: Muritaniyah
Data code: MR
Government type: republic
Capital: Nouakchott
Administrative divisions: 12 regions (regions, singular--region)
and 1 capital district*; Adrar, Assaba, Brakna, Dakhlet Nouadhibou,
Gorgol, Guidimaka, Hodh Ech Chargui, Hodh El Gharbi, Inchiri,
Nouakchott*, Tagant, Tiris Zemmour, Trarza
Independence: 28 November 1960 (from France)
National holiday: Independence Day, 28 November (1960)
Constitution: 12 July 1991
Legal system: a combination of Shari'a (Islamic law) and modern
law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Col. Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed TAYA (since 12
December 1984)
head of government: Prime Minister Cheikel Afia Ould Mohamed KHOUNA
(since 16 November 1998)
cabinet: Council of Ministers
elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term;
election last held 12 December 1997 (next to be held NA December
2003); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: President Col. Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed TAYA
reelected with 90% of the vote
Legislative branch: bicameral legislature consists of the Senate
or Majlis al-Shuyukh (56 seats; 17 up for election every two years;
members elected by municipal leaders to serve six-year terms) and
the National Assembly or Majlis al-Watani (79 seats; members elected
by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: Senate--last held 17 April 1998 (next to be held NA 2000);
National Assembly--last held 11 and 18 October 1996 (next to be held
NA 2001)
election results: Senate--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by
party--NA; National Assembly--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by
party--PRDS 71, AC 1, independents and other 7
Judicial branch: three-tier system: lower, appeals, and Supreme
Court (Cour Supreme)
Political parties and leaders: legalized by constitution passed
12 July 1991, however, politics continue to be tribally based;
emerging parties include Democratic and Social Republican Party or
Political pressure groups and leaders: Mauritanian Workers Union
MOHAMED, secretary general]
International organization participation: ABEDA, ACCT
(associate), ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU, CAEU, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS,
FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO
(pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM,
OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador-designate Ahmed Ould Khalifa OULD JIDDOU
chancery: 2129 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Timberlake FOSTER
embassy: Rue Abdallahi Ould Oubeid, Nouakchott
mailing address: B. P. 222, Nouakchott
Flag description: green with a yellow five-pointed star above a
yellow, horizontal crescent; the closed side of the crescent is
down; the crescent, star, and color green are traditional symbols of
Islam
Economy
Economy--overview: A majority of the population still depends on
agriculture and livestock for a livelihood, even though most of the
nomads and many subsistence farmers were forced into the cities by
recurrent droughts in the 1970s and 1980s. Mauritania has extensive
deposits of iron ore, which account for almost 50% of total exports.
The decline in world demand for this ore, however, has led to
cutbacks in production. The nation's coastal waters are among the
richest fishing areas in the world, but overexploitation by
foreigners threatens this key source of revenue. The country's first
deepwater port opened near Nouakchott in 1986. In recent years,
drought and economic mismanagement have resulted in a substantial
buildup of foreign debt. The government has begun the second stage
of an economic reform program in consultation with the World Bank,
the IMF, and major donor countries. Short-term growth prospects are
uncertain because of the heavy debt service burden, rapid population
growth, and vulnerability to climatic conditions.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$4.7 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 4.2% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,890 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 26%
industry: 31%
services: 43% (1996)
Population below poverty line: 57% (1990 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 0.7%
highest 10%: 30.4% (1988)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.7% (1996)
Labor force: 465,000 (1981 est.); 45,000 wage earners (1980)
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 47%, services 29%,
industry and commerce 14%, government 10%
Unemployment rate: 23% (1995 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $329 million
expenditures: $265 million, including capital expenditures of $75
million (1996 est.)
Industries: fish processing, mining of iron ore and gypsum
Industrial production growth rate: 7.2% (1994)
Electricity--production: 150 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 80%
hydro: 20%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 150 million kWh (1996
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: dates, millet, sorghum, root crops; cattle,
sheep; fish products
Exports: $562 million (f.o.b., 1997)
Exports--commodities: fish and fish products, iron ore, gold
Exports--partners: Japan 22%, Italy 16%, France 14%
Imports: $552 million (f.o.b., 1997)
Imports--commodities: foodstuffs, consumer goods, petroleum
products, capital goods
Imports--partners: France 30%, Algeria 10%, Spain 7%, China 6%, US
3%
Debt--external: $2.5 billion (1995)
Economic aid--recipient: $227.9 million (1995)
Currency: 1 ouguiya (UM) = 5 khoums
Exchange rates: ouguiyas (UM) per US$1--204.600 (January 1999),
151.853 (1997), 137.222 (1996), 129.768 (1995), 123.575 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 17,000 (1991 est.)
Telephone system: poor system of cable and open-wire lines, minor
microwave radio relay links, and radiotelephone communications
stations (improvements being made)
domestic: mostly cable and open-wire lines; a recently completed
domestic satellite telecommunications system links Nouakchott with
regional capitals
international: satellite earth stations--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
and 2 Arabsat
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 1 (1998 est.)
Radios: 1 million (1998 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1997)
Televisions: 50,000 (1995 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 704 km (single track); note--owned and operated by government
mining company
standard gauge: 704 km 1.435-m gauge (1995)
Highways:
total: 7,660 km
paved: 866 km
unpaved: 6,794 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: mostly ferry traffic on the Senegal River
Ports and harbors: Bogue, Kaedi, Nouadhibou, Nouakchott, Rosso
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 26 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 8
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 18
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 9
under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie,
National Guard, National Police, Presidential Guard
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 571,521 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 277,620 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $30 million (1996)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 2.5% (1996)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
======================================================================
@Mauritius
---------
Geography
Location: Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of
Madagascar
Geographic coordinates: 20 17 S, 57 33 E
Map references: World
Area:
total: 1,860 sq km
land: 1,850 sq km
water: 10 sq km
note: includes Agalega Islands, Cargados Carajos Shoals (Saint
Brandon), and Rodrigues
Area--comparative: almost 11 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 177 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical, modified by southeast trade winds; warm, dry
winter (May to November); hot, wet, humid summer (November to May)
Terrain: small coastal plain rising to discontinuous mountains
encircling central plateau
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Piton 828 m
Natural resources: arable land, fish
Land use:
arable land: 49%
permanent crops: 3%
permanent pastures: 3%
forests and woodland: 22%
other: 23% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 170 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: cyclones (November to April); almost completely
surrounded by reefs that may pose maritime hazards
Environment--current issues: water pollution
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
People
Population: 1,182,212 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 26% (male 156,616; female 153,698)
15-64 years: 68% (male 398,557; female 402,674)
65 years and over: 6% (male 28,586; female 42,081) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.18% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 18.49 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 6.69 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 16.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 71.09 years
male: 67.21 years
female: 74.96 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.21 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Mauritian(s)
adjective: Mauritian
Ethnic groups: Indo-Mauritian 68%, Creole 27%, Sino-Mauritian 3%,
Franco-Mauritian 2%
Religions: Hindu 52%, Christian 28.3% (Roman Catholic 26%,
Protestant 2.3%), Muslim 16.6%, other 3.1%
Languages: English (official), Creole, French, Hindi, Urdu,
Hakka, Bojpoori
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 82.9%
male: 87.1%
female: 78.8% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Mauritius
conventional short form: Mauritius
Data code: MP
Government type: parliamentary democracy
Capital: Port Louis
Administrative divisions: 9 districts and 3 dependencies*;
Agalega Islands*, Black River, Cargados Carajos Shoals*, Flacq,
Grand Port, Moka, Pamplemousses, Plaines Wilhems, Port Louis,
Riviere du Rempart, Rodrigues*, Savanne
Independence: 12 March 1968 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 12 March (1968)
Constitution: 12 March 1968; amended 12 March 1992
Legal system: based on French civil law system with elements of
English common law in certain areas
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Cassam UTEEM (since 1 July 1992) and Vice
President Angidi Verriah CHETTIAR (since 28 June 1997)
head of government: Prime Minister Navinchandra RAMGOOLAM (since 27
December 1995)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the
recommendation of the prime minister
elections: president and vice president elected by the National
Assembly for five-year terms; election last held 28 June 1997 (next
to be held NA 2002); prime minister and deputy prime minister
appointed by the president and are responsible to the National
Assembly
election results: Cassam UTEEM reelected president and Angidi
Verriah CHETTIAR elected vice president; percent of vote by the
National Assembly--NA
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (66 seats--62
elected by popular vote, 4 appointed by the election commission from
the losing political parties to give representation to various
ethnic minorities; members serve five-year terms)
elections: last held on 20 December 1995 (next to be held by
December 2000)
election results: percent of vote by party--MLP/MMM 65%, MSM/MMR 20%,
other 15%; seats by party--MLP 35, MMM 25, allies of MLP and MMM on
Rodrigues Island 2; appointed were Rodrigues Movement 2, PMSD 1,
Hizbullah 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
RAMGOOLAM]
Paramhansa NABABSING]; Mauritian Social Democrat Party or PMSD
Political pressure groups and leaders: various labor unions
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, C,
CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, InOC, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO,
ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, PCA, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Chitmansing JESSERAMSING
chancery: Suite 441, 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Harold Walter GEISEL
embassy: 4th Floor, Rogers House, John Kennedy Street, Port Louis
mailing address: international mail: P.O. Box 544, Port Louis; US
mail: American Embassy, Port Louis, Department of State, Washington,
DC 20521-2450
Flag description: four equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue,
yellow, and green
Economy
Economy--overview: Since independence in 1968, Mauritius has
developed from a low income, agriculturally based economy to a
middle income diversified economy with growing industrial, financial
services, and tourist sectors. For most of the period, annual growth
has been of the order of 5% to 6%. This remarkable achievement has
been reflected in increased life expectancy, lowered infant
mortality, and a much improved infrastructure. Sugarcane is grown on
about 90% of the cultivated land area and accounts for 25% of export
earnings. The government's development strategy centers on
industrialization (with a view to modernization and to exports),
agricultural diversification, and tourism. Economic performance in
1991-98 continued strong with solid growth and low unemployment.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$11.7 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 5% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$10,000 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 8%
industry: 29%
services: 63% (1996)
Population below poverty line: 10.6% (1992 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6.8% (1997)
Labor force: 514,000 (1995)
Labor force--by occupation: construction and industry 36%,
services 24%, agriculture and fishing 14%, trade, restaurants,
hotels 16%, transportation and communication 7%, finance 3% (1995)
Unemployment rate: 2% (1996 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $824 million (FY94/95)
expenditures: $1 billion, including capital expenditures of $198
million (FY95/96 est.)
Industries: food processing (largely sugar milling), textiles,
clothing; chemicals, metal products, transport equipment,
nonelectrical machinery; tourism
Industrial production growth rate: 5.8% (1992)
Electricity--production: 1.125 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 86.67%
hydro: 13.33%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 1.125 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: sugarcane, tea, corn, potatoes, bananas,
pulses; cattle, goats; fish
Exports: $1.6 billion (f.o.b., 1997)
Exports--commodities: clothing and textiles 55%, sugar 24% (1995)
Exports--partners: UK 34.4%, France 19.5%, US 13.0%, Germany 5.6%,
Italy 4.0% (1996)
Imports: $2.3 billion (c.i.f., 1997)
Imports--commodities: manufactured goods 37%, capital equipment
19%, foodstuffs 13%, petroleum products 8%, chemicals 7% (1995)
Imports--partners: South Africa 12.0%, France 11.1%, India 8.9%,
UK 6.5%, Germany 4.7%, (1996)
Debt--external: $1.2 billion (1996 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $5.2 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Mauritian rupee (MauR) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Mauritian rupees (MauRs) per US$1--24.099 (January
1999), 22.803 (1998), 20.561 (1997), 17.948 (1996), 17.386 (1995),
17.960 (1994)
Fiscal year: 1 July--30 June
Communications
Telephones: 107,000 (1993)
Telephone system: small system with good service
domestic: primarily microwave radio relay
international: satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean);
new microwave link to Reunion; HF radiotelephone links to several
countries
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: 399,000 (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 2 (in addition, there are 11
repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 242,000 (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 1,860 km
paved: 1,732 km (including 30 km of expressways)
unpaved: 128 km (1996 est.)
Ports and harbors: Port Louis
Merchant marine:
total: 17 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 178,846 GRT/236,308 DWT
ships by type: cargo 6, combination bulk 2, container 6, liquefied
gas tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 2
note: a flag of convenience registry; India owns 1 ship (1998 est.)
Airports: 5 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: National Police Force (includes the
paramilitary Special Mobile Force or SMF, Special Support Units or
SSU, and National Coast Guard)
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 339,218 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 171,705 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $11.2 million (FY97/98)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 0.4% (FY97/98)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: claims the Chagos Archipelago in
UK-administered British Indian Ocean Territory; claims
French-administered Tromelin Island
Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis for the international
drug trade; heroin consumption and transshipment are growing problems
======================================================================
@Mayotte
-------
Geography
Location: Southern Africa, island in the Mozambique Channel,
about one-half of the way from northern Madagascar to northern
Mozambique
Geographic coordinates: 12 50 S, 45 10 E
Map references: Africa
Area:
total: 375 sq km
land: 375 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly more than twice the size of
Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 185.2 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; marine; hot, humid, rainy season during
northeastern monsoon (November to May); dry season is cooler (May to
November)
Terrain: generally undulating, with deep ravines and ancient
volcanic peaks
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Benara 660 m
Natural resources: NEGL
Land use:
arable land: NA%
permanent crops: NA%
permanent pastures: NA%
forests and woodland: NA%
other: NA%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: cyclones during rainy season
Environment--current issues: NA
Environment--international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography--note: part of Comoro Archipelago
People
Population: 149,336 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 47% (male 34,838; female 34,798)
15-64 years: 52% (male 42,073; female 35,068)
65 years and over: 1% (male 1,257; female 1,302) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 5% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 46.12 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 8.9 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 12.73 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.2 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.97 male(s)/female
total population: 1.1 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 69.06 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 60.02 years
male: 57.61 years
female: 62.51 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.41 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Mahorais (singular and plural)
adjective: Mahoran
Ethnic groups: NA
Religions: Muslim 99%, Christian (mostly Roman Catholic)
Languages: Mahorian (a Swahili dialect), French
Literacy: NA
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Territorial Collectivity of Mayotte
conventional short form: Mayotte
Data code: MF
Dependency status: territorial collectivity of France
Government type: NA
Capital: Mamoutzou
Administrative divisions: none (territorial collectivity of
France)
Independence: none (territorial collectivity of France)
National holiday: National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July
(1789)
Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system: French law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May
1995), represented by Prefect Philippe BOISADAM (since NA)
head of government: President of the General Council Younoussa
BAMANA (since NA 1977)
cabinet: NA
elections: French president elected by popular vote for a seven-year
term; prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of the
French Ministry of the Interior; president of the General Council
elected by the members of the General Council for a six-year term
Legislative branch: unicameral General Council or Conseil General
(19 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve three-year
terms)
elections: last held 23 March 1997 (next to be held NA March 2000)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; note--only nine of the
19 seats were subjected to voting in March 1997; after the election,
seats by party were as follows: MPM 8, RPR 5, independents 5, PS 1
note: Mayotte elects one member of the French Senate; elections last
held 24 September 1995 (next to be held 24 September 2001);
results--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--MPM 1; Mayotte
also elects one member to the French National Assembly; elections
last held 25 May and 1 June 1997 (next to be held as a special
election on NA May 2002); results--percent of vote by party--UDF/FD
51.7%, RPR 48.3%; seats by party--UDF/FD 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Tribunal Superieur d'Appel)
Political parties and leaders: Mahoran Popular Movement or MPM
BEOUTIS]; Socialist Party or PS (local branch of French Parti
JEAN-BAPTISTE]
International organization participation: FZ
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (territorial
collectivity of France)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (territorial
collectivity of France)
Flag description: the flag of France is used
Economy
Economy--overview: Economic activity is based primarily on the
agricultural sector, including fishing and livestock raising.
Mayotte is not self-sufficient and must import a large portion of
its food requirements, mainly from France. The economy and future
development of the island are heavily dependent on French financial
assistance, an important supplement to GDP. Mayotte's remote
location is an obstacle to the development of tourism.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$85 million (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: NA%
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$600 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
Labor force: NA
Unemployment rate: 38% (1991 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $NA
expenditures: $73 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1991 est.)
Industries: newly created lobster and shrimp industry
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: NA kWh
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: NA%
hydro: NA%
nuclear: NA%
other: NA%
Electricity--consumption: NA kWh
Electricity--exports: NA kWh
Electricity--imports: NA kWh
Agriculture--products: vanilla, ylang-ylang (perfume essence),
coffee, copra
Exports: $3.64 million (f.o.b., 1996)
Exports--commodities: ylang-ylang (perfume essence), vanilla, copra
Exports--partners: France 80%, Comoros 15%, Reunion
Imports: $131.5 million (f.o.b., 1996)
Imports--commodities: building materials, machinery and
transportation equipment, metals, chemicals, rice, clothing, flour
Imports--partners: France 66%, Africa 14%, Southeast Asia 20%
Debt--external: $NA
Economic aid--recipient: $107.7 million (1995); note?extensive
French financial assistance
Currency: 1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1--5.65 (January 1999),
5.8995 (1998), 5.8367 (1997), 5.1155 (1996), 4.9915 (1995), 5.5520
(1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 450
Telephone system: small system administered by French Department
of Posts and Telecommunications
domestic: NA
international: microwave radio relay and HF radiotelephone
communications to Comoros and other international connections
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: 30,000 (1994 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 3 (1997)
Televisions: 3,500 (1994 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 93 km
paved: 72 km
unpaved: 21 km
Ports and harbors: Dzaoudzi
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military--note: defense is the responsibility of France; small
contingent of French forces stationed on the island
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: claimed by Comoros
======================================================================
@Mexico
------
Geography
Location: Middle America, bordering the Caribbean Sea and the
Gulf of Mexico, between Belize and the US and bordering the North
Pacific Ocean, between Guatemala and the US
Geographic coordinates: 23 00 N, 102 00 W
Map references: North America
Area:
total: 1,972,550 sq km
land: 1,923,040 sq km
water: 49,510 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly less than three times the size of Texas
Land boundaries:
total: 4,538 km
border countries: Belize 250 km, Guatemala 962 km, US 3,326 km
Coastline: 9,330 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: varies from tropical to desert
Terrain: high, rugged mountains; low coastal plains; high
plateaus; desert
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Laguna Salada -10 m
highest point: Volcan Pico de Orizaba 5,700 m
Natural resources: petroleum, silver, copper, gold, lead, zinc,
natural gas, timber
Land use:
arable land: 12%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 39%
forests and woodland: 26%
other: 22% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 61,000 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: tsunamis along the Pacific coast, volcanoes and
destructive earthquakes in the center and south, and hurricanes on
the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean coasts
Environment--current issues: natural fresh water resources scarce
and polluted in north, inaccessible and poor quality in center and
extreme southeast; raw sewage and industrial effluents polluting
rivers in urban areas; deforestation; widespread erosion;
desertification; serious air pollution in the national capital and
urban centers along US-Mexico border
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine
Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography--note: strategic location on southern border of US
People
Population: 100,294,036 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 35% (male 17,987,500; female 17,289,875)
15-64 years: 61% (male 29,610,813; female 31,216,342)
65 years and over: 4% (male 1,873,986; female 2,315,520) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.73% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 24.99 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 4.83 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -2.84 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 24.62 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 72 years
male: 68.98 years
female: 75.17 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.85 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Mexican(s)
adjective: Mexican
Ethnic groups: mestizo (Amerindian-Spanish) 60%, Amerindian or
predominantly Amerindian 30%, white 9%, other 1%
Religions: nominally Roman Catholic 89%, Protestant 6%
Languages: Spanish, various Mayan, Nahuatl, and other regional
indigenous languages
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 89.6%
male: 91.8%
female: 87.4% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: United Mexican States
conventional short form: Mexico
local long form: Estados Unidos Mexicanos
local short form: Mexico
Data code: MX
Government type: federal republic operating under a centralized
government
Capital: Mexico
Administrative divisions: 31 states (estados, singular--estado)
and 1 federal district* (distrito federal); Aguascalientes, Baja
California, Baja California Sur, Campeche, Chiapas, Chihuahua,
Coahuila de Zaragoza, Colima, Distrito Federal*, Durango,
Guanajuato, Guerrero, Hidalgo, Jalisco, Mexico, Michoacan de Ocampo,
Morelos, Nayarit, Nuevo Leon, Oaxaca, Puebla, Queretaro de Arteaga,
Quintana Roo, San Luis Potosi, Sinaloa, Sonora, Tabasco, Tamaulipas,
Tlaxcala, Veracruz-Llave, Yucatan, Zacatecas
Independence: 16 September 1810 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day, 16 September (1810)
Constitution: 5 February 1917
Legal system: mixture of US constitutional theory and civil law
system; judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory (but not
enforced)
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Ernesto ZEDILLO Ponce de Leon (since 1
December 1994); note--the president is both the chief of state and
head of government
head of government: President Ernesto ZEDILLO Ponce de Leon (since 1
December 1994); note--the president is both the chief of state and
head of government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president with consent of the
Senate
elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term;
election last held 21 August 1994 (next to be held in July or August
2000)
election results: Ernesto ZEDILLO Ponce de Leon elected president;
percent of vote--Ernesto ZEDILLO Ponce de Leon (PRI) 50.18%,
Cuauhtemoc CARDENAS Solorzano (PRD) 17.08%, Diego FERNANDEZ DE
CEVALLOS (PAN) 26.69%, other 6.05%
Legislative branch: bicameral National Congress or Congreso de la
Union consists of the Senate or Camara de Senadores (128 seats; half
are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms, and half are
allocated on the basis of each party's popular vote) and the Chamber
of Deputies or Camara de Diputados (500 seats; 300 members are
directly elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms;
remaining 200 members are allocated on the basis of each party's
popular vote, also for three-year terms)
elections: Senate--last held 6 July 1997 for one-quarter of the
seats; Chamber of Deputies--last held 6 July 1997 (the next
legislative elections will coincide with the presidential election
in July or August 2000)
election results: Senate--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by
party--PRI 77, PAN 33, PRD 16, PVEM 1, PT 1; note--the distribution of
seats as of May 1998 is as follows--PRI 77, PAN 31, PRD 15, PT 1,
independents 4; Chamber of Deputies--percent of vote by party--PRI
39%, PAN 27%, PRD 26%; seats by party--PRI 239, PRD 125, PAN 121,
PVEM 8, PT 7; note--the distribution of seats as of May 1998 is as
follows--PRI 237, PRD 127, PAN 120, PT 7, PVEM 6, independents 3
Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de
Justicia (judges are appointed by the president with consent of the
Senate)
Political parties and leaders: recognized parties--Institutional
Political pressure groups and leaders: Roman Catholic Church;
Confederation of Mexican Workers or CTM; Confederation of Industrial
Chambers or CONCAMIN; Confederation of National Chambers of Commerce
or CONCANACO; National Peasant Confederation or CNC; Revolutionary
Workers Party or PRT; Revolutionary Confederation of Workers and
Peasants or CROC; Regional Confederation of Mexican Workers or CROM;
Confederation of Employers of the Mexican Republic or COPARMEX;
National Chamber of Transformation Industries or CANACINTRA;
Coordinator for Foreign Trade Business Organizations or COECE;
Federation of Unions Providing Goods and Services or FESEBES;
National Union of Workers or UNT
International organization participation: APEC, BCIE, BIS,
Caricom (observer), CCC, CDB, EBRD, ECLAC, FAO, G-3, G-6, G-11,
G-15, G-19, G-24, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA
(observer), IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat,
Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, NAM (observer),
NEA, OAS, OECD, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Jesus REYES HEROLES Gonzalez Garza
chancery: 1911 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20006
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Chicago, Dallas,
Denver, El Paso, Houston, Laredo (Texas), Los Angeles, Miami, New
Orleans, New York, Nogales (Arizona), Phoenix, Sacramento, San
Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico)
consulate(s): Albuquerque, Brownsville (Texas), Calexico
(California), Corpus Christi, Del Rio (Texas), Detroit, Douglas
(Arizona), Eagle Pass (Texas), Fresno (California), McAllen (Texas),
Midland (Texas), Orlando, Oxnard (California), Philadelphia,
Portland (Oregon), St. Louis, Salt Lake City, San Bernardino, San
Jose, Santa Ana (California), Seattle, Tucson
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Jeffery DAVIDOW
embassy: Paseo de la Reforma 305, Colonia Cuauhtemoc, 06500 Mexico,
Distrito Federal
mailing address: P. O. Box 3087, Laredo, TX 78044-3087
consulate(s) general: Ciudad Juarez, Guadalajara, Monterrey, Tijuana
consulate(s): Hermosillo, Matamoros, Merida, Nuevo Laredo, Nogales
Flag description: three equal vertical bands of green (hoist
side), white, and red; the coat of arms (an eagle perched on a
cactus with a snake in its beak) is centered in the white band
Economy
Economy--overview: Mexico has a free market economy with a mixture
of modern and outmoded industry and agriculture, increasingly
dominated by the private sector. The number of state-owned
enterprises in Mexico has fallen from more than 1,000 in 1982 to
fewer than 200 in 1998. The ZEDILLO administration is privatizing
and expanding competition in sea ports, railroads,
telecommunications, electricity, natural gas distribution, and
airports. A strong export sector helped to cushion the economy's
decline in 1995 and led the recovery in 1996 and 1997. In 1998,
private consumption became the leading driver of growth, which was
accompanied by increased employment and higher wages. The government
expects the economy to slow in 1999 because of low commodity prices,
tighter international liquidity, and slacker demand for exports.
Mexico still needs to overcome many structural problems as it
strives to modernize its economy and raise living standards. Income
distribution is very unequal, with the top 20% of income earners
accounting for 55% of income. Trade with the US and Canada has
nearly doubled since NAFTA was implemented in 1994. Mexico is
pursuing additional trade agreements with most countries in Latin
America and with the EU to lessen its dependence on the US.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$815.3 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 4.8% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$8,300 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 6%
industry: 26%
services: 68% (1997)
Population below poverty line: 27% (1998 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.8%
highest 10%: 36.6% 1996)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 18.6% (1998)
Labor force: 37.5 million (1998)
Labor force--by occupation: services 28.8%, agriculture, forestry,
hunting, and fishing 21.8%, commerce 17.1%, manufacturing 16.1%,
construction 5.2%, public administration and national defense 4.4%,
transportation and communications 4.1%
Unemployment rate: 2.6% (1998) urban; plus considerable
underemployment
Budget:
revenues: $117 billion
expenditures: $123 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1998 est.)
Industries: food and beverages, tobacco, chemicals, iron and
steel, petroleum, mining, textiles, clothing, motor vehicles,
consumer durables, tourism
Industrial production growth rate: 6% (1998 est.)
Electricity--production: 154.395 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 71.46%
hydro: 20.16%
nuclear: 4.85%
other: 3.53% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 154.448 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 1.263 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 1.316 billion kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: corn, wheat, soybeans, rice, beans, cotton,
coffee, fruit, tomatoes; beef, poultry, dairy products; wood products
Exports: $117.5 billion (f.o.b., 1998), includes in-bond
industries (assembly plant operations with links to US companies)
Exports--commodities: crude oil, oil products, coffee, silver,
engines, motor vehicles, cotton, consumer electronics
Exports--partners: US 87.5%, Canada 1.3%, Japan 0.8%, Spain 0.6%,
Chile 0.6%, Brazil 0.5% (1998 est.)
Imports: $111.5 billion (f.o.b., 1998), includes in-bond
industries (assembly plant operations with links to US companies)
Imports--commodities: metal-working machines, steel mill products,
agricultural machinery, electrical equipment, car parts for
assembly, repair parts for motor vehicles, aircraft, and aircraft
parts
Imports--partners: US 74.2%, Japan 3.7%, Germany 3.7%, Canada
1.8%, South Korea 1.5%, Italy 1.3%, France 1.2% (1998 est.)
Debt--external: $154 billion (1997)
Economic aid--recipient: $1.166 billion (1995)
Currency: 1 New Mexican peso (Mex$) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates: Mexican pesos (Mex$) per US$1--10.1104 (January
1999), 9.1360 (1998), 7.9141 (1997), 7.5994(1996), 6.4194 (1995),
3.3751 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 11,890,868 (1993 est.)
Telephone system: highly developed system with extensive
microwave radio relay links; privatized in December 1990; opened to
competition January 1997
domestic: adequate telephone service for business and government,
but the population is poorly served; domestic satellite system with
120 earth stations; extensive microwave radio relay network
international: satellite earth stations--5 Intelsat (4 Atlantic Ocean
and 1 Pacific Ocean); launched Solidaridad I satellite in November
1993 and Solidaridad II in October 1994, giving Mexico improved
access to South America, Central America and much of the US as well
as enhancing domestic communications; linked to Central American
Microwave System of trunk connections
Radio broadcast stations: AM 824 (1999 est.), FM 500 (1998 est.),
shortwave 19 (1999 est.)
Radios: 22.5 million (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 236 (not including repeaters)
(1997)
Televisions: 13.1 million (1992 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 31,048 km
standard gauge: 30,958 km 1.435-m gauge (246 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 90 km 0.914-m gauge (1998 est.)
Highways:
total: 252,000 km
paved: 94,248 km (including 6,740 km of expressways)
unpaved: 157,752 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 2,900 km navigable rivers and coastal canals
Pipelines: crude oil 28,200 km; petroleum products 10,150 km;
natural gas 13,254 km; petrochemical 1,400 km
Ports and harbors: Acapulco, Altamira, Coatzacoalcos, Ensenada,
Guaymas, La Paz, Lazaro Cardenas, Manzanillo, Mazatlan, Progreso,
Salina Cruz, Tampico, Topolobampo, Tuxpan, Veracruz
Merchant marine:
total: 52 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 852,004 GRT/1,236,475
DWT
ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 1, chemical tanker 4, container 4,
liquefied gas tanker 7, oil tanker 28, roll-on/roll-off cargo 3,
short-sea passenger 3 (1998 est.)
Airports: 1,805 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 232
over 3,047 m: 10
2,438 to 3,047 m: 27
1,524 to 2,437 m: 91
914 to 1,523 m: 78
under 914 m: 26 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 1,573
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 63
914 to 1,523 m: 468
under 914 m: 1,040 (1998 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: National Defense Secretariat (includes Army
and Air Force), Navy Secretariat (includes Naval Air and Marines)
Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 25,675,266 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 18,675,524 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 1,085,042 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $6 billion (1998)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 1.3% (1998)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
Illicit drugs: illicit cultivation of opium poppy (cultivation in
1998--5,500 hectares; potential production--60 metric tons) and
cannabis cultivation in 1998--4,600 hectares; government eradication
efforts have been key in keeping illicit crop levels low; major
supplier of heroin and marijuana to the US market; continues as the
primary transshipment country for US-bound cocaine from South
America; involved in the production and distribution of
methamphetamines
======================================================================
@Micronesia, Federated States of
-------------------------------
Geography
Location: Oceania, island group in the North Pacific Ocean, about
three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Indonesia
Geographic coordinates: 6 55 N, 158 15 E
Map references: Oceania
Area:
total: 702 sq km
land: 702 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes Pohnpei (Ponape), Truk (Chuuk) Islands, Yap Islands,
and Kosrae
Area--comparative: four times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 6,112 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; heavy year-round rainfall, especially in the
eastern islands; located on southern edge of the typhoon belt with
occasionally severe damage
Terrain: islands vary geologically from high mountainous islands
to low, coral atolls; volcanic outcroppings on Pohnpei, Kosrae, and
Truk
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Totolom 791 m
Natural resources: forests, marine products, deep-seabed minerals
Land use:
arable land: NA%
permanent crops: NA%
permanent pastures: NA%
forests and woodland: NA%
other: NA%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: typhoons (June to December)
Environment--current issues: NA
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous
Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography--note: four major island groups totaling 607 islands
People
Population: 131,500 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate: 3.3% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 27.32 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 6.01 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 11.65 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 33.99 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 68.48 years
male: 66.52 years
female: 70.48 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.87 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Micronesian(s)
adjective: Micronesian; Kosrae(s), Pohnpeian(s), Trukese, Yapese
Ethnic groups: nine ethnic Micronesian and Polynesian groups
Religions: Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 47%, other and none 3%
Languages: English (official and common language), Trukese,
Pohnpeian, Yapese, Kosrean
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 89%
male: 91%
female: 88% (1980 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Federated States of Micronesia
conventional short form: none
former: Kosrae, Ponape, Truk, and Yap Districts (Trust Territory of
the Pacific Islands)
abbreviation: FSM
Data code: FM
Government type: constitutional government in free association
with the US; the Compact of Free Association entered into force 3
November 1986
Capital: Palikir
Administrative divisions: 4 states; Chuuk (Truk), Kosrae,
Pohnpei, Yap
Independence: 3 November 1986 (from the US-administered UN
Trusteeship)
National holiday: Proclamation of the Federated States of
Micronesia, 10 May (1979)
Constitution: 10 May 1979
Legal system: based on adapted Trust Territory laws, acts of the
legislature, municipal, common, and customary laws
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Jacob NENA (acting president since NA July
1996, president since 9 May 1997); Vice President Leo A. FALCAM
(since 9 May 1997); note--the president is both the chief of state
and head of government; Vice President Jacob NENA became acting
president in July 1996 after President Bailey OLTER suffered a
stroke; OLTER was declared incapacitated in November 1996; as
provided for by the constitution, 180 days later, with OLTER still
unable to resume his duties, NENA was sworn in as the new president;
he will serve for the remaining two years of OLTER's term
head of government: President Jacob NENA (acting president since NA
July 1996, president since 9 May 1997); Vice President Leo A. FALCAM
(since 9 May 1997); note--the president is both the chief of state
and head of government; Vice President Jacob NENA became acting
president in July 1996 after President Bailey OLTER suffered a
stroke; OLTER was declared incapacitated in November 1996; as
provided for by the constitution, 180 days later, with OLTER still
unable to resume his duties, NENA was sworn in as the new president;
he will serve for the remaining two years of OLTER's term
cabinet: Cabinet
elections: president and vice president elected by Congress from
among the four senators-at-large for four-year terms; election last
held 11 May 1995 (next to be held NA May 1999); note--because of the
vacancy to the post of vice president created after NENA left to
become acting president, a new election to fill the position of vice
president for the remaining two years of the term was held on 9 May
1997 (next to be held NA May 1999)
election results: Bailey OLTER reelected president; percent of
Congress vote--NA; Leo A. FALCAM elected vice president; percent of
Congress vote--NA
Legislative branch: unicameral Congress (14 seats; members
elected by popular vote; four--one elected from each of state--to
serve four-year terms and 10--elected from single-member districts
delineated by population--to serve two-year terms)
elections: elections for four-year term seats last held 7 March 1995
(next to be held 2 March 1999); elections for two-year term seats
last held 3 March 1997 (next to be held NA March 1999)
election results: percent of vote--NA; seats--independents 14
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: no formal parties
International organization participation: AsDB, ESCAP, G-77,
IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, IMF, Intelsat, ITU, OPCW, Sparteca, SPC, SPF,
UN, UNCTAD, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Jesse Bibiano MAREHALAU
chancery: 1725 N Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
consulate(s) general: Honolulu and Tamuning (Guam)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Ann WRIGHT
embassy: address NA, Kolonia
mailing address: P. O. Box 1286, Pohnpei, Federated States of
Micronesia 96941
Flag description: light blue with four white five-pointed stars
centered; the stars are arranged in a diamond pattern
Economy
Economy--overview: Economic activity consists primarily of
subsistence farming and fishing. The islands have few mineral
deposits worth exploiting, except for high-grade phosphate. The
potential for a tourist industry exists, but the remoteness of the
location and a lack of adequate facilities hinder development.
Financial assistance from the US is the primary source of revenue,
with the US pledged to spend $1 billion in the islands in the 1990s.
Geographical isolation and a poorly developed infrastructure are
major impediments to long-term growth.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$220 million (1996 est.)
note: GDP is supplemented by grant aid, averaging perhaps $100
million annually
GDP--real growth rate: 1% (1996 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,760 (1996 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4% (1996 est.)
Labor force: NA
Labor force--by occupation: two-thirds are government employees
Unemployment rate: 27% (1989)
Budget:
revenues: $58 million
expenditures: $52 million, including capital expenditures of $4.7
million (FY95/96 est.)
Industries: tourism, construction, fish processing, craft items
from shell, wood, and pearls
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: NA kWh
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: NA%
hydro: NA%
nuclear: NA%
other: NA%
Electricity--consumption: NA kWh
Electricity--exports: NA kWh
Electricity--imports: NA kWh
Agriculture--products: black pepper, tropical fruits and
vegetables, coconuts, cassava (tapioca), sweet potatoes; pigs,
chickens
Exports: $73 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.)
Exports--commodities: fish, garments, bananas, black pepper
Exports--partners: Japan, US, Guam
Imports: $168 million (c.i.f., 1996 est.)
Imports--commodities: food, manufactured goods, machinery and
equipment, beverages
Imports--partners: US, Japan, Australia
Debt--external: $129 million
Economic aid--recipient: $77.4 million (1995); note?under terms of
the Compact of Free Association, the US will provide $1.3 billion in
grant aid during the period 1986-2001
Currency: 1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: US currency is used
Fiscal year: 1 October--30 September
Communications
Telephones: 960
Telephone system:
domestic: islands interconnected by shortwave radiotelephone (used
mostly for government purposes)
international: satellite earth stations--4 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 1, shortwave 1
Radios: 17,000 (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 2 (1997)
Televisions: 1,290 (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 240 km
paved: 42 km
unpaved: 198 km (1996 est.)
Ports and harbors: Colonia (Yap), Kolonia (Pohnpei), Lele, Moen
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 6 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military--note: Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) is a
sovereign, self-governing state in free association with the US; FSM
is totally dependent on the US for its defense
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
======================================================================
@Midway Islands
--------------
Geography
Location: Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about
one-third of the way from Honolulu to Tokyo
Geographic coordinates: 28 13 N, 177 22 W
Map references: Oceania
Area:
total: 6.2 sq km
land: 6.2 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes Eastern Island, Sand Island, and Spit Island
Area--comparative: about nine times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 15 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: subtropical, but moderated by prevailing easterly winds
Terrain: low, nearly level
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 4 m
Natural resources: wildlife, terrestrial and aquatic
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 100%
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1998)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment--current issues: NA
Environment--international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography--note: a coral atoll managed as a national wildlife
refuge and open to the public for wildlife-related recreation in the
form of wildlife observation and photography, sport fishing,
snorkeling, and scuba diving
People
Population: no indigenous inhabitants
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Midway Islands
Data code: MQ
Dependency status: unincorporated territory of the US; formerly
administered from Washington, DC, by the US Navy, under Naval
Facilities Engineering Command, Pacific Division; this facility has
been operationally closed since 10 September 1993; on 31 October
1996, through a presidential executive order, the jurisdiction and
control of the atoll was transferred to the Fish and Wildlife
Service of the US Department of the Interior as part of the National
Wildlife Refuge system
Capital: none; administered from Washington, DC
Legal system: NA
Flag description: the flag of the US is used
Economy
Economy--overview: The economy is based on providing support
services for the national wildlife refuge activities located on the
islands. All food and manufactured goods must be imported.
Transportation
Highways:
total: 32 km
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km
Pipelines: 7.8 km
Ports and harbors: Sand Island
Airports: 3 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military--note: defense is the responsibility of the US
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
======================================================================
@Moldova
-------
Geography
Location: Eastern Europe, northeast of Romania
Geographic coordinates: 47 00 N, 29 00 E
Map references: Commonwealth of Independent States
Area:
total: 33,843 sq km
land: 33,371 sq km
water: 472 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly larger than Maryland
Land boundaries:
total: 1,389 km
border countries: Romania 450 km, Ukraine 939 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: moderate winters, warm summers
Terrain: rolling steppe, gradual slope south to Black Sea
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Nistru River 2 m
highest point: Mount Balaneshty 430 m
Natural resources: lignite, phosphorites, gypsum
Land use:
arable land: 53%
permanent crops: 14%
permanent pastures: 13%
forests and woodland: 13%
other: 7% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 3,110 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: landslides (57 cases in 1998)
Environment--current issues: heavy use of agricultural chemicals,
including banned pesticides such as DDT, has contaminated soil and
groundwater; extensive soil erosion from poor farming methods
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants
Geography--note: landlocked
People
Population: 4,460,838 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 24% (male 555,096; female 535,625)
15-64 years: 66% (male 1,408,334; female 1,529,542)
65 years and over: 10% (male 160,317; female 271,924) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.1% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 14.43 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 12.5 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.92 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.59 male(s)/female
total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 43.52 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 64.39 years
male: 59.76 years
female: 69.24 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.86 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Moldovan(s)
adjective: Moldovan
Ethnic groups: Moldavian/Romanian 64.5%, Ukrainian 13.8%, Russian
13%, Gagauz 3.5%, Jewish 1.5%, Bulgarian 2%, other 1.7% (1989 est.)
note: internal disputes with ethnic Russians in the Transdniester
region
Religions: Eastern Orthodox 98.5%, Jewish 1.5%, Baptist (only
about 1,000 members) (1991)
note: the large majority of churchgoers are ethnic Moldovans
Languages: Moldovan (official, virtually the same as the Romanian
language), Russian, Gagauz (a Turkish dialect)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96%
male: 99%
female: 94% (1989 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Moldova
conventional short form: Moldova
local long form: Republica Moldova
local short form: none
former: Soviet Socialist Republic of Moldova; Moldavia
Data code: MD
Government type: republic
Capital: Chisinau
Administrative divisions: 40 raions (singular--raion) and 4
municipalities*; Anenii Noi, Balti*, Basarabeasca, Bender*, Briceni,
Cahul, Cainari, Calarasi, Camenca, Cantemir, Causeni, Ceadir-Lunga,
Chisinau*, Cimislia, Comrat, Criuleni, Donduseni, Drochia, Dubasari,
Edinet, Falesti, Floresti, Glodeni, Grigoriopol, Hincesti, Ialoveni,
Leova, Nisporeni, Ocnita, Orhei, Rezina, Ribnita, Riscani, Singerei,
Slobozia, Soldanesti, Soroca, Stefan-Voda, Straseni, Taraclia,
Telenesti, Tiraspol*, Ungheni, Vulcanesti
note: in accordance with the Law on Territorial Administrative
Reform, the 40 raions have been reorganized into 9 counties
(judets), one municipality*, and 2 territorial units**: Baltsi,
Cahul, Chisinau, Chisinau*, Dubossary district (Transnistria)**,
Edinets, Gagauzia**, Lapushna, Orhei, Soroca, Tighina, Ungheni; the
status of the Dubossary district is still under negotiation
Independence: 27 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday: Independence Day, 27 August 1991
Constitution: new constitution adopted 28 July 1994; replaces old
Soviet constitution of 1979
Legal system: based on civil law system; Constitutional Court
reviews legality of legislative acts and governmental decisions of
resolution; it is unclear if Moldova accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction but accepts many UN and Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) documents
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Petru LUCINSCHI (since 15 January 1997)
head of government: Prime Minister Ion CIUBUC (since 15 January
1997) and four deputy prime ministers
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the
recommendation of the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term;
election last held 17 November 1996; runoff election 1 December 1996
(next to be held NA November 2000); following legislative elections,
the leader of the majority party or leader of the majority coalition
is usually elected prime minister by Parliament; names of deputy
prime ministers are submitted by the prime minister for acceptance
by the president
election results: Petru LUCINSCHI ran against Mircea SNEGUR and was
elected president; percent of vote--LUCINSCHI 54%, SNEGUR 46%; Prime
Minister Ion CIUBUC was appointed by the president 15 January 1997
and was elected by a parliamentary vote of 75-15 on 24 January 1997
Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Parlamentul (101
seats; members are directly elected by popular vote to serve
four-year terms)
elections: last held 22 March 1998 (next to be held spring 2002)
election results: percent of vote by party--PCM 30%, CDM 19%, PMDP
18%, PFD 9%; seats by party--PCM 40, CDM 26, PMDP 24, PFD 11
note: the comparative breakdown of seats by faction is approximate
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: Communist Party or PCM [Vladimir
VORONIN, first chairman]; The Democratic Convention or CDM (includes
the Christian Democratic Popular Front or FPCD and the Party of
chairman]; Bloc for a Democratic and Prosperous Moldova or PMDP
Political pressure groups and leaders: The Ecology Movement of
president]; Liberal Convention of Moldova (now the Liberal Party);
International organization participation: ACCT, BIS, BSEC, CCC,
CE, CEI, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC,
IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Ceslav CIOBANU
chancery: 2101 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Rudolf Villem PERINA
embassy: Strada Alexei Mateevicie, #103, Chisinau 2009
mailing address: use embassy street address; pouch address--American
Embassy Chisinau, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-7080
Flag description: same color scheme as Romania--three equal
vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red; emblem in
center of flag is of a Roman eagle of gold outlined in black with a
red beak and talons carrying a yellow cross in its beak and a green
olive branch in its right talons and a yellow scepter in its left
talons; on its breast is a shield divided horizontally red over blue
with a stylized ox head, star, rose, and crescent all in
black-outlined yellow
Economy
Economy--overview: Moldova enjoys a favorable climate and good
farmland but has no major mineral deposits. As a result, the economy
depends heavily on agriculture, featuring fruits, vegetables, wine,
and tobacco. Moldova must import all of its supplies of oil, coal,
and natural gas, largely from Russia. Energy shortages contributed
to sharp production declines after the breakup of the Soviet Union
in 1991. The Moldovan Government has recently been making progress
on an ambitious economic reform agenda. As part of its reform
efforts, Moldova introduced a stable convertible currency, freed all
prices, stopped issuing preferential credits to state enterprises
and backed steady land privatization, removed export controls, and
freed interest rates. In 1998, the economic troubles of Russia, with
whom Moldova conducts 55% of its trade, was a major cause of the
8.6% drop in GDP. In 1999, the IMF resumed payment on Moldova's
Extended Fund Facility, which had been suspended since 1997. The IMF
intends to grant $135 million in 1999.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$10 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: -8.6% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$2,200 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 30%
industry: 29%
services: 41% (1997)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.7%
highest 10%: 25.8% (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 18.3% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 1.7 million (1998)
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 40.2%, industry 14.3%,
other 45.5% (1998)
Unemployment rate: 2% (includes only officially registered
unemployed; large numbers of underemployed workers) (September 1998)
Budget:
revenues: $536 million
expenditures: $594 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1998 est.)
Industries: food processing, agricultural machinery, foundry
equipment, refrigerators and freezers, washing machines, hosiery,
sugar, vegetable oil, shoes, textiles
Industrial production growth rate: -5% (1998 est.)
Electricity--production: 8.325 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 96.1%
hydro: 3.9%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 6.825 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 3.1 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 1.6 billion kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: vegetables, fruits, wine, grain, sugar
beets, sunflower seed, tobacco; beef, milk
Exports: $633 million (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports--commodities: foodstuffs, wine, tobacco, textiles and
footwear, machinery
Exports--partners: Russia 58%, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Belarus,
Romania, US, Germany, Italy (1997)
Imports: $1.02 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports--commodities: oil, gas, coal, steel, machinery, chemical
products, metals, metal products, foodstuffs, automobiles, other
consumer durables
Imports--partners: Russia 26%, Ukraine 20%, Belarus, Romania,
Germany, Italy (1997)
Debt--external: more than $1.2 billion (February 1999)
Economic aid--recipient: $100.8 million (1995); note?$547 million
from the IMF and World Bank (1992-99)
Currency: the Moldovan leu (MLD) (plural lei) was introduced in
late 1993
Exchange rates: lei (MLD) per US$1 (end of period)--8.3226
(December 1998), 8.3395 (1998), 4.6605 (1997), 4.6500 (1996), 4.4990
(1995), 4.2700 (1994); period average--4.6758 (January 1998), 4.6236
(1997), 4.6045 (1996), 4.4958 (1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 600,000 (1998 est.)
Telephone system: the Ministry of Information, Computers, and
Telecommunications controls telecommunications; the carrier is
Modtelecom
domestic: local--Chisinau has a fiber-optic loop and one cellular GSM
provider; the waiting list for telephones is long; local service
outside Chisinau is poor; intercity--Moldova's two fiber-optic
segments form a synchronous digital hierarchy ring through Romania's
system; an analog backbone system runs from south to north in Moldova
international: two fiber-optic segments provide connectivity to
Romania; worldwide service can be available to Moldova through this
infrastructure; additional analog lines are to Russia; Intelsat,
Eutelsat, and Intersputnik earth stations
Radio broadcast stations: AM 4, FM 8, shortwave NA (1999)
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 1 national station, 3 private
stations, 15 small local stations outside Chisinau (1998)
Televisions: 93 televisions/100 people (1996)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 1,328 km
broad gauge: 1,328 km 1.520-m gauge (1992)
Highways:
total: 12,300 km
paved: 10,738 km
unpaved: 1,562 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 424 km (1994)
Pipelines: natural gas 310 km (1992)
Ports and harbors: none
Airports: 26 (1994 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 8
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
under 914 m: 3 (1994 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 18
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 8 (1994 est.)
Military
Military branches: Ground Forces, Air and Air Defense Forces,
Republic Security Forces (internal and border troops)
Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 1,151,674 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 908,347 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 38,666 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $6.3 million (FY99)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 1% (1999)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: separatist Transdniester region,
comprising the area between the Nistru (Dniester) River and Ukraine,
has its own de facto government, dominated by Moldovan Slavs
Illicit drugs: limited cultivation of opium poppy and cannabis,
mostly for CIS consumption; transshipment point for illicit drugs
from Southwest Asia via Central Asia to Russia, Western Europe and
possibly the United States
======================================================================
@Monaco
------
Geography
Location: Western Europe, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, on the
southern coast of France, near the border with Italy
Geographic coordinates: 43 44 N, 7 24 E
Map references: Europe
Area:
total: 1.95 sq km
land: 1.95 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: about three times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
total: 4.4 km
border countries: France 4.4 km
Coastline: 4.1 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: Mediterranean with mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers
Terrain: hilly, rugged, rocky
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mont Agel 140 m
Natural resources: none
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 100% (urban area)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: NA
Environment--current issues: NA
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone
Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography--note: second smallest independent state in world (after
Holy See); almost entirely urban
People
Population: 32,149 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 17% (male 2,723; female 2,645)
15-64 years: 64% (male 10,014; female 10,530)
65 years and over: 19% (male 2,302; female 3,935) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.31% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 10.7 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 11.79 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 4.17 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.59 male(s)/female
total population: 0.88 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 6.47 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.58 years
male: 75 years
female: 82.35 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.7 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Monegasque(s) or Monacan(s)
adjective: Monegasque or Monacan
Ethnic groups: French 47%, Monegasque 16%, Italian 16%, other 21%
Religions: Roman Catholic 95%
Languages: French (official), English, Italian, Monegasque
Literacy: NA
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Principality of Monaco
conventional short form: Monaco
local long form: Principaute de Monaco
local short form: Monaco
Data code: MN
Government type: constitutional monarchy
Capital: Monaco
Administrative divisions: none; there are no first-order
administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there
are four quarters (quartiers, singular--quartier); Fontvieille, La
Condamine, Monaco-Ville, Monte-Carlo
Independence: 1419 (beginning of the rule by the House of
Grimaldi)
National holiday: National Day, 19 November
Constitution: 17 December 1962
Legal system: based on French law; has not accepted compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Prince RAINIER III (since 9 May 1949); Heir Apparent
Prince ALBERT Alexandre Louis Pierre, son of the monarch (born 14
March 1958)
head of government: Minister of State Michel LEVEQUE (since 3
February 1997)
cabinet: Council of Government is under the authority of the monarch
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; minister of state
appointed by the monarch from a list of three French national
candidates presented by the French Government
Legislative branch: unicameral National Council or Conseil
National (18 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve
five-year terms)
elections: last held 1 and 8 February 1998 (next to be held NA
January 2003)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by
party--National and Democratic Union 18
Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Tribunal Supreme, judges named
by the monarch on the basis of nominations by the National Council
Political parties and leaders: National and Democratic Union or
International organization participation: ACCT, ECE, IAEA, ICAO,
ICRM, IFRCS, IHO, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, OPCW,
OSCE, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US: Monaco does not have an
embassy in the US
consulate(s): New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an
embassy in Monaco; the US Consul General in Marseille (France) is
accredited to Monaco
Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and
white; similar to the flag of Indonesia which is longer and the flag
of Poland which is white (top) and red
Economy
Economy--overview: Monaco, situated on the French Mediterranean
coast, is a popular resort, attracting tourists to its casino and
pleasant climate. The Principality has successfully sought to
diversify into services and small, high-value-added, nonpolluting
industries. The state has no income tax and low business taxes and
thrives as a tax haven both for individuals who have established
residence and for foreign companies that have set up businesses and
offices. The state retains monopolies in a number of sectors,
including tobacco, the telephone network, and the postal service.
About 55% of Monaco's annual revenue comes from value-added taxes on
hotels, banks, and the industrial sector. Living standards are high,
roughly comparable to those in prosperous French metropolitan areas.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$800 million (1996 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: NA%
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$25,000 (1996 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
Labor force: 30,540 (January 1994)
Unemployment rate: 3.1% (1994)
Budget:
revenues: $518 million
expenditures: $531 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1995)
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: NA kWh
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: NA%
hydro: NA%
nuclear: NA%
other: NA%
Electricity--consumption: NA kWh
Electricity--exports: NA kWh
Electricity--imports: NA kWh
Agriculture--products: none
Exports: $NA; full customs integration with France, which
collects and rebates Monegasque trade duties; also participates in
EU market system through customs union with France
Imports: $NA; full customs integration with France, which
collects and rebates Monegasque trade duties; also participates in
EU market system through customs union with France
Debt--external: $NA
Economic aid--recipient: $NA
Currency: 1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1--5.65 (January 1999),
5.8995 (1998), 5.8367 (1997), 5.1155 (1996), 4.9915 (1995), 5.5520
(1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 53,180 (1994 est.)
Telephone system: automatic telephone system
domestic: NA
international: no satellite earth stations; connected by cable into
the French communications system
Radio broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 4, shortwave 0
Radios: 33,000 (1994 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 5 (1997)
Televisions: 24,000 (1994 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 1.7 km
standard gauge: 1.7 km 1.435-m gauge
Highways:
total: 50 km
paved: 50 km
unpaved: 0 km (1996 est.)
Ports and harbors: Monaco
Merchant marine: none
Airports: linked to airport in Nice, France, by helicopter service
Military
Military--note: defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
======================================================================
@Mongolia
--------
Geography
Location: Northern Asia, between China and Russia
Geographic coordinates: 46 00 N, 105 00 E
Map references: Asia
Area:
total: 1.565 million sq km
land: 1.565 million sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than Alaska
Land boundaries:
total: 8,114 km
border countries: China 4,673 km, Russia 3,441 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: desert; continental (large daily and seasonal
temperature ranges)
Terrain: vast semidesert and desert plains; mountains in west and
southwest; Gobi Desert in southeast
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Hoh Nuur 518 m
highest point: Tavan Bogd Uul 4,374 m
Natural resources: oil, coal, copper, molybdenum, tungsten,
phosphates, tin, nickel, zinc, wolfram, fluorspar, gold
Land use:
arable land: 1%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 80%
forests and woodland: 9%
other: 10% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 800 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: dust storms can occur in the spring; grassland
fires
Environment--current issues: limited natural fresh water
resources; policies of the former communist regime promoting rapid
urbanization and industrial growth have raised concerns about their
negative effects on the environment; the burning of soft coal and
the concentration of factories in Ulaanbaatar have severely polluted
the air; deforestation, overgrazing, the converting of virgin land
to agricultural production have increased soil erosion from wind and
rain; desertification; mining activities have also had a deleterious
effect on the environment
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography--note: landlocked; strategic location between China and
Russia
People
Population: 2,617,379 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 36% (male 480,087; female 464,609)
15-64 years: 60% (male 787,222; female 787,405)
65 years and over: 4% (male 42,219; female 55,837) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.45% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 22.51 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 7.97 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 64.63 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 61.81 years
male: 59.71 years
female: 64.02 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.6 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Mongolian(s)
adjective: Mongolian
Ethnic groups: Mongol 90%, Kazakh 4%, Chinese 2%, Russian 2%,
other 2%
Religions: predominantly Tibetan Buddhist, Muslim 4%
note: previously limited religious activity because of communist
regime
Languages: Khalkha Mongol 90%, Turkic, Russian, Chinese
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 82.9%
male: 88.6%
female: 77.2% (1988 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Mongolia
local long form: none
local short form: Mongol Uls
former: Outer Mongolia
Data code: MG
Government type: republic
Capital: Ulaanbaatar
Administrative divisions: 18 provinces (aymguud, singular--aymag)
and 3 municipalities* (hotuud, singular--hot); Arhangay, Bayanhongor,
Bayan-Olgiy, Bulgan, Darhan*, Dornod, Dornogovi, Dundgovi, Dzavhan,
Erdenet*, Govi-Altay, Hentiy, Hovd, Hovsgol, Omnogovi, Ovorhangay,
Selenge, Suhbaatar, Tov, Ulaanbaatar*, Uvs
Independence: 13 March 1921 (from China)
National holiday: National Day, 11 July (1921)
Constitution: 12 February 1992
Legal system: blend of Russian, Chinese, and Turkish systems of
law; no constitutional provision for judicial review of legislative
acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Natsagiyn BAGABANDI (since 20 June 1997)
head of government: Prime Minister Janlavyn NARANTSATSRALT (since 9
December 1998)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the State Great Hural in consultation
with the president
elections: president nominated by parties in the State Great Hural
and elected by popular vote for a four-year term; election last held
18 May 1997 (next to be held summer 2001); following legislative
elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition is
usually elected prime minister by the State Great Hural
election results: Natsagiyn BAGABANDI elected president; percent of
vote--Natsagiyn BAGABANDI (MPRP) 60.8%, Punsalmaagiyn OCHIRBAT (MNDP
and MSDP) 29.8%, Jambyn GOMBOJAV (MUTP) 6.6%; following five months
of political deadlock which left Mongolia without a working
government, Janlavyn NARANTSATSRALT was elected prime minister on 9
December 1998 by a vote in the State Great Hural of 36 to 21, with
nine abstentions and 10 absentees
Legislative branch: unicameral State Great Hural (76 seats;
members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 30 June 1996 (next to be held NA June 2000)
election results: percent of vote by party--DUC 66%, MPRP 33%, MCP
1%; seats by party--DUC 50 (MNDP 34, MSDP 13, independents 3), MPRP
25, MCP 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, serves as appeals court for
people's and provincial courts, but to date rarely overturns
verdicts of lower courts, judges are nominated by the General
Council of Courts for approval by the State Great Hural
Political parties and leaders: Mongolian People's Revolutionary
chairman], Mongolian Social Democratic Party or MSDP
International organization participation: AsDB, ASEAN (observer),
CCC, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, OPCW,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Jalbuugiyn CHOINHOR
chancery: 2833 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20007
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Alphonse F. LA PORTA
embassy: inner north side of the Big Ring, just west of the Selbe
Gol, Ulaanbaatar
mailing address: c/o American Embassy Beijing, Micro Region 11, Big
Ring Road, C.P.O. 1021, Ulaanbaatar 13; PSC 461, Box 300, FPO AP
96521-0002
Flag description: three equal, vertical bands of red (hoist
side), blue, and red; centered on the hoist-side red band in yellow
is the national emblem ("soyombo"--a columnar arrangement of abstract
and geometric representation for fire, sun, moon, earth, water, and
the yin-yang symbol)
Economy
Economy--overview: The government has embraced free-market
economics, freezing spending, easing price controls, liberalizing
domestic and international trade. Mongolia's severe climate,
scattered population, and wide expanses of unproductive land,
however, have constrained economic development. Economic activity
traditionally has been based on agriculture and the breeding of
livestock. In past years, extensive mineral resources had been
developed with Soviet support; total Soviet assistance at its height
amounted to 30% of GDP, but disappeared almost overnight in 1990-91.
The mining and processing of coal, copper, molybdenum, tin,
tungsten, and gold account for a large part of industrial
production. The Mongolian leadership has been soliciting support
from foreign donors and economic growth picked up in 1997 and 1998
after stalling in 1996 due to a series of natural disasters and
declines in world prices of copper and cashmere. Mongolia joined the
World Trade Organization in 1997.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$5.8 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 3.5% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$2,250 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 31%
industry: 35%
services: 34% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: 36.3% (1995 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.9%
highest 10%: 24.5% (1995)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6% (1998)
Labor force: 1.115 million (mid-1993 est.)
Labor force--by occupation: primarily herding/agricultural
Unemployment rate: 4.5% (1998)
Budget:
revenues: $260 million (1998)
expenditures: $330 million (1998)
Industries: copper, construction materials, mining (particularly
coal); food and beverage, processing of animal products
Industrial production growth rate: 4.5% (1997 est.)
Electricity--production: 2.3 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 2.681 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 381 million kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: wheat, barley, potatoes, forage crops;
sheep, goats, cattle, camels, horses
Exports: $316.8 million (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports--commodities: copper, livestock, animal products,
cashmere, wool, hides, fluorspar, other nonferrous metals
Exports--partners: China 30.1%, Switzerland 21.5%, Russia 12.1%,
South Korea 9.7%, US 8.1% (1998)
Imports: $472.4 million (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports--commodities: machinery and equipment, fuels, food
products, industrial consumer goods, chemicals, building materials,
sugar, tea
Imports--partners: Russia 30.6%, China 13.3%, Japan 11.7%, South
Korea 7.5%, US 6.9% (1998)
Debt--external: $500 million (1996 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $250 million (1998 est.)
Currency: 1 tughrik (Tug) = 100 mongos
Exchange rates: tughriks (Tug) per US$1--902 (January 1999),
840.83 (1998), 789.99 (1997), 548.40 (1996), 448.61 (1995), 412.72
(1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 93,600 (1998)
Telephone system:
domestic: NA
international: satellite earth station--1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean
Region)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 12, FM 1, shortwave 0
Radios: 220,000
Television broadcast stations: 1 (in addition, there are 18
provincial repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 120,000 (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 1,928 km
broad gauge: 1,928 km 1.524-m gauge (1994)
Highways:
total: 46,470 km
paved: 3,730 km
unpaved: 42,740 km (1997 est.)
note: much of the unpaved rural road system consists of rough
cross-country tracks
Waterways: 397 km of principal routes (1988)
Ports and harbors: none
Airports: 34 (1994 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 8
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
under 914 m: 1 (1994 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 26
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 10
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 5 (1994 est.)
Military
Military branches: Mongolian People's Army (includes Internal
Security Forces and Frontier Guards), Air Force
Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 702,141 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 457,270 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 28,613 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $20.3 million (1997)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 2% (1997)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
======================================================================
@Montserrat
----------
Geography
Location: Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, southeast of
Puerto Rico
Geographic coordinates: 16 45 N, 62 12 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 100 sq km
land: 100 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: about 0.6 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 40 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 3 nm
Climate: tropical; little daily or seasonal temperature variation
Terrain: volcanic islands, mostly mountainous, with small coastal
lowland
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Chances Peak 914 m
Natural resources: NEGL
Land use:
arable land: 20%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 10%
forests and woodland: 40%
other: 30% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: severe hurricanes (June to November); volcanic
eruptions (full-scale eruptions of the Soufriere Hills volcano
occurred during 1996-97)
Environment--current issues: land erosion occurs on slopes that
have been cleared for cultivation
Environment--international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA
People
Population: 12,853 (July 1999 est.)
note: demographic figures include an estimated 8,000 refugees who
left the island following the resumption of volcanic activity in
July 1995
Age structure:
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate: 0.21% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 13.87 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 9.88 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.94 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 12 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.56 years
male: 73.79 years
female: 77.37 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.78 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Montserratian(s)
adjective: Montserratian
Ethnic groups: black, white
Religions: Anglican, Methodist, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal,
Seventh-Day Adventist, other Christian denominations
Languages: English
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 97%
male: 97%
female: 97% (1970 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Montserrat
Data code: MH
Dependency status: overseas territory of the UK
Government type: NA
Capital: Plymouth (abandoned in 1997 due to volcanic activity;
interim government buildings have been built at Brades, in the
Carr's Bay/Little Bay vicinity at the northwest end of Montserrat)
Administrative divisions: 3 parishes; Saint Anthony, Saint
Georges, Saint Peter's
Independence: none (overseas territory of the UK)
National holiday: Celebration of the Birthday of the Queen
(second Saturday of June)
Constitution: present constitution came into force 19 December
1989
Legal system: English common law and statutory law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Governor Anthony John ABBOTT (since NA September 1997)
head of government: Chief Minister David BRANDT (since 22 August
1997)
cabinet: Executive Council consists of the governor, the chief
minister, three other ministers, the attorney general, and the
finance secretary
elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the
monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority
party usually becomes chief minister; note--as a result of the last
election, a coalition party was formed between NPP, NDP, and one of
the independent candidates
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Council (11 seats, 7
popularly elected; members serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 11 November 1996 (next to be held by NA 2001)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--PPA 2,
MNR 2, NPP 1, independent 2
Judicial branch: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (based in Saint
Lucia) (one judge of the Supreme Court is a resident of the islands
and presides over the High Court)
Political parties and leaders: National Progressive Party or NPP
International organization participation: Caricom, CDB, ECLAC
(associate), ICFTU, Interpol (subbureau), OECS, WCL
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory of
the UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (overseas territory
of the UK)
Flag description: blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper
hoist-side quadrant and the Montserratian coat of arms centered in
the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms features a woman
standing beside a yellow harp with her arm around a black cross
Economy
Economy--overview: Severe volcanic activity, which began in July
1995, put a damper on this small, open economy throughout 1996-98. A
catastrophic eruption in June 1997 closed the air and sea ports,
causing further economic and social dislocation. Two-thirds of the
12,000 inhabitants fled the island. Some began to return in 1998,
but lack of housing limited the number. The agriculture sector
continued to be affected by the lack of suitable land for farming
and the destruction of crops. Construction was the dominant activity
in 1997 and 1998. GDP probably declined again in 1998. Prospects for
the economy depend largely on developments in relation to the
volcano and on public sector construction activity. The UK has
committed about $100 million in 1996-98 to help reconstruct the
economy.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$36 million (1997 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: -18.5% (1997 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$NA
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 5.4%
industry: 13.6%
services: 81% (1996 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5% (1997)
Labor force: 4,521 (1992); note--later substantially lowered by
flight of people from volcanic activity
Labor force--by occupation: community, social, and personal
services 40.5%, construction 13.5%, trade, restaurants, and hotels
12.3%, manufacturing 10.5%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 8.8%,
other 14.4% (1983 est.)
Unemployment rate: 20% (1996 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $31.4 million
expenditures: $31.6 million, including capital expenditures of $8.4
million (1997 est.)
Industries: tourism, rum, textiles, electronic appliances
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: 15 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 15 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: cabbages, carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes,
onions, peppers; livestock products
Exports: $8.2 million (1997)
Exports--commodities: electronic components, plastic bags,
apparel, hot peppers, live plants, cattle
Exports--partners: US, Ireland
Imports: $26.1 million (1997)
Imports--commodities: machinery and transportation equipment,
foodstuffs, manufactured goods, fuels, lubricants, and related
materials
Imports--partners: NA
Debt--external: $8.9 million (1997)
Economic aid--recipient: $9.8 million (1995); note?about $100
million (1996-98) in reconstruction aid from the UK
Currency: 1 East Caribbean dollar (EC$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1--2.7000
(fixed rate since 1976)
Fiscal year: 1 April--31 March
Communications
Telephones: 3,000
Telephone system:
domestic: NA
international: NA
Radio broadcast stations: AM 8, FM 4, shortwave 0
Radios: 6,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1997)
Televisions: 2,000 (1992 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 269 km
paved: 203 km
unpaved: 66 km (1995)
Ports and harbors: Plymouth (abandoned), Little Bay (anchorages
and ferry landing), Carr's Bay
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Police Force
Military--note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
======================================================================
@Morocco
-------
Geography
Location: Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and
the Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Western Sahara
Geographic coordinates: 32 00 N, 5 00 W
Map references: Africa
Area:
total: 446,550 sq km
land: 446,300 sq km
water: 250 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly larger than California
Land boundaries:
total: 2,017.9 km
border countries: Algeria 1,559 km, Western Sahara 443 km, Spain
(Ceuta) 6.3 km, Spain (Melilla) 9.6 km
Coastline: 1,835 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: Mediterranean, becoming more extreme in the interior
Terrain: northern coast and interior are mountainous with large
areas of bordering plateaus, intermontane valleys, and rich coastal
plains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Sebkha Tah -55 m
highest point: Jebel Toubkal 4,165 m
Natural resources: phosphates, iron ore, manganese, lead, zinc,
fish, salt
Land use:
arable land: 21%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 47%
forests and woodland: 20%
other: 11% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 12,580 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: northern mountains geologically unstable and
subject to earthquakes; periodic droughts
Environment--current issues: land degradation/desertification
(soil erosion resulting from farming of marginal areas, overgrazing,
destruction of vegetation); water supplies contaminated by raw
sewage; siltation of reservoirs; oil pollution of coastal waters
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone
Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea
Geography--note: strategic location along Strait of Gibraltar
People
Population: 29,661,636 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 36% (male 5,409,322; female 5,208,742)
15-64 years: 60% (male 8,773,625; female 8,922,976)
65 years and over: 4% (male 619,164; female 727,807) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.84% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 25.78 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 6.12 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.27 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 50.96 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 68.87 years
male: 66.85 years
female: 70.99 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.24 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Moroccan(s)
adjective: Moroccan
Ethnic groups: Arab-Berber 99.1%, other 0.7%, Jewish 0.2%
Religions: Muslim 98.7%, Christian 1.1%, Jewish 0.2%
Languages: Arabic (official), Berber dialects, French often the
language of business, government, and diplomacy
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 43.7%
male: 56.6%
female: 31% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Morocco
conventional short form: Morocco
local long form: Al Mamlakah al Maghribiyah
local short form: Al Maghrib
Data code: MO
Government type: constitutional monarchy
Capital: Rabat
Administrative divisions: 37 provinces and 2 wilayas*; Agadir, Al
Hoceima, Azilal, Beni Mellal, Ben Slimane, Boulemane, Casablanca*,
Chaouen, El Jadida, El Kelaa des Srarhna, Er Rachidia, Essaouira,
Fes, Figuig, Guelmim, Ifrane, Kenitra, Khemisset, Khenifra,
Khouribga, Laayoune, Larache, Marrakech, Meknes, Nador, Ouarzazate,
Oujda, Rabat-Sale*, Safi, Settat, Sidi Kacem, Tanger, Tan-Tan,
Taounate, Taroudannt, Tata, Taza, Tetouan, Tiznit
note: three additional provinces of Ad Dakhla (Oued Eddahab),
Boujdour, and Es Smara as well as parts of Tan-Tan and Laayoune fall
within Moroccan-claimed Western Sahara;
decentralization/regionalization law passed by the legislature in
March 1997 creating many new provinces/regions; specific details and
scope of the reorganization not yet available
Independence: 2 March 1956 (from France)
National holiday: National Day, 3 March (1961) (anniversary of
King HASSAN II's accession to the throne)
Constitution: 10 March 1972, revised 4 September 1992, amended
(to create bicameral legislature) September 1996
Legal system: based on Islamic law and French and Spanish civil
law system; judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional
Chamber of Supreme Court
Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: King HASSAN II (since 3 March 1961)
head of government: Prime Minister Abderrahmane YOUSSOUFI (since 14
March 1998)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister appointed
by the monarch following legislative elections
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of an upper
house or Chamber of Counselors (270 seats; members elected
indirectly by local councils, professional organizations, and labor
syndicates for nine-year terms; one-third of the members are renewed
every three years) and a lower house or Chamber of Representatives
(325 seats; members elected by popular vote for five-year terms)
elections: Chamber of Counselors--last held 5 December 1997 (next to
be held NA December 2000); Chamber of Representatives--last held 14
November 1997 (next to be held NA November 2002)
election results: Chamber of Counselors--percent of vote by party--NA;
seats by party--RNI 42, MDS 33, UC 28, MP 27, PND 21, IP 21, USFP 16,
MNP 15, UT 13, FFD 12, CDT 11, UTM 8, PPS 7, PSD 4, PDI 4, UGTM 3,
UNMT 2, other 3; Chamber of Representatives--percent of vote by
party--NA; seats by party--USFP 57, UC 50, RNI 46, MP 40, MDS 32, IP
32, MNP 19, PND 10, MPCD 9, PPS 9, FFD 9, PSD 5, OADP 4, PA 2, PDI 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed on the
recommendation of the Supreme Council of the Judiciary, presided
over by the monarch
Political parties and leaders:
ARCHANE]
labor unions and community organizations (indirect elections only):
International organization participation: ABEDA, ACCT
(associate), AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU, CCC, EBRD, ECA, FAO, G-77,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO
(pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM
(observer), ISO, ITU, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OSCE
(partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Mohamed BENAISSA
chancery: 1601 21st Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Edward M. GABRIEL
embassy: 2 Avenue de Marrakech, Rabat
mailing address: PSC 74, Box 3, APO AE 09718
consulate(s) general: Casablanca
Flag description: red with a green pentacle (five-pointed, linear
star) known as Solomon's seal in the center of the flag; green is
the traditional color of Islam
Economy
Economy--overview: Morocco faces the problems typical of
developing countries--restraining government spending, reducing
constraints on private activity and foreign trade, and keeping
inflation within manageable bounds. Since the early 1980s the
government has pursued an economic program toward these objectives
with the support of the IMF, the World Bank, and the Paris Club of
creditors. The dirham is now fully convertible for current account
transactions; reforms of the financial sector have been implemented;
and state enterprises are slowly being privatized. Drought
conditions in 1997 depressed activity in the key agricultural
sector, holding down exports and contributing to a 2.2% contraction
in real GDP. Favorable rainfalls in the fall of 1997 have led to
6.8% real GDP growth in 1998. Growth is forecast to be about 4.0% in
1999. Formidable long-term challenges include: servicing the
external debt; preparing the economy for freer trade with the EU;
and improving education and attracting foreign investment to improve
living standards and job propects for Morocco's youthful population.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$107 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 6.8% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$3,200 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 14%
industry: 33%
services: 53% (1997)
Population below poverty line: 13.1% (1990-91 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.8%
highest 10%: 30.5% (1990-91)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2%-3% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 11 million (1997 est.)
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 50%, services 26%,
industry 15%, other 9% (1985)
Unemployment rate: 19% (1998 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $8.4 billion
expenditures: $10 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.8
billion (FY97/98 est.)
Industries: phosphate rock mining and processing, food
processing, leather goods, textiles, construction, tourism
Industrial production growth rate: 4.1% (1997 est.)
Electricity--production: 11.5 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 95.65%
hydro: 4.35%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 12.52 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 1.02 billion kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: barley, wheat, citrus, wine, vegetables,
olives; livestock
Exports: $7 billion (f.o.b., 1997)
Exports--commodities: food and beverages 30%, semiprocessed goods
23%, consumer goods 21%, phosphates 17% (1995 est.)
Exports--partners: EU 63%, Japan 7.7%, India 6.6%, US 3.4%, Libya
3.4% (1996 est.)
Imports: $10 billion (c.i.f., 1997)
Imports--commodities: semiprocessed goods 26%, capital goods 25%,
food and beverages 18%, fuel and lubricants 15%, consumer goods 12%,
raw materials 4% (1995 est.)
Imports--partners: EU 57%, US 6.6%, Saudi Arabia 5.3%, Brazil 2.8%
(1996 est.)
Debt--external: $20.9 billion (1998 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $565.6 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Moroccan dirham (DH) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: Moroccan dirhams (DH) per US$1--9.320 (January
1999), 9.604 (1998), 9.527 (1997), 8.716 (1996), 8.540 (1995), 9.203
(1994)
Fiscal year: July 1-June 30
Communications
Telephones: 1,312,596 (1999 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: good system composed of open-wire lines, cables, and
microwave radio relay links; principal centers are Casablanca and
Rabat; secondary centers are Fes, Marrakech, Oujda, Tangier, and
Tetouan
international: 5 submarine cables; satellite earth stations--2
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Arabsat; microwave radio relay to
Gibraltar, Spain, and Western Sahara; coaxial cable and microwave
radio relay to Algeria; participant in Medarabtel
Radio broadcast stations: AM 22, FM 7, shortwave 5 (1998 est.)
Radios: 5.1 million (1998 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 26 (in addition, there are 35
repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 1.21 million (1998 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 1,907 km
standard gauge: 1,907 km 1.435-m gauge (1,003 km electrified; 246 km
double track) (1994)
Highways:
total: 60,626 km
paved: 30,556 km (including 219 km of expressways)
unpaved: 30,070 km (1996 est.)
Pipelines: crude oil 362 km; petroleum products 491 km
(abandoned); natural gas 241 km
Ports and harbors: Agadir, El Jadida, Casablanca, El Jorf Lasfar,
Kenitra, Mohammedia, Nador, Rabat, Safi, Tangier; also
Spanish-controlled Ceuta and Melilla
Merchant marine:
total: 40 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 217,869 GRT/263,033 DWT
ships by type: cargo 8, chemical tanker 6, container 3, oil tanker
3, passenger 1, refrigerated cargo 10, roll-on/roll-off cargo 8,
short-sea passenger 1 (1998 est.)
Airports: 69 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 26
over 3,047 m: 11
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 8
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 43
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 10
914 to 1,523 m: 21
under 914 m: 11 (1998 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Royal Armed Forces (includes Army, Navy, Air
Force), Gendarmerie, Auxiliary Forces
Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 7,735,597 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 4,888,595 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 320,040 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $1.3611 billion (FY97/98)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 3.8% (FY97/98)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: claims and administers Western Sahara,
but sovereignty is unresolved and the UN is attempting to hold a
referendum on the issue; the UN-administered cease-fire has been in
effect since September 1991; Spain controls five places of
sovereignty (plazas de soberania) on and off the coast of
Morocco--the coastal enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla which Morocco
contests, as well as the islands of Penon de Alhucemas, Penon de
Velez de la Gomera, and Islas Chafarinas
Illicit drugs: illicit producer of hashish; trafficking on the
increase for both domestic and international drug markets; shipments
of hashish mostly directed to Western Europe; transit point for
cocaine from South America destined for Western Europe
======================================================================
@Mozambique
----------
Geography
Location: Southern Africa, bordering the Mozambique Channel,
between South Africa and Tanzania
Geographic coordinates: 18 15 S, 35 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area:
total: 801,590 sq km
land: 784,090 sq km
water: 17,500 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly less than twice the size of California
Land boundaries:
total: 4,571 km
border countries: Malawi 1,569 km, South Africa 491 km, Swaziland
105 km, Tanzania 756 km, Zambia 419 km, Zimbabwe 1,231 km
Coastline: 2,470 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical to subtropical
Terrain: mostly coastal lowlands, uplands in center, high
plateaus in northwest, mountains in west
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Monte Binga 2,436 m
Natural resources: coal, titanium, natural gas
Land use:
arable land: 4%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 56%
forests and woodland: 18%
other: 22% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 1,180 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: severe droughts and floods occur in central and
southern provinces; devastating cyclones
Environment--current issues: a long civil war and recurrent
drought in the hinterlands have resulted in increased migration of
the population to urban and coastal areas with adverse environmental
consequences; desertification; pollution of surface and coastal
waters
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
People
Population: 19,124,335 (July 1999 est.)
note: the 1997 Mozambican census reported a population of
16,542,800; other estimates range as low as 16.9 million
Age structure:
0-14 years: 45% (male 4,236,545; female 4,325,586)
15-64 years: 53% (male 4,941,048; female 5,181,282)
65 years and over: 2% (male 182,857; female 257,017) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.54% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 42.75 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 17.31 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 117.56 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 45.89 years
male: 44.73 years
female: 47.09 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.88 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Mozambican(s)
adjective: Mozambican
Ethnic groups: indigenous tribal groups 99.66% (Shangaan, Chokwe,
Manyika, Sena, Makua, and others), Europeans 0.06%, Euro-Africans
0.2%, Indians 0.08%
Religions: indigenous beliefs 50%, Christian 30%, Muslim 20%
Languages: Portuguese (official), indigenous dialects
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 40.1%
male: 57.7%
female: 23.3% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Mozambique
conventional short form: Mozambique
local long form: Republica de Mocambique
local short form: Mocambique
Data code: MZ
Government type: republic
Capital: Maputo
Administrative divisions: 10 provinces (provincias,
singular--provincia); Cabo Delgado, Gaza, Inhambane, Manica, Maputo,
Nampula, Niassa, Sofala, Tete, Zambezia
Independence: 25 June 1975 (from Portugal)
National holiday: Independence Day, 25 June (1975)
Constitution: 30 November 1990
Legal system: based on Portuguese civil law system and customary
law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Joaquim Alberto CHISSANO (since 6 November
1986); note--before being popularly elected, CHISSANO was elected
president by Frelimo's Central Committee 4 November 1986 (reelected
by the Committee 30 July 1989)
head of government: Prime Minister Pascoal MOCUMBI (since NA
December 1994)
cabinet: Cabinet
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 27 October 1994 (next to be held NA October
1999); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Joaquim Alberto CHISSANO elected president;
percent of vote--Joaquim CHISSANO 53.3%, Afonso DHLAKAMA 33.3%
Legislative branch: unicameral Assembly of the Republic or
Assembleia da Republica (250 seats; members are directly elected by
popular vote on a secret ballot to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 27-29 October 1994 (next to be held NA October
1999)
election results: percent of vote by party--Frelimo 44.33%, Renamo
33.78%, DU 5.15%, other 16.74%; seats by party--Frelimo 129, Renamo
112, DU 9
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges appointed by the president
and judges elected by the Assembly
Political parties and leaders: Front for the Liberation of
Alberto CHISSANO, chairman]; Mozambique National Resistance
secretary]; note--the DU may have broken up into the three parties
that composed it--Liberal and Democratic Party of Mozambique,
National Democratic Party, and National Party of Mozambique
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA,
FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO
(pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC,
IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, SADC, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Marcos Geraldo NAMASHULUA
chancery: Suite 570, 1990 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Bryan Dean CURRAN
embassy: Avenida Kenneth Kuanda 193, Maputo
mailing address: P. O. Box 783, Maputo
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of green (top),
black, and yellow with a red isosceles triangle based on the hoist
side; the black band is edged in white; centered in the triangle is
a yellow five-pointed star bearing a crossed rifle and hoe in black
superimposed on an open white book
Economy
Economy--overview: Before the peace accord of October 1992,
Mozambique's economy was devastated by a protracted civil war and
socialist mismanagement. In 1994, it ranked as one of the poorest
countries in the world. Since then, Mozambique has undertaken a
series of economic reforms. Almost all aspects of the economy have
been liberalized to some extent. More than 900 state enterprises
have been privatized. Pending are tax and much needed commercial
code reform, as well as greater private sector involvement in the
transportation, telecommunications, and energy sectors. Since 1996,
inflation has been low and foreign exchange rates stable. Albeit
from a small base, Mozambique achieved one of the highest growth
rates in the world in 1997-98. Still, the country depends on foreign
assistance to balance the budget and to pay for a trade imbalance in
which imports outnumber exports by three to one. The medium-term
outlook for the country looks bright, as trade and transportation
links to South Africa and the rest of the region are expected to
improve and sizable foreign investments materialize. Among these
investments are metal production (aluminum, steel), natural gas,
power generation, agriculture (cotton, sugar), fishing, timber, and
transportation services. Additional exports in these areas should
bring in needed foreign exchange.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$16.8 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 11% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$900 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 35%
industry: 13%
services: 52% (1996 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): -1.3% (1998 est.)
Labor force: NA
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 80%, industry 9.5%,
services 5.5%, wage earners working abroad 5% (1993 est)
Unemployment rate: NA
Budget:
revenues: $402 million
expenditures: $799 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1997 est.)
Industries: food, beverages, chemicals (fertilizer, soap,
paints), petroleum products, textiles, cement, glass, asbestos,
tobacco
Industrial production growth rate: 39% (1997)
Electricity--production: 426 million kWh (1997)
Electricity--production by source: NA%
Electricity--consumption: 1.11 billion kWh (1997)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 685.6 million kWh (1997)
Agriculture--products: cotton, cashew nuts, sugarcane, tea,
cassava (tapioca), corn, rice, tropical fruits; beef, poultry
Exports: $295 million (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Exports--commodities: shrimp 40%, cashews, cotton, sugar, copra,
citrus (1997)
Exports--partners: Spain 17%, South Africa 16%, Portugal 12%, US
10%, Japan, Malawi, India, Zimbabwe (1996 est.)
Imports: $965 million (c.i.f., 1998 est.)
Imports--commodities: food, clothing, farm equipment, petroleum
(1997)
Imports--partners: South Africa 55%, Zimbabwe 7%, Saudi Arabia 5%,
Portugal 4%, US, Japan, India (1996 est.)
Debt--external: $5.7 billion (December 1997)
Economic aid--recipient: $1.115 billion (1995)
Currency: 1 metical (Mt) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates: meticais (Mt) per US$1--12,394.0 (January 1999),
11,874.6 (1998), 11.543.6 (1997), 11,293.8 (1996), 9,024.3 (1995),
6,038.6 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 70,000 (1998 est.)
Telephone system: fair system of tropospheric scatter, open-wire
lines, and microwave radio relay
domestic: microwave radio relay and tropospheric scatter
international: satellite earth stations--5 Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean
and 3 Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 29, FM 4, shortwave 0
Radios: 700,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1997)
Televisions: 44,000 (1992 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 3,131 km
narrow gauge: 2,988 km 1.067-m gauge; 143 km 0.762-m gauge (1994)
Highways:
total: 30,400 km
paved: 5,685 km
unpaved: 24,715 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: about 3,750 km of navigable routes
Pipelines: crude oil 306 km; petroleum products 289 km
note: not operating
Ports and harbors: Beira, Inhambane, Maputo, Nacala, Pemba,
Quelimane
Merchant marine:
total: 3 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,125 GRT/7,024
DWT (1998 est.)
Airports: 174 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 22
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 10
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 4 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 152
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 16
914 to 1,523 m: 39
under 914 m: 96 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Naval Command, Air and Air Defense
Forces, Militia
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 4,385,483 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 2,526,447 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $72 million (FY97)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 4.7% (1997)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
Illicit drugs: Southern African transit hub for South American
cocaine probably destined for the European and US markets; producer
of hashish and methaqualone
======================================================================
@Namibia
-------
Geography
Location: Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean,
between Angola and South Africa
Geographic coordinates: 22 00 S, 17 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area:
total: 825,418 sq km
land: 825,418 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly more than half the size of Alaska
Land boundaries:
total: 3,824 km
border countries: Angola 1,376 km, Botswana 1,360 km, South Africa
855 km, Zambia 233 km
Coastline: 1,572 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: desert; hot, dry; rainfall sparse and erratic
Terrain: mostly high plateau; Namib Desert along coast; Kalahari
Desert in east
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Konigstein 2,606 m
Natural resources: diamonds, copper, uranium, gold, lead, tin,
lithium, cadmium, zinc, salt, vanadium, natural gas, fish; suspected
deposits of oil, natural gas, coal, iron ore
Land use:
arable land: 1%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 46%
forests and woodland: 22%
other: 31% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 60 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: prolonged periods of drought
Environment--current issues: very limited natural fresh water
resources; desertification
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection,
Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
People
Population: 1,648,270 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 44% (male 366,030; female 358,105)
15-64 years: 52% (male 424,879; female 435,116)
65 years and over: 4% (male 26,787; female 37,353) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.57% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 35.63 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 19.92 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 65.94 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 41.26 years
male: 41.64 years
female: 40.87 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.94 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Namibian(s)
adjective: Namibian
Ethnic groups: black 86%, white 6.6%, mixed 7.4%
note: about 50% of the population belong to the Ovambo tribe and 9%
to the Kavangos tribe; other ethnic groups are: Herero 7%, Damara
7%, Nama 5%, Caprivian 4%, Bushmen 3%, Baster 2%, Tswana 0.5%
Religions: Christian 80% to 90% (Lutheran 50% at least, other
Christian denominations 30%), native religions 10% to 20%
Languages: English 7% (official), Afrikaans common language of
most of the population and about 60% of the white population, German
32%, indigenous languages: Oshivambo, Herero, Nama
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 38%
male: 45%
female: 31% (1960 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Namibia
conventional short form: Namibia
Data code: WA
Government type: republic
Capital: Windhoek
Administrative divisions: 13 regions; Caprivi, Erongo, Hardap,
Karas, Khomas, Kunene, Ohangwena, Okavango, Omaheke, Omusati,
Oshana, Oshikoto, Otjozondjupa
Independence: 21 March 1990 (from South African mandate)
National holiday: Independence Day, 21 March (1990)
Constitution: ratified 9 February 1990; effective 12 March 1990
Legal system: based on Roman-Dutch law and 1990 constitution
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Sam NUJOMA (since 21 March 1990); note--the
president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Sam NUJOMA (since 21 March 1990);
note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among the members
of the National Assembly
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 7-8 December 1994 (next to be held NA December
1999)
election results: Sam NUJOMA elected president; percent of vote--76%
Legislative branch: bicameral legislature consists of the
National Council (26 seats; two members are chosen from each
regional council to serve six-year terms) and the National Assembly
(72 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year
terms)
elections: National Council--last held 30 November-1 December 1998
(next to be held by December 2004); National Assembly--last held 7-8
December 1994 (next to be held NA December 1999)
election results: National Council--percent of vote by party--NA;
seats by party--NA; National Assembly--percent of vote by party--SWAPO
73.89%, DTA 20.78%, UDF 2.72%, DCN 0.83%, MAG 0.82%; seats by
party--SWAPO 53, DTA 15, UDF 2, MAG 1, DCN 1
note: the National Council is a purely advisory body
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges appointed by the president
Political parties and leaders: South West Africa People's
KATJIUONGUA]
Political pressure groups and leaders: NA
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA,
FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (subscriber), ITU,
MONUA, NAM, OAU, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,
UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Usko SHIVUTE
chancery: 1605 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador George F. WARD, Jr.
embassy: Ausplan Building, 14 Lossen St., Private Bag 12029
Ausspannplatz, Windhoek
mailing address: use embassy street address
Flag description: a large blue triangle with a yellow sunburst
fills the upper left section and an equal green triangle (solid)
fills the lower right section; the triangles are separated by a red
stripe that is contrasted by two narrow white-edge borders
Economy
Economy--overview: The economy is heavily dependent on the
extraction and processing of minerals for export. Mining accounts
for 20% of GDP. Namibia is the fourth-largest exporter of nonfuel
minerals in Africa and the world's fifth-largest producer of
uranium. Rich alluvial diamond deposits make Namibia a primary
source for gem-quality diamonds. Namibia also produces large
quantities of lead, zinc, tin, silver, and tungsten. Half of the
population depends on agriculture (largely subsistence agriculture)
for its livelihood. Namibia must import some of its food. Although
per capita GDP is three times the per capita GDP of Africa's poorer
countries, the majority of Namibia's people live in pronounced
poverty because of the great inequality of income distribution and
the large amounts going to foreigners. The Namibian economy has
close links to South Africa.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$6.6 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 2% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$4,100 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 11%
industry: 34%
services: 55% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7% (1996 est.)
Labor force: 500,000
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 49%, industry and commerce
25%, services 5%, government 18%, mining 3% (1994 est.)
Unemployment rate: 30% to 40%, including underemployment (1997
est.)
Budget:
revenues: $1.1 billion
expenditures: $1.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $193
million (FY96/97 est.)
Industries: meat packing, fish processing, dairy products; mining
(diamond, lead, zinc, tin, silver, tungsten, uranium, copper)
Industrial production growth rate: 10% (1994)
Electricity--production: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: NA%
hydro: NA%
nuclear: NA%
other: NA%
Electricity--consumption: 1.11 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 1.11 billion kWh (1996)
note: imports electricity from South Africa
Agriculture--products: millet, sorghum, peanuts; livestock; fish
Exports: $1.44 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Exports--commodities: diamonds, copper, gold, zinc, lead, uranium;
cattle, processed fish, karakul skins
Exports--partners: UK 38%, South Africa 24%, Spain 12%, Japan 7%
(1996 est.)
Imports: $1.48 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Imports--commodities: foodstuffs; petroleum products and fuel,
machinery and equipment, chemicals
Imports--partners: South Africa 87%, Germany, US, Japan (1995 est.)
Debt--external: $315 million (1996 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $127 million (1998)
Currency: 1 Namibian dollar (N$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Nambian dollars (N$) per US$1--5.98380 (January
1999), 5.52828 (1998), 4.60796 (1997), 4.29935 (1996), 3.62709
(1995), 3.55080 (1994)
Fiscal year: 1 April--31 March
Communications
Telephones: 89,722 (1992 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: good urban services; fair rural service; microwave radio
relay links major towns; connections to other populated places are
by open wire
international: NA
note: a fully automated digital network is being implemented
Radio broadcast stations: AM 4, FM 40, shortwave 0
Radios: 195,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 8 (of which five are main stations
and three are low-power stations; there are also about 20 low-power
repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 27,000 (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 2,382 km
narrow gauge: 2,382 km 1.067-m gauge; single track (1995)
Highways:
total: 64,799 km
paved: 7,841 km
unpaved: 56,958 km (1996 est.)
Ports and harbors: Luderitz, Walvis Bay
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 135 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 22
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 15
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 113
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 20
914 to 1,523 m: 70
under 914 m: 21 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: National Defense Force (Army), Police
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 380,528 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 228,225 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $90 million (FY97/98)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 2.6% (FY97/98)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: quadripoint with Botswana, Zambia, and
Zimbabwe is in disagreement; dispute with Botswana over uninhabited
Kasikili (Sidudu) Island in Linyanti (Chobe) River is presently at
the ICJ; at least one other island in Linyanti River is contested
======================================================================
@Nauru
-----
Geography
Location: Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, south of
the Marshall Islands
Geographic coordinates: 0 32 S, 166 55 E
Map references: Oceania
Area:
total: 21 sq km
land: 21 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: about 0.1 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 30 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; monsoonal; rainy season (November to February)
Terrain: sandy beach rises to fertile ring around raised coral
reefs with phosphate plateau in center
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location along plateau rim 61 m
Natural resources: phosphates
Land use:
arable land: NA%
permanent crops: NA%
permanent pastures: NA%
forests and woodland: NA%
other: 100% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: periodic droughts
Environment--current issues: limited natural fresh water
resources, roof storage tanks collect rainwater; intensive phosphate
mining during the past 90 years--mainly by a UK, Australia, and New
Zealand consortium--has left the central 90% of Nauru a wasteland and
threatens limited remaining land resources
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Law of the
Sea, Marine Dumping
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography--note: Nauru is one of the three great phosphate rock
islands in the Pacific Ocean--the others are Banaba (Ocean Island) in
Kiribati and Makatea in French Polynesia; only 53 km south of Equator
People
Population: 10,605 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate: 0% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: NA
Death rate: 0 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: NA deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA
Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman
Nationality:
noun: Nauruan(s)
adjective: Nauruan
Ethnic groups: Nauruan 58%, other Pacific Islander 26%, Chinese
8%, European 8%
Religions: Christian (two-thirds Protestant, one-third Roman
Catholic)
Languages: Nauruan (official, a distinct Pacific Island
language), English widely understood, spoken, and used for most
government and commercial purposes
Literacy: NA
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Nauru
conventional short form: Nauru
former: Pleasant Island
Data code: NR
Government type: republic
Capital: no official capital; government offices in Yaren District
Administrative divisions: 14 districts; Aiwo, Anabar, Anetan,
Anibare, Baiti, Boe, Buada, Denigomodu, Ewa, Ijuw, Meneng, Nibok,
Uaboe, Yaren
Independence: 31 January 1968 (from the Australia-, New Zealand-,
and UK-administered UN trusteeship)
National holiday: Independence Day, 31 January (1968)
Constitution: 29 January 1968
Legal system: acts of the Nauru Parliament and British common law
Suffrage: 20 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Bernard DOWIYOGO (since 17 June 1998);
note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Bernard DOWIYOGO (since 17 June 1998);
note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among the members
of Parliament
elections: president elected by Parliament for a three-year term;
election last held 17 June 1998 (next to be held NA 2001)
election results: Bernard DOWIYOGO elected president; percent of
Parliament vote--NA
note: former President Kinza CLODUMAR was deposed in a no-confidence
vote
Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament (18 seats; members
elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms)
elections: last held 8 February 1997 (next to be held NA February
2000)
election results: percent of vote--NA; seats--independents 18
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: loose multi-party system; Nauru
International organization participation: AsDB, C (special),
ESCAP, ICAO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, OPCW,
Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UNESCO, UPU, WHO
Diplomatic representation in the US: Nauru does not have an
embassy in the US
consulate(s): Hagatna (Guam)
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an
embassy in Nauru; the US Ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Nauru
Flag description: blue with a narrow, horizontal, yellow stripe
across the center and a large white 12-pointed star below the stripe
on the hoist side; the star indicates the country's location in
relation to the Equator (the yellow stripe) and the 12 points
symbolize the 12 original tribes of Nauru
Economy
Economy--overview: Revenues come from exports of phosphates, but
reserves are expected to be exhausted by the year 2000. Phosphates
have given Nauruans one of the highest per capita incomes in the
Third World. Few other resources exist, thus most necessities must
be imported, including fresh water from Australia. The
rehabilitation of mined land and the replacement of income from
phosphates are serious long-term problems. Substantial amounts of
phosphate income are invested in trust funds to help cushion the
transition. The government also has been borrowing heavily from the
trusts to finance fiscal deficits. To cut costs the government has
called a freezing of wages, a reduction of over-staffed public
service departments, privatization of numerous government agencies,
and closure of some overseas consulates.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$100 million (1993 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: NA%
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$10,000 (1993 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): -3.6% (1993)
Labor force--by occupation: employed in mining phosphates, public
administration, education, and transportation
Unemployment rate: 0%
Budget:
revenues: $23.4 million
expenditures: $64.8 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY95/96)
Industries: phosphate mining, financial services, coconut products
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: 32 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 32 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: coconuts
Exports: $25.3 million (f.o.b., 1991)
Exports--commodities: phosphates
Exports--partners: Australia, NZ
Imports: $21.1 million (c.i.f., 1991)
Imports--commodities: food, fuel, manufactures, building
materials, machinery
Imports--partners: Australia, UK, NZ, Japan
Debt--external: $33.3 million
Economic aid--recipient: $2.5 million (1995); note?$2.25 million
from Australia (FY96/97 est.)
Currency: 1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Australian dollars ($A) per US$1--1.5853 (January
1999), 1.5888 (1998), 1.3439 (1997), 1.2773 (1996), 1.3486 (1995),
1.3667 (1994)
Fiscal year: 1 July--30 June
Communications
Telephones: 2,000 (1989 est.)
Telephone system: adequate local and international radiotelephone
communications provided via Australian facilities
domestic: NA
international: satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: 4,000 (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1997)
Televisions: NA
Transportation
Railways:
total: 3.9 km; note--used to haul phosphates from the center of the
island to processing facilities on the southwest coast
Highways:
total: 30 km
paved: 24 km
unpaved: 6 km (1996 est.)
Ports and harbors: Nauru
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: no regular armed forces; Directorate of the
Nauru Police Force
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $NA
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: NA%
Military--note: Nauru maintains no defense forces; under an
informal agreement, Australia is responsible for defense of the
island
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
======================================================================
@Navassa Island
--------------
Geography
Location: Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, about
one-fourth of the way from Haiti to Jamaica
Geographic coordinates: 18 25 N, 75 02 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 5.2 sq km
land: 5.2 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: about nine times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 8 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: marine, tropical
Terrain: raised coral and limestone plateau, flat to undulating;
ringed by vertical white cliffs (9 to 15 meters high)
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on southwest side 77 m
Natural resources: guano
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 10%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 90%
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1998)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment--current issues: NA
Environment--international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography--note: strategic location 160 km south of the US Naval
Base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; mostly exposed rock, but enough
grassland to support goat herds; dense stands of fig-like trees,
scattered cactus
People
Population: uninhabited
note: transient Haitian fishermen and others camp on the island
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Navassa Island
Data code: BQ
Dependency status: unincorporated territory of the US;
administered from Washington, DC, by the Office of Insular Affairs,
US Department of the Interior; in September 1996, the Coast Guard
ceased operations and maintenance of Navassa Island Light, a
46-meter-tall lighthouse located on the southern side of the island;
there has also been a private claim advanced against the island
Capital: none; administered from Washington, DC
Legal system: NA
Flag description: the flag of the US is used
Economy
Economy--overview: no economic activity
Transportation
Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only
Military
Military--note: defense is the responsibility of the US
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: claimed by Haiti
======================================================================
@Nepal
-----
Geography
Location: Southern Asia, between China and India
Geographic coordinates: 28 00 N, 84 00 E
Map references: Asia
Area:
total: 140,800 sq km
land: 136,800 sq km
water: 4,000 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly larger than Arkansas
Land boundaries:
total: 2,926 km
border countries: China 1,236 km, India 1,690 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: varies from cool summers and severe winters in north to
subtropical summers and mild winters in south
Terrain: Terai or flat river plain of the Ganges in south,
central hill region, rugged Himalayas in north
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Kanchan Kalan 70 m
highest point: Mount Everest 8,848 m
Natural resources: quartz, water, timber, hydropower potential,
scenic beauty, small deposits of lignite, copper, cobalt, iron ore
Land use:
arable land: 17%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 15%
forests and woodland: 42%
other: 26% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 8,500 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: severe thunderstorms, flooding, landslides,
drought, and famine depending on the timing, intensity, and duration
of the summer monsoons
Environment--current issues: the almost total dependence on wood
for fuel and cutting down trees to expand agricultural land without
replanting has resulted in widespread deforestation; soil erosion;
water pollution (use of contaminated water presents human health
risks)
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone
Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation
Geography--note: landlocked; strategic location between China and
India; contains eight of world's 10 highest peaks
People
Population: 24,302,653 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 41% (male 5,182,829; female 4,869,895)
15-64 years: 55% (male 6,856,905; female 6,571,916)
65 years and over: 4% (male 407,797; female 413,311) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.51% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 35.32 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 10.18 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.99 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 73.58 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 58.42 years
male: 58.47 years
female: 58.36 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.78 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Nepalese (singular and plural)
adjective: Nepalese
Ethnic groups: Newars, Indians, Tibetans, Gurungs, Magars,
Tamangs, Bhotias, Rais, Limbus, Sherpas
Religions: Hindu 90%, Buddhist 5%, Muslim 3%, other 2% (1981)
note: only official Hindu state in the world, although no sharp
distinction between many Hindu and Buddhist groups
Languages: Nepali (official), 20 other languages divided into
numerous dialects
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 27.5%
male: 40.9%
female: 14% (1995 est.)
People--note: refugee issue over the presence in Nepal of
approximately 91,000 Bhutanese refugees, 90% of whom are in seven
United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
camps
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Nepal
conventional short form: Nepal
Data code: NP
Government type: parliamentary democracy as of 12 May 1991
Capital: Kathmandu
Administrative divisions: 14 zones (anchal, singular and plural);
Bagmati, Bheri, Dhawalagiri, Gandaki, Janakpur, Karnali, Kosi,
Lumbini, Mahakali, Mechi, Narayani, Rapti, Sagarmatha, Seti
Independence: 1768 (unified by Prithvi Narayan Shah)
National holiday: Birthday of His Majesty the King, 28 December
(1945)
Constitution: 9 November 1990
Legal system: based on Hindu legal concepts and English common
law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: King BIRENDRA Bir Bikram Shah Dev (succeeded to the
throne 31 January 1972 following the death of his father King
MAHENDRA Bir Bikram Shah Dev, crowned king 24 February 1975); Heir
Apparent Crown Prince DIPENDRA Bir Bikram
head of government: Prime Minister Girija Prasad KOIRALA (since 15
April 1998)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch on the recommendation of
the prime minister
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; following legislative
elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority
coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the monarch
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of the National
Council (60 seats; 35 appointed by the House of Representatives, 10
by the king, and 15 elected by an electoral college; one-third of
the members elected every two years to serve six-year terms) and the
House of Representatives (205 seats; members elected by popular vote
to serve five-year terms)
elections: House of Representatives--last held 15 November 1994 (next
to be held 3 May 1999)
election results: House of Representatives--percent of vote by
party--NCP 33%, CPN/UML 31%, NDP 18%, Nepal Sadbhavana (Goodwill)
Party 3%, NWPP 1%; seats by party-- CPN/UML 88, NCP 83, NDP 20, NWPP
4, Nepal Sadbhavana (Goodwill) Party 3, independents 7
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Sarbochha Adalat), chief justice
is appointed by the monarch on recommendation of the Constitutional
Council, the other judges are appointed by the monarch on the
recommendation of the Judicial Council
Political parties and leaders: Communist Party of Nepal/United
Madhar KUMAR, general secretary]; Nepali Congress Party or NCP
general secretary]; National Democratic Party or NDP (also called
party chair]
Political pressure groups and leaders: numerous small,
left-leaning student groups in the capital; several small, radical
Nepalese antimonarchist groups
International organization participation: AsDB, CCC, CP, ESCAP,
FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OPCW,
SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIBH, UNMOP, UNPREDEP,
UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador THAPA Bekh Bahadur
chancery: 2131 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Ralph FRANK
embassy: Pani Pokhari, Kathmandu
mailing address: use embassy street address
Flag description: red with a blue border around the unique shape
of two overlapping right triangles; the smaller, upper triangle
bears a white stylized moon and the larger, lower triangle bears a
white 12-pointed sun
Economy
Economy--overview: Nepal is among the poorest and least developed
countries in the world with nearly half of its population living
below the poverty line. Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy,
providing a livelihood for over 80% of the population and accounting
for 41% of GDP. Industrial activity mainly involves the processing
of agricultural produce including jute, sugarcane, tobacco, and
grain. Production of textiles and carpets has expanded recently and
accounted for about 80% of foreign exchange earnings in the past
three years. Apart from agricultural land and forests, exploitable
natural resources are mica, hydropower, and tourism. Agricultural
production is growing by about 5% on average as compared with annual
population growth of 2.5%. Since May 1991, the government has been
moving forward with economic reforms particularly those that
encourage trade and foreign investment, e.g., by eliminating
business licenses and registration requirements in order to simplify
investment procedures. The government has also been cutting
expenditures by reducing subsidies, privatizing state industries,
and laying off civil servants. More recently, however, political
instability--five different governments over the past few years--has
hampered Kathmandu's ability to forge consensus to implement key
economic reforms. Nepal has considerable scope for accelerating
economic growth by exploiting its potential in hydropower and
tourism, areas of recent foreign investment interest. Prospects for
foreign trade or investment in other sectors will remain poor,
however, because of the small size of the economy, its technological
backwardness, its remoteness, its landlocked geographic location,
and its susceptibility to natural disaster. The international
community's role of funding more than 60% of Nepal's development
budget and more than 28% of total budgetary expenditures will likely
continue as a major ingredient of growth.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$26.2 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 4.9% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,100 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 41%
industry: 22%
services: 37% (1997)
Population below poverty line: 42% (1995-96 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.2%
highest 10%: 29.8% (1995-96)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7.8% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 10 million (1996 est.)
note: severe lack of skilled labor
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 81%, services 16%,
industry 3%
Unemployment rate: NA%; substantial underemployment (1996)
Budget:
revenues: $536 million
expenditures: $818 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY96/97 est.)
Industries: tourism, carpet, textile; small rice, jute, sugar,
and oilseed mills; cigarette; cement and brick production
Industrial production growth rate: 14.7% (FY94/95 est.)
Electricity--production: 1.032 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 3.1%
hydro: 96.9%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 1.013 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 89 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 70 million kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: rice, corn, wheat, sugarcane, root crops;
milk, water buffalo meat
Exports: $394 million (f.o.b., 1997), but does not include
unrecorded border trade with India
Exports--commodities: carpets, clothing, leather goods, jute
goods, grain
Exports--partners: India, US, Germany, UK
Imports: $1.7 billion (c.i.f., 1997)
Imports--commodities: petroleum products 20%, fertilizer 11%,
machinery 10%
Imports--partners: India, Singapore, Japan, Germany
Debt--external: $2.4 billion (1997)
Economic aid--recipient: $411 million (FY97/98)
Currency: 1 Nepalese rupee (NR) = 100 paisa
Exchange rates: Nepalese rupees (NRs) per US$1--67.675 (January
1999), 65.976 (1998), 58.010 (1997), 56.692 (1996), 51.890 (1995),
49.398 (1994)
Fiscal year: 16 July--15 July
Communications
Telephones: 115,911 (1996 est.)
Telephone system: poor telephone and telegraph service; fair
radiotelephone communication service
domestic: NA
international: radiotelephone communications; satellite earth
station--1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 88, FM 1, shortwave 0
Radios: 690,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 6 (1998 est.)
Televisions: 45,000 (1992 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 101 km; note--all in Kosi close to Indian border
narrow gauge: 101 km 0.762-m gauge
Highways:
total: 7,700 km
paved: 3,196 km
unpaved: 4,504 km (1996 est.)
Ports and harbors: none
Airports: 45 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 5
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 40
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 9
under 914 m: 29 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Royal Nepalese Army, Royal Nepalese Army Air
Service, Nepalese Police Force
Military manpower--military age: 17 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 5,924,732 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 3,079,569 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 281,658 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $44 million (FY96/97)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 0.9% (FY96/97)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: with Bhutan over 91,000 Bhutanese
refugees in Nepal
Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis for the domestic and
international drug markets; transit point for opiates from Southeast
Asia to the West
======================================================================
@Netherlands
-----------
Geography
Location: Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between
Belgium and Germany
Geographic coordinates: 52 30 N, 5 45 E
Map references: Europe
Area:
total: 41,532 sq km
land: 33,889 sq km
water: 7,643 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey
Land boundaries:
total: 1,027 km
border countries: Belgium 450 km, Germany 577 km
Coastline: 451 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: temperate; marine; cool summers and mild winters
Terrain: mostly coastal lowland and reclaimed land (polders);
some hills in southeast
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Prins Alexanderpolder -7 m
highest point: Vaalserberg 321 m
Natural resources: natural gas, petroleum, fertile soil
Land use:
arable land: 25%
permanent crops: 3%
permanent pastures: 25%
forests and woodland: 8%
other: 39% (1996 est.)
Irrigated land: 6,000 sq km (1996 est.)
Natural hazards: the extensive system of dikes and dams protects
nearly one-half of the total area from being flooded
Environment--current issues: water pollution in the form of heavy
metals, organic compounds, and nutrients such as nitrates and
phosphates; air pollution from vehicles and refining activities;
acid rain
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air
Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental
Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life
Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Biodiversity, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography--note: located at mouths of three major European rivers
(Rhine, Maas or Meuse, and Schelde)
People
Population: 15,807,641 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 18% (male 1,475,606; female 1,410,088)
15-64 years: 68% (male 5,482,193; female 5,288,948)
65 years and over: 14% (male 875,847; female 1,274,959) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.47% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 11.36 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 8.69 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 1.99 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 5.11 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.15 years
male: 75.28 years
female: 81.17 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.49 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Dutchman(men), Dutchwoman(women)
adjective: Dutch
Ethnic groups: Dutch 94%, Moroccans, Turks, and other 6% (1988)
Religions: Roman Catholic 34%, Protestant 25%, Muslim 3%, other
2%, unaffiliated 36% (1991)
Languages: Dutch
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99% (1979 est.)
male: NA%
female: NA%
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Kingdom of the Netherlands
conventional short form: Netherlands
local long form: Koninkrijk der Nederlanden
local short form: Nederland
Data code: NL
Government type: constitutional monarchy
Capital: Amsterdam; The Hague is the seat of government
Administrative divisions: 12 provinces (provincien,
singular--provincie); Drenthe, Flevoland, Friesland, Gelderland,
Groningen, Limburg, Noord-Brabant, Noord-Holland, Overijssel,
Utrecht, Zeeland, Zuid-Holland
Dependent areas: Aruba, Netherlands Antilles
Independence: 1579 (from Spain)
National holiday: Queen's Day, 30 April
Constitution: adopted 1814; amended many times, last time 17
February 1983
Legal system: civil law system incorporating French penal theory;
constitution does not permit judicial review of acts of the States
General; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen BEATRIX Wilhelmina Armgard (since 30 April
1980); Heir Apparent WILLEM-ALEXANDER (born 27 April 1967), Prince
of Orange, son of the monarch
head of government: Prime Minister Wim KOK (since 22 August 1994)
and Vice Prime Ministers Annemarie JORRITSMA (since 3 August 1998)
and Els BORST-EILERS (since 3 August 1998)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; following Second Chamber
elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority
coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the monarch; vice
prime ministers appointed by the monarch
note: there is a Council of State composed of the monarch, heir
apparent, and councillors consulted by the executive on legislative
and administrative policy
Legislative branch: bicameral States General or Staten Generaal
consists of the First Chamber or Eerste Kamer (75 seats; members
indirectly elected by the country's 12 provincial councils for
four-year terms) and the Second Chamber or Tweede Kamer (150 seats;
members directly elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: First Chamber--last held 9 June 1995 (next to be held 25
May 1999); Second Chamber--last held 6 May 1998 (next to be held May
2002)
election results: First Chamber--percent of vote by party--NA; seats
by party--VVD 23, CDA 19, PvdA 14, D'66 7, other 12; Second
Chamber--percent of vote by party--PvdA 30.0%, VVD 25.3%, CDA 19.3%,
D'66 9.3%, other 16.1%; seats by party--PvdA 45, VVD 38, CDA 29, D'66
14, other 24
Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Hoge Raad, justices are
nominated for life by the monarch
Political parties and leaders: Christian Democratic Appeal or CDA
Political pressure groups and leaders: large multinational firms;
Federation of Netherlands Trade Union Movement (comprising Socialist
and Catholic trade unions) and a Protestant trade union; Federation
of Catholic and Protestant Employers Associations; the
nondenominational Federation of Netherlands Enterprises; and
Interchurch Peace Council or IKV
International organization participation: AfDB, AsDB, Australia
Group, Benelux, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ECLAC, EIB,
EMU, ESA, ESCAP, EU, FAO, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU,
ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat,
Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MTCR, NAM (guest), NATO,
NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIBH, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Joris M. VOS
chancery: 4200 Linnean Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Cynthia P. SCHNEIDER
embassy: Lange Voorhout 102, 2514 EJ, The Hague
mailing address: PSC 71, Box 1000, APO AE 09715
consulate(s) general: Amsterdam
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top),
white, and blue; similar to the flag of Luxembourg, which uses a
lighter blue and is longer
Economy
Economy--overview: This prosperous and open economy is based on
private enterprise with the government's presence felt in many
aspects of the economy. Industrial activity features food
processing, petroleum refining, and metalworking. The highly
mechanized agricultural sector employs only 4% of the labor force,
but provides large surpluses for export and the domestic
food-processing industry. As a result, the Netherlands ranks third
worldwide in value of agricultural exports, behind the US and
France. Sharp cuts in subsidy and social security spending since the
1980s helped the Dutch achieve sustained economic growth combined
with falling unemployment and moderate inflation. The economy
achieved a strong 3.7% growth in 1998; a dip in the business cycle
probably will cause the economy to decelerate to slightly over 2%
growth in 1999. Unemployment in 1999 is expected to be less than 5%
of the labor force, and inflation probably will decline. The Dutch
joined the first wave of 11 EU countries launching the euro system
on 1 January 1999.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$348.6 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 3.7% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$22,200 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 3.2%
industry: 27.5%
services: 69.3% (1998 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.9%
highest 10%: 24.7% (1991)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2% (1998)
Labor force: 7 million (1998 est.)
Labor force--by occupation: services 73%, manufacturing and
construction 23%, agriculture 4% (1998 est.)
Unemployment rate: 4.1% (1998 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $163 billion
expenditures: $170 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1999 est.)
Industries: agroindustries, metal and engineering products,
electrical machinery and equipment, chemicals, petroleum,
construction, microelectronics, fishing
Industrial production growth rate: 2.4% (1998)
Electricity--production: 83.3 billion kWh (1997)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 94.51%
hydro: 0.1%
nuclear: 4.95%
other: 0.44% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 90.366 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 700 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 11.3 billion kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: grains, potatoes, sugar beets, fruits,
vegetables; livestock
Exports: $160 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports--commodities: machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels,
food and tobacco
Exports--partners: EU 78% (Germany 27%, Belgium-Luxembourg 13%,
France 11%, UK 10%, Italy 6%), Central and Eastern Europe, US (1997)
Imports: $142 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports--commodities: machinery and transport equipment,
chemicals, foodstuffs, fuels, consumer goods
Imports--partners: EU 61% (Germany 21%, Belgium-Luxembourg 11%, UK
10%), US 9%, Central and Eastern Europe (1997)
Debt--external: $0
Economic aid--donor: ODA, $2.9 billion (1997)
Currency: 1 Netherlands guilder, gulden, or florin (f.) = 100
cents; note--on 1 January 2002 to be replaced by the euro
Exchange rates: Netherlands guilders, gulden, or florins (f.) per
US$1--1.8904 (January 1999), 1.9837 (1998), 1.9513 (1997), 1.6859
(1996), 1.6057 (1995), 1.8200 (1994)
note: on 1 January 1999, the European Union introduced a common
currency that is now being used by financial institutions in some
member countries at the rate of 0.8597 euros per US$ and a fixed
rate of 2.20371 guilders per euro; the euro will replace the local
currency in consenting countries for all transactions in 2002
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 8.431 million (1998 est.); 3.4 million cellular
telephone subscribers (1998 est.)
Telephone system: highly developed and well maintained; system of
multi-conductor cables gradually being supplemented/replaced by a
glass-fiber based telecommunication infrastructure; Mobile GSM-based
mobile telephony density rapidly growing; third generation Universal
Mobile Telecommunications System expected for introduction by the
year 2001
domestic: nationwide cellular telephone system; microwave radio relay
international: 5 submarine cables; satellite earth stations--3
Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 2 Atlantic Ocean), 1 Eutelsat, and 1
Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean Regions)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 3 (relays 3), FM 12 (repeaters 39),
shortwave 0
Radios: 14 million (1994 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 15 (in addition, there are five
low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 7.6 million (1994 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 2,813 km
standard gauge: 2,813 km 1.435-m gauge; (1,991 km electrified) (1996)
Highways:
total: 127,000 km
paved: 114,427 km (including 2,360 km of expressways)
unpaved: 12,573 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 5,046 km, of which 47% is usable by craft of 1,000
metric ton capacity or larger
Pipelines: crude oil 418 km; petroleum products 965 km; natural
gas 10,230 km
Ports and harbors: Amsterdam, Delfzijl, Dordrecht, Eemshaven,
Groningen, Haarlem, Ijmuiden, Maastricht, Rotterdam, Terneuzen,
Utrecht
Merchant marine:
total: 510 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,632,477
GRT/4,097,328 DWT
ships by type: bulk 4, cargo 303, chemical tanker 42, combination
bulk 1, container 52, liquefied gas tanker 17, livestock carrier 1,
multifunction large-load carrier 9, oil tanker 24, passenger 8,
refrigerated cargo 30, roll-on/roll-off cargo 12, short-sea
passenger 3, specialized tanker 4
note: many Dutch-owned ships are also operating under the registry
of Netherlands Antilles (1998 est.)
Airports: 28 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 19
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 9
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 6 (1998 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Royal Netherlands Army, Royal Netherlands Navy
(includes Naval Air Service and Marine Corps), Royal Netherlands Air
Force, Royal Constabulary
Military manpower--military age: 20 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 4,117,376 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 3,595,693 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 95,368 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $6.604 billion (FY97)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 2.1% (1995)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
Illicit drugs: important gateway for cocaine, heroin, and hashish
entering Europe; major European producer of illicit amphetamines and
other synthetic drugs
======================================================================
@Netherlands Antilles
--------------------
Geography
Location: Caribbean, two island groups in the Caribbean Sea--one
includes Curacao and Bonaire north of Venezuela and the other is
east of the Virgin Islands
Geographic coordinates: 12 15 N, 68 45 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 960 sq km
land: 960 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Sint
Maarten (Dutch part of the island of Saint Martin)
Area--comparative: more than five times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
total: 10.2 km
border countries: Guadeloupe (Saint Martin) 10.2 km
Coastline: 364 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; ameliorated by northeast trade winds
Terrain: generally hilly, volcanic interiors
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Scenery 862 m
Natural resources: phosphates (Curacao only), salt (Bonaire only)
Land use:
arable land: 10%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 90% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: Curacao and Bonaire are south of Caribbean
hurricane belt and are rarely threatened; Sint Maarten, Saba, and
Sint Eustatius are subject to hurricanes from July to October
Environment--current issues: NA
Environment--international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA
People
Population: 207,827 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 26% (male 27,160; female 26,149)
15-64 years: 67% (male 65,781; female 73,054)
65 years and over: 7% (male 6,538; female 9,145) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.01% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 17.11 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 6.58 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.43 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female
total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 12.59 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 74.25 years
male: 72.19 years
female: 76.41 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.09 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Netherlands Antillean(s)
adjective: Netherlands Antillean
Ethnic groups: mixed black 85%, Carib Amerindian, white, East
Asian
Religions: Roman Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Seventh-Day
Adventist
Languages: Dutch (official), Papiamento (a
Spanish-Portuguese-Dutch-English dialect) predominates, English
widely spoken, Spanish
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98%
male: 98%
female: 99% (1981 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Netherlands Antilles
local long form: none
local short form: Nederlandse Antillen
Data code: NT
Dependency status: part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; full
autonomy in internal affairs granted in 1954
Government type: parliamentary
Capital: Willemstad
Administrative divisions: none (part of the Kingdom of the
Netherlands)
note: each island has its own government
Independence: none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
National holiday: Queen's Day, 30 April (1938)
Constitution: 29 December 1954, Statute of the Realm of the
Netherlands, as amended
Legal system: based on Dutch civil law system, with some English
common law influence
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen BEATRIX Wilhelmina Armgard of the Netherlands
(since 30 April 1980), represented by Governor General Jaime SALEH
(since NA October 1989)
head of government: Prime Minister Miguel POURIER (since 25 February
1994)
cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the Staten
elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by
the monarch for a six-year term; following legislative elections,
the leader of the majority party is usually elected prime minister
by the Staten; election last held 30 January 1998 (next to be held
by NA 2002)
election results: Miguel POURIER elected prime minister; percent of
legislative vote--NA
Legislative branch: unicameral States or Staten (22 seats;
members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 30 January 1998 (next to be held by NA 2002)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--PAR 4,
PNP 3, SPA 1, PDB 2, UPB 1, MAN 2, PLKP 3, WIPM 1, SEA 1, DP-St.M 2,
FOL 2; no party won enough seats to form a government
note: the government of Prime Minister Miguel POURIER is a coalition
of several parties
Judicial branch: Joint High Court of Justice (judges appointed by
the monarch)
Political parties and leaders:
Sint Eustatius: Democratic Party of Sint Eustatius or DP-St. E
WESTCOTT-WILLIAMS]; Patriotic Movement of Sint Maarten or SPA
ROLLOCKS]
note: political parties are indigenous to each island
International organization participation: Caricom (observer),
ECLAC (associate), Interpol, IOC, UNESCO (associate), UPU, WMO, WToO
(associate)
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (represented by the
Kingdom of the Netherlands)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Consul General James L. WILLIAMS
consulate(s) general: J.B. Gorsiraweg #1, Curacao
mailing address: P. O. Box 158, Willemstad, Curacao
Flag description: white, with a horizontal blue stripe in the
center superimposed on a vertical red band, also centered; five
white, five-pointed stars are arranged in an oval pattern in the
center of the blue band; the five stars represent the five main
islands of Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Sint Maarten
Economy
Economy--overview: Tourism, petroleum transshipment, and offshore
finance are the mainstays of this small economy, which is closely
tied to the outside world. The islands enjoy a high per capita
income and a well-developed infrastructure as compared with other
countries in the region. Almost all consumer and capital goods are
imported, with Venezuela, the US, and Mexico being the major
suppliers. Poor soils and inadequate water supplies hamper the
development of agriculture.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$2.4 billion (1997 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: -1.8% (1997)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$11,500 (1997 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 1%
industry: 15%
services: 84% (1996 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.3% (1997)
Labor force: 89,000
Labor force--by occupation: government 65%, industry and commerce
28% (1983)
Unemployment rate: 14.9% (1998 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $710.8 million
expenditures: $741.6 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1997 est.)
Industries: tourism (Curacao, Sint Maarten, and Bonaire),
petroleum refining (Curacao), petroleum transshipment facilities
(Curacao and Bonaire), light manufacturing (Curacao)
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: 1.4 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 1.4 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: aloes, sorghum, peanuts, vegetables,
tropical fruit
Exports: $268.2 million (f.o.b., 1997)
Exports--commodities: petroleum products 98% (1993)
Exports--partners: US 28.6%, Honduras 6.4%, Belgium-Luxembourg 6%,
Italy 4.9%, Guatemala 4.5%, Costa Rica 4% (1996)
Imports: $1.4 billion (c.i.f., 1997)
Imports--commodities: crude petroleum 64%, food, manufactures
(1993)
Imports--partners: Venezuela 34%, US 16.4%, Mexico 15.5%,
Netherlands 5%, Italy 3.5%, Brazil 2.8% (1996)
Debt--external: $1.35 billion (1996)
Economic aid--recipient: $NA; note?the Netherlands provided a $97
million aid package in 1996
Currency: 1 Netherlands Antillean guilder, gulden, or florin
(NAf.) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Netherlands Antillean guilders, gulden, or
florins (NAf.) per US$1--1.790 (fixed rate since 1989)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: NA
Telephone system: generally adequate facilities
domestic: extensive interisland microwave radio relay links
international: 2 submarine cables; satellite earth stations--2
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 9, FM 4, shortwave 0
Radios: 205,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 3 (in addition, there is a cable
service which supplies programs received from various US satellite
networks) (1997)
Televisions: 64,000 (1992 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 600 km
paved: 300 km
unpaved: 300 km (1992 est.)
Ports and harbors: Kralendijk, Philipsburg, Willemstad
Merchant marine:
total: 95 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 811,782 GRT/1,045,989
DWT
ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 26, chemical tanker 2, combination
ore/oil 3, container 10, liquefied gas tanker 4, multifunction
large-load carrier 19, oil tanker 4, passenger 1, refrigerated cargo
18, roll-on/roll-off cargo 6
note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships of 2 countries:
Belgium owns 9 ships, Germany 1 (1998 est.)
Airports: 5 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 5
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Royal Netherlands Navy, Marine Corps, Royal
Netherlands Air Force, National Guard, Police Force
Military manpower--military age: 20 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-47: 53,285 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 29,888 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 1,457 (1999 est.)
Military--note: defense is the responsibility of the Kingdom of
the Netherlands
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
Illicit drugs: money-laundering center; transshipment point for
South American drugs bound for the US and Europe
======================================================================
@New Caledonia
-------------
Geography
Location: Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, east of
Australia
Geographic coordinates: 21 30 S, 165 30 E
Map references: Oceania
Area:
total: 19,060 sq km
land: 18,575 sq km
water: 485 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 2,254 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; modified by southeast trade winds; hot, humid
Terrain: coastal plains with interior mountains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Panie 1,628 m
Natural resources: nickel, chrome, iron, cobalt, manganese,
silver, gold, lead, copper
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 12%
forests and woodland: 39%
other: 49% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: typhoons most frequent from November to March
Environment--current issues: NA
Environment--international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA
People
Population: 197,361 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 29% (male 29,610; female 28,485)
15-64 years: 65% (male 64,552; female 63,229)
65 years and over: 6% (male 5,443; female 6,042) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.59% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 20.68 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 4.82 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 12.15 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.35 years
male: 72.1 years
female: 78.77 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.43 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: New Caledonian(s)
adjective: New Caledonian
Ethnic groups: Melanesian 42.5%, European 37.1%, Wallisian 8.4%,
Polynesian 3.8%, Indonesian 3.6%, Vietnamese 1.6%, other 3%
Religions: Roman Catholic 60%, Protestant 30%, other 10%
Languages: French, 28 Melanesian-Polynesian dialects
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 91%
male: 92%
female: 90% (1976 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Territory of New Caledonia and Dependencies
conventional short form: New Caledonia
local long form: Territoire des Nouvelle-Caledonie et Dependances
local short form: Nouvelle-Caledonie
Data code: NC
Dependency status: overseas territory of France since 1956
Government type: NA
Capital: Noumea
Administrative divisions: none (overseas territory of France);
there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the
US Government, but there are 3 provinces named Iles Loyaute, Nord,
and Sud
Independence: none (overseas territory of France); note--a
referendum on independence was held in 1998 but did not pass
National holiday: National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July
(1789)
Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system: the 1988 Matignon Accords grant substantial
autonomy to the islands; formerly under French law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May
1995), represented by High Commissioner and President of the Council
of Government Dominque BUR (since NA August 1995)
head of government: President of the Territorial Congress Simon
LOUECKHOTE (since NA 1998)
cabinet: Consultative Committee
elections: French president elected by popular vote for a seven-year
term; high commissioner appointed by the French president on the
advice of the French Ministry of Interior; president of the
Territorial Congress elected by the members of the congress
Legislative branch: unicameral Territorial Congress or Congres
Territorial (54 seats; members are members of the three Provincial
Assemblies or Assemblees Provinciales elected by popular vote to
serve six-year terms)
elections: last held 9 July 1995 (next to be held NA July 2001)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--RPR
22, FLNKS 12, UNCT 9, UNI 5, DEPCA 2, FN 2, RCF 2, and other 2
note: New Caledonia elects 1 seat to the French Senate; elections
last held 27 September 1992 (next to be held NA September 2001);
results--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--RPR 1; New
Caledonia also elects 2 seats to the French National Assembly;
elections last held 25 May-1 June 1997 (next to be held NA 2002);
results--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--RPR 2
Judicial branch: Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel
Political parties and leaders: Progressive Melanesian Union or
POSTIC]; Union des Synicates de Travailleurs Kanaks Exploites or
Caledonia in the Republic or RPCR is a coalition of 5 parties: Union
International organization participation: ESCAP (associate), FZ,
ICFTU, SPC, WFTU, WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory of
France)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (overseas territory
of France)
Flag description: three horizontal bands, blue (top), red, and
green, with a yellow disk enclosing a black symbol centered to the
hoist side; the flag of France is used for official occasions
Economy
Economy--overview: New Caledonia has more than 20% of the world's
known nickel resources. In recent years, the economy has suffered
because of depressed international demand for nickel, the principal
source of export earnings. Only a negligible amount of the land is
suitable for cultivation, and food accounts for about 25% of
imports. In addition to nickel, financial support from France and
tourism are key to the health of the economy. Performance in 1998
was hampered by the spillover of financial problems in East Asia and
by lower expected prices for nickel.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$2.1 billion (1996 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: NA%
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$11,400 (1996 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 3%
industry: 25%
services: 72% (1996)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.7% (1996 est.)
Labor force: 70,044 (1988)
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 20%, industry 16%,
services 60%, mining 4% (1996)
Unemployment rate: 15% (1994)
Budget:
revenues: $755.6 million
expenditures: $755.6 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1995 est.)
Industries: nickel mining and smelting
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: 1.145 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 69.87%
hydro: 30.13%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 1.145 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: vegetables; beef, other livestock products
Exports: $500 million (f.o.b., 1996)
Exports--commodities: ferronickels, nickel ore
Exports--partners: Japan 31%, France 29%, US 12%, Australia 7%,
Taiwan 6% (1996 est.)
Imports: $845 million (c.i.f., 1996)
Imports--commodities: foods, transport equipment, machinery and
electrical equipment, fuels, minerals
Imports--partners: France 45%, Australia 18%, Singapore 7%, New
Zealand 6%, Japan 4% (1996 est.)
Debt--external: $NA
Economic aid--recipient: $446.3 million (1995); note?about $50
million yearly support from France for government operations
Currency: 1 Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique franc (CFPF) = 100
centimes
Exchange rates: Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (CFPF) per
US$1--102.72 (January 1999), 107.25 (1998), 106.11 (1997), 93.00
(1996), 90.75 (1995), 100.93 (1994); note--linked at the rate of
18.18 to the French franc
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 38,748 (1993 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: NA
international: satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 3, shortwave 0
Radios: 97,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 6 (in addition, there are 25
low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 47,000 (1992 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 5,562 km
paved: 975 km
unpaved: 4,587 km (1993)
Ports and harbors: Mueo, Noumea, Thio
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 27 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 5
over 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 22
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 11 (1998 est.)
Heliports: 7 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: French Armed Forces (Army, Navy, Air Force,
Gendarmerie); Police Force
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $NA
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: NA%
Military--note: defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: Matthew and Hunter Islands claimed by
France and Vanuatu
======================================================================
@New Zealand
-----------
Geography
Location: Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast
of Australia
Geographic coordinates: 41 00 S, 174 00 E
Map references: Oceania
Area:
total: 268,680 sq km
land: 268,670 sq km
water: 10 sq km
note: includes Antipodes Islands, Auckland Islands, Bounty Islands,
Campbell Island, Chatham Islands, and Kermadec Islands
Area--comparative: about the size of Colorado
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 15,134 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: temperate with sharp regional contrasts
Terrain: predominately mountainous with some large coastal plains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Cook 3,764 m
Natural resources: natural gas, iron ore, sand, coal, timber,
hydropower, gold, limestone
Land use:
arable land: 9%
permanent crops: 5%
permanent pastures: 50%
forests and woodland: 28%
other: 8% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 2,850 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: earthquakes are common, though usually not
severe; volcanic activity
Environment--current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; native
flora and fauna hard-hit by species introduced from outside
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty,
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping,
Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83,
Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Marine Life
Conservation
Geography--note: about 80% of the population lives in cities
People
Population: 3,662,265 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 23% (male 430,105; female 409,302)
15-64 years: 65% (male 1,202,762; female 1,195,006)
65 years and over: 12% (male 184,048; female 241,042) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.99% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 14.42 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 7.53 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 3.01 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 6.22 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.82 years
male: 74.55 years
female: 81.27 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.85 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: New Zealander(s)
adjective: New Zealand
Ethnic groups: New Zealand European 74.5%, Maori 9.7%, other
European 4.6%, Pacific Islander 3.8%, Asian and others 7.4%
Religions: Anglican 24%, Presbyterian 18%, Roman Catholic 15%,
Methodist 5%, Baptist 2%, other Protestant 3%, unspecified or none
33% (1986)
Languages: English (official), Maori
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99% (1980 est.)
male: NA%
female: NA%
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: New Zealand
abbreviation: NZ
Data code: NZ
Government type: parliamentary democracy
Capital: Wellington
Administrative divisions: 93 counties, 9 districts*, and 3 town
districts**; Akaroa, Amuri, Ashburton, Bay of Islands, Bruce,
Buller, Chatham Islands, Cheviot, Clifton, Clutha, Cook, Dannevirke,
Egmont, Eketahuna, Ellesmere, Eltham, Eyre, Featherston, Franklin,
Golden Bay, Great Barrier Island, Grey, Hauraki Plains, Hawera*,
Hawke's Bay, Heathcote, Hikurangi**, Hobson, Hokianga, Horowhenua,
Hurunui, Hutt, Inangahua, Inglewood, Kaikoura, Kairanga, Kiwitea,
Lake, Mackenzie, Malvern, Manaia**, Manawatu, Mangonui, Maniototo,
Marlborough, Masterton, Matamata, Mount Herbert, Ohinemuri, Opotiki,
Oroua, Otamatea, Otorohanga*, Oxford, Pahiatua, Paparua, Patea,
Piako, Pohangina, Raglan, Rangiora*, Rangitikei, Rodney, Rotorua*,
Runanga, Saint Kilda, Silverpeaks, Southland, Stewart Island,
Stratford, Strathallan, Taranaki, Taumarunui, Taupo, Tauranga,
Thames-Coromandel*, Tuapeka, Vincent, Waiapu, Waiheke, Waihemo,
Waikato, Waikohu, Waimairi, Waimarino, Waimate, Waimate West,
Waimea, Waipa, Waipawa*, Waipukurau*, Wairarapa South, Wairewa,
Wairoa, Waitaki, Waitomo*, Waitotara, Wallace, Wanganui, Waverley**,
Westland, Whakatane*, Whangarei, Whangaroa, Woodville
note: there may be a new administrative structure of 16 regions
(Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Canterbury, Gisborne, Hawke's Bay,
Marlborough, Nelson, Northland, Otago, Southland, Taranaki, Tasman,
Waikato, Wanganui-Manawatu, Wellington, West Coast) that are
subdivided into 57 districts and 16 cities* (Ashburton, Auckland*,
Banks Peninsula, Buller, Carterton, Central Hawke's Bay, Central
Otago, Christchurch*, Clutha, Dunedin*, Far North, Franklin,
Gisborne, Gore, Grey, Hamilton*, Hastings, Hauraki, Horowhenua,
Hurunui, Hutt*, Invercargill*, Kaikoura, Kaipara, Kapiti Coast,
Kawerau, Mackenzie, Manawatu, Manukau*, Marlborough, Masterton,
Matamata Piako, Napier*, Nelson*, New Plymouth, North Shore*,
Opotiki, Otorohanga, Palmerston North*, Papakura*, Porirua*,
Queenstown Lakes, Rangitikei, Rodney, Rotorua, Ruapehu, Selwyn,
Southland, South Taranaki, South Waikato, South Wairarapa,
Stratford, Tararua, Tasman, Taupo, Tauranga, Thames Coromandel,
Timaru, Upper Hutt*, Waikato, Waimakariri, Waimate, Waipa, Wairoa,
Waitakere*, Waitaki, Waitomo, Wanganui, Wellington*, Western Bay of
Plenty, Westland, Whakatane, Whangarei)
Dependent areas: Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau
Independence: 26 September 1907 (from UK)
National holiday: Waitangi Day, 6 February (1840) (Treaty of
Waitangi established British sovereignty)
Constitution: no formal, written constitution; consists of
various documents, including certain acts of the UK and New Zealand
Parliaments; Constitution Act 1986 was to have come into force 1
January 1987, but has not been enacted
Legal system: based on English law, with special land legislation
and land courts for Maoris; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction,
with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Governor General Sir Michael HARDIE BOYS (since 21
March 1996)
head of government: Prime Minister Jenny SHIPLEY (since 8 December
1997) and Deputy Prime Minister Wyatt CREECH (since NA August 1998);
note--the coalition government of the National Party and the New
Zealand First Party was dissolved on 18 August 1998
cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor general on the
recommendation of the prime minister
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general
appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the
leader of the majority party or the leader of a majority coalition
is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general for a
three-year term; deputy prime minister appointed by the governor
general
Legislative branch: unicameral House of Representatives--commonly
called Parliament (120 seats; members elected by popular vote in
single-member constituencies to serve three-year terms)
elections: last held 12 October 1996 (next must be called by October
1999)
election results: percent of vote by party--NP 34.1%, NZLP 28.3%,
NZFP 13.1%, Alliance 10.1%, ACT 6.17%, UNZ 0.91%; seats by party--NP
44, NZLP 37, NZFP 17, Alliance 13, ACT 8, UNZ 1
Judicial branch: High Court; Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders: National Party or NP [Jenny
coalition of the Christian Democrats and Christian Heritage Party)
International organization participation: ANZUS (US suspended
security obligations to NZ on 11 August 1986), APEC, AsDB, Australia
Group, C, CCC, CP, EBRD, ESCAP, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM,
IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat,
Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, MONUA, MTCR, NAM (guest),
NSG, OECD, OPCW, PCA, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UNMOP, UNOMSIL, UNPREDEP, UNTSO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador James Brendan BOLGER
chancery: 37 Observatory Circle NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Josiah Horton BEEMAN
embassy: 29 Fitzherbert Terrace, Thorndon, Wellington
mailing address: P. O. Box 1190, Wellington; PSC 467, Box 1, FPO AP
96531-1001
consulate(s) general: Auckland
Flag description: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper
hoist-side quadrant with four red five-pointed stars edged in white
centered in the outer half of the flag; the stars represent the
Southern Cross constellation
Economy
Economy--overview: Since 1984 the government has accomplished
major economic restructuring, moving an agrarian economy dependent
on a concessionary British market access toward a more
industrialized, free market economy that can compete globally. This
dynamic growth has boosted real incomes, broadened and deepened the
technological capabilities of the industrial sector, and contained
inflationary pressures. Inflation remains among the lowest in the
industrial world. Per capita GDP has been moving up toward the
levels of the big West European economies. New Zealand's heavy
dependence on trade leaves its growth prospects vulnerable to
economic performance in Asia, Europe, and the US. The slump in
demand in Asian markets largely explains the slight drop in GDP in
1998.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$61.1 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: -0.2% (1998)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$17,000 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 9%
industry: 25%
services: 66% (1997)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.1% (1998)
Labor force: 1.86 million (1998)
Labor force--by occupation: services 65.1%, industry 25.1%,
agriculture 9.8% (1995)
Unemployment rate: 7.6% (1998)
Budget:
revenues: $24.9 billion
expenditures: $23.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY97/98 est.)
Industries: food processing, wood and paper products, textiles,
machinery, transportation equipment, banking and insurance, tourism,
mining
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: 35.534 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 18.72%
hydro: 75.67%
nuclear: 0%
other: 5.61% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 35.534 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: wheat, barley, potatoes, pulses, fruits,
vegetables; wool, beef, dairy products; fish
Exports: $12.9 billion (1998 est.)
Exports--commodities: wool, lamb, mutton, beef, fish, cheese,
chemicals, forestry products, fruits and vegetables, manufactures,
dairy products, wood
Exports--partners: Australia 20%, Japan 15%, US 10%, UK 6% (1997)
Imports: $13 billion (1998 est.)
Imports--commodities: machinery and equipment, vehicles and
aircraft, petroleum, consumer goods, plastics
Imports--partners: Australia 27%, US 19%, Japan 12%, UK 6% (1997)
Debt--external: $53.2 billion (March 1998)
Economic aid--donor: ODA, $123 million (1995)
Currency: 1 New Zealand dollar (NZ$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1--1.85 (February
1999), 1.8629 (1998), 1.5083 (1997), 1.4543 (1996), 1.5235 (1995),
1.6844 (1994)
Fiscal year: 1 July--30 June
Communications
Telephones: 1.7 million (1986 est.)
Telephone system: excellent international and domestic systems
domestic: NA
international: submarine cables to Australia and Fiji; satellite
earth stations--2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 64, FM 2, shortwave 0
Radios: 3.215 million (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 41 (in addition, there are 52
medium-power repeaters and over 650 low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 1.53 million (1992 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 3,973 km
narrow gauge: 3,973 km 1.067-m gauge (519 km electrified)
Highways:
total: 92,200 km
paved: 53,568 km (including at least 144 km of expressways)
unpaved: 38,632 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 1,609 km; of little importance to transportation
Pipelines: petroleum products 160 km; natural gas 1,000 km;
liquefied petroleum gas or LPG 150 km
Ports and harbors: Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, Tauranga,
Wellington
Merchant marine:
total: 14 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 138,687 GRT/183,372 DWT
ships by type: bulk 4, cargo 1, liquefied gas tanker 1, oil tanker
3, railcar carrier 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 4 (1998 est.)
Airports: 111 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 44
over 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 10
914 to 1,523 m: 29
under 914 m: 3 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 67
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 23
under 914 m: 43 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: New Zealand Army, Royal New Zealand Navy,
Royal New Zealand Air Force
Military manpower--military age: 20 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 943,624 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 793,814 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 26,046 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $562 million (FY97/98)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 1.05% (FY97/98)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: territorial claim in Antarctica (Ross
Dependency)
======================================================================
@Nicaragua
---------
Geography
Location: Middle America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and
the North Pacific Ocean, between Costa Rica and Honduras
Geographic coordinates: 13 00 N, 85 00 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 129,494 sq km
land: 120,254 sq km
water: 9,240 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than the state of New York
Land boundaries:
total: 1,231 km
border countries: Costa Rica 309 km, Honduras 922 km
Coastline: 910 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 25-nm security zone
continental shelf: natural prolongation
territorial sea: 200 nm
Climate: tropical in lowlands, cooler in highlands
Terrain: extensive Atlantic coastal plains rising to central
interior mountains; narrow Pacific coastal plain interrupted by
volcanoes
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mogoton 2,438 m
Natural resources: gold, silver, copper, tungsten, lead, zinc,
timber, fish
Land use:
arable land: 9%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 46%
forests and woodland: 27%
other: 17% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 880 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: destructive earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides,
and occasionally severe hurricanes
Environment--current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; water
pollution; Hurricane Mitch damage
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection,
Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,
Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea
People
Population: 4,717,132 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 44% (male 1,037,269; female 1,018,909)
15-64 years: 54% (male 1,236,326; female 1,297,356)
65 years and over: 2% (male 54,706; female 72,566) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.84% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 35.04 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 5.6 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.06 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 40.47 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 67.08 years
male: 64.7 years
female: 69.56 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.14 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Nicaraguan(s)
adjective: Nicaraguan
Ethnic groups: mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 69%, white
17%, black 9%, Amerindian 5%
Religions: Roman Catholic 95%, Protestant 5%
Languages: Spanish (official)
note: English- and Amerindian-speaking minorities on Atlantic coast
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 65.7%
male: 64.6%
female: 66.6% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Nicaragua
conventional short form: Nicaragua
local long form: Republica de Nicaragua
local short form: Nicaragua
Data code: NU
Government type: republic
Capital: Managua
Administrative divisions: 15 departments (departamentos,
singular--departamento), 2 autonomous regions* (regiones
autonomistas, singular--region autonomista); Boaco, Carazo,
Chinandega, Chontales, Esteli, Granada, Jinotega, Leon, Madriz,
Managua, Masaya, Matagalpa, Nueva Segovia, Rio San Juan, Rivas,
Atlantico Norte*, Atlantico Sur*
Independence: 15 September 1821 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Constitution: 9 January 1987
Legal system: civil law system; Supreme Court may review
administrative acts
Suffrage: 16 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Arnoldo ALEMAN Lacayo (10 January 1997);
Vice President Enrique BOLANOS Geyer (10 January 1997); note--the
president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Arnoldo ALEMAN Lacayo (10 January
1997); Vice President Enrique BOLANOS Geyer (10 January 1997);
note--the president is both chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket
by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 20 October
1996 (next to be held NA 2001); note--in July 1995 the term of the
office of the president was amended to five years
party]--includes PLC, PALI, PLIUN, and PUCA) 51.03%, Daniel ORTEGA
Saavedra (FSLN) 37.75%, Guillermo OSORNO (PCCN) 4.10%, Noel VIDAURRE
(PCN) 2.26%, Benjamin LANZAS (PRONAL) 0.53%, other (18 other
candidates) remaining 4.33%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea
Nacional (93 seats; members are elected by proportional
representation to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 20 October 1996 (next to be held NA 2001)
election results: percent of vote by party--Liberal Alliance (ruling
party--includes PLC, PALI, PLIUN, and PUCA) 46.03%, FSLN 36.55%, PCCN
3.73%, PCN 2.12%, MRS 1.33%; seats by party--Liberal Alliance 42,
FSLN 36, PCCN 4, PCN 3, PRONAL 2, MRS 1, PRN 1, PNC 1, PLI 1, AU 1,
UNO-96 Alliance 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Corte Suprema), 12 judges elected
for seven-year terms by the National Assembly
Political parties and leaders:
OSORNO, Roberto RODRIGUEZ]; Liberal Constitutionalist Party or PLC
Saavedra]
Political pressure groups and leaders: National Workers Front or
FNT is a Sandinista umbrella group of eight labor unions: Sandinista
Workers Central or CST; Farm Workers Association or ATC; Health
Workers Federation or FETASALUD; National Union of Employees or UNE;
National Association of Educators of Nicaragua or ANDEN; Union of
Journalists of Nicaragua or UPN; Heroes and Martyrs Confederation of
Professional Associations or CONAPRO; and the National Union of
Farmers and Ranchers or UNAG; Permanent Congress of Workers or CPT
is an umbrella group of four non-Sandinista labor unions:
Confederation of Labor Unification or CUS; Autonomous Nicaraguan
Workers Central or CTN-A; Independent General Confederation of Labor
or CGT-I; and Labor Action and Unity Central or CAUS; Nicaraguan
Workers' Central or CTN is an independent labor union; Superior
Council of Private Enterprise or COSEP is a confederation of
business groups
International organization participation: BCIE, CACM, ECLAC, FAO,
G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA
(observer), NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,
UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Francisco AGUIRRE Sacasa
chancery: 1627 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
consulate(s) general: Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New
York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Lino GUTIERREZ
embassy: Kilometer 4.5 Carretera Sur, Managua
mailing address: APO AA 34021
666026, 666027, 666032, 666033
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of blue (top),
white, and blue with the national coat of arms centered in the white
band; the coat of arms features a triangle encircled by the words
REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on the top and AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom;
similar to the flag of El Salvador, which features a round emblem
encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA
CENTRAL centered in the white band; also similar to the flag of
Honduras, which has five blue stars arranged in an X pattern
centered in the white band
Economy
Economy--overview: Prior to Hurricane Mitch in the fall of 1998,
Nicaragua had been pursuing a number of impressive economic reforms
and had begun to shed the legacy of a decade of civil war and
economic mismanagement by posting strong annual growth numbers. The
storm has put the reform effort on hold and has changed economic
forecasts for the foreseeable future--Nicaragua, the poorest country
in Central America was one of the hardest hit by the hurricane.
Nicaragua sustained approximately $1 billion in damages and will
probably see GDP growth slow by at least one percentage point in
1999. Hardest hit was the all-important agriculture sector, which is
responsible for the majority of exports. As a result, the trade
deficit is likely to balloon in 1999 to roughly $900 million.
Significant aid and relief have helped to stabilize the country. In
addition, the Paris Club and other creditors have offered
substantial debt relief. Nevertheless, additional financing will be
needed to restore the economy to its pre-Mitch condition.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$11.6 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 4% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$2,500 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 32%
industry: 24%
services: 44% (1997)
Population below poverty line: 50.3% (1993 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.6%
highest 10%: 39.8% (1993)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 16% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 1.5 million
Labor force--by occupation: services 54%, agriculture 31%,
industry 15% (1995 est.)
Unemployment rate: 14%; underemployment 36% (1997 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $389 million
expenditures: $551 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1996 est.)
Industries: food processing, chemicals, metal products, textiles,
clothing, petroleum refining and distribution, beverages, footwear
Industrial production growth rate: 1.4% (1994 est.)
Electricity--production: 1.665 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 48.95%
hydro: 21.02%
nuclear: 0%
other: 30.03% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 1.665 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: coffee, bananas, sugarcane, cotton, rice,
corn, cassava (tapioca), citrus, beans; beef, veal, pork, poultry,
dairy products
Exports: $704 million (f.o.b., 1997)
Exports--commodities: coffee, seafood, meat, sugar, gold, bananas
Exports--partners: US, Central America, Germany, Canada
Imports: $1.45 billion (c.i.f., 1997)
Imports--commodities: consumer goods, machinery and equipment,
petroleum products
Imports--partners: Central America, US, Venezuela, Japan
Debt--external: $6 billion (1996 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $839.9 million (1995)
Currency: 1 gold cordoba (C$) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates: gold cordobas (C$) per US$1--11.14 (December
1998), 10.58 (1998), 9.45 (1997), 8.44 (1996), 7.55 (1995), 6.72
(1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 66,810 (1993 est.)
Telephone system: low-capacity microwave radio relay and wire
system being expanded; connected to Central American Microwave System
domestic: wire and microwave radio relay
international: satellite earth stations--1 Intersputnik (Atlantic
Ocean region) and 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 45, FM 0, shortwave 3
Radios: 1.037 million (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 3 (in addition, there are seven
low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 260,000 (1992 est.)
Transportation
Highways:
total: 16,382 km
paved: 1,818 km
unpaved: 14,564 km (1998 est.)
Waterways: 2,220 km, including 2 large lakes
Pipelines: crude oil 56 km
Ports and harbors: Bluefields, Corinto, El Bluff, Puerto Cabezas,
Puerto Sandino, Rama, San Juan del Sur
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 184 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 13
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 5 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 171
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 27
under 914 m: 143 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force
Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 1,108,146 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 681,495 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 53,508 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $26 million (1998)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 1.2% (1998)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: territorial disputes with Colombia over
the Archipelago de San Andres y Providencia and Quita Sueno Bank;
with respect to the maritime boundary question in the Golfo de
Fonseca, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) referred the
disputants to an earlier agreement in this century and advised that
some tripartite resolution among El Salvador, Honduras, and
Nicaragua likely would be required; maritime boundary dispute with
Honduras
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for cocaine destined for the US
======================================================================
@Niger
-----
Geography
Location: Western Africa, southeast of Algeria
Geographic coordinates: 16 00 N, 8 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area:
total: 1.267 million sq km
land: 1,266,700 sq km
water: 300 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly less than twice the size of Texas
Land boundaries:
total: 5,697 km
border countries: Algeria 956 km, Benin 266 km, Burkina Faso 628 km,
Chad 1,175 km, Libya 354 km, Mali 821 km, Nigeria 1,497 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: desert; mostly hot, dry, dusty; tropical in extreme south
Terrain: predominately desert plains and sand dunes; flat to
rolling plains in south; hills in north
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Niger River 200 m
highest point: Mont Greboun 1,944 m
Natural resources: uranium, coal, iron ore, tin, phosphates,
gold, petroleum
Land use:
arable land: 3%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 7%
forests and woodland: 2%
other: 88% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 660 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: recurring droughts
Environment--current issues: overgrazing; soil erosion;
deforestation; desertification; wildlife populations (such as
elephant, hippopotamus, giraffe, and lion) threatened because of
poaching and habitat destruction
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test
Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Law of the
Sea
Geography--note: landlocked
People
Population: 9,962,242 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 48% (male 2,445,536; female 2,346,844)
15-64 years: 50% (male 2,421,971; female 2,518,248)
65 years and over: 2% (male 121,253; female 108,390) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.95% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 52.31 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 22.78 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.12 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 112.79 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 41.96 years
male: 42.22 years
female: 41.7 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 7.24 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Nigerien(s)
adjective: Nigerien
Ethnic groups: Hausa 56%, Djerma 22%, Fula 8.5%, Tuareg 8%, Beri
Beri (Kanouri) 4.3%, Arab, Toubou, and Gourmantche 1.2%, about 1,200
French expatriates
Religions: Muslim 80%, remainder indigenous beliefs and Christians
Languages: French (official), Hausa, Djerma
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 13.6%
male: 20.9%
female: 6.6% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Niger
conventional short form: Niger
local long form: Republique du Niger
local short form: Niger
Data code: NG
Government type: republic
Capital: Niamey
Administrative divisions: 7 departments (departements,
singular--departement), and 1 capital district* (capitale district);
Agadez, Diffa, Dosso, Maradi, Niamey*, Tahoua, Tillaberi, Zinder
Independence: 3 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday: Republic Day, 18 December (1958)
Constitution: the constitution of January 1993 was revised by
national referendum on 12 May 1996
Legal system: based on French civil law system and customary law;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Ibrahim BARE Mainassara (since 28 January
1996); note--the president is both chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Ibrahim BARE Mainassara (since 28
January 1996); note--Ibrahim MAYAKI (since 27 November 1997) was
appointed prime minister by the president but does not exercise any
executive authority and is only the implementor of the president's
programs; the president is both chief of state and head of government
note: President Ibrahim BARE was assasinated on the 9 April 1999
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
last held 7-8 July 1996 (next to be held NA 2001); note--Ibrahim BARE
Mainassara initially became president when he ousted President
Mahamane OUSMANE in a coup on 27 January 1996 and subsequently
defeated him in the flawed election of July 1996
election results: percent of vote--Ibrahim BARE Mainassara 52.22%,
Mahamane OUSMANE 19.75%, Tandja MAMADOU 15.65%, Mahamadou ISSOUFOU
7.60%, Moumouni AMADOU Djermakoye 4.77%
Legislative branch: two-chamber National Assembly; one chamber
with 83 seats (members elected by popular vote for five-year terms);
selection process for second chamber not established
elections: last held 23 November 1996 (next to be held NA 2001)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--UNIRD
59, ANDPS-Zaman Lahiya 8, UDPS-Amana 3, coalition of independents 3,
MDP-Alkwali 1, UPDP-Shamuwa 4, DARAJA 3, PMT-Albarka 2
Judicial branch: State Court or Cour d'Etat; Court of Appeal or
Cour d'Appel
Political parties and leaders: Alliance for Democracy and
TALBA, chairman]; Democratic and Social Convention-Rahama or
MAMADOU, chairman]; National Union of Independents for Democratic
Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism-Tarayya or PNDS-Tarayya
Patriots, Democrats, and Progressives-Shamuwa or UPDP-Shamuwa
NA]
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC,
ECA, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM,
IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU,
MIPONUH, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WADB,
WAEMU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph DIATTA
chancery: 2204 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Charles O. CECIL
embassy: Rue Des Ambassades, Niamey
mailing address: B. P. 11201, Niamey
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of orange (top),
white, and green with a small orange disk (representing the sun)
centered in the white band; similar to the flag of India, which has
a blue spoked wheel centered in the white band
Economy
Economy--overview: Niger is a poor, landlocked Sub-Saharan nation,
whose economy centers on subsistence agriculture, animal husbandry,
reexport trade, and increasingly less on uranium, its major export
since the 1970s. The 50% devaluation of the West African franc in
January 1994 boosted exports of livestock, cowpeas, onions, and the
products of Niger's small cotton industry. The government relies on
bilateral and multilateral aid for operating expenses and public
investment and is strongly induced to adhere to structural
adjustment programs designed by the IMF and the World Bank.
Short-term prospects depend largely on upcoming negotiations on debt
relief and extended aid.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$9.4 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 4.5% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$970 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 40%
industry: 18%
services: 42% (1997)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3%
highest 10%: 29.3% (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.8% (1998)
Labor force: 70,000 receive regular wages or salaries
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 90%, industry and commerce
6%, government 4%
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $370 million (including $160 million from foreign sources)
expenditures: $370 million, including capital expenditures of $186
million (1998 est.)
Industries: cement, brick, textiles, food processing, chemicals,
slaughterhouses, and a few other small light industries; uranium
mining
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: 170 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 365 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 195 million kWh (1996)
note: imports electricity from Nigeria
Agriculture--products: cowpeas, cotton, peanuts, millet, sorghum,
cassava (tapioca), rice; cattle, sheep, goats, camels, donkeys,
horses, poultry
Exports: $269 million (f.o.b., 1997)
Exports--commodities: uranium ore 50%, livestock products 20%,
cowpeas, onions (1996 est.)
Exports--partners: Greece 21%, Canada 18%, France 12%, Nigeria 7%
(1996 est.)
Imports: $295 million (c.i.f., 1997)
Imports--commodities: consumer goods, primary materials,
machinery, vehicles and parts, petroleum, cereals
Imports--partners: France 17%, Cote d'Ivoire 7%, US 5%,
Belgium-Luxembourg 4%, Nigeria (1996 est.)
Debt--external: $1.2 billion (1998 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $222 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100
centimes
Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per
US$1--560.01 (January 1999), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55
(1996), 499.15 (1995), 555.20 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 14,000 (1995 est.)
Telephone system: small system of wire, radiotelephone
communications, and microwave radio relay links concentrated in
southwestern area
domestic: wire, radiotelephone communications, and microwave radio
relay; domestic satellite system with 3 earth stations and 1 planned
international: satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean
and 1 Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 15, FM 6, shortwave 0
Radios: 620,000 (1995 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 10 (in addition, there are seven
low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 105,000 (1995 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 10,100 km
paved: 798 km
unpaved: 9,302 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: Niger river is navigable 300 km from Niamey to Gaya on
the Benin frontier from mid-December through March
Ports and harbors: none
Airports: 27 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 9
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 18
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 15
under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Air Force, National Gendarmerie,
Republican Guard, National Police
Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 2,117,868 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,143,355 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 102,762 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $20 million (FY96/97)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 1.1% (FY96/97)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: Libya claims about 19,400 sq km in
northern Niger; delimitation of international boundaries in the
vicinity of Lake Chad, the lack of which led to border incidents in
the past, is completed and awaits ratification by Cameroon, Chad,
Niger, and Nigeria
======================================================================
@Nigeria
-------
Geography
Location: Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between
Benin and Cameroon
Geographic coordinates: 10 00 N, 8 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area:
total: 923,770 sq km
land: 910,770 sq km
water: 13,000 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly more than twice the size of California
Land boundaries:
total: 4,047 km
border countries: Benin 773 km, Cameroon 1,690 km, Chad 87 km, Niger
1,497 km
Coastline: 853 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 30 nm
Climate: varies; equatorial in south, tropical in center, arid in
north
Terrain: southern lowlands merge into central hills and plateaus;
mountains in southeast, plains in north
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Chappal Waddi 2,419 m
Natural resources: petroleum, tin, columbite, iron ore, coal,
limestone, lead, zinc, natural gas
Land use:
arable land: 33%
permanent crops: 3%
permanent pastures: 44%
forests and woodland: 12%
other: 8% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 9,570 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: periodic droughts
Environment--current issues: soil degradation; rapid
deforestation; desertification; recent droughts in north severely
affecting marginal agricultural activities
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine
Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
People
Population: 113,828,587 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 45% (male 25,613,974; female 25,397,166)
15-64 years: 52% (male 30,272,539; female 29,197,611)
65 years and over: 3% (male 1,678,732; female 1,668,565) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.92% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 41.84 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 12.98 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.01 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 69.46 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 53.3 years
male: 52.55 years
female: 54.06 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.02 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Nigerian(s)
adjective: Nigerian
Ethnic groups: Hausa, Fulani, Yoruba, Ibo, Ijaw, Kanuri, Ibibio,
Tiv
Religions: Muslim 50%, Christian 40%, indigenous beliefs 10%
Languages: English (official), Hausa, Yoruba, Ibo, Fulani
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 57.1%
male: 67.3%
female: 47.3% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Federal Republic of Nigeria
conventional short form: Nigeria
Data code: NI
Government type: republic transitioning from military to civilian
rule
Capital: Abuja
note: on 12 December 1991 the capital was officially moved from
Lagos to Abuja; many government offices remain in Lagos pending
completion of facilities in Abuja
Administrative divisions: 30 states and 1 territory*; Abia, Abuja
Federal Capital Territory*, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi,
Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Enugu, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna,
Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun,
Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe
note: the government has announced the creation of six additional
states named Bayelsa, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Gombe, Nassarawa, and Zamfara
as part of the process of transition to a civilian government
Independence: 1 October 1960 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 1 October (1960)
Constitution: 1979 constitution still partially in force
Legal system: based on English common law, Islamic law, and
tribal law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Chairman of the Provisional Ruling Council and
Commander in Chief of Armed Forces Gen. Abdulsalami ABUBAKAR (since
9 June 1998) will remain chief of state and head of government until
29 May 1999 when President-elect Olusegun OBASANJO will be
inaugurated
head of government: Chairman of the Provisional Ruling Council and
Commander in Chief of Armed Forces Gen. Abdulsalami ABUBAKAR (since
9 June 1998) will remain chief of state and head of government until
29 May 1999 when President-elect Olusegun OBASANJO will be
inaugurated
cabinet: Federal Executive Council
elections: the president is elected by popular vote for no more than
two four-year terms; election last held 27 February 1999 (next
election to be held NA 2003)
election results: Olusegun OBASANJO (PDP) won the election with NA%
of the vote, Olu FALAE (APP-AD) NA%
Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly consists of
Senate (109 seats, three from each state and one from the Federal
Capital Territory; members elected by popular vote to serve
seven-year terms) and House of Representatives (360 seats, members
elected by popular vote to serve seven-year terms)
elections: Senate--last held 20-24 February 1999 (next to be held NA
2006); House of Representatives--last held 20-24 February 1999 (next
to be held NA 2006)
election results: Senate--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by
party--PDP 61, APP 24, AD 20, other 4; House of Representives--percent
of vote by party--NA; seats by party--PDP 206, APP 74, AD 68, others 12
note: the National Assembly was suspended by the military government
following the military takeover on 17 November 1993; the new
civilian government which was elected on 20 February 1999 is
expected to be inaugurated on 29 May 1999
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges appointed by the
Provisional Ruling Council; Federal Court of Appeal, judges are
appointed by the federal government on the advice of the Advisory
Judicial Committee
Political parties and leaders: political parties, suppressed by
the military government, were allowed to form in July 1998; three
parties were registered by the Provisional Ruling Council for
participation in local, state and national elections; All People's
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C
(suspended), CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MONUA, NAM,
OAU, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM,
UNITAR, UNMIBH, UNMOP, UNMOT, UNPREDEP, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Wakili Hassan ADAMU
chancery: 1333 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador William H. TWADDELL
embassy: 2 Eleke Crescent, Lagos
mailing address: P. O. Box 554, Lagos
Flag description: three equal vertical bands of green (hoist
side), white, and green
Economy
Economy--overview: The oil-rich Nigerian economy continues to be
hobbled by political instability, corruption, and poor macroeconomic
management. Nigeria's unpopular military rulers have failed to make
significant progress in diversifying the economy away from
overdependence on the capital intensive oil sector which provides
30% of GDP, 95% of foreign exchange earnings, and about 80% of
budgetary revenues. The government's resistance to initiating
greater transparency and accountability in managing the country's
multibillion dollar oil earnings continues to limit economic growth
and prevent an agreement with the IMF and bilateral creditors on a
staff-monitored program and debt relief. The largely subsistence
agricultural sector has failed to keep up with rapid population
growth, and Nigeria, once a large net exporter of food, now must
import food. Growth in 1999 may become negative because of continued
low oil prices and persistent inefficiencies in the system.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$106.2 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 1.6% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$960 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 33%
industry: 42%
services: 25% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: 34.1% (1992-93 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.3%
highest 10%: 31.4% (1992-93)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 15% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 42.844 million
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 54%, industry, commerce,
and services 19%, government 15%
Unemployment rate: 28% (1992 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $13.9 billion (1998 est.)
expenditures: $13.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
billion (1998 est.)
Industries: crude oil, coal, tin, columbite, palm oil, peanuts,
cotton, rubber, wood, hides and skins, textiles, cement and other
construction materials, food products, footwear, chemicals,
fertilizer, printing, ceramics, steel
Industrial production growth rate: 4.1% (1996)
Electricity--production: 13.78 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 60.94%
hydro: 39.06%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 13.74 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 50 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: cocoa, peanuts, palm oil, corn, rice,
sorghum, millet, cassava (tapioca), yams, rubber; cattle, sheep,
goats, pigs; timber; fish
Exports: $9.7 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports--commodities: petroleum and petroleum products 95%, cocoa,
rubber
Exports--partners: US 35%, Spain 11%, Italy 6%, France 6% (1997
est.)
Imports: $9.8 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports--commodities: machinery, chemicals, transportation
equipment, manufactured goods, food and animals
Imports--partners: US 14%, UK 11%, Germany 10%, France 8%,
Netherlands 5% (1997 est.)
Debt--external: $32 billion (1998 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $39.2 million (1995)
Currency: 1 naira (N) = 100 kobo
Exchange rates: nairas (N) per US$1--21.886 (December 1998),
21.886 (1998), 21.886 (1997), 21.895 (1995), 21.996 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 405,100 (1995 est.)
Telephone system: average system limited by poor maintenance;
major expansion in progress
domestic: intercity traffic is carried by coaxial cable, microwave
radio relay, cellular network, and a domestic communications
satellite system with 20 earth stations
international: satellite earth stations--3 Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean
and 1 Indian Ocean); 1 coaxial submarine cable
Radio broadcast stations: AM 82, FM 32, shortwave 10 (1998 est.)
Radios: 17.2 million (1998 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (government-controlled)
Televisions: 6.1 million (1998 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 3,557 km
narrow gauge: 3,505 km 1.067-m gauge
standard gauge: 52 km 1.435-m gauge (1995)
note: years of neglect of both the rolling stock and the
right-of-way have seriously reduced the capacity and utility of the
system; a project to restore Nigeria's railways is now underway
Highways:
total: 51,000 km
paved: 26,000 km (including 2,044 km of expressways)
unpaved: 25,000 km (1998 est.)
note: many of the roads reported as paved may be graveled; because
of poor maintenance and years of heavy freight traffic (in part the
result of the failure of the railroad system), much of the road
system is barely useable
Waterways: 8,575 km consisting of the Niger and Benue rivers and
smaller rivers and creeks
Pipelines: crude oil 2,042 km; petroleum products 3,000 km;
natural gas 500 km
Ports and harbors: Calabar, Lagos, Onne, Port Harcourt, Sapele,
Warri
Merchant marine:
total: 38 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 371,499 GRT/631,425 DWT
ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 13, chemical tanker 3, oil tanker 20,
roll-on/roll-off cargo 1 (1998 est.)
Airports: 72 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 36
over 3,047 m: 6
2,438 to 3,047 m: 10
1,524 to 2,437 m: 10
914 to 1,523 m: 8
under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 36
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 16
under 914 m: 18 (1998 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Police Force
Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 25,967,281 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 14,890,337 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 1,201,738 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $236 million (1999)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 0.7% (1999)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: delimitation of international boundaries
in the vicinity of Lake Chad, the lack of which led to border
incidents in the past, is completed and awaits ratification by
Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria; dispute with Cameroon over land
and maritime boundaries around the Bakasi Peninsula is currently
before the International Court of Justice; maritime boundary dispute
with Equatorial Guinea because of disputed jurisdiction over
oil-rich areas in the Gulf of Guinea
Illicit drugs: facilitates movement of heroin en route from
Southeast and Southwest Asia to Western Europe and North America;
increasingly a transit route for cocaine from South America intended
for European, East Asian, and North American markets
======================================================================
@Niue
----
Geography
Location: Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, east of
Tonga
Geographic coordinates: 19 02 S, 169 52 W
Map references: Oceania
Area:
total: 260 sq km
land: 260 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 64 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; modified by southeast trade winds
Terrain: steep limestone cliffs along coast, central plateau
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location near Mutalau settlement 68 m
Natural resources: fish, arable land
Land use:
arable land: 19%
permanent crops: 8%
permanent pastures: 4%
forests and woodland: 19%
other: 50% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: typhoons
Environment--current issues: traditional methods of burning brush
and trees to clear land for agriculture have threatened soil
supplies which are not naturally very abundant
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Law of the
Sea
Geography--note: one of world's largest coral islands
People
Population: 2,103 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate: 0.5% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: NA births/1,000 population
Death rate: NA deaths/1,000 population
Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
Infant mortality rate: NA deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA
Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman
Nationality:
noun: Niuean(s)
adjective: Niuean
Ethnic groups: Polynesian (with some 200 Europeans, Samoans, and
Tongans)
Religions: Ekalesia Niue (Niuean Church) 75%--a Protestant church
closely related to the London Missionary Society, Latter-Day Saints
10%, other 15% (mostly Roman Catholic, Jehovah's Witnesses,
Seventh-Day Adventist)
Languages: Polynesian closely related to Tongan and Samoan,
English
Literacy:
definition: NA
total population: 95%
male: NA%
female: NA%
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Niue
Data code: NE
Dependency status: self-governing in free association with New
Zealand; Niue fully responsible for internal affairs; New Zealand
retains responsibility for external affairs
Government type: self-governing parliamentary democracy
Capital: Alofi
Administrative divisions: none; note--there are no first-order
administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there
are 14 villages each with its own village council whose members are
elected and serve three-year terms
Independence: on 19 October 1974, Niue became a self-governing
parliamentary government in free association with New Zealand
National holiday: Waitangi Day, 6 February (1840) (Treaty of
Waitangi established British sovereignty)
Constitution: 19 October 1974 (Niue Constitution Act)
Legal system: English common law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); the UK
and New Zealand are represented by New Zealand High Commissioner
Warren SEARELL (since NA August 1993)
head of government: Premier Frank Fakaotimanava LUI (since 12 March
1993)
cabinet: Cabinet consists of the premier and three ministers
elections: the monarch is hereditary; premier elected by the
Legislative Assembly for a three-year term; election last held 23
February 1996 (next to be held NA March 1999)
election results: Frank Fakaotimanava LUI elected premier; percent
of Legislative Assembly vote--NA
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly (20 seats;
members elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms; six
elected from a common roll and 14 are village representatives)
elections: last held 23 February 1996 (next to be held NA March 1999)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--NPP 9,
independents 11
Judicial branch: Supreme Court of New Zealand; High Court of Niue
Political parties and leaders: Niue People's Action Party or NPP
International organization participation: ESCAP (associate),
Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UNESCO, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (self-governing
territory in free association with New Zealand)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (self-governing
territory in free association with New Zealand)
Flag description: yellow with the flag of the UK in the upper
hoist-side quadrant; the flag of the UK bears five yellow
five-pointed stars--a large one on a blue disk in the center and a
smaller one on each arm of the bold red cross
Economy
Economy--overview: The economy is heavily dependent on aid and
remittances from New Zealand as Niue has no indigenous export
products. Government expenditures regularly exceed revenues, and the
shortfall is made up by grants from New Zealand which are used to
pay wages to public employees. Niue has cut government expenditures
by reducing the public service by almost half. The agricultural
sector consists mainly of subsistence gardening, although some cash
crops are grown for export. Industry consists primarily of small
factories to process passion fruit, lime oil, honey, and coconut
cream. The sale of postage stamps to foreign collectors is an
important source of revenue. The island in recent years has suffered
a serious loss of population because of migration of Niueans to New
Zealand.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$2.4 million (1993 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: NA%
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,200 (1993 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5% (1992)
Labor force: 450 (1992 est.)
Labor force--by occupation: most work on family plantations; paid
work exists only in government service, small industry, and the Niue
Development Board
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $5.5 million
expenditures: $6.3 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1985 est.)
Industries: tourism, handicrafts, food processing
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: 3 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 3 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: coconuts, passion fruit, honey, limes,
taro, yams, cassava (tapioca), sweet potatoes; pigs, poultry, beef
cattle
Exports: $117,500 (f.o.b., 1989)
Exports--commodities: canned coconut cream, copra, honey, passion
fruit products, pawpaw, root crops, limes, footballs, stamps,
handicrafts
Exports--partners: NZ 89%, Fiji, Cook Islands, Australia
Imports: $4.1 million (c.i.f., 1989)
Imports--commodities: food, live animals, manufactured goods,
machinery, fuels, lubricants, chemicals, drugs
Imports--partners: NZ 59%, Fiji 20%, Japan 13%, Samoa, Australia,
US
Debt--external: $NA
Economic aid--recipient: $8.3 million (1995)
Currency: 1 New Zealand dollar (NZ$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1--1.8560
(January 1999), 1.8629 (1998), 1.5082 (1997), 1.4543 (1996), 1.5235
(1995), 1.6844 (1994)
Fiscal year: 1 April--31 March
Communications
Telephones: 276 (1992 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: single-line telephone system connects all villages on
island
international: NA
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1987 est.)
Radios: 1,000
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1997)
Televisions: 312 (1991 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 234 km
paved: 0 km
unpaved: 234 km
Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Police Force
Military--note: defense is the responsibility of New Zealand
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
======================================================================
@Norfolk Island
--------------
Geography
Location: Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, east of
Australia
Geographic coordinates: 29 02 S, 167 57 E
Map references: Oceania
Area:
total: 34.6 sq km
land: 34.6 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: about 0.2 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 32 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 3 nm
Climate: subtropical, mild, little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain: volcanic formation with mostly rolling plains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Bates 319 m
Natural resources: fish
Land use:
arable land: NA%
permanent crops: NA%
permanent pastures: 25%
forests and woodland: NA%
other: 75% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: typhoons (especially May to July)
Environment--current issues: NA
Environment--international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA
People
Population: 1,905 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate: -0.71% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: NA births/1,000 population
Death rate: NA deaths/1,000 population
Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
Infant mortality rate: NA deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA
Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman
Nationality:
noun: Norfolk Islander(s)
adjective: Norfolk Islander(s)
Ethnic groups: descendants of the Bounty mutineers, Australian,
New Zealander, Polynesians
Religions: Anglican 39%, Roman Catholic 11.7%, Uniting Church in
Australia 16.4%, Seventh-Day Adventist 4.4%, none 9.2%, unknown
16.9%, other 2.4% (1986)
Languages: English (official), Norfolk a mixture of 18th century
English and ancient Tahitian
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Territory of Norfolk Island
conventional short form: Norfolk Island
Data code: NF
Dependency status: territory of Australia; Canberra administers
Commonwealth responsibilities on Norfolk Island through the
Department of Environment, Sport and Territories
Government type: NA
Capital: Kingston
Administrative divisions: none (territory of Australia)
Independence: none (territory of Australia)
National holiday: Pitcairners Arrival Day Anniversary, 8 June
(1856)
Constitution: Norfolk Island Act of 1979
Legal system: based on the laws of Australia, local ordinances
and acts; English common law applies in matters not covered by
either Australian or Norfolk Island law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); the UK
and Australia are represented by Administrator A. J. MESSNER (since
4 August 1997)
head of government: Assembly President and Chief Minister George
Charles Smith (since 30 April 1997)
cabinet: Executive Council is made up of four of the nine members of
the Legislative Assembly; the council devises government policy and
acts as an advisor to the Administrator
elections: the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointed by the
governor general of Australia; chief minister elected by the
Legislative Assembly for a term of not more than three years;
election last held 30 April 1997 (next to be held by May 2000)
election results: George Charles Smith elected chief minister;
percent of Legislative Assembly vote--NA
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly (9 seats;
members elected by electors who have nine equal votes each but only
four votes can be given to any one candidate; members serve
three-year terms)
elections: last held 30 April 1997 (next to be held by May 2000)
election results: percent of vote--NA; seats--independents 9
Judicial branch: Supreme Court; Court of Petty Sessions
Political parties and leaders: none
International organization participation: none
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (territory of Australia)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (territory of
Australia)
Flag description: three vertical bands of green (hoist side),
white, and green with a large green Norfolk Island pine tree
centered in the slightly wider white band
Economy
Economy--overview: Tourism, the primary economic activity, has
steadily increased over the years and has brought a level of
prosperity unusual among inhabitants of the Pacific islands.
Revenues from tourism have helped the agricultural sector to become
self-sufficient in the production of beef, poultry, and eggs.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$NA
GDP--real growth rate: NA%
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$NA
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
Labor force: 1,395 (1991 est.)
Labor force--by occupation: tourism NA%, subsistence agriculture
NA%
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $4.6 million
expenditures: $4.8 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY92/93)
Industries: tourism
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: NA kWh
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: NA%
hydro: NA%
nuclear: NA%
other: NA%
Electricity--consumption: NA kWh
Electricity--exports: NA kWh
Electricity--imports: NA kWh
Agriculture--products: Norfolk Island pine seed, Kentia palm seed,
cereals, vegetables, fruit; cattle, poultry
Exports: $1.5 million (f.o.b., FY91/92)
Exports--commodities: postage stamps, seeds of the Norfolk Island
pine and Kentia palm, small quantities of avocados
Exports--partners: Australia, other Pacific island countries, NZ,
Asia, Europe
Imports: $17.9 million (c.i.f., FY91/92)
Imports--commodities: NA
Imports--partners: Australia, other Pacific island countries, NZ,
Asia, Europe
Debt--external: $NA
Economic aid--recipient: $NA
Currency: 1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Australian dollars ($A) per US$1--1.5853 (January
1999), 1.5888 (1998), 1.3439 (1997), 1.2773 (1996), 1.3486 (1995),
1.3667 (1994)
Fiscal year: 1 July--30 June
Communications
Telephones: 1,087 (1983 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: NA
international: radiotelephone service with Sydney (Australia)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: 2,000 (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (local programming station; in
addition, there are two repeaters that bring in Australian programs
by satellite) (1998)
Televisions: 1,500 (1995 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 80 km
paved: 53 km
unpaved: 27 km
Ports and harbors: none; loading jetties at Kingston and Cascade
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military--note: defense is the responsibility of Australia
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
======================================================================
@Northern Mariana Islands
------------------------
Geography
Location: Oceania, islands in the North Pacific Ocean, about
three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines
Geographic coordinates: 15 12 N, 145 45 E
Map references: Oceania
Area:
total: 477 sq km
land: 477 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes 14 islands including Saipan, Rota, and Tinian
Area--comparative: 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 1,482 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical marine; moderated by northeast trade winds,
little seasonal temperature variation; dry season December to June,
rainy season July to October
Terrain: southern islands are limestone with level terraces and
fringing coral reefs; northern islands are volcanic
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Agrihan 965 m
Natural resources: arable land, fish
Land use:
arable land: 21%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 19%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 60%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: active volcanoes on Pagan and Agrihan; typhoons
(especially August to November)
Environment--current issues: contamination of groundwater on
Saipan may contribute to disease; clean-up of landfill; protection
of endangered species conflicts with development
Environment--international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography--note: strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean
People
Population: 69,398 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 24% (male 8,459; female 8,197)
15-64 years: 74% (male 24,651; female 26,949)
65 years and over: 2% (male 550; female 592) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.99% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 22.19 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 2.42 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 20.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.93 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 6.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.36 years
male: 72.19 years
female: 78.72 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.86 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: NA
adjective: NA
Ethnic groups: Chamorro, Carolinians and other Micronesians,
Caucasian, Japanese, Chinese, Korean
Religions: Christian (Roman Catholic majority, although
traditional beliefs and taboos may still be found)
Languages: English, Chamorro, Carolinian
note: 86% of population speaks a language other than English at home
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97%
male: 97%
female: 96% (1980 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
conventional short form: Northern Mariana Islands
Data code: CQ
Dependency status: commonwealth in political union with the US;
federal funds to the Commonwealth administered by the US Department
of the Interior, Office of Insular Affairs
Government type: commonwealth; self-governing with locally
elected governor, lieutenant governor, and legislature
Capital: Saipan
Administrative divisions: none (commonwealth in political union
with the US); there are no first-order administrative divisions as
defined by the US Government, but there are four municipalities at
the second order; Northern Islands, Rota, Saipan, Tinian
Independence: none (commonwealth in political union with the US)
National holiday: Commonwealth Day, 8 January (1978)
Constitution: Covenant Agreement effective 4 November 1986 and
the Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
effective 1 January 1978
Legal system: based on US system, except for customs, wages,
immigration laws, and taxation
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal; indigenous inhabitants are
US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections
Executive branch:
chief of state: President William Jefferson CLINTON of the US (since
20 January 1993); Vice President Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January
1993)
head of government: Governor Pedro P. TENORIO (since NA January
1998) and Lieutenant Governor Jesus R. SABLAN (since NA January 1998)
cabinet: NA
elections: US president and vice president elected on the same
ticket for four-year terms; governor and lieutenant governor elected
on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election
last held in NA November 1997 (next to be held NA November 2001)
election results: Pedro P. TENORIO elected governor in a three-way
race; percent of vote--Pedro P. TENORIO (Republican) 47%
Legislative branch: bicameral Legislature consists of the Senate
(9 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year
staggered terms) and the House of Representatives (18 seats; members
are elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms)
elections: Senate--last held NA November 1997 (next to be held NA
November 1999); House of Representatives--last held NA November 1997
(next to be held NA November 1999)
election results: Senate--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by
party--Republicans 8, Democrats 1; House of Representatives--percent
of vote by party--NA; seats by party--Republicans 13, Democrats 5
note: the Commonwealth does not have a nonvoting delegate in
Congress; instead, it has an elected official or "resident
representative" located in Washington, DC; seats by party--Republican
1 (Juan N. BABAUTA)
Judicial branch: Commonwealth Supreme Court; Superior Court;
Federal District Court
Political parties and leaders: Republican Party [Benigno R.
International organization participation: ESCAP (associate),
Interpol (subbureau), SPC
Flag description: blue, with a white, five-pointed star
superimposed on the gray silhouette of a latte stone (a traditional
foundation stone used in building) in the center, surrounded by a
wreath
Economy
Economy--overview: The economy benefits substantially from
financial assistance from the US. The rate of funding has declined
as locally generated government revenues have grown. An agreement
for the years 1986 to 1992 entitled the islands to $228 million for
capital development, government operations, and special programs.
Since 1992, funding has been extended one year at a time. The
commonwealth received $27.7 million from FY93/94 through FY95/96.
For FY96/97 through FY02/03, funding of $11 million will be provided
for infrastructure, with an equal local match. A rapidly growing
chief source of income is the tourist industry, which now employs
about 50% of the work force. Japanese tourists predominate. The
agricultural sector is of minor importance and is made up of cattle
ranches and small farms producing coconuts, breadfruit, tomatoes,
and melons. Garment production is the fastest growing industry with
employment of 12,000 mostly Chinese workers and shipments of $1
billion to the US in 1998 under duty and quota exemptions.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$524 million (1996 est.)
note: GDP numbers reflect US spending
GDP--real growth rate: NA%
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$9,300 (1996 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6.5% (1994 est.)
Labor force: 6,006 total indigenous labor force; 2,699
unemployed; 28,717 foreign workers (1995)
Labor force--by occupation: managerial 20.5%, technical, sales
16.4%, services 19.3%, farming 3.1%, precision production 13.8%,
operators, fabricators 26.9%
Unemployment rate: 14% (residents)
Budget:
revenues: $221 million
expenditures: $213 million, including capital expenditures of $17.7
million (1996)
Industries: tourism, construction, garments, handicrafts
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: NA kWh
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: NA%
nuclear: NA%
other: NA%
Electricity--consumption: NA kWh
Electricity--exports: NA kWh
Electricity--imports: NA kWh
Agriculture--products: coconuts, fruits, vegetables; cattle
Exports: $1 billion (1998)
Exports--commodities: garments
Exports--partners: US
Imports: $NA
Imports--commodities: food, construction equipment and materials,
petroleum products
Imports--partners: US, Japan
Debt--external: $NA
Economic aid--recipient: $21.1 million (1995)
Currency: 1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: US currency is used
Fiscal year: 1 October--30 September
Communications
Telephones: 13,618 (1993 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: NA
international: satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 3
Radios: 15,460 (1995 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (on Saipan and one station
planned for Rota; in addition, two cable stations on Saipan provide
varied programming from satellite networks) (1997)
Televisions: 15,460 (1995 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 362 km (1991 est.)
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km
Waterways: none
Ports and harbors: Saipan, Tinian
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 5 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military--note: defense is the responsibility of the US
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
======================================================================
@Norway
------
Introduction
Background: Norway gained its independence from Sweden in 1905.
As a separate realm, Norway stayed free of World War I but suffered
German occupation in World War II. Discovery of oil and gas in
adjacent waters in the late 1960s gave a strong boost to Norway's
economic fortunes. Norway is planning for the time when its oil and
gas reserves are depleted and is focusing on containing spending on
its extensive welfare system. It has decided at this time not to
join the European Union and the new euro currency regime.
Geography
Location: Northern Europe, bordering the North Sea and the North
Atlantic Ocean, west of Sweden
Geographic coordinates: 62 00 N, 10 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area:
total: 324,220 sq km
land: 307,860 sq km
water: 16,360 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly larger than New Mexico
Land boundaries:
total: 2,515 km
border countries: Finland 729 km, Sweden 1,619 km, Russia 167 km
Coastline: 21,925 km (includes mainland 3,419 km, large islands
2,413 km, long fjords, numerous small islands, and minor
indentations 16,093 km)
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 10 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 4 nm
Climate: temperate along coast, modified by North Atlantic
Current; colder interior; rainy year-round on west coast
Terrain: glaciated; mostly high plateaus and rugged mountains
broken by fertile valleys; small, scattered plains; coastline deeply
indented by fjords; arctic tundra in north
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Norwegian Sea 0 m
highest point: Glittertinden 2,472 m
Natural resources: petroleum, copper, natural gas, pyrites,
nickel, iron ore, zinc, lead, fish, timber, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 3%
permanent crops: NA%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 27%
other: 70% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 970 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment--current issues: water pollution; acid rain damaging
forests and adversely affecting lakes, threatening fish stocks; air
pollution from vehicle emissions
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air
Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental
Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical
Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography--note: about two-thirds mountains; some 50,000 islands
off its much indented coastline; strategic location adjacent to sea
lanes and air routes in North Atlantic; one of most rugged and
longest coastlines in world; Norway is the only NATO member having a
land boundary with Russia
People
Population: 4,438,547 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 20% (male 447,607; female 423,844)
15-64 years: 65% (male 1,462,906; female 1,415,992)
65 years and over: 15% (male 286,339; female 401,859) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.4% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 12.54 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 10.12 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 1.62 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 4.96 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.36 years
male: 75.55 years
female: 81.35 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.77 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Norwegian(s)
adjective: Norwegian
Ethnic groups: Germanic (Nordic, Alpine, Baltic), Lapps (Sami)
20,000
Religions: Evangelical Lutheran 87.8% (state church), other
Protestant and Roman Catholic 3.8%, none 3.2%, unknown 5.2% (1980)
Languages: Norwegian (official)
note: small Lapp- and Finnish-speaking minorities
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99% (1976 est.)
male: NA%
female: NA%
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Norway
conventional short form: Norway
local long form: Kongeriket Norge
local short form: Norge
Data code: NO
Government type: constitutional monarchy
Capital: Oslo
Administrative divisions: 19 provinces (fylker, singular--fylke);
Akershus, Aust-Agder, Buskerud, Finnmark, Hedmark, Hordaland, More
og Romsdal, Nordland, Nord-Trondelag, Oppland, Oslo, Ostfold,
Rogaland, Sogn og Fjordane, Sor-Trondelag, Telemark, Troms,
Vest-Agder, Vestfold
Dependent areas: Bouvet Island, Jan Mayen, Svalbard
Independence: 26 October 1905 (from Sweden)
National holiday: Constitution Day, 17 May (1814)
Constitution: 17 May 1814, modified in 1884
Legal system: mixture of customary law, civil law system, and
common law traditions; Supreme Court renders advisory opinions to
legislature when asked; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with
reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: King HARALD V (since 17 January 1991); Heir Apparent
Crown Prince HAAKON MAGNUS, son of the monarch (born 20 July 1973)
head of government: Prime Minister Kjell Magne BONDEVIK (since 15
October 1997)
cabinet: State Council appointed by the monarch with the approval of
the Parliament
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; following parliamentary
elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority
coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the monarch with
the approval of the Parliament
Legislative branch: modified unicameral Parliament or Storting
which, for certain purposes, divides itself into two chambers (165
seats; members are elected by popular vote by proportional
representation to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 15 September 1997 (next to be held NA September
2001)
election results: percent of vote by party--Labor 35%, Center Party
7.9%, Conservatives 14.3%, Christian People's 13.7%, Socialist Left
6%, Progress 15.3%, Liberal Party 4.4%, other parties 1.6%; seats by
party--Labor 65, Center Party 11, Conservatives 23, Christian
People's 25, Socialist Left 9, Progress 25, Liberal Party 6, other
parties 1
note: for certain purposes, the Parliament divides itself into two
chambers and elects one-fourth of its membership to an upper house
or Lagting
Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Hoyesterett, justices appointed
by the monarch
Political parties and leaders: Labor Party [Thorbjorn JAGLAND];
International organization participation: AfDB, AsDB, Australia
Group, BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, ESA, FAO,
IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
ISO, ITU, MONUA, MTCR, NAM (guest), NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OPCW,
OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIBH, UNMOP,
UNPREDEP, UPU, WEU (associate), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Tom Erik VRAALSON
chancery: 2720 34th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: Houston, Miami, Minneapolis, New York, and San
Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador David B. HERMELIN
embassy: Drammensveien 18, 0244 Oslo
mailing address: PSC 69, Box 1000, APO AE 09707
Flag description: red with a blue cross outlined in white that
extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is
shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)
Economy
Economy--overview: Norway is a prosperous bastion of welfare
capitalism. The economy consists of a combination of free market
activity and government intervention. The government controls key
areas, such as the vital petroleum sector (through large-scale state
enterprises), and extensively subsidizes agriculture, fishing, and
areas with sparse resources. Norway maintains an extensive welfare
system that helps propel public sector expenditures to more than 50%
of GDP and results in one of the highest average tax levels in the
world. A major shipping nation, with a high dependence on
international trade, Norway is basically an exporter of raw
materials and semiprocessed goods. The country is richly endowed
with natural resources--petroleum, hydropower, fish, forests, and
minerals--and is highly dependent on its oil production and
international oil prices. Only Saudi Arabia exports more oil than
Norway. Norway imports more than half its food needs. Oslo opted to
stay out of the EU during a referendum in November 1994. Economic
growth in 1999 should drop to about 1%. Despite their high per
capita income and generous welfare benefits, Norwegians worry about
that time in the 21st century when the oil and gas run out.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$109 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 2.4% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$24,700 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 2%
industry: 30%
services: 68% (1997)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 4.1%
highest 10%: 21.2% (1991)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.3% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 2.3 million (1998 est.)
Labor force--by occupation: services 71%, industry 23%,
agriculture, forestry, and fishing 6% (1993)
Unemployment rate: 2.6% (yearend 1997)
Budget:
revenues: $48.6 billion
expenditures: $53 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1994 est.)
Industries: petroleum and gas, food processing, shipbuilding,
pulp and paper products, metals, chemicals, timber, mining,
textiles, fishing
Industrial production growth rate: 2.7% (1998 est.)
Electricity--production: 103.374 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 0.76%
hydro: 99.23%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0.01% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 112.374 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 4.2 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 13.2 billion kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: oats, other grains; beef, milk; fish
Exports: $39.8 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports--commodities: petroleum and petroleum products 55%,
machinery and equipment, metals, chemicals, ships, fish (1997)
Exports--partners: EU 76% (UK 19%, Germany 10%, Netherlands 11%,
Sweden 9%, France 8%), US 6% (1997)
Imports: $37.1 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports--commodities: machinery and equipment, chemicals, metals,
foodstuffs
Imports--partners: EU 68% (Sweden 16%, Germany 14%, UK 9%, Denmark
7%, Netherlands 4%), US 6%, Japan 4%(1997)
Debt--external: none?Norway is a net external creditor
Economic aid--donor: ODA, $1.4 billion (1998)
Currency: 1 Norwegian krone (NKr) = 100 oere
Exchange rates: Norwegian kroner (NKr) per US$1--7.4524 (January
1999), 7.5451 (1998), 7.0734 (1997), 6.4498 (1996), 6.3352 (1995),
7.0576 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 2.39 million (1994 est.); 470,000 cellular telephone
subscribers (1994)
Telephone system: high-quality domestic and international
telephone, telegraph, and telex services
domestic: NA domestic satellite earth stations
international: 2 buried coaxial cable systems; 4 coaxial submarine
cables; satellite earth stations--NA Eutelsat, NA Intelsat (Atlantic
Ocean), and 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions);
note--Norway shares the Inmarsat earth station with the other Nordic
countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, and Sweden)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 46, FM 493 (350 private and 143
government), shortwave 0
Radios: 3.3 million (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 209 (1997)
Televisions: 1.5 million (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 4,012 km
standard gauge: 4,012 km 1.435-m gauge (2,422 km electrified; 96 km
double track) (1996)
Highways:
total: 91,180 km
paved: 67,473 km (including 109 km of expressways)
unpaved: 23,707 km (1997 est.)
Waterways: 1,577 km along west coast; navigable by 2.4 m draft
vessels maximum
Pipelines: refined petroleum products 53 km
Ports and harbors: Bergen, Drammen, Floro, Hammerfest, Harstad,
Haugesund, Kristiansand, Larvik, Narvik, Oslo, Porsgrunn, Stavanger,
Tromso, Trondheim
Merchant marine:
total: 788 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 21,200,416
GRT/33,642,888 DWT
ships by type: bulk 106, cargo 150, chemical tanker 99, combination
bulk 8, combination ore/oil 39, container 19, liquefied gas tanker
86, multifunction large-load carrier 1, oil tanker 143, passenger
12, refrigerated cargo 15, roll-on/roll-off cargo 52, short-sea
passenger 22, vehicle carrier 36
note: the government has created an internal register, the Norwegian
International Ship register (NIS), as a subset of the Norwegian
register; ships on the NIS enjoy many benefits of flags of
convenience and do not have to be crewed by Norwegians (1998 est.)
Airports: 103 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 66
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 11
1,524 to 2,437 m: 14
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 29 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 37
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 32 (1998 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Norwegian Army, Royal Norwegian Navy (includes
Coast Artillery and Coast Guard), Royal Norwegian Air Force, Home
Guard
Military manpower--military age: 20 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 1,103,738 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 917,244 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 27,448 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: NA
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 2.2% (1998)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: territorial claim in Antarctica (Queen
Maud Land); Svalbard is the focus of a maritime boundary dispute in
the Barents Sea between Norway and Russia
Illicit drugs: minor transshipment point for drugs shipped via
the CIS and Baltic states for the European market; increasing
domestic consumption of cannabis and amphetamines
======================================================================
@Oman
----
Geography
Location: Middle East, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman,
and Persian Gulf, between Yemen and UAE
Geographic coordinates: 21 00 N, 57 00 E
Map references: Middle East
Area:
total: 212,460 sq km
land: 212,460 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than Kansas
Land boundaries:
total: 1,374 km
border countries: Saudi Arabia 676 km, UAE 410 km, Yemen 288 km
Coastline: 2,092 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: dry desert; hot, humid along coast; hot, dry interior;
strong southwest summer monsoon (May to September) in far south
Terrain: vast central desert plain, rugged mountains in north and
south
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Arabian Sea 0 m
highest point: Jabal Shams 2,980 m
Natural resources: petroleum, copper, asbestos, some marble,
limestone, chromium, gypsum, natural gas
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 5%
forests and woodland: NA%
other: 95% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 580 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: summer winds often raise large sandstorms and
dust storms in interior; periodic droughts
Environment--current issues: rising soil salinity; beach pollution
from oil spills; very limited natural fresh water resources
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous
Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ship Pollution, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography--note: strategic location with small foothold on
Musandam Peninsula adjacent to Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit
point for world crude oil
People
Population: 2,446,645 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 41% (male 508,681; female 489,453)
15-64 years: 57% (male 856,062; female 535,123)
65 years and over: 2% (male 30,083; female 27,243) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.45% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 37.98 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 4.29 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.84 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.6 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.1 male(s)/female
total population: 1.33 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 24.71 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 71.3 years
male: 69.31 years
female: 73.39 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.11 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Omani(s)
adjective: Omani
Ethnic groups: Arab, Baluchi, South Asian (Indian, Pakistani, Sri
Lankan, Bangladeshi), African
Religions: Ibadhi Muslim 75%, Sunni Muslim, Shi'a Muslim, Hindu
Languages: Arabic (official), English, Baluchi, Urdu, Indian
dialects
Literacy:
definition: NA
total population: approaching 80%
male: NA%
female: NA%
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Sultanate of Oman
conventional short form: Oman
local long form: Saltanat Uman
local short form: Uman
Data code: MU
Government type: monarchy
Capital: Muscat
Administrative divisions: 6 regions (mintaqat, singular--mintaqah)
and 2 governorates* (muhafazat, singular--muhafazah) Ad Dakhiliyah,
Al Batinah, Al Wusta, Ash Sharqiyah, Az Zahirah, Masqat, Musandam*,
Zufar*
Independence: 1650 (expulsion of the Portuguese)
National holiday: National Day, 18 November (1940)
Constitution: none; note--on 6 November 1996, Sultan QABOOS issued
a royal decree promulgating a new basic law which, among other
things, clarifies the royal succession, provides for a prime
minister, bars ministers from holding interests in companies doing
business with the government, establishes a bicameral Omani council,
and guarantees basic civil liberties for Omani citizens
Legal system: based on English common law and Islamic law;
ultimate appeal to the monarch; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Suffrage: limited to approximately 50,000 Omanis chosen by the
government to vote in elections for the Majlis ash-Shura
Executive branch:
chief of state: Sultan and Prime Minister QABOOS bin Said Al Said
(since 23 July 1970); note--the monarch is both the chief of state
and head of government
head of government: Sultan and Prime Minister QABOOS bin Said Al
Said (since 23 July 1970); note--the monarch is both the chief of
state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary
Legislative branch: bicameral Majlis Oman consists of an upper
chamber or Majlis ad-Dawla (41 seats; members appointed by the
monarch; has advisory powers only) and a lower chamber or Majlis
ash-Shura (82 seats; members elected by limited suffrage, however,
the monarch makes final selections and can negate election results;
body has some limited power to propose legislation, but otherwise
has only advisory powers)
elections: last held NA October 1997 (next to be held NA 2000)
election results: NA
Judicial branch: none; traditional Islamic judges and a nascent
civil court system, administered by region
Political parties and leaders: none
Political pressure groups and leaders: NA
International organization participation: ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF,
ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IHO, ILO,
IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent),
ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Abdallah bin Muhammad bin Aqil al-DHAHAB
chancery: 2535 Belmont Road, NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador John D. CRAIG
embassy: Jameat A'Duwal Al Arabiya Street, Al Khuwair area, Muscat
mailing address: international: P. O. Box 202, Code No. 115, Medinat
Qaboos, Muscat
Flag description: three horizontal bands of white, red, and green
of equal width with a broad, vertical, red band on the hoist side;
the national emblem (a khanjar dagger in its sheath superimposed on
two crossed swords in scabbards) in white is centered at the top of
the vertical band
Economy
Economy--overview: Economic performance is closely tied to the
fortunes of the oil industry. Petroleum accounts for 75% of export
earnings and government revenues and for roughly 40% of GDP. Oman
has proved oil reserves of 4 billion barrels, equivalent to about 20
years' production at the current rate of extraction. Agriculture is
carried on at a subsistence level and the general population depends
on imported food. The government is encouraging private investment,
both domestic and foreign, as a prime force for further economic
development. In 1998-99 the economy is suffering from weak world oil
prices.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$18.6 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: -8.5% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$7,900 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 2%
industry: 50%
services: 48% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): -0.2% (1997 est.)
Labor force: 850,000 (1997 est.)
Labor force--by occupation: NA
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $4 billion
expenditures: $5.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1999 budget est.)
Industries: crude oil production and refining, natural gas
production, construction, cement, copper
Industrial production growth rate: 2% (1997 est.)
Electricity--production: 8 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 8 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: dates, limes, bananas, alfalfa, vegetables;
camels, cattle; fish
Exports: $7.6 billion (f.o.b., 1997)
Exports--commodities: petroleum, reexports, fish, metals, textiles
Exports--partners: Japan 26%, China 19%, Thailand 19%, South Korea
14%, US 4% (1997)
Imports: $4 billion (f.o.b., 1997)
Imports--commodities: machinery, transportation equipment,
manufactured goods, food, livestock, lubricants
Imports--partners: UAE 23% (largely reexports), Japan 16%, UK 14%,
US 8%, Germany 5% (1997)
Debt--external: $3 billion (1997 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $76.4 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Omani rial (RO) = 1,000 baiza
Exchange rates: Omani rials (RO) per US$1--0.3845 (fixed rate
since 1986)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 150,000 (1994 est.)
Telephone system: modern system consisting of open wire,
microwave, and radiotelephone communication stations; limited
coaxial cable
domestic: open wire, microwave, radiotelephone communications, and a
domestic satellite system with 8 earth stations
international: satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
and 1 Arabsat
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 4, shortwave 1
Radios: 1.043 million (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 13 (in addition, there are 25
low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 1.195 million (1992 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 32,800 km
paved: 9,840 km (including 550 km of expressways)
unpaved: 22,960 km (1996 est.)
Pipelines: crude oil 1,300 km; natural gas 1,030 km
Ports and harbors: Matrah, Mina' al Fahl, Mina' Raysut
Merchant marine:
total: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 16,306 GRT/8,210 DWT
ships by type: cargo 1, passenger 1, passenger-cargo 1 (1998 est.)
Airports: 143 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 6
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 137
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 58
914 to 1,523 m: 36
under 914 m: 35 (1998 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary (includes
Royal Oman Police)
Military manpower--military age: 14 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 752,637 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 420,361 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: NA
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $1.672 billion (1998)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 11.1% (1998)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: southern boundary with the United Arab
Emirates has not been bilaterally defined; northern section in the
Musandam Peninsula is an administrative boundary
======================================================================
@Pacific Ocean
-------------
Geography
Location: body of water between Antarctica, Asia, Australia, and
the Western Hemisphere
Geographic coordinates: 0 00 N, 160 00 W
Map references: World
Area:
total: 165.384 million sq km
note: includes Bali Sea, Bellingshausen Sea, Bering Sea, Bering
Strait, Coral Sea, East China Sea, Flores Sea, Gulf of Alaska, Gulf
of Tonkin, Java Sea, Philippine Sea, Ross Sea, Savu Sea, Sea of
Japan, Sea of Okhotsk, South China Sea, Tasman Sea, Timor Sea, and
other tributary water bodies
Area--comparative: about 18 times the size of the US; the largest
ocean (followed by the Atlantic Ocean, the Indian Ocean, and the
Arctic Ocean); covers about one-third of the global surface; larger
than the total land area of the world
Coastline: 135,663 km
Climate: planetary air pressure systems and resultant wind
patterns exhibit remarkable uniformity in the south and east; trade
winds and westerly winds are well-developed patterns, modified by
seasonal fluctuations; tropical cyclones (hurricanes) may form south
of Mexico from June to October and affect Mexico and Central
America; continental influences cause climatic uniformity to be much
less pronounced in the eastern and western regions at the same
latitude in the North Pacific Ocean; the western Pacific is
monsoonal--a rainy season occurs during the summer months, when
moisture-laden winds blow from the ocean over the land, and a dry
season during the winter months, when dry winds blow from the Asian
landmass back to the ocean; tropical cyclones (typhoons) may strike
southeast and east Asia from May to December
Terrain: surface currents in the northern Pacific are dominated
by a clockwise, warm-water gyre (broad circular system of currents)
and in the southern Pacific by a counterclockwise, cool-water gyre;
in the northern Pacific, sea ice forms in the Bering Sea and Sea of
Okhotsk in winter; in the southern Pacific, sea ice from Antarctica
reaches its northernmost extent in October; the ocean floor in the
eastern Pacific is dominated by the East Pacific Rise, while the
western Pacific is dissected by deep trenches, including the Mariana
Trench, which is the world's deepest
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench -10,924 m
highest point: sea level 0 m
Natural resources: oil and gas fields, polymetallic nodules, sand
and gravel aggregates, placer deposits, fish
Natural hazards: surrounded by a zone of violent volcanic and
earthquake activity sometimes referred to as the "Pacific Ring of
Fire"; subject to tropical cyclones (typhoons) in southeast and east
Asia from May to December (most frequent from July to October);
tropical cyclones (hurricanes) may form south of Mexico and strike
Central America and Mexico from June to October (most common in
August and September); southern shipping lanes subject to icebergs
from Antarctica; cyclical El Nino phenomenon occurs off the coast of
Peru, when the trade winds slacken and the warm Equatorial
countercurrent moves south, killing the plankton that is the primary
food source for anchovies; consequently, the anchovies move to
better feeding grounds, causing resident marine birds to starve by
the thousands because of the loss of their food source; ships
subject to superstructure icing in extreme north from October to May
and in extreme south from May to October; persistent fog in the
northern Pacific can be a maritime hazard from June to December
Environment--current issues: endangered marine species include the
dugong, sea lion, sea otter, seals, turtles, and whales; oil
pollution in Philippine Sea and South China Sea
Environment--international agreements:
party to: none of the selected agreements
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography--note: the major chokepoints are the Bering Strait,
Panama Canal, Luzon Strait, and the Singapore Strait; the Equator
divides the Pacific Ocean into the North Pacific Ocean and the South
Pacific Ocean; dotted with low coral islands and rugged volcanic
islands in the southwestern Pacific Ocean
Government
Data code: none; the US Government has not approved a standard
for hydrographic codes--see the Cross-Reference List of Hydrographic
Codes appendix
Economy
Economy--overview: The Pacific Ocean is a major contributor to the
world economy and particularly to those nations its waters directly
touch. It provides low-cost sea transportation between East and
West, extensive fishing grounds, offshore oil and gas fields,
minerals, and sand and gravel for the construction industry. In
1996, over 60% of the world's fish catch came from the Pacific
Ocean. Exploitation of offshore oil and gas reserves is playing an
ever-increasing role in the energy supplies of Australia, NZ, China,
US, and Peru. The high cost of recovering offshore oil and gas,
combined with the wide swings in world prices for oil since 1985,
has slowed but not stopped new drillings.
Communications
Telephone system:
international: several submarine cables with network nodal points on
Guam and Hawaii
Transportation
Ports and harbors: Bangkok (Thailand), Hong Kong, Kao-hsiung
(Taiwan), Los Angeles (US), Manila (Philippines), Pusan (South
Korea), San Francisco (US), Seattle (US), Shanghai (China),
Singapore, Sydney (Australia), Vladivostok (Russia), Wellington
(NZ), Yokohama (Japan)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: some maritime disputes (see littoral
states)
======================================================================
@Pakistan
--------
Geography
Location: Southern Asia, bordering the Arabian Sea, between India
on the east and Iran and Afghanistan on the west and China in the
north
Geographic coordinates: 30 00 N, 70 00 E
Map references: Asia
Area:
total: 803,940 sq km
land: 778,720 sq km
water: 25,220 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly less than twice the size of California
Land boundaries:
total: 6,774 km
border countries: Afghanistan 2,430 km, China 523 km, India 2,912
km, Iran 909 km
Coastline: 1,046 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: mostly hot, dry desert; temperate in northwest; arctic
in north
Terrain: flat Indus plain in east; mountains in north and
northwest; Balochistan plateau in west
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: K2 (Mt. Godwin-Austen) 8,611 m
Natural resources: land, extensive natural gas reserves, limited
petroleum, poor quality coal, iron ore, copper, salt, limestone
Land use:
arable land: 27%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 6%
forests and woodland: 5%
other: 61% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 171,100 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: frequent earthquakes, occasionally severe
especially in north and west; flooding along the Indus after heavy
rains (July and August)
Environment--current issues: water pollution from raw sewage,
industrial wastes, and agricultural runoff; limited natural fresh
water resources; a majority of the population does not have access
to potable water; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
Geography--note: controls Khyber Pass and Bolan Pass, traditional
invasion routes between Central Asia and the Indian Subcontinent
People
Population: 138,123,359 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 41% (male 29,423,876; female 27,763,774)
15-64 years: 55% (male 38,533,918; female 36,804,592)
65 years and over: 4% (male 2,768,942; female 2,828,257) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.18% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 33.51 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 10.45 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.98 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 91.86 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 59.38 years
male: 58.49 years
female: 60.3 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.73 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Pakistani(s)
adjective: Pakistani
Ethnic groups: Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashtun (Pathan), Baloch, Muhajir
(immigrants from India and their descendants)
Religions: Muslim 97% (Sunni 77%, Shi'a 20%), Christian, Hindu,
and other 3%
Languages: Punjabi 48%, Sindhi 12%, Siraiki (a Punjabi variant)
10%, Pashtu 8%, Urdu (official) 8%, Balochi 3%, Hindko 2%, Brahui
1%, English (official and lingua franca of Pakistani elite and most
government ministries), Burushaski, and other 8%
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 37.8%
male: 50%
female: 24.4% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Islamic Republic of Pakistan
conventional short form: Pakistan
former: West Pakistan
Data code: PK
Government type: federal republic
Capital: Islamabad
Administrative divisions: 4 provinces, 1 territory*, and 1
capital territory**; Balochistan, Federally Administered Tribal
Areas*, Islamabad Capital Territory**, North-West Frontier, Punjab,
Sindh
note: the Pakistani-administered portion of the disputed Jammu and
Kashmir region includes Azad Kashmir and the Northern Areas
Independence: 14 August 1947 (from UK)
National holiday: Pakistan Day, 23 March (1956) (proclamation of
the republic)
Constitution: 10 April 1973, suspended 5 July 1977, restored with
amendments 30 December 1985
Legal system: based on English common law with provisions to
accommodate Pakistan's status as an Islamic state; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal; separate electorates and
reserved parliamentary seats for non-Muslims
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Mohammad Rafiq TARAR (since 31 December
1997)
head of government: Prime Minister Mohammad Nawaz SHARIF (since 17
February 1997)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister
elections: president elected by Parliament for a five-year term;
election last held 31 December 1997 (next to be held no later than 1
January 2003); following legislative elections, the leader of the
majority party or leader of a majority coalition is usually elected
prime minister by the National Assembly; election last held 3
February 1997 (next to be held NA February 2002)
election results: Mohammad Rafiq TARAR elected president; percent of
Parliament and provincial vote--NA; Mohammad Nawaz SHARIF elected
prime minister; percent of National Assembly vote--NA
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament or Majlis-e-Shoora
consists of the Senate (87 seats; members indirectly elected by
provincial assemblies to serve six-year terms; one-third of the
members up for election every two years) and the National Assembly
(217 seats--10 represent non-Muslims; members elected by popular vote
to serve five-year terms)
elections: Senate--last held 12 March 1997 (next to be held NA March
1999); National Assembly--last held 3 February 1997 (next to be held
NA February 2002)
election results: Senate--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by
party--PML/N 30, PPP 17, ANP 7, MQM/A 6, JWP 5, BNP 4, JUI/F 2, PML/J
2, BNM/M 1, PKMAP 1, TJP 1, independents 6, vacant 5; National
Assembly--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--PML/N 137, PPP
18, MQM/A 12, ANP 10, BNP 3, JWP 2, JUI/F 2, PPP/SB 1, NPP 1,
independents 21, minorities 10
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judicial chiefs are appointed by
the president; Federal Islamic (Shari'a) Court
Political parties and leaders:
government: Pakistan Muslim League, Nawaz Sharif faction or PML/N
frequently shifting: Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan, Niazi faction or
Milli Yakjheti Council or MYC is an umbrella organization which
Ulema-i-Islam, Sami-ul-Haq faction or JUI/S, Tehrik-I-Jafria
Noorani faction or JUP/NO
note: political alliances in Pakistan can shift frequently;
subsequent to the election Jamiat Ulema-i-Islami, Fazlur Rehman
group or JUI/F was disbanded
Political pressure groups and leaders: military remains important
political force; ulema (clergy), landowners, industrialists, and
small merchants also influential
International organization participation: AsDB, C, CCC, CP, ECO,
ESCAP, FAO, G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM,
IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MONUA, NAM, OAS (observer),
OIC, OPCW, PCA, SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM,
UNITAR, UNMIBH, UNMOP, UNOMIG, UNOMIL, UNOMSIL, UNPREDEP, UPU, WCL,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Riaz Hussain KHOKHAR
chancery: 2315 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador William MILAM
embassy: Diplomatic Enclave, Ramna 5, Islamabad
mailing address: P. O. Box 1048, Unit 62200, APO AE 09812-2200
consulate(s) general: Karachi
consulate(s): Lahore, Peshawar
Flag description: green with a vertical white band (symbolizing
the role of religious minorities) on the hoist side; a large white
crescent and star are centered in the green field; the crescent,
star, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam
Economy
Economy--overview: Pakistan continues to suffer through a damaging
foreign exchange crisis--stemming from years of loose fiscal policies
that have exacerbated inflation and allowed public debt to explode.
After accruing more than $1.5 billion in debt arrears in the first
six months of FY98/99, Pakistani officials approached multilateral
creditors requesting balance-of-payments relief and structural
support. In January 1999, Islamabad received more than $1 billion in
loans along with $3 billion in debt relief following the Finance
Minister DAR's pledge to implement an economic reform program to
reduce the budget deficit, deepen the financial sector, and broaden
the industrial base. Although the economy has shown signs of
improvement following implementation of some corrective measures,
Prime Minister SHARIF--historically--has failed to implement the tough
structural reforms necessary for sustained, longer-term growth. The
government must also cope with long-standing economic
vulnerabilities--inadequate infrastructure and low levels of literacy.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$270 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 5% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$2,000 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 24.2%
industry: 26.4%
services: 49.4% (1997)
Population below poverty line: 34% (1991 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.4%
highest 10%: 25.2% (1991)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7.8% (FY97/98)
Labor force: 37.8 million (1998)
note: extensive export of labor, mostly to the Middle East, and use
of child labor
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 47%, mining and
manufacturing 17%, services 17%, other 19%
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $10.8 billion
expenditures: $12 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY96/97)
Industries: textiles, food processing, beverages, construction
materials, clothing, paper products, shrimp
Industrial production growth rate: 2% (FY97/98)
Electricity--production: 59.336 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 57.3%
hydro: 42.13%
nuclear: 0.57%
other: 0% (1997)
Electricity--consumption: 59.336 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: cotton, wheat, rice, sugarcane, fruits,
vegetables; milk, beef, mutton, eggs
Exports: $8.5 billion (FY97/98)
Exports--commodities: cotton, textiles, clothing, rice, leather,
carpets
Exports--partners: EU, US, Hong Kong, Japan
Imports: $10.1 billion (FY97/98)
Imports--commodities: petroleum, petroleum products, machinery,
transportation equipment, vegetable oils, animal fats, chemicals
Imports--partners: EU, Japan, US, China
Debt--external: $34 billion (1998 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $2 billion (FY97/98)
Currency: 1 Pakistani rupee (PRe) = 100 paisa
Exchange rates: Pakistani rupees (PRs) per US$1--46.000 (January
1999), 45.033 (1998), 41.086 (1997), 36.056 (1996), 31.623 (1995),
30.548 (1994); note--annual average of official rate; parallel market
rate is higher
Fiscal year: 1 July--30 June
Communications
Telephones: 2.828 million (1998)
Telephone system: the domestic system is mediocre, but improving;
service is adequate for government and business use, in part because
major businesses have established their own private systems; since
1988, the government has promoted investment in the national
telecommunications system on a priority basis, significantly
increasing network capacity; despite major improvements in trunk and
urban systems, telecommunication services are still not readily
available to the majority of the rural population
domestic: microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, fiber-optic cable,
cellular, and satellite
international: satellite earth stations--3 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean
and 2 Indian Ocean); 3 operational international gateway exchanges
(1 at Karachi and 2 at Islamabad); microwave radio relay to
neighboring countries
Radio broadcast stations: AM 26, FM 3, shortwave 18 (1998 est.)
Radios: 10.2 million (1998 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 22 (in addition, there are seven
low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 2.08 million (1998 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 8,163 km
broad gauge: 7,718 km 1.676-m gauge (293 km electrified; 1,037 km
double track)
narrow gauge: 445 km 1.000-m gauge (1996 est.)
Highways:
total: 224,774 km
paved: 128,121 km
unpaved: 96,653 km (1996 est.)
Pipelines: crude oil 250 km; petroleum products 885 km; natural
gas 4,044 km (1987)
Ports and harbors: Karachi, Port Muhammad bin Qasim
Merchant marine:
total: 23 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 384,304 GRT/619,668 DWT
ships by type: bulk 4, cargo 15, container 3, oil tanker 1 (1998
est.)
Airports: 116 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 80
over 3,047 m: 11
2,438 to 3,047 m: 20
1,524 to 2,437 m: 31
914 to 1,523 m: 15
under 914 m: 3 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 36
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 8
914 to 1,523 m: 9
under 914 m: 18 (1998 est.)
Heliports: 7 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Civil Armed Forces,
National Guard
Military manpower--military age: 17 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 33,496,712 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 20,519,762 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 1,553,310 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $2.48 billion (FY98/99)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 4.4% (FY98/99)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: status of Kashmir with India;
water-sharing problems with India over the Indus River (Wular
Barrage)
Illicit drugs: producer of illicit opium and hashish for the
international drug trade (poppy cultivation in 1998--3,030 hectares,
a 26% drop from 1997 because of eradication and alternative
development); limited center for processing Afghan heroin; key
transit area for Southwest Asian heroin moving to Western markets;
narcotics still move from Afghanistan into Baluchistan Province
======================================================================
@Palau
-----
Geography
Location: Oceania, group of islands in the North Pacific Ocean,
southeast of the Philippines
Geographic coordinates: 7 30 N, 134 30 E
Map references: Oceania
Area:
total: 458 sq km
land: 458 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly more than 2.5 times the size of
Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 1,519 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm
extended fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 3 nm
Climate: wet season May to November; hot and humid
Terrain: varying geologically from the high, mountainous main
island of Babelthuap to low, coral islands usually fringed by large
barrier reefs
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Ngerchelchauus 242 m
Natural resources: forests, minerals (especially gold), marine
products, deep-seabed minerals
Land use:
arable land: NA%
permanent crops: NA%
permanent pastures: NA%
forests and woodland: NA%
other: NA%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: typhoons (June to December)
Environment--current issues: inadequate facilities for disposal of
solid waste; threats to the marine ecosystem from sand and coral
dredging, illegal fishing practices, and overfishing
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Law of the Sea
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography--note: includes World War II battleground of Beliliou
(Peleliu) and world-famous rock islands; archipelago of six island
groups totaling over 200 islands in the Caroline chain
People
Population: 18,467 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 27% (male 2,595; female 2,446)
15-64 years: 68% (male 6,867; female 5,675)
65 years and over: 5% (male 416; female 468) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.94% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 21.55 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 7.74 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 5.63 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.21 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female
total population: 1.15 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 18.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 67.75 years
male: 64.69 years
female: 70.98 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.66 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Palauan(s)
adjective: Palauan
Ethnic groups: Palauans are a composite of Polynesian, Malayan,
and Melanesian races
Religions: Christian (Catholics, Seventh-Day Adventists,
Jehovah's Witnesses, the Assembly of God, the Liebenzell Mission,
and Latter-Day Saints), Modekngei religion (one-third of the
population observes this religion which is indigenous to Palau)
Languages: English (official in all of Palau's 16 states),
Sonsorolese (official in the state of Sonsoral), Angaur and Japanese
(in the state of Anguar), Tobi (in the state of Tobi), Palauan (in
the other 13 states)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92%
male: 93%
female: 90% (1980 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Palau
conventional short form: Palau
local long form: Beluu er a Belau
local short form: Belau
former: Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands
Data code: PS
Government type: constitutional government in free association
with the US; the Compact of Free Association entered into force 1
October 1994
Capital: Koror
note: a new capital is being built about 20 km northeast of Koror
Administrative divisions: 18 states; Aimeliik, Airai, Angaur,
Hatobohei, Kayangel, Koror, Melekeok, Ngaraard, Ngarchelong,
Ngardmau, Ngatpang, Ngchesar, Ngeremlengui, Ngiwal, Palau Island,
Peleliu, Sonsoral, Tobi
Independence: 1 October 1994 (from the US-administered UN
Trusteeship)
National holiday: Constitution Day, 9 July (1979)
Constitution: 1 January 1981
Legal system: based on Trust Territory laws, acts of the
legislature, municipal, common, and customary laws
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Kuniwo NAKAMURA (since 1 January 1993) and
Vice President Tommy E. REMENGESAU Jr. (since 1 January 1993);
note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Kuniwo NAKAMURA (since 1 January 1993)
and Vice President Tommy E. REMENGESAU Jr. (since 1 January 1993);
note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet
elections: president and vice president elected on separate tickets
by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 11 November
1996 (next to be held NA November 2000)
election results: Kuniwo NAKAMURA reelected president; percent of
vote--Kuniwo NAKAMURA 64%, Chief Ibedul Yutuka GIBBONS 36%; Tommy E.
REMENGESAU Jr. reelected vice president; percent of vote--Tommy E.
REMENGESAU Jr. 69%, Kione ISECHAL 31%
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament or Olbiil Era Kelulau
(OEK) consists of the Senate (14 seats; members elected by popular
vote on a population basis to serve four-year terms) and the House
of Delegates (16 seats--one from each state; members elected by
popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: Senate--last held 11 November 1996 (next to be held NA
November 2000); House of Delegates--last held 11 November 1996 (next
to be held NA November 2000)
election results: Senate--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by
party--NA; House of Delegates--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by
party--NA
Judicial branch: Supreme Court; National Court; Court of Common
Pleas
Political parties and leaders: Palau Nationalist Party [Polycarp
BASILIUS]
International organization participation: ESCAP, IBRD, ICAO,
ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, WHO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Hersey KYOTA
chancery: 1150 18th Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20036
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas C. HUBBARD (resident in Manila);
Charge d'Affaires Allen E. NUGENT
embassy: address NA, Koror
mailing address: P.O. Box 6028, Republic of Palau 96940
Flag description: light blue with a large yellow disk
(representing the moon) shifted slightly to the hoist side
Economy
Economy--overview: The economy consists primarily of subsistence
agriculture and fishing. The government is the major employer of the
work force, relying heavily on financial assistance from the US. The
population enjoys a per capita income of more than twice that of the
Philippines and much of Micronesia. Long-run prospects for the
tourist sector have been greatly bolstered by the expansion of air
travel in the Pacific and the rising prosperity of leading East
Asian countries.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$160 million (1997 est.)
note: GDP numbers reflect US spending
GDP--real growth rate: 10% (1997 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$8,800 (1997 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
Labor force: NA
Labor force--by occupation: NA
Unemployment rate: 7%
Budget:
revenues: $52.9 million
expenditures: $59.9 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1997 est.)
Industries: tourism, craft items (from shell, wood, pearls), some
commercial fishing and agriculture
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: 200 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 85%
hydro: 15%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 200 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: coconuts, copra, cassava (tapioca), sweet
potatoes
Exports: $14.3 million (f.o.b., 1996)
Exports--commodities: trochus (type of shellfish), tuna, copra,
handicrafts
Exports--partners: US, Japan
Imports: $72.4 million (f.o.b., 1996)
Imports--commodities: NA
Imports--partners: US
Debt--external: about $100 million (1989)
Economic aid--recipient: $155.8 million (1995); note?the Compact
of Free Association with the US, entered into after the end of the
UN trusteeship on 1 October 1994, will provide Palau with up to $700
million in US aid over 15 years in return for furnishing military
facilities
Currency: 1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: US currency is used
Fiscal year: 1 October--30 September
Communications
Telephones: 1,500 (1988 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: NA
international: satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0
Radios: 9,000 (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1997)
Televisions: 1,600 (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 61 km
paved: 36 km
unpaved: 25 km
Ports and harbors: Koror
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 3 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: NA
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $NA
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: NA%
Military--note: defense is the responsibility of the US; under a
Compact of Free Association between Palau and the US, the US
military is granted access to the islands for 50 years
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
======================================================================
@Palmyra Atoll
-------------
Geography
Location: Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about
one-half of the way from Hawaii to American Samoa
Geographic coordinates: 5 52 N, 162 06 W
Map references: Oceania
Area:
total: 11.9 sq km
land: 11.9 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: about 20 times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 14.5 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: equatorial, hot, and very rainy
Terrain: very low
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 2 m
Natural resources: none
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 100%
other: 0%
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1993)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment--current issues: NA
Environment--international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography--note: about 50 islets covered with dense vegetation,
coconut trees, and balsa-like trees up to 30 meters tall
People
Population: uninhabited
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Palmyra Atoll
Data code: LQ
Dependency status: incorporated territory of the US; privately
owned, but administered from Washington, DC by the Office of Insular
Affairs, US Department of the Interior
Legal system: NA
Flag description: the flag of the US is used
Economy
Economy--overview: no economic activity
Transportation
Highways: much of the road and many causeways built during World
War II are unserviceable and overgrown
Ports and harbors: West Lagoon
Airports: 1 (1998 est.)
note: some overgrowth of vegetation on runway but still serviceable
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military--note: defense is the responsibility of the US
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
======================================================================
@Panama
------
Geography
Location: Middle America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and
the North Pacific Ocean, between Colombia and Costa Rica
Geographic coordinates: 9 00 N, 80 00 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 78,200 sq km
land: 75,990 sq km
water: 2,210 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than South Carolina
Land boundaries:
total: 555 km
border countries: Colombia 225 km, Costa Rica 330 km
Coastline: 2,490 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 200 nm
Climate: tropical; hot, humid, cloudy; prolonged rainy season
(May to January), short dry season (January to May)
Terrain: interior mostly steep, rugged mountains and dissected,
upland plains; coastal areas largely plains and rolling hills
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Volcan de Chiriqui 3,475 m
Natural resources: copper, mahogany forests, shrimp
Land use:
arable land: 7%
permanent crops: 2%
permanent pastures: 20%
forests and woodland: 44%
other: 27% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 320 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment--current issues: water pollution from agricultural
runoff threatens fishery resources; deforestation of tropical rain
forest; land degradation
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law
of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94,
Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
Geography--note: strategic location on eastern end of isthmus
forming land bridge connecting North and South America; controls
Panama Canal that links North Atlantic Ocean via Caribbean Sea with
North Pacific Ocean
People
Population: 2,778,526 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 32% (male 446,792; female 429,811)
15-64 years: 63% (male 882,541; female 859,455)
65 years and over: 5% (male 76,648; female 83,279) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.53% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 21.69 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 5.14 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.92 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 23.35 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 74.66 years
male: 71.91 years
female: 77.51 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.54 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Panamanian(s)
adjective: Panamanian
Ethnic groups: mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 70%,
Amerindian and mixed (West Indian) 14%, white 10%, Amerindian 6%
Religions: Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant 15%
Languages: Spanish (official), English 14%
note: many Panamanians bilingual
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 90.8%
male: 91.4%
female: 90.2% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Panama
conventional short form: Panama
local long form: Republica de Panama
local short form: Panama
Data code: PM
Government type: constitutional republic
Capital: Panama
Administrative divisions: 9 provinces (provincias,
singular--provincia) and 2 territories* (comarca); Bocas del Toro,
Chiriqui, Cocle, Colon, Darien, Herrera, Los Santos, Panama, San
Blas*, Veraguas, and a new, as yet unnamed territory* or comarca
created 7 March 1997 when President PEREZ BALLADARES signed a bill
designating a reserve stretched across three provinces
Independence: 3 November 1903 (from Colombia; became independent
from Spain 28 November 1821)
National holiday: Independence Day, 3 November (1903)
Constitution: 11 October 1972; major reforms adopted April 1983
Legal system: based on civil law system; judicial review of
legislative acts in the Supreme Court of Justice; accepts compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Ernesto PEREZ BALLADARES (since 1
September 1994); First Vice President Tomas ALTAMIRANO Duque (since
1 September 1994); Second Vice President Felipe VIRZI (since 1
September 1994); note--the president is both the chief of state and
head of government
head of government: President Ernesto PEREZ BALLADARES (since 1
September 1994); First Vice President Tomas ALTAMIRANO Duque (since
1 September 1994); Second Vice President Felipe VIRZI (since 1
September 1994); note--the president is both the chief of state and
head of government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president and vice presidents elected on the same ticket
by popular vote for five-year terms; election last held 8 May 1994
(next to be held 2 May 1999)
election results: Ernesto PEREZ BALLADARES elected president;
percent of vote--Ernesto PEREZ BALLADARES (PRD) 33%, Mireya MOSCOSO
DE GRUBER (PA) 29%, Ruben BLADES (MPE) 17%, Ruben Dario CARLES
(MOLIRENA) 16%
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly or Asamblea
Legislativa (72 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve
five-year terms)
elections: last held 8 May 1994 (next to be held 2 May 1999)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--PRD
32, PS 4, PALA 1, PA 14, MPE 6, MOLIRENA 4, PLA 3, PRC 3, PLN 2, PDC
1, UDI 1, MORENA 1
note: legislators from outlying rural districts are chosen on a
plurality basis while districts located in more populous towns and
cities elect multiple legislators by means of a proportion-based
formula
Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de
Justicia), nine judges appointed for 10-year terms; five superior
courts; three courts of appeal
Political parties and leaders:
Political pressure groups and leaders: National Council of
Organized Workers or CONATO; National Council of Private Enterprise
or CONEP; Panamanian Association of Business Executives or APEDE;
National Civic Crusade; Chamber of Commerce; Panamanian
Industrialists Society or SIP; Workers Confederation of the Republic
of Panama or CTRP
International organization participation: CAN (associate), CCC,
ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Eloy ALFARO de Alba
chancery: 2862 McGill Terrace NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Houston, Miami, New Orleans, New
York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico), Tampa
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Simon FERRO
embassy: Avenida Balboa and Calle 38, Apartado 6959, Panama City 5
mailing address: American Embassy Panama, Unit 0945, APO AA 34002
Flag description: divided into four, equal rectangles; the top
quadrants are white (hoist side) with a blue five-pointed star in
the center and plain red, the bottom quadrants are plain blue (hoist
side) and white with a red five-pointed star in the center
Economy
Economy--overview: Because of its key geographic location,
Panama's economy is service-based, heavily weighted toward banking,
commerce, and tourism. Since taking office in 1994, President PEREZ
BALLADARES has advanced an economic reform program designed to
liberalize the trade regime, attract foreign investment, privatize
state-owned enterprises, institute fiscal reform, and encourage job
creation through labor code reform. The government privatized its
two remaining ports along the Panama Canal in 1997 and approved the
sale of the railroad in early 1998. It also plans to sell other
assets, including the electric company. Panama joined the World
Trade Organization (WTrO) and approved a tariff reduction that will
give the country the lowest average tariff rates in Latin America. A
banking reform law was approved by the legislature in early 1998.
The most important sectors driving growth have been the Panama Canal
and other shipping and port activities.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$19.9 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 2.7% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$7,300 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 8%
industry: 18%
services: 74% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 0.5%
highest 10%: 42.5% (1991)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.4% (1998)
Labor force: 1.044 million (1997 est.)
note: shortage of skilled labor, but an oversupply of unskilled labor
Labor force--by occupation: government and community services
31.8%, agriculture, hunting, and fishing 26.8%, commerce,
restaurants, and hotels 16.4%, manufacturing and mining 9.4%,
construction 3.2%, transportation and communications 6.2%, finance,
insurance, and real estate 4.3%
Unemployment rate: 13.1% (1997 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $2.4 billion
expenditures: $2.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $341
million (1997 est.)
Industries: construction, petroleum refining, brewing, cement and
other construction materials, sugar milling
Industrial production growth rate: 0.4% (1995 est.)
Electricity--production: 3.55 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 29.58%
hydro: 70.42%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 3.488 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 157 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 95 million kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: bananas, rice, corn, coffee, sugarcane,
vegetables; livestock; shrimp
Exports: $6.68 billion (f.o.b., 1997)
Exports--commodities: bananas 43%, shrimp 11%, sugar 4%, clothing
5%, coffee 2%
Exports--partners: US 37%, EU, Central America and Caribbean
Imports: $7.38 billion (f.o.b., 1997)
Imports--commodities: capital goods 21%, crude oil 11%, foodstuffs
9%, consumer goods, chemicals
Imports--partners: US 48%, EU, Central America and Caribbean, Japan
Debt--external: $7.26 billion (1996 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $197.1 million (1995)
Currency: 1 balboa (B) = 100 centesimos
Exchange rates: balboas (B) per US$1--1.000 (fixed rate)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 273,000 (1991 est.)
Telephone system: domestic and international facilities well
developed
domestic: NA
international: 1 coaxial submarine cable; satellite earth stations--2
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); connected to the Central American
Microwave System
Radio broadcast stations: AM 91, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: 564,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 9 (in addition, there are 17
repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 420,000 (1992 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 355 km
broad gauge: 76 km 1.524-m gauge
narrow gauge: 279 km 0.914-m gauge
Highways:
total: 11,100 km
paved: 3,730 km (including 30 km of expressways)
unpaved: 7,370 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 800 km navigable by shallow draft vessels; 82 km
Panama Canal
Pipelines: crude oil 130 km
Ports and harbors: Balboa, Cristobal, Coco Solo, Manzanillo (part
of Colon area), Vacamonte
Merchant marine:
total: 4,632 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 98,433,972
GRT/149,800,820 DWT
ships by type: bulk 1,335, cargo 1,028, chemical tanker 288,
combination bulk 68, combination ore/oil 15, container 507,
liquefied gas tanker 176, livestock carrier 9, multifunction
large-load carrier 6, oil tanker 498, passenger 41, passenger-cargo
5, railcar carrier 2, refrigerated cargo 312, roll-on/roll-off cargo
102, short-sea passenger 40, specialized tanker 23, vehicle carrier
177
note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 71
countries among which are Japan 1,262, Greece 378, Hong Kong 244,
South Korea 259, Taiwan 229, China 193, Singapore 103, US 116,
Switzerland 78, and Indonesia 53 (1998 est.)
Airports: 110 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 43
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 14
under 914 m: 22 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 67
914 to 1,523 m: 17
under 914 m: 50 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: an amendment to the Constitution abolished the
armed forces, but there are security forces (Panamanian Public
Forces or PPF includes the National Police, National Maritime
Service, and National Air Service)
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 746,910 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 511,866 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $132 million (1997)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 1.6% (1997)
Military--note: in October 1994, a month after President PEREZ
BALLADARES assumed office, Panama's Legislative Assembly approved a
constitutional amendment prohibiting the creation of a standing
military force, but allowing the temporary establishment of a
"special police force" to counter acts of "external aggression"
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
Illicit drugs: major cocaine transshipment point and major
drug-money-laundering center; no recent signs of coca cultivation;
monitoring of financial transactions is improving
======================================================================
@Papua New Guinea
----------------
Geography
Location: Southeastern Asia, group of islands including the
eastern half of the island of New Guinea between the Coral Sea and
the South Pacific Ocean, east of Indonesia
Geographic coordinates: 6 00 S, 147 00 E
Map references: Oceania
Area:
total: 462,840 sq km
land: 452,860 sq km
water: 9,980 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly larger than California
Land boundaries:
total: 820 km
border countries: Indonesia 820 km
Coastline: 5,152 km
Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; northwest monsoon (December to March),
southeast monsoon (May to October); slight seasonal temperature
variation
Terrain: mostly mountains with coastal lowlands and rolling
foothills
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Wilhelm 4,509 m
Natural resources: gold, copper, silver, natural gas, timber,
oil, fisheries
Land use:
arable land: 0.1%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 92.9%
other: 6% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: active volcanism; situated along the Pacific
"Rim of Fire"; the country is subject to frequent and sometimes
severe earthquakes; mud slides
Environment--current issues: rain forest subject to deforestation
as a result of growing commercial demand for tropical timber;
pollution from mining projects; severe drought
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography--note: shares island of New Guinea with Indonesia; one
of world's largest swamps along southwest coast
People
Population: 4,705,126 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 39% (male 951,532; female 902,841)
15-64 years: 58% (male 1,411,053; female 1,298,937)
65 years and over: 3% (male 64,101; female 76,662) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.26% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 32.04 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 9.47 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.09 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female
total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 55.58 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 58.47 years
male: 57.58 years
female: 59.4 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.17 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Papua New Guinean(s)
adjective: Papua New Guinean
Ethnic groups: Melanesian, Papuan, Negrito, Micronesian,
Polynesian
Religions: Roman Catholic 22%, Lutheran 16%,
Presbyterian/Methodist/London Missionary Society 8%, Anglican 5%,
Evangelical Alliance 4%, Seventh-Day Adventist 1%, other Protestant
sects 10%, indigenous beliefs 34%
Languages: English spoken by 1%-2%, pidgin English widespread,
Motu spoken in Papua region
note: 715 indigenous languages
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 72.2%
male: 81%
female: 62.7% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Independent State of Papua New Guinea
conventional short form: Papua New Guinea
abbreviation: PNG
Data code: PP
Government type: parliamentary democracy
Capital: Port Moresby
Administrative divisions: 20 provinces; Bougainville, Central,
Chimbu, Eastern Highlands, East New Britain, East Sepik, Enga, Gulf,
Madang, Manus, Milne Bay, Morobe, National Capital, New Ireland,
Northern, Sandaun, Southern Highlands, Western, Western Highlands,
West New Britain
Independence: 16 September 1975 (from the Australian-administered
UN trusteeship)
National holiday: Independence Day, 16 September (1975)
Constitution: 16 September 1975
Legal system: based on English common law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Governor General Silas ATOPARE (since 13 November
1997)
head of government: Prime Minister Bill SKATE (since 22 July 1997);
Deputy Prime Minister Iairo LASARO (since 20 October 1998)
cabinet: National Executive Council appointed by the governor
general on the recommendation of the prime minister
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general
appointed by the National Executive Council; prime minister and
deputy prime minister appointed by the governor general for up to
five years on the basis of majority support in National Parliament
Legislative branch: unicameral National Parliament--sometimes
referred to as the House of Assembly (109 seats--89 elected from open
electorates and 20 from provincial electorates; members elected by
popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 14-28 June 1997 (next to be held NA June 2002)
election results: percent of vote by party--PPP 15%, Pangu Pati 14%,
NA 14%, PDM 8%, PNC 6%, PAP 5%, UP 3%, NP 1%, PUP 1%, independents
33%; seats by party--PPP 16, Pangu Pati 15, NA 15, PDM 9, PNC 7, PAP
5, UP 3, NP 1, PUP 1, independents 37; note--association with
political parties is very fluid
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, the chief justice is appointed by
the governor general on the proposal of the National Executive
Council after consultation with the minister responsible for
justice, other judges are appointed by the Judicial and Legal
Services Commission
Political parties and leaders: Bougainville Unity Alliance or BUA
MUMURIK]
International organization participation: ACP, APEC, AsDB, ASEAN
(observer), C, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO
(correspondent), ITU, NAM, OPCW, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Nagora Y. BOGAN
chancery: 1779 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Arma Jane KARAER
embassy: Douglas Street, Port Moresby
mailing address: P. O. Box 1492, Port Moresby
Flag description: divided diagonally from upper hoist-side
corner; the upper triangle is red with a soaring yellow bird of
paradise centered; the lower triangle is black with five white
five-pointed stars of the Southern Cross constellation centered
Economy
Economy--overview: Papua New Guinea is richly endowed with natural
resources, but exploitation has been hampered by the rugged terrain
and the high cost of developing infrastructure. Agriculture provides
a subsistence livelihood for the bulk of the population. Mineral
deposits, including oil, copper, and gold, account for 72% of export
earnings. Budgetary support from Australia and development aid under
World Bank auspices have helped sustain the economy. In 1995, Port
Moresby reached agreement with the IMF and World Bank on a
structural adjustment program, of which the first phase was
successfully completed in 1996. In 1997, droughts caused by the El
Nino weather pattern wreaked havoc on Papua New Guinea's coffee,
cocoa, and coconut production, the mainstays of the
agricultural-based economy and major sources of export earnings. The
coffee crop was slashed by up to 50% in 1997. Despite problems with
drought, the year 1998 saw a small recovery in GDP.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$11.1 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 1.6% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$2,400 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 28.2%
industry: 34.5%
services: 37.3% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.7%
highest 10%: 40.5% (1996)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 12% (FY97/98 est.)
Labor force: 1.941 million
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 64% (1993 est.)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $1.5 billion
expenditures: $1.35 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1997 est.)
Industries: copra crushing, palm oil processing, plywood
production, wood chip production; mining of gold, silver, and
copper; crude oil production; construction, tourism
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: 1.7 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 70.59%
hydro: 29.41%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 1.7 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: coffee, cocoa, coconuts, palm kernels, tea,
rubber, sweet potatoes, fruit, vegetables; poultry, pork
Exports: $2.2 billion (f.o.b., 1997)
Exports--commodities: gold, copper ore, oil, logs, palm oil,
coffee, cocoa, crayfish and prawns
Exports--partners: Australia, Japan, Germany, UK, South Korea,
China
Imports: $1.5 billion (c.i.f., 1997)
Imports--commodities: machinery and transport equipment,
manufactured goods, food, fuels, chemicals
Imports--partners: Australia, Singapore, Japan, US, New Zealand,
Malaysia
Debt--external: $3.2 billion (1995)
Economic aid--recipient: $376.3 million (1995)
Currency: 1 kina (K) = 100 toea
Exchange rates: kina (K) per US$1--0.47 (December 1998), 0.6975
(1997), 0.7588 (1996), 0.7835 (1995), 0.9950 (1994); note--the
government floated the kina on 10 October 1994
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 63,212 (1986 est.)
Telephone system: services are adequate and being improved;
facilities provide radiotelephone and telegraph, coastal radio,
aeronautical radio, and international radio communication services
domestic: mostly radiotelephone
international: submarine cables to Australia and Guam; satellite
earth station--1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean); international radio
communication service
Radio broadcast stations: AM 31, FM 2, shortwave 0
Radios: 298,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 3 (1997)
Televisions: 10,000 (1992 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 19,600 km
paved: 686 km
unpaved: 18,914 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 10,940 km
Ports and harbors: Kieta, Lae, Madang, Port Moresby, Rabaul
Merchant marine:
total: 20 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 35,400 GRT/50,869 DWT
ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 6, chemical tanker 1, combination
ore/oil 5, container 1, oil tanker 2, roll-on/roll-off 3 (1998 est.)
Airports: 492 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 19
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 14
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 473
1,524 to 2,437 m: 13
914 to 1,523 m: 60
under 914 m: 400 (1998 est.)
Heliports: 2 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Papua New Guinea Defense Force (includes
Ground, Naval, and Air Forces, and Special Forces Unit)
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 1,238,683 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 687,978 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $41.5 million (1998)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 1% (1998)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
======================================================================
@Paracel Islands
---------------
Geography
Location: Southeastern Asia, group of small islands and reefs in
the South China Sea, about one-third of the way from central Vietnam
to the northern Philippines
Geographic coordinates: 16 30 N, 112 00 E
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area:
total: NA sq km
land: NA sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: NA
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 518 km
Maritime claims: NA
Climate: tropical
Terrain: NA
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Rocky Island 14 m
Natural resources: none
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 100%
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1993)
Natural hazards: typhoons
Environment--current issues: NA
Environment--international agreements:
party to: none of the selected agreements
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
People
Population: no indigenous inhabitants
note: there are scattered Chinese garrisons
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Paracel Islands
Data code: PF
Economy
Economy--overview: China announced plans in 1997 to open the
islands for tourism.
Transportation
Ports and harbors: small Chinese port facilities on Woody Island
and Duncan Island being expanded
Airports: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military--note: occupied by China
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: occupied by China, but claimed by Taiwan
and Vietnam
======================================================================
@Paraguay
--------
Geography
Location: Central South America, northeast of Argentina
Geographic coordinates: 23 00 S, 58 00 W
Map references: South America
Area:
total: 406,750 sq km
land: 397,300 sq km
water: 9,450 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than California
Land boundaries:
total: 3,920 km
border countries: Argentina 1,880 km, Bolivia 750 km, Brazil 1,290 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: subtropical; substantial rainfall in the eastern
portions, becoming semiarid in the far west
Terrain: grassy plains and wooded hills east of Rio Paraguay;
Gran Chaco region west of Rio Paraguay mostly low, marshy plain near
the river, and dry forest and thorny scrub elsewhere
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: junction of Rio Paraguay and Rio Parana 46 m
highest point: Cerro San Rafael 850 m
Natural resources: hydropower, timber, iron ore, manganese,
limestone
Land use:
arable land: 6%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 55%
forests and woodland: 32%
other: 7% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 670 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: local flooding in southeast (early September to
June); poorly drained plains may become boggy (early October to June)
Environment--current issues: deforestation (an estimated 2 million
hectares of forest land have been lost from 1958-85); water
pollution; inadequate means for waste disposal present health risks
for many urban residents
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection,
Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Nuclear
Test Ban
Geography--note: landlocked; lies between Argentina, Bolivia, and
Brazil
People
Population: 5,434,095 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 39% (male 1,086,107; female 1,049,833)
15-64 years: 56% (male 1,528,127; female 1,517,213)
65 years and over: 5% (male 116,761; female 136,054) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.65% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 31.87 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 5.23 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.09 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 36.35 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 72.43 years
male: 70.47 years
female: 74.49 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.22 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Paraguayan(s)
adjective: Paraguayan
Ethnic groups: mestizo (mixed Spanish and Amerindian) 95%, white
plus Amerindian 5%
Religions: Roman Catholic 90%, Mennonite and other Protestant
denominations
Languages: Spanish (official), Guarani
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.1%
male: 93.5%
female: 90.6% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Paraguay
conventional short form: Paraguay
local long form: Republica del Paraguay
local short form: Paraguay
Data code: PA
Government type: republic
Capital: Asuncion
Administrative divisions: 18 departments (departamentos,
singular--departamento); Alto Paraguay, Alto Parana, Amambay,
Asuncion, Boqueron, Caaguazu, Caazapa, Canindeyu, Central,
Concepcion, Cordillera, Guaira, Itapua, Misiones, Neembucu,
Paraguari, Presidente Hayes, San Pedro
Independence: 14 May 1811 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Days, 14-15 May (1811)
Constitution: promulgated 20 June 1992
Legal system: based on Argentine codes, Roman law, and French
codes; judicial review of legislative acts in Supreme Court of
Justice; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory up to age 60
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Luis GONZALEZ Macchi (since 28 March
1999); note--the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Luis GONZALEZ Macchi (since 28 March
1999); note--the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the president
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket
by popular vote for five-year terms; election last held 10 May 1998
(next to be held NA May 2003)
election results: Raul CUBAS Grau elected president; percent of
vote--55.3%; resigned 28 March 1999
note: President Luis GONZALEZ Macchi, formerly president of the
Chamber of Senators, constitutionally succeeded President Raul CUBAS
Grau, who resigned following the assassination of Vice President
Luis Maria ARGANA; the successor to ARGANA will be decided in an
election to be held in late 1999
Legislative branch: bicameral Congress or Congreso consists of
the Chamber of Senators or Camara de Senadores (45 seats; members
are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and the
Chamber of Deputies or Camara de Diputados (80 seats; members are
elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: Chamber of Senators--last held 10 May 1998 (next to be
held NA May 2003); Chamber of Deputies--last held 10 May 1998 (next
to be held NA May 2003)
election results: Chamber of Senators--percent of vote by party--NA;
seats by party--Colorado Party 24, PLRA/PEN 20, other 1; Chamber of
Deputies--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--Colorado Party
45, PLRA/PEN 35
Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de
Justicia), judges appointed on the proposal of the Counsel of
Magistrates (Consejo de la Magistratura)
Political parties and leaders: National Republican
Maria LJUBETIC]
Political pressure groups and leaders: Unitary Workers Central or
CUT; Roman Catholic Church; National Workers Central or CNT;
Paraguayan Workers Confederation or CPT
International organization participation: CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-77,
IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,
IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU,
LAES, LAIA, Mercosur, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant)
chancery: 2400 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Maura A. HARTY
embassy: 1776 Avenida Mariscal Lopez, Casilla Postal 402, Asuncion
mailing address: Unit 4711, APO AA 34036-0001
Flag description: three equal, horizontal bands of red (top),
white, and blue with an emblem centered in the white band; unusual
flag in that the emblem is different on each side; the obverse
(hoist side at the left) bears the national coat of arms (a yellow
five-pointed star within a green wreath capped by the words
REPUBLICA DEL PARAGUAY, all within two circles); the reverse (hoist
side at the right) bears the seal of the treasury (a yellow lion
below a red Cap of Liberty and the words Paz y Justicia (Peace and
Justice) capped by the words REPUBLICA DEL PARAGUAY, all within two
circles)
Economy
Economy--overview: Paraguay has a market economy marked by a large
informal sector. The informal sector features both reexport of
imported consumer goods (electronics, whiskeys, perfumes,
cigarettes, and office equipment) to neighboring countries as well
as the activities of thousands of microenterprises and urban street
vendors. The formal sector is largely oriented toward services. A
large percentage of the population derive their living from
agricultural activity, often on a subsistence basis. The formal
economy has grown an average of about 3% over the past six years,
but GDP declined in 1998. However, population has increased at about
the same rate over the same period, leaving per capita income nearly
stagnant. The new government of Raul CUBAS Grau was pursuing an
economic reform agenda, albeit with limited success because of
in-fighting in the ruling party and resistance from the opposition.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$19.8 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: -0.5% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$3,700 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 27%
industry: 30%
services: 43% (1997)
Population below poverty line: 21.8% (1991 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 0.7%
highest 10%: 46.6% (1995)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 14.6% (1998)
Labor force: 1.8 million (1995 est.)
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 45%
Unemployment rate: 8.2% (urban) (1996 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $1.25 billion
expenditures: $1.66 billion, including capital expenditures of $357
million (1995 est.)
Industries: meat packing, oilseed crushing, milling, brewing,
textiles, other light consumer goods, cement, construction
Industrial production growth rate: 5.1% (1995)
Electricity--production: 45.03 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 0.07%
hydro: 99.93%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 4.768 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 40.262 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: cotton, sugarcane, soybeans, corn, wheat,
tobacco, cassava (tapioca), fruits, vegetables; beef, pork, eggs,
milk; timber
Exports: $1.1 billion (f.o.b., 1997 est.)
Exports--commodities: cotton, soybeans, timber, vegetable oils,
meat products, coffee, tung oil
Exports--partners: Brazil 48%, Netherlands 22%, Argentina 9%, US
4%, Uruguay 3%, Chile 2% (1997)
Imports: $2.5 billion (c.i.f., 1996 est.)
Imports--commodities: capital goods, consumer goods, foodstuffs,
raw materials, fuels
Imports--partners: Brazil 29%, US 22%, Argentina 14%, Hong Kong 9%
(1995)
Debt--external: $1.3 billion (1996)
Economic aid--recipient: $180.4 million (1995)
Currency: 1 guarani (G) = 100 centimos
Exchange rates: guaranies (G) per US$--2,866.3 (January 1999),
2,755.7 (1998), 2,191.0 (1997), 2,062.8 (1996), 1,970.4 (1995),
1,911.5 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 88,730 (1985 est.)
Telephone system: meager telephone service; principal switching
center is Asuncion
domestic: fair microwave radio relay network
international: satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 40, FM 0, shortwave 7
Radios: 775,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 10 (1997)
Televisions: 370,000 (1992 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 971 km
standard gauge: 441 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 60 km 1.000-m gauge
note: there are 470 km of various gauges that are privately owned
Highways:
total: 29,500 km
paved: 2,803 km
unpaved: 26,697 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 3,100 km
Ports and harbors: Asuncion, Villeta, San Antonio, Encarnacion
Merchant marine:
total: 21 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 30,287 GRT/32,510 DWT
ships by type: cargo 15, chemical tanker 1, oil tanker 4,
roll-on/roll-off 1 (1998 est.)
Airports: 941 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 10
over 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 4 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 931
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 29
914 to 1,523 m: 349
under 914 m: 552 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy (includes Naval Air and Marines),
Air Force
Military manpower--military age: 17 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 1,311,382 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 947,347 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 55,065 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $125 million (1998)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 1.4% (1998)
Transnational Issues
Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis for the international
drug trade; transshipment country for Bolivian cocaine headed for
Europe and the US
======================================================================
@Peru
----
Geography
Location: Western South America, bordering the South Pacific
Ocean, between Chile and Ecuador
Geographic coordinates: 10 00 S, 76 00 W
Map references: South America
Area:
total: 1,285,220 sq km
land: 1.28 million sq km
water: 5,220 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than Alaska
Land boundaries:
total: 6,940 km
border countries: Bolivia 900 km, Brazil 1,560 km, Chile 160 km,
Colombia 2,900 km, Ecuador 1,420 km
Coastline: 2,414 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200 nm
territorial sea: 200 nm
Climate: varies from tropical in east to dry desert in west
Terrain: western coastal plain (costa), high and rugged Andes in
center (sierra), eastern lowland jungle of Amazon Basin (selva)
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Nevado Huascaran 6,768 m
Natural resources: copper, silver, gold, petroleum, timber, fish,
iron ore, coal, phosphate, potash
Land use:
arable land: 3%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 21%
forests and woodland: 66%
other: 10% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 12,800 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: earthquakes, tsunamis, flooding, landslides,
mild volcanic activity
Environment--current issues: deforestation; overgrazing of the
slopes of the costa and sierra leading to soil erosion;
desertification; air pollution in Lima; pollution of rivers and
coastal waters from municipal and mining wastes
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty,
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography--note: shares control of Lago Titicaca, world's highest
navigable lake, with Bolivia
People
Population: 26,624,582 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 35% (male 4,786,048; female 4,637,280)
15-64 years: 60% (male 8,045,747; female 7,939,760)
65 years and over: 5% (male 557,252; female 658,495) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.93% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 26.09 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 5.7 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 38.97 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 70.38 years
male: 68.08 years
female: 72.78 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.23 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Peruvian(s)
adjective: Peruvian
Ethnic groups: Amerindian 45%, mestizo (mixed Amerindian and
white) 37%, white 15%, black, Japanese, Chinese, and other 3%
Religions: Roman Catholic
Languages: Spanish (official), Quechua (official), Aymara
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 88.7%
male: 94.5%
female: 83% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Peru
conventional short form: Peru
local long form: Republica del Peru
local short form: Peru
Data code: PE
Government type: republic
Capital: Lima
Administrative divisions: 24 departments (departamentos,
singular--departamento) and 1 constitutional province* (provincia
constitucional); Amazonas, Ancash, Apurimac, Arequipa, Ayacucho,
Cajamarca, Callao*, Cusco, Huancavelica, Huanuco, Ica, Junin, La
Libertad, Lambayeque, Lima, Loreto, Madre de Dios, Moquegua, Pasco,
Piura, Puno, San Martin, Tacna, Tumbes, Ucayali
note: the 1979 constitution mandated the creation of regions
(regiones, singular--region) to function eventually as autonomous
economic and administrative entities; so far, 12 regions have been
constituted from 23 of the 24 departments--Amazonas (from Loreto),
Andres Avelino Caceres (from Huanuco, Pasco, Junin), Arequipa (from
Arequipa), Chavin (from Ancash), Grau (from Tumbes, Piura), Inca
(from Cusco, Madre de Dios, Apurimac), La Libertad (from La
Libertad), Los Libertadores-Huari (from Ica, Ayacucho,
Huancavelica), Mariategui (from Moquegua, Tacna, Puno), Nor Oriental
del Maranon (from Lambayeque, Cajamarca, Amazonas), San Martin (from
San Martin), Ucayali (from Ucayali); formation of another region has
been delayed by the reluctance of the constitutional province of
Callao to merge with the department of Lima; because of inadequate
funding from the central government and organizational and political
difficulties, the regions have yet to assume major responsibilities;
the 1993 constitution retains the regions but limits their
authority; the 1993 constitution also reaffirms the roles of
departmental and municipal governments
Independence: 28 July 1821 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day, 28 July (1821)
Constitution: 31 December 1993
Legal system: based on civil law system; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Alberto Kenyo FUJIMORI Fujimori (since 28
July 1990); note--the president is both the chief of state and head
of government
head of government: President Alberto Kenyo FUJIMORI Fujimori (since
28 July 1990); note--the president is both the chief of state and
head of government
note: Prime Minister Victor JOYWAY (since 4 January 1999) does not
exercise executive power; this power is in the hands of the president
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 9 April 1995 (next to be held NA 2000)
election results: President FUJIMORI reelected; percent of
vote--Alberto FUJIMORI 64.42%, Javier PEREZ de CUELLAR 21.80%,
Mercedes CABANILLAS 4.11%, other 9.67%
Legislative branch: unicameral Democratic Constituent Congress or
Congresso Constituyente Democratico (120 seats; members are elected
by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 9 April 1995 (next to be held NA April 2000)
election results: percent of vote by party--C90/NM 52.1%, UPP 14%,
other parties 33.9%; seats by party--C90/NM 67, UPP 17, APRA 8, FIM
6, CODE-Pais Posible 5, AP 4, PPC 3, Renovation 3, IU 2, OBRAS 2,
other parties 3
Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de
Justicia), judges are appointed by the National Council of the
Judiciary
Political parties and leaders: Change 90-New Majority or C90/NM
Political pressure groups and leaders: leftist guerrilla groups
RAMIREZ Durand (top leader at-large)]; Tupac Amaru Revolutionary
(top leader at-large)]
International organization participation: APEC, CAN, CCC, ECLAC,
FAO, G-11, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat,
Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LAES, LAIA,
NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,
WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Ricardo V. LUNA MENDOZA
chancery: 1700 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New
York, Paterson (New Jersey), San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Dennis C. JETT
embassy: Avenida Encalada, Cuadra 17, Monterrico, Lima
mailing address: P. O. Box 1995, Lima 1; American Embassy (Lima),
APO AA 34031-5000
Flag description: three equal, vertical bands of red (hoist
side), white, and red with the coat of arms centered in the white
band; the coat of arms features a shield bearing a llama, cinchona
tree (the source of quinine), and a yellow cornucopia spilling out
gold coins, all framed by a green wreath
Economy
Economy--overview: The Peruvian economy has become increasingly
market-oriented, with major privatizations completed since 1990 in
the mining, electricity, and telecommunications industries. An
austerity program implemented shortly after the FUJIMORI government
took office in July 1990 contributed to a short-lived contraction of
economic activity, but the slide came to a halt late that year, and
in 1991 output rose 2.4%. By working with the IMF and World Bank on
new financial conditions and arrangements, the government succeeded
in ending its arrears by March 1993. In 1992, GDP fell by 2.8%, in
part because a warmer-than-usual El Nino current resulted in a 30%
drop in the fish catch, but the economy rebounded as strong foreign
investment helped push growth to 7% in 1993, about 13% in 1994, and
6.8% in 1995. Growth slowed to 2.8% in 1996 as the government
adopted tight fiscal and monetary policy to reduce the current
account deficit and meet its IMF targets. Growth then rebounded to
7.3% in 1997 even as inflation fell to its lowest level in 23 years.
Capital inflows surged to record levels in early 1997 and have
remained strong. In 1998, El Nino's impact on agriculture, the
financial crisis in Asia, and instability in Brazilian markets
undercut growth. While Lima publicly projects a rebound to 5% in
1999, private sector analysts believe this figure is overly
optimistic.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$111.8 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 1.8% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$4,300 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 7%
industry: 37%
services: 56% (1997)
Population below poverty line: 54% (1991 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.9%
highest 10%: 34.3% (1994)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6.7% (1997 est.)
Labor force: 7.6 million (1996 est.)
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture, mining and quarrying,
manufacturing, construction, transport, services
Unemployment rate: 8.2%; extensive underemployment (1996)
Budget:
revenues: $8.5 billion
expenditures: $9.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $2
billion (1996 est.)
Industries: mining of metals, petroleum, fishing, textiles,
clothing, food processing, cement, auto assembly, steel,
shipbuilding, metal fabrication
Industrial production growth rate: 1.2% (1996)
Electricity--production: 16.211 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 19.25%
hydro: 80.75%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 16.211 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: coffee, cotton, sugarcane, rice, wheat,
potatoes, plantains, coca; poultry, beef, dairy products, wool; fish
Exports: $6.8 billion (f.o.b., 1997)
Exports--commodities: copper, zinc, fishmeal, crude petroleum and
byproducts, lead, refined silver, coffee, cotton
Exports--partners: US 20%, Japan 7%, UK 7%, China 7%, Germany 5%
(1996)
Imports: $10.3 billion (c.i.f., 1997)
Imports--commodities: machinery, transport equipment, foodstuffs,
petroleum, iron and steel, chemicals, pharmaceuticals
Imports--partners: US 31%, Colombia 7%, Chile 6%, Venezuela 6%, UK
6% (1996)
Debt--external: $25.7 billion (1996 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $895.1 million (1995)
Currency: 1 nuevo sol (S/.) = 100 centimos
Exchange rates: nuevo sol (S/.) per US$1--3.250 (January 1999),
2.930 (1998), 2.664 (1997), 2.453 (1996), 2.253 (1995), 2.195 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 779,306 (1990 est.)
Telephone system: adequate for most requirements
domestic: nationwide microwave radio relay system and a domestic
satellite system with 12 earth stations
international: satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 273, FM 0, shortwave 144
Radios: 5.7 million (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 13 (in addition, there are 112
repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 2 million (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 2,041 km
standard gauge: 1,726 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 315 km 0.914-m gauge (1997)
Highways:
total: 72,146 km
paved: 7,353 km
unpaved: 64,793 km (1998 est.)
Waterways: 8,600 km of navigable tributaries of Amazon system and
208 km of Lago Titicaca
Pipelines: crude oil 800 km; natural gas and natural gas liquids
64 km
Ports and harbors: Callao, Chimbote, Ilo, Matarani, Paita, Puerto
Maldonado, Salaverry, San Martin, Talara, Iquitos, Pucallpa,
Yurimaguas
note: Iquitos, Pucallpa, and Yurimaguas are all on the upper reaches
of the Amazon and its tributaries
Merchant marine:
total: 7 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 51,518 GRT/75,018 DWT
ships by type: cargo 6, oil tanker 1 (1998 est.)
Airports: 244 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 44
over 3,047 m: 7
2,438 to 3,047 m: 15
1,524 to 2,437 m: 12
914 to 1,523 m: 8
under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 200
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 24
914 to 1,523 m: 73
under 914 m: 99 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army (Ejercito Peruano), Navy (Marina de
Guerra del Peru; includes Naval Air, Marines, and Coast Guard), Air
Force (Fuerza Aerea del Peru), National Police
Military manpower--military age: 20 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 6,913,471 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 4,657,649 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 268,624 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $913 million (1998);
note--may not include off-budget purchases related to military
modernization program
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 1.4% (1998)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: on 26 October 1998, Peru and Ecuador
concluded treaties on commerce and navigation and on boundary
integration, to complete a package of agreements settling the
long-standing boundary dispute between them; demarcation of the
agreed-upon boundary was scheduled to begin in mid-January 1999
Illicit drugs: until recently the world's largest coca leaf
producer, Peru has reduced the area of coca under cultivation by
26%, from 68,800 hectares in 1997 to 51,000 hectares at the end of
1998; most of cocaine base is shipped to neighboring Colombia and
Brazil for processing into cocaine for the international drug
market, but exports of finished cocaine are increasing
======================================================================
@Philippines
-----------
Geography
Location: Southeastern Asia, archipelago between the Philippine
Sea and the South China Sea, east of Vietnam
Geographic coordinates: 13 00 N, 122 00 E
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area:
total: 300,000 sq km
land: 298,170 sq km
water: 1,830 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly larger than Arizona
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 36,289 km
Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
continental shelf: to depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: irregular polygon extending up to 100 nm from
coastline as defined by 1898 treaty; since late 1970s has also
claimed polygonal-shaped area in South China Sea up to 285 nm in
breadth
Climate: tropical marine; northeast monsoon (November to April);
southwest monsoon (May to October)
Terrain: mostly mountains with narrow to extensive coastal
lowlands
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Philippine Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Apo 2,954 m
Natural resources: timber, petroleum, nickel, cobalt, silver,
gold, salt, copper
Land use:
arable land: 19%
permanent crops: 12%
permanent pastures: 4%
forests and woodland: 46%
other: 19% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 15,800 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: astride typhoon belt, usually affected by 15 and
struck by five to six cyclonic storms per year; landslides; active
volcanoes; destructive earthquakes; tsunamis
Environment--current issues: uncontrolled deforestation in
watershed areas; soil erosion; air and water pollution in Manila;
increasing pollution of coastal mangrove swamps which are important
fish breeding grounds
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban,
Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94,
Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,
Desertification
People
Population: 79,345,812 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 37% (male 15,057,698; female 14,555,430)
15-64 years: 59% (male 23,168,043; female 23,715,877)
65 years and over: 4% (male 1,269,522; female 1,579,242) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.04% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 27.88 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 6.45 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 33.89 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 66.58 years
male: 63.79 years
female: 69.5 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.46 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Filipino(s)
adjective: Philippine
Ethnic groups: Christian Malay 91.5%, Muslim Malay 4%, Chinese
1.5%, other 3%
Religions: Roman Catholic 83%, Protestant 9%, Muslim 5%, Buddhist
and other 3%
Languages: Pilipino (official, based on Tagalog), English
(official)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 94.6%
male: 95%
female: 94.3% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of the Philippines
conventional short form: Philippines
local long form: Republika ng Pilipinas
local short form: Pilipinas
Data code: RP
Government type: republic
Capital: Manila
Administrative divisions: 72 provinces and 61 chartered cities*;
Abra, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Aklan, Albay, Angeles*,
Antique, Aurora, Bacolod*, Bago*, Baguio*, Bais*, Basilan, Basilan
City*, Bataan, Batanes, Batangas, Batangas City*, Benguet, Bohol,
Bukidnon, Bulacan, Butuan*, Cabanatuan*, Cadiz*, Cagayan, Cagayan de
Oro*, Calbayog*, Caloocan*, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur,
Camiguin, Canlaon*, Capiz, Catanduanes, Cavite, Cavite City*, Cebu,
Cebu City*, Cotabato*, Dagupan*, Danao*, Dapitan*, Davao City*
Davao, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Dipolog*, Dumaguete*, Eastern
Samar, General Santos*, Gingoog*, Ifugao, Iligan*, Ilocos Norte,
Ilocos Sur, Iloilo, Iloilo City*, Iriga*, Isabela, Kalinga-Apayao,
La Carlota*, Laguna, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Laoag*,
Lapu-Lapu*, La Union, Legaspi*, Leyte, Lipa*, Lucena*, Maguindanao,
Mandaue*, Manila*, Marawi*, Marinduque, Masbate, Mindoro Occidental,
Mindoro Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Mountain,
Naga*, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, North Cotabato, Northern
Samar, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Olongapo*, Ormoc*, Oroquieta*,
Ozamis*, Pagadian*, Palawan, Palayan*, Pampanga, Pangasinan, Pasay*,
Puerto Princesa*, Quezon, Quezon City*, Quirino, Rizal, Romblon,
Roxas*, Samar, San Carlos* (in Negros Occidental), San Carlos* (in
Pangasinan), San Jose*, San Pablo*, Silay*, Siquijor, Sorsogon,
South Cotabato, Southern Leyte, Sultan Kudarat, Sulu, Surigao*,
Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Tacloban*, Tagaytay*,
Tagbilaran*, Tangub*, Tarlac, Tawitawi, Toledo*, Trece Martires*,
Zambales, Zamboanga*, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur
Independence: 4 July 1946 (from US)
National holiday: Independence Day, 12 June (1898) (from Spain)
Constitution: 2 February 1987, effective 11 February 1987
Legal system: based on Spanish and Anglo-American law; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Joseph Ejercito ESTRADA (since 30 June
1998) and Vice President Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO (since 30 June
1998); note--the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Joseph Ejercito ESTRADA (since 30 June
1998) and Vice President Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO (since 30 June
1998); note--the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president with the consent of the
Commission of Appointments
elections: president and vice president elected on separate tickets
by popular vote for six-year terms; election last held 11 May 1998
(next to be held 11 May 2004)
election results: Joseph Ejercito ESTRADA elected president; percent
of vote--NA%; Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO elected vice president; percent
of vote--NA%
Legislative branch: bicameral Congress or Kongreso consists of
the Senate or Senado (24 seats--one-half elected every three years;
members elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms) and the
House of Representatives or Kapulungan Ng Mga Kinatawan (221 seats;
members elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms; note--an
additional 50 members may be appointed by the president)
elections: Senate--last held 11 May 1998 (next to be held 11 May
2001); House of Representatives--elections last held 11 May 1998
(next to be held 11 May 2001)
election results: Senate--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by
party--LAMP 12, Lakas 5, PRP 2, LP 1, other 3; note--the Senate now
has only 23 members with one seat vacated when Gloria
MACAPAGAL-ARROYO became vice president; the seat can only be filled
by election and is likely to remain open until the next regular
election in 2001; House of Representatives--percent of vote by
party--NA; seats by party--LAMP 135, Lakas 37, LP 13, Aksyon
Demokratiko 1, other 35
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, justices are appointed for
four-year terms by the president on the recommendation of the
Judicial and Bar Council
Political parties and leaders: Laban Ng Masang Pilipino or LAMP
Eduardo "Danding" COJUANGO, chairman, Edgardo ANGARA, party
MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, secretary general, Jose DE VENECIA, party
SALONGA, chairman, Florencio ABAD, secretary general]; People's
International organization participation: APEC, AsDB, ASEAN, CCC,
CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,
UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Raul Chaves RABE
chancery: 1600 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York, San
Francisco, and Tamuning (Guam)
consulate(s): San Diego and Susupe (Saipan)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas C. HUBBARD
embassy: 1201 Roxas Boulevard, Ermita Manila 1000
mailing address: FPO 96515
Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and
red with a white equilateral triangle based on the hoist side; in
the center of the triangle is a yellow sun with eight primary rays
(each containing three individual rays) and in each corner of the
triangle is a small yellow five-pointed star
Economy
Economy--overview: In 1998 the Philippine economy?a mixture of
agriculture, light industry, and supporting services--deteriorated as
a result of spillover from the Asian financial crisis and poor
weather conditions. Growth fell to about -0.5% in 1998 from 5% in
1997, but is expected to recover to more than 2% in 1999. The
government has promised to continue its economic reforms to help the
Philippines match the pace of development in the newly
industrialized countries of East Asia. The strategy includes
improving infrastructure, overhauling the tax system to bolster
government revenues, and moving toward further deregulation and
privatization of the economy.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$270.5 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: -0.5% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$3,500 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 20%
industry: 32%
services: 48% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: 32% (1997 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.4%
highest 10%: 33.5% (1994)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 9.7% (1998)
Labor force: 31.3 million (1998 est.)
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 39.8%, government and
social services 19.4%, services 17.7%, manufacturing 9.8%,
construction 5.8%, other 7.5% (1998 est.)
Unemployment rate: 9.6% (October 1998)
Budget:
revenues: $14.5 billion
expenditures: $12.6 billion (1998 est.)
Industries: textiles, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, wood products,
food processing, electronics assembly, petroleum refining, fishing
Industrial production growth rate: -1.7% (1998 est.)
Electricity--production: 32.2 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 62.11%
hydro: 20.19%
nuclear: 0%
other: 17.7% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 32.2 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: rice, coconuts, corn, sugarcane, bananas,
pineapples, mangoes; pork, eggs, beef; fish
Exports: $25 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Exports--commodities: electronics and telecommunications 51%,
machinery and transport 10%, garments 9%, other 30%
Exports--partners: US 34%, Japan 17%, EU 17%, ASEAN 14%, Hong Kong
4%, Taiwan 4% (1997 est.)
Imports: $29 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Imports--commodities: raw materials and intermediate goods 43%,
capital goods 36%, consumer goods 9%, fuels 9%
Imports--partners: Japan 21%, US 20%, ASEAN 12%, EU 10%, Taiwan
5%, Hong Kong 4%, Saudi Arabia 4% (1997 est.)
Debt--external: $46.4 billion (September 1998)
Economic aid--recipient: ODA, $1.1 billion (1998)
Currency: 1 Philippine peso (P) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates: Philippine pesos (P) per US$1--38.404 (January
1999), 40.893 (1998), 29.471 (1997), 26.216 (1996), 25.714 (1995),
26.417 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 1.9 million (1997)
Telephone system: good international radiotelephone and submarine
cable services; domestic and interisland service adequate
domestic: domestic satellite system with 11 earth stations
international: submarine cables to Hong Kong, Guam, Singapore,
Taiwan, and Japan; satellite earth stations--3 Intelsat (1 Indian
Ocean and 2 Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 261, FM 55, shortwave 0
Radios: 9.03 million (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 37 (includes six stations of the
US Armed Forces Radio and TV Service) (1997)
Televisions: 9.2 million (1998)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 897 km of which 492 km in operation
narrow gauge: 492 km 1.067-m gauge (1996)
Highways:
total: 161,313 km
paved: 290 km
unpaved: 161,023 km (1997)
Waterways: 3,219 km; limited to shallow-draft (less than 1.5 m)
vessels
Pipelines: petroleum products 357 km
Ports and harbors: Batangas, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao,
Guimaras Island, Iligan, Iloilo, Jolo, Legaspi, Manila, Masao,
Puerto Princesa, San Fernando, Subic Bay, Zamboanga
Merchant marine:
total: 513 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 6,544,029
GRT/10,052,418 DWT
ships by type: bulk 179, cargo 131, chemical tanker 6, combination
bulk 13, container 9, liquefied gas tanker 12, livestock carrier 10,
oil tanker 48, passenger 4, passenger-cargo 13, refrigerated cargo
19, roll-on/roll-off cargo 17, short-sea passenger 31, specialized
tanker 1, vehicle carrier 20
note: a flag of convenience registry; Japan owns 19 ships, Hong Kong
5, Cyprus 1, Denmark 1, Greece 1, Netherlands 1, Singapore 1, and UK
1 (1998 est.)
Airports: 260 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 75
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 26
914 to 1,523 m: 30
under 914 m: 10 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 185
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 61
under 914 m: 121 (1998 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy (includes Coast Guard and Marine
Corps), Air Force
Military manpower--military age: 20 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 20,228,797 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 14,261,514 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 818,006 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $995 million (1998)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 1.5% (1998)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: involved in a complex dispute over the
Spratly Islands with China, Malaysia, Taiwan, Vietnam, and possibly
Brunei; claim to Malaysia's Sabah State has not been fully revoked
Illicit drugs: exports locally produced marijuana and hashish to
East Asia, the US, and other Western markets; serves as a transit
point for heroin and crystal methamphetamine
======================================================================
@Pitcairn Islands
----------------
Geography
Location: Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about
one-half of the way from Peru to New Zealand
Geographic coordinates: 25 04 S, 130 06 W
Map references: Oceania
Area:
total: 47 sq km
land: 47 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 51 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 3 nm
Climate: tropical, hot, humid; modified by southeast trade winds;
rainy season (November to March)
Terrain: rugged volcanic formation; rocky coastline with cliffs
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Pawala Valley Ridge 347 m
Natural resources: miro trees (used for handicrafts), fish
note: manganese, iron, copper, gold, silver, and zinc have been
discovered offshore
Land use:
arable land: NA%
permanent crops: NA%
permanent pastures: NA%
forests and woodland: NA%
other: NA%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: typhoons (especially November to March)
Environment--current issues: deforestation (only a small portion
of the original forest remains because of burning and clearing for
settlement)
Environment--international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA
People
Population: 49 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate: -2.04% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: NA births/1,000 population
Death rate: NA deaths/1,000 population
Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
Infant mortality rate: NA deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: NA years
male: NA years
female: NA years
Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman
Nationality:
noun: Pitcairn Islander(s)
adjective: Pitcairn Islander
Ethnic groups: descendants of the Bounty mutineers and their
Tahitian wives
Religions: Seventh-Day Adventist 100%
Languages: English (official), Pitcairnese, Tahitian, 18th
century English dialect
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie, and Oeno Islands
conventional short form: Pitcairn Islands
Data code: PC
Dependency status: overseas territory of the UK
Government type: NA
Capital: Adamstown
Administrative divisions: none (overseas territory of the UK)
Independence: none (overseas territory of the UK)
National holiday: Celebration of the Birthday of the Queen
(second Saturday in June)
Constitution: Local Government Ordinance of 1964
Legal system: local island by-laws
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal with three years residency
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by UK High Commissioner to New Zealand and Governor
(nonresident) of the Pitcairn Islands Robert John ALSTON (since NA
August 1994); Commissioner (nonresident) G. D. HARRAWAY (since NA;
is the liaison person between the governor and the Island Council)
head of government: Island Magistrate and Chairman of the Island
Council Jay WARREN (since NA)
cabinet: NA
elections: the monarch is hereditary; high commissioner and
commissioner appointed by the monarch; island magistrate elected by
popular vote for a three-year term; last known election held NA
December 1993 (next to be held NA December 1996)
election results: Jay WARREN reelected island magistrate; percent of
vote--NA
Legislative branch: unicameral Island Council (10 seats--6 elected
by popular vote, 1 appointed by the 6 elected members, 2 appointed
by the governor, and 1 seat for the Island Secretary; members serve
one-year terms)
elections: take place each December; last held NA December 1998
(next to be held NA December 1999)
election results: percent of vote--NA; seats--all independents
Judicial branch: Island Court, island magistrate presides over
the court and is elected every three years
Political parties and leaders: none
Political pressure groups and leaders: NA
International organization participation: SPC
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory of
the UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (overseas territory
of the UK)
Flag description: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper
hoist-side quadrant and the Pitcairn Islander coat of arms centered
on the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms is yellow, green,
and light blue with a shield featuring a yellow anchor
Economy
Economy--overview: The inhabitants exist on fishing and
subsistence farming. The fertile soil of the valleys produces a wide
variety of fruits and vegetables, including citrus, sugarcane,
watermelons, bananas, yams, and beans. Bartering is an important
part of the economy. The major sources of revenue are the sale of
postage stamps to collectors and the sale of handicrafts to passing
ships.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$NA
GDP--real growth rate: NA%
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$NA
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
Labor force: 14 able-bodied men (1993)
Labor force--by occupation: no business community in the usual
sense; some public works; subsistence farming and fishing
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $729,884
expenditures: $878,119, including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY94/95 est.)
Industries: postage stamps, handicrafts
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: NA kWh
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: NA%
hydro: NA%
nuclear: NA%
other: NA%
Electricity--consumption: NA kWh
Electricity--exports: NA kWh
Electricity--imports: NA kWh
Agriculture--products: wide variety of fruits and vegetables
Exports: $NA
Exports--commodities: fruits, vegetables, curios
Exports--partners: NA
Imports: $NA
Imports--commodities: fuel oil, machinery, building materials,
flour, sugar, other foodstuffs
Imports--partners: NA
Debt--external: $NA
Economic aid--recipient: $NA
Currency: 1 New Zealand dollar (NZ$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1--1.8560
(January 1999), 1.8629 (1998), 1.5083 (1997), 1.4543 (1996), 1.5235
(1995), 1.6844 (1994)
Fiscal year: 1 April--31 March
Communications
Telephones: 24
Telephone system: party line telephone service on the island
domestic: NA
international: radiotelephone
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 0 (1997)
Televisions: NA
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 6.4 km
paved: 0 km
unpaved: 6.4 km
Ports and harbors: Bounty Bay
Merchant marine: none
Airports: none
Military
Military--note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
======================================================================
@Poland
------
Geography
Location: Central Europe, east of Germany
Geographic coordinates: 52 00 N, 20 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area:
total: 312,683 sq km
land: 304,510 sq km
water: 8,173 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than New Mexico
Land boundaries:
total: 2,888 km
border countries: Belarus 605 km, Czech Republic 658 km, Germany 456
km, Lithuania 91 km, Russia (Kaliningrad Oblast) 206 km, Slovakia
444 km, Ukraine 428 km
Coastline: 491 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: defined by international treaties
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: temperate with cold, cloudy, moderately severe winters
with frequent precipitation; mild summers with frequent showers and
thundershowers
Terrain: mostly flat plain; mountains along southern border
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Raczki Elblaskie -2 m
highest point: Rysy 2,499 m
Natural resources: coal, sulfur, copper, natural gas, silver,
lead, salt
Land use:
arable land: 47%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 13%
forests and woodland: 29%
other: 10% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 1,000 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment--current issues: situation has improved since 1989 due
to decline in heavy industry and increased environmental concern by
postcommunist governments; air pollution nonetheless remains serious
because of sulfur dioxide emissions from coal-fired power plants,
and the resulting acid rain has caused forest damage; water
pollution from industrial and municipal sources is also a problem,
as is disposal of hazardous wastes
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic
Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine
Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94,
Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography--note: historically, an area of conflict because of flat
terrain and the lack of natural barriers on the North European Plain
People
Population: 38,608,929 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 20% (male 3,921,093; female 3,734,223)
15-64 years: 68% (male 13,076,231; female 13,243,716)
65 years and over: 12% (male 1,762,135; female 2,871,531) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.05% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 10.61 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 9.72 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.61 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 12.76 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 73.06 years
male: 68.93 years
female: 77.41 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.45 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Pole(s)
adjective: Polish
Ethnic groups: Polish 97.6%, German 1.3%, Ukrainian 0.6%,
Byelorussian 0.5% (1990 est.)
Religions: Roman Catholic 95% (about 75% practicing), Eastern
Orthodox, Protestant, and other 5%
Languages: Polish
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 98% (1978 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Poland
conventional short form: Poland
local long form: Rzeczpospolita Polska
local short form: Polska
Data code: PL
Government type: democratic state
Capital: Warsaw
Administrative divisions: 16 provinces (wojewodztwa,
singular--wojewodztwo); Dolnoslaskie, Kujawsko-Pomorskie, Lodzkie,
Lubelskie, Lubuskie, Malopolskie, Mazowieckie, Opolskie,
Podkarpackie, Podlaskie, Pomorskie, Slaskie, Swietokrzyskie,
Warminsko-Mazurskie, Wielkopolskie, Zachodniopomorskie
Independence: 11 November 1918 (independent republic proclaimed)
National holiday: Constitution Day, 3 May (1791); Independence
Day, November 11 (1918)
Constitution: 16 October 1997; adopted by the National Assembly
on 2 April 1997; passed by national referendum 23 May 1997
Legal system: mixture of Continental (Napoleonic) civil law and
holdover communist legal theory; changes being gradually introduced
as part of broader democratization process; limited judicial review
of legislative acts although under the new constitution, the
Constitutional Tribunal ruling will become final as of October 1999;
court decisions can be appealed to the European Court of Justice in
Strasbourg
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Aleksander KWASNIEWSKI (since 23 December
1995)
head of government: Prime Minister Jerzy BUZEK (since NA October
1997), Deputy Prime Ministers Leszek BALCEROWICZ (since 31 October
1997), Janusz TOMASZEWSKI (since 31 October 1997)
cabinet: Council of Ministers responsible to the prime minister and
the Sejm; the prime minister proposes, the president appoints, and
the Sejm approves the Council of Ministers
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election first round held 5 November 1995, second round held 19
November 1995 (next to be held NA November 2000); prime minister and
deputy prime ministers appointed by the president and confirmed by
the Sejm
election results: Aleksander KWASNIEWSKI elected president in 1995;
percent of popular vote, second round--Aleksander KWASNIEWSKI 51.7%,
Lech WALESA 48.3%; Jerzy BUZEK selected prime minister in 1997
Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly or Zgromadzenie
Narodowe consists of the Sejm (460 seats; members are elected under
a complex system of proportional representation to serve four-year
terms) and the Senate or Senat (100 seats; members are elected by a
majority vote on a provincial basis to serve four-year terms)
elections: Sejm elections last held 21 September 1997 (next to be
held by NA September 2001); Senate--last held 21 September 1997 (next
to be held by NA September 2001)
election results: Sejm--percent of vote by party--AWS 33.8%, SLD
27.1%, UW 13.4%, PSL 7.3%, ROP 5.6%, MN 0.4%, other 12.4%; seats by
party--AWS 201, SLD 164, UW 60, PSL 27, ROP 6, MN 2; Senate--percent
of vote by party--NA; seats by party--AWS 51, SLD 28, UW 8, ROP 5, PSL
3, independents 5; note--seats by party in the Sejm as of December
1997: AWS 200, SLD 164, UW 60, PSL 26, ROP 4, MN 2, other 4
note: four seats are constitutionally assigned to ethnic German
parties
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the
president on the recommendation of the National Council of the
Judiciary for an indefinite period; Constitutional Tribunal, judges
are chosen by the Sejm for nine-year terms
Political parties and leaders:
post-Communist: Democratic Left Alliance or SLD (Social Democracy of
KALINOWSKI]
post-Solidarity parties: Freedom Union or UW; note--Democratic Union
non-Communist, non-Solidarity: Movement for the Reconstruction of
Political pressure groups and leaders: powerful Roman Catholic
Church; Solidarity (trade union); All Poland Trade Union Alliance or
OPZZ (trade union)
International organization participation: Australia Group, BIS,
BSEC (observer), CBSS, CCC, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU
(applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA
(observer), IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MONUA, NAM (guest), NSG, OAS
(observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO,
UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNMOP, UNMOT, UNOMIG,
UNPREDEP, UPU, WCL, WEU (associate partner), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Jerzy KOZMINSKI
chancery: 2640 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Daniel FRIED
embassy: Aleje Ujazdowskie 29/31 00-054, Warsaw P1
mailing address: American Embassy Warsaw, US Department of State,
Washington, DC 20521-5010 (pouch)
consulate(s) general: Krakow
Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and
red; similar to the flags of Indonesia and Monaco which are red
(top) and white
Economy
Economy--overview: Poland today stands out as one of the most
successful and open transition economies. The privatization of small
and medium state-owned companies and a liberal law on establishing
new firms marked the rapid development of a private sector now
responsible for 70% of economic activity. In contrast to the vibrant
expansion of private non-farm activity, the large agriculture
component remains handicapped by structural problems, surplus labor,
inefficient small farms, and lack of investment. The government's
determination to enter the EU as soon as possible affects all
aspects of its economic policies. Improving Poland's worsening
current account deficit also is a priority. To date, the government
has resisted pressure for protectionist solutions and continues to
support regional free trade initiatives. The government export
strategy emphasizes a more aggressive export assistance program.
Warsaw continues to hold the budget deficit to less than 2% of GDP.
Further progress on public finance depends mainly on comprehensive
reform of the social welfare system and privatization of Poland's
remaining state sector. Restructuring and privatization of
"sensitive sectors" (e.g., coal, steel, and telecommunications) has
begun. Long-awaited privatizations in aviation and energy are
scheduled for 1999.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$263 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 5.6% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$6,800 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 5.1%
industry: 26.6%
services: 68.3% (1997)
Population below poverty line: 23.8% (1993 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 4%
highest 10%: 22.1% (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 11% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 17.4 million (1998 est.)
Labor force--by occupation: industry and construction 29.9%,
agriculture 26%, services 44.1% (1996)
Unemployment rate: 10% (1998)
Budget:
revenues: $36.5 billion
expenditures: $38.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1997 est.)
Industries: machine building, iron and steel, coal mining,
chemicals, shipbuilding, food processing, glass, beverages, textiles
Industrial production growth rate: 7.9% (1998 est.)
Electricity--production: 134.731 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 97.09%
hydro: 2.91%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 132.291 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 7.925 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 5.485 billion kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: potatoes, fruits, vegetables, wheat;
poultry, eggs, pork, beef, milk, cheese
Exports: $27.2 billion (f.o.b., 1997)
Exports--commodities: manufactured goods, chemicals 57%, machinery
and equipment 21%, food and live animals 12%, mineral fuels 7%,
other 3%
Exports--partners: Germany 32.9%, Russia 8.4%, Italy 5.9%, Ukraine
4.7%, Netherlands 4.7%, France 4.4%
Imports: $38.5 billion (f.o.b., 1997)
Imports--commodities: manufactured goods, chemical 43%, machinery
and equipment 36%, mineral fuels 9%, food and live animals 8%, other
4%
Imports--partners: Germany 24.1%, Italy 9.9%, Russia 6.3%, UK
5.5%, US 4.5%, France 5.9%
Debt--external: $42 billion (1997)
Economic aid--recipient: $4.312 billion (1995)
Currency: 1 zloty (Zl) = 100 groszy
Exchange rates: zlotych (Zl) per US$1--3.5409 (January 1999),
3.4754 (1998), 3.2793 (1997), 2.6961 (1996), 2.4250 (1995); note--a
currency reform on 1 January 1995 replaced 10,000 old zlotys with 1
new zloty; 22,723 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 8.2 million (1996)
Telephone system: underdeveloped and outmoded system; government
aims to have 10 million telephones in service by 2000; the process
of partial privatization of the state-owned telephone monopoly has
begun
domestic: cable, open wire, and microwave radio relay; 3 cellular
networks
international: satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat, NA Eutelsat, 2
Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions), and 1 Intersputnik
(Atlantic Ocean region)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 27, FM 75, shortwave 1 (1994 est.)
Radios: 9.9 million registered (1996)
Television broadcast stations: 150 (1997)
Televisions: 9.4 million registered (1996)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 24,313 km
broad gauge: 652 km 1.520-m gauge
standard gauge: 22,243 km 1.435-m gauge (11,648 km electrified;
8,978 km double track)
narrow gauge: 1,418 km various gauges including 1.000-m, 0.785-m,
0.750-m, and 0.600-m (1996)
Highways:
total: 377,048 km
paved: 247,721 km (including 264 km of expressways)
unpaved: 129,327 km (1997 est.)
Waterways: 3,812 km navigable rivers and canals (1996)
Pipelines: crude oil and petroleum products 2,280 km; natural gas
17,000 km (1996)
Ports and harbors: Gdansk, Gdynia, Gliwice, Kolobrzeg, Szczecin,
Swinoujscie, Ustka, Warsaw, Wrocaw
Merchant marine:
total: 61 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,162,954 GRT/1,866,462
DWT
ships by type: bulk 53, cargo 3, chemical tanker 2, roll-on/roll-off
cargo 1, short-sea passenger 2 (1998 est.)
Airports: 92 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 74
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 25
1,524 to 2,437 m: 38
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 3 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 18
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 9
under 914 m: 7 (1998 est.)
Heliports: 3 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Force
Military manpower--military age: 19 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 10,417,314 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 8,104,484 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 334,420 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $3.3 billion (1998)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 2.2% (1998)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
Illicit drugs: major illicit producer of amphetamines for the
international market; transshipment point for Asian and Latin
American illicit drugs to Western Europe
======================================================================
@Portugal
--------
Geography
Location: Southwestern Europe, bordering the North Atlantic
Ocean, west of Spain
Geographic coordinates: 39 30 N, 8 00 W
Map references: Europe
Area:
total: 92,391 sq km
land: 91,951 sq km
water: 440 sq km
note: includes Azores and Madeira Islands
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than Indiana
Land boundaries:
total: 1,214 km
border countries: Spain 1,214 km
Coastline: 1,793 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: maritime temperate; cool and rainy in north, warmer and
drier in south
Terrain: mountainous north of the Tagus River, rolling plains in
south
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Ponta do Pico (Pico or Pico Alto) on Ilha do Pico in
the Azores 2,351 m
Natural resources: fish, forests (cork), tungsten, iron ore,
uranium ore, marble
Land use:
arable land: 26%
permanent crops: 9%
permanent pastures: 9%
forests and woodland: 36%
other: 20% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 6,300 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: Azores subject to severe earthquakes
Environment--current issues: soil erosion; air pollution caused by
industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution, especially in
coastal areas
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Environmental Modification, Nuclear Test Ban,
Tropical Timber 94
Geography--note: Azores and Madeira Islands occupy strategic
locations along western sea approaches to Strait of Gibraltar
People
Population: 9,918,040 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 17% (male 866,115; female 820,438)
15-64 years: 68% (male 3,283,345; female 3,428,427)
65 years and over: 15% (male 619,086; female 900,629) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: -0.13% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 10.49 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 10.25 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.51 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 6.73 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.88 years
male: 72.51 years
female: 79.46 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.34 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Portuguese (singular and plural)
adjective: Portuguese
Ethnic groups: homogeneous Mediterranean stock; citizens of black
African descent who immigrated to mainland during decolonization
number less than 100,000
Religions: Roman Catholic 97%, Protestant denominations 1%, other
2%
Languages: Portuguese
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 85%
male: 89%
female: 82% (1990 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Portuguese Republic
conventional short form: Portugal
local long form: Republica Portuguesa
local short form: Portugal
Data code: PO
Government type: parliamentary democracy
Capital: Lisbon
Administrative divisions: 18 districts (distritos,
singular--distrito) and 2 autonomous regions* (regioes autonomas,
singular--regiao autonoma); Aveiro, Acores (Azores)*, Beja, Braga,
Braganca, Castelo Branco, Coimbra, Evora, Faro, Guarda, Leiria,
Lisboa, Madeira*, Portalegre, Porto, Santarem, Setubal, Viana do
Castelo, Vila Real, Viseu
Dependent areas: Macau (scheduled to revert to China on 20
December 1999)
Independence: 1140 (independent republic proclaimed 5 October
1910)
National holiday: Day of Portugal, 10 June (1580)
Constitution: 25 April 1976, revised 30 October 1982, 1 June
1989, 5 November 1992, and 3 September 1997
Legal system: civil law system; the Constitutional Tribunal
reviews the constitutionality of legislation; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Jorge SAMPAIO (since 9 March 1996)
head of government: Prime Minister Antonio Manuel de Oliviera
GUTERRES (since 28 October 1995)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the
recommendation of the prime minister
note: there is also a Council of State that acts as a consultative
body to the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 14 January 1996 (next to be held NA January
2001); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority
party or leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime
minister by the president
election results: Jorge SAMPAIO elected president; percent of
vote--Jorge SAMPAIO (Socialist) 53.8%, Anibal CAVACO SILVA (Social
Democrat) 46.2%
Legislative branch: unicameral Assembly of the Republic or
Assembleia da Republica (230 seats; members are elected by popular
vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 1 October 1995 (next to be held by 1 October
1999)
election results: percent of vote by party--PSD 34.0%, PS 43.8%, CDU
8.6%, CDS/PP 9.1%; seats by party--PSD 88, PS 112, CDU 15, CDS/PP 15
Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Supremo Tribunal de Justica,
judges appointed for life by the Conselho Superior da Magistratura
Political parties and leaders: Social Democratic Party or PSD
Popular Party or PP (formerly known as Center Democratic Party or
SERGIO]; United Democratic Coalition or CDU (communists; includes
International organization participation: AfDB, Australia Group,
BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ECLAC, EIB, EMU, EU, FAO, IADB,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO,
ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU,
LAIA (observer), MINURCA, MINURSO, MONUA, MTCR, NAM (guest), NATO,
NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UN Security
Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIBH, UNMOP, UNPREDEP,
UPU, WCL, WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Fernando Antonio de Lacerda ANDRESEN
GUIMARAES
chancery: 2125 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: Boston, New York, Newark (New Jersey), New
Bedford (Massachusetts), Providence (Rhode Island), and San Francisco
consulate(s): Los Angeles
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Gerald S. MCGOWAN
embassy: Avenida das Forcas Armadas, 1600 Lisbon
mailing address: PSC 83, APO AE 09726
consulate(s): Ponta Delgada (Azores)
Flag description: two vertical bands of green (hoist side,
two-fifths) and red (three-fifths) with the Portuguese coat of arms
centered on the dividing line
Economy
Economy--overview: Portugal, in 1998, continued to see strong
economic growth, falling interest rates, and low unemployment. The
country qualified for the European Monetary Union (EMU) in 1998 and
joined with 10 other European countries in launching the euro on 1
January 1999. Portugal's inflation rate for 1998, 2.8%, was low but
higher than most of its European partners. The country continues to
run a trade deficit and a balance of payments deficit. The
government is working to modernize capital plant and increase the
country's competitiveness in the increasingly integrated world
markets. Growth is expected to slow to 3% in 1999 because of a
slowdown in public investment and sluggish demand for exports.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$144.8 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 4.2% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$14,600 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 4%
industry: 36%
services: 60% (1998 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.8% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 4.75 million (1998 est.)
Labor force--by occupation: services 56%, manufacturing 22%,
agriculture, forestry, fisheries 12%, construction 9%, mining 1%
(1998 est.)
Unemployment rate: 5% (August 1998)
Budget:
revenues: $48 billion
expenditures: $52 billion, including capital expenditures of $7.4
billion (1996 est.)
Industries: textiles and footwear; wood pulp, paper, and cork;
metalworking; oil refining; chemicals; fish canning; wine; tourism
Industrial production growth rate: 4.1% (1998 est.)
Electricity--production: 32.839 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 55%
hydro: 45%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1998 est.)
Electricity--consumption: 31.92 billion kWh (1997)
Electricity--exports: 3 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 4.2 billion kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: grain, potatoes, olives, grapes; sheep,
cattle, goats, poultry, beef, dairy products
Exports: $25 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports--commodities: clothing and footwear, machinery, chemicals,
cork and paper products, hides
Exports--partners: EU 81% (Germany 20%, Spain 15%, France 14%, UK
12% Netherlands 5%, Benelux 5%, Italy 4%), US 5% (1997)
Imports: $34.9 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports--commodities: machinery and transport equipment,
chemicals, petroleum, textiles, agricultural products
Imports--partners: EU 76% (Spain 24%, Germany 15%, France 11%,
Italy 8%, UK 7%, Netherlands 5%), US 3%, Japan 2% (1997)
Debt--external: $13.1 billion (1997 est.)
Economic aid--donor: ODA, $271 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Portuguese escudo (Esc) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates: Portuguese escudos (Esc) per US$1--172.78 (January
1999), 180.10 (1998), 175.31 (1997), 154.24 (1996), 151.11 (1995),
165.99 (1994)
note: on 1 January 1999, the European Union introduced a common
currency that is now being used by financial institutions in some
member countries at the rate of 0.8597 euros per US$ and a fixed
rate of 200.482 escudos per euro; the euro will replace the local
currency in consenting countries for all transactions in 2002
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 3.7 million (1996 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: generally adequate integrated network of coaxial cables,
open wire, microwave radio relay, and domestic satellite earth
stations
international: 6 submarine cables; satellite earth stations--3
Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), NA Eutelsat;
tropospheric scatter to Azores; note--an earth station for Inmarsat
(Atlantic Ocean region) is planned
Radio broadcast stations: AM 57, FM 66 (repeaters 22), shortwave 0
Radios: 2.2 million (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 36 (in addition, there are 62
repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 2,970,892 (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 3,072 km
broad gauge: 2,769 km 1.668-m gauge (528 km electrified; 426 km
double track)
narrow gauge: 303 km 1.000-m gauge (1996)
Highways:
total: 68,732 km
paved: 59,110 km (including 687 km of expressways)
unpaved: 9,622 km (1995 est.)
Waterways: 820 km navigable; relatively unimportant to national
economy, used by shallow-draft craft limited to 300 metric-ton cargo
capacity
Pipelines: crude oil 22 km; petroleum products 58 km; natural gas
700 km
note: the secondary lines for the natural gas pipeline that will be
300 km long have not yet been built
Ports and harbors: Aveiro, Funchal (Madeira Islands), Horta
(Azores), Leixoes, Lisbon, Porto, Ponta Delgada (Azores), Praia da
Vitoria (Azores), Setubal, Viana do Castelo
Merchant marine:
total: 132 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 894,640 GRT/1,366,955
DWT
ships by type: bulk 13, cargo 72, chemical tanker 14, container 7,
liquefied gas tanker 7, oil tanker 9, refrigerated cargo 1,
roll-on/roll-off cargo 3, short-sea passenger 4, vehicle carrier 2
note: Portugal has created a captive register on Madeira for
Portuguese-owned ships; ships on the Madeira Register (MAR) will
have taxation and crewing benefits of a flag of convenience (1998
est.)
Airports: 66 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 40
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 18
under 914 m: 5 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 26
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 25 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy (includes Marines), Air Force,
National Republican Guard
Military manpower--military age: 20 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 2,542,188 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 2,042,730 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 73,405 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $2.458 billion (1997)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 2.6% (1997)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: as former colonial power, Portugal plays
a key role in the issue of Indonesia's sovereignty over Timor Timur
(East Timor Province), which has not been recognized by the UN
Illicit drugs: important gateway country for Latin American
cocaine entering the European market; transshipment point for
hashish from North Africa to Europe; consumer of Southwest Asian
heroin
======================================================================
@Puerto Rico
-----------
Geography
Location: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the
North Atlantic Ocean, east of the Dominican Republic
Geographic coordinates: 18 15 N, 66 30 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 9,104 sq km
land: 8,959 sq km
water: 145 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly less than three times the size of
Rhode Island
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 501 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical marine, mild; little seasonal temperature
variation
Terrain: mostly mountains, with coastal plain belt in north;
mountains precipitous to sea on west coast; sandy beaches along most
coastal areas
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Cerro de Punta 1,338 m
Natural resources: some copper and nickel; potential for onshore
and offshore oil
Land use:
arable land: 4%
permanent crops: 5%
permanent pastures: 26%
forests and woodland: 16%
other: 49% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 390 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: periodic droughts; hurricanes
Environment--current issues: erosion; occasional drought causing
water shortages
Environment--international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography--note: important location along the Mona Passage?a key
shipping lane to the Panama Canal; San Juan is one of the biggest
and best natural harbors in the Caribbean; many small rivers and
high central mountains ensure land is well watered; south coast
relatively dry; fertile coastal plain belt in north
People
Population: 3,887,652 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 24% (male 482,111; female 459,940)
15-64 years: 65% (male 1,220,682; female 1,323,787)
65 years and over: 11% (male 173,133; female 227,999) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.59% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 15.9 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 7.87 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -2.15 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 10.79 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.06 years
male: 70.95 years
female: 79.41 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.94 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Puerto Rican(s) (US citizens)
adjective: Puerto Rican
Ethnic groups: Hispanic
Religions: Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant denominations and other
15%
Languages: Spanish, English
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 89%
male: 90%
female: 88% (1980 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
conventional short form: Puerto Rico
Data code: RQ
Dependency status: commonwealth associated with the US
Government type: commonwealth
Capital: San Juan
Administrative divisions: none (commonwealth associated with the
US); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by
the US Government, but there are 78 municipalities (municipios,
singular--municipio) at the second order; Adjuntas, Aguada,
Aguadilla, Aguas Buenas, Aibonito, Anasco, Arecibo, Arroyo,
Barceloneta, Barranquitas, Bayamon, Cabo Rojo, Caguas, Camuy,
Canovanas, Carolina, Catano, Cayey, Ceiba, Ciales, Cidra, Coamo,
Comerio, Corozal, Culebra, Dorado, Fajardo, Florida, Guanica,
Guayama, Guayanilla, Guaynabo, Gurabo, Hatillo, Hormigueros,
Humacao, Isabela, Jayuya, Juana Diaz, Juncos, Lajas, Lares, Las
Marias, Las Piedras, Loiza, Luquillo, Manati, Maricao, Maunabo,
Mayaguez, Moca, Morovis, Naguabo, Naranjito, Orocovis, Patillas,
Penuelas, Ponce, Quebradillas, Rincon, Rio Grande, Sabana Grande,
Salinas, San German, San Juan, San Lorenzo, San Sebastian, Santa
Isabel, Toa Alta, Toa Baja, Trujillo Alto, Utuado, Vega Alta, Vega
Baja, Vieques, Villalba, Yabucoa, Yauco
Independence: none (commonwealth associated with the US)
National holiday: US Independence Day, 4 July (1776)
Constitution: ratified 3 March 1952; approved by US Congress 3
July 1952; effective 25 July 1952
Legal system: based on Spanish civil code
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal; indigenous inhabitants are
US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections
Executive branch:
chief of state: President William Jefferson CLINTON of the US (since
20 January 1993); Vice President Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January
1993)
head of government: Governor Pedro ROSSELLO (since 2 January 1993)
cabinet: NA
elections: US president and vice president elected on the same
ticket for four-year terms; governor elected by popular vote for a
four-year term; election last held 5 November 1996 (next to be held
7 November 2000)
election results: Pedro ROSSELLO reelected governor; percent of
vote--51.1%
Legislative branch: bicameral Legislative Assembly consists of
the Senate (28 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote
to serve four-year terms) and the House of Representatives (54
seats; members are directly elected by popular vote to serve
four-year terms)
elections: Senate--last held 5 November 1996 (next to be held 7
November 2000); House of Representatives--last held 5 November 1996
(next to be held 7 November 2000)
election results: Senate--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by
party--PNP 19, PPD 8, PIP 1; House of Representatives--percent of vote
by party--NA; seats by party--PNP 37, PPD 16, PIP 1
note: Puerto Rico elects one nonvoting representative to the US
House of Representatives; elections last held 5 November 1996 (next
to be held 7 November 2000); results--percent of vote by party--NA;
seats by party--PNP 1 (Carlos Romero BARCELO)
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (justices appointed by the
governor with the consent of the Senate); Superior Courts (justices
appointed by the governor with the consent of the Senate); Municipal
Courts (justices appointed by the governor with the consent of the
Senate)
Political parties and leaders: National Republican Party of
Political pressure groups and leaders: Armed Forces for National
Liberation or FALN; Volunteers of the Puerto Rican Revolution;
Boricua Popular Army (also known as the Macheteros); Armed Forces of
Popular Resistance
International organization participation: Caricom (observer),
ECLAC (associate), FAO (associate), ICFTU, Interpol (subbureau),
IOC, WCL, WFTU, WHO (associate)
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (commonwealth
associated with the US)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (commonwealth
associated with the US)
Flag description: five equal horizontal bands of red (top and
bottom) alternating with white; a blue isosceles triangle based on
the hoist side bears a large, white, five-pointed star in the
center; design based on the US flag
Economy
Economy--overview: Puerto Rico has one of the most dynamic
economies in the Caribbean region. A diverse industrial sector has
surpassed agriculture as the primary locus of economic activity and
income. Encouraged by duty-free access to the US and by tax
incentives, US firms have invested heavily in Puerto Rico since the
1950s. US minimum wage laws apply. Sugar production has lost out to
dairy production and other livestock products as the main source of
income in the agricultural sector. Tourism has traditionally been an
important source of income for the island, with estimated arrivals
of nearly 4 million tourists in 1993. Construction and tourism were
the leading sectors in economic growth in 1998.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$34.7 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 3.1% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$9,000 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5.7% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 1.3 million (1996)
Labor force--by occupation: government 19%, manufacturing 13%,
trade 17%, construction 5%, other 32%, unemployed 14% (1996)
Unemployment rate: 13% (FY96/97 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $6.7 billion
expenditures: $9.6 billion (FY 1999/2000
Industries: pharmaceuticals, electronics, apparel, food products;
tourism
Industrial production growth rate: 5% (1994 est.)
Electricity--production: 18.3 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 98.36%
hydro: 1.64%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 18.3 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: sugarcane, coffee, pineapples, plantains,
bananas; livestock products, chickens
Exports: $30.3 billion (f.o.b. 1998)
Exports--commodities: pharmaceuticals, electronics, apparel,
canned tuna, rum, beverage concentrates, medical equipment
Exports--partners: US 88% (1997 est.)
Imports: $21.8 billion (c.i.f. 1996)
Imports--commodities: chemicals, machinery and equipment,
clothing, food, fish, petroleum products
Imports--partners: US 62% (1997 est.)
Debt--external: $NA
Economic aid--recipient: $NA
Currency: 1 US dollar (US$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: US currency is used
Fiscal year: 1 July--30 June
Communications
Telephones: 1.389 million (1996 est.)
Telephone system: modern system, integrated with that of the US
by high-capacity submarine cable and Intelsat with high-speed data
capability
domestic: digital telephone system with about 1 million lines (1990
est.); cellular telephone service
international: satellite earth station--1 Intelsat; submarine cable
to US
Radio broadcast stations: AM 50, FM 63, shortwave 0
note: there were 118 radio stations in 1995
Radios: 2.6 million (1994 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 18 (in addition, there are three
stations of the US Armed Forces Radio and Television Service) (1997)
Televisions: 973,000 (1994 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 96 km
narrow gauge: 96 km 1.000-m gauge, rural, narrow-gauge system for
hauling sugarcane; no passenger service
Highways:
total: 14,400 km
paved: 14,400 km
unpaved: 0 km (1996 est.)
Ports and harbors: Guanica, Guayanilla, Guayama, Playa de Ponce,
San Juan
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 30 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 21
over 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 9
under 914 m: 6 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 9
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 7 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: paramilitary National Guard, Police Force
Military--note: defense is the responsibility of the US
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
======================================================================
@Qatar
-----
Geography
Location: Middle East, peninsula bordering the Persian Gulf and
Saudi Arabia
Geographic coordinates: 25 30 N, 51 15 E
Map references: Middle East
Area:
total: 11,437 sq km
land: 11,437 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than Connecticut
Land boundaries:
total: 60 km
border countries: Saudi Arabia 60 km
Coastline: 563 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: desert; hot, dry; humid and sultry in summer
Terrain: mostly flat and barren desert covered with loose sand
and gravel
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
highest point: Qurayn Abu al Bawl 103 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, fish
Land use:
arable land: 1%
permanent crops: NA%
permanent pastures: 5%
forests and woodland: NA%
other: 94% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 80 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: haze, dust storms, sandstorms common
Environment--current issues: limited natural fresh water resources
are increasing dependence on large-scale desalination facilities
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone
Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography--note: strategic location in central Persian Gulf near
major petroleum deposits
People
Population: 723,542 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 27% (male 99,232; female 95,421)
15-64 years: 71% (male 367,213; female 145,925)
65 years and over: 2% (male 11,047; female 4,704) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.62% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 16.75 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 3.57 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 23.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 2.52 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 2.35 male(s)/female
total population: 1.94 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 17.25 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 74.23 years
male: 71.7 years
female: 76.89 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.42 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Qatari(s)
adjective: Qatari
Ethnic groups: Arab 40%, Pakistani 18%, Indian 18%, Iranian 10%,
other 14%
Religions: Muslim 95%
Languages: Arabic (official), English commonly used as a second
language
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 79.4%
male: 79.2%
female: 79.9% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: State of Qatar
conventional short form: Qatar
local long form: Dawlat Qatar
local short form: Qatar
note: closest approximation of the native pronunciation falls
between cutter and gutter, but not like guitar
Data code: QA
Government type: traditional monarchy
Capital: Doha
Administrative divisions: 9 municipalities (baladiyat,
singular--baladiyah); Ad Dawhah, Al Ghuwayriyah, Al Jumayliyah, Al
Khawr, Al Wakrah, Ar Rayyan, Jarayan al Batinah, Madinat ash Shamal,
Umm Salal
Independence: 3 September 1971 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 3 September (1971)
Constitution: provisional constitution enacted 19 April 1972
Legal system: discretionary system of law controlled by the amir,
although civil codes are being implemented; Islamic law is
significant in personal matters
Suffrage: none
Executive branch:
chief of state: Amir HAMAD bin Khalifa Al Thani (since 27 June 1995
when, as crown prince, he ousted his father, Amir KHALIFA bin Hamad
Al Thani, in a bloodless coup); Crown Prince JASSIM bin Hamad bin
Khalifa Al Thani, third son of the monarch (selected crown prince by
the monarch 22 October 1996); note--Amir HAMAD also holds the
positions of minister of defense and commander-in-chief of the armed
forces
head of government: Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Khalifa Al Thani,
brother of the monarch (since 30 October 1996); Deputy Prime
Minister MUHAMMAD bin Khalifa Al Thani, brother of the monarch
(since 20 January 1998)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary
Legislative branch: unicameral Advisory Council or Majlis
al-Shura (35 seats; members appointed by the monarch)
note: the constitution calls for elections for part of this
consultative body, but no elections have been held since 1970, when
there were partial elections to the body; Council members have had
their terms extended every four years since
Judicial branch: Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders: none
International organization participation: ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF,
CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDB, IFAD,
IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat,
Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW,
OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Saad Muhammad al-KUBAYSI
chancery: Suite 200, 4200 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016
consulate(s) general: Houston
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Elizabeth MCKUNE
embassy: 149 Ahmed Bin Ali St., Fariq Bin Omran (opposite the
television station), Doha
mailing address: P. O. Box 2399, Doha
note: work week is Saturday-Wednesday
Flag description: maroon with a broad white serrated band (nine
white points) on the hoist side
Economy
Economy--overview: Oil is the backbone of the economy and accounts
for more than 30% of GDP, roughly 70% of export earnings, and 66% of
government revenues. Proved oil reserves of 3.7 billion barrels
should ensure continued output at current levels for 23 years. Oil
has given Qatar a per capita GDP comparable to the leading West
European industrial countries. Qatar's proved reserves of natural
gas exceed 7 trillion cubic meters, more than 5% of the world total,
third largest in the world. Production and export of natural gas are
becoming increasingly important. Long-term goals feature the
development of off-shore petroleum and the diversification of the
economy. Lower world oil prices brought GDP down in 1998.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$12 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: -3% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$17,100 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 1%
industry: 49%
services: 50% (1996 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7.4% (1996)
Labor force: 233,000 (1993 est.)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $3.4 billion
expenditures: $4.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $700
million (FY98/99 budget est.)
Industries: crude oil production and refining, fertilizers,
petrochemicals, steel reinforcing bars, cement
Industrial production growth rate: -4% (1995)
Electricity--production: 5.2 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 5.2 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: fruits, vegetables; poultry, dairy
products, beef; fish
Exports: $5.6 billion (f.o.b., 1997 est.)
Exports--commodities: petroleum products 80%, fertilizers, steel
Exports--partners: Japan 49%, Singapore 12%, South Korea 12%,
Thailand 4%, US 3% (1997)
Imports: $4.4 billion (f.o.b., 1997 est.)
Imports--commodities: machinery and equipment, consumer goods,
food, chemicals
Imports--partners: UK 25%, France 13%, Japan 10%, US 9%, Italy 6%
(1997)
Debt--external: $11 billion (1997 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $NA
Currency: 1 Qatari riyal (QR) = 100 dirhams
Exchange rates: Qatari riyals (QR) per US$1--3.6400 riyals (fixed
rate)
Fiscal year: 1 April--31 March
Communications
Telephones: 160,717 (1992 est.)
Telephone system: modern system centered in Doha
domestic: NA
international: tropospheric scatter to Bahrain; microwave radio
relay to Saudi Arabia and UAE; submarine cable to Bahrain and UAE;
satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian
Ocean) and 1 Arabsat
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0
Radios: 201,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 2 (in addition, there are three
repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 205,000 (1992 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 1,230 km
paved: 1,107 km
unpaved: 123 km (1996 est.)
Pipelines: crude oil 235 km; natural gas 400 km
Ports and harbors: Doha, Halul Island, Umm Sa'id
Merchant marine:
total: 22 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 713,014 GRT/1,112,829
DWT
ships by type: cargo 10, combination ore/oil 2, container 5, oil
tanker 5 (1998 est.)
Airports: 4 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 2
over 3,047 m: 2 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Public Security
Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 301,451 (1999 est.)
note: includes non-nationals
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 158,114 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 6,125 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $940 million (FY98/99)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 9.6% (FY98/99)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: territorial dispute with Bahrain over the
Hawar Islands and maritime boundary dispute with Bahrain currently
before the International Court of Justice (ICJ); in 1996, agreed
with Saudi Arabia to demarcate border per 1992 accord; that process
is ongoing
======================================================================
@Reunion
-------
Geography
Location: Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of
Madagascar
Geographic coordinates: 21 06 S, 55 36 E
Map references: World
Area:
total: 2,510 sq km
land: 2,500 sq km
water: 10 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than Rhode Island
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 201 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical, but temperature moderates with elevation; cool
and dry from May to November, hot and rainy from November to April
Terrain: mostly rugged and mountainous; fertile lowlands along
coast
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Piton des Neiges 3,069 m
Natural resources: fish, arable land
Land use:
arable land: 17%
permanent crops: 2%
permanent pastures: 5%
forests and woodland: 35%
other: 41% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 60 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: periodic, devastating cyclones (December to
April); Piton de la Fournaise on the southeastern coast is an active
volcano
Environment--current issues: NA
Environment--international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA
People
Population: 717,723 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 32% (male 118,401; female 112,878)
15-64 years: 62% (male 218,952; female 225,292)
65 years and over: 6% (male 17,506; female 24,694) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.75% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 22.16 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 4.64 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 6.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.73 years
male: 72.69 years
female: 78.93 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.64 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Reunionese (singular and plural)
adjective: Reunionese
Ethnic groups: French, African, Malagasy, Chinese, Pakistani,
Indian
Religions: Roman Catholic 86%, Hindu, Islam, Buddhist (1995)
Languages: French (official), Creole widely used
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 79%
male: 76%
female: 80% (1982 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Department of Reunion
conventional short form: Reunion
local long form: none
local short form: Ile de la Reunion
Data code: RE
Dependency status: overseas department of France
Government type: NA
Capital: Saint-Denis
Administrative divisions: none (overseas department of France);
there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the
US Government, but there are four arrondissements, 24 communes, and
47 cantons
Independence: none (overseas department of France)
National holiday: National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July
(1789)
Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system: French law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May
1995), represented by Prefect Robert POMMIES (since NA 1996)
head of government: President of the General Council Christophe
PAYET (since 4 April 1994) and President of the Regional Council
Margarite SUDRE (since 25 June 1993)
cabinet: NA
elections: French president elected by popular vote for a seven-year
term; prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of the
French Ministry of the Interior; the presidents of the General and
Regional Councils are elected by the members of those councils
Legislative branch: unicameral General Council (47 seats; members
are elected by direct popular vote to serve six-year terms) and
unicameral Regional Council (45 seats; members are elected by direct
popular vote to serve six-year terms)
elections: General Council--last held NA March 1994 (next to be held
NA 2000); Regional Council--last held 25 June 1993 (next to be held
NA 1999)
election results: General Council--percent of vote by party--NA; seats
by party--PCR 12, PS 12, UDF 11, RPR 5, others 7; Regional
Council--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--UPF 17, Free-Dom
Movement 13, PCR 9, PS 6
note: Reunion elects three representatives to the French Senate;
elections last held 14 April 1996 (next to be held NA);
results--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--RPR 1, PCR 2;
Reunion also elects five deputies to the French National Assembly;
elections last held 25 May and 1 June 1997 (next to be held NA2002);
results--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--PCR 3, PS 1, and
RPR-UDF 1
Judicial branch: Court of Appeals or Cour d'Appel
Political parties and leaders: Rally for the Republic or RPR
International organization participation: FZ, InOC, WFTU
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas department of
France)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (overseas department
of France)
Flag description: the flag of France is used
Economy
Economy--overview: The economy has traditionally been based on
agriculture. Sugarcane has been the primary crop for more than a
century, and in some years it accounts for 85% of exports. The
government has been pushing the development of a tourist industry to
relieve high unemployment, which recently amounted to one-third of
the labor force. The gap in Reunion between the well-off and the
poor is extraordinary and accounts for the persistent social
tensions. The white and Indian communities are substantially better
off than other segments of the population, often approaching
European standards, whereas indigenous groups suffer the poverty and
unemployment typical of the poorer nations of the African continent.
The outbreak of severe rioting in February 1991 illustrates the
seriousness of socioeconomic tensions. The economic well-being of
Reunion depends heavily on continued financial assistance from
France.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$3.4 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 3.8% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$4,800 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
Labor force: 261,000 (1995)
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 8%, industry 19%, services
73% (1990)
Unemployment rate: 35% (1994)
Budget:
revenues: $856.7 million
expenditures: $2.2437 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1993)
Industries: sugar, rum, cigarettes, handicraft items, flower oil
extraction
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: 1.1 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 54.55%
hydro: 45.45%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 1.1 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: sugarcane, vanilla, tobacco, tropical
fruits, vegetables, corn
Exports: $171.78 million (f.o.b., 1994)
Exports--commodities: sugar 63%, rum and molasses 4%, perfume
essences 2%, lobster 3%, (1993)
Exports--partners: France 74%, Japan 6%, Comoros 4% (1994)
Imports: $2.35 billion (c.i.f., 1994)
Imports--commodities: manufactured goods, food, beverages,
tobacco, machinery and transportation equipment, raw materials, and
petroleum products
Imports--partners: France 67%, Bahrain 4%, Italy 3% (1994)
Debt--external: $NA
Economic aid--recipient: $NA; note?substantial annual subsidies
from France
Currency: 1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1--5.65 (January 1999),
5.8995 (1998), 5.8367 (1997), 5.1155 (1996), 4.9915 (1995), 5.5520
(1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 219,000 (1995)
Telephone system: adequate system; principal center is Saint-Denis
domestic: modern open wire and microwave radio relay network
international: radiotelephone communication to Comoros, France,
Madagascar; new microwave route to Mauritius; satellite earth
station--1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 13, shortwave 0
Radios: 158,000 (1994)
Television broadcast stations: 22 (in addition, there are 18
low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 116,181 (1992 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 2,784 km
paved: 2,187 km
unpaved: 597 km (1987 est.)
Ports and harbors: Le Port, Pointe des Galets
Merchant marine:
total: 1 chemical tanker (l,000 GRT or over) totaling 28,264
GRT/44,885 DWT (1998 est.)
Airports: 2 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: French forces (Army, Navy, Air Force, and
Gendarmerie)
Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 185,800 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 95,068 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 5,902 (1999 est.)
Military--note: defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
======================================================================
@Romania
-------
Geography
Location: Southeastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between
Bulgaria and Ukraine
Geographic coordinates: 46 00 N, 25 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area:
total: 237,500 sq km
land: 230,340 sq km
water: 7,160 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than Oregon
Land boundaries:
total: 2,508 km
border countries: Bulgaria 608 km, Hungary 443 km, Moldova 450 km,
Serbia and Montenegro 476 km (all with Serbia), Ukraine (north) 362
km, Ukraine (east) 169 km
Coastline: 225 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: temperate; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow and
fog; sunny summers with frequent showers and thunderstorms
Terrain: central Transylvanian Basin is separated from the Plain
of Moldavia on the east by the Carpathian Mountains and separated
from the Walachian Plain on the south by the Transylvanian Alps
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Black Sea 0 m
highest point: Moldoveanu 2,544 m
Natural resources: petroleum (reserves declining), timber,
natural gas, coal, iron ore, salt
Land use:
arable land: 41%
permanent crops: 3%
permanent pastures: 21%
forests and woodland: 29%
other: 6% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 31,020 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: earthquakes most severe in south and southwest;
geologic structure and climate promote landslides
Environment--current issues: soil erosion and degradation; water
pollution; air pollution in south from industrial effluents;
contamination of Danube delta wetlands
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate
Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol
Geography--note: controls most easily traversable land route
between the Balkans, Moldova, and Ukraine
People
Population: 22,334,312 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 19% (male 2,117,289; female 2,027,940)
15-64 years: 68% (male 7,563,695; female 7,663,491)
65 years and over: 13% (male 1,234,760; female 1,727,137) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: -0.23% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 10.09 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 11.55 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.87 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 18.12 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 70.83 years
male: 67.05 years
female: 74.81 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.27 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Romanian(s)
adjective: Romanian
Ethnic groups: Romanian 89.1%, Hungarian 8.9%, German 0.4%,
Ukrainian, Serb, Croat, Russian, Turk, and Gypsy 1.6%
Religions: Romanian Orthodox 70%, Roman Catholic 6% (of which 3%
are Uniate), Protestant 6%, unaffiliated 18%
Languages: Romanian, Hungarian, German
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97%
male: 98%
female: 95% (1992 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Romania
local long form: none
local short form: Romania
Data code: RO
Government type: republic
Capital: Bucharest
Administrative divisions: 40 counties (judete, singular--judet)
and 1 municipality* (municipiu); Alba, Arad, Arges, Bacau, Bihor,
Bistrita-Nasaud, Botosani, Braila, Brasov, Bucuresti*, Buzau,
Calarasi, Caras-Severin, Cluj, Constanta, Covasna, Dimbovita, Dolj,
Galati, Gorj, Giurgiu, Harghita, Hunedoara, Ialomita, Iasi,
Maramures, Mehedinti, Mures, Neamt, Olt, Prahova, Salaj, Satu Mare,
Sibiu, Suceava, Teleorman, Timis, Tulcea, Vaslui, Vilcea, Vrancea
Independence: 1881 (from Turkey; republic proclaimed 30 December
1947)
National holiday: National Day of Romania, 1 December (1990)
Constitution: 8 December 1991
Legal system: former mixture of civil law system and communist
legal theory; is now based on the constitution of France's Fifth
Republic
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Emil CONSTANTINESCU (since 29 November
1996)
head of government: Prime Minister Radu VASILE (since 17 April 1998)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term;
election last held 3 November 1996, with runoff between the top two
candidates held 17 November 1996 (next to be held NA
November/December 2000); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: percent of vote--Emil CONSTANTINESCU 54.4%, Ion
ILIESCU 45.6%
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament or Parlament consists of
the Senate or Senat (143 seats; members are elected by direct
popular vote on a proportional representation basis to serve
four-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies or Adunarea Deputatilor
(343 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote on a
proportional representation basis to serve four-year terms)
elections: Senate--last held 3 November 1996 (next to be held NA
2000); Chamber of Deputies--last held 3 November 1996 (next to be
held NA 2000)
election results: Senate--percent of vote by party--CDR 30.7%, PDSR
23.1%, USD 13.2%, UDMR 6.8%, PRM 4.5%, PUNR 4.2%, others 17.5%;
seats by party--CDR 53, PDSR 41, USD 23, UDMR 11, PRM 8, PUNR 7;
Chamber of Deputies--percent of vote by party--CDR 30.2%, PDSR 21.5%,
USD 12.9%, UDMR 6.6% PRM 4.5%, PUNR 4.4%, others 19.9%; seats by
party--CDR 122, PDSR 91, USD 53, UDMR 25, PRM 19, PUNR 18, ethnic
minorities 15
Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice, judges are appointed
by the president on the recommendation of the Superior Council of
Magistrates
Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party or PD [Petre
DIACONESCU]; Romania Mare Party (Greater Romanian Party) or PRM
note: to increase their voting strength several of the
above-mentioned parties united under umbrella organizations: PNTCD,
PNL, and PNL-CD form the bulk of the Democratic Convention or CDR
other small parties failed to gain representation in the most recent
election
Political pressure groups and leaders: various human rights and
professional associations
International organization participation: ACCT, BIS, BSEC, CCC,
CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, G- 9, G-77, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat,
Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LAIA (observer),
MONUA, NAM (guest), NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UPU, WCL, WEU (associate partner),
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Mircea Dan GEOANA
chancery: 1607 23rd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador James C. ROSAPEPE
embassy: Strada Tudor Arghezi 7-9, Bucharest
mailing address: American Embassy Bucharest, Department of State,
Washington, DC 20521-5260 (pouch)
branch office: Cluj-Napoca
Flag description: three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist
side), yellow, and red; the national coat of arms that used to be
centered in the yellow band has been removed; now similar to the
flags of Andorra and Chad
Economy
Economy--overview: After the collapse of the Soviet Bloc in
1989-91, Romania was left with an obsolete industrial base and a
pattern of industrial capacity wholly unsuited to its needs. In
February 1997, Romania embarked on a comprehensive macroeconomic
stabilization and structural reform program, but reform subsequently
has been a stop-and-go process. Restructuring programs include
liquidating large energy-intensive industries and major agricultural
and financial sector reforms. Today, Romania is continuing its
difficult transition to a market-based economy. GDP contracted by an
estimated 7.3% in 1998 after a 6.6% decline in 1997. Tight monetary
policy and slower exchange rate depreciation earlier in 1998 helped
lower inflation to an estimated 41% from 152% in 1997. The large
current account deficit and concerns about meeting debt payments in
1999 contributed to increased pressure on the exchange rate towards
the end of 1998. Replacing the IMF standby agreement (suspended
because of lack of progress on structural reforms), servicing large
debt payments, and bringing the budget under control are key
priorities for 1999.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$90.6 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: -7.3% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$4,050 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 19%
industry: 41%
services: 40% (1997)
Population below poverty line: 21.5% (1994 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.8%
highest 10%: 20.2% (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 41% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 10.1 million (1996 est.)
Labor force--by occupation: NA%
Unemployment rate: 9% (1998 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $10 billion
expenditures: $11.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.3
billion (1997 est.)
Industries: mining, timber, construction materials, metallurgy,
chemicals, machine building, food processing, petroleum production
and refining
Industrial production growth rate: -17% (1998 est.)
Electricity--production: 59.245 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 72.11%
hydro: 26.35%
nuclear: 1.54%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 60.045 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 800 million kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: wheat, corn, sugar beets, sunflower seed,
potatoes, grapes; milk, eggs, beef
Exports: $8.2 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Exports--commodities: textiles and footwear 23%, metals and metal
products 18%, machinery and equipment 9%, chemicals 7% (1997)
Exports--partners: Italy 20%, Germany 17%, France 6%, Turkey 4%
(1997)
Imports: $10.8 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Imports--commodities: machinery and equipment 23%, fuels and
minerals 19%, chemicals 8%, foodstuffs (1997)
Imports--partners: Germany 16%, Italy 16%, Russia 12%, France 6%
(1997)
Debt--external: $10 billion (1998 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $510.1 million (1995)
Currency: 1 leu (L) = 100 bani
Exchange rates: lei (L) per US$1--11,353.6 (January 1999), 8,875.6
(1998), 7,167.9 (1997), 3,084.2 (1996), 2,033.3 (1995), 1,655.1
(1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 2.6 million (1993 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: poor service; 89% of telephone network is automatic; trunk
network is microwave radio relay; roughly 3,300 villages with no
service (February 1990 est.)
international: satellite earth station--1 Intelsat; new digital
international direct-dial exchanges are in Bucharest (1993 est.)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 12, FM 5, shortwave 0
note: in 1995, 135 local radio stations were registered
Radios: 4.64 million (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 130 (in addition, there are about
400 low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 4.58 million (1992 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 11,376 km
broad gauge: 60 km 1.524-m gauge
standard gauge: 10,889 km 1.435-m gauge (3,723 km electrified; 3,060
km double track)
narrow gauge: 427 km 0.760-m gauge (1994)
Highways:
total: 153,358 km
paved: 78,213 km (including 113 km of expressways)
unpaved: 75,145 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 1,724 km (1984)
Pipelines: crude oil 2,800 km; petroleum products 1,429 km;
natural gas 6,400 km (1992)
Ports and harbors: Braila, Constanta, Galati, Mangalia, Sulina,
Tulcea
Merchant marine:
total: 199 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,996,157
GRT/2,917,895 DWT
ships by type: bulk 35, cargo 141, container 2, oil tanker 7,
passenger 1, passenger-cargo 1, railcar carrier 2, roll-on/roll-off
cargo 9, specialized tanker 1 (1998 est.)
Airports: 27 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 21
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 11 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)
Heliports: 2 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces,
Paramilitary Forces, Civil Defense
Military manpower--military age: 20 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 5,876,912 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 4,938,953 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 193,264 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $650 million (1996)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 2.5% (1996)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: dispute with Ukraine over continental
shelf of the Black Sea under which significant gas and oil deposits
may exist; agreed in 1997 to two-year negotiating period, after
which either party can refer dispute to the International Court of
Justice
Illicit drugs: important transshipment point for Southwest Asian
heroin transiting the Balkan route and small amounts of Latin
American cocaine bound for Western Europe
======================================================================
@Russia
------
Introduction
Background: Russia, a vast Eurasian expanse of field, forest,
desert, and tundra, has endured many "times of trouble"--the Mongol
rule of the 13th to 15th century; czarist reigns of terror; massive
invasions by Swedes, French, and Germans; and the deadly communist
period (1917-91) in which Russia dominated an immense Soviet Union.
General Secretary Mikhail GORBACHEV, in charge during 1985-91,
introduced glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring) in an
attempt to modernize communism, but also inadvertently released
forces that shattered the USSR into 15 independent republics in
December 1991. Russia has struggled in its efforts to build a
democratic political system and market economy to replace the strict
social, political, and economic controls of the communist period.
These reform efforts have resulted in contradictory and confusing
economic and political regulations and practices. Industry,
agriculture, the military, the central government, and the ruble
have suffered, but Russia has successfully held one presidential,
two legislative, and numerous regional elections since 1991. The
severe illnesses of President Boris YEL'TSIN have contributed to a
lack of policy focus at the center.
Geography
Location: Northern Asia (that part west of the Urals is sometimes
included with Europe), bordering the Arctic Ocean, between Europe
and the North Pacific Ocean
Geographic coordinates: 60 00 N, 100 00 E
Map references: Asia
Area:
total: 17,075,200 sq km
land: 16,995,800 sq km
water: 79,400 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly less than 1.8 times the size of the US
Land boundaries:
total: 19,917 km
border countries: Azerbaijan 284 km, Belarus 959 km, China
(southeast) 3,605 km, China (south) 40 km, Estonia 294 km, Finland
1,313 km, Georgia 723 km, Kazakhstan 6,846 km, North Korea 19 km,
Latvia 217 km, Lithuania (Kaliningrad Oblast) 227 km, Mongolia 3,441
km, Norway 167 km, Poland (Kaliningrad Oblast) 206 km, Ukraine 1,576
km
Coastline: 37,653 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: ranges from steppes in the south through humid
continental in much of European Russia; subarctic in Siberia to
tundra climate in the polar north; winters vary from cool along
Black Sea coast to frigid in Siberia; summers vary from warm in the
steppes to cool along Arctic coast
Terrain: broad plain with low hills west of Urals; vast
coniferous forest and tundra in Siberia; uplands and mountains along
southern border regions
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caspian Sea -28 m
highest point: Mount El'brus 5,633 m
Natural resources: wide natural resource base including major
deposits of oil, natural gas, coal, and many strategic minerals,
timber
note: formidable obstacles of climate, terrain, and distance hinder
exploitation of natural resources
Land use:
arable land: 8%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 4%
forests and woodland: 46%
other: 42% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 40,000 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: permafrost over much of Siberia is a major
impediment to development; volcanic activity in the Kuril Islands;
volcanoes and earthquakes on the Kamchatka Peninsula
Environment--current issues: air pollution from heavy industry,
emissions of coal-fired electric plants, and transportation in major
cities; industrial, municipal, and agricultural pollution of inland
waterways and sea coasts; deforestation; soil erosion; soil
contamination from improper application of agricultural chemicals;
scattered areas of sometimes intense radioactive contamination
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Sulphur 85, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic
Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine
Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography--note: largest country in the world in terms of area but
unfavorably located in relation to major sea lanes of the world;
despite its size, much of the country lacks proper soils and
climates (either too cold or too dry) for agriculture
People
Population: 146,393,569 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 19% (male 14,224,033; female 13,666,440)
15-64 years: 68% (male 48,407,409; female 51,768,664)
65 years and over: 13% (male 5,698,356; female 12,628,667) (1999
est.)
Population growth rate: -0.33% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 9.64 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 14.96 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 2.05 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.45 male(s)/female
total population: 0.88 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 23 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 65.12 years
male: 58.83 years
female: 71.72 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.34 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Russian(s)
adjective: Russian
Ethnic groups: Russian 81.5%, Tatar 3.8%, Ukrainian 3%, Chuvash
1.2%, Bashkir 0.9%, Byelorussian 0.8%, Moldavian 0.7%, other 8.1%
Religions: Russian Orthodox, Muslim, other
Languages: Russian, other
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98%
male: 100%
female: 97% (1989 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Russian Federation
conventional short form: Russia
local long form: Rossiyskaya Federatsiya
local short form: Rossiya
former: Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic
Data code: RS
Government type: federation
Capital: Moscow
Administrative divisions: oblasts (oblastey, singular--oblast'),
21 autonomous republics* (avtonomnyk respublik, singular--avtonomnaya
respublika), 10 autonomous okrugs**(avtonomnykh okrugov,
singular--avtonomnyy okrug), 6 krays*** (krayev, singular--kray), 2
federal cities (singular--gorod)****, and 1 autonomous
oblast*****(avtonomnaya oblast'); Adygeya (Maykop)*, Aginskiy
Buryatskiy (Aginskoye)**, Altay (Gorno-Altaysk)*, Altayskiy
(Barnaul)***, Amurskaya (Blagoveshchensk), Arkhangel'skaya,
Astrakhanskaya, Bashkortostan (Ufa)*, Belgorodskaya, Bryanskaya,
Buryatiya (Ulan-Ude)*, Chechnya (Groznyy)*, Chelyabinskaya,
Chitinskaya, Chukotskiy (Anadyr')**, Chuvashiya (Cheboksary)*,
Dagestan (Makhachkala)*, Evenkiyskiy (Tura)**, Ingushetiya
(Nazran')*, Irkutskaya, Ivanovskaya, Kabardino-Balkariya
(Nal'chik)*, Kaliningradskaya, Kalmykiya (Elista)*, Kaluzkskaya,
Kamchatskaya (Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy), Karachayevo-Cherkesiya
(Cherkessk)*, Kareliya (Petrozavodsk)*, Kemerovskaya,
Khabarovskiy***, Khakasiya (Abakan)*, Khanty-Mansiyskiy
(Khanty-Mansiysk)**, Kirovskaya, Komi (Syktyvkar)*, Koryakskiy
(Palana)**, Kostromskaya, Krasnodarskiy***, Krasnoyarskiy***,
Kurganskaya, Kurskaya, Leningradskaya, Lipetskaya, Magadanskaya,
Mariy-El (Yoshkar-Ola)*, Mordoviya (Saransk)*, Moskovskaya, Moskva
(Moscow)****, Murmanskaya, Nenetskiy (Nar'yan-Mar)**,
Nizhegorodskaya, Novgorodskaya, Novosibirskaya, Omskaya,
Orenburgskaya, Orlovskaya (Orel), Penzenskaya, Permskaya,
Komi-Permyatskiy (Kudymkar)**, Primorskiy (Vladivostok)***,
Pskovskaya, Rostovskaya, Ryazanskaya, Sakha (Yakutsk)*,
Sakhalinskaya (Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk), Samarskaya, Sankt-Peterburg
(Saint Petersburg)****, Saratovskaya, Severnaya Osetiya-Alaniya
(Vladikavkaz)*, Smolenskaya, Stavropol'skiy***, Sverdlovskaya
(Yekaterinburg), Tambovskaya, Tatarstan (Kazan')*, Taymyrskiy
(Dudinka)**, Tomskaya, Tul'skaya, Tverskaya, Tyumenskaya, Tyva
(Kyzyl)*, Udmurtiya (Izhevsk)*, Ul'yanovskaya, Ust'-Ordynskiy
Buryatskiy (Ust'-Ordynskiy)**, Vladimirskaya, Volgogradskaya,
Vologodskaya, Voronezhskaya, Yamalo-Nenetskiy (Salekhard)**,
Yaroslavskaya, Yevreyskaya*****; note--when using a place name with
an adjectival ending 'skaya' or 'skiy,' the word Oblast' or
Avonomnyy Okrug or Kray should be added to the place name
note: the autonomous republics of Chechnya and Ingushetiya were
formerly the autonomous republic of Checheno-Ingushetia (the
boundary between Chechnya and Ingushetia has yet to be determined);
administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative
centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in
parentheses)
Independence: 24 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday: Independence Day, June 12 (1990)
Constitution: adopted 12 December 1993
Legal system: based on civil law system; judicial review of
legislative acts
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Boris Nikolayevich YEL'TSIN (since 12 June
1991)
head of government: Premier Yevgeniy Maksimovich PRIMAKOV (since 11
September 1998), First Deputy Premiers Yuriy Dmitriyevich MASLYUKOV
(since 11 September 1998) and Vadim Anatol'yevich GUSTOV (since 11
September 1998); Deputy Premiers Vladimir Broisovich BULGAK (since
11 September 1998), Gennadiy Vasil'yevich KULIK (since 11 September
1998), and Valentin Ivanovna MATVIYENKO (since 11 September 1998)
cabinet: Ministries of the Government or "Government" composed of
the premier and his deputies, ministers, and other agency heads; all
are appointed by the president
note: there is also a Presidential Administration (PA) that provides
staff and policy support to the president, drafts presidential
decrees, and coordinates policy among government agencies; a
Security Council also reports directly to the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term;
election last held 16 June 1996 with runoff election on 3 July 1996
(next to be held NA June 2000); note--no vice president; if the
president dies in office, cannot exercise his powers because of ill
health, is impeached, or resigns, the premier succeeds him; the
premier serves as acting president until a new presidential election
is held, which must be within three months; premier and deputy
premiers appointed by the president with the approval of the Duma
election results: Boris Nikolayevich YEL'TSIN elected president;
percent of vote in runoff--YEL'TSIN 54%, Gennadiy Andreyevich
ZYUGANOV 40%
Legislative branch: bicameral Federal Assembly or Federal'noye
Sobraniye consists of the Federation Council or Sovet Federatsii
(178 seats, filled ex-officio by the top executive and legislative
officials in each of the 89 federal administrative units--oblasts,
krays, republics, autonomous okrugs and oblasts, and the federal
cities of Moscow and St. Petersburg; members serve four-year terms)
and the State Duma or Gosudarstvennaya Duma (450 seats, half elected
in single-member districts and half elected from national party
lists; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year
terms)
elections: State Duma--last held 17 December 1995 (next to be held NA
December 1999)
election results: State Duma--percent of vote received by parties
clearing the 5% threshold entitling them to a proportional share of
the 225 party list seats--Communist Party of the Russian Federation
22.3%, Liberal Democratic Party of Russia 11.2%, Our Home Is Russia
10.1%, Yabloko Bloc 6.9%; seats by party--Communist Party of the
Russian Federation 157, independents 78, Our Home Is Russia 55,
Liberal Democratic Party of Russia 51, Yabloko Bloc 45, Agrarian
Party of Russia 20, Russia's Democratic Choice 9, Power To the
People 9, Congress of Russian Communities 5, Forward, Russia! 3,
Women of Russia 3, other parties 15
Judicial branch: Constitutional Court, judges are appointed for
life by the Federation Council on the recommendation of the
president; Supreme Court, judges are appointed for life by the
Federation Council on the recommendation of the president; Superior
Court of Arbitration, judges are appointed for life by the
Federation Council on the recommendation of the president
Political parties and leaders:
YAVLINSKIY]; Pravoye Delo (Just Cause), a coalition of reformist,
Borisovich CHUBAYS, Boris Yefimovich NEMTSOV, Sergey Vladlenovich
KIRIYENKO]
anti-market and/or ultranationalist: Communist Party of the Russian
BARKASHOV]
note: some 150 political parties, blocs, and movements registered
with the Justice Ministry as of the 19 December 1998 deadline to be
eligible to participate in the scheduled December 1999 Duma
elections; in 1995, 43 political organizations qualified to run
slates of candidates on the Duma party list ballot; among the
parties not listed above but holding seats in the Duma were Russia's
Democratic Choice, Power To the People, Congress of Russian
Communities, Forward, Russia!, and Women of Russia
Political pressure groups and leaders: NA
International organization participation: APEC, BIS, BSEC, CBSS,
CCC, CE, CERN (observer), CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ESCAP, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat,
Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LAIA (observer), MINURSO,
MONUA, MTCR, NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UN
Security Council, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR,
UNMIBH, UNMOP, UNOMIG, UNOMSIL, UNPREDEP, UNTSO, UPU, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant), ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Yuliy Mikhaylovich VORONTSOV
chancery: 2650 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
consulate(s) general: New York, San Francisco, and Seattle
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador James F. COLLINS
embassy: Novinskiy Bul'var 19/23, Moscow
mailing address: APO AE 09721
consulate(s) general: St. Petersburg, Vladivostok, Yekaterinburg
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of white (top),
blue, and red
Economy
Economy--overview: Seven years after the collapse of the USSR,
Russia is still struggling to establish a modern market economy and
achieve strong economic growth. Russian GDP has contracted an
estimated 43% since 1991, including a 5% drop in 1998, despite the
country's wealth of natural resources, its well-educated population,
and its diverse--although increasingly dilapidated--industrial base.
By the end of 1997, Russia had achieved some progress. Inflation had
been brought under control, the ruble was stabilized, and an
ambitious privatization program had transferred thousands of
enterprises to private ownership. Some important market-oriented
laws were also passed, including a commercial code governing
business relations and an arbitration court for resolving economic
disputes. But in 1998, the Asian financial crisis swept through the
country, contributing to a sharp decline in russia's earnings from
oil exports and resulting in an exodus of foreign investors. Matters
came to a head in August 1998 when the government allowed the ruble
to fall precipitously and stopped payment on $40 billion in ruble
bonds. Ongoing problems include an undeveloped legal and financial
system, poor progress on restructuring the military-industrial
complex, and persistently large budget deficits, largely reflecting
the inability of successive governments to collect sufficient taxes.
Russia's transition to a market economy has also been slowed by the
growing prevalence of payment arrears and barter and by widespread
corruption. The severity of Russia's economic problems is dramatized
by the large annual decline in population, estimated by some
observers at 800,000 people, caused by environmental hazards, the
decline in health care, and the unwillingness of people to have
children.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$593.4 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: -5% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$4,000 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 7%
industry: 39%
services: 54% (1997)
Population below poverty line: 28.6% (1998 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3%
highest 10%: 22.2% (1993)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 84% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 66 million (1997)
Labor force--by occupation: NA
Unemployment rate: 11.5% (1998 est.) with considerable additional
underemployment
Budget:
revenues: $40 billion
expenditures: $63 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1998 est.)
Industries: complete range of mining and extractive industries
producing coal, oil, gas, chemicals, and metals; all forms of
machine building from rolling mills to high-performance aircraft and
space vehicles; shipbuilding; road and rail transportation
equipment; communications equipment; agricultural machinery,
tractors, and construction equipment; electric power generating and
transmitting equipment; medical and scientific instruments; consumer
durables, textiles, foodstuffs, handicrafts
Industrial production growth rate: -5.5% (1998 est.)
Electricity--production: 834 billion kWh (1997)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 68.14%
hydro: 19%
nuclear: 12.82%
other: 0.04% (1997)
Electricity--consumption: 788.036 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 24.2 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 6.6 billion kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: grain, sugar beets, sunflower seed,
vegetables, fruits; beef, milk
Exports: $71.8 billion (1998 est.)
Exports--commodities: petroleum and petroleum products, natural
gas, wood and wood products, metals, chemicals, and a wide variety
of civilian and military manufactures
Exports--partners: Ukraine, Germany, US, Belarus, other Western
and less developed countries
Imports: $58.5 billion (1998 est.)
Imports--commodities: machinery and equipment, consumer goods,
medicines, meat, grain, sugar, semifinished metal products
Imports--partners: Europe, North America, Japan, and less
developed countries
Debt--external: $164 billion (yearend 1998)
Economic aid--recipient: $8.523 billion (1995)
Currency: 1 ruble (R) = 100 kopeks
Exchange rates: rubles per US$1--22.2876 (January 1999), 9.7051
(1998), 5,785 (1997), 5,121 (1996), 4,559 (1995), 2,191 (1994)
note: the post-1 January 1998 ruble is equal to 1,000 of the pre-1
January 1998 rubles
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 23.8 million (1997 est.)
Telephone system: the telephone system has undergone significant
changes in the 1990's; there are more than 1,000 companies licensed
to offer communication services; access to digital lines has
improved, particularly in urban centers; Internet and e-mail
services are improving; Russia has made progress toward building the
telecommunications infrastructure necessary for a market economy
domestic: cross country digital trunk lines run from St. Petersburg
to Khabarovsk, and from Moscow to Novorossiysk; the telephone
systems in 60 regional capitals have modern digital infrastructures;
cellular services, both analog and digital, are available in many
areas; in rural areas, the telephone services are still outdated,
inadequate, and low density
international: Russia is connected internationally by three undersea
fiber-optic cables; digital switches in several cities provide more
than 50,000 lines for international calls; satellite earth stations
provide access to Intelsat, Intersputnik, Eutelsat, Inmarsat, and
Orbita
Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA; note--there
are about 1,050 (including AM, FM, and shortwave) radio broadcast
stations throughout the country
Radios: 50 million (1993 est.) (74.3 million radio receivers with
multiple speaker systems for program diffusion)
Television broadcast stations: 11,000 (1996 est.)
Televisions: 54.85 million (1992 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 150,000 km; note--87,000 km in common carrier service; 63,000
km serve specific industries and are not available for common
carrier use
broad gauge: 150,000 km 1.520-m gauge (January 1997 est.)
Highways:
total: 948,000 km (including 416,000 km which serve specific
industries or farms and are not maintained by governmental highway
maintenance departments)
paved: 336,000 km
unpaved: 612,000 km (including 411,000 km of graveled or some other
form of surfacing and 201,000 km of unstabilized earth) (1995 est.)
Waterways: total navigable routes in general use 101,000 km;
routes with navigation guides serving the Russian River Fleet 95,900
km; routes with night navigational aids 60,400 km; man-made
navigable routes 16,900 km (January 1994 est.)
Pipelines: crude oil 48,000 km; petroleum products 15,000 km;
natural gas 140,000 km (June 1993 est.)
Ports and harbors: Arkhangel'sk, Astrakhan', Kaliningrad, Kazan',
Khabarovsk, Kholmsk, Krasnoyarsk, Moscow, Murmansk, Nakhodka,
Nevel'sk, Novorossiysk, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy, St. Petersburg,
Rostov, Sochi, Tuapse, Vladivostok, Volgograd, Vostochnyy, Vyborg
Merchant marine:
total: 617 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,146,329
GRT/5,278,909 DWT
ships by type: barge carrier 1, bulk 19, cargo 309, combination bulk
21, combination ore/oil 6, container 25, multifunction large-load
carrier 1, oil tanker 149, passenger 35, passenger-cargo 3,
refrigerated cargo 16, roll-on/roll-off cargo 25, short-sea
passenger 7 (1998 est.)
Airports: 2,517 (1994 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 630
over 3,047 m: 54
2,438 to 3,047 m: 202
1,524 to 2,437 m: 108
914 to 1,523 m: 115
under 914 m: 151 (1994 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 1,887
over 3,047 m: 25
2,438 to 3,047 m: 45
1,524 to 2,437 m: 134
914 to 1,523 m: 291
under 914 m: 1,392 (1994 est.)
Military
Military branches: Ground Forces, Navy, Air Forces, Strategic
Rocket Forces
note: the Air Defense Force merged into the Air Force in March 1998
Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 38,665,138 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 30,173,495 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 1,149,536 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $NA
note: the Intelligence Community estimates that defense spending in
Russia fell by about 10% in real terms in 1996, reducing Russian
defense outlays to about one-sixth of peak Soviet levels in the late
1980s (1997 est.)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: NA%
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: dispute over at least two small sections
of the boundary with China remain to be settled, despite 1997
boundary agreement; islands of Etorofu, Kunashiri, and Shikotan and
the Habomai group occupied by the Soviet Union in 1945, now
administered by Russia, claimed by Japan; Caspian Sea boundaries are
not yet determined among Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia, and
Turkmenistan; Estonian and Russian negotiators reached a technical
border agreement in December 1996 which has not been ratified; draft
treaty delimiting the boundary with Latvia has not been signed; has
made no territorial claim in Antarctica (but has reserved the right
to do so) and does not recognize the claims of any other nation;
1997 border agreement with Lithuania not yet ratified; Svalbard is
the focus of a maritime boundary dispute in the Barents Sea between
Norway and Russia
Illicit drugs: limited cultivation of illicit cannabis and opium
poppy and producer of amphetamines, mostly for domestic consumption;
government has active eradication program; increasingly used as
transshipment point for Southwest and Southeast Asian opiates and
cannabis and Latin American cocaine to Western Europe, possibly to
the US, and growing domestic market
======================================================================
@Rwanda
------
Introduction
Background: Throughout their colonial rule, first Germany and
then Belgium favored Rwanda's minority Tutsi ethnic group in
education and employment. In 1959, the majority ethnic group, the
Hutus, overthrew the ruling Tutsi monarch. The Hutus killed hundreds
of Tutsis and drove tens of thousands into exile in neighboring
countries. The children of these exiles later formed a rebel group,
the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), and began a civil war in October
1990. The war, along with several political and economic upheavals,
exasperated ethnic tensions culminating in April 1994 in a genocide
in which roughly 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus were killed. The
Tutsi rebels defeated the Hutu regime and ended the genocide in July
1994, but approximately 2 million Hutu refugees--many fearing Tutsi
retribution--fled to neighboring Burundi, Tanzania, Uganda, and
Zaire, now called the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DROC).
According to the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees, in
1996 and early 1997 nearly 1.3 million Hutus returned to Rwanda.
Even with substantial international aid, these civil dislocations
have hindered efforts to foster reconciliation and to boost
investment and agricultural output. Although much of the country is
now at peace, members of the former regime continue to destabilize
the northwest area of the country through a low-intensity
insurgency. Rwandan troops are currently involved in a crisis
engulfing neighboring DROC.
Geography
Location: Central Africa, east of Democratic Republic of the Congo
Geographic coordinates: 2 00 S, 30 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area:
total: 26,340 sq km
land: 24,950 sq km
water: 1,390 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than Maryland
Land boundaries:
total: 893 km
border countries: Burundi 290 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo
217 km, Tanzania 217 km, Uganda 169 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: temperate; two rainy seasons (February to April,
November to January); mild in mountains with frost and snow possible
Terrain: mostly grassy uplands and hills; relief is mountainous
with altitude declining from west to east
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Rusizi River 950 m
highest point: Volcan Karisimbi 4,519 m
Natural resources: gold, cassiterite (tin ore), wolframite
(tungsten ore), methane, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 35%
permanent crops: 13%
permanent pastures: 18%
forests and woodland: 22%
other: 12% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 40 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: periodic droughts; the volcanic Birunga
mountains are in the northwest along the border with Democratic
Republic of the Congo
Environment--current issues: deforestation results from
uncontrolled cutting of trees for fuel; overgrazing; soil
exhaustion; soil erosion; widespread poaching
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Nuclear Test Ban
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography--note: landlocked; predominantly rural population
People
Population: 8,154,933 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 44% (male 1,807,695; female 1,793,590)
15-64 years: 53% (male 2,148,477; female 2,179,119)
65 years and over: 3% (male 92,490; female 133,562) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.43% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 38.97 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 19.53 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 4.91 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
note: following the outbreak of genocidal strife in Rwanda in April
1994 between Tutsi and Hutu factions, more than 2 million refugees
fled to neighboring Burundi, Tanzania, Uganda, and Democratic
Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire); according to the UN High
Commission on Refugees, in 1996 and early 1997 nearly 1.3 million
Hutus returned to Rwanda--of these 720,000 returned from Democratic
Republic of the Congo, 480,000 from Tanzania, 88,000 from Burundi,
and 10,000 from Uganda; probably fewer than 100,000 Rwandans
remained outside of Rwanda by the end of 1997
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 112.86 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 41.31 years
male: 40.84 years
female: 41.8 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.8 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Rwandan(s)
adjective: Rwandan
Ethnic groups: Hutu 80%, Tutsi 19%, Twa (Pygmoid) 1%
Religions: Roman Catholic 65%, Protestant 9%, Muslim 1%,
indigenous beliefs and other 25%
Languages: Kinyarwanda (official) universal Bantu vernacular,
French (official), English (official), Kiswahili (Swahili) used in
commercial centers
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 60.5%
male: 69.8%
female: 51.6% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Rwandese Republic
conventional short form: Rwanda
local long form: Republika y'u Rwanda
local short form: Rwanda
Data code: RW
Government type: republic; presidential, multiparty system
Capital: Kigali
Administrative divisions: 12 prefectures (in French--prefectures,
singular--prefecture; in Kinyarwanda--plural--NA,
singular--prefegitura); Butare, Byumba, Cyangugu, Gikongoro, Gisenyi,
Gitarama, Kibungo, Kibuye, Kigali, Kigaliville, Umutara, Ruhengeri
Independence: 1 July 1962 (from Belgium-administered UN
trusteeship)
National holiday: Independence Day, 1 July (1962)
Constitution: on 5 May 1995, the Transitional National Assembly
adopted a new constitution which included elements of the
constitution of 18 June 1991 as well as provisions of the 1993
Arusha peace accord and the November 1994 multi-party protocol of
understanding
Legal system: based on German and Belgian civil law systems and
customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme
Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: NA years of age; universal adult
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Pasteur BIZIMUNGU (since 19 July 1994);
Vice President Maj. Gen. Paul KAGAME (since 19 July 1994)
head of government: Prime Minister Celestin RWIGEMA (since 1
September 1995)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: normally the president is elected by popular vote for a
five-year term; election last held in December 1988 (next to be held
NA); prime minister is appointed by the president
election results: Juvenal HABYARIMANA elected president; percent of
vote--99.98% (HABYARIMANA was the sole candidate)
note: President HABYARIMANA was killed in a plane crash on 6 April
1994 which ignited the genocide and was replaced by President
BIZIMUNGU who was installed by the military forces of the ruling
Rwandan Patriotic Front on 19 July 1994
Legislative branch: unicameral Transitional National Assembly or
Assemblee Nationale de Transition (a power-sharing body with 70
seats established on 12 December 1994 following a multi-party
protocol understanding; members were predetermined by the Arusha
peace accord)
elections: the last national legislative elections were held 16
December 1988 for the National Development Council (the legislature
prior to the advent of the Transitional National Assembly); no
elections have been held for the Transitional National Assembly as
the distribution of seats was predetermined by the Arusha peace
accord
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--RPF
19, MDR 13, PSD 13, PL 13, PDC 6, PSR 2, PDI 2, other 2; note--the
distribution of seats was predetermined
Judicial branch: Constitutional Court, consists of the Court of
Cassation and the Council of State in joint session
Political parties and leaders: significant parties include:
Political pressure groups and leaders: Rwanda Patriotic Army or
Return (RDR)
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC,
CEEAC, CEPGL, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU,
NAM, OAU, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Theogene N. RUDASINGWA
chancery: 1714 New Hampshire Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20009
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador George M. STAPLES
embassy: Boulevard de la Revolution, Kigali
mailing address: B. P. 28, Kigali
Flag description: three equal vertical bands of red (hoist side),
yellow, and green with a large black letter R centered in the yellow
band; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia; similar to
the flag of Guinea, which has a plain yellow band
Economy
Economy--overview: Rwanda is a rural country with about 90% of the
population engaged in (mainly subsistence) agriculture. It is the
most densely populated country in Africa; is landlocked, and has few
natural resources and minimal industry. Primary exports are coffee
and tea. The 1994 genocide decimated Rwanda's fragile economic base,
severely impoverished the population, particularly women, and eroded
the country's ability to attract private and external investment.
However, Rwanda has made significant progress in stabilizing and
rehabilitating its economy. GDP has rebounded, and inflation has
been curbed. In June 1998, Rwanda signed an Enhanced Structural
Adjustment Facility (ESAF) with the IMF. Rwanda has also embarked
upon an ambitious privatization program with the World Bank.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$5.5 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 10.5% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$690 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 36%
industry: 24%
services: 40% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: 51.2% (1993 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 4.2%
highest 10%: 24.2% (1983-85)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 10% (1998)
Labor force: 3.6 million
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 90%, government and
services, industry and commerce
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $231 million
expenditures: $319 million, including capital expenditures of $13
million (1996 est.)
Industries: production of cement, processing of agricultural
products, small-scale beverage production, manufacture of soap,
furniture, shoes, plastic goods, textiles, cigarettes
Industrial production growth rate: 4.9% (1995 est.)
Electricity--production: 164 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 2.44%
hydro: 97.56%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 177 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 2 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 15 million kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: coffee, tea, pyrethrum (insecticide made
from chrysanthemums), bananas, beans, sorghum, potatoes; livestock
Exports: $82.1 million (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Exports--commodities: coffee 55%, tea 21%, hides, tin ore (1997)
Exports--partners: Brazil 49%, Germany 16%, US, Netherlands, UK
(1996)
Imports: $326 million (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Imports--commodities: foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, steel,
petroleum products, cement and construction material (1997)
Imports--partners: Italy, Kenya, Tanzania, US, Belgium-Luxembourg
(1997)
Debt--external: $1.2 billion (1998)
Economic aid--recipient: $711.2 million (1995); note?since 1994,
World Bank financing to Rwanda has totaled more than $120 million;
in June 1998, Rwanda signed an Enhanced Structural Adjustment
Facility (ESAF) with the IMF; in summer 1998, Rwanda presented its
policy objectives and development priorities to donor governments
resulting in multi-year pledges in the amount of $250 million
Currency: 1 Rwandan franc (RF) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: Rwandan francs (RF) per US$1--320.63 (February
1999), 312.31 (1998), 301.53 (1997), 306.82 (1996), 262.20 (1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 6,400 (1983 est.)
Telephone system: telephone system primarily serves business and
government
domestic: the capital, Kigali, is connected to the centers of the
prefectures by microwave radio relay; the remainder of the network
depends on wire and HF radiotelephone
international: international connections employ microwave radio
relay to neighboring countries and satellite communications to more
distant countries; satellite earth stations--1 Intelsat (Indian
Ocean) in Kigali (includes telex and telefax service)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0
Radios: 630,000 (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 2 (1997)
Televisions: NA
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 12,000 km
paved: 1,000 km
unpaved: 11,000 km (1997 est.)
Waterways: Lac Kivu navigable by shallow-draft barges and native
craft
Ports and harbors: Cyangugu, Gisenyi, Kibuye
Airports: 7 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 4
over 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Gendarmerie
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 1,964,118 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,000,204 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $92 million (1999)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 3.8% (1999)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: Rwandan military forces are supporting
the rebel forces in the civil war in the Democratic Republic of the
Congo
======================================================================
@Saint Helena
------------
Geography
Location: islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, about mid-way
between South America and Africa
Geographic coordinates: 15 56 S, 5 42 W
Map references: Africa
Area:
total: 410 sq km
land: 410 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes Ascension, Gough Island, Inaccessible Island,
Nightingale Island, and Tristan da Cunha Island
Area--comparative: slightly more than two times the size of
Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 60 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: Saint Helena--tropical; marine; mild, tempered by trade
winds; Tristan da Cunha--temperate; marine, mild, tempered by trade
winds (tends to be cooler than Saint Helena)
Terrain: Saint Helena--rugged, volcanic; small scattered plateaus
and plains
note: the other islands of the group have a volcanic origin
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Queen Mary's Peak on Tristan da Cunha 2,060 m
Natural resources: fish
Land use:
arable land: 6%
permanent crops: NA%
permanent pastures: 6%
forests and woodland: 6%
other: 82% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: active volcanism on Tristan da Cunha
Environment--current issues: NA
Environment--international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography--note: Napoleon Bonaparte's place of exile and burial
(his remains were taken to Paris in 1840); harbors at least 40
species of plants unknown anywhere else in the world; Ascension is a
breeding ground for sea turtles and sooty terns
People
Population: 7,145 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 20% (male 713; female 690)
15-64 years: 72% (male 2,664; female 2,449)
65 years and over: 8% (male 259; female 370) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.74% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 13.86 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 6.44 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.09 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 27.98 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.88 years
male: 72.78 years
female: 79.13 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.5 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Saint Helenian(s)
adjective: Saint Helenian
Ethnic groups: African descent, white
Religions: Anglican (majority), Baptist, Seventh-Day Adventist,
Roman Catholic
Languages: English
Literacy:
definition: age 20 and over can read and write
total population: 97%
male: 97%
female: 98% (1987 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Saint Helena
Data code: SH
Dependency status: overseas territory of the UK
Government type: NA
Capital: Jamestown
Administrative divisions: 1 administrative area and 2
dependencies*; Ascension*, Saint Helena, Tristan da Cunha*
Independence: none (overseas territory of the UK)
National holiday: Celebration of the Birthday of the Queen
(second Saturday in June)
Constitution: 1 January 1989
Legal system: NA
Suffrage: NA years of age
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
head of government: Governor and Commander in Chief David Leslie
SMALLMAN (since NA 1995)
cabinet: Executive Council consists of the governor, two ex officio
officers, and six elected members of the Legislative Council
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor is appointed by
the monarch
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Council (15 seats,
including the governor, 2 ex officio and 12 elected members; members
are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 9 July 1997 (next to be held NA July 2001)
election results: percent of vote--NA; seats--independents 15
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: none
International organization participation: ICFTU
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory of
the UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (overseas territory
of the UK)
Flag description: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper
hoist-side quadrant and the Saint Helenian shield centered on the
outer half of the flag; the shield features a rocky coastline and
three-masted sailing ship
Economy
Economy--overview: The economy depends largely on financial
assistance from the UK, which amounted to about $5 million in 1998.
The local population earns income from fishing, the raising of
livestock, and sales of handicrafts. Because there are few jobs, a
large proportion of the work force has left to seek employment
overseas.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$13.9 million (FY94/95 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: NA%
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$2,000 (FY94/95 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
Labor force: 2,416 (1991 est.)
note: a large proportion of the work force has left to seek
employment overseas
Labor force--by occupation: professional, technical, and related
workers 8.7%, managerial, administrative, and clerical 12.8%, sales
people 8.1%, farmers, fishermen 5.4%, craftspersons, production
process workers 14.7%, others 50.3% (1987)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $11.2 million
expenditures: $11 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY92/93)
Industries: crafts (furniture, lacework, fancy woodwork), fishing
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: 6 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 6 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: maize, potatoes, vegetables; timber; fish,
crawfish (on Tristan da Cunha)
Exports: $704,000 (f.o.b., 1995)
Exports--commodities: fish (frozen, canned, and salt-dried
skipjack, tuna), coffee, handicrafts
Exports--partners: South Africa, UK
Imports: $14.434 million (c.i.f., 1995)
Imports--commodities: food, beverages, tobacco, fuel oils, animal
feed, building materials, motor vehicles and parts, machinery and
parts
Imports--partners: UK, South Africa
Debt--external: $NA
Economic aid--recipient: $12.6 million (1995); note?$5.3 million
from UK (1997)
Currency: 1 Saint Helenian pound (LS) = 100 pence
Exchange rates: Saint Helenian pounds (LS) per US$1--0.6057
(January 1999), 0.6037 (1998), 0.6047 (1997), 0.6403 (1996), 0.6335
(1995), 0.6529 (1994); note--the Saint Helenian pound is at par with
the British pound
Fiscal year: 1 April--31 March
Communications
Telephones: 550
Telephone system:
domestic: automatic network; HF radiotelephone from Saint Helena to
Ascension, then into worldwide submarine cable and satellite networks
international: major coaxial submarine cable relay point between
South Africa, Portugal, and UK at Ascension; satellite earth
stations--2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: 2,500 (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 0 (1997)
Televisions: NA
Communications--note: Gough Island has a meteorological station
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: NA km (Saint Helena 118 km, Ascension NA km, Tristan da Cunha
NA km)
paved: 180.7 km (Saint Helena 98 km, Ascension 80 km, Tristan da
Cunha 2.70 km)
unpaved: NA km (Saint Helena 20 km, Ascension NA km, Tristan da
Cunha NA km)
Ports and harbors: Georgetown (on Ascension), Jamestown
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military--note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
======================================================================
@Saint Kitts and Nevis
---------------------
Geography
Location: Caribbean, islands in the Caribbean Sea, about
one-third of the way from Puerto Rico to Trinidad and Tobago
Geographic coordinates: 17 20 N, 62 45 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 269 sq km
land: 269 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 135 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate: subtropical tempered by constant sea breezes; little
seasonal temperature variation; rainy season (May to November)
Terrain: volcanic with mountainous interiors
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Liamuiga 1,156 m
Natural resources: NEGL
Land use:
arable land: 22%
permanent crops: 17%
permanent pastures: 3%
forests and woodland: 17%
other: 41% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: hurricanes (July to October)
Environment--current issues: NA
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection,
Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
People
Population: 42,838 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 33% (male 7,178; female 6,826)
15-64 years: 61% (male 13,226; female 13,083)
65 years and over: 6% (male 1,020; female 1,505) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.34% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 22.6 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 8.15 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.05 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 17.39 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 67.94 years
male: 64.87 years
female: 71.21 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.42 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Kittitian(s), Nevisian(s)
adjective: Kittitian, Nevisian
Ethnic groups: black
Religions: Anglican, other Protestant sects, Roman Catholic
Languages: English
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 97%
male: 97%
female: 98% (1980 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis
conventional short form: Saint Kitts and Nevis
former: Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis
Data code: SC
Government type: constitutional monarchy
Capital: Basseterre
Administrative divisions: 14 parishes; Christ Church Nichola
Town, Saint Anne Sandy Point, Saint George Basseterre, Saint George
Gingerland, Saint James Windward, Saint John Capisterre, Saint John
Figtree, Saint Mary Cayon, Saint Paul Capisterre, Saint Paul
Charlestown, Saint Peter Basseterre, Saint Thomas Lowland, Saint
Thomas Middle Island, Trinity Palmetto Point
Independence: 19 September 1983 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 19 September (1983)
Constitution: 19 September 1983
Legal system: based on English common law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Governor General Dr. Cuthbert Montraville SEBASTIAN
(since 1 January 1996)
head of government: Prime Minister Dr. Denzil DOUGLAS (since 6 July
1995) and Deputy Prime Minister Sam CONDOR (since 6 July 1995)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general in consultation
with the prime minister
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; the governor general is
appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the
leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition is
usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; deputy
prime minister appointed by the governor general
Legislative branch: unicameral House of Assembly (14 seats, 11
popularly elected from single-member constituencies; members serve
five-year terms)
elections: last held 3 July 1995 (next to be held by July 2000)
election results: percent of vote by party--SKLNP 58%, PAM 41%; seats
by party--SKNLP 7, PAM 1, NRP 1, CCM 2
Judicial branch: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (based on Saint
Lucia) (one judge of the Supreme Court resides in Saint Kitts)
Political parties and leaders: People's Action Movement or PAM
International organization participation: ACP, C, Caricom, CDB,
ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,
IMF, Interpol, IOC, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Edwards ERSTEIN
chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an
embassy in Saint Kitts and Nevis; US interests are monitored by the
embassy in Bridgetown (Barbados)
Flag description: divided diagonally from the lower hoist side by
a broad black band bearing two white, five-pointed stars; the black
band is edged in yellow; the upper triangle is green, the lower
triangle is red
Economy
Economy--overview: The economy has traditionally depended on the
growing and processing of sugarcane; decreasing world prices have
hurt the industry in recent years. Tourism, export-oriented
manufacturing, and offshore banking activity have assumed larger
roles. Most food is imported. The government has undertaken a
program designed to revitalize the faltering sugar sector. It is
also working to improve revenue collection in order to better fund
social programs. In 1997 some leaders in Nevis were urging
separation from Saint Kitts on the basis that Nevis was paying far
more in taxes than it was receiving in government services, but the
vote on cessation failed in August 1998. In late September 1998,
Hurricane Georges caused approximately $445 million in damages.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$235 million (1997 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 6.3% (1997 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$6,000 (1997 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 5.5%
industry: 22.5%
services: 72% (1996)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 11.3% (1997)
Labor force: 18,172 (June 1995)
Labor force--by occupation: services 69%, manufacturing 31%
Unemployment rate: 4% (1997 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $64.1 million
expenditures: $73.3 million, including capital expenditures of $10.4
million (1997 est.)
Industries: sugar processing, tourism, cotton, salt, copra,
clothing, footwear, beverages
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: 81 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 81 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: sugarcane, rice, yams, vegetables, bananas;
fish
Exports: $43.7 million (1997)
Exports--commodities: machinery, food, electronics, beverages and
tobacco
Exports--partners: US 68.5%, UK 22.3%, Caricom nations 5.5% (1995
est.)
Imports: $129.6 million (1997)
Imports--commodities: machinery, manufactures, food, fuels
Imports--partners: US 42.4%, Caricom nations 17.2%, UK 11.3% (1995
est.)
Debt--external: $56 million (1995 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $5.5 million (1995)
Currency: 1 East Caribbean dollar (EC$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1--2.7000
(fixed rate since 1976)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 3,800 (1986 est.)
Telephone system: good interisland VHF/UHF/SHF radiotelephone
connections and international link via Antigua and Barbuda and Saint
Martin (Guadeloupe and Netherlands Antilles)
domestic: interisland links are handled by VHF/UHF/SHF radiotelephone
international: international calls are carried by radiotelephone to
Antigua and Barbuda and from there switched to submarine cable or to
Intelsat, or carried to Saint Martin (Guadeloupe and Netherlands
Antilles) by radiotelephone and switched to Intelsat
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: 25,000 (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (in addition, there are three
repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 9,500 (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 58 km
narrow gauge: 58 km 0.762-m gauge on Saint Kitts to serve sugarcane
plantations (1995)
Highways:
total: 320 km
paved: 136 km
unpaved: 184 km (1996 est.)
Ports and harbors: Basseterre, Charlestown
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 2 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Royal Saint Kitts and Nevis Defense Force,
Royal Saint Kitts and Nevis Police Force, Coast Guard
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $NA
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: NA%
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
Illicit drugs: transshipment points for South American drugs
destined for the US
======================================================================
@Saint Lucia
-----------
Geography
Location: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and North
Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago
Geographic coordinates: 13 53 N, 60 68 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 620 sq km
land: 610 sq km
water: 10 sq km
Area--comparative: 3.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 158 km
Maritime claims: 200 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical, moderated by northeast trade winds; dry season
from January to April, rainy season from May to August
Terrain: volcanic and mountainous with some broad, fertile valleys
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Gimie 950 m
Natural resources: forests, sandy beaches, minerals (pumice),
mineral springs, geothermal potential
Land use:
arable land: 8%
permanent crops: 21%
permanent pastures: 5%
forests and woodland: 13%
other: 53% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 10 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: hurricanes and volcanic activity
Environment--current issues: deforestation; soil erosion,
particularly in the northern region
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
People
Population: 154,020 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 33% (male 26,068; female 25,359)
15-64 years: 61% (male 46,265; female 48,100)
65 years and over: 6% (male 3,097; female 5,131) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.09% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 21.63 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 5.58 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -5.19 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.6 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 16.55 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 71.81 years
male: 68.14 years
female: 75.74 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.27 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Saint Lucian(s)
adjective: Saint Lucian
Ethnic groups: black 90%, mixed 6%, East Indian 3%, white 1%
Religions: Roman Catholic 90%, Protestant 7%, Anglican 3%
Languages: English (official), French patois
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 67%
male: 65%
female: 69% (1980 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Saint Lucia
Data code: ST
Government type: constitutional monarchy
Capital: Castries
Administrative divisions: 11 quarters; Anse-la-Raye, Castries,
Choiseul, Dauphin, Dennery, Gros Islet, Laborie, Micoud, Praslin,
Soufriere, Vieux Fort
Independence: 22 February 1979 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 22 February (1979)
Constitution: 22 February 1979
Legal system: based on English common law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Governor General Dr. Perlette LOUISY (since September
1997)
head of government: Prime Minister Kenny ANTHONY (since 24 May 1997)
and Deputy Prime Minister Mario MICHEL (since 24 May 1997)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of
the prime minister
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; the governor general is
appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the
leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition is
usually appointed prime minister by the governor general
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate
(an 11-member body, six appointed on the advice of the prime
minister, three on the advice of the leader of the opposition, and
two after consultation with religious, economic, and social groups)
and the House of Assembly (17 seats; members are elected by popular
vote from single-member constituencies to serve five-year terms)
elections: House of Assembly--last held 23 May 1997 (next to be held
NA 2002)
election results: House of Assembly--percent of vote by party--NA;
seats by party--SLP 16, UWP 1
Judicial branch: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (jurisdiction
extends to Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, the British Virgin
Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint
Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines)
Political parties and leaders: United Workers Party or UWP
International organization participation: ACCT (associate), ACP,
C, Caricom, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user),
Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, NAM, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, OPCW,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Juliet
Elaine MALLET PHILLIP
chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an
embassy in Saint Lucia; the Ambassador to Saint Lucia resides in
Bridgetown (Barbados)
Flag description: blue, with a gold isosceles triangle below a
black arrowhead; the upper edges of the arrowhead have a white border
Economy
Economy--overview: The economy remains vulnerable due to its heavy
dependence on banana production, which is subject to periodic
droughts and tropical storms. Increased competition from Latin
American bananas will probably further reduce market prices,
exacerbating Saint Lucia's need to diversify its economy in coming
years, e.g., by further expanding tourism, manufacturing, and
construction. In 1997, strong activity in tourism and other service
sectors offset the contraction in agriculture, manufacturing, and
construction sectors. Improvement in the construction sector and
growth of the tourism industry was expected to expand GDP in 1998.
The agriculture sector registered its fifth year of decline in 1997
primarily because of a severe decline in banana production.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$625 million (1997 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 2.2% (1997)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$4,100 (1997 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 10.7%
industry: 32.3%
services: 57% (1996 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.9% (1997)
Labor force: 43,800
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 43.4%, services 38.9%,
industry and commerce 17.7% (1983 est.)
Unemployment rate: 15% (1996 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $141.2 million
expenditures: $146.7 million, including capital expenditures of
$25.1 million (FY97/98 est.)
Industries: clothing, assembly of electronic components,
beverages, corrugated cardboard boxes, tourism, lime processing,
coconut processing
Industrial production growth rate: -8.9% (1997 est.)
Electricity--production: 110 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 110 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: bananas, coconuts, vegetables, citrus, root
crops, cocoa
Exports: $70.1 million (1997)
Exports--commodities: bananas 41%, clothing, cocoa, vegetables,
fruits, coconut oil
Exports--partners: UK 50%, US 24%, Caricom countries 16% (1995)
Imports: $292.4 million (1997)
Imports--commodities: food 23%, manufactured goods 21%, machinery
and transportation equipment 19%, chemicals, fuels
Imports--partners: US 36%, Caricom countries 22%, UK 11%, Japan
5%, Canada 4% (1995)
Debt--external: $159 million (1997)
Economic aid--recipient: $51.8 million (1995)
Currency: 1 East Caribbean dollar (EC$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1--2.7000
(fixed rate since 1976)
Fiscal year: 1 April--31 March
Communications
Telephones: 26,000 (1992 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: system is automatically switched
international: direct microwave radio relay link with Martinique and
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; tropospheric scatter to Barbados;
international calls beyond these countries are carried by Intelsat
from Martinique
Radio broadcast stations: AM 4, FM 1, shortwave 0
Radios: 104,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 3 (of which two are commercial
(1997)
Televisions: 26,000 (1992 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 1,210 km
paved: 63 km
unpaved: 1,147 km (1996 est.)
Ports and harbors: Castries, Vieux Fort
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 2 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (includes
Special Service Unit), Coast Guard
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $5 million (1991); note?for
police force
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 2% (1991)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
Illicit drugs: transit point for South American drugs destined
for the US and Europe
======================================================================
@Saint Pierre and Miquelon
-------------------------
Geography
Location: Northern North America, islands in the North Atlantic
Ocean, south of Newfoundland (Canada)
Geographic coordinates: 46 50 N, 56 20 W
Map references: North America
Area:
total: 242 sq km
land: 242 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes eight small islands in the Saint Pierre and the
Miquelon groups
Area--comparative: 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 120 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: cold and wet, with much mist and fog; spring and autumn
are windy
Terrain: mostly barren rock
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Morne de la Grande Montagne 240 m
Natural resources: fish, deepwater ports
Land use:
arable land: 13%
permanent crops: NA%
permanent pastures: NA%
forests and woodland: 4%
other: 83% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: persistent fog throughout the year can be a
maritime hazard
Environment--current issues: NA
Environment--international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography--note: vegetation scanty
People
Population: 6,966 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate: 0.75% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 12.27 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 5.41 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.59 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 8.12 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.13 years
male: 75.58 years
female: 79 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.58 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Frenchman(men), Frenchwoman(women)
adjective: French
Ethnic groups: Basques and Bretons (French fishermen)
Religions: Roman Catholic 99%
Languages: French
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (1982 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Territorial Collectivity of Saint Pierre and
Miquelon
conventional short form: Saint Pierre and Miquelon
local long form: Departement de Saint-Pierre et Miquelon
local short form: Saint-Pierre et Miquelon
Data code: SB
Dependency status: self-governing territorial collectivity of
France
Government type: NA
Capital: Saint-Pierre
Administrative divisions: none (territorial collectivity of
France)
note: there are no first-order administrative divisions approved by
the US Government, but there are two communes--Saint Pierre, Miquelon
Independence: none (territorial collectivity of France; has been
under French control since 1763)
National holiday: National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July
(1789)
Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system: French law with special adaptations for local
conditions, such as housing and taxation
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May
1995), represented by Prefect Remi THUAU (since NA)
head of government: President of the General Council Bernard LE
SOAVEC (since NA 1996)
cabinet: NA
elections: French president elected by popular vote for a seven-year
term; prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of the
French Ministry of Interior; president of the General Council is
elected by the members of the council
Legislative branch: unicameral General Council or Conseil General
(19 seats--15 from Saint Pierre and 4 from Miquelon; members are
elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms)
elections: elections last held 20 March 1994 (next to be held NA
April 2000)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--RPR
15, other 4
note: Saint Pierre and Miquelon elect 1 seat to the French Senate;
elections last held NA September 1995 (next to be held NA September
2004); results--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--RPR 1;
Saint Pierre and Miquelon also elects 1 seat to the French National
Assembly; elections last held 25 May-1 June 1997 (next to be held NA
2002); results--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--UDF 1
Judicial branch: Superior Tribunal of Appeals or Tribunal
Superieur d'Appel
Political parties and leaders: Socialist Party or PS [leader NA];
International organization participation: FZ, WFTU
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (territorial
collectivity of France)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (territorial
collectivity of France)
Flag description: a yellow sailing ship rides on a dark blue
background with a black wave line under the ship; on the hoist side,
a vertical band is divided into three parts: the top part is red
with a green diagonal cross extending to the corners overlaid by a
white cross dividing the square into four sections; the middle part
has a white background with an ermine pattern; the third part has a
red background with two stylized yellow lions outlined in black, one
on top of the other; the flag of France is used for official
occasions
Economy
Economy--overview: The inhabitants have traditionally earned their
livelihood by fishing and by servicing fishing fleets operating off
the coast of Newfoundland. The economy has been declining, however,
because the number of ships stopping at Saint Pierre has dropped
steadily over the years. In 1992, an arbitration panel awarded the
islands an exclusive economic zone of 12,348 sq km to settle a
longstanding territorial dispute with Canada, although it represents
only 25% of what France had sought. The islands are heavily
subsidized by France. Imports come primarily from Canada and France.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$74 million (1996 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: NA%
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$11,000 (1996 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
Labor force: 3,000 (1996)
Labor force--by occupation: NA
Unemployment rate: 9.8% (1997)
Budget:
revenues: $70 million
expenditures: $60 million, including capital expenditures of $24
million (1996 est.)
Industries: fish processing and supply base for fishing fleets;
tourism
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: 39 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 39 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: vegetables; cattle, sheep, pigs; fish
Exports: $1.2 million (f.o.b., 1996)
Exports--commodities: fish and fish products, fox and mink pelts
Exports--partners: US 58%, France 17%, UK 11%, Canada, Portugal
(1990)
Imports: $60.5 million (c.i.f., 1996)
Imports--commodities: meat, clothing, fuel, electrical equipment,
machinery, building materials
Imports--partners: Canada, France, US, Netherlands, UK
Debt--external: $NA
Economic aid--recipient: $NA
Currency: 1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1--5.65 (January 1999),
5.8995 (1998), 5.8367 (1997), 5.1155 (1996), 4.9915 (1995), 5.5520
(1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 3,650 (1994 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: NA
international: radiotelephone communication with most countries in
the world; 1 earth station in French domestic satellite system
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 3, shortwave 0
Radios: 3,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 0 (there are, however, two
repeaters which rebroadcast programs from France, Canada, and the
US) (1997)
Televisions: 2,000 (1992 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 114 km
paved: 69 km
unpaved: 45 km (1994 est.)
Ports and harbors: Saint Pierre
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 2 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (1998 est.)
Military
Military--note: defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
======================================================================
@Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
--------------------------------
Geography
Location: Caribbean, islands in the Caribbean Sea, north of
Trinidad and Tobago
Geographic coordinates: 13 15 N, 61 12 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 340 sq km
land: 340 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 84 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; little seasonal temperature variation; rainy
season (May to November)
Terrain: volcanic, mountainous
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Soufriere 1,234 m
Natural resources: NEGL
Land use:
arable land: 10%
permanent crops: 18%
permanent pastures: 5%
forests and woodland: 36%
other: 31% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 10 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: hurricanes; Soufriere volcano on the island of
Saint Vincent is a constant threat
Environment--current issues: pollution of coastal waters and
shorelines from discharges by pleasure yachts and other effluents;
in some areas, pollution is severe enough to make swimming
prohibitive
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection,
Ship Pollution, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography--note: the administration of the islands of the
Grenadines group is divided between Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
and Grenada
People
Population: 120,519 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 30% (male 18,160; female 17,524)
15-64 years: 65% (male 39,448; female 38,672)
65 years and over: 5% (male 2,762; female 3,953) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.57% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 18.34 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 5.23 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -7.43 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 15.16 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 73.8 years
male: 72.29 years
female: 75.36 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.94 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Saint Vincentian(s) or Vincentian(s)
adjective: Saint Vincentian or Vincentian
Ethnic groups: black, white, East Indian, Carib Amerindian
Religions: Anglican, Methodist, Roman Catholic, Seventh-Day
Adventist
Languages: English, French patois
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 96%
male: 96%
female: 96% (1970 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Data code: VC
Government type: constitutional monarchy
Capital: Kingstown
Administrative divisions: 6 parishes; Charlotte, Grenadines,
Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint Patrick
Independence: 27 October 1979 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 27 October (1979)
Constitution: 27 October 1979
Legal system: based on English common law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Governor General David JACK (since NA)
head of government: Prime Minister James F. MITCHELL (since 30 July
1984)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of
the prime minister
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; the governor general is
appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the
leader of the majority party is usually appointed prime minister by
the governor general; deputy prime minister appointed by the
governor general on the advice of the prime minister
Legislative branch: unicameral House of Assembly (21 seats, 15
elected representatives and 6 appointed senators; representatives
are elected by popular vote from single-member constituencies to
serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 15 June 1998 (next to be held by NA May 2003)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--NDP 8,
ULP 7
Judicial branch: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (based on Saint
Lucia); one judge of the Supreme Court resides in Saint Vincent
Political parties and leaders: New Democratic Party or NDP [James
Party or SVLP and the Movement for National Unity or MNU)
International organization participation: ACP, C, Caricom, CDB,
ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO,
IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, OAS,
OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Kingsley C. A. LAYNE
chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an
embassy in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; the Ambassador to Saint
Vincent and the Grenadines resides in Bridgetown (Barbados)
Flag description: three vertical bands of blue (hoist side), gold
(double width), and green; the gold band bears three green diamonds
arranged in a V pattern
Economy
Economy--overview: Agriculture, dominated by banana production, is
the most important sector of this lower-middle-income economy. The
services sector, based mostly on a growing tourist industry, is also
important. The government has been relatively unsuccessful at
introducing new industries, and high unemployment rates of 35%-40%
continue. The continuing dependence on a single crop represents the
biggest obstacle to the islands' development; tropical storms wiped
out substantial portions of crops in both 1994 and 1995. The tourism
sector has considerable potential for development over the next
decade. Recent growth has been stimulated by strong activity in the
construction sector and an improvement in tourism.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$289 million (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 4% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$2,400 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 10.6%
industry: 17.5%
services: 71.9% (1996 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.6% (1996)
Labor force: 67,000 (1984 est.)
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 26%, industry 17%,
services 57% (1980 est.)
Unemployment rate: 35%-40% (1994 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $85.7 million
expenditures: $98.6 million, including capital expenditures of $25.7
million (1997 est.)
Industries: food processing, cement, furniture, clothing, starch
Industrial production growth rate: -0.9% (1997 est.)
Electricity--production: 62 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 67.74%
hydro: 32.26%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 62 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: bananas, coconuts, sweet potatoes, spices;
small numbers of cattle, sheep, pigs, goats; fish
Exports: $47.3 million (1997)
Exports--commodities: bananas 39%, eddoes and dasheen (taro),
arrowroot starch, tennis racquets
Exports--partners: Caricom countries 49%, UK 16%, US 10% (1995)
Imports: $158.8 million (1997)
Imports--commodities: foodstuffs, machinery and equipment,
chemicals and fertilizers, minerals and fuels
Imports--partners: US 36%, Caricom countries 28%, UK 13% (1995)
Debt--external: $83.6 million (1997)
Economic aid--recipient: $47.5 million (1995); note?Stabex (EU),
$34.5 million (1998)
Currency: 1 East Caribbean dollar (EC$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1--2.7000
(fixed rate since 1976)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 6,189 (1983 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: islandwide, fully automatic telephone system; VHF/UHF
radiotelephone from Saint Vincent to the other islands of the
Grenadines
international: VHF/UHF radiotelephone from Saint Vincent to
Barbados; new SHF radiotelephone to Grenada and to Saint Lucia;
access to Intelsat earth station in Martinique through Saint Lucia
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: 76,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (in addition, there are three
repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 20,600 (1992 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 1,040 km
paved: 320 km
unpaved: 720 km (1996 est.)
Ports and harbors: Kingstown
Merchant marine:
total: 814 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 7,726,930
GRT/11,835,144 DWT
ships by type: barge carrier 1, bulk 138, cargo 402, chemical tanker
26, combination bulk 11, combination ore/oil 7, container 47,
liquefied gas tanker 3, livestock carrier 4, multifunction
large-load carrier 2, oil tanker 64, passenger 2, refrigerated cargo
40, roll-on/roll-off cargo 51, short-sea passenger 10, specialized
tanker 5, vehicle carrier 1
note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 20
countries among which are Croatia 17, Slovenia 7, China 5, Greece 5,
UAE 3, Norway 2, Japan 2, and Ukraine 2 (1998 est.)
Airports: 6 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 3 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Royal Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Police
Force (includes Special Service Unit), Coast Guard
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $NA
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: NA%
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for South American drugs
destined for the US and Europe
======================================================================
@Samoa
-----
Geography
Location: Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean,
about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Geographic coordinates: 13 35 S, 172 20 W
Map references: Oceania
Area:
total: 2,860 sq km
land: 2,850 sq km
water: 10 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than Rhode Island
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 403 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; rainy season (October to March), dry season
(May to October)
Terrain: narrow coastal plain with volcanic, rocky, rugged
mountains in interior
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mauga Silisili 1,857 m
Natural resources: hardwood forests, fish
Land use:
arable land: 19%
permanent crops: 24%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 47%
other: 10%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: occasional typhoons; active volcanism
Environment--current issues: soil erosion
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Law of the
Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
People
Population: 229,979 (July 1999 est.)
note: other estimates range as low as 162,000
Age structure:
0-14 years: 39% (male 45,647; female 44,141)
15-64 years: 57% (male 68,054; female 62,612)
65 years and over: 4% (male 4,477; female 5,048) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.3% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 28.81 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 5.4 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.39 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.09 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female
total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 30.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 69.82 years
male: 67.43 years
female: 72.33 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.61 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Samoan(s)
adjective: Samoan
Ethnic groups: Samoan 92.6%, Euronesians 7% (persons of European
and Polynesian blood), Europeans 0.4%
Religions: Christian 99.7% (about one-half of population
associated with the London Missionary Society; includes
Congregational, Roman Catholic, Methodist, Latter-Day Saints,
Seventh-Day Adventist)
Languages: Samoan (Polynesian), English
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97%
male: 97%
female: 97% (1971 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Independent State of Samoa
conventional short form: Samoa
former: Western Samoa
Data code: WS
Government type: constitutional monarchy under native chief
Capital: Apia
Administrative divisions: 11 districts; A'ana, Aiga-i-le-Tai,
Atua, Fa'asaleleaga, Gaga'emauga, Gagaifomauga, Palauli,
Satupa'itea, Tuamasaga, Va'a-o-Fonoti, Vaisigano
Independence: 1 January 1962 (from New Zealand-administered UN
trusteeship)
National holiday: National Day, 1 June (1962)
Constitution: 1 January 1962
Legal system: based on English common law and local customs;
judicial review of legislative acts with respect to fundamental
rights of the citizen; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Chief Susuga MALIETOA Tanumafili II (cochief of
state from 1 January 1962 until becoming sole chief of state 5 April
1963)
head of government: Prime Minister TUILA'EPA Sailele Malielegaoi
(since 24 November 1998); note--TUILA'EPA served as deputy prime
minister since 1992; he assumed the prime ministership in November
1998 when former Prime Minister TOFILAU Eti Alesana resigned in poor
health; the post of deputy prime minister is currently vacant
cabinet: Cabinet consists of 12 members, appointed by the chief of
state with the prime minister's advice
elections: upon the death of Chief Susuga MALIETOA Tanumafili II, a
new chief of state will be elected by the Legislative Assembly to
serve a five-year term; prime minister appointed by the chief of
state with the approval of the Legislative Assembly
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly or Fono (49
seats--47 elected by Samoans, 2 elected by non-Samoans; only chiefs
(matai) may stand for election to the Fono; members serve five-year
terms)
elections: last held 26 April 1996 (next to be held by NA April 2001)
election results: percent of vote by party--HRPP 45.17%, SNDP 27.1%,
independents 23.7%; seats by party--HRPP 25, SNDP 13, independents 11
Judicial branch: Supreme Court; Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders: Human Rights Protection Party or
International organization participation: ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP,
FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, IMO,
Intelsat (nonsignatory user), IOC, ITU, OPCW, Sparteca, SPC, SPF,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Tuiloma Neroni SLADE
chancery: 820 Second Avenue, Suite 800D, New York, NY 10017
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Josiah Horton BEEMAN (Ambassador to New
Zealand and Samoa, resides in Wellington, New Zealand)
embassy: 5th floor, Beach Road, Apia
mailing address: P.O. Box 3430, Apia
Flag description: red with a blue rectangle in the upper
hoist-side quadrant bearing five white five-pointed stars
representing the Southern Cross constellation
Economy
Economy--overview: The economy of Samoa has traditionally been
dependent on development aid, private family remittances from
overseas, and agricultural exports. The country is vulnerable to
devastating storms. Agriculture employs two-thirds of the labor
force, and furnishes 90% of exports, featuring coconut cream,
coconut oil, and copra. Outside of a large automotive wire harness
factory, the manufacturing sector mainly processes agricultural
products. Tourism is an expanding sector; more than 70,0000 tourists
visited the islands in 1996. The Samoan Government has called for
deregulation of the financial sector, encouragement of investment,
and continued fiscal discipline. Observers point to the flexibility
of the labor market as a basic strength for future economic advances.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$470 million (1997 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 3.4% (1997 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$2,100 (1997 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 40%
industry: 25%
services: 35% (1996 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.2% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 82,500 (1991 est.)
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 65%, services 30%,
industry 5% (1995 est.)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $52 million
expenditures: $99 million, including capital expenditures of $37
million (FY96/97 est.)
Industries: timber, tourism, food processing, fishing
Industrial production growth rate: 14% (1996 est.)
Electricity--production: 65 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 61.54%
hydro: 38.46%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 65 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: coconuts, bananas, taro, yams
Exports: $14.6 million (f.o.b., 1997)
Exports--commodities: coconut oil and cream, copra, fish, beer
Exports--partners: Australia 82%, New Zealand 6%, Slovakia,
Germany, American Samoa (1996)
Imports: $99.7 million (f.o.b., 1997)
Imports--commodities: intermediate goods, food, capital goods
Imports--partners: Australia 33%, New Zealand 25%, Japan 15%, Fiji
8%, US 8% (1996)
Debt--external: $167 million (1996 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $42.9 million (1995)
Currency: 1 tala (WS$) = 100 sene
Exchange rates: tala (WS$) per US$1--2.9011 (January 1999), 2.9429
(1998), 2.5562 (1997), 2.4618 (1996), 2.4722 (1995), 2.5349 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 7,500 (1988 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: NA
international: satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: 76,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 6 (1997)
Televisions: 6,000 (1992 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 790 km
paved: 332 km
unpaved: 458 km (1996 est.)
Ports and harbors: Apia, Asau, Mulifanua, Salelologa
Airports: 3 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 2
under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: no regular armed services; Samoa Police Force
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $NA
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: NA%
Military--note: Samoa has no formal defense structure or regular
armed forces; informal defense ties exist with NZ, which is required
to consider any Samoan request for assistance under the 1962 Treaty
of Friendship
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
======================================================================
@San Marino
----------
Geography
Location: Southern Europe, an enclave in central Italy
Geographic coordinates: 43 46 N, 12 25 E
Map references: Europe
Area:
total: 60 sq km
land: 60 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
total: 39 km
border countries: Italy 39 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: Mediterranean; mild to cool winters; warm, sunny summers
Terrain: rugged mountains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Torrente Ausa 55 m
highest point: Monte Titano 749 m
Natural resources: building stone
Land use:
arable land: 17%
permanent crops: NA%
permanent pastures: NA%
forests and woodland: NA%
other: 83% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: NA
Environment--current issues: NA
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Nuclear Test Ban
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution
Geography--note: landlocked; smallest independent state in Europe
after the Holy See and Monaco; dominated by the Apennines
People
Population: 25,061 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 16% (male 2,008; female 2,036)
15-64 years: 67% (male 8,501; female 8,294)
65 years and over: 17% (male 1,774; female 2,448) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.64% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 10.41 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 8.22 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 4.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 5.39 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 81.47 years
male: 77.59 years
female: 85.35 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.51 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Sammarinese (singular and plural)
adjective: Sammarinese
Ethnic groups: Sammarinese, Italian
Religions: Roman Catholic
Languages: Italian
Literacy:
definition: age 10 and over can read and write
total population: 96%
male: 97%
female: 95% (1976 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of San Marino
conventional short form: San Marino
local long form: Repubblica di San Marino
local short form: San Marino
Data code: SM
Government type: republic
Capital: San Marino
Administrative divisions: 9 municipalities (castelli,
singular--castello); Acquaviva, Borgo Maggiore, Chiesanuova,
Domagnano, Faetano, Fiorentino, Monte Giardino, San Marino,
Serravalle
Independence: 301 (by tradition)
National holiday: Anniversary of the Foundation of the Republic,
3 September
Constitution: 8 October 1600; electoral law of 1926 serves some
of the functions of a constitution
Legal system: based on civil law system with Italian law
influences; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: cochiefs of state Captain Regent Pietro BERTI and
Captain Regent Paolo BOLLINI (for the period 1 October 1998-31 March
1999)
head of government: Secretary of State for Foreign and Political
Affairs Gabriele GATTI (since NA July 1986)
cabinet: Congress of State elected by the Great and General Council
for a five-year term
elections: cochiefs of state (captain regents) elected by the Great
and General Council for a six-month term; election last held NA
September 1998 (next to be held NA March 1999); secretary of state
for foreign and political affairs elected by the Great and General
Council for a five-year term; election last held NA June 1998 (next
to be held NA June 2003)
election results: Pietro BERTI and Paolo BOLLINI elected captain
regents; percent of legislative vote--NA; Gabriele GATTI reelected
secretary of state for foreign and political affairs; percent of
legislative vote--NA
note: the popularly elected parliament (Great and General Council)
selects two of its members to serve as the Captains Regent (cochiefs
of state) for a six-month period; they preside over meetings of the
Great and General Council and its cabinet (Congress of State) which
has ten other members, all selected by the Great and General
Council; assisting the captains regent are three secretaries of
state--Foreign Affairs, Internal Affairs, and Finance--and several
additional secretaries; the secretary of state for Foreign Affairs
has assumed many of the prerogatives of a prime minister
Legislative branch: unicameral Great and General Council or
Consiglio Grande e Generale (60 seats; members are elected by direct
popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 31 May 1998 (next to be held by NA May 2003)
election results: percent of vote by party--PDCS 40.8%, PSS 23.3%,
PPDS 18.6%, AP 9.8%, RC 3.3%, Reformist Socialists 4.2%; seats by
party--PDCS 25, PSS 14, PPDS 11, AP 6, RC 2, RS 2
Judicial branch: Council of Twelve or Consiglio dei XII
Political parties and leaders: Christian Democratic Party or PDCS
MACINA, secretary general]; Reformist Socialists or RS (formerly San
International organization participation: CE, ECE, ICAO, ICFTU,
ICRM, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM (guest), OPCW,
OSCE, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WToO
Diplomatic representation in the US: San Marino does not have an
embassy in the US
honorary consulate(s) general: Washington, DC, and New York
honorary consulate(s): Detroit
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an
embassy in San Marino; the US Consul General in Florence (Italy) is
accredited to San Marino
Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and
light blue with the national coat of arms superimposed in the
center; the coat of arms has a shield (featuring three towers on
three peaks) flanked by a wreath, below a crown and above a scroll
bearing the word LIBERTAS (Liberty)
Economy
Economy--overview: The tourist sector contributes over 50% of GDP.
In 1995 more than 3.3 million tourists visited San Marino. The key
industries are banking, wearing apparel, electronics, and ceramics.
Main agricultural products are wine and cheeses. The per capita
level of output and standard of living are comparable to those of
Italy, which supplies much of its food.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$500 million (1997 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: NA%
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$20,000 (1997 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5.3% (1995)
Labor force: 15,600 (1995)
Labor force--by occupation: services 55%, industry 43%,
agriculture 2% (1995)
Unemployment rate: 3.6% (April 1996)
Budget:
revenues: $320 million
expenditures: $320 million, including capital expenditures of $26
million (1995 est.)
Industries: tourism, textiles, electronics, ceramics, cement, wine
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: NA kWh
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: NA%
hydro: NA%
nuclear: NA%
other: NA%
Electricity--consumption: NA kWh
Electricity--exports: NA kWh
Electricity--imports: NA kWh
note: electricity supplied by Italy
Agriculture--products: wheat, grapes, maize, olives; cattle, pigs,
horses, beef, cheese, hides
Exports: trade data are included with the statistics for Italy
Exports--commodities: building stone, lime, wood, chestnuts,
wheat, wine, baked goods, hides, and ceramics
Imports: trade data are included with the statistics for Italy
Imports--commodities: wide variety of consumer manufactures, food
Debt--external: $NA
Economic aid--recipient: $NA
Currency: 1 Italian lira (Lit) = 100 centesimi; note--also mints
its own coins
Exchange rates: Italian lire (Lit) per US$1--1,668.7 (January
1998),1,736.2 (1998), 1,703.1 (1997), 1,542.9 (1996), 1,628.9
(1995), 1,612.4 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 15,000 (1995 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: automatic telephone system completely integrated into
Italian system
international: microwave radio relay and cable connections to
Italian network; no satellite earth stations
Radio broadcast stations: AM 0, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: 15,000 (1994 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (San Marino residents also
receive broadcasts from Italy) (1997)
Televisions: 9,000 (1994 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km; note--there is a 1.5 km cable railway connecting
the city of San Marino to Borgo Maggiore
Highways:
total: 220 km
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km
Ports and harbors: none
Airports: none
Military
Military branches: Voluntary Military Force, Police Force
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $3.7 million (1995)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 1% (1995)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
======================================================================
@Sao Tome and Principe
---------------------
Geography
Location: Western Africa, islands in the Gulf of Guinea,
straddling the Equator, west of Gabon
Geographic coordinates: 1 00 N, 7 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area:
total: 1,000 sq km
land: 1,000 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: more than five times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 209 km
Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; hot, humid; one rainy season (October to May)
Terrain: volcanic, mountainous
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Pico de Sao Tome 2,024 m
Natural resources: fish
Land use:
arable land: 2%
permanent crops: 36%
permanent pastures: 1%
forests and woodland: NA%
other: 61% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 100 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment--current issues: deforestation; soil erosion and
exhaustion
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Desertification, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea
signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity, Climate Change
People
Population: 154,878 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 48% (male 37,322; female 36,423)
15-64 years: 48% (male 36,067; female 38,730)
65 years and over: 4% (male 2,876; female 3,460) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.14% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 43.31 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 8.08 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -3.88 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 52.93 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 64.71 years
male: 63.18 years
female: 66.28 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.14 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Sao Tomean(s)
adjective: Sao Tomean
Ethnic groups: mestico, angolares (descendants of Angolan
slaves), forros (descendants of freed slaves), servicais (contract
laborers from Angola, Mozambique, and Cape Verde), tongas (children
of servicais born on the islands), Europeans (primarily Portuguese)
Religions: Roman Catholic, Evangelical Protestant, Seventh-Day
Adventist
Languages: Portuguese (official)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 73%
male: 85%
female: 62% (1991 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe
conventional short form: Sao Tome and Principe
local long form: Republica Democratica de Sao Tome e Principe
local short form: Sao Tome e Principe
Data code: TP
Government type: republic
Capital: Sao Tome
Administrative divisions: 2 provinces; Principe, Sao Tome
note: Principe has had self-government since 29 April 1995
Independence: 12 July 1975 (from Portugal)
National holiday: Independence Day, 12 July (1975)
Constitution: approved March 1990; effective 10 September 1990
Legal system: based on Portuguese legal system and customary law;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Miguel TROVOADA (since 4 April 1991)
head of government: Prime Minister Guilherma Posser da COSTA (since
30 December 1998)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the
proposal of the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 30 June and 15 July 1996 (next to be held in
2001); prime minister chosen by the National Assembly and approved
by the president
election results: Miguel TROVOADA reelected president in Sao Tome's
second multiparty presidential election; percent of vote--Miguel
TROVOADA 52.74%, Manuel Pinto da COSTA 47.26%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Assembleia
Nacional (55 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to
serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 8 November 1998 (next to be held NA 2003)
election results: percent of vote by party--MLSTP-PSD 56%, PCD
14.5%%, ADI 29%; seats by party--MLSTP-PSD 31, ADI 16, PCD 8
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the
National Assembly
Political parties and leaders: Party for Democratic Convergence
Liberation of Sao Tome and Principe-Social Democratic Party or
other small parties
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC,
CEEAC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer),
ITU, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO,
WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US: Sao Tome and Principe does
not have an embassy in the US, but does have a Permanent Mission to
the UN, headed by First Secretary Domingos AUGUSTO Ferreira, located
at 122 East 42nd Street, Suite 1604, New York, NY 10168, telephone
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an
embassy in Sao Tome and Principe; the Ambassador to Gabon is
accredited to Sao Tome and Principe on a nonresident basis and makes
periodic visits to the islands
Flag description: three horizontal bands of green (top), yellow
(double width), and green with two black five-pointed stars placed
side by side in the center of the yellow band and a red isosceles
triangle based on the hoist side; uses the popular pan-African
colors of Ethiopia
Economy
Economy--overview: This small poor island economy has become
increasingly dependent on cocoa since independence over 20 years
ago. However, cocoa production has substantially declined because of
drought and mismanagement. The resulting shortage of cocoa for
export has created a persistent balance-of-payments problem. Sao
Tome has to import all fuels, most manufactured goods, consumer
goods, and a significant amount of food. Over the years, it has been
unable to service its external debt and has had to depend on
concessional aid and debt rescheduling. Considerable potential
exists for development of a tourist industry, and the government has
taken steps to expand facilities in recent years. The government
also has attempted to reduce price controls and subsidies, but
economic growth has remained sluggish. Sao Tome is also optimistic
that significant petroleum discoveries are forthcoming in its
territorial waters in the oil-rich waters of the Gulf of Guinea.
Corruption scandals continue to weaken the economy.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$164 million (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 2.5% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,100 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 23%
industry: 19%
services: 58% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 21% (1998 est.)
Labor force: NA
Labor force--by occupation: population mainly engaged in
subsistence agriculture and fishing
note: there are shortages of skilled workers
Unemployment rate: 50% in the formal business sector (1998 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $58 million
expenditures: $114 million, including capital expenditures of $54
million (1993 est.)
Industries: light construction, textiles, soap, beer; fish
processing; timber
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: 15 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 46.67%
hydro: 53.33%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 15 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: cocoa, coconuts, palm kernels, copra,
cinnamon, pepper, coffee, bananas, papayas, beans; poultry; fish
Exports: $5.3 million (f.o.b., 1997 est.)
Exports--commodities: cocoa 90%, copra, coffee, palm oil (1997)
Exports--partners: Netherlands 51%, Germany 6%, Portugal 6% (1997)
Imports: $19.2 million (f.o.b., 1997 est.)
Imports--commodities: machinery and electrical equipment, food
products, petroleum products
Imports--partners: Portugal 26%, France 18%, Angola, Belgium,
Japan (1997)
Debt--external: $267 million (1997)
Economic aid--recipient: $57.3 million (1995)
Currency: 1 dobra (Db) = 100 centimos
Exchange rates: dobras (Db) per US$1--6,873.5 (October 1998),
4,552.5 (1997), 2,203.2 (1996), 1,420.3 (1995), 732.6 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 2,200 (1986 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: minimal system
international: satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0
Radios: 33,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 2 (1997)
Televisions: NA
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 320 km
paved: 218 km
unpaved: 102 km (1996 est.)
Ports and harbors: Santo Antonio, Sao Tome
Merchant marine:
total: 3 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 7,610 GRT/9,446
DWT (1998 est.)
Airports: 2 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Security Police
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 31,724 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 16,766 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $500,000 (1994)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 1.5% (1994)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
======================================================================
@Saudi Arabia
------------
Geography
Location: Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf and the Red
Sea, north of Yemen
Geographic coordinates: 25 00 N, 45 00 E
Map references: Middle East
Area:
total: 1,960,582 sq km
land: 1,960,582 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly more than one-fifth the size of the US
Land boundaries:
total: 4,415 km
border countries: Iraq 814 km, Jordan 728 km, Kuwait 222 km, Oman
676 km, Qatar 60 km, UAE 457 km, Yemen 1,458 km
Coastline: 2,640 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 18 nm
continental shelf: not specified
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: harsh, dry desert with great extremes of temperature
Terrain: mostly uninhabited, sandy desert
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
highest point: Jabal Sawda' 3,133 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, copper
Land use:
arable land: 2%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 56%
forests and woodland: 1%
other: 41% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 4,350 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: frequent sand and dust storms
Environment--current issues: desertification; depletion of
underground water resources; the lack of perennial rivers or
permanent water bodies has prompted the development of extensive
seawater desalination facilities; coastal pollution from oil spills
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography--note: extensive coastlines on Persian Gulf and Red Sea
provide great leverage on shipping (especially crude oil) through
Persian Gulf and Suez Canal
People
Population: 21,504,613 (July 1999 est.)
note: includes 5,321,938 non-nationals (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 43% (male 4,705,724; female 4,543,918)
15-64 years: 54% (male 6,925,020; female 4,783,570)
65 years and over: 3% (male 291,449; female 254,932) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.39% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 37.38 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 4.86 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 1.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.45 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.14 male(s)/female
total population: 1.24 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 38.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 70.55 years
male: 68.67 years
female: 72.53 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.34 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Saudi(s)
adjective: Saudi or Saudi Arabian
Ethnic groups: Arab 90%, Afro-Asian 10%
Religions: Muslim 100%
Languages: Arabic
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 62.8%
male: 71.5%
female: 50.2% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
conventional short form: Saudi Arabia
local long form: Al Mamlakah al Arabiyah as Suudiyah
local short form: Al Arabiyah as Suudiyah
Data code: SA
Government type: monarchy
Capital: Riyadh
Administrative divisions: 13 provinces (mintaqat,
singular--mintaqah); Al Bahah, Al Hudud ash Shamaliyah, Al Jawf, Al
Madinah, Al Qasim, Ar Riyad, Ash Sharqiyah (Eastern Province),
'Asir, Ha'il, Jizan, Makkah, Najran, Tabuk
Independence: 23 September 1932 (unification)
National holiday: Unification of the Kingdom, 23 September (1932)
Constitution: governed according to Shari'a (Islamic law); the
Basic Law that articulates the government's rights and
responsibilities was introduced in 1993
Legal system: based on Islamic law, several secular codes have
been introduced; commercial disputes handled by special committees;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: none
Executive branch:
chief of state: King and Prime Minister FAHD bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud
(since 13 June 1982); Crown Prince and First Deputy Prime Minister
ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (half-brother to the monarch, heir
to the throne since 13 June 1982, regent from 1 January to 22
February 1996); note--the monarch is both the chief of state and head
of government
head of government: King and Prime Minister FAHD bin Abd al-Aziz Al
Saud (since 13 June 1982); Crown Prince and First Deputy Prime
Minister ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (half-brother to the
monarch, heir to the throne since 13 June 1982, regent from 1
January to 22 February 1996); note--the monarch is both the chief of
state and head of government
cabinet: Council of Ministers is appointed by the monarch and
includes many royal family members
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary
Legislative branch: a consultative council (90 members and a
chairman appointed by the monarch for four-year terms)
Judicial branch: Supreme Council of Justice
Political parties and leaders: none allowed
International organization participation: ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AL,
AMF, BIS, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-19, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat,
Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW,
OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
(applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador BANDAR bin Sultan bin Abd al-Aziz Al
Saud
chancery: 601 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037
consulate(s) general: Houston, Los Angeles, and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Wyche FOWLER, Jr.
embassy: Collector Road M, Diplomatic Quarter, Riyadh
mailing address: American Embassy Riyadh, Unit 61307, APO AE
09803-1307; International Mail: P. O. Box 94309, Riyadh 11693
consulate(s) general: Dhahran, Jiddah (Jeddah)
Flag description: green with large white Arabic script (that may
be translated as There is no God but God; Muhammad is the Messenger
of God) above a white horizontal saber (the tip points to the hoist
side); green is the traditional color of Islam
Economy
Economy--overview: This is a well-to-do oil-based economy with
strong government controls over major economic activities. Saudi
Arabia has the largest reserves of petroleum in the world (26% of
the proved total), ranks as the largest exporter of petroleum, and
plays a leading role in OPEC. The petroleum sector accounts for
roughly 75% of budget revenues, 40% of GDP, and 90% of export
earnings. About 35% of GDP comes from the private sector. Roughly 4
million foreign workers play an important role in the Saudi economy,
for example, in the oil and service sectors. The Saudi economy was
severely hit by the large decline in world oil prices in 1998. GDP
fell by nearly 11%; the budget deficit rose to $12.3 billion; and
the current account recorded a $13 billion deficit--the first in
three years. The government announced plans to implement large
spending cuts in 1999 because of weak oil prices and will continue
to call on greater private sector involvement in the economy.
Shortages of water and rapid population growth will constrain
government efforts to increase self-sufficiency in agricultural
products.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$186 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: -10.8% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$9,000 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 6%
industry: 53%
services: 41% (1996)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): -0.2% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 7 million
note: 35% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national
(July 1998 est.)
Labor force--by occupation: government 40%, industry,
construction, and oil 25%, services 30%, agriculture 5%
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $32.3 billion
expenditures: $44 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1999 budget est.)
Industries: crude oil production, petroleum refining, basic
petrochemicals, cement, two small steel-rolling mills, construction,
fertilizer, plastics
Industrial production growth rate: 1% (1997 est.)
Electricity--production: 95 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 95 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: wheat, barley, tomatoes, melons, dates,
citrus; mutton, chickens, eggs, milk
Exports: $59.7 billion (f.o.b., 1997)
Exports--commodities: petroleum and petroleum products 90%
Exports--partners: Japan 18%, US 15%, South Korea 11%, Singapore
8%, India 4% (1997 est.)
Imports: $26.2 billion (f.o.b., 1997)
Imports--commodities: machinery and equipment, foodstuffs,
chemicals, motor vehicles, textiles
Imports--partners: US 23%, UK 17%, Japan 8%, Germany 8%, Italy 5%
(1997 est.)
Debt--external: $NA
Economic aid--donor: pledged $100 million in 1993 to fund
reconstruction of Lebanon; since 1993, Saudi Arabia has committed
$208 million for assistance to the Palestinians
Currency: 1 Saudi riyal (SR) = 100 halalah
Exchange rates: Saudi riyals (SR) per US$1--3.7450 (fixed rate
since June 1986)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 1.46 million (1993)
Telephone system: modern system
domestic: extensive microwave radio relay and coaxial and
fiber-optic cable systems
international: microwave radio relay to Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait,
Qatar, UAE, Yemen, and Sudan; coaxial cable to Kuwait and Jordan;
submarine cable to Djibouti, Egypt and Bahrain; satellite earth
stations--5 Intelsat (3 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean), 1
Arabsat, and 1 Inmarsat (Indian Ocean region)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 43, FM 13, shortwave 0
Radios: 5 million (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 117 (1997)
Televisions: 4.5 million (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 1,390 km
standard gauge: 1,390 km 1.435-m gauge (448 km double track) (1992)
Highways:
total: 162,000 km
paved: 69,174 km
unpaved: 92,826 km (1996 est.)
Pipelines: crude oil 6,400 km; petroleum products 150 km; natural
gas 2,200 km (includes natural gas liquids 1,600 km)
Ports and harbors: Ad Dammam, Al Jubayl, Duba, Jiddah, Jizan,
Rabigh, Ra's al Khafji, Mishab, Ras Tanura, Yanbu' al Bahr, Madinat
Yanbu' al Sinaiyah
Merchant marine:
total: 73 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,124,110 GRT/1,467,121
DWT
ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 13, chemical tanker 7, container 5,
liquefied gas tanker 1, livestock carrier 4, oil tanker 17,
passenger 1, refrigerated cargo 4, roll-on/roll-off cargo 12,
short-sea passenger 8 (1998 est.)
Airports: 205 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 70
over 3,047 m: 30
2,438 to 3,047 m: 12
1,524 to 2,437 m: 23
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 135
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 78
914 to 1,523 m: 38
under 914 m: 13 (1998 est.)
Heliports: 4 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Land Force (Army), Navy, Air Force, Air
Defense Force, National Guard, Ministry of Interior Forces
Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 5,696,772 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 3,171,860 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 197,386 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $18.1 billion (1997 est.)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 12% (1997 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: large section of boundary with Yemen not
defined; location and status of boundary with UAE is not final, de
facto boundary reflects 1974 agreement; Kuwaiti ownership of Qaruh
and Umm al Maradim islands is disputed by Saudi Arabia; in 1996,
agreed with Qatar to demarcate border per 1992 accord; that process
is ongoing
Illicit drugs: death penalty for traffickers; increasing
consumption of heroin and cocaine
======================================================================
@Senegal
-------
Geography
Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean,
between Guinea-Bissau and Mauritania
Geographic coordinates: 14 00 N, 14 00 W
Map references: Africa
Area:
total: 196,190 sq km
land: 192,000 sq km
water: 4,190 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than South Dakota
Land boundaries:
total: 2,640 km
border countries: The Gambia 740 km, Guinea 330 km, Guinea-Bissau
338 km, Mali 419 km, Mauritania 813 km
Coastline: 531 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; hot, humid; rainy season (May to November) has
strong southeast winds; dry season (December to April) dominated by
hot, dry, harmattan wind
Terrain: generally low, rolling, plains rising to foothills in
southeast
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed feature near Nepen Diakha 581 m
Natural resources: fish, phosphates, iron ore
Land use:
arable land: 12%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 16%
forests and woodland: 54%
other: 18% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 710 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: lowlands seasonally flooded; periodic droughts
Environment--current issues: wildlife populations threatened by
poaching; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification;
overfishing
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation,
Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands,
Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping
Geography--note: The Gambia is almost an enclave of Senegal
People
Population: 10,051,930 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 48% (male 2,403,384; female 2,416,791)
15-64 years: 49% (male 2,360,113; female 2,594,278)
65 years and over: 3% (male 134,765; female 142,599) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.32% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 43.88 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 10.71 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.95 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 59.81 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 57.83 years
male: 54.95 years
female: 60.78 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.11 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Senegalese (singular and plural)
adjective: Senegalese
Ethnic groups: Wolof 43.3%, Pular 23.8%, Serer 14.7%, Diola 3.7%,
Mandink 3%, Soninke 1.1%, European and Lebanese 1%, other 9.4%
Religions: Muslim 92%, indigenous beliefs 6%, Christian 2%
(mostly Roman Catholic)
Languages: French (official), Wolof, Pulaar, Diola, Mandingo
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 33.1%
male: 43%
female: 23.2% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Senegal
conventional short form: Senegal
local long form: Republique du Senegal
local short form: Senegal
Data code: SG
Government type: republic under multiparty democratic rule
Capital: Dakar
Administrative divisions: 10 regions (regions, singular--region);
Dakar, Diourbel, Fatick, Kaolack, Kolda, Louga, Saint-Louis,
Tambacounda, Thies, Ziguinchor
Independence: 4 April 1960 from France; complete independence was
achieved upon dissolution of federation with Mali on 20 August 1960
(The Gambia and Senegal signed an agreement on 12 December 1981 that
called for the creation of a loose confederation to be known as
Senegambia, but the agreement was dissolved on 30 September 1989)
National holiday: Independence Day, 4 April (1960)
Constitution: 3 March 1963, revised 1991
Legal system: based on French civil law system; judicial review
of legislative acts in Constitutional Court; the Council of State
audits the government's accounting office; Senegal has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Abdou DIOUF (since 1 January 1981)
head of government: Prime Minister Mamadou Lamine LOUM (since 4 July
1998)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister in
consultation with the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term;
election last held 21 February 1993 (next to be held NA February
2000); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Abdou DIOUF reelected president; percent of
vote--Abdou DIOUF (PS) 58.4%, Abdoulaye WADE (PDS) 32.03%, other 9.57%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee
Nationale (140 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to
serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 24 May 1998 (next to be held NA May 2003)
election results: percent of vote by party--PS 50.19%, PDS 19%, UDS-R
13%, And/Jef-PADS 5%, LD/MPT 4%, CDP/Garab-Gi 2%, FSD 1%, PDS-R 1%,
RND 1%, BCG 1%, PIT 1% ; seats by party--PS 93, PDS 23, UDS-R 11,
And-Jef/PADS 4, LD-MPT 3, CDP/Garab-Gi 1, FSD 1, PDS-R 1, RND 1, BCG
1, PIT 1
Judicial branch: under the terms of a reform of the judicial
system implemented in 1992, the principal organs of the judiciary
are as follows; Constitutional Court; Council of State; Court of
Final Appeals or Cour de Cassation; Court of Appeals
Political parties and leaders: African Party for Democracy and
secretary general]; Democratic League-Labor Party Movement or LD-MPT
Political pressure groups and leaders: students; teachers; labor;
Muslim brotherhoods
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC,
ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, FZ, G-15, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU,
ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, MINURCA, MIPONUH, MONUA, NAM, OAU, OIC,
OPCW, PCA, UN, UNAVEM III, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH,
UPU, WADB, WAEMU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Mamadou Mansour SECK
chancery: 2112 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Dane Farnsworth SMITH, Jr.
embassy: Avenue Jean XXIII at the corner of Avenue Kleber, Dakar
mailing address: B. P. 49, Dakar
Flag description: three equal vertical bands of green (hoist
side), yellow, and red with a small green five-pointed star centered
in the yellow band; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia
Economy
Economy--overview: In January 1994, Senegal undertook a bold and
ambitious economic reform program with the support of the
international donor community. This reform began with a 50%
devaluation of Senegal's currency, the CFA franc, which is linked at
a fixed rate to the French franc. Government price controls and
subsidies have been steadily dismantled. After seeing its economy
contract by 2.1% in 1993, Senegal made an important turnaround,
thanks to the reform program, with real growth in GDP averaging 5%
annually in 1995-98. Annual inflation has been pushed below 2%, and
the fiscal deficit has been cut to less than 1.5% of GDP. Investment
rose steadily from 13.8% of GDP in 1993 to 16.5% in 1997. As a
member of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA),
Senegal is working toward greater regional integration with a
unified external tariff. Senegal also realized full Internet
connectivity in 1996, creating a miniboom in information
technology-based services. Private activity now accounts for 82% of
GDP. On the negative side, Senegal faces deep-seated urban problems
of chronic unemployment, juvenile delinquency, and drug addiction.
Forecasters predict growth will continue in the 5% range in
1999-2000.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$15.6 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 5.7% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,600 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 19%
industry: 17%
services: 64% (1996 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.4%
highest 10%: 42.8% (1991)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.8% (1998 est.)
Labor force: NA
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 60%
Unemployment rate: NA%; urban youth 40%
Budget:
revenues: $885 million
expenditures: $885 million, including capital expenditures of $125
million (1996 est.)
Industries: agricultural and fish processing, phosphate mining,
fertilizer production, petroleum refining, construction materials
Industrial production growth rate: 7% (1998 est.)
Electricity--production: 1.027 billion kWh (1997 est.)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 730 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1997)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1997)
Agriculture--products: peanuts, millet, corn, sorghum, rice,
cotton, tomatoes, green vegetables; cattle, poultry, pigs; fish
Exports: $925 million (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports--commodities: fish, ground nuts (peanuts), petroleum
products, phosphates, cotton
Exports--partners: France 20%, other EU countries, India, Cote
d'Ivoire, Mali (1996)
Imports: $1.2 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports--commodities: foods and beverages, consumer goods, capital
goods, petroleum products
Imports--partners: France 36%, other EU countries, Nigeria,
Cameroon, Cote d'Ivoire, Algeria, US, China, Japan (1996)
Debt--external: $3.8 billion (1997)
Economic aid--recipient: $647.5 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100
centimes
Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per
US$1--560.01 (December 1998), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55
(1966), 499.15 (1995), 555.20 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 81,988 (1995 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: above-average urban system; microwave radio relay, coaxial
cable and fiber-optic cable in trunk system
international: 4 submarine cables; satellite earth station--1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 8, FM 6, shortwave 1
Radios: 850,000 (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1997)
Televisions: 61,000 (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 904 km
narrow gauge: 904 km 1.000-meter gauge (70 km double track) (1995)
Highways:
total: 14,576 km
paved: 4,271 km
unpaved: 10,305 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 897 km total; 785 km on the Senegal river, and 112 km
on the Saloum river
Ports and harbors: Dakar, Kaolack, Matam, Podor, Richard-Toll,
Saint-Louis, Ziguinchor
Merchant marine:
total: 1 bulk ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,995 GRT/3,775 DWT
(1998 est.)
Airports: 20 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 10
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 10
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie,
National Police (Surete Nationale)
Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 2,096,438 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,095,047 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 103,348 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $68 million (1997)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 1.4% (1997)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: short section of boundary with The Gambia
is indefinite
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for Southwest and Southeast
Asian heroin moving to Europe and North America; illicit cultivator
of cannabis
======================================================================
@Serbia and Montenegro
---------------------
Introduction
Background: Serbia and Montenegro have asserted the formation of
a joint independent state, but this entity has not been formally
recognized as a state by the US. The US view is that the Socialist
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY) has dissolved and that none of
the successor republics represents its continuation.
Geography
Location: Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea,
between Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina
Geographic coordinates: 44 00 N, 21 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area:
total: 102,350 sq km (Serbia 88,412 sq km; Montenegro 13,938 sq km)
land: 102,136 sq km (Serbia 88,412 sq km; Montenegro 13,724 sq km)
water: 214 sq km (Serbia 0 sq km; Montenegro 214 sq km)
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than Kentucky (Serbia is
slightly larger than Maine; Montenegro is slightly smaller than
Connecticut)
Land boundaries:
total: 2,246 km
border countries: Albania 287 km (114 km with Serbia, 173 km with
Montenegro), Bosnia and Herzegovina 527 km (312 km with Serbia, 215
km with Montenegro), Bulgaria 318 km (with Serbia), Croatia (north)
241 km (with Serbia), Croatia (south) 25 km (with Montenegro),
Hungary 151 km (with Serbia), The Former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia 221 km (with Serbia), Romania 476 km (with Serbia)
note: the internal boundary between Montenegro and Serbia is 211 km
Coastline: 199 km (Montenegro 199 km, Serbia 0 km)
Maritime claims: NA
Climate: in the north, continental climate (cold winter and hot,
humid summers with well distributed rainfall); central portion,
continental and Mediterranean climate; to the south, Adriatic
climate along the coast, hot, dry summers and autumns and relatively
cold winters with heavy snowfall inland
Terrain: extremely varied; to the north, rich fertile plains; to
the east, limestone ranges and basins; to the southeast, ancient
mountains and hills; to the southwest, extremely high shoreline with
no islands off the coast
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m
highest point: Daravica 2,656 m
Natural resources: oil, gas, coal, antimony, copper, lead, zinc,
nickel, gold, pyrite, chrome
Land use:
arable land: NA%
permanent crops: NA%
permanent pastures: NA%
forests and woodland: NA%
other: NA%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: destructive earthquakes
Environment--current issues: pollution of coastal waters from
sewage outlets, especially in tourist-related areas such as Kotor;
air pollution around Belgrade and other industrial cities; water
pollution from industrial wastes dumped into the Sava which flows
into the Danube
Environment--international agreements:
party to: none of the selected agreements
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography--note: controls one of the major land routes from
Western Europe to Turkey and the Near East; strategic location along
the Adriatic coast
People
Population: 11,206,847 (Serbia--10,526,478; Montenegro?680,369)
(July 1999 est.)
note: all data dealing with population is subject to considerable
error because of the dislocations caused by military action and
ethnic cleansing
Age structure:
0-14 years: Serbia--20% (male 1,102,109; female 1,025,069);
Montenegro--21% (male 75,633; female 70,464)
15-64 years: Serbia--67% (male 3,538,689; female 3,483,192);
Montenegro--68% (male 232,223; female 227,371)
65 years and over: Serbia--13% (male 595,200; female 782,219);
Montenegro--11% (male 30,829; female 43,849) (July 1999 est.)
Population growth rate: Serbia--0.02%; Montenegro?0.07% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: Serbia--12.54 births/1,000 population; Montenegro?
13.19 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: Serbia--9.68 deaths/1,000 population; Montenegro? 7.44
deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: Serbia---2.65 migrants/1,000 population;
Montenegro---5.09 migrants/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: Serbia--1.08 male(s)/female; Montenegro--1.08 male(s)/female
under 15 years: Serbia--1.08 male(s)/female; Montenegro--1.07
male(s)/female
15-64 years: Serbia--1.02 male(s)/female; Montenegro--1.02
male(s)/female
65 years and over: Serbia--0.76 male(s)/female; Montenegro--0.70
male(s)/female
total population: Serbia--0.99 male(s)/female; Montenegro--0.99
male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: Serbia--16.49 deaths/1,000 live births;
Montenegro--10.99 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: Serbia--73.45 years; Montenegro--76.32 years
male: Serbia--71.03 years; Montenegro-- 72.87 years
female: Serbia--76.05 years; Montenegro--80.07 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: Serbia--1.74 children born/woman;
Montenegro--1.76 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Serb(s); Montenegrin(s)
adjective: Serbian; Montenegrin
Ethnic groups: Serbs 63%, Albanians 14%, Montenegrins 6%,
Hungarians 4%, other 13%
Religions: Orthodox 65%, Muslim 19%, Roman Catholic 4%,
Protestant 1%, other 11%
Languages: Serbo-Croatian 95%, Albanian 5%
Literacy: NA
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Serbia and Montenegro
local long form: none
local short form: Srbija-Crna Gora
note: Serbia and Montenegro has self-proclaimed itself the "Federal
Republic of Yugoslavia" (FRY) but the US view is that the Socialist
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY) has dissolved and that none of
the successor republics represents its continuation
Data code: Serbia--SR; Montenegro?MW
Government type: republic
Capital: Belgrade (Serbia), Podgorica (Montenegro)
Administrative divisions: 2 republics (republike,
singular--republika); and 2 nominally autonomous provinces* (autonomn
pokrajine, singular--autonomna pokrajina); Kosovo*, Montenegro,
Serbia, Vojvodina*
Independence: 11 April 1992 (Federal Republic of Yugoslavia or
FRY formed as self-proclaimed successor to the Socialist Federal
Republic of Yugoslavia or SFRY)
National holiday: St. Vitus Day, 28 June
Constitution: 27 April 1992
Legal system: based on civil law system
Suffrage: 16 years of age, if employed; 18 years of age, universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Slobodan MILOSEVIC (since 23 July 1997);
note--Milan MILUTINOVIC is president of Serbia (since 21 December
1997); Milo DJUKANOVIC is president of Montenegro (since 21 December
1997)
head of government: Prime Minister Momir BULATOVIC (since 20 May
1998); Deputy Prime Ministers Nikola SAINOVIC (since 15 September
1995), Vuk DRASKOVIC (since 1 February 1999), Jovan ZEBIC (since 9
April 1998), and Vladan KUTLESIC (since 20 March 1997), Zoran LILIC
(since 20 May 1998), Danilo VUKSANOVIC (since 20 May 1998)
cabinet: Federal Executive Council
elections: president elected by the Federal Assembly for a four-year
term; election last held 23 July 1997 (next to be held NA 2001);
prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Slobodan MILOSEVIC elected president; percent of
legislative vote--Slobodan MILOSEVIC 90%
Legislative branch: bicameral Federal Assembly or Savezna
Skupstina consists of the Chamber of Republics or Vece Republika (40
seats--20 Serbian, 20 Montenegrin; members distributed on the basis
of party representation in the republican assemblies to serve
four-year terms) and the Chamber of Citizens or Vece Gradjana (138
seats -, 108 Serbian with half elected by constituency majorities
and half by proportional representation, 30 Montenegrin with six
elected by constituency and 24 proportionally; members serve
four-year terms)
elections: Chamber of Republics--last held 24 December 1996 (next to
be held NA 2000); Chamber of Citizens--last held 3 November 1996
(next to be held NA 2000)
election results: Chamber of Republics--percent of vote by party--NA;
seats by party--NA; note--seats are filled on a proportional basis to
reflect the composition of the legislatures of the republics of
Montenegro and Serbia; Chamber of Citizens--percent of vote by
party--NA; seats by party--SPS/JUL/ND 64, Zajedno 22, DPSCG 20, SRS
16, NS 8, SVM 3, other 5; note--Zajedno coalition includes SPO, DS,
GSS
Judicial branch: Federal Court or Savezni Sud, judges are elected
by the Federal Assembly for nine-year terms; Constitutional Court,
judges are elected by the Federal Assembly for nine-year terms
Political parties and leaders: Serbian Socialist Party or SPS
Political pressure groups and leaders: NA
International organization participation: ICFTU, IOC, OPCW
Diplomatic representation in the US: the US and Serbia and
Montenegro do not maintain full diplomatic relations; the Embassy of
the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia continues to
function in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Counselor, Charge d'Affaires
ad interim Nebojsa VUJOVIC
chancery: 2410 California St. NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US and Serbia and
Montenegro do not maintain full diplomatic relations
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chief of Mission Richard M.
MILES
embassy: Kneza Milosa 50, 11000 Belgrade
mailing address: American Embassy, Belgrade, United States
Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-5070 (pouch)
Economy
Economy--overview: The swift collapse of the Yugoslav federation
in 1991 has been followed by highly destructive warfare, the
destabilization of republic boundaries, and the breakup of important
interrepublic trade flows. Output in Serbia and Montenegro dropped
by half in 1992-93. Like the other former Yugoslav republics, it had
depended on its sister republics for large amounts of energy and
manufactures. Wide differences in climate, mineral resources, and
levels of technology among the republics accentuated this
interdependence, as did the communist practice of concentrating much
industrial output in a small number of giant plants. The breakup of
many of the trade links, the sharp drop in output as industrial
plants lost suppliers and markets, and the destruction of physical
assets in the fighting all have contributed to the economic
difficulties of the republics. One singular factor in the economic
situation of Serbia is the continuation in office of a government
that is primarily interested in political and military mastery, not
economic reform. Hyperinflation ended with the establishment of a
new currency unit in June 1993; prices were relatively stable from
1995 through 1997, but inflationary pressures resurged in 1998.
Reliable statistics continue to be hard to come by, and the GDP
estimate is extremely rough. The economic boom anticipated by the
government after the suspension of UN sanctions in December 1995 has
failed to materialize. Government mismanagement of the economy is
largely to blame. Also, the Outer Wall sanctions that exclude
Belgrade from international financial institutions and an investment
ban and asset freeze imposed in 1998 because of Belgrade's
repressive actions in Kosovo have added to economic difficulties.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$25.4 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 3.5% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$2,300 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 25%
industry: 50%
services: 25% (1994 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 48% (1998 est.)
Labor force: NA
Labor force--by occupation: industry 41%, services 35%, trade and
tourism 12%, transportation and communication 7%, agriculture 5%
(1994)
Unemployment rate: more than 35% (1995 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Industries: machine building (aircraft, trucks, and automobiles;
tanks and weapons; electrical equipment; agricultural machinery);
metallurgy (steel, aluminum, copper, lead, zinc, chromium, antimony,
bismuth, cadmium); mining (coal, bauxite, nonferrous ore, iron ore,
limestone); consumer goods (textiles, footwear, foodstuffs,
appliances); electronics, petroleum products, chemicals, and
pharmaceuticals
Industrial production growth rate: 8% (1997 est.)
Electricity--production: 36.155 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 63.44%
hydro: 36.56%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 35.999 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 156 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: cereals, fruits, vegetables, tobacco,
olives; cattle, sheep, goats
Exports: $2.3 billion (1998 est.)
Exports--commodities: manufactured goods, food and live animals,
raw materials
Exports--partners: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Italy, The Former
Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
Imports: $3.9 billion (1998 est.)
Imports--commodities: machinery and transport equipment, fuels and
lubricants, manufactured goods, chemicals, food and live animals,
raw materials
Imports--partners: Germany, Italy, Russia
Debt--external: $11.2 billion (1995 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $NA
Currency: 1 Yugoslav New Dinar (YD) = 100 paras
Exchange rates: Yugoslav New Dinars (YD) per US $1--official rate:
10.0 (December 1998), 5.85 (December 1997), 5.02 (September 1996),
1.5 (early 1995); black market rate: 14.5 (December 1998), 8.9
(December 1997), 2 to 3 (early 1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 700,000
Telephone system:
domestic: NA
international: satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: 27 (public or state-owned 1, private 26)
Radios: 2.015 million
Television broadcast stations: more than 771 (consisting of 86
strong stations, 685 low-power stations, and 20 repeaters in the
principal networks; there are also numerous local or private
stations in Serbia and Vojvodina) (1997)
Televisions: 1 million
Transportation
Railways:
total: 3,987 km
standard gauge: 3,987 km 1.435-m gauge (1,377 km partially
electrified since 1992) (1998)
Highways:
total: 50,414 km
paved: 45,020 km (including 545 km of expressways)
unpaved: 5,394 km (1997 est.)
Waterways: NA km
Pipelines: crude oil 415 km; petroleum products 130 km; natural
gas 2,110 km
Ports and harbors: Bar, Belgrade, Kotor, Novi Sad, Pancevo,
Tivat, Zelenika
Merchant marine:
total: 1 short-sea passenger (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,437
GRT/400 DWT (owned by Montenegro) (1998 est.)
Airports: 48 (Serbia 43, Montenegro 5) (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 18
over 3,047 m: 2 (Serbia 2, Montenegro 0)
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 (Serbia 3, Montenegro 2)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 (Serbia 4, Montenegro 1)
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (Serbia 2, Montenegro 0)
under 914 m: 4 (Serbia 4, Montenegro 0) (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 30
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (Serbia 2, Montenegro 0)
914 to 1,523 m: 14 (Serbia 13, Montenegro 1)
under 914 m: 14 (Serbia 13, Montenegro 1) (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army (including ground forces with border
troops, naval forces, air and air defense forces)
Military manpower--military age: Serbia?NA years of age;
Montenegro--19 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: Serbia--2,727,292; Montenegro--187,198 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: Serbia--2,183,534; Montenegro--150,415 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: Serbia--NA; Montenegro--5,671 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $911 million (1999)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 6.5% (1999)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: disputes with Bosnia and Herzegovina over
Serbian populated areas; Albanian majority in Kosovo seeks
independence from Serbian republic; Serbia and Montenegro is
disputing Croatia's claim to the Prevlaka Peninsula in southern
Croatia because it controls the entrance to Boka Kotorska in
Montenegro; Prevlaka is currently under observation by the UN
military observer mission in Prevlaka (UNMOP); the border commission
formed by The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Serbia and
Montenegro in April 1996 to resolve differences in delineation of
their mutual border has made no progress so far
Illicit drugs: major transshipment point for Southwest Asian
heroin moving to Western Europe on the Balkan route
======================================================================
@Seychelles
----------
Geography
Location: Eastern Africa, group of islands in the Indian Ocean,
northeast of Madagascar
Geographic coordinates: 4 35 S, 55 40 E
Map references: Africa
Area:
total: 455 sq km
land: 455 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 491 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical marine; humid; cooler season during southeast
monsoon (late May to September); warmer season during northwest
monsoon (March to May)
Terrain: Mahe Group is granitic, narrow coastal strip, rocky,
hilly; others are coral, flat, elevated reefs
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Morne Seychellois 905 m
Natural resources: fish, copra, cinnamon trees
Land use:
arable land: 2%
permanent crops: 13%
permanent pastures: NA%
forests and woodland: 11%
other: 74% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: lies outside the cyclone belt, so severe storms
are rare; short droughts possible
Environment--current issues: water supply depends on catchments to
collect rain water
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear
Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography--note: 40 granitic and about 50 coralline islands
People
Population: 79,164 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 29% (male 11,712; female 11,569)
15-64 years: 64% (male 24,879; female 26,038)
65 years and over: 7% (male 1,709; female 3,257) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.65% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 19.39 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 6.56 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -6.32 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.52 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 16.65 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 70.95 years
male: 66.61 years
female: 75.42 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.97 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Seychellois (singular and plural)
adjective: Seychelles
Ethnic groups: Seychellois (mixture of Asians, Africans,
Europeans)
Religions: Roman Catholic 90%, Anglican 8%, other 2%
Languages: English (official), French (official), Creole
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 58%
male: 56%
female: 60% (1971 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Seychelles
conventional short form: Seychelles
Data code: SE
Government type: republic
Capital: Victoria
Administrative divisions: 23 administrative districts; Anse aux
Pins, Anse Boileau, Anse Etoile, Anse Louis, Anse Royale, Baie
Lazare, Baie Sainte Anne, Beau Vallon, Bel Air, Bel Ombre, Cascade,
Glacis, Grand' Anse (on Mahe), Grand' Anse (on Praslin), La Digue,
La Riviere Anglaise, Mont Buxton, Mont Fleuri, Plaisance, Pointe La
Rue, Port Glaud, Saint Louis, Takamaka
Independence: 29 June 1976 (from UK)
National holiday: National Day, 18 June (1993) (adoption of the
constitution)
Constitution: 18 June 1993
Legal system: based on English common law, French civil law, and
customary law
Suffrage: 17 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President France Albert RENE (since 5 June 1977);
note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President France Albert RENE (since 5 June
1977); note--the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 20-22 March 1998 (next to be held by NA 2003)
election results: President France Albert RENE reelected; percent of
vote--France Albert RENE (SPPF) 61%, Wavel RAMKALAWAN (UO) 27%, Sir
James MANCHAM (DP) 12%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee
Nationale (35 seats--25 elected by popular vote, 10 allocated on a
proportional basis to parties winning at least nine percent of the
vote; members serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 20-22 March 1998 (next to be held by NA 2003)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party
(elected)--SPPF 24, DP 1; seats by party (awarded)--SPPF 6, DP 1, UO 3
note: the 10 awarded seats are apportioned according to the share of
each party in the total vote
Judicial branch: Court of Appeal, judges are appointed by the
president; Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the president
Political parties and leaders: ruling party--Seychelles People's
Political pressure groups and leaders: trade unions; Roman
Catholic Church
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, C,
ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
IMO, InOC, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, NAM, OAU,
OPCW, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WMO, WToO,
WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Claude MOREL
chancery: 800 Second Avenue, Suite 400C, New York, NY 10017
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an
embassy in Seychelles; the ambassador to Mauritius is accredited to
Seychelles
Flag description: five oblique bands of blue (hoist side),
yellow, red, white, and green (bottom) radiating from the bottom of
the hoist side
Economy
Economy--overview: Since independence in 1976, per capita output
in this Indian Ocean archipelago has expanded to roughly seven times
the old near-subsistence level. Growth has been led by the tourist
sector, which employs about 30% of the labor force and provides more
than 70% of hard currency earnings, and by tuna fishing, which
accounted for 70% of GDP in 1996-97. In recent years the government
has encouraged foreign investment in order to upgrade hotels and
other services. At the same time, the government has moved to reduce
the dependence on tourism by promoting the development of farming,
fishing, and small-scale manufacturing. The vulnerability of the
tourist sector was illustrated by the sharp drop in 1991-92 due
largely to the Gulf war. Although the industry has rebounded, the
government recognizes the continuing need for upgrading the sector
in the face of stiff international competition. Other issues facing
the government are the curbing of the budget deficit and further
privatization of public enterprises.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$550 million (1997 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 4.3% (1997 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$7,000 (1997 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 4%
industry: 15%
services: 81% (1994)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.6% (1997)
Labor force: 26,000 (1996)
Labor force--by occupation: industry 19%, services 57%, government
14%, fishing, agriculture, and forestry 10% (1989)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $220 million
expenditures: $241 million, including capital expenditures of $36
million (1994 est.)
Industries: fishing; tourism; processing of coconuts and vanilla,
coir (coconut fiber) rope, boat building, printing, furniture;
beverages
Industrial production growth rate: 4% (1992)
Electricity--production: 125 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 125 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: coconuts, cinnamon, vanilla, sweet
potatoes, cassava (tapioca), bananas; broiler chickens; tuna fish
Exports: $53 million ( f.o.b., 1995)
Exports--commodities: fish, cinnamon bark, copra, petroleum
products (reexports)
Exports--partners: France, UK, China, Germany, Japan (1993)
Imports: $340 million (c.i.f., 1997)
Imports--commodities: manufactured goods, food, petroleum
products, tobacco, beverages, machinery and transportation equipment
Imports--partners: China, Singapore, South Africa, UK (1993)
Debt--external: $170 million (1994 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $16.4 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Seychelles rupee (SRe) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Seychelles rupees (SRe) per US$1--5.4540 (January
1999), 5.2622 (1998), 5.0263 (1997), 4.9700 (1996), 4.7620 (1995),
5.0559 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 13,000 (1995 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: radiotelephone communications between islands in the
archipelago
international: direct radiotelephone communications with adjacent
island countries and African coastal countries; satellite earth
station--1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: 50,000 (1996 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 2 (in addition, there are 9
repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 12,000 (1996 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 280 km
paved: 176 km
unpaved: 104 km (1996 est.)
Ports and harbors: Victoria
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 14 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 6
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 8
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 4 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Coast Guard, Marines, air wing, National
Guard, Presidential Protection Unit, Police Force
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 22,420 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 11,242 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $13.7 million (1995)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: NA%
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: claims Chagos Archipelago in British
Indian Ocean Territory
======================================================================
@Sierra Leone
------------
Introduction
Background: On 25 May 1997, the democratically-elected government
of President Ahmad Tejan KABBAH was overthrown by a disgruntled
coalition of army personnel from the Armed Forces Revolutionary
Council (AFRC) and the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) under the
command of Major Johnny Paul KOROMA; President KABBAH fled to exile
in Guinea. The Economic Community of West African States Cease-Fire
Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) forces, led by a strong Nigerian
contingent, undertook the suppression of the rebellion. They were
initially unsuccessful, but, by October 1997, they forced the rebels
to agree to a cease-fire and to a plan to return the government to
democratic control. President KABBAH returned to office on 10 March
1998 to face the task of restoring order to a demoralized population
and a disorganized and severely damaged economy. Many of the leaders
of the coup were tried and executed in October 1998. In January
1999, the situation had deteriorated even further, with commerce at
a standstill, hundreds of thousands of people driven from their
homes, and bitter fighting between the AFRC/RUF and ECOMOG troops
intensifying by large-scale import of arms.
Geography
Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean,
between Guinea and Liberia
Geographic coordinates: 8 30 N, 11 30 W
Map references: Africa
Area:
total: 71,740 sq km
land: 71,620 sq km
water: 120 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than South Carolina
Land boundaries:
total: 958 km
border countries: Guinea 652 km, Liberia 306 km
Coastline: 402 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate: tropical; hot, humid; summer rainy season (May to
December); winter dry season (December to April)
Terrain: coastal belt of mangrove swamps, wooded hill country,
upland plateau, mountains in east
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Loma Mansa (Bintimani) 1,948 m
Natural resources: diamonds, titanium ore, bauxite, iron ore,
gold, chromite
Land use:
arable land: 7%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 31%
forests and woodland: 28%
other: 33% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 290 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: dry, sand-laden harmattan winds blow from the
Sahara (November to May); sandstorms, dust storms
Environment--current issues: rapid population growth pressuring
the environment; overharvesting of timber, expansion of cattle
grazing, and slash-and-burn agriculture have resulted in
deforestation and soil exhaustion; civil war depleting natural
resources; overfishing
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
People
Population: 5,296,651 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 45% (male 1,182,181; female 1,219,956)
15-64 years: 52% (male 1,307,475; female 1,423,046)
65 years and over: 3% (male 82,374; female 81,619) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 4.34% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 45.62 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 16.77 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 14.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.01 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 126.23 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 49.13 years
male: 46.07 years
female: 52.27 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.16 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Sierra Leonean(s)
adjective: Sierra Leonean
Ethnic groups: 20 native African tribes 90% (Temne 30%, Mende
30%, other 30%), Creole 10% (descendents of freed Jamaican slaves
who were settled in the Freetown area in the late-eighteenth
century), refugees from Liberia's recent civil war, small numbers of
Europeans, Lebanese, Pakistanis, and Indians
Religions: Muslim 60%, indigenous beliefs 30%, Christian 10%
Languages: English (official, regular use limited to literate
minority), Mende (principal vernacular in the south), Temne
(principal vernacular in the north), Krio (English-based Creole,
spoken by the descendents of freed Jamaican slaves who were settled
in the Freetown area, a lingua franca and a first language for 10%
of the population but understood by 95%)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write English, Mende,
Temne, or Arabic
total population: 31.4%
male: 45.4%
female: 18.2% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Sierra Leone
conventional short form: Sierra Leone
Data code: SL
Government type: constitutional democracy
Capital: Freetown
Administrative divisions: 3 provinces and 1 area*; Eastern,
Northern, Southern, Western*
Independence: 27 April 1961 (from UK)
National holiday: Republic Day, 27 April (1961)
Constitution: 1 October 1991; subsequently amended several times
Legal system: based on English law and customary laws indigenous
to local tribes; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Ahmad Tejan KABBAH (since 29 March 1996,
reinstated 10 March 1998); note--the president is both the chief of
state and head of government
head of government: President Ahmad Tejan KABBAH (since 29 March
1996, reinstated 10 March 1998); note--the president is both the
chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Ministers of State appointed by the president with the
approval of the House of Representatives; the cabinet is responsible
to the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election held 26-27 February 1996 (next to be held NA 2001);
note--president's tenure of office is limited to two five-year terms
election results: Ahmad Tejan KABBAH elected president; percent of
vote--first round--KABBAH 36.0%, second round--KABBAH 59.5%
Legislative branch: unicameral House of Representatives (80
seats--68 elected by popular vote, 12 filled by paramount chiefs
elected in separate elections; members serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 26-27 February 1996 (next to be held 2001)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--SLPP
27, UNPP 17, PDP 12, APC 5, NUP 4, DCP 3; note--first elections since
the former House of Representatives was shut down by the military
coup of 29 April 1992
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: 15 parties registered for the
M. B. JALLOH]; National Alliance for Democracy Party or NADP
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA,
ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol,
IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador John Ernest LEIGH
chancery: 1701 19th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph MELROSE; note--embassy closed in
late December 1998
embassy: Corner of Walpole and Siaka Stevens Streets, Freetown
mailing address: use embassy street address
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of light green
(top), white, and light blue
Economy
Economy--overview: Sierra Leone has substantial mineral,
agricultural, and fishery resources. However, the economic and
social infrastructure is not well developed, and serious social
disorders continue to hamper economic development. The period of
AFRC/RUF junta rule (May 1997-February 1998) led to UN sanctions and
20% drop in GDP in 1997. The continued fighting at yearend 1997 set
back what small progress had been made by the KABBAH government in
recovering from the junta period and reestablishing a viable
economy. About two-thirds of the working-age population engages in
subsistence agriculture. Manufacturing consists mainly of the
processing of raw materials and of light manufacturing for the
domestic market. Bauxite and rutile mines have been shut down by
civil strife. The major source of hard currency is found in the
mining of diamonds, the large majority of which are smuggled out of
the country. The fate of the economy in 1999 depends on the outcome
of negotiations to end the civil strife.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$2.7 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 0.7% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$530 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 52%
industry: 16%
services: 32% (1996)
Population below poverty line: 68% (1989 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 0.5%
highest 10%: 43.6% (1989)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 37.4% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 1.369 million (1981 est.)
note: only about 65,000 wage earners (1985)
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 65%, industry 19%,
services 16% (1981 est.)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $96 million
expenditures: $150 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1996 est.)
Industries: mining (diamonds); small-scale manufacturing
(beverages, textiles, cigarettes, footwear); petroleum refining
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: 230 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 230 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: rice, coffee, cocoa, palm kernels, palm
oil, peanuts; poultry, cattle, sheep, pigs; fish
Exports: $41 million (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports--commodities: diamonds, rutile, cocoa, coffee, fish
Exports--partners: Belgium 49%, Spain 10%, US 8%, UK 3% (1997)
Imports: $166 million (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports--commodities: foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, fuels
and lubricants
Imports--partners: UK 16%, US 9%, Cote d'Ivoire 8%,
Belgium-Luxembourg 3% (1997)
Debt--external: $1.15 billion (1998)
Economic aid--recipient: $203.7 million (1995)
Currency: 1 leone (Le) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: leones (Le) per US$1--1,630.5 (January 1999),
1,597.2 (1998), 981.48 (1997), 920.73 (1996), 755.22 (1995), 586.74
(1994)
Fiscal year: 1 July--30 June
Communications
Telephones: 17,526 (1991 est.)
Telephone system: marginal telephone and telegraph service
domestic: national microwave radio relay system made unserviceable
by military activities
international: satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 1, shortwave NA
Radios: 980,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 2 (1997)
Televisions: 45,000 (1992 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 84 km used on a limited basis because the mine at Marampa is
closed
narrow gauge: 84 km 1.067-m gauge
Highways:
total: 11,700 km
paved: 1,287 km
unpaved: 10,413 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 800 km; 600 km navigable year round
Ports and harbors: Bonthe, Freetown, Pepel
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 10 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 2
over 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 8
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 3 (1998 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 1,119,239 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 543,210 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $46 million (FY96/97)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 2% (FY96/97)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
======================================================================
@Singapore
---------
Geography
Location: Southeastern Asia, islands between Malaysia and
Indonesia
Geographic coordinates: 1 22 N, 103 48 E
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area:
total: 647.5 sq km
land: 637.5 sq km
water: 10 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly more than 3.5 times the size of
Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 193 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone: within and beyond territorial sea, as
defined in treaties and practice
territorial sea: 3 nm
Climate: tropical; hot, humid, rainy; no pronounced rainy or dry
seasons; thunderstorms occur on 40% of all days (67% of days in
April)
Terrain: lowland; gently undulating central plateau contains
water catchment area and nature preserve
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Singapore Strait 0 m
highest point: Bukit Timah 166 m
Natural resources: fish, deepwater ports
Land use:
arable land: 2%
permanent crops: 6%
permanent pastures: NA%
forests and woodland: 5%
other: 87% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: NA
Environment--current issues: industrial pollution; limited natural
fresh water resources; limited land availability presents waste
disposal problems; seasonal smoke/haze resulting from forest fires
in Indonesia
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography--note: focal point for Southeast Asian sea routes
People
Population: 3,531,600 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 21% (male 387,786; female 364,018)
15-64 years: 72% (male 1,265,291; female 1,268,458)
65 years and over: 7% (male 109,418; female 136,629) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.15% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 13.38 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 4.69 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 2.83 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 3.84 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.84 years
male: 75.79 years
female: 82.14 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.47 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Singaporean(s)
adjective: Singapore
Ethnic groups: Chinese 76.4%, Malay 14.9%, Indian 6.4%, other 2.3%
Religions: Buddhist (Chinese), Muslim (Malays), Christian, Hindu,
Sikh, Taoist, Confucianist
Languages: Chinese (official), Malay (official and national),
Tamil (official), English (official)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 91.1%
male: 95.9%
female: 86.3% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Singapore
conventional short form: Singapore
Data code: SN
Government type: republic within Commonwealth
Capital: Singapore
Administrative divisions: none
Independence: 9 August 1965 (from Malaysia)
National holiday: National Day, 9 August (1965)
Constitution: 3 June 1959, amended 1965 (based on preindependence
State of Singapore Constitution)
Legal system: based on English common law; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 20 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state: President ONG Teng Cheong (since 1 September 1993)
head of government: Prime Minister GOH Chok Tong (since 28 November
1990) and Deputy Prime Ministers LEE Hsien Loong (since 28 November
1990) and Tony TAN Keng Yam (since 1 August 1995)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president, responsible to
Parliament
elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term;
election last held 28 August 1993 (next to be held NA August 1999);
following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or
the leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime
minister by the president; deputy prime ministers appointed by the
president
election results: ONG Teng Cheong elected president in the country's
first popular election for president; percent of vote--ONG Teng
Cheong 59%, CHUA Kim Yeow 41%
Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament (83 seats; members
elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 2 January 1997 (next to be held by 2002)
election results: percent of vote by party--PAP 65% (in contested
constituencies), other 35%; seats by party--PAP 81, WP 1, SPP 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, chief justice is appointed by the
president with the advice of the prime minister, other judges are
appointed by the president with the advice of the chief justice;
Court of Appeals
Political parties and leaders:
general]
International organization participation: APEC, AsDB, ASEAN,
Australia Group (observer), BIS, C, CCC, CP, ESCAP, G-77, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OPCW, PCA, UN,
UNCTAD, UNIKOM, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador CHAN Heng Chee
chancery: 3501 International Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s): New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Steven J. GREEN
embassy: 27 Napier Street, Singapore 258508
mailing address: FPO AP 96534-0001
Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and
white; near the hoist side of the red band, there is a vertical,
white crescent (closed portion is toward the hoist side) partially
enclosing five white five-pointed stars arranged in a circle
Economy
Economy--overview: Singapore has an open economy with strong
service and manufacturing sectors and excellent international
trading links derived from its entrepot history. Extraordinarily
strong fundamentals allowed Singapore to weather the effects of the
Asian financial crisis better than its neighbors, but the crisis did
pull GDP growth down to 1.3% in 1998 from 6% in 1997. Projections
for 1999 GDP growth are in the -1% to 1% range. Rising labor costs
and appreciation of the Singapore dollar against its neighbors'
currencies continue to be a threat to Singapore's competitiveness.
The government's strategy to address this problem includes cutting
costs, increasing productivity, improving infrastructure, and
encouraging higher value-added industries. In applied technology,
per capita output, investment, and labor discipline, Singapore has
key attributes of a developed country.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$91.7 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 1.3% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$26,300 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: NEGL%
industry: 28%
services: 72%
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): -0.5% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 1.856 million (1997 est.)
Labor force--by occupation: financial, business, and other
services 33.5%, manufacturing 25.6%, commerce 22.9%, construction
6.6%, other 11.4% (1994)
Unemployment rate: 5% (1999 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $16.3 billion
expenditures: $13.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY97/98 est.)
Industries: electronics, financial services, oil drilling
equipment, petroleum refining, rubber processing and rubber
products, processed food and beverages, ship repair, entrepot trade,
biotechnology
Industrial production growth rate: 3% (1998 est.)
Electricity--production: 28 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 28 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture--products: rubber, copra, fruit, vegetables; poultry
Exports: $128 billion (1998 est.)
Exports--commodities: computer equipment, rubber and rubber
products, petroleum products, telecommunications equipment
Exports--partners: Malaysia 19%, US 18%, Hong Kong 9%, Japan 8%,
Thailand 6% (1995)
Imports: $133.9 billion (1997 est.)
Imports--commodities: aircraft, petroleum, chemicals, foodstuffs
Imports--partners: Japan 21%, Malaysia 15%, US 15%, Thailand 5%,
Taiwan 4%, South Korea 4% (1995)
Debt--external: $NA
Economic aid--recipient: $NA
Currency: 1 Singapore dollar (S$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Singapore dollars (S$) per US$1--1.6781 (January
1999), 1.6736 (1998), 1.4848 (1997), 1.4100 (1996), 1.4174 (1995),
1.5274 (1994)
Fiscal year: 1 April--31 March
Communications
Telephones: 1.4 million (1997 est.)
Telephone system: good domestic facilities; good international
service
domestic: NA
international: submarine cables to Malaysia (Sabah and Peninsular
Malaysia), Indonesia, and the Philippines; satellite earth
stations--2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean), and 1
Inmarsat (Pacific Ocean region)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 13, FM 4, shortwave 0
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 4 (1997)
Televisions: 1.05 million (1992 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 38.6 km
narrow gauge: 38.6 km 1.000-m gauge
note: there is a 67 km mass transit system with 42 stations
Highways:
total: 3,017 km
paved: 2,936 km (including 148 km of expressways)
unpaved: 81 km (1997 est.)
Ports and harbors: Singapore
Merchant marine:
total: 875 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 19,734,146
GRT/31,442,482 DWT
ships by type: bulk 142, cargo 132, chemical tanker 51, combination
bulk 6, combination ore/oil 6, container 154, liquefied gas tanker
27, livestock carrier 1, multifunction large-load carrier 6, oil
tanker 291, refrigerated cargo 8, roll-on/roll-off cargo 11,
short-sea passenger 1, specialized tanker 9, vehicle carrier 30
note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 22
countries among which are Japan 41, Denmark 35, Sweden 28, Thailand
28, Hong Kong 26, Germany 19, Taiwan 19, and Indonesia 11 (1998 est.)
Airports: 9 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 9
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, People's Defense Force,
Police Force
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 1,042,587 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 757,940 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $4.244 billion (FY98/99)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 5.1% (FY98/99)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: two islands in dispute with Malaysia
Illicit drugs: transit point for Golden Triangle heroin going to
the US, Western Europe, and the Third World; also a money-laundering
center
======================================================================
@Slovakia
--------
Introduction
Background: After centuries under foreign rule, mainly by
Hungary, the Slovaks joined with their neighbors to form the new
nation of Czechoslovakia in 1918. Following the chaos of World War
II, Czechoslovakia became a communist nation within Soviet-ruled
Eastern Europe. Soviet influence collapsed in 1989, and
Czechoslovakia once more was an independent country turning toward
the West. The Slovaks and the Czechs agreed to separate peacefully
on 1 January 1993. Slovakia has experienced more difficulty than the
Czech Republic in developing a modern market economy.
Geography
Location: Central Europe, south of Poland
Geographic coordinates: 48 40 N, 19 30 E
Map references: Europe
Area:
total: 48,845 sq km
land: 48,800 sq km
water: 45 sq km
Area--comparative: about twice the size of New Hampshire
Land boundaries:
total: 1,355 km
border countries: Austria 91 km, Czech Republic 215 km, Hungary 515
km, Poland 444 km, Ukraine 90 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: temperate; cool summers; cold, cloudy, humid winters
Terrain: rugged mountains in the central and northern part and
lowlands in the south
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Bodrok River 94 m
highest point: Gerlachovka 2,655 m
Natural resources: brown coal and lignite; small amounts of iron
ore, copper and manganese ore; salt
Land use:
arable land: 31%
permanent crops: 3%
permanent pastures: 17%
forests and woodland: 41%
other: 8% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 800 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment--current issues: air pollution from metallurgical
plants presents human health risks; acid rain damaging forests
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic Treaty,
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol
Geography--note: landlocked
People
Population: 5,396,193 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 20% (male 551,847; female 528,236)
15-64 years: 69% (male 1,837,788; female 1,861,305)
65 years and over: 11% (male 237,710; female 379,307) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.04% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 9.52 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 9.43 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.29 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.63 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 9.48 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 73.46 years
male: 69.71 years
female: 77.4 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.2 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Slovak(s)
adjective: Slovak
Ethnic groups: Slovak 85.7%, Hungarian 10.7%, Gypsy 1.5% (the
1992 census figures underreport the Gypsy/Romany community, which is
about 500,000), Czech 1%, Ruthenian 0.3%, Ukrainian 0.3%, German
0.1%, Polish 0.1%, other 0.3%
Religions: Roman Catholic 60.3%, atheist 9.7%, Protestant 8.4%,
Orthodox 4.1%, other 17.5%
Languages: Slovak (official), Hungarian
Literacy: NA
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Slovak Republic
conventional short form: Slovakia
local long form: Slovenska Republika
local short form: Slovensko
Data code: LO
Government type: parliamentary democracy
Capital: Bratislava
Administrative divisions: 8 departments (kraje, singular--kraj);
Banskobystricky, Bratislavsky, Kosicky, Nitriansky, Presovsky,
Trenciansky, Trnavsky, Zilinsky
Independence: 1 January 1993 (from Czechoslovakia)
National holiday: Slovak Constitution Day, 1 September (1992);
Anniversary of Slovak National Uprising, 29 August (1944)
Constitution: ratified 1 September 1992, fully effective 1
January 1993
Legal system: civil law system based on Austro-Hungarian codes;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; legal code modified to
comply with the obligations of Organization on Security and
Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and to expunge Marxist-Leninist legal
theory
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President (vacant); note--President NOVAC retired at
the end of his term; the government has announced its intention to
hold direct presidential election in early 1999; in the meantime the
prime minister takes over the president's duties
head of government: Prime Minister Mikulas DZURINDA (since 30
October 1998)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of
the prime minister
elections: president elected by National Council secret ballot that
must yield a three-fifths majority for a five-year term; election
last held NA March 1998 but no candidate was able to win a
three-fifths majority required by law (next to be held NA 1999);
following National Council elections, the leader of the majority
party or the leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed
prime minister by the president
election results: presidency vacant
Legislative branch: unicameral National Council of the Slovak
Republic or Narodna Rada Slovensky Repubiky (150 seats; members are
elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 25-26 September 1998 (next to be held NA
September 2003)
election results: percent of vote by party--HZDS 27%, SDK 16.3%, SDL
14.7%, SMK 9.1%, SNS 9.1%, SOP 8%; seats by party--governing
coalition 93 (SDK 42, SDL 23, SMK 15, SOP 13), opposition 57 (HZDS
43, SNS 14)
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are elected by the
National Council; Constitutional Court
Political parties and leaders: Movement for a Democratic Slovakia
Hungarian Coalition or SMK (includes MKDH, MOS, and Coexistence)
LUPTAK, chairman]; Social Democratic Party of Slovakia or SSDS
chairman]
Political pressure groups and leaders: Party of Entrepreneurs and
Businessmen of Slovakia; Christian Social Union; Confederation of
Trade Unions or KOZ; Metal Workers Unions or KOVO and METALURG;
Association of Employers of Slovakia; Association of Towns and
Villages or ZMOS
International organization participation: Australia Group, BIS,
BSEC (observer), CCC, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU
(applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS,
ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol,
IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MONUA, NSG, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WEU (associate partner), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador-designate Martin BUTORA
chancery: (temporary) Suite 250, 2201 Wisconsin Avenue NW,
Washington, DC 20007
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Ralph R. JOHNSON
embassy: Hviezdoslavovo Namestie 4, 81102 Bratislava
mailing address: use embassy street address
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of white (top),
blue, and red superimposed with the Slovak cross in a shield
centered on the hoist side; the cross is white centered on a
background of red and blue
Economy
Economy--overview: Slovakia, continuing the difficult transition
from a centrally controlled economy to a modern market-oriented
economy, begins 1999 with clouds on the horizon: GDP growth is
slowing sharply; budget and current account deficits are too large;
external debt is growing uncomfortably fast; unemployment is high
and rising; corrupt insider deals persist; and demand is weakening
for Slovakia's key primary goods exports, especially as Russia and
Ukraine slump and as EU growth slows. International credit rating
agencies have downgraded Slovak debt to below investment grade. The
new government intends to address the economy's ills by giving
priority to joining the OECD and EU, cutting government wage and
infrastructure spending, boosting some taxes and regulated prices,
expanding privatization to companies formerly considered strategic,
restructuring the financial section, encouraging foreign investment,
and reenergizing the social partnership with labor and employers.
Government officials believe as long as two years may be needed
before its structural reforms improve economic performance. In 1999,
the government expects GDP growth to slow from 5% in 1998 to 2%,
inflation to rise from 6% to 10%, and unemployment to rise from less
than 14% to 15% or 16%, but hopes to bring the budget deficit down
to no more than 2% of GDP and the current account deficit down to 5%
to 6% of GDP.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$44.5 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 5% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$8,300 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 4.8%
industry: 33.4%
services: 61.8% (1997)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 5.1%
highest 10%: 18.2% (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7.4% (1998)
Labor force: 3.32 million (1997)
Labor force--by occupation: industry 29.3%, agriculture 8.9%,
construction 8%, transport and communication 8.2%, services 45.6%
(1994)
Unemployment rate: 14% (1998 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $5.4 billion
expenditures: $6.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1997)
Industries: metal and metal products; food and beverages;
electricity, gas, coke, oil, and nuclear fuel; chemicals and manmade
fibers; machinery; paper and printing; earthenware and ceramics;
transport vehicles; textiles; electrical and optical apparatus;
rubber products
Industrial production growth rate: 2.7% (1997)
Electricity--production: 25.81 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 35.57%
hydro: 20.81%
nuclear: 43.62%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 26.353 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 2.607 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 3.15 billion kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: grains, potatoes, sugar beets, hops, fruit;
pigs, cattle, poultry; forest products
Exports: $10.7 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports--commodities: machinery and transport equipment 37%;
intermediate manufactured goods 30%, miscellaneous manufactured
goods 13%; chemicals 9%; raw materials 4% (1998)
Exports--partners: EU 56% (Germany 29%), Czech Republic 20%,
Austria 7%, Poland 7% (1998)
Imports: $12.9 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports--commodities: machinery and transport equipment 40%;
intermediate manufactured goods 18%; fuels 11%; chemicals 11%;
miscellaneous manufactured goods 10% (1998)
Imports--partners: EU 50% (Germany 26%), Czech Republic 18%,
Russia 10%, Italy 6% (1998)
Debt--external: $10.7 billion (1997)
Economic aid--recipient: $421.9 million (1995)
Currency: 1 koruna (Sk) = 100 halierov
Exchange rates: koruny (Sk) per US$1--36.207 (January 1999),
35.233 (1998). 33.616 (1997), 30.654 (1996), 29.713 (1995), 32.045
(1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 1,362,178 (1992 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: NA
international: NA
Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA; note--there
are 22 private broadcast stations and two public (state) broadcast
stations
Radios: 915,000 (1995 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 41 (1997)
Televisions: 1.2 million (1995 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 3,660 km
broad gauge: 102 km 1.520-m gauge
standard gauge: 3,507 km 1.435-m gauge (1424 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 51 km (46 km 1,000-m gauge; 5 km 0.750-m gauge) (1996)
Highways:
total: 38,000 km
paved: 37,500 km (including 280 km of expressways)
unpaved: 500 km (1998 est.)
Waterways: 172 km on the Danube
Pipelines: petroleum products NA km; natural gas 2,700 km
Ports and harbors: Bratislava, Komarno
Merchant marine:
total: 3 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 15,041 GRT/19,517
DWT (1998 est.)
Airports: 15 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 10
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 3 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Air and Air Defense Forces, Reserve
Force (Home Guards), Civil Defense Force
Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 1,478,729 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,130,482 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 45,919 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $436 million (1998)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 2.1% (1998)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: ongoing Gabcikovo Dam dispute with
Hungary is before the International Court of Justice; unresolved
property issues with Czech Republic over redistribution of former
Czechoslovak federal property
Illicit drugs: minor, but increasing, transshipment point for
Southwest Asian heroin and hashish bound for Western Europe
======================================================================
@Slovenia
--------
Geography
Location: Southeastern Europe, eastern Alps bordering the
Adriatic Sea, between Austria and Croatia
Geographic coordinates: 46 00 N, 15 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area:
total: 20,256 sq km
land: 20,256 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries:
total: 1,334 km
border countries: Austria 330 km, Croatia 670 km, Italy 232 km,
Hungary 102 km
Coastline: 46.6 km
Maritime claims: NA
Climate: Mediterranean climate on the coast, continental climate
with mild to hot summers and cold winters in the plateaus and
valleys to the east
Terrain: a short coastal strip on the Adriatic, an alpine
mountain region adjacent to Italy and Austria, mixed mountain and
valleys with numerous rivers to the east
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m
highest point: Triglav 2,864 m
Natural resources: lignite coal, lead, zinc, mercury, uranium,
silver
Land use:
arable land: 12%
permanent crops: 3%
permanent pastures: 24%
forests and woodland: 54%
other: 7% (1996 est.)
Irrigated land: 20 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: flooding and earthquakes
Environment--current issues: Sava River polluted with domestic and
industrial waste; pollution of coastal waters with heavy metals and
toxic chemicals; forest damage near Koper from air pollution
(originating at metallurgical and chemical plants) and resulting
acid rain
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Biodiversity,
Climate Change, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping,
Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
People
Population: 1,970,570 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 16% (male 163,816; female 155,509)
15-64 years: 70% (male 693,382; female 687,060)
65 years and over: 14% (male 99,121; female 171,682) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: -0.04% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 8.97 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 9.62 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.58 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 5.28 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.36 years
male: 71.71 years
female: 79.21 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.23 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Slovene(s)
adjective: Slovenian
Ethnic groups: Slovene 91%, Croat 3%, Serb 2%, Muslim 1%, other 3%
Religions: Roman Catholic 70.8% (including 2% Uniate), Lutheran
1%, Muslim 1%, atheist 4.3%, other 22.9%
Languages: Slovenian 91%, Serbo-Croatian 6%, other 3%
Literacy:
definition: NA
total population: 99%
male: NA%
female: NA%
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Slovenia
conventional short form: Slovenia
local long form: Republika Slovenije
local short form: Slovenija
Data code: SI
Government type: parliamentary democratic republic
Capital: Ljubljana
Administrative divisions: 136 municipalities (obcine,
singular--obcina) and 11 urban municipalities* (obcine mestne,
singular--obcina mestna) Ajdovscina, Beltinci, Bled, Bohinj,
Borovnica, Bovec, Brda, Brezice, Brezovica, Cankova-Tisina, Celje*,
Cerklje na Gorenjskem, Cerknica, Cerkno, Crensovci, Crna na
Koroskem, Crnomelj, Destrnik-Trnovska Vas, Divaca, Dobrepolje,
Dobrova-Horjul-Polhov Gradec, Dol pri Ljubljani, Domzale, Dornava,
Dravograd, Duplek, Gorenja Vas-Poljane, Gorisnica, Gornja Radgona,
Gornji Grad, Gornji Petrovci, Grosuplje, Hodos Salovci, Hrastnik,
Hrpelje-Kozina, Idrija, Ig, Ilirska Bistrica, Ivancna Gorica, Izola,
Jesenice, Jursinci, Kamnik, Kanal, Kidricevo, Kobarid, Kobilje,
Kocevje, Komen, Koper*, Kozje, Kranj*, Kranjska Gora, Krsko,
Kungota, Kuzma, Lasko, Lenart, Lendava, Litija, Ljubljana*, Ljubno,
Ljutomer, Logatec, Loska Dolina, Loski Potok, Luce, Lukovica,
Majsperk, Maribor*, Medvode, Menges, Metlika, Mezica,
Miren-Kostanjevica, Mislinja, Moravce, Moravske Toplice, Mozirje,
Murska Sobota*, Muta, Naklo, Nazarje, Nova Gorica*, Novo Mesto*,
Odranci, Ormoz, Osilnica, Pesnica, Piran, Pivka, Podcetrtek,
Podvelka-Ribnica, Postojna, Preddvor, Ptuj*, Puconci, Race-Fram,
Radece, Radenci, Radlje ob Dravi, Radovljica, Ravne-Prevalje,
Ribnica, Rogasevci, Rogaska Slatina, Rogatec, Ruse, Semic, Sencur,
Sentilj, Sentjernej, Sentjur pri Celju, Sevnica, Sezana, Skocjan,
Skofja Loka, Skofljica, Slovenj Gradec*, Slovenska Bistrica,
Slovenske Konjice, Smarje pri Jelsah, Smartno ob Paki, Sostanj,
Starse, Store, Sveti Jurij, Tolmin, Trbovlje, Trebnje, Trzic,
Turnisce, Velenje*, Velike Lasce, Videm, Vipava, Vitanje, Vodice,
Vojnik, Vrhnika, Vuzenica, Zagorje ob Savi, Zalec, Zavrc, Zelezniki,
Ziri, Zrece
Independence: 25 June 1991 (from Yugoslavia)
National holiday: National Statehood Day, 25 June (1991)
Constitution: adopted 23 December 1991, effective 23 December 1991
Legal system: based on civil law system
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal (16 years of age, if
employed)
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Milan KUCAN (since 22 April 1990)
head of government: Prime Minister Janez DRNOVSEK (since 14 May 1992)
cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister and
elected by the National Assembly
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 24 November 1997 (next to be held NA 2002);
following National Assembly elections, the leader of the majority
party or the leader of a majority coalition is usually nominated to
become prime minister by the president and elected by the National
Assembly; election last held 10 November 1996 (next to be held NA
November 2000)
election results: Milan KUCAN elected president; percent of
vote--Milan KUCAN 56.3%, Janez PODOBNIK 18%; Janez DRNOVSEK elected
prime minister; percent of National Assembly vote--51%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Drzavni Zbor
(90 seats, 40 are directly elected and 50 are selected on a
proportional basis; note--the numbers of directly elected and
proportionally elected seats varies with each election; members are
elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: National Assembly--last held 10 November 1996 (next to be
held Fall 2000)
election results: percent of vote by party--LDS 27.01%, SLS 19.38%,
SDS 16.13%, SKD 9.62%, ZLDS 9.03%, DeSUS 4.32%, SNS 3.22%; seats by
party--LDS 25, SLS 19, SDS 16, SKD 10, ZLSD 9, DeSUS 5, SNS 4,
Hungarian minority 1, Italian minority 1; note--seating as of January
1997 is as follows: LDS 25, SLS 19, SDS 16, SKD 9, ZLSD 9, DeSUS 5,
SNS 4, Hungarian minority 1, Italian minority 1, independents 1
note: the National Council or Drzavni Svet is an advisory body with
limited legislative powers; it may propose laws and ask to review
any National Assembly decisions; in the election of NA November
1997, 40 members were elected to represent local, professional, and
socioeconomic interests (next election to be held in the fall of
2002)
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are elected by the
National Assembly on the recommendation of the Judicial Council;
Constitutional Court, judges elected for nine-year terms by the
National Assembly and nominated by the president
Political parties and leaders: Liberal Democratic or LDS [Janez
PETERLE, chairman]; Social Democratic Party of Slovenia or SDS
PODOBNIK, chairman]; United List (former Communists and allies) or
JELINCIC, chairman]; Democratic Party of Retired (Persons) of
Political pressure groups and leaders: none
International organization participation: CCC, CE, CEI, EAPC,
EBRD, ECE, FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,
IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM
(observer), ISO, ITU, NAM (guest), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UN
Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNIDO, UPU,
WEU (associate partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Dimitrij RUPEL
chancery: 1525 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires J. Paul REID
embassy: address NA, Ljubljana
mailing address: P.O. Box 254, Prazakova 4, 1000 Ljubljana; American
Embassy Ljubljana, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-7140
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of white (top),
blue, and red with the Slovenian seal (a shield with the image of
Triglav, Slovenia's highest peak, in white against a blue background
at the center, beneath it are two wavy blue lines depicting seas and
rivers, and above it, there are three six-sided stars arranged in an
inverted triangle which are taken from the coat of arms of the
Counts of Celje, the great Slovene dynastic house of the late 14th
and early 15th centuries); the seal is located in the upper hoist
side of the flag centered in the white and blue bands
Economy
Economy--overview: Today, Slovenia exhibits one of the highest per
capita GDPs of the transition economies of the region, fairly
moderate inflation, and a comfortable level of international
reserves. Slovenia received an invitation in 1997 to begin accession
negotiations with the EU--a reflection of its sound economic footing.
Slovenia must press on with privatization, enterprise restructuring,
institution reform, and liberalization of financial markets, thereby
creating conditions conducive to foreign investment and the
maintenance of a stable tolar. Critical to the future success of the
economy is the development of export sales in increasingly
competitive international markets.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$20.4 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 3.6% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$10,300 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 5%
industry: 35%
services: 60% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 4%
highest 10%: 24.5% (1993)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 8% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 857,400
Labor force--by occupation: NA
Unemployment rate: 7.1% (1997 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $8.48 billion
expenditures: $8.53 billion, including capital expenditures of $455
million (1996 est.)
Industries: ferrous metallurgy and rolling mill products,
aluminum reduction and rolled products, lead and zinc smelting,
electronics (including military electronics), trucks, electric power
equipment, wood products, textiles, chemicals, machine tools
Industrial production growth rate: 0.8% (1996)
Electricity--production: 12.075 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 34.58%
hydro: 29.31%
nuclear: 36.11%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 11.295 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 2.03 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 1.25 billion kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: potatoes, hops, wheat, sugar beets, corn,
grapes; cattle, sheep, poultry
Exports: $9.2 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports--commodities: manufactured goods 45%, machinery and
transport equipment 30%, chemicals 10%, food 3% (1997)
Exports--partners: Germany 29%, Italy 15%, Croatia 10%, France,
Austria, US (1997)
Imports: $9.9 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports--commodities: machinery and transport equipment 31%,
manufactured goods 31%, chemicals 11%, fuels and lubricants, food
(1997)
Imports--partners: Germany 21%, Italy 17%, France 10%, Austria 8%,
Croatia 5%, Hungary, US (1997)
Debt--external: $4.4 billion (1998 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: ODA, $5 million (1993)
Currency: 1 tolar (SlT) = 100 stotins
Exchange rates: tolars (SlT) per US$1--162.50 (January 1999),
166.13 (1998), 159.69 (1997), 135.36 (1996), 118.52 (1995), 128.81
(1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 691,240 (1997 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: 70% digital; full digitalization scheduled by 2000
international: NA
Radio broadcast stations: AM 6, FM 5, shortwave 0
note: there are more than 20 regional and local radio broadcast
stations
Radios: 596,100 (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 23 (consisting of 20 network
stations and three private stations; there are also about 400
low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 454,400 (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 1,201 km
standard gauge: 1,201 km 1.435-m gauge (electrified 489 km) (1998)
Highways:
total: 14,830 km
paved: 12,309 km (including 251 km of expressways)
unpaved: 2,521 km (1997 est.)
Waterways: NA
Pipelines: crude oil 290 km; natural gas 305 km
Ports and harbors: Izola, Koper, Piran
Airports: 14 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 6
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 8
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 4 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Slovenian Army (includes Air and Naval Forces)
Military manpower--military age: 19 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 530,182 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 421,864 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 15,294 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $272 million (1998)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 1.8% (1998)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: significant progress has been made with
Croatia toward resolving a maritime border dispute over direct
access to the sea in the Adriatic; Italy and Slovenia made progress
in resolving bilateral issues
Illicit drugs: transit point for Southwest Asian heroin bound for
Western Europe and for precursor chemicals
======================================================================
@Solomon Islands
---------------
Introduction
Background: In 1893, Britain made the southern Solomon Islands a
protectorate. Other islands were added to the group, including some
ceded to Britain by Germany. The Solomon Islands were occupied by
the Japanese during World War II. Following the war, internal
self-government was established in 1976, and independence from the
UK came two years later. Current issues include government deficits,
deforestation, and malaria control.
Geography
Location: Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean,
east of Papua New Guinea
Geographic coordinates: 8 00 S, 159 00 E
Map references: Oceania
Area:
total: 28,450 sq km
land: 27,540 sq km
water: 910 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than Maryland
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 5,313 km
Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
continental shelf: 200 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical monsoon; few extremes of temperature and weather
Terrain: mostly rugged mountains with some low coral atolls
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Makarakomburu 2,447 m
Natural resources: fish, forests, gold, bauxite, phosphates,
lead, zinc, nickel
Land use:
arable land: 1%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 1%
forests and woodland: 88%
other: 9% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: typhoons, but they are rarely destructive;
geologically active region with frequent earth tremors; volcanic
activity
Environment--current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; much of
the surrounding coral reefs are dead or dying
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Environmental Modification,
Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone
Layer Protection, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
People
Population: 455,429 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 45% (male 103,844; female 99,972)
15-64 years: 52% (male 120,518; female 117,298)
65 years and over: 3% (male 6,808; female 6,989) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.18% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 35.92 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 4.11 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.97 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 23 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 72.09 years
male: 69.55 years
female: 74.75 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.96 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Solomon Islander(s)
adjective: Solomon Islander
Ethnic groups: Melanesian 93%, Polynesian 4%, Micronesian 1.5%,
European 0.8%, Chinese 0.3%, other 0.4%
Religions: Anglican 34%, Roman Catholic 19%, Baptist 17%, United
(Methodist/Presbyterian) 11%, Seventh-Day Adventist 10%, other
Protestant 5%, traditional beliefs 4%
Languages: Melanesian pidgin in much of the country is lingua
franca, English spoken by 1%-2% of population
note: 120 indigenous languages
Literacy: NA
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Solomon Islands
former: British Solomon Islands
Data code: BP
Government type: parliamentary democracy
Capital: Honiara
Administrative divisions: 7 provinces and 1 town*; Central,
Guadalcanal, Honiara*, Isabel, Makira, Malaita, Temotu, Western
note: there may be two new provinces of Choiseul (Lauru) and
Rennell/Bellona and the administrative unit of Honiara may have been
abolished
Independence: 7 July 1978 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 7 July (1978)
Constitution: 7 July 1978
Legal system: English common law
Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Governor General Moses PITAKAKA (since 10 June 1994)
head of government: Prime Minister Bartholomew ULUFA'ALU (since 27
August 1997); Deputy Prime Minister Sir Baddeley DEVESI (since 27
August 1997)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of
the prime minister from among the members of Parliament
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general
appointed by the monarch on the advice of Parliament for up to five
years; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority
party or the leader of a majority coalition is usually elected prime
minister by Parliament; deputy prime minister appointed by the
governor general on the advice of the prime minister from among the
members of Parliament
Legislative branch: unicameral National Parliament (50 seats;
members elected from single member constituencies by popular vote to
serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 6 August 1997 (next to be held by August 2001)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--GNUR
21, PAP 7, NAPSI 5, SILP 4, UP 4, independents 6, other 3
Judicial branch: Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders: characterized by fluid coalitions;
TAUSINGA] (leader of opposition); People's Alliance Party or PAP
International organization participation: ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP,
FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Intelsat (nonsignatory user), IOC, ITU, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Stephen Rex HOROI (represents the
country as both the Permanent Representative to the UN and the
ambassador to the US)
chancery: 800 Second Avenue, Suite 400L, New York, NY 10017
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an
embassy in Solomon Islands (embassy closed July 1993); the
ambassador to Papua New Guinea is accredited to the Solomon Islands
Flag description: divided diagonally by a thin yellow stripe from
the lower hoist-side corner; the upper triangle (hoist side) is blue
with five white five-pointed stars arranged in an X pattern; the
lower triangle is green
Economy
Economy--overview: The bulk of the population depend on
agriculture, fishing, and forestry for at least part of their
livelihood. Most manufactured goods and petroleum products must be
imported. The islands are rich in undeveloped mineral resources such
as lead, zinc, nickel, and gold. Economic troubles in Southeast Asia
led to a steep downturn in the timber industry, and economic output
declined by about 10% in 1998. The government instituted public
service pay cuts and other retrenchments.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$1.15 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: -10% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$2,600 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 11.8% (1996)
Labor force: 26,842
Labor force--by occupation: services 41.5%, agriculture, forestry,
and fishing 23.7%, commerce, transport, and finance 21.7%,
construction, manufacturing, and mining 13.1% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $147 million
expenditures: $168 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1997 est.)
Industries: copra, fish (tuna)
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: 30 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 30 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: cocoa, beans, coconuts, palm kernels, rice,
potatoes, vegetables, fruit; cattle, pigs; timber; fish
Exports: $184 million (f.o.b., 1996)
Exports--commodities: timber, fish, palm oil, cocoa, copra
Exports--partners: Japan 50%, Spain 16%, UK, Thailand 5% (1996)
Imports: $151 million (c.i.f., 1996 est.)
Imports--commodities: plant and equipment, manufactured goods,
food and live animals, fuel
Imports--partners: Australia 42%, Japan 10%, Singapore 9%, NZ 8%,
US 5% (1996)
Debt--external: $145 million (1996 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $46.4 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Solomon Islands dollar (SI$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Solomon Islands dollars (SI$) per US$1--4.9334
(January 1999), 4.8156 (1998), 3.5664 (1997), 3.4059 (1995), 3.2914
(1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 5,000 (1991 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: NA
international: satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 4, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: 38,000 (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 0 (1997)
Televisions: 2,000 (1992 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 1,360 km
paved: 34 km
unpaved: 1,326 km (includes about 800 km of private plantation
roads) (1996 est.)
Ports and harbors: Aola Bay, Honiara, Lofung, Noro, Viru Harbor,
Yandina
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 33 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 31
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 9
under 914 m: 21 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: no regular military forces; Solomon Islands
National Reconnaissance and Surveillance Force; Royal Solomon
Islands Police (RSIP)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $NA
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: NA%
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
======================================================================
@Somalia
-------
Geography
Location: Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the
Indian Ocean, east of Ethiopia
Geographic coordinates: 10 00 N, 49 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area:
total: 637,660 sq km
land: 627,340 sq km
water: 10,320 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than Texas
Land boundaries:
total: 2,366 km
border countries: Djibouti 58 km, Ethiopia 1,626 km, Kenya 682 km
Coastline: 3,025 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 200 nm
Climate: principally desert; December to February--northeast
monsoon, moderate temperatures in north and very hot in south; May
to October--southwest monsoon, torrid in the north and hot in the
south, irregular rainfall, hot and humid periods (tangambili)
between monsoons
Terrain: mostly flat to undulating plateau rising to hills in
north
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Shimbiris 2,416 m
Natural resources: uranium and largely unexploited reserves of
iron ore, tin, gypsum, bauxite, copper, salt
Land use:
arable land: 2%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 69%
forests and woodland: 26%
other: 3% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 1,800 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: recurring droughts; frequent dust storms over
eastern plains in summer
Environment--current issues: famine; use of contaminated water
contributes to human health problems; deforestation; overgrazing;
soil erosion; desertification
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Endangered Species, Law of the Sea
signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban
Geography--note: strategic location on Horn of Africa along
southern approaches to Bab el Mandeb and route through Red Sea and
Suez Canal
People
Population: 7,140,643 (July 1999 est.)
note: this estimate was derived from an official census taken in
1987 by the Somali Government with the cooperation of the UN and the
US Bureau of the Census; population estimates are updated between
censuses by factoring in growth rates and by taking account of
refugee movements and losses due to famine; lower estimates of
Somalia's population in mid-1996 (on the order of 6.0 million to 6.5
million) have been made by aid and relief agencies, based on the
number of persons being fed; population counting in Somalia is
complicated by the large numbers of nomads and by refugee movements
in response to famine and clan warfare
Age structure:
0-14 years: 44% (male 1,588,025; female 1,584,770)
15-64 years: 53% (male 1,898,794; female 1,865,487)
65 years and over: 3% (male 92,419; female 111,148) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 4.13% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 47.98 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 18.62 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 11.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 125.77 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 46.23 years
male: 44.66 years
female: 47.85 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 7.25 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Somali(s)
adjective: Somali
Ethnic groups: Somali 85%, Bantu, Arabs 30,000
Religions: Sunni Muslim
Languages: Somali (official), Arabic, Italian, English
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 24%
male: 36%
female: 14% (1990 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Somalia
former: Somali Republic, Somali Democratic Republic
Data code: SO
Government type: none
Capital: Mogadishu
Administrative divisions: 18 regions (plural--NA,
singular--gobolka); Awdal, Bakool, Banaadir, Bari, Bay, Galguduud,
Gedo, Hiiraan, Jubbada Dhexe, Jubbada Hoose, Mudug, Nugaal, Sanaag,
Shabeellaha Dhexe, Shabeellaha Hoose, Sool, Togdheer, Woqooyi Galbeed
Independence: 1 July 1960 (from a merger of British Somaliland,
which became independent from the UK on 26 June 1960, and Italian
Somaliland, which became independent from the Italian-administered
UN trusteeship on 1 July 1960, to form the Somali Republic)
National holiday: NA
Constitution: 25 August 1979, presidential approval 23 September
1979
Legal system: NA
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: Somalia has no functioning government; the
United Somali Congress (USC) ousted the regime of Major General
Mohamed SIAD Barre on 27 January 1991; the present political
situation is one of anarchy, marked by interclan fighting and random
banditry
Legislative branch: unicameral People's Assembly or Golaha
Shacbiga
note: not functioning
Judicial branch: (not functioning); note--following the breakdown
of national government, most regions have reverted to Islamic law
with a provision for appeal of all sentences
Political parties and leaders: none
Political pressure groups and leaders: numerous clan and subclan
factions are currently vying for power
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AL,
AMF, CAEU, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer),
ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US: Somalia does not have an
embassy in the US (ceased operations on 8 May 1991)
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an
embassy in Somalia; US interests are represented by the US Embassy
in Nairobi at Moi Avenue and Haile Selassie Avenue; mail address: P.
Flag description: light blue with a large white five-pointed star
in the center; design based on the flag of the UN (Italian
Somaliland was a UN trust territory)
Government--note: While chaos and clan fighting continue in most
of Somalia, some orderly government has been established in the
northern part. In May 1991, the elders of clans in former British
Somaliland established the independent Republic of Somaliland,
which, although not recognized by any government, maintains a stable
existence, aided by the overwhelming dominance of the ruling clan
and the economic infrastructure left behind by British, Russian and
American military assistance programs. The economy has been growing
and in February 1996 the EU agreed to finance the reconstruction of
the port of Berbera; since then, other aid projects have been
assumed by the EU and by a non-governmental Italian organization.
Economy
Economy--overview: One of the world's poorest and least developed
countries, Somalia has few resources. Moreover, much of the economy
has been devastated by the civil war. Agriculture is the most
important sector, with livestock accounting for about 40% of GDP and
about 65% of export earnings. Nomads and semi-nomads, who are
dependent upon livestock for their livelihood, make up a large
portion of the population. After livestock, bananas are the
principal export; sugar, sorghum, corn, and fish are products for
the domestic market. The small industrial sector, based on the
processing of agricultural products, accounts for 10% of GDP; most
facilities have been shut down because of the civil strife.
Moreover, as of early 1999, ongoing civil disturbances in Mogadishu
and outlying areas are interfering with any substantial economic
advance.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$4 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: NA%
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$600 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 59%
industry: 10%
services: 31% (1995 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
Labor force: 3.7 million (very few are skilled laborers)(1993
est.)
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture (mostly pastoral nomadism)
71%, industry and services 29%
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Industries: a few small industries, including sugar refining,
textiles, petroleum refining (mostly shut down)
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: 258 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 258 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: bananas, sorghum, corn, sugarcane, mangoes,
sesame seeds, beans; cattle, sheep, goats; fish
Exports: $123 million (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
Exports--commodities: livestock, bananas, hides, fish (1997)
Exports--partners: Saudi Arabia 55%, Yemen 19%, Italy 11%, UAE, US
(1996 est.)
Imports: $60 million (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
Imports--commodities: manufactures, petroleum products,
foodstuffs, construction materials (1995)
Imports--partners: Kenya 28%, Djibouti 21%, Brazil 6%, Pakistan
(1996 est.)
Debt--external: $2.6 billion (1996 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $191.5 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Somali shilling (So. Sh.) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Somali shillings (So. Sh.) per US$1--2,620
(January 1999), 7,500 (November 1997 est.), 7,000 (January 1996
est.), 5,000 (1 January 1995), 2,616 (1 July 1993), 4,200 (December
1992)
note: the Republic of Somaliland, a self-declared independent
country not recognized by any government, issues its own currency,
the Somaliland shilling (So. Sh.)
Fiscal year: NA
Communications
Telephones: 9,000 (1991 est.)
Telephone system: the public telecommunications system was
completely destroyed or dismantled by the civil war factions; all
relief organizations depend on their own private systems
domestic: recently, local cellular telephone systems have been
established in Mogadishu and in several other population centers
international: international connections are available from
Mogadishu by satellite
Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave 5
Radios: 300,000
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1997)
Televisions: 118,000 (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 22,100 km
paved: 2,608 km
unpaved: 19,492 km (1996 est.)
Pipelines: crude oil 15 km
Ports and harbors: Bender Cassim (Boosaaso), Berbera, Chisimayu
(Kismaayo), Merca, Mogadishu
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 61 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 7
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 54
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 13
914 to 1,523 m: 28
under 914 m: 10 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: NA; note--no functioning central government
military forces; clan militias continue to battle for control of key
economic or political prizes
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 1,730,450 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 962,545 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $NA
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: NA%
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: most of the southern half of the boundary
with Ethiopia is a Provisional Administrative Line; territorial
dispute with Ethiopia over the Ogaden
======================================================================
@South Africa
------------
Geography
Location: Southern Africa, at the southern tip of the continent
of Africa
Geographic coordinates: 29 00 S, 24 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area:
total: 1,219,912 sq km
land: 1,219,912 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes Prince Edward Islands (Marion Island and Prince
Edward Island)
Area--comparative: slightly less than twice the size of Texas
Land boundaries:
total: 4,750 km
border countries: Botswana 1,840 km, Lesotho 909 km, Mozambique 491
km, Namibia 855 km, Swaziland 430 km, Zimbabwe 225 km
Coastline: 2,798 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: mostly semiarid; subtropical along east coast; sunny
days, cool nights
Terrain: vast interior plateau rimmed by rugged hills and narrow
coastal plain
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Njesuthi 3,408 m
Natural resources: gold, chromium, antimony, coal, iron ore,
manganese, nickel, phosphates, tin, uranium, gem diamonds, platinum,
copper, vanadium, salt, natural gas
Land use:
arable land: 10%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 67%
forests and woodland: 7%
other: 15% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 12,700 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: prolonged droughts
Environment--current issues: lack of important arterial rivers or
lakes requires extensive water conservation and control measures;
growth in water usage threatens to outpace supply; pollution of
rivers from agricultural runoff and urban discharge; air pollution
resulting in acid rain; soil erosion; desertification
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty,
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life
Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography--note: South Africa completely surrounds Lesotho and
almost completely surrounds Swaziland
People
Population: 43,426,386 (July 1999 est.)
note: South Africa took a census 10 October 1996 which showed a
population of 37,859,000 (after a 6.8% adjustment for
underenumeration based on a post-enumeration survey); this figure is
still about 10% below projections from earlier censuses; since the
full results of that census have not been released for analysis, the
numbers shown for South Africa do not take into consideration the
results of this 1996 census
Age structure:
0-14 years: 34% (male 7,541,840; female 7,403,235)
15-64 years: 61% (male 13,180,925; female 13,312,917)
65 years and over: 5% (male 798,825; female 1,188,644) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.32% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 25.94 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 12.81 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 51.99 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 54.76 years
male: 52.68 years
female: 56.9 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.09 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: South African(s)
adjective: South African
Ethnic groups: black 75.2%, white 13.6%, Colored 8.6%, Indian 2.6%
Religions: Christian 68% (includes most whites and Coloreds,
about 60% of blacks and about 40% of Indians), Muslim 2%, Hindu 1.5%
(60% of Indians), traditional and animistic 28.5%
Languages: 11 official languages, including Afrikaans, English,
Ndebele, Pedi, Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 81.8%
male: 81.9%
female: 81.7% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of South Africa
conventional short form: South Africa
abbreviation: RSA
Data code: SF
Government type: republic
Capital: Pretoria (administrative); Cape Town (legislative);
Bloemfontein (judicial)
Administrative divisions: 9 provinces; Eastern Cape, Free State,
Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, North-West, Northern Cape,
Northern Province, Western Cape
Independence: 31 May 1910 (from UK)
National holiday: Freedom Day, 27 April (1994)
Constitution: 10 December 1996; this new constitution was
certified by the Constitutional Court on 4 December 1996, was signed
by President MANDELA on 10 December 1996, and entered into effect on
3 February 1997; it is being implemented in phases
Legal system: based on Roman-Dutch law and English common law;
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Nelson MANDELA (since 10 May 1994);
Executive Deputy President Thabo MBEKI (since 10 May 1994); note--the
president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Nelson MANDELA (since 10 May 1994);
Executive Deputy President Thabo MBEKI (since 10 May 1994); note--the
president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president and executive deputy presidents elected by the
National Assembly for five-year terms; election last held 9 May 1994
(next scheduled for sometime between May and July 1999)
election results: Nelson MANDELA elected president; percent of
National Assembly vote--100% (by acclamation); Thabo MBEKI and
Frederik W. DE KLERK elected executive deputy presidents; percent of
National Assembly vote--100% (by acclamation)
note: the initial governing coalition, made up of the ANC, the IFP,
and the NP, which constituted a Government of National Unity or GNU,
no longer includes the NP which was withdrawn by DE KLERK on 30 June
1996 when he voluntarily gave up his position as executive deputy
president and distanced himself from the programs of the ANC
Legislative branch: bicameral parliament consisting of the
National Assembly (400 seats; members are elected by popular vote
under a system of proportional representation to serve five-year
terms) and the National Council of Provinces (90 seats, 10 members
elected by each of the nine provincial legislatures for five-year
terms; has special powers to protect regional interests, including
the safeguarding of cultural and linguistic traditions among ethnic
minorities); note--following the implementation of the new
constitution on 3 February 1997 the former Senate was disbanded and
replaced by the National Council of Provinces with essentially no
change in membership and party affiliations, although the new
institution's responsibilities have been changed somewhat by the new
constitution
elections: National Assembly and Senate--last held 26-29 April 1994
(next to be held 2 June 1999); note--the Senate was disbanded and
replaced by the National Council of Provinces on 6 February 1997
election results: National Assembly--percent of vote by party--ANC
62.6%, NP 20.4%, IFP 10.5%, FF 2.2%, DP 1.7%, PAC 1.2%, ACDP 0.5%,
other 0.9%; seats by party--ANC 252, NP 82, IFP 43, FF 9, DP 7, PAC
5, ACDP 2; Senate--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--ANC
61, NP 17, FF 4, IFP 5, DP 3
Judicial branch: Constitutional Court; Supreme Court of Appeals;
High Courts; Magistrate Courts
Political parties and leaders: African Christian Democratic Party
SCHALKWYK, executive director]; Pan-Africanist Congress or PAC
note: 11 other parties won votes in the April 1994 elections but not
enough to gain seats in the National Assembly
Political pressure groups and leaders: Congress of South African
secretary]; South African National Civics Organization or SANCO
in a formal alliance with the ANC
International organization participation: AfDB, BIS, C, CCC, ECA,
FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
ISO, ITU, MTCR, NAM, NSG, OAU, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNHCR, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant)
chancery: 3051 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: Beverly Hills (California), Chicago, and New
York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador James A. JOSEPH
embassy: 877 Pretorius St., Arcadia 0083
mailing address: P.O. Box 9536, Pretoria 0001
consulate(s) general: Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg
Flag description: two equal width horizontal bands of red (top)
and blue separated by a central green band which splits into a
horizontal Y, the arms of which end at the corners of the hoist
side, embracing a black isosceles triangle from which the arms are
separated by narrow yellow bands; the red and blue bands are
separated from the green band and its arms by narrow white stripes
note: prior to 26 April 1994, the flag was actually four flags in
one--three miniature flags reproduced in the center of the white band
of the former flag of the Netherlands, which has three equal
horizontal bands of orange (top), white, and blue; the miniature
flags are a vertically hanging flag of the old Orange Free State
with a horizontal flag of the UK adjoining on the hoist side and a
horizontal flag of the old Transvaal Republic adjoining on the other
side
Economy
Economy--overview: South Africa is a middle-income, developing
country with an abundant supply of resources, well-developed
financial, legal, communications, energy, and transport sectors, a
stock exchange that ranks among the 10 largest in the world, and a
modern infrastructure supporting an efficient distribution of goods
to major urban centers throughout the region. However, growth has
not been strong enough to cut into the 30% unemployment, and
daunting economic problems remain from the apartheid era, especially
the problems of poverty and lack of economic empowerment among the
disadvantaged groups. Other problems are crime and corruption. The
new government demonstrated its commitment to open markets,
privatization, and a favorable investment climate with the release
of its macroeconomic strategy in June 1996. Called "Growth,
Employment and Redistribution," this policy framework includes the
introduction of tax incentives to stimulate new investment in
labor-intensive projects, expansion of basic infrastructure
services, the restructuring and partial privatization of state
assets, continued reduction of tariffs, subsidies to promote
economic efficiency, improved services to the disadvantaged, and
integration into the global economy. Serious structural rigidities
remain, including a complicated and relatively protectionist trade
regime, and concentration of wealth and economic control.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$290.6 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 0.3% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$6,800 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 5%
industry: 39%
services: 56% (1996 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.4%
highest 10%: 47.3% (1993)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 9% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 15 million economically active (1997)
Labor force--by occupation: services 35%, agriculture 30%,
industry 20%, mining 9%, other 6%
Unemployment rate: 30% (1998 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $30.5 billion
expenditures: $38 billion, including capital expenditures of $2.6
billion (FY94/95 est.)
Industries: mining (world's largest producer of platinum, gold,
chromium), automobile assembly, metalworking, machinery, textile,
iron and steel, chemical, fertilizer, foodstuffs
Industrial production growth rate: -1% (1998 est.)
Electricity--production: 186.949 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 93%
hydro: 0.7%
nuclear: 6.3%
other: NA% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 181.404 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 5.575 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 30 million kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: corn, wheat, sugarcane, fruits, vegetables;
beef, poultry, mutton, wool, dairy products
Exports: $28.7 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports--commodities: gold 20%, other minerals and metals 20%-25%,
food 5%, chemicals 3% (1997)
Exports--partners: UK, Italy, Japan, US, Germany (1997)
Imports: $27.2 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports--commodities: machinery, transport equipment, chemicals,
petroleum products, textiles, scientific instruments (1997)
Imports--partners: Germany, US, UK, Japan (1997)
Debt--external: $23.5 billion (1997 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $676.3 million
Currency: 1 rand (R) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: rand (R) per US$1--5.98380 (January 1999), 5.52828
(1998), 4.60796 (1997), 4.29935 (1996), 3.62709 (1995), 3.55080
(1994)
Fiscal year: 1 April--31 March
Communications
Telephones: 4.2 million (1997)
Telephone system: the system is the best developed, most modern,
and has the highest capacity in Africa
domestic: consists of carrier-equipped open-wire lines, coaxial
cables, microwave radio relay links, fiber-optic cable, and
radiotelephone communication stations; key centers are Bloemfontein,
Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth, and Pretoria
international: 1 submarine cable; satellite earth stations--3
Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 2 Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 15, FM 164, shortwave 1
Radios: 7.5 million (1999 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 556 (includes 156 network stations
and 400 privately-owned low-power stations; in addition, there are
144 network repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 7.5 million
Transportation
Railways:
total: 21,431 km
narrow gauge: 20,995 km 1.067-m gauge (9,087 km electrified); 436 km
0.610-m gauge (1995)
Highways:
total: 331,265 km
paved: 137,475 km (including 1,142 km of expressways)
unpaved: 193,790 km (1995 est.)
Pipelines: crude oil 931 km; petroleum products 1,748 km; natural
gas 322 km
Ports and harbors: Cape Town, Durban, East London, Mosselbaai,
Port Elizabeth, Richards Bay, Saldanha
Merchant marine:
total: 9 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 274,797 GRT/270,837 DWT
ships by type: container 6, oil tanker 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1
(1998 est.)
Airports: 749 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 144
over 3,047 m: 10
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 45
914 to 1,523 m: 75
under 914 m: 10 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 605
1,524 to 2,437 m: 35
914 to 1,523 m: 304
under 914 m: 266 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: South African National Defense Force or SANDF
(includes Army, Navy, Air Force, and Medical Services), South
African Police Service or SAPS
Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 11,330,692 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 6,889,631 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 453,610 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $2 billion (FY99/00)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 2.2% (FY95/96)
Military--note: the National Defense Force continues to integrate
former military, black homelands forces, and ex-opposition forces
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: Swaziland has asked South Africa to open
negotiations on reincorporating some nearby South African
territories that are populated by ethnic Swazis or that were long
ago part of the Swazi Kingdom
Illicit drugs: transshipment center for heroin and cocaine;
cocaine consumption on the rise; world's largest market for illicit
methaqualone, usually imported illegally from India through various
east African countries; illicit cultivation of marijuana
======================================================================
@South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
--------------------------------------------
Geography
Location: Southern South America, islands in the South Atlantic
Ocean, east of the tip of South America
Geographic coordinates: 54 30 S, 37 00 W
Map references: Antarctic Region
Area:
total: 4,066 sq km
land: 4,066 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes Shag Rocks, Clerke Rocks, Bird Island
Area--comparative: slightly larger than Rhode Island
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: NA km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: variable, with mostly westerly winds throughout the year
interspersed with periods of calm; nearly all precipitation falls as
snow
Terrain: most of the islands, rising steeply from the sea, are
rugged and mountainous; South Georgia is largely barren and has
steep, glacier-covered mountains; the South Sandwich Islands are of
volcanic origin with some active volcanoes
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Paget 2,915 m
Natural resources: fish
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 100% (largely covered by permanent ice and snow with some
sparse vegetation consisting of grass, moss, and lichen)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1993)
Natural hazards: the South Sandwich Islands have prevailing
weather conditions that generally make them difficult to approach by
ship; they are also subject to active volcanism
Environment--current issues: NA
Environment--international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography--note: the north coast of South Georgia has several
large bays, which provide good anchorage; reindeer, introduced early
in this century, live on South Georgia
People
Population: no indigenous inhabitants
note: there is a small military garrison on South Georgia, and the
British Antarctic Survey has a biological station on Bird Island;
the South Sandwich Islands are uninhabited
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
conventional short form: none
Data code: SX
Dependency status: overseas territory of the UK, also claimed by
Argentina; administered from the Falkland Island by a UK civil
commissioner; Grytviken on South Georgia is the garrison town
Capital: none; Grytviken on South Georgia is the garrison town
Legal system: NA
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory of
the UK, also claimed by Argentina)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (overseas territory
of the UK, also claimed by Argentina)
Flag description: the flag of the UK is used
Economy
Economy--overview: Some fishing takes place in adjacent waters.
There is a potential source of income from harvesting fin fish and
krill. The islands receive income from postage stamps produced in
the UK.
Budget:
revenues: $291,777
expenditures: $451,000, including capital expenditures of $NA (1988
est.)
Communications
Telephone system:
domestic: NA
international: coastal radiotelephone station at Grytviken
Transportation
Ports and harbors: Grytviken
Airports: none
Military
Military--note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: claimed by Argentina
======================================================================
@Spain
-----
Introduction
Background: A powerful world empire in the 16th and 17th
centuries, Spain ultimately yielded command of the seas to England,
beginning with the defeat of the Armada in 1588. Spain subsequently
failed to embrace the mercantile and industrial revolutions and fell
behind Britain, France, and Germany in economic and political power.
Spain remained neutral in World Wars I and II. In the second half of
the 20th century Spain played a catch-up role in the western
international community. Continuing problems are large-scale
unemployment and the Basque separatist movement.
Geography
Location: Southwestern Europe, bordering the Bay of Biscay,
Mediterranean Sea, North Atlantic Ocean, and Pyrenees Mountains,
southwest of France
Geographic coordinates: 40 00 N, 4 00 W
Map references: Europe
Area:
total: 504,750 sq km
land: 499,400 sq km
water: 5,350 sq km
note: includes Balearic Islands, Canary Islands, and five places of
sovereignty (plazas de soberania) on and off the coast of
Morocco--Ceuta, Melilla, Islas Chafarinas, Penon de Alhucemas, and
Penon de Velez de la Gomera
Area--comparative: slightly more than twice the size of Oregon
Land boundaries:
total: 1,919.1 km
border countries: Andorra 65 km, France 623 km, Gibraltar 1.2 km,
Portugal 1,214 km, Morocco (Ceuta) 6.3 km, Morocco (Melilla) 9.6 km
Coastline: 4,964 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm (applies only to the Atlantic Ocean)
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: temperate; clear, hot summers in interior, more moderate
and cloudy along coast; cloudy, cold winters in interior, partly
cloudy and cool along coast
Terrain: large, flat to dissected plateau surrounded by rugged
hills; Pyrenees in north
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Pico de Teide (Tenerife) on Canary Islands 3,718 m
Natural resources: coal, lignite, iron ore, uranium, mercury,
pyrites, fluorspar, gypsum, zinc, lead, tungsten, copper, kaolin,
potash, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 30%
permanent crops: 9%
permanent pastures: 21%
forests and woodland: 32%
other: 8% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 34,530 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: periodic droughts
Environment--current issues: pollution of the Mediterranean Sea
from raw sewage and effluents from the offshore production of oil
and gas; water quality and quantity nationwide; air pollution;
deforestation; desertification
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity,
Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life
Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification
Geography--note: strategic location along approaches to Strait of
Gibraltar
People
Population: 39,167,744 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 15% (male 3,012,907; female 2,835,455)
15-64 years: 68% (male 13,411,046; female 13,406,214)
65 years and over: 17% (male 2,702,654; female 3,799,468) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.1% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 9.99 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 9.69 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.66 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 6.41 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.71 years
male: 73.97 years
female: 81.71 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.24 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Spaniard(s)
adjective: Spanish
Ethnic groups: composite of Mediterranean and Nordic types
Religions: Roman Catholic 99%, other 1%
Languages: Castilian Spanish 74%, Catalan 17%, Galician 7%,
Basque 2%
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96%
male: 98%
female: 94% (1986 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Spain
conventional short form: Spain
local short form: Espana
Data code: SP
Government type: parliamentary monarchy
Capital: Madrid
Administrative divisions: 17 autonomous communities (comunidades
autonomas, singular--comunidad autonoma); Andalucia, Aragon,
Asturias, Baleares (Balearic Islands), Canarias (Canary Islands),
Cantabria, Castilla-La Mancha, Castilla y Leon, Cataluna, Communidad
Valencian, Extremadura, Galicia, La Rioja, Madrid, Murcia, Navarra,
Pais Vasco (Basque Country)
note: there are five places of sovereignty on and off the coast of
Morocco: Ceuta and Melilla are administered as autonomous
communities; Islas Chafarinas, Penon de Alhucemas, and Penon de
Velez de la Gomera are under direct Spanish administration
Independence: 1492 (expulsion of the Moors and unification)
National holiday: National Day, 12 October
Constitution: 6 December 1978, effective 29 December 1978
Legal system: civil law system, with regional applications; does
not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: King JUAN CARLOS I (since 22 November 1975); Heir
Apparent Prince FELIPE, son of the monarch, born 30 January 1968
head of government: President of the Government Jose Maria AZNAR
Lopez (since 5 May 1996); First Vice President Francisco ALVAREZ
CASCOS Fernandez (since 5 May 1996) and Second Vice President (and
Minister of Economy and Finance) Rodrigo RATO Figaredo (since 5 May
1996)
cabinet: Council of Ministers designated by the president
note: there is also a Council of State that is the supreme
consultative organ of the government
elections: the monarch is hereditary; president proposed by the
monarch and elected by the National Assembly following legislative
elections; election last held 3 March 1996 (next to be held by NA
April 2000); vice presidents appointed by the monarch on proposal of
the president
election results: Jose Maria AZNAR elected president; percent of
National Assembly vote--NA
Legislative branch: bicameral; the General Courts or National
Assembly or Las Cortes Generales consists of the Senate or Senado
(256 seats--208 members directly elected by popular vote and the
other 48 appointed by the regional legislatures to serve four-year
terms) and the Congress of Deputies or Congreso de los Diputados
(350 seats; members are elected by popular vote on block lists by
proportional representation to serve four-year terms)
elections: Senate--last held 3 March 1996 (next to be held by April
2000); Congress of Deputies--last held 3 March 1996 (next to be held
by April 2000)
election results: Senate--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by
party--PP 132, PSOE 96, CiU 11, PNV 6, IU 2, others 9; Congress of
Deputies--percent of vote by party--PP 38.9%, PSOE 37.5%, IU 10.7%,
CiU 4.6%; seats by party--PP 156, PSOE 141, IU 21, CiU 16, other 16
Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Tribunal Supremo
Political parties and leaders:
principal national parties, from right to left: Popular Party or PP
Gonzalez]
Soley, secretary general] (a coalition of the Democratic Convergence
Political pressure groups and leaders: on the extreme left, the
Basque Fatherland and Liberty or ETA and the First of October
Antifascist Resistance Group or GRAPO use terrorism to oppose the
unions (authorized in April 1977); Workers Confederation or CC.OO;
the Socialist General Union of Workers or UGT and the smaller
independent Workers Syndical Union or USO; business and landowning
interests; the Catholic Church; Opus Dei; university students
International organization participation: AfDB, AsDB, Australia
Group, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ECLAC, EIB, EMU, ESA,
EU, FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC,
IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LAIA (observer), MTCR, NAM (guest), NATO,
NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIBH, UNU, UPU, WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO,
WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Antonio OYARZABAL MARCHESI
chancery: 2375 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037
consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami,
New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Edward L. ROMERO
embassy: Serrano 75, 28006 Madrid
mailing address: APO AE 09642
consulate(s) general: Barcelona
Flag description: three horizontal bands of red (top), yellow
(double width), and red with the national coat of arms on the hoist
side of the yellow band; the coat of arms includes the royal seal
framed by the Pillars of Hercules, which are the two promontories
(Gibraltar and Ceuta) on either side of the eastern end of the
Strait of Gibraltar
Economy
Economy--overview: Spain's mixed capitalist economy supports a GDP
that on a per capita basis is three-fourths that of the four leading
West European economies. Its center-right government successfully
worked to gain admission to the first group of countries launching
the European single currency on 1 January 1999. The deficit-to-GDP
ratio is 2.1%, the debt-to-GDP ratio is around 68%, and inflation is
approximately 2%. Moreover, the AZNAR administration has continued
to advocate liberalization, privatization, and deregulation of the
economy and has introduced some tax reforms to that end.
Unemployment, nonetheless, remains the highest in the EU at 20%. The
government, for political reasons, has made only limited progress in
changing labor laws or reforming pension schemes, which are key to
the sustainability of both Spain's internal economic advances and
its competitiveness in a single currency area. Adjustment to the
monetary and other economic policies of an integrated Europe will
pose difficult challenges to Spain in the next few years.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$645.6 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 3.5% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$16,500 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 3.4%
industry: 33.3%
services: 63.3% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.8%
highest 10%: 25.2% (1990)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 16.2 million
Labor force--by occupation: services 64%, manufacturing, mining,
and construction 28%, agriculture 8% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate: 20% (1998 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $113 billion
expenditures: $139 billion, including capital expenditures of $15
billion (1995)
Industries: textiles and apparel (including footwear), food and
beverages, metals and metal manufactures, chemicals, shipbuilding,
automobiles, machine tools, tourism
Industrial production growth rate: 5.8% (1998)
Electricity--production: 163.468 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 43.17%
hydro: 23.92%
nuclear: 32.74%
other: 0.17% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 164.568 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 5.7 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 6.8 billion kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: grain, vegetables, olives, wine grapes,
sugar beets, citrus; beef, pork, poultry, dairy products; fish
Exports: $111.1 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Exports--commodities: cars and trucks, other machinery and
manufactured goods, foodstuffs, and other consumer goods
Exports--partners: EU 70% (France 20%, Germany 18%, Italy 10%,
Portugal 9%, UK 8%), US 4.4% (1997)
Imports: $132.3 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Imports--commodities: machinery, transport equipment, fuels,
semifinished goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods, chemicals (1997)
Imports--partners: EU 65% (France 17%, Germany 15%, Italy 9%, UK
8%, Benelux 7%), US 6%, Japan 3% (1997)
Debt--external: $90 billion (1993 est.)
Economic aid--donor: ODA, $1.3 billion (1995)
Currency: 1 peseta (Pta) = 100 centimos
Exchange rates: pesetas (Ptas) per US$1--143.39 (January 1999),
149.40 (1998), 146.41 (1997), 126.66 (1996), 124.69 (1995), 133.96
(1994)
note: on 1 January 1999, the European Union introduced a common
currency that is now being used by financial institutions in some
member countries at the rate of 0.8597 euros per US$ and a fixed
rate of 166.386 pesetas per euro; the euro will replace the local
currency in consenting countries for all transactions in 2002
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 12.6 million (1990 est.)
Telephone system: generally adequate, modern facilities
domestic: NA
international: 22 coaxial submarine cables; satellite earth
stations--2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), NA
Eutelsat, NA Inmarsat, and NA Marecs; tropospheric scatter to
adjacent countries
Radio broadcast stations: AM 190, FM 406 (repeaters 134),
shortwave 0
Radios: 12 million (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 542 (382 network stations, 160
low-power stations, and one US Air Force Europe station) (1997)
Televisions: 15.7 million (1992 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 15,079 km
broad gauge: 12,781 km 1.668-m gauge (6,355 km electrified; 2,295 km
double track)
standard gauge: 525 km 1.435-m gauge (480 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 1,773 km 1.000-m gauge (594 km electrified) (1996)
Highways:
total: 346,858 km
paved: 343,389 km (including 9,063 km of expressways)
unpaved: 3,469 km (1997 est.)
Waterways: 1,045 km, but of minor economic importance
Pipelines: crude oil 265 km; petroleum products 1,794 km; natural
gas 1,666 km
Ports and harbors: Aviles, Barcelona, Bilbao, Cadiz, Cartagena,
Castellon de la Plana, Ceuta, Huelva, La Coruna, Las Palmas (Canary
Islands), Malaga, Melilla, Pasajes, Gijon, Santa Cruz de Tenerife
(Canary Islands), Santander, Tarragona, Valencia, Vigo
Merchant marine:
total: 137 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,094,408
GRT/1,695,708 DWT
ships by type: bulk 11, cargo 29, chemical tanker 10, container 10,
liquefied gas tanker 3, oil tanker 25, passenger 1, refrigerated
cargo 6, roll-on/roll-off cargo 35, short-sea passenger 6,
specialized tanker 1 (1998 est.)
Airports: 99 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 66
over 3,047 m: 15
2,438 to 3,047 m: 11
1,524 to 2,437 m: 16
914 to 1,523 m: 15
under 914 m: 9 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 33
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 21 (1998 est.)
Heliports: 2 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Civil Guard,
National Police, Coastal Civil Guard
Military manpower--military age: 20 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 10,374,314 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 8,346,155 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 311,350 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $6.3 billion (1995)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 1.4% (1995)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: Gibraltar issue with UK; Spain controls
five places of sovereignty (plazas de soberania) on and off the
coast of Morocco--the coastal enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla, which
Morocco contests, as well as the islands of Penon de Alhucemas,
Penon de Velez de la Gomera, and Islas Chafarinas
Illicit drugs: key European gateway country for Latin American
cocaine and North African hashish entering the European market;
transshipment point for and consumer of Southwest Asian heroin
======================================================================
@Spratly Islands
---------------
Geography
Location: Southeastern Asia, group of reefs and islands in the
South China Sea, about two-thirds of the way from southern Vietnam
to the southern Philippines
Geographic coordinates: 8 38 N, 111 55 E
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area:
total: less than 5 sq km
land: less than 5 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes 100 or so islets, coral reefs, and sea mounts
scattered over an area of nearly 410,000 sq km of the central South
China Sea
Area--comparative: NA
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 926 km
Maritime claims: NA
Climate: tropical
Terrain: flat
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Southwest Cay 4 m
Natural resources: fish, guano, undetermined oil and natural gas
potential
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 100%
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1993)
Natural hazards: typhoons; serious maritime hazard because of
numerous reefs and shoals
Environment--current issues: NA
Environment--international agreements:
party to: none of the selected agreements
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography--note: strategically located near several primary
shipping lanes in the central South China Sea; includes numerous
small islands, atolls, shoals, and coral reefs
People
Population: no indigenous inhabitants
note: there are scattered garrisons occupied by personnel of several
claimant states
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Spratly Islands
Data code: PG
Economy
Economy--overview: Economic activity is limited to commercial
fishing. The proximity to nearby oil- and gas-producing sedimentary
basins suggests the potential for oil and gas deposits, but the
region is largely unexplored, and there are no reliable estimates of
potential reserves; commercial exploitation has yet to be developed.
Transportation
Ports and harbors: none
Airports: 4 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)
Military
Military--note: Spratly Islands consist of more than 100 small
islands or reefs, of which about 45 are claimed and occupied by
China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: all of the Spratly Islands are claimed by
China, Taiwan, and Vietnam; parts of them are claimed by Malaysia
and the Philippines; in 1984, Brunei established an exclusive
fishing zone, which encompasses Louisa Reef in the southern Spratly
Islands, but has not publicly claimed the island
======================================================================
@Sri Lanka
---------
Geography
Location: Southern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of
India
Geographic coordinates: 7 00 N, 81 00 E
Map references: Asia
Area:
total: 65,610 sq km
land: 64,740 sq km
water: 870 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly larger than West Virginia
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 1,340 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical monsoon; northeast monsoon (December to March);
southwest monsoon (June to October)
Terrain: mostly low, flat to rolling plain; mountains in
south-central interior
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Pidurutalagala 2,524 m
Natural resources: limestone, graphite, mineral sands, gems,
phosphates, clay
Land use:
arable land: 14%
permanent crops: 15%
permanent pastures: 7%
forests and woodland: 32%
other: 32% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 5,500 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: occasional cyclones and tornadoes
Environment--current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; wildlife
populations threatened by poaching; coastal degradation from mining
activities and increased pollution; freshwater resources being
polluted by industrial wastes and sewage runoff
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
Geography--note: strategic location near major Indian Ocean sea
lanes
People
Population: 19,144,875 (July 1999 est.)
note: since the outbreak of hostilities between the government and
armed Tamil separatists in the mid-1980s, several hundred thousand
Tamil civilians have fled the island; as of late 1996, 63,068 were
housed in refugee camps in south India, another 30,000-40,000 lived
outside the Indian camps, and more than 200,000 Tamils have sought
political asylum in the West
Age structure:
0-14 years: 27% (male 2,650,135; female 2,535,092)
15-64 years: 67% (male 6,231,987; female 6,500,782)
65 years and over: 6% (male 592,539; female 634,340) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.1% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 18.16 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 6.02 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.93 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 16.12 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 72.67 years
male: 69.89 years
female: 75.59 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.1 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Sri Lankan(s)
adjective: Sri Lankan
Ethnic groups: Sinhalese 74%, Tamil 18%, Moor 7%, Burgher, Malay,
and Vedda 1%
Religions: Buddhist 69%, Hindu 15%, Christian 8%, Muslim 8%
Languages: Sinhala (official and national language) 74%, Tamil
(national language) 18%
note: English is commonly used in government and is spoken by about
10% of the population
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 90.2%
male: 93.4%
female: 87.2% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
conventional short form: Sri Lanka
former: Ceylon
Data code: CE
Government type: republic
Capital: Colombo
Administrative divisions: 8 provinces; Central, North Central,
North Eastern, North Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, Uva, Western
Independence: 4 February 1948 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence and National Day, 4 February (1948)
Constitution: adopted 16 August 1978
Legal system: a highly complex mixture of English common law,
Roman-Dutch, Muslim, Sinhalese, and customary law; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Chandrika Bandaranaike KUMARATUNGA (since
12 November 1994); note--Sirimavo BANDARANAIKE is the prime minister;
in Sri Lanka the president is considered to be both the chief of
state and the head of the government, this is in contrast to the
more common practice of dividing the roles between the president and
the prime minister when both offices exist
head of government: President Chandrika Bandaranaike KUMARATUNGA
(since 12 November 1994); note--Sirimavo BANDARANAIKE is the prime
minister; in Sri Lanka the president is considered to be both the
chief of state and the head of the government, this is in contrast
to the more common practice of dividing the roles between the
president and the prime minister when both offices exist
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president in consultation with the
prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term;
election last held 9 November 1994 (next to be held NA November 2000)
election results: Chandrika Bandaranaike KUMARATUNGA elected
president; percent of vote--Chandrika Bandaranaike KUMARATUNGA
(People's Alliance) 62%, Srima DISSANAYAKE (United National Party)
37%, other 1%
Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament (225 seats; members
elected by popular vote on the basis of a modified proportional
representation system to serve six-year terms)
elections: last held 16 August 1994 (next to be held by August 2000)
election results: percent of vote by party--PA 49.0%, UNP 44.0%, SLMC
1.8%, TULF 1.7%, SLPF 1.1%, EPDP 0.3%, UPF 0.3%, PLOTE 0.1%, other
1.7%; seats by party--PA 105, UNP 94, EPDP 9, SLMC 7, TULF 5, PLOTE
3, SLPF 1, UPF 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the
Judicial Service Commission; Court of Appeals
Political parties and leaders: All Ceylon Tamil Congress or ACTC
Bandaranaike KUMARATUNGA]; People's Liberation Organization of Tamil
APPUHAMY]; several ethnic Tamil and Muslim parties, represented in
either parliament or provincial councils
Political pressure groups and leaders: Liberation Tigers of Tamil
Eelam or LTTE; other radical chauvinist Sinhalese groups; Buddhist
clergy; Sinhalese Buddhist lay groups; labor unions
International organization participation: AsDB, C, CCC, CP,
ESCAP, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAS (observer), OPCW, PCA, SAARC, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO,
WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Warnasena RASAPUTRAM
chancery: 2148 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s): New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Shaun E. DONNELLY
embassy: 210 Galle Road, Colombo 3
mailing address: P. O. Box 106, Colombo
Flag description: yellow with two panels; the smaller hoist-side
panel has two equal vertical bands of green (hoist side) and orange;
the other panel is a large dark red rectangle with a yellow lion
holding a sword, and there is a yellow bo leaf in each corner; the
yellow field appears as a border that goes around the entire flag
and extends between the two panels
Economy
Economy--overview: In 1977, Colombo abandoned statist economic
policies and its import substitution trade policy for
market-oriented policies and export-oriented trade. Sri Lanka's most
dynamic industries now are food processing, textiles and apparel,
food and beverages, telecommunications, and insurance and banking.
By 1996 plantation crops made up only 20% of exports (compared with
93% in 1970), while textiles and garments accounted for 63%. GDP
grew at an annual average rate of 5.5% throughout the 1990s until a
drought and a deteriorating security situation lowered growth to
3.8% in 1996. The economy rebounded in 1997-98 with growth of 6.4%
and 4.7%. For the next round of reforms, the central bank of Sri
Lanka recommends that Colombo expand market mechanisms in
nonplantation agriculture, dismantle the government's monopoly on
wheat imports, and promote more competition in the financial sector.
A continuing cloud over the economy is the fighting between the
Sinhalese and the minority Tamils, which has cost 50,000 lives in
the past 15 years. The global slowdown will temper growth in 1999.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$48.1 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 4.7% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$2,500 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 18%
industry: 31%
services: 51% (1997)
Population below poverty line: 35.3% (1990-91 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.8%
highest 10%: 25.2% (1990)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 9.3% (1998)
Labor force: 6.2 million (1997)
Labor force--by occupation: services 46%, agriculture 37%,
industry 17% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate: 11% (1997 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $3 billion
expenditures: $4.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $1
billion (1997 est.)
Industries: processing of rubber, tea, coconuts, and other
agricultural commodities; clothing, cement, petroleum refining,
textiles, tobacco
Industrial production growth rate: 6.5% (1996 est.)
Electricity--production: 5.05 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 4.95%
hydro: 95.05%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 5.05 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: rice, sugarcane, grains, pulses, oilseed,
spices, tea, rubber, coconuts; milk, eggs, hides, beef
Exports: $4.5 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports--commodities: textiles and apparel, tea, diamonds and
other gems, coconut products, rubber products, petroleum products
(1997)
Exports--partners: US 36%, UK 11%, Japan 6%, Germany 5%,
Belgium-Luxembourg 4% (1997)
Imports: $5.3 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports--commodities: machinery and equipment, textiles,
petroleum, building materials, sugar (1997)
Imports--partners: India 10%, Japan 9%, South Korea 8%, Hong Kong
7%, Taiwan 7% (1997)
Debt--external: $8.8 billion (1998)
Economic aid--recipient: $559.3 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Sri Lankan rupee (SLRe) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Sri Lankan rupees (SLRes) per US$1--67.948
(January 1999), 64.593 (1998), 58.995 (1997), 55.271 (1996), 51.252
(1995), 49.415 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 352,681 (1997 est.); 114,888 cellular telephone
subscribers (1997 est.)
Telephone system: very inadequate domestic service, but expanding
with the entry of two wireless loop operators and privatization of
national telephone company; good international service
domestic: NA
international: submarine cables to Indonesia and Djibouti; satellite
earth stations--2 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 12, FM 5, shortwave 0
Radios: 3.6 million (1996 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 21 (19 network stations, two
low-power stations) (1997)
Televisions: 1.6 million (1996 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 1,501 km
broad gauge: 1,442 km 1.676-m gauge
narrow gauge: 59 km 0.762-m gauge (1995)
Highways:
total: 99,200 km
paved: 39,680 km
unpaved: 59,520 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 430 km; navigable by shallow-draft craft
Pipelines: crude oil and petroleum products 62 km (1987)
Ports and harbors: Colombo, Galle, Jaffna, Trincomalee
Merchant marine:
total: 22 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 178,867 GRT/276,363 DWT
ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 14, container 1, oil tanker 1,
refrigerated cargo 5 (1998 est.)
Airports: 13 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 12
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 6 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Police Force
Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 5,223,590 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 4,062,758 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 199,196 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $719 million (1998)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 4.2% (1998)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
======================================================================
@Sudan
-----
Geography
Location: Northern Africa, bordering the Red Sea, between Egypt
and Eritrea
Geographic coordinates: 15 00 N, 30 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area:
total: 2,505,810 sq km
land: 2.376 million sq km
water: 129,810 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly more than one-quarter the size of the
US
Land boundaries:
total: 7,687 km
border countries: Central African Republic 1,165 km, Chad 1,360 km,
Democratic Republic of the Congo 628 km, Egypt 1,273 km, Eritrea 605
km, Ethiopia 1,606 km, Kenya 232 km, Libya 383 km, Uganda 435 km
Coastline: 853 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 18 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical in south; arid desert in north; rainy season
(April to October)
Terrain: generally flat, featureless plain; mountains in east and
west
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Red Sea 0 m
highest point: Kinyeti 3,187 m
Natural resources: petroleum; small reserves of iron ore, copper,
chromium ore, zinc, tungsten, mica, silver, gold
Land use:
arable land: 5%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 46%
forests and woodland: 19%
other: 30% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 19,460 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: dust storms
Environment--current issues: inadequate supplies of potable water;
wildlife populations threatened by excessive hunting; soil erosion;
desertification
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography--note: largest country in Africa; dominated by the Nile
and its tributaries
People
Population: 34,475,690 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 45% (male 7,941,909; female 7,614,225)
15-64 years: 53% (male 9,094,712; female 9,061,194)
65 years and over: 2% (male 423,389; female 340,261) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.71% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 39.34 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 10.6 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.68 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.24 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 70.94 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 56.4 years
male: 55.41 years
female: 57.44 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.58 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Sudanese (singular and plural)
adjective: Sudanese
Ethnic groups: black 52%, Arab 39%, Beja 6%, foreigners 2%, other
1%
Religions: Sunni Muslim 70% (in north), indigenous beliefs 25%,
Christian 5% (mostly in south and Khartoum)
Languages: Arabic (official), Nubian, Ta Bedawie, diverse
dialects of Nilotic, Nilo-Hamitic, Sudanic languages, English
note: program of Arabization in process
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 46.1%
male: 57.7%
female: 34.6% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of the Sudan
conventional short form: Sudan
local long form: Jumhuriyat as-Sudan
local short form: As-Sudan
former: Anglo-Egyptian Sudan
Data code: SU
Government type: transitional--previously ruling military junta;
presidential and National Assembly elections held in March 1996; new
constitution drafted by Presidential Committee, went into effect on
30 June 1998 after being approved in nationwide referendum
Capital: Khartoum
Administrative divisions: 26 states (wilayat, singular--wilayah);
A'ali an Nil, Al Bahr al Ahmar, Al Buhayrat, Al Jazirah, Al Khartum,
Al Qadarif, Al Wahdah, An Nil al Abyad, An Nil al Azraq, Ash
Shamaliyah, Bahr al Jabal, Gharb al Istiwa'iyah, Gharb Bahr al
Ghazal, Gharb Darfur, Gharb Kurdufan, Janub Darfur, Janub Kurdufan,
Junqali, Kassala, Nahr an Nil, Shamal Bahr al Ghazal, Shamal Darfur,
Shamal Kurdufan, Sharq al Istiwa'iyah, Sinnar, Warab
Independence: 1 January 1956 (from Egypt and UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 1 January (1956)
Constitution: 12 April 1973, suspended following coup of 6 April
1985; interim constitution of 10 October 1985 suspended following
coup of 30 June 1989; new constitution implemented on 30 June 1998
Legal system: based on English common law and Islamic law; as of
20 January 1991, the now defunct Revolutionary Command Council
imposed Islamic law in the northern states; Islamic law applies to
all residents of the northern states regardless of their religion;
some separate religious courts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction,
with reservations
Suffrage: NA years of age; universal, but noncompulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Lt. General Umar Hasan Ahmad al-BASHIR
(since 16 October 1993); First Vice President Ali Uthman Muhammad
TAHA (since 17 February 1998), Second Vice President (Police) Maj.
General George KONGOR AROP (since NA February 1994); note--the
president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Lt. General Umar Hasan Ahmad al-BASHIR
(since 16 October 1993); First Vice President Ali Uthman Muhammad
TAHA (since 17 February 1998), Second Vice President (Police) Maj.
General George KONGOR AROP (since NA February 1994); note--the
president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president; note--President
al-BASHIR's government is dominated by members of Sudan's National
Islamic Front (NIF), a fundamentalist political organization formed
from the Muslim Brotherhood in 1986; in 1998, the NIF created the
National Congress as its legal front; the National Congress/NIF
dominates much of Khartoum's overall domestic and foreign policies;
President al-BASHIR named a new cabinet on 20 April 1996 which
includes members of the National Islamic Front, serving and retired
military officers, and civilian technocrats; on 8 March 1998, he
reshuffled the cabinet and brought in several former rebel and
opposition members as ministers
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 6-17 March 1996 (next to be held NA 2001)
election results: Umar Hasan Ahmad al-BASHIR elected president;
percent of vote--Umar Hasan Ahmad al-BASHIR 75.7%; note--about forty
other candidates ran for president
note: al-BASHIR, as chairman of the Revolutionary Command Council
for National Salvation (RCC), assumed power on 30 June 1989 and
served concurrently as chief of state, chairman of the RCC, prime
minister, and minister of defense until 16 October 1993 when he was
appointed president by the RCC; upon its dissolution on 16 October
1993, the RCC's executive and legislative powers were devolved to
the president and the Transitional National Assembly (TNA), Sudan's
appointed legislative body, which has since been replaced by the
National Assembly which was elected in March 1996
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (400 seats; 275
elected by popular vote, 125 elected by a supraassembly of interest
groups known as the National Congress)
elections: last held 6-17 March 1996 (next to be held NA 2001)
election results: NA; the March 1996 elections were held on a
nonparty basis; parties are banned in the new National Assembly
Judicial branch: Supreme Court; Special Revolutionary Courts
Political parties and leaders: political parties were banned
following 30 June 1989 coup, however, political "associations" are
allowed under a new law drafted in 1998 and implemented on 1 January
Political pressure groups and leaders: National Islamic Front or
its legal front)
International organization participation: ABEDA, ACP, AfDB,
AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM,
IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol,
IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNHCR, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Mahdi Ibrahim MAHAMMAD (recalled to
Khartoum in August 1998)
chancery: 2210 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US: US officials at the US
Embassy in Khartoum were moved for security reasons in February 1996
and have been relocated to the US Embassies in Nairobi, Kenya and
Cairo, Egypt; they visit Khartoum monthly, but the Sudanese
Government has not allowed such visits since August 1998; the US
Embassy in Khartoum (located on Sharia Abdul Latif Avenue; mailing
employees; the US Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya is located temporarily
in the USAID Building at The Crescent, Parkland, Nairobi; mailing
address--P.O. Box 30137, Box 21A, Unit 64100, APO AE 09831;
Cairo, Egypt is located at (North Gate) 8, Kamel El-Din Salah
Street, Garden City, Cairo; mailing address--Unit 64900, APO AE
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top),
white, and black with a green isosceles triangle based on the hoist
side
Economy
Economy--overview: Sudan is buffeted by civil war, chronic
political instability, adverse weather, high inflation, a drop in
remittances from abroad, and counterproductive economic policies.
The private sector's main areas of activity are agriculture and
trading, with most private industrial investment predating 1980.
Agriculture employs 80% of the work force. Industry mainly processes
agricultural items. Sluggish economic performance over the past
decade, attributable largely to declining annual rainfall, has kept
per capita income at low levels. A large foreign debt and huge
arrears continue to cause difficulties. In 1990 the International
Monetary Fund took the unusual step of declaring Sudan
noncooperative because of its nonpayment of arrears to the Fund.
After Sudan backtracked on promised reforms in 1992-93, the IMF
threatened to expel Sudan from the Fund. To avoid expulsion,
Khartoum agreed to make payments on its arrears to the Fund,
liberalize exchange rates, and reduce subsidies, measures it has
partially implemented. The government's continued prosecution of the
civil war and its growing international isolation continued to
inhibit growth in the nonagricultural sectors of the economy during
1998. Hyperinflation has raised consumer prices above the reach of
most. In 1998, a top priority was to develop potentially lucrative
oilfields in southcentral Sudan; the government is working with
foreign partners to exploit the oil sector.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$31.2 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 6.1% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$930 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 33%
industry: 17%
services: 50% (1992 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 27% (mid-1997 est.)
Labor force: 11 million (1996 est.)
note: labor shortages for almost all categories of skilled
employment (1983 est.)
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 80%, industry and commerce
10%, government 6%
Unemployment rate: 30% (FY92/93 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $482 million
expenditures: $1.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $30
million (1996)
Industries: cotton ginning, textiles, cement, edible oils, sugar,
soap distilling, shoes, petroleum refining
Industrial production growth rate: 5% (1996 est.)
Electricity--production: 1.315 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 27.76%
hydro: 72.24%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 1.315 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: cotton, groundnuts (peanuts), sorghum,
millet, wheat, gum arabic, sesame; sheep
Exports: $594 million (f.o.b., 1997)
Exports--commodities: cotton 23%, sesame 22%, livestock/meat 13%,
gum arabic 5% (1996)
Exports--partners: Saudi Arabia 20%, UK 14%, China 11%, Italy 8%
(1996)
Imports: $1.42 billion (f.o.b., 1997)
Imports--commodities: foodstuffs, petroleum products, manufactured
goods, machinery and equipment, medicines and chemicals, textiles
(1996)
Imports--partners: Saudi Arabia 10%, South Korea 7%, Germany 6%,
Egypt 6% (1996)
Debt--external: $20.3 billion (1996 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $254.4 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Sudanese pound (LSd) = 100 piastres
Exchange rates: Sudanese pounds (LSd) per US$1--1,819.70 (April
1998), 1,873.53 (2d Qtr 1998), 1,575.74 (1997), 1,250.79 (1996),
580.87 (1995), 289.61 (1994), 159.31 (1993)
Fiscal year: calendar year
note: prior to July 1995, Sudan had a fiscal year that began on 1
July and ended on 30 June; as a transition to their new fiscal year,
a six-month budget was implemented for 1 July-31 December 1995; the
new calendar year (1 January-31 December) fiscal year became
effective 1 January 1996
Communications
Telephones: 77,215 (1983 est.)
Telephone system: large, well-equipped system by African
standards, but barely adequate and poorly maintained by modern
standards
domestic: consists of microwave radio relay, cable, radiotelephone
communications, tropospheric scatter, and a domestic satellite
system with 14 earth stations
international: satellite earth stations--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
and 1 Arabsat
Radio broadcast stations: AM 11, FM 1, shortwave 1 (1998 est.)
Radios: 5.75 million (1998 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 3 (1997)
Televisions: 250,000 (1998 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 5,516 km
narrow gauge: 4,800 km 1.067-m gauge; 716 km 1.6096-m gauge
plantation line
Highways:
total: 11,900 km
paved: 4,320 km
unpaved: 7,580 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 5,310 km navigable
Pipelines: refined products 815 km
Ports and harbors: Juba, Khartoum, Kusti, Malakal, Nimule, Port
Sudan, Sawakin
Merchant marine:
total: 4 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 38,093 GRT/49,727 DWT
ships by type: cargo 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2 (1998 est.)
Airports: 63 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 12
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 8
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 51
1,524 to 2,437 m: 14
914 to 1,523 m: 26
under 914 m: 11 (1998 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Popular Defense Force
Militia
Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 7,942,139 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 4,889,557 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 379,174 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $550 million (FY98/99)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: NA%
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: administrative boundary with Kenya does
not coincide with international boundary; Egypt asserts its claim to
the "Hala'ib Triangle," a barren area of 20,580 sq km under partial
Sudanese administration that is defined by an administrative
boundary which supersedes the treaty boundary of 1899
======================================================================
@Suriname
--------
Geography
Location: Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic
Ocean, between French Guiana and Guyana
Geographic coordinates: 4 00 N, 56 00 W
Map references: South America
Area:
total: 163,270 sq km
land: 161,470 sq km
water: 1,800 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly larger than Georgia
Land boundaries:
total: 1,707 km
border countries: Brazil 597 km, French Guiana 510 km, Guyana 600 km
Coastline: 386 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; moderated by trade winds
Terrain: mostly rolling hills; narrow coastal plain with swamps
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: unnamed location in the coastal plain -2 m
highest point: Wilhelmina Gebergte 1,286 m
Natural resources: timber, hydropower, fish, kaolin, shrimp,
bauxite, gold, and small amounts of nickel, copper, platinum, iron
ore
Land use:
arable land: NA%
permanent crops: NA%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 96%
other: 4% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 600 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment--current issues: deforestation as timber is cut for
export; pollution of inland waterways by small-scale mining
activities
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Law of
the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection,
Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography--note: mostly tropical rain forest; great diversity of
flora and fauna that, for the most part, is increasingly threatened
by new development; relatively small population, most of which lives
along the coast
People
Population: 431,156 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 33% (male 72,673; female 69,212)
15-64 years: 62% (male 135,573; female 130,700)
65 years and over: 5% (male 10,585; female 12,413) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.71% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 21.75 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 5.75 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -8.92 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 26.52 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 70.89 years
male: 68.32 years
female: 73.59 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.55 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Surinamer(s)
adjective: Surinamese
Ethnic groups: Hindustani (also known locally as "East Indians";
their ancestors emigrated from northern India in the latter part of
the 19th century) 37%, Creole (mixed white and black) 31%, Javanese
15.3%, "Maroons" (their African ancestors were brought to the
country in the 17th and 18th centuries as slaves and escaped to the
interior) 10.3%, Amerindian 2.6%, Chinese 1.7%, white 1%, other 1.1%
Religions: Hindu 27.4%, Muslim 19.6%, Roman Catholic 22.8%,
Protestant 25.2% (predominantly Moravian), indigenous beliefs 5%
Languages: Dutch (official), English (widely spoken), Sranang
Tongo (Surinamese, sometimes called Taki-Taki, is native language of
Creoles and much of the younger population and is lingua franca
among others), Hindustani (a dialect of Hindi), Javanese
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93%
male: 95%
female: 91% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Suriname
conventional short form: Suriname
local long form: Republiek Suriname
local short form: Suriname
former: Netherlands Guiana, Dutch Guiana
Data code: NS
Government type: republic
Capital: Paramaribo
Administrative divisions: 10 districts (distrikten,
singular--distrikt); Brokopondo, Commewijne, Coronie, Marowijne,
Nickerie, Para, Paramaribo, Saramacca, Sipaliwini, Wanica
Independence: 25 November 1975 (from Netherlands)
National holiday: Independence Day, 25 November (1975)
Constitution: ratified 30 September 1987
Legal system: based on Dutch legal system incorporating French
penal theory
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Jules WIJDENBOSCH (since 14 September
1996); Vice President Pretaapnarian RADHAKISHUN (since 14 September
1996); note--the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Jules WIJDENBOSCH (since 14 September
1996); Vice President Pretaapnarian RADHAKISHUN (since 14 September
1996); note--the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president from among
the members of the National Assembly
note: First Advisor of State maintains significant power
elections: president and vice president elected by the National
Assembly or, if no presidential or vice presidential candidate
receives a constitutional majority vote in the National Assembly
after two votes, by the larger People's Assembly (869
representatives from the national, local, and regional councils),
for five-year terms; election last held 23 May 1996; runoff election
held 5 September 1996 (next to be held NA May 2001)
election results: Jules WIJDENBOSCH elected president; percent of
legislative vote--NA; National Assembly failed to elect president;
results reflect votes cast by the People's Assembly--Jules
WIJDENBOSCH (NDP) received 438 votes, Ronald VENETIAAN (NF) received
407 votes
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or National
Assemblee (51 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve
five-year terms)
elections: last held 23 May 1996 (next to be held NA May 2001)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--NDP
16, NF 14, BVD 5, KTPI 5, Pertjaja Luhur 4, The Progressive
Development Alliance 3, DA '91 2, OPDA 2
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (justices nominated for life)
Political parties and leaders: The New Front or NF (a coalition
Democratic Alternative '91 or DA '91 (a coalition of the AF and BEP,
Development Alliance (a combination of two parties, HPP and PVF)
Political pressure groups and leaders: Union for Liberation and
International organization participation: ACP, Caricom, ECLAC,
FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent),
ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OIC, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Arnold Theodoor HALFHIDE
chancery: Suite 460, 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: Miami
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Dennis K. HAYS
embassy: Dr. Sophie Redmondstraat 129, Paramaribo
mailing address: P. O. Box 1821, American Embassy Paramaribo,
Department of State, Washington, DC, 20521-3390
Flag description: five horizontal bands of green (top, double
width), white, red (quadruple width), white, and green (double
width); there is a large, yellow, five-pointed star centered in the
red band
Economy
Economy--overview: The economy is dominated by the bauxite
industry, which accounts for more than 15% of GDP and 70% of export
earnings. After assuming power in the fall of 1996, the WIJDENBOSCH
government ended the structural adjustment program of the previous
government, claiming it was unfair to the poorer elements of
society. Tax revenues fell as old taxes lapsed and the government
failed to implement new tax alternatives. By the end of 1997, the
allocation of new Dutch development funds was frozen as Surinamese
Government relations with the Netherlands deteriorated. Economic
growth slowed in 1998, with decline in the mining, construction, and
utility sectors. Suriname's economic prospects for the medium term
will depend on renewed commitment to responsible monetary and fiscal
policies and to the introduction of structural reforms to liberalize
markets and promote competition.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$1.48 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 2% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$3,500 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 10%
industry: 32%
services: 58% (1996)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 20% (1998 est.)
Labor force: NA
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture NA%, industry NA%,
services NA%
Unemployment rate: 20% (1997)
Budget:
revenues: $393 million
expenditures: $403 million, including capital expenditures of $34
million (1997 est.)
Industries: bauxite and gold mining, alumina and aluminum
production, lumbering, food processing, fishing
Industrial production growth rate: 6.5% (1994 est.)
Electricity--production: 1.62 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 19.75%
hydro: 80.25%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 1.62 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: paddy rice, bananas, palm kernels,
coconuts, plantains, peanuts; beef, chickens; forest products; shrimp
Exports: $548.84 million (1997)
Exports--commodities: alumina, aluminum, crude oil, lumber, shrimp
and fish, rice, bananas
Exports--partners: Norway 24%, Netherlands 22%, US 22%, France
9.5%, Japan 7.6%, UK 6.5% (1997)
Imports: $551.8 million (1997)
Imports--commodities: capital equipment, petroleum, foodstuffs,
cotton, consumer goods
Imports--partners: US 48%, Netherlands 21.2%, UK 5.1%, Japan 4%
(1997)
Debt--external: $216 million (1996 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $76.4 million (1995); note?the
Netherlands provided a $127 million aid package to Aruba and
Suriname in 1996
Currency: 1 Surinamese guilder, gulden, or florin (Sf.) = 100
cents
Exchange rates: Surinamese guilders, gulden, or florins (Sf.) per
US$1--850 (January 1999); central bank midpoint rate: 401.00 (1998),
401.00 (1997), 401.26 (1996), 442.23 (1995), 134.12 (1994); parallel
rate: 800 (December 1998), 412 (December 1995), 510 (December 1994)
note: beginning July 1994, the central bank midpoint exchange rate
was unified and became market determined; during 1998, the exchange
rate splintered into four distinct rates; in January 1999 the
government floated the guilder
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 43,522 (1992 est.)
Telephone system: international facilities good
domestic: microwave radio relay network
international: satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 32, shortwave 1
Radios: 290,256 (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 3 (in addition, there are seven
repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 59,598 (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 166 km (single track)
standard gauge: 80 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 86 km 1.000-m gauge
Highways:
total: 4,530 km
paved: 1,178 km
unpaved: 3,352 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 1,200 km; most important means of transport;
oceangoing vessels with drafts ranging up to 7 m can navigate many
of the principal waterways
Ports and harbors: Albina, Moengo, New Nickerie, Paramaribo,
Paranam, Wageningen
Airports: 46 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 5
over 3,047 m: 1
under 914 m: 4 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 41
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 34 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: National Army (includes small Navy and Air
Force elements), Civil Police
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 118,686 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 69,842 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $8.5 million (1997 est.)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 1.6% (1997 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: claims area in French Guiana between
Litani Rivier and Riviere Marouini (both headwaters of the Lawa
Rivier); claims area in Guyana between New (Upper Courantyne) and
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for South American drugs
destined mostly for Europe
======================================================================
@Svalbard
--------
Geography
Location: Northern Europe, islands between the Arctic Ocean,
Barents Sea, Greenland Sea, and Norwegian Sea, north of Norway
Geographic coordinates: 78 00 N, 20 00 E
Map references: Arctic Region
Area:
total: 62,049 sq km
land: 62,049 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes Spitsbergen and Bjornoya (Bear Island)
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than West Virginia
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 3,587 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm unilaterally claimed by Norway but
not recognized by Russia
territorial sea: 4 nm
Climate: arctic, tempered by warm North Atlantic Current; cool
summers, cold winters; North Atlantic Current flows along west and
north coasts of Spitsbergen, keeping water open and navigable most
of the year
Terrain: wild, rugged mountains; much of high land ice covered;
west coast clear of ice about one-half of the year; fjords along
west and north coasts
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Arctic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Newtontoppen 1,717 m
Natural resources: coal, copper, iron ore, phosphate, zinc,
wildlife, fish
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 100% (no trees and the only bushes are crowberry and
cloudberry)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: ice floes often block up the entrance to
Bellsund (a transit point for coal export) on the west coast and
occasionally make parts of the northeastern coast inaccessible to
maritime traffic
Environment--current issues: NA
Environment--international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography--note: northernmost part of the Kingdom of Norway;
consists of nine main islands; glaciers and snowfields cover 60% of
the total area
People
Population: 2,503 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate: -3.55% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: NA births/1,000 population
Death rate: NA deaths/1,000 population
Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
Infant mortality rate: NA deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: NA years
male: NA years
female: NA years
Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman
Ethnic groups: Russian and Ukrainian 62%, Norwegian 38%, other
NEGL% (1994)
Languages: Russian, Norwegian
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Svalbard (sometimes referred to as
Spitzbergen)
Data code: SV
Dependency status: territory of Norway; administered by the
Ministry of Industry, Oslo, through a governor (sysselmann) residing
in Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen; by treaty (9 February 1920)
sovereignty was given to Norway
Government type: NA
Capital: Longyearbyen
Independence: none (territory of Norway)
National holiday: NA
Legal system: NA
Executive branch:
chief of state: King HARALD V of Norway (since 17 January 1991)
head of government: Governor Ann-Kristin OLSEN (since NA) and
Assistant Governor Jan-Atle HANSEN (since NA September 1993)
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor and assistant
governor responsible to the Polar Department of the Ministry of
Justice
International organization participation: none
Flag description: the flag of Norway is used
Economy
Economy--overview: Coal mining is the major economic activity on
Svalbard. The treaty of 9 February 1920 gives the 41 signatories
equal rights to exploit mineral deposits, subject to Norwegian
regulation. Although US, UK, Dutch, and Swedish coal companies have
mined in the past, the only companies still mining are Norwegian and
Russian. The settlements on Svalbard are essentially company towns.
The Norwegian state-owned coal company employs nearly 60% of the
Norwegian population on the island, runs many of the local services,
and provides most of the local infrastructure. There is also some
trapping of seal, polar bear, fox, and walrus.
GDP: $NA
GDP--real growth rate: NA%
GDP--per capita: $NA
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
Labor force: NA
Budget:
revenues: $11.7 million
expenditures: $11.7 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1997 est.)
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: NA kWh
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: NA%
hydro: NA%
nuclear: NA%
other: NA%
Electricity--consumption: NA kWh
Electricity--exports: NA kWh
Electricity--imports: NA kWh
Exports: $NA
Imports: $NA
Economic aid--recipient: $8.7 million from Norway (1997)
Currency: 1 Norwegian krone (NKr) = 100 oere
Exchange rates: Norwegian kroner (NKr) per US$1--7.4524 (January
1999), 7.5451 (1998), 7.0734 (1997), 6.4498 (1996), 6.3352 (1995),
7.0576 (1994)
Communications
Telephones: NA
Telephone system:
domestic: local telephone service
international: satellite earth station--1 of NA type (for
communication with Norwegian mainland only)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 1 (repeaters 2), shortwave 0
note: there are five meteorological/radio stations
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: NA
Televisions: NA
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: NA km
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km
Ports and harbors: Barentsburg, Longyearbyen, Ny-Alesund,
Pyramiden
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 4 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 3
under 914 m: 3 (1998 est.)
Military
Military--note: demilitarized by treaty (9 February 1920)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: Svalbard is the focus of a maritime
boundary dispute in the Barents Sea between Norway and Russia
======================================================================
@Swaziland
---------
Geography
Location: Southern Africa, between Mozambique and South Africa
Geographic coordinates: 26 30 S, 31 30 E
Map references: Africa
Area:
total: 17,360 sq km
land: 17,200 sq km
water: 160 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries:
total: 535 km
border countries: Mozambique 105 km, South Africa 430 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: varies from tropical to near temperate
Terrain: mostly mountains and hills; some moderately sloping
plains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Great Usutu River 21 m
highest point: Emlembe 1,862 m
Natural resources: asbestos, coal, clay, cassiterite, hydropower,
forests, small gold and diamond deposits, quarry stone, and talc
Land use:
arable land: 11%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 62%
forests and woodland: 7%
other: 20% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 670 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment--current issues: limited supplies of potable water;
wildlife populations being depleted because of excessive hunting;
overgrazing; soil degradation; soil erosion
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Nuclear
Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Desertification, Law of the Sea
Geography--note: landlocked; almost completely surrounded by South
Africa
People
Population: 985,335 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 46% (male 227,675; female 228,733)
15-64 years: 51% (male 243,853; female 259,950)
65 years and over: 3% (male 9,866; female 15,258) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.91% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 40.8 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 21.72 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.65 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 101.87 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 38.11 years
male: 36.86 years
female: 39.4 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.92 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Swazi(s)
adjective: Swazi
Ethnic groups: African 97%, European 3%
Religions: Christian 60%, indigenous beliefs 40%
Languages: English (official, government business conducted in
English), siSwati (official)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 76.7%
male: 78%
female: 75.6% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Swaziland
conventional short form: Swaziland
Data code: WZ
Government type: monarchy; independent member of Commonwealth
Capital: Mbabane; note--Lobamba is the royal and legislative
capital
Administrative divisions: 4 districts; Hhohho, Lubombo, Manzini,
Shiselweni
Independence: 6 September 1968 (from UK)
National holiday: Somhlolo (Independence) Day, 6 September (1968)
Constitution: none; constitution of 6 September 1968 was
suspended 12 April 1973; a new constitution was promulgated 13
October 1978, but was not formally presented to the people; since
then a few more outlines for a constitution have been compiled but
so far none have been accepted
Legal system: based on South African Roman-Dutch law in statutory
courts and Swazi traditional law and custom in traditional courts;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: NA; note--no suffrage before September 1993; 55 of the
65 seats in the House of Assembly were filled by popular vote in the
elections of September and October 1993; of a population of less
than 1 million, the electorate numbered 283,693
Executive branch:
chief of state: King MSWATI III (since 25 April 1986)
head of government: Prime Minister Sibusiso Barnabas DLAMINI (since
9 August 1996)
cabinet: Cabinet recommended by the prime minister and confirmed by
the monarch
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister appointed
by the monarch
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament or Libandla, an advisory
body, consists of the Senate (20 seats--10 appointed by the House of
Assembly and 10 appointed by the monarch; members serve five-year
terms) and the House of Assembly (65 seats--10 appointed by the
monarch and 55 elected by popular vote; members serve five-year
terms)
elections: House of Assembly--last held NA September and NA October
1998 (next to be held NA 2003)
election results: House of Assembly--balloting is done on a nonparty
basis; candidates for election are nominated by the local council of
each constituency and for each constituency the three candidates
with the most votes in the first round of voting are narrowed to a
single winner by a second round
Judicial branch: High Court, judges are appointed by the monarch;
Court of Appeal, judges are appointed by the monarch
Political parties and leaders:
note: political parties are banned by the constitution promulgated
on 13 October 1978; illegal parties are prohibited from holding
large public gatherings
illegal parties: People's United Democratic Movement or PUDEMO
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA,
FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, PCA, SACU, SADC, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Mary Madzandza KANYA
chancery: Suite 3M, 3400 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Alan R. McKEE
embassy: Central Bank Building, Warner Street, Mbabane
mailing address: P. O. Box 199, Mbabane
Flag description: three horizontal bands of blue (top), red
(triple width), and blue; the red band is edged in yellow; centered
in the red band is a large black and white shield covering two
spears and a staff decorated with feather tassels, all placed
horizontally
Economy
Economy--overview: In this small landlocked economy, subsistence
agriculture occupies more than 60% of the population. Manufacturing
features a number of agroprocessing factories. Mining has declined
in importance in recent years; high-grade iron ore deposits were
depleted by 1978, and health concerns have cut world demand for
asbestos. Exports of soft drink concentrate, sugar and wood pulp are
the main earners of hard currency. Surrounded by South Africa,
except for a short border with Mozambique, Swaziland is heavily
dependent on South Africa from which it receives nearly all of its
imports and to which it sends more than half of its exports.
Remittances from Swazi workers in South African mines supplement
domestically earned income by as much as 20%. The government is
trying to improve the atmosphere for foreign investment.
Overgrazing, soil depletion, and drought persist as problems for the
future.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$4 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 2.6% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$4,200 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 10%
industry: 42%
services: 48% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 8% (1998)
Labor force: NA
Labor force--by occupation: private sector about 70%, public
sector about 30%
Unemployment rate: 22% (1995 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $400 million
expenditures: $450 million, including capital expenditures of $115
million (FY96/97)
Industries: mining (coal and asbestos), wood pulp, sugar, soft
drink concentrates
Industrial production growth rate: 3.7% (FY95/96)
Electricity--production: 415 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 49.4%
hydro: 50.6%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 986 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 571 million kWh (1996)
note: imports about 60% of its electricity from South Africa
Agriculture--products: sugarcane, cotton, maize, tobacco, rice,
citrus, pineapples, corn, sorghum, peanuts; cattle, goats, sheep
Exports: $972 million (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports--commodities: soft drink concentrates, sugar, wood pulp,
cotton yarn, citrus and canned fruit (1996)
Exports--partners: South Africa 58%, EU 17%, Mozambique, North
Korea (1995)
Imports: $1.2 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports--commodities: motor vehicles, machinery, transport
equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products, chemicals (1996)
Imports--partners: South Africa 96%, Japan, UK, Singapore (FY95/96)
Debt--external: $175 million (1998)
Economic aid--recipient: $55 million (1995)
Currency: 1 lilangeni (E) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: emalangeni (E) per US$1--5.9812 (January 1999),
5.4807 (1998), 4.6032 (1997), 4.2706 (1996), 3.6266 (1995), 3.5490
(1994); note--the Swazi lilangeni is at par with the South African
rand
Fiscal year: 1 April--31 March
Communications
Telephones: NA; 45,000 cellular telephone subscribers (1993 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: system consists of carrier-equipped, open-wire lines and
low-capacity, microwave radio relay
international: satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 7, FM 6, shortwave 0
Radios: 200,000 (1998 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 2 (in addition, there are seven
repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 20,000 (1998 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 297 km; note--includes 71 km which are not in use
narrow gauge: 297 km 1.067-m gauge
Highways:
total: 3,810 km
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km (1996 est.)
Ports and harbors: none
Airports: 18 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 17
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 10 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Umbutfo Swaziland Defense Force (Army), Royal
Swaziland Police Force
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 221,199 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 128,806 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $23 million (FY95/96)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 1.9% (FY95/96)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: Swaziland has asked South Africa to open
negotiations on reincorporating some nearby South African
territories that are populated by ethnic Swazis or that were long
ago part of the Swazi Kingdom
======================================================================
@Sweden
------
Introduction
Background: Having long lost its military prowess of the 17th
century, Sweden has evolved into a prosperous and peaceful
constitutional monarchy with a capitalist system interlarded with
substantial welfare elements. As the 20th century comes to an end,
this long successful formula is being undermined by high
unemployment; the rising cost of a "cradle to the grave" welfare
state; the decline of Sweden's competitive position in world
markets; and indecision over the country's role in the political and
economic integration of Europe. A member of the European Union,
Sweden chose not to participate in the introduction of the euro on 1
January 1999.
Geography
Location: Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of
Bothnia, Kattegat, and Skagerrak, between Finland and Norway
Geographic coordinates: 62 00 N, 15 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area:
total: 449,964 sq km
land: 410,928 sq km
water: 39,036 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly larger than California
Land boundaries:
total: 2,205 km
border countries: Finland 586 km, Norway 1,619 km
Coastline: 3,218 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: agreed boundaries or midlines
territorial sea: 12 nm (adjustments made to return a portion of
straits to high seas)
Climate: temperate in south with cold, cloudy winters and cool,
partly cloudy summers; subarctic in north
Terrain: mostly flat or gently rolling lowlands; mountains in west
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m
highest point: Kebnekaise 2,111 m
Natural resources: zinc, iron ore, lead, copper, silver, timber,
uranium, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 7%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 1%
forests and woodland: 68%
other: 24% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 1,150 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: ice floes in the surrounding waters, especially
in the Gulf of Bothnia, can interfere with maritime traffic
Environment--current issues: acid rain damaging soils and lakes;
pollution of the North Sea and the Baltic Sea
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air
Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental
Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical
Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography--note: strategic location along Danish Straits linking
Baltic and North Seas
People
Population: 8,911,296 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 19% (male 856,819; female 812,958)
15-64 years: 64% (male 2,896,383; female 2,802,571)
65 years and over: 17% (male 651,549; female 891,016) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.29% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 12 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 10.77 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 1.68 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 3.91 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 79.29 years
male: 76.61 years
female: 82.11 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.83 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Swede(s)
adjective: Swedish
Ethnic groups: white, Lapp (Sami), foreign-born or
first-generation immigrants 12% (Finns, Yugoslavs, Danes,
Norwegians, Greeks, Turks)
Religions: Evangelical Lutheran 94%, Roman Catholic 1.5%,
Pentecostal 1%, other 3.5% (1987)
Languages: Swedish
note: small Lapp- and Finnish-speaking minorities
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99% (1979 est.)
male: NA%
female: NA%
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Sweden
conventional short form: Sweden
local long form: Konungariket Sverige
local short form: Sverige
Data code: SW
Government type: constitutional monarchy
Capital: Stockholm
Administrative divisions: 21 counties (lan, singular and plural);
Blekinge, Dalarnas, Gavleborgs, Gotlands, Hallands, Jamtlands,
Jonkopings, Kalmar, Kronobergs, Norrbottens, Orebro, Ostergotlands,
Skane, Sodermanlands, Stockholms, Uppsala, Varmlands, Vasterbottens,
Vasternorrlands, Vastmanlands, Vastra Gotalands
Independence: 6 June 1523 (Gustav VASA elected king); 6 June 1809
(constitutional monarchy was established)
National holiday: Day of the Swedish Flag, 6 June
Constitution: 1 January 1975
Legal system: civil law system influenced by customary law;
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: King CARL XVI GUSTAF (since 19 September 1973); Heir
Apparent Princess VICTORIA Ingrid Alice Desiree, daughter of the
monarch (born 14 July 1977)
head of government: Prime Minister Goran PERSSON (since 21 March
1996)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister
elections: the monarch is hereditary; prime minister elected by the
Parliament; election last held NA September 1998 (next to be held NA
2002)
election results: Goran PERSSON reelected prime minister; percent of
parliamentary vote--131 votes out of 349
Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Riksdag (349 seats;
members are elected by popular vote on a proportional representation
basis to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 20 September 1998 (next to be held NA September
2002)
election results: percent of vote by party--Social Democrats 36.5%,
Moderates 22.7%, Left Party 12%, Christian Democrats 11.8%, Center
Party 5.1%, Liberal Party 4.7%, Greens 4.5%; seats by party--Social
Democrats 131, Moderates 82, Left Party 43, Christian Democrats 42,
Center Party 18, Liberal Party 17, Greens 16
Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Hogsta Domstolen, judges are
appointed by the government (prime minister and cabinet)
Political parties and leaders: Social Democratic Party [Goran
formal leader but party spokesperson is Briger SCHLAUG]
International organization participation: ACCT, AfDB, AsDB,
Australia Group, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, ESA,
FAO, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
ISO, ITU, LAIA (observer), MTCR, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OAS
(observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN (observer), UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMIBH, UNMOP, UNMOT, UNOMIG,
UNPREDEP, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Rolf EKEUS
chancery: 1501 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20005-1702
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Lyndon Lowell OLSON, Jr.
embassy: Strandvagen 101, S-115 89 Stockholm
mailing address: American Embassy Stockholm, Department of State,
Washington, DC 20521-5750 (pouch)
Flag description: blue with a yellow cross that extends to the
edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the
hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)
Economy
Economy--overview: Aided by peace and neutrality for the whole
twentieth century, Sweden has achieved an enviable standard of
living under a mixed system of high-tech capitalism and extensive
welfare benefits. It has a modern distribution system, excellent
internal and external communications, and a skilled labor force.
Timber, hydropower, and iron ore constitute the resource base of an
economy heavily oriented toward foreign trade. Privately owned firms
account for about 90% of industrial output, of which the engineering
sector accounts for 50% of output and exports. Agriculture accounts
for only 2% of GDP and 2% of the jobs. In recent years, however,
this extraordinarily favorable picture has been clouded by budgetary
difficulties, inflation, high unemployment, and a gradual loss of
competitiveness in international markets. Sweden has harmonized its
economic policies with those of the EU, which it joined at the start
of 1995. Sweden decided not to join the euro system at its outset in
January 1999 but plans to hold a referendum in 2000 on whether to
join. Annual GDP growth is forecast for 2.2% and 2.6% in 1999 and
2000 respectively. Budgetary problems and shaky business confidence
will constrain government plans to reduce unemployment.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$175 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 2.9% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$19,700 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 2.2%
industry: 30.5%
services: 67.3% (1997)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.7%
highest 10%: 20.1% (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 4.552 million (1992)
Labor force--by occupation: community, social and personal
services 38.3%, mining and manufacturing 21.2%, commerce, hotels,
and restaurants 14.1%, banking, insurance 9%, communications 7.2%,
construction 7%, agriculture, fishing, and forestry 3.2% (1991)
Unemployment rate: 6.3% plus about 5% in training programs (1998
est.)
Budget:
revenues: $109.4 billion
expenditures: $146.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY95/96)
Industries: iron and steel, precision equipment (bearings, radio
and telephone parts, armaments), wood pulp and paper products,
processed foods, motor vehicles
Industrial production growth rate: 4.4% (1998)
Electricity--production: 135.192 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 9.75%
hydro: 37.52%
nuclear: 52.62%
other: 0.11% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 141.392 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 9.7 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 15.9 billion kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: grains, sugar beets, potatoes; meat, milk
Exports: $85.5 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports--commodities: machinery 35%, motor vehicles, paper
products, pulp and wood, iron and steel products, chemicals
Exports--partners: EU 55% (Germany 11%, UK 9%, Denmark 6%, Finland
5%), Norway 8%, US 8% (1994)
Imports: $66.6 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports--commodities: machinery, petroleum and petroleum products,
chemicals, motor vehicles, foodstuffs, iron and steel, clothing
Imports--partners: EU 68% (Germany 19%, UK 10%, Denmark 8%, France
6%), Norway 8%, US 6% (1997)
Debt--external: $66.5 billion (1994)
Economic aid--donor: ODA, $1.7 billion (1995)
Currency: 1 Swedish krona (SKr) = 100 oere
Exchange rates: Swedish kronor (SKr) per US$1--7.8193 (January
1999), 7.9499 (1998), 7.6349 (1997), 6.7060 (1996), 7.1333 (1995),
7.7160 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 13 million (1996 est.)
Telephone system: excellent domestic and international
facilities; automatic system
domestic: coaxial and multiconductor cable carry most voice traffic;
parallel microwave radio relay network carries some additional
telephone channels
international: 5 submarine coaxial cables; satellite earth
stations--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), 1 Eutelsat, and 1 Inmarsat
(Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions); note--Sweden shares the Inmarsat
earth station with the other Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland,
Iceland, and Norway)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 360 (mostly repeaters),
shortwave 0
Radios: 7.272 million (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 163 (1997)
Televisions: 3.5 million
Transportation
Railways:
total: 13,415 km (includes 3,594 km of privately-owned railways)
standard gauge: 13,415 km 1.435-m gauge (7,917 km electrified and
1,152 km double track) (1996)
Highways:
total: 138,000 km
paved: 105,018 km (including 1,330 km of expressways)
unpaved: 32,982 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 2,052 km navigable for small steamers and barges
Pipelines: natural gas 84 km
Ports and harbors: Gavle, Goteborg, Halmstad, Helsingborg,
Hudiksvall, Kalmar, Karlshamn, Malmo, Solvesborg, Stockholm,
Sundsvall
Merchant marine:
total: 154 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,894,783
GRT/1,528,077 DWT
ships by type: bulk 6, cargo 28, chemical tanker 28, combination
ore/oil 4, liquefied gas tanker 1, oil tanker 24, railcar carrier 1,
refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 39, short-sea passenger
5, specialized tanker 4, vehicle carrier 13 (1998 est.)
Airports: 255 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 145
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 10
1,524 to 2,437 m: 82
914 to 1,523 m: 27
under 914 m: 24 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 110
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 105 (1998 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Swedish Army, Royal Swedish Navy, Swedish Air
Force
Military manpower--military age: 19 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 2,076,903 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,817,554 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 52,486 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $4.9 billion (FY97/98)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 2.2% (FY97/98)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
Illicit drugs: minor transshipment point for and consumer of
narcotics shipped via the CIS and Baltic states; increasing consumer
of European amphetamines
======================================================================
@Switzerland
-----------
Introduction
Background: Switzerland's independence and neutrality have long
been honored by the major European powers and Switzerland did not
participate in either World War I or II. The political and economic
integration of Europe since World War II may be rendering obsolete
Switzerland's concern for neutrality.
Geography
Location: Central Europe, east of France, north of Italy
Geographic coordinates: 47 00 N, 8 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area:
total: 41,290 sq km
land: 39,770 sq km
water: 1,520 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey
Land boundaries:
total: 1,852 km
border countries: Austria 164 km, France 573 km, Italy 740 km,
Liechtenstein 41 km, Germany 334 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: temperate, but varies with altitude; cold, cloudy,
rainy/snowy winters; cool to warm, cloudy, humid summers with
occasional showers
Terrain: mostly mountains (Alps in south, Jura in northwest) with
a central plateau of rolling hills, plains, and large lakes
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Lake Maggiore 195 m
highest point: Dufourspitze 4,634 m
Natural resources: hydropower potential, timber, salt
Land use:
arable land: 10%
permanent crops: 2%
permanent pastures: 28%
forests and woodland: 32%
other: 28% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 250 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: avalanches, landslides, flash floods
Environment--current issues: air pollution from vehicle emissions
and open-air burning; acid rain; water pollution from increased use
of agricultural fertilizers; loss of biodiversity
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air
Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty,
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine
Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Law of the Sea
Geography--note: landlocked; crossroads of northern and southern
Europe; along with southeastern France and northern Italy, contains
the highest elevations in Europe
People
Population: 7,275,467 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 17% (male 639,970; female 611,876)
15-64 years: 68% (male 2,509,988; female 2,417,580)
65 years and over: 15% (male 444,482; female 651,571) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.2% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 10.53 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 9.06 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.49 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 4.87 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.99 years
male: 75.83 years
female: 82.32 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.46 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Swiss (singular and plural)
adjective: Swiss
Ethnic groups: German 65%, French 18%, Italian 10%, Romansch 1%,
other 6%
Religions: Roman Catholic 46.1%, Protestant 40%, other 5%, no
religion 8.9% (1990)
Languages: German 63.7%, French 19.2%, Italian 7.6%, Romansch
0.6%, other 8.9%
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99% (1980 est.)
male: NA%
female: NA%
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Swiss Confederation
conventional short form: Switzerland
local long form: Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft (German),
Confederation Suisse (French), Confederazione Svizzera (Italian)
local short form: Schweiz (German), Suisse (French), Svizzera
(Italian)
Data code: SZ
Government type: federal republic
Capital: Bern
Administrative divisions: 26 cantons (cantons, singular--canton in
French; cantoni, singular--cantone in Italian; kantone,
singular--kanton in German); Aargau, Ausser-Rhoden, Basel-Landschaft,
Basel-Stadt, Bern, Fribourg, Geneve, Glarus, Graubunden,
Inner-Rhoden, Jura, Luzern, Neuchatel, Nidwalden, Obwalden, Sankt
Gallen, Schaffhausen, Schwyz, Solothurn, Thurgau, Ticino, Uri,
Valais, Vaud, Zug, Zurich
Independence: 1 August 1291
National holiday: Anniversary of the Founding of the Swiss
Confederation, 1 August (1291)
Constitution: 29 May 1874
Legal system: civil law system influenced by customary law;
judicial review of legislative acts, except with respect to federal
decrees of general obligatory character; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Ruth DREIFUSS (since 1 January 1999); Vice
President Adolf OGI (since 1 January 1999); note--the president is
both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Ruth DREIFUSS (since 1 January 1999);
Vice President Adolf OGI (since 1 January 1999); note--the president
is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Federal Council or Bundesrat (in German), Conseil Federal
(in French), Consiglio Federale (in Italian) elected by the Federal
Assembly from among its own members for a four-year term
elections: president and vice president elected by the Federal
Assembly from among the members of the Federal Council for one-year
terms that run concurrently; election last held NA December 1998
(next to be held NA December 1999)
election results: Ruth DREIFUSS elected president; percent of
Federal Assembly vote--Ruth DREIFUSS 75%; Adolf OGI elected vice
president; percent of legislative vote --NA
Legislative branch: bicameral Federal Assembly or
Bundesversammlung (in German), Assemblee Federale (in French),
Assemblea Federale (in Italian) consists of the Council of States or
Standerat (in German), Conseil des Etats (in French), Consiglio
degli Stati (in Italian) (46 seats--members serve four-year terms)
and the National Council or Nationalrat (in German), Conseil
National (in French), Consiglio Nazionale (in Italian) (200
seats--members are elected by popular vote on a basis of proportional
representation to serve four-year terms)
elections: Council of States--last held throughout 1997 (each canton
determines when the next election will be held); National
Council--last held 20 October 1995 (next to be held probably 24
October 1999)
election results: Council of States--percent of vote by party--NA;
seats by party--FDP 17, CVP 16, SVP 5, SPS 5, LPS 2, LdU 1; National
Council--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--FDP 45, SPS 54,
CVP 34, SVP 29, Greens 9, LPS 7, FPS 7, LdU 3, EVP 2, SD 3, PdAdS 3,
Ticino League 1, EDU 1, FRAP 1, CSP 1
Judicial branch: Federal Supreme Court, judges elected for
six-year terms by the Federal Assembly
Political parties and leaders: Radical Free Democratic Party
(Freisinnig-Demokratische Partei der Schweiz or FDP, Parti
Radical-Democratique Suisse or PRD, Partitio Liberal-Radicale
Party (Sozialdemokratische Partei der Schweiz or SPS, Parti
Socialist Suisse or PSS, Partito Socialista Svizzero or PSS, Partida
Christian Democratic People's Party (Christichdemokratische
Volkspartei der Schweiz or CVP, Parti Democrate-Chretien Suisse or
PDC, Partito Democratico-Cristiano Popolare Svizzero or PDC, Partida
president]; Swiss People's Party (Schweizerische Volkspartei or SVP,
Union Democratique du Centre or UDC, Unione Democratica de Centro or
Green Party (Grune Partei der Schweiz or Grune, Parti Ecologiste
Suisse or Les Verts, Partito Ecologista Svizzero or I Verdi, Partida
(Landesring der Unabhaengigen or LdU, Alliance des Independants or
Party (Schweizer Demokraten or SD, Democrates Suisses or DS,
Democratici Svizzeri or DS), Liberal Party (Liberale Partei der
Schweiz or LPS, Parti Liberal Suisse or PLS, Partito Liberale
Svizzero or PLS), Workers' Party (Parti Suisse du Travail or PST,
Partei der Arbeit der Schweiz or PdAdS, Partito Svizzero del Lavoro
or PSdL), Evangelical People's Party (Evangelische Volkspartei der
Schweiz or EVP, Parti Evangelique Suisse or PEV, Partito Evangelico
Svizzero or PEV), and the Union of Federal Democrats
(Eidgenossisch-Demokratische Union or EDU, Union Democratique
Federale or UDF, Unione Democratica Federale or UDF)
International organization participation: ACCT, AfDB, AsDB,
Australia Group, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, ESA,
FAO, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
ISO, ITU, LAIA (observer), MTCR, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OAS
(observer), OECD, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN (observer), UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMIBH, UNMOP, UNMOT, UNOMIG, UNPREDEP, UNTSO,
UNU, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Alfred DEFAGO
chancery: 2900 Cathedral Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New
York, and San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Madeleine May KUNIN
embassy: Jubilaeumstrasse 93, 3005 Bern
mailing address: use embassy street address
Flag description: red square with a bold, equilateral white cross
in the center that does not extend to the edges of the flag
Economy
Economy--overview: Switzerland, a fundamentally prosperous and
stable modern economy with a per capita GDP 15%-20% above that of
the big West European economies, experienced an export-driven upturn
in its economy in 1998. The downturn in the global economy, however,
will have a cooling effect on the 1998 boom in the Swiss export
sector, including financial services, biotechnology,
pharmaceuticals, and special-purpose machines. A major downturn in
the Swiss economy should still be avoided, as consumer and capital
spending have picked up and will keep the economy moving in 1999.
GDP growth in 1999 is expected to come in around 1.4%. The growing
political and economic union of Europe suggests that Switzerland's
time-honored neutral separation is becoming increasingly obsolete.
Thus, when the surrounding trade partners launched the euro on 1
January 1999, their firms began prodding Swiss exporters and
importers to keep their accounts in euros.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$191.8 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 2% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$26,400 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 2.8%
industry: 31.1%
services: 66.1% (1995)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.9%
highest 10%: 28.6% (1982)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0% (1998)
Labor force: 3.8 million (850,000 foreign workers, mostly Italian)
Labor force--by occupation: services 67%, manufacturing and
construction 29%, agriculture and forestry 4% (1995)
Unemployment rate: 3.6% (1998 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $32.66 billion
expenditures: $34.89 billion, including capital expenditures of $2.3
billion (1998 est.)
Industries: machinery, chemicals, watches, textiles, precision
instruments
Industrial production growth rate: 6% (1998 est.)
Electricity--production: 54.815 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 3.99%
hydro: 52.73%
nuclear: 43.27%
other: 0.01% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 53.765 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 24.2 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 23.15 billion kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: grains, fruits, vegetables; meat, eggs
Exports: $94.4 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports--commodities: machinery 29%, chemicals 28%, metals,
watches, agricultural products (1997)
Exports--partners: EU 61% (Germany 23%, France 9%, Italy 8%, UK
6%, Austria 3%), US 10%, Japan 4% (1997)
Imports: $95.5 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports--commodities: machinery 22%, chemicals 16%, vehicles,
metals, agricultural products, textiles (1997)
Imports--partners: EU 79% (Germany 32%, France 12%, Italy 10%,
Netherlands 5%, UK 5%),, US 7%, Japan 3% (1997)
Debt--external: $NA
Economic aid--donor: ODA, $1.1 billion (1995)
Currency: 1 Swiss franc, franken, or franco (SFR) = 100 centimes,
rappen, or centesimi
Exchange rates: Swiss francs, franken, or franchi (SFR) per
US$1--1.3837 (January 1999), 1.4498 (1998), 1.4513 (1997), 1.2360
(1996), 1.1825 (1995), 1.3677 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 5.24 million (1996 est.); 307,000 cellular telephone
subscribers (1994 est.)
Telephone system: excellent domestic and international services
domestic: extensive cable and microwave radio relay networks
international: satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean
and Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 7, FM 50, shortwave 1 (1997)
Radios: 2.8 million (1996)
Television broadcast stations: 108 (1997)
Televisions: 2.647 million licenses (1996)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 4,479 km (1,564 km double track)
standard gauge: 3,304 km 1.435-m gauge (3,288 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 1,165 km 1.000-m gauge (1,057 km electrified); 10 km
0.750-m or 0.800-m gauge (1996)
Highways:
total: 71,048 km (including 1,613 km of expressways)
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km (1997 est.)
Waterways: 65 km; Rhine (Basel to Rheinfelden, Schaffhausen to
Bodensee); 12 navigable lakes
Pipelines: crude oil 314 km; natural gas 1,506 km
Ports and harbors: Basel
Merchant marine:
total: 20 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 412,459 GRT/724,995 DWT
ships by type: bulk 13, cargo 1, chemical tanker 5, oil tanker 1
(1998 est.)
Airports: 67 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 42
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 12
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 15 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 25
under 914 m: 25 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Air Force, Frontier Guards,
Fortification Guards
Military manpower--military age: 20 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 1,867,290 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,592,696 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 41,204 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $3.1 billion (1999)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 1.2% (1999)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
Illicit drugs: because of more stringent government regulations,
used significantly less as a money-laundering center; transit
country for and consumer of South American cocaine and Southwest
Asian heroin
======================================================================
@Syria
-----
Geography
Location: Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between
Lebanon and Turkey
Geographic coordinates: 35 00 N, 38 00 E
Map references: Middle East
Area:
total: 185,180 sq km
land: 184,050 sq km
water: 1,130 sq km
note: includes 1,295 sq km of Israeli-occupied territory
Area--comparative: slightly larger than North Dakota
Land boundaries:
total: 2,253 km
border countries: Iraq 605 km, Israel 76 km, Jordan 375 km, Lebanon
375 km, Turkey 822 km
Coastline: 193 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 41 nm
territorial sea: 35 nm
Climate: mostly desert; hot, dry, sunny summers (June to August)
and mild, rainy winters (December to February) along coast; cold
weather with snow or sleet periodically hitting Damascus
Terrain: primarily semiarid and desert plateau; narrow coastal
plain; mountains in west
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: unnamed location near Lake Tiberias -200 m
highest point: Mount Hermon 2,814 m
Natural resources: petroleum, phosphates, chrome and manganese
ores, asphalt, iron ore, rock salt, marble, gypsum
Land use:
arable land: 28%
permanent crops: 4%
permanent pastures: 43%
forests and woodland: 3%
other: 22% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 9,060 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: dust storms, sandstorms
Environment--current issues: deforestation; overgrazing; soil
erosion; desertification; water pollution from dumping of raw sewage
and wastes from petroleum refining; inadequate supplies of potable
water
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous
Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
Geography--note: there are 42 Israeli settlements and civilian
land use sites in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights (August 1998
est.)
People
Population: 17,213,871 (July 1999 est.)
note: in addition, there are about 37,200 people living in the
Israeli-occupied Golan Heights--18,200 Arabs (16,500 Druze and 1,700
Alawites) and about 19,000 Israeli settlers (August 1998 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 46% (male 4,032,620; female 3,840,431)
15-64 years: 51% (male 4,515,274; female 4,322,415)
65 years and over: 3% (male 246,812; female 256,319) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.15% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 36.95 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 5.4 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.96 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 36.42 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 68.09 years
male: 66.75 years
female: 69.48 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.37 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Syrian(s)
adjective: Syrian
Ethnic groups: Arab 90.3%, Kurds, Armenians, and other 9.7%
Religions: Sunni Muslim 74%, Alawite, Druze, and other Muslim
sects 16%, Christian (various sects) 10%, Jewish (tiny communities
in Damascus, Al Qamishli, and Aleppo)
Languages: Arabic (official); Kurdish, Armenian, Aramaic,
Circassian widely understood; French, English somewhat understood
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 70.8%
male: 85.7%
female: 55.8% (1997 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Syrian Arab Republic
conventional short form: Syria
local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Arabiyah as Suriyah
local short form: Suriyah
former: United Arab Republic (with Egypt)
Data code: SY
Government type: republic under military regime since March 1963
Capital: Damascus
Administrative divisions: 14 provinces (muhafazat,
singular--muhafazah); Al Hasakah, Al Ladhiqiyah, Al Qunaytirah, Ar
Raqqah, As Suwayda', Dar'a, Dayr az Zawr, Dimashq, Halab, Hamah,
Hims, Idlib, Rif Dimashq, Tartus
Independence: 17 April 1946 (from League of Nations mandate under
French administration)
National holiday: National Day, 17 April (1946)
Constitution: 13 March 1973
Legal system: based on Islamic law and civil law system; special
religious courts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Hafiz al-ASAD (since 22 February 1971);
note--President ASAD seized power in the November 1970 coup, assumed
presidential powers 22 February 1971, and was confirmed as president
in the 12 March 1971 national elections; Vice Presidents 'Abd
al-Halim ibn Said KHADDAM (since 11 March 1984) and Muhammad Zuhayr
MASHARIQA (since 11 March 1984)
head of government: Prime Minister Mahmud ZUBI (since 1 November
1987), Deputy Prime Ministers Lt. Gen. Mustafa TALAS (since 11 March
1984), Dr. Salim YASIN (since NA December 1981), and Rashid
AKHTARINI (since 4 July 1992)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term;
referendum/election last held 8 February 1999 (next to be held NA
2006); vice presidents appointed by the president; prime minister
and deputy prime ministers appointed by the president
election results: Hafiz al-ASAD reelected president; percent of
vote--Hafiz al-ASAD 99%
Legislative branch: unicameral People's Council or Majlis
al-shaab (250 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve
four-year terms)
elections: last held 30 November-1 December 1998 (next to be held NA
2002)
election results: percent of vote by party--NPF 67%, non-NPF 33%;
seats by party--NPF 167, independents 83; note--the constitution
guarantees that the Ba'th Party (part of the NPF alliance) receive
one-half of the seats
Judicial branch: Supreme Constitutional Court, justices are
appointed for four-year terms by the president; High Judicial
Council; Court of Cassation; State Security Courts
Political parties and leaders:
National Progressive Front (NPF) includes: the ruling Arab Socialist
secretary general of the party, and chairman of the National
Political pressure groups and leaders: non-Ba'th parties have
little effective political influence; Communist party ineffective;
conservative religious leaders; Muslim Brotherhood (operates in
exile in Jordan and Yemen)
International organization participation: ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF,
CAEU, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA,
IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC,
ISO, ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNRWA, UPU,
WFTU, WHO, WMO, WToO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Walid MUALEM
chancery: 2215 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Ryan CROCKER
embassy: Abou Roumaneh, Al-Mansur Street, No. 2, Damascus
mailing address: P. O. Box 29, Damascus
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top),
white, and black with two small green five-pointed stars in a
horizontal line centered in the white band; similar to the flag of
Yemen, which has a plain white band and of Iraq, which has three
green stars (plus an Arabic inscription) in a horizontal line
centered in the white band; also similar to the flag of Egypt, which
has a symbolic eagle centered in the white band
Economy
Economy--overview: Syria's predominantly statist economy is on a
shaky footing because of Damascus's failure to implement extensive
economic reform. The dominant agricultural sector remains
underdeveloped, with roughly 80% of agricultural land still
dependent on rain-fed sources. Although Syria has sufficient water
supplies in the aggregate at normal levels of precipitation, the
great distance between major water supplies and population centers
poses serious distribution problems. The water problem is
exacerbated by rapid population growth, industrial expansion, and
increased water pollution. Private investment is critical to the
modernization of the agricultural, energy, and export sectors. Oil
production is leveling off, and the efforts of the nonoil sector to
penetrate international markets have fallen short. Syria's
inadequate infrastructure, outmoded technological base, and weak
educational system make it vulnerable to future shocks and hamper
competition with neighbors such as Jordan and Israel.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$41.7 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 2% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$2,500 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 26%
industry: 21%
services: 53% (1997)
Population below poverty line: 15%-25%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 15%-20% (1997 est.)
Labor force: 4.7 million (1998 est.)
Labor force--by occupation: services 40%, agriculture 40%,
industry 20% (1996 est.)
Unemployment rate: 12%-15% (1998 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $3.5 billion
expenditures: $4.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1997 est.)
Industries: petroleum, textiles, food processing, beverages,
tobacco, phosphate rock mining
Industrial production growth rate: 0.2% (1996 est.)
Electricity--production: 19.3 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 63.73%
hydro: 36.27%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 19.3 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: wheat, barley, cotton, lentils, chickpeas,
olives, sugar beets; beef, mutton, eggs, poultry, milk
Exports: $4.2 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Exports--commodities: petroleum 65%, textiles 16%, food and live
animals 13%, manufactures 6% (1997 est.)
Exports--partners: Italy 18%, Germany 13%, France 12%, Turkey 10%,
Lebanon 7%, Spain 6% (1997 est.)
Imports: $5.7 billion (c.i.f., 1997)
Imports--commodities: machinery and equipment 40%,
foodstuffs/animals 15%, metal and metal products 15%, textiles 10%,
chemicals 10%, consumer goods 5% (1997 est.)
Imports--partners: Ukraine 14%, Italy 7%, Germany 6%, Turkey 5%,
France 4%, South Korea 4%, Japan 4%, US 3% (1997 est.)
Debt--external: $22 billion (1998 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $327.3 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Syrian pound (LS) = 100 piastres
Exchange rates: Syrian pounds (LS) per US$1--46 (1998), 41.9
(January 1997); official fixed rate 11.225
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 541,465 (1992 est.)
Telephone system: fair system currently undergoing significant
improvement and digital upgrades, including fiber-optic technology
domestic: coaxial cable and microwave radio relay network
international: satellite earth stations--1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
and 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region); 1 submarine cable;
coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon,
and Turkey; participant in Medarabtel
Radio broadcast stations: AM 9, FM 1, shortwave 0
Radios: 3.392 million (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 54 (of which 36 are low-power
stations and repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 700,000 (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 1,998 km
broad gauge: 1,766 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 232 km 1.050-m gauge
Highways:
total: 41,451 km
paved: 9,575 km (including 877 km of expressways)
unpaved: 31,876 km (1997 est.)
Waterways: 870 km; minimal economic importance
Pipelines: crude oil 1,304 km; petroleum products 515 km
Ports and harbors: Baniyas, Jablah, Latakia, Tartus
Merchant marine:
total: 131 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 401,407 GRT/578,081 DWT
ships by type: bulk 11, cargo 115, livestock carrier 4,
roll-on/roll-off cargo 1 (1998 est.)
Airports: 104 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 24
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 16
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 80
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 14
under 914 m: 63 (1998 est.)
Heliports: 2 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Syrian Arab Army, Syrian Arab Navy, Syrian
Arab Air Force, Syrian Arab Air Defense Forces, Police and Security
Force
Military manpower--military age: 19 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 4,060,995 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 2,271,539 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 188,546 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $800 million-$1 billion
(1997 est.); note--based on official budget data that understate
actual spending
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 8% (1995 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: Golan Heights is Israeli occupied;
dispute with upstream riparian Turkey over Turkish water development
plans for the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers; Syrian troops in
northern, central, and eastern Lebanon since October 1976
Illicit drugs: a transit point for opiates and hashish bound for
regional and Western markets
======================================================================
@Taiwan
------
Introduction
Background: In 1895, military defeat forced China to cede Taiwan
to Japan, however it reverted to Chinese control after World War II.
Following the Communist victory on the mainland in 1949, 2 million
Nationalists fled to Taiwan and established a government that over
five decades has gradually democratized and incorporated native
Taiwanese within its structure. Throughout this period, the island
has prospered as one of East Asia's economic tigers. The dominant
political issue continues to be the relationship between Taiwan and
Mainland China and the question of eventual reunification.
Geography
Location: Eastern Asia, islands bordering the East China Sea,
Philippine Sea, South China Sea, and Taiwan Strait, north of the
Philippines, off the southeastern coast of China
Geographic coordinates: 23 30 N, 121 00 E
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area:
total: 35,980 sq km
land: 32,260 sq km
water: 3,720 sq km
note: includes the Pescadores, Matsu, and Quemoy
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than Maryland and Delaware
combined
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 1,448 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; marine; rainy season during southwest monsoon
(June to August); cloudiness is persistent and extensive all year
Terrain: eastern two-thirds mostly rugged mountains; flat to
gently rolling plains in west
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: Yu Shan 3,997 m
Natural resources: small deposits of coal, natural gas,
limestone, marble, and asbestos
Land use:
arable land: 24%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 5%
forests and woodland: 55%
other: 15%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: earthquakes and typhoons
Environment--current issues: air pollution; water pollution from
industrial emissions, raw sewage; contamination of drinking water
supplies; trade in endangered species; low-level radioactive waste
disposal
Environment--international agreements:
party to: none of the selected agreements
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
People
Population: 22,113,250 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 22% (male 2,515,398; female 2,338,506)
15-64 years: 70% (male 7,825,953; female 7,574,836)
65 years and over: 8% (male 989,040; female 869,517) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.93% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 14.63 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 5.32 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.02 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.14 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 6.01 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.49 years
male: 74.38 years
female: 80.85 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.77 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Chinese (singular and plural)
adjective: Chinese
Ethnic groups: Taiwanese (including Hakka) 84%, mainland Chinese
14%, aborigine 2%
Religions: mixture of Buddhist, Confucian, and Taoist 93%,
Christian 4.5%, other 2.5%
Languages: Mandarin Chinese (official), Taiwanese (Min), Hakka
dialects
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 94% (1998 est.)
male: 93% (1980 est.)
female: 79% (1980 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Taiwan
local long form: none
local short form: T'ai-wan
Data code: TW
Government type: multiparty democratic regime headed by popularly
elected president
Capital: Taipei
Administrative divisions: since in the past the authorities
claimed to be the government of all China, the central
administrative divisions include the provinces of Fu-chien (some 20
offshore islands of Fujian Province including Quemoy and Matsu) and
Taiwan (the island of Taiwan and the Pescadores islands); note--the
more commonly referenced administrative divisions are those of
Taiwan Province--16 counties (hsien, singular and plural), 5
municipalities* (shih, singular and plural), and 2 special
municipalities** (chuan-shih, singular and plural); Chang-hua,
Chia-i, Chia-i*, Chi-lung*, Hsin-chu, Hsin-chu*, Hua-lien, I-lan,
Kao-hsiung, Kao-hsiung**, Miao-li, Nan-t'ou, P'eng-hu, P'ing-tung,
T'ai-chung, T'ai-chung*, T'ai-nan, T'ai-nan*, T'ai-pei, T'ai-pei**,
T'ai-tung, T'ao-yuan, and Yun-lin; the provincial capital is at
Chung-hsing-hsin-ts'un
note: Taiwan uses the Wade-Giles system for romanization
National holiday: National Day, 10 October (1911) (Anniversary of
the Chinese Revolution)
Constitution: 1 January 1947, amended in 1992, 1994, and 1997
Legal system: based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 20 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President LEE Teng-hui (succeeded to the presidency
following the death of President CHIANG Ching-kuo 13 January 1988,
elected by the National Assembly 21 March 1990, elected by popular
vote in the first-ever direct elections for president 23 March
1996); Vice President LIEN Chan (since 20 May 1996)
head of government: Premier (President of the Executive Yuan)
Vincent SIEW (since 1 September 1997) and Vice Premier (Vice
President of the Executive Yuan) LIU Chao-shiuan (since 10 December
1997)
cabinet: Executive Yuan appointed by the president
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket
by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 23 March
1996 (next to be held NA 2000); premier appointed by the president;
vice premiers appointed by the president on the recommendation of
the premier
election results: LEE Teng-hui elected president; percent of
vote--LEE Teng-hui 54%, PENG Ming-min 21%, LIN Yang-kang 15%, and
CHEN Li-an 10%
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Yuan (225 seats--168
elected by popular vote, 41 elected on the basis of the proportion
of nationwide votes received by participating political parties,
eight elected from overseas Chinese constituencies on the basis of
the proportion of nationwide votes received by participating
political parties, eight elected by popular vote among the
aboriginal populations; members serve three-year terms) and
unicameral National Assembly (334 seats; members elected by popular
vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: Legislative Yuan--last held 5 December 1998 (next to be
held NA December 2001); National Assembly--last held 23 March 1996
(next to be held NA 2000)
election results: Legislative Yuan--percent of vote by party--KMT 46%,
DPP 29%, CNP 7%, independents 10%, other parties 8%; seats by
party--KMT 123, DPP 70, CNP 11, independents 15, other parties 6;
National Assembly--percent of vote by party--KMT 55%, DPP 30%, CNP
14%, other 1%; seats by party--KMT 183, DPP 99, CNP 46, other 6
Judicial branch: Judicial Yuan, justices appointed by the
president with the consent of the National Assembly
Political parties and leaders: Kuomintang or KMT (Nationalist
parties
Political pressure groups and leaders: Taiwan independence
movement, various business and environmental groups
note: debate on Taiwan independence has become acceptable within the
mainstream of domestic politics on Taiwan; political liberalization
and the increased representation of opposition parties in Taiwan's
legislature have opened public debate on the island's national
identity; advocates of Taiwan independence oppose the ruling party's
traditional stand that the island will eventually reunify with
mainland China; goals of the Taiwan independence movement include
establishing a sovereign nation on Taiwan and entering the UN; other
organizations supporting Taiwan independence include the World
United Formosans for Independence and the Organization for Taiwan
Nation Building
International organization participation: APEC, AsDB, BCIE, ICC,
IOC, WCL, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US: none; unofficial commercial
and cultural relations with the people of the US are maintained
through a private instrumentality, the Taipei Economic and Cultural
Representative Office (TECRO) with headquarters in Taipei and field
offices in Washington and 12 other US cities
Diplomatic representation from the US: none; unofficial
commercial and cultural relations with the people on Taiwan are
maintained through a private institution, the American Institute in
Taiwan (AIT), which has its headquarters in Rosslyn, Virginia
offices in Taipei at #7 Lane 134, Hsin Yi Road, Section 3, telephone
International Trade Building, Taipei World Trade Center, 333 Keelung
Flag description: red with a dark blue rectangle in the upper
hoist-side corner bearing a white sun with 12 triangular rays
Economy
Economy--overview: Taiwan has a dynamic capitalist economy with
gradually decreasing guidance of investment and foreign trade by
government authorities and partial government ownership of some
large banks and industrial firms. Real growth in GDP has averaged
about 8.5% a year during the past three decades. Export growth has
been even faster and has provided the impetus for industrialization.
Inflation and unemployment are low, and foreign reserves are the
world's third largest. Agriculture contributes less than 3% to GDP,
down from 35% in 1952. Traditional labor-intensive industries are
steadily being moved off-shore and replaced with more capital- and
technology-intensive industries. Taiwan has become a major investor
in China, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, and
Vietnam. The tightening of labor markets has led to an influx of
foreign workers, both legal and illegal. Because of its conservative
financial approach and its entrepreneurial strengths, Taiwan
suffered little compared with many of its neighbors from "the Asian
flu" in 1998.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$362 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 4.8% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$16,500 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 2.7%
industry: 35.3%
services: 62% (1997)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.1% (1998)
Labor force: 9.4 million (1997)
Labor force--by occupation: services 52%, industry 38%,
agriculture 10% (1996)
Unemployment rate: 2.7% (1998)
Budget:
revenues: $40 billion
expenditures: $55 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1998 est.)
Industries: electronics, textiles, chemicals, clothing, food
processing, plywood, sugar milling, cement, shipbuilding, petroleum
refining
Industrial production growth rate: 7% (1997)
Electricity--production: 134.906 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 63.2%
hydro: 7.1%
nuclear: 29.7%
other: 0% (1997)
Electricity--consumption: 134.906 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: rice, wheat, corn, soybeans, vegetables,
fruit, tea; pigs, poultry, beef, milk; fish
Exports: $122.1 billion (f.o.b., 1997)
Exports--commodities: machinery and electrical equipment 21.7%,
electronic products 14.8%, information/communications 11.8%, textile
products 11.6% (1997)
Exports--partners: US 24.2%, Hong Kong 23.5%, Europe 15.1%, Japan
9.6% (1997)
Imports: $114.4 billion (c.i.f., 1997)
Imports--commodities: machinery and electrical equipment 16.5%,
electronic products 16.3%, chemicals 10.0%, precision instrument
5.6% (1997)
Imports--partners: Japan 25.4%, US 20.3%, Europe 18.9%, Hong Kong
1.7% (1997)
Debt--external: $80 million (1997 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $NA
Currency: 1 New Taiwan dollar (NT$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: New Taiwan dollars per US$1--32.45 (yearend 1997),
27.5 (1996), 27.4 (1995), 26.2 (1994)
Fiscal year: 1 July--30 June
Communications
Telephones: 11.526 million (1998 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: extensive microwave radio relay trunk system on east and
west coasts
international: satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (1 Pacific Ocean
and 1 Indian Ocean); submarine cables to Japan (Okinawa),
Philippines, Guam, Singapore, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Australia,
Middle East, and Western Europe
Radio broadcast stations: AM 158, FM 48, shortwave 21
Radios: 8.62 million
Television broadcast stations: 29 (in addition, there are two
repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 10.8 million (1996 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 4,600 km (519 km electrified); note--1,108 km belongs to the
Taiwan Railway Administration and the remaining 3,492 km is
dedicated to industrial use
narrow gauge: 4,600 km 1.067-m
Highways:
total: 19,634 km
paved: 17,171 km (including 548 km of expressways)
unpaved: 2,463 km (1997)
Pipelines: petroleum products 615 km; natural gas 97 km
Ports and harbors: Chi-lung (Keelung), Hua-lien, Kao-hsiung,
Su-ao, T'ai-chung
Merchant marine:
total: 180 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,106,573
GRT/7,963,834 DWT
ships by type: bulk 47, cargo 30, combination bulk 3, container 72,
oil tanker 17, refrigerated cargo 9, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2 (1998
est.)
Airports: 39 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 36
over 3,047 m: 8
2,438 to 3,047 m: 12
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 4 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)
Heliports: 2 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy (includes Marines), Air Force,
Coastal Patrol and Defense Command, Armed Forces Reserve Command,
Combined Service Forces
Military manpower--military age: 19 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 6,544,602 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 5,019,737 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 204,711 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $7.446 billion (FY98/99)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 2.8% (FY98/99)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: involved in complex dispute over the
Spratly Islands with China, Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam, and
possibly Brunei; Paracel Islands occupied by China, but claimed by
Vietnam and Taiwan; claims Japanese-administered Senkaku-shoto
(Senkaku Islands/Diaoyu Tai), as does China
Illicit drugs: considered an important heroin transit point;
major problem with domestic consumption of methamphetamines and
heroin
======================================================================
@Tajikistan
----------
Introduction
Background: Tajikistan has experienced three changes of
government and a civil war since it gained independence in September
1991 when the USSR collapsed. A peace agreement was signed in June
1997, but implementation is progressing slowly. Russian-led
peacekeeping troops are deployed throughout the country, and
Russian-commanded border guards are stationed along the
Tajikistani-Afghan border.
Geography
Location: Central Asia, west of China
Geographic coordinates: 39 00 N, 71 00 E
Map references: Commonwealth of Independent States
Area:
total: 143,100 sq km
land: 142,700 sq km
water: 400 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than Wisconsin
Land boundaries:
total: 3,651 km
border countries: Afghanistan 1,206 km, China 414 km, Kyrgyzstan 870
km, Uzbekistan 1,161 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: midlatitude continental, hot summers, mild winters;
semiarid to polar in Pamir Mountains
Terrain: Pamir and Alay mountains dominate landscape; western
Fergana Valley in north, Kofarnihon and Vakhsh Valleys in southwest
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Syrdariya 300 m
highest point: Qullai Kommunizm 7,495 m
Natural resources: significant hydropower potential, some
petroleum, uranium, mercury, brown coal, lead, zinc, antimony,
tungsten
Land use:
arable land: 6%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 25%
forests and woodland: 4%
other: 65% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 6,390 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment--current issues: inadequate sanitation facilities;
increasing levels of soil salinity; industrial pollution; excessive
pesticides; part of the basin of the shrinking Aral Sea suffers from
severe overutilization of available water for irrigation and
associated pollution
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Ozone Layer
Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography--note: landlocked
People
Population: 6,102,854 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 41% (male 1,250,344; female 1,224,355)
15-64 years: 55% (male 1,661,488; female 1,681,839)
65 years and over: 4% (male 122,065; female 162,763) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.43% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 27.46 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 7.85 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -5.34 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 114.78 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 64.28 years
male: 61.15 years
female: 67.57 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.48 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Tajikistani(s)
adjective: Tajikistani
Ethnic groups: Tajik 64.9%, Uzbek 25%, Russian 3.5% (declining
because of emigration), other 6.6%
Religions: Sunni Muslim 80%, Shi'a Muslim 5%
Languages: Tajik (official), Russian widely used in government
and business
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98%
male: 99%
female: 97% (1989 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Tajikistan
conventional short form: Tajikistan
local long form: Jumhurii Tojikiston
local short form: none
former: Tajik Soviet Socialist Republic
Data code: TI
Government type: republic
Capital: Dushanbe
Administrative divisions: 2 oblasts (viloyatho, singular--viloyat)
and one autonomous oblast* (viloyati mukhtori); Viloyati Mukhtori
Kuhistoni Badakhshoni* (Khorugh--formerly Khorog), Viloyati Khatlon
(Qurghonteppa--formerly Kurgan-Tyube), Viloyati Leninobod
(Khujand--formerly Leninabad)
note: the administrative center name follows in parentheses
Independence: 9 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday: National Day, 9 September (1991)
Constitution: 6 November 1994
Legal system: based on civil law system; no judicial review of
legislative acts
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Emomali RAHMONOV (since 6 November 1994;
head of state and Supreme Assembly chairman since 19 November 1992)
head of government: Prime Minister Yahyo AZIMOV (since 8 February
1996)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president, approved
by the Supreme Assembly for approval
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 6 November 1994 (next to be held NA 1999); prime
minister appointed by the president
election results: Emomali RAHMONOV elected president; percent of
vote--Emomali RAHMONOV 58%, Abdumalik ABDULLOJANOV 40%
Legislative branch: unicameral Supreme Assembly or Majlisi Oli
(181 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year
terms)
elections: last held 26 February and 12 March 1995 (next to be held
NA 1999)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; estimated seats by
party--Communist Party and affiliates 100, People's Party 10, Party
of People's Unity 6, Party of Economic and Political Renewal 1,
other 64
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the
president
Political parties and leaders: Tajik Communist Party or CPT
from the People's Party and Party of People's Unity; United Tajik
International organization participation: CCC, CIS, EAPC, EBRD,
ECE, ECO, ESCAP, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,
IMF, Intelsat, IOC, IOM, ITU, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US: Tajikistan does not have an
embassy in the US, but has a mission at the UN: address--136 East
ALIMOV
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Robert FINN
embassy: temporarily collocated with the US Embassy in Almaty
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: NA
FAX: NA
Flag description: three horizontal stripes of red (top), a wider
stripe of white, and green; a gold crown surmounted by seven
five-pointed gold stars is located in the center of the white stripe
Economy
Economy--overview: Tajikistan has the lowest per capita GDP among
the former Soviet republics. Agriculture dominates the economy, with
cotton the most important crop. Mineral resources, varied but
limited in amount, include silver, gold, uranium, and tungsten.
Industry consists only of a large aluminum plant, hydropower
facilities, and small obsolete factories mostly in light industry
and food processing. The Tajikistani economy has been gravely
weakened by five years of civil conflict and by the loss of
subsidies from Moscow and of markets for its products. Tajikistan
thus depends on aid from Russia and Uzbekistan and on international
humanitarian assistance for much of its basic subsistence needs.
Even if the peace agreement of June 1997 is honored, the country
faces major problems in integrating refugees and former combatants
into the economy. Moreover, constant political turmoil and the
continued dominance by former communist officials have impeded the
introduction of meaningful economic reforms. Still in a
post-conflict status, the future of Tajikistan's economy and the
potential for attracting foreign investment depend upon stability
and progress in the peace process.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$6 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 5.3% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$990 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 25%
industry: 35%
services: 40% (1997)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 46.3% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 1.9 million (1996)
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture and forestry 52%,
manufacturing, mining, and construction 17%, services 31% (1995)
Unemployment rate: 5.7% includes only officially registered
unemployed; also large numbers of underemployed workers and
unregistered unemployed people (December 1998)
Budget:
revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Industries: aluminum, zinc, lead, chemicals and fertilizers,
cement, vegetable oil, metal-cutting machine tools, refrigerators
and freezers
Industrial production growth rate: 8% (1998 est.)
Electricity--production: 13.555 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 4.09%
hydro: 95.91%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 12.555 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 3.8 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 2.8 billion kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: cotton, grain, fruits, grapes, vegetables;
cattle, sheep, goats
Exports: $740 million (1998 est.)
Exports--commodities: cotton, aluminum, fruits, vegetable oil,
textiles
Exports--partners: FSU 78%, Netherlands (1994)
Imports: $810 million (1998 est.)
Imports--commodities: fuel, chemicals, machinery and transport
equipment, textiles, foodstuffs
Imports--partners: FSU 55%, Switzerland, UK (1994)
Debt--external: $1 billion (1997 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $64.7 million (1995)
Currency: the Tajikistani ruble (TJR) = 100 tanga
Exchange rates: Tajikistani rubles (TJR) per US$1--998 (January
1999), 350 (January 1997), 284 (January 1996)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 303,000 (1991 est.)
Telephone system: poorly developed and not well maintained; many
towns are not reached by the national network
domestic: cable and microwave radio relay
international: linked by cable and microwave radio relay to other
CIS republics, and by leased connections to the Moscow international
gateway switch; Dushanbe linked by Intelsat to international gateway
switch in Ankara (Turkey); satellite earth stations--1 Orbita and 2
Intelsat
Radio broadcast stations: 1 state-owned radio broadcast station
of NA type
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 0 (there are, however, repeaters
that relay programs from Russia, Iran, and Turkey) (1997)
Televisions: NA
Transportation
Railways:
total: 480 km in common carrier service; does not include industrial
lines (1990)
Highways:
total: 13,700 km
paved: 11,330 km (note--these roads are said to be hard-surfaced,
meaning that some are paved and some are all-weather gravel surfaced)
unpaved: 2,370 km (1996 est.)
Pipelines: natural gas 400 km (1992)
Ports and harbors: none
Airports: 59 (1994 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 14
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1994 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 45
914 to 1,523 m: 9
under 914 m: 36 (1994 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Air Force, Air Defense Forces,
Presidential National Guard, Security Forces (internal and border
troops)
Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 1,478,551 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,211,514 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 65,001 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $19.3 million (1997)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 1.8% (1997)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: most of the boundary with China in
dispute; territorial dispute with Kyrgyzstan on northern boundary in
Isfara Valley area
Illicit drugs: limited illicit cultivation of cannabis, mostly
for domestic consumption; opium poppy cultivation negligible in 1998
because of government eradication program; increasingly used as
transshipment point for illicit drugs from Southwest Asia to Russia
and Western Europe
======================================================================
@Tanzania
--------
Geography
Location: Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between
Kenya and Mozambique
Geographic coordinates: 6 00 S, 35 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area:
total: 945,090 sq km
land: 886,040 sq km
water: 59,050 sq km
note: includes the islands of Mafia, Pemba, and Zanzibar
Area--comparative: slightly larger than twice the size of
California
Land boundaries:
total: 3,402 km
border countries: Burundi 451 km, Kenya 769 km, Malawi 475 km,
Mozambique 756 km, Rwanda 217 km, Uganda 396 km, Zambia 338 km
Coastline: 1,424 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: varies from tropical along coast to temperate in
highlands
Terrain: plains along coast; central plateau; highlands in north,
south
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Kilimanjaro 5,895 m
Natural resources: hydropower, tin, phosphates, iron ore, coal,
diamonds, gemstones, gold, natural gas, nickel
Land use:
arable land: 3%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 40%
forests and woodland: 38%
other: 18% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 1,500 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: the tsetse fly; flooding on the central plateau
during the rainy season; drought
Environment--current issues: soil degradation; deforestation;
desertification; destruction of coral reefs threatens marine
habitats; recent droughts affected marginal agriculture
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone
Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography--note: Kilimanjaro is highest point in Africa
People
Population: 31,270,820 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 44% (male 6,926,149; female 6,967,416)
15-64 years: 53% (male 8,030,141; female 8,437,978)
65 years and over: 3% (male 415,074; female 494,062) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.14% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 40.37 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 16.75 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -2.24 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 95.27 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 46.17 years
male: 43.85 years
female: 48.57 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.4 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Tanzanian(s)
adjective: Tanzanian
Ethnic groups: mainland--native African 99% (of which 95% are
Bantu consisting of more than 130 tribes), other 1% (consisting of
Asian, European, and Arab); Zanzibar--Arab, native African, mixed
Arab and native African
Religions: mainland--Christian 45%, Muslim 35%, indigenous beliefs
20; Zanzibar--more than 99% Muslim
Languages: Kiswahili or Swahili (official), Kiunguju (name for
Swahili in Zanzibar), English (official, primary language of
commerce, administration, and higher education), Arabic (widely
spoken in Zanzibar), many local languages
note: Kiswahili (Swahili) is the mother tongue of the Bantu people
living in Zanzibar and nearby coastal Tanzania; although Kiswahili
is Bantu in structure and origin, its vocabulary draws on a variety
of sources, including Arabic and English, and it has become the
lingua franca of central and eastern Africa; the first language of
most people is one of the local languages
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write Kiswahili (Swahili),
English, or Arabic
total population: 67.8%
male: 79.4%
female: 56.8% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: United Republic of Tanzania
conventional short form: Tanzania
former: United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar
Data code: TZ
Government type: republic
Capital: Dar es Salaam
note: some government offices have been transferred to Dodoma, which
is planned as the new national capital; the National Assembly now
meets there on regular basis
Administrative divisions: 25 regions; Arusha, Dar es Salaam,
Dodoma, Iringa, Kigoma, Kilimanjaro, Lindi, Mara, Mbeya, Morogoro,
Mtwara, Mwanza, Pemba North, Pemba South, Pwani, Rukwa, Ruvuma,
Shinyanga, Singida, Tabora, Tanga, Zanzibar Central/South, Zanzibar
North, Zanzibar Urban/West, Ziwa Magharibi
note: Ziwa Magharibi may have been renamed Kagera
Independence: 26 April 1964; Tanganyika became independent 9
December 1961 (from UK-administered UN trusteeship); Zanzibar became
independent 19 December 1963 (from UK); Tanganyika united with
Zanzibar 26 April 1964 to form the United Republic of Tanganyika and
Zanzibar; renamed United Republic of Tanzania 29 October 1964
National holiday: Union Day, 26 April (1964)
Constitution: 25 April 1977; major revisions October 1984
Legal system: based on English common law; judicial review of
legislative acts limited to matters of interpretation; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Benjamin William MKAPA (since 23 November
1995); Vice President Omar Ali JUMA (since 23 November 1995); note
the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Benjamin William MKAPA (since 23
November 1995); Vice President Omar Ali JUMA (since 23 November
1995); note--the president is both chief of state and head of
government
note: Zanzibar elects a president who is head of government for
matters internal to Zanzibar; Dr. Salmin AMOUR was elected to that
office on 22 October 1995 in a popular election
cabinet: Cabinet ministers, including the prime minister, are
appointed by the president from among the members of the National
Assembly
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ballot
by popular vote for five-year terms; election last held 29
October-19 November 1995 (next to be held NA October 2000); prime
minister appointed by the president
election results: percent of vote--Benjamin William MKAPA 62%, MREMA
28%, LIPUMBA 6%, CHEYO 4%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Bunge (274
seats--232 elected by popular vote, 37 allocated to women nominated
by the president, five to members of the Zanzibar House of
Representatives; members serve five-year terms); note --in addition
to enacting laws that apply to the entire United Republic of
Tanzania, the Assembly enacts laws that apply only to the mainland;
Zanzibar has its own House of Representatives to make laws
especially for Zanzibar (the Zanzibar House of Representatives has
50 seats, directly elected by universal suffrage to serve five-year
terms)
elections: last held 29 October-19 November 1995 (next to be held NA
October 2000)
election results: National Assembly: percent of vote by party--NA;
seats by party--CCM 186, CUF 24, NCCR-Mageuzi 16, CHADEMA 3, UDP 3;
Zanzibar House of Representatives: percent of vote by party--NA;
seats by party--CCM 26, CUF 24
Judicial branch: Court of Appeal; High Court, judges appointed by
the president
Political parties and leaders: Chama Cha Mapinduzi or CCM
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC,
EADB, ECA, FAO, G- 6, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM
(observer), ISO, ITU, MONUA, NAM, OAU, OPCW, SADC, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Mustafa Salim NYANG'ANYI
chancery: 2139 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Charles R. STITH
embassy: 285 Toure Drive, Dar es Salaam (temporary location)
mailing address: P. O. Box 9123, Dar es Salaam
Flag description: divided diagonally by a yellow-edged black band
from the lower hoist-side corner; the upper triangle (hoist side) is
green and the lower triangle is blue
Economy
Economy--overview: Tanzania is one of the poorest countries in the
world. The economy is heavily dependent on agriculture, which
accounts for 56% of GDP, provides 85% of exports, and employs 90% of
the work force. Topography and climatic conditions, however, limit
cultivated crops to only 4% of the land area. Industry accounts for
15% of GDP and is mainly limited to processing agricultural products
and light consumer goods. The economic recovery program announced in
mid-1986 has generated notable increases in agricultural production
and financial support for the program by bilateral donors. The World
Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and bilateral donors have
provided funds to rehabilitate Tanzania's deteriorated economic
infrastructure. Growth in 1991-98 has featured a pickup in
industrial production and a substantial increase in output of
minerals, led by gold. Natural gas exploration in the Rufiji Delta
looks promising and production could start by 2002. Recent banking
reforms have helped increase private sector growth and investment.
Short-term economic progress also depends on curbing corruption.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$22.1 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 3.8% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$730 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 56%
industry: 15%
services: 29% (1996 est.)
Population below poverty line: 51.1% (1991 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.9%
highest 10%: 30.2% (1993)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 13.5% (1998)
Labor force: 13.495 million
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 90%, industry and commerce
10% (1995 est.)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $700 million
expenditures: $1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY98/99 est.)
Industries: primarily agricultural processing (sugar, beer,
cigarettes, sisal twine), diamond and gold mining, oil refining,
shoes, cement, textiles, wood products, fertilizer, salt
Industrial production growth rate: 0.4% (1995 est.)
Electricity--production: 1.82 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 12.09%
hydro: 87.91%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 1.82 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: coffee, sisal, tea, cotton, pyrethrum
(insecticide made from chrysanthemums), cashew nuts, tobacco, cloves
(Zanzibar), corn, wheat, cassava (tapioca), bananas, fruits,
vegetables; cattle, sheep, goats
Exports: $952 million (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Exports--commodities: coffee, manufactured goods, cotton, cashew
nuts, minerals, tobacco, sisal (1996)
Exports--partners: India 9.8%, Germany 8.9%, Japan 7.8%, Malaysia
6.5%, Rwanda 5.2%, Netherlands 4.7% (1997)
Imports: $1.46 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Imports--commodities: consumer goods, machinery and transportation
equipment, industrial raw materials, crude oil
Imports--partners: South Africa 12.9%, Kenya 9.6%, UK 8.7%, Saudi
Arabia 6.6%, Japan 4.9%, China 4.6% (1997)
Debt--external: $8.3 billion (1998 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $860.9 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Tanzanian shilling (TSh) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Tanzanian shillings (TSh) per US$1--668.3
(February 1999), 664.67 (1998), 612.12 (1997), 579.98 (1996), 574.76
(1995), 509.63 (1994)
Fiscal year: 1 July--30 June
Communications
Telephones: 88,000 (1994)
Telephone system: fair system operating below capacity
domestic: open wire, microwave radio relay, tropospheric scatter
international: satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean
and 1 Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 12, FM 4, shortwave 0
Radios: 740,000 (1994 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 4 (1998)
Televisions: 60,000 (1994 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 3,569 km (1995)
narrow gauge: 2,600 km 1.000-m gauge; 969 km 1.067-m gauge
note: the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA), which operates
1,860 km of 1.067-m narrow gauge track between Dar es Salaam and
Kapiri Mposhi in Zambia (of which 969 km are in Tanzania and 891 km
are in Zambia) is not a part of Tanzania Railways Corporation;
because of the difference in gauge, this system does not connect to
Tanzania Railways
Highways:
total: 88,200 km
paved: 3,704 km
unpaved: 84,496 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: Lake Tanganyika, Lake Victoria, Lake Nyasa
Pipelines: crude oil 982 km
Ports and harbors: Bukoba, Dar es Salaam, Kigoma, Kilwa Masoko,
Lindi, Mtwara, Mwanza, Pangani, Tanga, Wete, Zanzibar
Merchant marine:
total: 7 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 20,618 GRT/26,321 DWT
ships by type: cargo 2, oil tanker 2, passenger-cargo 2,
roll-on/roll-off cargo 1 (1998 est.)
Airports: 129 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 10
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 119
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 18
914 to 1,523 m: 65
under 914 m: 35 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Tanzanian People's Defense Force or TPDF
(includes Army, Navy, and Air Force), paramilitary Police Field
Force Unit, Militia
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 7,119,106 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 4,120,617 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $21 million (FY98/99)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 0.2% (FY98/99)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: dispute with Malawi over the boundary in
Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi)
Illicit drugs: growing role in transshipment of Southwest and
Southeast Asian heroin and South American cocaine destined for
European and US markets and of South Asian methaqualone bound for
Southern Africa
======================================================================
@Thailand
--------
Geography
Location: Southeastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the
Gulf of Thailand, southeast of Burma
Geographic coordinates: 15 00 N, 100 00 E
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area:
total: 514,000 sq km
land: 511,770 sq km
water: 2,230 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly more than twice the size of Wyoming
Land boundaries:
total: 4,863 km
border countries: Burma 1,800 km, Cambodia 803 km, Laos 1,754 km,
Malaysia 506 km
Coastline: 3,219 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; rainy, warm, cloudy southwest monsoon (mid-May
to September); dry, cool northeast monsoon (November to mid-March);
southern isthmus always hot and humid
Terrain: central plain; Khorat Plateau in the east; mountains
elsewhere
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Gulf of Thailand 0 m
highest point: Doi Inthanon 2,576 m
Natural resources: tin, rubber, natural gas, tungsten, tantalum,
timber, lead, fish, gypsum, lignite, fluorite
Land use:
arable land: 34%
permanent crops: 6%
permanent pastures: 2%
forests and woodland: 26%
other: 32% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 44,000 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: land subsidence in Bangkok area resulting from
the depletion of the water table; droughts
Environment--current issues: air pollution from vehicle emissions;
water pollution from organic and factory wastes; deforestation; soil
erosion; wildlife populations threatened by illegal hunting
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes,
Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection,
Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94
signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Law of the Sea
Geography--note: controls only land route from Asia to Malaysia
and Singapore
People
Population: 60,609,046 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 24% (male 7,364,411; female 7,095,428)
15-64 years: 70% (male 20,878,602; female 21,493,735)
65 years and over: 6% (male 1,664,113; female 2,112,757) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.93% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 16.46 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 7.16 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 29.54 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 69.21 years
male: 65.58 years
female: 73.01 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.82 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Thai (singular and plural)
adjective: Thai
Ethnic groups: Thai 75%, Chinese 14%, other 11%
Religions: Buddhism 95%, Muslim 3.8%, Christianity 0.5%, Hinduism
0.1%, other 0.6% (1991)
Languages: Thai, English (secondary language of the elite),
ethnic and regional dialects
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93.8%
male: 96%
female: 91.6% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Thailand
conventional short form: Thailand
Data code: TH
Government type: constitutional monarchy
Capital: Bangkok
Administrative divisions: 76 provinces (changwat, singular and
plural); Amnat Charoen, Ang Thong, Buriram, Chachoengsao, Chai Nat,
Chaiyaphum, Chanthaburi, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Chon Buri,
Chumphon, Kalasin, Kamphaeng Phet, Kanchanaburi, Khon Kaen, Krabi,
Krung Thep Mahanakhon (Bangkok), Lampang, Lamphun, Loei, Lop Buri,
Mae Hong Son, Maha Sarakham, Mukdahan, Nakhon Nayok, Nakhon Pathom,
Nakhon Phanom, Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Sawan, Nakhon Si Thammarat,
Nan, Narathiwat, Nong Bua Lamphu, Nong Khai, Nonthaburi, Pathum
Thani, Pattani, Phangnga, Phatthalung, Phayao, Phetchabun,
Phetchaburi, Phichit, Phitsanulok, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Phrae,
Phuket, Prachin Buri, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Ranong, Ratchaburi,
Rayong, Roi Et, Sa Kaeo, Sakon Nakhon, Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon,
Samut Songkhram, Sara Buri, Satun, Sing Buri, Sisaket, Songkhla,
Sukhothai, Suphan Buri, Surat Thani, Surin, Tak, Trang, Trat, Ubon
Ratchathani, Udon Thani, Uthai Thani, Uttaradit, Yala, Yasothon
Independence: 1238 (traditional founding date; never colonized)
National holiday: Birthday of His Majesty the King, 5 December
(1927)
Constitution: new constitution signed by King PHUMIPHON on 11
October 1997
Legal system: based on civil law system, with influences of
common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state: King PHUMIPHON Adunyadet (since 9 June 1946)
head of government: Prime Minister CHUAN Likphai (since 15 November
1997)
cabinet: Council of Ministers
note: there is also a Privy Council
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister
designated from among the members of the House of Representatives;
following a national election for the House of Representatives, the
leader of the party that can organize a majority coalition usually
becomes prime minister
Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly or Rathasapha
consists of the Senate or Wuthisapha (a 253-member appointed body
which will be phased into a 200-member elected body starting in
March 2000; members serve six-year terms) and the House of
Representatives or Sapha Phuthaen Ratsadon (currently has 391
members, but will become a 500-member body after the next election;
members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: House of Representatives--last held 17 November 1996 (next
scheduled to be held by 17 November 2000, but may be held earlier)
election results: House of Representatives--percent of vote by
party--NA; seats by party--NAP 125, DP 123, NDP 52, TNP 39, SAP 20,
TCP 18, SP 8, LDP 4, MP 2
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Sandika), judges appointed by the
monarch
Political parties and leaders: Thai Nation Party or TNP (Chat
Yoobamrung, SOPHON Petchsavang]
International organization participation: APEC, AsDB, ASEAN, CCC,
CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
ISO, ITU, NAM, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM,
UNMIBH, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador NIT Phibunsongkhram
chancery: 1024 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Richard HECKLINGER
embassy: 120 Wireless Road, Bangkok
mailing address: APO AP 96546
consulate(s) general: Chiang Mai
Flag description: five horizontal bands of red (top), white, blue
(double width), white, and red
Economy
Economy--overview: After months of speculative pressure on the
Thai baht, the government decided to float the currency in July
1997, the symbolic beginning of the country's current economic
crisis. The crisis--which began in the country's financial sector--has
spread throughout the economy. After years of rapid economic growth
averaging 9% earlier this decade, the Thai economy contracted 0.4%
in 1997 and shrunk another 8.5% in 1998. In the years before the
crisis, Thailand ran persistent current account deficits. With the
depreciation of the Thai baht and the collapse of domestic demand,
however, imports have fallen off sharply--by more than 33%--and
Thailand posted a trade surplus of approximately $12 billion in
1998. Foreign investment for new projects, the long-time catalyst of
Thailand's economic growth, has also slowed. The CHUAN government
has closely adhered to the economic recovery program prescribed by
the IMF. The cooperation afforded Thailand stability in the value of
its currency in the second half of 1998 and helped replenish foreign
reserves. Tough measures--including passage of adequate bankruptcy
and foreclosure legislation as well as privatization of state-owned
companies and recapitalization of the financial sector--remain
undone. Bangkok is also trying to establish a social safety net for
those displaced by the current economic crisis and is working to
increase the quality of Thailand's labor force.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$369 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: -8.5% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$6,100 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 12%
industry: 39%
services: 49% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: 13.1% (1992 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.5%
highest 10%: 37.1% (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.3% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 32.6 million (1997 est.)
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 54%, industry 15%,
services (including government) 31% (1996 est.)
Unemployment rate: 4.5% (1998 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $24 billion
expenditures: $25 billion, including capital expenditures of $8
billion (FY96/97)
Industries: tourism; textiles and garments, agricultural
processing, beverages, tobacco, cement, light manufacturing, such as
jewelry; electric appliances and components, computers and parts,
integrated circuits, furniture, plastics; world's second-largest
tungsten producer and third-largest tin producer
Industrial production growth rate: -10% (1998)
Electricity--production: 82 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 91.46%
hydro: 8.54%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 82.561 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 79 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 640 million kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: rice, cassava (tapioca), rubber, corn,
sugarcane, coconuts, soybeans
Exports: $51.6 billion (f.o.b., 1997)
Exports--commodities: manufactures 82% (computers and parts 16%),
agricultural products and fisheries 14% (1997)
Exports--partners: US 19.6%, Japan 14.9%, Singapore 11%, Hong Kong
5.7%, Malaysia 4.3%, UK 3.7% (1997)
Imports: $73.5 billion (c.i.f., 1996)
Imports--commodities: capital goods 50%, intermediate goods and
raw materials 22%, consumer goods 10.2%, fuels 8.7% (1997)
Imports--partners: Japan 25.6%, US 13.9%, Singapore 5%, Taiwan
4.6%, Germany 4.5%, Malaysia 4.1% (1997)
Debt--external: $90 billion (1997)
Economic aid--recipient: $1.732 billion (1995)
Currency: 1 baht (B) = 100 satang
Exchange rates: baht (B) per US$1--36.624 (January 1999), 41.359
(1998), 31.364 (1997), 25.343 (1996), 24.915 (1995), 25.150 (1994)
Fiscal year: 1 October--30 September
Communications
Telephones: 1,553,200 (1994 est.)
Telephone system: service to general public adequate, but
investments in technological upgrades reduced by recession; bulk of
service to government activities provided by multichannel cable and
microwave radio relay network
domestic: microwave radio relay and multichannel cable; domestic
satellite system being developed
international: satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean
and 1 Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 200 (in government-controlled
network), FM 100 (in government-controlled network), shortwave 0
Radios: 10.75 million (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 5 (all in Bangkok; in addition,
there are 131 repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 3.3 million (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 4,623 km
narrow gauge: 4,623 km 1.000-m gauge (99 km double track)
Highways:
total: 64,600 km
paved: 62,985 km
unpaved: 1,615 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 3,999 km principal waterways; 3,701 km with navigable
depths of 0.9 m or more throughout the year; numerous minor
waterways navigable by shallow-draft native craft
Pipelines: petroleum products 67 km; natural gas 350 km
Ports and harbors: Bangkok, Laem Chabang, Pattani, Phuket,
Sattahip, Si Racha, Songkhla
Merchant marine:
total: 293 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,848,626
GRT/2,989,382 DWT
ships by type: bulk 41, cargo 135, chemical tanker 5, combination
bulk 1, container 13, liquefied gas tanker 17, multifunction
large-load carrier 3, oil tanker 61, passenger 1, refrigerated cargo
11, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2, short-sea passenger 1, specialized
tanker 2 (1998 est.)
Airports: 107 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 56
over 3,047 m: 6
2,438 to 3,047 m: 9
1,524 to 2,437 m: 17
914 to 1,523 m: 20
under 914 m: 4 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 51
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 15
under 914 m: 35 (1998 est.)
Heliports: 3 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Royal Thai Army, Royal Thai Navy (includes
Royal Thai Marine Corps), Royal Thai Air Force, Paramilitary Forces
Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 17,486,014 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 10,536,417 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 585,562 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $1.95 billion (FY97/98)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 2.5% (FY97/98)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: parts of the border with Laos are
indefinite; maritime boundary with Vietnam resolved, August 1997;
parts of border with Cambodia are indefinite; maritime boundary with
Cambodia not clearly defined; sporadic conflict with Burma over
alignment of border
Illicit drugs: a minor producer of opium, heroin, and marijuana;
major illicit transit point for heroin en route to the international
drug market from Burma and Laos; eradication efforts have reduced
the area of cannabis cultivation and shifted some production to
neighboring countries; opium poppy cultivation has been reduced by
eradication efforts; also a drug money-laundering center; minor role
in amphetamine production for regional consumption; increasing
indigenous abuse of methamphetamines and heroin
======================================================================
@Togo
----
Geography
Location: Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between
Benin and Ghana
Geographic coordinates: 8 00 N, 1 10 E
Map references: Africa
Area:
total: 56,790 sq km
land: 54,390 sq km
water: 2,400 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than West Virginia
Land boundaries:
total: 1,647 km
border countries: Benin 644 km, Burkina Faso 126 km, Ghana 877 km
Coastline: 56 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 30 nm
Climate: tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north
Terrain: gently rolling savanna in north; central hills; southern
plateau; low coastal plain with extensive lagoons and marshes
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Pic Agou 986 m
Natural resources: phosphates, limestone, marble
Land use:
arable land: 38%
permanent crops: 7%
permanent pastures: 4%
forests and woodland: 17%
other: 34% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 70 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: hot, dry harmattan wind can reduce visibility in
north during winter; periodic droughts
Environment--current issues: deforestation attributable to
slash-and-burn agriculture and the use of wood for fuel; recent
droughts affecting agriculture
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection,
Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
People
Population: 5,081,413 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 48% (male 1,229,026; female 1,218,956)
15-64 years: 50% (male 1,223,371; female 1,299,519)
65 years and over: 2% (male 49,890; female 60,651) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.51% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 44.78 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 9.69 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 77.55 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 59.25 years
male: 56.93 years
female: 61.64 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.53 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Togolese (singular and plural)
adjective: Togolese
Ethnic groups: native African (37 tribes; largest and most
important are Ewe, Mina, and Kabre) 99%, European and
Syrian-Lebanese less than 1%
Religions: indigenous beliefs 70%, Christian 20%, Muslim 10%
Languages: French (official and the language of commerce), Ewe
and Mina (the two major African languages in the south), Kabye
(sometimes spelled Kabiye) and Dagomba (the two major African
languages in the north)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 51.7%
male: 67%
female: 37% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Togolese Republic
conventional short form: Togo
local long form: Republique Togolaise
local short form: none
former: French Togo
Data code: TO
Government type: republic under transition to multiparty
democratic rule
Capital: Lome
Administrative divisions: 5 regions (regions, singular--region);
De La Kara, Des Plateaux, Des Savanes, Du Centre, Maritime
Independence: 27 April 1960 (from French-administered UN
trusteeship)
National holiday: Independence Day, 27 April (1960)
Constitution: multiparty draft constitution approved by High
Council of the Republic 1 July 1992; adopted by public referendum 27
September 1992
Legal system: French-based court system
Suffrage: NA years of age; universal adult
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Gen. Gnassingbe EYADEMA (since 14 April
1967)
head of government: Prime Minister Kwassi KLUTSE (since August 1996)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president and the
prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 21 June 1998 (next to be held NA 2003); prime
minister appointed by the president
election results: Gnassingbe EYADEMA reelected president; percent of
vote--Gnassingbe EYADEMA 52.13%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (81 seats;
members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 6 and 20 February 1994 (next to be held NA
February 1999)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--CAR
36, RPT 35, UTD 7, UJD 2, CFN 1
note: as a result of defections from the CAR to the RPT and the
merging of the UJD with the RPT, representation in the National
Assembly in August 1997 was RPT 42, CAR 32, UTD 5, CFN 1,
independent 1
Judicial branch: Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; Supreme Court
or Cour Supreme
Political parties and leaders: Rally of the Togolese People or
FOLLY]; Pan-African Sociodemocrats Group or GSP, an alliance of
note: Rally of the Togolese People or RPT, led by President EYADEMA,
was the only party until the formation of multiple parties was
legalized 12 April 1991
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC,
ECA, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU,
MINURCA, MINURSO, MIPONUH, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WADB, WAEMU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Akosita FINEANGANOFO
chancery: 2208 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Brenda Brown SCHOONOVER
embassy: Rue Pelletier Caventou and Rue Vauban, Lome
mailing address: B. P. 852, Lome
Flag description: five equal horizontal bands of green (top and
bottom) alternating with yellow; there is a white five-pointed star
on a red square in the upper hoist-side corner; uses the popular
pan-African colors of Ethiopia
Economy
Economy--overview: This small sub-Saharan economy is heavily
dependent on both commercial and subsistence agriculture, which
provides employment for 65% of the labor force. Cocoa, coffee, and
cotton together generate about 30% of export earnings. Togo is
self-sufficient in basic foodstuffs when harvests are normal, with
occasional regional supply difficulties. In the industrial sector,
phosphate mining is by far the most important activity, although it
has suffered from the collapse of world phosphate prices and
increased foreign competition. Togo serves as a regional commercial
and trade center. The government's decade-long effort, supported by
the World Bank and the IMF, to implement economic reform measures,
encourage foreign investment, and bring revenues in line with
expenditures has stalled. Political unrest, including private and
public sector strikes throughout 1992 and 1993, jeopardized the
reform program, shrunk the tax base, and disrupted vital economic
activity. The 12 January 1994 devaluation of the currency by 50%
provided an important impetus to renewed structural adjustment;
these efforts were facilitated by the end of strife in 1994 and a
return to overt political calm. Progress depends on following
through on privatization, increased transparency in government
accounting to accommodate increased social service outlays, and
possible downsizing of the military, on which the regime has
depended to stay in place. However, in late 1998 the EU suspended
aid and trade preferences for Togo because of grave doubts over the
conduct of the presidential elections. The World Bank also suspended
its disbursements at yearend 1998 because Togo was unable to pay its
arrears.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$8.2 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 3.8% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,670 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 32%
industry: 23%
services: 45% (1995)
Population below poverty line: 32.3% (1987-89 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7.2% (1997)
Labor force: 1.538 million (1993 est.)
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 65%, industry 5%, services
30% (1998 est.)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $232 million
expenditures: $252 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1997 est.)
Industries: phosphate mining, agricultural processing, cement;
handicrafts, textiles, beverages
Industrial production growth rate: 13.6% (1995)
Electricity--production: 88 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 93.18%
hydro: 6.82%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 408 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 320 million kWh (1996)
note: imports electricity from Ghana
Agriculture--products: coffee, cocoa, cotton, yams, cassava
(tapioca), corn, beans, rice, millet, sorghum; livestock; fish
Exports: $345 million (f.o.b., 1997)
Exports--commodities: cotton, phosphates, coffee, cocoa
Exports--partners: Canada 7.6%, Taiwan 7.1%, Nigeria 6.8%, South
Africa 5.2% (1996 est.)
Imports: $400 million (f.o.b., 1997)
Imports--commodities: machinery and equipment, consumer goods,
petroleum products
Imports--partners: Ghana 19.1%, France 10.8%, China 8.2%, Cameroon
6.8% (1996 est.)
Debt--external: $1.5 billion (1996)
Economic aid--recipient: $201.1 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100
centimes
Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per
US$1--560.01 (December 1998), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55
(1996), 499.15 (1995), 555.20 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 47,000 (10,000 cellular telephone subscribers) (1998
est.)
Telephone system: fair system based on network of microwave radio
relay routes supplemented by open-wire lines and cellular system
domestic: microwave radio relay and open-wire lines for conventional
system; cellular system has capacity of 10,000 telephones
international: satellite earth stations--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
and 1 Symphonie
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: 795,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 3 (in addition, there are two
repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 24,000 (1992 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 525 km (1995)
narrow gauge: 525 km 1.000-m gauge
Highways:
total: 7,520 km
paved: 2,376 km
unpaved: 5,144 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 50 km Mono river
Ports and harbors: Kpeme, Lome
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 9 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Gendarmerie
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 1,102,453 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 578,109 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $27 million (1996)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 2% (1996)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
Illicit drugs: transit hub for Nigerian heroin and cocaine
traffickers
======================================================================
@Tokelau
-------
Geography
Location: Oceania, group of three islands in the South Pacific
Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Geographic coordinates: 9 00 S, 172 00 W
Map references: Oceania
Area:
total: 10 sq km
land: 10 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: about 17 times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 101 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; moderated by trade winds (April to November)
Terrain: low-lying coral atolls enclosing large lagoons
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 5 m
Natural resources: NEGL
Land use:
arable land: 0% (soil is thin and infertile)
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 100% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: lies in Pacific typhoon belt
Environment--current issues: very limited natural resources and
overcrowding are contributing to emigration to New Zealand
Environment--international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA
People
Population: 1,471 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate: -0.92% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: NA births/1,000 population
Death rate: NA deaths/1,000 population
Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
Infant mortality rate: NA deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA
Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman
Nationality:
noun: Tokelauan(s)
adjective: Tokelauan
Ethnic groups: Polynesian
Religions: Congregational Christian Church 70%, Roman Catholic
28%, other 2%
note: on Atafu, all Congregational Christian Church of Samoa; on
Nukunonu, all Roman Catholic; on Fakaofo, both denominations, with
the Congregational Christian Church predominant
Languages: Tokelauan (a Polynesian language), English
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Tokelau
Data code: TL
Dependency status: territory of New Zealand; note--Tokelauans are
drafting a constitution, developing institutions and patterns of
self-government as Tokelau moves toward free association with
Wellington
Government type: NA
Capital: none; each atoll has its own administrative center
Administrative divisions: none (territory of New Zealand)
Independence: none (territory of New Zealand)
National holiday: Waitangi Day, 6 February (1840) (Treaty of
Waitangi established British sovereignty over New Zealand)
Constitution: administered under the Tokelau Islands Act of 1948,
as amended in 1970
Legal system: British and local statutes
Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); the UK
and New Zealand are represented by Administrator Lindsay WATT (since
NA March 1993)
head of government: Aliki Faipule FALIMATEAO (since NA 1997)
cabinet: the Council of Faipule, consisting of three elected
leaders, one from each atoll; functions as a cabinet
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointed
by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade in New Zealand; the
head of government is chosen from the Council of Faipule and serves
a one-year term
Legislative branch: unicameral General Fono (45 seats--15 from
each of the three atolls; members chosen by each atoll's Council of
Elders or Taupulega to serve three-year terms); note--the Tokelau
Amendment Act of 1996 confers legislative power on the General Fono
Judicial branch: Supreme Court in New Zealand exercises civil and
criminal jurisdiction
Political parties and leaders: none
International organization participation: SPC, WHO (associate)
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (territory of New
Zealand)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (territory of New
Zealand)
Flag description: the flag of New Zealand is used
Economy
Economy--overview: Tokelau's small size (three villages),
isolation, and lack of resources greatly restrain economic
development and confine agriculture to the subsistence level. The
people must rely on aid from New Zealand to maintain public
services, annual aid being substantially greater than GDP. The
principal sources of revenue come from sales of copra, postage
stamps, souvenir coins, and handicrafts. Money is also remitted to
families from relatives in New Zealand.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$1.5 million (1993 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: NA%
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,000 (1993 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
Labor force: NA
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $430,830
expenditures: $2.8 million, including capital expenditures of
$37,300 (1987 est.)
Industries: small-scale enterprises for copra production, wood
work, plaited craft goods; stamps, coins; fishing
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: NA kWh
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: NA%
hydro: NA%
nuclear: NA%
other: NA%
Electricity--consumption: NA kWh
Electricity--exports: NA kWh
Electricity--imports: NA kWh
Agriculture--products: coconuts, copra, breadfruit, papayas,
bananas; pigs, poultry, goats
Exports: $98,000 (f.o.b., 1983)
Exports--commodities: stamps, copra, handicrafts
Exports--partners: NZ
Imports: $323,400 (c.i.f., 1983)
Imports--commodities: foodstuffs, building materials, fuel
Imports--partners: NZ
Debt--external: $0
Economic aid--recipient: $3.8 million (1995)
Currency: 1 New Zealand dollar (NZ$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1--1.8560
(January 1999), 1.8629 (1998), 1.5083 (1997), 1.4543 (1996), 1.5235
(1995), 1.6844 (1994)
Fiscal year: 1 April--31 March
Communications
Telephones: NA
Telephone system:
domestic: radiotelephone service between islands
international: radiotelephone service to Western Samoa;
government-regulated telephone service (TeleTok), with three
satellite earth stations, established in 1997
Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA
note: each atoll has a radio broadcast station of NA type that
broadcasts shipping and weather reports
Radios: 1,000 (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: NA (1997)
Televisions: NA
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: NA km
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km
Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only
Merchant marine: none
Airports: none; lagoon landings by amphibious aircraft from
Western Samoa
Military
Military--note: defense is the responsibility of New Zealand
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
======================================================================
@Tonga
-----
Geography
Location: Oceania, archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, about
two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Geographic coordinates: 20 00 S, 175 00 W
Map references: Oceania
Area:
total: 748 sq km
land: 718 sq km
water: 30 sq km
Area--comparative: four times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 419 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; modified by trade winds; warm season (December
to May), cool season (May to December)
Terrain: most islands have limestone base formed from uplifted
coral formation; others have limestone overlying volcanic base
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Kao Island 1,033 m
Natural resources: fish, fertile soil
Land use:
arable land: 24%
permanent crops: 43%
permanent pastures: 6%
forests and woodland: 11%
other: 16% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: cyclones (October to April); earthquakes and
volcanic activity on Fonuafo'ou
Environment--current issues: deforestation results as more and
more land is being cleared for agriculture and settlement; some
damage to coral reefs from starfish and indiscriminate coral and
shell collectors; overhunting threatens native sea turtle populations
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Law of the
Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography--note: archipelago of 170 islands (36 inhabited)
People
Population: 109,082 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate: 0.8% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 25.92 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 6 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.19 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 37.93 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 69.78 years
male: 67.73 years
female: 72.22 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.56 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Tongan(s)
adjective: Tongan
Ethnic groups: Polynesian, Europeans about 300
Religions: Christian (Free Wesleyan Church claims over 30,000
adherents)
Languages: Tongan, English
Literacy:
definition: can read and write Tongan and/or English
total population: 98.5%
male: 98.4%
female: 98.7% (1996 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Tonga
conventional short form: Tonga
former: Friendly Islands
Data code: TN
Government type: hereditary constitutional monarchy
Capital: Nuku'alofa
Administrative divisions: three island groups; Ha'apai,
Tongatapu, Vava'u
Independence: 4 June 1970 (emancipation from UK protectorate)
National holiday: Emancipation Day, 4 June (1970)
Constitution: 4 November 1875, revised 1 January 1967
Legal system: based on English law
Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: King Taufa'ahau TUPOU IV (since 16 December 1965)
head of government: Prime Minister Baron VAEA (since 22 August 1991)
and Deputy Prime Minister S. Langi KAVALIKU (since 22 August 1991)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch
note: there is also a Privy Council that consists of the monarch and
the Cabinet
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister and
deputy prime minister appointed for life by the monarch
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly or Fale Alea
(30 seats--12 reserved for cabinet ministers sitting ex officio, nine
for nobles selected by the country's 33 nobles, and nine elected by
popular vote; members serve three-year terms)
elections: last held 24-25 January 1996 (next to be held NA March
1999)
election results: percent of vote--NA; seats--7 proreform, 2
traditionalist
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the
monarch; Privy Council with the addition of the chief justice of the
Supreme Court sits as the Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders: Tonga People's Party [Viliami
FUKOFUKA]
International organization participation: ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP,
FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, IMF,
Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, Sparteca, SPC,
SPF, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US: Tonga does not have an
embassy in the US; Ambassador Akosita FINEANGANOFO, resides in
London; address: Embassy of the Kingdom of Tonga, c/o Tonga High
consulate(s) general: San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an
embassy in Tonga; the ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Tonga
Flag description: red with a bold red cross on a white rectangle
in the upper hoist-side corner
Economy
Economy--overview: The economy's base is agriculture, which
contributes 32% to GDP. Squash, coconuts, bananas, and vanilla beans
are the main crops, and agricultural exports make up two-thirds of
total exports. The country must import a high proportion of its
food, mainly from New Zealand. The industrial sector accounts for
only 10% of GDP. Tourism is the primary source of hard currency
earnings. The country remains dependent on sizable external aid and
remittances to offset its trade deficit. The government is
emphasizing the development of the private sector, especially the
encouragement of investment.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$232 million (FY97/98 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: -1.5% (FY97/98 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$2,100 (FY97/98 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 32%
industry: 10%
services: 58% (1996)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2% (1997 est.)
Labor force: 36,665 (1994)
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 65% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate: 11.8% (FY93/94)
Budget:
revenues: $49 million
expenditures: $120 million, including capital expenditures of $75
million (FY96/97 est.)
Industries: tourism, fishing
Industrial production growth rate: 1.9% (FY95/96)
Electricity--production: 30 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 30 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: squash, coconuts, copra, bananas, vanilla
beans, cocoa, coffee, ginger, black pepper; fish
Exports: $11.9 million (f.o.b., FY97/98)
Exports--commodities: squash, fish, vanilla, root crops, coconut
oil
Exports--partners: Japan 43%, US 19%, Canada 14%, NZ 5%, Australia
5% (1996 est.)
Imports: $78.9 million (f.o.b., FY97/98)
Imports--commodities: food products, live animals, machinery and
transport equipment, manufactures, fuels, chemicals
Imports--partners: NZ 34%, Australia 16%, US 10%, UK 8%, Japan 6%
(1996 est.)
Debt--external: $62 million (1998)
Economic aid--recipient: $38.8 million (1995)
Currency: 1 pa'anga (T$) = 100 seniti
Exchange rates: pa'anga (T$) per US$1--1.6171 (December 1998),
1.4921 (1998), 1.2635 (1997), 1.2323 (1996), 1.2709 (1995), 1.3202
(1994)
Fiscal year: 1 July--30 June
Communications
Telephones: 6,000 (1994 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: NA
international: satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: 66,000 (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1997)
Televisions: 2,000 (1994 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 680 km
paved: 184 km
unpaved: 496 km (1996 est.)
Ports and harbors: Neiafu, Nuku'alofa, Pangai
Merchant marine:
total: 7 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 17,754 GRT/25,969 DWT
ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 2, chemical tanker 1, liquefied gas
tanker 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1 (1998 est.)
Airports: 6 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Tonga Defense Services (includes, Royal Tongan
Marines, Tongan Royal Guards, Maritime Force, Police); note--a new
Air Wing which will be subordinate to the Defense Ministry is being
developed
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $NA
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: NA%
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
======================================================================
@Trinidad and Tobago
-------------------
Geography
Location: Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the
North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela
Geographic coordinates: 11 00 N, 61 00 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 5,130 sq km
land: 5,130 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than Delaware
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 362 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the outer edge of the continental
margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; rainy season (June to December)
Terrain: mostly plains with some hills and low mountains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: El Cerro del Aripo 940 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, asphalt
Land use:
arable land: 15%
permanent crops: 9%
permanent pastures: 2%
forests and woodland: 46%
other: 28% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 220 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: outside usual path of hurricanes and other
tropical storms
Environment--current issues: water pollution from agricultural
chemicals, industrial wastes, and raw sewage; oil pollution of
beaches; deforestation; soil erosion
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea,
Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection,
Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
People
Population: 1,102,096 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 27% (male 150,862; female 144,589)
15-64 years: 66% (male 377,894; female 346,375)
65 years and over: 7% (male 37,001; female 45,375) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: -1.35% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 14.46 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 8.14 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -19.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.09 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 18.56 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 70.66 years
male: 68.19 years
female: 73.19 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.06 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Trinidadian(s), Tobagonian(s)
adjective: Trinidadian, Tobagonian
Ethnic groups: black 40%, East Indian (a local term--primarily
immigrants from northern India) 40.3%, mixed 14%, white 1%, Chinese
1%, other 3.7%
Religions: Roman Catholic 32.2%, Hindu 24.3%, Anglican 14.4%,
other Protestant 14%, Muslim 6%, none or unknown 9.1%
Languages: English (official), Hindi, French, Spanish
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.9%
male: 98.8%
female: 97% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
conventional short form: Trinidad and Tobago
Data code: TD
Government type: parliamentary democracy
Capital: Port-of-Spain
Administrative divisions: 8 counties, 3 municipalities*, and 1
ward**; Arima*, Caroni, Mayaro, Nariva, Port-of-Spain*, Saint
Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint Patrick, San Fernando*,
Tobago**, Victoria
Independence: 31 August 1962 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 31 August (1962)
Constitution: 1 August 1976
Legal system: based on English common law; judicial review of
legislative acts in the Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Arthur Napoleon Raymond ROBINSON (since 19
March 1997)
head of government: Prime Minister Basdeo PANDAY (since 9 November
1995)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed from among the members of Parliament
elections: president elected by an electoral college, which consists
of the members of the Senate and House of Representatives, for a
five-year term; election last held NA February 1997 (next to be held
NA 2002); prime minister appointed from among the members of
Parliament; following legislative elections, the leader of the
majority party in the House of Representatives is usually appointed
prime minister
election results: Arthur Napoleon Raymond ROBINSON elected
president; percent of electoral college vote--69%
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate
(31 seats; members appointed by the president for a maximum term of
five years) and the House of Representatives (36 seats; members are
elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: House of Representatives--last held 6 November 1995 (next
to be held by December 2000)
election results: House of Representatives--percent of vote--PNM 52%,
UNC 42.2%, NAR 5.2%; seats by party--PNM 15, UNC 19, NAR 1,
independent 1; note--the UNC formed a coalition with the NAR
note: Tobago has a unicameral House of Assembly, with 15 members
serving four-year terms
Judicial branch: Court of Appeal (judges are appointed by the
president on the advice of the prime minister); Supreme Court
(judges are appointed by the president on the advice of the prime
minister)
Political parties and leaders: People's National Movement or PNM
International organization participation: ACP, C, Caricom, CCC,
CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-24, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO,
ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNU,
UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Michael A. ARNEAUD
chancery: 1708 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
consulate(s) general: Miami and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Edward E. SHUMAKER, III
embassy: 15 Queen's Park West, Port-of-Spain
mailing address: P. O. Box 752, Port-of-Spain
Flag description: red with a white-edged black diagonal band from
the upper hoist side
Economy
Economy--overview: Trinidad and Tobago has earned a reputation as
an excellent investment site for international businesses.
Successful economic reforms were implemented in 1995, and foreign
investment and trade are flourishing. Unemployment--a main cause of
the country's socioeconomic problems--is high, but has decreased to
its lowest point in six years. An investment boom in the energy
sector led to a surge in imports in 1997. The resulting trade
deficit is expected to return to a surplus once construction is
completed and the plants come on line. The petrochemical sector has
spurred growth in other related sectors, reinforcing the
government's commitment to economic diversification. Tourism is a
major foreign exchange earner, with 260,000 arrivals in 1995, 80%
from Europe.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$8.85 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 4.3% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$8,000 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 2.2%
industry: 44%
services: 53.8% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: 21% (1992 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.7% (1997)
Labor force: 541,000 (1997 est.)
Labor force--by occupation: construction and utilities 12.4%,
manufacturing, mining, and quarrying 14%, agriculture 9.5%, services
64.1% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate: 14% (June 1998)
Budget:
revenues: $1.59 billion
expenditures: $1.54 billion, including capital expenditures of
$165.8 million (1997)
Industries: petroleum, chemicals, tourism, food processing,
cement, beverage, cotton textiles
Industrial production growth rate: 7.5% (1995)
Electricity--production: 4 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 4 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: cocoa, sugarcane, rice, citrus, coffee,
vegetables; poultry
Exports: $2.4 billion (f.o.b., 1997)
Exports--commodities: petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals,
steel products, fertilizer, sugar, cocoa, coffee, citrus, flowers
Exports--partners: US 39.7%, Caricom countries 24.5%, Latin
America 10.3%, EU 8.2% (1997)
Imports: $3.3 billion (c.i.f., 1997)
Imports--commodities: machinery, transportation equipment,
manufactured goods, food, live animals
Imports--partners: US 52.2%, Latin America 16.5%, EU 13.8%, Japan
3.6% (1997)
Debt--external: $2.8 billion (1997 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $121.4 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Trinidad and Tobago dollar (TT$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Trinidad and Tobago dollars (TT$) per US$1--6.2761
(January 1999), 6.2840 (1998), 6.2517 (1997), 6.0051 (1996), 5.9478
(1995), 5.9249 (1994)
Fiscal year: 1 October-30 September
Communications
Telephones: 170,000 (1992 est.)
Telephone system: excellent international service; good local
service
domestic: NA
international: satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean);
tropospheric scatter to Barbados and Guyana
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 10, shortwave 0
Radios: 700,000 (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 4 (1997)
Televisions: 400,000 (1992 est.)
Transportation
Railways: minimal agricultural railroad system near San Fernando;
railway service was discontinued in 1968
Highways:
total: 8,320 km
paved: 4,252 km
unpaved: 4,068 km (1996 est.)
Pipelines: crude oil 1,032 km; petroleum products 19 km; natural
gas 904 km
Ports and harbors: Pointe-a-Pierre, Point Fortin, Point Lisas,
Port-of-Spain, Scarborough, Tembladora
Merchant marine:
total: 1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,336 GRT/2,567 DWT
(1998 est.)
Airports: 6 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 3
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Trinidad and Tobago Defense Force (includes
Ground Forces, Coast Guard, and Air Wing), Trinidad and Tobago
Police Service
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 312,870 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 223,200 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $83 million (1994)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: NA%
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for South American drugs
destined for the US and Europe; producer of cannabis
======================================================================
@Tromelin Island
---------------
Geography
Location: Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of
Madagascar
Geographic coordinates: 15 52 S, 54 25 E
Map references: Africa
Area:
total: 1 sq km
land: 1 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: about 1.7 times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 3.7 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 12 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical
Terrain: sandy
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 7 m
Natural resources: fish
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 100% (scattered bushes)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1993)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment--current issues: NA
Environment--international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography--note: climatologically important location for
forecasting cyclones; wildlife sanctuary
People
Population: uninhabited
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Tromelin Island
local long form: none
local short form: Ile Tromelin
Data code: TE
Dependency status: possession of France; administered by a high
commissioner of the Republic, resident in Reunion
Legal system: NA
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (possession of France)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (possession of France)
Flag description: the flag of France is used
Economy
Economy--overview: no economic activity
Communications
Communications--note: important meteorological station
Transportation
Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only
Airports: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military--note: defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: claimed by Madagascar and Mauritius
======================================================================
@Tunisia
-------
Geography
Location: Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea,
between Algeria and Libya
Geographic coordinates: 34 00 N, 9 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area:
total: 163,610 sq km
land: 155,360 sq km
water: 8,250 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly larger than Georgia
Land boundaries:
total: 1,424 km
border countries: Algeria 965 km, Libya 459 km
Coastline: 1,148 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: temperate in north with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry
summers; desert in south
Terrain: mountains in north; hot, dry central plain; semiarid
south merges into the Sahara
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Shatt al Gharsah -17 m
highest point: Jabal ash Shanabi 1,544 m
Natural resources: petroleum, phosphates, iron ore, lead, zinc,
salt
Land use:
arable land: 19%
permanent crops: 13%
permanent pastures: 20%
forests and woodland: 4%
other: 44% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 3,850 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment--current issues: toxic and hazardous waste disposal is
ineffective and presents human health risks; water pollution from
raw sewage; limited natural fresh water resources; deforestation;
overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
Geography--note: strategic location in central Mediterranean
People
Population: 9,513,603 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 31% (male 1,513,296; female 1,417,166)
15-64 years: 63% (male 3,006,029; female 3,018,411)
65 years and over: 6% (male 283,026; female 275,675) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.39% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 19.72 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 5.05 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.74 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.03 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 31.38 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 73.35 years
male: 71.95 years
female: 74.86 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.38 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Tunisian(s)
adjective: Tunisian
Ethnic groups: Arab 98%, European 1%, Jewish and other 1%
Religions: Muslim 98%, Christian 1%, Jewish and other 1%
Languages: Arabic (official and one of the languages of
commerce), French (commerce)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 66.7%
male: 78.6%
female: 54.6% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Tunisia
conventional short form: Tunisia
local long form: Al Jumhuriyah at Tunisiyah
local short form: Tunis
Data code: TS
Government type: republic
Capital: Tunis
Administrative divisions: 23 governorates; Al Kaf, Al Mahdiyah,
Al Munastir, Al Qasrayn, Al Qayrawan, Aryanah, Bajah, Banzart, Bin
'Arus, Jundubah, Madanin, Nabul, Qabis, Qafsah, Qibili, Safaqis,
Sidi Bu Zayd, Silyanah, Susah, Tatawin, Tawzar, Tunis, Zaghwan
Independence: 20 March 1956 (from France)
National holiday: National Day, 20 March (1956)
Constitution: 1 June 1959; amended 12 July 1988
Legal system: based on French civil law system and Islamic law;
some judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court in
joint session
Suffrage: 20 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Zine El Abidine BEN ALI (since 7 November
1987)
head of government: Prime Minister Hamed KAROUI (since 26 September
1989)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 20 March 1994 (next to be held NA 1999); prime
minister appointed by the president
election results: President Zine El Abidine BEN ALI reelected
without opposition; percent of vote--Zine El Abidine BEN ALI 99%
Legislative branch: unicameral Chamber of Deputies or Majlis
al-Nuwaab (163 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve
five-year terms)
elections: last held 20 March 1994 (next to be held NA 1999)
election results: percent of vote by party--RCD 97.7%, MDS 1.0%,
others 1.3%; seats by party--RCD 144, MDS 10, others 9; note--the
government changed the electoral code to guarantee that the
opposition won seats
Judicial branch: Court of Cassation (Cour de Cassation)
Political parties and leaders: Constitutional Democratic Rally
parties are legal, including the Communist Party
Political pressure groups and leaders: the Islamic fundamentalist
party, Al Nahda (Renaissance), is outlawed
International organization participation: ABEDA, ACCT, AfDB,
AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU, BSEC (observer), CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,
IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO,
ITU, MINURCA, MINURSO, MIPONUH, NAM, OAS (observer), OAU, OIC, OPCW,
OSCE (partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIBH, UPU, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Noureddine MEJDOUB
chancery: 1515 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20005
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Robin L. RAPHEL
embassy: 144 Avenue de la Liberte, 1002 Tunis-Belvedere
mailing address: use embassy street address
Flag description: red with a white disk in the center bearing a
red crescent nearly encircling a red five-pointed star; the crescent
and star are traditional symbols of Islam
Economy
Economy--overview: Tunisia has a diverse economy, with important
agricultural, mining, energy, tourism, and manufacturing sectors.
Governmental control of economic affairs while still heavy has
gradually lessened over the past decade with increasing
privatization, simplification of the tax structure, and a prudent
approach to debt. Real growth averaged 4.0% in 1993-97 and reached
5.0% in 1998. Inflation has been moderate. Growth in tourism and
increased trade have been key elements in this steady growth.
Tunisia's association agreement with the European Union entered into
force on 1 March 1998, the first such accord between the EU and
Mediterranean countries to be activated. Under the agreement Tunisia
will gradually remove barriers to trade with the EU over the next
decade. Broader privatization, further liberalization of the
investment code to increase foreign investment, and improvements in
government efficiency are among the challenges for the future.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$49 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 5% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$5,200 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 14%
industry: 28%
services: 58% (1996 est.)
Population below poverty line: 14.1% (1990 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.3%
highest 10%: 30.7% (1990)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.3% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 3.3 million (1995 est.)
note: shortage of skilled labor
Labor force--by occupation: services 55%, industry 23%,
agriculture 22% (1995 est.)
Unemployment rate: 15.6% (1998 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $5.8 billion
expenditures: $6.5 billion, including capital expenditures to $1.4
billion (1998 est.)
Industries: petroleum, mining (particularly phosphate and iron
ore), tourism, textiles, footwear, food, beverages
Industrial production growth rate: 4.2% (1997 est.)
Electricity--production: 7.535 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 99.54%
hydro: 0.46%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 7.616 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 81 million kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: olives, dates, oranges, almonds, grain,
sugar beets, grapes; poultry, beef, dairy products
Exports: $5.4 billion (f.o.b., 1997 est.)
Exports--commodities: hydrocarbons, textiles, agricultural
products, phosphates and chemicals
Exports--partners: EU 80%, North African countries 6%, Asia 4%, US
1% (1996)
Imports: $7.9 billion (c.i.f., 1997 est.)
Imports--commodities: industrial goods and equipment 57%,
hydrocarbons 13%, food 12%, consumer goods
Imports--partners: EU countries 80%, North African countries 5.5%,
Asia 5.5%, US 5% (1996)
Debt--external: $12.1 billion (1998 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $933.2 million (1995); note?ODA, $90
million (1998 est.)
Currency: 1 Tunisian dinar (TD) = 1,000 millimes
Exchange rates: Tunisian dinars (TD) per US$1--1.1027 (December
1998), 1.1393 (1998), 1.1059 (1997), 0.9734 (1996), 0.9458 (1995),
1.0116 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 560,000 (1996 est.); 3,185 cellular telephone
subscribers (1998 est.)
Telephone system: the system is above the African average and is
continuing to be upgraded; key centers are Sfax, Sousse, Bizerte,
and Tunis; Internet access is available through two private service
providers licensed by the government
domestic: trunk facilities consist of open-wire lines, coaxial
cable, and microwave radio relay
international: 5 submarine cables; satellite earth stations--1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Arabsat with back-up control
station; coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Algeria and
Libya; participant in Medarabtel
Radio broadcast stations: AM 7, FM 8, shortwave 1 (1998 est.)
Radios: 1.7 million (1998 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 19 (these are network stations;
there are some additional stations of low power) (1997)
Televisions: 650,000 (1998 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 2,260 km
standard gauge: 492 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 1,758 km 1.000-m gauge
dual gauge: 10 km 1.000-m and 1.435-m gauges (three rails) (1993
est.)
Highways:
total: 23,100 km
paved: 18,226 km
unpaved: 4,874 km (1996 est.)
Pipelines: crude oil 797 km; petroleum products 86 km; natural
gas 742 km
Ports and harbors: Bizerte, Gabes, La Goulette, Sfax, Sousse,
Tunis, Zarzis
Merchant marine:
total: 20 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 188,345 GRT/215,749 DWT
ships by type: bulk 4, cargo 5, chemical tanker 3, liquefied gas
tanker 1, oil tanker 3, short-sea passenger 3, specialized tanker 1
(1998 est.)
Airports: 32 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 14
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 18
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 8
under 914 m: 7 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary forces,
National Guard
Military manpower--military age: 20 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 2,601,928 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,486,964 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 99,597 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $356 million (1999)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 1.5% (1999)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: maritime boundary dispute with Libya;
Malta and Tunisia are discussing the commercial exploitation of the
continental shelf between their countries, particularly for oil
exploration
======================================================================
@Turkey
------
Geography
Location: southwestern Asia (that part west of the Bosporus is
sometimes included with Europe), bordering the Black Sea, between
Bulgaria and Georgia, and bordering the Aegean Sea and the
Mediterranean Sea, between Greece and Syria
Geographic coordinates: 39 00 N, 35 00 E
Map references: Middle East
Area:
total: 780,580 sq km
land: 770,760 sq km
water: 9,820 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly larger than Texas
Land boundaries:
total: 2,627 km
border countries: Armenia 268 km, Azerbaijan 9 km, Bulgaria 240 km,
Georgia 252 km, Greece 206 km, Iran 499 km, Iraq 331 km, Syria 822 km
Coastline: 7,200 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: in Black Sea only: to the maritime boundary
agreed upon with the former USSR
territorial sea: 6 nm in the Aegean Sea; 12 nm in Black Sea and in
Mediterranean Sea
Climate: temperate; hot, dry summers with mild, wet winters;
harsher in interior
Terrain: mostly mountains; narrow coastal plain; high central
plateau (Anatolia)
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Ararat 5,166 m
Natural resources: antimony, coal, chromium, mercury, copper,
borate, sulfur, iron ore
Land use:
arable land: 32%
permanent crops: 4%
permanent pastures: 16%
forests and woodland: 26%
other: 22% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 36,740 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: very severe earthquakes, especially in northern
Turkey, along an arc extending from the Sea of Marmara to Lake Van
Environment--current issues: water pollution from dumping of
chemicals and detergents; air pollution, particularly in urban
areas; deforestation; concern for oil spills from increasing
Bosporus ship traffic
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity,
Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol,
Environmental Modification
Geography--note: strategic location controlling the Turkish
Straits (Bosporus, Sea of Marmara, Dardanelles) that link Black and
Aegean Seas
People
Population: 65,599,206 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 30% (male 10,148,457; female 9,781,452)
15-64 years: 64% (male 21,255,506; female 20,560,070)
65 years and over: 6% (male 1,775,164; female 2,078,557) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.57% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 20.92 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 5.27 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 35.81 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 73.29 years
male: 70.81 years
female: 75.88 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.41 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Turk(s)
adjective: Turkish
Ethnic groups: Turkish 80%, Kurdish 20%
Religions: Muslim 99.8% (mostly Sunni), other 0.2% (Christian and
Jews)
Languages: Turkish (official), Kurdish, Arabic
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 82.3%
male: 91.7%
female: 72.4% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Turkey
conventional short form: Turkey
local long form: Turkiye Cumhuriyeti
local short form: Turkiye
Data code: TU
Government type: republican parliamentary democracy
Capital: Ankara
Administrative divisions: 80 provinces (iller, singular--il);
Adana, Adiyaman, Afyon, Agri, Aksaray, Amasya, Ankara, Antalya,
Ardahan, Artvin, Aydin, Balikesir, Bartin, Batman, Bayburt, Bilecik,
Bingol, Bitlis, Bolu, Burdur, Bursa, Canakkale, Cankiri, Corum,
Denizli, Diyarbakir, Edirne, Elazig, Erzincan, Erzurum, Eskisehir,
Gazi Antep, Giresun, Gumushane, Hakkari, Hatay, Icel, Igdir,
Isparta, Istanbul, Izmir, Kahraman Maras, Karabuk, Karaman, Kars,
Kastamonu, Kayseri, Kilis, Kirikkale, Kirklareli, Kirsehir, Kocaeli,
Konya, Kutahya, Malatya, Manisa, Mardin, Mugla, Mus, Nevsehir,
Nigde, Ordu, Osmaniye, Rize, Sakarya, Samsun, Sanli Urfa, Siirt,
Sinop, Sirnak, Sivas, Tekirdag, Tokat, Trabzon, Tunceli, Usak, Van,
Yalova, Yozgat, Zonguldak
note: Karabuk, Kilis, Osmaniye and Yalova are the four newest
provinces; the US Board on Geographic Names is awaiting an official
Turkish administrative map for verification of the boundaries
Independence: 29 October 1923 (successor state to the Ottoman
Empire)
National holiday: Anniversary of the Declaration of the Republic,
29 October (1923)
Constitution: 7 November 1982
Legal system: derived from various European continental legal
systems; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Suleyman DEMIREL (since 16 May 1993)
head of government: Prime Minister Bulent ECEVIT (since 11 January
1999)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the
nomination of the prime minister
note: there is also a National Security Council that serves as an
advisory body to the president and the cabinet
elections: president elected by the National Assembly for a
seven-year term; election last held 16 May 1993 (next scheduled to
be held NA May 2000); prime minister and deputy prime minister
appointed by the president
election results: Suleyman DEMIREL elected president; percent of
National Assembly vote--54%
Legislative branch: unicameral Grand National Assembly of Turkey
or Turkiye Buyuk Millet Meclisi (550 seats; members are elected by
popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 24 December 1995 (next to be held 18 April 1999)
election results: percent of vote by party--RP 21.38%, DYP 19.18%,
ANAP 19.65%, DSP 14.64%, CHP 10.71%, independent 0.48%; seats by
party--RP 158, DYP 135, ANAP 133, DSP 75, CHP 49; note--seats held by
various parties are subject to change due to defections, creation of
new parties, and ouster or death of sitting deputies; seating by
party as of 1 January 1999: FP 144, ANAP 137, DYP 97, DSP 61, CHP
55, DTP 12, BBP 8, MHP 3, DP 1, DEPAR 1, independents 20, vacant 11
Judicial branch: Constitutional Court, judges appointed by the
president; Court of Appeals, judges are elected by the Supreme
Council of Judges and Prosecutors
Political parties and leaders: Motherland Party or ANAP [Mesut
outlawed on 22 February 1998
Political pressure groups and leaders: Turkish Confederation of
Independent Industrialists and Businessmen's Association or MUSIAD
International organization participation: AsDB, BIS, BSEC, CCC,
CE, CERN (observer), EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ECO, ESCAP, FAO, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,
IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NATO,
NEA, OECD, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,
UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNOMIG, UNPREDEP, UNRWA, UPU, WEU (associate), WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Baki ILKIN
chancery: 1714 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Mark R. PARRIS
embassy: 110 Ataturk Boulevard, Ankara
mailing address: PSC 93, Box 5000, APO AE 09823
consulate(s) general: Istanbul
consulate(s): Adana
Flag description: red with a vertical white crescent (the closed
portion is toward the hoist side) and white five-pointed star
centered just outside the crescent opening
Economy
Economy--overview: Turkey has a dynamic economy that is a complex
mix of modern industry and commerce along with traditional village
agriculture and crafts. It has a strong and rapidly growing private
sector, yet the state still plays a major role in basic industry,
banking, transport, and communication. Its most important
industry--and largest exporter--is textiles and clothing, which is
almost entirely in private hands. The economic situation in recent
years has been marked by rapid growth coupled with partial success
in implementing structural reform measures. Inflation declined to
70% in 1998, down from 99% in 1997, but the public sector fiscal
deficit probably remained near 10% of GDP--due in large part to
interest payments which accounted for 42% of central government
spending in 1998. The government enacted a new tax law and speeded
up privatization in 1998 but made no progress on badly needed social
security reform. Ankara is trying to increase trade with other
countries in the region yet most of Turkey's trade is still with
OECD countries. Despite the implementation in January 1996 of a
customs union with the EU, foreign direct investment in the country
remains low--about $1 billion annually--perhaps because potential
investors are concerned about still-high inflation and the unsettled
political situation. Economic growth will remain about the same in
1999; inflation should decline further.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$425.4 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 2.8% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$6,600 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 14.4%
industry: 28.7%
services: 56.9% (1998)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 70% (1998)
Labor force: 22.7 million (April 1998)
note: about 1.5 million Turks work abroad (1994)
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 42.5%, services 34.5%,
industry 23% (1996)
Unemployment rate: 10% (1998 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $44.4 billion
expenditures: $58.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $3.7
billion (1998)
Industries: textiles, food processing, autos, mining (coal,
chromite, copper, boron), steel, petroleum, construction, lumber,
paper
Industrial production growth rate: 4.1% (1998 est.)
Electricity--production: 103 billion kWh (1997)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 62.4%
hydro: 37.1%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0.5% (1997)
Electricity--consumption: 91.16 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 300 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 265 million kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: tobacco, cotton, grain, olives, sugar
beets, pulse, citrus; livestock
Exports: $31 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports--commodities: textiles and apparel 30%, foodstuffs 15%,
iron and steel products 13% (1997)
Exports--partners: Germany 20%, US 9%, Russia 5%, UK 6%, Italy 6%
(1998)
Imports: $47 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports--commodities: machinery and equipment 50%, fuels,
minerals, foodstuffs (1997)
Imports--partners: Germany 16%, Italy 9%, US 9%, Russia 6%, UK 6%,
France 2% (1997)
Debt--external: $93.4 billion (1998)
Economic aid--recipient: ODA, $195 million (1993)
Currency: Turkish lira (TL)
Exchange rates: Turkish liras (TL) per US$1--331,400 (January
1999), 260,724 (1998), 151,865 (1997), 81,405 (1996), 45,845.1
(1995), 29,608.7 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 17 million (in addition, there are 1.5 million
cellular telephone subscribers) (1997 est.)
Telephone system: fair domestic and international systems;
undergoing modernization and refurbishment programs
domestic: cable; AMPS standard cellular system in Ashkhabad with
plans for expansion
international: 12 satellite earth stations--Intelsat (Atlantic
Ocean), Eutelsat, and Inmarsat (Indian and Atlantic Ocean regions);
3 submarine fiber-optic cables (1996); connected internationally by
the Trans-Asia-Europe Fiber-Optic Line that became operational in
1998
Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA
note: there are 36 national broadcast stations, 108 regional
broadcast stations, and 1,058 local broadcast stations (1996)
Radios: 9.4 million (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 69 (in addition, there are 476
low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 10.53 million (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 10,386 km
standard gauge: 10,386 km 1.435-m gauge (1,088 km electrified)
Highways:
total: 382,397 km
paved: 95,599 km (including 1,560 km of expressways)
unpaved: 286,798 km (1997 est.)
Waterways: about 1,200 km
Pipelines: crude oil 1,738 km; petroleum products 2,321 km;
natural gas 708 km
Ports and harbors: Gemlik, Hopa, Iskenderun, Istanbul, Izmir,
Kocaeli (Izmit), Icel (Mersin), Samsun, Trabzon
Merchant marine:
total: 531 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,913,171
GRT/9,832,994 DWT
ships by type: bulk 159, cargo 239, chemical tanker 32, combination
bulk 5, combination ore/oil 6, container 12, liquefied gas tanker 5,
oil tanker 36, passenger-cargo 1, refrigerated cargo 3,
roll-on/roll-off cargo 21, short-sea passenger 9, specialized tanker
3 (1998 est.)
Airports: 117 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 81
over 3,047 m: 16
2,438 to 3,047 m: 25
1,524 to 2,437 m: 19
914 to 1,523 m: 16
under 914 m: 5 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 36
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 9
under 914 m: 26 (1998 est.)
Heliports: 2 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Land Forces, Navy (includes Naval Air and
Naval Infantry), Air Force, Coast Guard, Gendarmerie
Military manpower--military age: 20 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 18,168,658 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 11,024,173 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 659,338 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $6.737 billion (1997)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 4.3% (1997)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: complex maritime, air, and territorial
disputes with Greece in Aegean Sea; Cyprus question with Greece;
dispute with downstream riparian states (Syria and Iraq) over water
development plans for the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers; traditional
demands on former Armenian lands in Turkey have subsided
Illicit drugs: major transit route for Southwest Asian heroin and
hashish to Western Europe and--to a far lesser extent the US--via air,
land, and sea routes; major Turkish, Iranian, and other
international trafficking organizations operate out of Istanbul;
laboratories to convert imported morphine base into heroin are in
remote regions of Turkey as well as near Istanbul; government
maintains strict controls over areas of legal opium poppy
cultivation and output of poppy straw concentrate
======================================================================
@Turkmenistan
------------
Geography
Location: Central Asia, bordering the Caspian Sea, between Iran
and Kazakhstan
Geographic coordinates: 40 00 N, 60 00 E
Map references: Commonwealth of Independent States
Area:
total: 488,100 sq km
land: 488,100 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly larger than California
Land boundaries:
total: 3,736 km
border countries: Afghanistan 744 km, Iran 992 km, Kazakhstan 379
km, Uzbekistan 1,621 km
Coastline: 0 km
note: Turkmenistan borders the Caspian Sea (1,768 km)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: subtropical desert
Terrain: flat-to-rolling sandy desert with dunes rising to
mountains in the south; low mountains along border with Iran;
borders Caspian Sea in west
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Vpadina Akchanaya -81 m (note--Sarygamysh Koli is a
lake in north eastern Turkmenistan whose water levels fluctuate
widely; at its shallowest, its level is -110 m; it is presently at
-60 m, 20 m above Vpadina Akchanaya)
highest point: Ayrybaba 3,139 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, coal, sulfur, salt
Land use:
arable land: 3%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 63%
forests and woodland: 8%
other: 26% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 13,000 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment--current issues: contamination of soil and groundwater
with agricultural chemicals, pesticides; salination, water-logging
of soil due to poor irrigation methods; Caspian Sea pollution;
diversion of a large share of the flow of the Amu Darya into
irrigation contributes to that river's inability to replenish the
Aral Sea; desertification
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous
Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography--note: landlocked
People
Population: 4,366,383 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 38% (male 845,584; female 813,223)
15-64 years: 58% (male 1,243,031; female 1,283,985)
65 years and over: 4% (male 68,496; female 112,064) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.58% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 25.91 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 8.77 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.61 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 73.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 61.11 years
male: 57.48 years
female: 64.91 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.21 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Turkmen(s)
adjective: Turkmen
Ethnic groups: Turkmen 77%, Uzbek 9.2%, Russian 6.7%, Kazakh 2%,
other 5.1% (1995)
Religions: Muslim 89%, Eastern Orthodox 9%, unknown 2%
Languages: Turkmen 72%, Russian 12%, Uzbek 9%, other 7%
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98%
male: 99%
female: 97% (1989 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Turkmenistan
local long form: none
local short form: Turkmenistan
former: Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic
Data code: TX
Government type: republic
Capital: Ashgabat
Administrative divisions: 5 welayatlar (singular--welayat): Ahal
Welayaty (Ashgabat), Balkan Welayaty (Nebitdag), Dashhowuz Welayaty
(formerly Tashauz), Lebap Welayaty (Charjew), Mary Welayaty
note: administrative divisions have the same names as their
administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center
name following in parentheses)
Independence: 27 October 1991 (from the Soviet Union)
National holiday: Independence Day, 27 October (1991)
Constitution: adopted 18 May 1992
Legal system: based on civil law system
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President and Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers
Saparmurat NIYAZOV (since 27 October 1990, when the first direct
presidential election occurred); note--the president is both the
chief of state and head of government
head of government: President and Chairman of the Cabinet of
Ministers Saparmurat NIYAZOV (since 27 October 1990, when the first
direct presidential election occurred); note--the president is both
the chief of state and head of government; Deputy Chairmen of the
Cabinet of Ministers Mukhamed ABALAKOV (since NA), Orazgeldy
AYDOGDIYEV (since NA 1992), Hudaayguly HALYKOV (since NA 1996),
Rejep SAPAROV (since NA 1992), Boris SHIKHMURADOV (since NA 1993),
Batyr SARJAYEV (since NA 1993), Ilaman SHIKHIYEV (since NA 1995),
Yolly GURBANMURADOV (since NA 1997), Saparmurat NURIYEV (since NA
1997)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
note: NIYAZOV has been asked by various local groups, most recently
on 21 December 1998 at the Second Congress of the Democratic Party,
to be "president for life," but he has declined, saying the status
would require an amendment to the constitution
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 21 June 1992 (next to be held NA 2002;
note--extension of President NIYAZOV's term for an additional five
years overwhelmingly approved by national referendum held 15 January
1994); deputy chairmen of the cabinet of ministers are appointed by
the president
election results: Saparmurat NIYAZOV elected president without
opposition; percent of vote--Saparmurat NIYAZOV 99.5%
Legislative branch: under the 1992 constitution, there are two
parliamentary bodies, a unicameral People's Council or Halk
Maslahaty (more than 100 seats, some of which are elected by popular
vote and some of which are appointed; meets infrequently) and a
unicameral Assembly or Majlis (50 seats; members are elected by
popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: People's Council--NA; Assembly--last held 11 December 1994
(next to be held NA December 1999)
election results: Assembly--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by
party--Democratic Party 45, other 5; note--all 50 preapproved by
President NIYAZOV
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the
president
Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party of Turkmenistan
note: formal opposition parties are outlawed; unofficial, small
opposition movements exist underground or in foreign countries
International organization participation: CCC, CIS, EAPC, EBRD,
ECE, ECO, ESCAP, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDB, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), IOC, IOM (observer), ISO
(correspondent), ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Halil UGUR
chancery: 2207 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Steven R. MANN
embassy: 9 Pushkin Street, Ashgabat
mailing address: use embassy street address
Flag description: green field with a vertical red stripe near the
hoist side, containing five carpet guls (designs used in producing
rugs) stacked above two crossed olive branches similar to the olive
branches on the UN flag; a white crescent moon and five white stars
appear in the upper corner of the field just to the fly side of the
red stripe
Economy
Economy--overview: Turkmenistan is largely desert country with
nomadic cattle raising, intensive agriculture in irrigated oases,
and huge gas and oil resources. One-half of its irrigated land is
planted in cotton, making it the world's tenth largest producer. It
also possesses the world's fifth largest reserves of natural gas and
substantial oil resources. Until the end of 1993, Turkmenistan had
experienced less economic disruption than other former Soviet states
because its economy received a boost from higher prices for oil and
gas and a sharp increase in hard currency earnings. In 1994,
Russia's refusal to export Turkmen gas to hard currency markets and
mounting debts of its major customers in the former USSR for gas
deliveries contributed to a sharp fall in industrial production and
caused the budget to shift from a surplus to a slight deficit. The
economy bottomed out in 1996, but high inflation continued.
Furthermore, with an authoritarian ex-communist regime in power and
a tribally based social structure, Turkmenistan has taken a cautious
approach to economic reform, hoping to use gas and cotton sales to
sustain its inefficient economy. In 1996, the government set in
place a stabilization program aimed at a unified and market-based
exchange rate, allocation of government credits by auction, and
strict limits on budget deficits. Privatization goals remain
limited. Turkmenistan is working hard to open new gas export
channels through Iran and Turkey to Europe, but these will take many
years to realize. In 1998 Turkmenistan faced revenue shortfalls due
to the continued lack of adequate export routes for natural gas and
obligations on extensive short-term external debt.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$7 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 5% (1998)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,630 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 18%
industry: 50%
services: 32% (1996 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.7%
highest 10%: 26.9% (1993)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 19.8% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 2.34 million (1996)
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture and forestry 44%, industry
and construction 19%, other 37% (1996)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $521 million
expenditures: $548 million, including capital expenditures of $83
million (1996 est.)
Industries: natural gas, oil, petroleum products, textiles, food
processing
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: 9.484 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 99.96%
hydro: 0.04%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 7.134 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 2.7 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 350 million kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: cotton, grain; livestock
Exports: $689 million (1997 est.)
Exports--commodities: natural gas, cotton, petroleum products,
textiles, electricity, carpets
Exports--partners: FSU, Hong Kong, Switzerland, US, Germany,
Turkey (1996)
Imports: $1.1 billion (1997 est.)
Imports--commodities: machinery and parts, grain and food,
plastics and rubber, consumer durables, textiles
Imports--partners: FSU, US, Turkey, Germany, Cyprus (1996)
Debt--external: $1.7 billion (1998 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $27.2 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Turkmen manat (TMM) = 100 tenesi
Exchange rates: manats per US$1--5,350 (January 1999), 4,070
(January 1997), 2,400 (January 1996)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: NA
Telephone system: poorly developed
domestic: NA
international: linked by cable and microwave radio relay to other
CIS republics and to other countries by leased connections to the
Moscow international gateway switch; a new telephone link from
Ashgabat to Iran has been established; a new exchange in Ashgabat
switches international traffic through Turkey via Intelsat;
satellite earth stations--1 Orbita and 1 Intelsat
Radio broadcast stations: 1 state-owned radio broadcast station
of NA type
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 3 (much programming relayed from
Russia and Turkey) (1997)
Televisions: NA
Transportation
Railways:
total: 2,187 km
broad gauge: 2,187 km 1.520-m gauge (1996 est.)
Highways:
total: 24,000 km
paved: 19,488 km (note--these roads are said to be hard-surfaced,
meaning that some are paved and some are all-weather gravel surfaced)
unpaved: 4,512 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: the Amu Darya is an important inland waterway
Pipelines: crude oil 250 km; natural gas 4,400 km
Ports and harbors: Turkmenbashy
Merchant marine:
total: 1 oil tanker (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,896 GRT/3,389 DWT
(1998 est.)
Airports: 64 (1994 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 22
2,438 to 3,047 m: 13
1,524 to 2,437 m: 8
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1994 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 42
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 35 (1994 est.)
Military
Military branches: Ministry of Defense (Army, Air and Air
Defense, Navy, Border Troops, and Internal Troops), National Guard
Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 1,110,606 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 901,735 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 45,050 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $88 million (1998)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 3% (1998)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: Caspian Sea boundaries are not yet
determined among Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia, and
Turkmenistan
Illicit drugs: limited illicit cultivator of opium poppy, mostly
for domestic consumption; limited government eradication program;
increasingly used as transshipment point for illicit drugs from
Southwest Asia to Russia and Western Europe; also a transshipment
point for acetic anhydride destined for Afghanistan
======================================================================
@Turks and Caicos Islands
------------------------
Geography
Location: Caribbean, two island groups in the North Atlantic
Ocean, southeast of The Bahamas
Geographic coordinates: 21 45 N, 71 35 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 430 sq km
land: 430 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 389 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; marine; moderated by trade winds; sunny and
relatively dry
Terrain: low, flat limestone; extensive marshes and mangrove
swamps
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Blue Hills 49 m
Natural resources: spiny lobster, conch
Land use:
arable land: 2%
permanent crops: NA%
permanent pastures: NA%
forests and woodland: NA%
other: 98% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: frequent hurricanes
Environment--current issues: limited natural fresh water
resources, private cisterns collect rainwater
Environment--international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography--note: 30 islands (eight inhabited)
People
Population: 16,863 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 32% (male 2,777; female 2,697)
15-64 years: 63% (male 5,619; female 5,085)
65 years and over: 5% (male 305; female 380) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.65% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 26.39 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 4.86 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 15 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.11 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 21.11 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 72.35 years
male: 70.4 years
female: 74.4 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.28 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: none
adjective: none
Ethnic groups: black
Religions: Baptist 41.2%, Methodist 18.9%, Anglican 18.3%,
Seventh-Day Adventist 1.7%, other 19.9% (1980)
Languages: English (official)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 98%
male: 99%
female: 98% (1970 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Turks and Caicos Islands
Data code: TK
Dependency status: overseas territory of the UK
Government type: NA
Capital: Grand Turk (Cockburn Town)
Administrative divisions: none (overseas territory of the UK)
Independence: none (overseas territory of the UK)
National holiday: Constitution Day, 30 August (1976)
Constitution: introduced 30 August 1976; suspended in 1986;
restored and revised 5 March 1988
Legal system: based on laws of England and Wales, with a small
number adopted from Jamaica and The Bahamas
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1953),
represented by Governor John KELLY (since NA September 1996)
head of government: Chief Minister Derek H. TAYLOR (since 31 January
1995)
cabinet: Executive Council consists of three ex officio members and
five appointed by the governor from among the members of the
Legislative Council
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by
the monarch; chief minister appointed by the governor
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Council (19 seats, of
which 13 are popularly elected; members serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 31 January 1995 (next to be held by NA December
1999)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--PDM 8,
PNP 4, independent (Norman SAUNDERS) 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: Progressive National Party or PNP
International organization participation: Caricom (associate),
CDB, Interpol (subbureau)
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory of
the UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (overseas territory
of the UK)
Flag description: blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper
hoist-side quadrant and the colonial shield centered on the outer
half of the flag; the shield is yellow and contains a conch shell,
lobster, and cactus
Economy
Economy--overview: The Turks and Caicos economy is based on
tourism, fishing, and offshore financial services. Most capital
goods and food for domestic consumption are imported. The US was the
leading source of tourists in 1996, accounting for more than half of
the 87,000 visitors. Major sources of government revenue include
fees from offshore financial activities and customs receipts.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$117 million (1997 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 4% (1997 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$7,700 (1997 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4% (1995)
Labor force: 4,848 (1990 est.)
Labor force--by occupation: about 33% in government and 20% in
agriculture and fishing; significant numbers in tourism and
financial and other services (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate: 10% (1997 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $47 million
expenditures: $33.6 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1997/98 est.)
Industries: tourism, offshore financial services
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: 5 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 5 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: corn, beans, cassava (tapioca), citrus
fruits; fish
Exports: $4.7 million (1993)
Exports--commodities: lobster, dried and fresh conch, conch shells
Exports--partners: US, UK
Imports: $46.6 million (1993)
Imports--commodities: food and beverages, tobacco, clothing,
manufactures, construction materials
Imports--partners: US, UK
Debt--external: $NA
Economic aid--recipient: $5.7 million (1995)
Currency: 1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: US currency is used
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 1,359 (1988 est.)
Telephone system: fair cable and radiotelephone services
domestic: NA
international: 2 submarine cables; satellite earth station--1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: 7,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 0 (broadcasts from The Bahamas are
received; cable television is established) (1997)
Televisions: NA
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 121 km
paved: 24 km
unpaved: 97 km
Ports and harbors: Grand Turk, Providenciales
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 7 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military--note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for South American narcotics
destined for the US
======================================================================
@Tuvalu
------
Geography
Location: Oceania, island group consisting of nine coral atolls
in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to
Australia
Geographic coordinates: 8 00 S, 178 00 E
Map references: Oceania
Area:
total: 26 sq km
land: 26 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: 0.1 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 24 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; moderated by easterly trade winds (March to
November); westerly gales and heavy rain (November to March)
Terrain: very low-lying and narrow coral atolls
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 5 m
Natural resources: fish
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 100% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: severe tropical storms are usually rare, but, in
1997, there were three cyclones
Environment--current issues: since there are no streams or rivers
and groundwater is not potable, all water needs must be met by
catchment systems with storage facilities; beachhead erosion because
of the use of sand for building materials; excessive clearance of
forest undergrowth for use as fuel; damage to coral reefs from the
spread of the Crown of Thorns starfish; Tuvalu is very concerned
about global increases in greenhouse gas emissions and their effect
on rising sea levels, which threaten the country's underground water
table
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity, Law of the Sea
People
Population: 10,588 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 35% (male 1,870; female 1,799)
15-64 years: 61% (male 3,062; female 3,360)
65 years and over: 4% (male 225; female 272) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.34% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 21.91 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 8.5 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 25.53 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 64.15 years
male: 63.01 years
female: 65.34 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.11 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Tuvaluan(s)
adjective: Tuvaluan
Ethnic groups: Polynesian 96%
Religions: Church of Tuvalu (Congregationalist) 97%, Seventh-Day
Adventist 1.4%, Baha'i 1%, other 0.6%
Languages: Tuvaluan, English
Literacy: NA; note--education is free and compulsory from ages 6
through 13
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Tuvalu
former: Ellice Islands
Data code: TV
Government type: constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary
democracy; began debating republic status in 1992
Capital: Funafuti
Administrative divisions: none
Independence: 1 October 1978 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 1 October (1978)
Constitution: 1 October 1978
Legal system: NA
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Governor General Sir Tomasi PUAPUA, M.D. (since NA
June 1998)
head of government: Prime Minister Bikenibeu PAENIU (since 23
December 1996) and Deputy Prime Minister Kokeiya MALUA (since 8
April 1998);
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the
recommendation of the prime minister
elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by
the monarch on the recommendation of the prime minister; prime
minister and deputy prime minister elected by and from the members
of Parliament; election last held 8 April 1998 (next to be held NA
2002)
election results: Bikenibeu PAENIU reelected prime minister by a
vote in Parliament of 10 to 2; Kokeiya MALUA elected deputy prime
minister; percent of Parliament vote--NA
Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Fale I Fono, also
called House of Assembly (12 seats--two from each island with more
than 1,000 inhabitants, one from all the other inhabited islands;
members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 26-27 March 1998 (next to be held by NA 2002)
election results: percent of vote--NA; seats--independents 12
Judicial branch: eight Island Courts; High Court; note--a chief
justice visits twice a year to preside over sessions of the High
Court
Political parties and leaders: there are no political parties but
members of Parliament usually align themselves in informal groupings
International organization participation: ACP, AsDB, C (special),
ESCAP, IFRCS (associate), Intelsat (nonsignatory user), ITU,
Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US: Tuvalu does not have an
embassy in the US
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an
embassy in Tuvalu; the US ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Tuvalu
Flag description: light blue with the flag of the UK in the upper
hoist-side quadrant; the outer half of the flag represents a map of
the country with nine yellow five-pointed stars symbolizing the nine
islands
Economy
Economy--overview: Tuvalu consists of a densely populated,
scattered group of nine coral atolls with poor soil. The country has
no known mineral resources and few exports. Subsistence farming and
fishing are the primary economic activities. Government revenues
largely come from the sale of stamps and coins and worker
remittances. About 1,000 Tuvaluans work in Nauru in the phosphate
mining industry. Nauru has begun repatriating Tuvaluans, however, as
phosphate resources decline. Substantial income is received annually
from an international trust fund established in 1987 by Australia,
NZ, and the UK and supported also by Japan and South Korea. In an
effort to reduce its dependence on foreign aid, the government is
pursuing public sector reforms, including privatization of some
government functions and personnel cuts of up to 7%. In 1998, Tuvalu
began selling internet addresses in its TV domain and reportedly has
derived revenue from use of its area code for "900" lines. Low-lying
Tuvalu is particularly vulnerable to any future global warming.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$7.8 million (1995 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 8.7% (1995)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$800 (1995 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.9% (average 1985-93)
Labor force: NA
Labor force--by occupation: people make a living mainly through
exploitation of the sea, reefs, and atolls and from wages sent home
by those working abroad (mostly workers in the phosphate industry
and sailors)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $4.3 million
expenditures: $4.3 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1989 est.)
Industries: fishing, tourism, copra
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: 3 million kWh (1995)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: NA%
hydro: NA%
nuclear: NA%
other: NA%
Electricity--consumption: 3 million kWh (1995)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1995)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1995)
Agriculture--products: coconuts; fish
Exports: $165,000 (f.o.b., 1989)
Exports--commodities: copra
Exports--partners: Fiji, Australia, NZ
Imports: $4.4 million (c.i.f., 1989)
Imports--commodities: food, animals, mineral fuels, machinery,
manufactured goods
Imports--partners: Fiji, Australia, NZ
Debt--external: $NA
Economic aid--recipient: $7.9 million (1995); note?substantial
annual support from an international trust fund
Currency: 1 Tuvaluan dollar ($T) or 1 Australian dollar ($A) =
100 cents
Exchange rates: Tuvaluan dollars ($T) or Australian dollars ($A)
per US$1--1.5853 (January 1999), 1.5888 (1998), 1.3439 (1997), 1.2773
(1996), 1.3486 (1995), 1.3667 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 130 (1983 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: radiotelephone communications between islands
international: NA
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: 4,000 (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 0 (1997)
Televisions: NA
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 8 km (1996 est.)
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km
Ports and harbors: Funafuti, Nukufetau
Merchant marine:
total: 10 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 44,371 GRT/70,137 DWT
ships by type: cargo 6, chemical tanker 2, oil tanker 1,
passenger-cargo 1 (1998 est.)
Airports: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: no regular military forces; Police Force
(consists of 56 full- and part-time personnel), Police Force
(includes Maritime Surveillance Unit for search and rescue missions
and surveillance operations)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $NA
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: NA%
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
======================================================================
@Uganda
------
Geography
Location: Eastern Africa, west of Kenya
Geographic coordinates: 1 00 N, 32 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area:
total: 236,040 sq km
land: 199,710 sq km
water: 36,330 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than Oregon
Land boundaries:
total: 2,698 km
border countries: Democratic Republic of the Congo 765 km, Kenya 933
km, Rwanda 169 km, Sudan 435 km, Tanzania 396 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: tropical; generally rainy with two dry seasons (December
to February, June to August); semiarid in northeast
Terrain: mostly plateau with rim of mountains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Lake Albert 621 m
highest point: Margherita Peak on Mount Stanley 5,110 m
Natural resources: copper, cobalt, limestone, salt
Land use:
arable land: 25%
permanent crops: 9%
permanent pastures: 9%
forests and woodland: 28%
other: 29% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 90 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment--current issues: draining of wetlands for agricultural
use; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; poaching is widespread
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation,
Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
Geography--note: landlocked
People
Population: 22,804,973 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 51% (male 5,857,254; female 5,820,526)
15-64 years: 47% (male 5,301,208; female 5,330,005)
65 years and over: 2% (male 239,434; female 256,546) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.83% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 48.54 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 18.43 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.84 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
note: according to the UNHCR, by the end of 1997, Uganda was host to
refugees from a number of neighboring countries, including: Sudan
160,000, Democratic Republic of the Congo 14,000, and Rwanda 12,000
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.93 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 90.68 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 43.06 years
male: 42.2 years
female: 43.94 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 7.03 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Ugandan(s)
adjective: Ugandan
Ethnic groups: Baganda 17%, Karamojong 12%, Basogo 8%, Iteso 8%,
Langi 6%, Rwanda 6%, Bagisu 5%, Acholi 4%, Lugbara 4%, Bunyoro 3%,
Batobo 3%, non-African (European, Asian, Arab) 1%, other 23%
Religions: Roman Catholic 33%, Protestant 33%, Muslim 16%,
indigenous beliefs 18%
Languages: English (official national language, taught in grade
schools, used in courts of law and by most newspapers and some radio
broadcasts), Ganda or Luganda (most widely used of the Niger-Congo
languages, preferred for native language publications and may be
taught in school), other Niger-Congo languages, Nilo-Saharan
languages, Swahili, Arabic
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 61.8%
male: 73.7%
female: 50.2% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Uganda
conventional short form: Uganda
Data code: UG
Government type: republic
Capital: Kampala
Administrative divisions: 39 districts; Apac, Arua, Bundibugyo,
Bushenyi, Gulu, Hoima, Iganga, Jinja, Kabale, Kabarole, Kalangala,
Kampala, Kamuli, Kapchorwa, Kasese, Kibale, Kiboga, Kisoro, Kitgum,
Kotido, Kumi, Lira, Luwero, Masaka, Masindi, Mbale, Mbarara, Moroto,
Moyo, Mpigi, Mubende, Mukono, Nebbi, Ntungamo, Pallisa, Rakai,
Rukungiri, Soroti, Tororo
Independence: 9 October 1962 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 9 October (1962)
Constitution: 8 October 1995; adopted by the interim, 284-member
Constituent Assembly, charged with debating the draft constitution
that had been proposed in May 1993; the Constituent Assembly was
dissolved upon the promulgation of the constitution in October 1995
Legal system: in 1995, the government restored the legal system
to one based on English common law and customary law; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Lt. Gen. Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI (since
seizing power 29 January 1986); note--the president is both chief of
state and head of government
head of government: President Lt. Gen. Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI (since
seizing power 29 January 1986); Prime Minister Kintu MUSOKE (since
18 November 1994); note--the president is both chief of state and
head of government; the prime minister assists the president in the
supervision of the cabinet
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among elected
legislators
elections: president elected by popular vote for a NA-year term;
election last held 9 May 1996 (next to be held by 31 May 2001);
note--first popular election for president since independence in 1962
was held in 1996; prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Lt. Gen. Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI elected president;
percent of vote--Lt. Gen. Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI 74%, Paul Kawanga
SSEMOGERERE 24%, Muhammad MAYANJA 2%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (276 members--214
directly elected by popular vote, 62 nominated by legally
established special interest groups and approved by the
president--women 39, army 10, disabled 5, youth 5, labor 3; members
serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 27 June 1996 (next to be held NA 2001);
election results: NA; note--election campaigning by party was not
permitted
Judicial branch: Court of Appeal, judges are appointed by the
president; High Court, judges are appointed by the president
Political parties and leaders: only one political organization,
chairman] is recognized; note--this is the party of President
MUSEVENI; the president maintains that the NRM is not a political
party, but a movement which claims the loyalty of all Ugandans
note: of the political parties that exist but are prohibited from
sponsoring candidates, the most important are the Ugandan People's
MAYANJA-NKANGI]; the new constitution requires the suspension of
political party activity until a referendum is held on the matter in
2000
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC,
EADB, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO
(correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Edith Grace SSEMPALA
chancery: 5911 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Nancy J. POWELL
embassy: Parliament Avenue, Kampala
mailing address: P. O. Box 7007, Kampala
Flag description: six equal horizontal bands of black (top),
yellow, red, black, yellow, and red; a white disk is superimposed at
the center and depicts a red-crested crane (the national symbol)
facing the hoist side
Economy
Economy--overview: Uganda has substantial natural resources,
including fertile soils, regular rainfall, and sizable mineral
deposits of copper and cobalt. Agriculture is the most important
sector of the economy, employing over 80% of the work force. Coffee
is the major export crop and accounts for the bulk of export
revenues. Since 1986, the government--with the support of foreign
countries and international agencies--has acted to rehabilitate and
stabilize the economy by undertaking currency reform, raising
producer prices on export crops, increasing prices of petroleum
products, and improving civil service wages. The policy changes are
especially aimed at dampening inflation and boosting production and
export earnings. In 1990-98, the economy turned in a solid
performance based on continued investment in the rehabilitation of
infrastructure, improved incentives for production and exports,
reduced inflation, gradually improved domestic security, and the
return of exiled Indian-Ugandan entrepreneurs. Continuation of this
performance, while possible, appears difficult because of Ugandan
involvement in the war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo,
growing corruption within the government, and slippage in the
government's determination to press reforms.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$22.7 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 5.5% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,020 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 44%
industry: 17%
services: 39% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: 55% (1993 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3%
highest 10%: 33.4% (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.6% (1998)
Labor force: 8.361 million (1993 est.)
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 86%, industry 4%, services
10% (1980 est.)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $869 million
expenditures: $985 million, including capital expenditures of $69
million (FY95/96)
Industries: sugar, brewing, tobacco, cotton textiles, cement
Industrial production growth rate: 19.7% (FY95/96)
Electricity--production: 787 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 0.89%
hydro: 99.11%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 677 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 110 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: coffee, tea, cotton, tobacco, cassava
(tapioca), potatoes, corn, millet, pulses; beef, goat meat, milk,
poultry
Exports: $476 million (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports--commodities: coffee 54%, gold, fish and fish products,
cotton, tea, corn (1997)
Exports--partners: Spain 14%, Germany 14%, Netherlands 10%, France
8%, Italy (1997)
Imports: $1.4 billion (c.i.f., 1998)
Imports--commodities: transportation equipment, petroleum, medical
supplies, iron and steel (1996)
Imports--partners: Kenya 31%, UK 12%, Japan 6%, India 6%, South
Africa 5% (1997)
Debt--external: $2.9 billion (1998 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $827.3 million (1993)
Currency: 1 Ugandan shilling (USh) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Ugandan shillings (USh) per US$1--1,368.4
(December 1998), 1,240.2 (1998), 1,083.0 (1997), 1,046.1 (1996),
968.9 (1995), 979.4 (1994)
Fiscal year: 1 July--30 June
Communications
Telephones: 61,600 (1990 est.)
Telephone system: fair system but in serious need of expansion
and better maintenance; a cellular system has been introduced as a
stopgap but the communications problems will not be solved without
substantial investment in the conventional telephone infrastructure;
e-mail and Internet services are available
domestic: intercity traffic by wire, microwave radio relay, and
radiotelephone communications stations, cellular system for short
range traffic
international: satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 10, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: 2.13 million (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 8 (in addition, there is one
low-power repeater) (1997)
Televisions: 220,000 (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 1,241 km
narrow gauge: 1,241 km 1.000-m gauge
note: a program to rehabilitate the railroad is underway (1995)
Highways:
total: 27,000 km
paved: 1,800 km
unpaved: 25,200 km (of which about 4,800 km are all-weather roads)
(1990 est.)
Waterways: Lake Victoria, Lake Albert, Lake Kyoga, Lake George,
Lake Edward, Victoria Nile, Albert Nile
Ports and harbors: Entebbe, Jinja, Port Bell
Merchant marine:
total: 3 roll-on/roll-off cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling
5,091 GRT/8,229 DWT (1998 est.)
Airports: 27 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 4
over 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 23
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 9
under 914 m: 7 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Wing
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 4,812,363 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 2,611,096 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $95 million (FY98/99)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 1.9% (FY98/99)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: Ugandan military forces are supporting
the rebel forces in the civil war in the Democratic Republic of the
Congo
======================================================================
@Ukraine
-------
Geography
Location: Eastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Poland
and Russia
Geographic coordinates: 49 00 N, 32 00 E
Map references: Commonwealth of Independent States
Area:
total: 603,700 sq km
land: 603,700 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than Texas
Land boundaries:
total: 4,558 km
border countries: Belarus 891 km, Hungary 103 km, Moldova 939 km,
Poland 428 km, Romania (south) 169 km, Romania (west) 362 km, Russia
1,576 km, Slovakia 90 km
Coastline: 2,782 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200-m or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: temperate continental; Mediterranean only on the
southern Crimean coast; precipitation disproportionately
distributed, highest in west and north, lesser in east and
southeast; winters vary from cool along the Black Sea to cold
farther inland; summers are warm across the greater part of the
country, hot in the south
Terrain: most of Ukraine consists of fertile plains (steppes) and
plateaus, mountains being found only in the west (the Carpathians),
and in the Crimean Peninsula in the extreme south
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Black Sea 0 m
highest point: Hora Hoverla 2,061 m
Natural resources: iron ore, coal, manganese, natural gas, oil,
salt, sulfur, graphite, titanium, magnesium, kaolin, nickel,
mercury, timber
Land use:
arable land: 58%
permanent crops: 2%
permanent pastures: 13%
forests and woodland: 18%
other: 9% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 26,050 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment--current issues: inadequate supplies of potable water;
air and water pollution; deforestation; radiation contamination in
the northeast from 1986 accident at Chornobyl' Nuclear Power Plant
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Sulphur 85, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate
Change, Environmental Modification, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test
Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic
Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Law of the Sea
Geography--note: strategic position at the crossroads between
Europe and Asia; second-largest country in Europe
People
Population: 49,811,174 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 18% (male 4,690,318; female 4,498,239)
15-64 years: 68% (male 16,136,296; female 17,572,011)
65 years and over: 14% (male 2,251,664; female 4,662,646) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: -0.62% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 9.54 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 16.38 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.63 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.48 male(s)/female
total population: 0.86 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 21.73 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 65.91 years
male: 60.23 years
female: 71.87 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.34 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Ukrainian(s)
adjective: Ukrainian
Ethnic groups: Ukrainian 73%, Russian 22%, Jewish 1%, other 4%
Religions: Ukrainian Orthodox--Moscow Patriarchate, Ukrainian
Orthodox--Kiev Patriarchate, Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox,
Ukrainian Catholic (Uniate), Protestant, Jewish
Languages: Ukrainian, Russian, Romanian, Polish, Hungarian
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98%
male: 100%
female: 97% (1989 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Ukraine
local long form: none
local short form: Ukrayina
former: Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic
Data code: UP
Government type: republic
Capital: Kiev (Kyyiv)
Administrative divisions: 24 oblasti (singular--oblast'), 1
autonomous republic* (avtomnaya respublika), and 2 municipalities
(mista, singular--misto) with oblast status**; Cherkas'ka (Cherkasy),
Chernihivs'ka (Chernihiv), Chernivets'ka (Chernivtsi),
Dnipropetrovs'ka (Dnipropetrovs'k), Donets'ka (Donets'k),
Ivano-Frankivs'ka (Ivano-Frankivs'k), Kharkivs'ka (Kharkiv),
Khersons'ka (Kherson), Khmel'nyts'ka (Khmel'nyts'kyy),
Kirovohrads'ka (Kirovohrad), Kyyiv**, Kyyivs'ka (Kiev), Luhans'ka
(Luhans'k), L'vivs'ka (L'viv), Mykolayivs'ka (Mykolayiv), Odes'ka
(Odesa), Poltavs'ka (Poltava), Avtonomna Respublika Krym*
(Simferopol'), Rivnens'ka (Rivne), Sevastopol'**, Sums'ka (Sumy),
Ternopil's'ka (Ternopil'), Vinnyts'ka (Vinnytsya), Volyns'ka
(Luts'k), Zakarpats'ka (Uzhhorod), Zaporiz'ka (Zaporizhzhya),
Zhytomyrs'ka (Zhytomyr)
note: oblasts have the administrative center name following in
parentheses
Independence: 1 December 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday: Independence Day, 24 August (1991)
Constitution: adopted 28 June 1996
Legal system: based on civil law system; judicial review of
legislative acts
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Leonid D. KUCHMA (since 19 July 1994)
head of government: Prime Minister Valeriy PUSTOVOYTENKO (since 16
July 1997), First Deputy Prime Minister Volodymyr KURATCHENKO (since
14 January 1999), and three deputy prime ministers
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president and
approved by the Supreme Council
note: there is also a National Security and Defense Council or NSDC
originally created in 1992 as the National Security Council, but
significantly revamped and strengthened under President KUCHMA; the
NSDC staff is tasked with developing national security policy on
domestic and international matters and advising the president; a
Presidential Administration that helps draft presidential edicts and
provides policy support to the president; and a Council of Regions
that serves as an advisory body created by President KUCHMA in
September 1994 that includes chairmen of the Kyyiv (Kiev) and
Sevastopol' municipalities and chairmen of the Oblasti
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 26 June and 10 July 1994 (next to be held NA
October 1999); prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed
by the president and approved by the People's Council
election results: Leonid D. KUCHMA elected president; percent of
vote--Leonid KUCHMA 52.15%, Leonid KRAVCHUK 45.06%
Legislative branch: unicameral Supreme Council or Verkhovna Rada
(450 seats; under Ukraine's new election law, half of the Rada's
seats are allocated on a proportional basis to those parties that
gain 4% of the national electoral vote; the other 225 members are
elected by popular vote in single-mandate constituencies; all serve
four-year terms)
elections: last held 29 March 1998 (next to be held NA 2002);
note--repeat elections continuing to fill vacant seats
election results: percent of vote by party (for parties clearing 4%
hurdle on 29 March 1998)--Communist 24.7%, Rukh 9.4%,
Socialist/Peasant 8.6%, Green 5.3%, People's Democratic Party 5.0%,
Hromada 4.7%, Progressive Socialist 4.0%, United Social Democratic
Party 4.0%; seats by party (as of 8 July 1998)--Communist 120,
People's Democratic Party 88, Rukh 47, Hromada 45, Socialist/Peasant
33, United Social Democratic 25, Green 24, Progressive Socialist 14,
independents 26, vacant 28
Judicial branch: Supreme Court; Constitutional Court
Political parties and leaders: Communist Party of Ukraine [Petro
VITRENKO]
note: and numerous smaller parties
Political pressure groups and leaders: New Ukraine (Nova
Ukrayina); Congress of National Democratic Forces
International organization participation: BSEC, CCC, CE, CEI,
CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, IHO
(pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat (nonsignatory
user), Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, MONUA, NSG, OAS
(observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIBH,
UNMOP, UNMOT, UNPREDEP, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
(applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Anton Denysovych BUTEYKO
chancery: 3350 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20007
consulate(s) general: Chicago and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Steven Karl PIFER
embassy: 10 Yuria Kotsubynskoho, 254053 Kiev 53
mailing address: use embassy street address
Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of azure (top) and
golden yellow represent grainfields under a blue sky
Economy
Economy--overview: After Russia, the Ukrainian republic was far
and away the most important economic component of the former Soviet
Union, producing about four times the output of the next-ranking
republic. Its fertile black soil generated more than one-fourth of
Soviet agricultural output, and its farms provided substantial
quantities of meat, milk, grain, and vegetables to other republics.
Likewise, its diversified heavy industry supplied equipment and raw
materials to industrial and mining sites in other regions of the
former USSR. Ukraine depends on imports of energy, especially
natural gas. Shortly after the implosion of the USSR in December
1991, the Ukrainian Government liberalized most prices and erected a
legal framework for privatization, but widespread resistance to
reform within the government and the legislature soon stalled reform
efforts and led to some backtracking. Output in 1992-98 fell to less
than half the 1991 level. Loose monetary policies pushed inflation
to hyperinflationary levels in late 1993. Since his election in July
1994, President KUCHMA has pushed economic reforms, maintained
financial discipline, and tried to remove almost all remaining
controls over prices and foreign trade. The onset of the financial
crisis in Russia dashed Ukraine's hopes for its first year of
economic growth in 1998 due to a sharp fall in export revenue and
reduced domestic demand. Although administrative currency controls
will be lifted in early 1999, they are likely to be reimposed when
the hryvnia next comes under pressure. The currency is only likely
to collapse further if Ukraine abandons tight monetary policies or
threatens default. Despite increasing pressure from the IMF to
accelerate reform, significant economic restructuring remains
unlikely in 1999.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$108.5 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: -1.7% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$2,200 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 14%
industry: 30%
services: 56% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: 50% (1997 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 4.1%
highest 10%: 20.8% (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 20% (yearend 1998 est.)
Labor force: 22.8 million (yearend 1997)
Labor force--by occupation: industry and construction 32%,
agriculture and forestry 24%, health, education, and culture 17%,
trade and distribution 8%, transport and communication 7%, other 12%
(1996)
Unemployment rate: 3.7% officially registered; large number of
unregistered or underemployed workers (December 1998)
Budget:
revenues: $18 billion
expenditures: $21 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1997 est.)
Industries: coal, electric power, ferrous and nonferrous metals,
machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, food-processing
(especially sugar)
Industrial production growth rate: -1.5% (1998 est.)
Electricity--production: 171.8 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 47%
hydro: 9.2%
nuclear: 43.8%
other: 0% (1998)
Electricity--consumption: 174 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity--exports: 5 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity--imports: 7 billion kWh (1998)
Agriculture--products: grain, sugar beets, sunflower seeds,
vegetables; beef, milk
Exports: $11.3 billion (1998 est.)
Exports--commodities: ferrous and nonferrous metals, chemicals,
machinery and transport equipment, food products
Exports--partners: Russia, China,, Turkey, Germany, Belarus (1998)
Imports: $13.1 billion (1998 est.)
Imports--commodities: energy, machinery and parts, transportation
equipment, chemicals, plastics and rubber
Imports--partners: Russia, Germany, US, Poland, Italy (1998)
Debt--external: $10.9 billion (October 1998)
Economic aid--recipient: $637.7 million (1995); IMF Extended Funds
Facility $2.2 billion (1998)
Currency: 1 hryvna=100 kopiykas
Exchange rates: hryvnia per US$1--3.4270 (February 1999), 2.4495
(1998), 1.8617 (1997), 1.8295 (1996), 1.4731 (1995), 0.3275 (1994)
note: in August 1998, Ukraine introduced currency controls in an
attempt to fend off the impact of the Russian financial crisis; it
created an exchange rate corridor for the hryvnia of 2.5-3.5 hryvnia
per US$1
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 12,531,277 (1998)
Telephone system: Ukraine's phone systems are administered
through the State Committee for Communications; Ukraine has a
telecommunication development plan through 2005; Internet service is
available in large cities
domestic: local--Kiev has a digital loop connected to the national
digital backbone; Kiev has several cellular phone companies
providing service in the different standards; some companies offer
intercity roaming and even limited international roaming; cellular
phone service is offered in at least 100 cities nationwide
international: foreign investment in the form of joint business
ventures greatly improved the Ukrainian telephone system; Ukraine's
two main fiber-optic lines are part of the Trans-Asia-Europe
Fiber-Optic Line (TAE); these lines connect Ukraine to worldwide
service through Belarus, Hungary, and Poland; Odesa is a landing
point for the Italy-Turkey-Ukraine-Russia Undersea Fiber-Optic Cable
(ITUR) giving Ukraine an additional fiber-optic link to worldwide
service; Ukraine has Intelsat, Inmarsat, and Intersputnik earth
stations
Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA; note--at
least 25 local broadcast stations of NA type (1998)
Radios: 15 million (1990)
Television broadcast stations: at least 33 (in addition 21
repeater stations that relay ORT broadcasts from Russia) (1997)
Televisions: 17.3 million (1992)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 23,350 km
broad gauge: 23,350 km 1.524-m gauge (8,600 km electrified)
Highways:
total: 172,565 km
paved: 163,937 km (including 1,875 km of expressways); note--these
roads are said to be hard-surfaced, meaning that some are paved and
some are all-weather gravel surfaced
unpaved: 8,628 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 4,400 km navigable waterways, of which 1,672 km were
on the Pryp''yat' and Dnistr (1990)
Pipelines: crude oil 4,000 km (1995); petroleum products 4,500 km
(1995); natural gas 34,400 km (1998)
Ports and harbors: Berdyans'k, Illichivs'k, Izmayil, Kerch,
Kherson, Kiev (Kyyiv), Mariupol', Mykolayiv, Odesa, Reni
Merchant marine:
total: 181 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,022,047
GRT/1,101,278 DWT
ships by type: bulk 9, cargo 117, liquefied gas tanker 1, container
4, multifunction large-load carrier 2, oil tanker 16, passenger 12,
passenger-cargo 3, railcar carrier 2, refrigerated cargo 2,
roll-on/roll-off cargo 10, short-sea passenger 3 (1998 est.)
Airports: 706 (1994 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 163
over 3,047 m: 14
2,438 to 3,047 m: 55
1,524 to 2,437 m: 34
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 57 (1994 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 543
over 3,047 m: 7
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 16
914 to 1,523 m: 37
under 914 m: 476 (1994 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Force,
Internal Troops, National Guard, Border Troops
Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 12,434,486 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 9,740,684 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 365,762 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $414 million (1999)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 1.4% (1999)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: dispute with Romania over continental
shelf of the Black Sea under which significant gas and oil deposits
may exist; agreed in 1997 to two-year negotiating period, after
which either party can refer dispute to the International Court of
Justice (ICJ); has made no territorial claim in Antarctica (but has
reserved the right to do so) and does not recognize the claims of
any other nation
Illicit drugs: limited cultivation of cannabis and opium poppy,
mostly for CIS consumption; some synthetic drug production for
export to West; limited government eradication program; used as
transshipment point for opiates and other illicit drugs from Africa,
Latin America, and Turkey, and to Europe and Russia; drug-related
money laundering a minor, but growing, problem
======================================================================
@United Arab Emirates
--------------------
Geography
Location: Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman and the Persian
Gulf, between Oman and Saudi Arabia
Geographic coordinates: 24 00 N, 54 00 E
Map references: Middle East
Area:
total: 82,880 sq km
land: 82,880 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than Maine
Land boundaries:
total: 867 km
border countries: Oman 410 km, Saudi Arabia 457 km
Coastline: 1,318 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: desert; cooler in eastern mountains
Terrain: flat, barren coastal plain merging into rolling sand
dunes of vast desert wasteland; mountains in east
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
highest point: Jabal Yibir 1,527 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 2%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 98% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 50 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: frequent sand and dust storms
Environment--current issues: lack of natural freshwater resources
being overcome by desalination plants; desertification; beach
pollution from oil spills
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity, Law of the Sea
Geography--note: strategic location along southern approaches to
Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil
People
Population: 2,344,402 (July 1999 est.)
note: includes 1,576,589 non-nationals (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 31% (male 368,844; female 353,183)
15-64 years: 67% (male 1,015,690; female 558,902)
65 years and over: 2% (male 32,935; female 14,848) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.78% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 18.86 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 3.13 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 2.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.82 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 2.22 male(s)/female
total population: 1.53 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 14.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.24 years
male: 73.83 years
female: 76.72 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.5 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Emirian(s)
adjective: Emirian
Ethnic groups: Emiri 19%, other Arab and Iranian 23%, South Asian
50%, other expatriates (includes Westerners and East Asians) 8%
(1982)
note: less than 20% are UAE citizens (1982)
Religions: Muslim 96% (Shi'a 16%), Christian, Hindu, and other 4%
Languages: Arabic (official), Persian, English, Hindi, Urdu
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 79.2%
male: 78.9%
female: 79.8% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: United Arab Emirates
conventional short form: none
local long form: Al Imarat al Arabiyah al Muttahidah
local short form: none
former: Trucial States
abbreviation: UAE
Data code: TC
Government type: federation with specified powers delegated to
the UAE federal government and other powers reserved to member
emirates
Capital: Abu Dhabi
Administrative divisions: 7 emirates (imarat, singular--imarah);
Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi), 'Ajman, Al Fujayrah, Ash Shariqah (Sharjah),
Dubayy (Dubai), Ra's al Khaymah, Umm al Qaywayn
Independence: 2 December 1971 (from UK)
National holiday: National Day, 2 December (1971)
Constitution: 2 December 1971 (made permanent in 1996)
Legal system: federal court system introduced in 1971; all
emirates except Dubayy (Dubai) and Ra's al Khaymah have joined the
federal system; all emirates have secular and Islamic law for civil,
criminal, and high courts
Suffrage: none
Executive branch:
chief of state: President ZAYID bin Sultan Al Nuhayyan (since 2
December 1971), ruler of Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi) (since 6 August 1966)
and Vice President MAKTUM bin Rashid al-Maktum (since 8 October
1990), ruler of Dubayy (Dubai)
head of government: Prime Minister MAKTUM bin Rashid al-Maktum
(since 8 October 1990), ruler of Dubayy (Dubai); Deputy Prime
Minister SULTAN bin Zayid Al Nuhayyan (since 20 November 1990)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
note: there is also a Federal Supreme Council (FSC) which is
composed of the seven emirate rulers; the council is the highest
constitutional authority in the UAE; establishes general policies
and sanctions federal legislation, Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi) and Dubayy
(Dubai) rulers have effective veto power; meets four times a year
elections: president and vice president elected by the FSC (a group
of seven electors) for five-year terms; election last held NA
October 1996 (next to be held NA 2001); prime minister and deputy
prime minister appointed by the president
election results: ZAYID bin Sultan Al Nuhayyan reelected president;
percent of FSC vote--NA, but believed to be unanimous; MAKTUM bin
Rashid al-Maktum elected vice president; percent of FSC vote--NA, but
believed to be unanimous
Legislative branch: unicameral Federal National Council or Majlis
al-Ittihad al-Watani (40 seats; members appointed by the rulers of
the constituent states to serve two-year terms)
elections: none
note: reviews legislation, but cannot change or veto
Judicial branch: Union Supreme Court, judges appointed by the
president
Political parties and leaders: none
Political pressure groups and leaders: NA
International organization participation: ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AL,
AMF, CAEU, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA,
IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat,
Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW,
OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Muhammad bin Husayn al-SHAALI
chancery: Suite 700, 1255 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20037
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Theodore H. KATTOUF
embassy: Al-Sudan Street, Abu Dhabi
mailing address: P. O. Box 4009, Abu Dhabi; American Embassy Abu
Dhabi, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-6010 (pouch);
note--work week is Saturday through Wednesday
consulate(s) general: Dubai
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of green (top),
white, and black with a thicker vertical red band on the hoist side
Economy
Economy--overview: The UAE has an open economy with one of the
world's highest per capita incomes and with a sizable annual trade
surplus. Its wealth is based on oil and gas output (about 33% of
GDP), and the fortunes of the economy fluctuate with the prices of
those commodities. Since 1973, the UAE has undergone a profound
transformation from an impoverished region of small desert
principalities to a modern state with a high standard of living. At
present levels of production, oil and gas reserves should last for
over 100 years. The UAE Government is encouraging increased
privatization within the economy. Industrial development has picked
up in 1997-98, but lower world oil prices caused GDP to drop 5% in
1998.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$40 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: -5% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$17,400 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 3%
industry: 52%
services: 45% (1996 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5% (1997 est.)
Labor force: 1.3 million (1997 est.)
note: 75% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national
(July 1998 est.)
Labor force--by occupation: services 60%, industry 32%,
agriculture 8% (1996 est.)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $5.4 billion
expenditures: $5.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $350
million (1998 budget est.)
Industries: petroleum, fishing, petrochemicals, construction
materials, some boat building, handicrafts, pearling
Industrial production growth rate: 0% (1997 est.)
Electricity--production: 18 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 18 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: dates, vegetables, watermelons; poultry,
eggs, dairy products; fish
Exports: $38 billion (f.o.b., 1997 est.)
Exports--commodities: crude oil 45%, natural gas, reexports, dried
fish, dates
Exports--partners: Japan 36%, South Korea 9%, Singapore 5%, India
5%, Oman 3% (1997)
Imports: $29.7 billion (f.o.b., 1997 est.)
Imports--commodities: manufactured goods, machinery and transport
equipment, chemicals, food
Imports--partners: US 9%, Japan 9%, UK 9%, Germany 6%, India 6%
(1997)
Debt--external: $14 billion (1996 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $NA
Currency: 1 Emirian dirham (Dh) = 100 fils
Exchange rates: Emirian dirhams (Dh) per US$1--central bank
mid-point rate: 3.6725 (January 1999), 3.6725 (1998); fixed rate:
3.6710 (1994-1997)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 677,793 (1993 est.)
Telephone system: modern system consisting of microwave radio
relay and coaxial cable; key centers are Abu Dhabi and Dubai
domestic: microwave radio relay and coaxial cable
international: satellite earth stations--3 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean
and 2 Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat; submarine cables to Qatar,
Bahrain, India, and Pakistan; tropospheric scatter to Bahrain;
microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia
Radio broadcast stations: AM 8, FM 3, shortwave 0
Radios: 545,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 15 (1997)
Televisions: 170,000 (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 4,835 km
paved: 4,835 km
unpaved: 0 km (1996 est.)
Pipelines: crude oil 830 km; natural gas, including natural gas
liquids, 870 km
Ports and harbors: 'Ajman, Al Fujayrah, Das Island, Khawr Fakkan,
Mina' Jabal 'Ali, Mina' Khalid, Mina' Rashid, Mina' Saqr, Mina'
Zayid, Umm al Qaywayn
Merchant marine:
total: 74 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,093,795 GRT/1,757,189
DWT
ships by type: bulk 4, cargo 20, chemical tanker 4, container 8,
liquefied gas tanker 1, livestock carrier 1, oil tanker 28,
refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 7 (1998 est.)
Airports: 41 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 21
over 3,047 m: 8
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 4 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 20
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 9
under 914 m: 5 (1998 est.)
Heliports: 2 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense,
paramilitary (includes Federal Police Force)
Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 791,097 (1999 est.)
note: includes non-nationals
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 425,248 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 23,358 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $2.118 billion (1999)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 5% (1999)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: location and status of boundary with
Saudi Arabia is not final, de facto boundary reflects 1974
agreement; no defined boundary with most of Oman, but Administrative
Line in far north; claims two islands in the Persian Gulf occupied
by Iran: Lesser Tunb (called Tunb as Sughra in Arabic by UAE and
Jazireh-ye Tonb-e Kuchek in Persian by Iran) and Greater Tunb
(called Tunb al Kubra in Arabic by UAE and Jazireh-ye Tonb-e Bozorg
in Persian by Iran); claims island in the Persian Gulf jointly
administered with Iran (called Abu Musa in Arabic by UAE and
Jazireh-ye Abu Musa in Persian by Iran)--over which Iran has taken
steps to exert unilateral control since 1992, including access
restrictions and a military build-up on the island; the UAE has
garnered significant diplomatic support in the region in protesting
these Iranian actions
Illicit drugs: growing role as heroin transshipment and
money-laundering center due to its proximity to southwest Asian
producing countries and the bustling free trade zone in Dubai
======================================================================
@United Kingdom
--------------
Introduction
Background: Britain, the dominant industrial and maritime power
of the nineteenth century, played a leading role in developing
parliamentary democracy and in advancing literature and science. The
British Empire covered approximately one-fourth of the earth's
surface at its zenith. In the first half of the twentieth century
its strength was seriously depleted by two world wars. Since the end
of World War II, the British Empire has been dismantled, and Britain
has rebuilt itself into a prosperous, modern European nation with
significant international political, cultural, and economic
influence. As the twentieth century draws to a close, Britain is
debating the degree of its integration with continental Europe.
While a member of the EU, for the time being it is staying out of
the euro system introduced in January 1999. Constitutional reform,
including the House of Lords and the devolution of power to
Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, is an ongoing issue in Great
Britain.
Geography
Location: Western Europe, islands including the northern
one-sixth of the island of Ireland between the North Atlantic Ocean
and the North Sea, northwest of France
Geographic coordinates: 54 00 N, 2 00 W
Map references: Europe
Area:
total: 244,820 sq km
land: 241,590 sq km
water: 3,230 sq km
note: includes Rockall and Shetland Islands
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than Oregon
Land boundaries:
total: 360 km
border countries: Ireland 360 km
Coastline: 12,429 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: as defined in continental shelf orders or in
accordance with agreed upon boundaries
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: temperate; moderated by prevailing southwest winds over
the North Atlantic Current; more than one-half of the days are
overcast
Terrain: mostly rugged hills and low mountains; level to rolling
plains in east and southeast
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Fenland -4 m
highest point: Ben Nevis 1,343 m
Natural resources: coal, petroleum, natural gas, tin, limestone,
iron ore, salt, clay, chalk, gypsum, lead, silica
Land use:
arable land: 25%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 46%
forests and woodland: 10%
other: 19% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 1,080 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment--current issues: sulfur dioxide emissions from power
plants contribute to air pollution; some rivers polluted by
agricultural wastes; and coastal waters polluted because of
large-scale disposal of sewage at sea
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity,
Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping,
Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection,
Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands,
Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography--note: lies near vital North Atlantic sea lanes; only 35
km from France and now linked by tunnel under the English Channel;
because of heavily indented coastline, no location is more than 125
km from tidal waters
People
Population: 59,113,439 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 19% (male 5,822,901; female 5,522,122)
15-64 years: 65% (male 19,393,706; female 19,103,882)
65 years and over: 16% (male 3,821,181; female 5,449,647) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.24% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 11.9 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 10.64 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 1.11 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 5.78 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.37 years
male: 74.73 years
female: 80.15 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.71 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Briton(s), British (collective plural)
adjective: British
Ethnic groups: English 81.5%, Scottish 9.6%, Irish 2.4%, Welsh
1.9%, Ulster 1.8%, West Indian, Indian, Pakistani, and other 2.8%
Religions: Anglican 27 million, Roman Catholic 9 million, Muslim
1 million, Presbyterian 800,000, Methodist 760,000, Sikh 400,000,
Hindu 350,000, Jewish 300,000 (1991 est.)
Languages: English, Welsh (about 26% of the population of Wales),
Scottish form of Gaelic (about 60,000 in Scotland)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over has completed five or more years of
schooling
total population: 99% (1978 est.)
male: NA%
female: NA%
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern
Ireland
conventional short form: United Kingdom
abbreviation: UK
Data code: UK
Government type: constitutional monarchy
Capital: London
Administrative divisions: 47 counties, 7 metropolitan counties,
26 districts, 9 regions, and 3 islands areas; England--39 counties, 7
metropolitan counties*; Avon, Bedford, Berkshire, Buckingham,
Cambridge, Cheshire, Cleveland, Cornwall, Cumbria, Derby, Devon,
Dorset, Durham, East Sussex, Essex, Gloucester, Greater London*,
Greater Manchester*, Hampshire, Hereford and Worcester, Hertford,
Humberside, Isle of Wight, Kent, Lancashire, Leicester, Lincoln,
Merseyside*, Norfolk, Northampton, Northumberland, North Yorkshire,
Nottingham, Oxford, Shropshire, Somerset, South Yorkshire*,
Stafford, Suffolk, Surrey, Tyne and Wear*, Warwick, West Midlands*,
West Sussex, West Yorkshire*, Wiltshire; Northern Ireland--26
districts; Antrim, Ards, Armagh, Ballymena, Ballymoney, Banbridge,
Belfast, Carrickfergus, Castlereagh, Coleraine, Cookstown,
Craigavon, Down, Dungannon, Fermanagh, Larne, Limavady, Lisburn,
Londonderry, Magherafelt, Moyle, Newry and Mourne, Newtownabbey,
North Down, Omagh, Strabane; Scotland--9 regions, 3 islands areas*;
Borders, Central, Dumfries and Galloway, Fife, Grampian, Highland,
Lothian, Orkney*, Shetland*, Strathclyde, Tayside, Western Isles*;
Wales--8 counties; Clwyd, Dyfed, Gwent, Gwynedd, Mid Glamorgan,
Powys, South Glamorgan, West Glamorgan
note: England may now have 35 counties and Wales 9 counties
Dependent areas: Anguilla, Bermuda, British Indian Ocean
Territory, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands,
Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey, Isle of Man, Montserrat, Pitcairn
Islands, Saint Helena, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands,
Turks and Caicos Islands
Independence: England has existed as a unified entity since the
10th century; the union between England and Wales was enacted under
the Statute of Rhuddlan in 1284; in the Act of Union of 1707,
England and Scotland agreed to permanent union as Great Britain; the
legislative union of Great Britain and Ireland was implemented in
1801, with the adoption of the name the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland; the Anglo-Irish treaty of 1921 formalized a
partition of Ireland; six northern Irish counties remained part of
the United Kingdom as Northern Ireland and the current name of the
country, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland,
was adopted in 1927
National holiday: Celebration of the Birthday of the Queen
(second Saturday in June)
Constitution: unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and
practice
Legal system: common law tradition with early Roman and modern
continental influences; no judicial review of Acts of Parliament;
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations; British
courts and legislation are increasingly subject to review by
European Union courts
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); Heir
Apparent Prince CHARLES (son of the queen, born 14 November 1948)
head of government: Prime Minister Anthony C. L. (Tony) BLAIR (since
2 May 1997)
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; the prime minister is
the leader of the majority party in the House of Commons (assuming
there is no majority party, a prime minister would have a majority
coalition or at least a coalition that was not rejected by the
majority)
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of House of
Lords (1,200 seats; four-fifths of the members are hereditary peers,
two archbishops, 24 other senior bishops, serving and retired Lords
of Appeal in Ordinary, other life peers, Scottish peers) and House
of Commons (659 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve
five-year terms unless the House is dissolved earlier)
elections: House of Lords--no elections; House of Commons--last held 1
May 1997 (next to be held by NA May 2002); note--in 1998 elections
were held for a Northern Ireland Parliament; in 1999 there will be
elections for a new Scottish parliament and a new Welsh Assembly
election results: House of Commons--percent of vote by party--Labor
44.5%, Conservative 31%, Liberal Democratic 17%, other 7.5%; seats
by party--Labor 418, Conservative 165, Liberal Democrat 46, other 30
Judicial branch: House of Lords, several Lords of Appeal in
Ordinary are appointed by the monarch for life
Political parties and leaders: Conservative and Unionist Party
Political pressure groups and leaders: Trades Union Congress;
Confederation of British Industry; National Farmers' Union; Campaign
for Nuclear Disarmament
International organization participation: AfDB, AsDB, Australia
Group, BIS, C, CCC, CDB (non-regional), CE, CERN, CP, EAPC, EBRD,
ECA (associate), ECE, ECLAC, EIB, ESA, ESCAP, EU, FAO, G- 5, G- 7,
G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM
(observer), ISO, ITU, MTCR, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD,
OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UN Security Council, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP,
UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNOMIG, UNOMSIL, UNRWA, UNU, UPU, WCL,
WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Sir Christopher J. R. MEYER
chancery: 3100 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Houston,
Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco
consulate(s): Dallas, Miami, and Seattle
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Philip LADER
embassy: 24/31 Grosvenor Square, London, W. 1A1AE
mailing address: PSC 801, Box 40, FPO AE 09498-4040
consulate(s) general: Belfast, Edinburgh
Flag description: blue with the red cross of Saint George (patron
saint of England) edged in white superimposed on the diagonal red
cross of Saint Patrick (patron saint of Ireland) which is
superimposed on the diagonal white cross of Saint Andrew (patron
saint of Scotland); known as the Union Flag or Union Jack; the
design and colors (especially the Blue Ensign) have been the basis
for a number of other flags including other Commonwealth countries
and their constituent states or provinces, as well as British
overseas territories
Economy
Economy--overview: The UK is one of the world's great trading
powers and financial centers, and its essentially capitalistic
economy ranks among the four largest in Western Europe. Over the
past two decades the government has greatly reduced public ownership
and contained the growth of social welfare programs. Agriculture is
intensive, highly mechanized, and efficient by European standards,
producing about 60% of food needs with only 1% of the labor force.
The UK has large coal, natural gas, and oil reserves; primary energy
production accounts for 10% of GDP, one of the highest shares of any
industrial nation. Services, particularly banking, insurance, and
business services, account by far for the largest proportion of GDP
while industry continues to decline in importance, now employing
only 18% of the work force. Economic growth is slowing, and Britain
may experience a short recession in 1999. As a result, unemployment
probably will begin to rise again. The BLAIR government has put off
the question of participation in the euro system until after the
next election, not expected until 2001, but Chancellor of the
Exchequer BROWN is committed to preparing the British economy for
eventual membership.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$1.252 trillion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 2.6% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$21,200 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 1.5%
industry: 31.5%
services: 67% (1997)
Population below poverty line: 17%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.4%
highest 10%: 24.7% (1986)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.7% (1998)
Labor force: 28.8 million (1998)
Labor force--by occupation: services 68.9%, manufacturing and
construction 17.5%, government 11.3%, energy 1.2%, agriculture 1.1%
(1996)
Unemployment rate: 7.5% (1998 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $487.7 billion
expenditures: $492.6 billion, including capital expenditures of
$23.1 billion (1997 est.)
Industries: production machinery including machine tools,
electric power equipment, automation equipment, railroad equipment,
shipbuilding, aircraft, motor vehicles and parts, electronics and
communications equipment, metals, chemicals, coal, petroleum, paper
and paper products, food processing, textiles, clothing, and other
consumer goods
Industrial production growth rate: 0.5% (1998 est.)
Electricity--production: 309.672 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 72.28%
hydro: 1.28%
nuclear: 26.33%
other: 0.11% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 326.322 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 16.65 billion kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: cereals, oilseed, potatoes, vegetables;
cattle, sheep, poultry; fish
Exports: $271 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports--commodities: manufactured goods, fuels, chemicals; food,
beverages, tobacco
Exports--partners: EU countries 56% (Germany 12%, France 10%,
Netherlands 8%), US 12% (1997)
Imports: $304 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports--commodities: manufactured goods, machinery, fuels,
foodstuffs
Imports--partners: EU countries 53% (Germany 14%, France 10%,
Netherlands 7%, Ireland 5%), US 13% (1997)
Debt--external: $NA
Economic aid--donor: ODA, $3.4 billion (1996)
Currency: 1 British pound (L) = 100 pence
Exchange rates: British pounds (L) per US$1--0.6057 (January
1999), 0.6037 (1998), 0.6106 (1997), 0.6403 (1996), 0.6335 (1995),
0.6529 (1994)
Fiscal year: 1 April--31 March
Communications
Telephones: 29.5 million (1987 est.)
Telephone system: technologically advanced domestic and
international system
domestic: equal mix of buried cables, microwave radio relay, and
fiber-optic systems
international: 40 coaxial submarine cables; satellite earth
stations--10 Intelsat (7 Atlantic Ocean and 3 Indian Ocean), 1
Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean region), and 1 Eutelsat; at least 8 large
international switching centers
Radio broadcast stations: AM 225, FM 525 (mostly repeaters),
shortwave 0
Radios: 70 million
Television broadcast stations: 78 (in addition, there are 869
repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 20 million
Transportation
Railways:
total: 16,878 km
broad gauge: 342 km 1.600-m gauge (190 km double track); note--all
1.600-m gauge track, of which 342 km is in common carrier use, is in
Northern Ireland
standard gauge: 16,536 km 1.435-m gauge (4,928 km electrified;
12,591 km double or multiple track) (1996)
Highways:
total: 372,000 km
paved: 372,000 km (including 3,270 km of expressways)
unpaved: 0 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 3,200 km
Pipelines: crude oil (almost all insignificant) 933 km; petroleum
products 2,993 km; natural gas 12,800 km
Ports and harbors: Aberdeen, Belfast, Bristol, Cardiff, Dover,
Falmouth, Felixstowe, Glasgow, Grangemouth, Hull, Leith, Liverpool,
London, Manchester, Peterhead, Plymouth, Scapa Flow, Sullom Voe,
Tees, Tyne
Merchant marine:
total: 155 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,460,361
GRT/2,517,875 DWT
ships by type: bulk 3, cargo 29, chemical tanker 6, combination
ore/oil 1, container 25, liquefied gas tanker 1, oil tanker 51,
passenger 8, passenger-cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 17, short-sea
passenger 12, specialized tanker 1 (1998 est.)
Airports: 497 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 356
over 3,047 m: 10
2,438 to 3,047 m: 32
1,524 to 2,437 m: 169
914 to 1,523 m: 91
under 914 m: 54 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 141
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 23
under 914 m: 117 (1998 est.)
Heliports: 12 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Royal Navy (includes Royal Marines),
Royal Air Force
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 14,458,646 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 12,053,320 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $36.7 billion (FY98/99)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 2.6% (FY98/99)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: Northern Ireland issue with Ireland
(historic peace agreement signed 10 April 1998); Gibraltar issue
with Spain; Argentina claims Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas);
Argentina claims South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands;
Mauritius claims island of Diego Garcia in British Indian Ocean
Territory; Rockall continental shelf dispute involving Denmark,
Iceland, and Ireland (Ireland and the UK have signed a boundary
agreement in the Rockall area); territorial claim in Antarctica
(British Antarctic Territory); Seychelles claims Chagos Archipelago
in British Indian Ocean Territory
Illicit drugs: gateway country for Latin American cocaine
entering the European market; producer and major consumer of
synthetic drugs, synthetic precursor chemicals; transshipment point
for Southwest Asian heroin; money-laundering center
======================================================================
@United States
-------------
Introduction
Background: Buoyed by victories in World Wars I and II and the
end of the Cold War in 1991, the US remains the world's most
powerful nation-state. The economy is marked by steady growth, low
unemployment, low inflation, and rapid advances in technology. The
biggest cloud over this affluent society is the distribution of
gains--since 1975 most of the increase in national income has gone to
the 20% of people at the top of the income ladder.
Geography
Location: North America, bordering both the North Atlantic Ocean
and the North Pacific Ocean, between Canada and Mexico
Geographic coordinates: 38 00 N, 97 00 W
Map references: North America
Area:
total: 9,629,091 sq km
land: 9,158,960 sq km
water: 470,131 sq km
note: includes only the 50 states and District of Columbia
Area--comparative: about one-half the size of Russia; about
three-tenths the size of Africa; about one-half the size of South
America (or slightly larger than Brazil); slightly larger than
China; about two and one-half times the size of Western Europe
Land boundaries:
total: 12,248 km
border countries: Canada 8,893 km (including 2,477 km with Alaska),
Cuba 29 km (US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay), Mexico 3,326 km
note: Guantanamo Naval Base is leased by the US and thus remains
part of Cuba
Coastline: 19,924 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 12 nm
continental shelf: not specified
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: mostly temperate, but tropical in Hawaii and Florida,
arctic in Alaska, semiarid in the great plains west of the
Mississippi River, and arid in the Great Basin of the southwest; low
winter temperatures in the northwest are ameliorated occasionally in
January and February by warm chinook winds from the eastern slopes
of the Rocky Mountains
Terrain: vast central plain, mountains in west, hills and low
mountains in east; rugged mountains and broad river valleys in
Alaska; rugged, volcanic topography in Hawaii
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Death Valley -86 m
highest point: Mount McKinley 6,194 m
Natural resources: coal, copper, lead, molybdenum, phosphates,
uranium, bauxite, gold, iron, mercury, nickel, potash, silver,
tungsten, zinc, petroleum, natural gas, timber
Land use:
arable land: 19%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 25%
forests and woodland: 30%
other: 26% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 207,000 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: tsunamis, volcanoes, and earthquake activity
around Pacific Basin; hurricanes along the Atlantic and Gulf of
Mexico coasts; tornadoes in the midwest and southeast; mud slides in
California; forest fires in the west; flooding; permafrost in
northern Alaska, a major impediment to development
Environment--current issues: air pollution resulting in acid rain
in both the US and Canada; the US is the largest single emitter of
carbon dioxide from the burning of fossil fuels; water pollution
from runoff of pesticides and fertilizers; very limited natural
fresh water resources in much of the western part of the country
require careful management; desertification
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides,
Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Climate Change,
Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Marine Dumping,
Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection,
Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands,
Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity,
Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes
Geography--note: world's third-largest country (after Russia and
Canada)
People
Population: 272,639,608 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 22% (male 30,097,125; female 28,699,568)
15-64 years: 66% (male 89,024,052; female 90,379,328)
65 years and over: 12% (male 14,189,132; female 20,250,403) (1999
est.)
Population growth rate: 0.85% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 14.3 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 8.8 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 6.33 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 76.23 years
male: 72.95 years
female: 79.67 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.07 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: American(s)
adjective: American
Ethnic groups: white 83.5%, black 12.4%, Asian 3.3%, Amerindian
0.8% (1992)
Religions: Protestant 56%, Roman Catholic 28%, Jewish 2%, other
4%, none 10% (1989)
Languages: English, Spanish (spoken by a sizable minority)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97%
male: 97%
female: 97% (1979 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: United States of America
conventional short form: United States
abbreviation: US or USA
Data code: US
Government type: federal republic; strong democratic tradition
Capital: Washington, DC
Administrative divisions: 50 states and 1 district*; Alabama,
Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut,
Delaware, District of Columbia*, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho,
Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine,
Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri,
Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico,
New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon,
Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee,
Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia,
Wisconsin, Wyoming
Dependent areas: American Samoa, Baker Island, Guam, Howland
Island, Jarvis Island, Johnston Atoll, Kingman Reef, Midway Islands,
Navassa Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Palmyra Atoll, Puerto
Rico, Virgin Islands, Wake Atoll
note: from 18 July 1947 until 1 October 1994, the US administered
the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, but recently entered
into a new political relationship with all four political units: the
Northern Mariana Islands is a commonwealth in political union with
the US (effective 3 November 1986); Palau concluded a Compact of
Free Association with the US (effective 1 October 1994); the
Federated States of Micronesia signed a Compact of Free Association
with the US (effective 3 November 1986); the Republic of the
Marshall Islands signed a Compact of Free Association with the US
(effective 21 October 1986)
Independence: 4 July 1776 (from England)
National holiday: Independence Day, 4 July (1776)
Constitution: 17 September 1787, effective 4 March 1789
Legal system: based on English common law; judicial review of
legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with
reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President William Jefferson CLINTON (since 20
January 1993) and Vice President Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January
1993); note--the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President William Jefferson CLINTON (since 20
January 1993) and Vice President Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January
1993); note--the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president with Senate approval
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket
by a college of representatives who are elected directly from each
state; president and vice president serve four-year terms; election
last held 5 November 1996 (next to be held 7 November 2000)
election results: William Jefferson CLINTON reelected president;
percent of popular vote--William Jefferson CLINTON (Democratic Party)
49.2%, Robert DOLE (Republican Party) 40.7%, Ross PEROT (Reform
Party) 8.4%, other 1.7%
Legislative branch: bicameral Congress consists of Senate (100
seats, one-third are renewed every two years; two members are
elected from each state by popular vote to serve six-year terms) and
House of Representatives (435 seats; members are directly elected by
popular vote to serve two-year terms)
elections: Senate--last held 2 November 1998 (next to be held 7
November 2000); House of Representatives--last held 2 November 1998
(next to be held 7 November 2000)
election results: Senate--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by
party--Republican Party 55, Democratic Party 45; House of
Representatives--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by
party--Republican Party 223, Democratic Party 211, independent 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (the nine justices are appointed
for life by the president with confirmation by the Senate)
Political parties and leaders: Republican Party [Jim NICHOLSON,
national committee chairman]; several other groups or parties of
minor political significance
International organization participation: AfDB, ANZUS, APEC,
AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CCC, CE (observer), CERN (observer), CP,
EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ECLAC, ESCAP, FAO, G-5, G-7, G-10, IADB, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,
IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO,
MIPONUH, MTCR, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS, OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, SPC, UN,
UN Security Council, UNCTAD, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNOMIG,
UNPREDEP, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC
Flag description: thirteen equal horizontal stripes of red (top
and bottom) alternating with white; there is a blue rectangle in the
upper hoist-side corner bearing 50 small, white, five-pointed stars
arranged in nine offset horizontal rows of six stars (top and
bottom) alternating with rows of five stars; the 50 stars represent
the 50 states, the 13 stripes represent the 13 original colonies;
known as Old Glory; the design and colors have been the basis for a
number of other flags, including Chile, Liberia, Malaysia, and
Puerto Rico
Economy
Economy--overview: The US has the most powerful, diverse, and
technologically advanced economy in the world, with a per capita GDP
of $31,500, the largest among major industrial nations. In this
market-oriented economy, private individuals and business firms make
most of the decisions, and government buys needed goods and services
predominantly in the private marketplace. US business firms enjoy
considerably greater flexibility than their counterparts in Western
Europe and Japan in decisions to expand capital plant, lay off
surplus workers, and develop new products. At the same time, they
face higher barriers to entry in their rivals' home markets than the
barriers to entry of foreign firms in US markets. US firms are at or
near the forefront in technological advances, especially in
computers and in medical, aerospace, and military equipment,
although their advantage has narrowed since the end of World War II.
The onrush of technology largely explains the gradual development of
a "two-tier labor market" in which those at the bottom lack the
education and the professional/technical skills of those at the top
and, more and more, fail to get pay raises, health insurance
coverage, and other benefits. Since 1975, practically all the gains
in household income have gone to the top 20% of households. The
years 1994-98 witnessed solid increases in real output, low
inflation rates, and a drop in unemployment to below 5%. Long-term
problems include inadequate investment in economic infrastructure,
rapidly rising medical costs of an aging population, sizable trade
deficits, and stagnation of family income in the lower economic
groups. The outlook for 1999 is for GDP growth somewhat below
1998's, continued low inflation, and about the same level of
unemployment. Two shadows for 1999 are the severe financial crises
in East Asia and Russia and the exuberant level of stock prices in
relation to corporate earnings.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$8.511 trillion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 3.9% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$31,500 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 2%
industry: 23%
services: 75% (1998 est.)
Population below poverty line: 13% (1997 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.5%
highest 10%: 28.5% (1994)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.6% (1998)
Labor force: 137.7 million (includes unemployed) (1998)
Labor force--by occupation: managerial and professional 29.6%,
technical, sales and administrative support 29.3%, services 13.6%,
manufacturing, mining, transportation, and crafts 24.8%, farming,
forestry, and fishing 2.7% (1998)
note: figures exclude the unemployed
Unemployment rate: 4.5% (1998)
Budget:
revenues: $1.722 trillion
expenditures: $1.653 trillion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1998)
Industries: leading industrial power in the world, highly
diversified and technologically advanced; petroleum, steel, motor
vehicles, aerospace, telecommunications, chemicals, electronics,
food processing, consumer goods, lumber, mining
Industrial production growth rate: 3.6% (1998)
Electricity--production: 3.629 trillion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 65.1%
hydro: 9.6%
nuclear: 18.59%
other: 6.71% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 3.666 trillion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 9.02 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 46.543 billion kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: wheat, other grains, corn, fruits,
vegetables, cotton; beef, pork, poultry, dairy products; forest
products; fish
Exports: $663 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Exports--commodities: capital goods, automobiles, industrial
supplies and raw materials, consumer goods, agricultural products
Exports--partners: Canada 22%, Western Europe 21%, Japan 10%,
Mexico 10% (1997)
Imports: $912 billion (c.i.f., 1998 est.)
Imports--commodities: crude oil and refined petroleum products,
machinery, automobiles, consumer goods, industrial raw materials,
food and beverages
Imports--partners: Canada, 19%, Western Europe 18%, Japan 14%,
Mexico 10%, China 7% (1997)
Debt--external: $862 billion (1995 est.)
Economic aid--donor: ODA, $7.4 billion (1995)
Currency: 1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: British pounds (L) per US$--0.6057 (January 1999),
0.6037 (1998), 0.6106 (1997), 0.6403 (1996), 0.6335 (1995), 0.6529
(1994); Canadian dollars (Can$) per US$--1.5192 (January 1999),
1.4835 (1998), 1.3846 (1997), 1.3635 (1996), 1.3724 (1995), 1.3656
(1994); French francs (F) per US$--5.65 (January 1999), 5.8995
(1998), 5.8367 (1997), 5.1155 (1996), 4.9915 (1995), 5.5520 (1994);
Italian lire (Lit) per US$--1,668.7 (January 1999), 1,763.2 (1998),
1,703.1 (1997), 1,542.9 (1996), 1,628.9 (1995), 1,612.4 (1994);
Japanese yen (Y) per US$--113.18 (January 1999), 130.91 (1998),
120.99 (1997), 108.78 (1996), 94.06 (1995), 102.21 (1994); German
deutsche marks (DM) per US$--1.69 (January 1999), 1.9692 (1998),
1.7341 (1997), 1.5048 (1996), 1.4331 (1995), 1.6228 (1994); Euro per
US$--0.8597 (January 1999)
Fiscal year: 1 October--30 September
Communications
Telephones: 182.558 million (1987 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: a large system of fiber-optic cable, microwave radio
relay, coaxial cable, and domestic satellites carries conventional
telephone traffic; a rapidly growing cellular system carries mobile
telephone traffic throughout country
international: 24 ocean cable systems in use; satellite earth
stations--61 Intelsat (45 Atlantic Ocean and 16 Pacific Ocean), 5
Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region), and 4 Inmarsat (Pacific and
Atlantic Ocean regions) (1990 est.)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 4,987, FM 4,932, shortwave 0
Radios: 540.5 million (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: more than 1,500 (including nearly
1,000 stations affiliated with the five major networks--NBC, ABC,
CBS, FOX, and PBS; in addition, there are about 9,000 cable TV
systems) (1997)
Televisions: 215 million (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 240,000 km mainline routes (nongovernment owned)
standard gauge: 240,000 km 1.435-m gauge (1989)
Highways:
total: 6.42 million km
paved: 3,903,360 km (including 88,400 km of expressways)
unpaved: 2,516,640 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 41,009 km of navigable inland channels, exclusive of
the Great Lakes
Pipelines: petroleum products 276,000 km; natural gas 331,000 km
(1991)
Ports and harbors: Anchorage, Baltimore, Boston, Charleston,
Chicago, Duluth, Hampton Roads, Honolulu, Houston, Jacksonville, Los
Angeles, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, Port Canaveral,
Portland (Oregon), Prudhoe Bay, San Francisco, Savannah, Seattle,
Tampa, Toledo
Merchant marine:
total: 385 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 11,123,848
GRT/15,255,996 DWT
ships by type: barge carrier 10, bulk 61, cargo 28, chemical tanker
13, combination bulk 2, container 83, liquefied gas tanker 9,
multifunctional large-load carrier 3, oil tanker 114, passenger 7,
passenger-cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 43, short-sea passenger 3,
specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 7 (1998 est.)
Airports: 14,459 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 5,167
over 3,047 m: 180
2,438 to 3,047 m: 219
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1,294
914 to 1,523 m: 2,447
under 914 m: 1,027 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 9,292
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 156
914 to 1,523 m: 1,647
under 914 m: 7,482 (1998 est.)
Heliports: 122 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Department of the Army, Department of the Navy
(includes Marine Corps), Department of the Air Force
note: the Coast Guard falls under the Department of Transportation,
but in wartime reports to the Department of the Navy
Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: NA
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $267.2 billion (1997 est.)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 3.4% (1997 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: maritime boundary disputes with Canada
(Dixon Entrance, Beaufort Sea, Strait of Juan de Fuca, Machias Seal
Island); US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay is leased from Cuba and
only mutual agreement or US abandonment of the area can terminate
the lease; Haiti claims Navassa Island; US has made no territorial
claim in Antarctica (but has reserved the right to do so) and does
not recognize the claims of any other nation; Marshall Islands
claims Wake Atoll
Illicit drugs: consumer of cocaine shipped from Colombia through
Mexico and the Caribbean; consumer of heroin, marijuana, and
increasingly methamphetamines from Mexico; consumer of high-quality
Southeast Asian heroin; illicit producer of cannabis, marijuana,
depressants, stimulants, hallucinogens, and methamphetamines;
drug-money-laundering center
======================================================================
@Uruguay
-------
Geography
Location: Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic
Ocean, between Argentina and Brazil
Geographic coordinates: 33 00 S, 56 00 W
Map references: South America
Area:
total: 176,220 sq km
land: 173,620 sq km
water: 2,600 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than the state of Washington
Land boundaries:
total: 1,564 km
border countries: Argentina 579 km, Brazil 985 km
Coastline: 660 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
territorial sea: 200 nm; overflight and navigation guaranteed beyond
12 nm
Climate: warm temperate; freezing temperatures almost unknown
Terrain: mostly rolling plains and low hills; fertile coastal
lowland
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Cerro Catedral 514 m
Natural resources: fertile soil, hydropower, minor minerals,
fisheries
Land use:
arable land: 7%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 77%
forests and woodland: 6%
other: 10% (1997 est.)
Irrigated land: 7,700 sq km (1997 est.)
Natural hazards: seasonally high winds (the pampero is a chilly
and occasional violent wind which blows north from the Argentine
pampas), droughts, floods; because of the absence of mountains,
which act as weather barriers, all locations are particularly
vulnerable to rapid changes in weather fronts
Environment--current issues: working with Brazil to monitor and
minimize transboundary pollution caused by Brazilian power plant
near border; water pollution from meat packing/tannery industry;
inadequate solid/hazardous waste disposal
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty,
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea,
Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands,
Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Marine
Dumping, Marine Life Conservation
People
Population: 3,308,523 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 24% (male 407,990; female 388,293)
15-64 years: 63% (male 1,026,554; female 1,054,513)
65 years and over: 13% (male 179,331; female 251,842) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.73% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 16.84 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 8.81 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.78 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 13.49 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.83 years
male: 72.69 years
female: 79.15 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.27 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Uruguayan(s)
adjective: Uruguayan
Ethnic groups: white 88%, mestizo 8%, black 4%, Amerindian,
practically nonexistent
Religions: Roman Catholic 66% (less than one-half of the adult
population attends church regularly), Protestant 2%, Jewish 2%,
nonprofessing or other 30%
Languages: Spanish, Portunol, or Brazilero (Portuguese-Spanish
mix on the Brazilian frontier)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.3%
male: 96.9%
female: 97.7% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Oriental Republic of Uruguay
conventional short form: Uruguay
local long form: Republica Oriental del Uruguay
local short form: Uruguay
Data code: UY
Government type: republic
Capital: Montevideo
Administrative divisions: 19 departments (departamentos,
singular--departamento); Artigas, Canelones, Cerro Largo, Colonia,
Durazno, Flores, Florida, Lavalleja, Maldonado, Montevideo,
Paysandu, Rio Negro, Rivera, Rocha, Salto, San Jose, Soriano,
Tacuarembo, Treinta y Tres
Independence: 25 August 1825 (from Brazil)
National holiday: Independence Day, 25 August (1825)
Constitution: 27 November 1966, effective February 1967,
suspended 27 June 1973, new constitution rejected by referendum 30
November 1980; two constitutional reforms approved by plebiscite 26
November 1989 and 7 January 1997
Legal system: based on Spanish civil law system; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Julio Maria SANGUINETTI (since 1 March
1995) and Vice President Hugo FERNANDEZ Faingold (since 5 October
1998); note--the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Julio Maria SANGUINETTI (since 1 March
1995) and Vice President Hugo FERNANDEZ Faingold (since 5 October
1998); note--the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president with
parliamentary approval
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket
by popular vote for five-year terms; election last held 27 November
1994 (next to be held 31 October 1999 with run-off election if
necessary on 28 November 1999)
election results: Julio Maria SANGUINETTI elected president; percent
of vote--23%
Legislative branch: bicameral General Assembly or Asamblea
General consists of Chamber of Senators or Camara de Senadores (30
seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
and Chamber of Representatives or Camara de Representantes (99
seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: Chamber of Senators--last held 27 November 1994 (next to
be held 31 October 1999); Chamber of Representatives--last held 27
November 1994 (next to be held 31 October 1999)
election results: Chamber of Senators--percent of vote by
party--Colorado 36%, Blanco 34%, Encuentro Progresista 27%, New
Sector/Space 3%; seats by party--Colorado 11, Blanco 10, Encuentro
Progresista 8, New Sector/Space 1; Chamber of
Representatives--percent of vote by party--Colorado 32%, Blanco 31%,
Encuentro Progresista 31%, New Sector/Space 5%; seats by
party--Colorado 32, Blanco 31, Encuentro Progresista 31, New
Sector/Space 5
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are nominated by the
president and elected for 10-year terms by the General Assembly
Political parties and leaders: National Party or Blanco [Walter
leader--Gen. Liber SEREGNI]; Progressive Encounter in the Broad Front
International organization participation: CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-11,
G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,
IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA,
Mercosur, MINURSO, MONUA, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA,
RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMOGIP, UNMOT, UNOMIG, UPU,
WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Alvaro DIEZ DE MEDINA SUAREZ
chancery: 2715 M Street, NW, Washington, DC 20007
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, Miami, and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Christopher C. ASHBY
embassy: Lauro Muller 1776, Montevideo
mailing address: APO AA 34035
Flag description: nine equal horizontal stripes of white (top and
bottom) alternating with blue; there is a white square in the upper
hoist-side corner with a yellow sun bearing a human face known as
the Sun of May and 16 rays alternately triangular and wavy
Economy
Economy--overview: Uruguay's small economy benefits from a
favorable climate for agriculture and substantial hydropower
production. The SANGUINETTI government's conservative monetary and
fiscal policies are aimed at reducing inflation; other priorities
include moving toward a more market-oriented economy, completing
reform of the social security system, and increasing investment in
education. Economic performance remains sensitive to conditions in
Argentina and Brazil, largely because more than half of Uruguay's
trade is conducted with its partners in Mercosur (the Southern Cone
Common Market).
GDP: purchasing power parity--$28.4 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 3% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$8,600 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 8%
industry: 26%
services: 66% (1997)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 8.6% (1998)
Labor force: 1.38 million (1997 est.)
Labor force--by occupation: government 25%, manufacturing 19%,
agriculture 11%, commerce 12%, utilities, construction, transport,
and communications 12%, other services 21% (1988 est.)
Unemployment rate: 10.5% (November 1998)
Budget:
revenues: $4 billion
expenditures: $4.3 billion, with capital expenditures of $385
million (1997 est.)
Industries: meat processing, wool and hides, sugar, textiles,
footwear, leather apparel, tires, cement, petroleum refining, wine
Industrial production growth rate: 5.6% (1997)
Electricity--production: 8.35 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 10.18%
hydro: 89.82%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 8.223 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 437 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 310 million kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: wheat, rice, corn, sorghum; livestock; fish
Exports: $2.7 billion (f.o.b., 1997)
Exports--commodities: wool and textile manufactures, beef and
other animal products, rice, fish and shellfish, chemicals
Exports--partners: Brazil, Argentina, US, Germany, Italy, UK
Imports: $3.7 billion (c.i.f., 1997)
Imports--commodities: machinery and equipment, vehicles,
chemicals, minerals, plastics, oil
Imports--partners: Brazil, Argentina, US, Italy, Germany, France,
Spain
Debt--external: $4.6 billion (1996 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $79.7 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Uruguayan peso ($Ur) = 100 centesimos
Exchange rates: Uruguayan pesos ($Ur) per US$1--11.08 (January
1999), 9.98 (January 1998), 9.4418 (1997), 7.9718 (1996), 6.3491
(1995), 5.0529 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 767,333 (1997)
Telephone system: some modern facilities
domestic: most modern facilities concentrated in Montevideo; new
nationwide microwave radio relay network
international: satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 72, FM 0, shortwave 28
Radios: 1.89 million (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 26 (in addition, there are ten
low-power repeaters for the Montevideo station) (1997)
Televisions: 1,131,065 (1996)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 2,994 km
standard gauge: 2,073 km 1.435-m gauge (921 km closed) (1997)
Highways:
total: 8,420 km
paved: 7,578 km
unpaved: 842 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 1,600 km; used by coastal and shallow-draft river craft
Ports and harbors: Fray Bentos, Montevideo, Nueva Palmira,
Paysandu, Punta del Este, Colonia, Piriapolis
Merchant marine:
total: 2 oil tankers (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 44,042 GRT/83,684
DWT (1998 est.)
Airports: 65 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 15
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 8
under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 50
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 15
under 914 m: 33 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy (includes Naval Air Arm, Coast
Guard, Marines), Air Force, Police (Coracero Guard, Grenadier Guard)
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 806,451 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 653,796 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $172 million (1998)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 0.9% (1998)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: two short sections of the boundary with
Brazil are in dispute--Arroyo de la Invernada (Arroio Invernada) area
of the Rio Cuareim (Rio Quarai) and the islands at the confluence of
the Rio Cuareim (Rio Quarai) and the Uruguay River
======================================================================
@Uzbekistan
----------
Geography
Location: Central Asia, north of Afghanistan
Geographic coordinates: 41 00 N, 64 00 E
Map references: Commonwealth of Independent States
Area:
total: 447,400 sq km
land: 425,400 sq km
water: 22,000 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly larger than California
Land boundaries:
total: 6,221 km
border countries: Afghanistan 137 km, Kazakhstan 2,203 km,
Kyrgyzstan 1,099 km, Tajikistan 1,161 km, Turkmenistan 1,621 km
Coastline: 0 km
note: Uzbekistan includes the southern portion of the Aral Sea with
a 420 km shoreline
Maritime claims: none (doubly landlocked)
Climate: mostly midlatitude desert, long, hot summers, mild
winters; semiarid grassland in east
Terrain: mostly flat-to-rolling sandy desert with dunes; broad,
flat intensely irrigated river valleys along course of Amu Darya,
Sirdaryo (Syr Darya), and Zarafshon; Fergana Valley in east
surrounded by mountainous Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan; shrinking Aral
Sea in west
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Sariqarnish Kuli -12 m
highest point: Adelunga Toghi 4,301 m
Natural resources: natural gas, petroleum, coal, gold, uranium,
silver, copper, lead and zinc, tungsten, molybdenum
Land use:
arable land: 9%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 46%
forests and woodland: 3%
other: 41% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 40,000 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment--current issues: drying up of the Aral Sea is
resulting in growing concentrations of chemical pesticides and
natural salts; these substances are then blown from the increasingly
exposed lake bed and contribute to desertification; water pollution
from industrial wastes and the heavy use of fertilizers and
pesticides is the cause of many human health disorders; increasing
soil salination; soil contamination from agricultural chemicals,
including DDT
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer
Protection
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography--note: along with Liechtenstein, one of the only two
doubly landlocked countries in the world
People
Population: 24,102,473 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 37% (male 4,556,973; female 4,413,617)
15-64 years: 58% (male 6,938,090; female 7,068,839)
65 years and over: 5% (male 443,604; female 681,350) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.32% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 23.43 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 7.75 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -2.44 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.65 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 71.58 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 63.91 years
male: 60.29 years
female: 67.71 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.82 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Uzbekistani(s)
adjective: Uzbekistani
Ethnic groups: Uzbek 80%, Russian 5.5%, Tajik 5%, Kazakh 3%,
Karakalpak 2.5%, Tatar 1.5%, other 2.5% (1996 est.)
Religions: Muslim 88% (mostly Sunnis), Eastern Orthodox 9%, other
3%
Languages: Uzbek 74.3%, Russian 14.2%, Tajik 4.4%, other 7.1%
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (yearend 1996)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Uzbekistan
conventional short form: Uzbekistan
local long form: Uzbekiston Respublikasi
local short form: none
former: Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic
Data code: UZ
Government type: republic; effectively authoritarian presidential
rule, with little power outside the executive branch; executive
power concentrated in the presidency
Capital: Tashkent (Toshkent)
Administrative divisions: 12 wiloyatlar (singular--wiloyat), 1
autonomous republic* (respublikasi), and 1 city** (shahri); Andijon
Wiloyati, Bukhoro Wiloyati, Farghona Wiloyati, Jizzakh Wiloyati,
Khorazm Wiloyati (Urganch), Namangan Wiloyati, Nawoiy Wiloyati,
Qashqadaryo Wiloyati (Qarshi), Qoraqalpoghiston* (Nukus), Samarqand
Wiloyati, Sirdaryo Wiloyati (Guliston), Surkhondaryo Wiloyati
(Termiz), Toshkent Shahri**, Toshkent Wiloyati
note: administrative divisions have the same names as their
administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center
name following in parentheses)
Independence: 31 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday: Independence Day, 1 September (1991)
Constitution: new constitution adopted 8 December 1992
Legal system: evolution of Soviet civil law; still lacks
independent judicial system
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Islom KARIMOV (since 24 March 1990, when
he was elected president by the then Supreme Soviet)
head of government: Prime Minister Otkir SULTONOV (since 21 December
1995) and 10 deputy prime ministers
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president with
approval of the Supreme Assembly
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 29 December 1991 (next to be held NA January
2000; note--extension of President KARIMOV's term for an additional
four years overwhelmingly approved--99.6% of total vote in favor--by
national referendum held 26 March 1995); prime minister and all
other ministers appointed by the president
election results: Islom KARIMOV elected president; percent of
vote--Islom KARIMOV 86%, Muhammed SOLIH 12%, other 2%
Legislative branch: unicameral Supreme Assembly or Oliy Majlis
(250 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 25 December 1994 (next to be held NA December
1999)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by
party--People's Democratic Party 207, Fatherland Progress Party 12,
other 31; note--seating following the final runoff elections were
held 22 January 1995: People's Democratic Party 69, Fatherland
Progress Party 14, Social Democratic Party 47, local government 120
note: all parties in parliament support President KARIMOV
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are nominated by the
president and confirmed by the Supreme Assembly
Political parties and leaders: People's Democratic Party or NDP
YULDASHEV, chairman]; Adolat (Justice) Social Democratic Party
secretary]
Political pressure groups and leaders: Birlik (Unity) Movement
International organization participation: AsDB, CCC, CIS, EAPC,
EBRD, ECE, ECO, ESCAP, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,
IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
(applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Sadyk SAFAYEV
chancery: 1746 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph A. PRESEL
embassy: 82 Chilanzarskaya, Tashkent 700115
mailing address: use embassy street address; US Embassy Tashkent,
Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-7110
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of blue (top),
white, and green separated by red fimbriations with a white crescent
moon and 12 white stars in the upper hoist-side quadrant
Economy
Economy--overview: Uzbekistan is a dry, landlocked country of
which 10% consists of intensely cultivated, irrigated river valleys.
It was one of the poorest areas of the former Soviet Union with more
than 60% of its population living in densely populated rural
communities. Uzbekistan is now the world's third largest cotton
exporter, a major producer of gold and natural gas, and a regionally
significant producer of chemicals and machinery. Following
independence in December 1991, the government sought to prop up its
Soviet-style command economy with subsidies and tight controls on
production and prices. Faced with high rates of inflation, however,
the government began to reform in mid-1994, by introducing tighter
monetary policies, expanding privatization, slightly reducing the
role of the state in the economy, and improving the environment for
foreign investors. Nevertheless, the state continues to be a
dominating influence in the economy, and reforms have so far failed
to bring about much-needed structural changes. The IMF suspended
Uzbekistan's $185 million standby arrangement in late 1996 because
of governmental steps that made impossible fulfillment of Fund
conditions. Uzbekistan has responded to the negative external
conditions generated by the Asian and Russian financial crises by
tightening export and currency controls within its already largely
closed economy.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$59.2 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 1% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$2,500 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 26%
industry: 27%
services: 47% (1996 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 40% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 11.9 million (1998 est.)
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture and forestry 44%, industry
20%, services 36% (1995)
Unemployment rate: 5% plus another 10% underemployed (December
1996 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $4.4 billion
expenditures: $4.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.1
billion (1997 est.)
Industries: textiles, food processing, machine building,
metallurgy, natural gas
Industrial production growth rate: 5% (1998)
Electricity--production: 47.9 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 84.18%
hydro: 15.82%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 43.885 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 5.6 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 6.5 billion kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: cotton, vegetables, fruits, grain; livestock
Exports: $3.8 billion (1998)
Exports--commodities: cotton, gold, natural gas, mineral
fertilizers, ferrous metals, textiles, food products, autos
Exports--partners: Russia, Ukraine, Eastern Europe, Western Europe
Imports: $4.1 billion (1998)
Imports--commodities: grain, machinery and parts, consumer
durables, other foods
Imports--partners: principally other FSU, Czech Republic, Western
Europe
Debt--external: $2.6 billion (1997 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $276.6 million (1995)
Currency: Uzbekistani som (UKS)
Exchange rates: Uzbekistani soms (UKS) per US$1--111.9 (February
1999), 110.95 (December 1998), 75.8 (September 1997), 41.1 (1996),
30.2 (1995), 11.4 (1994), 1.0 (1993)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 1.475 million (1998 est.)
Telephone system: poorly developed; ambitiously engaged in
telecommunications modernization
domestic: in 1998 there were six cellular networks operating in
Uzbekistan; 4 GSM, 1 D-AMPS, 1 AMPS standard
international: linked by landline or microwave radio relay with CIS
member states and to other countries by leased connection via the
Moscow international gateway switch; new Intelsat links to Tokyo
(Japan) and Ankara (Turkey) give Uzbekistan international access
independent of Russian facilities; satellite earth stations--NA
Orbita and NA Intelsat; Trans-Asia-Europe Fiber-Optic Line
Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA; note--there
are 12 radio broadcast stations including one state-owned broadcast
station of NA type and four independent stations
Radios: 29,016,870
Television broadcast stations: 4 (in addition, there are two
repeater stations that relay Russian ORT programs and Kazakh,
Kyrgyz, and Tadzhik programs) (1997)
Televisions: 24,497,850
Transportation
Railways:
total: 3,380 km in common carrier service; does not include
industrial lines
broad gauge: 3,380 km 1.520-m gauge (300 km electrified) (1993)
Highways:
total: 81,600 km
paved: 71,237 km (note--these roads are said to be hard surfaced,
meaning that some are paved and some are all-weather gravel surfaced)
unpaved: 10,363 km dirt (1996 est.)
Waterways: 1,100 (1990)
Pipelines: crude oil 250 km; petroleum products 40 km; natural
gas 810 km (1992)
Ports and harbors: Termiz (Amu Darya river)
Airports: 3 (1997 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 3
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (1997 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Air and Air Defense Forces, Security
Forces (internal and border troops), National Guard
Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 6,172,436 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 5,012,944 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 254,114 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $200 million (1997)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 1.4% (1997)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
Illicit drugs: limited illicit cultivation of cannabis and very
small amounts of opium poppy, mostly for domestic consumption,
almost entirely eradicated by an effective government eradication
program; increasingly used as transshipment point for illicit drugs
from Afghanistan to Russia and Western Europe and for acetic
anhydride destined for Afghanistan
======================================================================
@Vanuatu
-------
Geography
Location: Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean,
about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Australia
Geographic coordinates: 16 00 S, 167 00 E
Map references: Oceania
Area:
total: 14,760 sq km
land: 14,760 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes more than 80 islands
Area--comparative: slightly larger than Connecticut
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 2,528 km
Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; moderated by southeast trade winds
Terrain: mostly mountains of volcanic origin; narrow coastal
plains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Tabwemasana 1,877 m
Natural resources: manganese, hardwood forests, fish
Land use:
arable land: 2%
permanent crops: 10%
permanent pastures: 2%
forests and woodland: 75%
other: 11% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: tropical cyclones or typhoons (January to
April); volcanism causes minor earthquakes
Environment--current issues: a majority of the population does not
have access to a potable and reliable supply of water; deforestation
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Ozone
Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: Desertification, Law of the Sea
People
Population: 189,036 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 39% (male 37,040; female 35,760)
15-64 years: 58% (male 56,649; female 53,799)
65 years and over: 3% (male 3,125; female 2,663) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.02% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 28.49 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 8.26 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.17 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 59.58 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 61.44 years
male: 59.41 years
female: 63.57 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.61 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Ni-Vanuatu (singular and plural)
adjective: Ni-Vanuatu
Ethnic groups: indigenous Melanesian 94%, French 4%, Vietnamese,
Chinese, Pacific Islanders
Religions: Presbyterian 36.7%, Anglican 15%, Catholic 15%,
indigenous beliefs 7.6%, Seventh-Day Adventist 6.2%, Church of
Christ 3.8%, other 15.7%
Languages: English (official), French (official), pidgin (known
as Bislama or Bichelama)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 53%
male: 57%
female: 48% (1979 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Vanuatu
conventional short form: Vanuatu
former: New Hebrides
Data code: NH
Government type: republic
Capital: Port-Vila
Administrative divisions: 6 provinces; Malampa, Penama, Sanma,
Shefa, Tafea, Torba
Independence: 30 July 1980 (from France and UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 30 July (1980)
Constitution: 30 July 1980
Legal system: unified system being created from former dual
French and British systems
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Jean Marie LEYE (since 2 March 1994)
head of government: Prime Minister Donald KALPOKAS (since 30 March
1998); Deputy Prime Minister Willie JIMMY (since 19 October 1998)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister,
responsible to Parliament
elections: president elected by an electoral college consisting of
Parliament and the presidents of the regional councils for a
five-year term; election for president last held 2 March 1994 (next
to be held NA 1999); following legislative elections, the leader of
the majority party or majority coalition is usually elected prime
minister by Parliament from among its members; election for prime
minister last held 6 March 1998 (next to be held NA 2002)
election results: Jean Marie LEYE elected president; percent of
electoral college vote--NA; Donald KALPOKAS elected prime minister by
Parliament with a total of 35 votes; other candidate, Rialuth Serge
VOHOR, received 17 votes
note: the general legislative elections in November 1995 did not
give a majority to any of the political parties; since the election,
there have been four changes of government--all of which have been
coalitions formed by Parliamentary vote; Rialuth Serge VOHOR was
prime minister from November 1995 until he resigned 7 February 1996
when faced with a no-confidence vote in Parliament; Maxime Carlot
KORMAN was then elected prime minister and served until he was
ousted in a no-confidence motion on 30 September 1996; VOHOR was
then elected prime minister for a second time; as a result of
legislative elections in March 1998, KALPOKAS was elected prime
minister and formed a coalition government with Father LINI's
National United Party (NUP)
Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament (52 seats; members
elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 6 March 1998 (next to be held NA 2002)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--VP 18,
UMP 12, NUP 11, other and independent 11; note--political party
associations are fluid; there have been four changes of government
since the November 1995 elections
note: the National Council of Chiefs advises on matters of custom
and land
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, chief justice is appointed by the
president after consultation with the prime minister and the leader
of the opposition, three other justices are appointed by the
president on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission
Political parties and leaders: Union of Moderate Parties or UMP
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AsDB, C,
ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IMF,
IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), IOC, ITU, NAM, Sparteca, SPC,
SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US: Vanuatu does not have an
embassy in the US, it does, however, have a Permanent Mission to the
UN
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an
embassy in Vanuatu; the ambassador to Papua New Guinea is accredited
to Vanuatu
Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and
green with a black isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) all
separated by a black-edged yellow stripe in the shape of a
horizontal Y (the two points of the Y face the hoist side and
enclose the triangle); centered in the triangle is a boar's tusk
encircling two crossed namele leaves, all in yellow
Economy
Economy--overview: The economy is based primarily on subsistence
or small-scale agriculture which provides a living for 65% of the
population. Fishing, offshore financial services, and tourism, with
about 50,000 visitors in 1997, are other mainstays of the economy.
Mineral deposits are negligible; the country has no known petroleum
deposits. A small light industry sector caters to the local market.
Tax revenues come mainly from import duties. Economic development is
hindered by dependence on relatively few commodity exports,
vulnerability to natural disasters, and long distances from main
markets and between constituent islands.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$240 million (1997 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: NA%
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,300 (1997 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 23%
industry: 13%
services: 64% (1996)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.2% (1997 est.)
Labor force: NA
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 65%, services 32%,
industry 3% (1995 est.)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $94.4 million
expenditures: $99.8 million, including capital expenditures of $30.4
million (1996 est.)
Industries: food and fish freezing, wood processing, meat canning
Industrial production growth rate: 6.4% (1996 est.)
Electricity--production: 30 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 30 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: copra, coconuts, cocoa, coffee, taro, yams,
coconuts, fruits, vegetables; fish, beef
Exports: $30 million (f.o.b., 1996)
Exports--commodities: copra, beef, cocoa, timber, coffee
Exports--partners: Japan 28%, Spain 21%, Germany 14%, UK 7%, Cote
d'Ivoire 7%, Australia, New Caledonia (1996 est.)
Imports: $97 million (f.o.b., 1996)
Imports--commodities: machines and vehicles, food and beverages,
basic manufactures, raw materials and fuels, chemicals
Imports--partners: Japan 47%, Australia 23%, Singapore 8%, New
Zealand 6%, France 3%, Fiji (1996 est.)
Debt--external: $63 million (1996 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $45.8 million (1995)
Currency: 1 vatu (VT) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: vatu (VT) per US$1--129.66 (January 1999), 127.52
(1998), 115.87 (1997), 111.72 (1996), 112.11 (1995), 116.41 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 4,000 (1994 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: NA
international: satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: 49,000 (1994 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1997)
Televisions: 2,000 (1994 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 1,070 km
paved: 256 km
unpaved: 814 km (1996 est.)
Ports and harbors: Forari, Port-Vila, Santo (Espiritu Santo)
Merchant marine:
total: 82 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,327,078 GRT/1,764,558
DWT
ships by type: bulk 31, cargo 24, chemical tanker 3, combination
bulk 1, liquefied gas tanker 4, oil tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 11,
vehicle carrier 6
note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 15
countries among which are ships of Japan 28, India 10, US 10, Greece
3, Hong Kong 3, Australia 2, Canada 1, China 1, and France 1 (1998
est.)
Airports: 32 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 29
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 17 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: no regular military forces; Vanuatu Police
Force (VPF; includes the paramilitary Vanuatu Mobile Force or VMF)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $NA
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: NA%
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: claims Matthew and Hunter Islands east of
New Caledonia
======================================================================
@Venezuela
---------
Geography
Location: Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea and
the North Atlantic Ocean, between Colombia and Guyana
Geographic coordinates: 8 00 N, 66 00 W
Map references: South America, Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 912,050 sq km
land: 882,050 sq km
water: 30,000 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly more than twice the size of California
Land boundaries:
total: 4,993 km
border countries: Brazil 2,200 km, Colombia 2,050 km, Guyana 743 km
Coastline: 2,800 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 15 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; hot, humid; more moderate in highlands
Terrain: Andes Mountains and Maracaibo Lowlands in northwest;
central plains (llanos); Guiana Highlands in southeast
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Pico Bolivar (La Columna) 5,007 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold,
bauxite, other minerals, hydropower, diamonds
Land use:
arable land: 4%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 20%
forests and woodland: 34%
other: 41% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 1,900 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: subject to floods, rockslides, mud slides;
periodic droughts
Environment--current issues: sewage pollution of Lago de Valencia;
oil and urban pollution of Lago de Maracaibo; deforestation; soil
degradation; urban and industrial pollution, especially along the
Caribbean coast
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test
Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83,
Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping
Geography--note: on major sea and air routes linking North and
South America
People
Population: 23,203,466 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 33% (male 3,988,499; female 3,741,568)
15-64 years: 62% (male 7,231,546; female 7,184,769)
65 years and over: 5% (male 484,071; female 573,013) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.71% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 22.25 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 4.93 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 26.51 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 72.95 years
male: 69.97 years
female: 76.16 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.61 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Venezuelan(s)
adjective: Venezuelan
Ethnic groups: Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Arab, German,
African, indigenous people
Religions: nominally Roman Catholic 96%, Protestant 2%
Languages: Spanish (official), numerous indigenous dialects
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 91.1%
male: 91.8%
female: 90.3% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Venezuela
conventional short form: Venezuela
local long form: Republica de Venezuela
local short form: Venezuela
Data code: VE
Government type: republic
Capital: Caracas
Administrative divisions: 22 states (estados, singular--estado),1
federal district* (distrito federal), and 1 federal dependency**
(dependencia federal); Amazonas, Anzoategui, Apure, Aragua, Barinas,
Bolivar, Carabobo, Cojedes, Delta Amacuro, Dependencias Federales**,
Distrito Federal*, Falcon, Guarico, Lara, Merida, Miranda, Monagas,
Nueva Esparta, Portuguesa, Sucre, Tachira, Trujillo, Yaracuy, Zulia
note: the federal dependency consists of 11 federally controlled
island groups with a total of 72 individual islands
Independence: 5 July 1811 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day, 5 July (1811)
Constitution: 23 January 1961
Legal system: based on Napoleonic code; judicial review of
legislative acts in Cassation Court only; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Hugo CHAVEZ Frias (since 3 February 1999);
note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Hugo CHAVEZ Frias (since 3 February
1999); note--the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 6 December 1998 (next to be held NA December 2003)
election results: Hugo CHAVEZ Frias elected president; percent of
vote--NA%
Legislative branch: bicameral Congress of the Republic or
Congreso de la Republica consists of the Senate or Senado (52 seats,
two from each state and the federal district (46), one for each of
the retired presidents, and others representing minorities (6);
members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and
Chamber of Deputies or Camara de Diputados (207 seats; members are
elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: Senate--last held 6 December 1998 (next to be held NA
December 2003); Chamber of Deputies--last held 6 December 1998 (next
to be held NA December 2003)
election results: Senate--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by
party--AD 16, COPEI 14, Causa R 9, National Convergence 5, MAS 3,
independents 5; note--two former presidents (1 from AD, 1 from COPEI)
hold lifetime Senate seats; Chamber of Deputies--percent of vote by
party--AD 25.6%, COPEI 24.6%, MAS 10.6%, National Convergence 8.7%,
Causa R 19.3%; seats by party--AD 53, COPEI 51, Causa R 40, MAS 22,
National Convergence 18, other 23
Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de
Justicia), magistrates are elected by both chambers in joint session
for a nine-year term, one-third are reelected every three years
Political parties and leaders: National Convergence or
Campins, president, and Donald RAMIREZ, secretary general];
ALFARO Ucero, secretary general]; Movement Toward Socialism or MAS
Political pressure groups and leaders: FEDECAMARAS, a
conservative business group; Venezuelan Confederation of Workers or
CTV (labor organization dominated by the Democratic Action); VECINOS
groups
International organization participation: CAN, Caricom
(observer), CCC, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G- 3, G-11, G-15, G-19, G-24,
G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES,
LAIA, MINURSO, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant)
chancery: 1099 30th Street NW, Washington, DC 20007
consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Miami, New Orleans,
New York, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador John Francis MAISTO
embassy: Calle F con Calle Suapure, Colinas de Valle Arriba, Caracas
1060
mailing address: P. O. Box 62291, Caracas 1060-A; APO AA 34037
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of yellow (top),
blue, and red with the coat of arms on the hoist side of the yellow
band and an arc of seven white five-pointed stars centered in the
blue band
Economy
Economy--overview: The petroleum sector dominates the economy,
accounting for roughly a third of GDP, around 80% of export
earnings, and more than half of government operating revenues. As a
result, the steep downturn in international oil prices has had a
severe impact on the economy; fiscal cuts spurred by the loss of
revenues, high interest rates, and the sharp downturn in export
earnings drove the economy into recession in 1998. The recession
continued into 1999 with oil prices forecast to stay relatively low,
but rising. Although the government has pursued moderate austerity
measures to address the downturn in revenues, Venezuela's ongoing
reform program has largely stalled. Pressure on the
bolivar--overvalued by as much as 40%--was also significant through
much of 1998, increasing the probability of an adjustment of the
currency in 1999. Newly elected President Hugo CHAVEZ will be hard
pressed to address Venezuela's many economic ills. He has promised
to strike a balance between reforms designed to address the
structural deformities of the economy and addressing declining
living standards. CHAVEZ has sought to play down the populism that
marked his political campaign for the presidency in an effort to
allay investor concerns. The wide range of viewpoints represented on
CHAVEZ's economic team is likely to make rapid implementation of a
coherent policy difficult.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$194.5 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: -0.9% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$8,500 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 4%
industry: 63%
services: 33% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: 31.3% (1989 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.5%
highest 10%: 35.6% (1995)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 29.9% (1998)
Labor force: 9.2 million
Labor force--by occupation: services 64%, industry 23%,
agriculture 13% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate: 11.5% (1997 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $11.99 billion
expenditures: $11.48 billion, including capital expenditures of $3
billion (1996 est.)
Industries: petroleum, iron ore mining, construction materials,
food processing, textiles, steel, aluminum, motor vehicle assembly
Industrial production growth rate: 0.5% (1995 est.)
Electricity--production: 73 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 20.55%
hydro: 79.45%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 72.85 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 150 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: corn, sorghum, sugarcane, rice, bananas,
vegetables, coffee; beef, pork, milk, eggs; fish
Exports: $16.9 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports--commodities: petroleum, bauxite and aluminum, steel,
chemicals, agricultural products, basic manufactures (1998)
Exports--partners: US and Puerto Rico 57%, Colombia, Brazil (1997)
Imports: $12.4 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports--commodities: raw materials, machinery and equipment,
transport equipment, construction materials (1998)
Imports--partners: US 53%, Japan, Colombia, Italy, Germany (1997)
Debt--external: $26.5 billion (1996)
Economic aid--recipient: $50.8 million (1995)
Currency: 1 bolivar (Bs) = 100 centimos
Exchange rates: bolivares (Bs) per US$1--570.267 (January 1999),
547.556 (1998), 488.635 (1997), 417.333 (1996), 176.843 (1995),
148.503 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 1.44 million (1987 est.)
Telephone system: modern and expanding
domestic: domestic satellite system with 3 earth stations
international: 3 submarine coaxial cables; satellite earth station--1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 181, FM 0, shortwave 26
Radios: 9.04 million (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 66 (in addition, there are 45
repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 3.3 million (1992 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 584 km (248 km privately owned)
standard gauge: 584 km 1.435-m gauge
Highways:
total: 84,300 km
paved: 33,214 km
unpaved: 51,086 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 7,100 km; Rio Orinoco and Lago de Maracaibo accept
oceangoing vessels
Pipelines: crude oil 6,370 km; petroleum products 480 km; natural
gas 4,010 km
Ports and harbors: Amuay, Bajo Grande, El Tablazo, La Guaira, La
Salina, Maracaibo, Matanzas, Palua, Puerto Cabello, Puerto la Cruz,
Puerto Ordaz, Puerto Sucre, Punta Cardon
Merchant marine:
total: 32 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 535,882 GRT/937,461 DWT
ships by type: bulk 5, cargo 9, combination bulk 1, liquefied gas
tanker 2, oil tanker 8, passenger-cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 5,
short-sea passenger 1 (1998 est.)
Airports: 371 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 122
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 10
1,524 to 2,437 m: 32
914 to 1,523 m: 59
under 914 m: 16 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 249
1,524 to 2,437 m: 10
914 to 1,523 m: 94
under 914 m: 145 (1998 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: National Armed Forces (Fuerzas Armadas
Nacionales or FAN) includes Ground Forces or Army (Fuerzas
Terrestres or Ejercito), Naval Forces (Fuerzas Navales or Armada),
Air Force (Fuerzas Aereas or Aviacion), Armed Forces of Cooperation
or National Guard (Fuerzas Armadas de Cooperacion or Guardia
Nacional)
Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 6,268,982 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 4,522,757 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 242,362 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $1.1 billion (1998)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 1% (1998)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: claims all of Guyana west of the
Essequibo River; maritime boundary dispute with Colombia in the Gulf
of Venezuela
Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis, opium, and coca leaf
for the international drug trade on a small scale; however, large
quantities of cocaine and heroin transit the country from Colombia
bound for US and Europe; important money-laundering hub; active
eradication program primarily targeting opium
======================================================================
@Vietnam
-------
Geography
Location: Southeastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, Gulf
of Tonkin, and South China Sea, alongside China, Laos, and Cambodia
Geographic coordinates: 16 00 N, 106 00 E
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area:
total: 329,560 sq km
land: 325,360 sq km
water: 4,200 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly larger than New Mexico
Land boundaries:
total: 4,639 km
border countries: Cambodia 1,228 km, China 1,281 km, Laos 2,130 km
Coastline: 3,444 km (excludes islands)
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical in south; monsoonal in north with hot, rainy
season (mid-May to mid-September) and warm, dry season (mid-October
to mid-March)
Terrain: low, flat delta in south and north; central highlands;
hilly, mountainous in far north and northwest
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: Ngoc Linh 3,143 m
Natural resources: phosphates, coal, manganese, bauxite,
chromate, offshore oil and gas deposits, forests
Land use:
arable land: 17%
permanent crops: 4%
permanent pastures: 1%
forests and woodland: 30%
other: 48% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 18,600 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: occasional typhoons (May to January) with
extensive flooding
Environment--current issues: logging and slash-and-burn
agricultural practices contribute to deforestation and soil
degradation; water pollution and overfishing threaten marine life
populations; groundwater contamination limits potable water supply;
growing urban industrialization and population migration are rapidly
degrading environment in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Nuclear
Test Ban
People
Population: 77,311,210 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 34% (male 13,377,315; female 12,603,906)
15-64 years: 61% (male 22,934,553; female 24,277,488)
65 years and over: 5% (male 1,645,288; female 2,472,660) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.37% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 20.78 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 6.56 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.53 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 34.84 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 68.1 years
male: 65.71 years
female: 70.64 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.41 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Vietnamese (singular and plural)
adjective: Vietnamese
Ethnic groups: Vietnamese 85%-90%, Chinese 3%, Muong, Tai, Meo,
Khmer, Man, Cham
Religions: Buddhist, Taoist, Roman Catholic, indigenous beliefs,
Islam, Protestant, Cao Dai, Hoa Hao
Languages: Vietnamese (official), Chinese, English, French,
Khmer, tribal languages (Mon-Khmer and Malayo-Polynesian)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93.7%
male: 96.5%
female: 91.2% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Socialist Republic of Vietnam
conventional short form: Vietnam
local long form: Cong Hoa Chu Nghia Viet Nam
local short form: Viet Nam
abbreviation: SRV
Data code: VM
Government type: Communist state
Capital: Hanoi
Administrative divisions: 58 provinces (tinh, singular and
plural), 3 municipalities* (thu do, singular and plural); An Giang,
Bac Giang, Bac Kan, Bac Lieu, Bac Ninh, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Ben Tre,
Binh Dinh, Binh Duong, Binh Phuoc, Binh Thuan, Ca Mau, Can Tho, Cao
Bang, Dac Lac, Da Nang, Dong Nai, Dong Thap, Gia Lai, Ha Giang, Hai
Duong, Hai Phong*, Ha Nam, Ha Noi*, Ha Tay, Ha Tinh, Hoa Binh, Ho
Chi Minh*, Hung Yen, Khanh Hoa, Kien Giang, Kon Tum, Lai Chau, Lam
Dong, Lang Son, Lao Cai, Long An, Nam Dinh, Nghe An, Ninh Binh, Ninh
Thuan, Phu Tho, Phu Yen, Quang Binh, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Quang
Ninh, Quang Tri, Soc Trang, Son La, Tay Ninh, Thai Binh, Thai
Nguyen, Thanh Hoa, Thua Thien-Hue, Tien Giang, Tra Vinh, Tuyen
Quang, Vinh Long, Vinh Phuc, Yen Bai
Independence: 2 September 1945 (from France)
National holiday: Independence Day, 2 September (1945)
Constitution: 15 April 1992
Legal system: based on communist legal theory and French civil
law system
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Tran Duc LUONG (since 24 September 1997)
and Vice President Nguyen Thi BINH (since NA October 1992)
head of government: Prime Minister Phan Van KHAI (since 25 September
1997); First Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Tan DUNG (since 29
September 1997); Deputy Prime Ministers Nguyen Cong TAN (since 29
September 1997), Ngo Xuan LOC (since 29 September 1997), Nguyen Manh
CAM (since 29 September 1997), and Pham Gia KHIEM (since 29
September 1997)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the proposal of the
prime minister and ratification of the National Assembly
elections: president elected by the National Assembly from among its
members for a five-year term; election last held 25 September 1997
(next to be held when National Assembly meets following legislative
elections in NA 2002); prime minister appointed by the president
from among the members of the National Assembly; deputy prime
ministers appointed by the prime minister
election results: Tran Duc LUONG elected president; percent of
National Assembly vote--NA
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Quoc-Hoi (450
seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 20 July 1997 (next to be held NA 2002)
election results: percent of vote by party--CPV 92%, other 8% (the 8%
are not CPV members but are approved by the CPV to stand for
election); seats by party--CPV or CPV-approved 450
Judicial branch: Supreme People's Court, chief justice is elected
for a five-year term by the National Assembly on the recommendation
of the president
Political parties and leaders: only party--Communist Party of
International organization participation: ACCT, APEC, AsDB,
ASEAN, CCC, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer),
ISO, ITU, NAM, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador LE VAN BANG
chancery: 1233 20th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036, Suite 400
consulate(s) general: San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Douglas B. "Pete" Peterson
embassy: 7 Lang Ha Road, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi
mailing address: PSC 461, Box 400, FPO AP 96521-0002
consulate(s) general: Ho Chi Minh City
Flag description: red with a large yellow five-pointed star in
the center
Economy
Economy--overview: Vietnam is a poor, densely populated country
that has had to recover from the ravages of war, the loss of
financial support from the old Soviet Bloc, and the rigidities of a
centrally planned economy. Substantial progress has been achieved
over the past 10 years in moving forward from an extremely low
starting point, though the regional downturn is now limiting that
progress. GDP growth of 8.5% in 1997 fell to 4% in 1998. These
numbers masked some major difficulties that are emerging in economic
performance. Many domestic industries, including coal, cement,
steel, and paper, have reported large stockpiles of inventory and
tough competition from more efficient foreign producers, giving
Vietnam a trade deficit of $3.3 billion in 1997. While disbursements
of aid and foreign direct investment have risen, they are not large
enough to finance the rapid increase in imports; and it is widely
believed that Vietnam may be using short-term trade credits to
bridge the gap--a risky strategy that could result in a foreign
exchange crunch. Meanwhile, Vietnamese authorities continue to move
slowly toward implementing the structural reforms needed to
revitalize the economy and produce more competitive, export-driven
industries. Privatization of state enterprises remains bogged down
in political controversy, while the country's dynamic private sector
is denied both financing and access to markets. Reform of the
banking sector is proceeding slowly, raising concerns that the
country will be unable to tap sufficient domestic savings to
maintain current high levels of growth. Administrative and legal
barriers are also causing costly delays for foreign investors and
are raising similar doubts about Vietnam's ability to maintain the
inflow of foreign capital. Ideological bias in favor of state
intervention and control of the economy is slowing progress toward a
more liberalized investment environment.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$134.8 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 4% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,770 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 28%
industry: 30%
services: 42% (1996 est.)
Population below poverty line: 50.9% (1993 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.5%
highest 10%: 29% (1993)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 9% (1998)
Labor force: 32.7 million
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 65%, industry and services
35% (1990 est.)
Unemployment rate: 25% (1995 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $5.6 billion
expenditures: $6 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.7
billion (1996 est.)
Industries: food processing, garments, shoes, machine building,
mining, cement, chemical fertilizer, glass, tires, oil, coal, steel,
paper
Industrial production growth rate: 12% (1998 est.)
Electricity--production: 14.88 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 12.1%
hydro: 84%
nuclear: 0%
other: 3.9% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 14.88 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: paddy rice, corn, potatoes, rubber,
soybeans, coffee, tea, bananas; poultry, pigs; fish
Exports: $9.4 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Exports--commodities: crude oil, marine products, rice, coffee,
rubber, tea, garments, shoes
Exports--partners: Japan, Germany, Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong,
France, South Korea
Imports: $11.4 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Imports--commodities: machinery and equipment, petroleum products,
fertilizer, steel products, raw cotton, grain, cement, motorcycles
Imports--partners: Singapore, South Korea, Japan, France, Hong
Kong, Taiwan
Debt--external: $7.3 billion Western countries; $4.5 billion CEMA
debts primarily to Russia; $9 billion to $18 billion nonconvertible
debt (former CEMA, Iraq, Iran)
Economic aid--recipient: $2.2 billion in credits and grants
pledged by international donors for 1999
Currency: 1 new dong (D) = 100 xu
Exchange rates: new dong (D) per US$1--13,900 (December 1998),
11,100 (December 1996), 11,193 (1995 average), 11,000 (October
1994), 10,800 (November 1993), 8,100 (July 1991)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 800,000 (1995 est.)
Telephone system: while Vietnam's telecommunication sector lags
far behind other countries in Southeast Asia, Hanoi has made
considerable progress since 1991 in upgrading the system; Vietnam
has digitized all provincial switch boards, while fiber-optic and
microwave transmission systems have been extended from Hanoi, Da
Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City to all provinces; the density of
telephone receivers nationwide doubled from 1993 to 1995, but is
still far behind other countries in the region; Vietnam's
telecommunications strategy aims to increase telephone density to 30
per 1,000 inhabitants by the year 2000 and authorities estimate that
approximately $2.7 billion will be spent on telecommunications
upgrades through the end of the decade
domestic: NA
international: satellite earth stations--2 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean
region)
Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM 228, shortwave 0
Radios: 7.215 million (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: NA
Televisions: 2.9 million (1992 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 2,835 km (in addition, there are 224 km not restored to
service after war damage)
standard gauge: 151 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 2,454 km 1.000-m gauge
dual gauge: 230 km NA-m gauges (three rails)
Highways:
total: 93,300 km
paved: 23,418 km
unpaved: 69,882 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 17,702 km navigable; more than 5,149 km navigable at
all times by vessels up to 1.8 m draft
Pipelines: petroleum products 150 km
Ports and harbors: Cam Ranh, Da Nang, Haiphong, Ho Chi Minh City,
Hong Gai, Qui Nhon, Nha Trang
Merchant marine:
total: 123 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 527,920 GRT/820,515 DWT
ships by type: bulk 7, cargo 98, chemical tanker 1, combination bulk
1, oil tanker 12, refrigerated cargo 4 (1998 est.)
Airports: 48 (1994 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 36
over 3,047 m: 8
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 13
under 914 m: 7 (1994 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 12
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 5 (1994 est.)
Military
Military branches: People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) (includes
Ground Forces, Navy, and Air Force), Coast Guard
Military manpower--military age: 17 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 20,492,806 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 12,933,945 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 877,714 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $650 million (1997)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 9.3% (1997)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: maritime boundary with Cambodia not
defined; involved in a complex dispute over the Spratly Islands with
China, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, and possibly Brunei; maritime
boundary with Thailand resolved, August 1997; maritime boundary
dispute with China in the Gulf of Tonkin; Paracel Islands occupied
by China but claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan; offshore islands and
sections of boundary with Cambodia are in dispute; sections of land
border with China are indefinite
Illicit drugs: minor producer of opium poppy with 3,000 hectares
cultivated in 1998, capable of producing 20 metric tons of opium;
probably minor transit point for Southeast Asian heroin destined for
the US and Europe; growing opium/heroin addiction; possible
small-scale heroin production
======================================================================
@Virgin Islands
--------------
Geography
Location: Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the
North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico
Geographic coordinates: 18 20 N, 64 50 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 352 sq km
land: 349 sq km
water: 3 sq km
Area--comparative: twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 188 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: subtropical, tempered by easterly trade winds,
relatively low humidity, little seasonal temperature variation;
rainy season May to November
Terrain: mostly hilly to rugged and mountainous with little level
land
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Crown Mountain 474 m
Natural resources: sun, sand, sea, surf
Land use:
arable land: 15%
permanent crops: 6%
permanent pastures: 26%
forests and woodland: 6%
other: 47% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: several hurricanes in recent years; frequent and
severe droughts and floods; occasional earthquakes
Environment--current issues: lack of natural freshwater resources
Environment--international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography--note: important location along the Anegada Passage?a
key shipping lane for the Panama Canal; Saint Thomas has one of the
best natural, deepwater harbors in the Caribbean
People
Population: 119,827 (July 1999 est.)
note: West Indian (45% born in the Virgin Islands and 29% born
elsewhere in the West Indies) 74%, US mainland 13%, Puerto Rican 5%,
other 8%
Age structure:
0-14 years: 28% (male 17,454; female 16,585)
15-64 years: 63% (male 34,712; female 41,325)
65 years and over: 9% (male 4,237; female 5,514) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.19% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 17.08 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 5.34 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.84 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 0.89 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 10.07 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.74 years
male: 74.04 years
female: 81.67 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.42 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Virgin Islander(s)
adjective: Virgin Islander
Ethnic groups: black 80%, white 15%, other 5%
Religions: Baptist 42%, Roman Catholic 34%, Episcopalian 17%,
other 7%
Languages: English (official), Spanish, Creole
Literacy: NA
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Virgin Islands of the United States
conventional short form: Virgin Islands
former: Danish West Indies
Data code: VQ
Dependency status: organized, unincorporated territory of the US;
administered by the Office of Insular Affairs, US Department of the
Interior
Government type: NA
Capital: Charlotte Amalie
Administrative divisions: none (territory of the US); there are
no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US
Government, but there are three islands at the second order; Saint
Croix, Saint John, Saint Thomas
National holiday: Transfer Day, 31 March (1917) (from Denmark to
US)
Constitution: Revised Organic Act of 22 July 1954
Legal system: based on US laws
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal; note--indigenous inhabitants
are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections
Executive branch:
chief of state: President William Jefferson CLINTON of the US (since
20 January 1993); Vice President Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January
1993)
head of government: Governor Dr. Charles Wesley TURNBULL (since 5
January 1999) and Lieutenant Governor Gerald LUZ James II (since 5
January 1999)
cabinet: NA
elections: US president and vice president elected on the same
ticket for four-year terms; governor and lieutenant governor elected
by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 3 November
1998 (next to be held NA November 2002)
election results: Dr. Charles Wesley TURNBULL elected governor;
percent of vote--Dr. Charles W. TURNBULL (Democrat) 58.9%, former
Governor Roy L. SCHNEIDER (ICM) 41.1%
Legislative branch: unicameral Senate (15 seats; members are
elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms)
elections: last held 3 November 1998 (next to be held NA November
2000)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by
party--Democratic Party 6, independents 5, Republican Party 2,
Independent Citizens Movement 2
note: the Virgin Islands elect one representative to the US House of
Representatives; election last held 3 November 1998 (next to be held
NA November 2000); results--Dr. Donna GREEN (Democrat) 80%, Victor O.
FRAZER (ICM) 20%
Judicial branch: US District Court (judges are appointed by the
president); Territorial Court (judges appointed by the governor)
Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party [James O'BRYON
International organization participation: ECLAC (associate),
Interpol (subbureau), IOC
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (territory of the US)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (territory of the US)
Flag description: white, with a modified US coat of arms in the
center between the large blue initials V and I; the coat of arms
shows a yellow eagle holding an olive branch in one talon and three
arrows in the other with a superimposed shield of vertical red and
white stripes below a blue panel
Economy
Economy--overview: Tourism is the primary economic activity,
accounting for more than 70% of GDP and 70% of employment. The
islands normally host 2 million visitors a year. The number of US
tourists in the first five months of 1996 was down by 55% from the
same period in 1995, the lingering result of the fierce hurricanes
of 1995. Unemployment rose sharply in 1996. The manufacturing sector
consists of textile, electronics, pharmaceutical, and watch assembly
plants. The agricultural sector is small, with most food being
imported. International business and financial services are a small
but growing component of the economy. One of the world's largest
petroleum refineries is at Saint Croix. A major economic problem at
the beginning of 1997 was the more than $1 billion in governmental
arrears, income tax refunds, payments to vendors, and overdue wages.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$1.2 billion (1987 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: NA%
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$12,500 (1987 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
Labor force: 47,443 (1990 est.)
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 1%, industry 20%, services
62%, other 17% (1990)
Unemployment rate: 6.2% (March 1994)
Budget:
revenues: $364.4 million
expenditures: $364.4 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1990 est.)
Industries: tourism, petroleum refining, watch assembly, rum
distilling, construction, pharmaceuticals, textiles, electronics
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: 1.02 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 1.02 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: truck garden products, fruit, vegetables,
sorghum; Senepol cattle
Exports: $1.8 billion (f.o.b., 1992)
Exports--commodities: refined petroleum products
Exports--partners: US, Puerto Rico
Imports: $2.2 billion (c.i.f., 1992)
Imports--commodities: crude oil, foodstuffs, consumer goods,
building materials
Imports--partners: US, Puerto Rico
Debt--external: $NA
Economic aid--recipient: $NA
Currency: 1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: US currency is used
Fiscal year: 1 October--30 September
Communications
Telephones: 60,000 (1990 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: modern, uses fiber-optic cable and microwave radio relay
international: submarine cable and satellite communications;
satellite earth stations--NA
Radio broadcast stations: AM 4, FM 8, shortwave 0 (1988)
Radios: 105,000 (1994 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 2 (1997)
Televisions: 66,000 (1994 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 856 km
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km
Ports and harbors: Charlotte Amalie, Christiansted, Cruz Bay,
Port Alucroix
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 2
note: international airports on Saint Thomas and Saint Croix; there
is an airfield on St. John (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (1998 est.)
Military
Military--note: defense is the responsibility of the US
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
======================================================================
@Wake Atoll
----------
Geography
Location: Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about
two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to the Northern Mariana Islands
Geographic coordinates: 19 17 N, 166 36 E
Map references: Oceania
Area:
total: 6.5 sq km
land: 6.5 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: about 11 times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 19.3 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical
Terrain: atoll of three coral islands built up on an underwater
volcano; central lagoon is former crater, islands are part of the rim
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 6 m
Natural resources: none
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 100%
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1998)
Natural hazards: occasional typhoons
Environment--current issues: NA
Environment--international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography--note: strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean;
emergency landing location for transpacific flights
People
Population: no indigenous inhabitants
note: US military personnel have left the island, but some civilian
personnel remain (1999 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Wake Atoll
Data code: WQ
Dependency status: unincorporated territory of the US;
administered from Washington, DC by the Department of the Interior;
occasional activities on the island are managed by the US Army under
a US Air Force contract
Legal system: NA
Flag description: the flag of the US is used
Economy
Economy--overview: Economic activity is limited to providing
services to contractors located on the island. All food and
manufactured goods must be imported.
Electricity--production: NA kWh
note: electricity supplied by the US military
Electricity--consumption: NA kWh
Communications
Telephone system: satellite communications; 1 DSN circuit off the
Overseas Telephone System (OTS)
domestic: NA
international: NA
Radio broadcast stations: AM 0, FM NA, shortwave NA
note: Armed Forces Radio/Television Service (AFRTS) radio service
provided by satellite
Television broadcast stations: 0 (1997)
Transportation
Ports and harbors: none; two offshore anchorages for large ships
Airports: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Transportation--note: formerly an important commercial aviation
base, now occasionally used by US military, some commercial cargo
planes, and for emergency landings
Military
Military--note: defense is the responsibility of the US
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: claimed by Marshall Islands
======================================================================
@Wallis and Futuna
-----------------
Geography
Location: Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about
two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Geographic coordinates: 13 18 S, 176 12 W
Map references: Oceania
Area:
total: 274 sq km
land: 274 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes Ile Uvea (Wallis Island), Ile Futuna (Futuna Island),
Ile Alofi, and 20 islets
Area--comparative: 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 129 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; hot, rainy season (November to April); cool,
dry season (May to October); rains 2,500-3,000 mm per year (80%
humidity); average temperature 26.6 degrees C
Terrain: volcanic origin; low hills
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Singavi 765 m
Natural resources: NEGL
Land use:
arable land: 5%
permanent crops: 20%
permanent pastures: NA%
forests and woodland: NA%
other: 75% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: NA
Environment--current issues: deforestation (only small portions of
the original forests remain) largely as a result of the continued
use of wood as the main fuel source; as a consequence of cutting
down the forests, the mountainous terrain of Futuna is particularly
prone to erosion; there are no permanent settlements on Alofi
because of the lack of natural fresh water resources
Environment--international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography--note: both island groups have fringing reefs
People
Population: 15,129 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: NA%
15-64 years: NA%
65 years and over: NA%
Population growth rate: 1.04% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 22.34 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 4.66 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -7.26 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: NA deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: NA years
male: NA years
female: NA years
Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman
Nationality:
noun: Wallisian(s), Futunan(s), or Wallis and Futuna Islanders
adjective: Wallisian, Futunan, or Wallis and Futuna Islander
Ethnic groups: Polynesian
Religions: Roman Catholic 100%
Languages: French, Wallisian (indigenous Polynesian language)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 50%
male: 50%
female: 50% (1969 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Territory of the Wallis and Futuna Islands
conventional short form: Wallis and Futuna
local long form: Territoire des Iles Wallis et Futuna
local short form: Wallis et Futuna
Data code: WF
Dependency status: overseas territory of France
Government type: NA
Capital: Mata-Utu (on Ile Uvea)
Administrative divisions: none (overseas territory of France);
there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the
US Government, but there are three kingdoms named Wallis, Sigave, Alo
Independence: none (overseas territory of France)
Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system: French legal system
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May
1995), represented by High Administrator Claude PIERRET (since NA)
head of government: President of the Territorial Assembly Victor
BRIAL (since 1 June 1997)
cabinet: Council of the Territory consists of three kings and three
members appointed by the high administrator on the advice of the
Territorial Assembly
note: there are three traditional kings with limited powers
elections: French president elected by popular vote for a seven-year
term; high administrator appointed by the French president on the
advice of the French Ministry of the Interior; the presidents of the
Territorial Government and the Territorial Assembly are elected by
the members of the assembly
Legislative branch: unicameral Territorial Assembly or Assemblee
Territoriale (20 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve
five-year terms)
elections: last held 16 March 1997 (next to be held NA March 2002)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--NA
note: Wallis and Futuna elects one senator to the French Senate and
one deputy to the French National Assembly; French Senate--elections
last held 27 September 1998 (next to be held by NA September 2007);
results--percent of vote by party--NA; seats--RPR 1; French National
Assembly--elections last held 25 May-1 June 1997 (next to be held by
NA March 2002); results--percent of vote by party--NA; seats--RPR 1
Judicial branch: none; justice generally administered under
French law by the high administrator, but the three traditional
kings administer customary law and there is a magistrate in Mata-Utu
Political parties and leaders: Rally for the Republic or RPR
International organization participation: FZ, SPC
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory of
France)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (overseas territory
of France)
Flag description: a large white modified Maltese cross centered
on a red background; the flag of France outlined in white on two
sides is in the upper hoist quadrant; the flag of France is used for
official occasions
Economy
Economy--overview: The economy is limited to traditional
subsistence agriculture, with about 80% of the labor force earning
its livelihood from agriculture (coconuts and vegetables), livestock
(mostly pigs), and fishing. About 4% of the population is employed
in government. Revenues come from French Government subsidies,
licensing of fishing rights to Japan and South Korea, import taxes,
and remittances from expatriate workers in New Caledonia. Wallis and
Futuna imports food--particularly flour, sugar, rice, and beef--fuel,
clothing, machinery, and transport equipment, but its exports are
negligible, consisting mostly of breadfruit, yams, and taro root.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$28.7 million (1995 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: NA%
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$2,000 (1995 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
Labor force: NA
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture, livestock, and fishing
80%, government 4% (est.)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $20 million
expenditures: $20 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1997 est.)
Industries: copra, handicrafts, fishing, lumber
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: NA kWh
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: NA%
hydro: NA%
nuclear: NA%
other: NA%
Electricity--consumption: NA kWh
Electricity--exports: NA kWh
Electricity--imports: NA kWh
Agriculture--products: breadfruit, yams, taro, bananas; pigs, goats
Exports: $370,000 (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
Exports--commodities: copra, handicrafts
Exports--partners: NA
Imports: $13.5 million (c.i.f., 1995 est.)
Imports--commodities: foodstuffs, manufactured goods,
transportation equipment, fuel, clothing
Imports--partners: France, Australia, New Zealand
Debt--external: $NA
Economic aid--recipient: $1 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique franc (CFPF) = 100
centimes
Exchange rates: Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (CFPF) per
US$1--102.72 (January 1999), 107.25 (1998), 106.11 (1997), 93.00
(1996), 90.75 (1995), 100.94 (1994); note--linked at the rate of
18.18 to the French franc
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 340 (1985 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: NA
international: NA
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 2 (1997)
Televisions: NA
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 120 km (Ile Uvea 100 km, Ile Futuna 20 km)
paved: 16 km (all on Ile Uvea)
unpaved: 104 km (Ile Uvea 84 km, Ile Futuna 20 km)
Waterways: none
Ports and harbors: Leava, Mata-Utu
Merchant marine:
total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 44,160 GRT/41,656 DWT
ships by type: oil tanker 1, passenger 1 (1998 est.)
Airports: 2 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military--note: defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: none
======================================================================
@West Bank
---------
Introduction
Background: The Israel-PLO Declaration of Principles on Interim
Self-Government Arrangements ("the DOP"), signed in Washington on 13
September 1993, provides for a transitional period not exceeding
five years of Palestinian interim self-government in the Gaza Strip
and the West Bank. Permanent status negotiations began on 5 May
1996, but have not resumed since the initial meeting. Under the DOP,
Israel agreed to transfer certain powers and responsibilities to the
Palestinian Authority, which includes a Palestinian Legislative
Council elected in January 1996, as part of interim self-governing
arrangements in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. A transfer of powers
and responsibilities for the Gaza Strip and Jericho took place
pursuant to the Israel-PLO 4 May 1994 Cairo Agreement on the Gaza
Strip and the Jericho Area and in additional areas of the West Bank
pursuant to the Israel-PLO 28 September 1995 Interim Agreement, the
Israel-PLO 15 January 1997 Protocol Concerning Redeployment in
Hebron, and the Israel-PLO 23 October 1998 Wye River Memorandum. The
DOP provides that Israel will retain responsibility during the
transitional period for external security and for internal security
and public order of settlements and Israelis. Permanent status is to
be determined through direct negotiations.
Geography
Location: Middle East, west of Jordan
Geographic coordinates: 32 00 N, 35 15 E
Map references: Middle East
Area:
total: 5,860 sq km
land: 5,640 sq km
water: 220 sq km
note: includes West Bank, Latrun Salient, and the northwest quarter
of the Dead Sea, but excludes Mt. Scopus; East Jerusalem and
Jerusalem No Man's Land are also included only as a means of
depicting the entire area occupied by Israel in 1967
Area--comparative: slightly smaller than Delaware
Land boundaries:
total: 404 km
border countries: Israel 307 km, Jordan 97 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: temperate, temperature and precipitation vary with
altitude, warm to hot summers, cool to mild winters
Terrain: mostly rugged dissected upland, some vegetation in west,
but barren in east
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Dead Sea -408 m
highest point: Tall Asur 1,022 m
Natural resources: NEGL
Land use:
arable land: 27%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 32%
forests and woodland: 1%
other: 40%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: NA
Environment--current issues: adequacy of fresh water supply;
sewage treatment
Environment--international agreements:
party to: none of the selected agreements
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography--note: landlocked; highlands are main recharge area for
Israel's coastal aquifers; there are 216 Israeli settlements and
civilian land use sites in the West Bank and 29 in East Jerusalem
(August 1998 est.)
People
Population: 1,611,109 (July 1999 est.)
note: in addition, there are some 166,000 Israeli settlers in the
West Bank and about 176,000 in East Jerusalem (August 1998 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 45% (male 370,770; female 352,803)
15-64 years: 52% (male 422,209; female 411,597)
65 years and over: 3% (male 22,376; female 31,354) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.14% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 35.59 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 4.2 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 25.22 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 72.83 years
male: 70.96 years
female: 74.79 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.78 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: NA
adjective: NA
Ethnic groups: Palestinian Arab and other 83%, Jewish 17%
Religions: Muslim 75% (predominantly Sunni), Jewish 17%,
Christian and other 8%
Languages: Arabic, Hebrew (spoken by Israeli settlers and many
Palestinians), English (widely understood)
Literacy: NA
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: West Bank
Data code: WE
Economy
Economy--overview: Economic conditions in the West Bank?where
economic activity is governed by the Paris Economic Protocol of
April 1994 between Israel and the Palestinian Authority--have
deteriorated since the early 1990s. Real per capita GDP for the West
Bank and Gaza Strip (WBGS) declined 36.1% between 1992 and 1996
owing to the combined effect of falling aggregate incomes and robust
population growth. The downturn in economic activity was largely the
result of Israeli closure policies--the imposition of generalized
border closures in response to security incidents in Israel--which
disrupted previously established labor and commodity market
relationships between Israel and the WBGS. The most serious negative
social effect of this downturn has been the emergence of chronic
unemployment; average unemployment rates in the WBGS during the
1980s were generally under 5%, by the mid-1990s this level had risen
to over 20%. Since 1997 Israel's use of comprehensive closures has
decreased and, in 1998, Israel implemented new policies to reduce
the impact of closures and other security procedures on the movement
of Palestinian goods and labor. These positive changes to the
conduct of economic activity, combined with international donor
pledges of over $3 billion made to the Palestinian Authority in
November, may fuel a moderate economic recovery in 1999.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$3.1 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 2.2% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$2,000 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 33%
industry: 25%
services: 42% (1995 est., includes Gaza Strip)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7.6% (1997 est.)
Labor force: NA
note: excluding Israeli settlers
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 13%, industry 13%,
commerce, restaurants, and hotels 12%, construction 8%, other
services 54% (1996)
Unemployment rate: 17.3% (1997 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $816 million
expenditures: $866 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1997 est.)
note: includes Gaza Strip
Industries: generally small family businesses that produce
cement, textiles, soap, olive-wood carvings, and mother-of-pearl
souvenirs; the Israelis have established some small-scale, modern
industries in the settlements and industrial centers
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: NA kWh
note: most electricity imported from Israel; East Jerusalem Electric
Company buys and distributes electricity to Palestinians in East
Jerusalem and its concession in the West Bank; the Israel Electric
Company directly supplies electricity to most Jewish residents and
military facilities; at the same time, some Palestinian
municipalities, such as Nabulus and Janin, generate their own
electricity from small power plants
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: NA%
hydro: NA%
nuclear: NA%
other: NA%
Electricity--consumption: NA kWh
Electricity--exports: NA kWh
Electricity--imports: NA kWh
Agriculture--products: olives, citrus, vegetables; beef, dairy
products
Exports: $781 million (f.o.b., 1997 est.) (includes Gaza Strip)
Exports--commodities: olives, fruit, vegetables, limestone
Exports--partners: Israel, Jordan
Imports: $2.1 billion (c.i.f., 1997 est.) (includes Gaza Strip)
Imports--commodities: food, consumer goods, construction materials
Imports--partners: Israel, Jordan
Debt--external: $108 million (1997 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $NA
Currency: 1 new Israeli shekel (NIS) = 100 new agorot; 1
Jordanian dinar (JD) = 1,000 fils
Exchange rates: new Israeli shekels (NIS) per US$1--4.2260
(November 1998), 3.4494 (1997), 3.1917 (1996), 3.0113 (1995), 3.0111
(1994); Jordanian dinars (JD) per US$1--0.7090 (January 1999), 0.7090
(1998), 0.7090 (1997), 0.7090 (1996), 0.7005 (1995), 0.6987 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year (since 1 January 1992)
Communications
Telephones: NA; 3.1% of Palestinian households have telephones
Telephone system:
domestic: NA
international: NA
note: Israeli company BEZEK and the Palestinian company PALTEL are
responsible for communication services in the West Bank
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: NA; note--82% of Palestinian households have radios (1992
est.)
Television broadcast stations: NA
Televisions: NA; note--54% of Palestinian households have
televisions (1992 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 4,500 km
paved: 2,700 km
unpaved: 1,800 km (1997 est.)
note: Israelis have developed many highways to service Jewish
settlements
Ports and harbors: none
Airports: 2 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: NA
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $NA
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: NA%
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: West Bank and Gaza Strip are
Israeli-occupied with current status subject to the
Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement--permanent status to be
determined through further negotiation
======================================================================
@Western Sahara
--------------
Geography
Location: Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean,
between Mauritania and Morocco
Geographic coordinates: 24 30 N, 13 00 W
Map references: Africa
Area:
total: 266,000 sq km
land: 266,000 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative: about the size of Colorado
Land boundaries:
total: 2,046 km
border countries: Algeria 42 km, Mauritania 1,561 km, Morocco 443 km
Coastline: 1,110 km
Maritime claims: contingent upon resolution of sovereignty issue
Climate: hot, dry desert; rain is rare; cold offshore air
currents produce fog and heavy dew
Terrain: mostly low, flat desert with large areas of rocky or
sandy surfaces rising to small mountains in south and northeast
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Sebjet Tah -55 m
highest point: unnamed location 463 m
Natural resources: phosphates, iron ore
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 19%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 81%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind can occur
during winter and spring; widespread harmattan haze exists 60% of
time, often severely restricting visibility
Environment--current issues: sparse water and arable land
Environment--international agreements:
party to: none of the selected agreements
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
People
Population: 239,333 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate: 2.34% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 45.42 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 16.58 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -5.41 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 136.67 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 49.1 years
male: 47.98 years
female: 50.57 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.7 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Sahrawi(s), Sahraoui(s)
adjective: Sahrawian, Sahraouian
Ethnic groups: Arab, Berber
Religions: Muslim
Languages: Hassaniya Arabic, Moroccan Arabic
Literacy: NA
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Western Sahara
Data code: WI
Government type: legal status of territory and question of
sovereignty unresolved; territory contested by Morocco and Polisario
Front (Popular Front for the Liberation of the Saguia el Hamra and
Rio de Oro), which in February 1976 formally proclaimed a
government-in-exile of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR);
territory partitioned between Morocco and Mauritania in April 1976,
with Morocco acquiring northern two-thirds; Mauritania, under
pressure from Polisario guerrillas, abandoned all claims to its
portion in August 1979; Morocco moved to occupy that sector shortly
thereafter and has since asserted administrative control; the
Polisario's government-in-exile was seated as an OAU member in 1984;
guerrilla activities continued sporadically, until a UN-monitored
cease-fire was implemented 6 September 1991
Capital: none
Administrative divisions: none (under de facto control of Morocco)
Suffrage: none; a UN sponsored voter identification campaign has
yet to be completed
Executive branch: none
International organization participation: none
Diplomatic representation in the US: none
Diplomatic representation from the US: none
Economy
Economy--overview: Western Sahara, a territory poor in natural
resources and lacking sufficient rainfall, depends on pastoral
nomadism, fishing, and phosphate mining as the principal sources of
income for the population. Most of the food for the urban population
must be imported. All trade and other economic activities are
controlled by the Moroccan Government. Incomes and standards of
living are substantially below the Moroccan level.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$NA
GDP--real growth rate: NA%
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$NA
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: 40%-45% (1996 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
Labor force: 12,000
Labor force--by occupation: animal husbandry and subsistence
farming 50%
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Industries: phosphate mining, handicrafts
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: 85 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 85 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: fruits and vegetables (grown in the few
oases); camels, sheep, goats (kept by nomads)
Exports: $NA
Exports--commodities: phosphates 62%
Exports--partners: Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara,
so trade partners are included in overall Moroccan accounts
Imports: $NA
Imports--commodities: fuel for fishing fleet, foodstuffs
Imports--partners: Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara,
so trade partners are included in overall Moroccan accounts
Debt--external: $NA
Economic aid--recipient: $NA
Currency: 1 Moroccan dirham (DH) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: Moroccan dirhams (DH) per US$1--9.320 (January
1999), 9.604 (1998), 9.527 (1997), 8.716 (1996), 8.540 (1995), 9.203
(1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 2,000
Telephone system: sparse and limited system
domestic: NA
international: tied into Morocco's system by microwave radio relay,
tropospheric scatter, and satellite; satellite earth stations--2
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) linked to Rabat, Morocco
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: NA
Televisions: NA
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 6,200 km
paved: 1,350 km
unpaved: 4,850 km (1991 est.)
Ports and harbors: Ad Dakhla, Cabo Bojador, Laayoune (El Aaiun)
Airports: 12 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 9
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 3 (1998 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: NA
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $NA
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: NA%
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: claimed and administered by Morocco, but
sovereignty is unresolved and the UN is attempting to hold a
referendum on the issue; the UN-administered cease-fire has been in
effect since September 1991
======================================================================
@World
-----
Geography
Map references: World, Time Zones
Area:
total: 510.072 million sq km
land: 148.94 million sq km
water: 361.132 million sq km
note: 70.8% of the world's surface is water, 29.2% is land
Area--comparative: land area about 15 times the size of the US
Land boundaries: the land boundaries in the world total
251,480.24 km (not counting shared boundaries twice)
Coastline: 356,000 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm claimed by most, but can vary
continental shelf: 200-m depth claimed by most or to depth of
exploitation; others claim 200 nm or to the edge of the continental
margin
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm claimed by most, but can vary
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm claimed by most, but can vary
territorial sea: 12 nm claimed by most, but can vary
note: boundary situations with neighboring states prevent many
countries from extending their fishing or economic zones to a full
200 nm; 43 nations and other areas that are landlocked include
Afghanistan, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bhutan,
Bolivia, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Central African Republic,
Chad, Czech Republic, Ethiopia, Holy See (Vatican City), Hungary,
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg,
Malawi, Mali, Moldova, Mongolia, Nepal, Niger, Paraguay, Rwanda, San
Marino, Slovakia, Swaziland, Switzerland, Tajikistan, The Former
Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Uzbekistan,
West Bank, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Climate: two large areas of polar climates separated by two
rather narrow temperate zones from a wide equatorial band of
tropical to subtropical climates
Terrain: the greatest ocean depth is the Mariana Trench at 10,924
m in the Pacific Ocean
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Dead Sea -408 m
highest point: Mount Everest 8,848 m
Natural resources: the rapid using up of nonrenewable mineral
resources, the depletion of forest areas and wetlands, the
extinction of animal and plant species, and the deterioration in air
and water quality (especially in Eastern Europe, the former USSR,
and China) pose serious long-term problems that governments and
peoples are only beginning to address
Land use:
arable land: 10%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 26%
forests and woodland: 32%
other: 31% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 2,481,250 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: large areas subject to severe weather (tropical
cyclones), natural disasters (earthquakes, landslides, tsunamis,
volcanic eruptions)
Environment--current issues: large areas subject to
overpopulation, industrial disasters, pollution (air, water, acid
rain, toxic substances), loss of vegetation (overgrazing,
deforestation, desertification), loss of wildlife, soil degradation,
soil depletion, erosion
Environment--international agreements: selected international
environmental agreements are included under the
Environment--international agreements entry for each country and in
the Selected International Environmental Agreements appendix
People
Population: 5,995,544,836 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 30% (male 934,816,288; female 884,097,095)
15-64 years: 63% (male 1,905,701,066; female 1,861,265,079)
65 years and over: 7% (male 179,094,601; female 230,570,707) (1999
est.)
Population growth rate: 1.3% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 22 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 9 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 56 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 63 years
male: 61 years
female: 65 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.8 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Government
Data code: none; there is no FIPS 10-4 country code for the
World, so the Factbook uses the "W" data code from DIAM 65-18
"Geopolitical Data Elements and Related Features," Data Standard No.
3, March 1984, published by the Defense Intelligence Agency; see the
Cross-Reference List of Country Data Codes appendix
Administrative divisions: 266 nations, dependent areas, other,
and miscellaneous entries
Legal system: all members of the UN (excluding Yugoslavia) plus
Nauru and Switzerland are parties to the statute that established
the International Court of Justice (ICJ) or World Court
Economy
Economy--overview: Growth in global output (gross world product,
GWP) dropped to 2% in 1998 from 4% in 1997 because of continued
recession in Japan, severe financial difficulties in other East
Asian countries, and widespread dislocations in the Russian economy.
The US economy continued its remarkable sustained prosperity,
growing at 3.9% in 1998, and accounted for 22% of GWP. Western
Europe's economies grew at roughly 2.5%, not enough to cut deeply
into the region's high unemployment; these economies produced 21% of
GWP. China, the second largest economy in the world, continued its
rapid growth and accounted for 11% of GWP. Japan posted a decline of
2.6% in 1998 and its share in GWP dropped to 7.4%. As usual, the 15
successor nations of the USSR and the other old Warsaw Pact nations
experienced widely different rates of growth. Russia's national
product dropped by 5% whereas the nations of central and eastern
Europe grew by 3.4% on average. The developing nations varied widely
in their growth results, with many countries facing population
increases that eat up gains in output. Externally, the nation-state,
as a bedrock economic-political institution, is steadily losing
control over international flows of people, goods, funds, and
technology. Internally, the central government finds its control
over resources slipping as separatist regional movements--typically
based on ethnicity--gain momentum, e.g., in the successor states of
the former Soviet Union, in the former Yugoslavia, in India, and in
Canada. In Western Europe, governments face the difficult political
problem of channeling resources away from welfare programs in order
to increase investment and strengthen incentives to seek employment.
The addition of more than 80 million people each year to an already
overcrowded globe is exacerbating the problems of pollution,
desertification, underemployment, epidemics, and famine. Because of
their own internal problems, the industrialized countries have
inadequate resources to deal effectively with the poorer areas of
the world, which, at least from the economic point of view, are
becoming further marginalized. In 1998, serious financial
difficulties in several high-growth East Asia countries cast a
shadow over short-term global economic prospects. The introduction
of the euro as the common currency of much of Western Europe in
January 1999 poses serious economic risks because of varying levels
of income and cultural and political differences among the
participating nations. (For specific economic developments in each
country of the world in 1998, see the individual country entries.)
GDP: GWP (gross world product)--purchasing power parity?$39
trillion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 2% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$6,600 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): all countries 25%; developed
countries 2% to 4% typically; developing countries 10% to 60%
typically (1998 est.)
note: national inflation rates vary widely in individual cases, from
stable prices in Japan to hyperinflation in a number of Third World
countries
Labor force: NA
Labor force--by occupation: NA
Unemployment rate: 30% combined unemployment and underemployment
in many non-industrialized countries; developed countries typically
5%-12% unemployment (1998 est.)
Industries: dominated by the onrush of technology, especially in
computers, robotics, telecommunications, and medicines and medical
equipment; most of these advances take place in OECD nations; only a
small portion of non-OECD countries have succeeded in rapidly
adjusting to these technological forces; the accelerated development
of new industrial (and agricultural) technology is complicating
already grim environmental problems
Industrial production growth rate: 5% (1997 est.)
Electricity--production: 12.3427 trillion kWh (1994)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: NA%
hydro: NA%
nuclear: NA%
other: NA%
Electricity--consumption: 12.3427 trillion kWh (1994)
Exports: $5 trillion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Exports--commodities: the whole range of industrial and
agricultural goods and services
Exports--partners: in value, about 75% of exports from the
developed countries
Imports: $5 trillion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Imports--commodities: the whole range of industrial and
agricultural goods and services
Imports--partners: in value, about 75% of imports by the developed
countries
Debt--external: $2 trillion for less developed countries (1998
est.)
Economic aid--recipient: traditional worldwide foreign aid $50
billion (1995 est.)
Communications
Telephones: NA
Telephone system:
domestic: NA
international: NA
Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: NA
Televisions: NA
Transportation
Railways:
total: 1,201,337 km includes about 190,000 to 195,000 km of
electrified routes of which 147,760 km are in Europe, 24,509 km in
the Far East, 11,050 km in Africa, 4,223 km in South America, and
4,160 km in North America; note--fastest speed in daily service is
300 km/hr attained by France's Societe Nationale des Chemins-de-Fer
Francais (SNCF) Le Train a Grande Vitesse (TGV)--Atlantique line
broad gauge: 251,153 km
standard gauge: 710,754 km
narrow gauge: 239,430 km
Highways:
total: NA km
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km
Ports and harbors: Chiba, Houston, Kawasaki, Kobe, Marseille,
Mina' al Ahmadi (Kuwait), New Orleans, New York, Rotterdam, Yokohama
Merchant marine:
total: 28,310 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 495,299,489
GRT/764,129,056 DWT
ships by type: barge carrier 23, bulk 5,745, cargo 8,766, chemical
tanker 1,326, combination bulk 319, combination ore/oil 227,
container 2,615, liquefied gas tanker 802, livestock carrier 60,
multifunction large-load carrier 90, oil tanker 4,521, passenger
392, passenger-cargo 126, railcar carrier 19, refrigerated cargo
1,067, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1,117, short-sea passenger 484,
specialized tanker 118, vehicle carrier 493 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: ground, maritime, and air forces at all levels
of technology
Military expenditures--dollar figure: aggregate real expenditure
on arms worldwide in 1998 remained at approximately the 1997 level,
about three-quarters of a trillion dollars (1998 est.)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: roughly 2% of gross world
product (1998 est.)
======================================================================
@Yemen
-----
Geography
Location: Middle East, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden,
and Red Sea, between Oman and Saudi Arabia
Geographic coordinates: 15 00 N, 48 00 E
Map references: Middle East
Area:
total: 527,970 sq km
land: 527,970 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes Perim, Socotra, the former Yemen Arab Republic (YAR
or North Yemen), and the former People's Democratic Republic of
Yemen (PDRY or South Yemen)
Area--comparative: slightly larger than twice the size of Wyoming
Land boundaries:
total: 1,746 km
border countries: Oman 288 km, Saudi Arabia 1,458 km
Coastline: 1,906 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 18 nm in the North; 24 nm in the South
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: mostly desert; hot and humid along west coast; temperate
in western mountains affected by seasonal monsoon; extraordinarily
hot, dry, harsh desert in east
Terrain: narrow coastal plain backed by flat-topped hills and
rugged mountains; dissected upland desert plains in center slope
into the desert interior of the Arabian Peninsula
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Arabian Sea 0 m
highest point: Jabal an Nabi Shu'ayb 3,760 m
Natural resources: petroleum, fish, rock salt, marble, small
deposits of coal, gold, lead, nickel, and copper, fertile soil in
west
Land use:
arable land: 3%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 30%
forests and woodland: 4%
other: 63% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 3,600 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: sandstorms and dust storms in summer
Environment--current issues: very limited natural fresh water
resources; inadequate supplies of potable water; overgrazing; soil
erosion; desertification
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea,
Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography--note: strategic location on Bab el Mandeb, the strait
linking the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, one of world's most active
shipping lanes
People
Population: 16,942,230 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 48% (male 4,118,292; female 3,971,886)
15-64 years: 49% (male 4,243,809; female 4,065,429)
65 years and over: 3% (male 278,133; female 264,681) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.34% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 43.31 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 9.88 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.05 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 69.82 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 59.98 years
male: 58.17 years
female: 61.88 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 7.06 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Yemeni(s)
adjective: Yemeni
Ethnic groups: predominantly Arab; Afro-Arab concentrations in
western coastal locations; South Asians in southern regions; small
European communities in major metropolitan areas
Religions: Muslim including Shaf'i (Sunni) and Zaydi (Shi'a),
small numbers of Jewish, Christian, and Hindu
Languages: Arabic
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 38%
male: 53%
female: 26% (1990 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Yemen
conventional short form: Yemen
local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Yamaniyah
local short form: Al Yaman
Data code: YM
Government type: republic
Capital: Sanaa
Administrative divisions: 17 governorates (muhafazat,
singular--muhafazah); Abyan, 'Adan, Al Bayda', Al Hudaydah, Al Jawf,
Al Mahrah, Al Mahwit, 'Ataq, Dhamar, Hadhramawt, Hajjah, Ibb, Lahij,
Ma'rib, Sa'dah, San'a', Ta'izz
note: there may be a new governorate for the capital city of Sanaa
Independence: 22 May 1990 Republic of Yemen was established with
and the Marxist-dominated People's Democratic Republic of Yemen
independent on NA November 1918 (from the Ottoman Empire) and South
Yemen had become independent on 30 November 1967 (from the UK)
National holiday: Proclamation of the Republic, 22 May (1990)
Constitution: 16 May 1991; amended 29 September 1994
Legal system: based on Islamic law, Turkish law, English common
law, and local tribal customary law; does not accept compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Lt. Gen. Ali Abdallah SALIH (since 22 May
1990, the former president of North Yemen, assumed office upon the
merger of North and South Yemen); Vice President Maj. Gen. Abd
al-Rab Mansur al-HADI (since NA October 1994)
head of government: Prime Minister Dr. Abd al-Karim Ali al-IRYANI
(since NA April 1998)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the
advice of the prime minister
elections: President SALIH was elected by the House of
Representatives for a five-year term, however, future presidents
will be elected by direct, popular vote for five-year terms;
election last held 1 October 1994 (next to be held NA 1999); vice
president appointed by the president; prime minister and deputy
prime ministers appointed by the president
election results: Ali Abdallah SALIH elected president; percent of
House of Representatives vote--NA
Legislative branch: unicameral House of Representatives (301
seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 27 April 1997 (next to be held NA April 2001)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--GPC
189, Islah 52, Nasserite Unionist Party 3, National Arab Socialist
Baath Party 2, independents 54, election pending 1
note: in May 1997, the president created a consultative council,
sometimes referred to as the upper house of Parliament; its 59
members are all appointed by the president
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: there are over 12 political
parties active in Yemen, some of the more prominent are: General
SALAAM]
note: President SALIH's General People's Congress or GPC won a
landslide victory in the April 1997 legislative election and no
longer governs in coalition with Shaykh Abdallah bin Husayn
al-AHMAR's Islamic Reform Grouping or Islaah--the two parties had
been in coalition since the end of the civil war in 1994; the YSP, a
loyal opposition party, boycotted the April 1997 legislative election
Political pressure groups and leaders: NA
International organization participation: ACC, AFESD, AL, AMF,
CAEU, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OIC,
OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO,
WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Abd al-Wahhab Abdallah al-HAJRI
chancery: Suite 705, 2600 Virginia Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Barbara K. BODINE
embassy: Dhahr Himyar Zone, Sheraton Hotel District, Sanaa
mailing address: P. O. Box 22347, Sanaa
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top),
white, and black; similar to the flag of Syria which has two green
stars and of Iraq which has three green stars (plus an Arabic
inscription) in a horizontal line centered in the white band; also
similar to the flag of Egypt which has a symbolic eagle centered in
the white band
Economy
Economy--overview: Yemen, one of the poorest countries in the Arab
world, reported strong growth in the mid-1990s with the onset of oil
production, but was harmed by low oil prices in 1998. Yemen has
embarked on an IMF-supported structural adjustment program designed
to modernize and streamline the economy, which has led to foreign
debt relief and restructuring. Yemen will work in 1999 to maintain
tight control over spending and implement additional components of
the IMF program. The high population growth rate of 3.3%, internal
political dissension, and continued low prices make the government's
task especially difficult.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$12.1 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 1.8% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$740 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 16%
industry: 46%
services: 38% (1996)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.3%
highest 10%: 30.8% (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 11% (1998 est.)
Labor force: NA
Labor force--by occupation: most people are employed in
agriculture and herding or as expatriate laborers; services,
construction, industry, and commerce account for less than one-half
of the labor force
Unemployment rate: 30% (1995 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $2.3 billion
expenditures: $2.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1998 budget est.)
Industries: crude oil production and petroleum refining;
small-scale production of cotton textiles and leather goods; food
processing; handicrafts; small aluminum products factory; cement
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity--production: 1.9 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 1.9 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: grain, fruits, vegetables, qat (mildly
narcotic shrub), coffee, cotton; dairy products, poultry, beef; fish
Exports: $1.6 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Exports--commodities: crude oil, cotton, coffee, dried and salted
fish
Exports--partners: China 31%, South Korea 19%, Thailand 17%,
Thailand 5%, Brazil 5%, Japan 5% (1997)
Imports: $2.8 billion (c.i.f., 1998 est.)
Imports--commodities: food and live animals, machinery and
equipment, manufactured goods
Imports--partners: UAE 9%, Saudi Arabia 8%, US 7%, France 6%,
Brazil 5% (1997)
Debt--external: $4.9 billion (1998)
Economic aid--recipient: $176.1 million (1995)
Currency: Yemeni rial (YRl) (new currency)
Exchange rates: Yemeni rials (YRl) per US$1--140.940 (October
1998), 129.286 (1997), 94.157 (1996), 40.839 (1995), 12.010
(official fixed rate 1991-94)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 131,655 (1992 est.)
Telephone system: since unification in 1990, efforts have been
made to create a national telecommunications network
domestic: the network consists of microwave radio relay, cable, and
tropospheric scatter
international: satellite earth stations--3 Intelsat (2 Indian Ocean
and 1 Atlantic Ocean), 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region), and 2
Arabsat; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia and Djibouti
Radio broadcast stations: AM 4, FM 1, shortwave 0
Radios: 325,000 (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 7 (in addition, there are several
low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 100,000 (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 64,725 km
paved: 5,243 km
unpaved: 59,482 km (1996 est.)
Pipelines: crude oil 644 km; petroleum products 32 km
Ports and harbors: Aden, Al Hudaydah, Al Mukalla, As Salif,
Mocha, Nishtun
Merchant marine:
total: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 12,059 GRT/18,563 DWT
ships by type: cargo 1, oil tanker 2 (1998 est.)
Airports: 48 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 12
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 36
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 9
1,524 to 2,437 m: 10
914 to 1,523 m: 12
under 914 m: 3 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Forces,
paramilitary (includes Police)
Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 3,776,075 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 2,119,308 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 212,005 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $413.6 million (1999)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 7.6% (1999)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: a large section of boundary with Saudi
Arabia is not defined; Hanish Islands dispute with Eritrea resolved
by arbitral tribunal in October 1998
======================================================================
@Zambia
------
Geography
Location: Southern Africa, east of Angola
Geographic coordinates: 15 00 S, 30 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area:
total: 752,610 sq km
land: 740,720 sq km
water: 11,890 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly larger than Texas
Land boundaries:
total: 5,664 km
border countries: Angola 1,110 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo
1,930 km, Malawi 837 km, Mozambique 419 km, Namibia 233 km, Tanzania
338 km, Zimbabwe 797 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: tropical; modified by altitude; rainy season (October to
April)
Terrain: mostly high plateau with some hills and mountains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Zambezi river 329 m
highest point: unnamed location in Mafinga Hills 2,301 m
Natural resources: copper, cobalt, zinc, lead, coal, emeralds,
gold, silver, uranium, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 7%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 40%
forests and woodland: 39%
other: 14% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 460 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: tropical storms (November to April)
Environment--current issues: air pollution and resulting acid rain
in the mineral extraction and refining region; poaching seriously
threatens rhinoceros and elephant populations; deforestation; soil
erosion; desertification; lack of adequate water treatment presents
human health risks
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone
Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography--note: landlocked
People
Population: 9,663,535 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 49% (male 2,381,937; female 2,355,807)
15-64 years: 49% (male 2,308,715; female 2,379,994)
65 years and over: 2% (male 107,427; female 129,655) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.12% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 44.51 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 22.56 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.78 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 91.85 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 36.96 years
male: 36.72 years
female: 37.21 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.35 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Zambian(s)
adjective: Zambian
Ethnic groups: African 98.7%, European 1.1%, other 0.2%
Religions: Christian 50%-75%, Muslim and Hindu 24%-49%,
indigenous beliefs 1%
Languages: English (official), major vernaculars--Bemba, Kaonda,
Lozi, Lunda, Luvale, Nyanja, Tonga, and about 70 other indigenous
languages
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write English
total population: 78.2%
male: 85.6%
female: 71.3% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Zambia
conventional short form: Zambia
former: Northern Rhodesia
Data code: ZA
Government type: republic
Capital: Lusaka
Administrative divisions: 9 provinces; Central, Copperbelt,
Eastern, Luapula, Lusaka, Northern, North-Western, Southern, Western
Independence: 24 October 1964 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 24 October (1964)
Constitution: 2 August 1991
Legal system: based on English common law and customary law;
judicial review of legislative acts in an ad hoc constitutional
council; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Frederick CHILUBA (since 31 October 1991);
Vice President Christon TEMBO (since NA December 1997); note--the
president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Frederick CHILUBA (since 31 October
1991); Vice President Christon TEMBO (since NA December 1997);
note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among the members
of the National Assembly
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 18 November 1996 (next to be held NA October
2001); vice president appointed by the president
election results: Frederick CHILUBA reelected president; percent of
vote--Frederick CHILUBA 70%, Dean MUNGO'MBA 12%, Humphrey MULEMBA 6%,
Akashambatwa LEWANIKA 4%, Chama CHAKOMBOKA 3%, others 5%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (150 seats;
members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 18 November 1996 (next to be held NA October
2001)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--MMD
130, NP 5, ZADECO 2, AZ 2, independents 11
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, justices are appointed by the
president
Political parties and leaders: Agenda for Zambia or AZ
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA,
FAO, G-19, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, MONUA, NAM, OAU,
OPCW, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOMSIL, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Dunstan Weston KAMANA
chancery: 2419 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Arlene RENDER
embassy: corner of Independence and United Nations Avenues
mailing address: P. O. Box 31617, Lusaka
Flag description: green with a panel of three vertical bands of
red (hoist side), black, and orange below a soaring orange eagle, on
the outer edge of the flag
Economy
Economy--overview: Despite progress in privatization and budgetary
reform, Zambia's economy has a long way to go. Inflation, while
slowing somewhat, continues to be a major concern to the CHILUBA
government. Zambia's copper mining sector, which accounts for over
80% of the nation's foreign currency intake, is struggling.
Production rates are down as are world copper prices. Aid cuts by
Zambia's donors, arising out of concern for the November 1996 flawed
election, also have damaged Zambia's economic prospects. Urged by
the World Bank, Zambia has embarked on a privatization program which
is to include the all-important copper industry. Until a deal on the
copper sector is concluded, perhaps by mid-1999, economic prospects
will remain clouded.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$8.3 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: -2% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$880 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 23%
industry: 40%
services: 37% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: 86% (1993 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.5%
highest 10%: 31.3% (1993)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 43.9% (1996)
Labor force: 3.4 million
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 85%, mining,
manufacturing, and construction 6%, transport and services 9%
Unemployment rate: 22% (1991)
Budget:
revenues: $888 million
expenditures: $835 million, including capital expenditures of $110
million (1995 est.)
Industries: copper mining and processing, construction,
foodstuffs, beverages, chemicals, textiles, fertilizer
Industrial production growth rate: 3.5% (1996)
Electricity--production: 7.84 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 0.51%
hydro: 99.49%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 6.393 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 1.47 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 23 million kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: corn, sorghum, rice, peanuts, sunflower
seed, tobacco, cotton, sugarcane, cassava (tapioca); cattle, goats,
pigs, poultry, beef, pork, poultry meat, milk, eggs, hides
Exports: $905 million (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Exports--commodities: copper, cobalt, zinc, lead, tobacco
Exports--partners: Japan, South Africa, US, Saudi Arabia, India,
Thailand, Malaysia (1997)
Imports: $1.1 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Imports--commodities: machinery, transportation equipment,
foodstuffs, fuels, petroleum products, electricity, fertilizer
Imports--partners: South Africa 48%, Saudi Arabia, UK, Zimbabwe
(1997)
Debt--external: $7.1 billion (1997 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $1.991 billion (1995)
Currency: 1 Zambian kwacha (ZK) = 100 ngwee
Exchange rates: Zambian kwacha (ZK) per US$1--1,428 (October
1998), 1,333.81 (1997), 1,203.71 (1996), 857.23 (1995), 669.37 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 80,900 (1987 est.)
Telephone system: facilities are among the best in Sub-Saharan
Africa
domestic: high-capacity microwave radio relay connects most larger
towns and cities
international: satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean
and 1 Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 11, FM 5, shortwave 0
Radios: 1,889,140
Television broadcast stations: 9 (1997)
Televisions: 215,000 (1995 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 2,164 km (1995)
narrow gauge: 2,164 km 1.067-m gauge (13 km double track)
note: the total includes 891 km of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway
Authority (TAZARA), which operates 1,860 km of 1.067-m narrow gauge
track between Dar es Salaam and Kapiri Mposhi where it connects to
the Zambia Railways system; TAZARA is not a part of Zambia Railways
Highways:
total: 39,700 km
paved: 7,265 km (including 60 km of expressways)
unpaved: 32,435 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 2,250 km, including Zambezi and Luapula rivers, Lake
Tanganyika
Pipelines: crude oil 1,724 km
Ports and harbors: Mpulungu
Airports: 112 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 12
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 100
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 66
under 914 m: 31 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Air Force, paramilitary forces, Police
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 2,102,167 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,113,174 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $76 million (1997)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 1.8% (1997)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: quadripoint with Botswana, Namibia, and
Zimbabwe is in disagreement
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for methaqualone, heroin, and
cocaine bound for Southern Africa and Europe; regional
money-laundering center
======================================================================
@Zimbabwe
--------
Geography
Location: Southern Africa, northeast of Botswana
Geographic coordinates: 20 00 S, 30 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area:
total: 390,580 sq km
land: 386,670 sq km
water: 3,910 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly larger than Montana
Land boundaries:
total: 3,066 km
border countries: Botswana 813 km, Mozambique 1,231 km, South Africa
225 km, Zambia 797 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: tropical; moderated by altitude; rainy season (November
to March)
Terrain: mostly high plateau with higher central plateau (high
veld); mountains in east
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: junction of the Runde and Save rivers 162 m
highest point: Inyangani 2,592 m
Natural resources: coal, chromium ore, asbestos, gold, nickel,
copper, iron ore, vanadium, lithium, tin, platinum group metals
Land use:
arable land: 7%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 13%
forests and woodland: 23%
other: 57% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 1,930 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: recurring droughts; floods and severe storms are
rare
Environment--current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; land
degradation; air and water pollution; the black rhinoceros herd--once
the largest concentration of the species in the world--has been
significantly reduced by poaching
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography--note: landlocked
People
Population: 11,163,160 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 43% (male 2,432,785; female 2,389,029)
15-64 years: 54% (male 2,986,531; female 3,059,186)
65 years and over: 3% (male 132,532; female 163,097) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.02% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 30.64 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 20.43 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
note: there is a small but steady flow of Zimbabweans into South
Africa in search of better paid employment
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 61.21 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 38.86 years
male: 38.77 years
female: 38.94 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.71 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Zimbabwean(s)
adjective: Zimbabwean
Ethnic groups: African 98% (Shona 71%, Ndebele 16%, other 11%),
white 1%, mixed and Asian 1%
Religions: syncretic (part Christian, part indigenous beliefs)
50%, Christian 25%, indigenous beliefs 24%, Muslim and other 1%
Languages: English (official), Shona, Sindebele (the language of
the Ndebele, sometimes called Ndebele), numerous but minor tribal
dialects
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write English
total population: 85%
male: 90%
female: 80% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Zimbabwe
conventional short form: Zimbabwe
former: Southern Rhodesia
Data code: ZI
Government type: parliamentary democracy
Capital: Harare
Administrative divisions: 8 provinces and 2 cities* with
provincial status; Bulawayo*, Harare*, Manicaland, Mashonaland
Central, Mashonaland East, Mashonaland West, Masvingo, Matabeleland
North, Matabeleland South, Midlands
Independence: 18 April 1980 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 18 April (1980)
Constitution: 21 December 1979
Legal system: mixture of Roman-Dutch and English common law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Executive President Robert Gabriel MUGABE (since 31
December 1987); Co-Vice Presidents Simon Vengai MUZENDA (since 31
December 1987) and Joshua M. NKOMO (since 6 August 1990); note--the
president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: Executive President Robert Gabriel MUGABE (since
31 December 1987); Co-Vice Presidents Simon Vengai MUZENDA (since 31
December 1987) and Joshua M. NKOMO (since 6 August 1990); note--the
president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president; responsible to the
House of Assembly
elections: president nominated by the House of Assembly for a
six-year term (if more than one nomination, an electoral college
consisting of members of the House of Assembly elects the
president); election last held 26-27 March 1996 (next to be held NA
March 2002); co-vice presidents appointed by the president
election results: Robert Gabriel MUGABE reelected president; percent
of electoral college vote--Robert Gabriel MUGABE 92.7%, Abel MUZOREWA
4.8%; Ndabaningi SITHOLE 2.4%
Legislative branch: unicameral parliament, called House of
Assembly (150 seats--120 elected by popular vote for six-year terms,
12 nominated by the president, 10 occupied by traditional chiefs
chosen by their peers, and 8 occupied by provincial governors)
elections: last held 8-9 April 1995 (next to be held NA April 2001)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by
party--ZANU-PF 117, ZANU-Ndonga 2, independent 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: Zimbabwe African National
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA,
FAO, G-15, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU,
MONUA, NAM, OAU, OPCW, PCA, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,
WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Amos Bernard Muvengwa MIDZI
chancery: 1608 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas McDONALD
embassy: 172 Herbert Chitepo Avenue, Harare
mailing address: P. O. Box 3340, Harare
Flag description: seven equal horizontal bands of green, yellow,
red, black, red, yellow, and green with a white equilateral triangle
edged in black based on the hoist side; a yellow Zimbabwe bird is
superimposed on a red five-pointed star in the center of the triangle
Economy
Economy--overview: The government of Zimbabwe faces a wide variety
of difficult economic problems as it struggles to consolidate
earlier progress in developing a market-oriented economy. Its
involvement in the war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, for
example, has already drained hundreds of millions of dollars from
the economy. Badly needed support from the IMF suffers delays in
part because of the country's failure to meet budgetary goals.
Inflation rose from an annual rate of 25% in January 1998 to 47% in
December and will almost certainly continue to increase in 1999. The
economy is being steadily weakened by AIDS; Zimbabwe has one of the
highest rates of infection in the world. Per capita GDP, which is
twice the average of the poorer sub-Saharan nations, will increase
little if any in the near-term, and Zimbabwe will suffer continued
frustrations in developing its agricultural and mineral resources.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$26.2 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 1.5% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$2,400 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 28%
industry: 32%
services: 40% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: 25.5% (1990-91 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.8%
highest 10%: 46.9% (1990)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 32% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 5 million (1997 est.)
Labor force--by occupation: NA
Unemployment rate: at least 45% (1994 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $2.5 billion
expenditures: $2.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $279
million (FY96/97 est.)
Industries: mining (coal, clay, numerous metallic and nonmetallic
ores), copper, steel, nickel, tin, wood products, cement, chemicals,
fertilizer, clothing and footwear, foodstuffs, beverages
Industrial production growth rate: 10% (1994)
Electricity--production: 8.5 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 71.76%
hydro: 28.24%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 10.769 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 1 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 2.27 billion kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: corn, cotton, tobacco, wheat, coffee,
sugarcane, peanuts; cattle, sheep, goats, pigs
Exports: $1.7 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Exports--commodities: tobacco, gold, ferroalloys, cotton (1997)
Exports--partners: South Africa 12%, UK 11%, Germany 8%, Japan 6%,
US 6% (1997 est.)
Imports: $2 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Imports--commodities: machinery and transport equipment 39%, other
manufactures 18%, chemicals 15%, fuels 10% (1997 est.)
Imports--partners: South Africa 37%, UK 7%, US 6%, Japan 6% (1997
est.)
Debt--external: $5 billion (1998)
Economic aid--recipient: $437.6 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Zimbabwean dollar (Z$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Zimbabwean dollars (Z$) per US$1--39.3701 (January
1999), 21.4133 (1998), 11.8906 (1997), 9.9206 (1996), 8.6580 (1995),
8.1500 (1994)
Fiscal year: 1 July--30 June
Communications
Telephones: 301,000 (1990 est.)
Telephone system: system was once one of the best in Africa, but
now suffers from poor maintenance
domestic: consists of microwave radio relay links, open-wire lines,
and radiotelephone communication stations
international: satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 8, FM 18, shortwave 0
Radios: 890,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 16 (1997)
Televisions: 280,000 (1992 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 2,759 km (1995)
narrow gauge: 2,759 km 1.067-m gauge (313 km electrified; 42 km
double track) (1995 est.)
Highways:
total: 18,338 km
paved: 8,692 km
unpaved: 9,646 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: the Mazoe and Zambezi rivers are used for transporting
chrome ore from Harare to Mozambique
Pipelines: petroleum products 212 km
Ports and harbors: Binga, Kariba
Airports: 467 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 18
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 9 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 449
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 220
under 914 m: 225 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Zimbabwe National Army, Air Force of Zimbabwe,
Zimbabwe Republic Police (includes Police Support Unit, Paramilitary
Police)
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 2,738,963 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,707,348 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $427 million (FY97/98)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 4.6% (FY97/98)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: quadripoint with Botswana, Namibia, and
Zambia is in disagreement
Illicit drugs: significant transit point for African cannabis and
South Asian heroin, mandrax, and methamphetamines destined for the
South African and European markets
======================================================================
Appendix A: Abbreviations
A ABEDA Arab Bank for Economic Development
in Africa
ACC Arab Cooperation Council
ACCT Agence de Cooperation Culturelle et
Technique; see Agency for Cultural
and Technical Cooperation; changed
name in 1996 to Agence de la
francophonie or Agency for the
French-Speaking Community
ACP Group African, Caribbean, and Pacific
Group of States
AfDB African Development Bank
AFESD Arab Fund for Economic and Social
Development
AG Andean Group; see Andean Community
of Nations (CAN)
Air Pollution Convention on Long-Range
Transboundary Air Pollution
Air Pollution- Protocol to the 1979 Convention on
Nitrogen Oxides Long-Range Transboundary Air
Pollution Concerning the Control of
Emissions of Nitrogen Oxides or
Their Transboundary Fluxes
Air Pollution- Protocol to the 1979 Convention on
Persistent Long-Range Transboundary Air
Organic Pollution on Persistent Organic
Pollutants Pollutants
Air Pollution- Protocol to the 1979 Convention on
Sulphur 85 Long-Range Transboundary Air
Pollution on the Reduction of
Sulphur Emissions or Their
Transboundary Fluxes by at Least
30%
Air Pollution- Protocol to the 1979 Convention on
Sulphur 94 Long-Range Transboundary Air
Pollution on Further Reduction of
Sulphur Emissions
Air Pollution- Protocol to the 1979 Convention on
Volatile Organic Long-Range Transboundary Air
Compounds Pollution Concerning the Control of
Emissions of Volatile Organic
Compounds or Their Transboundary
Fluxes
AL Arab League
ALADI Asociacion Latinoamericana de
Integracion; see Latin American
Integration Association (LAIA)
AMF Arab Monetary Fund
AMU Arab Maghreb Union
Ancom Andean Common Market; see Andean
Community ofNations (CAN)
Antarctic- Protocol on Environmental
Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty
Protocol
ANZUS Australia-New Zealand-United States
Security Treaty
APEC Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation
Arabsat Arab Satellite Communications
Organization
AsDB Asian Development Bank
ASEAN Association of Southeast Asian
Nations
Autodin Automatic Digital Network
B BAD Banque africaine de developpement;
see African Development Bank (AfDB)
BADEA Banque Arabe de Developpement
Economique en Afrique; see Arab
Bank for Economic Development in
Africa (ABEDA)
BCIE Banco Centroamericano de
Integracion Economico; see Central
American Bank for Economic
Integration (BCIE)
BDEAC Banque de Developpment des Etats de
l'Afrique Centrale; see Central
African States Development Bank
(BDEAC)
Benelux Benelux Economic Union
BID Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo;
see Inter-American Development Bank
(IADB) Biodiversity Convention on
Biological Diversity
BIS Bank for International Settlements
BOAD Banque Ouest-Africaine de
Developpement; see West African
Development Bank (WADB)
BSEC Black Sea Economic Cooperation Zone
C C Commonwealth
CACM Central American Common Market
CAEU Council of Arab Economic Unity
CAN Andean Community of Nations
Caricom Caribbean Community and Common
Market
CB citizen's band mobile radio
communications
CBSS Council of the Baltic Sea States
CCC Customs Cooperation Council
CDB Caribbean Development Bank
CE Council of Europe
CEAO Communaute Economique de l'Afrique
de l'Ouest; see West African
Economic Community (CEAO)
CEEAC Communaute Economique des Etats de
l'Afrique Centrale; see Economic
Community of Central African States
(CEEAC)
CEI Central European Initiative
CEMA Council for Mutual Economic
Assistance; also known as CMEA or
Comecon
CEPGL Communaute Economique des Pays des
Grands Lacs; see Economic Community
of the Great Lakes Countries
(CEPGL)
CERN Conseil Europeen pour la Recherche
Nucleaire; see European
Organization for Nuclear Research
(CERN)
CG Contadora Group
c.i.f. cost, insurance, and freight
CIS Commonwealth of Independent States
CITES see Endangered Species
Climate Change United Nations Framework Convention
on Climate Change
Climate Change- Kyoto Protocol to the United
Kyoto Protocol Nations Framework Convention on
Climate Change
CMEA Council for Mutual Economic
Assistance (CEMA); also known as
Comecon
COCOM Coordinating Committee on Export
Controls
Comecon Council for Mutual Economic
Assistance (CEMA); also known as
CMEA
Comsat Communications Satellite
Corporation
CP Colombo Plan
CSCE Conference on Security and
Cooperation in Europe; see
Organization on Security and
Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)
CY calendar year
D DC developed country
Desertification United Nations Convention to Combat
Desertification in Those Countries
Experiencing Serious Drought and/or
Desertification, Particularly in
Africa
DSN Defense Switched Network
DWT deadweight ton
E EADB East African Development Bank
EAPC Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council
EBRD European Bank for Reconstruction
and Development
EC European Community; see European
Union (EU)
ECA Economic Commission for Africa
ECAFE Economic Commission for Asia and
the Far East; see Economic and
Social Commission for Asia and the
Pacific (ESCAP)
ECE Economic Commission for Europe
ECLA Economic Commission for Latin
America; see Economic Commission
for Latin America and the Caribbean
(ECLAC)
ECLAC Economic Commission for Latin
America and the Caribbean
ECO Economic Cooperation Organization
ECOSOC Economic and Social Council
ECOWAS Economic Community of West African
States
ECSC European Coal and Steel Community;
see European Union (EU)
ECWA Economic Commission for Western
Asia; see Economic and Social
Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA)
EEC European Economic Community; see
European Union (EU)
EFTA European Free Trade Association
EIB European Investment Bank
EMU European Monetary Union
Endangered Convention on the International
Species Trade in Endangered Species of Wild
Flora and Fauna (CITES)
Entente Council of the Entente
Environmental Convention on the Prohibition of
Modification Military or Any Other Hostile Use
of Environmental Modification
Techniques
ESA European Space Agency
ESCAP Economic and Social Commission for
Asia and the Pacific
ESCWA Economic and Social Commission for
Western Asia
est. estimate
EU European Union
Euratom European Atomic Energy Community;
see European Community (EC)
Eutelsat European Telecommunications
Satellite Organization
Ex-Im Export-Import Bank of the United
States
F FAO Food and Agriculture Organization
FAX facsimile
f.o.b. free on board
FLS Front Line States
FRG Federal Republic of Germany (West
Germany); used for information
dated before 3 October 1990 or CY91
FSU former Soviet Union
FY fiscal year (FY93/94, for example,
began in calendar year 1993 and
ended in calendar year 1994)
FYROM The Former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia
FZ Franc Zone
G G-2 Group of 2
G-3 Group of 3
G-5 Group of 5
G-6 Group of 6 (not to be confused with
the Big Six)
G-7 Group of 7
G-8 Group of 8
G-9 Group of 9
G-10 Group of 10
G-11 Group of 11
G-15 Group of 15
G-19 Group of 19
G-24 Group of 24
G-30 Group of 30
G-33 Group of 33
G-77 Group of 77
GATT General Agreement on Tariffs and
Trade; subsumed by the World Trade
Organization (WTrO) on 1 January
1995
GCC Gulf Cooperation Council
GDP gross domestic product
GDR German Democratic Republic (East
Germany); used for information
dated before 3 October 1990 or CY91
GNP gross national product
GRT gross register ton
GWP gross world product
H Hazardous Wastes Basel Convention on the Control of
Transboundary Movements of
Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal
HF high-frequency
I IADB Inter-American Development Bank
IAEA International Atomic Energy Agency
IBEC International Bank for Economic
Cooperation
IBRD International Bank for
Reconstruction and Development
(World Bank)
ICAO International Civil Aviation
Organization
ICC International Chamber of Commerce
ICEM Intergovernmental Committee for
European Migration; see
International Organization for
Migration (IOM)
ICFTU International Confederation of Free
Trade Unions; see World
Confederation of Labor (WCL)
ICJ International Court of Justice
ICM Intergovernmental Committee for
Migration; see International
Organization for Migration (IOM)
ICRC International Committee of the Red
Cross
ICRM International Red Cross and Red
Crescent Movement
IDA International Development
Association
IDB Islamic Development Bank
IEA International Energy Agency
IFAD International Fund for Agricultural
Development
IFC International Finance Corporation
IFCTU International Federation of
Christian Trade Unions
IFRCS International Federation of Red
Cross and Red Crescent Societies
IGAD Inter-Governmental Authority on
Development
IGADD Inter-Governmental Authority on
Drought and Development
IHO International Hydrographic
Organization
IIB International Investment Bank
ILO International Labor Organization
IMCO Intergovernmental Maritime
Consultative Organization; see
International Maritime Organization
(IMO)
IMF International Monetary Fund
IMO International Maritime Organization
Inmarsat International Mobile Satellite
Organization
InOC Indian Ocean Commission
Intelsat International Telecommunications
Satellite Organization
Interpol International Criminal Police
Organization
Intersputnik International Organization of Space
Communications
IOC International Olympic Committee
IOM International Organization for
Migration
ISO International Organization for
Standardization
ITU International Telecommunication
Union
K kHz kilohertz
km kilometer
kW kilowatt
kWh kilowatt hour
L LAES Latin American Economic System
LAIA Latin American Integration
Association
LAS League of Arab States; see Arab
League (AL)
Law of the Sea United Nations Convention on the
Law of the Sea (LOS)
LDC less developed country
LLDC least developed country
London see Marine Dumping
Convention
LORCS League of Red Cross and Red
Crescent Societies; see
International Federation of Red
Cross and Red Crescent Societies
(IFRCS)
LOS see Law of the Sea
M m meter
Marecs Maritime European Communications
Satellite
Marine Dumping Convention on the Prevention of
Marine Pollution by Dumping Wastes
and Other Matter
Marine Life Convention on Fishing and
Conservation Conservation of Living Resources of
the High Seas
MARPOL see Ship Pollution
Medarabtel Middle East Telecommunications
Project of the International
Telecommunications Union
Mercosur Mercado Comun del Cono Sur; see
Southern Cone Common Market
MHz megahertz
MINURSO United Nations Mission for the
Referendum in Western Sahara
MINUGUA United Nations Verification Mission
in Guatemala
MIPONUH United Nations Civilian Police
Mission in Haiti
MONUA United Nations Observer Mission in
Angola
MTCR Missile Technology Control Regime
N NA not available
NACC North Atlantic Cooperation Council;
see Euro-Atlantic Partnership
Council (EAPC)
NAM Nonaligned Movement
NATO North Atlantic Treaty Organization
NC Nordic Council
NEA Nuclear Energy Agency
NEGL negligible
NIB Nordic Investment Bank
NIC newly industrializing country; see
newly industrializing economy (NIE)
NIE newly industrializing economy
nm nautical mile
NMT Nordic Mobile Telephone
NSG Nuclear Suppliers Group
Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapons
Tests in the Atmosphere, in Outer
Space, and Under Water
NZ New Zealand
O OAPEC Organization of Arab Petroleum
Exporting Countries
OAS Organization of American States
OAU Organization of African Unity
ODA official development assistance
OECD Organization for Economic
Cooperation and Development
OECS Organization of Eastern Caribbean
States
OIC Organization of the Islamic
Conference
ONUMOZ see United Nations Operation in
Mozambique (UNOMOZ)
ONUSAL United Nations Observer Mission in
El Salvador
OOF other official flows
OPANAL Organismo para la Proscripcion de
las Armas Nucleares en la America
Latina y el Caribe; see Agency for
the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons
in Latin America and the Caribbean
OPCW Organization for the Prohibition of
Chemical Weapons
OPEC Organization of Petroleum Exporting
Countries
OSCE Organization on Security and
Cooperation in Europe Ozone Layer
Protection Montreal Protocol on
Substances That Deplete the Ozone
Layer
P PCA Permanent Court of Arbitration
PDRY People's Democratic Republic of
Yemen [Yemen (Aden) or South
Yemen]; used for information dated
before 22 May 1990 or CY91
PFP Partnership for Peace
R Ramsar see Wetlands
RG Rio Group
S SAARC South Asian Association for
Regional Cooperation
SACU Southern African Customs Union
SADC Southern African Development
Community
SADCC Southern African Development
Coordination Conference; see
Southern African Development
Community (SADC)
SELA Sistema Economico Latinoamericana;
see Latin American Economic System
(LAES)
SFRY Socialist Federal Republic of
Yugoslavia; dissolved 5 December
1991
SHF super-high-frequency
Ship Pollution Protocol of 1978 Relating to the
International Convention for the
Prevention of Pollution From Ships,
1973 (MARPOL)
Sparteca South Pacific Regional Trade and
Economic Cooperation Agreement
SPC South Pacific Commission
SPF South Pacific Forum
sq km square kilometer
sq mi square mile
T TAT Trans-Atlantic Telephone
Tropical Timber International Tropical Timber
83 Agreement, 1983
Tropical Timber International Tropical Timber
94 Agreement, 1994
U UAE United Arab Emirates
UDEAC Union Douaniere et Economique de
l'Afrique Centrale; see Central
African Customs and Economic Union
(UDEAC)
UEMOA Union economique et monetaire Ouest
africaine; see West African
Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU)
UHF ultra-high-frequency
UK United Kingdom
UN United Nations
UNAMIR United Nations Assistance Mission
for Rwanda
UNAVEM III United Nations Angola Verification
Mission III
UNCRO United Nations Confidence
Restoration Operation in Croatia
UNCTAD United Nations Conference on Trade
and Development
UNDOF United Nations Disengagement
Observer Force
UNDP United Nations Development Program
UNEP United Nations Environment Program
UNESCO United Nations Educational,
Scientific, and Cultural
Organization
UNFICYP United Nations Peace-keeping Force
in Cyprus
UNFPA United Nations Fund for Population
Activities; see UN Population Fund
(UNFPA)
UNHCR United Nations High Commissioner
for Refugees
UNICEF United Nations Children's Fund
UNIDO United Nations Industrial
Development Organization
UNIFIL United Nations Interim Force in
Lebanon
UNIKOM United Nations Iraq-Kuwait
Observation Mission
UNITAR United Nations Institute for
Training and Research
UNMIH United Nations Mission in Haiti
UNMIBH United Nations Mission in Bosnia
and Herzegovina
UNMOGIP United Nations Military Observer
Group in India and Pakistan
UNMOP United Nations Mission of Observers
in Prevlaka
UNMOT United Nations Mission of Observers
in Tajikistan
UNOMIG United Nations Observer Mission in
Georgia
UNOMIL United Nations Observer Mission in
Liberia
UNOMOZ United Nations Operation in
Mozambique
UNOMSIL United Nations Mission of Observers
in Sierra Leone
UNOMUR United Nations Observer Mission
Uganda-Rwanda
UNOSOM II United Nations Operation in Somalia
II
UNPREDEP United Nations Preventive
Deployment Force
UNPROFOR United Nations Protection Force
UNRISD United Nations Research Institute
for Social Development
UNRWA United Nations Relief and Works
Agency for Palestine Refugees in
the Near East
UNSMIH United Nations Support Mission in
Haiti
UNTAC United Nations Transitional
Authority in Cambodia
UNTAES United Nations Transitional
Administration in Eastern Slavonia,
Baranja, and Western Sirmium
UNTSO United Nations Truce Supervision
Organization
UNU United Nations University
UPU Universal Postal Union
US United States
USSR Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
(Soviet Union); used for
information dated before 25
December 1991
USSR/EE Union of Soviet Socialist
Republics/Eastern Europe
V VHF very-high-frequency
W WADB West African Development Bank
WAEMU West African Economic and Monetary
Union
WCL World Confederation of Labor
WCO World Customs Organization; see
Customs Cooperation Council
Wetlands Convention on Wetlands of
International Importance Especially
As Waterfowl Habitat
WEU Western European Union
WFC World Food Council
WFP World Food Program
WFTU World Federation of Trade Unions
Whaling International Convention for the
Regulation of Whaling
WHO World Health Organization
WIPO World Intellectual Property
Organization
WMO World Meteorological Organization
WP Warsaw Pact
WTO see WToO for World Tourism
Organization or WTrO for World
Trade Organization
WToO World Tourism Organization
WTrO World Trade Organization
Y YAR Yemen Arab Republic [Yemen (Sanaa)
or North Yemen]; used for
information dated before 22 May
1990 or CY91
Z ZC Zangger Committee
=====================================================================
Appendix B: United Nations System
Transcriber's note: this appeared to be an empty appendix,
possibly under development. It does not appear in later
editions of the Factbook.
=====================================================================
Appendix D: Selected International Environmental Agreements
Air Pollution
see Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution
Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides
see Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air
Pollution Concerning the Control of Emissions of Nitrogen Oxides or
Their Transboundary Fluxes
Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants
see Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air
Pollution on Persistent Organic Pollutants
Air Pollution-Sulphur 85
see Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air
Pollution on the Reduction of Sulphur Emissions or Their Transboundary
Fluxes by at least 30%
Air Pollution-Sulphur 94
see Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air
Pollution on Further Reduction of Sulphur Emissions
Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds
see Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air
Pollution Concerning the Control of Emissions of Volatile Organic
Compounds or Their Transboundary Fluxes
Antarctic-Environmental Protocol
see Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty
Antarctic Treaty
opened for signature--1 December 1959
entered into force--23 June 1961
objective--to ensure that Antarctica is used for peaceful purposes, such
as, for international cooperation in scientific research, and that it
does not become the scene or object of international discord
parties--(43) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria,
Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, India, Italy,
Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Papua New
Guinea, Peru, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain,
Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, UK, US, Uruguay
Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous
Wastes and Their Disposal
note--abbreviated as Hazardous Wastes
opened for signature--22 March 1989
entered into force--5 May 1992
objective--to reduce transboundary movements of wastes subject to the
Convention to a minimum consistent with the environmentally sound and
efficient management of such wastes; to minimize the amount and
toxicity of wastes generated and ensure their environmentally sound
management as closely as possible to the source of generation; and to
assist LDCs in environmentally sound management of the hazardous and
other wastes they generate
parties--(123) Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, The
Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin,
Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burundi, Canada, Chile, China,
Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Cote
d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica,
Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, EU, Finland, France, The Gambia,
Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India,
Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, South Korea,
Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, The
Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives,
Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Moldova,
Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ,
Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New
Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania,
Russia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia,
Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria,
Tanzania, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan,
Uganda, UAE, UK, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia
countries that have signed, but not yet ratified--(3) Afghanistan,
Haiti, US
Biodiversity
see Convention on Biological Diversity
Convention on Biological Diversity
note--abbreviated as Biodiversity
opened for signature--5 June 1992
entered into force--29 December 1993
objective--to develop national strategies for the conservation and
sustainable use of biological diversity
parties--(175) Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina,
Armenia, Australia, Austria, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh,
Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana,
Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon,
Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China,
Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the
Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus,
Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic,
Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia,
Ethiopia, EU, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia,
Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau,
Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran,
Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya,
Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon,
Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali,
Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of
Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia,
Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Niue, Norway,
Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru,
Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint
Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa,
San Marino, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia,
Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan,
Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania,
Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan,
Uganda, Ukraine, UK, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam,
Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe
countries that have signed, but not yet ratified--(12) Afghanistan,
Azerbaijan, Kuwait, Liberia, Libya, Malta, Sao Tome and Principe,
Thailand, Tuvalu, UAE, US, former Yugoslavia
Climate Change
see United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
see Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on
Climate Change
Convention on Fishing and Conservation of Living Resources of the High
Seas
note--abbreviated as Marine Life Conservation
opened for signature--29 April 1958
entered into force--20 March 1966
objective--to solve through international cooperation the problems
involved in the conservation of living resources of the high seas,
considering that because of the development of modern technology some
of these resources are in danger of being overexploited
parties--(37) Australia, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burkina Faso,
Cambodia, Colombia, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Fiji, Finland, France,
Haiti, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia,
Mauritius, Mexico, Netherlands, Nigeria, Portugal, Senegal, Sierra
Leone, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand,
Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, UK, US, Venezuela, former
Yugoslavia
countries that have signed, but not yet ratified--(21) Afghanistan,
Argentina, Bolivia, Canada, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ghana, Iceland,
Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Lebanon, Liberia, Nepal, NZ,
Pakistan, Panama, Sri Lanka, Tunisia, Uruguay
Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution
note--abbreviated as Air Pollution
opened for signature--13 November 1979
entered into force--16 March 1983
objective--to protect the human environment against air pollution and to
gradually reduce and prevent air pollution, including long-range
transboundary air pollution
parties--(44) Armenia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and
Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic,
Denmark, EU, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary,
Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg,
The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Netherlands,
Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain,
Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, UK, US, former Yugoslavia
countries that have signed, but not yet ratified--(2) Holy See, San
Marino
Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild
Flora and Fauna (CITES)
note--abbreviated as Endangered Species
opened for signature--3 March 1973
entered into force--1 July 1975
objective--to protect certain endangered species from overexploitation
by means of a system of import/export permits
parties--(137) Afghanistan, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina,
Australia, Austria, The Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize,
Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso,
Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, Chad,
Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo,
Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech
Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt,
Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France,
Gabon, The Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-
Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Israel,
Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, South Korea, Latvia, Liberia,
Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta,
Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia,
Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan,
Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland,
Portugal, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia,
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles,
Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri
Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania,
Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Tuvalu, Uganda, UAE, UK,
US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Zambia, Zimbabwe
countries that have signed, but not yet ratified--(3) Ireland, Kuwait,
Lesotho
Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping Wastes and
Other Matter (London Convention)
note--abbreviated as Marine Dumping
opened for signature--29 December 1972
entered into force--30 August 1975
objective--to control pollution of the sea by dumping and to encourage
regional agreements supplementary to the Convention
parties--(75) Afghanistan, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia,
Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil,
Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Democratic Republic of the Congo,
Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Denmark, Dominican Republic,
Egypt, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti,
Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan,
Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, Libya, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Monaco,
Morocco, Nauru, Netherlands, NZ, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Panama, Papua
New Guinea, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Saint Lucia,
Seychelles, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Suriname,
Sweden, Switzerland, Tonga, Tunisia, Tuvalu, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US,
former Yugoslavia
Convention on the Prohibition of Military or Any Other Hostile Use of
Environmental Modification Techniques
note--abbreviated as Environmental Modification
opened for signature--10 December 1976
entered into force--5 October 1978
objective--to prohibit the military or other hostile use of
environmental modification techniques in order to further world peace
and trust among nations
parties--(64) Afghanistan, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina,
Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Brazil,
Bulgaria, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Costa Rica, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech
Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Egypt, Finland, Germany, Ghana, Greece,
Guatemala, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, North Korea, South
Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Malawi, Mauritius, Mongolia, Netherlands, NZ,
Niger, Norway, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Romania, Russia,
Saint Lucia, Sao Tome and Principe, Slovakia, Solomon Islands, Spain,
Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia, Ukraine, UK, US, Uruguay,
Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen
countries that have signed, but not yet ratified--(17) Bolivia,
Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Holy See, Iceland, Iran,
Iraq, Lebanon, Liberia, Luxembourg, Morocco, Nicaragua, Portugal,
Sierra Leone, Syria, Turkey, Uganda
Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially as
Waterfowl Habitat (Ramsar)
note--abbreviated as Wetlands
opened for signature--2 February 1971
entered into force--21 December 1975
objective--to stem the progressive encroachment on and loss of wetlands
now and in the future, recognizing the fundamental ecological functions
of wetlands and their economic, cultural, scientific, and recreational
value
parties--(101) Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria,
The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina
Faso, Canada, Chad, Chile, China, Democratic Republic of the Congo,
Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador,
Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany,
Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland,
India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan,
Kenya, South Korea, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Malawi, Mali,
Malta, Mauritania, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Namibia,
Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New
Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia,
Senegal, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname,
Sweden, Switzerland, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, UK,
US, Uruguay, Venezuela, Vietnam, former Yugoslavia, Zambia
Desertification
see United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in those
Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification,
Particularly in Africa
Endangered Species
see Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild
Flora and Fauna (CITES)
Environmental Modification
see Convention on the Prohibition of Military or Any Other Hostile Use
of Environmental Modification Techniques
Hazardous Wastes
see Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of
Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal
International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling
note--abbreviated as Whaling
opened for signature--2 December 1946
entered into force--10 November 1948
objective--to protect all species of whales from overhunting; to
establish a system of international regulation for the whale fisheries
to ensure proper conservation and development of whale stocks; and to
safeguard for future generations the great natural resources
represented by whale stocks
parties--(51) Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria,
Belize, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Denmark, Dominica,
Ecuador, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Grenada, Iceland, India,
Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, South Korea, Mauritius, Mexico,
Monaco, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Oman, Panama, Peru, Philippines,
Russia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines, Senegal, Seychelles, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain,
Sweden, Switzerland, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela
International Tropical Timber Agreement, 1983
note--abbreviated as Tropical Timber 83
opened for signature--18 November 1983
entered into force--1 April 1985; this agreement expired when the
International Tropical Timber Agreement, 1994, went into force
objective--to provide an effective framework for cooperation between
tropical timber producers and consumers and to encourage the
development of national policies aimed at sustainable utilization and
conservation of tropical forests and their genetic resources
parties--(54) Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Burma,
Cameroon, Canada, China, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo,
Republic of the Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, EU,
Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guyana, Honduras,
India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Liberia,
Luxembourg, Malaysia, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Panama, Papua New
Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Sweden,
Switzerland, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, UK, US, Venezuela
International Tropical Timber Agreement, 1994
note--abbreviated as Tropical Timber 94
opened for signature--26 January 1994
entered into force--1 January 1997
objective--to ensure that by the year 2000 exports of tropical timber
originate from sustainably managed sources; to establish a fund to
assist tropical timber producers in obtaining the resources necessary
to reach this objective
parties--(54) Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Burma,
Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, China, Colombia,
Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Cote d'Ivoire,
Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, EU, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany,
Ghana, Greece, Guyana, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, South
Korea, Liberia, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Norway,
Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Spain, Suriname, Sweden,
Switzerland, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, UK, US, Venezuela
countries that have signed, but not yet ratified--(2) Ireland, Portugal
Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change
note--abbreviated as Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
opened for signature--16 March 1998, but not yet in force
objective--to further reduce greenhouse gas emissions by enhancing the
national programs of developed countries aimed at this goal and by
establishing percentage reduction targets for the developed countries
parties--(7) Antigua and Barbuda, El Salvador, Fiji, Maldives, Panama,
Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu
countries that have signed, but not yet ratified--(72) Argentina,
Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile,
China, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark,
Ecuador, Estonia, EU, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala,
Honduras, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, South Korea,
Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mali, Malta, Marshall
Islands, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Monaco, Netherlands,
New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Niue, Norway, Papua New Guinea,
Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Saint
Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Seychelles, Slovakia,
Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand,
Turkmenistan, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Zambia
Law of the Sea
see United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (LOS)
Marine Dumping
see Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping Wastes
and Other Matter (London Convention)
Marine Life Conservation
see Convention on Fishing and Conservation of Living Resources of the
High Seas
Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer
note--abbreviated as Ozone Layer Protection
opened for signature--16 September 1987
entered into force--1 January 1989
objective--to protect the ozone layer by controlling emissions of
substances that deplete it
parties--(168) Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia,
Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados,
Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina,
Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi,
Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China,
Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the
Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech
Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El
Salvador, Estonia, Ethiopia, EU, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The
Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea,
Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland,
Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati,
North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho,
Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former
Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives,
Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated
States of Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique,
Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway,
Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines,
Poland, Portugal (Portugal has also extended the protocol to Macau),
Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint
Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles,
Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain,
Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria,
Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago,
Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US,
Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, former
Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Nuclear Test Ban
see Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapons Tests in the Atmosphere, in Outer
Space, and Under Water
Ozone Layer Protection
see Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer
Protocol of 1978 Relating to the International Convention for the
Prevention of Pollution From Ships, 1973 (MARPOL)
note--abbreviated as Ship Pollution
opened for signature--17 February 1978
entered into force--2 October 1983
objective--to preserve the marine environment through the complete
elimination of pollution by oil and other harmful substances and the
minimization of accidental discharge of such substances
parties--(100) Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia,
Austria, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Brazil, Brunei,
Bulgaria, Burma, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Cote
d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti,
Ecuador, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Finland, France, Gabon, The
Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland,
India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan,
Kenya, North Korea, South Korea, Latvia, Lebanon, Liberia, Lithuania,
Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius,
Mexico, Monaco, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama,
Papua New Guinea, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Saint
Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia,
Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria,
Togo, Tonga, Tunisia, Turkey, Tuvalu, Ukraine, UK, US, Uruguay,
Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, former Yugoslavia
Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty
note--abbreviated as Antarctic-Environmental Protocol
opened for signature--4 October 1991
entered into force--14 January 1998
objective--to enhance the protection of the Antarctic environment and
dependent and associated ecosystems
parties--(28) Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile,
China, Ecuador, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, India, Italy, Japan,
South Korea, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Peru, Poland, Russia, South
Africa, Spain, Sweden, UK, US, Uruguay
countries that have signed, but not yet ratified--(15) Austria, Canada,
Colombia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, Guatemala, Hungary, North
Korea, Papua New Guinea, Romania, Slovakia, Switzerland, Turkey,
Ukraine
Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air
Pollution Concerning the Control of Emissions of Nitrogen Oxides or
Their Transboundary Fluxes
note--abbreviated as Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides
opened for signature--31 October 1988
entered into force--14 February 1991
objective--to provide for the control or reduction of nitrogen oxides
and their transboundary fluxes
parties--(26) Austria, Belarus, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic,
Denmark, EU, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy,
Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Slovakia,
Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, UK, US
countries that have signed, but not yet ratified--(2) Belgium, Poland
Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air
Pollution Concerning the Control of Emissions of Volatile Organic
Compounds or Their Transboundary Fluxes
note--abbreviated as Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds
opened for signature--18 November 1991
entered into force--29 September 1997
objective--to provide for the control and reduction of emissions of
volatile organic compounds in order to reduce their transboundary
fluxes so as to protect human health and the environment from adverse
effects
parties--(17) Austria, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland,
France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg,
Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK
countries that have signed, but not yet ratified--(7) Belgium, Canada,
EU, Greece, Portugal, Ukraine, US
Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air
Pollution on Further Reduction of Sulphur Emissions
note--abbreviated as Air Pollution-Sulphur 94
opened for signature--14 June 1994
entered into force--5 August 1998
objective--to provide for a further reduction in sulfur emissions or
transboundary fluxes
parties--(21) Austria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, EU, Finland,
France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg,
Netherlands, Norway, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK
countries that have signed, but not yet ratified--(7) Belgium, Bulgaria,
Croatia, Hungary, Poland, Russia, Ukraine
Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air
Pollution on Persistent Organic Pollutants
note--abbreviated as Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants
opened for signature--24 June 1998, but not yet in force
objective--to provide for the control and reduction of emissions of
persistent organic pollutants in order to reduce their transboundary
fluxes so as to protect human health and the environment from adverse
effects
partie--(1) Canada
countries that have signed, but not yet ratified--(35) Armenia, Austria,
Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, EU,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy,
Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Moldova, Netherlands,
Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden,
Switzerland, Ukraine, UK, US
Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air
Pollution on the Reduction of Sulphur Emissions or Their Transboundary
Fluxes by at Least 30%
note--abbreviated as Air Pollution-Sulphur 85
opened for signature--8 July 1985
entered into force--2 September 1987
objective--to provide for a 30% reduction in sulfur emissions or
transboundary fluxes by 1993
parties--(21) Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech
Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy,
Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Slovakia,
Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine
Ship Pollution
see Protocol of 1978 Relating to the International Convention for the
Prevention of Pollution From Ships, 1973 (MARPOL)
Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapon Tests in the Atmosphere, in Outer Space,
and Under Water
note--abbreviated as Nuclear Test Ban
opened for signature--5 August 1963
entered into force--10 October 1963
objective--to obtain an agreement on general and complete disarmament
under strict international control in accordance with the objectives of
the United Nations; to put an end to the armaments race and eliminate
incentives for the production and testing of all kinds of weapons,
including nuclear weapons
parties--(122) Afghanistan, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia,
Australia, Austria, The Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Benin,
Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria,
Burma, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile,
Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire,
Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador,
Egypt, El Salvador, Fiji, Finland, Gabon, The Gambia, Germany, Ghana,
Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran,
Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, South
Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Luxembourg, Madagascar,
Malawi, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia,
Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway,
Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Romania,
Russia, Rwanda, Samoa, San Marino, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone,
Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan,
Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand,
Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, UK,
US, Uruguay, Venezuela, Yemen, former Yugoslavia, Zambia
countries that have signed, but not yet ratified--(12) Algeria, Burkina
Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, China, Ethiopia, Haiti, Mali, Paraguay,
Portugal, Somalia, Vietnam
Tropical Timber 83
see International Tropical Timber Agreement, 1983
Tropical Timber 94
see International Tropical Timber Agreement, 1994
United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (LOS)
note--abbreviated as Law of the Sea
opened for signature--10 December 1982
entered into force--16 November 1994
objective--to set up a comprehensive new legal regime for the sea and
oceans; to include rules concerning environmental standards as well as
enforcement provisions dealing with pollution of the marine environment
parties--(130) Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina,
Australia, Austria, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Barbados, Belgium, Belize,
Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei,
Bulgaria, Burma, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Comoros,
Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote
d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Djibouti, Dominica,
Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, EU, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia,
Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-
Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iraq,
Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, South Korea, Kuwait,
Laos, Lebanon, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Malaysia,
Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated
States of Micronesia, Monaco, Mongolia, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru,
Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama,
Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania,
Russia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal,
Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon
Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname,
Sweden, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Uganda,
UK, Uruguay, Vietnam, Yemen, former Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe
countries that have signed, but not yet ratified--(40) Afghanistan,
Bangladesh, Belarus, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada,
Central African Republic, Chad, Colombia, Republic of the Congo,
Denmark, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Hungary, Iran,
North Korea, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg,
Madagascar, Malawi, Maldives, Morocco, Nicaragua, Niger, Niue, Qatar,
Rwanda, Swaziland, Switzerland, Thailand, Tuvalu, Ukraine, UAE, Vanuatu
United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries
Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in
Africa
note--abbreviated as Desertification
opened for signature--14 October 1994
entered into force--26 December 1996
objective--to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought
through national action programs that incorporate long-term strategies
supported by international cooperation and partnership arrangements
parties--(148) Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda,
Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados,
Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burma,
Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African
Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the
Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Denmark,
Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador,
Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, EU, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon,
The Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-
Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran,
Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya,
Kiribati, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya,
Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Marshall
Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia,
Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal,
Netherlands, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Niue, Norway, Oman, Pakistan,
Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and
Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome
and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, South
Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria,
Tajikistan, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan,
Tuvalu, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, UK, Uruguay, Uzbekistan,
Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe
countries that have signed, but not yet ratified--(9) Australia,
Colombia, Republic of the Congo, Croatia, Georgia, South Korea,
Philippines, US, Vanuatu
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
note--abbreviated as Climate Change
opened for signature--9 May 1992
entered into force--21 March 1994
objective--to achieve stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations in
the atmosphere at a low enough level to prevent dangerous anthropogenic
interference with the climate system
parties--(177) Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina,
Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain,
Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia,
Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia,
Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile,
China, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of
the Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba,
Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican
Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, EU,
Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana,
Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti,
Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel,
Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, North
Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho,
Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands,
Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Moldova,
Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal,
Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Niue, Norway, Oman,
Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines,
Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and
Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San
Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore,
Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka,
Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan,
Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia,
Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay,
Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, former Yugoslavia,
Zambia, Zimbabwe
countries that have signed, but not yet ratified--(7) Afghanistan,
Angola, Belarus, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Sao Tome and Principe
Wetlands
see Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially As
Waterfowl Habitat (Ramsar)
Whaling
see International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling
=====================================================================
Appendix E: Weights and Measures
Mathematical Notation
Mathematical Power Name
10^18 or 1,000,000,000,000,000,000 one quintillion
10^15 or 1,000,000,000,000,000 one quadrillion
10^12 or 1,000,000,000,000 one trillion
10^9 or 1,000,000,000 one billion
10^6 or 1,000,000 one million
10^3 or 1,000 one thousand
10^2 or 100 one hundred
10^1 or 10 ten
10^0 or 1 one
10^-1 or 0.1 one tenth
10^-2 or 0.01 one hundredth
10^-3 or 0.001 one thousandth
10^-6 or 0.000 001 one millionth
10^-9 or 0.000 000 001 one billionth
10^-12 or 0.000 000 000 001 one trillionth
10^-15 or 0.000 000 000 000 001 one quadrillionth
10^-18 or 0.000 000 000 000 000 001 one quintillionth
Metric Interrelationships
Prefix Symbol Length, weight, or capacity Area Volume
exa E 1018 1036 1054
peta P 1015 1030 1045
tera T 1012 1024 1036
giga G 109 1018 1027
mega M 106 1012 1018
hectokilo hk 105 1010 1015
myria ma 104 108 1012
kilo k 103 106 109
hecto h 102 104 106
basic unit -- 1 meter, 1 gram, 1 liter 1 meter2 1 meter3
deci d 10-1 10-2 10-3
centi c 10-2 10-4 10-6
milli m 10-3 10-6 10-9
decimilli dm 10-4 10-8 10-12
centimilli cm 10-5 10-10 10-15
micro u 10-6 10-12 10-18
nano n 10-9 10-18 10-27
pico p 10-12 10-24 10-36
femto f 10-15 10-30 10-45
atto a 10-18 10-36 10-54
Conversion Factors
To Convert From To Multiply by
acres ares 40.468 564 224
acres hectares 0.404 685 642 24
acres square feet 43,560
acres square kilometers 0.004 046 856 422 4
acres square meters 4,046.856 422 4
acres square miles (statute) 0.001 562 50
acres square yards 4,840
ares square meters 100
ares square yards 119.599
barrels, US beer gallons 31
barrels, US beer liters 117.347 77
barrels, US gallons (British) 34.97
petroleum
barrels, US gallons (US) 42
petroleum
barrels, US liters 158.987 29
petroleum
barrels, US proof gallons 40
spirits
barrels, US proof liters 151.416 47
spirits
bushels (US) bushels (British) 0.968 9
bushels (US) cubic feet 1.244 456
bushels (US) cubic inches 2,150.42
bushels (US) cubic meters 0.035 239 07
bushels (US) cubic yards 0.046 090 96
bushels (US) dekaliters 3.523 907
bushels (US) dry pints 64
bushels (US) dry quarts 32
bushels (US) liters 35.239 070 17
bushels (US) pecks 4
cables fathoms 120
cables meters 219.456
cables yards 240
carat milligrams 200
centimeters feet 0.032 808 40
centimeters inches 0.393 700 8
centimeters meters 0.01
centimeters yards 0.010 936 13
centimeters, cubic inches 0.061 023 744
cubic
centimeters, square feet 0.001 076 39
square
centimeters, square inches 0.155 000 31
square
centimeters, square meters 0.000 1
square
centimeters, square yards 0.000 119 599
square
chains, square ares 4.046 86
surveyor's
chains, square square feet 4,356
surveyor's
chains, feet 66
surveyor's
chains, meters 20.116 8
surveyor's
chains, rods 4
surveyor's
cords of wood cubic feet 128
cords of wood cubic meters 3.624 556
cords of wood cubic yards 4.740 7
cups liquid ounces (US) 8
cups liters 0.236 588 2
degrees Celsius degrees Fahrenheit multiply by 1.8
and add 32
degrees degrees Celsius subtract 32 and
Fahrenheit divide by 1.8
dekaliters bushels 0.283 775 9
dekaliters cubic feet 0.353 146 7
dekaliters cubic inches 610.237 4
dekaliters dry pints 18.161 66
dekaliters dry quarts 9.080 829 8
dekaliters liters 10
dekaliters pecks 1.135 104
drams, avoirdupois ounces 0.062 55
avoirdupois
drams, grains 27.344
avoirdupois
drams, grams 1.771 845 2
avoirdupois
drams, troy grains 60
drams, troy grams 3.887 934 6
drams, troy scruples 3
drams, troy troy ounces 0.125
drams, liquid cubic inches 0.226
(US)
drams, liquid liquid drams (British) 1.041
(US)
drams, liquid liquid ounces 0.125
(US)
drams, liquid milliliters 3.696 69
(US)
drams, liquid minims 60
(US)
fathoms feet 6
fathoms meters 1.828 8
feet centimeters 30.48
feet inches 12
feet kilometers 0.000 304 8
feet meters 0.304 8
feet statute miles 0.000 189 39
feet yards 0.333 333 3
feet, cubic bushels 0.803 563 95
feet, cubic cubic decimeters 28.316 847
feet, cubic cubic inches 1,728
feet, cubic cubic meters 0.028 316 846 592
feet, cubic cubic yards 0.037 037 04
feet, cubic dry pints 51.428 09
feet, cubic dry quarts 25.714 05
feet, cubic gallons 7.480 519
feet, cubic gills 239.376 6
feet, cubic liquid ounces 957.506 5
feet, cubic liquid pints 59.844 16
feet, cubic liquid quarts 29.922 08
feet, cubic liters 28.316 846 592
feet, cubic pecks 3.214 256
feet, square acres 0.000 022 956 8
feet, square square centimeters 929.030 4
feet, square square decimeters 9.290 304
feet, square square inches 144
feet, square square meters 0.092 903 04
feet, square square yards 0.111 111 1
furlongs feet 660
furlongs inches 7,920
furlongs meters 201.168
furlongs statute miles 0.125
furlongs yards 220
gallons, liquid cubic feet 0.133 680 6
(US)
gallons, liquid cubic inches 231
(US)
gallons, liquid cubic meters 0.003 785 411 784
(US)
gallons, liquid cubic yards 0.004 951 13
(US)
gallons, liquid gills (US) 32
(US)
gallons, liquid liquid gallons (British) 0.832 67
(US)
gallons, liquid liquid ounces 128
(US)
gallons, liquid liquid pints 8
(US)
gallons, liquid liquid quarts 4
(US)
gallons, liquid liters 3.785 411 784
(US)
gallons, liquid milliliters 3,785.411 784
(US)
gallons, liquid minims 61,440
(US)
gills (US) centiliters 11.829 4
gills (US) cubic feet 0.004 177 517
gills (US) cubic inches 7.218 75
gills (US) gallons 0.031 25
gills (US) gills (British) 0.832 67
gills (US) liquid ounces 4
gills (US) liquid pints 0.25
gills (US) liquid quarts 0.125
gills (US) liters 0.118 294 118 25
gills (US) milliliters 118.294 118 25
gills (US) minims 1,920
grains avoirdupois drams 0.036 571 43
grains avoirdupois ounces 0.002 285 71
grains avoirdupois pounds 0.000 142 86
grains grams 0.064 798 91
grains kilograms 0.000 064 798 91
grains milligrams 64.798 910
grains pennyweights 0.042
grains scruples 0.05
grains troy drams 0.016 6
grains troy ounces 0.002 083 33
grains troy pounds 0.000 173 61
grams avoirdupois drams 0.564 383 39
grams avoirdupois ounces 0.035 273 961
grams avoirdupois pounds 0.002 204 622 6
grams grains 15.432 361
grams kilograms 0.001
grams milligrams 1,000
grams troy ounces 0.032 150 746 6
grams troy pounds 0.002 679 23
hands (height of centimeters 10.16
horse)
hands (height of inches 4
horse)
hectares acres 2.471 053 8
hectares square feet 107,639.1
hectares square kilometers 0.01
hectares square meters 10,000
hectares square miles 0.003 861 02
hectares square yards 11,959.90
hundredweights, avoirdupois pounds 112
long
hundredweights, kilograms 50.802 345
long
hundredweights, long tons 0.05
long
hundredweights, metric tons 0.050 802 345
long
hundredweights, short tons 0.056
long
hundredweights, avoirdupois pounds 100
short
hundredweights, kilograms 45.359 237
short
hundredweights, long tons 0.044 642 86
short
hundredweights, metric tons 0.045 359 237
short
hundredweights, short tons 0.05
short
inches centimeters 2.54
inches feet 0.083 333 33
inches meters 0.025 4
inches millimeters 25.4
inches yards 0.027 777 78
inches, cubic bushels 0.000 465 025
inches, cubic cubic centimeters 16.387 064
inches, cubic cubic feet 0.000 578 703 7
inches, cubic cubic meters 0.000 016 387 064
inches, cubic cubic yards 0.000 021 433 47
inches, cubic dry pints 0.029 761 6
inches, cubic dry quarts 0.014 880 8
inches, cubic gallons 0.004 329 0
inches, cubic gills 0.138 528 1
inches, cubic liquid ounces 0.554 112 6
inches, cubic liquid pints 0.034 632 03
inches, cubic liquid quarts 0.017 316 02
inches, cubic liters 0.016 387 064
inches, cubic milliliters 16.387 064
inches, cubic minims (US) 265.974 0
inches, cubic pecks 0.001 860 10
inches, square square centimeters 6.451 600
inches, square square feet 0.006 944 44
inches, square square meters 0.000 645 16
inches, square square yards 0.000 771 605
kilograms avoirdupois drams 564.383 4
kilograms avoirdupois ounces 35.273 962
kilograms avoirdupois pounds 2.204 622 622
kilograms grains 15,432.36
kilograms grams 1,000
kilograms long tons 0.000 984 2
kilograms metric tons 0.001
kilograms short hundredweights 0.022 046 23
kilograms short tons 0.001 102 31
kilograms troy ounces 32.150 75
kilograms troy pounds 2.679 229
kilometers meters 1,000
kilometers statute miles 0.621 371 192
kilometers, acres 247.105 38
square
kilometers, hectares 100
square
kilometers, square meters 1,000,000
square
kilometers, statute miles 0.386 102 16
square
knots (nautical kilometers/hour 1.852
mi/hr)
knots (nautical statute miles/hour 1.151
mi/hr)
leagues, nautical kilometers 5.556
leagues, nautical nautical miles 3
leagues, statute kilometers 4.828 032
leagues, statute statute miles 3
links, square square centimeters 404.686
surveyor's
links, square square inches 62.726 4
surveyor's
links, surveyor's centimeters 20.116 8
links, surveyor's chains 0.01
links, surveyor's inches 7.92
liters bushels 0.028 377 59
liters cubic feet 0.035 314 67
liters cubic inches 61.023 74
liters cubic meters 0.001
liters cubic yards 0.001 307 95
liters dekaliters 0.1
liters dry pints 1.816 166
liters dry quarts 0.908 082 98
liters gallons 0.264 172 052
liters gills (US) 8.453 506
liters liquid ounces 33.814 02
liters liquid pints 2.113 376
liters liquid quarts 1.056 688 2
liters milliliters 1,000
liters pecks 0.113 510 4
meters centimeters 100
meters feet 3.280 839 895
meters inches 39.370 079
meters kilometers 0.001
meters millimeters 1,000
meters statute miles 0.000 621 371
meters yards 1.093 613 298
meters, cubic bushels 28.377 59
meters, cubic cubic feet 35.314 666 7
meters, cubic cubic inches 61,023.744
meters, cubic cubic yards 1.307 950 619
meters, cubic gallons 264.172 05
meters, cubic liters 1,000
meters, cubic pecks 113.510 4
meters, square acres 0.000 247 105 38
meters, square hectares 0.000 1
meters, square square centimeters 10,000
meters, square square feet 10.763 910 4
meters, square square inches 1,550.003 1
meters, square square yards 1.195 990 046
microns meters 0.000 001
microns inches 0.000 039 4
mils inches 0.001
mils millimeters 0.025 4
miles, nautical kilometers 1.852 0
miles, nautical statute miles 1.150 779 4
miles, statute centimeters 160,934.4
miles, statute feet 5,280
miles, statute furlongs 8
miles, statute inches 63,360
miles, statute kilometers 1.609 344
miles, statute meters 1,609.344
miles, statute rods 320
miles, statute yards 1,760
miles, square square kilometers 3.429 904
nautical
miles, square square statute miles 1.325
nautical
miles, square acres 640
statute
miles, square hectares 258.998 811 033 6
statute
miles, square sections 1
statute
miles, square square kilometers 2.589 988 110 336
statute
miles, square square nautical miles 0.755 miles
statute
miles, square square rods 102,400
statute
milligrams grains 0.015 432 358 35
milliliters cubic inches 0.061 023 744
milliliters gallons 0.000 264 17
milliliters gills (US) 0.008 453 5
milliliters liquid ounces 0.033 814 02
milliliters liquid pints 0.002 113 4
milliliters liquid quarts 0.001 056 7
milliliters liters 0.001
milliliters minims 16.230 73
millimeters inches 0.039 370 078 7
minims (US) cubic inches 0.003 759 77
minims (US) gills (US) 0.000 520 83
minims (US) liquid ounces 0.002 083 33
minims (US) milliliters 0.061 611 52
minims (US) minims (British) 1.041
ounces, avoirdupois drams 16
avoirdupois
ounces, avoirdupois pounds 0.062 5
avoirdupois
ounces, grains 437.5
avoirdupois
ounces, grams 28.349 523 125
avoirdupois
ounces, kilograms 0.028 349 523 125
avoirdupois
ounces, troy ounces 0.911 458 3
avoirdupois
ounces, troy pounds 0.075 954 86
avoirdupois
ounces, liquid cubic feet 0.001 044 38
(US)
ounces, liquid centiliters 2.957 35
(US)
ounces, liquid cubic inches 1.804 687 5
(US)
ounces, liquid gallons 0.007 812 5
(US)
ounces, liquid gills (US) 0.25
(US)
ounces, liquid liquid drams 8
(US)
ounces, liquid liquid ounces (British) 1.041
(US)
ounces, liquid liquid pints 0.062 5
(US)
ounces, liquid liquid quarts 0.031 25
(US)
ounces, liquid liters 0.029 573 53
(US)
ounces, liquid milliliters 29.573 529 6
(US)
ounces, liquid minims 480
(US)
ounces, troy avoirdupois drams 17.554 29
ounces, troy avoirdupois ounces 1.097 143
ounces, troy avoirdupois pounds 0.068 571 43
ounces, troy grains 480
ounces, troy grams 31.103 476 8
ounces, troy pennyweights 20
ounces, troy troy drams 8
ounces, troy troy pounds 0.083 333 3
paces (US) centimeters 76.2
paces (US) inches 30
pecks (US) bushels 0.25
pecks (US) cubic feet 0.311 114
pecks (US) cubic inches 537.605
pecks (US) cubic meters 0.008 809 77
pecks (US) cubic yards 0.011 522 74
pecks (US) dekaliters 0.880 976 75
pecks (US) dry pints 16
pecks (US) dry quarts 8
pecks (US) liters 8.809 767 5
pecks (US) pecks (British) 0.968 9
pennyweights grains 24
pennyweights grams 1.555 173 84
pennyweights troy ounces 0.05
pints, dry (US) bushels 0.015 625
pints, dry (US) cubic feet 0.019 444 63
pints, dry (US) cubic inches 33.600 312 5
pints, dry (US) dekaliters 0.055 061 05
pints, dry (US) dry pints (British) 0.968 9
pints, dry (US) dry quarts 0.5
pints, dry (US) liters 0.550 610 47
pints, liquid cubic feet 0.016 710 07
(US)
pints, liquid cubic inches 28.875
(US)
pints, liquid deciliters 4.731 76
(US)
pints, liquid gallons 0.125
(US)
pints, liquid gills (US) 4
(US)
pints, liquid liquid ounces 16
(US)
pints, liquid liquid pints (British) 0.832 67
(US)
pints, liquid liquid quarts 0.5
(US)
pints, liquid liters 0.473 176 473
(US)
pints, liquid milliliters 473.176 473
(US)
pints, liquid minims 7,680
(US)
points inches 0.013 837
(typographical)
points millimeters 0.351 459 8
(typographical)
pounds, avoirdupois drams 256
avoirdupois
pounds, avoirdupois ounces 16
avoirdupois
pounds, grains 7,000
avoirdupois
pounds, grams 453.592 37
avoirdupois
pounds, kilograms 0.453 592 37
avoirdupois
pounds, long tons 0.000 446 428 6
avoirdupois
pounds, metric tons 0.000 453 592 37
avoirdupois
pounds, quintals 0.004 535 92
avoirdupois
pounds, short tons 0.000 5
avoirdupois
pounds, troy ounces 14.583 33
avoirdupois
pounds, troy pounds 1.215 278
avoirdupois
pounds, troy avoirdupois drams 210.651 4
pounds, troy avoirdupois ounces 13.165 71
pounds, troy avoirdupois pounds 0.822 857 1
pounds, troy grains 5,760
pounds, troy grams 373.241 721 6
pounds, troy kilograms 0.373 241 721 6
pounds, troy pennyweights 240
pounds, troy troy ounces 12
quarts, dry (US) bushels 0.031 25
quarts, dry (US) cubic feet 0.038 889 25
quarts, dry (US) cubic inches 67.200 625
quarts, dry (US) dekaliters 0.110 122 1
quarts, dry (US) dry pints 2
quarts, dry (US) dry quarts (British) 0.968 9
quarts, dry (US) liters 1.101 221
quarts, dry (US) pecks 0.125
quarts, dry (US) pints, dry (US) 2
quarts, liquid cubic feet 0.033 420 14
(US)
quarts, liquid cubic inches 57.75
(US)
quarts, liquid deciliters 9.463 53
(US)
quarts, liquid gallons 0.25
(US)
quarts, liquid gills (US) 8
(US)
quarts, liquid liquid ounces 32
(US)
quarts, liquid liquid pints (US) 2
(US)
quarts, liquid liquid quarts (British) 0.832 67
(US)
quarts, liquid liters 0.946 352 946
(US)
quarts, liquid milliliters 946.352 946
(US)
quarts, liquid minims 15,360
(US)
quintals avoirdupois pounds 220.462 26
quintals kilograms 100
quintals metric tons 0.1
rods feet 16.5
rods meters 5.029 2
rods yards 5.5
rods, square acres 0.006 25
rods, square square meters 25.292 85
rods, square square yards 30.25
scruples grains 20
scruples grams 1.295 978 2
scruples troy drams 0.333
sections (US) square kilometers 2.589 988 1
sections (US) square statute miles 1
spans centimeters 22.86
spans inches 9
steres cubic meters 1
steres cubic yards 1.307 95
tablespoons milliliters 14.786 76
tablespoons teaspoons 3
teaspoons milliliters 4.928 922
teaspoons tablespoons 0.333 333
ton-miles, long metric ton-kilometers 1.635 169
ton-miles, short metric ton-kilometers 1.459 972
tons, gross cubic feet of permanently enclosed 100
register space
tons, gross cubic meters of permanently 2.831 684 7
register enclosed space
tons, long avoirdupois ounces 35,840
(deadweight)
tons, long avoirdupois pounds 2,240
(deadweight)
tons, long kilograms 1,016.046 909 8
(deadweight)
tons, long long hundredweights 20
(deadweight)
tons, long metric tons 1.016 046 908 8
(deadweight)
tons, long short hundredweights 22.4
(deadweight)
tons, long short tons 1.12
(deadweight)
tons, metric avoirdupois pounds 2,204.623
tons, metric kilograms 1,000
tons, metric long hundredweights 19.684 130 3
tons, metric long tons 0.984 206 5
tons, metric quintals 10
tons, metric short hundredweights 22.046 23
tons, metric short tons 1.102 311 3
tons, metric troy ounces 32,150.75
tons, net cubic feet of permanently enclosed 100
register space for cargo and passengers
tons, net cubic meters of permanently 2.831 684 7
register enclosed space for cargo and
passengers
tons, shipping cubic feet of permanently enclosed 42
cargo space
tons, shipping cubic meters of permanently 1.189 307 574
enclosed cargo space
tons, short avoirdupois pounds 2,000
tons, short kilograms 907.184 74
tons, short long hundredweights 17.857 14
tons, short long tons 0.892 857 1
tons, short metric tons 0.907 184 74
tons, short short hundredweights 20
townships (US) sections 36
townships (US) square kilometers 93.239 572
townships (US) square statute miles 36
miles, square acres 640
statute
miles, square hectares 258.998 811 033 6
statute
miles, square square feet 27,878,400
statute
miles, square square meters 2,589,988.110 336
statute
miles, square square yards 3,097,600
statute
yards centimeters 91.44
yards feet 3
yards inches 36
yards meters 0.914 4
yards miles 0.000 568 18
yards, cubic bushels 21.696 227
yards, cubic cubic feet 27
yards, cubic cubic inches 46,656
yards, cubic cubic meters 0.764 554 857 984
yards, cubic gallons 201.974 0
yards, cubic liters 764.554 857 984
yards, cubic pecks 86.784 91
yards, square acres 0.000 206 611 6
yards, square hectares 0.000 083 612 736
yards, square square centimeters 8,361.273 6
yards, square square feet 9
yards, square square inches 1,296
yards, square square meters 0.836 127 36
yards, square square miles 0.000 000 322 830
6
Note: At this time, only three countries--Burma, Liberia, and the
US--have not adopted the International System of Units (SI, or metric
system) as their official system of weights and measures. Although use
of the metric system has been sanctioned by law in the US since 1866,
it has been slow in displacing the American adaptation of the British
Imperial System known as the US Customary System. The US is the only
industrialized nation that does not mainly use the metric system in
its commercial and standards activities, but there is increasing
acceptance in science, medicine, government, and many sectors of
industry.
=====================================================================
Appendix F: Cross-Reference List of Country Data Codes
FIPS 10-4: Countries, Dependencies, Areas of Special
Sovereignty, and Their Principal Administrative Divisions
(FIPS PUB 10-4) is maintained by the Office of the
Geographer and Global Issues (Department of State) and
published by the National Institute of Standards and
Technology (Department of Commerce). These two-character
alphabetic codes are included in the text of the Factbook in
the Data code entry under the Government category. FIPS 10-4
codes are intended for general use throughout the US
Government, especially in activities associated with the
mission of the Department of State and national defense
programs.
ISO 3166: Codes for the Representation of Names of Countries
(ISO 3166) is prepared by the International Organization for
Standardization. ISO 3166 includes two- and three-character
alphabetic codes and three-digit numeric codes that may be
needed for activities involving exchange of data with
international organizations that have adopted that standard.
Except for the numeric codes, ISO 3166 codes have been
adopted in the US as FIPS 104-1: American National Standard
Codes for the Representation of Names of Countries,
Dependencies, and Areas of Special Sovereignty for
Information Interchange.
Internet: This is a provisional compilation that generally
agrees with the ISO 3166 two-character alphabetic codes.
Entity FIPS ISO ISO ISO Interne Comment
10-4 316 316 316 t
6 6 6
Afghanistan AF AF AFG 004 AF
Albania AL AL ALB 008 AL
Algeria AG DZ DZA 012 DZ
American AQ AS ASM 016 AS
Samoa
Andorra AN AD AND 020 AD
Angola AO AO AGO 024 AO
Anguilla AV AI AIA 660 AI
Antarctica AY AQ ATA 010 AQ ISO defines as the
territory south of 60
degrees south latitude
Antigua and AC AG ATG 028 AG
Barbuda
Argentina AR AR ARG 032 AR
Armenia AM AM ARM 051 AM
Aruba AA AW ABW 533 AW
Ashmore and AT -- -- -- -- ISO includes with
Cartier Australia
Australia AS AU AUS 036 AU ISO includes Ashmore
and Cartier
Islands,Coral Sea
Islands
Austria AU AT AUT 040 AT
Azerbaijan AJ AZ AZE 031 AZ
The Bahamas BF BS BHS 044 BS
Bahrain BA BH BHR 048 BH
Baker Island FQ -- -- -- -- ISO includes with the
US Minor Outlying
Islands
Bangladesh BG BD BGD 050 BD
Barbados BB BB BRB 052 BB
Bassas da BS -- -- -- -- ISO includes with the
India Miscellaneous (French)
Indian Ocean Islands
Belarus BO BY BLR 112 BY
Belgium BE BE BEL 056 BE
Belize BH BZ BLZ 084 BZ
Benin BN BJ BEN 204 BJ
Bermuda BD BM BMU 060 BM
Bhutan BT BT BTN 064 BT
Bolivia BL BO BOL 068 BO
Bosnia and BK BA BIH 070 BA
Herzegovina
Botswana BC BW BWA 072 BW
Bouvet Island BV BV BVT 074 BV
Brazil BR BR BRA 076 BR
British IO IO IOT 086 IO
Indian Ocean
Territory
British VI VG VGB 092 VG
Virgin
Islands
Brunei BX BN BRN 096 BN
Bulgaria BU BG BGR 100 BG
Burkina Faso UV BF BFA 854 BF
Burma BM MM MMR 104 MM ISO uses the name
Myanmar
Burundi BY BI BDI 108 BI
Cambodia CB KH KHM 116 KH
Cameroon CM CM CMR 120 CM
Canada CA CA CAN 124 CA
Cape Verde CV CV CPV 132 CV
Cayman CJ KY CYM 136 KY
Islands
Central CT CF CAF 140 CF
African
Republic
Chad CD TD TCD 148 TD
Chile CI CL CHL 152 CL
China CH CN CHN 156 CN see also Taiwan
Christmas KT CX CXR 162 CX
Island
Clipperton IP -- -- -- -- ISO includes with
Island French Polynesia
Cocos CK CC CCK 166 CC
(Keeling)
Islands
Colombia CO CO COL 170 CO
Comoros CN KM COM 174 KM
Congo, CG ZR ZAR 180 ZR formerly Zaire
Democratic
Republic of
the
Congo, CF CG COG 178 CG
Republic of
the
Cook Islands CW CK COK 184 CK
Coral Sea CR -- -- -- -- ISO includes with
Islands Australia
Costa Rica CS CR CRI 188 CR
Cote d'Ivoire IV CI CIV 384 CI
Croatia HR HR HRV 191 HR
Cuba CU CU CUB 192 CU
Cyprus CY CY CYP 196 CY
Czech EZ CZ CZE 203 CZ
Republic
Denmark DA DK DNK 208 DK
Djibouti DJ DJ DJI 262 DJ
Dominica DO DM DMA 212 DM
Dominican DR DO DOM 214 DO
Republic
East Timor -- TP TMP 626 TP FIPS includes with
Indonesia
Ecuador EC EC ECU 218 EC
Egypt EG EG EGY 818 EG
El Salvador ES SV SLV 222 SV
Equatorial EK GQ GNQ 226 GQ
Guinea
Eritrea ER ER ERI 232 ER
Estonia EN EE EST 233 EE
Ethiopia ET ET ETH 231 ET
Europa Island EU -- -- -- -- ISO includes with the
Miscellaneous (French)
Indian Ocean Islands
Falkland FA FK FLK 238 FK
Islands
(Islas
Malvinas)
Faroe Islands FO FO FRO 234 FO
Fiji FJ FJ FJI 242 FJ
Finland FI FI FIN 246 FI
France FR FR FRA 250 FR
France, -- FX FXX 249 FX ISO limits to the
Metropolitan European part of
France, excluding
French Guiana, French
Polynesia, French
Southern and Antarctic
Lands, Guadeloupe,
Martinique, Mayotte,
New Caledonia, Reunion,
Saint Pierre and
Miquelon, Wallis and
Futuna
French Guiana FG GF GUF 254 GF
French FP PF PYF 258 PF ISO includes Clipperton
Polynesia Island
French FS TF ATF 260 -- FIPS 10-4 does not
Southern and include the French-
Antarctic claimed portion of
Lands Antarctica (Terre
Adelie)
Gabon GB GA GAB 266 GA
The Gambia GA GM GMB 270 GM
Gaza Strip GZ -- -- -- --
Georgia GG GE GEO 268 GE
Germany GM DE DEU 276 DE
Ghana GH GH GHA 288 GH
Gibraltar GI GI GIB 292 GI
Glorioso GO -- -- -- -- ISO includes with the
Islands Miscellaneous (French)
Indian Ocean Islands
Greece GR GR GRC 300 GR
Greenland GL GL GRL 304 GL
Grenada GJ GD GRD 308 GD
Guadeloupe GP GP GLP 312 GP
Guam GQ GU GUM 316 GU
Guatemala GT GT GTM 320 GT
Guernsey GK -- -- -- -- ISO includes with the
United Kingdom
Guinea GV GN GIN 324 GN
Guinea-Bissau PU GW GNB 624 GW
Guyana GY GY GUY 328 GY
Haiti HA HT HTI 332 HT
Heard Island HM HM HMD 334 HM
and McDonald
Islands
Holy See VT VA VAT 336 VA
(Vatican
City)
Honduras HO HN HND 340 HN
Hong Kong HK HK HKG 344 HK
Howland HQ -- -- -- -- ISO includes with the
Island US Minor Outlying
Islands
Hungary HU HU HUN 348 HU
Iceland IC IS ISL 352 IS
India IN IN IND 356 IN
Indonesia ID ID IDN 360 ID
Iran IR IR IRN 364 IR
Iraq IZ IQ IRQ 368 IQ
Ireland EI IE IRL 372 IE
Israel IS IL ISR 376 IL
Italy IT IT ITA 380 IT
Jamaica JM JM JAM 388 JM
Jan Mayen JN -- -- -- -- ISO includes with
Svalbard
Japan JA JP JPN 392 JP
Jarvis Island DQ -- -- -- -- ISO includes with the
US Minor Outlying
Islands
Jersey JE -- -- -- -- ISO includes with the
United Kingdom
Johnston JQ -- -- -- -- ISO includes with the
Atoll US Minor Outlying
Islands
Jordan JO JO JOR 400 JO
Juan de Nova JU -- -- -- -- ISO includes with the
Island Miscellaneous (French)
Indian Ocean Islands
Kazakhstan KZ KZ KAZ 398 KZ
Kenya KE KE KEN 404 KE
Kingman Reef KQ -- -- -- -- ISO includes with the
US Minor Outlying
Islands
Kiribati KR KI KIR 296 KI
Korea, North KN KP PRK 408 KP
Korea, South KS KR KOR 410 KR
Kuwait KU KW KWT 414 KW
Kyrgyzstan KG KG KGZ 417 KG
Laos LA LA LAO 418 LA
Latvia LG LV LVA 428 LV
Lebanon LE LB LBN 422 LB
Lesotho LT LS LSO 426 LS
Liberia LI LR LBR 430 LR
Libya LY LY LBY 434 LY
Liechtenstein LS LI LIE 438 LI
Lithuania LH LT LTU 440 LT
Luxembourg LU LU LUX 442 LU
Macau MC MO MAC 446 MO
Macedonia, MK MK MKD 807 MK
The Former
Yugoslav
Republic of
Madagascar MA MG MDG 450 MG
Malawi MI MW MWI 454 MW
Malaysia MY MY MYS 458 MY
Maldives MV MV MDV 462 MV
Mali ML ML MLI 466 ML
Malta MT MT MLT 470 MT
Man, Isle of IM -- -- -- -- ISO includes with the
United Kingdom
Marshall RM MH MHL 584 MH
Islands
Martinique MB MQ MTQ 474 MQ
Mauritania MR MR MRT 478 MR
Mauritius MP MU MUS 480 MU
Mayotte MF YT MYT 175 YT
Mexico MX MX MEX 484 MX
Micronesia, FM FSM 583 FM
Federated
States of
Midway MQ -- -- -- -- ISO includes with the
Islands US Minor Outlying
Islands
Miscellaneous -- -- -- -- ISO includes Bassas da
(French) India, Europa Island,
Glorioso Islands, Juan
de Nova Island,
Tromelin Island
Moldova MD MD MDA 498 MD
Monaco MN MC MCO 492 MC
Mongolia MG MN MNG 496 MN
Montenegro* MW -- -- -- -- see footnote at end of
table
Montserrat MH MS MSR 500 MS
Morocco MO MA MAR 504 MA
Mozambique MZ MZ MOZ 508 MZ
Myanmar -- -- -- -- -- see Burma
Namibia WA NA NAM 516 NA
Nauru NR NR NRU 520 NR
Navassa BQ -- -- -- --
Island
Nepal NP NP NPL 524 NP
Netherlands NL NL NLD 528 NL
Netherlands NT AN ANT 530 AN
Antilles
New Caledonia NC NC NCL 540 NC
New Zealand NZ NZ NZL 554 NZ
Nicaragua NU NI NIC 558 NI
Niger NG NE NER 562 NE
Nigeria NI NG NGA 566 NG
Niue NE NU NIU 570 NU
Norfolk NF NF NFK 574 NF
Island
Northern CQ MP MNP 580 MP
Mariana
Islands
Norway NO NO NOR 578 NO
Oman MU OM OMN 512 OM
Pakistan PK PK PAK 586 PK
Palau PS PW PLW 585 PW
Palmyra Atoll LQ -- -- -- -- ISO includes with the
US Minor Outlying
Islands
Panama PM PA PAN 591 PA
Papua New PP PG PNG 598 PG
Guinea
Paracel PF -- -- -- --
Islands
Paraguay PA PY PRY 600 PY
Peru PE PE PER 604 PE
Philippines RP PH PHL 608 PH
Pitcairn PC PN PCN 612 PN
Islands
Poland PL PL POL 616 PL
Portugal PO PT PRT 620 PT
Puerto Rico RQ PR PRI 630 PR
Qatar QA QA QAT 634 QA
Reunion RE RE REU 638 RE
Romania RO RO ROM 642 RO
Russia RS RU RUS 643 RU
Rwanda RW RW RWA 646 RW
Saint Helena SH SH SHN 654 SH
Saint Kitts SC KN KNA 659 KN
and Nevis
Saint Lucia ST LC LCA 662 LC
Saint Pierre SB PM SPM 666 PM
and Miquelon
Saint Vincent VC VC VCT 670 VC
and the
Grenadines
Samoa WS WS WSM 882 WS --
San Marino SM SM SMR 674 SM
Sao Tome and TP ST STP 678 ST
Principe
Saudi Arabia SA SA SAU 682 SA
Senegal SG SN SEN 686 SN
Serbia* SR -- -- -- -- see footnote at end of
table
Serbia and -- -- -- -- -- see footnote at end of
Montenegro* table
Seychelles SE SC SYC 690 SC
Sierra Leone SL SL SLE 694 SL
Singapore SN SG SGP 702 SG
Slovakia LO SK SVK 703 SK
Slovenia SI SI SVN 705 SI
Solomon BP SB SLB 090 SB
Islands
Somalia SO SO SOM 706 SO
South Africa SF ZA ZAF 710 ZA
South Georgia SX GS SGS 239 GS
and the South
Sandwich
Islands
Spain SP ES ESP 724 ES
Spratly PG -- -- -- --
Islands
Sri Lanka CE LK LKA 144 LK
Sudan SU SD SDN 736 SD
Suriname NS SR SUR 740 SR
Svalbard SV SJ SJM 744 SJ ISO includes Jan Mayen
Swaziland WZ SZ SWZ 748 SZ
Sweden SW SE SWE 752 SE
Switzerland SZ CH CHE 756 CH
Syria SY SY SYR 760 SY
Taiwan TW TW TWN 158 TW
Tajikistan TI TJ TJK 762 TJ
Tanzania TZ TZ TZA 834 TZ
Thailand TH TH THA 764 TH
Togo TO TG TGO 768 TG
Tokelau TL TK TKL 772 TK
Tonga TN TO TON 776 TO
Trinidad and TD TT TTO 780 TT
Tobago
Tromelin TE -- -- -- -- ISO includes with the
Island Miscellaneous (French)
Indian Ocean Islands
Tunisia TS TN TUN 788 TN
Turkey TU TR TUR 792 TR
Turkmenistan TX TM TKM 795 TM
Turks and TK TC TCA 796 TC
Caicos
Islands
Tuvalu TV TV TUV 798 TV
Uganda UG UG UGA 800 UG
Ukraine UP UA UKR 804 UA
United Arab TC AE ARE 784 AE
Emirates
United UK GB GBR 826 UK/GB ISO includes Guernsey,
Kingdom Isle of Man, Jersey
United States US US USA 840 US
United States -- UM UMI 581 UM ISO includes Baker
Minor Island, Howland Island,
Outlying Jarvis Island, Johnston
Islands Atoll, Kingman Reef,
Midway Islands, Palmyra
Atoll, Wake Island
Uruguay UY UY URY 858 UY
Uzbekistan UZ UZ UZB 860 UZ
Vanuatu NH VU VUT 548 VU
Venezuela VE VE VEN 862 UE
Vietnam VM VN VNM 704 VN
Virgin VQ VI VIR 850 VI
Islands
Virgin -- -- -- -- -- see British Virgin
Islands (UK) Islands
Virgin -- -- -- -- -- see Virgin Islands
Islands (US)
Wake Atoll WQ -- -- -- -- ISO includes with the
US Minor Outlying
Islands
Wallis and WF WF WLF 876 WF
Futuna
West Bank WE -- -- -- --
Western WI EH ESH 732 EH
Sahara
Western Samoa -- -- -- -- -- see Samoa
World -- -- -- -- -- the Factbook uses the W
data code from DIAM 65-
-18 Geopolitical Data
Elements and Related
Features, Data Standard
No. 3, December 1994,
published by the
Defense Intelligence
Agency
Yemen YM YE YEM 887 YE
Yugoslavia* -- YU YUG 891 YU see footnote at end of
table
Zaire -- -- -- -- -- see Democratic Republic
of the Congo
Zambia ZA ZM ZWB 894 ZM
Zimbabwe ZI ZW ZWE 716 ZW
Serbia and Montenegro have asserted the formation of a joint
independent state,but this entity has not been formally
recognized as a state by the US; the US view is that the
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY) has
dissolved and that none of the successor republics
represents its continuation.
Appendix F: Cross-Reference List of Country Data Codes
FIPS 10-4: Countries, Dependencies, Areas of Special Sovereignty, and
Their Principal Administrative Divisions (FIPS PUB 10-4) is maintained
by the Office of the Geographer and Global Issues (Department of State)
and published by the National Institute of Standards and Technology
(Department of Commerce). These two-character alphabetic codes are
included in the text of the Factbook in the Data code entry under the
Government category. FIPS 10-4 codes are intended for general use
throughout the US Government, especially in activities associated with
the mission of the Department of State and national defense programs.
ISO 3166: Codes for the Representation of Names of Countries (ISO 3166)
is prepared by the International Organization for Standardization. ISO
3166 includes two- and three-character alphabetic codes and three-digit
numeric codes that may be needed for activities involving exchange of
data with international organizations that have adopted that standard.
Except for the numeric codes, ISO 3166 codes have been adopted in the
US as FIPS 104-1: American National Standard Codes for the
Representation of Names of Countries, Dependencies, and Areas of
Special Sovereignty for Information Interchange.
Internet: This is a provisional compilation that generally agrees with
the ISO 3166 two-character alphabetic codes.
Entity FIPS ISO ISO ISO Interne Comment
10-4 3166 3166 3166 t
Afghanistan AF AF AFG 004 AF
Albania AL AL ALB 008 AL
Algeria AG DZ DZA 012 DZ
American AQ AS ASM 016 AS
Samoa
Andorra AN AD AND 020 AD
Angola AO AO AGO 024 AO
Anguilla AV AI AIA 660 AI
Antarctica AY AQ ATA 010 AQ ISO defines as the territory
south of 60 degrees south
latitude
Antigua and AC AG ATG 028 AG
Barbuda
Argentina AR AR ARG 032 AR
Armenia AM AM ARM 051 AM
Aruba AA AW ABW 533 AW
Ashmore and AT -- -- -- -- ISO includes with Australia
Cartier
Australia AS AU AUS 036 AU ISO includes Ashmore and
Cartier Islands,Coral Sea
Islands
Austria AU AT AUT 040 AT
Azerbaijan AJ AZ AZE 031 AZ
The Bahamas BF BS BHS 044 BS
Bahrain BA BH BHR 048 BH
Baker Island FQ -- -- -- -- ISO includes with the US
Minor Outlying Islands
Bangladesh BG BD BGD 050 BD
Barbados BB BB BRB 052 BB
Bassas da BS -- -- -- -- ISO includes with the
India Miscellaneous (French)
Indian Ocean Islands
Belarus BO BY BLR 112 BY
Belgium BE BE BEL 056 BE
Belize BH BZ BLZ 084 BZ
Benin BN BJ BEN 204 BJ
Bermuda BD BM BMU 060 BM
Bhutan BT BT BTN 064 BT
Bolivia BL BO BOL 068 BO
Bosnia and BK BA BIH 070 BA
Herzegovina
Botswana BC BW BWA 072 BW
Bouvet Island BV BV BVT 074 BV
Brazil BR BR BRA 076 BR
British IO IO IOT 086 IO
Indian Ocean
Territory
British VI VG VGB 092 VG
Virgin
Islands
Brunei BX BN BRN 096 BN
Bulgaria BU BG BGR 100 BG
Burkina Faso UV BF BFA 854 BF
Burma BM MM MMR 104 MM ISO uses the name Myanmar
Burundi BY BI BDI 108 BI
Cambodia CB KH KHM 116 KH
Cameroon CM CM CMR 120 CM
Canada CA CA CAN 124 CA
Cape Verde CV CV CPV 132 CV
Cayman CJ KY CYM 136 KY
Islands
Central CT CF CAF 140 CF
African
Republic
Chad CD TD TCD 148 TD
Chile CI CL CHL 152 CL
China CH CN CHN 156 CN see also Taiwan
Christmas KT CX CXR 162 CX
Island
Clipperton IP -- -- -- -- ISO includes with French
Island Polynesia
Cocos CK CC CCK 166 CC
(Keeling)
Islands
Colombia CO CO COL 170 CO
Comoros CN KM COM 174 KM
Congo, CG ZR ZAR 180 ZR formerly Zaire
Democratic
Republic of
the
Congo, CF CG COG 178 CG
Republic of
the
Cook Islands CW CK COK 184 CK
Coral Sea CR -- -- -- -- ISO includes with Australia
Islands
Costa Rica CS CR CRI 188 CR
Cote d'Ivoire IV CI CIV 384 CI
Croatia HR HR HRV 191 HR
Cuba CU CU CUB 192 CU
Cyprus CY CY CYP 196 CY
Czech EZ CZ CZE 203 CZ
Republic
Denmark DA DK DNK 208 DK
Djibouti DJ DJ DJI 262 DJ
Dominica DO DM DMA 212 DM
Dominican DR DO DOM 214 DO
Republic
East Timor -- TP TMP 626 TP FIPS includes with Indonesia
Ecuador EC EC ECU 218 EC
Egypt EG EG EGY 818 EG
El Salvador ES SV SLV 222 SV
Equatorial EK GQ GNQ 226 GQ
Guinea
Eritrea ER ER ERI 232 ER
Estonia EN EE EST 233 EE
Ethiopia ET ET ETH 231 ET
Europa Island EU -- -- -- -- ISO includes with the
Miscellaneous (French)
Indian Ocean Islands
Falkland FA FK FLK 238 FK
Islands
(Islas
Malvinas)
Faroe Islands FO FO FRO 234 FO
Fiji FJ FJ FJI 242 FJ
Finland FI FI FIN 246 FI
France FR FR FRA 250 FR
France, -- FX FXX 249 FX ISO limits to the European
Metropolitan part of France, excluding
French Guiana, French
Polynesia, French Southern
and Antarctic Lands,
Guadeloupe, Martinique,
Mayotte, New Caledonia,
Reunion, Saint Pierre and
Miquelon, Wallis and Futuna
French Guiana FG GF GUF 254 GF
French FP PF PYF 258 PF ISO includes Clipperton
Polynesia Island
French FS TF ATF 260 -- FIPS 10-4 does not include
Southern and the French-claimed portion
Antarctic of Antarctica (Terre Adelie)
Lands
Gabon GB GA GAB 266 GA
The Gambia GA GM GMB 270 GM
Gaza Strip GZ -- -- -- --
Georgia GG GE GEO 268 GE
Germany GM DE DEU 276 DE
Ghana GH GH GHA 288 GH
Gibraltar GI GI GIB 292 GI
Glorioso GO -- -- -- -- ISO includes with the
Islands Miscellaneous (French)
Indian Ocean Islands
Greece GR GR GRC 300 GR
Greenland GL GL GRL 304 GL
Grenada GJ GD GRD 308 GD
Guadeloupe GP GP GLP 312 GP
Guam GQ GU GUM 316 GU
Guatemala GT GT GTM 320 GT
Guernsey GK -- -- -- -- ISO includes with the United
Kingdom
Guinea GV GN GIN 324 GN
Guinea-Bissau PU GW GNB 624 GW
Guyana GY GY GUY 328 GY
Haiti HA HT HTI 332 HT
Heard Island HM HM HMD 334 HM
and McDonald
Islands
Holy See VT VA VAT 336 VA
(Vatican
City)
Honduras HO HN HND 340 HN
Hong Kong HK HK HKG 344 HK
Howland HQ -- -- -- -- ISO includes with the US
Island Minor Outlying Islands
Hungary HU HU HUN 348 HU
Iceland IC IS ISL 352 IS
India IN IN IND 356 IN
Indonesia ID ID IDN 360 ID
Iran IR IR IRN 364 IR
Iraq IZ IQ IRQ 368 IQ
Ireland EI IE IRL 372 IE
Israel IS IL ISR 376 IL
Italy IT IT ITA 380 IT
Jamaica JM JM JAM 388 JM
Jan Mayen JN -- -- -- -- ISO includes with Svalbard
Japan JA JP JPN 392 JP
Jarvis Island DQ -- -- -- -- ISO includes with the US
Minor Outlying Islands
Jersey JE -- -- -- -- ISO includes with the United
Kingdom
Johnston JQ -- -- -- -- ISO includes with the US
Atoll Minor Outlying Islands
Jordan JO JO JOR 400 JO
Juan de Nova JU -- -- -- -- ISO includes with the
Island Miscellaneous (French)
Indian Ocean Islands
Kazakhstan KZ KZ KAZ 398 KZ
Kenya KE KE KEN 404 KE
Kingman Reef KQ -- -- -- -- ISO includes with the US
Minor Outlying Islands
Kiribati KR KI KIR 296 KI
Korea, North KN KP PRK 408 KP
Korea, South KS KR KOR 410 KR
Kuwait KU KW KWT 414 KW
Kyrgyzstan KG KG KGZ 417 KG
Laos LA LA LAO 418 LA
Latvia LG LV LVA 428 LV
Lebanon LE LB LBN 422 LB
Lesotho LT LS LSO 426 LS
Liberia LI LR LBR 430 LR
Libya LY LY LBY 434 LY
Liechtenstein LS LI LIE 438 LI
Lithuania LH LT LTU 440 LT
Luxembourg LU LU LUX 442 LU
Macau MC MO MAC 446 MO
Macedonia, MK MK MKD 807 MK
The Former
Yugoslav
Republic of
Madagascar MA MG MDG 450 MG
Malawi MI MW MWI 454 MW
Malaysia MY MY MYS 458 MY
Maldives MV MV MDV 462 MV
Mali ML ML MLI 466 ML
Malta MT MT MLT 470 MT
Man, Isle of IM -- -- -- -- ISO includes with the United
Kingdom
Marshall RM MH MHL 584 MH
Islands
Martinique MB MQ MTQ 474 MQ
Mauritania MR MR MRT 478 MR
Mauritius MP MU MUS 480 MU
Mayotte MF YT MYT 175 YT
Mexico MX MX MEX 484 MX
Micronesia, FM FSM 583 FM
Federated
States of
Midway MQ -- -- -- -- ISO includes with the US
Islands Minor Outlying Islands
Miscellaneous -- -- -- -- ISO includes Bassas da
(French) India, Europa Island,
Glorioso Islands, Juan de
Nova Island, Tromelin Island
Moldova MD MD MDA 498 MD
Monaco MN MC MCO 492 MC
Mongolia MG MN MNG 496 MN
Montenegro* MW -- -- -- -- see footnote at end of table
Montserrat MH MS MSR 500 MS
Morocco MO MA MAR 504 MA
Mozambique MZ MZ MOZ 508 MZ
Myanmar -- -- -- -- -- see Burma
Namibia WA NA NAM 516 NA
Nauru NR NR NRU 520 NR
Navassa BQ -- -- -- --
Island
Nepal NP NP NPL 524 NP
Netherlands NL NL NLD 528 NL
Netherlands NT AN ANT 530 AN
Antilles
New Caledonia NC NC NCL 540 NC
New Zealand NZ NZ NZL 554 NZ
Nicaragua NU NI NIC 558 NI
Niger NG NE NER 562 NE
Nigeria NI NG NGA 566 NG
Niue NE NU NIU 570 NU
Norfolk NF NF NFK 574 NF
Island
Northern CQ MP MNP 580 MP
Mariana
Islands
Norway NO NO NOR 578 NO
Oman MU OM OMN 512 OM
Pakistan PK PK PAK 586 PK
Palau PS PW PLW 585 PW
Palmyra Atoll LQ -- -- -- -- ISO includes with the US
Minor Outlying Islands
Panama PM PA PAN 591 PA
Papua New PP PG PNG 598 PG
Guinea
Paracel PF -- -- -- --
Islands
Paraguay PA PY PRY 600 PY
Peru PE PE PER 604 PE
Philippines RP PH PHL 608 PH
Pitcairn PC PN PCN 612 PN
Islands
Poland PL PL POL 616 PL
Portugal PO PT PRT 620 PT
Puerto Rico RQ PR PRI 630 PR
Qatar QA QA QAT 634 QA
Reunion RE RE REU 638 RE
Romania RO RO ROM 642 RO
Russia RS RU RUS 643 RU
Rwanda RW RW RWA 646 RW
Saint Helena SH SH SHN 654 SH
Saint Kitts SC KN KNA 659 KN
and Nevis
Saint Lucia ST LC LCA 662 LC
Saint Pierre SB PM SPM 666 PM
and Miquelon
Saint Vincent VC VC VCT 670 VC
and the
Grenadines
Samoa WS WS WSM 882 WS --
San Marino SM SM SMR 674 SM
Sao Tome and TP ST STP 678 ST
Principe
Saudi Arabia SA SA SAU 682 SA
Senegal SG SN SEN 686 SN
Serbia* SR -- -- -- -- see footnote at end of table
Serbia and -- -- -- -- -- see footnote at end of table
Montenegro*
Seychelles SE SC SYC 690 SC
Sierra Leone SL SL SLE 694 SL
Singapore SN SG SGP 702 SG
Slovakia LO SK SVK 703 SK
Slovenia SI SI SVN 705 SI
Solomon BP SB SLB 090 SB
Islands
Somalia SO SO SOM 706 SO
South Africa SF ZA ZAF 710 ZA
South Georgia SX GS SGS 239 GS
and the South
Sandwich
Islands
Spain SP ES ESP 724 ES
Spratly PG -- -- -- --
Islands
Sri Lanka CE LK LKA 144 LK
Sudan SU SD SDN 736 SD
Suriname NS SR SUR 740 SR
Svalbard SV SJ SJM 744 SJ ISO includes Jan Mayen
Swaziland WZ SZ SWZ 748 SZ
Sweden SW SE SWE 752 SE
Switzerland SZ CH CHE 756 CH
Syria SY SY SYR 760 SY
Taiwan TW TW TWN 158 TW
Tajikistan TI TJ TJK 762 TJ
Tanzania TZ TZ TZA 834 TZ
Thailand TH TH THA 764 TH
Togo TO TG TGO 768 TG
Tokelau TL TK TKL 772 TK
Tonga TN TO TON 776 TO
Trinidad and TD TT TTO 780 TT
Tobago
Tromelin TE -- -- -- -- ISO includes with the
Island Miscellaneous (French)
Indian Ocean Islands
Tunisia TS TN TUN 788 TN
Turkey TU TR TUR 792 TR
Turkmenistan TX TM TKM 795 TM
Turks and TK TC TCA 796 TC
Caicos
Islands
Tuvalu TV TV TUV 798 TV
Uganda UG UG UGA 800 UG
Ukraine UP UA UKR 804 UA
United Arab TC AE ARE 784 AE
Emirates
United UK GB GBR 826 UK/GB ISO includes Guernsey, Isle
Kingdom of Man, Jersey
United States US US USA 840 US
United States -- UM UMI 581 UM ISO includes Baker Island,
Minor Howland Island, Jarvis
Outlying Island, Johnston Atoll,
Islands Kingman Reef, Midway
Islands, Palmyra Atoll, Wake
Island
Uruguay UY UY URY 858 UY
Uzbekistan UZ UZ UZB 860 UZ
Vanuatu NH VU VUT 548 VU
Venezuela VE VE VEN 862 UE
Vietnam VM VN VNM 704 VN
Virgin VQ VI VIR 850 VI
Islands
Virgin -- -- -- -- -- see British Virgin Islands
Islands (UK)
Virgin -- -- -- -- -- see Virgin Islands
Islands (US)
Wake Atoll WQ -- -- -- -- ISO includes with the US
Minor Outlying Islands
Wallis and WF WF WLF 876 WF
Futuna
West Bank WE -- -- -- --
Western WI EH ESH 732 EH
Sahara
Western Samoa -- -- -- -- -- see Samoa
World -- -- -- -- -- the Factbook uses the W data
code from DIAM 65--18
Geopolitical Data Elements
and Related Features, Data
Standard No. 3, December
1994, published by the
Defense Intelligence Agency
Yemen YM YE YEM 887 YE
Yugoslavia* -- YU YUG 891 YU see footnote at end of table
Zaire -- -- -- -- -- see Democratic Republic of
the Congo
Zambia ZA ZM ZWB 894 ZM
Zimbabwe ZI ZW ZWE 716 ZW
Serbia and Montenegro have asserted the formation of a joint
independent state, but this entity has not been formally
recognized as a state by the US; the US view is that the
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY) has
dissolved and that none of the successor republics
represents its continuation.
Appendix G: Cross-Reference List of Hydrographic Codes
IHO 23-4th: Limits of Oceans and Seas, Special Publication 23, Draft
4th Edition 1986, published by the International Hydrographic Bureau
of the International Hydrographic Organization
IHO 23-3rd: Limits of Oceans and Seas, Special Publication 23, 3rd
Edition 1953, published by the International Hydrographic Organization
ACIC M 49-1: Chart of Limits of Seas and Oceans, revised January 1958,
published by the Aeronautical Chart and Information Center (ACIC),
United States Air Force; note--ACIC is now part of the National
Imagery and Mapping Agency (NIMA)
DIAM 65-18: Geopolitical Data Elements and Related Features, Data
Standard No. 4, Defense Intelligence Agency Manual 65-18, December
1994, published by the Defense Intelligence Agency
The US Government has not yet adopted a standard for hydrographic
codes similar to the Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS)
10-4 country codes. The names and limits of the following oceans and
seas are not always directly comparable because of differences in the
customers, needs, and requirements of the individual organizations.
Even the number of principal water bodies varies from organization to
organization. Factbook users, for example, find the Atlantic Ocean and
Pacific Ocean entries useful, but none of the following standards
include those oceans in their entirety. Nor is there any provision for
combining codes or overcodes to aggregate water bodies.
Principal Oceans and Seas of
the World With Hydrographic
Codes by Institution
IHO IHO ACIC DIAM
23-4th 23-3rd* M 49-1 65-18
Arctic Ocean 9 17 A 5A
Atlantic Ocean -- -- -- --
North Atlantic Ocean 1 23 B 1A
South Atlantic Ocean 4 32 C 2A
Baltic Sea 2 1 B26 7B
Indian Ocean 5 45 F 6A
Mediterranean Sea 3.1 28 B11 --
Eastern Mediterranean 3.1.2 28 B -- 8E
Western Mediterranean 3.1.1 28 A -- 8W
Pacific Ocean -- -- -- --
North Pacific Ocean 7 57 D 3A
South Pacific Ocean 8 61 E 4A
South China and Eastern 6 49 and 48 D18 plus 3U plus
Archipelagic Seas others others
ARCTIC OCEAN 9 17 A 5A
East Siberian Sea 9.1 11 A6 5S
Laptev Sea 9.2 10 A5 5P
Kara Sea 9.3 9 A4 5K
Barents Sea 9.4 7 A2 5B
White Sea 9.5 8 A3 5W
North Greenland Sea 9.6 -- -- --
Norwegian Sea 9.7 6 B30 5N
Iceland Sea 9.8 -- -- --
Davis Strait 9.9 15 B2 1V
Hudson Strait 9.10 16 A A15 1U
Hudson Bay 9.11 16 A10 1H
Baffin Bay 9.12 14 A A12 1P
Lincoln Sea 9.13 17 A A13 5L
Northwest Passages (Northwest 9.14 14 A9 5T
Passage, Northwestern
Passages)
Beaufort Sea 9.15 13 A8 5U
Chukchi Sea 9.16 12 A7 5C
James Bay -- -- A11 --
Kane Basin -- -- A14 --
ATLANTIC OCEAN (see North -- -- -- --
Atlantic Ocean and South
Atlantic Ocean)
BALTIC SEA 2 1 B26 7B
Gulf of Bothnia 2.1 1 (a) B29 7T
Gulf of Finland 2.2 1 (b) B28 7F
Gulf of Riga 2.3 1 (c) B27 7H
The Sound 2.4 2 -- --
The Great Belt 2.5 2 -- --
The Little Belt 2.6 2 -- --
Kattegat 2.7 2 B25 7K
INDIAN OCEAN 5 45 F 6A
Mozambique Channel 5.1 45 A F1 6Z
Gulf of Suez 5.2 35 F5 6W
Gulf of Aqaba 5.3 36 -- 6Q
Red Sea 5.4 37 F4 6E
Gulf of Aden 5.5 38 F3 6D
Persian Gulf (Gulf of Iran) 5.6 41 F7 6P
Gulf of Oman 5.7 40 F6 6M
Arabian Sea 5.8 39 F2 6R
Laccadive Sea (Ladshadweep 5.9 42 F9 6L
Sea)
Gulf of Mannar 5.10 -- F8 --
Palk Strait and Palk Bay 5.11 -- -- --
Bay of Bengal 5.12 43 F10 6B
Andaman Sea (Burma Sea) 5.13 44 F11 6N
Strait of Malacca (Malacca 5.14 46 (a) F12 6C
Strait)
Great Australian Bight 5.15 62 F21 6G
Suez Canal -- -- -- 6U
MEDITERRANEAN REGION 3 -- -- --
Mediterranean Sea 3.1 28 B11 --
Mediterranean Sea, Western 3.1.1 28 A -- 8W
Basin
Strait of Gibraltar 3.1.1.1 28 (a) B7 8S
Alboran Sea 3.1.1.2 28 (b) -- 8Y
Balearic Sea (Balear Sea, 3.1.1.3 28 (c) B9 8J
Iberian Sea)
Ligurian Sea (Ligure Sea) 3.1.1.4 28 (d) B10 8L
Tyrrhenian Sea (Tirreno Sea) 3.1.1.5 28 (e) B12 8T
Mediterranean Sea, Eastern 3.1.2 28 B -- 8E
Basin
Adriatic Sea 3.1.2.1 28 (g) B14 8D
Strait of Sicily (Strait of 3.1.2.2 -- -- --
Sicilia)
Ionian Sea 3.1.2.3 28 (f) B13 8N
Aegean Sea 3.1.2.4 28 (h) B15 8G
Sea of Marmara 3.2 29 B16 8M
Black Sea 3.3 30 B17 8B
Sea of Azov 3.4 31 B18 8Z
Gulf of Lion (Gulf of Lions) -- -- B8 8X
Aral Sea -- -- -- 8R
Bosporus -- -- -- 8P
Caspian Sea -- -- -- 8C
Dardanelles -- -- -- 8U
NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN 1 23 B 1A
Skagerrak 1.1 3 B24 1S
North Sea 1.2 4 B23 1N
Inner Seas off the West Coast 1.3 18 -- 1K
of Scotland
Irish Sea and Saint Georges 1.4 19 B22 1R, 1Q
Channel
Bristol Channel 1.5 20 B21 1C
Celtic Sea 1.6 21 A -- --
English Channel 1.7 21 B20 1E
Bay of Biscay 1.8 22 B19 1B
Canarias Sea 1.9 -- -- --
Gulf of Guinea 1.10 34 C4 1G
Caribbean Sea 1.11 27 B6 1X
Gulf of Mexico 1.12 26 B5 1M
Bay of Fundy 1.13 25 B4 1F
Gulf of Saint Lawrence 1.14 24 B3 1T
Labrador Sea 1.15 15 A -- 1L
Greenland Sea 1.16 5 A1 5G
Denmark Strait -- -- B1 1D
Lake Erie -- -- -- 9E
Lake Huron -- -- -- 9H
Lake Michigan -- -- -- 9M
Lake Ontario -- -- -- 9N
Lake Superior -- -- -- 9S
Panama Canal -- -- -- 1J
Saint Lawrence Seaway -- -- -- 9L
NORTH PACIFIC OCEAN 7 57 D 3A
Philippine Sea 7.1 56 D26 3P
Taiwan Strait (Formosa 7.2 -- D17 3F
Strait)
East China Sea (Tung Hai) 7.3 50 D13 3E
Yellow Sea (Huang Hai, Hwang 7.4 51 D14 3Y
Hai)
Bo Hai (Bo Sea, Gulf of 7.5 -- D16 3X
Chihli)
Liaodong Wan (Liaodong Gulf) 7.6 -- -- --
Inland Sea of Japan (Seto 7.7 53 -- 3N
Naikai)
Sea of Japan (Japan Sea) 7.8 52 D11 3J
Gulf of Tartary 7.9 -- D10 --
Sea of Okhotsk 7.10 54 D8 3Q
Bering Sea 7.11 55 D6 5D
Anadyrskiy Zaliv (Anadyrskiy 7.12 -- -- 5Y
Gulf)
Gulf of Alaska 7.13 58 D4 5F
Coastal Waters of Southeast 7.14 59 D3 5E
Alaska and British Columbia
Gulf of California 7.15 60 D2 3L
Gulf of Panama 7.16 -- D1 --
Amurskiy Liman -- -- D27 --
Bering Strait -- -- D7 5R
Bristol Bay -- -- D5 --
Korea Bay -- -- D15 3R
Korea Strait -- -- D12 --
Sakhalinskiy Zaliv -- -- D28 3B
Zaliv Shelikhova (Zaliv -- -- D9 3K
Shelekhova)
Luzon Strait -- -- -- 3I
Tatar Strait -- -- -- 3D
PACIFIC OCEAN (see North -- -- -- --
Pacific Ocean and South
Pacific Ocean)
SOUTH ATLANTIC OCEAN 4 32 C 2A
Rio de la Plata 4.1 33 C1 2R
Drake Passage -- -- C5 2D
Golfo San Matias -- -- C2 2M
Golfo San Jorge -- -- C3 2J
Scotia Sea -- -- C6 2S
Weddell Sea -- -- C7 2W
SOUTH CHINA AND EASTERN 6 49 and 48 D18 plus 3U plus
ARCHIPELAGIC SEAS others others
South China Sea (Nan Hai) 6.1 49 D18 3U
Gulf of Tonkin 6.2 -- D19 3G
Gulf of Thailand (Gulf of 6.3 47 D20 3T
Siam)
Natuna Sea 6.4 -- -- --
Singapore Strait 6.5 46 (b) -- 3Z
Sunda Strait 6.6 -- -- --
Java Sea (Jawa Sea) 6.7 48 (n) F13 4J
Makassar Strait (Makasar 6.8 48 (m) E1 4M
Strait)
Bali Sea 6.9 48 (l) F14 4L
Flores Sea 6.10 48 (j) F16 4F
Sumba Strait 6.11 -- -- --
Savu Sea (Sawu Sea) 6.12 48 (o) F15 6S
Timor Sea 6.13 48 (i) F19 6T
Joseph Bonaparte Gulf 6.14 -- F20 --
Gulf of Carpentaria 6.15 -- E4 4P
Arafura Sea 6.16 48 (h) E3 4U
Aru Sea 6.17 -- -- --
Banda Sea 6.18 48 (g) E2 4B
Teluk Bone (Gulf of Bone, 6.19 48 (k) F17 4E
Gulf of Boni)
Ceram Sea (Seram Sea) 6.20 48 (f) D25 4Q
Gulf of Berau 6.21 -- -- --
Halmahera Sea 6.22 48 (e) D24 3H
Molucca Sea (Molukka Sea, 6.23 48 (c) D23 3M
Maluku Sea)
Teluk Tomini (Gulf of Tomini) 6.24 48 (d) F18 3V
Sulawesi Sea 6.25 -- -- --
Mindanao Sea 6.26 -- -- --
Sulu Sea 6.27 48 (a) D21 3S
Celebes Sea -- 48 (b) D22 3C
SOUTH PACIFIC OCEAN 8 61 E 4A
Bismarck Sea 8.1 66 E6 4K
Solomon Sea 8.2 65 E7 4S
Torres Strait 8.3 -- E5 --
Coastal Waters of Great 8.4 -- -- --
Barrier Reefs
Coral Sea 8.5 64 E9 4C
Tasman Sea 8.6 63 E10 4T
Bass Strait 8.7 62 A F22 6F
Amundsen Sea -- -- E12 4D
Bellingshausen Sea -- -- E13 4G
Cook Strait -- -- E8 --
Ross Sea -- -- E11 4R
* The letters after the numbers are subdivisions, not footnotes.
=====================================================================
Appendix H: Cross-Reference List of Geographic Names
This list indicates where various geographic names--including
the location of all United States Foreign Service Posts,
alternate names of countries, former names, and political or
geographical portions of larger entities--can be found in The
World Factbook. Spellings are normally those approved by the
US Board on Geographic Names (BGN). Additional information
is included in brackets.
Name Entry in The Latitude Longitude
World Factbook (deg min)(deg min)
A Abidjan [US Embassy] Cote d'Ivoire 5 19 N 4 02 W
Abkhazia [region] Georgia 43 00 N 41 00 E
Abu Dhabi [US Embassy] United Arab 24 28 N 54 22 E
Emirates
Abu Musa [island] Iran 25 52 N 55 03 E
Abuja [US Embassy Branch Nigeria 9 12 N 7 11 E
Office]
Abyssinia Ethiopia 8 00 N 38 00 E
Acapulco Mexico 16 51 N 99 55 W
Accra [US Embassy] Ghana 5 33 N 0 13 W
Adamstown Pitcairn Islands 25 04 S 130 05 W
Adana [US Consulate] Turkey 37 01 N 35 18 E
Addis Ababa [US Embassy] Ethiopia 9 02 N 38 42 E
Adelie Land (Terre Antarctica 66 30 S 139 00 E
Adelie) [claimed by
France]
Aden Yemen 12 46 N 45 01 E
Aden, Gulf of Indian Ocean 12 30 N 48 00 E
Admiralty Island United States 57 44 N 134 20 W
(Alaska)
Admiralty Islands Papua New Guinea 2 10 S 147 00 E
Adriatic Sea Atlantic Ocean 42 30 N 16 00 E
Aegean Islands Greece 38 00 N 25 00 E
Aegean Sea Atlantic Ocean 38 30 N 25 00 E
Afars and Issas, French Djibouti 11 30 N 43 00 E
Territory of the
(F.T.A.I.)
Agalega Islands Mauritius 10 25 S 56 40 E
Agana (see Hagatna) Guam 13 28 N 144 45 E
Ajaccio France (Corsica) 41 55 N 8 44 E
Akmola (see Astana) Kazakhstan 51 10 N 71 30 E
Aland Islands Finland 60 15 N 20 00 E
Alaska United States 65 00 N 153 00 W
Alaska, Gulf of Pacific Ocean 58 00 N 145 00 W
Aldabra Islands (Groupe Seychelles 9 25 S 46 22 E
d'Aldabra)
Alderney [island] Guernsey 49 43 N 2 12 W
Aleutian Islands United States 52 00 N 176 00 W
(Alaska)
Alexander Archipelago United States 57 00 N 134 00 W
(Alaska)
Alexander Island Antarctica 71 00 S 70 00 W
Alexandria Egypt 31 12 N 29 54 E
Algiers [US Embassy] Algeria 36 47 N 2 03 E
Alhucemas, Penon de Spain 35 13 N 3 53 W
Alma-Ata (see Almaty) Kazakhstan 43 15 N 76 57 E
Almaty [US Embassy] Kazakhstan 43 15 N 76 57 E
Alofi Niue 19 01 S 169 55 E
Alphonse Island Seychelles 7 01 S 52 45 E
Amami Strait Pacific Ocean 28 40 N 129 30 E
Amindivi Islands India 11 30 N 72 30 E
Amirante Isles (Les Seychelles 6 00 S 53 10 E
Amirantes)
Amman [US Embassy] Jordan 31 57 N 35 56 E
Amsterdam [US Consulate Netherlands 52 22 N 4 54 E
General]
Amsterdam Island (Ile French Southern 37 52 S 77 32 E
Amsterdam) and Antarctic
Lands
Amundsen Sea Pacific Ocean 72 30 S 112 00 W
Amur River China, Russia 52 56 N 141 10 E
Anatolia [region] Turkey 39 00 N 35 00 E
Andaman Islands India 12 00 N 92 45 E
Andaman Sea Indian Ocean 10 00 N 95 00 E
Andorra la Vella Andorra 42 30 N 1 30 E
Andros [island] Greece 37 45 N 24 42 E
Andros Island The Bahamas 24 26 N 77 57 W
Anegada Passage Atlantic Ocean 18 30 N 63 40 W
Angkor Wat [ruins] Cambodia 13 26 N 103 50 E
Anglo-Egyptian Sudan Sudan 15 00 N 30 00 E
Anjouan [island] Comoros 12 15 S 44 25 E
Ankara [US Embassy] Turkey 39 56 N 32 52 E
Annobon [island] Equatorial 1 25 S 5 36 E
Guinea
Antananarivo [US Madagascar 18 52 S 47 30 E
Embassy]
Antigua [island] Antigua and 14 34 N 90 44 W
Barbuda
Antipodes Islands New Zealand 49 41 S 178 43 E
Antwerp [European Belgium 51 13 N 4 25 E
Logistical Support
Office]
Aozou Strip Chad 22 00 N 18 00 E
Apia [US Embassy] Samoa 13 50 S 171 44 N
Aqaba, Gulf of Indian Ocean 29 00 N 34 30 E
Aqmola (see Astana) Kazakhstan 51 10 N 71 30 E
Arab, Shatt al [river] Iran, Iraq 29 57 N 48 34 E
Arabian Sea Indian Ocean 15 00 N 65 00 E
Arafura Sea Pacific Ocean 9 00 S 133 00 E
Aral Sea Kazakhstan, 45 00 N 60 00 E
Uzbekistan
Argun River China, Russia 53 20 N 121 28 E
Ascension Island Saint Helena 7 57 S 14 22 W
Ashgabat [US Embassy] Kozakhstan 51 00 N 71 30 E
Ashkhabad (see Ashgabat) Turkmenistan 37 57 N 58 23 E
Asmara [US Embassy] Eritrea 15 20 N 38 53 E
Asmera (see Asmara) Eritrea 15 20 N 38 53 E
Assumption Island Seychelles 9 46 S 46 34 E
Astana (Akmola) Kazakhstan 51 10 N 71 30 E
Asuncion [US Embassy] Paraguay 25 16 S 57 40 W
Asuncion Island Northern Mariana 19 40 N 145 24 E
Islands
Atacama [region] Chile 24 30 S 69 15 W
Athens [US Embassy] Greece 37 59 N 23 44 E
Attu Island United States 52 55 N 172 57 E
Auckland [US Consulate New Zealand 36 52 S 174 46 E
General]
Auckland Islands New Zealand 51 00 S 166 30 E
Australes, Iles (Iles French Polynesia 23 20 S 151 00 W
Tubuai)
Avarua Cook Islands 21 12 S 159 46 W
Axel Heiberg Island Canada 79 30 N 90 00 W
Azad Kashmir Pakistan 34 30 N 74 00 E
Azores [islands] Portugal 38 30 N 28 00 W
Azov, Sea of Atlantic Ocean 49 00 N 36 00 E
B Bab el Mandeb [strait] Indian Ocean 12 40 N 43 20 E
Babuyan Channel Pacific Ocean 18 44 N 121 40 E
Babuyan Islands Philippines 19 10 N 121 40 E
Baffin Bay Arctic Ocean 73 00 N 66 00 W
Baffin Island Canada 68 00 N 70 00 W
Baghdad [US Embassy Iraq 33 21 N 44 25 E
temporarily suspended;
US Interests Section
located in Poland's
embassy in Baghdad]
Baki (see Baku) Azerbaijan 40 23 N 49 51 E
Baku [US Embassy] Azerbaijan 40 23 N 49 51 E
Baky (see Baku) Azerbaijan 40 23 N 49 51 E
Balabac Strait Pacific Ocean 7 35 N 117 00 E
Balearic Islands Spain 39 30 N 3 00 E
Balearic Sea (Iberian Atlantic Ocean 40 30 N 2 00 E
Sea)
Bali [island] Indonesia 8 20 S 115 00 E
Bali Sea Indian Ocean 7 45 S 115 30 E
Balintang Channel Pacific Ocean 19 49 N 121 40 E
Balintang Islands Philippines 19 55 N 122 10 E
Balkan Peninsula Albania, Bosnia 42 00 N 23 00 E
and Herzegovina,
Bulgaria,
Croatia, Greece,
Romania, Serbia
and Montenegro,
Slovenia, The
Former Yugoslav
Republic of
Macedonia,
Turkey (European
part)
Balleny Islands Antarctica 67 00 S 163 00 E
Balochistan [region] Pakistan 28 00 N 63 00 E
Baltic Sea Atlantic Ocean 57 00 N 19 00 E
Bamako [US Embassy] Mali 12 39 N 8 00 W
Banaba (Ocean Island) Kiribati 0 52 S 169 35 E
Bandar Seri Begawan [US Brunei 4 52 S 114 55 E
Embassy]
Banda Sea Pacific Ocean 5 00 S 128 00 E
Bangkok [US Embassy] Thailand 13 45 N 100 31 E
Bangui [US Embassy] Central African 4 22 N 18 35 E
Republic
Banjul [US Embassy] The Gambia 13 28 N 16 39 W
Banks Island Australia 10 12 S 142 16 E
Banks Island Canada 75 15 N 121 30 W
Banks Islands (Iles Vanuatu 14 00 S 167 30 E
Banks)
Barbuda [island] Antigua and 17 38 N 61 48 W
Barbuda
Barcelona [US Consulate Spain 41 23 N 2 11 E
General]
Barents Sea Arctic Ocean 74 00 N 36 00 E
Barranquilla Colombia 10 59 N 74 48 W
Bashi Channel Pacific Ocean 22 00 N 121 00 E
Basilan Strait Pacific Ocean 6 49 N 122 05 E
Basque Provinces Spain 43 00 N 2 30 W
Bass Strait Pacific Ocean 39 20 S 145 30 E
Basse-Terre Guadeloupe 16 00 N 61 44 W
Basseterre Saint Kitts and 17 18 N 62 43 W
Nevis
Bastia France (Corsica) 42 42 N 9 27 E
Basutoland Lesotho 29 30 S 28 30 E
Batan Islands Philippines 20 30 N 121 50 E
Bavaria (Bayern) Germany 48 30 N 11 30 E
Beagle Channel Atlantic Ocean 54 53 S 68 10 W
Bear Island (see Svalbard 74 26 N 19 5 E
Bjornoya)
Beaufort Sea Arctic Ocean 73 00 N 140 00 W
Bechuanaland Botswana 22 00 S 24 00 E
Beijing [US Embassy] China 39 56 N 116 24 E
Beirut [US Embassy] Lebanon 33 53 N 35 30 E
Belau (Palau Islands) Palau 7 30 N 134 30 E
Belem [US Consular Brazil 1 27 S 48 29 W
Agency]
Belep Islands (Iles New Caledonia 19 45 S 163 40 E
Belep)
Belfast [US Consulate United Kingdom 54 35 N 5 55 W
General]
Belgian Congo Democratic 0 00 N 25 00 E
Republic of the
Congo
Belgrade Serbia and 44 50 N 20 30 E
Montenegro
Belize City [US Embassy] Belize 17 30 N 88 12 W
Belle Isle, Strait of Atlantic Ocean 51 35 N 56 30 W
Bellingshausen Sea Pacific Ocean 71 00 S 85 00 W
Belmopan Belize 17 15 N 88 46 W
Belorussia Belarus 53 00 N 28 00 E
Bengal, Bay of Indian Ocean 15 00 N 90 00 E
Bering Sea Pacific Ocean 60 00 N 175 00 W
Bering Island Russia 55 00 N 166 30 E
Bering Strait Pacific Ocean 65 30 N 169 00 W
Berkner Island Antarctica 79 30 S 49 30 W
Berlin [US Branch Germany 52 31 N 13 24 E
Office]
Berlin, East Germany 52 30 N 13 33 E
Berlin, West Germany 52 30 N 12 20 E
Bern [US Embassy] Switzerland 46 57 N 7 26 E
Bessarabia [region] Romania, 47 00 N 28 30 E
Moldova, Ukraine
Bhopal India 23 16 N 77 24 E
Biafra [region] Nigeria 5 30 N 7 30 E
Big Diomede Island Russia 65 46 N 169 06 W
Bijagos, Arquipelago dos Guinea-Bissau 11 25 N 16 20 W
Bikini Atoll Marshall Islands 11 35 N 165 23 E
Bilbao Spain 43 15 N 2 58 W
Bioko [island] Equatorial 3 30 N 8 42 E
Guinea
Biscay, Bay of Atlantic Ocean 44 00 N 4 00 W
Bishkek [US Embassy] Kyrgyzstan 42 54 N 74 36 E
Bishop Rock United Kingdom 49 52 N 6 27 W
Bismarck Archipelago Papua New Guinea 5 00 S 150 00 E
Bismarck Sea Pacific Ocean 4 00 S 148 00 E
Bissau [US Embassy] Guinea-Bissau 11 51 N 15 35 W
Bjornoya (Bear Island) Svalbard 74 26 N 19 5 E
Black Forest Germany 48 00 N 8 15 E
Black Rock South Georgia 53 39 S 41 48 W
and the South
Sandwich Islands
Black Sea Atlantic Ocean 43 00 N 35 00 E
Bloemfontein South Africa 29 12 S 26 07 E
Boa Vista [island] Cape Verde 16 05 N 22 50 W
Bogota [US Embassy] Colombia 4 36 N 74 05 W
Bohemia [region] Czech Republic 50 00 N 14 30 E
Bombay (see Mumbai) India 18 58 N 72 50 E
Bonaire [island] Netherlands 12 10 N 68 15 W
Antilles
Bonifacio, Strait of Atlantic Ocean 41 01 N 14 00 E
Bonin Islands Japan 27 00 N 140 10 E
Bonn [US Embassy] Germany 50 44 N 7 05 E
Bophuthatswana South Africa 26 30 S 25 30 E
Bora-Bora [island] French Polynesia 16 30 S 151 45 W
Bordeaux France 44 50 N 0 34 W
Borneo [island] Brunei, 0 30 N 114 00 E
Indonesia,
Malaysia
Bornholm [island] Denmark 55 10 N 15 00 E
Bosnia Bosnia and 44 00 N 18 00 E
Herzegovina
Bosporus [strait] Atlantic Ocean 41 00 N 29 00 E
Bothnia, Gulf of Atlantic Ocean 63 00 N 20 00 E
Bougainville [island] Papua New Guinea 6 00 S 155 00 E
Bougainville Strait Pacific Ocean 6 40 S 156 10 E
Bounty Islands New Zealand 47 43 S 174 00 E
Brasilia [US Embassy] Brazil 15 47 S 47 55 W
Bratislava [US Embassy] Slovakia 48 09 N 17 07 E
Brazzaville [US Embassy] Republic of the 4 16 S 15 17 E
Congo
Bridgetown [US Embassy] Barbados 13 06 N 59 37 W
Brisbane Australia 27 28 S 153 02 E
Britain (see Great United Kingdom 54 00 N 2 00 W
Britain)
British East Africa Kenya, Tanzania, 1 00 N 38 00 E
Uganda
British Guiana Guyana 5 00 N 59 00 W
British Honduras Belize 17 15 N 88 45 W
British Solomon Islands Solomon Islands 8 00 S 159 00 E
British Somaliland Somalia 10 00 N 49 00 E
Brussels [US Embassy, US Belgium 50 50 N 4 20 E
Mission to European
Union (USEU), US Mission
to the North Atlantic
Treaty Organization
(USNATO)]
Bubiyan [island] Kuwait 29 47 N 48 10 E
Bucharest [US Embassy] Romania 44 26 N 26 06 E
Budapest [US Embassy] Hungary 47 30 N 19 05 E
Buenos Aires [US Argentina 34 36 S 58 27 W
Embassy]
Bujumbura [US Embassy] Burundi 3 23 S 29 22 E
Burnt Pine Norfolk Island 29 02 S 167 56 E
Byelorussia Belarus 53 00 N 28 00 E
C Cabinda [province] Angola 5 33 S 12 12 E
Cabot Strait Atlantic Ocean 47 20 N 59 30 W
Caicos Islands Turks and Caicos 21 56 N 71 58 W
Islands
Cairo [US Embassy] Egypt 30 03 N 31 15 E
Calcutta [US Consulate India 22 32 N 88 22 E
General]
Calgary [US Consulate Canada 51 03 N 114 05 W
General]
California, Gulf of Pacific Ocean 28 00 N 112 00 W
Campbell Island New Zealand 52 33 S 169 09 E
Canal Zone Panama 9 00 N 79 45 W
Canary Islands Spain 28 00 N 15 30 W
Canberra [US Embassy] Australia 35 17 S 149 08 E
Canton (Guangzhou) China 23 06 N 113 16 E
Canton Island (Kanton Kiribati 2 49 S 171 40 W
Island)
Cape Town [US Consulate South Africa 33 55 S 18 22 E
General]
Caracas [US Embassy] Venezuela 10 30 N 66 56 W
Cargados Carajos Shoals Mauritius 16 25 S 59 38 E
Caroline Islands Federated States 7 30 N 148 00 E
of Micronesia,
Palau
Caribbean Sea Atlantic Ocean 15 00 N 73 00 W
Carpentaria, Gulf of Pacific Ocean 14 00 S 139 00 E
Casablanca [US Consulate Morocco 33 39 N 7 35 W
General]
Castries Saint Lucia 14 01 N 61 00 W
Catalonia [region] Spain 42 00 N 2 00 E
Cato Island Australia 23 15 S 155 32 E
Caucasus [region] Russia 42 00 N 45 00 E
Cayenne French Guiana 4 56 N 52 20 W
Cebu [US Consular Philippines 10 18 N 123 54 E
Agency]
Celebes [island] Indonesia 2 00 S 121 00 E
Celebes Sea Pacific Ocean 3 00 N 122 00 E
Celtic Sea Atlantic Ocean 51 00 N 6 30 W
Central African Empire Central African 7 00 N 21 00 E
Republic
Ceuta Spain 35 53 N 5 19 W
Ceylon Sri Lanka 7 00 N 81 00 E
Chafarinas, Islas Spain 35 12 N 2 26 W
Chagos Archipelago (Oil British Indian 6 00 S 71 30 E
Islands) Ocean Territory
Channel Islands Guernsey, Jersey 49 20 N 2 20 W
Charlotte Amalie Virgin Islands 18 21 N 64 56 W
Chatham Islands New Zealand 44 00 S 176 30 W
Chechnya (Chechnia) Russia 43 15 N 45 40 E
Cheju-do [island] Korea, South 33 20 N 126 30 E
Cheju Strait Pacific Ocean 34 00 N 126 30 E
Chengdu [US Consulate China 39 39 N 104 04 E
General]
Chennai (Madras) [US India 13 04 N 80 16 E
Consulate General]
Chesterfield Islands New Caledonia 19 52 S 158 15 E
(Iles Chesterfield)
Chiang Mai [US Consulate Thailand 18 47 N 98 59 E
General]
Chihli, Gulf of (see Bo Pacific Ocean 38 30 N 120 00 E
Hai)
China, People's Republic China 35 00 N 105 00 E
of
China, Republic of Taiwan 23 30 N 105 00 E
Chisinau [US Embassy] Moldova 47 00 N 28 50 E
Choiseul [island] Solomon Islands 7 05 S 121 00 E
Christmas Island [Indian Australia 10 25 S 105 39 E
Ocean]
Christmas Island Kiribati 1 52 N 157 20 W
(Kiritimati) [Pacific
Ocean]
Chukchi Sea Arctic Ocean 69 00 N 171 00 W
Ciskei South Africa 33 00 S 27 00 E
Ciudad Juarez [US Mexico 31 44 N 106 29 W
Consulate General]
Cluj-Napoca [US Branch Romania 46 47 N 23 36 E
Office]
Cochin China [region] Vietnam 11 00 N 107 00 E
Coco, Isla del Costa Rica 5 32 N 87 04 W
Cocos Islands Cocos (Keeling) 12 30 S 96 50 E
Islands
Colombo [US Embassy] Sri Lanka 6 56 N 79 51 E
Colon, Archipielago de Ecuador 0 00 N 90 30 W
(Galapagos Islands)
Commander Islands Russia 55 00 N 167 00 E
(Komandorskiye Ostrova)
Conakry [US Embassy] Guinea 9 31 N 13 43 W
Congo (Leopoldville) Democratic 15 00 S 30 00 E
Republic of the
Congo
Con Son [Islands] Vietnam 8 43 N 106 36 E
Cook Strait Pacific Ocean 41 15 S 174 30 E
Copenhagen [US Embassy] Denmark 55 40 N 12 35 E
Coral Sea Pacific Ocean 15 00 S 150 00 E
Corfu [island] Greece 39 40 N 19 45 E
Corinth Greece 37 56 N 22 56 E
Corn Islands (Islas del Nicaragua 12 15 N 83 00 W
Maiz)
Corocoro Island Guyana, 3 38 N 66 50 W
Venezuela
Corsica (Corse) [island] France 42 00 N 9 00 E
Corsico [island] Equatorial 0 55 N 9 19 E
Guinea
Cosmoledo Group (Atoll Seychelles 9 43 S 47 35 E
de Cosmoledo)
Cotonou [US Embassy] Benin 6 21 N 2 26 E
Courantyne River Guyana, Suriname 5 57 N 57 06 W
Crete [island] Greece 35 15 N 24 45 E
Crimea [region] Ukraine 45 00 N 34 00 E
Crimean Peninsula Ukraine 45 00 N 34 00 E
Crooked Island Passage Atlantic Ocean 22 55 N 74 35 W
Crozet Islands (Iles French Southern 46 30 S 51 00 E
Crozet) and Antarctic
Lands
Curacao [US Consulate Netherlands 12 11 N 69 00 W
General] Antilles
Cyclades [islands] Greece 37 00 N 25 10 E
Czechoslovakia Czech Republic, 49 00 N 18 00 E
Slovakia
D Dahomey Benin 9 30 N 2 15 E
Daito Islands Japan 43 00 N 17 00 E
Dakar [US Embassy] Senegal 14 40 N 17 26 W
Dalmatia [region] Croatia 43 00 N 17 00 E
Daman (Damao) India 20 10 N 73 00 E
Damascus [US Embassy] Syria 33 30 N 36 18 E
Danger Islands (see Cook Islands 10 53 S 165 49 W
Pukapuka Atoll)
Danish Straits Atlantic Ocean 58 00 N 11 00 E
Danish West Indies Virgin Islands 18 20 N 64 50 W
Danzig (Gdansk) Poland 54 23 N 18 40 E
Dao Bach Long Vi Vietnam 20 08 N 107 44 E
[island]
Dardanelles [strait] Atlantic Ocean 40 15 N 26 25 E
Dar es Salaam [US Tanzania 6 48 S 39 17 E
Embassy]
Davis Strait Atlantic Ocean 67 00 N 57 00 W
Dead Sea Israel, Jordan, 32 30 N 35 30 E
West Bank
Deception Island Antarctica 62 56 S 60 34 W
Denmark Strait Atlantic Ocean 67 00 N 24 00 W
D'Entrecasteaux Islands Papua New Guinea 9 30 S 150 40 E
Desolation Islands French Southern 49 30 S 69 30 E
(Isles Kerguelen) and Antarctic
Lands
Devils Island (Ile du French Guiana 5 17 N 52 35 W
Diable)
Devon Island Canada 76 00 N 87 00 W
Dhahran [US Consulate Saudi Arabia 26 18 N 50 08 E
General]
Dhaka [US Embassy] Bangladesh 23 43 N 90 25 E
Dhofar [region] Oman 17 00 N 54 10 E
Diego Garcia [island] British Indian 7 20 S 72 25 E
Ocean Territory
Diego Ramirez [islands] Chile 56 30 S 68 43 W
Diomede Islands Russia [Big 65 47 N 169 00 W
Diomede], United
States [Little
Diomede]
Diu India 20 42 N 70 59 E
Djibouti [US Embassy] Djibouti 11 30 N 43 15 E
Dnieper [river] Belarus, Russia, 46 30 N 32 18 E
(Dnyapro, Dnepr, Dnipro) Ukraine
Dniester [river] Moldova, Ukraine 46 18 N 30 17 E
(Nistru, Dnister)
Dodecanese [islands] Greece 36 00 N 27 05 E
Dodoma Tanzania 6 11 S 35 45 E
Doha [US Embassy] Qatar 25 17 N 51 32 E
Donets Basin Russia, Ukraine 48 15 N 38 30 E
Douala Cameroon 4 03 N 9 42 E
Douglas Man, Isle of 54 09 N 4 28 W
Dover, Strait of Atlantic Ocean 51 00 N 1 30 E
Drake Passage Atlantic Ocean 60 00 S 60 00 W
Dubai [US Consulate United Arab 25 18 N 55 18 E
General] Emirates
Dubayy (see Dubai) United Arab 25 18 N 55 18 E
Emirates
Dublin [US Embassy] Ireland 53 20 N 6 15 W
Durban [US Consulate South Africa 29 55 S 30 56 E
General]
Dushanbe [US Embassy] Tajikistan 38 35 N 68 48 E
Dutch Antilles Netherlands 52 05 N 4 18 E
Antilles
Dutch East Indies Indonesia 5 00 S 120 00 E
Dutch Guiana Suriname 4 00 N 56 00 W
Dutch West Indies Netherlands 52 05 N 4 18 E
Antilles
Dzungarian Gate China, 45 25 N 82 25 E
Kazakhstan
E East China Sea Pacific Ocean 30 00 N 126 00 E
East Frisian Islands Germany 53 44 N 7 25 E
East Germany (German Germany 52 00 N 13 00 E
Democratic Republic)
East Korea Strait Pacific Ocean 34 00 N 129 00 E
(Eastern Channel or
Tsushima Strait)
East Pakistan Bangladesh 24 00 N 90 00 E
East Siberian Sea Arctic Ocean 74 00 N 166 00 E
East Timor (Portuguese Indonesia 9 00 S 126 00 E
Timor)
Easter Island (Isla de Chile 27 07 S 109 22 W
Pascua)
Eastern Channel (East Pacific Ocean 34 00 N 129 00 E
Korea Strait or Tsushima
Strait)
Eastern Samoa American Samoa 14 20 S 170 00 W
Edinburgh [US Consulate United Kingdom 55 57 N 3 13 W
General]
Eire Ireland 53 00 N 8 00 W
Elba [island] Italy 42 46 N 10 17 E
Ellef Ringnes Island Canada 78 00 N 103 00 W
Ellesmere Island Canada 81 00 N 80 00 W
Ellice Islands Tuvalu 8 00 S 178 00 E
Elobey, Islas de Equatorial 0 59 N 9 33 E
Guinea
Enderbury Island Kiribati 3 08 S 171 5 W
Enewetak Atoll (Eniwetok Marshall Islands 11 30 N 162 15 E
Atoll)
England [region] United Kingdom 52 30 N 1 30 W
English Channel Atlantic Ocean 50 20 N 1 00 W
Eniwetok Atoll (see Marshall Islands 11 30 N 162 15 E
Enewetak Atoll)
Eolie, Isole Italy 38 30 N 15 00 E
Epirus, Northern Albania, Greece 40 00 N 20 30 E
Espana Spain 40 00 N 4 00 W
Essequibo [region] Guyana 6 59 N 58 23 W
[claimed by Venezuela]
Etorofu (Iturup) Russia [de 44 55 N 147 40 E
[island] facto]
F Farquhar Group (Atoll de Seychelles 10 10 S 51 10 E
Farquhar)
Fernando de Noronha Brazil 3 51 S 32 25 W
Fernando Po [island] Equatorial 3 30 N 8 42 E
(see Bioko) Guinea
Finland, Gulf of Atlantic Ocean 60 00 N 27 00 E
Florence [US Consulate Italy 43 46 N 11 15 E
General]
Florida, Straits of Atlantic Ocean 25 00 N 79 45 W
former Soviet Union Armenia,
(FSU) Azerbaijan,
Belarus,
Estonia,
Georgia,
Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan,
Latvia,
Lithuania,
Moldova, Russia,
Tajikistan,
Turkmenistan,
Ukraine,
Uzbekistan
Formosa [island] Taiwan 23 30 N 121 00 E
Formosa Strait (see Pacific Ocean 24 00 N 119 00 E
Taiwan Strait)
Fortaleza [US Consular Brazil 3 43 S 38 30 W
Agency]
Fort-de-France Martinique 14 36 N 61 05 W
Frankfurt am Main [US Germany 50 07 N 8 40 E
Consulate General]
Franz Josef Land Russia 81 00 N 55 00 E
[islands]
Freetown [US Embassy] Sierra Leone 8 30 N 13 15 W
French Cameroon Cameroon 6 00 N 12 00 E
French Guinea Guinea 11 00 N 10 00 W
French Indochina Cambodia, Laos, 15 00 N 107 00 E
Vietnam
French Morocco Morocco 32 00 N 5 00 W
French Somaliland Djibouti 11 30 N 43 00 W
French Sudan Mali 17 00 N 4 00 W
French Territory of the Djibouti 11 30 N 43 00 E
Afars and Issas
(F.T.A.I.)
French Togo Togo 8 00 N 1 10 E
French West Indies Guadeloupe, 16 30 N 62 00 W
Martinique
Friendly Islands Tonga 20 00 S 175 00 W
Frisian Islands Denmark, 53 35 N 6 40 E
Germany,
Netherlands
Frunze (see Bishkek) Kyrgyzstan 42 54 N 74 36 E
Fukuoka [US Consulate] Japan 33 35 N 130 24 E
Funafuti Tuvalu 8 30 S 179 12 E
Fundy, Bay of Atlantic Ocean 45 00 N 66 00 W
Futuna Islands (Hoorn Wallis and 14 19 S 178 05 W
Islands/Iles de Horne) Futuna
G Gaborone [US Embassy] Botswana 24 45 S 25 55 E
Galapagos Islands Ecuador 0 00 N 90 30 W
(Archipielago de Colon)
Galilee [region] Israel 32 54 N 35 20 E
Galleons Passage Atlantic Ocean 11 00 N 60 55 W
Gambier Islands (Iles French Polynesia 23 09 S 134 58 W
Gambier)
Gaspar Strait Pacific Ocean 3 00 S 107 00 E
Geneva [US Consular Switzerland 46 12 N 6 10 E
Agency, US Mission to
European Office of the
UN and Other
International
Organizations]
Genoa Italy 44 25 N 8 57 E
George Town Malaysia 5 26 N 100 16 E
George Town The Bahamas 23 30 N 75 46 W
George Town Cayman Islands 19 20 N 81 23 W
Georgetown The Gambia 13 30 N 14 47 W
Georgetown [US Embassy] Guyana 6 48 N 58 10 W
German Democratic Germany 52 00 N 13 00 E
Republic (East Germany)
German Southwest Africa Namibia 22 00 S 17 00 E
Germany, Federal Germany 51 00 N 9 00 E
Republic of
Gibraltar Gibraltar 36 11 N 5 22 W
Gibraltar, Strait of Atlantic Ocean 35 57 N 5 36 W
Gidi Pass Egypt 30 13 N 33 09 E
Gilbert Islands Kiribati 1 25 N 173 00 E
Goa [state] India 14 20 N 74 00 E
Godthab (Nuuk) Greenland 64 11 N 51 44 W
Gold Coast Ghana 8 00 N 2 00 W
Golan Heights [region] Syria 33 00 N 35 45 E
Good Hope, Cape of South Africa 34 24 S 18 30 E
Goteborg Sweden 57 43 N 11 58 E
Gotland [island] Sweden 57 30 N 18 33 E
Gough Island Saint Helena 40 10 S 9 45 W
Grand Banks Atlantic Ocean 47 06 N 55 48 W
Grand Cayman [island] Cayman Islands 19 20 N 81 20 W
Grand Turk Turks and Caicos 21 28 N 71 08 W
Islands
Great Australian Bight Indian Ocean 35 00 S 130 00 E
Great Belt (Store Baelt) Atlantic Ocean 55 30 N 11 00 E
Great Bitter Lake Egypt 30 20 N 32 23 E
Great Britain [island] United Kingdom 54 00 N 2 00 W
Great Channel Indian Ocean 6 25 N 94 20 E
Greater Sunda Islands Brunei, 2 00 S 110 00 E
Indonesia,
Malaysia
Green Islands Papua New Guinea 4 30 S 154 10 E
Greenland Sea Arctic Ocean 79 00 N 5 00 W
Grenadines, Northern Saint Vincent 13 15 N 61 12 W
and the
Grenadines
Grenadines, Southern Grenada 12 07 N 61 40 W
Grytviken South Georgia 54 15 S 36 45 W
and the South
Sandwich Islands
Guadalajara [US Mexico 20 40 N 103 20 W
Consulate General]
Guadalcanal [island] Solomon Islands 9 32 S 160 12 E
Guadalupe, Isla de Mexico 29 11 N 118 17 W
Guangzhou [US Consulate China 23 06 N 113 16 E
General]
Guantanamo Bay [US Naval Cuba 20 00 N 75 08 W
Base]
Guatemala [US Embassy] Guatemala 14 38 N 90 31 W
Guinea, Gulf of Atlantic Ocean 3 00 N 2 30 E
Guayaquil [US Consulate Ecuador 2 13 S 79 54 W
General]
H Ha'apai Group Tonga 19 42 S 174 29 W
Habomai Islands Russia [de 43 30 N 146 10 E
facto]
Hadhramaut [region] Yemen 15 00 N 50 00 E
Hagatna (Agana) Guam 13 28 N 144 45 E
Hague, The [US Embassy] Netherlands 52 05 N 4 18 E
Haifa Israel 32 50 N 35 00 E
Haiphong Vietnam 20 52 N 106 41 E
Hainan Dao [island] China 19 00 N 109 30 E
Halifax [US Consulate Canada 44 39 N 63 36 W
General]
Halmahera [island] Indonesia 1 00 N 128 00 E
Hamburg [US Consulate Germany 53 33 N 9 59 E
General]
Hamilton [US Consulate Bermuda 32 17 N 64 46 W
General]
Hanoi [US Embassy] Vietnam 21 02 N 105 51 E
Harare [US Embassy] Zimbabwe 17 50 S 31 03 E
Hatay [province] Turkey 36 30 N 36 15 E
Havana [US post not Cuba 23 08 N 82 22 W
maintained;
representation by US
Interests Section
(USINT) of the Swiss
Embassy]
Hawaii United States 20 00 N 157 45 W
Heard Island Heard Island and 53 06 S 73 30 E
McDonald Islands
Hejaz [region] Saudi Arabia 24 30 N 38 30 E
Helsinki [US Embassy] Finland 60 10 N 24 58 E
Hermosillo [US Mexico 29 04 N 110 58 W
Consulate]
Herzegovina Bosnia and 44 00 N 18 00 E
Herzegovina
Hispaniola [island] Dominican 18 45 N 71 00 W
Republic, Haiti
Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam 10 45 N 106 40 E
Hokkaido [island] Japan 44 00 N 143 00 E
Holland Netherlands 52 30 N 5 45 E
Hong Kong [US Consulate Hong Kong 22 15 N 114 10 E
General]
Honiara Solomon Islands 9 26 S 159 57 E
Honshu [island] Japan 36 00 N 138 00 E
Hormuz, Strait of Indian Ocean 26 34 N 56 15 E
Horn, Cape (Cabo de Chile 55 59 S 67 16 W
Hornos)
Horne, Iles de Wallis and 14 19 S 178 05 W
Futuna
Horn of Africa Djibouti, 8 00 N 48 00 E
Eritrea,
Ethiopia,
Somalia
Hudson Bay Arctic Ocean 60 00 N 86 00 W
Hudson Strait Arctic Ocean 62 00 N 71 00 W
Hunter Island New Caledonia, 22 24 S 172 06 E
Vanuatu
I Iberian Peninsula Portugal, Spain 40 00 N 5 00 W
Inaccessible Island Saint Helena 37 17 S 12 40 W
Indochina Cambodia, Laos, 15 00 N 107 00 E
Vietnam
Inland Sea Japan 34 20 N 133 30 E
Inner Mongolia (Nei China 42 00 N 113 00 E
Mongol)
Ionian Islands Greece 38 30 N 20 30 E
Ionian Sea Atlantic Ocean 38 30 N 18 00 E
Irian Jaya [province] Indonesia 5 00 S 138 00 E
Irish Sea Atlantic Ocean 53 30 N 5 20 W
Iron Gate Romania, Serbia 44 41 N 22 31 E
and Montenegro
Islamabad [US Embassy] Pakistan 33 42 N 73 10 E
Islas Malvinas Falkland Islands 51 45 S 59 00 W
(Islas Malvinas)
Istanbul [US Consulate Turkey 41 01 N 28 58 E
General]
Istrian Peninsula Croatia, 45 00 N 14 00 E
Slovenia
Italian East Africa Eritrea, 8 00 N 38 00 E
Ethiopia,
Somalia
Italian Somaliland Somalia 10 00 N 49 00 E
Iturup (see Etorofu) Russia [de 44 55 N 147 40 E
facto]
Ivory Coast Cote d'Ivoire 8 00 N 5 00 W
Iwo Jima [island] Japan 24 47 N 141 20 E
J Jakarta [US Embassy] Indonesia 6 10 S 106 48 E
Jamestown Saint Helena 15 56 S 5 44 W
Jammu India 32 42 N 74 52 E
Jammu and Kashmir India, Pakistan 34 00 N 76 00 E
[region]
Japan, Sea of Pacific Ocean 40 00 N 135 00 E
Jars, Plain of Laos 19 27 N 103 10 E
Java [island] Indonesia 7 30 S 110 00 E
Java Sea Pacific Ocean 5 00 S 110 00 E
Jeddah (see Jiddah) Saudi Arabia 21 30 N 39 12 E
Jerusalem [US Consulate Israel, West 31 47 N 35 14 E
General] Bank
Jiddah [US Consulate Saudi Arabia 21 30 N 39 12 E
General]
Johannesburg [US South Africa 26 15 S 28 00 E
Consulate General]
Juan de Fuca, Strait of Pacific Ocean 48 18 N 124 00 W
Juan Fernandez, Isla de Chile 33 00 S 80 00 W
Jubal, Strait of Indian Ocean 27 40 N 33 55 E
Judaea [region] Israel, West 31 35 N 35 00 E
Bank
Jutland [region] Denmark 56 00 N 9 15 E
Juventud, Isla de la Cuba 21 40 N 82 50 W
(Isle of Youth)
K Kabul [US Embassy now Afghanistan 34 31 N 69 12 E
closed]
Kaduna Nigeria 10 33 N 7 27 E
Kailas Range China, India 30 00 N 82 00 E
Kalimantan [region] Indonesia 0 00 N 115 00 E
Kamaran [island] Yemen 15 21 N 42 34 E
Kamchatka Peninsula Russia 56 00 N 160 00 E
(Poluostrov Kamchatka)
Kampala [US Embassy] Uganda 0 19 N 32 25 E
Kampuchea Cambodia 13 00 N 105 00 E
Kanton Island Kiribati 2 49 S 171 40 W
Karachi [US Consulate Pakistan 24 52 N 67 03 E
General]
Kara Sea Arctic Ocean 76 00 N 80 00 E
Karakoram Pass China, India 35 30 N 77 50 E
Karelian Isthmus Russia 60 25 N 30 00 E
Karimata Strait Pacific Ocean 2 05 S 108 40 E
Kashmir [region] India, Pakistan 34 00 N 76 00 E
Katanga [region] Democratic 10 00 S 26 00 E
Republic of the
Congo
Kathmandu [US Embassy] Nepal 27 43 N 85 19 E
Kattegat [strait] Atlantic Ocean 57 00 N 11 00 E
Kauai Channel Pacific Ocean 21 45 N 158 50 W
Keeling Islands Cocos (Keeling) 12 30 S 96 50 E
Islands
Kerguelen, Iles French Southern 49 30 S 69 30 E
and Antarctic
Lands
Kermadec Islands New Zealand 29 50 S 178 15 W
Kerulen River China, Mongolia 48 48 N 117 00 E
Khabarovsk Russia 48 27 N 135 06 E
Khanka, Lake China, Russia 45 00 N 132 24 E
Khartoum [US Embassy] Sudan 15 36 N 32 32 E
Khmer Republic Cambodia 13 00 N 105 00 E
Khuriya Muriya Islands Oman 17 30 N 56 00 E
(Kuria Muria Islands)
Khyber Pass Afghanistan, 34 05 N 71 10 E
Pakistan
Kiel Canal (Nord-Ostsee Atlantic Ocean 53 53 N 9 08 E
Kanal)
Kiev [US Embassy] Ukraine 50 26 N 30 31 E
Kigali [US Embassy] Rwanda 1 57 S 30 04 E
Kingston [US Embassy] Jamaica 18 00 N 76 48 W
Kingston Norfolk Island 29 03 S 167 58 E
Kingstown Saint Vincent 13 09 N 61 14 W
and the
Grenadines
Kinshasa [US Embassy] Democratic 4 18 S 15 18 E
Republic of the
Congo
Kirghiziya Kyrgyzstan 41 00 N 75 00 E
Kiritimati (Christmas Kiribati 1 52 N 157 20 W
Island)
Kishinev (see Chisinau) Moldova 47 00 N 28 50 E
Kithira Strait Atlantic Ocean 36 00 N 23 00 E
Kobe Japan 34 41 N 135 10 E
Kodiak Island United States 57 49 N 152 23 W
Kola Peninsula (Kol'skiy Russia 67 20 N 37 00 E
Poluostrov)
Kolonia [US Embassy] Federated States 6 58 N 158 13 E
of Micronesia
Korea Bay Pacific Ocean 39 00 N 124 00 E
Korea, Democratic North Korea 40 00 N 127 00 E
People's Republic of
Korea, Republic of South Korea 37 00 N 127 30 E
Korea Strait Pacific Ocean 34 00 N 129 00 E
Koror [US Embassy] Palau 7 20 N 134 29 E
Kosovo [region] Serbia and 42 30 N 21 00 E
Montenegro
Kowloon Hong Kong 22 18 N 114 10 E
Kra, Isthmus of Burma, Thailand 10 20 N 99 00 E
Krakatoa [volcano] Indonesia 6 07 S 105 24 E
Krakow [US Consulate Poland 50 03 N 19 58 E
General]
Kuala Lumpur [US Malaysia 3 10 N 101 42 E
Embassy]
Kunashiri (Kunashir) Russia [de 44 20 N 146 00 E
[island] facto]
Kunlun Mountains China 36 00 N 84 00 E
Kuril Islands Russia [de 46 10 N 152 00 E
facto]
Kuwait [US Embassy] Kuwait 29 20 N 47 59 E
Kuznetsk Basin Russia 54 00 N 86 00 E
Kwajalein Atoll Marshall Islands 9 05 N 167 20 E
Kyushu [island] Japan 33 00 N 131 00 E
Kyyiv (see Kiev) Ukraine 50 26 N 30 31 E
L Labrador Canada 54 00 N 62 00 W
Laccadive Islands India 10 00 N 73 00 E
Laccadive Sea Indian Ocean 7 00 N 76 00 E
Lagos [US Embassy] Nigeria 6 27 N 3 24 E
Lahore [US Consulate Pakistan 31 35 N 74 18 E
General]
Lakshadweep (Laccadive India 10 00 N 73 00 E
Islands)
La Paz [US Embassy] Bolivia 16 30 S 68 09 W
La Perouse Strait Pacific Ocean 45 45 N 142 00 E
Laptev Sea Arctic Ocean 76 00 N 126 00 E
Las Palmas Spain 28 06 N 15 24 W
Lau Group Fiji 18 20 S 178 30 E
Lefkosa (see Nicosia) Cyprus 35 10 N 33 22 E
Leipzig [US Consulate Germany 51 19 N 12 20 E
General]
Lemnos [island] Greece 39 54 N 25 21 E
Leningrad (see Saint Russia 59 55 N 30 15 E
Petersburg)
Lesser Sunda Islands Indonesia 9 00 S 120 00 E
Lesvos [island] Greece 39 15 N 26 15 E
Leyte [island] Philippines 10 50 N 124 50 E
Liancourt Rocks [claimed South Korea 37 15 N 131 50 E
by Japan]
Libreville [US Embassy] Gabon 0 23 N 9 27 E
Ligurian Sea Atlantic Ocean 43 30 N 9 00 E
Lilongwe [US Embassy] Malawi 13 59 S 33 44 E
Lima [US Embassy] Peru 12 03 S 77 03 W
Lincoln Sea Arctic Ocean 83 00 N 56 00 W
Line Islands Jarvis Island, 0 05 N 157 00 W
Kingman Reef,
Kiribati,
Palmyra Atoll
Lisbon [US Embassy] Portugal 38 43 N 9 08 W
Ljubljana [US Embassy] Slovenia 46 03 N 14 31 E
Lobamba Swaziland 26 27 S 31 12 E
Lombok Strait Indian Ocean 8 30 S 115 50 E
Lome [US Embassy] Togo 6 08 N 1 13 E
London [US Embassy] United Kingdom 51 30 N 0 10 W
Longyearbyen Svalbard 78 13 N 15 33 E
Lord Howe Island Australia 31 30 S 159 00 E
Louisiade Archipelago Papua New Guinea 11 00 S 153 00 E
Loyalty Islands (Iles New Caledonia 21 00 S 167 00 E
Loyaute)
Luanda [US Embassy] Angola 8 48 S 13 14 E
Lubumbashi Democratic 11 40 S 27 28 E
Republic of the
Congo
Lusaka [US Embassy] Zambia 15 25 S 28 17 E
Luxembourg [US Embassy] Luxembourg 49 45 N 6 10 E
Luzon [island] Philippines 16 00 N 121 00 E
Luzon Strait Pacific Ocean 20 30 N 121 00 E
Lyakhov Islands Russia 73 45 N 138 00 E
M Macao Macau 22 10 N 113 33 E
Macedonia The Former 41 50 N 22 00 E
Yugoslav
Republic of
Macedonia
Macquarie Island Australia 30 07 S 147 24 E
Maddalena, Isola Italy 41 13 N 09 24 E
Madeira Islands Portugal 32 40 N 16 45 W
Madras [see Chennai] India 13 04 N 80 16 E
Madrid [US Embassy] Spain 40 24 N 3 41 W
Magellan, Strait of Atlantic Ocean 54 00 S 71 00 W
Maghreb Algeria, Libya, 30 00 N 5 00 E
Mauritania,
Morocco, Tunisia
Mahe Island Seychelles 4 41 S 55 30 E
Maiz, Islas del (Corn Nicaragua 12 15 N 83 00 W
Islands)
Majorca Island (Isla de Spain 39 30 N 3 00 E
Mallorca)
Majuro [US Embassy] Marshall Islands 7 05 N 171 08 E
Makassar Strait Pacific Ocean 2 00 S 117 30 E
Malabo Equatorial 3 45 N 8 47 E
Guinea
Malacca, Strait of Indian Ocean 2 30 N 101 20 E
Malagasy Republic Madagascar 20 00 S 47 00 E
Male Maldives 4 10 N 73 31 E
Mallorca (Majorca) Spain 39 30 N 3 00 E
Malpelo, Isla de Colombia 4 00 N 90 30 W
Malta Channel Atlantic Ocean 56 44 N 26 53 E
Malvinas, Islas Falkland Islands 51 45 S 59 00 W
(Islas Malvinas)
Mamoutzou Mayotte 12 47 S 45 14 E
Managua [US Embassy] Nicaragua 12 09 N 86 17 W
Manama [US Embassy] Bahrain 26 13 N 50 35 E
Manaus [US Consular Brazil 3 08 S 60 01 W
Agency]
Manchukuo China 44 00 N 124 00 E
Manchuria China 44 00 N 124 00 E
Manila [US Embassy] Philippines 14 35 N 121 00 E
Manipa Strait Pacific Ocean 3 20 S 127 23 E
Mannar, Gulf of Indian Ocean 8 30 N 79 00 E
Manua Islands American Samoa 14 13 S 169 35 W
Maputo [US Embassy] Mozambique 25 58 S 32 35 E
Marcus Island (Minami- Japan 24 16 N 154 00 E
tori-shima)
Mariana Islands Guam, Northern 16 00 N 145 30 E
Mariana Islands
Marion Island South Africa 46 51 S 37 52 E
Marmara, Sea of Atlantic Ocean 40 40 N 28 15 E
Marquesas Islands (Iles French Polynesia 9 00 S 139 30 W
Marquises)
Marseille [US Consulate France 43 18 N 5 24 E
General]
Martin Vaz, Ilhas Brazil 20 30 S 28 51 W
Mas a Tierra (Robinson Chile 33 38 S 78 52 W
Crusoe Island)
Mascarene Islands Mauritius, 21 00 S 57 00 E
Reunion
Maseru [US Embassy] Lesotho 29 28 S 27 30 E
Matamoros [US Consulate] Mexico 25 53 N 97 30 W
Mata-Utu Wallis and 13 57 S 171 56 W
Futuna
Matsu [island] Taiwan 26 13 N 119 56 E
Matthew Island New Caledonia, 22 20 S 171 20 E
Vanuatu
Mazatlan Mexico 23 13 N 106 25 W
Mbabane [US Embassy] Swaziland 26 18 S 31 06 E
McDonald Islands Heard Island and 53 06 S 73 30 E
McDonald Islands
Mecca Saudi Arabia 21 27 N 39 49 E
Medan [US Consulate Indonesia 3 35 N 98 40 E
General]
Mediterranean Sea Atlantic Ocean 36 00 N 15 00 E
Melbourne [US Consulate Australia 37 49 S 144 58 E
General]
Melilla Spain 35 19 N 2 58 W
Merida [US Consulate] Mexico 20 58 N 89 37 W
Mesopotamia Iraq 33 00 N 44 00 E
Messina, Strait of Atlantic Ocean 38 15 N 15 35 E
Mexico [US Embassy] Mexico 19 24 N 99 09 W
Mexico, Gulf of Atlantic Ocean 25 00 N 90 00 W
Milan [US Consulate Italy 45 28 N 9 12 E
General]
Minami-tori-shima Japan 24 16 N 154 00 E
(Marcus Island)
Mindanao [island] Philippines 8 00 N 125 00 E
Mindoro [island] Philippines 12 50 N 121 05 E
Mindoro Strait Pacific Ocean 12 20 N 120 40 E
Minicoy Island India 8 17 N 73 02 E
Minsk [US Embassy] Belarus 53 54 N 27 34 E
Minorca Island (Isla de Spain 40 00 N 4 00 E
Menorca)
Mitla Pass Egypt 30 02 N 32 54 E
Mogadishu Somalia 2 04 N 45 22 E
Moldavia [region] Moldova, Romania 47 00 N 29 00 E
Moluccas (Spice Islands) Indonesia 2 00 S 28 00 E
Mombasa Kenya 4 03 S 39 40 E
Mona Passage Atlantic Ocean 18 30 N 67 45 W
Monaco Monaco 43 44 N 7 25 E
Monrovia [US Embassy] Liberia 6 18 N 10 47 W
Montenegro Serbia and 42 30 N 19 00 E
Montenegro
Monterrey Mexico 25 40 N 100 19 W
Montevideo [US Embassy] Uruguay 34 53 S 56 11 W
Montreal [US Consulate Canada 45 31 N 73 34 W
General, US Mission to
the International Civil
Aviation Organization
(ICAO)]
Moravia [region] Czech Republic 49 30 N 17 00 E
Moravian Gate Czech Republic 49 35 N 17 50 E
Moroni Comoros 11 41 S 43 16 E
Mortlock Islands (Nomoi Federated States 5 30 N 153 40 E
Islands) of Micronesia
Moscow [US Embassy] Russia 55 45 N 37 35 E
Mount Pinatubo Philippines 15 08 N 120 21 E
Mozambique Channel Indian Ocean 19 00 S 41 00 E
Mumbai [US Consulate India 18 58 N 72 50 E
General]
Munich [US Consulate Germany 48 09 N 11 35 E
General]
Musandam Peninsula Oman, United 26 18 N 56 24 E
Arab Emirates
Muscat [US Embassy] Oman 23 37 N 58 35 E
Muscat and Oman Oman 21 00 N 57 00 E
Myanma, Myanmar Burma 22 00 N 98 00 E
N Nagorno-Karabakh Azerbaijan 40 00 N 46 40 E
[region]
Nagoya [US Consulate] Japan 35 10 N 136 55 E
Naha [US Consulate Japan 26 13 N 127 40 E
General]
Nairobi [US Embassy] Kenya 1 17 S 36 49 E
Nampo-shoto [islands] Japan 30 00 N 140 00 E
Naples [US Consulate Italy 40 50 N 14 15 E
General]
Nassau [US Embassy] The Bahamas 25 05 N 77 21 W
Natuna Besar Islands Indonesia 3 30 N 102 30 E
Naxcivan [region] Azerbaijan 39 20 N 45 20 E
N'Djamena [US Embassy] Chad 12 07 N 15 03 E
Negev [region] Israel 30 30 N 34 55 E
Negros [island] Philippines 10 00 N 123 00 E
Netherlands East Indies Indonesia 5 00 S 120 00 E
Netherlands Guiana Suriname 4 00 N 56 00 W
Nevis [island] Saint Kitts and 17 09 N 62 35 W
Nevis
New Britain [island] Papua New Guinea 6 00 S 150 00 E
New Delhi [US Embassy] India 28 36 N 77 12 E
New Guinea Indonesia, Papua 5 00 S 140 00 E
New Guinea
New Hebrides Vanuatu 16 00 S 167 00 E
New Siberian Islands Russia 75 00 N 142 00 E
New Territories Hong Kong 22 24 N 114 10 E
New York, New York [US United States 40 43 N 74 01 W
Mission to the United
Nations (USUN)]
Newfoundland [island] Canada 52 00 N 56 00 W
Niamey [US Embassy] Niger 13 31 N 2 07 E
Nicobar Islands India 8 00 N 93 30 E
Nicosia [US Embassy] Cyprus 35 10 N 33 22 E
Nightingale Island Saint Helena 37 25 S 12 30 W
Nomoi Islands (Mortlock Federated States 5 30 N 153 40 E
Islands) of Micronesia
North Atlantic Ocean Atlantic Ocean 30 00 N 45 00 W
North Channel Atlantic Ocean 55 10 N 5 40 W
North Frisian Islands Denmark, Germany 54 50 N 8 12 E
North Island New Zealand 39 00 S 176 00 E
North Korea North Korea 40 00 N 127 00 E
North Pacific Ocean Pacific Ocean 30 00 N 165 00 W
North Sea Atlantic Ocean 56 00 N 4 00 E
North Vietnam Vietnam 23 00 N 106 00 E
North Yemen (Yemen Arab Yemen 15 00 N 44 00 E
Republic)
Northeast Providence Atlantic Ocean 25 40 N 77 09 W
Channel
Northern Epirus Albania, Greece 40 00 N 20 30 E
Northern Grenadines Saint Vincent 12 45 N 61 15 W
and the
Grenadines
Northern Ireland United Kingdom 54 40 N 6 45 W
Northern Rhodesia Zambia 15 00 S 30 00 E
Northwest Passages Arctic Ocean 74 40 N 100 00 W
Norwegian Sea Atlantic Ocean 66 00 N 6 00 E
Nouakchott [US Embassy] Mauritania 18 06 N 15 57 W
Noumea New Caledonia 22 16 S 166 27 E
Novaya Zemlya [islands] Russia 74 00 N 57 00 E
Nubia Sudan 20 30 N 33 00 E
Nuku'alofa Tonga 21 08 S 175 12 W
Nuevo Laredo [US Mexico 27 30 N 99 31 W
Consulate]
Nuuk (Godthab) Greenland 64 11 N 51 44 W
Nyasaland Malawi 13 30 S 34 00 E
O Oahu United States 21 30 N 158 00 W
Ocean Island (Banaba) Kiribati 0 52 S 169 35 E
Ocean Island (Kure United States 28 25 N 178 20 W
Island)
Ogaden [region] Ethiopia, 7 00 N 46 00 E
Somalia
Oil Islands (Chagos British Indian 6 00 S 71 30 E
Archipelago) Ocean Territory
Okhotsk, Sea of Pacific Ocean 53 00 N 150 00 E
Okinawa [island group] Japan 26 30 N 128 00 E
Oman, Gulf of Indian Ocean 24 30 N 58 30 E
Ombai Strait Pacific Ocean 8 30 S 125 00 E
Oran Algeria 35 43 N 0 43 W
Oranjestad Aruba 12 33 N 70 06 W
Oresund (The Sound) Atlantic Ocean 55 50 N 12 40 E
Orkney Islands United Kingdom 59 00 N 3 00 W
Osaka-Kobe [US Consulate Japan 34 40 N 135 30 E
General]
Oslo [US Embassy] Norway 59 55 N 10 45 E
Osumi Strait (Van Diemen Pacific Ocean 31 00 N 131 00 E
Strait)
Otranto, Strait of Atlantic Ocean 40 00 N 19 00 E
Ottawa [US Embassy] Canada 45 20 N 73 58 W
Ouagadougou [US Embassy] Burkina Faso 12 22 N 1 31 W
Outer Mongolia Mongolia 46 00 N 105 00 E
P Pacific Islands, Trust Marshall 10 00 N 155 00 E
Territory of the Islands,
Federated States
of Micronesia,
Northern Mariana
Islands, Palau
Pagan [island] Northern Mariana 18 8 N 145 47 E
Islands
Pago Pago American Samoa 14 16 S 170 42 W
Palawan [island] Philippines 9 30 N 118 30 E
Palermo Italy 38 07 N 13 21 E
Palestine Israel, West 32 00 N 35 15 E
Bank
Palikir Federated States 6 55 N 158 08 E
of Micronesia
Palk Strait Indian Ocean 10 00 N 79 45 E
Pamirs [mountains] China, 38 00 N 73 00 E
Tajikistan
Pampas [region] Argentina 35 00 N 63 00 W
Panama [US Embassy] Panama 8 58 N 79 32 W
Panama Canal Panama 9 00 N 79 45 W
Panama, Gulf of Pacific Ocean 8 00 N 79 30 W
Panay [island] Philippines 11 15 N 122 30 E
Pantelleria, Isola di Italy 36 47 N 12 00 E
Papeete French Polynesia 17 32 S 149 34 W
Paramaribo [US Embassy] Suriname 5 50 N 55 10 W
Parece Vela [island] Japan 20 20 N 136 00 E
Paris [US Embassy, US France 48 52 N 2 20 E
Mission to the
Organization for
Economic Cooperation and
Development (OECD), US
Observer Mission to the
UN Educational,
Scientific, and Cultural
Organization (UNESCO)]
Pascua, Isla de (Easter Chile 27 07 S 109 22 W
Island)
Passion, Ile de la Clipperton 10 17 N 109 13 W
Island
Pashtunistan [region] Afghanistan, 32 00 N 69 00 E
Pakistan
Peking (see Beijing) China 39 56 N 116 24 E
Pelagian Islands (Isole Italy 35 40 N 12 40 E
Pelagie)
Peleliu (Beliliou) Palau 7 01 N 134 15 E
[island]
Pemba Island Tanzania 7 31 S 39 25 E
Penang Island Malaysia 5 23 N 100 15 E
Pentland Firth Atlantic Ocean 58 44 N 3 13 W
Perim [island] Yemen 12 39 N 43 25 E
Perouse Strait, La Pacific Ocean 44 45 N 142 00 E
Persia Iran 32 00 N 53 00 E
Persian Gulf Indian Ocean 27 00 N 51 00 E
Perth [US Consulate Australia 31 56 S 115 50 E
General]
Pescadores [islands] Taiwan 23 30 N 119 30 E
Peshawar [US Consulate] Pakistan 34 01 N 71 33 E
Peter I Island Antarctica 68 48 S 90 35 W
Philip Island Norfolk Island 29 08 S 167 57 E
Philippine Sea Pacific Ocean 20 00 N 134 00 E
Phnom Penh [US Embassy] Cambodia 11 33 N 104 55 E
Phoenix Islands Kiribati 3 30 S 172 00 W
Pines, Isle of (Isla de Cuba 21 40 N 82 50 W
la Juventud)
Pleasant Island Nauru 0 32 S 166 55 E
Plymouth Montserrat 16 44 N 62 14 W
Ponape (Pohnpei) Federated States 6 55 N 158 15 E
[island] of Micronesia
Ponta Delgada [US Portugal 37 44 N 25 40 W
Consulate]
Port-au-Prince [US Haiti 18 32 N 72 20 W
Embassy]
Port Louis [US Embassy] Mauritius 20 10 S 57 30 E
Port Moresby [US Papua New Guinea 9 30 S 147 10 E
Embassy]
Porto Alegre [US Brazil 30 04 S 51 11 W
Consulate]
Port-of-Spain [US Trinidad and 10 39 N 61 31 W
Embassy] Tobago
Porto-Novo Benin 6 29 N 2 37 E
Portuguese East Africa Mozambique 18 15 S 35 00 E
Portuguese Guinea Guinea-Bissau 12 00 N 15 00 W
Portuguese Timor (East Indonesia 9 00 S 126 00 E
Timor)
Port-Vila Vanuatu 17 44 S 168 19 E
Poznan Poland 52 25 N 16 55 E
Prague [US Embassy] Czech Republic 40 55 N 21 00 E
Praia [US Embassy] Cape Verde 14 55 N 23 31 W
Pretoria [US Embassy] South Africa 25 45 S 28 10 E
Prevlaka peninsula Croatia 42 24 N 18 31 E
Pribilof Islands United States 57 00 N 170 00 W
Prince Edward Island Canada 46 20 N 63 20 W
Prince Edward Islands South Africa 46 35 S 38 00 E
Prince Patrick Island Canada 76 30 N 119 00 W
Principe [island] Sao Tome and 1 38 N 7 25 E
Principe
Prussia [region] Germany, Poland, 53 00 N 14 00 E
Russia
Pukapuka Atoll Cook Islands 10 53 S 165 49 W
Pusan [US Consulate] South Korea 35 06 N 129 03 E
P'yongyang North Korea 39 01 N 125 45 E
Q Quebec [US Consulate Canada 52 00 N 72 00 W
General]
Queen Charlotte Islands Canada 53 00 N 132 00 W
Queen Elizabeth Islands Canada 78 00 N 95 00 W
Queen Maud Land [claimed Antarctica 73 30 S 12 00 E
by Norway]
Quemoy [island] Taiwan 24 27 N 118 23 E
Quito [US Embassy] Ecuador 0 13 S 78 30 W
R Rabat [US Embassy] Morocco 34 02 N 6 51 W
Ralik Chain Marshall Islands 8 00 N 167 00 E
Rangoon [US Embassy] Burma 16 47 N 96 10 E
Ratak Chain Marshall Islands 9 00 N 171 00 E
Recife [US Consulate] Brazil 8 03 S 34 54 W
Redonda [island] Antigua and 16 55 N 62 19 W
Barbuda
Red Sea Indian Ocean 20 00 N 38 00 E
Revillagigedo Island United States 55 35 N 131 06 W
Revillagigedo Islands Mexico 19 00 N 112 45 W
Reykjavik [US Embassy] Iceland 19 00 N 111 30 W
Rhodes [island] Greece 36 10 N 28 00 E
Rhodesia Zimbabwe 20 00 S 30 00 E
Rhodesia, Northern Zambia 15 00 S 30 00 E
Rhodesia, Southern Zimbabwe 20 00 S 30 00 E
Riga [US Embassy] Latvia 56 57 N 24 06 E
Rio de Janeiro [US Brazil 22 54 S 43 14 W
Consulate General]
Rio de Oro Western Sahara 23 45 N 15 45 W
Rio Muni Equatorial 1 30 N 10 00 E
Guinea
Riyadh [US Embassy] Saudi Arabia 24 38 N 46 43 E
Road Town British Virgin 18 27 N 64 37 W
Islands
Robinson Crusoe Island Chile 33 38 S 78 52 W
(Mas a Tierra)
Rocas, Atol das Brazil 3 51 S 33 49 W
Rockall [island] United Kingdom 57 35 N 13 48 W
Rodrigues [island] Mauritius 19 42 S 63 25 E
Rome [US Embassy, US Italy 41 54 N 12 29 E
Mission to the UN
Agencies for Food and
Agriculture (FODAG)]
Roncador Cay Colombia 13 32 N 80 03 W
Roosevelt Island Antarctica 79 30 S 162 00 W
Roseau Dominica 15 18 N 61 24 W
Ross Dependency [claimed Antarctica 80 00 S 180 00 E
by New Zealand]
Ross Island Antarctica 81 30 S 175 00 W
Ross Sea Antarctica 76 00 S 175 00 W
Rota [island] Northern Mariana 14 10 N 145 12 E
Islands
Rotuma [island] Fiji 12 30 S 177 30 E
Ryukyu Islands Japan 26 30 N 128 00 E
S Saba [island] Netherlands 17 38 N 63 10 W
Antilles
Sabah [state] Malaysia 5 20 N 117 10 E
Sable Island Canada 43 55 N 59 50 W
Safety Islands (Iles du French Guiana 5 20 N 52 37 W
Salut)
Sahel Burkina Faso, 15 00 N 8 00 W
Cape Verde,
Chad, The
Gambia, Guinea-
Bissau, Mali,
Mauritania,
Niger, Senegal
Saigon (see Ho Chi Minh Vietnam 10 45 N 106 40 E
City)
Saint Brandon (Cargados Mauritius 16 25 S 59 38 E
Carajos Shoals)
Saint Christopher Saint Kitts and 17 20 N 62 45 W
[island] Nevis
Saint Christopher and Saint Kitts and 17 20 N 62 45 W
Nevis Nevis
Saint-Denis Reunion 20 52 S 55 28 E
Saint George's [US Grenada 12 03 N 61 45 W
Embassy]
Saint George's Channel Atlantic Ocean 52 00 N 6 00 W
Saint Helier Jersey 49 12 N 2 37 W
Saint John's Antigua and 17 06 N 61 51 W
Barbuda
Saint Lawrence, Gulf of Atlantic Ocean 48 00 N 62 00 W
Saint Lawrence Island United States 49 30 N 67 00 W
Saint Lawrence Seaway Atlantic Ocean 49 15 N 67 00 W
Saint Martin [island] Guadeloupe 18 04 N 63 04 W
Saint Martin (Sint Netherlands 18 04 N 63 04 W
Maarten) Antilles
Saint Paul Island Canada 47 12 N 60 09 W
Saint Paul Island United States 57 11 N 170 16 W
Saint Paul Island (Ile French Southern 38 43 S 77 29 E
Saint-Paul) and Antarctic
Lands
Saint Peter and Saint Brazil 0 23 N 29 23 W
Paul Rocks (Penedos de
Sao Pedro e Sao Paulo)
Saint Peter Port Guernsey 49 27 N 2 32 W
Saint Petersburg [US Russia 59 55 N 30 15 E
Consulate General]
Saint-Pierre Saint Pierre and 46 46 N 56 11 W
Miquelon
Saint Thomas [island] Virgin Islands 18 21 N 64 55 W
Saint Vincent Passage Atlantic Ocean 13 30 N 61 00 W
Saipan [island] Northern Mariana 15 12 N 145 45 E
Islands
Sakishima Islands Japan 24 30 N 124 00 E
Sakhalin Island (Ostrov Russia 51 00 N 143 00 E
Sakhalin)
Sala y Gomez, Isla Chile 26 28 S 105 00 W
Salisbury (see Harare) Zimbabwe 17 50 S 105 00 W
Salvador de Bahia [US Brazil 12 59 S 38 31 W
Consular Agency]
Salzburg Austria 47 48 N 13 02 E
Samar [island] Philippines 12 00 N 125 00 E
Samaria [region] West Bank 32 15 N 35 10 E
Samoa Islands American Samoa, 14 00 S 171 00 W
Samoa
Samos [island] Greece 37 48 N 26 44 E
Sanaa [US Embassy] Yemen 15 21 N 44 12 E
San Ambrosio, Isla Chile 26 21 S 79 52 W
San Andres y Colombia 13 00 N 81 30 W
Providencia,
Archipielago
San Bernardino Strait Pacific Ocean 12 32 N 124 10 E
San Felix, Isla Chile 26 17 S 80 05 W
San Jose [US Embassy] Costa Rica 9 56 N 84 05 W
San Juan Puerto Rico 18 28 N 66 07 W
San Marino San Marino 43 56 N 12 25 E
San Salvador [US El Salvador 13 42 N 89 12 W
Embassy]
Santa Cruz Bolivia 17 48 S 63 10 W
Santa Cruz Islands Solomon Islands 11 00 S 166 15 E
Santiago [US Embassy] Chile 33 27 S 70 40 W
Santo Antao [island] Cape Verde 17 05 N 25 10 W
Santo Domingo [US Dominican 18 28 N 69 54 W
Embassy] Republic
Sao Paulo [US Consulate Brazil 23 32 S 46 37 W
General]
Sao Pedro e Sao Paulo, Brazil 0 23 N 29 23 W
Penedos de [rocks]
Sao Tiago [island] Cape Verde 15 05 N 23 40 W
Sao Tome [island] Sao Tome and 0 12 N 6 39 E
Principe
Sapporo [US Consulate Japan 43 03 N 141 21 E
General]
Sapudi Strait Pacific Ocean 7 05 S 114 10 E
Sarajevo [US Embassy] Bosnia and 43 52 N 18 25 E
Herzegovina
Sarawak [state] Malaysia 2 30 N 113 30 E
Sardinia [island] Italy 40 00 N 9 00 E
Sargasso Sea Atlantic Ocean 30 00 N 55 00 W
Sark [island] Guernsey 49 26 N 2 21 W
Saxony [region] Germany 51 00 N 13 00 E
Schleswig-Holstein Germany 54 31 N 9 33 E
[region]
Scopus, Mount Israel, West 31 48 N 35 14 E
Bank
Scotia Sea Atlantic Ocean 56 00 S 40 00 W
Scotland [region] United Kingdom 57 00 N 4 00 W
Scott Island Antarctica 67 24 S 179 55 W
Senyavin Islands Federated States 6 55 N 158 00 E
of Micronesia
Seoul [US Embassy] South Korea 37 34 N 127 00 E
Serbia Serbia and 43 00 N 21 00 E
Montenegro
Serrana Bank Colombia 14 25 N 80 16 W
Serranilla Bank Colombia 15 51 N 79 46 W
Settlement, The Christmas Island 18 44 N 64 19 W
Severnaya Zemlya Russia 79 30 N 98 00 E
(Northland) [island
group]
Shaba [region] Democratic 8 00 S 27 00 E
Republic of the
Congo
Shag Island Heard Island and 53 00 S 72 30 E
McDonald Islands
Shag Rocks South Georgia 53 33 S 42 02 W
and the South
Sandwich Islands
Shanghai [US Consulate China 31 14 N 121 28 E
General]
Shenyang [US Consulate China 41 48 N 123 27 E
General]
Shetland Islands United Kingdom 60 30 N 1 30 W
Shikoku [island] Japan 33 45 N 133 30 E
Shikotan [island] Russia [de 43 47 N 146 45 E
facto]
Siam Thailand 15 00 N 100 00 E
Siberia [region] Russia 60 00 N 100 00 E
Sibutu Passage Pacific Ocean 4 50 N 119 35 E
Sicily [island] Italy 37 30 N 14 00 E
Sicily, Strait of Atlantic Ocean 37 20 N 11 20 E
Sidra, Gulf of Atlantic Ocean 31 30 N 18 00 E
Sikkim [state] India 27 50 N 88 30 E
Sinai Peninsula Egypt 29 30 N 34 00 E
Singapore [US Embassy] Singapore 1 17 N 103 51 E
Singapore Strait Pacific Ocean 1 15 N 104 00 E
Sinkiang (Xinjiang) China 42 00 N 86 00 E
Sint Eustatius [island] Netherlands 17 29 N 62 58 W
Antilles
Sint Maarten [island] Netherlands 18 04 N 63 04 W
Antilles
Skagerrak [strait] Atlantic Ocean 57 45 N 9 00 E
Skopje [US Embassy] The Former 41 59 N 21 26 E
Yugoslav
Republic of
Macedonia
Society Islands (Iles de French Polynesia 17 00 S 150 00 W
la Societe)
Socotra [island] Yemen 12 30 N 54 00 E
Sofia [US Embassy] Bulgaria 42 41 N 23 19 E
Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea 6 00 S 155 00 E
northern
Solomon Islands, Solomon Islands 8 00 S 159 00 E
southern
Solomon Sea Pacific Ocean 8 00 S 153 00 E
Songkhla Thailand 7 12 N 100 36 E
Sound, The (Oresund) Atlantic Ocean 55 50 N 12 40 E
South Atlantic Ocean Atlantic Ocean 30 00 S 15 00 W
South China Sea Pacific Ocean 10 00 N 113 00 E
South Georgia [island] South Georgia 54 15 S 36 45 W
and the South
Sandwich Islands
South Island New Zealand 43 00 S 171 00 E
South Korea South Korea 37 00 N 127 30 E
South Orkney Islands Antarctica 61 00 S 45 00 W
South Ossetia [region] Georgia 42 20 N 44 00 E
South Pacific Ocean Pacific Ocean 30 00 S 130 00 W
South Sandwich Islands South Georgia 57 45 S 26 30 W
and the South
Sandwich Islands
South Shetland Islands Antarctica 62 00 S 59 00 W
South Tyrol [region] Italy 46 30 N 10 30 E
South Vietnam Vietnam 12 00 N 108 00 E
South Yemen (People's Yemen 14 00 N 48 00 E
Democratic Republic of
Yemen)
South-West Africa Namibia 22 00 S 17 00 E
Southern Grenadines Grenada 12 20 N 61 30 W
Southern Rhodesia Zimbabwe 20 00 S 30 00 E
Soviet Union Armenia,
Azerbaijan,
Belarus,
Estonia,
Georgia,
Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan,
Latvia,
Lithuania,
Moldova, Russia,
Tajikistan,
Turkmenistan,
Ukraine,
Uzbekistan
Spanish Guinea Equatorial 2 00 N 10 00 E
Guinea
Spanish Morocco Morocco 32 00 N 7 00 W
Spanish North Africa Spain (Ceuta, 35 15 N 4 00 W
Islas
Chafarinas,
Melilla, Penon
de Alhucemas,
Penon de Velez
de la Gomera)
Spanish Sahara Western Sahara 24 30 N 13 00 W
Spice Islands (Moluccas) Indonesia 2 00 S 28 00 E
Spitsbergen [island] Svalbard 78 00 N 20 00 E
Stanley Falkland Islands 51 42 S 57 41 W
(Islas Malvinas)
Stockholm [US Embassy] Sweden 59 20 N 18 03 E
Strasbourg [US Consulate France 48 35 N 7 45 E
General]
Stuttgart Germany 48 46 N 9 11 E
Sucre Bolivia 19 02 S 65 17 W
Suez Canal Egypt 29 55 N 32 33 E
Suez, Gulf of Indian Ocean 28 10 N 33 27 E
Sulu Archipelago Philippines 6 00 N 121 00 E
Sulu Sea Pacific Ocean 8 00 N 120 00 E
Sumatra [island] Indonesia 0 00 N 102 00 E
Sumba [island] Indonesia 10 00 S 120 00 E
Sunda Islands (Soenda Indonesia, 2 00 S 110 00 E
Isles) Malaysia
Sunda Strait Indian Ocean 6 00 S 105 45 E
Surabaya [US Consulate Indonesia 7 15 S 112 45 E
General]
Surigao Strait Pacific Ocean 10 15 N 125 23 E
Surinam Suriname 4 00 N 56 00 W
Suva [US Embassy] Fiji 18 08 S 178 25 E
Sverdlovsk (see Russia 56 50 N 60 39 E
Yekaterinburg)
Swains Island American Samoa 11 3 S 171 15 W
Swan Islands Honduras 17 25 S 83 56 W
Sydney [US Consulate Australia 33 52 S 151 13 E
General]
T Tahiti [island] French Polynesia 17 37 S 149 27 W
Taipei Taiwan 25 03 N 121 30 E
Taiwan Strait Pacific Ocean 24 00 N 119 00 E
Tallinn [US Embassy] Estonia 59 25 N 24 45 E
Tanganyika Tanzania 6 00 S 35 00 E
Tangier Morocco 35 48 N 5 45 W
Tarawa [island] Kiribati 1 25 N 173 00 E
Tatar Strait Pacific Ocean 50 00 N 141 00 E
Tashkent [US Embassy] Uzbekistan 41 20 N 69 18 E
Tasmania [island] Australia 43 00 S 147 00 E
Tasman Sea Pacific Ocean 4 30 S 168 00 E
Taymyr Peninsula Russia 76 00 N 104 00 E
(Poluostrov Taymyr)
T'bilisi [US Embassy] Georgia 41 43 N 44 49 E
Tegucigalpa [US Embassy] Honduras 14 06 N 87 13 W
Tehran [US post not Iran 35 40 N 51 26 E
maintained;
representation by Swiss
Embassy]
Tel Aviv [US Embassy] Israel 32 05 N 34 48 E
Terre Adelie (Adelie Antarctica 66 30 S 139 00 E
Land) [claimed by
France]
Thailand, Gulf of Pacific Ocean 10 00 N 101 00 E
Thessaloniki [US Greece 40 38 N 22 56 E
Consulate General]
Thimphu Bhutan 27 28 N 89 39 E
Thuringia [region] Germany 51 00 N 11 00 E
Thurston Island Antarctica 72 20 S 99 00 W
Tiberias, Lake Israel 32 48 N 35 35 E
Tibet (Xizang) China 32 00 N 90 00 E
Tibilisi (see T'bilisi) Georgia 41 43 N 44 49 E
Tien Shan [mountains] China, 42 00 N 80 00 E
Kyrgyzstan
Tierra del Fuego Argentina, Chile 54 00 S 69 00 W
Tijuana [US Consulate Mexico 32 32 N 117 01 W
General]
Timor [island] Indonesia 9 00 S 125 00 E
Timor Sea Pacific Ocean 11 00 S 128 00 E
Tinian [island] Northern Mariana 15 00 N 145 38 E
Islands
Tiran, Strait of Indian Ocean 28 00 N 34 27 E
Tirane [US Embassy] Albania 41 20 N 19 50 E
Tirol [region] Austria, Italy 47 00 N 11 00 E
Tobago [island] Trinidad and 11 15 N 60 40 W
Tobago
Tokyo [US Embassy] Japan 35 42 N 139 46 E
Tonkin, Gulf of Pacific Ocean 20 00 N 108 00 E
Toronto [US Consulate Canada 43 39 N 79 23 W
General]
Torres Strait Pacific Ocean 10 25 S 142 10 E
Torshavn Faroe Islands 62 01 N 6 46 W
Toshkent (see Tashkent) Uzbekistan 41 20 N 69 18 E
Transjordan Jordan 31 00 N 36 00 E
Transkei South Africa 32 15 S 28 15 E
Transylvania [region] Romania 46 30 N 24 00 E
Trindade, Ilha de Brazil 20 31 S 29 20 W
Tripoli Lebanon 34 26 N 35 51 E
Tripoli [US post not Libya 32 54 N 13 11 E
maintained;
representation by
Belgian Embassy]
Tristan da Cunha Group Saint Helena 37 04 S 12 19 W
Trobriand Islands Papua New Guinea 8 38 S 151 04 E
Trucial Coast United Arab 24 00 N 54 00 E
Emirates
Trucial Oman United Arab 24 00 N 54 00 E
Emirates
Trucial States United Arab 24 00 N 54 00 E
Emirates
Truk Islands Federated States 7 25 N 151 47 E
of Micronesia
Tsugaru Strait Pacific Ocean 41 35 N 141 00 E
Tuamotu Islands (Iles French Polynesia 19 00 S 142 00 W
Tuamotu)
Tubuai Islands (Iles French Polynesia 23 00 S 150 00 W
Tubuai)
Tunb al Kubra [island] Iran 26 14 N 55 19 E
Tunb as Sughra [island] Iran 26 14 N 55 09 E
Tunis [US Embassy] Tunisia 36 48 N 10 11 E
Turin Italy 45 04 N 7 40 E
Turkish Straits Atlantic Ocean 40 40 N 28 00 E
Turkmeniya Turkmenistan 40 00 N 60 00 E
Turks Island Passage Atlantic Ocean 21 40 N 71 00 W
Tuscany [region] Italy 43 25 N 11 00 E
Tutuila [island] American Samoa 14 18 S 170 42 W
Tyrol, South [region] Italy 46 30 N 10 30 E
Tyrrhenian Sea Atlantic Ocean 40 00 N 12 00 E
U Udorn (Udon Thani) [US Thailand 17 26 N 102 46 E
Consulate]
Ulaanbaatar [US Embassy] Mongolia 47 55 N 106 53 E
Ullung-do [island] South Korea 37 29 N 130 52 E
Unimak Pass [strait] Pacific Ocean 54 20 N 164 50 W
Union of Soviet Armenia,
Socialist Republics Azerbaijan,
(USSR) Belarus,
Estonia,
Georgia,
Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan,
Latvia,
Lithuania,
Moldova, Russia,
Tajikistan,
Turkmenistan,
Ukraine,
Uzbekistan
United Arab Republic Egypt, Syria
(UAR)
Upper Volta Burkina Faso 13 00 N 2 00 W
Ural Mountains Kazakhstan, 60 00 N 60 00 E
Russia
Ussuri River China, Russia 48 28 N 135 02 E
V Vaduz Liechtenstein 47 09 N 9 31 E
Vakhan (Wakhan Corridor) Afghanistan 37 00 N 73 00 E
Valletta [US Embassy] Malta 35 54 N 14 31 E
Valley, The Anguilla 18 13 N 63 04 W
Vancouver [US Consulate Canada 49 16 N 123 07 W
General]
Vancouver Island Canada 49 45 N 126 00 W
Van Diemen Strait (Osumi Pacific Ocean 31 00 N 131 00 E
Strait)
Vatican City [US Holy See 41 54 N 12 27 E
Embassy]
Velez de la Gomera, Spain 35 11 N 4 18 W
Penon de
Venda South Africa 23 00 S 31 00 E
Verde Island Passage Pacific Ocean 13 34 N 120 51 E
Victoria Hong Kong 22 17 N 114 09 E
Victoria Seychelles 4 38 S 55 27 E
Vienna [US Embassy, US Austria 48 12 N 16 22 E
Mission to International
Organizations in Vienna
(UNVIE)]
Vientiane [US Embassy] Laos 17 58 N 102 36 E
Vilnius [US Embassy] Lithuania 54 41 N 25 19 E
Viti Levu [island] Fiji 18 00 S 178 00 E
Vladivostok [US Russia 43 10 N 131 56 E
Consulate General]
Volcano Islands Japan 25 00 N 141 00 E
Vostok Island Kiribati 10 06 S 152 23 W
Vrangelya, Ostrov Russia 71 14 N 179 36 W
(Wrangel Island)
W Wake Island Wake Atoll 19 17 N 166 36 E
Wakhan Corridor (see Afghanistan 37 00 N 73 00 E
Vakhan)
Wales [region] United Kingdom 52 30 N 3 30 W
Wallis Islands Wallis and 13 17 S 176 10 W
Futuna
Walvis Bay Namibia 22 59 S 14 31 E
Warsaw [US Embassy] Poland 52 15 N 21 00 E
Washington, DC [US United States 38 53 N 77 02 W
Mission to the
Organization of American
States (OAS)]
Weddell Sea Atlantic Ocean 72 00 S 45 00 W
Wellington [US Embassy] New Zealand 41 28 S 174 51 E
West Frisian Islands Netherlands 53 26 N 5 30 E
West Germany (Federal Germany 53 22 N 5 20 E
Republic of Germany)
West Island Cocos (Keeling) 12 10 S 96 55 E
Islands
West Korea Strait Pacific Ocean 34 40 N 129 00 E
(Western Channel)
West Pakistan Pakistan 30 00 N 70 00 E
West Siberian Plain Russia 60 00 N 75 00 E
Western Channel (West Pacific Ocean 34 40 N 129 00 E
Korea Strait)
Western Samoa Samoa 13 35 S 172 20 W
Wetar Strait Pacific Ocean 8 20 S 126 30 E
White Sea Arctic Ocean 65 30 N 38 00 E
Willemstad Netherlands 12 06 N 68 56 W
Antilles
Windhoek [US Embassy] Namibia 22 34 S 17 06 E
Windward Passage Atlantic Ocean 20 00 N 73 50 W
Wrangel Island (Ostrov Russia 71 14 N 179 36 W
Vrangelya)
Y Yalu River China, North 39 55 N 124 20 E
Korea
Yamoussoukro Cote d'Ivoire 6 49 N 5 17 W
Yangon (see Rangoon) Burma 16 47 N 96 10 E
Yaounde [US Embassy] Cameroon 3 52 N 11 31 E
Yap Islands Federated States 9 30 N 138 00 E
of Micronesia
Yaren Nauru 0 32 S 166 55 E
Yekaterinburg Russia 56 50 N 60 39 E
(Sverdlovsk) [US
Consulate General]
Yellow Sea Pacific Ocean 36 00 N 123 00 E
Yemen (Aden) [People's Yemen 14 00 N 46 00 E
Democratic Republic of
Yemen]
Yemen Arab Republic Yemen 15 00 N 44 00 E
Yemen, North [Yemen Arab Yemen 15 00 N 44 00 E
Republic]
Yemen (Sanaa) [Yemen Yemen 15 00 N 44 00 E
Arab Republic]
Yemen, People's Yemen 14 00 N 46 00 E
Democratic Republic of
Yemen, South [People's Yemen 14 00 N 46 00 E
Democratic Republic of
Yemen]
Yerevan [US Embassy] Armenia 40 11 N 44 30 E
Youth, Isle of (Isla de Cuba 21 40 N 82 50 W
la Juventud)
Yucatan Peninsula Mexico 19 30 N 89 00 W
Yucatan Channel Atlantic Ocean 21 45 N 85 45 W
Yugoslavia Bosnia and
Herzegovina,
Croatia, The
Former Yugoslav
Republic of
Macedonia,
Serbia and
Montenegro,
Slovenia
Z Zagreb [US Embassy] Croatia 45 48 N 15 58 E
Zaire Democratic 15 00 S 30 00 E
Republic of the
Congo
Zanzibar [island] Tanzania 6 10 S 39 11 E
Zion, Mount Israel, Jordan 31 46 N 35 14 E
Zurich Switzerland 47 23 N 8 32 E
=====================================================================
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