The Project Gutenberg EBook of The 2006 CIA World Factbook, by United States
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Title: The 2006 CIA World Factbook
Author: United States
Release Date: December 12, 2008 [EBook #27509]
Language: English
*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE 2006 CIA WORLD FACTBOOK ***
Produced by Al Haines
THE CIA WORLD FACTBOOK 2006
CONTENTS
Countries and Locations
Field Listings
Rank Orders
Appendixes
Notes and Definitions
History of The World Factbook
Contributors and Copyright Information
Purchasing Information
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
=====================================================================
What's New
- Country information has been updated as of 19 December 2006.
- There have been some significant changes to the latest edition of
The World Factbook. The successful secession referendum held in
Montenegro in May of 2006 allowed it to legally leave its union
with Serbia the following month. These two Balkan countries have now
been formally recognized and are listed separately in the Factbook.
- In the Government category, the 'Capital' entry has been greatly
expanded and now contains up to four subfields, including significant
new information having to do with time. The subfields consist of the
name of the capital itself, its geographic coordinates, the time
difference at the capital from coordinated universal time (UTC), and,
if applicable, information on daylight saving time (DST). Where
appropriate, a special note has been added to highlight those
countries that have multiple time zones.
- The Transnational issues category now has a "Trafficking in persons"
entry. Human trafficking connotes modern-day slavery and this important
new field will include information on the most egregious countries
(Tier 2 Watch List and Tier 3) as listed in the US State Department's
annual report.
- A new Appendix G lists Weights and Measures. The appendix includes
information on mathematical notation and metric interrelationships,
as well as over 400 examples of standard conversion factors.
- Revision of some individual country maps, first introduced in the
2001 edition, is continued in this edition. Several regional maps
have also been updated to reflect boundary changes and place name
spelling changes.
=====================================================================
The World Factbook (2006) - Country Listing
[Transcriber's note: To search on a country in this file, prefix the
country's name with "@", e.g. "@Afghanistan". "Afghanistan" will find
all occurrences; prefixing it with "@" will find the correct location.]
World
A
Afghanistan
Akrotiri
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
Dhekelia
Djibouti
Dominica
Dominican Republic
E
East Timor
Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Estonia
Ethiopia
Europa Island
European Union entry follows Taiwan
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
Iles Eparses
India
Indian Ocean
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Ireland
Isle of Man
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
Madagascar
Malawi
Malaysia
Maldives
Mali
Malta
Marshall Islands
Martinique
Mauritania
Mauritius
Mayotte
Mexico
Micronesia, Federated States of
Midway Islands
Moldova
Monaco
Mongolia
Montenegro
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
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
Solomon Islands
Somalia
South Africa
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
Southern Ocean
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
United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges
Uruguay
Uzbekistan
V
Vanuatu
Venezuela
Vietnam
Virgin Islands
W
Wake Island
Wallis and Futuna
West Bank
Western Sahara
Y
Yemen
Z
Zambia
Zimbabwe
Taiwan
European Union
=====================================================================
Field Listings
[Transcriber's note: To search on a field code in this file, prefix
the code number with "@", e.g. "@2001". "2001" will find all
occurrences; prefixing it with "@" will find the correct location.]
Code Field Description
2001 GDP (purchasing power parity)
2002 Population growth rate (%)
2003 GDP - real growth rate (%)
2004 GDP - per capita (PPP)
2006 Dependency status
2007 Diplomatic representation from the US
2008 Transportation - note
2010 Age structure (%)
2011 Geographic coordinates
2012 GDP - composition by sector (%)
2013 Radio broadcast stations
2015 Television broadcast stations
2018 Sex ratio (male(s)/female)
2019 Heliports
2020 Elevation extremes (m)
2021 Natural hazards
2022 People - note
2023 Area - comparative
2024 Military service age and obligation (years of age)
2025 Manpower fit for military service
2026 Manpower reaching military service age annually
2028 Background
2030 Airports - with paved runways
2031 Airports - with unpaved runways
2032 Environment - current issues
2033 Environment - international agreements
2034 Military expenditures - percent of GDP (%)
2038 Electricity - production (kWh)
2042 Electricity - consumption (kWh)
2043 Electricity - imports (kWh)
2044 Electricity - exports (kWh)
2046 Population below poverty line (%)
2047 Household income or consumption by percentage share (%)
2048 Labor force - by occupation (%)
2049 Exports - commodities
2050 Exports - partners (%)
2051 Administrative divisions
2052 Agriculture - products
2053 Airports
2054 Birth rate (births/1,000 population)
2055 Military branches
2056 Budget
2057 Capital
2058 Imports - commodities
2059 Climate
2060 Coastline (km)
2061 Imports - partners (%)
2062 Economic aid - donor
2063 Constitution
2064 Economic aid - recipient
2065 Currency (code)
2066 Death rate (deaths/1,000 population)
2067 Military expenditures - dollar figure
2068 Dependent areas
2070 Disputes - international
2075 Ethnic groups (%)
2076 Exchange rates
2077 Executive branch
2078 Exports
2079 Debt - external
2080 Fiscal year
2081 Flag description
2085 Roadways (km)
2086 Illicit drugs
2087 Imports
2088 Independence
2089 Industrial production growth rate (%)
2090 Industries
2091 Infant mortality rate (deaths/1,000 live births)
2092 Inflation rate (consumer prices) (%)
2093 Waterways (km)
2094 Judicial branch
2095 Labor force
2096 Land boundaries (km)
2097 Land use (%)
2098 Languages (%)
2100 Legal system
2101 Legislative branch
2102 Life expectancy at birth (years)
2103 Literacy (%)
2105 Manpower available for military service
2106 Maritime claims
2107 International organization participation
2108 Merchant marine
2109 National holiday
2110 Nationality
2111 Natural resources
2112 Net migration rate (migrant(s)/1,000 population)
2113 Geography - note
2115 Political pressure groups and leaders
2116 Economy - overview
2117 Pipelines (km)
2118 Political parties and leaders
2119 Population
2120 Ports and terminals
2121 Railways (km)
2122 Religions (%)
2123 Suffrage
2124 Telephone system
2125 Terrain
2127 Total fertility rate (children born/woman)
2128 Government type
2129 Unemployment rate (%)
2137 Military - note
2138 Communications - note
2140 Government - note
2142 Country name
2144 Location
2145 Map references
2146 Irrigated land (sq km)
2147 Area (sq km)
2149 Diplomatic representation in the US
2150 Telephones - main lines in use
2151 Telephones - mobile cellular
2153 Internet users
2154 Internet country code
2155 HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate (%)
2156 HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
2157 HIV/AIDS - deaths
2172 Distribution of family income - Gini index
2173 Oil - production (bbl/day)
2174 Oil - consumption (bbl/day)
2175 Oil - imports (bbl/day)
2176 Oil - exports (bbl/day)
2177 Median age (years)
2178 Oil - proved reserves (bbl)
2179 Natural gas - proved reserves (cu m)
2180 Natural gas - production (cu m)
2181 Natural gas - consumption (cu m)
2182 Natural gas - imports (cu m)
2183 Natural gas - exports (cu m)
2184 Internet hosts
2185 Investment (gross fixed) (% of GDP)
2186 Public debt (% of GDP)
2187 Current account balance
2188 Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
2193 Major infectious diseases
2194 Refugees and internally displaced persons
2195 GDP (official exchange rate)
2196 Trafficking in persons
======================================================================
Rank Orders
[Transcriber's note: To search on a rank order in this file, prefix
the rank's name with "@", e.g. "@Population". "Population" will find
all occurrences; prefixing it with "@" will find the correct location.]
Guide to Rank Order Pages
Rank Order pages are presorted lists of data from selected Factbook
data fields. Rank Order pages are generally given in descending
order -highest to lowest - such as Population and Area. The two
exceptions are Unemployment Rate and Inflation Rate, which are in
ascending - lowest to highest - order. Rank Order pages are
available for the following 47 fields in six of the nine Factbook
categories.
Geography
Area - total
People
Population
Birth rate
Death rate
Infant mortality rate
Life expectancy at birth - total
Total fertility rate
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
HIV/AIDS - deaths
Economy
GDP (purchasing power parity)
GDP - real growth rate
GDP - per capita
Labor force
Unemployment rate
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
Investment (gross fixed)
Public debt
Industrial production growth rate
Electricity - production
Electricity - consumption
Oil - production
Oil - consumption
Oil - exports
Oil - imports
Oil - proved reserves
Natural Gas - production
Natural Gas - consumption
Natural Gas - exports
Natural Gas - imports
Natural Gas - proved reserves
Current account balance
Exports
Imports
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
Debt - external
Communications
Telephones - main lines in use
Telephones - mobile cellular
Internet hosts
Internet users
Transportation
Airports
Railways - total
Roadways - total
Waterways
Merchant marine - total
Military
Military expenditures - dollar figure
Military expenditures - percent of GDP
Factbook fields with Rank Order pages are easily identified with a
small bar chart icon to the right of the data field title.
Not all Rank Order pages include the same number of entries because
information for a particular field is not available for all
countries. In addition, not all data fields are suitable for
displaying as Rank Order pages, such as those containing textual
information. Textual information is more readily viewed by clicking
on the Field Listing icon next to the Data field title. The other
icon next to the data field title provides the definition of the
field.
All of the 'Rank Order' pages can be downloaded as tab-delimited
data files and can be opened in other applications such as
spreadsheets and databases. To save a Rank Order page in a
spreadsheet, first click on the 'Download Datafile' choice above the
Rank Order page you selected; then, at the top of your browser
window, click on 'File' and 'Save As'. After saving the file, open
the spreadsheet, find the saved file, and 'Open' it.
Additional Rank Order pages being considered for future updates of
the Factbook Web site include:
Median age
Literacy
Population below the poverty line
This page was last updated on 4 April, 2006
=====================================================================
Appendixes
Appendix A - Abbreviations
Appendix B - International Organizations and Groups
Appendix C - Selected International Environmental Agreements
Appendix D - Cross-Reference list of Country Data Codes
Appendix E - Cross-Reference List of Hydrographic Data Codes
Appendix F - Cross-Reference List of Geographic Names
Appendix G - Weights and Measures
======================================================================
Notes and Definitions
Along with regular information updates, The World Factbook features
several new or revised fields. In the Economy category, the Factbook is
now reporting national GDP figures in US dollars converted at Official
Exchange Rates (OER) in addition to GDP at Purchasing Power Parity
(PPP) rates, since both measures contain information useful to our
readers. Traditionally, only PPP-converted GDP values had been
reported. In the Transportation category, the former Highways entry is
now Roadways, while Ports and harbors has been retitled Ports and
terminals.
Abbreviations
This information is included in Appendix A: Abbreviations, which
includes all abbreviations and acronyms used in the Factbook, with
their expansions.
Acronyms
An acronym is an abbreviation coined from the initial letter of each
successive word in a term or phrase. In general, an acronym made up
solely from the first letter of the major words in the expanded form is
rendered in all capital letters (NATO from North Atlantic Treaty
Organization; an exception would be ASEAN for Association of Southeast
Asian Nations). In general, an acronym made up of more than the first
letter of the major words in the expanded form is rendered with only an
initial capital letter (Comsat from Communications Satellite
Corporation; an exception would be NAM from Nonaligned Movement).
Hybrid forms are sometimes used to distinguish between initially
identical terms (WTO: for World Trade Organization and WToO for World
Tourism Organization.)
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 an ordered listing of major crops and products starting
with the most important.
Airports
This entry gives the total number of airports or airfields recognizable
from the air. The runway(s) may be paved (concrete or asphalt surfaces)
or unpaved (grass, earth, sand, or gravel surfaces) but may include
closed or abandoned installations. Airports or airfields that are no
longer recognizable (overgrown, no facilities, etc.) are not included.
Note that not all airports have accomodations 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) by length. 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) by length. 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 the
surfaces of all inland water bodies, such as lakes, reservoirs, or
rivers, as delimited by international boundaries and/or coastlines.
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 and current issues
and may include a statement about one or two key future trends.
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, 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 name of the seat of government, its geographic
coordinates, the time difference relative to Coordinated Universal Time
(UTC) and the time observed in Washington, DC, and, if applicable,
information on daylight saving time (DST). Where appropriate, a special
note has been added to highlight those countries that have multiple
time zones.
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, television, and Internet host 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.
Coordinated Universal Time (UTC)
UTC is the international atomic time scale that serves as the basis of
timekeeping for most of the world. The hours, minutes, and seconds
expressed by UTC represent the time of day at the Prime Meridian (0º
longitude) located near Greenwich, England as reckoned from midnight.
UTC is calculated by the Bureau International des Poids et Measures
(BIPM) in Sevres, France. The BIPM averages data collected from more
than 200 atomic time and frequency standards located at about 50
laboratories worldwide. UTC is the basis for all civil time with the
Earth divided into time zones expressed as positive or negative
differences from UTC. UTC is also referred to as "Zulu time." See the
Standard Time Zones of the World map included with the Reference Maps.
Country data codes
see Data codes
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.
Crude oil
See entry for oil.
Currency (code)
This entry identifies the national medium of exchange and, in
parenthesis, gives the International Organization for Standardization
(ISO) 4217 alphabetic currency code for each country.
Current account balance
This entry records a country's net trade in goods and services, plus
net earnings from rents, interest, profits, and dividends, and net
transfer payments (such as pension funds and worker remittances) to and
from the rest of the world during the period specified. These figures
are calculated on an exchange rate basis, i.e., not in purchasing power
parity (PPP) terms.
Data codes
This information is presented in Appendix D: Cross-Reference List of
Country Data Codes and Appendix E: Cross-Reference List of Hydrographic
Data Codes.
Date of information
In general, information available as of 1 January 2006, was used in the
preparation of this edition.
Daylight Saving Time (DST)
This entry is included for those entities that have adopted a policy of
adjusting the official local time forward, usually one hour, from
Standard Time during summer months. Such policies are most common in
mid-latitude regions.
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 public and private debt owed to nonresidents
repayable in foreign currency, goods, or services. These figures are
calculated on an exchange rate basis, i.e., not in purchasing power
parity (PPP) terms.
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 188 independent states,
including 187 of the 192 UN members (excluded UN members are Bhutan,
Cuba, Iran, North Korea, and the US itself). In addition, the US has
diplomatic relations with 1 independent state that is not in the UN,
the Holy See, as well as with the EU.
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 mission, chancery, telephone, FAX,
consulate general locations, and 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.
Distribution of family income - Gini index
This index measures the degree of inequality in the distribution of
family income in a country. The index is calculated from the Lorenz
curve, in which cumulative family income is plotted against the number
of families arranged from the poorest to the richest. The index is the
ratio of (a) the area between a country's Lorenz curve and the 45
degree helping line to (b) the entire triangular area under the 45
degree line. The more nearly equal a country's income distribution, the
closer its Lorenz curve to the 45 degree line and the lower its Gini
index, e.g., a Scandinavian country with an index of 25. The more
unequal a country's income distribution, the farther its Lorenz curve
from the 45 degree line and the higher its Gini index, e.g., a Sub-
Saharan country with an index of 50. If income were distributed with
perfect equality, the Lorenz curve would coincide with the 45 degree
line and the index would be zero; if income were distributed with
perfect inequality, the Lorenz curve would coincide with the horizontal
axis and the right vertical axis and the index would be 100.
Economic aid - donor
This entry refers to net official development assistance (ODA) from
Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (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 the less
developed countries (LDCs), and contains a grant element of at least
25%. The entry does not cover other official flows (OOF) or private
flows. These figures are calculated on an exchange rate basis, i.e.,
not in purchasing power parity (PPP) terms.
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. These
figures are calculated on an exchange rate basis, i.e., not in
purchasing power parity (PPP) terms.
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. The discrepancy
between the amount of electricity generated and/or imported and the
amount consumed and/or exported is accounted for as loss in
transmission and distribution.
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. The discrepancy between the amount of electricity generated
and/or imported and the amount consumed and/or exported is accounted
for as loss in transmission and distribution.
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 272 separate geographic entities in The
World Factbook that may be categorized as follows:
INDEPENDENT STATES
193 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, East Timor,
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, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali,
Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated
States of Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, 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, 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
2 Taiwan, European Union
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
2 China - Hong Kong, Macau
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 (* consolidated in Iles Eparses entry)
2 Netherlands - Aruba, Netherlands Antilles
3 New Zealand - Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau
3 Norway - Bouvet Island, Jan Mayen, Svalbard
17 UK - Akrotiri, Anguilla, Bermuda, British Indian Ocean Territory,
British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dhekelia, 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 Island (* consolidated in United States Pacific Island
Wildlife Refuges entry)
MISCELLANEOUS
6 Antarctica, Gaza Strip, Paracel Islands, Spratly Islands, West Bank,
Western Sahara
OTHER ENTITIES
5 oceans - Arctic Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, Pacific Ocean,
Southern Ocean
1 World
272 total
Environment - current issues
This entry lists the most pressing and important environmental
problems. The following terms and abbreviations are used throughout the
entry:
Acidification - the lowering of soil and water pH due to acid
precipitation and deposition usually through precipitation; this
process disrupts ecosystem nutrient flows and may kill freshwater fish
and plants dependent on more neutral or alkaline conditions (see acid
rain).
Acid rain - characterized as containing harmful levels of sulfur
dioxide or nitrogen oxide; acid rain is damaging and potentially deadly
to the earth's fragile ecosystems; acidity is measured using the pH
scale where 7 is neutral, values greater than 7 are considered
alkaline, and values below 5.6 are considered acid precipitation; note
- a pH of 2.4 (the acidity of vinegar) has been measured in rainfall in
New England.
Aerosol - a collection of airborne particles dispersed in a gas, smoke,
or fog.
Afforestation - converting a bare or agricultural space by planting
trees and plants; reforestation involves replanting trees on areas that
have been cut or destroyed by fire.
Asbestos - a naturally occurring soft fibrous mineral commonly used in
fireproofing materials and considered to be highly carcinogenic in
particulate form.
Biodiversity - also biological diversity; the relative number of
species, diverse in form and function, at the genetic, organism,
community, and ecosystem level; loss of biodiversity reduces an
ecosystem's ability to recover from natural or man-induced disruption.
Bio-indicators - a plant or animal species whose presence, abundance,
and health reveal the general condition of its habitat.
Biomass - the total weight or volume of living matter in a given area
or volume.
Carbon cycle - the term used to describe the exchange of carbon (in
various forms, e.g., as carbon dioxide) between the atmosphere, ocean,
terrestrial biosphere, and geological deposits.
Catchments - assemblages used to capture and retain rainwater and
runoff; an important water management technique in areas with limited
freshwater resources, such as Gibraltar.
DDT (dichloro-diphenyl-trichloro-ethane) - a colorless, odorless
insecticide that has toxic effects on most animals; the use of DDT was
banned in the US in 1972.
Defoliants - chemicals which cause plants to lose their leaves
artificially; often used in agricultural practices for weed control,
and may have detrimental impacts on human and ecosystem health.
Deforestation - the destruction of vast areas of forest (e.g.,
unsustainable forestry practices, agricultural and range land clearing,
and the over exploitation of wood products for use as fuel) without
planting new growth.
Desertification - the spread of desert-like conditions in arid or semi-
arid areas, due to overgrazing, loss of agriculturally productive
soils, or climate change.
Dredging - the practice of deepening an existing waterway; also, a
technique used for collecting bottom-dwelling marine organisms (e.g.,
shellfish) or harvesting coral, often causing significant destruction
of reef and ocean-floor ecosystems.
Drift-net fishing - done with a net, miles in extent, that is generally
anchored to a boat and left to float with the tide; often results in an
over harvesting and waste of large populations of non-commercial marine
species (by-catch) by its effect of "sweeping the ocean clean".
Ecosystems - ecological units comprised of complex communities of
organisms and their specific environments.
Effluents - waste materials, such as smoke, sewage, or industrial waste
which are released into the environment, subsequently polluting it.
Endangered species - a species that is threatened with extinction
either by direct hunting or habitat destruction.
Freshwater - water with very low soluble mineral content; sources
include lakes, streams, rivers, glaciers, and underground aquifers.
Greenhouse gas - a gas that "traps" infrared radiation in the lower
atmosphere causing surface warming; water vapor, carbon dioxide,
nitrous oxide, methane, hydrofluorocarbons, and ozone are the primary
greenhouse gases in the Earth's atmosphere.
Groundwater - water sources found below the surface of the earth often
in naturally occurring reservoirs in permeable rock strata; the source
for wells and natural springs.
Highlands Water Project - a series of dams constructed jointly by
Lesotho and South Africa to redirect Lesotho's abundant water supply
into a rapidly growing area in South Africa; while it is the largest
infrastructure project in southern Africa, it is also the most costly
and controversial; objections to the project include claims that it
forces people from their homes, submerges farmlands, and squanders
economic resources.
Inuit Circumpolar Conference (ICC) - represents the 145,000 Inuits of
Russia, Alaska, Canada, and Greenland in international environmental
issues; a General Assembly convenes every three years to determine the
focus of the ICC; the most current concerns are long-range transport of
pollutants, sustainable development, and climate change.
Metallurgical plants - industries which specialize in the science,
technology, and processing of metals; these plants produce highly
concentrated and toxic wastes which can contribute to pollution of
ground water and air when not properly disposed.
Noxious substances - injurious, very harmful to living beings.
Overgrazing - the grazing of animals on plant material faster than it
can naturally regrow leading to the permanent loss of plant cover, a
common effect of too many animals grazing limited range land.
Ozone shield - a layer of the atmosphere composed of ozone gas (O3)
that resides approximately 25 miles above the Earth's surface and
absorbs solar ultraviolet radiation that can be harmful to living
organisms.
Poaching - the illegal killing of animals or fish, a great concern with
respect to endangered or threatened species.
Pollution - the contamination of a healthy environment by man-made
waste.
Potable water - water that is drinkable, safe to be consumed.
Salination - the process through which fresh (drinkable) water becomes
salt (undrinkable) water; hence, desalination is the reverse process;
also involves the accumulation of salts in topsoil caused by
evaporation of excessive irrigation water, a process that can
eventually render soil incapable of supporting crops.
Siltation - occurs when water channels and reservoirs become clotted
with silt and mud, a side effect of deforestation and soil erosion.
Slash-and-burn agriculture - a rotating cultivation technique in which
trees are cut down and burned in order to clear land for temporary
agriculture; the land is used until its productivity declines at which
point a new plot is selected and the process repeats; this practice is
sustainable while population levels are low and time is permitted for
regrowth of natural vegetation; conversely, where these conditions do
not exist, the practice can have disastrous consequences for the
environment .
Soil degradation - damage to the land's productive capacity because of
poor agricultural practices such as the excessive use of pesticides or
fertilizers, soil compaction from heavy equipment, or erosion of
topsoil, eventually resulting in reduced ability to produce
agricultural products.
Soil erosion - the removal of soil by the action of water or wind,
compounded by poor agricultural practices, deforestation, overgrazing,
and desertification.
Ultraviolet (UV) radiation - a portion of the electromagnetic energy
emitted by the sun and naturally filtered in the upper atmosphere by
the ozone layer; UV radiation can be harmful to living organisms and
has been linked to increasing rates of skin cancer in humans.
Water-born diseases - those in which bacteria survive in, and are
transmitted through, water; always a serious threat in areas with an
untreated water supply.
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 C: 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 an ordered listing 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. For example, 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. 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.
Exports
This entry provides the total US dollar amount of merchandise exports
on an f.o.b. (free on board) basis. These figures are calculated on an
exchange rate basis, i.e., not in purchasing power parity (PPP) terms.
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. 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 (official exchange rate)
This entry gives the gross domestic product (GDP) or value of all final
goods and services produced within a nation in a given year. A nation's
GDP at offical exchange rates (OER) is the home-currency-denominated
annual GDP figure divided by the bilateral average US exchange rate
with that country in that year. The measure is simple to compute and
gives a precise measure of the value of output. Many economists prefer
this measure when gauging the economic power an economy maintains vis-
à-vis its neighbors, judging that an exchange rate captures the
purchasing power a nation enjoys in the international marketplace.
Official exchange rates, however, can be artifically fixed and/or
subject to manipulation - resulting in claims of the country having an
under- or over-valued currency - and are not necessarily the equivalent
of a market-determined exchange rate. Moreover, even if the official
exchange rate is market-determined, market exchange rates are
frequently established by a relatively small set of goods and services
(the ones the country trades) and may not capture the value of the
larger set of goods the country produces. Furthermore, OER-converted
GDP is not well suited to comparing domestic GDP over time, since
appreciation/depreciation from one year to the next will make the OER
GDP value rise/fall regardless of whether home-currency-denominated GDP
changed.
GDP (purchasing power parity)
This entry gives the gross domestic product (GDP) or value of all final
goods and services produced within a nation in a given year. A nation's
GDP at purchasing power parity (PPP) exchange rates is the sum value of
all goods and services produced in the country valued at prices
prevailing in the United States. This is the measure most economists
prefer when looking at per-capita welfare and when comparing living
conditions or use of resources across countries. The measure is
difficult to compute, as a US dollar value has to be assigned to all
goods and services in the country regardless of whether these goods and
services have a direct equivalent in the United States (for example,
the value of an ox-cart or non-US military equipment); as a result, PPP
estimates for some countries are based on a small and sometimes
different set of goods and services. In addition, many countries do not
formally participate in the World Bank's PPP project that calculates
these measures, so the resulting GDP estimates for these countries may
lack precision. For many developing countries, PPP-based GDP measures
are multiples of the official exchange rate (OER) measure. The
difference between the OER- and PPP-denominated GDP values for most of
the weathly industrialized countries are generally much smaller.
GDP - composition by sector
This entry gives the percentage contribution of agriculture, industry,
and services to total GDP. The distribution will total less than 100
percent if the data are incomplete.
GDP - per capita (PPP)
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.
GDP methodology
In the Economy category, GDP dollar estimates for countries are
reported both on an official exchange rate (OER) and a purchasing power
parity (PPP) basis. Both measures contain information that is useful to
the reader. 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 probably provides the best available
starting point for comparisons of economic strength and well-being
between countries. In contrast, the currency exchange rate method
involves a variety of international and domestic financial forces that
may not capture the value of domestic output. 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. Whereas PPP estimates for OECD
countries are quite reliable, PPP estimates for developing countries
are often rough approximations. In developing countries with weak
currencies, the exchange rate estimate of GDP in dollars is typically
one-fourth to one-half the PPP estimate. Most of the GDP estimates for
developing countries 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. GDP derived using the OER method
should be used for the purpose of calculating the share of items such
as exports, imports, military expenditures, external debt, or the
current account balance, because the dollar values presented in the
Factbook for these items have been converted at official exchange
rates, not at PPP. One should use the OER GDP figure to calculate the
proportion of, say, Chinese defense expenditures in GDP, because that
share will be the same as one calculated in local currency units.
Comparison of OER GDP with PPP GDP may also indicate whether a currency
is over- or under-valued. If OER GDP is smaller than PPP GDP, the
official exchange rate may be undervalued, and vice versa. However,
there is no strong historical evidence that market exchange rates move
in the direction implied by the PPP rate, at least not in the short- or
medium-term. Note: the numbers for GDP and other economic data should
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.
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.
GWP
This entry gives the gross world product (GWP) or aggregate value of
all final goods and services produced worldwide in a given year.
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 F: Cross-Reference List of
Geographic Names. It includes a listing of various alternate names,
former names, local names, and regional names referenced to one or more
related Factbook entries. Spellings are normally, but not always, those
approved by the US Board on Geographic Names (BGN). Alternate names and
additional information are included in parentheses.
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.
Gini index
See entry for Distribution of family income - Gini index
Government
This category includes the entries dealing with the system for the
adoption and administration of public policy.
Government - note
This entry includes miscellaneous government information of
significance not included elsewhere.
Government type
This entry gives the basic form of government. Definitions of the major
governmental terms are as follows:
Anarchy - a condition of lawlessness or political disorder brought
about by the absence of governmental authority.
Commonwealth - a nation, state, or other political entity founded on
law and united by a compact of the people for the common good.
Communism - a system of government in which the state plans and
controls the economy and a single - often authoritarian - party holds
power; state controls are imposed with the elimination of private
ownership of property or capital while claiming to make progress toward
a higher social order in which all goods are equally shared by the
people (i.e., a classless society).
Confederacy (Confederation) - a union by compact or treaty between
states, provinces, or territories, that creates a central government
with limited powers; the constituent entities retain supreme authority
over all matters except those delegated to the central government.
Constitutional - a government by or operating under an authoritative
document (constitution) that sets forth the system of fundamental laws
and principles that determines the nature, functions, and limits of
that government.
Constitutional democracy - a form of government in which the sovereign
power of the people is spelled out in a governing constitution.
Constitutional monarchy - a system of government in which a monarch is
guided by a constitution whereby his/her rights, duties, and
responsibilities are spelled out in written law or by custom.
Democracy - a form of government in which the supreme power is retained
by the people, but which is usually exercised indirectly through a
system of representation and delegated authority periodically renewed.
Democratic republic - a state in which the supreme power rests in the
body of citizens entitled to vote for officers and representatives
responsible to them.
Dictatorship - a form of government in which a ruler or small clique
wield absolute power (not restricted by a constitution or laws).
Ecclesiastical - a government administrated by a church.
Emirate - similar to a monarchy or sultanate, but a government in which
the supreme power is in the hands of an emir (the ruler of a Muslim
state); the emir may be an absolute overlord or a sovereign with
constitutionally limited authority.
Federal (Federative) - a form of government in which sovereign power is
formally divided - usually by means of a constitution - between a
central authority and a number of constituent regions (states,
colonies, or provinces) so that each region retains some management of
its internal affairs; differs from a confederacy in that the central
government exerts influence directly upon both individuals as well as
upon the regional units.
Federal republic - a state in which the powers of the central
government are restricted and in which the component parts (states,
colonies, or provinces) retain a degree of self-government; ultimate
sovereign power rests with the voters who chose their governmental
representatives.
Islamic republic - a particular form of government adoped by some
Muslim states; although such a state is, in theory, a theocracy, it
remains a republic, but its laws are required to be compatible with the
laws of Islam.
Maoism - the theory and practice of Marxism-Leninism developed in China
by Mao Zedong (Mao Tse-tung), which states that a continuous revolution
is necessary if the leaders of a communist state are to keep in touch
with the people.
Marxism - the political, economic, and social principles espoused by
19th century economist Karl Marx; he viewed the struggle of workers as
a progression of historical forces that would proceed from a class
struggle of the proletariat (workers) exploited by capitalists
(business owners), to a socialist "dictatorship of the proletariat,"
to, finally, a classless society - Communism.
Marxism-Leninism - an expanded form of communism developed by Lenin
from doctrines of Karl Marx; Lenin saw imperialism as the final stage
of capitalism and shifted the focus of workers' struggle from developed
to underdeveloped countries.
Monarchy - a government in which the supreme power is lodged in the
hands of a monarch who reigns over a state or territory, usually for
life and by hereditary right; the monarch may be either a sole absolute
ruler or a sovereign - such as a king, queen, or prince - with
constitutionally limited authority.
Oligarchy - a government in which control is exercised by a small group
of individuals whose authority generally is based on wealth or power.
Parliamentary democracy - a political system in which the legislature
(parliament) selects the government - a prime minister, premier, or
chancellor along with the cabinet ministers - according to party
strength as expressed in elections; by this system, the government
acquires a dual responsibility: to the people as well as to the
parliament.
Parliamentary government (Cabinet-Parliamentary government) - a
government in which members of an executive branch (the cabinet and its
leader - a prime minister, premier, or chancellor) are nominated to
their positions by a legislature or parliament, and are directly
responsible to it; this type of government can be dissolved at will by
the parliament (legislature) by means of a no confidence vote or the
leader of the cabinet may dissolve the parliament if it can no longer
function.
Parliamentary monarchy - a state headed by a monarch who is not
actively involved in policy formation or implementation (i.e., the
exercise of sovereign powers by a monarch in a ceremonial capacity);
true governmental leadership is carried out by a cabinet and its head -
a prime minister, premier, or chancellor - who are drawn from a
legislature (parliament).
Republic - a representative democracy in which the people's elected
deputies (representatives), not the people themselves, vote on
legislation.
Socialism - a government in which the means of planning, producing, and
distributing goods is controlled by a central government that
theoretically seeks a more just and equitable distribution of property
and labor; in actuality, most socialist governments have ended up being
no more than dictatorships over workers by a ruling elite.
Sultanate - similar to a monarchy, but a government in which the
supreme power is in the hands of a sultan (the head of a Muslim state);
the sultan may be an absolute ruler or a sovereign with
constitutionally limited authority.
Theocracy - a form of government in which a Deity is recognized as the
supreme civil ruler, but the Deity's laws are interpreted by
ecclesiastical authorities (bishops, mullahs, etc.); a government
subject to religious authority.
Totalitarian - a government that seeks to subordinate the individual to
the state by controlling not only all political and economic matters,
but also the attitudes, values, and beliefs of its population.
Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)
The mean solar time at the Greenwich Meridian, Greenwich, England, with
the hours and days, since 1925, reckoned from midnight. GMT is now a
historical term having been replaced by UTC on 1 January 1972. See
Coordinated Universal Time.
Gross domestic product
see GDP
Gross national product
see GNP
Gross world product
see GWP
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
This entry gives an estimate of the percentage of adults (aged 15-49)
living with HIV/AIDS. The adult prevalence rate is calculated by
dividing the estimated number of adults living with HIV/AIDS at yearend
by the total adult population at yearend.
HIV/AIDS - deaths
This entry gives an estimate of the number of adults and children who
died of AIDS during a given calendar year.
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
This entry gives an estimate of all people (adults and children) alive
at yearend with HIV infection, whether or not they have developed
symptoms of AIDS.
Heliports
This entry gives the total number of heliports with hard-surface
runways, helipads, or landing areas that support routine sustained
helicopter operations exclusively and have support facilities including
one or more of the following facilities: lighting, fuel, passenger
handling, or maintenance. It includes former airports used exclusively
for helicopter operations but excludes heliports limited to day
operations and natural clearings that could support helicopter landings
and takeoffs.
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.
Hydrographic data codes
see Data codes
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 leaf of the cannabis or hemp plant (Cannabis
sativa).
Methaqualone is a pharmaceutical depressant, referred to as mandrax in
Southwest Asia and Africa.
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 is the entire cut and dried opium poppy-plant material,
other than the seeds. Opium is extracted from poppy straw in commercial
operations that produce the drug for medical use.
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), ephedrine, ecstasy (clarity, essence, doctor,
Adam), phenmetrazine (Preludin), methylphenidate (Ritalin), and others
(Cylert, Sanorex, Tenuate).
Imports
This entry provides the total US dollar amount of merchandise imports
on a c.i.f. (cost, insurance, and freight) or f.o.b. (free on board)
basis. These figures are calculated on an exchange rate basis, i.e.,
not in purchasing power parity (PPP) terms.
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 the
traditional founding date or the 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; included is the
total death rate, and deaths by sex, male and female. This rate is
often used as 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 B: International
Organizations and Groups which includes the name, abbreviation, date
established, aim, and members by category.
Internet country code
This entry includes the two-letter codes maintained by the
International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in the ISO 3166
Alpha-2 list and used by the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA)
to establish country-coded top-level domains (ccTLDs).
Internet hosts
This entry lists the number of Internet hosts available within a
country. An Internet host is a computer connected directly to the
Internet; normally an Internet Service Provider's (ISP) computer is a
host. Internet users may use either a hard-wired terminal, at an
institution with a mainframe computer connected directly to the
Internet, or may connect remotely by way of a modem via telephone line,
cable, or satellite to the Internet Service Provider's host computer.
The number of hosts is one indicator of the extent of Internet
connectivity.
Internet users
This entry gives the number of users within a country that access the
Internet. Statistics vary from country to country and may include users
who access the Internet at least several times a week to those who
access it only once within a period of several months.
Introduction
This category includes one entry, Background.
Investment (gross fixed)
This entry records total business spending on fixed assets, such as
factories, machinery, equipment, dwellings, and inventories of raw
materials, which provide the basis for future production. It is
measured gross of the depreciation of the assets, i.e., it includes
invesment that merely replaces worn-out or scrapped capital.
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 lists the percentage distribution of the labor force by
occupation. The distribution will total less than 100 percent if the
data are incomplete.
Land boundaries
This entry contains the total length of all land boundaries and the
individual lengths for each of the contiguous border countries. When
available, official lengths published by national statistical agencies
are used. Because surveying methods may differ, country border lengths
reported by contiguous countries may differ.
Land use
This entry contains the percentage shares of total land area for three
different types of land use: arable land - land cultivated for crops
like wheat, maize, and rice that are replanted after each harvest;
permanent crops - land cultivated for crops like citrus, coffee, and
rubber that are not replanted after each harvest; includes land under
flowering shrubs, fruit trees, nut trees, and vines, but excludes land
under trees grown for wood or timber; other - any land not arable or
under permanent crops; includes permanent meadows and pastures, forests
and woodlands, built-on areas, roads, barren land, 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.
Major infectious diseases
This entry lists major infectious diseases likely to be encountered in
countries where the risk of such diseases is assessed to be very high
as compared to the United States. These infectious diseases represent
risks to US government personnel traveling to the specified country for
a period of less than three years. The degree of risk is assessed by
considering the foreign nature of these infectious diseases, their
severity, and the probability of being affected by the diseases
present. The diseases listed do not necessarily represent the total
disease burden experienced by the local population.
The risk to an individual traveler varies considerably by the specific
location, visit duration, type of activities, type of accommodations,
time of year, and other factors. Consultation with a travel medicine
physician is needed to evaluate individual risk and recommend
appropriate preventive measures such as vaccines.
Diseases are organized into the following six exposure categories shown
in italics and listed in typical descending order of risk. Note - The
sequence of exposure categories listed in individual country entries
may vary according to local conditions.
food or waterborne diseases acquired through eating or drinking on the
local economy:
Hepatitis A - viral disease that interferes with the functioning of the
liver; spread through consumption of food or water contaminated with
fecal matter, principally in areas of poor sanitation; victims exhibit
fever, jaundice, and diarrhea; 15% of victims will experience prolonged
symptoms over 6-9 months; vaccine available.
Hepatitis E - water-borne viral disease that interferes with the
functioning of the liver; most commonly spread through fecal
contamination of drinking water; victims exhibit jaundice, fatigue,
abdominal pain, and dark colored urine.
Typhoid fever - bacterial disease spread through contact with food or
water contaminated by fecal matter or sewage; victims exhibit sustained
high fevers; left untreated, mortality rates can reach 20%.
vectorborne diseases acquired through the bite of an infected
arthropod:
Malaria - caused by single-cell parasitic protozoa Plasmodium;
transmitted to humans via the bite of the female Anopheles mosquito;
parasites multiply in the liver attacking red blood cells resulting in
cycles of fever, chills, and sweats accompanied by anemia; death due to
damage to vital organs and interruption of blood supply to the brain;
endemic in 100, mostly tropical, countries with 90% of cases and the
majority of 1.5-2.5 million estimated annual deaths occurring in sub-
Saharan Africa.
Dengue fever - mosquito-borne (Aedes aegypti) viral disease associated
with urban environments; manifests as sudden onset of fever and severe
headache; occasionally produces shock and hemorrhage leading to death
in 5% of cases.
Yellow fever - mosquito-borne viral disease; severity ranges from
influenza-like symptoms to severe hepatitis and hemorrhagic fever;
occurs only in tropical South America and sub-Saharan Africa, where
most cases are reported; fatality rate is less than 20%.
Japanese Encephalitis - mosquito-borne (Culex tritaeniorhynchus) viral
disease associated with rural areas in Asia; acute encephalitis can
progress to paralysis, coma, and death; fatality rates 30%.
African Trypanosomiasis - caused by the parasitic protozoa Trypanosoma;
transmitted to humans via the bite of bloodsucking Tsetse flies;
infection leads to malaise and irregular fevers and, in advanced cases
when the parasites invade the central nervous system, coma and death;
endemic in 36 countries of sub-Saharan Africa; cattle and wild animals
act as reservoir hosts for the parasites.
Cutaneous Leishmaniasis - caused by the parasitic protozoa leishmania;
transmitted to humans via the bite of sandflies; results in skin
lesions that may become chronic; endemic in 88 countries; 90% of cases
occur in Iran, Afghanistan, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, and Peru; wild
and domesticated animals as well as humans can act as reservoirs of
infection.
Plague - bacterial disease transmitted by fleas normally associated
with rats; person-to-person airborne transmission also possible; recent
plague epidemics occurred in areas of Asia, Africa, and South America
associated with rural areas or small towns and villages; manifests as
fever, headache, and painfully swollen lymph nodes; disease progresses
rapidly and without antibiotic treatment leads to pneumonic form with a
death rate in excess of 50%.
Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever - tick-borne viral disease; infection
may also result from exposure to infected animal blood or tissue;
geographic distribution includes Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and
Eastern Europe; sudden onset of fever, headache, and muscle aches
followed by hemorrhaging in the bowels, urine, nose, and gums;
mortality rate is approximately 30%.
Rift Valley fever - viral disease affecting domesticated animals and
humans; transmission is by mosquito and other biting insects; infection
may also occur through handling of infected meat or contact with blood;
geographic distribution includes eastern and southern Africa where
cattle and sheep are raised; symptoms are generally mild with fever and
some liver abnormalities, but the disease may progress to hemorrhagic
fever, encephalitis, or ocular disease; fatality rates are low at about
1% of cases.
Chikungunya - mosquito-borne (Aedes aegypti) viral disease associated
with urban environments, similar to Dengue Fever; characterized by
sudden onset of fever, rash, and severe joint pain usually lasting 3-7
days, some cases result in persistent arthritis.
water contact diseases acquired through swimming or wading in
freshwater lakes, streams, and rivers:
Leptospirosis - bacterial disease that affects animals and humans;
infection occurs through contact with water, food, or soil contaminated
by animal urine; symptoms include high fever, severe headache,
vomiting, jaundice, and diarrhea; untreated, the disease can result in
kidney damage, liver failure, meningitis, or respiratory distress;
fatality rates are low but left untreated recovery can take months.
Schistosomiasis - caused by parasitic trematode flatworm Schistosoma;
fresh water snails act as intermediate host and release larval form of
parasite that penetrates the skin of people exposed to contaminated
water; worms mature and reproduce in the blood vessels, liver, kidneys,
and intestines releasing eggs, which become trapped in tissues
triggering an immune response; may manifest as either urinary or
intestinal disease resulting in decreased work or learning capacity;
mortality, while generally low, may occur in advanced cases usually due
to bladder cancer; endemic in 74 developing countries with 80% of
infected people living in sub-Saharan Africa; humans act as the
reservoir for this parasite.
aerosolized dust or soil contact disease acquired through inhalation of
aerosols contaminated with rodent urine:
Lassa fever - viral disease carried by rats of the genus Mastomys;
endemic in portions of West Africa; infection occurs through direct
contact with or consumption of food contaminated by rodent urine or
fecal matter containing virus particles; fatality rate can reach 50% in
epidemic outbreaks.
respiratory disease acquired through close contact with an infectious
person:
Meningococcal meningitis - bacterial disease causing an inflammation of
the lining of the brain and spinal cord; one of the most important
bacterial pathogens is Neisseria meningitidis because of its potential
to cause epidemics; symptoms include stiff neck, high fever, headaches,
and vomiting; bacteria are transmitted from person to person by
respiratory droplets and facilitated by close and prolonged contact
resulting from crowded living conditions, often with a seasonal
distribution; death occurs in 5-15% of cases, typically within 24-48
hours of onset of symptoms; highest burden of meningococcal disease
occurs in the hyperendemic region of sub-Saharan Africa known as the
"Meningitis Belt" which stretches from Senegal east to Ethiopia.
animal contact disease acquired through direct contact with local
animals:
Rabies - viral disease of mammals usually transmitted through the bite
of an infected animal, most commonly dogs; virus affects the central
nervous system causing brain alteration and death; symptoms initially
are non-specific fever and headache progressing to neurological
symptoms; death occurs within days of the onset of symptoms.
Manpower available for military service
This entry gives the number of males and females falling in the
military age range for the country and assumes that every individual is
fit to serve.
Manpower fit for military service
This entry gives the number of males and females falling in the
military age range for the country and who are not otherwise
disqualified for health reasons; accounts for the health situation in
the country and provides a more realistic estimate of the actual number
fit to serve.
Manpower reaching military service 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.
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, the definitions of which are
excerpted from the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea
(UNCLOS), which alone contains the full and definitive descriptions:
territorial sea - the sovereignty of a coastal state extends beyond its
land territory and internal waters to an adjacent belt of sea,
described as the territorial sea in the UNCLOS (Part II); this
sovereignty extends to the air space over the territorial sea as well
as its underlying seabed and subsoil; every state has the right to
establish the breadth of its territorial sea up to a limit not
exceeding 12 nautical miles; the normal baseline for measuring the
breadth of the territorial sea is the low-water line along the coast as
marked on large-scale charts officially recognized by the coastal
state; the UNCLOS describes specific rules for archipelagic states.
contiguous zone - according to the UNCLOS (Article 33), this is a zone
contiguous to a coastal state's territorial sea, over which it may
exercise the control necessary to: prevent infringement of its customs,
fiscal, immigration, or sanitary laws and regulations within its
territory or territorial sea; punish infringement of the above laws and
regulations committed within its territory or territorial sea; the
contiguous zone may not extend beyond 24 nautical miles from the
baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured
(e.g. the US has claimed a 12-nautical mile contiguous zone in addition
to its 12-nautical mile territorial sea).
exclusive economic zone (EEZ) - the UNCLOS (Part V) defines the EEZ as
a zone beyond and adjacent to the territorial sea in which a coastal
state has: sovereign rights for the purpose of exploring and
exploiting, conserving and managing the natural resources, whether
living or non-living, of the waters superjacent to the seabed and of
the seabed and its subsoil, and with regard to other activities for the
economic exploitation and exploration of the zone, such as the
production of energy from the water, currents, and winds; jurisdiction
with regard to the establishment and use of artificial islands,
installations, and structures; marine scientific research; the
protection and preservation of the marine environment; the outer limit
of the exclusive economic zone shall not exceed 200 nautical miles from
the baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea is
measured.
continental shelf - the UNCLOS (Article 76) defines the continental
shelf of a coastal state as comprising the seabed and subsoil of the
submarine areas that extend beyond its territorial sea throughout the
natural prolongation of its land territory to the outer edge of the
continental margin, or to a distance of 200 nautical miles from the
baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured
where the outer edge of the continental margin does not extend up to
that distance; the continental margin comprises the submerged
prolongation of the landmass of the coastal state, and consists of the
seabed and subsoil of the shelf, the slope and the rise; wherever the
continental margin extends beyond 200 nautical miles from the baseline,
coastal states may extend their claim to a distance not to exceed 350
nautical miles from the baseline or 100 nautical miles from the 2500
meter isobath; it does not include the deep ocean floor with its
oceanic ridges or the subsoil thereof.
exclusive fishing zone - while this term is not used in the UNCLOS,
some states (e.g., the United Kingdom) have chosen not to claim an EEZ,
but rather to claim jurisdiction over the living resources off their
coast; in such cases, the term exclusive fishing zone is often used;
the breadth of this zone is normally the same as the EEZ or 200
nautical miles.
Median age
This entry is the age that divides a population into two numerically
equal groups; that is, half the people are younger than this age and
half are older. It is a single index that summarizes the age
distribution of a population. Currently, the median age ranges from a
low of about 15 in Uganda and Gaza Strip to 40 or more in several
European countries and Japan. See the entry for "Age structure" for the
importance of a young versus an older age structure and, by
implication, a low versus a higher median age.
Merchant marine
Merchant marine may be defined as all ships engaged in the carriage of
goods; or all commercial vessels (as opposed to all nonmilitary ships),
which excludes tugs, fishing vessels, offshore oil rigs, etc. This
entry contains information in four fields - total, ships by type,
foreign-owned, and registered in other countries.
Total includes the number of ships (1,000 GRT or over), total DWT for
those ships, and total GRT for those ships. DWT or dead weight tonnage
is the total weight of cargo, plus bunkers, stores, etc., that a ship
can carry when immersed to the appropriate load line. GRT or gross
register tonnage is a figure obtained by measuring the entire sheltered
volume of a ship available for cargo and passengers and converting it
to tons on the basis of 100 cubic feet per ton; there is no stable
relationship between GRT and DWT.
Ships by type includes a listing of barge carriers, bulk cargo ships,
cargo ships, chemical tankers, combination bulk carriers, combination
ore/oil carriers, container ships, liquefied gas tankers, livestock
carriers, multifunctional large-load carriers, petroleum tankers,
passenger ships, passenger/cargo ships, railcar carriers, refrigerated
cargo ships, roll-on/roll-off cargo ships, short-sea passenger ships,
specialized tankers, and vehicle carriers.
Foreign-owned are ships that fly the flag of one country but belong to
owners in another.
Registered in other countries are ships that belong to owners in one
country but fly the flag of another.
Military
This category includes the entries dealing with a country's military
structure, manpower, and expenditures.
Military - note
This entry includes miscellaneous military information of significance
not included elsewhere.
Military branches
This entry lists the service branches subordinate to defense ministries
or the equivalent (typically ground, naval, air, and marine forces).
Military expenditures - dollar figure
This entry gives spending on defense programs in US dollars for the
most recent year available; dollar figures for military expenditures
should be treated with caution because of different price patterns and
accounting methods among nations, as well as wide variations in the
strength of different currencies.
Military expenditures - percent of GDP
This entry gives spending on defense programs for the most recent year
available as a percent of gross domestic product (GDP); the GDP is
calculated on an exchange rate basis, i.e., not in terms of purchasing
power parity (PPP).
Military service age and obligation
This entry gives the required ages for voluntary or conscript military
service and the length of sevice obligation.
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 gas - consumption
This entry is the total natural gas consumed in cubic meters (cu m).
The discrepancy between the amount of natural gas produced and/or
imported and the amount consumed and/or exported is due to the omission
of stock changes and other complicating factors.
Natural gas - exports
This entry is the total natural gas exported in cubic meters (cu m).
Natural gas - imports
This entry is the total natural gas imported in cubic meters (cu m).
Natural gas - production
This entry is the total natural gas produced in cubic meters (cu m).
The discrepancy between the amount of natural gas produced and/or
imported and the amount consumed and/or exported is due to the omission
of stock changes and other complicating factors.
Natural gas - proved reserves
This entry is the stock of proved reserves of natural gas in cubic
meters (cu m). Proved reserves are those quantities of natural gas,
which, by analysis of geological and engineering data, can be estimated
with a high degree of confidence to be commercially recoverable from a
given date forward, from known reservoirs and under current economic
conditions.
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).
Oil - consumption
This entry is the total oil consumed in barrels per day (bbl/day). The
discrepancy between the amount of oil produced and/or imported and the
amount consumed and/or exported is due to the omission of stock
changes, refinery gains, and other complicating factors.
Oil - exports
This entry is the total oil exported in barrels per day (bbl/day),
including both crude oil and oil products.
Oil - imports
This entry is the total oil imported in barrels per day (bbl/day),
including both crude oil and oil products.
Oil - production
This entry is the total oil produced in barrels per day (bbl/day). The
discrepancy between the amount of oil produced and/or imported and the
amount consumed and/or exported is due to the omission of stock
changes, refinery gains, and other complicating factors.
Oil - proved reserves
This entry is the stock of proved reserves of crude oil in barrels
(bbl). Proved reserves are those quantities of petroleum which, by
analysis of geological and engineering data, can be estimated with a
high degree of confidence to be commercially recoverable from a given
date forward, from known reservoirs and under current economic
conditions.
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. 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, George W. BUSH, 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 Castro, Chairman Mao, President Bush, 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. For Vietnamese names, the given name is capitalized
because officials are referred to by their given name rather than by
their surname. For example, the president of Vietnam is Tran Duc LUONG.
His surname is Tran, but he is referred to by his given name -
President LUONG.
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 not
capitalized. Examples: President PUTIN and President BUSH 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.
Petroleum
See entries under Oil.
Petroleum products
See entries under Oil.
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 explicitly taken
into account the effects of the growing impact of the HIV/AIDS
epidemic. These countries are currently: The Bahamas, Benin, Botswana,
Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central
African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the
Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras,
Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South
Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, and
Zimbabwe.
Population below poverty line
National estimates of the percentage of the population falling 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 terminals
This entry lists major ports and terminals primarily on the basis of
the amount of cargo tonnage shipped through the facilities on an annual
basis. In some instances, the number of containers handled or ship
visits were also considered.
Public debt
This entry records the cumulatiive total of all government borrowings
less repayments that are denominated in a country's home currency.
Public debt should not be confused with external debt, which reflects
the foreign currency liabilities of both the private and public sector
and must be financed out of foreign exchange earnings.
Radio broadcast stations
This entry includes the total number of AM, FM, and shortwave broadcast
stations.
Railways
This entry states the total route length of the railway network and of
its component parts by gauge: broad, standard, narrow, and dual. Other
gauges are listed under note.
Reference maps
This section includes world and regional maps.
Refugees and internally displaced persons
This entry includes those persons residing in a country as refugees or
internally displaced persons (IDPs). The definition of a refugee
according to a United Nations Convention is "a person who is outside
his/her country of nationality or habitual residence; has a well-
founded fear of persecution because of his/her race, religion,
nationality, membership in a particular social group or political
opinion; and is unable or unwilling to avail himself/herself of the
protection of that country, or to return there, for fear of
persecution." The UN established the Office of the UN High Commissioner
for Refugees (UNHCR) in 1950 to handle refugee matters worldwide. The
UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East
(UNRWA) has a different, operational definition for a Palestinian
refugee: "a person whose normal place of residence was Palestine during
the period 1 June 1946 to 15 May 1948 and who lost both home and means
of livelihood as a result of the 1948 conflict." However, UNHCR also
assists some 400,000 Palestinian refugees not covered under the UNRWA
definition. The term "internally displaced person" is not specifically
covered in the UN Convention; it is used to describe people who have
fled their homes for reasons similar to refugees, but who remain within
their own national territory and are subject to the laws of that state.
Religions
This entry is an ordered listing of religions by adherents starting
with the largest group and sometimes includes the percent of total
population.
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
This entry gives the dollar value for the stock of all financial assets
that are available to the central monetary authority for use in meeting
a country's balance of payments needs as of the end-date of the period
specified. This category includes not only foreign currency and gold,
but also a country's holdings of Special Drawing Rights in the
International Monetary Fund, and its reserve position in the Fund.
Roadways
This entry gives the total length of the road network and includes the
length of the paved and unpaved portions.
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.
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 World 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 general assessment 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 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.
GSM - a global system for mobile (cellular) communications devised by
the Groupe Special Mobile of the pan-European standardization
organization, Conference Europeanne des Posts et Telecommunications
(CEPT) in 1982.
HF - high frequency; any radio frequency in the 3,000- to 30,000-kHz
range.
Inmarsat - International Maritime 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.
PanAmSat - PanAmSat Corporation (Greenwich, CT).
SAFE - South African Far East Cable
Satellite communication system - a communication system consisting of
two or more earth stations and at least one satellite that provide 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 - main lines in use
This entry gives the total number of main telephone lines in use.
Telephones - mobile cellular
This entry gives the total number of mobile cellular telephone
subscribers.
Television broadcast stations
This entry gives the total number of separate broadcast stations plus
any repeater stations.
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.
Time Difference
This entry is expressed in The World Factbook in two ways. First, it is
stated as the difference in hours between the capital of an entity and
Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) during Standard Time. Additionally,
the difference in time between the capital of an entity and that
observed in Washington, D.C. is also provided. Note that the time
difference assumes both locations are simultaneously observing Standard
Time or Daylight Saving Time.
Time zones
Ten countries (Australia, Brazil, Canada, Indonesia, Kazakhstan,
Mexico, New Zealand, Russia, Spain, and the United States) and the
island of Greenland observe more than one official time depending on
the number of designated time zones within their boundaries. An
illustration of time zones throughout the world and within countries
can be seen in the Standard Time Zones of the World map included in the
Reference Maps section of The World Factbook.
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 (TFR) 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 change in
the country. A rate of two children per woman is considered the
replacement rate for a population, resulting in relative stability in
terms of total numbers. Rates above two children indicate populations
growing in size and whose median age is declining. Higher rates may
also indicate difficulties for families, in some situations, to feed
and educate their children and for women to enter the labor force.
Rates below two children indicate populations decreasing in size and
growing older. Global fertility rates are in general decline and this
trend is most pronounced in industrialized countries, especially
Western Europe, where populations are projected to decline dramatically
over the next 50 years.
Trafficking in persons
Trafficking in persons is modern-day slavery, involving victims who are
forced, defrauded, or coerced into labor or sexual exploitation. The
International Labor Organization (ILO), the UN agency charged with
addressing labor standards, employment, and social protection issues,
estimates that 12.3 million people worldwide are enslaved in forced
labor, bonded labor, forced child labor, sexual servitude, and
involuntary servitude at any given time. Human trafficking is a multi-
dimensional threat, depriving people of their human rights and
freedoms, risking global health, promoting social breakdown, inhibiting
development by depriving countries of their human capital, and helping
fuel the growth of organized crime. In 2000, the US Congress passed the
Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA), reauthorized in 2003 and
2005, which provides tools for the US to combat trafficking in persons,
both domestically and abroad. One of the law¿s key components is the
creation of the US Department of State¿s annual Trafficking in Persons
Report, which assesses the government response in some 150 countries
with a significant number of victims trafficked across their borders
who are recruited, harbored, transported, provided, or obtained for
forced labor or sexual exploitation. Countries in the annual report are
rated in three tiers, based on government efforts to combat
trafficking. The countries identified in this entry are those listed in
the 2006 Trafficking in Persons Report as Tier 2 Watch List or Tier 3
based on the following definitions:
Tier 2 Watch List countries do not fully comply with the minimum
standards for the elimination of trafficking but are making significant
efforts to do so, and meet one of the following criteria: 1. they
display a high or significantly increasing number victims, 2. they have
failed to provide evidence of increasing efforts to combat trafficking
in persons, or, 3. they have committed to take action over the next
year.
Tier 3 countries neither satisfy the minimum standards for the
elimination of traffiking nor demonstrate a significant effort to do
so. Countries in this tier are subject to potential non-humanitarian
and non-trade sanctions.
Transnational issues
This category includes four entries - Disputes - international,
Refugees and internally displaced persons, Trafficking in persons, 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.
UTC (Coordinated Universal Time)
See entry for Coordinated Universal Time.
Unemployment rate
This entry contains the percent of the labor force that is without
jobs. Substantial underemployment might be noted.
Waterways
This entry gives the total length of navigable rivers, canals, and
other inland bodies of water.
Weights and Measures
This information is presented in Appendix G: 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.
Note: Information for the US and US dependencies was compiled from
material in the public domain and does not represent Intelligence
Community estimates.
This page was last updated on 19 December 2006
=====================================================================
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 government-wide 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
and 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 in 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 Factbook was
first made available on the Internet in June 1997. The year 2006
marks the 59th anniversary of the establishment of the Central
Intelligence Agency and the 63nd year of continuous basic
intelligence support to the US Government by The World Factbook and
its two predecessor programs.
This page was last updated on 28 November, 2006
=====================================================================
Contributors and Copyright Information
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 Antarctic Information
Program (National Science Foundation), Armed Forces Medical
Intelligence Center (Department of Defense), 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), Department of Energy, Department of State, Fish and
Wildlife Service (Department of the Interior), Maritime
Administration (Department of Transportation), National
Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (Department of Defense), 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), US Transportation Command (Department
of Defense), Oil & Gas Journal, 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:
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Attn.: Office of Public Affairs
Washington, DC 20505
Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM Eastern Standard Time
Telephone: [1] (703) 482-0623
FAX: [1] (703) 482-1739
=====================================================================
Purchasing Information
The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) publishes The World Factbook
in printed and Internet versions. US Government officials may obtain
information about availability of the Factbook from their
organizations or through liaison channels to the CIA. Other users
may obtain sales information about printed copies from the following:
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P. O. Box 371954
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The World Factbook can be accessed on the Internet at:
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/index.html
This page was last updated on 23 March, 2006
=====================================================================
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The World Factbook staff thanks you for your comments, suggestions,
updates, kudos, and corrections over the past years. The willingness
of readers from around the world to share their observations and
specialized knowledge is very helpful as we try to produce the best
possible publications. Please feel free to continue to write and
e-mail e-mail us. When submitting corrections or updates to the
Factbook, please include your source(s) of information. At least two
Factbook staffers review every submitted item. The sheer volume of
correspondence precludes detailed personal replies, but we sincerely
appreciate your time and interest in the Factbook. If you include
your e-mail address we will at least acknowledge your note. Thank
you again.
Answers to many frequently asked questions (FAQs) are explained in
the Notes and Definitions section in The World Factbook. Please
review this section to see if your question is already answered
there. In addition, we have compiled the following list of FAQs to
answer other common questions. Select from the following categories
to narrow your search:
General
Geography
Spelling and Pronunciation
Policies and Procedures
Technical
General
Can you provide additional information for a specific country?
The staff cannot provide data beyond what appears in The World
Factbook. The format and information in the Factbook are tailored to
the specific requirements of US Government officials and content is
focused on their current and anticipated needs. The staff welcomes
suggestions for new entries.
How often is The World Factbook updated?
Formerly our Web site (and the published Factbook) were only updated
annually. Beginning in November 2001 we instituted a new system of
more frequent online updates. The World Factbook is currently
updated every two weeks.
The annual printed version of the Factbook is usually released about
midyear. US Government officials may obtain information about
Factbook availability from their own organizations or through
liaison channels to the CIA. Other users may obtain sales
information through the following channels:
Superintendent of Documents
P. O. Box 371954 Pittsburgh, PA 15250-7954
Telephone: [1] (202) 512-1800
FAX: [1] (202) 512-2250
http://bookstore.gpo.gov
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
Can I use some or all of The World Factbook for my Web site (book,
research project, homework, etc.)?
The World Factbook is in the public domain and may be used freely by
anyone at anytime without seeking permission. However, US Code
prohibits use of the CIA seal in a manner which implies that the CIA
approved, endorsed, or authorized such use. If you have any
questions about your intended use, you should consult with legal
counsel. Further information on The World Factbook's use is
described on the Contributors and Copyright Information page. As a
courtesy, please cite The World Factbook when used.
Why doesn't The World Factbook include information on states,
departments, provinces, etc., in the country format?
The World Factbook provides national-level information on countries,
territories, and dependencies, but not subnational administrative
units within a country. A good encyclopedia should provide
state/province-level information.
Is it possible to access older editions of The World Factbook to do
comparative research and trend analysis?
Only the current version is available for browsing on the CIA Web
site. In the future, the staff hopes to post electronic versions of
The World Factbook as far back as 1986. Hardcopy editions for
earlier years are available from libraries.
Would it be possible to set up a partnership or collaboration
between the producers of The World Factbook and other organizations
or individuals?
The World Factbook does not partner with other organizations or
individuals, but we do welcome comments and suggestions that such
groups or persons choose to provide.
Geography
I can't find a geographic name for a particular country. Why not?
The World Factbook is not a gazetteer (a dictionary or index of
places, usually with descriptive or statistical information) and
cannot provide more than the names of the administrative divisions
(in the Government category) and major cities/towns (on the country
maps). Our expanded Cross-Reference List of Geographic Names,
however, includes many of the world's major geographic features as
well as historic (former) names of countries and cities mentioned in
The World Factbook.
Why are Taiwan and the European Union listed out of alphabetical
order at the end of the Factbook entries?
Taiwan is listed after the regular entries because even though the
mainland People's Republic of China claims Taiwan, elected Taiwanese
authorities de facto administer the island and reject mainland
sovereignty claims. With the establishment of diplomatic relations
with China on January 1, 1979, the US Government recognized the
People's Republic of China as the sole legal government of China,
acknowledging the Chinese position that there is only one China and
that Taiwan is part of China.
The European Union (EU) is not a country, but it has taken on many
nation-like attributes and these are likely to be expanded in the
future. A more complete explanation on the inclusion of the EU into
the Factbook may be found in the Preliminary statement.
Since we have an ambassador who represents the US at the Vatican,
why is this entity not listed in the Factbook?
Vatican City is found under Holy See. The term "Holy See" refers to
the authority, jurisdiction, and sovereignty vested in the Pope and
his advisors to direct the worldwide Catholic Church. The Holy See
has a legal personality that allows it to enter into treaties as the
juridical equal of a state and to send and receive diplomatic
representatives. Vatican City, created in 1929 to administer
properties belonging to the Holy See in Rome, is recognized under
international law as a sovereign state, but it does not send or
receive diplomatic representatives. Consequently, Holy See is
included as a Factbook entry, with Vatican City cross-referenced in
the Geographic Names appendix.
Why is Palestine not listed in The World Factbook?
The areas that could potentially form a future Palestinian state --
the West Bank and Gaza Strip -- do appear in the Factbook. These
areas are presently Israeli-occupied with current status subject to
the Israeli-Palestinian 1995 Interim Agreement; their permanent
status is to be determined through further negotiation.
Why are the Golan Heights not shown as part of Israel or Northern
Cyprus with Turkey?
Territorial occupations/annexations not recognized by the United
States Government are not shown on US Government maps.
Why don't you include information on entities such as Tibet,
Kashmir, or Kosovo?
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=====================================================================
@Afghanistan
Introduction Afghanistan
Background:
Ahmad Shah DURRANI unified the Pashtun tribes and founded
Afghanistan in 1747. The country served as a buffer between the
British and Russian empires until it won independence from notional
British control in 1919. A brief experiment in democracy ended in a
1973 coup and a 1978 Communist counter-coup. The Soviet Union
invaded in 1979 to support the tottering Afghan Communist regime,
but withdrew 10 years later under relentless pressure by
internationally supported anti-Communist mujahedin rebels. A civil
war between mujahedin factions erupted following the 1992 fall of
the Communist regime. The Taliban, a hardline Pakistani-sponsored
movement that emerged in 1994 to end the country's civil war and
anarchy, seized Kabul in 1996 and most of the country outside of
opposition Northern Alliance strongholds by 1998. Following the 11
September 2001 terrorist attacks, a US, Allied, and Northern
Alliance military action toppled the Taliban for sheltering Osama
BIN LADIN. In late 2001, a conference in Bonn, Germany, established
a process for political reconstruction that included the adoption of
a new constitution and a presidential election in 2004, and National
Assembly elections in 2005. On 7 December 2004, Hamid KARZAI became
the first democratically elected president of Afghanistan. The
National Assembly was inaugurated on 19 December 2005.
Geography Afghanistan
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, chromite, talc, barites,
sulfur, lead, zinc, iron ore, salt, precious and semiprecious stones
Land use:
arable land: 12.13%
permanent crops: 0.21%
other: 87.66% (2005)
Irrigated land:
27,200 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:
damaging earthquakes occur in Hindu Kush mountains; flooding;
droughts
Environment - current issues:
limited natural fresh water resources; inadequate supplies of
potable water; soil degradation; overgrazing; deforestation (much of
the remaining forests are being cut down for fuel and building
materials); desertification; air and water pollution
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Marine Dumping
signed, but not ratified: Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine
Life Conservation
Geography - note:
landlocked; the Hindu Kush mountains that run northeast to
southwest divide the northern provinces from the rest of the
country; the highest peaks are in the northern Vakhan (Wakhan
Corridor)
People Afghanistan
Population:
31,056,997 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 44.6% (male 7,095,117/female 6,763,759)
15-64 years: 53% (male 8,436,716/female 8,008,463)
65 years and over: 2.4% (male 366,642/female 386,300) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 17.6 years
male: 17.6 years
female: 17.6 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.67% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
46.6 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
20.34 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
0.42 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.95 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 160.23 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 164.77 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 155.45 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 43.34 years
male: 43.16 years
female: 43.53 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
6.69 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.01% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria is a high risk countrywide below 2,000
meters from March through November
animal contact disease: rabies (2005)
Nationality:
noun: Afghan(s)
adjective: Afghan
Ethnic groups:
Pashtun 42%, Tajik 27%, Hazara 9%, Uzbek 9%, Aimak 4%, Turkmen 3%,
Baloch 2%, other 4%
Religions:
Sunni Muslim 80%, Shi'a Muslim 19%, other 1%
Languages:
Afghan Persian or Dari (official) 50%, Pashtu (official) 35%,
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: 36%
male: 51%
female: 21% (1999 est.)
People - note:
of the estimated 4 million refugees in October 2001, 2.3 million
have returned
Government Afghanistan
Country name:
conventional long form: Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
conventional short form: Afghanistan
local long form: Jomhuri-ye Eslami-ye Afghanestan
local short form: Afghanestan
former: Republic of Afghanistan
Government type:
Islamic republic
Capital:
name: Kabul
geographic coordinates: 34 31 N, 69 12 E
time difference: UTC+4.5 (9.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
34 provinces (velayat, singular - velayat); Badakhshan, Badghis,
Baghlan, Balkh, Bamian, Daykondi, Farah, Faryab, Ghazni, Ghowr,
Helmand, Herat, Jowzjan, Kabol, Kandahar, Kapisa, Khowst, Konar,
Kondoz, Laghman, Lowgar, Nangarhar, Nimruz, Nurestan, Oruzgan,
Paktia, Paktika, Panjshir, Parvan, Samangan, Sar-e Pol, Takhar,
Vardak, Zabol
Independence:
19 August 1919 (from UK control over Afghan foreign affairs)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 19 August (1919)
Constitution:
new constitution drafted 14 December 2003-4 January 2004; signed 16
January 2004
Legal system:
according to the new constitution, no law should be "contrary to
Islam"; the state is obliged to create a prosperous and progressive
society based on social justice, protection of human dignity,
protection of human rights, realization of democracy, and to ensure
national unity and equality among all ethnic groups and tribes; the
state shall abide by the UN charter, international treaties,
international conventions that Afghanistan signed, and the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
Hamid KARZAI (since 7 December 2004); Vice Presidents Ahmad Zia
MASOOD and Abdul Karim KHALILI (since 7 December 2004); note - the
president is both the chief of state and head of government; former
King ZAHIR Shah holds the honorific, "Father of the Country," and
presides symbolically over certain occasions, but lacks any
governing authority; the honorific is not hereditary
head of government: President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
Hamid KARZAI (since 7 December 2004); Vice Presidents Ahmad Zia
MASOOD and Abdul Karim KHALILI (since 7 December 2004); note - the
president is both chief of state and head of government
cabinet: 27 ministers; note - under the new constitution, ministers
are appointed by the president and approved by the National Assembly
elections: the president and two vice presidents are elected by
direct vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); if no
candidate receives 50% or more of the vote in the first round of
voting, the two candidates with the most votes will participate in a
second round; a president can only be elected for two terms;
election last held 9 October 2004 (next to be held in 2009)
election results: Hamid KARZAI elected president; percent of vote -
Hamid KARZAI 55.4%, Yunus QANOONI 16.3%, Ustad Mohammad MOHAQQEQ
11.6%, Abdul Rashid DOSTAM 10.0%, Abdul Latif PEDRAM 1.4%, Masooda
JALAL 1.2%
Legislative branch:
the bicameral National Assembly consists of the Wolesi Jirga or
House of People (no more than 249 seats), directly elected for
five-year terms, and the Meshrano Jirga or House of Elders (102
seats, one-third elected from provincial councils for four-year
terms, one-third elected from local district councils for three-year
terms - provincial councils elected temporary members to fill these
seats until district councils are formed, and one-third presidential
appointees for five-year terms; the presidential appointees will
include 2 representatives of Kuchis and 2 representatives of the
disabled; half of the presidential appointees will be women)
note: on rare occasions the government may convene a Loya Jirga
(Grand Council) on issues of independence, national sovereignty, and
territorial integrity; it can amend the provisions of the
constitution and prosecute the president; it is made up of members
of the National Assembly and chairpersons of the provincial and
district councils
elections: last held 18 September 2005 (next to be held for the
Wolesi Jirga by September 2009; next to be held for the provincial
councils to the Meshrano Jirga by September 2008)
election results: the single non-transferable vote (SNTV) system
used in the election did not make use of political party slates;
most candidates ran as independents
Judicial branch:
the constitution establishes a nine-member Stera Mahkama or Supreme
Court (its nine justices are appointed for 10-year terms by the
president with approval of the Wolesi Jirga) and subordinate High
Courts and Appeals Courts (note - nine supreme court justices were
appointed in the interim in January 2005 pending National Assembly
selection of the constitutionally mandated justices); there is also
a minister of justice; a separate Afghan Independent Human Rights
Commission established by the Bonn Agreement is charged with
investigating human rights abuses and war crimes
Political parties and leaders:
note - includes only political parties approved by the Ministry of
Justice: Afghan Millat [Anwarul Haq AHADI]; De Afghanistan De Solay
Ghorzang Gond [Shahnawaz TANAI]; De Afghanistan De Solay Mili Islami
Gond [Shah Mahmood Polal ZAI]; Harakat-e-Islami Afghanistan
[Mohammad Asif MOHSINEE]; Hezb-e-Aarman-e-Mardum-e-Afghanistan
[Iihaj Saraj-u-din ZAFAREE]; Hezb-e-Aazadee Afghanistan [Abdul
MALIK]; Hezb-e-Adalat-e-Islami Afghanistan [Mohammad Kabeer
MARZBAN]; Hezb-e-Afghanistan-e-Wahid [Mohammad Wasil RAHEEMEE];
Hezb-e-Afghan Watan Islami Gond; Hezb-e-Congra-e-Mili Afghanistan
[Latif PEDRAM]; Hezb-e-Falah-e-Mardum-e-Afghanistan [Mohammad
ZAREEF]; Hezb-e-Hambastagee Mili Jawanan-e-Afghanistan [Mohammad
Jamil KARZAI]; Hezb-e-Hamnbatagee-e-Afghanistan [Abdul Khaleq
NEMAT]; Hezb-e-Harakat-e-Mili Wahdat-e-Afghanistan [Mohammad Nadir
AATASH]; Hezb-e-Harak-e-Islami Mardum-e-Afghanistan [Ilhaj Said
Hssain ANWARY]; Hezb-e-Ifazat Az Uqoq-e-Bashar Wa
Inkishaf-e-Afghanistan [Baryalai NASRATEE];
Hezb-e-Istiqlal-e-Afghanistan [Dr. Gh. Farooq NIJZRABEE];
Hezb-e-Jamhoree Khwahan [Sibghatullah SANJAR]; Hezb-e-Kar Wa
Tawsiha-e-Afghanistan [Zulfiar OMID]; Hezb-e-Libral-e-Aazadee
Khwa-e-Mardum-e-Afghanistan [Ajmal SOHAIL]; Hezb-e-Mili Afghanistan
[Abdul Rasheed AARYAN]; Hezb-e-Mili Wahdat-e-Aqwam-e-Islami
Afghanistan [Mohammad Shah KHOGYANEE]; Hezb-e-Nuhzhat-e-Mili
Afghanistan [Ahmad Wali MASOUD]; Hezb-e-Paiwand-e-Mili Afghanistan
[Said Mansoor NADIRI]; Hezb-e-Rastakhaiz-e-Islami
Mardum-e-Afghanistan [Said ZAHIR];
Hezb-e-Refah-e-Mardum-e-Afghanistan [Mia Gul WASEEQ];
Hezb-e-Risalat-e-Mardum-e-Afghanistan [Noor Aqa ROEEN];
Hezb-e-Sahadat-e-Mardum-e-Afghanistan [Mohammad Zubair PAIROZ];
Hezb-e-Sahadat-e-Mili Wa Islami Afghanistan [Mohammad Usman
SALIGZADA]; Hezb-e-Sulh-e-Mili Islami Aqwam-e-Afghanistan [Abdul
Qahir SHARYATEE]; Hezb-e-Sulh Wa Wahdat-e-Mili Afghanistan [Abdul
Qadir IMAMEE]; Hezb-e-Tafahum-e-Wa Democracy Afghanistan [Ahamad
SHAHEEN]; Hezb-e-Wahdat-e-Islami Afghanistan [Mohammad Karim
KHALILI]; Hezb-e-Wahdat-e-Islami Mardum-e-Afghanistan [Ustad
Mohammad MOHAQQEQ]; Hezb-e-Wahdat-e-Mili Afghanistan [Abdul Rasheed
JALILI]; Jamahat-ul-Dahwat ilal Qurhan-wa-Sunat-ul-Afghanistan
[Mawlawee Samiullah NAJEEBEE]; Jombesh-e Milli [Abdul Rashid
DOSTAM]; Mahaz-e-Mili Islami Afghanistan [Said Ahmad GAILANEE];
Majmah-e-Mili Fahaleen-e-Sulh-e-Afghanistan [Shams ul Haq Noor
SHAMS]; Nuhzat-e-Aazadee Wa Democracy Afghanistan [Abdul Raqeeb
Jawid KUHISTANEE]; Nuhzat-e-Hambastagee Mili Afghanistan [Peer Said
Ishaq GAILANEE]; Sazman-e-Islami Afghanistan-e-Jawan [Siad Jawad
HUSSAINEE]; Tahreek Wahdat-e-Mili [Sultan Mahmood DHAZI] (30 Sep
2004)
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Jamiat-e Islami (Society of Islam) [former President Burhanuddin
RABBANI]; Ittihad-e Islami (Islamic Union for the Liberation of
Afghanistan) [Abdul Rasul SAYYAF]; there are also small monarchist,
communist, and democratic groups
International organization participation:
AsDB, CP, ECO, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent),
ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OSCE (partner), SACEP, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Said Tayeb JAWAD
chancery: 2341 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] 202-483-6410
FAX: [1] 202-483-6488
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Ronald E. NEUMANN
embassy: The Great Masood Road, Kabul
mailing address: 6180 Kabul Place, Dulles, VA 20189-6180
telephone: [00 93] (20) 230-0436
FAX: [00 93] (20) 230-1364
Flag description:
three equal vertical bands of black (hoist), red, and green, with a
gold emblem centered on the red band; the emblem features a
temple-like structure encircled by a wreath on the left and right
and by a bold Islamic inscription above
Economy Afghanistan
Economy - overview:
Afghanistan's economic outlook has improved significantly since the
fall of the Taliban regime in 2001 because of the infusion of over
$8 billion in international assistance, recovery of the agricultural
sector and growth of the service sector, and the reestablishment of
market institutions. Real GDP growth is estimated to have slowed in
the last fiscal year primarily because adverse weather conditions
cut agricultural production, but is expected to rebound over 2005-06
because of foreign donor reconstruction and service sector growth.
Despite the progress of the past few years, Afghanistan remains
extremely poor, landlocked, and highly dependent on foreign aid,
farming, and trade with neighboring countries. It will probably take
the remainder of the decade and continuing donor aid and attention
to significantly raise Afghanistan's living standards from its
current status, among the lowest in the world. Much of the
population continues to suffer from shortages of housing, clean
water, electricity, medical care, and jobs, but the Afghan
government and international donors remain committed to improving
access to these basic necessities by prioritizing infrastructure
development, education, housing development, jobs programs, and
economic reform over the next year. Growing political stability and
continued international commitment to Afghan reconstruction create
an optimistic outlook for continuing improvements in the Afghan
economy in 2006. Expanding poppy cultivation and a growing opium
trade may account for one-third of GDP and looms as one of Kabul's
most serious policy challenges. Other long-term challenges include:
boosting the supply of skilled labor, reducing vulnerability to
severe natural disasters, expanding health services, and rebuilding
a war torn infrastructure.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$21.5 billion (2004 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$7.095 billion
GDP - real growth rate:
14% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$800 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 38%
industry: 24%
services: 38%
note: data exclude opium production (2005 est.)
Labor force:
15 million (2004 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 80%
industry: 10%
services: 10% (2004 est.)
Unemployment rate:
40% (2005 est.)
Population below poverty line:
53% (2003)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
16.3% (2005 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $269 million
expenditures: $561 million; including capital expenditures of $41.7
million
note: Afghanistan has also received $273 million from the
Reconstruction Trust Fund and $63 million from the Law and Order
Trust Fund (FY04-05 budget est.)
Agriculture - products:
opium, wheat, fruits, nuts; wool, mutton, sheepskins, lambskins
Industries:
small-scale production of textiles, soap, furniture, shoes,
fertilizer, cement; handwoven carpets; natural gas, coal, copper
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
905 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 36.3%
hydro: 63.7%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
1.042 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:
200 million kWh (2003)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2003)
Oil - consumption:
5,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:
50 million cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
50 million cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
99.96 billion cu m (1 January 2002)
Exports:
$471 million; note - not including illicit exports or reexports
(2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:
opium, fruits and nuts, handwoven carpets, wool, cotton, hides and
pelts, precious and semi-precious gems
Exports - partners:
US 25.3%, Pakistan 20.9%, India 20.8%, Finland 4% (2005)
Imports:
$3.87 billion (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:
capital goods, food, textiles, petroleum products
Imports - partners:
Pakistan 23.9%, US 11.8%, Germany 6.8%, India 6.5%, Turkey 5.1%,
Turkmenistan 5%, Russia 4.7%, Kenya 4.4% (2005)
Debt - external:
$8 billion in bilateral debt, mostly to Russia; Afghanistan has
$500 million in debt to Multilateral Development Banks (2004)
Economic aid - recipient:
international pledges made by more than 60 countries and
international financial institutions at the Berlin Donors Conference
for Afghan reconstruction in March 2004 reached $8.9 billion for
2004-09
Currency (code):
afghani (AFA)
Currency code:
AFA
Exchange rates:
afghanis per US dollar - 541 (2005), 48 (2004), 49 (2003), 41
(2002), 66 (2001)
note: in 2002, the afghani was revalued and the currency stabilized
at about 50 afghanis to the dollar; before 2002, the market rate
varied widely from the official rate
Fiscal year:
21 March - 20 March
Communications Afghanistan
Telephones - main lines in use:
100,000 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
1.2 million (2005)
Telephone system:
general assessment: very limited telephone and telegraph service
domestic: telephone service is improving with the licensing of four
wireless telephone service providers by 2005; approximately 4 in 100
Afghans own a wireless telephone; telephone main lines remain
limited.
international: country code - 93; five VSAT's installed in Kabul,
Herat, Mazar-e-Sharif, Kandahar, and Jalalabad provide international
and domestic voice and data connectivity
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 21, FM 23, shortwave 1 (broadcasts in Pashtu, Afghan Persian
(Dari), Urdu, and English) (2003)
Radios:
167,000 (1999)
Television broadcast stations:
at least 10 (one government-run central television station in Kabul
and regional stations in nine of the 34 provinces; the regional
stations operate on a reduced schedule; also, in 1997, there was a
station in Mazar-e-Sharif reaching four northern Afghanistan
provinces) (1998)
Televisions:
100,000 (1999)
Internet country code:
.af
Internet hosts:
22 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)
Internet users:
30,000 (2005)
Communications - note:
in March 2003, 'af' was established as Afghanistan's domain name;
Internet access is growing through Internet cafes as well as public
"telekiosks" in Kabul (2002)
Transportation Afghanistan
Airports:
46 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 11
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 35
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 16
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 9 (2006)
Heliports:
9 (2006)
Pipelines:
gas 466 km (2006)
Roadways:
total: 34,789 km
paved: 8,231 km
unpaved: 26,558 km (2003)
Waterways:
1,200 km (chiefly Amu Darya, which handles vessels up to 500 DWT)
(2005)
Ports and terminals:
Kheyrabad, Shir Khan
Military Afghanistan
Military branches:
Afghan National Army (includes Afghan Air Force) (2006)
Military service age and obligation:
22 years of age; inductees are contracted into service for a 4-year
term (2005)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 22-49: 4,952,812
females age 22-49: 4,663,963 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 22-49: 2,662,946
females age 22-49: 2,508,574 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 275,362
females age 22-49: 259,935 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$122.4 million (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.7% (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues Afghanistan
Disputes - international:
most Afghan refugees in Pakistan have been repatriated, but
thousands still remain in Iran, many at their own choosing;
Coalition and Pakistani forces continue to patrol remote tribal
areas to control the borders and stem organized terrorist and other
illegal cross-border activities; regular meetings between Pakistani
and Coalition allies aim to resolve periodic claims of boundary
encroachments; regional conflicts over water-sharing arrangements
with Amu Darya and Helmand River states
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
IDPs: 200,000-300,000 (mostly Pashtuns and Kuchis displaced in
south and west due to drought and instability) (2005)
Illicit drugs:
world's largest producer of opium; cultivation dropped 48% to
107,400 hectares in 2005; better weather and lack of widespread
disease returned opium yields to normal levels, meaning potential
opium production declined by only 10% to 4,475 metric tons; if the
entire poppy crop were processed, it is estimated that 526 metric
tons of heroin could be processed; source of hashish; many
narcotics-processing labs throughout the country; drug trade source
of instability and some antigovernment groups profit from the trade;
80-90% of the heroin consumed in Europe comes from Afghan opium;
vulnerable to narcotics money laundering through informal financial
networks
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
======================================================================
@Akrotiri
Introduction Akrotiri
Background:
By terms of the 1960 Treaty of Establishment that created the
independent Republic of Cyprus, the UK retained full sovereignty and
jurisdiction over two areas of almost 254 square kilometers -
Akrotiri and Dhekelia. The southernmost and smallest of these is the
Akrotiri Sovereign Base Area, which is also referred to as the
Western Sovereign Base Area.
Geography Akrotiri
Location:
peninsula on the southwest coast of Cyprus
Geographic coordinates:
34 37 N, 32 58 E
Map references:
Middle East
Area:
total: 123 sq km
note: includes a salt lake and wetlands
Area - comparative:
about 0.7 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
total: 47.4 km
border countries: Cyprus 47.4 km
Coastline:
56.3 km
Climate:
temperate; Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool winters
Environment - current issues:
shooting around the salt lake; note - breeding place for loggerhead
and green turtles; only remaining colony of griffon vultures is on
the base
Geography - note:
British extraterritorial rights also extended to several small
off-post sites scattered across Cyprus
People Akrotiri
Population:
no indigenous inhabitants
note: approximately 1,300 military personnel are on the base; there
are another 5,000 British citizens who are families of military
personnel or civilian staff on both Akrotiri and Dhekelia; Cyprus
citizens work on the base, but do not live there
Languages:
English, Greek
Government Akrotiri
Country name:
conventional long form: Akrotiri Sovereign Base Area
conventional short form: Akrotiri
Dependency status:
overseas territory of UK; administered by an administrator who is
also the Commander, British Forces Cyprus
Capital:
name: Episkopi Cantonment; also serves as capital of Dhekelia
geographic coordinates: 34 40 N, 32 51 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October
Constitution:
Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia Order in Council
1960, effective 16 August 1960
Legal system:
the laws of the UK, where applicable, apply
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
head of government: Administrator Air Vice-Marshal Richard LACEY
(since 26 April 2006); note - reports to the British Ministry of
Defence
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; the administrator is
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:
the flag of the UK is used
Economy Akrotiri
Economy - overview:
Economic activity is limited to providing services to the military
and their families located in Akrotiri. All food and manufactured
goods must be imported.
Communications Akrotiri
Radio broadcast stations:
FM 1
note: British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) provides Radio 1
and Radio 2 service to Akrotiri, Dhekelia, and Nicosia (2006)
Television broadcast stations:
British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) provides multi-channel
satellite service to Akrotiri, Dhekelia, and Nicosia (2006)
Military Akrotiri
Military - note:
Akrotiri has a full RAF base, Headquarters for British Forces on
Cyprus, and Episkopi Support Unit
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
======================================================================
@Albania
Introduction Albania
Background:
Between 1990 and 1992 Albania ended 46 years of xenophobic
Communist rule and established a multiparty democracy. The
transition has proven challenging as successive governments have
tried to deal with high unemployment, widespread corruption, a
dilapidated physical infrastructure, powerful organized crime
networks, and combative political opponents. Albania has made
progress in its democratic development since first holding
multiparty elections in 1991, but deficiencies remain. International
observers judged elections to be largely free and fair since the
restoration of political stability following the collapse of pyramid
schemes in 1997. In the 2005 general elections, the Democratic Party
and its allies won a decisive victory on pledges of reducing crime
and corruption, promoting economic growth, and decreasing the size
of government. The election, and particularly the orderly transition
of power, was considered an important step forward. Although
Albania's economy continues to grow, the country is still one of the
poorest in Europe, hampered by a large informal economy and an
inadequate energy and transportation infrastructure. Albania has
played a largely helpful role in managing inter-ethnic tensions in
southeastern Europe, and is continuing to work toward joining NATO
and the EU. Albania, with troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, has been a
strong supporter of the global war on terrorism.
Geography Albania
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: 28,748 sq km
land: 27,398 sq km
water: 1,350 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Maryland
Land boundaries:
total: 720 km
border countries: Greece 282 km, Macedonia 151 km, Montenegro 172
km, Serbia 115 km
Coastline:
362 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
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) 2,764 m
Natural resources:
petroleum, natural gas, coal, bauxite, chromite, copper, iron ore,
nickel, salt, timber, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 20.1%
permanent crops: 4.21%
other: 75.69% (2005)
Irrigated land:
3,530 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:
destructive earthquakes; tsunamis occur along southwestern coast;
floods; drought
Environment - current issues:
deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution from industrial and
domestic effluents
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
Geography - note:
strategic location along Strait of Otranto (links Adriatic Sea to
Ionian Sea and Mediterranean Sea)
People Albania
Population:
3,581,655 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 24.8% (male 464,954/female 423,003)
15-64 years: 66.3% (male 1,214,942/female 1,158,562)
65 years and over: 8.9% (male 148,028/female 172,166) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 28.9 years
male: 28.3 years
female: 29.5 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.52% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
15.11 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
5.22 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
-4.67 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.1 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 20.75 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 21.2 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 20.27 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.43 years
male: 74.78 years
female: 80.34 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.03 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Albanian(s)
adjective: Albanian
Ethnic groups:
Albanian 95%, Greek 3%, other 2% (Vlach, Roma (Gypsy), Serb,
Macedonian, Bulgarian) (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: percentages are estimates; there are no available current
statistics on religious affiliation; all mosques and churches were
closed in 1967 and religious observances prohibited; in November
1990, Albania began allowing private religious practice
Languages:
Albanian (official - derived from Tosk dialect), Greek, Vlach,
Romani, Slavic dialects
Literacy:
definition: age 9 and over can read and write
total population: 86.5%
male: 93.3%
female: 79.5% (2003 est.)
Government Albania
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
Government type:
emerging democracy
Capital:
name: Tirana (Tirane)
geographic coordinates: 41 20 N, 19 50 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October
Administrative divisions:
12 counties (qarqe, singular - qark); Qarku i Beratit, Qarku i
Dibres, Qarku i Durresit, Qarku i Elbasanit, Qarku i Fierit, Qarku i
Gjirokastres, Qarku i Korces, Qarku i Kukesit, Qarku i Lezhes, Qarku
i Shkodres, Qarku i Tiranes, Qarku i Vlores
Independence:
28 November 1912 (from Ottoman Empire)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 28 November (1912)
Constitution:
adopted by popular referendum on 28 November 1998
Legal system:
has a civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction; has accepted jurisdiction of the International
Criminal Court for its citizens
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President of the Republic Alfred MOISIU (since 24
July 2002)
head of government: Prime Minister Sali BERISHA (since 10 September
2005)
cabinet: Council of Ministers proposed by the prime minister,
nominated by the president, and approved by parliament
elections: president elected by the People's Assembly for a
five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 24
June 2002 (next to be held June 2007); prime minister appointed by
the president
election results: Alfred MOISIU elected president; People's Assembly
vote by number - total votes 116, for 97, against 19
Legislative branch:
unicameral Assembly or Kuvendi (140 seats; 100 are elected by
direct popular vote and 40 by proportional vote for four-year terms)
elections: last held 3 July 2005 (next to be held in 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PD
56, PS 42, PR 11, PSD 7, LSI 5, other 19
Judicial branch:
Constitutional Court, Supreme Court (chairman is elected by the
People's Assembly for a four-year term), and multiple appeals and
district courts
Political parties and leaders:
Agrarian Environmentalist Party or PAA [Lufter XHUVELI]; Christian
Democratic Party or PDK [Nikolle LESI]; Communist Party of Albania
or PKSH [Hysni MILLOSHI]; Democratic Alliance Party or DAP [Neritan
CEKA]; Democratic Party or PD [Sali BERISHA]; Legality Movement
Party or PLL [Ekrem SPAHIU]; Liberal Union Party or PBL [Arjan
STAROVA]; National Front Party (Balli Kombetar) or BNK [Adriatik
ALIMADHI]; New Democratic Party or PDR [Genc POLLO]; Party of
National Unity or PUK [Idajet BEQIRI]; Renewed Democratic Party or
PDRN [Dashamir SHEHI]; Republican Party or PR [Fatmir MEDIU]; Social
Democracy Party or PDS [Paskal MILO]; Social Democratic Party or PSD
[Skender GJINUSHI]; Socialist Movement for Integration or LSI [Ilir
META]; Socialist Party or PS [Edi RAMA]; Union for Human Rights
Party or PBDNj [Vangjel DULE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Citizens Advocacy Office [Kreshnik SPAHIU]; Confederation of Trade
Unions of Albania or KSSH [Kastriot MUCO]; Front for Albanian
National Unification or FBKSH [Gafur ADILI]; Mjaft Movement [Erion
VELIAJ]; Omonia [Jani JANI]; Union of Independent Trade Unions of
Albania or BSPSH [Gezim KALAJA]
International organization participation:
BSEC, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU,
ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, OIC, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PFP,
SECI, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOMIG, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Aleksander SALLABANDA
chancery: 2100 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 223-4942
FAX: [1] (202) 628-7342
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Marcie B. RIES
embassy: Rruga e Elbasanit, Labinoti #103, Tirana
mailing address: US Department of State, 9510 Tirana Place, Dulles,
VA 20189-9510
telephone: [355] (4) 247285
FAX: [355] (4) 232222
Flag description:
red with a black two-headed eagle in the center
Economy Albania
Economy - overview:
Lagging behind its Balkan neighbors, Albania is making the
difficult transition to a more modern open-market economy. The
government has taken measures to curb violent crime and to spur
economic activity and trade. The economy is bolstered by annual
remittances from abroad of $600-$800 million, mostly from Greece and
Italy; this helps offset the towering trade deficit. Agriculture,
which accounts for about one-quarter of GDP, is held back because of
frequent drought and the need to modernize equipment, to clarify
property rights, and to consolidate small plots of land. Energy
shortages and antiquated and inadequate infrastructure contribute to
Albania's poor business environment, which make it difficult to
attract and sustain foreign investment. The planned construction of
a new thermal power plant near Vlore and improved transmission and
distribution facilities will help relieve the energy shortages.
Also, the government is moving slowly to improve the poor national
road and rail network, a long-standing barrier to sustained economic
growth. On the positive side: growth was strong in 2003-05 and
inflation is not a problem.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$18.87 billion
note: Albania has a large gray economy that may be as large as 50%
of official GDP (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$8.657 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
5.5% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$5,300 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 23.2%
industry: 18.8%
services: 57.9% (2005 est.)
Labor force:
1.09 million (not including 352,000 emigrant workers) (2004 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 58%
industry: 19%
services: 23% (2004 est.)
Unemployment rate:
14.3% official rate, but may exceed 30% (2005 est.)
Population below poverty line:
25% (2004 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
28.2 (2002)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.4% (2005 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
22.4% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $1.96 billion
expenditures: $2.377 billion; including capital expenditures of $500
million (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:
wheat, corn, potatoes, vegetables, fruits, sugar beets, grapes;
meat, dairy products
Industries:
food processing, textiles and clothing; lumber, oil, cement,
chemicals, mining, basic metals, hydropower
Industrial production growth rate:
3.1% (2004 est.)
Electricity - production:
5.68 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 2.9%
hydro: 97.1%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
6.76 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:
200 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:
1.08 billion kWh (2004 est.)
Oil - production:
3,600 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - consumption:
25,200 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - imports:
21,600 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - proved reserves:
185.5 million bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:
30 million cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
30 million cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
2.832 billion cu m (1 January 2002)
Current account balance:
$-416 million (2005 est.)
Exports:
$650.1 million f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:
textiles and footwear; asphalt, metals and metallic ores, crude
oil; vegetables, fruits, tobacco
Exports - partners:
Italy 72.4%, Greece 10.5%, Serbia and Montenegro 5% (2005)
Imports:
$2.473 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, textiles, chemicals
Imports - partners:
Italy 29.3%, Greece 16.4%, Turkey 7.5%, China 6.6%, Germany 5.4%,
Russia 4% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$1.461 billion (2005 est.)
Debt - external:
$1.55 billion (2004)
Economic aid - recipient:
ODA: $366 million (top donors were Italy, EU, Germany) (2003 est.)
Currency (code):
lek (ALL)
Currency code:
ALL
Exchange rates:
leke per US dollar - 102.649 (2005), 102.78 (2004), 121.863 (2003),
140.155 (2002), 143.485 (2001)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Albania
Telephones - main lines in use:
255,000 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
1.259 million (2004)
Telephone system:
general assessment: despite new investment in fixed lines, the
density of main lines remains the lowest in Europe with roughly
seven lines per 100 people; however, cellular telephone use is
widespread and generally effective
domestic: offsetting the shortage of fixed line capacity, mobile
phone service has been available since 1996; by 2003 two companies
were providing mobile services at a greater density than some of
Albania's Balkan neighbors
international: country code - 355; inadequate fixed main lines;
adequate cellular connections; international traffic carried by
fiber optic cable and, when necessary, by microwave radio relay from
the Tirana exchange to Italy and Greece (2003)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 13, FM 46 (3 national, 62 local), shortwave 1 (2005)
Radios:
1 million (2001)
Television broadcast stations:
65 (3 national, 62 local); note - 2 cable networks (2005)
Televisions:
700,000 (2001)
Internet country code:
.al
Internet hosts:
430 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
10 (2001)
Internet users:
75,000 (2005)
Transportation Albania
Airports:
11 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 8
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 4 (2006)
Heliports:
1 (2006)
Pipelines:
gas 339 km; oil 207 km (2006)
Railways:
total: 447 km
standard gauge: 447 km 1.435-m gauge (2005)
Roadways:
total: 18,000 km
paved: 7,020 km
unpaved: 10,980 km (2002)
Waterways:
43 km (2006)
Merchant marine:
total: 24 ships (1000 GRT or over) 52,987 GRT/79,863 DWT
by type: cargo 23, roll on/roll off 1
foreign-owned: 1 (Turkey 1)
registered in other countries: 1 (Georgia 1) (2006)
Ports and terminals:
Durres, Sarande, Shengjin, Vlore
Military Albania
Military branches:
General Staff Headquarters, Land Forces Command (Army), Naval
Forces Command, Air Defense Command, Logistics Command, Training and
Doctrine Command
Military service age and obligation:
19 years of age (2004)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 19-49: 809,524
females age 19-49: 784,199 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 19-49: 668,526
females age 19-49: 648,334 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 37,407
females age 19-49: 34,587 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$56.5 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.49% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Albania
Disputes - international:
the Albanian Government calls for the protection of the rights of
ethnic Albanians in neighboring countries, and the peaceful
resolution of interethnic disputes; some ethnic Albanian groups in
neighboring countries advocate for a "greater Albania," but the idea
has little appeal among Albanian nationals; thousands of unemployed
Albanians emigrate annually to nearby Italy and other developed
countries
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 growing cannabis production;
ethnic Albanian narcotrafficking organizations active and expanding
in Europe; vulnerable to money laundering associated with regional
trafficking in narcotics, arms, contraband, and illegal aliens
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
======================================================================
@Algeria
Introduction Algeria
Background:
After more than a century of rule by France, Algerians fought
through much of the 1950s to achieve independence in 1962. Algeria's
primary political party, the National Liberation Front (FLN), has
dominated politics ever since. Many Algerians in the subsequent
generation were not satisfied, however, and moved to counter the
FLN's centrality in Algerian politics. The surprising first round
success of the Islamic Salvation Front (FIS) in the December 1991
balloting spurred the Algerian army to intervene and postpone the
second round of elections to prevent what the secular elite feared
would be an extremist-led government from assuming power. The army
began a crack down on the FIS that spurred FIS supporters to begin
attacking government targets. The government later allowed elections
featuring pro-government and moderate religious-based parties, but
did not appease the activists who progressively widened their
attacks. The fighting escalated into an insurgency, which saw
intense fighting between 1992-98 and which resulted in over 100,000
deaths - many attributed to indiscriminate massacres of villagers by
extremists. The government gained the upper hand by the late-1990s
and FIS's armed wing, the Islamic Salvation Army, disbanded in
January 2000. However, small numbers of armed militants persist in
confronting government forces and conducting ambushes and occasional
attacks on villages. The army placed Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA in the
presidency in 1999 in a fraudulent election but claimed neutrality
in his 2004 landslide reelection victory. Longstanding problems
continue to face BOUTEFLIKA in his second term, including the ethnic
minority Berbers' ongoing autonomy campaign, large-scale
unemployment, a shortage of housing, unreliable electrical and water
supplies, government inefficiencies and corruption, and the
continuing - although significantly degraded - activities of
extremist militants. Algeria must also diversify its petroleum-based
economy, which has yielded a large cash reserve but which has not
been used to redress Algeria's many social and infrastructure
problems.
Geography Algeria
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:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 32-52 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: 3.17%
permanent crops: 0.28%
other: 96.55% (2005)
Irrigated land:
5,690 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:
mountainous areas subject to severe earthquakes; mudslides and
floods in rainy season
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, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
second-largest country in Africa (after Sudan)
People Algeria
Population:
32,930,091 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 28.1% (male 4,722,076/female 4,539,713)
15-64 years: 67.1% (male 11,133,802/female 10,964,502)
65 years and over: 4.8% (male 735,444/female 834,554) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 24.9 years
male: 24.7 years
female: 25.1 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.22% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
17.14 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
4.61 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
-0.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.88 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 29.87 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 33.62 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 25.94 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 73.26 years
male: 71.68 years
female: 74.92 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.89 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% ; note - no country specific models provided (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
9,100 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 500 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: intermediate
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and
typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: cutaneous leishmaniasis is a high risk in some
locations (2005)
Nationality:
noun: Algerian(s)
adjective: Algerian
Ethnic groups:
Arab-Berber 99%, European less than 1%
note: almost all Algerians are Berber in origin, not Arab; the
minority who identify themselves as Berber live mostly in the
mountainous region of Kabylie east of Algiers; the Berbers are also
Muslim but identify with their Berber rather than Arab cultural
heritage; Berbers have long agitated, sometimes violently, for
autonomy; the government is unlikely to grant autonomy but has
offered to begin sponsoring teaching Berber language in schools
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: 70%
male: 78.8%
female: 61% (2003 est.)
Government Algeria
Country name:
conventional long form: People's Democratic Republic of Algeria
conventional short form: Algeria
local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Jaza'iriyah ad Dimuqratiyah ash
Sha'biyah
local short form: Al Jaza'ir
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Algiers
geographic coordinates: 36 47 N, 2 03 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
48 provinces (wilayat, 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:
Revolution Day, 1 November (1954)
Constitution:
8 September 1963; revised 19 November 1976, effective 22 November
1976; revised 3 November 1988, 23 February 1989, and 28 November 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 Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA (since 28 April 1999)
head of government: Prime Minister Abdelaziz BELKHADEM
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held 8 April 2004 (next
to be held in April 2009); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA reelected president for
second term; percent of vote - Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA 85%, Ali BENFLIS
6.4%, Abdellah DJABALLAH 5%
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament consisting of the National People's Assembly
or Al-Majlis Ech-Chaabi Al-Watani (389 seats - formerly 380 seats;
members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and the
Council of Nations (Senate) (144 seats; one-third of the members
appointed by the president, two-thirds elected by indirect vote;
members serve six-year terms; the constitution requires half the
council to be renewed every three years)
elections: National People's Assembly - last held 30 May 2002 (next
to be held in 2007); Council of Nations (Senate) - last held 30
December 2003 (next to be held in 2006)
election results: National People's Assembly - percent of vote by
party - NA; seats by party - FLN 199, RND 47, Islah 43, MSP 38, PT
21, FNA 8, EnNahda 1, PRA 1, MEN 1, independents 30; Council of
Nations - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party NA
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
Algerian National Front or FNA [Moussa TOUATI]; National Democratic
Rally (Rassemblement National Democratique) or RND [Ahmed OUYAHIA,
secretary general]; Islamic Salvation Front or FIS (outlawed April
1992) [Ali BELHADJ, Dr. Abassi MADANI, Rabeh KEBIR]; National
Entente Movement or MEN [Ali BOUKHAZNA]; National Liberation Front
or FLN [Abdelaziz BELKHADEM, secretary general]; National Reform
Movement or Islah (formerly MRN) [Abdellah DJABALLAH]; National
Renewal Party or PRA [Yacine TERKMANE]; Progressive Republican Party
[Khadir DRISS]; Rally for Culture and Democracy or RCD [Said SADI];
Renaissance Movement or EnNahda Movement [Fatah RABEI]; Socialist
Forces Front or FFS [Hocine Ait AHMED, secretary general]; Social
Liberal Party or PSL [Ahmed KHELIL]; Society of Peace Movement or
MSP [Boudjerra SOLTANI]; Workers Party or PT [Louisa HANOUN]
note: a law banning political parties based on religion was enacted
in March 1997
Political pressure groups and leaders:
The Algerian Human Rights League or LADH or LADDH [Yahia Ali
ABDENOUR]; SOS Disparus [Nacera DUTOUR]; Somoud [Ali MERABET]
International organization participation:
ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, AU, BIS, FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, LAS,
MIGA, MONUC, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, ONUB, OPCW, OPEC, OSCE
(partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UPU, WCO, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Amine KHERBI
chancery: 2118 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 265-2800
FAX: [1] (202) 667-2174
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Robert S. FORD
embassy: 04 Chemin Cheikh Bachir Ibrahimi El-Biar 16030, Algiers
mailing address: B. P. 408, Alger-Gare, 16030 Algiers
telephone: [213] (021) 69-12-55
FAX: [213] (021) 69-39-79
Flag description:
two equal vertical bands of green (hoist side) and white; a red,
five-pointed star within a red crescent centered over the two-color
boundary; the crescent, star, and color green are traditional
symbols of Islam (the state religion)
Economy Algeria
Economy - overview:
The hydrocarbons sector is the backbone of the economy, accounting
for roughly 60% of budget revenues, 30% of GDP, and over 95% of
export earnings. Algeria has the seventh-largest reserves of natural
gas in the world and is the second-largest gas exporter; it ranks
14th in oil reserves. Sustained high oil prices in recent years,
along with macroeconomic policy reforms supported by the IMF, have
helped improve Algeria's financial and macroeconomic indicators.
Algeria is running substantial trade surpluses and building up
record foreign exchange reserves. Real GDP has risen due to higher
oil output and increased government spending. The government's
continued efforts to diversify the economy by attracting foreign and
domestic investment outside the energy sector, however, has had
little success in reducing high unemployment and improving living
standards. The population is becoming increasingly restive due to
the lack of jobs and housing and frequently stages protests, which
have resulted in arrests and injuries, including some deaths as
government forces intervened to restore order. Structural reform
within the economy, such as development of the banking sector and
the construction of infrastructure, moves ahead slowly hampered by
corruption and bureaucratic resistance.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$235.5 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$85.31 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
5.5% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$7,200 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 10.1%
industry: 60%
services: 29.8% (2005 est.)
Labor force:
10.15 million (2005 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 14%, industry 13.4%, construction and public works 10%,
trade 14.6%, government 32%, other 16% (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate:
17.1% (2005 est.)
Population below poverty line:
25% (2005 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.8%
highest 10%: 26.8% (1995)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
35.3 (1995)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.9% (2005 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
22.6% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $42.05 billion
expenditures: $30.75 billion; including capital expenditures of $5.8
billion (2005 est.)
Public debt:
30.2% of GDP (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:
wheat, barley, oats, grapes, olives, citrus, fruits; sheep, cattle
Industries:
petroleum, natural gas, light industries, mining, electrical,
petrochemical, food processing
Industrial production growth rate:
8% (2005 est.)
Electricity - production:
26.99 billion kWh (2003 est.)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 99.7%
hydro: 0.3%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
24.9 billion kWh (2003 est.)
Electricity - exports:
400 million kWh (2003 est.)
Electricity - imports:
200 million kWh (2003 est.)
Oil - production:
1.373 million bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - consumption:
246,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - exports:
1.127 million bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - imports:
0 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - proved reserves:
12.46 billion bbl (2005 est.)
Natural gas - production:
82.4 billion cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
21.32 billion cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
57.98 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
4.531 trillion cu m (2005)
Current account balance:
$18.79 billion (2005 est.)
Exports:
$49.59 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:
petroleum, natural gas, and petroleum products 97%
Exports - partners:
US 22.8%, Italy 16.2%, Spain 10.4%, France 10%, Canada 8%, Brazil
6.1%, Belgium 4.4%, Germany 4.2% (2005)
Imports:
$22.53 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:
capital goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods
Imports - partners:
France 28.2%, Italy 7.8%, Spain 7.1%, China 6.6%, Germany 6.3%, US
5.5% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$56.58 billion (2005 est.)
Debt - external:
$19.45 billion (2005 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$122.8 million (2002 est.)
Currency (code):
Algerian dinar (DZD)
Currency code:
DZD
Exchange rates:
Algerian dinars per US dollar - 73.276 (2005), 72.061 (2004),
77.395 (2003), 79.682 (2002), 77.215 (2001)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Algeria
Telephones - main lines in use:
2.572 million (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
13.661 million (2005)
Telephone system:
general assessment: telephone density in Algeria is very low, not
exceeding five telephones per 100 persons; the number of fixed main
lines increased in the last few years to nearly 2.6 million, but
only about two-thirds of these have subscribers; much of the
infrastructure is outdated and inefficient
domestic: good service in north but sparse in south; domestic
satellite system with 12 earth stations (20 additional domestic
earth stations are planned)
international: country code - 213; submarine cables - 5; microwave
radio relay to Italy, France, Spain, Morocco, and Tunisia; coaxial
cable to Morocco and Tunisia; participant in Medarabtel; satellite
earth stations - 51 (Intelsat, Intersputnik, and Arabsat) (2005)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 25, FM 1, shortwave 8 (1999)
Radios:
7.1 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
46 (plus 216 repeaters) (1995)
Televisions:
3.1 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.dz
Internet hosts:
1,202 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
2 (2000)
Internet users:
1.92 million (2005)
Transportation Algeria
Airports:
142 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 52
over 3,047 m: 10
2,438 to 3,047 m: 27
1,524 to 2,437 m: 10
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 1 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 90
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 26
914 to 1,523 m: 39
under 914 m: 23 (2006)
Heliports:
1 (2006)
Pipelines:
condensate 1,344 km; gas 85,946 km; liquid petroleum gas 2,213 km;
oil 6,496 km (2005)
Railways:
total: 3,973 km
standard gauge: 2,888 km 1.435-m gauge (283 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 1,085 km 1.055-m gauge (2005)
Roadways:
total: 104,000 km
paved: 71,656 km
unpaved: 32,344 km (1999)
Merchant marine:
total: 41 ships (1000 GRT or over) 744,406 GRT/766,764 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 7, cargo 10, chemical tanker 2, liquefied gas
9, passenger/cargo 4, petroleum tanker 5, roll on/roll off 3,
specialized tanker 1
foreign-owned: 13 (UK 13) (2006)
Ports and terminals:
Algiers, Annaba, Arzew, Bejaia, Djendjene, Jijel, Mostaganem, Oran,
Skikda
Military Algeria
Military branches:
National Popular Army (ANP; includes Land Forces), Algerian
National Navy (MRA), Air Force (QJJ), Territorial Air Defense Force
(2005)
Military service age and obligation:
19-30 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript
service obligation - 18 months (6 months basic training, 12 months
civil projects) (2006)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 19-49: 8,033,049
females age 19-49: 7,926,351 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 19-49: 6,590,079
females age 19-49: 6,711,285 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 374,639
females age 19-49: 369,021 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$3 billion (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
3.2% (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues Algeria
Disputes - international:
Algeria supports the exiled Sahrawi Polisario Front and rejects
Moroccan administration of Western Sahara; most of the approximately
102,000 Western Saharan Sahrawi refugees are sheltered in camps in
Tindouf, Algeria; Algeria's border with Morocco remains an irritant
to bilateral relations, each nation accusing the other of harboring
militants and arms smuggling; in an attempt to improve relations,
Morocco, in mid-2004, unilaterally lifted the requirement that
Algerians visiting Morocco possess entry visas - a gesture not
reciprocated by Algeria; Algeria remains concerned about armed
bandits operating throughout the Sahel who sometimes destabilize
southern Algerian towns; dormant disputes include Libyan claims of
about 32,000 sq km still reflected on its maps of southeastern
Algeria and the FLN's assertions of a claim to Chirac Pastures in
southeastern Morocco
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 102,000 (Western Saharan Sahrawi,
mostly living in Algerian-sponsored camps in the southwestern
Algerian town of Tindouf)
IDPs: 400,000-600,000 (conflict between government forces, Islamic
insurgents) (2005)
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Algeria is a transit and destination country for
men, women, and children from sub-Saharan Africa and Asia trafficked
for forced labor and sexual exploitation; many victims willingly
migrate to Algeria en route to European countries with the help of
smugglers, where they are often forced into prostitution, labor, and
begging to pay off their smuggling debt; armed militants reportedly
traffic women for sexual exploitation and involuntary servitude, and
children may be trafficked for forced labor as domestic servants or
street vendors
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Algeria took no steps to assess the
scope of trafficking in the country and reported no investigations
or prosecutions for trafficking offenses this year
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
======================================================================
@American Samoa
Introduction American Samoa
Background:
Settled as early as 1000 B.C., Samoa was "discovered" by European
explorers in the 18th century. International rivalries in the latter
half of the 19th century were settled by an 1899 treaty in which
Germany and the US divided the Samoan archipelago. The US formally
occupied its portion - a smaller group of eastern islands with the
excellent harbor of Pago Pago - the following year.
Geography American Samoa
Location:
Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about half
way between Hawaii and 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:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical marine, moderated by southeast trade winds; annual
rainfall averages about 3 m; rainy season (November to April), dry
season (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 Mountain 964 m
Natural resources:
pumice, pumicite
Land use:
arable land: 10%
permanent crops: 15%
other: 75% (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
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
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 American Samoa
Population:
57,794 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 34.7% (male 10,388/female 9,654)
15-64 years: 62.4% (male 18,698/female 17,350)
65 years and over: 2.9% (male 633/female 1,071) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 23.2 years
male: 22.9 years
female: 23.4 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
-0.19% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
22.46 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
3.27 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
-21.11 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.59 male(s)/female
total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 9.07 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 9.66 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 8.45 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 76.05 years
male: 72.48 years
female: 79.82 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.16 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: American Samoan(s) (US nationals)
adjective: American Samoan
Ethnic groups:
native Pacific islander 92.9%, Asian 2.9%, white 1.2%, mixed 2.8%,
other 0.2% (2000 census)
Religions:
Christian Congregationalist 50%, Roman Catholic 20%, Protestant and
other 30%
Languages:
Samoan 90.6% (closely related to Hawaiian and other Polynesian
languages), English 2.9%, Tongan 2.4%, other Pacific islander 2.1%,
other 2%
note: most people are bilingual (2000 census)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97%
male: 98%
female: 97% (1980 est.)
Government American Samoa
Country name:
conventional long form: Territory of American Samoa
conventional short form: American Samoa
abbreviation: AS
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:
name: Pago Pago
geographic coordinates: 14 16 S, 170 42 W
time difference: UTC-11 (6 hours behind Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
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:
Flag Day, 17 April (1900)
Constitution:
ratified 2 June 1966, effective 1 July 1967
Legal system:
NA
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President George W. BUSH of the US (since 20
January 2001); Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (since 20 January
2001)
head of government: Governor Togiola TULAFONO (since 7 April 2003)
cabinet: Cabinet made up of 12 department directors
elections: under the US Consitution, residents of unincorporated
territories, such as American Samoa, do not vote in elections for US
president and vice president; governor and lieutenant governor
elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms
(eligible for a second term); election last held 2 and 16 November
2004 (next to be held November 2008)
election results: Togiola TULAFONO elected governor; percent of vote
- Togiola TULAFONO 55.7%, Afoa Moega LUTU 44.3%
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 7 November 2006
(next to be held November 2008); Senate - last held 2 November 2004
(next to be held November 2008)
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 - independents 18
note: American Samoa elects one nonvoting representative to the US
House of Representatives; election last held 7 November 2006 (next
to be held November 2008); results - Eni F. H. FALEOMAVAEGA
(Democrat) reelected as delegate
Judicial branch:
High Court (chief justice and associate justices are appointed by
the US Secretary of the Interior)
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Party [Oreta M. TOGAFAU]; Republican Party [Tautai A. F.
FAALEVAO]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
Interpol (subbureau), IOC, SPC, UPU
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 American Samoa
Economy - overview:
American Samoa has 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 most 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. 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 is a promising developing sector.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$510.1 million (2003 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$333.8 million
GDP - real growth rate:
3% NA%
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$5,800 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Labor force:
17,630 (2005)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 34%
industry: 33%
services: 33% (1990)
Unemployment rate:
29.8% (2005)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
NA%
Budget:
revenues: $121 million (37% in local revenue and 63% in US grants)
expenditures: $127 million; including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY96/97)
Agriculture - products:
bananas, coconuts, vegetables, taro, breadfruit, yams, copra,
pineapples, papayas; dairy products, livestock
Industries:
tuna canneries (largely supplied by foreign fishing vessels),
handicrafts
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
130 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
120.9 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2003)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2003)
Oil - consumption:
4,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Exports:
$445.6 million (FY04 est.)
Exports - commodities:
canned tuna 93% (2004 est.)
Exports - partners:
Indonesia 28.2%, India 22.3%, Australia 15.3%, Japan 11.2%, NZ 7.1%
(2005)
Imports:
$308.8 million (FY04 est.)
Imports - commodities:
materials for canneries 56%, food 8%, petroleum products 7%,
machinery and parts 6% (2004 est.)
Imports - partners:
Australia 66%, Samoa 13.8%, NZ 10.8% (2005)
Debt - external:
$NA
Economic aid - recipient:
important financial support from the US, more than $40 million in
1994
Currency (code):
US dollar (USD)
Currency code:
USD
Exchange rates:
the US dollar is used
Fiscal year:
1 October - 30 September
Communications American Samoa
Telephones - main lines in use:
15,000 (2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
2,377 (1999)
Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: good telex, telegraph, facsimile and cellular telephone
services; domestic satellite system with 1 Comsat earth station
international: country code - 684; satellite earth station - 1
(Intelsat-Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0 (2006)
Radios:
57,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (Low Power TV); note - one cable TV station (2006)
Televisions:
14,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.as
Internet hosts:
1,456 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)
Internet users:
NA
Transportation American Samoa
Airports:
3 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
over 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2006)
Roadways:
total: 185 km (2004)
Ports and terminals:
Pago Pago
Military American Samoa
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the US
Transnational Issues American Samoa
Disputes - international:
none
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
======================================================================
@Andorra
Introduction Andorra
Background:
For 715 years, from 1278 to 1993, Andorrans lived under a unique
co-principality, ruled by French and Spanish leaders (from 1607
onward, the French chief of state and the Spanish bishop of Urgel).
In 1993, this feudal system was modified with the titular heads of
state retained, but the government transformed into a parliamentary
democracy. Long isolated and impoverished, mountainous Andorra
achieved considerable prosperity since World War II through its
tourist industry. Many immigrants (legal and illegal) are attracted
to the thriving economy with its lack of income taxes.
Geography Andorra
Location:
Southwestern Europe, between France and Spain
Geographic coordinates:
42 30 N, 1 30 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 468 sq km
land: 468 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
total: 120.3 km
border countries: France 56.6 km, Spain 63.7 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 Runer 840 m
highest point: Coma Pedrosa 2,946 m
Natural resources:
hydropower, mineral water, timber, iron ore, lead
Land use:
arable land: 2.13%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 97.87% (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Natural hazards:
avalanches
Environment - current issues:
deforestation; overgrazing of mountain meadows contributes to soil
erosion; air pollution; wastewater treatment and solid waste disposal
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Hazardous Wastes
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
landlocked; straddles a number of important crossroads in the
Pyrenees
People Andorra
Population:
71,201 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 14.7% (male 5,456/female 4,994)
15-64 years: 71.4% (male 26,632/female 24,172)
65 years and over: 14% (male 4,918/female 5,029) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 40.9 years
male: 41.2 years
female: 40.7 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.89% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
8.71 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
6.25 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
6.47 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.09 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.98 male(s)/female
total population: 1.08 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 4.04 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 4.38 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.68 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 83.51 years
male: 80.61 years
female: 86.61 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.3 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Andorran(s)
adjective: Andorran
Ethnic groups:
Spanish 43%, Andorran 33%, Portuguese 11%, French 7%, other 6%
(1998)
Religions:
Roman Catholic (predominant)
Languages:
Catalan (official), French, Castilian, Portuguese
Literacy:
definition: NA
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100%
Government Andorra
Country name:
conventional long form: Principality of Andorra
conventional short form: Andorra
local long form: Principat d'Andorra
local short form: Andorra
Government type:
parliamentary democracy (since March 1993) that retains as its
chiefs of state a coprincipality; the two princes are the president
of France and bishop of Seo de Urgel, Spain, who are represented
locally by coprinces' representatives
Capital:
name: Andorra la Vella
geographic coordinates: 42 30 N, 1 30 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October
Administrative divisions:
7 parishes (parroquies, singular - parroquia); Andorra la Vella,
Canillo, Encamp, Escaldes-Engordany, La Massana, Ordino, Sant Julia
de Loria
Independence:
1278 (formed under the joint suzerainty of the French count of Foix
and the Spanish bishop of Urgel)
National holiday:
Our Lady of Meritxell Day, 8 September (1278)
Constitution:
Andorra's first written constitution was drafted in 1991, approved
by referendum 14 March 1993, effective 4 May 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 Philippe MASSONI (since 26 July 2002); Spanish
Coprince Bishop Joan Enric VIVES i SICILIA (since 12 May 2003),
represented by Nemesi MARQUES i OSTE (since NA)
head of government: Executive Council President Albert PINTAT
SANTOLARIA (since 27 May 2005)
cabinet: Executive Council or Govern designated by the Executive
Council president
elections: Executive Council president elected by the General
Council and formally appointed by the coprinces for a four-year
term; election last held 24 April 2005 (next to be held April-May
2009)
election results: Albert PINTAT SANTOLARIA 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 seven
parishes; members serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 24 April 2005 (next to be held March-April 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - PLA 41.2%, PS 38.1%,
CDA-S21 11%, other 9.7%; seats by party - PLA 14, PS 12, CDA-S21 2
Judicial branch:
Tribunal of Judges or Tribunal de Batlles; Tribunal of the Courts
or Tribunal de Corts; Supreme Court of Justice of Andorra or
Tribunal Superior de Justicia d'Andorra; Supreme Council of Justice
or Consell Superior de la Justicia; Fiscal Ministry or Ministeri
Fiscal; Constitutional Tribunal or Tribunal Constitucional
Political parties and leaders:
Andorran Democratic Center Party or CDA (formerly Democratic Party
or PD); Century 21 or S21 [Enric TARRADO]; Liberal Party of Andorra
or PLA (formerly Liberal Union or UL) [Albert PINTAT]; Social
Democratic Party or PS (formerly part of National Democratic Group
or AND) [Jaume BARTUMEU CASSANY]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
CE, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IFRCS, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITU, OIF, OIF
(associate member), OPCW, OSCE, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WCO, WHO, WIPO,
WToO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Jelena V.
PIA-COMELLA
chancery: 2 United Nations Plaza, 25th Floor, New York, NY 10017
telephone: [1] (212) 750-8064
FAX: [1] (212) 750-6630
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 de Montcada, 23, 08034
Barcelona, Spain; telephone: [34] (3) 280-2227; FAX: [34] (3)
205-5206
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, which do not have a national coat of arms in the
center, and the flag of Moldova, which does bear a national emblem
Economy Andorra
Economy - overview:
Tourism, the mainstay of Andorra's tiny, well-to-do economy,
accounts for more than 80% of GDP. An estimated 11.6 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 partial "tax haven"
status, also contributes substantially to the economy. Agricultural
production is limited - only 2% of the land is arable - and most
food has to be imported. The principal livestock activity is sheep
raising. Manufacturing output 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):
$1.84 billion (2004)
GDP (official exchange rate):
NA
GDP - real growth rate:
4% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$24,000 (2004)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Labor force:
48,740 (2004)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 0.34%
industry: 19.63%
services: 80.03% (2004)
Unemployment rate:
0% (1996 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.4% (2004)
Budget:
revenues: $373.5 million
expenditures: $373.5 million; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2004)
Agriculture - products:
small quantities of rye, wheat, barley, oats, vegetables; sheep
Industries:
tourism (particularly skiing), cattle raising, timber, banking
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
NA kWh
Electricity - production by source:
NA
Electricity - consumption:
NA kWh
Electricity - exports:
NA kWh
Electricity - imports:
NA kWh; note - most electricity supplied by Spain and France;
Andorra generates a small amount of hydropower
Exports:
$145 million f.o.b. (2004)
Exports - commodities:
tobacco products, furniture
Exports - partners:
Spain 58%, France 34% (2004)
Imports:
$1.077 billion (1998)
Imports - commodities:
consumer goods, food, electricity
Imports - partners:
Spain 51.5%, France 22.3%, US 0.3% (2004)
Debt - external:
$NA
Economic aid - recipient:
none
Currency (code):
euro (EUR)
Currency code:
EUR
Exchange rates:
euros per US dollar - 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003),
1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 (2001)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Andorra
Telephones - main lines in use:
35,400 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
64,600 (2005)
Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: modern system with microwave radio relay connections
between exchanges
international: country code - 376; landline circuits to France and
Spain
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 0, FM 15, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
16,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
0 (1997)
Televisions:
27,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.ad
Internet hosts:
14,944 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)
Internet users:
21,900 (2005)
Transportation Andorra
Roadways:
total: 269 km
paved: 198 km
unpaved: 71 km
Military Andorra
Military branches:
no regular military forces, Police Service of Andorra
Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 18,418 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 14,721 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 369 (2005 est.)
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of France and Spain
Transnational Issues Andorra
Disputes - international:
none
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
======================================================================
@Angola
Introduction Angola
Background:
Angola is slowly rebuilding its country after the end of a 27-year
civil war in 2002. Fighting between the Popular Movement for the
Liberation of Angola (MPLA), led by Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS, and the
National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA), led by
Jonas SAVIMBI, followed independence from Portugal in 1975. Peace
seemed imminent in 1992 when Angola held national elections, but
UNITA renewed fighting after being beaten by the MPLA at the polls.
Up to 1.5 million lives may have been lost - and 4 million people
displaced - in the quarter century of fighting. SAVIMBI's death in
2002 ended UNITA's insurgency and strengthened the MPLA's hold on
power. DOS SANTOS has pledged to hold legislative elections in 2006.
Geography Angola
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 225 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:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 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: 2.65%
permanent crops: 0.23%
other: 97.12% (2005)
Irrigated land:
800 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:
locally heavy rainfall causes periodic flooding on the plateau
Environment - current issues:
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, Climate Change, Desertification, Law of the
Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
the province of Cabinda is an exclave, separated from the rest of
the country by the Democratic Republic of the Congo
People Angola
Population:
12,127,071 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 43.7% (male 2,678,185/female 2,625,933)
15-64 years: 53.5% (male 3,291,954/female 3,195,688)
65 years and over: 2.8% (male 148,944/female 186,367) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 18 years
male: 18 years
female: 18 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.45% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
45.11 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
24.2 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
3.55 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 185.36 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 197.56 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 172.54 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 38.62 years
male: 37.47 years
female: 39.83 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
6.35 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
3.9% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
240,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
21,000 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A, typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria, African trypanosomiasis (sleeping
sickness) are high risks in some locations
respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis
water contact disease: schistosomiasis (2005)
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: 66.8%
male: 82.1%
female: 53.8% (2001 est.)
Government Angola
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
Government type:
republic; multiparty presidential regime
Capital:
name: Luanda
geographic coordinates: 8 48 S, 13 14 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
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; note - a new constitution will likely be
passed following the next legislative election
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 21
September 1979); note - the president is both chief of state and
head of government; Fernando de Piedade Dias DOS SANTOS was
appointed Prime Minister on 6 December 2002
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by universal ballot for a five-year
term (eligible for a second consecutive or discontinuous term) under
the 1992 constitution; President DOS SANTOS originally elected (in
1979) without opposition under a one-party system and stood for
reelection in Angola's first multiparty elections 29-30 September
1992 (next to be held September 2006 or 2007)
election results: Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS 49.6%, Jonas SAVIMBI
40.1%, making a run-off election necessary; 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 leaving DOS SANTOS in his current position as the president
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 September
2006)
election results: percent of vote by party - MPLA 54%, UNITA 34%,
other 12%; seats by party - MPLA 129, UNITA 70, PRS 6, FNLA 5, PLD
3, other 7
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court and separate provincial courts (judges are appointed
by the president)
Political parties and leaders:
Liberal Democratic Party or PLD [Analia de Victoria PEREIRA];
National Front for the Liberation of Angola or FNLA [disputed
leadership: Lucas NGONDA, Holden ROBERTO]; National Union for the
Total Independence of Angola or UNITA [Isaias SAMAKUVA] (largest
opposition party); Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola or
MPLA [Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS] (ruling party in power since 1975);
Social Renewal Party or PRS [disputed leadership: Eduardo KUANGANA,
Antonio MUACHICUNGO]
note: about a dozen minor parties participated in the 1992 elections
but only won a few seats; they and the other 115 smaller parties
have little influence in the National Assembly
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda or FLEC [N'zita
Henriques TIAGO, Antonio Bento BEMBE]
note: FLEC's small-scale, highly factionalized armed struggle for
the independence of Cabinda Province has largely ended
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AU, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt
(signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OAS
(observer), SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Josefina Perpetua Pitra DIAKITI
chancery: 2108 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 785-1156
FAX: [1] (202) 785-1258
consulate(s) general: Houston, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Cynthia EFIRD
embassy: number 32 Rua Houari Boumedienne (in the Miramar area of
Luanda), Luanda
mailing address: international mail: Caixa Postal 6468, Luanda;
pouch: US Embassy Luanda,US Department of State, 2550 Luanda Place,
Washington, DC 20521-2550
telephone: [244] (222) 64-1000
FAX: [244] (222) 64-1232
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 Angola
Economy - overview:
Angola's high growth rate is driven by its oil sector, with record
oil prices and rising petroleum production. Oil production and its
supporting activities contribute about half of GDP and 90% of
exports. Increased oil production supported 12% growth in 2004 and
19% growth in 2005. A postwar reconstruction boom and resettlement
of displaced persons has led to high rates of growth in construction
and agriculture as well. Much of the country's infrastructure is
still damaged or undeveloped from the 27-year-long civil war.
Remnants of the conflict such as widespread land mines still mar the
countryside even though an apparently durable peace was established
after the death of rebel leader Jonas SAVIMBI in February 2002.
Subsistence agriculture provides the main livelihood for half of the
population, but half of the country's food must still be imported.
In 2005, the government started using a $2 billion line of credit
from China to rebuild Angola's public infrastructure, and several
large-scale projects are scheduled for completion by 2006. The
central bank in 2003 implemented an exchange rate stabilization
program using foreign exchange reserves to buy kwanzas out of
circulation, a policy that was more sustainable in 2005 because of
strong oil export earnings, and has significantly reduced inflation.
Consumer inflation declined from 325% in 2000 to about 18% in 2005,
but the stabilization policy places pressure on international net
liquidity. To fully take advantage of its rich national resources -
gold, diamonds, extensive forests, Atlantic fisheries, and large oil
deposits - Angola will need to continue reforming government
policies and to reduce corruption. The government has made
sufficient progress on reforms recommended by the IMF such as
promoting greater transparency in government spending but continues
to be without a formal monitoring agreement with the institution.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$45.32 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$24.35 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
19.9% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$3,800 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 9.6%
industry: 65.8%
services: 24.6% (2005 est.)
Labor force:
5.58 million (2005 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 85%
industry and services: 15% (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate:
extensive unemployment and underemployment affecting more than half
the population (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
70% (2003 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
23% (2005 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
30.3% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $8.5 billion
expenditures: $10 billion; including capital expenditures of $963
million (2005 est.)
Public debt:
38.3% of GDP (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:
bananas, sugarcane, coffee, sisal, corn, cotton, manioc (tapioca),
tobacco, vegetables, plantains; livestock; forest products; fish
Industries:
petroleum; diamonds, iron ore, phosphates, feldspar, bauxite,
uranium, and gold; cement; basic metal products; fish processing;
food processing, brewing, tobacco products, sugar; textiles; ship
repair
Industrial production growth rate:
13.5% (2004)
Electricity - production:
2.24 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 36.4%
hydro: 63.6%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
1.9 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2003)
Oil - production:
1.6 million bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - consumption:
46,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day
Oil - proved reserves:
25 billion bbl (2005 est.)
Natural gas - production:
720 million cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
720 million cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
45.87 billion cu m (2005)
Current account balance:
$4.054 billion (2005 est.)
Exports:
$26.8 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:
crude oil, diamonds, refined petroleum products, gas, coffee,
sisal, fish and fish products, timber, cotton
Exports - partners:
US 39.8%, China 29.6%, France 7.8%, Chile 5.4%, Taiwan 4.4% (2005)
Imports:
$8.165 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and electrical equipment, vehicles and spare parts;
medicines, food, textiles, military goods
Imports - partners:
South Korea 20.8%, Portugal 13.6%, US 12.7%, South Africa 7.5%,
Brazil 5.6%, France 5.3%, China 5.1% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$3.197 billion (2005 est.)
Debt - external:
$9.401 billion (2005 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$383.5 million (1999)
Currency (code):
kwanza (AOA)
Currency code:
AOA
Exchange rates:
kwanza per US dollar - 88.6 (2005), 83.541 (2004), 74.606 (2003),
43.53 (2002), 22.058 (2001)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Angola
Telephones - main lines in use:
94,300 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
1,094,100 (2005)
Telephone system:
general assessment: 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: country code - 244; satellite earth stations - 29;
fiber optic submarine cable (SAT-3/WASC) provides connectivity to
Europe and Asia (2005)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 21, FM 6, shortwave 7 (2000)
Radios:
815,000 (2000)
Television broadcast stations:
6 (2000)
Televisions:
196,000 (2000)
Internet country code:
.ao
Internet hosts:
2,525 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)
Internet users:
172,000 (2005)
Transportation Angola
Airports:
244 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 31
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 8
1,524 to 2,437 m: 12
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 1 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 213
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 30
914 to 1,523 m: 95
under 914 m: 81 (2006)
Pipelines:
gas 235 km; liquid petroleum gas 122 km; oil 867 km; oil/gas/water
5 km (2006)
Railways:
total: 2,761 km
narrow gauge: 2,638 km 1.067-m gauge; 123 km 0.600-m gauge (2005)
Roadways:
total: 51,429 km
paved: 5,349 km
unpaved: 46,080 km (2001)
Waterways:
1,300 km (2005)
Merchant marine:
total: 4 ships (1000 GRT or over) 4,343 GRT/4,643 DWT
by type: cargo 1, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 1
registered in other countries: 5 (Bahamas 5) (2006)
Ports and terminals:
Cabinda, Luanda, Soyo
Military Angola
Military branches:
Army, Navy (Marinha de Guerra, MdG), Air and Air Defense Forces
(FANA) (2006)
Military service age and obligation:
17 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service
obligation - two years plus time for training (2001)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 17-49: 2,548,455
females age 17-49: 2,462,601 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 17-49: 1,282,195
females age 17-49: 1,256,390 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 126,694
females age 17-49: 123,586 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$2 billion (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
8.8% (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues Angola
Disputes - international:
many Cabinda exclave secessionists have sought shelter in
neighboring states
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 13,510 (Democratic Republic of Congo)
IDPs: 40,000-60,000 (27-year civil war ending in 2002; 4 million
IDPs already have returned) (2005)
Illicit drugs:
used as a transshipment point for cocaine destined for Western
Europe and other African states
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
======================================================================
@Anguilla
Introduction Anguilla
Background:
Colonized by English settlers from Saint Kitts in 1650, Anguilla
was administered by Great Britain until the early 19th century, when
the island - against the wishes of the inhabitants - was
incorporated into a single British dependency, along with Saint
Kitts and Nevis. Several attempts at separation failed. In 1971, two
years after a revolt, Anguilla was finally allowed to secede; this
arrangement was formally recognized in 1980, with Anguilla becoming
a separate British dependency.
Geography Anguilla
Location:
Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic
Ocean, east of Puerto Rico
Geographic coordinates:
18 15 N, 63 10 W
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 102 sq km
land: 102 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
about half the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
61 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 3 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 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%
other: 100% (mostly rock with sparse scrub oak, few trees, some
commercial salt ponds) (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
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
Geography - note:
the most northerly of the Leeward Islands in the Lesser Antilles
People Anguilla
Population:
13,477 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 22.8% (male 1,557/female 1,510)
15-64 years: 70.4% (male 4,878/female 4,608)
65 years and over: 6.9% (male 412/female 512) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 31.2 years
male: 31.2 years
female: 31.1 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.57% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
14.17 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
5.34 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
6.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 20.32 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 26.67 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 13.79 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.28 years
male: 74.35 years
female: 80.3 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.73 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Anguillan(s)
adjective: Anguillan
Ethnic groups:
black (predominant) 90.1%, mixed, mulatto 4.6%, white 3.7%, other
1.5% (2001 Census)
Religions:
Anglican 29%, Methodist 23.9%, other Protestant 30.2%, Roman
Catholic 5.7%, other Christian 1.7%, other 5.2%, none or unspecified
4.3% (2001 Census)
Languages:
English (official)
Literacy:
definition: age 12 and over can read and write
total population: 95%
male: 95%
female: 95% (1984 est.)
Government Anguilla
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Anguilla
Dependency status:
overseas territory of the UK
Government type:
NA
Capital:
name: The Valley
geographic coordinates: 18 13 N, 63 04 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
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 Andrew N. GEORGE (since 10 July 2006)
head of government: Chief Minister Osbourne FLEMING (since 3 March
2000)
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; following legislative elections, the leader of the
majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually
appointed chief minister by the governor
Legislative branch:
unicameral House of Assembly (11 seats total, 7 elected by direct
popular vote, 2 ex officio members, and 2 appointed; members serve
five-year terms)
elections: last held 21 February 2005 (next to be held 2010)
election results: percent of vote by party - AUF 38.9%, ANSA 19.2%,
AUM 19.4%, APP 9.5%, independents 13%; seats by party - AUF 4, ANSA
2, AUM 1
Judicial branch:
High Court (judge provided by Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court)
Political parties and leaders:
Anguilla United Movement or AUM [Hubert HUGHES]; The Anguilla
United Front or AUF [Osbourne FLEMING, Victor BANKS], a coalition of
the Anguilla Democratic Party or ADP and the Anguilla National
Alliance or ANA; Anguilla Progressive Party or APP [Roy ROGERS];
Anguilla Strategic Alternative or ANSA [Edison BAIRD]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), OECS (associate),
UPU
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 Anguilla
Economy - overview:
Anguilla has few natural resources, and the economy depends heavily
on luxury tourism, offshore banking, lobster fishing, and
remittances from emigrants. Increased activity in the tourism
industry, which has spurred the growth of the construction sector,
has contributed to economic growth. Anguillan officials have put
substantial effort into developing the offshore financial sector,
which is small, but growing. In the medium term, prospects for the
economy will depend largely on the tourism sector and, therefore, on
revived income growth in the industrialized nations as well as on
favorable weather conditions.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$108.9 million (2004 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$108.9 million
GDP - real growth rate:
10.2% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$8,800 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 4%
industry: 18%
services: 78% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
6,049 (2001)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture/fishing/forestry/mining 4%, manufacturing 3%,
construction 18%, transportation and utilities 10%, commerce 36%,
services 29% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:
8% (2002)
Population below poverty line:
23% (2002)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
5.3%
Budget:
revenues: $22.8 million
expenditures: $22.5 million; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2000 est.)
Agriculture - products:
small quantities of tobacco, vegetables; cattle raising
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:
42.6 million kWh
Current account balance:
$-42.87 million
Exports:
$14.56 million (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:
lobster, fish, livestock, salt, concrete blocks, rum
Exports - partners:
UK, US, Puerto Rico, Saint-Martin (2004)
Imports:
$129.9 million (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:
fuels, foodstuffs, manufactures, chemicals, trucks, textiles
Imports - partners:
US, Puerto Rico, UK (2004)
Debt - external:
$8.8 million (1998)
Economic aid - recipient:
$9 million (2004 est.)
Currency (code):
East Caribbean dollar (XCD)
Currency code:
XCD
Exchange rates:
East Caribbean dollars per US dollar - 2.7 (2005), 2.7 (2004), 2.7
(2003), 2.7 (2002), 2.7 (2001)
note: fixed rate since 1976
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
Communications Anguilla
Telephones - main lines in use:
6,200 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
1,800 (2002)
Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: modern internal telephone system
international: country code - 1-264; microwave radio relay to island
of Saint Martin (Guadeloupe and Netherlands Antilles)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 2, FM 7, shortwave 0 (2004)
Radios:
3,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (1997)
Televisions:
1,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.ai
Internet hosts:
403 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
16 (2000)
Internet users:
3,000 (2002)
Transportation Anguilla
Airports:
3 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2006)
Roadways:
total: 105 km
paved: 65 km
unpaved: 40 km (2002)
Merchant marine:
registered in other countries: 1 (Panama 1) (2006)
Ports and terminals:
Blowing Point, Road Bay
Military Anguilla
Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 3,614 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 2,986 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 120 (2005 est.)
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues Anguilla
Disputes - international:
none
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the
US and Europe
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
======================================================================
@Antarctica
Introduction Antarctica
Background:
Speculation over the existence of a "southern land" was not
confirmed until the early 1820s when British and American commercial
operators and British and Russian national expeditions began
exploring the Antarctic Peninsula region and other areas south of
the Antarctic Circle. Not until 1840 was it established that
Antarctica was indeed a continent and not just a group of islands.
Several exploration "firsts" were achieved in the early 20th
century. Following World War II, there was an upsurge in scientific
research on the continent. A number of countries have set up
year-round research stations on Antarctica. Seven have made
territorial claims, but not all countries recognize these claims. In
order to form a legal framework for the activities of nations on the
continent, an Antarctic Treaty was negotiated that neither denies
nor gives recognition to existing territorial claims; signed in
1959, it entered into force in 1961.
Geography Antarctica
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: fifth-largest continent, following Asia, Africa, North
America, and South America, but larger than Australia and the
subcontinent of Europe
Area - comparative:
slightly less than 1.5 times the size of the US
Land boundaries:
0 km
note: see entry on Disputes - international
Coastline:
17,968 km
Maritime claims:
Australia, Chile, and Argentina claim Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)
rights or similar over 200 nm extensions seaward from their
continental claims, but like the claims themselves, these zones are
not accepted by other countries; 21 of 28 Antarctic consultative
nations have made no claims to Antarctic territory (although Russia
and the US have reserved the right to do so) and do not recognize
the claims of the other nations; also see the Disputes -
international entry
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 nearly 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: Bentley Subglacial Trench -2,555 m
highest point: Vinson Massif 4,897 m
note: the lowest known land point in Antarctica is hidden in the
Bentley Subglacial Trench; at its surface is the deepest ice yet
discovered and the world's lowest elevation not under seawater
Natural resources:
iron ore, chromium, copper, gold, nickel, platinum and other
minerals, and coal and hydrocarbons have been found in small
uncommercial quantities; none presently exploited; krill, finfish,
and crab have been taken by commercial fisheries
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (ice 98%, barren rock 2%) (2005)
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; large icebergs may
calve from ice shelf
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 passing
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; in 2002, significant areas of
ice shelves disintegrated in response to regional warming
Geography - note:
the coldest, windiest, highest (on average), 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 Antarctica
Population:
no indigenous inhabitants, but there are both permanent and
summer-only staffed research stations
note: 26 nations, all signatory to the Antarctic Treaty, operate
through their National Antarctic Program a number of seasonal-only
(summer) and year-round research stations on the continent and its
nearby islands south of 60 degrees south latitude (the region
covered by the Antarctic Treaty); these stations' population of
persons doing and supporting science or engaged in the management
and protection of the Antarctic region 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; peak
summer (December-February) population - 3,822 total; Argentina 417,
Australia 213, Brazil 40, Bulgaria 15, Chile 224, China 70, Ecuador
22, Finland 20, France 123, Germany 78, India 65, Italy 112, Japan
150, South Korea 60, NZ 85, Norway 44, Peru 28, Poland 40, Russia
429, South Africa 80, Spain 28, Sweden 20, Ukraine 24, UK 205, US
1,170, Uruguay 60 (2005-2006); winter (June-August) station
population - 1,028 total; Argentina 176, Australia 62, Brazil 12,
Chile 88, China 29, France 37, Germany 9, India 25, Italy 2, Japan
40, South Korea 15, NZ 10, Norway 7, Poland 12, Russia 148, South
Africa 10, Ukraine 12, UK 37, US 288, Uruguay 9 (2005); research
stations operated within the Antarctic Treaty area (south of 60
degrees south latitude) by members of the Council of Managers of
National Antarctic Programs (COMNAP): year-round stations - 37
total; Argentina 6, Australia 3, Brazil 1, Chile 3, China 2, France
1, Germany 1, India 1, Japan 1, South Korea 1, NZ 1, Norway 1,
Poland 1, Russia 5, South Africa 1, Ukraine 1, UK 2, US 3, Uruguay
1, Italy and France jointly 1 (2005); seasonal-only (summer)
stations - 15 total; Australia 1, Bulgaria 1, Chile 1, Ecuador 1,
Finland 1, Germany 1, Italy 1, Japan 1, Norway 1, Peru 1, Russia 1,
Spain 2, Sweden 1, UK 1 (2005-2006); 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 Antarctica
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Antarctica
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; the 28th
Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting was held in Stockholm, Sweden
in June 2005; at these periodic meetings, decisions are made by
consensus (not by vote) of all consultative member nations; at the
end of 2005, there were 45 treaty member nations: 28 consultative
and 17 non-consultative; consultative (decision-making) members
include the seven nations that claim portions of Antarctica as
national territory (some claims overlap) and 21 non-claimant
nations; the US and Russia have reserved the right to make claims;
the US does not recognize the claims of others; Antarctica is
administered through meetings of the consultative member nations;
decisions from these meetings are carried out by these member
nations (with respect to their own nationals and operations) in
accordance with their own national laws; the years in parentheses
indicate when a consultative member-nation acceded to the Treaty and
when it was accepted as a consultative member, while no date
indicates the country was an original 1959 treaty signatory;
claimant nations are - Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, NZ,
Norway, and the UK. Nonclaimant consultative nations are - Belgium,
Brazil (1975/1983), Bulgaria (1978/1998) China (1983/1985), Ecuador
(1987/1990), Finland (1984/1989), Germany (1979/1981), India
(1983/1983), Italy (1981/1987), Japan, South Korea (1986/1989),
Netherlands (1967/1990), Peru (1981/1989), Poland (1961/1977),
Russia, South Africa, Spain (1982/1988), Sweden (1984/1988), Ukraine
(1992/2004), Uruguay (1980/1985), and the US; non-consultative
members, with year of accession in parentheses, are - Austria
(1987), Canada (1988), Colombia (1989), Cuba (1984), Czech Republic
(1962/1993), Denmark (1965), Estonia (2001), Greece (1987),
Guatemala (1991), Hungary (1984), North Korea (1987), Papua New
Guinea (1981), Romania (1971), Slovakia (1962/1993), Switzerland
(1990), Turkey (1996), and Venezuela (1999); note - Czechoslovakia
acceded to the Treaty in 1962 and separated into the Czech Republic
and Slovakia in 1993; 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, 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 and reserves high seas rights;
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 expeditions 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 Fauna and Flora (1964) which were
later incorporated into the Environmental Protocol; 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 remains unratified; 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 six specific annexes: 1) environmental impact assessment, 2)
conservation of Antarctic fauna and flora, 3) waste disposal and
waste management, 4) prevention of marine pollution, 5) area
protection and management and 6) liability arising from
environmental emergencies; it prohibits all activities relating to
mineral resources except scientific research; a permanent Antarctic
Treaty Secretariat was established in 2004 in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Legal system:
Antarctica is administered through meetings of the consultative
member nations; decisions from these meetings are carried out by
these member nations (with respect to their own nationals and
operations) in accordance with their own national laws; US law,
including certain criminal offenses by or against US nationals, such
as murder, may apply extraterritorially; 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
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 National Science Foundation and
Department of Justice share enforcement responsibilities; Public Law
95-541, the US Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978, as amended in
1996, requires expeditions from the US to Antarctica to notify, in
advance, the Office of Oceans, Room 5805, 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; telephone: (703) 292-8030, or
visit their website at www.nsf.gov; more generally, access to the
Antarctic Treaty area, that is to all areas between 60 and 90
degrees south latitude, is subject to a number of relevant legal
instruments and authorization procedures adopted by the states party
to the Antarctic Treaty
Economy Antarctica
Economy - overview:
Fishing off the coast and tourism, both based abroad, account for
Antarctica's limited economic activity. Antarctic fisheries in
2003-04 (1 July-30 June) reported landing 136,262 metric tons
(estimated fishing from the area covered by the Convention on the
Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), which
extends slightly beyond the Antarctic Treaty area). Unregulated
fishing, particularly of Patagonian toothfish, is a serious problem.
The CCAMLR determines the recommended catch limits for marine
species. A total of 23,175 tourists visited in the 2004-05 Antarctic
summer, up from the 19,486 visitors the previous year. Nearly all of
them were passengers on commercial (nongovernmental) ships and
several yachts that make trips during the summer. Most tourist trips
last approximately two weeks.
Communications Antarctica
Telephones - main lines in use:
0; note - information for US bases only (2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
NA
Telephone system:
general assessment: local systems at some research stations
domestic: commercial cellular networks operating in a small number
of locations
international: country code - 672; via satellite (including mobile
Inmarsat and Iridium systems) from all research stations, ships,
aircraft, and most field parties
Radio broadcast stations:
AM NA, FM 2, shortwave 1, note - information for US bases only
(2002)
Radios:
NA
Television broadcast stations:
1 (cable system with six channels; American Forces Antarctic
Network-McMurdo)
note: information for US bases only (2002)
Televisions:
several hundred at McMurdo Station (US)
note: information for US bases only (2001)
Internet country code:
.aq
Internet hosts:
7,757 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
NA
Transportation Antarctica
Airports:
20
note: there are no developed public access airports or landing
facilities; 28 stations or remote field locations, operated by 11
National Antarctic Programs from nations party to the Antarctic
Treaty, have restricted aircraft landing facilities comprising a
total of 11 runways and 22 skiways for fixed-wing aircraft; some
stations have both runways and skiways; commercial enterprises
operate two aircraft landing facilities at one station; helicopter
pads are available at all 37 year-round and 15 seasonal stations
operated by National Antarctic Programs; the 11 runways are suitable
for wheeled, fixed-wing aircraft: three are gravel, four blue-ice,
two sea-ice and two compacted snow; of these, five are 3 km in
length, two are between 2 km and 3 km in length, three are between 1
km and 2 km in length and one is less than 1 km in length; the 22
snow surface skiways are limited to use by ski-equipped, fixed-wing
aircraft; of these, three are equal to or greater than 3 km in
length, one is between 2 km and 3 km in length, nine are between 1
km and 2 km in length, five are less than 1 km in length, and four
are of unknown or variable length; snow surface skiways are
generally prepared and maintained during specific periods only and
during summer; all aircraft landing facilities subject to severe
restrictions and limitations resulting from extreme seasonal and
geographic conditions; aircraft landing facilities do not meet ICAO
standards; advance approval from the respective governmental or
nongovernmental operating organization required for using their
facilities; landed aircraft are subject to inspection in accordance
with Article 7, Antarctic Treaty; guidelines for the operation of
aircraft near concentrations of birds in Antarctica were adopted in
2004; relevant legal instruments and authorization procedures
adopted by states party to the Antarctic Treaty regulating access to
the Antarctic Treaty area, that is to all areas between 60 and 90
degrees of latitude South, have to be complied with (see information
under "Legal System"); an Antarctic Flight Information Manual (AFIM)
providing up-to-date details of Antarctic air facilities and
procedures is maintained and published by the Council of Managers of
National Antarctic Programs (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 28
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 8
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 10
under 914 m: 4
length unknown or variable: 4 (2006)
Heliports:
37
note: all 37 year-round and 15 seasonal stations operated by
National Antarctic Programs stations have restricted helicopter
landing facilities (helipads) (2006)
Ports and terminals:
there are no developed ports and harbors in Antarctica; most
coastal stations have offshore anchorages, and supplies are
transferred from ship to shore by small boats, barges, and
helicopters; a few stations have a basic wharf facility; US coastal
stations include McMurdo (77 51 S, 166 40 E), and Palmer (64 43 S,
64 03 W); government use only except by permit (see Permit Office
under "Legal System"); all ships at port are subject to inspection
in accordance with Article 7, Antarctic Treaty; offshore anchorage
is sparse and intermittent; relevant legal instruments and
authorization procedures adopted by the states parties to the
Antarctic Treaty regulating access to the Antarctic Treaty area, to
all areas between 60 and 90 degrees of latitude south, have to be
complied with (see "Legal System"); The Hydrographic Committee on
Antarctica (HCA), a special hydrographic commission of International
Hydrographic Organization (IHO), is responsible for hydrographic
surveying and nautical charting matters in Antarctic Treaty area; it
coordinates and facilitates provision of accurate and appropriate
charts and other aids to navigation in support of safety of
navigation in region; membership of HCA is open to any IHO Member
State whose government has acceded to the Antarctic Treaty and which
contributes resources and/or data to IHO Chart coverage of the area;
members of HCA are Argentina, Australia, Chile, China, France,
Germany, Greece, India, Italy, NZ, Norway, Russia, South Africa,
Spain, and the UK (2005)
Military Antarctica
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 Antarctica
Disputes - international:
Antarctic Treaty freezes claims (see Antarctic Treaty Summary in
government type entry); Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, NZ,
Norway, and UK claim land and maritime sectors (some overlapping)
for a large portion of the continent; the US and many other states
do not recognize these territorial claims and have made no claims
themselves (the US and Russia reserve the right to do so); no claims
have been made in the sector between 90 degrees west and 150 degrees
west; several states with territorial claims in Antarctica have
expressed their intention to submit data to the UN Commission on the
Limits of the Continental Shelf to extend their continental shelf
claims to adjoining undersea ridges
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
======================================================================
@Antigua and Barbuda
Introduction Antigua and Barbuda
Background:
The Siboney were the first to inhabit the islands of Antigua and
Barbuda in 2400 B.C., but Arawak Indians populated the islands when
Columbus landed on his second voyage in 1493. Early settlements by
the Spanish and French were succeeded by the English who formed a
colony in 1667. Slavery, established to run the sugar plantations on
Antigua, was abolished in 1834. The islands became an independent
state within the British Commonwealth of Nations in 1981.
Geography Antigua and Barbuda
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: 442.6 sq km (Antigua 280 sq km; Barbuda 161 sq km)
land: 442.6 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes Redonda, 1.6 sq km
Area - comparative:
2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
153 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Climate:
tropical maritime; 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: 18.18%
permanent crops: 4.55%
other: 77.27% (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
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,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
Antigua has a deeply indented shoreline with many natural harbors
and beaches; Barbuda has a very large western harbor
People Antigua and Barbuda
Population:
69,108 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 27.6% (male 9,716/female 9,375)
15-64 years: 68.5% (male 23,801/female 23,524)
65 years and over: 3.9% (male 1,020/female 1,672) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 30 years
male: 29.5 years
female: 30.5 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.55% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
16.93 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
5.37 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
-6.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.61 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 18.86 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 22.71 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 14.82 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 72.16 years
male: 69.78 years
female: 74.66 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.24 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Antiguan(s), Barbudan(s)
adjective: Antiguan, Barbudan
Ethnic groups:
black, British, Portuguese, Lebanese, Syrian
Religions:
Christian (predominantly Anglican with other Protestant, and some
Roman Catholic)
Languages:
English (official), local dialects
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over has completed five or more years of
schooling
total population: 85.8%
male: NA%
female: NA% (2003 est.)
Government Antigua and Barbuda
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Antigua and Barbuda
Government type:
constitutional parliamentary democracy
Capital:
name: Saint John's
geographic coordinates: 17 06 N, 61 51 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
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 (National 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 Sir James B. CARLISLE (since 10 June
1993)
head of government: Prime Minister Winston Baldwin SPENCER (since 24
March 2004)
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; following
legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the
leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister
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 23 March 2004 (next
to be held in 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
ALP 4, UPP 13
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); member Caribbean Court of Justice
Political parties and leaders:
Antigua Labor Party or ALP [Lester Bryant BIRD]; Barbuda People's
Movement or BPM [Thomas H. FRANK]; National Democratic Congress
[Tillman THOMAS]; United Progressive Party or UPP [Baldwin SPENCER]
(a coalition of three opposition parties - Antigua Caribbean
Liberation Movement or ACLM, Progressive Labor Movement or PLM,
United National Democratic Party or UNDP)
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Antigua Trades and Labor Union or ATLU [William ROBINSON]; People's
Democratic Movement or PDM [Hugh MARSHALL]
International organization participation:
ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber),
ITU, MIGA, NAM (observer), OAS, OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Deborah Mae LOVELL
chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016
telephone: [1] (202) 362-5122
FAX: [1] (202) 362-5225
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 Antigua and Barbuda
Economy - overview:
Tourism continues to dominate the economy, accounting for more than
half of GDP. Weak tourist arrival numbers since early 2000 have
slowed the economy, however, and pressed the government into a tight
fiscal corner. The dual-island nation's agricultural production is
focused on the domestic market and constrained by a limited water
supply and a labor shortage stemming from the lure 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
slightly more than one-third of tourist arrivals.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$750 million (2002 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$905 million
GDP - real growth rate:
3.8% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$10,900 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 3.8%
industry: 22%
services: 74.3% (2002)
Labor force:
30,000
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 7%
industry: 11%
services: 82% (1983)
Unemployment rate:
11% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
0.9% (2005 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $123.7 million
expenditures: $145.9 million; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2000 est.)
Agriculture - products:
cotton, fruits, vegetables, bananas, coconuts, cucumbers, mangoes,
sugarcane; livestock
Industries:
tourism, construction, light manufacturing (clothing, alcohol,
household appliances)
Industrial production growth rate:
6% (1997 est.)
Electricity - production:
100 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
93 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2003)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2003)
Oil - consumption:
3,600 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Current account balance:
$-83.4 million
Exports:
$46.81 million (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:
petroleum products 48%, manufactures 23%, machinery and transport
equipment 17%, food and live animals 4%, other 8%
Exports - partners:
Spain 34%, Germany 20.7%, Italy 7.7%, Singapore 5.8%, UK 4.9% (2005)
Imports:
$378 million (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:
food and live animals, machinery and transport equipment,
manufactures, chemicals, oil
Imports - partners:
US 21.1%, China 16.4%, Germany 13.3%, Singapore 12.7%, Spain 6.5%
(2005)
Debt - external:
$427.3 million; note - data are for public external debt, not total
external debt (2000)
Economic aid - recipient:
$1.65 million (2004)
Currency (code):
East Caribbean dollar (XCD)
Currency code:
XCD
Exchange rates:
East Caribbean dollars per US dollar - 2.7 (2005), 2.7 (2004), 2.7
(2003), 2.7 (2002), 2.7 (2001)
note: fixed rate since 1976
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
Communications Antigua and Barbuda
Telephones - main lines in use:
38,000 (2004)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
54,000 (2004)
Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: good automatic telephone system
international: country code - 1-268; 1 coaxial submarine cable;
satellite earth station - 2; tropospheric scatter to Saba
(Netherlands Antilles) and Guadeloupe
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 4, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
36,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
2 (1997)
Televisions:
31,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.ag
Internet hosts:
2,231 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
16 (2000)
Internet users:
20,000 (2005)
Transportation Antigua and Barbuda
Airports:
3 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2006)
Roadways:
total: 1,165 km
paved: 384 km
unpaved: 781 km (2002)
Merchant marine:
total: 1,011 ships (1000 GRT or over) 7,452,503 GRT/9,783,309 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 40, cargo 596, chemical tanker 7, container
321, liquefied gas 11, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 1,
refrigerated cargo 12, roll on/roll off 21
foreign-owned: 984 (Australia 1, Bangladesh 4, Belgium 4, Colombia
2, Denmark 14, Estonia 12, France 1, Germany 858, Iceland 8, Isle of
Man 2, Latvia 5, Lebanon 1, Lithuania 3, Netherlands 14, Norway 11,
NZ 1, Poland 3, Russia 6, Singapore 1, Slovenia 6, Switzerland 4,
Turkey 8, UK 7, US 7, Vietnam 1) (2006)
Ports and terminals:
Saint John's
Military Antigua and Barbuda
Military branches:
Royal Antigua and Barbuda Defense Force (2006)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age (est.); no conscript military service (2001)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 18,952
females age 18-49: 18,360 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 14,859
females age 18-49: 14,947 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 507
females age 18-49: 494 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
NA
Transnational Issues Antigua and Barbuda
Disputes - international:
none
Illicit drugs:
considered a minor transshipment point for narcotics bound for the
US and Europe; more significant as an offshore financial center
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
======================================================================
@Arctic Ocean
Introduction Arctic Ocean
Background:
The Arctic Ocean is the smallest of the world's five oceans (after
the Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, and the recently
delimited Southern Ocean). The Northwest Passage (US and Canada) and
Northern Sea Route (Norway and Russia) are two important seasonal
waterways. A sparse network of air, ocean, river, and land routes
circumscribes the Arctic Ocean.
Geography Arctic Ocean
Location:
body of water between Europe, Asia, and North America, 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
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,
on average, is about 3 meters thick, although pressure ridges may be
three times that thickness; 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 Lomonosov 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 ice locked
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; thinning polar icepack
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
Economy Arctic Ocean
Economy - overview:
Economic activity is limited to the exploitation of natural
resources, including petroleum, natural gas, fish, and seals.
Transportation Arctic Ocean
Ports and terminals:
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 Arctic Ocean
Disputes - international:
some maritime disputes (see littoral states)
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
======================================================================
@Argentina
Introduction Argentina
Background:
In 1816, the United Provinces of the Rio Plata declared their
independence from Spain. Eventually, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Uruguay
went their own way, but the area that remained became Argentina. The
country's population and culture were subsequently heavily shaped by
immigrants from throughout Europe, but most particularly Italy and
Spain, which provided the largest percentage of newcomers from 1860
to 1930. Up until about the mid-20th century, much of Argentina's
history was dominated by periods of internal political conflict
between conservatives and liberals and between civilian and military
factions. After World War II, an era of Peronist authoritarian rule
and interference in subsequent governments was followed by a
military junta that took power in 1976. Democracy returned in 1983,
and has persisted despite numerous challenges, the most formidable
of which was a severe economic crisis in 2001-02 that led to violent
public protests and the resignation of several interim presidents.
Successful negotiations with the IMF allowed Argentina to sidestep
some fiscal discipline measures normally imposed in such
circumstances. Since 2003, the government's efforts to stem the
crisis have led to rapid economic recovery.
Geography Argentina
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:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
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: Laguna del Carbon -105 m (located between Puerto San
Julian and Comandante Luis Piedra Buena in the province of Santa
Cruz)
highest point: Cerro Aconcagua 6,960 m (located in the northwestern
corner of the province of Mendoza)
Natural resources:
fertile plains of the pampas, lead, zinc, tin, copper, iron ore,
manganese, petroleum, uranium
Land use:
arable land: 10.03%
permanent crops: 0.36%
other: 89.61% (2005)
Irrigated land:
15,500 sq km (2003)
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:
environmental problems (urban and rural) typical of an
industrializing economy such as deforestation, soil degradation,
desertification, air pollution, and water pollution
note: Argentina is a world leader in setting voluntary greenhouse
gas targets
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living
Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate
Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note:
second-largest country in South America (after Brazil); strategic
location relative to sea lanes between the South Atlantic and the
South Pacific Oceans (Strait of Magellan, Beagle Channel, Drake
Passage); diverse geophysical landscapes range from tropical
climates in the north to tundra in the far south; Cerro Aconcagua is
the Western Hemisphere's tallest mountain, while Laguna del Carbon
is the lowest point in the Western Hemisphere
People Argentina
Population:
39,921,833 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 25.2% (male 5,153,164/female 4,921,625)
15-64 years: 64.1% (male 12,804,376/female 12,798,731)
65 years and over: 10.6% (male 1,740,118/female 2,503,819) (2006
est.)
Median age:
total: 29.7 years
male: 28.8 years
female: 30.7 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.96% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
16.73 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
7.55 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
0.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 14.73 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 16.58 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 12.78 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 76.12 years
male: 72.38 years
female: 80.05 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.16 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.7% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
130,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
1,500 (2003 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Argentine(s)
adjective: Argentine
Ethnic groups:
white (mostly Spanish and Italian) 97%, mestizo (mixed white and
Amerindian ancestry), Amerindian, or other non-white groups 3%
Religions:
nominally Roman Catholic 92% (less than 20% practicing), Protestant
2%, Jewish 2%, other 4%
Languages:
Spanish (official), English, Italian, German, French
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.1%
male: 97.1%
female: 97.1% (2003 est.)
Government Argentina
Country name:
conventional long form: Argentine Republic
conventional short form: Argentina
local long form: Republica Argentina
local short form: Argentina
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Buenos Aires
geographic coordinates: 34 36 S, 58 27 W
time difference: UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
23 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia) and 1 autonomous
city* (distrito federal); Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires Capital
Federal*, Catamarca, Chaco, Chubut, Cordoba, Corrientes, 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 and compulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Nestor KIRCHNER (since 25 May 2003); Vice
President Daniel SCIOLI (since 25 May 2003); note - the president is
both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Nestor KIRCHNER (since 25 May 2003);
Vice President Daniel SCIOLI (since 25 May 2003); 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 (eligible for a second term);
election last held 27 April 2003 (next election to be held in 2007)
election results: results of the presidential election of 27 April
2003: Carlos Saul MENEM 24.3%, Nestor KIRCHNER 22%, Ricardo Lopez
MURPHY 16.4%, Adolfo Rodriguez SAA 14.4%, Elisa CARRIO 14.2%, other
8.7%; the subsequent runoff election slated for 25 May 2003 was
awarded to KIRCHNER by default after MENEM withdrew his candidacy on
the eve of the election
Legislative branch:
bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of the
Senate (72 seats; members are elected by direct vote; presently
one-third of the members elected every two years to a six-year term)
and the Chamber of Deputies (257 seats; members are elected by
direct vote; one-half of the members elected every two years to a
four-year term)
elections: Senate - last held 23 October 2005 (next to be held in
2007); Chamber of Deputies - last held last held 23 October 2005
(next to be held in 2007)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by bloc or party - FV
45.1%, FJ 17.2%, UCR 7.5%, other 30.2%; seats by bloc or party - FV
14, FJ 3, UCR 2, other 5; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by
bloc or party - FV 29.9%, UCR 8.9%, ARI 7.2%, PJ 6.7%, PRO 6.2%, FJ
3.9%, other 37.2%; seats by bloc or party - FV 50, UCR 10, ARI 8, PJ
9, PRO 9, FJ 7, other 34
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (the nine Supreme Court judges are
appointed by the president with approval by the Senate)
Political parties and leaders:
Alternative for a Republic of Equals or ARI [Elisa CARRIO]; Front
for Victory or FV [Nestor KIRCHNER]; Interbloque Federal or IF (a
broad coalition of approximately 12 parties including RECREAR);
Justicialist Front or FJ [Eduardo DUHALDE]; Justicialist Party or PJ
(Peronist umbrella political organization); Radical Civic Union or
UCR [Roberto IGLESIAS]; Republican Initiative Alliance or PRO
(including Federal Recreate Movement or RECREAR [Ricardo LOPEZ
MURPHY] and Commitment for Change or CPC [Mauricio MACRI]);
Socialist Party or PS [Ruben GIUSTINIANI]; Union For All [Patricia
BULLRICH]; several provincial parties
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Argentine Association of Pharmaceutical Labs (CILFA); Argentine
Industrial Union (manufacturers' association); Argentine Rural
Society (large landowners' association); business organizations;
Central of Argentine Workers or CTA (a radical union for employed
and unemployed workers); General Confederation of Labor or CGT
(Peronist-leaning umbrella labor organization); Peronist-dominated
labor movement; Piquetero groups (popular protest organizations that
can be either pro or anti-government); Roman Catholic Church;
students
International organization participation:
ABEDA, AfDB, Australia Group, BCIE, BIS, CAN (associate), CSN, FAO,
G-6, G-15, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU,
ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
IPU, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur, MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, NSG,
OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UN Security Council (temporary),
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMOVIC, UNTSO, UPU, WCL,
WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Jose Octavio BORDON
chancery: 1600 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 238-6400
FAX: [1] (202) 332-3171
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami,
New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Earl Anthony WAYNE
embassy: Avenida Colombia 4300, C1425GMN Buenos Aires
mailing address: international mail: use street address; APO
address: Unit 4334, APO AA 34034
telephone: [54] (11) 5777-4533
FAX: [54] (11) 5777-4240
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 Argentina
Economy - overview:
Argentina benefits from rich natural resources, a highly literate
population, an export-oriented agricultural sector, and a
diversified industrial base. Over the past decade, however, the
country has suffered problems of inflation, external debt, capital
flight, and budget deficits. Growth in 2000 was a negative 0.8%, as
both domestic and foreign investors remained skeptical of the
government's ability to pay debts and maintain the peso's fixed
exchange rate with the US dollar. The economic situation worsened in
2001 with the widening of spreads on Argentine bonds, massive
withdrawals from the banks, and a further decline in consumer and
investor confidence. Government efforts to achieve a "zero deficit,"
to stabilize the banking system, and to restore economic growth
proved inadequate in the face of the mounting economic problems. The
peso's peg to the dollar was abandoned in January 2002, and the peso
was floated in February. The exchange rate plunged and real GDP fell
by 10.9% in 2002, but by mid-year the economy had stabilized, albeit
at a lower level. GDP expanded by about 9% per year from 2003 to
2005. Growth is being led by a revival in domestic demand, solid
exports, and favorable external conditions. The government boosted
spending ahead of the October 2005 midterm congressional elections,
but strong revenue performance allowed Argentina to maintain a
budget surplus. Inflation has been rising steadily and reached 12.3
percent in 2005.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$543.4 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$182 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
9.2% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$13,700 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 9.5%
industry: 35.8%
services: 54.7% (2004 est.)
Labor force:
15.34 million (2005 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Unemployment rate:
11.6% (2005 est.)
Population below poverty line:
38.5% (June 2005)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
52.2 (2001)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
9.6% (2005 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
21.5% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $42.63 billion
expenditures: $39.98 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2005 est.)
Public debt:
72.5% of GDP (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:
sunflower seeds, lemons, soybeans, grapes, corn, tobacco, peanuts,
tea, wheat; livestock
Industries:
food processing, motor vehicles, consumer durables, textiles,
chemicals and petrochemicals, printing, metallurgy, steel
Industrial production growth rate:
7.7% (2005 est.)
Electricity - production:
87.16 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 52.2%
hydro: 40.8%
nuclear: 6.7%
other: 0.2% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
82.97 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:
2.07 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports:
1.561 billion kWh (2004)
Oil - production:
745,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - consumption:
450,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day
Oil - proved reserves:
2.95 billion bbl (2005 est.)
Natural gas - production:
41.04 billion cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
34.58 billion cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
6.05 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
663.5 billion cu m (2005)
Current account balance:
$5.448 billion (2005 est.)
Exports:
$40 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:
edible oils, fuels and energy, cereals, feed, motor vehicles
Exports - partners:
Brazil 15.3%, US 10.8%, Chile 10.5%, China 8.3% (2005)
Imports:
$28.8 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, motor vehicles, chemicals, metal
manufactures, plastics
Imports - partners:
Brazil 34.6%, US 16.8%, China 5.4%, Germany 5.3% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$28.09 billion (2005 est.)
Debt - external:
$118.2 billion (2005 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$10 billion (2001 est.)
Currency (code):
Argentine peso (ARS)
Currency code:
ARS
Exchange rates:
Argentine pesos per US dollar - 2.9037 (2005), 2.9233 (2004),
2.9006 (2003), 3.0633 (2002), 0.9995 (2001)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Argentina
Telephones - main lines in use:
8.8 million (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
22.1 million (2005)
Telephone system:
general assessment: by opening the telecommunications market to
competition and foreign investment with the "Telecommunications
Liberalization Plan of 1998," Argentina encouraged the growth of
modern telecommunications technology; fiber-optic cable trunk lines
are being installed between all major cities; the major networks are
entirely digital and the availability of telephone service is
improving; however, telephone density is presently minimal, and
making telephone service universally available will take time
domestic: microwave radio relay, fiber-optic cable, and a domestic
satellite system with 40 earth stations serve the trunk network;
more than 110,000 pay telephones are installed and mobile telephone
use is rapidly expanding
international: country code - 54; satellite earth stations - 112;
Atlantis II and Unisur submarine cables; two international gateways
near Buenos Aires (2005)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 260 (including 10 inactive stations), FM NA (probably more than
1,000, mostly unlicensed), shortwave 6 (1998)
Radios:
24.3 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
42 (plus 444 repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:
7.95 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.ar
Internet hosts:
1,612,423 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
33 (2000)
Internet users:
10 million (2005)
Transportation Argentina
Airports:
1,381 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 154
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 26
1,524 to 2,437 m: 65
914 to 1,523 m: 50
under 914 m: 9 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1,227
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 49
914 to 1,523 m: 587
under 914 m: 587 (2006)
Pipelines:
gas 29,804 km; liquid petroleum gas 41 km; oil 10,373 km; refined
products 8,540 km; unknown (oil/water) 13 km (2006)
Railways:
total: 31,902 km
broad gauge: 20,858 km 1.676-m gauge (141 km electrified)
standard gauge: 2,885 km 1.435-m gauge (26 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 7,922 km 1.000-m gauge; 237 km 0.750-m gauge (2005)
Roadways:
total: 229,144 km
paved: 68,809 km (including 734 km of expressways)
unpaved: 160,335 km (2004)
Waterways:
11,000 km (2005)
Merchant marine:
total: 41 ships (1000 GRT or over) 435,969 GRT/707,767 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 2, cargo 10, chemical tanker 1, passenger 1,
passenger/cargo 3, petroleum tanker 21, refrigerated cargo 2, roll
on/roll off 1
foreign-owned: 11 (Chile 6, UK 4, Uruguay 1)
registered in other countries: 24 (Bolivia 1, Chile 1, Liberia 7,
Panama 9, Paraguay 3, Uruguay 3) (2006)
Ports and terminals:
Bahia Blanca, Buenos Aires, Concepcion del Uruguay, La Plata, Punta
Colorada, Rosario, San Lorenzo-San Martin, San Nicolas
Military Argentina
Military branches:
Argentine Army, Navy of the Argentine Republic (includes naval
aviation and naval infantry), Argentine Air Force (Fuerza Aerea
Argentina, FAA) (2005)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription
(2001)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 8,981,886
females age 18-49: 8,883,756 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 7,316,038
females age 18-49: 7,442,589 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 344,575
females age 18-49: 334,649 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$4.3 billion (FY99)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.3% (FY00)
Military - note:
the Argentine military is a well-organized force constrained by the
country's prolonged economic hardship; the country has recently
experienced a strong recovery, and the military is now implementing
"Plan 2000," aimed at making the ground forces lighter and more
responsive (2005)
Transnational Issues Argentina
Disputes - international:
Argentina continues to assert its claims to the UK-administered
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) and South Georgia and the South
Sandwich Islands in its constitution, forcibly occupying the
Falklands in 1982, but in 1995 agreed no longer to seek settlement
by force; territorial claim in Antarctica partially overlaps UK and
Chilean claims (see Antarctic disputes); unruly region at
convergence of Argentina-Brazil-Paraguay borders is locus of money
laundering, smuggling, arms and illegal narcotics trafficking, and
fundraising for extremist organizations; uncontested dispute between
Brazil and Uruguay over Braziliera Island in the Quarai/Cuareim
River leaves the tripoint with Argentina in question; action by the
joint boundary commission, established by Chile and Argentina in
2001, for mapping and demarcating the disputed boundary in the
Andean Southern Ice Field (Campo de Hielo Sur) remains pending
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Argentina is primarily a destination country for
women and children trafficked for sexual and labor exploitation with
most victims trafficked internally, from rural to urban areas, for
exploitation in prostitution; foreign women and children trafficked
for commercial sexual exploitation come primarily from Paraguay, but
also from Bolivia, Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Colombia, and
Chile; Bolivians are trafficked for forced labor; Argentine women
and girls are also trafficked to neighboring countries for sexual
exploitation
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Argentina failed to show evidence
of increasing efforts to combat trafficking particularly in the key
area of prosecutions; government efforts to improve interagency
anti-trafficking coordination did not achieve significant progress
in moving cases against traffickers through the judicial system; the
government made progress in other areas, by submitting
anti-trafficking legislation to Congress in August 2005 and
sensitizing provincial and municipal government officials to the
trafficking problem
Illicit drugs:
used as a transshipment country for cocaine headed for Europe; some
money-laundering activity, especially in the Tri-Border Area;
domestic consumption of drugs in urban centers is increasing
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
======================================================================
@Armenia
Introduction Armenia
Background:
Armenia prides itself on being the first nation to formally adopt
Christianity (early 4th century). Despite periods of autonomy, over
the centuries Armenia came under the sway of various empires
including the Roman, Byzantine, Arab, Persian, and Ottoman. During
World War I in the western portion of Armenia, Ottoman Turkey
instituted a policy of forced resettlement coupled with other harsh
practices that resulted in an estimated 1 million Armenian deaths.
The eastern area of Armenia was ceded by the Ottomans to Russia in
1828; this portion declared its independence in 1918, but was
conquered by the Soviet Red Army in 1920. Armenian leaders remain
preoccupied by the long conflict with Muslim Azerbaijan over
Nagorno-Karabakh, a primarily Armenian-populated region, assigned to
Soviet Azerbaijan in the 1920s by Moscow. Armenia and Azerbaijan
began fighting over the area in 1988; the struggle escalated after
both countries attained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.
By May 1994, when a cease-fire took hold, Armenian forces held not
only Nagorno-Karabakh but also a significant portion of Azerbaijan
proper. The economies of both sides have been hurt by their
inability to make substantial progress toward a peaceful resolution.
Turkey imposed an economic blockade on Armenia and closed the common
border because of the Armenian occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh and
surrounding areas.
Geography Armenia
Location:
Southwestern Asia, east of Turkey
Geographic coordinates:
40 00 N, 45 00 E
Map references:
Asia
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 Lerrnagagat' 4,090 m
Natural resources:
small deposits of gold, copper, molybdenum, zinc, alumina
Land use:
arable land: 16.78%
permanent crops: 2.01%
other: 81.21% (2005)
Irrigated land:
2,860 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:
occasionally severe earthquakes; droughts
Environment - current issues:
soil pollution from toxic chemicals such as DDT; the energy crisis
of the 1990s 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 in spite of its location in a
seismically active zone
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants
Geography - note:
landlocked in the Lesser Caucasus Mountains; Sevana Lich (Lake
Sevan) is the largest lake in this mountain range
People Armenia
Population:
2,976,372 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 20.5% (male 322,189/female 286,944)
15-64 years: 68.4% (male 949,975/female 1,085,484)
65 years and over: 11.1% (male 133,411/female 198,369) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 30.4 years
male: 27.8 years
female: 33.2 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
-0.19% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
12.07 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
8.23 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
-5.72 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.17 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.12 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.88 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female
total population: 0.9 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 22.47 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 27.59 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 16.51 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 71.84 years
male: 68.25 years
female: 76.02 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.33 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
2,600 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 200 (2003 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Armenian(s)
adjective: Armenian
Ethnic groups:
Armenian 97.9%, Yezidi (Kurd) 1.3%, Russian 0.5%, other 0.3% (2001
census)
Religions:
Armenian Apostolic 94.7%, other Christian 4%, Yezidi (monotheist
with elements of nature worship) 1.3%
Languages:
Armenian 97.7%, Yezidi 1%, Russian 0.9%, other 0.4% (2001 census)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.6%
male: 99.4%
female: 98% (2003 est.)
Government Armenia
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
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Yerevan
geographic coordinates: 40 11 N, 44 30 E
time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October
Administrative divisions:
11 provinces (marzer, singular - marz); Aragatsotn, Ararat,
Armavir, Geghark'unik', Kotayk', Lorri, Shirak, Syunik', Tavush,
Vayots' Dzor, Yerevan
Independence:
21 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 21 September (1991)
Constitution:
adopted by nationwide referendum 5 July 1995; amendments adopted
through a nationwide referendum 27 November 2005
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 Andranik MARGARYAN (since 12 May
2000)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held 19 February and 5
March 2003 (next to be held in 2008); prime minister appointed by
the president and confirmed with the majority support of the
National Assembly; the prime minister and Council of Ministers must
resign if the National Assembly refuses to accept their program
election results: Robert KOCHARIAN reelected president; percent of
vote - Robert KOCHARIAN 67.5%, Stepan DEMIRCHYAN 32.5%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly (Parliament) or Azgayin Zhoghov (131
seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms; 90
members elected by party list, 41 by direct vote)
elections: last held 25 May 2003 (next to be held in the spring of
2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - Republican Party 23.5%,
Justice Bloc 13.6%, Rule of Law 12.3%, ARF (Dashnak) 11.4%, National
Unity Party 8.8%, United Labor Party 5.7%; seats by faction -
Republican Party 39, Rule of Law 20, Justice Bloc 14, ARF (Dashnak)
11, National Unity 7, United Labor 6, People's Deputy Group 16,
independent (not in faction or group) 18; note - as of 10 March
2006; voting blocs in the legislature are more properly termed
factions and can be composed of members of several parties; seats by
faction change frequently as deputies switch parties or announce
themselves independent
Judicial branch:
Constitutional Court; Court of Cassation (Appeals Court)
Political parties and leaders:
Agro-Industrial Party [Vladimir BADALYAN]; Armenia Party [Myasnik
MALKHASYAN]; Armenian National Movement or ANM [Alex ARZUMANYAN,
chairman]; Armenian Ramkavar Liberal Party or HRAK [Harutyun
MIRZAKHANYAN, chairman]; Armenian Revolutionary Federation
("Dashnak" Party) or ARF [Levon MKRTCHYAN]; Democratic Party [Aram
SARKISYAN]; Justice Bloc (comprised of the Democratic Party,
National Democratic Party, National Democratic Union, the People's
Party, and the Republic Party) [Stepan DEMIRCHYAN]; National
Democratic Party [Shavarsh KOCHARIAN]; National Democratic Union or
NDU [Vazgen MANUKIAN]; National Revival Party [Albert BAZEYAN];
National Unity Party [Artashes GEGHAMYAN, chairman]; People's Party
of Armenia [Stepan DEMIRCHYAN]; Republic Party [Aram SARKISYAN,
chairman]; Republican Party or RPA [Andranik MARGARYAN]; Rule of Law
Party [Samvel BALASANYAN]; Union of Constitutional Rights [Hrant
KHACHATURYAN]; United Labor Party [Gurgen ARSENYAN]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Yerkrapah Union [Manvel GRIGORIAN]
International organization participation:
ACCT (observer), AsDB, BSEC, CE, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM (observer), OAS
(observer), OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Tatoul MARKARIAN
chancery: 2225 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 319-1976
FAX: [1] (202) 319-2982
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Anthony F.
GODFREY
embassy: 1 American Ave., Yerevan 375082
mailing address: American Embassy Yerevan, US Department of State,
7020 Yerevan Place, Washington, DC 20521-7020
telephone: [374](10) 464-700
FAX: [374](10) 464-742
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue, and orange
Economy Armenia
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 era. 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 (copper, 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 liberalization program that resulted in
positive growth rates in 1995-2005. Armenia joined the WTO in
January 2003. Armenia also has managed to slash inflation, stabilize
its currency, and privatize most small- and medium-sized
enterprises. Armenia's unemployment rate, however, remains high,
despite strong economic growth. The chronic energy shortages Armenia
suffered in the early and mid-1990s have been offset by the energy
supplied by one of its nuclear power plants at Metsamor. Armenia is
now a net energy exporter, although it does not have sufficient
generating capacity to replace Metsamor, which is under
international pressure to close. The electricity distribution system
was privatized in 2002. Armenia's severe trade imbalance has been
offset somewhat by international aid, remittances from Armenians
working abroad, and foreign direct investment. Economic ties with
Russia remain close, especially in the energy sector. The government
made some improvements in tax and customs administration in 2005,
but anti-corruption measures will be more difficult to implement.
Investment in the construction and industrial sectors is expected to
continue in 2006 and will help to ensure annual average real GDP
growth of about 13.9%.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$14.45 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$4.868 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
13.9% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$4,800 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 23.9%
industry: 34.3%
services: 41.8% (2005 est.)
Labor force:
1.2 million (2005)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 45%
industry: 25%
services: 30% (2002 est.)
Unemployment rate:
31.6% (2004 est.)
Population below poverty line:
43% (2003 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.6%
highest 10%: 41.3% (2004)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
41.3 (2004)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
0.6% (2005 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
21.4% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $786.1 million
expenditures: $930.7 million; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:
fruit (especially grapes), vegetables; livestock
Industries:
diamond-processing, metal-cutting machine tools, forging-pressing
machines, electric motors, tires, knitted wear, hosiery, shoes, silk
fabric, chemicals, trucks, instruments, microelectronics, jewelry
manufacturing, software development, food processing, brandy
Industrial production growth rate:
7.5% (2005 est.)
Electricity - production:
6.317 billion kWh (2005)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 42.3%
hydro: 27%
nuclear: 30.7%
other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
4.374 billion kWh (2005)
Electricity - exports:
650 million kWh; note - exports an unknown quantity to Georgia;
includes exports to Nagorno-Karabakh region in Azerbaijan (2003)
Electricity - imports:
463 million kWh; note - imports an unknown quantity from Iran (2003)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - consumption:
40,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
1.685 billion cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
1.685 billion cu m (2005 est.)
Current account balance:
$-118 million (2005 est.)
Exports:
$800 million f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:
diamonds, mineral products, foodstuffs, energy
Exports - partners:
Germany 15.6%, Netherlands 13.7%, Belgium 12.8%, Russia 12.2%,
Israel 11.5%, US 11.2%, Georgia 4.8% (2005)
Imports:
$1.5 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:
natural gas, petroleum, tobacco products, foodstuffs, diamonds
Imports - partners:
Russia 13.5%, Belgium 8%, Germany 7.9%, Ukraine 7%, Turkmenistan
6.3%, US 6.2%, Israel 5.8%, Iran 5%, Romania 4.2% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$754.9 million (2005 est.)
Debt - external:
$1.819 billion (20 September 2005)
Economic aid - recipient:
ODA, $254 million (2004)
Currency (code):
dram (AMD)
Currency code:
AMD
Exchange rates:
drams per US dollar - 457.69 (2005), 533.45 (2004), 578.76 (2003),
573.35 (2002), 555.08 (2001)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Armenia
Telephones - main lines in use:
582,500 (2004)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
320,000 (2005)
Telephone system:
general assessment: system inadequate; now 90% privately owned and
undergoing modernization and expansion
domestic: the majority of subscribers and the most modern equipment
are in Yerevan (this includes paging and mobile cellular service)
international: country code - 374; Yerevan is connected to the
Trans-Asia-Europe fiber-optic cable through Iran; additional
international service is available by microwave radio relay and
landline connections to the other countries of the Commonwealth of
Independent States and through the Moscow international switch and
by satellite to the rest of the world; satellite earth stations - 3
(2005)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 9, FM 6, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:
850,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
3 (plus an unknown number of repeaters) (1998)
Televisions:
825,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.am
Internet hosts:
8,163 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
9 (2001)
Internet users:
150,000 (2005)
Transportation Armenia
Airports:
13 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 11
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)
Pipelines:
gas 2,002 km (2006)
Railways:
total: 845 km
broad gauge: 845 km 1.520-m gauge (828 km electrified)
note: some lines are out of service (2005)
Roadways:
total: 7,633 km
paved: 7,633 km (includes 1,561 km of expressways) (2003)
Military Armenia
Military branches:
Armed Forces: Ground Forces, Nagorno-Karabakh Self Defense Force
(NKSDF), Air Force, Air Defense Force (2006)
Military service age and obligation:
18 to 27 years of age for compulsory military service, conscript
service obligation - 12 months; 18 years of age for voluntary
military service (2004)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 722,836
females age 18-49: 795,084 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 551,938
females age 18-49: 656,493 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 31,774
females age 18-49: 31,182 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$135 million (FY01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
6.5% (FY01)
Transnational Issues Armenia
Disputes - international:
Armenia supports ethnic Armenian secessionists in Nagorno-Karabakh
and since the early 1990s, has militarily occupied 16% of Azerbaijan
- Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)
continues to mediate dispute; over 800,000 mostly ethnic
Azerbaijanis were driven from the occupied lands and Armenia; about
230,000 ethnic Armenians were driven from their homes in Azerbaijan
into Armenia; Azerbaijan seeks transit route through Armenia to
connect to Naxcivan exclave; border with Turkey remains closed over
Nagorno-Karabakh dispute; ethnic Armenian groups in Javakheti region
of Georgia seek greater autonomy; tens of thousands of Armenians
emigrate, primarily to Russia, to seek employment
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 235,101 (Azerbaijan)
IDPs: 50,000 (conflict with Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh) (2005)
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Armenia is a major source and, to a lesser
extent, a transit and destination country for women and girls
trafficked for sexual exploitation largely to the UAE and Turkey;
traffickers, many of them women, route victims directly into Dubai
or through Moscow; profits derived from the trafficking of Armenian
victims reportedly increased dramatically from 2005
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Armenia has failed to show evidence
of increasing efforts, particularly in the areas of enforcement,
trafficking-related corruption, and victim protection; the
government increased implementation of its anti-trafficking law, but
failed to impose significant penalties for convicted traffickers and
failed to vigorously investigate and prosecute ongoing and
widespread allegations of public officials' complicity in
trafficking; victim protection efforts remain in early, formative
stages and a lack of sensitivity for victims remains a problem,
particularly in the judiciary
Illicit drugs:
illicit cultivation of small amount of cannabis for domestic
consumption; minor transit point for illicit drugs - mostly opium
and hashish - moving from Southwest Asia to Russia and to a lesser
extent the rest of Europe
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
======================================================================
@Aruba
Introduction Aruba
Background:
Discovered and claimed for Spain in 1499, Aruba was acquired by the
Dutch in 1636. The island's economy has been dominated by three main
industries. A 19th century gold rush was followed by prosperity
brought on by the opening in 1924 of an oil refinery. The last
decades of the 20th century saw a boom in the tourism industry.
Aruba seceded from the Netherlands Antilles in 1986 and became a
separate, autonomous member of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Movement toward full independence was halted at Aruba's request in
1990.
Geography Aruba
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: 10.53%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 89.47% (2005)
Irrigated land:
0.01 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
lies outside the Caribbean hurricane belt
Environment - current issues:
NA
Geography - note:
a flat, riverless island renowned for its white sand beaches; its
tropical climate is moderated by constant trade winds from the
Atlantic Ocean; the temperature is almost constant at about 27
degrees Celsius (81 degrees Fahrenheit)
People Aruba
Population:
71,891 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 19.5% (male 7,175/female 6,849)
15-64 years: 68.2% (male 23,894/female 25,140)
65 years and over: 12.3% (male 3,616/female 5,217) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 38.5 years
male: 36.4 years
female: 40.3 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.44% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
11.03 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
6.68 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 5.79 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 6.6 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.95 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 79.28 years
male: 75.95 years
female: 82.78 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.79 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Aruban(s)
adjective: Aruban; Dutch
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:
definition: NA
total population: 97%
male: NA%
female: NA%
Government Aruba
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Aruba
Dependency status:
member country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; full autonomy in
internal affairs obtained in 1986 upon separation from the
Netherlands Antilles; Dutch Government responsible for defense and
foreign affairs
Government type:
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
name: Oranjestad
geographic coordinates: 12 33 N, 70 06 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
Independence:
none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
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 of the Netherlands (since 30 April
1980), represented by Governor General Fredis REFUNJOL (since 11 May
2004)
head of government: Prime Minister Nelson O. ODUBER (since 30
October 2001)
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 four-year terms; election last
held 2005 (next to be held by 2009)
election results: Nelson O. ODUBER elected prime minister; percent
of legislative vote - NA
Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislature or Staten (21 seats; members elected by
direct, popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 23 September 2005 (next to be held by in 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - MEP 43%, AVP 32%, MPA
7%, RED 7%, PDR 6%, OLA 4%, PPA 2%; seats by party - MEP 11, AVP 8,
MPA 1, RED 1
Judicial branch:
Common Court of Justice of Aruba (judges are appointed by the
monarch)
Political parties and leaders:
Aliansa/Aruban Social Movement or MSA [Robert WEVER]; Aruban
Liberal Organization or OLA [Glenbert CROES]; Aruban Patriotic
Movement or MPA [Monica ARENDS-KOCK]; Aruban Patriotic Party or PPA
[Benny NISBET]; Aruban People's Party or AVP [Mike EMAN]; People's
Electoral Movement Party or MEP [Nelson O. ODUBER]; Real Democracy
or PDR [Andin BIKKER]; RED [Rudy LAMPE]; Workers Political Platform
or PTT [Gregorio WOLFF]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, UNESCO (associate), UPU, WCL, WMO, WToO
(associate)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (represented by the Kingdom of the Netherlands); note - Mr.
Henry BAARH, Minister Plenipotentiary for Aruba at the Embassy of
the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US does not have an embassy in Aruba; the Consul General to
Netherlands Antilles is accredited to Aruba
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 Aruba
Economy - overview:
Tourism is the mainstay of the small, open Aruban economy, with
offshore banking and oil refining and storage also important. The
rapid growth of the tourism sector over the last decade has resulted
in a substantial expansion of other activities. Over 1.5 million
tourists per year visit Aruba, with 75% of those from the US.
Construction continues to boom, 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. Tourist arrivals have rebounded strongly
following a dip after the 11 September 2001 attacks. The island
experiences only a brief low season, and hotel occupancy in 2004
averaged 80%, compared to 68% throughout the rest of the Caribbean.
The newly re-elected government has made cutting the budget and
trade deficits a high priority.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$2.258 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$2.258 billion
GDP - real growth rate:
2.4% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$21,800 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 0.4% NA%
industry: 33.3% NA%
services: 66.3% NA%
Labor force:
41,500 (2004 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
note: most employment is in wholesale and retail trade and repair,
followed by hotels and restaurants; oil refining
Unemployment rate:
6.9% (2005 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.4% (2005)
Budget:
revenues: $507.9 million
expenditures: $577.9 million; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2000)
Public debt:
46.3% of GDP
Agriculture - products:
aloes; livestock; fish
Industries:
tourism, transshipment facilities, oil refining
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
770 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
716.1 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2003)
Oil - production:
2,363 bbl/day (2003)
Oil - consumption:
6,500 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Exports:
$80 million f.o.b.; note - includes oil reexports (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:
live animals and animal products, art and collectibles, machinery
and electrical equipment, transport equipment
Exports - partners:
Netherlands 33.5%, Panama 16.7%, Colombia 11.9%, US 11.3%,
Venezuela 10.1%, Netherlands Antilles 9% (2005)
Imports:
$875 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and electrical equipment, crude oil for refining and
reexport, chemicals; foodstuffs
Imports - partners:
US 55.9%, Netherlands 12.9%, UK 3.8% (2005)
Debt - external:
$478.6 million (2005 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$-11.3 million (2004)
Currency (code):
Aruban guilder/florin (AWG)
Currency code:
AWG
Exchange rates:
Aruban guilders/florins per US dollar - 1.79 (2005), 1.79 (2004),
1.79 (2003), 1.79 (2002), 1.79 (2001)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Aruba
Telephones - main lines in use:
37,100 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
98,400 (2004)
Telephone system:
general assessment: modern fully automatic telecommunications system
domestic: increased competition through privatization; 3 wireless
service providers are now licensed
international: country code - 297; 1 submarine cable to Sint Maarten
(Netherlands Antilles); extensive interisland microwave radio relay
links
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 2, FM 16, shortwave 0 (2004)
Radios:
50,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (1997)
Televisions:
20,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.aw
Internet hosts:
11,548 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
NA
Internet users:
24,000 (2002)
Transportation Aruba
Airports:
1 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2006)
Roadways:
total: 800 km
paved: 513 km
unpaved: 287 km
Ports and terminals:
Barcadera, Oranjestad, Sint Nicolaas
Military Aruba
Military branches:
no regular indigenous military forces; Royal Netherlands Navy and
Marines, Coast Guard
Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 16,278 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 13,219 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 520 (2005 est.)
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Transnational Issues Aruba
Disputes - international:
none
Illicit drugs:
transit point for US- and Europe-bound narcotics with some
accompanying money-laundering activity
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
======================================================================
@Ashmore and Cartier Islands
Introduction Ashmore and Cartier Islands
Background:
These uninhabited islands came under Australian authority in 1931;
formal administration began two years later. Ashmore Reef supports a
rich and diverse avian and marine habitat; in 1983, it became a
National Nature Reserve. Cartier Island, a former bombing range, is
now a marine reserve.
Geography Ashmore and Cartier Islands
Location:
Southeastern Asia, islands in the Indian Ocean, midway between
northwestern Australia and Timor island
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:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 12 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive fishing zone: 200 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%
other: 100% (all grass and sand) (2005)
Irrigated land:
0 sq km
Natural hazards:
surrounded by shoals and reefs that can pose maritime hazards
Environment - current issues:
NA
Geography - note:
Ashmore Reef National Nature Reserve established in August 1983
People Ashmore and Cartier Islands
Population:
no indigenous inhabitants
note: Indonesian fishermen are allowed access to the lagoon and
fresh water at Ashmore Reef's West Island (July 2006 est.)
People - note:
the landing of illegal immigrants from Indonesia's Rote Island has
become an ongoing problem
Government Ashmore and Cartier Islands
Country name:
conventional long form: Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands
conventional short form: Ashmore and Cartier Islands
Dependency status:
territory of Australia; administered by the Australian Department
of Transport and Regional Services
Legal system:
the laws of the Commonwealth of Australia and the laws of the
Northern Territory of Australia, where applicable, apply
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 Ashmore and Cartier Islands
Economy - overview:
no economic activity
Transportation Ashmore and Cartier Islands
Ports and terminals:
none; offshore anchorage only
Military Ashmore and Cartier Islands
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of Australia; periodic visits by the
Royal Australian Navy and Royal Australian Air Force
Transnational Issues Ashmore and Cartier Islands
Disputes - international:
Indonesian groups challenge Australia's claim to Ashmore Reef;
Australia has closed the surrounding waters to Indonesian
traditional fishing and created a national park in the region while
continuing to prospect for hydrocarbons in the vicinity
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
======================================================================
@Atlantic Ocean
Introduction Atlantic Ocean
Background:
The Atlantic Ocean is the second largest of the world's five oceans
(after the Pacific Ocean, but larger than the Indian Ocean, Southern
Ocean, and Arctic Ocean). The Kiel Canal (Germany), Oresund
(Denmark-Sweden), Bosporus (Turkey), Strait of Gibraltar
(Morocco-Spain), and the Saint Lawrence Seaway (Canada-US) are
important strategic access waterways. The decision by the
International Hydrographic Organization in the spring of 2000 to
delimit a fifth world ocean, the Southern Ocean, removed the portion
of the Atlantic Ocean south of 60 degrees south latitude.
Geography Atlantic Ocean
Location:
body of water between Africa, Europe, the Southern Ocean, and the
Western Hemisphere
Geographic coordinates:
0 00 N, 25 00 W
Map references:
Political Map of the World
Area:
total: 76.762 million sq km
note: includes Baltic Sea, Black Sea, Caribbean Sea, Davis Strait,
Denmark Strait, part of the Drake Passage, Gulf of Mexico, Labrador
Sea, Mediterranean Sea, North Sea, Norwegian Sea, almost all of the
Scotia Sea, and other tributary water bodies
Area - comparative:
slightly less than 6.5 times the size of the US
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 coastal portions of the 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: Milwaukee Deep in the Puerto Rico Trench -8,605 m
highest point: 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; ships
subject to superstructure icing in extreme northern Atlantic from
October to May; persistent fog can be a maritime hazard from May to
September; hurricanes (May to December)
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
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
Economy Atlantic Ocean
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, dredging of aragonite sands (The
Bahamas), and production of crude oil and natural gas (Caribbean
Sea, Gulf of Mexico, and North Sea).
Transportation Atlantic Ocean
Ports and terminals:
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;
significant domestic commercial and recreational use of Intracoastal
Waterway on central and south Atlantic seaboard and Gulf of Mexico
coast of US
Transnational Issues Atlantic Ocean
Disputes - international:
some maritime disputes (see littoral states)
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
======================================================================
@Australia
Introduction Australia
Background:
Aboriginal settlers arrived on the continent from Southeast Asia
about 40,000 years before the first Europeans began exploration in
the 17th century. No formal territorial claims were made until 1770,
when Capt. James COOK took possession in the name of Great Britain.
Six colonies were created in the late 18th and 19th centuries; they
federated and became the Commonwealth of Australia in 1901. The new
country took advantage of its natural resources to rapidly develop
agricultural and manufacturing industries and to make a major
contribution to the British effort in World Wars I and II. In recent
decades, Australia has transformed itself into an internationally
competitive, advanced market economy. It boasted one of the OECD's
fastest growing economies during the 1990s, a performance due in
large part to economic reforms adopted in the 1980s. Long-term
concerns include pollution, particularly depletion of the ozone
layer, and management and conservation of coastal areas, especially
the Great Barrier Reef.
Geography Australia
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 contiguous 48 states
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
25,760 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
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 Kosciuszko 2,229 m
Natural resources:
bauxite, coal, iron ore, copper, tin, gold, silver, uranium,
nickel, tungsten, mineral sands, lead, zinc, diamonds, natural gas,
petroleum
Land use:
arable land: 6.15% (includes about 27 million hectares of
cultivated grassland)
permanent crops: 0.04%
other: 93.81% (2005)
Irrigated land:
25,450 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:
cyclones along the coast; severe droughts; forest fires
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-Marine Living
Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate
Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, 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: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography - note:
world's smallest continent but sixth-largest country; population
concentrated along the eastern and southeastern coasts; the
invigorating tropical sea breeze known as the "Fremantle Doctor"
affects the city of Perth on the west coast, and is one of the most
consistent winds in the world
People Australia
Population:
20,264,082 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 19.6% (male 2,031,313/female 1,936,802)
15-64 years: 67.3% (male 6,881,863/female 6,764,709)
65 years and over: 13.1% (male 1,170,589/female 1,478,806) (2006
est.)
Median age:
total: 36.9 years
male: 36 years
female: 37.7 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.85% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
12.14 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
7.51 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
3.85 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 4.63 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 5.02 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.22 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 80.5 years
male: 77.64 years
female: 83.52 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.76 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
14,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 200 (2003 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Australian(s)
adjective: Australian
Ethnic groups:
Caucasian 92%, Asian 7%, aboriginal and other 1%
Religions:
Catholic 26.4%, Anglican 20.5%, other Christian 20.5%, Buddhist
1.9%, Muslim 1.5%, other 1.2%, unspecified 12.7%, none 15.3% (2001
Census)
Languages:
English 79.1%, Chinese 2.1%, Italian 1.9%, other 11.1%, unspecified
5.8% (2001 Census)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)
Government Australia
Country name:
conventional long form: Commonwealth of Australia
conventional short form: Australia
Government type:
federal parliamentary democracy
Capital:
name: Canberra
geographic coordinates: 35 17 S, 149 08 E
time difference: UTC+10 (15 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in October; ends last
Sunday in March (ended first Sunday in April 2006)
note: Australia is divided into three time zones
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, Macquarie 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 of Australia ELIZABETH II (since 6 February
1952), represented by Governor General Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Michael
JEFFERY (since 11 August 2003)
head of government: Prime Minister John Winston HOWARD (since 11
March 1996); Deputy Prime Minister Mark VAILE (since 6 July 2005)
cabinet: prime minister nominates, from among members of Parliament,
candidates who are subsequently sworn in by the governor general to
serve as government ministers
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general
appointed by the monarch on the recommendation of the prime
minister; following legislative elections, the leader of the
majority party or leader of a majority coalition is sworn in as
prime minister by the governor general
note: government coalition - Liberal Party and National Party
Legislative branch:
bicameral Federal Parliament consists of the Senate (76 seats - 12
from each of the six states and 2 from each of the two mainland
territories; one-half of state members are elected every three years
by popular vote to serve six-year terms while all territory members
are elected every three years) and the House of Representatives (150
seats; members elected by popular preferential voting to serve terms
of up to three-years; no state can have fewer than 5 representatives)
elections: Senate - last held 9 October 2004 (next to be held no
later than June 2008); House of Representatives - last held 9
October 2004 (next to be called no later than November 2007)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by
party - Liberal Party-National Party coalition 39, Australian Labor
Party 28, Democrats 4, Australian Greens 4, Family First Party 1;
House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by
party - Liberal Party-National Party coalition 87, Australian Labor
Party 60, independents 3
Judicial branch:
High Court (the chief justice and six other justices are appointed
by the governor general)
Political parties and leaders:
Australian Democrats [Lyn ALLISON]; Australian Greens [Bob BROWN];
Australian Labor Party [Kevin RUDD]; Country Liberal Party [Jodeen
CARNEY]; Family First Party [Steve FIELDING]; Liberal Party [John
Winston HOWARD]; The Nationals [Mark VAILE]
International organization participation:
ANZUS, APEC, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group,
BIS, C, CP, EAS, EBRD, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU,
ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC,
IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OECD, OPCW, Paris
Club, PCA, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNMIS,
UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Dennis J. RICHARDSON
chancery: 1601 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 797-3000
FAX: [1] (202) 797-3168
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Honolulu, Los Angeles, New
York, San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Robert D. McCALLUM, Jr.
embassy: Moonah Place, Yarralumla, Canberra, Australian Capital
Territory 2600
mailing address: APO AP 96549
telephone: [61] (02) 6214-5600
FAX: [61] (02) 6214-5970
consulate(s) general: Melbourne, Perth, 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 known as
the Commonwealth or Federation Star, representing the federation of
the colonies of Australia in 1901; the star depicts one point for
each of the six original states and one representing all of
Australia's internal and external territories; on the fly half is a
representation of the Southern Cross constellation in white with one
small five-pointed star and four larger, seven-pointed stars
Economy Australia
Economy - overview:
Australia has an enviable Western-style capitalist economy with a
per capita GDP on par with the four dominant West European
economies. Rising output in the domestic economy, robust business
and consumer confidence, and rising exports of raw materials and
agricultural products are fueling the economy. Australia's emphasis
on reforms, low inflation, and growing ties with China are other key
factors behind the economy's strength. The impact of drought, weak
foreign demand, and strong import demand pushed the trade deficit up
from $8 billion in 2002, to $18 billion in 2003, $13 billion in
2004, and nearly $17 billion in 2005. Housing prices probably peaked
in 2005, diminishing the prospect that interest rates would be
raised to prevent a speculative bubble. Conservative fiscal policies
have kept Australia's budget in surplus from 2002 to 2005.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$635.5 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$612.8 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2.7% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$31,600 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 3.8%
industry: 26.2%
services: 70% (2004 est.)
Labor force:
10.42 million (2005 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 3.6%
industry: 21.2%
services: 75.2% (2004 est.)
Unemployment rate:
5.1% (2005 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2%
highest 10%: 25.4% (1994)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
35.2 (1994)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.7% (2005 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
25.9% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $249.8 billion
expenditures: $240.2 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2005 est.)
Public debt:
16.1% of GDP (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:
wheat, barley, sugarcane, fruits, cattle, sheep, poultry
Industries:
mining, industrial and transportation equipment, food processing,
chemicals, steel
Industrial production growth rate:
1.1% (2005 est.)
Electricity - production:
237 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 90.8%
hydro: 8.3%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0.9% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
221 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2003)
Oil - production:
530,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - consumption:
875,600 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:
523,400 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:
530,800 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
3.664 billion bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:
35.6 billion cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
25.08 billion cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
9.744 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
2.549 trillion cu m (1 January 2002)
Current account balance:
$-42.09 billion (2005 est.)
Exports:
$103 billion (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:
coal, gold, meat, wool, alumina, iron ore, wheat, machinery and
transport equipment
Exports - partners:
Japan 20.3%, China 11.5%, South Korea 7.9%, US 6.7%, NZ 6.5%, India
5% (2005)
Imports:
$119.6 billion (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, computers and office machines,
telecommunication equipment and parts; crude oil and petroleum
products
Imports - partners:
US 13.9%, China 13.7%, Japan 11%, Singapore 5.6%, Germany 5.6%
(2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$43.26 billion (2005 est.)
Debt - external:
$323.4 billion (2005 est.)
Economic aid - donor:
ODA, $894 million (FY99/00)
Currency (code):
Australian dollar (AUD)
Currency code:
AUD
Exchange rates:
Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.3095 (2005), 1.3598 (2004),
1.5419 (2003), 1.8406 (2002), 1.9334 (2001)
Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June
Communications Australia
Telephones - main lines in use:
11.46 million (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
18.42 million (2005)
Telephone system:
general assessment: excellent domestic and international service
domestic: domestic satellite system; much use of radiotelephone in
areas of low population density; rapid growth of mobile cellular
telephones
international: country code - 61; submarine cables to New Zealand,
Papua New Guinea, and Indonesia; satellite earth stations - 19 (10
Intelsat - 4 Indian Ocean and 6 Pacific Ocean, 2 Inmarsat - Indian
and Pacific Ocean regions, 2 Globalstar, 5 other) (2005)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 262, FM 345, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:
25.5 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
104 (1997)
Televisions:
10.15 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.au
Internet hosts:
7,772,888 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
571 (2002)
Internet users:
14,663,622 (2006)
Transportation Australia
Airports:
455 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 311
over 3,047 m: 10
2,438 to 3,047 m: 12
1,524 to 2,437 m: 133
914 to 1,523 m: 143
under 914 m: 13 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 144
1,524 to 2,437 m: 18
914 to 1,523 m: 111
under 914 m: 15 (2006)
Heliports:
1 (2006)
Pipelines:
condensate/gas 546 km; gas 31,323 km; liquid petroleum gas 240 km;
oil 4,808 km; oil/gas/water 110 km (2006)
Railways:
total: 47,738 km
broad gauge: 4,015 km 1.600-m gauge
standard gauge: 28,662 km 1.435-m gauge (1,397 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 14,831 km 1.067-m gauge (2,462 km electrified)
dual gauge: 230 km dual gauge (2005)
Roadways:
total: 810,641 km
paved: 336,962 km
unpaved: 473,679 km (2004)
Waterways:
2,000 km (mainly used for recreation on Murray and Murray-Darling
river systems) (2002)
Merchant marine:
total: 53 ships (1000 GRT or over) 1,361,000 GRT/1,532,874 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 17, cargo 4, chemical tanker 3, container 1,
liquefied gas 4, passenger 6, passenger/cargo 7, petroleum tanker 6,
roll on/roll off 5
foreign-owned: 17 (Canada 1, France 3, Germany 3, Japan 1,
Netherlands 2, Norway 1, Philippines 1, UK 2, US 3)
registered in other countries: 34 (Antigua and Barbuda 1, Bahamas 2,
Bermuda 3, Fiji 1, Hong Kong 1, Liberia 2, Marshall Islands 2,
Netherlands 1, NZ 2, Panama 3, Portugal 1, Singapore 7, Tonga 1, UK
3, US 2, Vanuatu 2) (2006)
Ports and terminals:
Brisbane, Dampier, Fremantle, Gladstone, Hay Point, Melbourne,
Newcastle, Port Hedland, Port Kembla, Port Walcott, Sydney
Military Australia
Military branches:
Australian Defense Force (ADF): Australian Army, Royal Australian
Navy, Royal Australian Air Force, Special Operations Command
Military service age and obligation:
16 years of age for voluntary service; women allowed to serve in
Army combat units in non-combat support roles (2001)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 4,943,676
females age 18-49: 4,821,264
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 4,092,717
females age 16-49: 3,983,447 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 142,158
females age 16-49: 135,675 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$17.84 billion (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
2.7% (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues Australia
Disputes - international:
East Timor and Australia agreed in 2005 to defer the disputed
portion of the boundary for fifty years and to split hydrocarbon
revenues evenly outside the Joint Petroleum Development Area covered
by the 2002 Timor Sea Treaty; East Timor dispute hampers creation of
a revised maritime boundary with Indonesia (see also Ashmore and
Cartier Islands dispute); regional states express concern over
Australia's 2004 declaration of a 1,000-nautical mile-wide maritime
identification zone; Australia asserts land and maritime claims to
Antarctica (see Antarctica); in 2004 Australia submitted its claims
to UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) to
extend its continental margin from both its mainland and Antarctic
claims
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
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
======================================================================
@Austria
Introduction Austria
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. Following annexation by Nazi Germany in 1938 and subsequent
occupation by the victorious Allies in 1945, Austria's status
remained unclear for a decade. A State Treaty signed in 1955 ended
the occupation, recognized Austria's independence, and forbade
unification with Germany. A constitutional law that same year
declared the country's "perpetual neutrality" as a condition for
Soviet military withdrawal. Following the Soviet Union's collapse in
1991 and Austria's entry into the European Union in 1995, some
Austrians have called into question this neutrality. A prosperous,
democratic country, Austria entered the Economic and Monetary Union
in 1999.
Geography Austria
Location:
Central Europe, north of Italy and Slovenia
Geographic coordinates:
47 20 N, 13 20 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 83,870 sq km
land: 82,444 sq km
water: 1,426 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 and
some snow in lowlands and snow in mountains; moderate 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 3,798 m
Natural resources:
oil, coal, lignite, timber, iron ore, copper, zinc, antimony,
magnesite, tungsten, graphite, salt, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 16.59%
permanent crops: 0.85%
other: 82.56% (2005)
Irrigated land:
40 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:
landslides; avalanches; earthquakes
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-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85,
Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94,
Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
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 Austria
Population:
8,192,880 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 15.4% (male 645,337/female 614,602)
15-64 years: 67.5% (male 2,782,712/female 2,749,620)
65 years and over: 17.1% (male 567,752/female 832,857) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 40.9 years
male: 39.8 years
female: 42 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.09% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
8.74 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
9.76 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
1.94 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.68 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 4.6 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 5.65 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 79.07 years
male: 76.17 years
female: 82.11 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.36 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.3% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
10,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 100 (2003 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Austrian(s)
adjective: Austrian
Ethnic groups:
Austrians 91.1%, former Yugoslavs 4% (includes Croatians, Slovenes,
Serbs, and Bosniaks), Turks 1.6%, German 0.9%, other or unspecified
2.4% (2001 census)
Religions:
Roman Catholic 73.6%, Protestant 4.7%, Muslim 4.2%, other 3.5%,
unspecified 2%, none 12% (2001 census)
Languages:
German (official nationwide), Slovene (official in Carinthia),
Croatian (official in Burgenland), Hungarian (official in Burgenland)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98%
male: NA
female: NA
Government Austria
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Austria
conventional short form: Austria
local long form: Republik Oesterreich
local short form: Oesterreich
Government type:
federal republic
Capital:
name: Vienna
geographic coordinates: 48 12 N, 16 22 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October
Administrative divisions:
9 states (Bundeslaender, singular - Bundesland); Burgenland,
Kaernten (Carinthia), Niederoesterreich, Oberoesterreich, Salzburg,
Steiermark (Styria), Tirol, Vorarlberg, Wien (Vienna)
Independence:
17 September 1156 (Duchy of Austria founded); 11 August 1804
(Austrian Empire proclaimed); 12 November 1918 (republic proclaimed)
National holiday:
National Day, 26 October (1955); note - commemorates the State
Treaty restoring national sovereignty and the end of occupation and
the passage of the law on permanent neutrality
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; accepts compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Heinz FISCHER (since 8 July 2004)
head of government: Chancellor Wolfgang SCHUESSEL (OeVP)(since 4
February 2000); Vice Chancellor Hubert GORBACH (since 21 October
2003)
cabinet: Council of Ministers chosen by the president on the advice
of the chancellor
elections: president elected by direct popular vote for a six-year
term (eligible for a second term); presidential election last held
25 April 2004 (next to be held April 2010); chancellor traditionally
chosen by the president from the plurality party in the National
Council; vice chancellor chosen by the president on the advice of
the chancellor
election results: Heinz FISCHER elected president; percent of vote -
Heinz FISCHER (SPOe) 52.4%, Benita FERRERO-WALDNER (OeVP) 47.6%
note: government coalition - OeVP and FPOe
Legislative branch:
bicameral Federal Assembly or Bundesversammlung consists of Federal
Council or Bundesrat (62 members; members represent each of the
states on the basis of population, but with each state having at
least 3 representatives; members serve a five- 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 1 October 2006 (next to be
held in the fall of 2010)
election results: National Council - percent of vote by party - SPOe
35.3%, OeVP 34.3%, Greens 11.1%, FPOe 11.0%, BZOe 4.1%; seats by
party - SPOe 68, OeVP 66, Greens 21, FPOe 21, BZOe 7
Judicial branch:
Supreme Judicial Court or Oberster Gerichtshof; Administrative
Court or Verwaltungsgerichtshof; Constitutional Court or
Verfassungsgerichtshof
Political parties and leaders:
Alliance for the Future of Austria or BZOe [Joerg HAIDER]; Austrian
People's Party or OeVP [Wolfgang SCHUESSEL]; Freedom Party of
Austria or FPOe [Heinz Christian STRACHE]; Social Democratic Party
of Austria or SPOe [Alfred GUSENBAUER]; The Greens [Alexander VAN
DER BELLEN]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Austrian Trade Union Federation (nominally independent but
primarily Socialist) or OeGB; Federal Economic Chamber;
OeVP-oriented League of Austrian Industrialists or VOeI; Roman
Catholic Church, including its chief lay organization, Catholic
Action; three composite leagues of the Austrian People's Party or
OeVP representing business, labor, and farmers and other
non-government organizations in the areas of environment and human
rights
International organization participation:
ACCT (observer), AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer),
CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 9, IADB, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,
IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MINURSO, NAM
(guest), NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE,
Paris Club, PCA, PFP, SECI (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO,
UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNOMIG, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU
(observer), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Eva NOWOTNY
chancery: 3524 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008-3035
telephone: [1] (202) 895-6700
FAX: [1] (202) 895-6750
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Susan R. McCAW
embassy: Boltzmanngasse 16, A-1090, Vienna
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [43] (1) 31339-0
FAX: [43] (1) 3100682
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and red
Economy Austria
Economy - overview:
Austria, with its well-developed market economy and high standard
of living, is closely tied to other EU economies, especially
Germany's. The Austrian economy also benefits greatly from strong
commercial relations, especially in the banking and insurance
sectors, with central, eastern, and southeastern Europe. The economy
features a large service sector, a sound industrial sector, and a
small, but highly developed agricultural sector. Membership in the
EU has drawn an influx of foreign investors attracted by Austria's
access to the single European market and proximity to the new EU
economies. The current government has successfully pursued a
comprehensive economic reform program, aimed at streamlining
government, creating a more competitive business environment,
further strengthening Austria's attractiveness as an investment
location, pursuing a balanced budget, and implementing effective
pension reforms. Weak domestic consumption and slow growth in Europe
have held the economy to growth rates of 0.4% in 2002, 1.4% in 2003,
2.4% in 2004, and 1.8% in 2005. To meet increased competition from
both EU and Central European countries, particularly the new EU
members, Austria will need to continue restructuring, emphasizing
knowledge-based sectors of the economy, and encouraging greater
labor flexibility and greater labor participation by its aging
population.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$265.8 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$293.4 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1.8% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$32,500 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1.8%
industry: 30.4%
services: 67.8% (2004 est.)
Labor force:
3.49 million (2005 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 3%
industry: 27%
services: 70% (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate:
5.2% (2005 est.)
Population below poverty line:
5.9% (2004)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.3%
highest 10%: 22.5% (2004)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
31 (2002)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.3% (2005 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
20.8% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $148.6 billion
expenditures: $154.5 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2005 est.)
Public debt:
65.1% of GDP (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:
grains, potatoes, sugar beets, wine, fruit; dairy products, cattle,
pigs, poultry; lumber
Industries:
construction, machinery, vehicles and parts, food, metals,
chemicals, lumber and wood processing, paper and paperboard,
communications equipment, tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
4.7% (2005 est.)
Electricity - production:
63.69 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 29.3%
hydro: 67.2%
nuclear: 0%
other: 3.5% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
64.78 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:
13.53 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports:
16.63 billion kWh (2004)
Oil - production:
17,810 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - consumption:
249,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - exports:
30,140 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - imports:
152,600 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - proved reserves:
84.3 million bbl (2004)
Natural gas - production:
1.96 billion cu m (2004)
Natural gas - consumption:
9.01 billion cu m (2004)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2004)
Natural gas - imports:
7.05 billion cu m (2004)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
23.2 billion cu m (2004)
Current account balance:
$1.467 billion (2005 est.)
Exports:
$122.5 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, motor vehicles and parts, paper and
paperboard, metal goods, chemicals, iron and steel, textiles,
foodstuffs
Exports - partners:
Germany 31.2%, Italy 8.7%, US 5.8%, Switzerland 5.2%, France 4.2%
(2005)
Imports:
$118.8 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, motor vehicles, chemicals, metal goods,
oil and oil products; foodstuffs
Imports - partners:
Germany 45.9%, Italy 6.6%, Switzerland 4.5% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$11.83 billion (2005 est.)
Debt - external:
$510.6 billion (30 June 2005 est.)
Economic aid - donor:
ODA, $681 million (2004)
Currency (code):
euro (EUR)
note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced the
euro as a common currency to be used by financial institutions of
member countries; on 1 January 2002, the euro became the sole
currency for everyday transactions within the member countries
Currency code:
EUR
Exchange rates:
euros per US dollar - 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003),
1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 (2001)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Austria
Telephones - main lines in use:
3.705 million (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
8.16 million (2005)
Telephone system:
general assessment: highly developed and efficient
domestic: there are 45 main lines for every 100 persons; the fiber
optic net is very extensive; all telephone applications and Internet
services are available
international: country code - 43; satellite earth stations - 15; in
addition, there are about 600 VSAT (very small aperture terminals)
(2005)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 2, FM 65 (plus several hundred repeaters), shortwave 1 (2001)
Radios:
6.08 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
10 (plus more than 1,000 repeaters) (2001)
Televisions:
4.25 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.at
Internet hosts:
2,062,035 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
37 (2000)
Internet users:
4.65 million (2005)
Transportation Austria
Airports:
55 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 25
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: 15 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 30
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 26 (2006)
Heliports:
1 (2006)
Pipelines:
gas 2,722 km; oil 663 km; refined products 149 km (2006)
Railways:
total: 6,011 km
standard gauge: 5,568 km 1.435-m gauge (3,427 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 21 km 1.000-m gauge; 422 km 0.760-m gauge (109 km
electrified) (2005)
Roadways:
total: 133,718 km
paved: 133,718 km (including 1,677 km of expressways) (2003)
Waterways:
358 km (2003)
Merchant marine:
total: 8 ships (1000 GRT or over) 34,072 GRT/44,437 DWT
by type: cargo 6, container 2
foreign-owned: 2 (Netherlands 2)
registered in other countries: 14 (Liberia 13, Malta 1) (2006)
Ports and terminals:
Enns, Krems, Linz, Vienna
Military Austria
Military branches:
Land Forces (KdoLdSK), Air Forces (KdoLuSK)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for compulsory military service; 16 years of age
for voluntary service; from 2007, at the earliest, compulsory
military service obligation will be reduced from eight months to six
(2005)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 1,914,800
females age 18-49: 1,870,134 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 1,550,441
females age 18-49: 1,515,365 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 48,967
females age 18-49: 46,633 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$1.497 billion (FY01/02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
0.9% (2004)
Transnational Issues Austria
Disputes - international:
Austrian anti-nuclear activists have revived blockades of the
Czech-Austrian border to protest operation of the Temelin nuclear
power plant in the Czech Republic
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and South American
cocaine destined for Western Europe
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
======================================================================
@Azerbaijan
Introduction Azerbaijan
Background:
Azerbaijan - a nation with a Turkic and majority-Muslim population
- was briefly independent from 1918 to 1920; it regained its
independence after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Despite
a 1994 cease-fire, Azerbaijan has yet to resolve its conflict with
Armenia over the Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh enclave (largely
Armenian populated). Azerbaijan has lost 16% of its territory and
must support some 528,000 internally displaced persons as a result
of the conflict. Corruption is ubiquitous, and the promise of
widespread wealth from Azerbaijan's undeveloped petroleum resources
remains largely unfulfilled.
Geography Azerbaijan
Location:
Southwestern Asia, bordering the Caspian Sea, between Iran and
Russia, with a small European portion north of the Caucasus range
Geographic coordinates:
40 30 N, 47 30 E
Map references:
Asia
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: 20.62%
permanent crops: 2.61%
other: 76.77% (2005)
Irrigated land:
14,550 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:
droughts
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, soil, and water pollution; soil pollution results from oil
spills, from the use of DDT as a pesticide, and from toxic
defoliants used in the production of cotton
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
both the main area of the country and the Naxcivan exclave are
landlocked
People Azerbaijan
Population:
7,961,619 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 25.8% (male 1,046,501/female 1,011,492)
15-64 years: 66.3% (male 2,573,134/female 2,706,275)
65 years and over: 7.8% (male 246,556/female 377,661) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 27.7 years
male: 26.3 years
female: 29.2 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.66% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
20.74 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
9.75 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
-4.38 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.94 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 79 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 81.08 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 76.81 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 63.85 years
male: 59.78 years
female: 68.13 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.46 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
1,400 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 100 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Azerbaijani(s), Azeri(s)
adjective: Azerbaijani, Azeri
Ethnic groups:
Azeri 90.6%, Dagestani 2.2%, Russian 1.8%, Armenian 1.5%, other
3.9% (1999 census)
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:
Azerbaijani (Azeri) 89%, Russian 3%, Armenian 2%, other 6% (1995
est.)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.8%
male: 99.5%
female: 98.2% (2003 est.)
Government Azerbaijan
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Azerbaijan
conventional short form: Azerbaijan
local long form: Azarbaycan Respublikasi
local short form: Azarbaycan
former: Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Baku (Baki, Baky)
geographic coordinates: 40 23 N, 49 51 E
time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October
Administrative divisions:
59 rayons (rayonlar; rayon - singular), 11 cities (saharlar; sahar
- singular), 1 autonomous republic (muxtar respublika)
rayons: Abseron Rayonu, Agcabadi Rayonu, Agdam Rayonu, Agdas Rayonu,
Agstafa Rayonu, Agsu Rayonu, Astara Rayonu, Balakan Rayonu, Barda
Rayonu, Beylaqan Rayonu, Bilasuvar Rayonu, Cabrayil Rayonu,
Calilabad Rayonu, Daskasan Rayonu, Davaci Rayonu, Fuzuli Rayonu,
Gadabay Rayonu, Goranboy Rayonu, Goycay Rayonu, Haciqabul Rayonu,
Imisli Rayonu, Ismayilli Rayonu, Kalbacar Rayonu, Kurdamir Rayonu,
Lacin Rayonu, Lankaran Rayonu, Lerik Rayonu, Masalli Rayonu,
Neftcala Rayonu, Oguz Rayonu, Qabala Rayonu, Qax Rayonu, Qazax
Rayonu, Qobustan Rayonu, Quba Rayonu, Qubadli Rayonu, Qusar Rayonu,
Saatli Rayonu, Sabirabad Rayonu, Saki Rayonu, Salyan Rayonu, Samaxi
Rayonu, Samkir Rayonu, Samux Rayonu, Siyazan Rayonu, Susa Rayonu,
Tartar Rayonu, Tovuz Rayonu, Ucar Rayonu, Xacmaz Rayonu, Xanlar
Rayonu, Xizi Rayonu, Xocali Rayonu, Xocavand Rayonu, Yardimli
Rayonu, Yevlax Rayonu, Zangilan Rayonu, Zaqatala Rayonu, Zardab
Rayonu
cities: Ali Bayramli Sahari, Baki Sahari, Ganca Sahari, Lankaran
Sahari, Mingacevir Sahari, Naftalan Sahari, Saki Sahari, Sumqayit
Sahari, Susa Sahari, Xankandi Sahari, Yevlax Sahari
autonomous republic: Naxcivan Muxtar Respublikasi
Independence:
30 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday:
Founding of the Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan, 28 May (1918)
Constitution:
adopted 12 November 1995
Legal system:
based on civil law system
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Ilham ALIYEV (since 31 October 2003)
head of government: Prime Minister Artur RASIZADE (since 4 November
2003); First Deputy Prime Minister Abbas ABBASOV (since 10 November
2003)
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
(eligible for a second term); election last held 15 October 2003
(next to be held October 2008); prime minister and first deputy
prime ministers appointed by the president and confirmed by the
National Assembly
election results: Ilham ALIYEV elected president; percent of vote -
Ilham ALIYEV 76.8%, Isa GAMBAR 14%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Milli Mejlis (125 seats; members
elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 6 November 2005 (next to be held in November
2010)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
Yeni 58, Azadliq coalition 8, CSP 2, YES 2, Motherland 2, other
parties with single seats 7, independents 42, undetermined 4
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
Azerbaijan Popular Front or APF [Ali KARIMLI, leader of "Reform"
faction; Mirmahmud MIRALI-OGLU, leader of "Classic" faction]; Civic
Solidarity Party or CSP [Sabir RUSTAMKHANLY]; Civic Union Party
[Ayaz MUTALIBOV]; Communist Party of Azerbaijan or CPA [Ramiz
AHMADOV]; Compatriot Party [Mais SAFARLI]; Democratic Party for
Azerbaijan or DPA [Rasul QULIYEV, chairman]; Justice Party [Ilyas
ISMAILOV]; Liberal Party of Azerbaijan [Lala Shovkat HACIYEVA];
Motherland Party; Musavat [Isa GAMBAR, chairman]; Yeni Azerbaijan
Party; Party for National Independence of Azerbaijan or PNIA [Etibar
MAMMADLI, chairman]; Social Democratic Party of Azerbaijan or SDP
[Araz ALIZADE and Ayaz MUTALIBOV]
note: opposition parties regularly factionalize and form new parties
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Sadval, Lezgin movement; self-proclaimed Armenian Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic; Talysh independence movement; Union of Pro-Azerbaijani
Forces (UPAF)
International organization participation:
AsDB, BSEC, CE, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, FAO, GUAM, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM (observer), OAS (observer), OIC,
OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SECI (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,
WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Yashar ALIYEV
chancery: 2741 34th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 337-3500
FAX: [1] (202) 337-5911
Consulate(s) general: Los Angeles
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Anne E. DERSE
embassy: 83 Azadliyg Prospecti, Baku AZ1007
mailing address: American Embassy Baku, US Department of State, 7050
Baku Place, Washington, DC 20521-7050
telephone: [994] (12) 4980-335 through 337
FAX: [994] (12) 4656-671
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 Azerbaijan
Economy - overview:
Azerbaijan's number one export is oil. Azerbaijan's oil production
declined through 1997, but has registered an increase every year
since. Negotiation of production-sharing arrangements (PSAs) with
foreign firms, which have thus far committed $60 billion to
long-term oilfield 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. A consortium of Western oil companies is
scheduled to begin pumping 1 million barrels a day from a large
offshore field in early 2006, through a $4 billion pipeline it built
from Baku to Turkey's Mediterranean port of Ceyhan. Economists
estimate that by 2010 revenues from this project will double the
country's current GDP. 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. Several other obstacles impede
Azerbaijan's economic progress: the need for stepped up foreign
investment in the non-energy sector, the continuing conflict with
Armenia over the Nagorno-Karabakh region, and the pervasive
corruption. Trade with Russia and the other former Soviet republics
is declining in importance while trade is building with Turkey and
the nations of Europe. Long-term prospects will depend on world oil
prices, the location of new pipelines in the region, and
Azerbaijan's ability to manage its oil wealth.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$42.99 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$10.4 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
26.4% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$5,400 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 14.1%
industry: 45.7%
services: 40.2% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
5.45 million (2005 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 41%
industry: 7%
services: 52% (2001)
Unemployment rate:
1.1% official rate (2005 est.)
Population below poverty line:
49% (2002 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.8%
highest 10%: 27.8% (1995)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
36.5 (2001)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
9.6% (2005 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
54.4% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $3.18 billion
expenditures: $2.986 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2005 est.)
Public debt:
11.3% of GDP (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:
cotton, grain, rice, grapes, fruit, vegetables, tea, tobacco;
cattle, pigs, sheep, goats
Industries:
petroleum and natural gas, petroleum products, oilfield equipment;
steel, iron ore; cement; chemicals and petrochemicals; textiles
Industrial production growth rate:
40% (2005 est.)
Electricity - production:
20 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 89.7%
hydro: 10.3%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
20.25 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:
700 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:
2.35 billion kWh (2003)
Oil - production:
477,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - consumption:
123,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day
Oil - proved reserves:
589 million bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:
5.13 billion cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
9.2 billion cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
1 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
849.5 billion cu m (1 January 2002)
Current account balance:
$167.3 million (2005 est.)
Exports:
$6.117 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:
oil and gas 90%, machinery, cotton, foodstuffs
Exports - partners:
Italy 30.3%, France 9.4%, Russia 6.6%, Turkey 6.3%, Turkmenistan
6.3%, Georgia 4.8%, Israel 4.5%, Croatia 4.1% (2005)
Imports:
$4.656 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, oil products, foodstuffs, metals, chemicals
Imports - partners:
Russia 17%, UK 9.1%, Singapore 9.1%, Turkey 7.4%, Germany 6.1%,
Turkmenistan 5.8%, Ukraine 5.4%, China 4.1% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$1.192 billion (2005 est.)
Debt - external:
$1.873 billion (2005 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
ODA, $140 million (2000 est.)
Currency (code):
Azerbaijani manat (AZM)
Currency code:
AZM
Exchange rates:
Azerbaijani manats per US dollar - 4,727.1 (2005), 4,913.48 (2004),
4,910.73 (2003), 4,860.82 (2002), 4,656.58 (2001)
note: on 1 January 2006 Azerbaijan revalued its currency, with 5,000
old manats equal to 1 new manat
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Azerbaijan
Telephones - main lines in use:
1,091,400 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
2.242 million (2005)
Telephone system:
general assessment: inadequate; requires considerable expansion and
modernization; teledensity of 14 main lines per 100 persons is low
(2002)
domestic: the majority of telephones are in Baku and other
industrial centers - about 700 villages still without public
telephone service; satellite service connects Baku to a modern
switch in its exclave of Naxcivan
international: country code - 994; the old Soviet system of cable
and microwave is still serviceable; satellite earth stations - 2
(2005)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 10, FM 17, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:
175,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
2 (1997)
Televisions:
170,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.az
Internet hosts:
880 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
2 (2000)
Internet users:
678,800 (2005)
Transportation Azerbaijan
Airports:
36 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 27
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 13
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 2 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 9
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 7 (2006)
Heliports:
1 (2006)
Pipelines:
gas 3,190 km; oil 2,436 km (2006)
Railways:
total: 2,957 km
broad gauge: 2,957 km 1.520-m gauge (1,278 km electrified) (2005)
Roadways:
total: 27,016 km
paved: 12,698 km (including 128 km of expressways)
unpaved: 14,318 km (2003)
Merchant marine:
total: 84 ships (1000 GRT or over) 405,395 GRT/436,666 DWT
by type: cargo 26, passenger 2, passenger/cargo 8, petroleum tanker
43, roll on/roll off 2, specialized tanker 3
registered in other countries: 4 (Georgia 2, Malta 2) (2006)
Ports and terminals:
Baku (Baki)
Military Azerbaijan
Military branches:
Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces
Military service age and obligation:
men between 18 and 35 are liable for military service; 18 years of
age for voluntary military service; length of military service is 18
months and 12 months for university graduates (2006)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 1,961,973
females age 18-49: 2,033,186 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 1,314,955
females age 18-49: 1,676,408 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 82,358
females age 18-49: 78,067 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$121 million (FY99)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
2.6% (FY99)
Transnational Issues Azerbaijan
Disputes - international:
Armenia supports ethnic Armenian secessionists in Nagorno-Karabakh
and since the early 1990s has militarily occupied 16% of Azerbaijan;
over 800,000 mostly ethnic Azerbaijanis were driven from the
occupied lands and Armenia; about 230,000 ethnic Armenians were
driven from their homes in Azerbaijan into Armenia; Azerbaijan seeks
transit route through Armenia to connect to Naxcivan exclave;
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) continues
to mediate dispute; Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Russia ratify
Caspian seabed delimitation treaties based on equidistance, while
Iran continues to insist on an even one-fifth allocation and
challenges Azerbaijan's hydrocarbon exploration in disputed waters;
bilateral talks continue with Turkmenistan on dividing the seabed
and contested oilfields in the middle of the Caspian; Azerbaijan and
Georgia continue to discuss the alignment of their boundary at
certain crossing areas
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 8,367 (Russia)
IDPs: 528,000 (conflict with Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh) (2005)
Illicit drugs:
limited illicit cultivation of cannabis and opium poppy, mostly for
CIS consumption; small government eradication program; transit point
for Southwest Asian opiates bound for Russia and to a lesser extent
the rest of Europe
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
======================================================================
@Bahamas, The
Introduction Bahamas, The
Background:
Lucayan Indians inhabited the islands when Christopher Columbus
first set foot in the New World on San Salvador in 1492. British
settlement of the islands began in 1647; the islands became a colony
in 1783. Since attaining independence from the UK in 1973, The
Bahamas have prospered through tourism and international banking and
investment management. Because of its geography, the country is a
major transshipment point for illegal drugs, particularly shipments
to the US, and its territory is used for smuggling illegal migrants
into the US.
Geography Bahamas, The
Location:
Caribbean, chain of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast
of Florida, northeast of Cuba
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:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 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, arable land
Land use:
arable land: 0.58%
permanent crops: 0.29%
other: 99.13% (2005)
Irrigated land:
10 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:
hurricanes and other tropical storms cause extensive flood and wind
damage
Environment - current issues:
coral reef decay; solid waste disposal
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law
of the Sea, 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
of which 30 are inhabited
People Bahamas, The
Population:
303,770
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the
effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower
life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower
population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 27.5% (male 41,799/female 41,733)
15-64 years: 66.1% (male 98,847/female 102,074)
65 years and over: 6.4% (male 7,891/female 11,426) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 27.8 years
male: 27.1 years
female: 28.6 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.64% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
17.57 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
9.05 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
-2.17 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 24.68 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 30.29 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 18.96 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 65.6 years
male: 62.24 years
female: 69.03 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.18 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
3% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
5,600 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 200 (2003 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Bahamian(s)
adjective: Bahamian
Ethnic groups:
black 85%, white 12%, Asian and Hispanic 3%
Religions:
Baptist 35.4%, Anglican 15.1%, Roman Catholic 13.5%, Pentecostal
8.1%, Church of God 4.8%, Methodist 4.2%, other Christian 15.2%,
none or unspecified 2.9%, other 0.8% (2000 census)
Languages:
English (official), Creole (among Haitian immigrants)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 95.6%
male: 94.7%
female: 96.5% (2003 est.)
Government Bahamas, The
Country name:
conventional long form: Commonwealth of The Bahamas
conventional short form: The Bahamas
Government type:
constitutional parliamentary democracy
Capital:
name: Nassau
geographic coordinates: 25 05 N, 77 21 W
time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard
Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins first Sunday in April; ends last
Sunday in October
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, Nichollstown and Berry Islands,
Ragged Island, Rock Sound, Sandy Point, San Salvador and Rum Cay
Independence:
10 July 1973 (from UK)
National holiday:
Independence 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 Arthur D. HANNA (since 1 February
2006)
head of government: Prime Minister Perry CHRISTIE (since 3 May 2002)
and Deputy Prime Minister Cynthia PRATT (since 7 May 2002)
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; following legislative elections, the
leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition
is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; the
prime minister recommends the deputy prime minister
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 five-year terms) and the
House of Assembly (40 seats; members elected by direct popular vote
to serve five-year terms); the government may dissolve the
Parliament and call elections at any time
elections: last held 1 May 2002 (next to be held by May 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - PLP 50.8%, FNM 41.1%,
independents 5.2%; seats by party - PLP 29, FNM 7, independents 4
Judicial branch:
Privy Council (London); Courts of Appeal; Supreme (lower) Court;
magistrates courts
Political parties and leaders:
Free National Movement or FNM [Hubert INGRAHAM]; Progressive
Liberal Party or PLP [Perry CHRISTIE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt
(signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOM,
IOC, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW (signatory), UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer), WToO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: vacant
chancery: 2220 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 319-2660
FAX: [1] (202) 319-2668
consulate(s) general: Miami, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador John D. ROOD
embassy: 42 Queen Street, Nassau
mailing address: local or express mail address: P. O. Box N-8197,
Nassau; US Department of State, 3370 Nassau Place, Washington, DC
20521-3370
telephone: [1] (242) 322-1181, 328-2206 (after hours)
FAX: [1] (242) 356-0222
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of aquamarine (top), gold, and
aquamarine, with a black equilateral triangle based on the hoist side
Economy Bahamas, The
Economy - overview:
The Bahamas is a stable, developing nation with an economy heavily
dependent on tourism and offshore banking. Tourism together with
tourism-driven construction and manufacturing accounts for
approximately 60% of GDP and directly or indirectly employs half of
the archipelago's labor force. Steady growth in tourism receipts and
a boom in construction of new hotels, resorts, and residences had
led to solid GDP growth in recent years, but the slowdown in the US
economy and the attacks of 11 September 2001 held back growth in
these sectors in 2001-03. The current government has presided over a
period of economic recovery and an upturn in large-scale private
sector investments in tourism. Financial services constitute the
second-most important sector of the Bahamian economy, accounting for
about 15% of GDP. However, since December 2000, when the government
enacted new regulations on the financial sector, many international
businesses have left The Bahamas. Manufacturing and agriculture
together contribute approximately a tenth of GDP and show little
growth, despite government incentives aimed at those sectors.
Overall growth prospects in the short run rest heavily on the
fortunes of the tourism sector, which depends on growth in the US,
the source of more than 80% of the visitors.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$6.105 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$5.783 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.7% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$20,200 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 3%
industry: 7%
services: 90% (2001 est.)
Labor force:
176,300 (2004)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 5%, industry 5%, tourism 50%, other services 40% (2005
est.)
Unemployment rate:
10.2% (2005 est.)
Population below poverty line:
9.3% (2004)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: 27%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.2% ( 2004)
Budget:
revenues: $1.03 billion
expenditures: $1.03 billion; including capital expenditures of $130
million (FY04/05)
Agriculture - products:
citrus, vegetables; poultry
Industries:
tourism, banking, cement, oil transshipment, salt, rum, aragonite,
pharmaceuticals, spiral-welded steel pipe
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
1.81 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
1.683 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2003)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2003)
Oil - consumption:
23,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:
transhipments of 29,000 bbl/day (2003)
Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Exports:
$469.3 million (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:
mineral products and salt, animal products, rum, chemicals, fruit
and vegetables
Exports - partners:
US 31%, Spain 29.7%, Poland 9.3%, Germany 5.6%, Guatemala 4.1%
(2005)
Imports:
$1.82 billion (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, manufactures, chemicals, mineral
fuels; food and live animals
Imports - partners:
US 22.5%, South Korea 20.2%, Spain 7.8%, Brazil 7.1%, Italy 6.5%,
Germany 5.4% (2005)
Debt - external:
$342.6 million (2004 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$5 million (2004)
Currency (code):
Bahamian dollar (BSD)
Currency code:
BSD
Exchange rates:
Bahamian dollars per US dollar - 1 (2005), 1 (2004), 1 (2003), 1
(2002), 1 (2001)
Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June
Communications Bahamas, The
Telephones - main lines in use:
139,900 (2004)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
186,000 (2004)
Telephone system:
general assessment: modern facilities
domestic: totally automatic system; highly developed
international: country code - 1-242; tropospheric scatter and
submarine cable to Florida; 3 coaxial submarine cables; satellite
earth station - 2 (2005)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 3, FM 5, shortwave 0 (2006)
Radios:
215,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
2 (2006)
Televisions:
67,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.bs
Internet hosts:
591 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
19 (2000)
Internet users:
93,000 (2005)
Transportation Bahamas, The
Airports:
64 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 29
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 14
914 to 1,523 m: 9
under 914 m: 1 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 35
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 10
under 914 m: 22 (2006)
Heliports:
1 (2006)
Roadways:
total: 2,693 km
paved: 1,546 km
unpaved: 1,147 km (1999)
Merchant marine:
total: 1,177 ships (1000 GRT or over) 37,743,270 GRT/50,918,747 DWT
by type: barge carrier 1, bulk carrier 253, cargo 250, chemical
tanker 64, container 79, liquefied gas 35, livestock carrier 2,
passenger 115, passenger/cargo 34, petroleum tanker 175,
refrigerated cargo 114, roll on/roll off 20, specialized tanker 5,
vehicle carrier 30
foreign-owned: 1,093 (Angola 5, Australia 2, Belgium 13, Canada 18,
China 3, Cuba 1, Cyprus 13, Denmark 59, Estonia 1, Finland 8, France
37, Germany 22, Greece 232, Hong Kong 8, Iceland 1, India 1,
Indonesia 4, Ireland 2, Israel 1, Italy 5, Japan 51, Jordan 2, Kenya
1, Latvia 1, Malaysia 12, Monaco 17, Montenegro 2, Netherlands 24,
Nigeria 2, Norway 259, Philippines 1, Poland 15, Reunion 1, Russia
6, Saudi Arabia 12, Singapore 12, Slovenia 1, Spain 12, Sweden 6,
Switzerland 2, Thailand 1, Turkey 8, UAE 16, UK 69, Uruguay 2, US
121, Venezuela 1)
registered in other countries: 4 (Barbados 1, Liberia 1, Panama 2)
(2006)
Ports and terminals:
Freeport, Nassau, South Riding Point
Military Bahamas, The
Military branches:
Royal Bahamian Defense Force: Marines, Air Wing (2006)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age (est.); no conscription (2001)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 73,121 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 44,309 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 2,804 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
NA
Transnational Issues Bahamas, The
Disputes - international:
disagrees with the US on the alignment of the maritime boundary;
continues to monitor and interdict Haitian refugees fleeing economic
privation and political instability
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for cocaine and marijuana bound for US and
Europe; offshore financial center
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
======================================================================
@Bahrain
Introduction Bahrain
Background:
In 1782, the Al Khalifa family captured Bahrain from the Persians.
In order to secure these holdings, it entered into a series of
treaties with the UK during the 19th century that made Bahrain a
British protectorate. The archipelago attained its independence in
1971. Bahrain's small size and central location among Persian Gulf
countries require it to play a delicate balancing act in foreign
affairs among its larger neighbors. Facing declining oil reserves,
Bahrain has turned to petroleum processing and refining and has
transformed itself into an international banking center. Sheikh
HAMAD bin Isa Al Khalifa, who came to power in 1999, has pushed
economic and political reforms and has worked to improve relations
with the Shia community. In February 2001, Bahraini voters approved
a referendum on the National Action Charter - the centerpiece of
Sheikh HAMAD's political liberalization program. In February 2002,
Sheikh HAMAD pronounced Bahrain a constitutional monarchy and
changed his status from amir to king. In October 2002, Bahrainis
elected members of the lower house of Bahrain's reconstituted
bicameral legislature, the National Assembly.
Geography Bahrain
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: 665 sq km
land: 665 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:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: extending to boundaries to be determined
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, pearls
Land use:
arable land: 2.82%
permanent crops: 5.63%
other: 91.55% (2005)
Irrigated land:
40 sq km (2003)
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; lack of freshwater resources,
groundwater and seawater 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, through which much of the Western world's
petroleum must transit to reach open ocean
People Bahrain
Population:
698,585
note: includes 235,108 non-nationals (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 27.4% (male 96,567/female 94,650)
15-64 years: 69.1% (male 280,272/female 202,451)
65 years and over: 3.5% (male 12,753/female 11,892) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 29.4 years
male: 32.4 years
female: 25.8 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.45% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
17.8 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
4.14 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
0.82 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.38 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.07 male(s)/female
total population: 1.26 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 16.8 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 19.65 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 13.87 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 74.45 years
male: 71.97 years
female: 77 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.6 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.2% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
less than 600 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 200 (2003 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Bahraini(s)
adjective: Bahraini
Ethnic groups:
Bahraini 62.4%, non-Bahraini 37.6% (2001 census)
Religions:
Muslim (Shi'a and Sunni) 81.2%, Christian 9%, other 9.8% (2001
census)
Languages:
Arabic, English, Farsi, Urdu
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 89.1%
male: 91.9%
female: 85% (2003 est.)
Government Bahrain
Country name:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Bahrain
conventional short form: Bahrain
local long form: Mamlakat al Bahrayn
local short form: Al Bahrayn
former: Dilmun
Government type:
constitutional hereditary monarchy
Capital:
name: Manama
geographic coordinates: 26 13 N, 50 35 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
5 governorates; Asamah, Janubiyah, Muharraq, Shamaliyah, Wasat
note: each governorate administered by an appointed governor
Independence:
15 August 1971 (from UK)
National holiday:
National Day, 16 December (1971); note - 15 August 1971 is the date
of independence from the UK, 16 December 1971 is the date of
independence from British protection
Constitution:
new constitution 14 February 2002
Legal system:
based on Islamic law and English common law
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: King HAMAD bin Isa al-Khalifa (since 6 March 1999);
Heir Apparent Crown Prince SALMAN bin Hamad (son of the monarch,
born 21 October 1969)
head of government: Prime Minister KHALIFA bin Salman al-Khalifa
(since 1971); Deputy Prime Ministers ALI bin Khalifa bin Salman
al-Khalifa, MUHAMMAD bin Mubarak al-Khalifa, Jawad al-ARAIDH
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch
elections: none; the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister
appointed by the monarch
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament consists of Shura Council (40 members
appointed by the King) and House of Deputies (40 members directly
elected to serve four-year terms)
elections: House of Deputies - last held 31 October 2002 (next
election to be held in September 2006)
election results: House of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA;
seats by party - Sunni Islamists 12, Shia grouping 7, other
groupings and independents 21
note: first elections since 7 December 1973; unicameral National
Assembly dissolved 26 August 1975; National Action Charter created
bicameral legislature on 23 December 2000; approved by referendum 14
February 2001; first legislative session of Parliament held on 25
December 2002
Judicial branch:
High Civil Appeals Court
Political parties and leaders:
political parties prohibited but political societies were legalized
per a July 2005 law
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Shi'a activists fomented unrest sporadically in 1994-97 and have
recently engaged in protests and marches, demanding that more power
be vested in the elected Council of Representatives and that the
government do more to decrease unemployment; several small,
clandestine leftist and Islamic fundamentalist groups are active
International organization participation:
ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, FAO, G-77, GCC, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt
(signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDB, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Nasir bin Muhammad al-BALUSHI
chancery: 3502 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 342-1111
FAX: [1] (202) 362-2192
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador William T. MONROE
embassy: Building #979, Road 3119 (next to Al-Ahli Sports Club),
Block 331, Zinj District, Manama
mailing address: American Embassy Manama, PSC 451, FPO AE
09834-5100; international mail: American Embassy, Box 26431, Manama
telephone: [973] 1724-2700
FAX: [973] 1727-0547
Flag description:
red, the traditional color for flags of Persian Gulf states, with a
white serrated band (five white points) on the hoist side; the five
points represent the five pillars of Islam
Economy Bahrain
Economy - overview:
Petroleum production and refining account for about 60% of
Bahrain's export receipts, 60% of government revenues, and 30% of
GDP. 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 refining imported crude. Construction proceeds on
several major industrial projects. Unemployment, especially among
the young, and the depletion of oil and underground water resources
are major long-term economic problems. In 2005 Bahrain and the US
ratified a Free Trade Agreement (FTA), the first FTA between the US
and a Gulf state.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$15.9 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$11.01 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
5.9% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$23,100 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 0.5%
industry: 38.7%
services: 60.8% (2005 est.)
Labor force:
380,000
note: 44% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national
(2005 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 1%
industry: 79%
services: 20% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate:
15% (2005 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% (2005 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
19.5% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $4.662 billion
expenditures: $3.447 billion; including capital expenditures of $700
million (2005 est.)
Public debt:
33.5% of GDP (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:
fruit, vegetables; poultry, dairy products; shrimp, fish
Industries:
petroleum processing and refining, aluminum smelting, iron
pelletization, fertilizers, offshore banking, ship repairing, tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
2% (2000 est.)
Electricity - production:
7.345 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
6.83 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2003)
Oil - production:
188,300 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - consumption:
26,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day
Oil - proved reserves:
124 million bbl (2005 est.)
Natural gas - production:
9.65 billion cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
9.65 billion cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2002 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2002 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
92.03 billion cu m (2005)
Current account balance:
$1.531 billion (2005 est.)
Exports:
$11.17 billion (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:
petroleum and petroleum products, aluminum, textiles
Exports - partners:
Saudi Arabia 3.3%, US 2.6%, UAE 2.3% (2005)
Imports:
$7.83 billion (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:
crude oil, machinery, chemicals
Imports - partners:
Saudi Arabia 36.4%, Japan 6.6%, Germany 6.4%, US 5.4%, UK 5%, UAE
4.1% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$2.432 billion (2005 est.)
Debt - external:
$6.814 billion (2005 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$150 million; note - $50 million annually since 1992 from the UAE
and Kuwait (2002)
Currency (code):
Bahraini dinar (BHD)
Currency code:
BHD
Exchange rates:
Bahraini dinars per US dollar - 0.376 (2005), 0.376 (2004), 0.376
(2003), 0.376 (2002), 0.376 (2001)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Bahrain
Telephones - main lines in use:
196,500 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
748,700 (2005)
Telephone system:
general assessment: modern system
domestic: modern fiber-optic integrated services; digital network
with rapidly growing use of mobile cellular telephones
international: country code - 973; tropospheric scatter to Qatar and
UAE; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia; submarine cable to
Qatar, UAE, and Saudi Arabia; satellite earth stations - 1 (1997)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
338,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
4 (1997)
Televisions:
275,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.bh
Internet hosts:
2,165 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)
Internet users:
152,700 (2005)
Transportation Bahrain
Airports:
3 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 3
over 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)
Heliports:
1 (2006)
Pipelines:
gas 20 km; oil 52 km (2006)
Roadways:
total: 3,498 km
paved: 2,768 km
unpaved: 730 km (2003)
Merchant marine:
total: 8 ships (1000 GRT or over) 235,449 GRT/339,728 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 4, cargo 1, container 2, petroleum tanker 1
foreign-owned: 3 (Kuwait 3) (2006)
Ports and terminals:
Mina' Salman, Sitrah
Military Bahrain
Military branches:
Bahrain Defense Forces (BDF): Ground Force (includes Air Defense),
Navy, Air Force, National Guard
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 202,126
females age 18-49: 151,734 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 161,372
females age 18-49: 125,488 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 6,013
females age 18-49: 5,852 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$627.7 million (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
4.9% (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues Bahrain
Disputes - international:
none
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Bahrain is a destination country for men and
women from South and Southeast Asia who migrate willingly to work as
laborers or domestic servants, but may be subjected to conditions of
involuntary servitude when faced with exorbitant recruitment and
transportation fees, withholding of their passports, restrictions on
their movement, non-payment of wages, and physical or sexual abuse;
Eastern European women are also believed to be trafficked to Bahrain
for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation or forced labor
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Bahrain's efforts to address
trafficking in persons are based largely on pledges of future
efforts; the government did not enact a comprehensive
anti-trafficking law extending labor protection to domestic workers
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
======================================================================
@Bangladesh
Introduction Bangladesh
Background:
Europeans began to set up trading posts in the area of Bangladesh
in the 16th century; eventually the British came to dominate the
region and it became part of British India. In 1947, West Pakistan
and East Bengal (both primarily Muslim) separated from India
(largely Hindu) and jointly became the new country of Pakistan. East
Bengal became East Pakistan in 1955, but the awkward arrangement of
a two-part country with its territorial units separated by 1,600 km
left the Bengalis marginalized and dissatisfied. East Pakistan
seceded from its union with West Pakistan in 1971 and was renamed
Bangladesh. About a third of this extremely poor country floods
annually during the monsoon rainy season, hampering economic
development.
Geography Bangladesh
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 Iowa
Land boundaries:
total: 4,246 km
border countries: Burma 193 km, India 4,053 km
Coastline:
580 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 18 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: up to the outer limits of the continental margin
Climate:
tropical; mild winter (October to March); hot, humid summer (March
to June); humid, warm 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, coal
Land use:
arable land: 55.39%
permanent crops: 3.08%
other: 41.53% (2005)
Irrigated land:
47,250 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:
droughts, cyclones; much of the country routinely inundated during
the summer monsoon season
Environment - current issues:
many people are landless and forced to live on and cultivate
flood-prone land; water-borne diseases prevalent in surface water;
water pollution, especially of fishing areas, results from the use
of commercial pesticides; ground water contaminated by naturally
occurring arsenic; intermittent water shortages because of falling
water tables in the northern and central parts of the country; soil
degradation and erosion; deforestation; severe overpopulation
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer
Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
most of the country is situated on deltas of large rivers flowing
from the Himalayas: the Ganges unites with the Jamuna (main channel
of the Brahmaputra) and later joins the Meghna to eventually empty
into the Bay of Bengal
People Bangladesh
Population:
147,365,352 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 32.9% (male 24,957,997/female 23,533,894)
15-64 years: 63.6% (male 47,862,774/female 45,917,674)
65 years and over: 3.5% (male 2,731,578/female 2,361,435) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 22.2 years
male: 22.2 years
female: 22.2 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.09% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
29.8 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
8.27 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
-0.68 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.16 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 60.83 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 61.87 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 59.74 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 62.46 years
male: 62.47 years
female: 62.45 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.11 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
13,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
650 (2001 est.)
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A and E,
and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria are high risks in
some locations
water contact disease: leptospirosis
animal contact disease: rabies (2005)
Nationality:
noun: Bangladeshi(s)
adjective: Bangladeshi
Ethnic groups:
Bengali 98%, tribal groups, non-Bengali Muslims (1998)
Religions:
Muslim 83%, Hindu 16%, other 1% (1998)
Languages:
Bangla (official, also known as Bengali), English
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 43.1%
male: 53.9%
female: 31.8% (2003 est.)
Government Bangladesh
Country name:
conventional long form: People's Republic of Bangladesh
conventional short form: Bangladesh
local long form: Gana Prajatantri Banladesh
local short form: Banladesh
former: East Bengal, East Pakistan
Government type:
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
name: Dhaka
geographic coordinates: 23 43 N, 90 25 E
time difference: UTC+6 (11 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
6 divisions; Barisal, Chittagong, Dhaka, Khulna, Rajshahi, Sylhet
Independence:
16 December 1971 (from West Pakistan); note - 26 March 1971 is the
date of independence from West Pakistan, 16 December 1971 is known
as Victory Day and commemorates the official creation of the state
of Bangladesh
National holiday:
Independence Day, 26 March (1971); note - 26 March 1971 is the date
of independence from West Pakistan, 16 December 1971 is Victory Day
and commemorates the official creation of the state of Bangladesh
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 Iajuddin AHMED (since 6 September 2002);
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 Khaleda ZIA (since 10 October
2001)
cabinet: Cabinet selected by the prime minister and appointed by the
president
elections: president elected by National Parliament for a five-year
term (eligible for a second term); election scheduled for 16
September 2002 was not held since Iajuddin AHMED was the only
presidential candidate; he was sworn in on 6 September 2002 (next
election to be held by 2007); following legislative elections, the
leader of the party that wins the most seats is usually appointed
prime minister by the president
election results: Iajuddin AHMED declared by the Election Commission
elected unopposed as president; percent of National Parliament vote
- NA
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Parliament or Jatiya Sangsad; 300 seats elected
by popular vote from single territorial constituencies (the
constitutional amendment reserving 30 seats for women over and above
the 300 regular parliament seats expired in May 2001); members serve
five-year terms
elections: last held 1 October 2001 (next to be held no later than
January 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - BNP and alliance
partners 41%, AL 40%; seats by party - BNP 193, AL 58, JI 17, JP
(Ershad faction) 14, IOJ 2, JP (Manzur) 4, other 12; note - the
election of October 2001 brought a majority BNP government aligned
with three other smaller parties - JI, IOJ, and Jatiya Party (Manzur)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (the chief justices and other judges are appointed by
the president)
Political parties and leaders:
Awami League or AL [Sheikh HASINA]; Bangladesh Communist Party or
BCP [Saifuddin Ahmed MANIK]; Bangladesh Nationalist Party or BNP
[Khaleda ZIA]; Islami Oikya Jote or IOJ [Mufti Fazlul Haq AMINI];
Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh or JIB [Motiur Rahman NIZAMI]; Jatiya
Party or JP (Ershad faction) [Hussain Mohammad ERSHAD]; Jatiya Party
(Manzur faction) [Naziur Rahman MANZUR]; Liberal Democratic Party or
LDP [Badrudozza CHOWDHURY and Oli AHMED]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ARF, AsDB, BIMSTEC, C, CP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt
(signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF,
IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM,
OIC, OPCW, SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE,
UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNOMIG, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Shamsher Mobin CHOWDHURY
chancery: 3510 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 244-0183
FAX: [1] (202) 244-5366
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Patricia A. BUTENIS
embassy: Madani Avenue, Baridhara, Dhaka 1212
mailing address: G. P. O. Box 323, Dhaka 1000
telephone: [880] (2) 885-5500
FAX: [880] (2) 882-3744
Flag description:
green field with a large red disk shifted slightly to the hoist
side of center; the red disk represents the rising sun and the
sacrifice to achieve independence; the green field symbolizes the
lush vegetation of Bangladesh
Economy Bangladesh
Economy - overview:
Despite sustained domestic and international efforts to improve
economic and demographic prospects, Bangladesh remains a poor,
overpopulated, and inefficiently-governed nation. Although half of
GDP is generated through the service sector, nearly two-thirds of
Bangladeshis are employed in the agriculture sector, with rice as
the single-most-important product. Major impediments to growth
include frequent cyclones and floods, inefficient state-owned
enterprises, inadequate port facilities, a rapidly growing labor
force that cannot be absorbed by agriculture, delays in exploiting
energy resources (natural gas), insufficient power supplies, and
slow implementation of economic reforms. Reform is stalled in many
instances by political infighting and corruption at all levels of
government. Progress also has been blocked by opposition from the
bureaucracy, public sector unions, and other vested interest groups.
The BNP government, led by Prime Minister Khaleda ZIA, has the
parliamentary strength to push through needed reforms, but the
party's political will to do so has been lacking in key areas. One
encouraging note: growth has been a steady 5% for the past several
years.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$305.9 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$63.56 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
6.4% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$2,100 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 19.9%
industry: 19.8%
services: 60.3% (2004 est.)
Labor force:
66.6 million
note: extensive export of labor to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE, Oman,
Qatar, and Malaysia; workers' remittances estimated at $1.71 billion
in 1998-99 (2005 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 63%
industry: 11%
services: 26% (FY95/96)
Unemployment rate:
2.5% (includes underemployment) (2005 est.)
Population below poverty line:
45% (2004 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.9%
highest 10%: 28.6% (1995-96 est.)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
31.8 (2000)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
7% (2005 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
24.4% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $5.993 billion
expenditures: $8.598 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2005 est.)
Public debt:
44.5% of GDP (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:
rice, jute, tea, wheat, sugarcane, potatoes, tobacco, pulses,
oilseeds, spices, fruit; beef, milk, poultry
Industries:
cotton textiles, jute, garments, tea processing, paper newsprint,
cement, chemical fertilizer, light engineering, sugar
Industrial production growth rate:
6.7% (2005 est.)
Electricity - production:
17.42 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 93.7%
hydro: 6.3%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
16.2 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2003)
Oil - production:
6,825 bbl/day (2003)
Oil - consumption:
84,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day
Oil - proved reserves:
28.45 million bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:
11.9 billion cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
11.9 billion cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
300.2 billion cu m (1 January 2002)
Current account balance:
$37 million (2005 est.)
Exports:
$9.372 billion (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:
garments, jute and jute goods, leather, frozen fish and seafood
(2001)
Exports - partners:
US 23.6%, Germany 13.5%, UK 9.4%, France 6.4% (2005)
Imports:
$12.97 billion (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, chemicals, iron and steel, textiles,
foodstuffs, petroleum products, cement (2000)
Imports - partners:
India 14.1%, China 13.5%, Kuwait 8.5%, Singapore 6.2%, Japan 4.1%,
Hong Kong 4.1% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$2.825 billion (2005 est.)
Debt - external:
$20.63 billion (2005 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$1.575 billion (2000 est.)
Currency (code):
taka (BDT)
Currency code:
BDT
Exchange rates:
taka per US dollar - 64.328 (2005), 59.513 (2004), 58.15 (2003),
57.888 (2002), 55.807 (2001)
Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June
Communications Bangladesh
Telephones - main lines in use:
1.07 million (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
9 million (2005)
Telephone system:
general assessment: totally inadequate for a modern country
domestic: modernizing; introducing digital systems; trunk systems
include VHF and UHF microwave radio relay links, and some
fiber-optic cable in cities
international: country code - 880; satellite earth stations - 6;
international radiotelephone communications and landline service to
neighboring countries (2005)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 15, FM 13, shortwave 2 (2006)
Radios:
6.15 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
15 (1999)
Televisions:
770,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.bd
Internet hosts:
469 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
10 (2000)
Internet users:
300,000 (2005)
Transportation Bangladesh
Airports:
16 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 15
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 5 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)
Pipelines:
gas 2,604 km (2006)
Railways:
total: 2,768 km
broad gauge: 946 km 1.676-m gauge
narrow gauge: 1,822 km 1.000-m gauge (2005)
Roadways:
total: 239,226 km
paved: 22,726 km
unpaved: 216,500 km (2003)
Waterways:
8,372 km
note: includes 5,635 km main cargo routes; network reduced to 5,200
km in dry season (2005)
Merchant marine:
total: 42 ships (1000 GRT or over) 341,733 GRT/485,840 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 3, cargo 29, container 6, passenger/cargo 1,
petroleum tanker 3
foreign-owned: 1 (China 1)
registered in other countries: 10 (Antigua and Barbuda 4, Comoros 1,
Malta 3, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1, Singapore 1) (2006)
Ports and terminals:
Chittagong, Mongla Port
Military Bangladesh
Military branches:
Bangladesh Defense Force: Bangladesh Army, Bangladesh Navy,
Bangladesh Air Force (Bangladesh Biman Bahini, BAF) (2006)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription
(2005)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 35,170,019 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 26,841,255 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$1.01 billion (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.8% (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues Bangladesh
Disputes - international:
discussions with India remain stalled to delimit a small section of
river boundary, exchange 162 miniscule enclaves in both countries,
allocate divided villages, and stop illegal cross-border trade,
migration, violence, and transit of terrorists through the porous
border; Bangladesh resists India's attempts to fence or wall off
high-traffic sections of the porous boundary; a joint
Bangladesh-India boundary inspection in 2005 revealed 92 pillars are
missing; dispute with India over New Moore/South Talpatty/Purbasha
Island in the Bay of Bengal deters maritime boundary delimitation;
Burmese Muslim refugees strain Bangladesh's meager resources
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 20,402 (Burma)
IDPs: 61,000 (land conflicts, religious persecution) (2005)
Illicit drugs:
transit country for illegal drugs produced in neighboring countries
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
======================================================================
@Barbados
Introduction Barbados
Background:
The island was uninhabited when first settled by the British in
1627. Slaves worked the sugar plantations established on the island
until 1834 when slavery was abolished. The economy remained heavily
dependent on sugar, rum, and molasses production through most of the
20th century. The gradual introduction of social and political
reforms in the 1940s and 1950s led to complete independence from the
UK in 1966. In the 1990s, tourism and manufacturing surpassed the
sugar industry in economic importance.
Geography Barbados
Location:
Caribbean, island in the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of
Venezuela
Geographic coordinates:
13 10 N, 59 32 W
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 431 sq km
land: 431 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:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 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: 37.21%
permanent crops: 2.33%
other: 60.46% (2005)
Irrigated land:
50 sq km (2003)
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: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law
of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
easternmost Caribbean island
People Barbados
Population:
279,912 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 20.1% (male 28,160/female 28,039)
15-64 years: 71.1% (male 97,755/female 101,223)
65 years and over: 8.8% (male 9,508/female 15,227) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 34.6 years
male: 33.4 years
female: 35.6 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.37% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
12.71 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
8.67 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
-0.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.01 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 11.77 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 13.38 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 10.15 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 72.79 years
male: 70.79 years
female: 74.82 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.65 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
1.5% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
2,500 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 200 (2003 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Barbadian(s) or Bajan (colloquial)
adjective: Barbadian or Bajan (colloquial)
Ethnic groups:
black 90%, white 4%, Asian and mixed 6%
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: 99.7%
male: 99.7%
female: 99.7% (2002 est.)
Government Barbados
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Barbados
Government type:
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
name: Bridgetown
geographic coordinates: 13 06 N, 59 37 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
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; 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 Clifford Straughn HUSBANDS
(since 1 June 1996)
head of government: Prime Minister Owen Seymour ARTHUR (since 7
September 1994); Deputy Prime Minister Mia MOTTLEY (since 26 May
2003)
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; following legislative elections, the
leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition
is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; the
prime minister recommends the deputy prime minister
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (21-member body
appointed by the governor general) and the House of Assembly (30
seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year
terms)
elections: House of Assembly - last held 21 May 2003 (next to be
held by May 2008)
election results: House of Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA;
seats by party - BLP 23, DLP 7
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court of Judicature (judges are appointed by the Service
Commissions for the Judicial and Legal Services)
Political parties and leaders:
Barbados Labor Party or BLP [Owen ARTHUR]; Democratic Labor Party
or DLP [David THOMPSON]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Barbados Workers Union [Leroy TROTMAN]; Clement Payne Labor Union
[David COMISSIONG]; People's Progressive Movement [Eric SEALY];
Worker's Party of Barbados [Dr. George BELLE]
International organization participation:
ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU,
ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU,
LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Michael Ian KING
chancery: 2144 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 939-9200
FAX: [1] (202) 332-7467
consulate(s) general: Miami, New York
consulate(s): Los Angeles
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Mary M. OURISMAN
embassy: Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Building, Broad Street,
Bridgetown; (courier) ALICO Building-Cheapside, Bridgetown
mailing address: P. O. Box 302, Bridgetown; CMR 1014, APO AA 34055
telephone: [1] (246) 436-4950
FAX: [1] (246) 429-5246, 429-3379
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 Barbados
Economy - overview:
Historically, the Barbadian economy had been dependent on sugarcane
cultivation and related activities, but production in recent years
has diversified into light industry and tourism. Offshore finance
and information services are important foreign exchange earners. The
government continues its efforts to reduce unemployment, to
encourage direct foreign investment, and to privatize remaining
state-owned enterprises. The economy contracted in 2002-03 mainly
due to a decline in tourism. Growth was positive in 2005, as
economic conditions in the US and Europe moderately improved.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$4.815 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$2.964 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
4.1% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$17,300 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 6%
industry: 16%
services: 78% (2000 est.)
Labor force:
128,500 (2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 10%
industry: 15%
services: 75% (1996 est.)
Unemployment rate:
10.7% (2003 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% (2003 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $847 million (including grants)
expenditures: $886 million; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2000 est.)
Agriculture - products:
sugarcane, vegetables, cotton
Industries:
tourism, sugar, light manufacturing, component assembly for export
Industrial production growth rate:
-3.2% (2000 est.)
Electricity - production:
819 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
761.7 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2003)
Oil - production:
1,000 bbl/day (2003)
Oil - consumption:
10,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day
Oil - proved reserves:
1.254 million bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:
29.17 million cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
29.17 million cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
141.6 million cu m (1 January 2002)
Exports:
$209 million (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:
sugar and molasses, rum, other foods and beverages, chemicals,
electrical components
Exports - partners:
US 18.6%, Trinidad and Tobago 15%, UK 12.1%, Saint Lucia 8.4%,
Jamaica 7.9%, Grenada 4.6%, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 4.6%
(2005)
Imports:
$1.476 billion (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:
consumer goods, machinery, foodstuffs, construction materials,
chemicals, fuel, electrical components
Imports - partners:
NZ 45.9%, US 20.3%, Trinidad and Tobago 12% (2005)
Debt - external:
$668 million (2003)
Economic aid - recipient:
$9.1 million (1995)
Currency (code):
Barbadian dollar (BBD)
Currency code:
BBD
Exchange rates:
Barbadian dollars per US dollar - 2 (2005), 2 (2004), 2 (2003), 2
(2002), 2 (2001)
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
Communications Barbados
Telephones - main lines in use:
134,900 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
206,200 (2005)
Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: island-wide automatic telephone system
international: country code - 1-246; satellite earth stations - 1
(Intelsat -Atlantic Ocean); tropospheric scatter to Trinidad and
Saint Lucia
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 2, FM 6, shortwave 0 (2004)
Radios:
237,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (plus two cable channels) (2004)
Televisions:
76,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.bb
Internet hosts:
282 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
19 (2000)
Internet users:
160,000 (2005)
Transportation Barbados
Airports:
1 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2006)
Roadways:
total: 1,600 km
paved: 1,600 km (2003)
Merchant marine:
total: 58 ships (1000 GRT or over) 433,390 GRT/664,998 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 11, cargo 32, chemical tanker 7, passenger 1,
passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 3, roll on/roll off 2,
specialized tanker 1
foreign-owned: 57 (Bahamas, The 1, Canada 8, Greece 11, Lebanon 1,
Monaco 1, Norway 29, UAE 1, UK 5)
registered in other countries: 1 (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
1) (2006)
Ports and terminals:
Bridgetown
Military Barbados
Military branches:
Royal Barbados Defense Force: Troops Command, Coast Guard (2005)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service; volunteers at
earlier age with parental consent; no conscription (2001)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 71,524
females age 18-49: 72,302 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 54,510
females age 18-49: 54,889 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
NA
Military - note:
the Royal Barbados Defense Force includes a land-based Troop
Command and a small Coast Guard; the primary role of the land
element is to defend the island against external aggression; the
Command consists of a single, part-time battalion with a small
regular cadre that is deployed throughout the island; it
increasingly supports the police in patrolling the coastline to
prevent smuggling and other illicit activities (2005)
Transnational Issues Barbados
Disputes - international:
in 2005, Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago agreed to compulsory
international arbitration that will result in a binding award
challenging whether the northern limit of Trinidad and Tobago's and
Venezuela's maritime boundary extends into Barbadian waters and the
southern limit of Barbadian traditional fishing; joins other
Caribbean states to counter Venezuela's claim that Aves Island
sustains human habitation, a criterion under the UN Convention on
the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which permits Venezuela to extend its
EEZ/continental shelf over a large portion of the Caribbean Sea
Illicit drugs:
one of many Caribbean transshipment points for narcotics bound for
Europe and the US; offshore financial center
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
======================================================================
@Belarus
Introduction Belarus
Background:
After seven decades as a constituent republic of the USSR, Belarus
attained its independence in 1991. It has retained closer political
and economic ties to Russia than any of the other former Soviet
republics. Belarus and Russia signed a treaty on a two-state union
on 8 December 1999 envisioning greater political and economic
integration. Although Belarus agreed to a framework to carry out the
accord, serious implementation has yet to take place. Since his
election in July 1994 as the country's first president, Alexander
LUKASHENKO has steadily consolidated his power through authoritarian
means. Government restrictions on freedom of speech and the press,
peaceful assembly, and religion continue.
Geography Belarus
Location:
Eastern Europe, east of Poland
Geographic coordinates:
53 00 N, 28 00 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 207,600 sq km
land: 207,600 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Kansas
Land boundaries:
total: 2,900 km
border countries: Latvia 141 km, Lithuania 502 km, Poland 407 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,
granite, dolomitic limestone, marl, chalk, sand, gravel, clay
Land use:
arable land: 26.77%
permanent crops: 0.6%
other: 72.63% (2005)
Irrigated land:
1,310 sq km (2003)
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-Sulfur 85, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes,
Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:
landlocked; glacial scouring accounts for the flatness of
Belarusian terrain and for its 11,000 lakes
People Belarus
Population:
10,293,011 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 15.7% (male 825,823/female 791,741)
15-64 years: 69.7% (male 3,490,442/female 3,682,950)
65 years and over: 14.6% (male 498,976/female 1,003,079) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 37.2 years
male: 34.5 years
female: 39.9 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
-0.06% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
11.16 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
14.02 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
2.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.5 male(s)/female
total population: 0.88 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 13 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 13.92 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 12.03 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 69.08 years
male: 63.47 years
female: 74.98 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.43 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.3% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
15,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
1,000 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Belarusian(s)
adjective: Belarusian
Ethnic groups:
Belarusian 81.2%, Russian 11.4%, Polish 3.9%, Ukrainian 2.4%, other
1.1% (1999 census)
Religions:
Eastern Orthodox 80%, other (including Roman Catholic, Protestant,
Jewish, and Muslim) 20% (1997 est.)
Languages:
Belarusian, Russian, other
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.6%
male: 99.8%
female: 99.5% (2003 est.)
Government Belarus
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Belarus
conventional short form: Belarus
local long form: Respublika Byelarus'
local short form: Byelarus'
former: Belorussian (Byelorussian) Soviet Socialist Republic
Government type:
republic in name, although in fact a dictatorship
Capital:
name: Minsk
geographic coordinates: 53 54 N, 27 34 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October
Administrative divisions:
6 provinces (voblastsi, singular - voblasts') and 1 municipality*
(horad); Brest, Homyel', Horad Minsk*, Hrodna, Mahilyow, Minsk,
Vitsyebsk
note: administrative divisions have the same names as their
administrative centers
Independence:
25 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 3 July (1944); note - 3 July 1944 was the date
Minsk was liberated from German troops, 25 August 1991 was the date
of independence from the Soviet Union
Constitution:
15 March 1994; revised by national referendum of 24 November 1996
giving the presidency greatly expanded powers and became effective
27 November 1996; revised again 17 October 2004 removing
presidential term limits
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 Sergei SIDORSKIY (since 19
December 2003); First Deputy Prime Minister Vladimir SEMASHKO (since
December 2003)
cabinet: Council of Ministers
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
first election took place 23 June and 10 July 1994; according to the
1994 constitution, the next election should have been held in 1999,
however, Aleksandr LUKASHENKO extended his term to 2001 via a
November 1996 referendum; subsequent election held 9 September 2001;
an October 2004 referendum ended presidential term limits allowing
president to run in a third election held on 19 March 2006; prime
minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the president
election results: Aleksandr LUKASHENKO reelected president; percent
of vote - Aleksandr LUKASHENKO 82.6%, Aleksandr MILINKEVICH 6%,
Aleksandr KOZULIN 2.3%; note - election marred by electoral fraud
Legislative branch:
bicameral National Assembly or Natsionalnoye Sobranie consists of
the Council of the Republic or Soviet Respubliki (64 seats; 56
members elected by regional councils and 8 members appointed by the
president, all for four-year terms) and the Chamber of
Representatives or Palata Predstaviteley (110 seats; members elected
by universal adult suffrage to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 17 and 31 October 2004; international observers
widely denounced the elections as flawed and undemocratic, based on
massive government falsification; pro-LUKASHENKO candidates won
every seat, after many opposition candidates were disqualified for
technical reasons
election results: Soviet Respubliki - percent of vote by party - NA;
seats by party - NA; Palata Predstaviteley - percent of vote by
party - NA; seats by party - NA
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:
pro-government parties: Agrarian Party or AP [Mikhail SHIMANSKY];
Belarusian Communist Party or KPB; Belarusian Patriotic Movement
(Belarusian Patriotic Party) or BPR [Nikolai ULAKHOVICH, chairman];
Liberal Democratic Party of Belarus [Sergei GAYDUKEVICH]; Party of
Labor and Justice [Viktor SOKOLOV]; Social-Sports Party [Vladimir
ALEXANDROVICH]
opposition parties: 10 Plus Coalition [Alyaksandr MILINKEVICH],
includes: Belarusian Party of Communists or PKB [Syarhey KALYAKIN];
Belarusian Party of Labor (unregistered) [Aleksandr BUKHVOSTOV,
Leonid LEMESHONAK]; Belarusian Popular Front or BPF [Vintsyuk
VYACHORKA]; Belarusian Social-Democratic Gramada [Stanislav
SHUSHKEVICH]; Green Party [Oleg GROMYKO]; Party of Freedom and
Progress (unregistered) [Vladimir NOVOSYAD]; United Civic Party or
UCP [Anatol LYABEDKA]; Women's Party "Nadezhda" [Valentina
MATUSEVICH, chairperson]
other opposition includes: Belarusian Social-Democratic Party
Nardonaya Hromada or BSDP NH [Alyaksandr KOZULIN, chairman];
Christian Conservative BPF [Zyanon PAZNIAK]; Ecological Party of
Greens [Mikhail KARTASH]; Party of Popular Accord [Sergei YERMAKK];
Republican Party [Vladimir BELAZOR]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Assembly of Pro-Democratic NGOs [Sergey MATSKEVICH]; Belarusian
Congress of Democratic Trade Unions [Alyaksandr YAROSHUK];
Belarusian Helsinki Committee [Tatiana PROTKO]; Belarusian
Organization of Working Women [Irina ZHIKHAR]; Charter 97 [Andrey
SANNIKOV]; Lenin Communist Union of Youth (youth wing of the
Belarusian Party of Communists or PKB); National Strike Committee of
Entrepreneurs [Aleksandr VASILYEV, Valery LEVONEVSKY]; Partnership
NGO [Nikolay ASTREYKA]; Perspektiva kiosk watchdog NGO [Anatol
SHUMCHENKO]; Vyasna [Ales BYALATSKY]; Women's Independent Democratic
Movement [Ludmila PETINA]; Youth Front (Malady Front) [Dzmitryy
DASHKEVICH, Syarhey BAKHUN]; Zubr youth group [Vladimir KOBETS]
International organization participation:
BSEC (observer), CEI, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU,
ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, MIGA,
NAM, NSG, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Mikhail KHVOSTOV
chancery: 1619 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 986-1604
FAX: [1] (202) 986-1805
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Karen B. STEWART
embassy: 46 Starovilenskaya St., Minsk 220002
mailing address: PSC 78, Box B Minsk, APO 09723
telephone: [375] (17) 210-12-83, 217-7347, 217-7348
FAX: [375] (17) 234-7853
Flag description:
red horizontal band (top) and green horizontal band one-half the
width of the red band; a white vertical stripe on the hoist side
bears Belarusian national ornamentation in red
Economy Belarus
Economy - overview:
Belarus's economy in 2005 posted 8% growth. The government has
succeeded in lowering inflation over the past several years. Trade
with Russia - by far its largest single trade partner - decreased in
2005, largely as a result of a change in the way the Value Added Tax
(VAT) on trade was collected. Trade with European countries
increased. 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
reimposed administrative controls over prices and currency exchange
rates and expanded the state's right to intervene in the management
of private enterprises. During 2005, the government re-nationalized
a number of private companies. In addition, businesses have been
subject to pressure by central and local governments, e.g.,
arbitrary changes in regulations, numerous rigorous inspections,
retroactive application of new business regulations, and arrests of
"disruptive" businessmen and factory owners. A wide range of
redistributive policies has helped those at the bottom of the
ladder; the Gini coefficient is among the lowest in the world.
Because of these restrictive economic policies, Belarus has had
trouble attracting foreign investment, which remains low. Growth has
been strong in recent years, despite the roadblocks in a tough,
centrally directed economy with a high, but decreasing, rate of
inflation. Belarus continues to receive heavily discounted oil and
natural gas from Russia. Much of Belarus' growth can be attributed
to the re-export of Russian oil at market prices.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$73.09 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$26.69 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
9.2% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$7,100 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 9.3%
industry: 31.6%
services: 59.1% (2005 est.)
Labor force:
4.3 million (31 December 2005)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 14%
industry: 34.7%
services: 51.3% (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate:
1.6% officially registered unemployed; large number of
underemployed workers (2005)
Population below poverty line:
27.1% (2003 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 5.1%
highest 10%: 20% (1998)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
30.4 (2000)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
10.3% (2005 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
24.8% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $5.903 billion
expenditures: $6.343 billion; including capital expenditures of $180
million (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:
grain, potatoes, vegetables, sugar beets, flax; beef, milk
Industries:
metal-cutting machine tools, tractors, trucks, earthmovers,
motorcycles, televisions, chemical fibers, fertilizer, textiles,
radios, refrigerators
Industrial production growth rate:
15.6% (2005 est.)
Electricity - production:
30 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 99.5%
hydro: 0.1%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0.4% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
34.3 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:
800 million kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports:
7 billion kWh (2003)
Oil - production:
36,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - consumption:
252,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:
14,500 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - imports:
360,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Natural gas - production:
250 million cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
20.5 billion cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
20.5 billion cu m (2005 est.)
Current account balance:
$852 million (2005 est.)
Exports:
$16.14 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, mineral products, chemicals, metals,
textiles, foodstuffs
Exports - partners:
Russia 38.5%, Ukraine 7.8%, Poland 7.1%, Latvia 4.2%, UK 4.1%,
China 4.1% (2005)
Imports:
$16.94 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:
mineral products, machinery and equipment, chemicals, foodstuffs,
metals
Imports - partners:
Russia 57.9%, Germany 9.7%, Ukraine 6.4%, Poland 5.2% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$1.215 billion (2005 est.)
Debt - external:
$4.662 billion (30 June 2005 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$194.3 million (1995)
Currency (code):
Belarusian ruble (BYB/BYR)
Currency code:
BYB/BYR
Exchange rates:
Belarusian rubles per US dollar - 2,150 (2005), 2,160.26 (2004),
2,051.27 (2003), 1,790.92 (2002), 1,390 (2001)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Belarus
Telephones - main lines in use:
3,284,300 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
4.098 million (2005)
Telephone system:
general assessment: Belarus lags behind its neighbors in upgrading
telecommunications infrastructure; state-owned Beltelcom, is the
sole provider of fixed line local and long distance service;
modernization of the network to digital switching progressing slowly
domestic: fixed line penetration is improving although rural areas
continue to be underserved; four GSM wireless networks are
experiencing rapid growth; strict government controls on
telecommunications technologies
international: country code - 375; Belarus is a member of the
Trans-European Line (TEL), Trans-Asia-Europe (TAE) fiber-optic line,
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 through this
infrastructure; additional analog lines to Russia; Intelsat,
Eutelsat, and Intersputnik earth stations
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 28, FM 37, shortwave 11 (1998)
Radios:
3.02 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
47 (plus 27 repeaters) (1995)
Televisions:
2.52 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.by
Internet hosts:
33,641 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
23 (2002)
Internet users:
3,394,400 (2005)
Transportation Belarus
Airports:
86 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 41
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 22
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 12 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 45
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 35 (2006)
Heliports:
1 (2006)
Pipelines:
gas 5,223 km; oil 2,321 km; refined products 1,686 km (2006)
Railways:
total: 5,512 km
broad gauge: 5,497 km 1.520-m gauge (874 km electrified)
standard gauge: 15 km 1.435 m (2005)
Roadways:
total: 93,055 km
paved: 93,055 km (2003)
Waterways:
2,500 km (use limited by location on perimeter of country and by
shallowness) (2003)
Ports and terminals:
Mazyr
Military Belarus
Military branches:
Belarus Armed Forces: Land Force, Air and Air Defense Force (2006)
Military service age and obligation:
18-27 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript
service obligation - 18 months (2005)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 2,520,644
females age 18-49: 2,564,696 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 1,657,984
females age 18-49: 2,102,793 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 85,202
females age 18-49: 82,037 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$420.5 million (2006)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.4% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Belarus
Disputes - international:
1997 boundary treaty with Ukraine remains unratified over
unresolved financial claims, preventing demarcation and diminishing
border security; the whole boundary with Latvia and more than half
the boundary with Lithuania remains undemarcated; discussions toward
economic and political union with Russia proceed slowly
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; a small and lightly
regulated financial center; new anti-money-laundering legislation
does not meet international standards; few investigations or
prosecutions of money-laundering activities
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
======================================================================
@Belgium
Introduction Belgium
Background:
Belgium became independent from the Netherlands in 1830; it was
occupied by Germany during World Wars I and II. The country
prospered in the past half century as a modern, technologically
advanced European state and member of NATO and the EU. Tensions
between the Dutch-speaking Flemings of the north and the
French-speaking Walloons of the south have led in recent years to
constitutional amendments granting these regions formal recognition
and autonomy.
Geography Belgium
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: 30,528 sq km
land: 30,278 sq km
water: 250 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:
66.5 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: geographic coordinates define outer limit
continental shelf: median line with neighbors
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:
construction materials, silica sand, carbonates
Land use:
arable land: 27.42%
permanent crops: 0.69%
other: 71.89%
note: includes Luxembourg (2005)
Irrigated land:
400 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:
flooding is a threat along rivers and 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,
extensive animal breeding and crop cultivation; air and water
pollution also have repercussions for neighboring countries;
uncertainties regarding federal and regional responsibilities (now
resolved) have slowed progress in tackling environmental challenges
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile
Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol,
Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic
Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life
Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical
Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants
Geography - note:
crossroads of Western Europe; majority of West European capitals
within 1,000 km of Brussels, the seat of both the European Union and
NATO
People Belgium
Population:
10,379,067 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 16.7% (male 883,254/female 846,099)
15-64 years: 65.9% (male 3,450,879/female 3,389,565)
65 years and over: 17.4% (male 746,569/female 1,062,701) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 40.9 years
male: 39.6 years
female: 42.1 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.13% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
10.38 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
10.27 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
1.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 4.62 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 5.2 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.01 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.77 years
male: 75.59 years
female: 82.09 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.64 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.2% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
10,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 100 (2003 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Belgian(s)
adjective: Belgian
Ethnic groups:
Fleming 58%, Walloon 31%, mixed or other 11%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 75%, Protestant or other 25%
Languages:
Dutch (official) 60%, French (official) 40%, German (official) less
than 1%, legally bilingual (Dutch and French)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)
Government Belgium
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
Government type:
federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy
Capital:
name: Brussels
geographic coordinates: 50 50 N, 4 20 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October
Administrative divisions:
10 provinces (French: provinces, singular - province; Dutch:
provincies, singular - provincie) and 3 regions* (French: regions;
Dutch: gewesten); Antwerpen, Brabant Wallon, Brussels* (Bruxelles),
Flanders*, Hainaut, Liege, Limburg, Luxembourg, Namur,
Oost-Vlaanderen, Vlaams-Brabant, Wallonia*, West-Vlaanderen
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
Independence:
4 October 1830 (a provisional government declares independence from
the Netherlands); 21 July 1831 (King Leopold I ascends to the throne)
National holiday:
21 July (1831) ascension to the Throne of King Leopold I
Constitution:
7 February 1831; amended many times; revised 14 July 1993 to create
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 Guy VERHOFSTADT (since 13 July
1999)
cabinet: Council of Ministers formally appointed by the monarch
elections: none; the monarchy is hereditary and constitutional;
following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or
the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed prime
minister by the monarch and then approved by parliament
note: government coalition - VLD, MR, PS, SP.A-Spirit
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament consists of a Senate or Senaat in Dutch, 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 Dutch,
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 18 May 2003
(next to be held no later than May 2007)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - SP.A-Spirit
15.5%, VLD 15.4%, CD & V 12.7%, PS 12.8%, MR 12.1%, VB 9.4%, CDH
5.6%; seats by party - SP.A-Spirit 7, VLD 7, CD & V 6, PS 6, MR 5,
VB 5, CDH 2, other 2 (note - there are also 31 indirectly elected
senators); Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - VLD
15.4%, SP.A-Spirit 14.9%, CD & V 13.3%, PS 13.0%, VB 11.6%, MR
11.4%, CDH 5.5%, Ecolo 3.1%; seats by party - VLD 25, SP.A-Spirit
23, CD & V 21, PS 25, VB 18, MR 24, CDH 8, Ecolo 4, other 2
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
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court of Justice or Hof van Cassatie (in Dutch) or Cour de
Cassation (in French) (judges are appointed for life by the
government; candidacies have to be submitted by the High Justice
Council)
Political parties and leaders:
Flemish parties: Christian Democrats and Flemish or CD & V [Jo
VANDEURZEN]; Flemish Liberal Democrats or VLD [Bart SOMERS]; GROEN!
(formerly AGALEV, Flemish Greens) [Vera DUA]; New Flemish Alliance
or NVA [Bart DE WEVER]; Social Progressive Alternative or SP.A
[Johan Vande LANOTTE]; Spirit [Geert LAMBERT] (new party now
associated with SP.A); Vlaams Belang (Flemish Interest) or VB [Frank
VANHECKE]
Francophone parties: Ecolo (Francophone Greens) [Jean-Michel JAVAUX,
Isabelle DURANT, Claude BROUIR]; Humanist and Democratic Center of
CDH [Joelle MILQUET]; National Front or FN [Daniel FERET]; Reform
Movement or MR [Didier REYNDERS]; Socialist Party or PS [Elio DI
RUPO]; other minor parties
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Christian, Socialist, and Liberal 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 Pax
Christi and groups representing immigrants
International organization participation:
ACCT, AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, Benelux, BIS, CE, CERN, EAPC,
EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 9, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF,
IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MONUC, NATO, NEA, NSG,
OAS (observer), OECD, OIF, ONUB, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, SECI
(observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNITAR, UNRWA,
UNTSO, UPU, WADB (nonregional), WCL, WCO, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO,
ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Franciskus VAN DAELE
chancery: 3330 Garfield Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 333-6900
FAX: [1] (202) 333-3079
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York
consulate(s): Atlanta
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Tom C. KOROLOGOS
embassy: Regentlaan 27 Boulevard du Regent, B-1000 Brussels
mailing address: PSC 82, Box 002, APO AE 09710
telephone: [32] (2) 508-2111
FAX: [32] (2) 511-2725
Flag description:
three equal vertical bands of black (hoist side), yellow, and red;
the design was based on the flag of France
Economy Belgium
Economy - overview:
This modern, 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. 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. Roughly
three-quarters of its trade is with other EU countries. Public debt
is nearly 100% of GDP. On the positive side, the government has
succeeded in balancing its budget, and income distribution is
relatively equal. Belgium began circulating the euro currency in
January 2002. Economic growth in 2001-03 dropped sharply because of
the global economic slowdown, with moderate recovery in 2004-05.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$322.3 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$350.3 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1.5% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$31,100 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1%
industry: 24%
services: 74.9% (2004 est.)
Labor force:
4.77 million (2005 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 1.3%
industry: 24.5%
services: 74.2% (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate:
8.4% (2005 est.)
Population below poverty line:
4% (1989 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.2%
highest 10%: 23% (1996)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
25 (1996)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.8% (2005 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
19.9% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $180.4 billion
expenditures: $180.5 billion; including capital expenditures of
$1.56 billion (2005 est.)
Public debt:
94.3% of GDP (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:
sugar beets, fresh vegetables, fruits, grain, tobacco; beef, veal,
pork, milk
Industries:
engineering and metal products, motor vehicle assembly,
transportation equipment, scientific instruments, processed food and
beverages, chemicals, basic metals, textiles, glass, petroleum
Industrial production growth rate:
-0.2% (2005 est.)
Electricity - production:
78.77 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 38.4%
hydro: 0.6%
nuclear: 59.3%
other: 1.8% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
79.66 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:
8.3 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:
14.7 billion kWh (2003)
Oil - production:
13,060 bbl/day (2003)
Oil - consumption:
624,200 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:
450,000 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:
1.042 million bbl/day (2001)
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
15.48 billion cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
15.4 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Current account balance:
$6.305 billion (2005 est.)
Exports:
$269.6 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, chemicals, diamonds, metals and metal
products, foodstuffs
Exports - partners:
Germany 19.4%, France 17.3%, Netherlands 11.7%, UK 8.2%, US 6.4%,
Italy 5.3% (2005)
Imports:
$264.5 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, chemicals, diamonds, pharmaceuticals,
foodstuffs, transportation equipment, oil products
Imports - partners:
Netherlands 17.8%, Germany 17.2%, France 11.4%, UK 6.8%, Ireland
6.5%, US 5.4% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$12 billion (2005 est.)
Debt - external:
$980.1 billion (30 June 2005 est.)
Economic aid - donor:
ODA, $1.072 billion (2002)
Currency (code):
euro (EUR)
note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced the
euro as a common currency to be used by financial institutions of
member countries; on 1 January 2002, the euro became the sole
currency for everyday transactions within the member countries
Currency code:
EUR
Exchange rates:
euros per US dollar - 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003),
1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 (2001)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Belgium
Telephones - main lines in use:
4.801 million (2004)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
9.46 million (2005)
Telephone system:
general assessment: 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: country code - 32; submarine cables - 5; satellite
earth stations - 7 (Intelsat - 3) (2005)
Radio broadcast stations:
FM 79, AM 7, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:
8.075 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
25 (plus 10 repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:
4.72 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.be
Internet hosts:
2,870,770 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
61 (2000)
Internet users:
5.1 million (2005)
Transportation Belgium
Airports:
43 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 25
over 3,047 m: 6
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 7 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 18
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 16 (2006)
Heliports:
1 (2006)
Pipelines:
gas 1,561 km; oil 158 km; refined products 535 km (2006)
Railways:
total: 3,521 km
standard gauge: 3,521 km 1.435-m gauge (2,927 km electrified) (2005)
Roadways:
total: 149,757 km
paved: 117,110 km (including 1,747 km of expressways)
unpaved: 32,647 km (2003)
Waterways:
2,043 km (1,528 km in regular commercial use) (2003)
Merchant marine:
total: 66 ships (1000 GRT or over) 3,952,159 GRT/6,521,645 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 19, cargo 4, chemical tanker 2, container 10,
liquefied gas 15, petroleum tanker 12, roll on/roll off 4
foreign-owned: 10 (Denmark 4, Greece 4, UK 2)
registered in other countries: 113 (Antigua and Barbuda 4, Bahamas
13, Bermuda 4, Cyprus 1, French Southern and Antarctic Lands 6,
Georgia 1, Gibraltar 2, Greece 12, Hong Kong 3, Luxembourg 9, Malta
10, Mozambique 2, Netherlands 2, Netherlands Antilles 4, Panama 11,
Portugal 8, Russia 4, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 3, Singapore
12, Sweden 2) (2006)
Ports and terminals:
Antwerp, Brussels, Gent, Liege, Oostende, Zeebrugge
Military Belgium
Military branches:
Belgian Armed Forces: Land, Naval, and Air Operations Commands
(2005)
Military service age and obligation:
16 years of age for voluntary military service; women comprise
approx. 7% of the Belgian armed forces (2001)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 2,436,736
females age 16-49: 2,369,463 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,998,003
females age 16-49: 1,940,918 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 64,263
females age 16-49: 61,402 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$3.999 billion (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.3% (2003)
Transnational Issues Belgium
Disputes - international:
none
Illicit drugs:
growing producer of synthetic drugs; transit point for US-bound
ecstasy; source of precursor chemicals for South American cocaine
processors; transshipment point for cocaine, heroin, hashish, and
marijuana entering Western Europe; despite a strengthening of
legislation, the country remains vulnerable to money laundering
related to narcotics, automobiles, alcohol, and tobacco
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
======================================================================
@Belize
Introduction Belize
Background:
Belize was the site of several Mayan city states until their
decline at the end of the first millennium A.D. The British and
Spanish disputed the region in the 17th and 18th centuries; it
formally became the colony of British Honduras in 1854. Territorial
disputes between the UK and Guatemala delayed the independence of
Belize until 1981. Guatemala refused to recognize the new nation
until 1992. Tourism has become the mainstay of the economy. Current
concerns include high unemployment, growing involvement in the South
American drug trade, and increasing urban crime.
Geography Belize
Location:
Central 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: 22,966 sq km
land: 22,806 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:
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
negotiating a definitive agreement on territorial differences with
Guatemala
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical; very hot and humid; rainy season (May to November); dry
season (February to May)
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, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 3.05%
permanent crops: 1.39%
other: 95.56% (2005)
Irrigated land:
30 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:
frequent, devastating hurricanes (June to November) and coastal
flooding (especially in south)
Environment - current issues:
deforestation; water pollution from sewage, industrial effluents,
agricultural runoff; solid and sewage waste disposal
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law
of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
only country in Central America without a coastline on the North
Pacific Ocean
People Belize
Population:
287,730 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 39.5% (male 57,923/female 55,678)
15-64 years: 57% (male 82,960/female 81,046)
65 years and over: 3.5% (male 4,888/female 5,235) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 19.6 years
male: 19.5 years
female: 19.8 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.31% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
28.84 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
5.72 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.93 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 24.89 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 28.07 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 21.55 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 68.3 years
male: 66.43 years
female: 70.26 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.6 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
2.4% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
3,600 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 200 (2003 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Belizean(s)
adjective: Belizean
Ethnic groups:
mestizo 48.7%, Creole 24.9%, Maya 10.6%, Garifuna 6.1%, other 9.7%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 49.6%, Protestant 27% (Pentecostal 7.4%, Anglican
5.3%, Seventh-Day Adventist 5.2%, Mennonite 4.1%, Methodist 3.5%,
Jehovah's Witnesses 1.5%), other 14%, none 9.4% (2000)
Languages:
English (official), Spanish, Mayan, Garifuna (Carib), Creole
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 94.1%
male: 94.1%
female: 94.1% (2003 est.)
Government Belize
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Belize
former: British Honduras
Government type:
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
name: Belmopan
geographic coordinates: 17 15 N, 88 46 W
time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC during Standard
Time)
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, Sr. (since 17
November 1993)
head of government: Prime Minister Said Wilbert MUSA (since 28
August 1998); Deputy Prime Minister John BRICENO (since 1 September
1998)
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; following legislative elections, the
leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition
is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; prime
minister recommends the deputy prime minister
Legislative branch:
bicameral National Assembly consists of the Senate (12 members
appointed by the governor general - 6 on the advice of the prime
minister, 3 on the advice of the leader of the opposition, and 1
each on the advice of the Belize Council of Churches and Evangelical
Association of Churches, the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry
and the Belize Better Business Bureau, and the National Trade Union
Congress and the Civil Society Steering Committee; members are
appointed for five-year terms) and the House of Representatives (29
seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year
terms)
elections: House of Representatives - last held 5 March 2003 (next
to be held March 2008)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
PUP 21, UDP 8
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (the chief justice is appointed by the governor
general on the advice of the prime minister)
Political parties and leaders:
People's United Party or PUP [Said MUSA]; United Democratic Party
or UDP [Dean BARROW, party leader; Douglas SINGH, party chairman]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Society for the Promotion of Education and Research or SPEAR [Adele
CATZIM]
International organization participation:
ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt,
ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC,
IOM, ITU, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Lisa M. SHOMAN
chancery: 2535 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 332-9636
FAX: [1] (202) 332-6888
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Robert J. DIETER
embassy: 29 Gabourel Lane, Belize City
mailing address: P. O. Box 286, Belize City
telephone: [501] 227-7161 through 7163
FAX: [501] 223-0802
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 Belize
Economy - overview:
In this small, essentially private-enterprise economy the tourism
industry is the number one foreign exchange earner followed by
marine products, citrus, cane sugar, bananas, and garments. The
government's expansionary monetary and fiscal policies, initiated in
September 1998, led to sturdy GDP growth averaging nearly 5% in
1999-2005. Major concerns continue to be the sizable trade deficit
and foreign debt. A key short-term objective remains the reduction
of poverty with the help of international donors.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$1.778 billion (2004 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$908 million (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.8% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$6,800 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 14.2%
industry: 15.2%
services: 61.2% (2004 est.)
Labor force:
90,000
note: shortage of skilled labor and all types of technical personnel
(2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 27%
industry: 18%
services: 55% (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate:
12.9% (2003)
Population below poverty line:
33% (1999 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3% (2005 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
17.8% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $262 million
expenditures: $329 million; including capital expenditures of $70
million (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:
bananas, coca, citrus, sugar; fish, cultured shrimp; lumber;
garments
Industries:
garment production, food processing, tourism, construction
Industrial production growth rate:
4.6% (1999)
Electricity - production:
120 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 59.9%
hydro: 40.1%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
111.6 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2003)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2003)
Oil - consumption:
6,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Current account balance:
$-180 million (2005 est.)
Exports:
$349.9 million f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:
sugar, bananas, citrus, clothing, fish products, molasses, wood
Exports - partners:
US 30.6%, UK 25%, France 4.8% (2005)
Imports:
$622.4 million f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods; fuels,
chemicals, pharmaceuticals; food, beverages, tobacco
Imports - partners:
US 31%, Mexico 11.6%, Russia 8.8%, Cuba 6%, Guatemala 5.6%, China
4.6%, Spain 4.4% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$87 million (2005 est.)
Debt - external:
$1.362 billion (June 2004 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$NA
Currency (code):
Belizean dollar (BZD)
Currency code:
BZD
Exchange rates:
Belizean dollars per US dollar - 2 (2005), 2 (2004), 2 (2003), 2
(2002), 2 (2001)
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
Communications Belize
Telephones - main lines in use:
33,300 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
93,100 (2005)
Telephone system:
general assessment: above-average system
domestic: trunk network depends primarily on microwave radio relay
international: country code - 501; satellite earth station - 8
(Intelsat - 2, unknown - 6) (2005)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 12, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
133,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
2 (1997)
Televisions:
41,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.bz
Internet hosts:
3,905 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
2 (2000)
Internet users:
35,000 (2005)
Transportation Belize
Airports:
43 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 38
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 26 (2006)
Roadways:
total: 2,872 km
paved: 488 km
unpaved: 2,384 km (1999)
Waterways:
825 km (navigable only by small craft) (2005)
Merchant marine:
total: 285 ships (1000 GRT or over) 985,464 GRT/1,322,629 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 36, cargo 203, chemical tanker 7, container 4,
passenger/cargo 3, petroleum tanker 13, refrigerated cargo 12, roll
on/roll off 6, specialized tanker 1
foreign-owned: 225 (China 103, Croatia 1, Cyprus 2, Estonia 3,
Germany 3, Greece 2, Hong Kong 8, Iceland 2, Indonesia 2, Italy 4,
Japan 2, North Korea 2, South Korea 4, Latvia 6, Lithuania 1,
Malaysia 1, Mexico 1, Norway 2, Poland 2, Russia 36, Singapore 6,
Spain 3, Switzerland 1, Turkey 11, UAE 5, Ukraine 7, US 5) (2006)
Ports and terminals:
Belize City
Military Belize
Military branches:
Belize Defense Force (BDF): Army, Maritime Wing, Air Wing, and
Volunteer Guard
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service; laws allow for
conscription only if volunteers are insufficient; conscription has
never been implemented; volunteers typically outnumber available
positions by 3:1 (2001)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 61,201
females age 18-49: 60,048 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 44,238
females age 18-49: 43,633 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 3,213
females age 18-49: 3,100 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$19 million (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.7% (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues Belize
Disputes - international:
Guatemalan squatters continue to settle in the largely uninhabited
rain forests of Belize's border region; OAS seeks to revive the 2002
failed Belize-Guatemala Differendum that created a small adjustment
to land boundary, a Guatemalan maritime corridor in Caribbean, joint
ecological park for disputed Sapodilla Cays, and substantial US-UK
financial package
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Belize is a source, transit, and destination
country for men, women, and children trafficked for the purposes of
labor and sexual exploitation; women and girls are trafficked mainly
from Central America, and exploited in prostitution; children are
trafficked to Belize for labor exploitation; Belize's largely
unmonitored borders with Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico facilitate
the movement of illegal migrants who are vulnerable to traffickers;
girls are trafficked within the country for sexual exploitation,
sometimes with the consent and complicity of their close relatives;
there are unconfirmed reports that Indian and Chinese migrants are
trafficked for involuntary servitude in homes and shops
tier rating: Tier 3 - Belize has failed to show evidence of
significant law enforcement or victim protection efforts
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for cocaine; small-scale illicit producer of
cannabis for the international drug trade; money-laundering activity
related to narcotics trafficking and offshore sector
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
======================================================================
@Benin
Introduction Benin
Background:
Present day Benin was the site of Dahomey, a prominent West African
kingdom that rose in the 15th century. The territory became a French
Colony in 1872 and achieved independence on 1 August 1960, as the
Republic of Benin. A succession of military governments ended in
1972 with the rise to power of Mathieu KEREKOU and the establishment
of a government based on Marxist-Leninist principles. A move to
representative government began in 1989. Two years later, free
elections ushered in former Prime Minister Nicephore SOGLO as
president, marking the first successful transfer of power in Africa
from a dictatorship to a democracy. KEREKOU was returned to power by
elections held in 1996 and 2001, though some irregularities were
alleged.
Geography Benin
Location:
Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, 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: 23.53%
permanent crops: 2.37%
other: 74.1% (2005)
Irrigated land:
120 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:
hot, dry, dusty harmattan wind may affect north from December to
March
Environment - current issues:
inadequate supplies of potable water; poaching threatens wildlife
populations; deforestation; desertification
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
sandbanks create difficult access to a coast with no natural
harbors, river mouths, or islands
People Benin
Population:
7,862,944
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the
effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower
life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower
population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 44.1% (male 1,751,709/female 1,719,138)
15-64 years: 53.5% (male 2,067,248/female 2,138,957)
65 years and over: 2.4% (male 75,694/female 110,198) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 17.6 years
male: 17.2 years
female: 18 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.73% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
38.85 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
12.22 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
0.67 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 79.56 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 84.09 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 74.88 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 53.04 years
male: 51.9 years
female: 54.22 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
5.2 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
1.9% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
68,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
5,800 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria, yellow fever, and others are high
risks in some locations
respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis (2005)
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 50%, Christian 30%, Muslim 20%
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: 33.6%
male: 46.4%
female: 22.6% (2002 est.)
Government Benin
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Benin
conventional short form: Benin
local long form: Republique du Benin
local short form: Benin
former: Dahomey
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Porto-Novo (official capital)
geographic coordinates: 6 29 N, 2 37 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
note: Cotonou (seat of government)
Administrative divisions:
12 departments; Alibori, Atakora, Atlantique, Borgou, Collines,
Kouffo, Donga, Littoral, Mono, Oueme, Plateau, Zou
Independence:
1 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday:
National Day, 1 August (1960)
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 YAYI Boni (since 6 April 2006); note -
the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President YAYI Boni (since 6 April 2006)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president reelected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); runoff election held 19 March 2006
(next to be held March 2011)
election results: YAYI Boni elected president; percent of vote -
YAYI Boni 74.5%, Adrien HOUNGBEDJI 25.5%
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 30 March 2003 (next to be held March 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
Presidential Movement (UBF, MADEP, FC, Alliance MDC-PC-CPP, IPD,
AFP, MDS, RDP) 52, opposition (PRB, PRD, E'toile, and 5 other small
parties) 31
Judicial branch:
Constitutional Court or Cour Constitutionnelle; Supreme Court or
Cour Supreme; High Court of Justice
Political parties and leaders:
Alliance of Progress Forces or AFP; African Movement for Democracy
and Progress or MADEP [Sefou FAGBOHOUN]; Democratic Renewal Party or
PRD [Adrien HOUNGBEDJI]; Impulse for Progress and Democracy or IPD;
Key Force or FC; Movement for Development and Solidarity or MDS;
Movement for Development by the Culture-Salute Party-Congress of
People for Progress Alliance or Alliance MDC-PS-CPP; New Alliance or
NA; Rally for Democracy and Progress or RDP; Renaissance Party du
Benin or RB [Nicephore SOGLO]; The Star Alliance (Alliance E'toile)
[Sacca LAFIA]; Union of Tomorrow's Benin or UBF [Bruno AMOUSSOU]
note: approximately 20 additional minor parties
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, MONUC, NAM,
OIC, OIF, ONUB, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS,
UNOCI, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Cyrille Segbe OGUIN
chancery: 2124 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 232-6656
FAX: [1] (202) 265-1996
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Wayne NEILL
embassy: Rue Caporal Bernard Anani, Cotonou
mailing address: 01 B. P. 2012, Cotonou
telephone: [229] 30-06-50
FAX: [229] 30-06-70
Flag description:
two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and red (bottom) with a
vertical green band on the hoist side
Economy Benin
Economy - overview:
The economy of Benin remains underdeveloped and dependent on
subsistence agriculture, cotton production, and regional trade.
Growth in real output has averaged around 5% in the past six years,
but rapid population growth has offset much of this increase.
Inflation has subsided over the past several years. In order to
raise growth still further, Benin plans to attract more foreign
investment, place more emphasis on tourism, facilitate the
development of new food processing systems and agricultural
products, and encourage new information and communication
technology. Many of these proposals are included in Benin's
application to receive Millennium Challenge Account funding - for
which it was a finalist in 2004-05. The 2001 privatization policy
continues in telecommunications, water, electricity, and agriculture
in spite of government reluctance. The Paris Club and bilateral
creditors have eased the external debt situation, with Benin
benefiting from a G8 debt reduction announced in July 2005, while
pressing for more rapid structural reforms. Benin continues to be
hurt by Nigerian trade protection that bans imports of a growing
list of products from Benin and elsewhere, which has resulted in
increased smuggling and criminality in the border region.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$8.419 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$4.34 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.5% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$1,100 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 31.6%
industry: 13.8%
services: 54.6% (2004 est.)
Labor force:
3.211 million
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Population below poverty line:
33% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.5% (2005 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
19.9% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $766.8 million
expenditures: $1.017 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:
cotton, corn, cassava (tapioca), yams, beans, palm oil, peanuts;
livestock
Industries:
textiles, food processing, construction materials, cement
Industrial production growth rate:
8.3% (2001 est.)
Electricity - production:
69 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 14.2%
hydro: 85.8%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
538.2 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:
474 million kWh (2003)
Oil - production:
400 bbl/day (2003)
Oil - consumption:
12,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day
Oil - proved reserves:
4.105 million bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
1.218 billion cu m (1 January 2002)
Current account balance:
$-400 million (2005 est.)
Exports:
$826.9 million f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:
cotton, crude oil, palm products, cocoa
Exports - partners:
China 31.3%, Indonesia 8.1%, India 7.4%, Niger 6%, Togo 4.8%,
Thailand 4.8%, Nigeria 4.6% (2005)
Imports:
$1.043 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, capital goods, petroleum products
Imports - partners:
France 21.8%, Ghana 7.1%, Cote d'Ivoire 7%, China 6.7%, UK 5.2%,
Belgium 4.9%, Togo 4.5%, Thailand 4.2%, Nigeria 4% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$676 million (2005 est.)
Debt - external:
$1.6 billion (2000)
Economic aid - recipient:
$342.6 million (2000)
Currency (code):
Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note - responsible
authority is the Central Bank of the West African States
Currency code:
XOF
Exchange rates:
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 527.47
(2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99 (2002), 733.04 (2001)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Benin
Telephones - main lines in use:
76,300 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
386,700 (2005)
Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: fair system of open-wire, microwave radio relay, and
cellular connections
international: country code - 229; satellite earth station - 7
(Intelsat-Atlantic Ocean); fiber optic submarine cable (SAT-3/WASC)
provides connectivity to Europe and Asia
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 4 (2000)
Radios:
660,000 (2000)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (2001)
Televisions:
66,000 (2000)
Internet country code:
.bj
Internet hosts:
867 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
4 (2002)
Internet users:
425,000 (2005)
Transportation Benin
Airports:
5 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2006)
Railways:
total: 578 km
narrow gauge: 578 km 1.000-m gauge (2005)
Roadways:
total: 16,000 km
paved: 1,400 km
unpaved: 14,600 km (2005)
Waterways:
150 km (on River Niger along northern border) (2005)
Ports and terminals:
Cotonou
Military Benin
Military branches:
Army, Navy, Air Force
Military service age and obligation:
21 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; in
practice, volunteers may be taken at the age of 18; both sexes are
eligible for military service; conscript tour of duty - 18 months
(2004)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 21-49: 1,295,230
females age 21-49: 1,301,936 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 21-49: 749,774
females age 21-49: 751,329 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 76,661
females: 75,068 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$100.9 million (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
2.3% (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues Benin
Disputes - international:
Benin and Burkina Faso military clash in 2006 over sections of
riverine boundary involving disputed villages and squatters; much of
Benin-Niger boundary, including tripoint with Nigeria, remains
undemarcated; in 2005, Nigeria ceded thirteen villages to Benin as a
consequence of a 2004 joint task force to resolve maritime and land
boundary disputes, but clashes among rival gangs along the border
persist; a joint boundary commission continues to resurvey the
boundary with Togo to verify Benin's claim that Togo moved boundary
stones
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for narcotics associated with Nigerian
trafficking organizations and most commonly destined for Western
Europe and the US; vulnerable to money laundering due to a poorly
regulated financial infrastructure
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
======================================================================
@Bermuda
Introduction Bermuda
Background:
Bermuda was first settled in 1609 by shipwrecked English colonists
headed for Virginia. Tourism to the island to escape North American
winters first developed in Victorian times. Tourism continues to be
important to the island's economy, although international business
has overtaken it in recent years. Bermuda has developed into a
highly successful offshore financial center. Although a referendum
on independence from the UK was soundly defeated in 1995, the
present government has reopened debate on the issue.
Geography Bermuda
Location:
North America, group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, east
of South Carolina (US)
Geographic coordinates:
32 20 N, 64 45 W
Map references:
North America
Area:
total: 53.3 sq km
land: 53.3 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
about one-third the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
103 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 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: 20%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 80% (55% developed, 45% rural/open space) (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Natural hazards:
hurricanes (June to November)
Environment - current issues:
sustainable development
Geography - note:
consists of about 138 coral islands and islets with ample rainfall,
but no rivers or freshwater lakes; some land was leased by US
Government from 1941 to 1995
People Bermuda
Population:
65,773 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 18.6% (male 6,146/female 6,098)
15-64 years: 69.2% (male 22,562/female 22,954)
65 years and over: 12.2% (male 3,479/female 4,534) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 40.2 years
male: 39.3 years
female: 41 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.61% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
11.4 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
7.74 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
2.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 8.3 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 9.85 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 6.73 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.96 years
male: 75.85 years
female: 80.1 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.89 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.297% (2005)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
163 (2005)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
392 (2005)
Nationality:
noun: Bermudian(s)
adjective: Bermudian
Ethnic groups:
black 54.8%, white 34.1%, mixed 6.4%, other races 4.3%, unspecified
0.4% (2000 census)
Religions:
Anglican 23%, Roman Catholic 15%, African Methodist Episcopal 11%,
other Protestant 18%, other 12%, unaffiliated 6%, unspecified 1%,
none 14% (2000 census)
Languages:
English (official), Portuguese
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98%
male: 98%
female: 99% (2005 est.)
Government Bermuda
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Bermuda
former: Somers Islands
Dependency status:
overseas territory of the UK
Government type:
parliamentary; self-governing territory
Capital:
name: Hamilton
geographic coordinates: 32 17 N, 64 46 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins first Sunday in April; ends last
Sunday in October
Administrative divisions:
9 parishes and 2 municipalities*; Devonshire, Hamilton, Hamilton*,
Paget, Pembroke, Saint George*, Saint George's, Sandys, Smith's,
Southampton, Warwick
Independence:
none (overseas territory of the UK)
National holiday:
Bermuda Day, 24 May
Constitution:
8 June 1968; amended 1989 and 2003
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 Sir John VEREKER (since 11 April 2002)
head of government: Premier Ewart BROWN (since 30 October 2006);
Deputy Premier Paula COX
cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the premier, appointed by the governor
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by
the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the
majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually
appointed premier by the governor
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (an 11-member body
appointed by the governor, the premier, and the opposition) and the
House of Assembly (36 seats; members are elected by popular vote to
serve up to five-year terms)
elections: last general election held 24 July 2003 (next to be held
not later than July 2008)
election results: percent of vote by party - PLP 51.7%, UBP 48%;
seats by party - PLP 22, UBP 14
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; Magistrate Courts
Political parties and leaders:
Progressive Labor Party or PLP [Ewart BROWN]; United Bermuda Party
or UBP [Wayne FURBERT]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Bermuda Employer's Union [Eddie SAINTS]; Bermuda Industrial Union
or BIU [Derrick BURGESS]; Bermuda Public Services Union or BPSU [Ed
BALL]; Bermuda Union of Teachers [Michael CHARLES]
International organization participation:
Caricom (associate), ICFTU, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, UPU, WCO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Consul General Gregory W. SLAYTON
consulate(s) general: Crown Hill, 16 Middle Road, Devonshire DVO3
mailing address: P. O. Box HM325, Hamilton HMBX; American Consulate
General Hamilton, US Department of State, 5300 Hamilton Place,
Washington, DC 20520-5300
telephone: [1] (441) 295-1342
FAX: [1] (441) 295-1592, [1] (441) 296-9233
Flag description:
red, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and
the Bermudian coat of arms (white and green 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 Bermuda
Economy - overview:
Bermuda enjoys the highest per capita income in the world, more
than 50% higher than that of the US. Its economy is primarily based
on providing financial services for international business and
luxury facilities for tourists. A number of reinsurance companies
relocated to the island following 11 September 2001 and again after
Hurricane Katrina, contributing to the expansion of an already
robust international business sector. Bermuda's tourism industry -
which derives over 80% of its visitors from the US - continues to
struggle but remains the island's number two industry. Most capital
equipment and food must be imported. Bermuda's industrial sector is
small, although construction continues to be important; the average
cost of a house in June 2003 had risen to $976,000. Agriculture is
limited with only 20% of the land being arable.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$4.5 billion (2004 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
NA
GDP - real growth rate:
4.6% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$69,900 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1%
industry: 10%
services: 89% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
38,360 (2004)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture and fishing 3%, laborers 17%, clerical 19%,
professional and technical 21%, administrative and managerial 15%,
sales 7%, services 19% (2004 est.)
Unemployment rate:
2.1% (2004 est.)
Population below poverty line:
19% (2000)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.8% (November 2005)
Budget:
revenues: $738 million
expenditures: $665 million (FY04/05)
Agriculture - products:
bananas, vegetables, citrus, flowers; dairy products, honey
Industries:
international business, tourism, light manufacturing
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
682.5 million kWh (2005)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
616.7 million kWh (2005)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2005)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2005)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2003)
Oil - consumption:
4,658 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Exports:
$1.469 billion (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:
reexports of pharmaceuticals
Exports - partners:
France 65.6%, Spain 11.7%, US 4.5% (2005)
Imports:
$982 million (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:
clothing, fuels, machinery and transport equipment, construction
materials, chemicals, food and live animals
Imports - partners:
Kazakhstan 51%, France 19%, South Korea 10.2%, US 7.6% (2005)
Debt - external:
$160 million (FY99/00)
Economic aid - recipient:
$NA
Currency (code):
Bermudian dollar (BMD)
Currency code:
BMD
Exchange rates:
Bermudian dollar per US dollar - 1.0000 (fixed rate pegged to the
US dollar)
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
Communications Bermuda
Telephones - main lines in use:
56,000 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
49,000 (2004)
Telephone system:
general assessment: good
domestic: fully automatic digital telephone system; fiber optic
trunk lines
international: country code - 1-441; submarine cables - 3 (fiber
optic); satellite earth stations - 3 (2005)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 5, FM 3, shortwave 0 (2005)
Radios:
82,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
3 (2005)
Televisions:
66,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.bm
Internet hosts:
8,114 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
20 (2000)
Internet users:
39,000 (2005)
Transportation Bermuda
Airports:
1 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2006)
Roadways:
total: 447 km
paved: 447 km
note: public roads - 225 km; private roads - 222 km (2002)
Merchant marine:
total: 132 ships (1000 GRT or over) 7,873,728 GRT/8,688,692 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 25, cargo 1, container 24, liquefied gas 23,
passenger 19, passenger/cargo 6, petroleum tanker 16, refrigerated
cargo 13, roll on/roll off 5
foreign-owned: 116 (Australia 3, Belgium 4, France 1, Germany 21,
Greece 2, Hong Kong 10, Indonesia 1, Ireland 1, Israel 3, Monaco 2,
Nigeria 11, Norway 5, Sweden 14, Switzerland 2, UK 9, US 27)
registered in other countries: 6 (Liberia 1, Marshall Islands 4,
Panama 1) (2006)
Ports and terminals:
Hamilton, Saint George
Military Bermuda
Military branches:
no regular military forces
Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 15,151 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 12,165 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 408 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$4.03 million (2001)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
0.11% (FY00/01)
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues Bermuda
Disputes - international:
none
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
======================================================================
@Bhutan
Introduction Bhutan
Background:
In 1865, Britain and Bhutan signed the Treaty of Sinchulu, under
which Bhutan would receive an annual subsidy in exchange for ceding
some border land to British India. Under British influence, a
monarchy was set up in 1907; three years later, a treaty was signed
whereby the British agreed not to interfere in Bhutanese internal
affairs and Bhutan allowed Britain to direct its foreign affairs.
This role was assumed by independent India after 1947. Two years
later, a formal Indo-Bhutanese accord returned the areas of Bhutan
annexed by the British, formalized the annual subsidies the country
received, and defined India's responsibilities in defense and
foreign relations. A refugee issue of some 100,000 Bhutanese in
Nepal remains unresolved; 90% of the refugees are housed in seven
United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
camps. In March 2005, King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK unveiled the
government's draft constitution - which would introduce major
democratic reforms - and pledged to hold a national referendum for
its approval. A referendum date has yet to be named.
Geography Bhutan
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 carbonate
Land use:
arable land: 2.3%
permanent crops: 0.43%
other: 97.27% (2005)
Irrigated land:
400 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:
violent storms 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, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:
landlocked; strategic location between China and India; controls
several key Himalayan mountain passes
People Bhutan
Population:
2,279,723
note: other estimates range as low as 810,000 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 38.9% (male 458,801/female 426,947)
15-64 years: 57.1% (male 671,057/female 631,078)
65 years and over: 4% (male 46,217/female 45,623) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 20.4 years
male: 20.2 years
female: 20.6 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.1% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
33.65 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
12.7 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.01 male(s)/female
total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 98.41 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 96.14 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 100.79 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 54.78 years
male: 55.02 years
female: 54.53 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.74 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
less than 100 (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Bhutanese (singular and plural)
adjective: Bhutanese
Ethnic groups:
Bhote 50%, ethnic Nepalese 35% (includes Lhotsampas - one of
several Nepalese ethnic groups), indigenous or migrant tribes 15%
Religions:
Lamaistic Buddhist 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: 47%
male: 60%
female: 34% (2003 est.)
Government Bhutan
Country name:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Bhutan
conventional short form: Bhutan
local long form: Druk Gyalkhap
local short form: Druk Yul
Government type:
monarchy; special treaty relationship with India
Capital:
name: Thimphu
geographic coordinates: 27 28 N, 89 39 E
time difference: UTC+6 (11 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
18 districts (dzongkhag, singular and plural); Bumthang, Chhukha,
Chirang, Dagana, Geylegphug, Ha, Lhuntshi, Mongar, Paro, Pemagatsel,
Punakha, Samchi, Samdrup Jongkhar, Shemgang, Tashigang, Thimphu,
Tongsa, Wangdi Phodrang
note: there may be two new districts named Gasa and Yangtse
Independence:
8 August 1949 (from India)
National holiday:
National Day (Ugyen WANGCHUCK became first hereditary king), 17
December (1907)
Constitution:
no written constitution or bill of rights; note - in 2001, the king
commissioned the drafting of a constitution, and in March 2005
publicly unveiled it; is awaiting national referendum
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; note - in late
2003 Bhutan's legislature passed a new election law
Executive branch:
chief of state: King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK (since 24 July 1972)
head of government: Chairman of the Council of Ministers Sangay
NGEDUP (since 5 September 2005)
cabinet: Council of Ministers (Lhengye Shungtsog) nominated by the
monarch, approved by the National Assembly; members serve fixed,
five-year terms; note - there is also a Royal Advisory Council
(Lodoi Tsokde), members nominated by the monarch
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary, but democratic reforms
in July 1998 grant the National Assembly authority to remove the
monarch with two-thirds vote
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: local elections last held August 2005 (next to be held in
2008)
election results: NA
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court of Appeal (the monarch); High Court (judges appointed
by the monarch)
Political parties and leaders:
no legal parties
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Buddhist clergy; ethnic Nepalese organizations leading militant
antigovernment campaign; Indian merchant community; United Front for
Democracy (exiled)
International organization participation:
AsDB, BIMSTEC, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IMF,
Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OPCW,
SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WToO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none; note - Bhutan has a Permanent Mission to the UN; address: 2
United Nations Plaza, 27th Floor, New York, NY 10017; telephone [1]
(212) 826-1919; FAX [1] (212) 826-2998; the 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 Bhutan
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 more than 90% of the population. 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 and dependence on India's
financial assistance. 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. Model education, social, and environment
programs 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. For example, the government, in its cautious
expansion of the tourist sector, encourages visits by upscale,
environmentally conscientious tourists. Detailed controls and
uncertain policies in areas like industrial licensing, trade, labor,
and finance continue to hamper foreign investment.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$2.9 billion (2003 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$840.5 million
GDP - real growth rate:
5.9% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$1,400 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 25.8%
industry: 37.9%
services: 36.3% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
NA
note: major shortage of skilled labor
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 93%
industry: 2%
services: 5%
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
7% (2005 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $346.6 million
expenditures: including capital expenditures of $NA
note: the government of India finances nearly three-fifths of
Bhutan's budget expenditures (FY95/96 est.)
Public debt:
81.4% of GDP
Agriculture - products:
rice, corn, root crops, citrus, foodgrains; dairy products, eggs
Industries:
cement, wood products, processed fruits, alcoholic beverages,
calcium carbide
Industrial production growth rate:
9.3% (1996 est.)
Electricity - production:
1.882 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 0.1%
hydro: 99.9%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
250.3 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:
1.51 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:
10 million kWh (2003)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2003)
Oil - consumption:
1,100 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Exports:
$154 million f.o.b. (2000 est.)
Exports - commodities:
electricity (to India), cardamom, gypsum, timber, handicrafts,
cement, fruit, precious stones, spices
Exports - partners:
Japan 33.2%, Germany 13.6%, France 13.5%, South Korea 7.8%, US
7.7%, Thailand 5.8%, Italy 5.1% (2005)
Imports:
$196 million c.i.f. (2000 est.)
Imports - commodities:
fuel and lubricants, grain, machinery and parts, vehicles, fabrics,
rice
Imports - partners:
Hong Kong 68.4%, Mexico 20.8%, France 3.9% (2005)
Debt - external:
$593 million (2004)
Economic aid - recipient:
$78 million substantial aid from India and other nations
Currency (code):
ngultrum (BTN); Indian rupee (INR)
Currency code:
BTN; INR
Exchange rates:
ngultrum per US dollar - 44.101 (2005), 45.317 (2004), 46.583
(2003), 48.61 (2002), 47.186 (2001)
Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June
Communications Bhutan
Telephones - main lines in use:
32,700 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
37,800 (2005)
Telephone system:
general assessment: telecommunications facilities are poor
domestic: very low teledensity; domestic service is very poor
especially in rural areas; wireless service available since 2003
international: country code - 975; international telephone and
telegraph service via landline and microwave relay through India;
satellite earth station - 1 (2005)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 0, FM 9, shortwave 1 (2006)
Radios:
37,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (2006)
Televisions:
11,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.bt
Internet hosts:
7,567 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
NA
Internet users:
25,000 (2005)
Transportation Bhutan
Airports:
2 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)
Roadways:
total: 8,050 km
paved: 4,991 km
unpaved: 3,059 km (2003)
Military Bhutan
Military branches:
Royal Bhutan Army: Royal Bodyguard, Royal Bhutan Police (2005)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription
(2001)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 483,860
females age 18-49: 453,683 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 314,975
females age 18-49: 296,833 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 23,939
females age 18-49: 21,979 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$8.29 million (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1% (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues Bhutan
Disputes - international:
approximately 105,000 Bhutanese have lived decades as refugees in
Nepal, 90% of whom reside in seven UN Office of the High
Commissioner for Refugees camps; Bhutan cooperates with India to
expel Indian separatists
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
======================================================================
@Bolivia
Introduction Bolivia
Background:
Bolivia, named after independence fighter Simon BOLIVAR, broke away
from Spanish rule in 1825; much of its subsequent history has
consisted of a series of nearly 200 coups and countercoups.
Democratic civilian rule was established in 1982, but leaders have
faced difficult problems of deep-seated poverty, social unrest, and
illegal drug production. In December 2005, Bolivians elected
Movement Toward Socialism leader Evo MORALES president - by the
widest margin of any leader since the restoration of civilian rule
in 1982 - after he ran on a promise to change the country's
traditional political class and empower the nation's poor majority.
However, since taking office, his controversial strategies have
exacerbated racial and economic tensions between the Amerindian
populations of the Andean west and the non-indigenous communities of
the eastern lowlands.
Geography Bolivia
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, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 2.78%
permanent crops: 0.19%
other: 97.03% (2005)
Irrigated land:
1,320 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:
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, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law
of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, 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 Bolivia
Population:
8,989,046 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 35% (male 1,603,982/female 1,542,319)
15-64 years: 60.4% (male 2,660,806/female 2,771,807)
65 years and over: 4.6% (male 182,412/female 227,720) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 21.8 years
male: 21.2 years
female: 22.5 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.45% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
23.3 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
7.53 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
-1.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.8 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 51.77 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 55.31 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 48.05 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 65.84 years
male: 63.21 years
female: 68.61 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.85 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
4,900 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 500 (2003 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Bolivian(s)
adjective: Bolivian
Ethnic groups:
Quechua 30%, mestizo (mixed white and Amerindian ancestry) 30%,
Aymara 25%, white 15%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 95%, Protestant (Evangelical Methodist) 5%
Languages:
Spanish (official), Quechua (official), Aymara (official)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 87.2%
male: 93.1%
female: 81.6% (2003 est.)
Government Bolivia
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Bolivia
conventional short form: Bolivia
local long form: Republica de Bolivia
local short form: Bolivia
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: La Paz (adminstrative capital)
geographic coordinates: 16 30 S, 68 09 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
note: Sucre (constitutional capital)
Administrative divisions:
9 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Beni,
Chuquisaca, Cochabamba, 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 Juan Evo MORALES Ayma (since 22 January
2006); Vice President Alvaro GARCIA Linera (since 22 January 2006);
note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Juan Evo MORALES Ayma (since 22
January 2006); Vice President Alvaro GARCIA Linera (since 22 January
2006); note - the president is both 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 a single five-year term; election last held 18
December 2005 (next to be held in 2010)
election results: Juan Evo MORALES Ayma elected president; percent
of vote - Juan Evo MORALES Ayma 53.7%; Jorge Fernando QUIROGA
Ramirez 28.6%; Samuel DORIA MEDINA Arana 7.8%; Michiaki NAGATANI
Morishit 6.5%; Felipe QUISPE Huanca 2.2%; Guildo ANGULA Cabrera 0.7%
Legislative branch:
bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of
Chamber of Senators or Camara de Senadores (27 seats; members are
elected by proportional representation from party lists to serve
five-year terms) and Chamber of Deputies or Camara de Diputados (130
seats; 69 are directly elected from their districts and 61 are
elected by proportional representation from party lists to serve
five-year terms)
elections: Chamber of Senators and Chamber of Deputies - last held
18 December 2005 (next to be held in 2010)
election results: Chamber of Senators - percent of vote by party -
NA%; seats by party - PODEMOS 13, MAS 12, UN 1, MNR 1; Chamber of
Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - MAS 73,
PODEMOS 43, UN 8, MNR 6
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (judges appointed for 10-year terms
by National Congress); District Courts (one in each department);
provincial and local courts (to try minor cases)
Political parties and leaders:
Bolivian Socialist Falange or FSB [Romel PANTOJA]; Civic Solidarity
Union or UCS [Johnny FERNANDEZ]; Free Bolivia Movement or MBL [Franz
BARRIOS]; Marshal of Ayacucho Institutional Vanguard or VIMA [Freddy
ZABALA]; Movement of the Revolutionary Left or MIR [Jaime PAZ
Zamora]; Movement Toward Socialism or MAS [Juan Evo MORALES Ayma];
Movement Without Fear or MSM [Juan DEL GRANADO]; National
Revolutionary Movement or MNR [Gonzalo SANCHEZ DE LOZADA]; New
Republican Force or NFR [Manfred REYES-VILLA]; Pachakuti Indigenous
Movement or MIP [Felipe QUISPE Huanca]; Poder Democratico Nacional
or PODEMOS [Jorge Fernando QUIROGA Ramirez]; Socialist Party or PS
[Jeres JUSTINIANO]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Cocalero groups; indigenous organizations; labor unions; Sole
Confederation of Campesino Workers of Bolivia or CSUTCB [Roman
LOAYZA]
International organization participation:
CAN, CSN, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO
(correspondent), ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur (associate), MIGA,
MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNMISET, UNOCI, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Gustavo GUZMAN Saldana
chancery: 3014 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 483-4410
FAX: [1] (202) 328-3712
consulate(s) general: Houston, Miami, New York, Oklahoma City, San
Francisco, Seattle, Washington, DC
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Philip S. GOLDBERG
embassy: Avenida Arce 2780, La Paz
mailing address: P. O. Box 425, La Paz; APO AA 34032
telephone: [591] (2) 216-8000
FAX: [591] (2) 216-8111
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 Bolivia
Economy - overview:
Bolivia, long one of the poorest and least developed Latin American
countries, reformed its economy after suffering a disastrous
economic crisis in the early 1980s. The reforms spurred real GDP
growth, which averaged 4% in the 1990s, and poverty rates fell.
Economic growth, however, lagged again beginning in 1999 because of
a global slowdown and homegrown factors such as political turmoil,
civil unrest, and soaring fiscal deficits, all of which hurt
investor confidence. In 2003, violent protests against the
pro-foreign investment economic policies of President SANCHEZ DE
LOZADA led to his resignation and the cancellation of plans to
export Bolivia's newly discovered natural gas reserves to large
northern hemisphere markets. In 2005, the government passed a
controversial natural gas law that imposes on the oil and gas firms
significantly higher taxes as well as new contracts that give the
state control of their operations. Bolivian officials are in the
process of implementing the law; meanwhile, foreign investors have
stopped investing and have taken the first legal steps to secure
their investments. Real GDP growth in 2003-05 - helped by increased
demand for natural gas in neighboring Brazil - was positive, but
still below the levels seen during the 1990s. Bolivia's fiscal
position has improved in recent years, but the country remains
dependent on foreign aid from multilateral lenders and foreign
governments to meet budget shortfalls. In 2005, the G8 announced a
$2 billion debt-forgiveness plan over the next few decades that
should help reduce some fiscal pressures on the government in the
near term.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$25.82 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$9.657 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
4.1% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$2,900 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 12.8%
industry: 35.2%
services: 52% (2005 est.)
Labor force:
4.22 million (2005 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Unemployment rate:
8% in urban areas; widespread underemployment (2005 est.)
Population below poverty line:
64% (2004 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.3%
highest 10%: 32% (1999)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
60.6 (2002)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
5.4% (2005 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
12.5% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $2.848 billion
expenditures: $3.189 billion; including capital expenditures of $741
million (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:
soybeans, coffee, coca, cotton, corn, sugarcane, rice, potatoes;
timber
Industries:
mining, smelting, petroleum, food and beverages, tobacco,
handicrafts, clothing
Industrial production growth rate:
5.7% (2004 est.)
Electricity - production:
4.25 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 44.4%
hydro: 54%
nuclear: 0%
other: 1.5% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
3.963 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:
10 million kWh (2003)
Oil - production:
42,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - consumption:
48,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day
Oil - proved reserves:
458.8 million bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:
6.72 billion cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
1.74 billion cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
2.9 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
679.6 billion cu m (1 January 2002)
Current account balance:
$462 million (2005 est.)
Exports:
$2.371 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:
natural gas, soybeans and soy products, crude petroleum, zinc ore,
tin
Exports - partners:
Brazil 41.2%, US 14.1%, Colombia 8.8%, Argentina 7.6%, Peru 5.5%
(2005)
Imports:
$1.845 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:
petroleum products, plastics, paper, aircraft and aircraft parts,
prepared foods, automobiles, insecticides, soybeans
Imports - partners:
Brazil 21.9%, Argentina 16.7%, US 13.8%, Chile 6.9%, Peru 6.5%,
Japan 6.1%, China 5.8% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$1.798 billion (2005 est.)
Debt - external:
$6.309 billion (2005 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$221 million (2005 est.)
Currency (code):
boliviano (BOB)
Currency code:
BOB
Exchange rates:
bolivianos per US dollar - 8.0661 (2005), 7.9363 (2004), 7.6592
(2003), 7.17 (2002), 6.6069 (2001)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Bolivia
Telephones - main lines in use:
646,300 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
2.421 million (2005)
Telephone system:
general assessment: new subscribers face bureaucratic difficulties;
most telephones are concentrated in La Paz and other cities; mobile
cellular telephone use expanding rapidly
domestic: primary trunk system, which is being expanded, employs
digital microwave radio relay; some areas are served by fiber-optic
cable; mobile cellular systems are being expanded
international: country code - 591; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 171, FM 73, shortwave 77 (1999)
Radios:
5.25 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
48 (1997)
Televisions:
900,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.bo
Internet hosts:
20,085 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
9 (2000)
Internet users:
480,000 (2005)
Transportation Bolivia
Airports:
1,084 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 16
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1,068
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 60
914 to 1,523 m: 207
under 914 m: 797 (2006)
Pipelines:
gas 4,860 km; liquid petroleum gas 47 km; oil 2,475 km; refined
products 1,589 km; unknown (oil/water) 247 km (2006)
Railways:
total: 3,519 km
narrow gauge: 3,519 km 1.000-m gauge (2005)
Roadways:
total: 60,762 km
paved: 4,314 km (including 11 km of expressways)
unpaved: 56,448 km (2003)
Waterways:
10,000 km (commercially navigable) (2005)
Merchant marine:
total: 24 ships (1000 GRT or over) 127,297 GRT/198,525 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 2, cargo 8, chemical tanker 1, passenger/cargo
3, petroleum tanker 10
foreign-owned: 10 (Argentina 1, China 1, Egypt 2, Iran 1, Singapore
3, Taiwan 1, Yemen 1) (2006)
Ports and terminals:
Puerto Aguirre (on the Paraguay/Parana waterway, at the
Bolivia/Brazil border); also, Bolivia has free port privileges in
maritime ports in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Paraguay
Military Bolivia
Military branches:
Bolivian Armed Forces: Bolivian Army (Ejercito Boliviano), Bolivian
Navy (Armada Boliviana; includes marines), Bolivian Air Force
(Fuerza Aerea Boliviana, FAB) (2006)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service; when annual number
of volunteers falls short of goal, compulsory recruitment is
effected, including conscription of boys as young as 14; one
estimate holds that 40% of the armed forces are under the age of 18,
with 50% of those under the age of 16; conscript tour of duty - 12
months (2002)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 1,923,234
females age 18-49: 2,007,315 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 1,311,414
females age 18-49: 1,502,177 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 101,101
females age 18-49: 98,671 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$130 million (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.4% (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues Bolivia
Disputes - international:
Chile rebuffs Bolivia's reactivated claim to restore the Atacama
corridor, ceded to Chile in 1884, offering instead unrestricted but
not sovereign maritime access through Chile for Bolivian natural gas
and other commodities
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Bolivia is a source and transit country for men,
women, and children trafficked for the purposes of labor and sexual
exploitation to Argentina, Brazil, and Chile, as well as to Spain;
children are trafficked internally for sexual exploitation, forced
mining, and agricultural labor; illegal migrants from Asia
transiting Bolivia are vulnerable as trafficking victims
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Bolivia has failed to show evidence
of increasing efforts to combat trafficking in the areas of
prosecutions and victim protection
Illicit drugs:
world's third-largest cultivator of coca (after Colombia and Peru)
with an estimated 26,500 hectares under cultivation in August 2005,
an 8% increase from 2004; intermediate coca products and cocaine
exported mostly to or through Brazil, Argentina, and Chile to
European drug markets; cultivation steadily increasing despite
eradication and alternative crop programs; money-laundering activity
related to narcotics trade, especially along the borders with Brazil
and Paraguay
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
======================================================================
@Bosnia and Herzegovina
Introduction Bosnia and Herzegovina
Background:
Bosnia and Herzegovina's declaration of sovereignty in October 1991
was followed by a declaration of independence from the former
Yugoslavia on 3 March 1992 after a referendum boycotted by ethnic
Serbs. The Bosnian Serbs - supported by neighboring Serbia and
Montenegro - 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, Bosniaks and Croats reduced the
number of warring factions from three to two by signing an agreement
creating a joint Bosniak/Croat Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
On 21 November 1995, in Dayton, Ohio, the warring parties initialed
a peace agreement that brought to a halt three years of interethnic
civil strife (the final agreement was signed in Paris on 14 December
1995). The Dayton Peace Accords retained Bosnia and Herzegovina's
international boundaries and created a joint multi-ethnic and
democratic government charged with conducting foreign, diplomatic,
and fiscal policy. Also recognized was a second tier of government
comprised of two entities roughly equal in size: the Bosniak/Croat
Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Bosnian Serb-led
Republika Srpska (RS). The Federation and RS governments were
charged with overseeing most government functions. The Office of the
High Representative (OHR) was established to oversee the
implementation of the civilian aspects of the agreement. 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 was to deter renewed
hostilities. European Union peacekeeping troops (EUFOR) replaced
SFOR in December 2004; their mission is to maintain peace and
stability throughout the country.
Geography Bosnia and Herzegovina
Location:
Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea and Croatia
Geographic coordinates:
44 00 N, 18 00 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 51,129 sq km
land: 51,129 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than West Virginia
Land boundaries:
total: 1,459 km
border countries: Croatia 932 km, Montenegro 225 km, Serbia 302 km
Coastline:
20 km
Maritime claims:
no data available
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 ore, bauxite, copper, lead, zinc, chromite, cobalt,
manganese, nickel, clay, gypsum, salt, sand, forests, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 19.61%
permanent crops: 1.89%
other: 78.5% (2005)
Irrigated land:
30 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:
destructive earthquakes
Environment - current issues:
air pollution from metallurgical plants; sites for disposing of
urban waste are limited; water shortages and destruction of
infrastructure because of the 1992-95 civil strife; deforestation
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Hazardous
Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer
Protection, Wetlands
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 Bosniak/Croat Federation (about 51% of the
territory) and the Bosnian Serb-led Republika Srpska or RS (about
49% of the territory); the region called Herzegovina is contiguous
to Croatia and Serbia and Montenegro (Montenegro), and traditionally
has been settled by an ethnic Croat majority in the west and an
ethnic Serb majority in the east
People Bosnia and Herzegovina
Population:
4,498,976 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 15.5% (male 359,739/female 336,978)
15-64 years: 70.1% (male 1,590,923/female 1,564,665)
65 years and over: 14.4% (male 265,637/female 381,034) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 38.4 years
male: 37.2 years
female: 39.5 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.35% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
8.77 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
8.27 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
13.01 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 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 (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 9.82 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 11.26 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 8.28 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78 years
male: 74.39 years
female: 81.88 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.22 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
900 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
100 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Bosnian(s), Herzegovinian(s)
adjective: Bosnian, Herzegovinian
Ethnic groups:
Bosniak 48%, Serb 37.1%, Croat 14.3%, other 0.6% (2000)
note: Bosniak has replaced Muslim as an ethnic term in part to avoid
confusion with the religious term Muslim - an adherent of Islam
Religions:
Muslim 40%, Orthodox 31%, Roman Catholic 15%, other 14%
Languages:
Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 94.6%
male: 98.4%
female: 91.1% (2000 est.)
Government Bosnia and Herzegovina
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Bosnia and Herzegovina
local long form: none
local short form: Bosna i Hercegovina
former: People's Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Socialist
Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Government type:
emerging federal democratic republic
Capital:
name: Sarajevo
geographic coordinates: 43 52 N, 18 25 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October
Administrative divisions:
2 first-order administrative divisions and 1 internationally
supervised district* - Brcko district (Brcko Distrikt)*, the
Bosniak/Croat Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Federacija Bosna
i Hercegovina) and the Bosnian Serb-led Republika Srpska; note -
Brcko district is in northeastern Bosnia and is an administrative
unit under the sovereignty of Bosnia and Herzegovina; the district
remains under international supervision
Independence:
1 March 1992 (from Yugoslavia; referendum for independence was
completed 1 March 1992; independence was declared 3 March 1992)
National holiday:
National Day, 25 November (1943)
Constitution:
the Dayton Agreement, signed 14 December 1995, included a new
constitution now in force; note - each of the entities also has its
own constitution
Legal system:
based on civil law system
Suffrage:
18 years of age, universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Chairman of the Presidency Nebojsa RADMANOVIC
(chairman since 6 November 2006; presidency member since 1 October
2006 - Serb); other members of the three-member presidency rotating
(every eight months): Zeljko KOMSIC (since 1 October 2006 - Croat)
and Haris SILAJDZIC (since 1 October 2006 - Bosniak)
head of government: Chairman of the Council of Ministers Adnan
TERZIC (since 20 December 2002)
cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the council chairman;
approved by the National House of Representatives
elections: the three members of the presidency (one Bosniak, one
Croat, one Serb) are elected by popular vote for a four-year term
(eligible for a second term, but then ineligible for four years);
the member with the most votes becomes the chairman unless he or she
was the incumbent chairman at the time of the election, but the
chairmanship rotates every eight months; election last held 1
October 2006 (next to be held in 2010); the chairman of the Council
of Ministers is appointed by the presidency and confirmed by the
National House of Representatives
election results: percent of vote - Nebojsa RADMANOVIC with 53.3% of
the Serb vote; Zeljko KOMSIC received 39.6% of the Croat vote; Haris
SILAJDZIC received 62.8% of the Bosniak vote
note: President of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina: Niko
LOZANCIC (since 27 January 2003); Vice Presidents Sahbaz DZIHANOVIC
(since in 2003) and Desnica RADIVOJEVIC (since in 2003); President
of the Republika Srpska: Milan JELIC (since 9 November 2006)
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliamentary Assembly or Skupstina consists of the
national House of Representatives or Predstavnicki Dom (42 seats -
elected by proportional representation, 28 seats allocated from the
Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and 14 seats from the Republika
Srpska; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms);
and the House of Peoples or Dom Naroda (15 seats - 5 Bosniak, 5
Croat, 5 Serb; members elected by the Bosniak/Croat Federation's
House of Representatives and the Republika Srpska's National
Assembly to serve four-year terms); note - Bosnia's election law
specifies four-year terms for the state and first-order
administrative division entity legislatures
elections: national House of Representatives - elections last held 1
October 2006 (next to be held in 2010); House of Peoples - last
constituted in January 2003 (next to be constituted in 2007)
election results: national House of Representatives - percent of
vote by party/coalition - NA%; seats by party/coalition - SDA 9,
SBiH 8, SNSD 7, SDP 5, SDS 3, HDZ-BH 3, other 7; House of Peoples -
percent of vote by party/coalition - NA; seats by party/coalition -
NA
note: the Bosniak/Croat Federation has a bicameral legislature that
consists of a House of Representatives (98 seats; members elected by
popular vote to serve four-year terms); elections last held 1
October 2006 (next to be held in October 2010); percent of vote by
party - NA; seats by party/coalition - SDA 28, SBiH 24, SDP 17,
HDZ-BH 8, HDZ100 7, other 14; and a House of Peoples (60 seats - 30
Bosniak, 30 Croat); last constituted December 2002; the Republika
Srpska has a National Assembly (83 seats; members elected by popular
vote to serve four-year terms); elections last held 1 October 2006
(next to be held in the fall of 2010); percent of vote by party -
NA; seats by party/coalition - SNSD 41, SDS 17, PDP 8, DNS 4, SBH 4,
SPRS 3, SDA 3, other 3; as a result of the 2002 constitutional
reform process, a 28-member Republika Srpska Council of Peoples
(COP) was established in the Republika Srpska National Assembly
including eight Croats, eight Bosniaks, eight Serbs, and four
members of the smaller communities
Judicial branch:
BH Constitutional Court (consists of nine members: four members are
selected by the Bosniak/Croat Federation's House of Representatives,
two members by the Republika Srpska's National Assembly, and three
non-Bosnian members by the president of the European Court of Human
Rights); BH State Court (consists of nine judges and three divisions
- Administrative, Appellate and Criminal - having jurisdiction over
cases related to state-level law and appellate jurisdiction over
cases initiated in the entities); note - a War Crimes Chamber opened
in March 2005
note: the entities each have a Supreme Court; each entity also has a
number of lower courts; there are 10 cantonal courts in the
Federation, plus a number of municipal courts; the Republika Srpska
has five municipal courts
Political parties and leaders:
Alliance of Independent Social Democrats or SNSD [Milorad DODIK];
Bosnian Party or BOSS [Mirnes AJANOVIC]; Civic Democratic Party or
GDS [Ibrahim SPAHIC]; Croat Christian Democratic Union of Bosnia and
Herzegovina or HKDU [Marin TOPIC]; Croat Party of Rights or HSP
[Zvonko JURISIC]; Croat Peasants Party or HSS [Marko TADIC];
Croatian Democratic Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina or HDZ-BH
[Dragan COVIC]; Croatian Democratic Union 100 or HDZ100; Croatian
Peoples Union [Milenko BRKIC]; Democratic National Union or DNZ
[Rifet DOLIC]; Democratic Peoples Alliance or DNS [Marko PAVIC];
Liberal Democratic Party or LDS [Rasim KADIC]; New Croat Initiative
or NHI [Kresimir ZUBAK]; Party for Bosnia and Herzegovina or SBiH
[Haris SILAJDZIC]; Party for Democratic Action or SDA [Sulejman
TIHIC]; Party of Democratic Progress or PDP [Mladen IVANIC]; Serb
Democratic Party or SDS [Dragan CAVIC]; Serb Radical Party of the
Republika Srpska or SRS-RS [Milanko MIHAJLICA]; Serb Radical
Party-Dr. Vojislav Seselj or SRS-VS [Radislav KANJERIC]; Social
Democratic Party of BIH or SDP [Zlatko LAGUMDZIJA]; Social
Democratic Union or SDU [Sejfudin TOKIC]; Socialist Party of
Republika Srpska or SPRS [Petar DJOKIC]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
BIS, CE, CEI, EBRD, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO,
ITU, MIGA, MONUC, NAM (guest), OAS (observer), OIC (observer), OPCW,
OSCE, SECI, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WToO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Bisera TURKOVIC
chancery: 2109 E Street NW, Washington, DC 20037
telephone: [1] (202) 337-1500
FAX: [1] (202) 337-1502
consulate(s) general: Chicago, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Douglas L. McELHANEY
embassy: Alipasina 43, 71000 Sarajevo
mailing address: use street address
telephone: [387] (33) 445-700
FAX: [387] (33) 659-722
branch office(s): Banja Luka, Mostar
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
Economy Bosnia and Herzegovina
Economy - overview:
Bosnia and Herzegovina ranked next to Macedonia as the poorest
republic in the old Yugoslav federation. Although agriculture is
almost all in private hands, farms are small and inefficient, and
the republic traditionally is a net importer of food. Industry
remains greatly overstaffed, a holdover from the socialist economic
structure of Yugoslavia. TITO had pushed the development of military
industries in the republic with the result that Bosnia was saddled
with a host of industrial firms with little commercial potential.
The interethnic warfare in Bosnia caused production to plummet by
80% from 1992 to 1995 and unemployment to soar. With an uneasy peace
in place, output recovered in 1996-99 at high percentage rates from
a low base; but output growth slowed in 2000-02. Part of the lag in
output was made up in 2003-05. National-level statistics are limited
and do not capture the large share of black market activity. The
konvertibilna marka (convertible mark or BAM)- the national currency
introduced in 1998 - is pegged to the euro, and confidence in the
currency and the banking sector has increased. Implementation of
privatization, however, has been slow, and local entities only
reluctantly support national-level institutions. Banking reform
accelerated in 2001 as all the Communist-era payments bureaus were
shut down; foreign banks, primarily from Western Europe, now control
most of the banking sector. A sizeable current account deficit and
high unemployment rate remain the two most serious economic
problems. The country receives substantial amounts of reconstruction
assistance and humanitarian aid from the international community but
will have to prepare for an era of declining assistance.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$23.09 billion
note: Bosnia has a large informal sector that could also be as much
as 50% of official GDP (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$8.495 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
5% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$5,200 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 14.2%
industry: 30.8%
services: 55% (2002)
Labor force:
1.026 million (2001)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Unemployment rate:
45.5% official rate; grey economy may reduce actual unemployment to
25-30% (31 December 2004 est.)
Population below poverty line:
25% (2004 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
26.2 (2001)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4.4% (2005 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $4.373 billion
expenditures: $4.401 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2005 est.)
Public debt:
29% of GDP
Agriculture - products:
wheat, corn, fruits, vegetables; livestock
Industries:
steel, coal, iron ore, lead, zinc, manganese, bauxite, vehicle
assembly, textiles, tobacco products, wooden furniture, tank and
aircraft assembly, domestic appliances, oil refining
Industrial production growth rate:
5.5% (2003 est.)
Electricity - production:
10.51 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 53.5%
hydro: 46.5%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
8.849 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:
3.2 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:
2.271 billion kWh (2003)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2003)
Oil - consumption:
21,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
160 million cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
300 million cu m (2001 est.)
Current account balance:
$-2.087 billion (2005 est.)
Exports:
$2.7 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:
metals, clothing, wood products
Exports - partners:
Croatia 18.4%, Italy 17.1%, Slovenia 14.6%, Germany 12.8%, Austria
6.5%, Hungary 5.2%, China 4.2% (2005)
Imports:
$6.8 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels, foodstuffs
Imports - partners:
Croatia 24.7%, Germany 13.7%, Slovenia 13.1%, Italy 11%, Austria
6.9%, Hungary 5.5% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$2.531 billion (2005 est.)
Debt - external:
$3.116 billion (2005 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$650 million (2001 est.)
Currency (code):
marka (BAM)
Currency code:
BAM
Exchange rates:
marka per US dollar - 1.5727 (2005), 1.5752 (2004), 1.7329 (2003),
2.0782 (2002), 2.1857 (2001)
note: the marka is pegged to the euro
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Bosnia and Herzegovina
Telephones - main lines in use:
968,900 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
1.594 million (2005)
Telephone system:
general assessment: telephone and telegraph network needs
modernization and expansion; many urban areas are below average as
contrasted with services in other former Yugoslav republics
domestic: NA
international: country code - 387; no satellite earth stations
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 8, FM 16, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:
940,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
33 (plus 277 repeaters) (September 1995)
Televisions:
NA
Internet country code:
.ba
Internet hosts:
31,490 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
3 (2000)
Internet users:
806,400 (2005)
Transportation Bosnia and Herzegovina
Airports:
28 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 8
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
under 914 m: 3 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 20
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 12 (2006)
Heliports:
5 (2006)
Railways:
total: 608 km (777 km electrified)
standard gauge: 608 km 1.435-m gauge (2005)
Roadways:
total: 21,846 km
paved: 11,425 km (4,686 km of interurban roads)
unpaved: 10,421 km (2005)
Waterways:
Sava River (northern border) open to shipping but use limited (2006)
Ports and terminals:
Bosanska Gradiska, Bosanski Brod, Bosanski Samac, and Brcko (all
inland waterway ports on the Sava), Orasje
Military Bosnia and Herzegovina
Military branches:
VF Army (the air and air defense forces are subordinate commands
within the Army), VRS Army (the air and air defense forces are
subordinate commands within the Army)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for compulsory military service in the Federation
of Bosnia and Herzegovina; 16 years of age in times of war; 18 years
of age for Republika Srpska; 17 years of age for voluntary military
service in the Federation and in the Republika Srpska; by law,
military obligations cover all healthy men between the ages of 18
and 60, and all women between the ages of 18 and 55; service
obligation is four months (July 2004)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 1,119,508
females age 18-49: 1,079,435 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 910,539
females age 18-49: 881,446 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 32,942
females age 18-49: 31,466 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$234.3 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
4.5% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Bosnia and Herzegovina
Disputes - international:
Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia and Montenegro have delimited
most of their boundary, but sections along the Drina River remain in
dispute; discussions continue with Croatia on several small disputed
sections of the boundary related to maritime access that hinder
ratification of the 1999 border agreement
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 19,213 (Croatia)
IDPs: 309,200 (Bosnian Croats, Serbs, and Muslims displaced in
1992-95 war) (2005)
Illicit drugs:
minor transit point for marijuana and opiate trafficking routes to
Western Europe; remains highly vulnerable to money-laundering
activity given a primarily cash-based and unregulated economy, weak
law enforcement, and instances of corruption
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
======================================================================
@Botswana
Introduction Botswana
Background:
Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted
its new name upon independence in 1966. Four decades of
uninterrupted civilian leadership, progressive social policies, and
significant capital investment have created one of the most dynamic
economies in Africa. Mineral extraction, principally diamond mining,
dominates economic activity, though tourism is a growing sector due
to the country's conservation practices and extensive nature
preserves. Botswana has one of the world's highest known rates of
HIV/AIDS infection, but also one of Africa's most progressive and
comprehensive programs for dealing with the disease.
Geography Botswana
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: 0.65%
permanent crops: 0.01%
other: 99.34% (2005)
Irrigated land:
10 sq km (2003)
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, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law
of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
landlocked; population concentrated in eastern part of the country
People Botswana
Population:
1,639,833
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the
effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower
life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower
population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 38.3% (male 319,531/female 309,074)
15-64 years: 57.9% (male 460,692/female 488,577)
65 years and over: 3.8% (male 23,374/female 38,585) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 19.4 years
male: 18.8 years
female: 20 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
-0.04% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
23.08 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
29.5 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
6.07 migrant(s)/1,000 population
note: there is an increasing flow of Zimbabweans into South Africa
and Botswana in search of better economic opportunities (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.61 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 53.7 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 54.92 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 52.44 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 33.74 years
male: 33.9 years
female: 33.56 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.79 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
37.3% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
350,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
33,000 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and
typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria (2005)
Nationality:
noun: Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural)
adjective: Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural)
Ethnic groups:
Tswana (or Setswana) 79%, Kalanga 11%, Basarwa 3%, other, including
Kgalagadi and white 7%
Religions:
Christian 71.6%, Badimo 6%, other 1.4%, unspecified 0.4%, none
20.6% (2001 census)
Languages:
Setswana 78.2%, Kalanga 7.9%, Sekgalagadi 2.8%, English 2.1%
(official), other 8.6%, unspecified 0.4% (2001 census)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 79.8%
male: 76.9%
female: 82.4% (2003 est.)
Government Botswana
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Botswana
conventional short form: Botswana
local long form: Republic of Botswana
local short form: Botswana
former: Bechuanaland
Government type:
parliamentary republic
Capital:
name: Gaborone
geographic coordinates: 24 45 S, 25 55 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
9 districts and 5 town councils*; Central, Francistown*, Gaborone*,
Ghanzi, Jwaneng*, Kgalagadi, Kgatleng, Kweneng, Lobatse*, Northeast,
Northwest, Selebi-Pikwe*, Southeast, Southern
Independence:
30 September 1966 (from UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day (Botswana 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; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Festus G. MOGAE (since 1 April 1998) and
Vice President Seretse Ian KHAMA (since 13 July 1998); note - the
president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Festus G. MOGAE (since 1 April 1998)
and Vice President Seretse Ian KHAMA (since 13 July 1998); note -
the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president indirectly elected for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held 20 October 2004
(next to be held in 2009); vice president appointed by the president
election results: Festus G. MOGAE elected president; percent of
National Assembly vote - 52%
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament consists of the House of Chiefs (a largely
advisory 15-member body with 8 permanent members consisting of the
chiefs of the principal tribes, and 7 non-permanent members serving
5-year terms, consisting of 4 elected subchiefs and 3 members
selected by the other 12 members) and the National Assembly (63
seats, 57 members are directly elected by popular vote, 4 are
appointed by the majority party, and 2, the President and
Attorney-General, serve as ex-officio members; members serve
five-year terms)
elections: National Assembly elections last held 30 October 2004
(next to be held October 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - BDP 51.7%, BNF 26.1%,
BCP 16.6%, other 5%; seats by party - BDP 44, BNF 12, BCP 1
Judicial branch:
High Court; Court of Appeal; Magistrates' Courts (one in each
district)
Political parties and leaders:
Botswana Alliance Movement or BAM [Ephraim Lepetu SETSHWAELO];
Botswana Congress Party or BCP [Otlaadisa KOOSALETSE]; Botswana
Democratic Party or BDP [Festus G. MOGAE]; Botswana National Front
or BNF [Otswoletse MOUPO]; Botswana Peoples Party or BPP; MELS
Movement of Botswana or MELS; New Democratic Front or NDF
note: a number of minor parties joined forces in 1999 to form the
BAM but did not capture any parliamentary seats - includes the
United Action Party [Ephraim Lepetu SETSHWAELO]; the Independence
Freedom Party or IFP [Motsamai MPHO]; the Botswana Progressive Union
[D. K. KWELE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AU, C, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITU, MIGA,
NAM, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIS, UPU, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Lapologang Caesar LEKOA
chancery: 1531-1533 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 244-4990
FAX: [1] (202) 244-4164
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Katherine H. CANAVAN
embassy: address NA, Gaborone
mailing address: Embassy Enclave, P. O. Box 90, Gaborone
telephone: [267] 353982
FAX: [267] 312782
Flag description:
light blue with a horizontal white-edged black stripe in the center
Economy Botswana
Economy - overview:
Botswana has maintained one of the world's highest economic growth
rates since independence in 1966. Through fiscal discipline and
sound management, Botswana has transformed itself from one of the
poorest countries in the world to a middle-income country with a per
capita GDP of $10,000 in 2005. Two major investment services rank
Botswana as the best credit risk in Africa. Diamond mining has
fueled much of the expansion and currently accounts for more than
one-third of GDP and for 70-80% of export earnings. Tourism,
financial services, subsistence farming, and cattle raising are
other key sectors. On the downside, the government must deal with
high rates of unemployment and poverty. Unemployment officially is
23.8%, but unofficial estimates place it closer to 40%. HIV/AIDS
infection rates are the second highest in the world and threaten
Botswana's impressive economic gains. An expected leveling off in
diamond mining production overshadows long-term prospects.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$17.53 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$9.046 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
5.5% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$10,700 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 2.4%
industry: 46.9% (including 36% mining)
services: 50.7% (2003 est.)
Labor force:
288,400 formal sector employees (2004)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Unemployment rate:
23.8% (2004)
Population below poverty line:
30.3% (2003)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
63 (1993)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
8.6% (2005 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
20.3% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $3.766 billion
expenditures: $3.767 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2005 est.)
Public debt:
6.2% of GDP (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:
livestock, sorghum, maize, millet, beans, sunflowers, groundnuts
Industries:
diamonds, copper, nickel, salt, soda ash, potash; livestock
processing; textiles
Industrial production growth rate:
7.5% (2005 est.)
Electricity - production:
891 million kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
2.641 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:
1.39 billion kWh (2002)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2003)
Oil - consumption:
12,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:
16,000 bbl/day (2001)
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Current account balance:
$1.584 billion (2005 est.)
Exports:
$3.68 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:
diamonds, copper, nickel, soda ash, meat, textiles
Exports - partners:
European Free Trade Association (EFTA) 87%, Southern African
Customs Union (SACU) 7%, Zimbabwe 4% (2004)
Imports:
$3.37 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, machinery, electrical goods, transport equipment,
textiles, fuel and petroleum products, wood and paper products,
metal and metal products
Imports - partners:
Southern African Customs Union (SACU) 74%, EFTA 17%, Zimbabwe 4%
(2004)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$6.309 billion (2005 est.)
Debt - external:
$519 million (2005 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$73 million (1995)
Currency (code):
pula (BWP)
Currency code:
BWP
Exchange rates:
pulas per US dollar - 5.1104 (2005), 4.6929 (2004), 4.9499 (2003),
6.3278 (2002), 5.8412 (2001)
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
Communications Botswana
Telephones - main lines in use:
132,000 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
823,100 (2005)
Telephone system:
general assessment: the system is expanding with the growth of
mobile cellular service and participation in regional development
domestic: small system of open-wire lines, microwave radio relay
links, and a few radiotelephone communication stations; mobile
cellular service is growing fast
international: country code - 267; two international exchanges;
digital microwave radio relay links to Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe,
and South Africa; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 8, FM 13, shortwave 4 (2001)
Radios:
252,720 (2000)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (2001)
Televisions:
31,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.bw
Internet hosts:
5,499 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
11 (2001)
Internet users:
60,000 (2002)
Transportation Botswana
Airports:
85 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 10
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 75
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 55
under 914 m: 17 (2006)
Railways:
total: 888 km
narrow gauge: 888 km 1.067-m gauge (2005)
Roadways:
total: 25,233 km
paved: 8,867 km
unpaved: 16,366 km (2003)
Military Botswana
Military branches:
Botswana Defense Force (includes an air wing) (2006)
Military service age and obligation:
18 is the apparent age of voluntary military service; the official
qualifications for determining minimum age are unknown (2001)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 350,649
females age 18-49: 361,642 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 136,322
females age 18-49: 136,315 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 21,103
females age 18-49: 21,379 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$325.5 million (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
3.4% (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues Botswana
Disputes - international:
commission established with Namibia has yet to resolve small
residual disputes along the Caprivi Strip, including the Situngu
marshlands along the Linyanti River; downstream Botswana residents
protest Namibia's planned construction of the Okavango hydroelectric
dam at Popavalle (Popa Falls); Botswana has built electric fences to
stem the thousands of Zimbabweans who flee to find work and escape
political persecution; Namibia has long supported and in 2004
Zimbabwe dropped objections to plans between Botswana and Zambia to
build a bridge over the Zambezi River, thereby de facto recognizing
their short, but not clearly delimited Botswana-Zambia boundary
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
======================================================================
@Bouvet Island
Introduction Bouvet Island
Background:
This uninhabited volcanic island is almost entirely covered by
glaciers and is difficult to approach. It was discovered in 1739 by
a French naval officer after whom the island was named. No claim was
made until 1825, when the British flag was raised. In 1928, the UK
waived its claim in favor of Norway, which had occupied the island
the previous year. In 1971, Bouvet Island and the adjacent
territorial waters were designated a nature reserve. Since 1977,
Norway has run an automated meteorological station on the island.
Geography Bouvet Island
Location:
island in the South Atlantic Ocean, southwest of the Cape of Good
Hope (South Africa)
Geographic coordinates:
54 26 S, 3 24 E
Map references:
Antarctic Region
Area:
total: 49 sq km
land: 49 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; coast is mostly inaccessible
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: South Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Olav Peak 935 m
Natural resources:
none
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (93% ice) (2005)
Irrigated land:
0 sq km
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
NA
Geography - note:
covered by glacial ice; declared a nature reserve
People Bouvet Island
Population:
uninhabited (July 2006 est.)
Government Bouvet Island
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Bouvet Island
Dependency status:
territory of Norway; administered by the Polar Department of the
Ministry of Justice and Police from Oslo
Legal system:
the laws of Norway, where applicable, apply
Flag description:
the flag of Norway is used
Economy Bouvet Island
Economy - overview:
no economic activity; declared a nature reserve
Communications Bouvet Island
Internet country code:
.bv
Internet hosts:
6 (2006)
Communications - note:
automatic meteorological station
Transportation Bouvet Island
Ports and terminals:
none; offshore anchorage only
Military Bouvet Island
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of Norway
Transnational Issues Bouvet Island
Disputes - international:
none
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
======================================================================
@Brazil
Introduction Brazil
Background:
Following three centuries under the rule of Portugal, Brazil became
an independent nation in 1822 and a republic in 1889. By far the
largest and most populous country in South America, Brazil overcame
more than half a century of military intervention in the governance
of the country when in 1985 the military regime peacefully ceded
power to civilian rulers. Brazil continues to pursue industrial and
agricultural growth and development of its interior. Exploiting vast
natural resources and a large labor pool, it is today South
America's leading economic power and a regional leader. Highly
unequal income distribution remains a pressing problem.
Geography Brazil
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: 16,884.4 km
border countries: Argentina 1,261 km, Bolivia 3,423 km, Colombia
1,644 km, French Guiana 730.4 km, Guyana 1,606 km, Paraguay 1,365
km, Peru 2,995 km, Suriname 593 km, Uruguay 1,068 km, Venezuela
2,199 km
Coastline:
7,491 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to edge of the continental margin
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: 6.93%
permanent crops: 0.89%
other: 92.18% (2005)
Irrigated land:
29,200 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:
recurring droughts in northeast; floods and occasional frost in
south
Environment - current issues:
deforestation in Amazon Basin destroys the habitat and endangers a
multitude of plant and animal species indigenous to the area; there
is a lucrative illegal wildlife trade; 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; wetland degradation; severe oil spills
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living
Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate
Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, 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: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
largest country in South America; shares common boundaries with
every South American country except Chile and Ecuador
People Brazil
Population:
188,078,227
note: Brazil conducted a census in August 2000, which reported a
population of 169,799,170; that figure was about 3.3% lower than
projections by the US Census Bureau, and is close to the implied
underenumeration of 4.6% for the 1991 census; estimates for this
country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality
due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant
mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and
changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would
otherwise be expected (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 25.8% (male 24,687,656/female 23,742,998)
15-64 years: 68.1% (male 63,548,331/female 64,617,539)
65 years and over: 6.1% (male 4,712,675/female 6,769,028) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 28.2 years
male: 27.5 years
female: 29 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.04% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
16.56 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
6.17 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
-0.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 28.6 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 32.3 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 24.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 71.97 years
male: 68.02 years
female: 76.12 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.91 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.7% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
660,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
15,000 (2003 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Brazilian(s)
adjective: Brazilian
Ethnic groups:
white 53.7%, mulatto (mixed white and black) 38.5%, black 6.2%,
other (includes Japanese, Arab, Amerindian) 0.9%, unspecified 0.7%
(2000 census)
Religions:
Roman Catholic (nominal) 73.6%, Protestant 15.4%, Spiritualist
1.3%, Bantu/voodoo 0.3%, other 1.8%, unspecified 0.2%, none 7.4%
(2000 census)
Languages:
Portuguese (official), Spanish, English, French
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 86.4%
male: 86.1%
female: 86.6% (2003 est.)
Government Brazil
Country name:
conventional long form: Federative Republic of Brazil
conventional short form: Brazil
local long form: Republica Federativa do Brasil
local short form: Brasil
Government type:
federative republic
Capital:
name: Brasilia
geographic coordinates: 15 47 S, 47 55 W
time difference: UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins third Sunday in October; ends
third Sunday in February
note: Brazil is divided into four time zones, including one for the
Fernando de Noronha islands
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; note - military conscripts do not
vote
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Luiz Inacio LULA DA SILVA (since 1
January 2003); Vice President Jose ALENCAR (since 1 January 2003);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Luiz Inacio LULA DA SILVA (since 1
January 2003); Vice President Jose ALENCAR (since 1 January 2003)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket
by popular vote for a single four-year term; election last held 1
October 2006 with runoff 29 October 2006 (next to be held 3 October
2010 and, if necessary, 31 October 2010)
election results: Luiz Inacio LULA DA SILVA (PT) reelected president
- 60.83%, Geraldo ALCKMIN (PSDB) 39.17%
Legislative branch:
bicameral National Congress or Congresso Nacional consists of the
Federal Senate or Senado Federal (81 seats; 3 members from each
state and 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 1 October 2006 for one-third
of the Senate (next to be held October 2010 for two-thirds of the
Senate); Chamber of Deputies - last held 1 October 2006 (next to be
held October 2010)
election results: Federal Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%;
seats by party - PFL 6, PSDB 5, PMDB 4, PTB 3, PT 2, PFL 1, PDT 1,
PSB 1, PL 1, PPS 1, PRTB 1, PP 1, PCdoB 1; total seats following
election - PFL 18, PMDB 15, PSDB 15, PT 11, PDT 5, PTB 4, PSB 3, PL
3, PCdoB 2, PRB 2, PPS 1, PRTB 1, PP 1; Chamber of Deputies -
percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PMDB 89, PT 83, PFL
65, PSDB 65, PP 42, PSB 27, PDT 24, PL 23, PTB 22, PPS 21, PCdoB 13,
PV 13, PSC 9, other 17
Judicial branch:
Supreme Federal Tribunal (11 ministers are appointed for life by
the president and confirmed by the Senate); Higher Tribunal of
Justice; Regional Federal Tribunals (judges are appointed for life);
note - though appointed "for life," judges, like all federal
employees, have a mandatory retirement age of 70
Political parties and leaders:
Brazilian Democratic Movement Party or PMDB [Federal Deputy Michel
TEMER]; Brazilian Labor Party or PTB [Flavio de CASTRO MARTINEZ];
Brazilian Renewal Labor Party or PRTB [Jose Levy Fidelix DA CRUZ];
Brazilian Republican Party or PRB [Vitor Paulo Araujo DOS SANTOS];
Brazilian Social Democracy Party or PSDB [Senator Tasso JEREISSATI];
Brazilian Socialist Party or PSB [Federal Deputy Eduardo Henrique
Accioly CAMPOS]; Communist Party of Brazil or PCdoB [Jose Renato
RABELO]; Democratic Labor Party or PDT [Carlos Roberto LUPI];
Democratic Socialist Party or PSD [Luis Marques MENDES]; Green Party
or PV [Jose Luiz de Franca PENNA]; Humanist Party of Solidarity or
PHS [leader NA]; Liberal Party or PL [Federal Deputy Valdemar COSTA
Neto]; National Order Reconstruction Party or PRONA [Federal Deputy
Dr. Eneas Ferreira CARNEIRO]; Partido Municipalista Renovador or PMR
[Natal Wellington Rodrigues FURUCHO]; Popular Socialist Party or PPS
[Federal Deputy Roberto FREIRE]; Progressive Party or PP [Federal
Deputy Pedro CORREA]; Social Christian Party or PSC [Vitor Jorge
ABDALA NOSSEIS]; Workers' Party or PT [Ricardo Jose Ribeiro BERZOINI]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Landless Worker's Movement; labor unions and federations; large
farmers' associations; religious groups including evangelical
Christian churches and the Catholic Church
International organization participation:
AfDB, BIS, CAN (associate), CSN, FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,
IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur,
MIGA, MINUSTAH, NAM (observer), NSG, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN,
UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,
UNITAR, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNMOVIC, UNOCI, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Roberto P. ABDENUR
chancery: 3006 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 238-2700
FAX: [1] (202) 238-2827
consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami,
New York, San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Clifford M. SOBEL
embassy: Avenida das Nacoes, Quadra 801, Lote 3, Distrito Federal
Cep 70403-900, Brasilia
mailing address: Unit 3500, APO AA 34030
telephone: [55] (61) 3312-7000
FAX: [55] (61) 3225-9136
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 Brazil
Economy - overview:
Characterized by 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. From 2001-03 real wages fell and Brazil's economy
grew, on average only 2.2% per year, as the country absorbed a
series of domestic and international economic shocks. That Brazil
absorbed these shocks without financial collapse is a tribute to the
resiliency of the Brazilian economy and the economic program put in
place by former President CARDOSO and strengthened by President LULA
DA SILVA. In 2004, Brazil enjoyed more robust growth that yielded
increases in employment and real wages. The three pillars of the
economic program are a floating exchange rate, an
inflation-targeting regime, and tight fiscal policy, all reinforced
by a series of IMF programs. The currency depreciated sharply in
2001 and 2002, which contributed to a dramatic current account
adjustment; in 2003 to 2005, Brazil ran record trade surpluses and
recorded its first current account surpluses since 1992.
Productivity gains - particularly in agriculture - also contributed
to the surge in exports, and Brazil in 2005 surpassed the previous
year's record export level. While economic management has been good,
there remain important economic vulnerabilities. The most
significant are debt-related: the government's largely domestic debt
increased steadily from 1994 to 2003 - straining government finances
- before falling as a percentage of GDP in 2005, while Brazil's
foreign debt (a mix of private and public debt) is large in relation
to Brazil's small (but growing) export base. Another challenge is
maintaining economic growth over a period of time to generate
employment and make the government debt burden more manageable.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$1.536 trillion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$619.7 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2.3% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$8,300 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 8.4%
industry: 40%
services: 51.6% (2005 est.)
Labor force:
90.41 million (2005 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 20%
industry: 14%
services: 66% (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate:
9.8% (2005 est.)
Population below poverty line:
22% (1998 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 0.7%
highest 10%: 31.27% (2002)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
59.7 (2004)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
6.9% (2005 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
19.9% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $140.6 billion
expenditures: $172.4 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2004)
Public debt:
51.6% of GDP (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:
coffee, soybeans, wheat, rice, corn, sugarcane, cocoa, citrus; beef
Industries:
textiles, shoes, chemicals, cement, lumber, iron ore, tin, steel,
aircraft, motor vehicles and parts, other machinery and equipment
Industrial production growth rate:
3.4% (2005 est.)
Electricity - production:
387.5 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 8.3%
hydro: 82.7%
nuclear: 4.4%
other: 4.6% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
359.6 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:
6 million kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports:
37.4 billion kWh; note - supplied by Paraguay (2004)
Oil - production:
2.01 million bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - consumption:
1.61 million bbl/day (2004)
Oil - exports:
241,700 bbl/day NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:
572,600 bbl/day NA bbl/day
Oil - proved reserves:
15.12 billion bbl (2005 est.)
Natural gas - production:
15.79 billion cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
21.74 billion cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
5.947 billion cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
240 billion cu m (2005)
Current account balance:
$14.19 billion (2005 est.)
Exports:
$115.1 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:
transport equipment, iron ore, soybeans, footwear, coffee, autos
Exports - partners:
US 19.6%, China 7.5%, Argentina 6.9%, Germany 5.3%, Mexico 4.3%
(2005)
Imports:
$78.02 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery, electrical and transport equipment, chemical products,
oil
Imports - partners:
US 19.7%, Germany 8.7%, Argentina 8.2%, China 6.2%, Nigeria 6.1%
(2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$53.8 billion (2005 est.)
Debt - external:
$188 billion (2005 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$30 billion (2002)
Currency (code):
real (BRL)
Currency code:
BRL
Exchange rates:
reals per US dollar - 2.4344 (2005), 2.9251 (2004), 3.0771 (2003),
2.9208 (2002), 2.3577 (2001)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Brazil
Telephones - main lines in use:
42.382 million (2004)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
86.21 million (2005)
Telephone system:
general assessment: good working system
domestic: extensive microwave radio relay system and a domestic
satellite system with 64 earth stations
international: country code - 55; 3 coaxial submarine cables;
satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), 1 Inmarsat
(Atlantic Ocean region east), connected by microwave relay system to
Mercosur Brazilsat B3 satellite earth station
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1,365, FM 296, shortwave 161 (of which 91 are collocated with AM
stations) (1999)
Radios:
71 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
138 (1997)
Televisions:
36.5 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.br
Internet hosts:
6,508,431 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
50 (2000)
Internet users:
25.9 million (2005)
Transportation Brazil
Airports:
4,276 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 714
over 3,047 m: 8
2,438 to 3,047 m: 24
1,524 to 2,437 m: 164
914 to 1,523 m: 464
under 914 m: 54 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 3,562
1,524 to 2,437 m: 81
914 to 1,523 m: 1,634
under 914 m: 1,847 (2006)
Heliports:
417 (2006)
Pipelines:
condensate/gas 244 km; gas 11,669 km; liquid petroleum gas 341 km;
oil 5,212 km; refined products 4,755 km (2006)
Railways:
total: 29,252 km
broad gauge: 4,877 km 1.600-m gauge (939 km electrified)
standard gauge: 194 km 1.440-m gauge
narrow gauge: 23,785 km 1.000-m gauge (581 km electrified)
dual gauge: 396 km 1.000 m and 1.600-m gauges (three rails) (78 km
electrified) (2005)
Roadways:
total: 1,724,929 km
paved: 94,871 km
unpaved: 1,630,058 km (2000)
Waterways:
50,000 km (most in areas remote from industry and population) (2005)
Merchant marine:
total: 137 ships (1000 GRT or over) 2,038,923 GRT/3,057,820 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 21, cargo 21, chemical tanker 8, container 8,
liquefied gas 12, passenger/cargo 12, petroleum tanker 47, roll
on/roll off 8
foreign-owned: 15 (Chile 1, Germany 7, Norway 2, Spain 4, UK 1)
registered in other countries: 5 (Ghana 1, Liberia 3, Marshall
Islands 1) (2006)
Ports and terminals:
Gebig, Itaqui, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande, San Sebasttiao, Santos,
Sepetiba Terminal, Tubarao, Vitoria
Military Brazil
Military branches:
Brazilian Army, Brazilian Navy (Marinha do Brasil (MB), includes
Naval Air and Marine Corps (Corpo de Fuzileiros Navais)), Brazilian
Air Force (Forca Aerea Brasileira, FAB) (2006)
Military service age and obligation:
21-45 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript
service obligation - nine to 12 months; 17-45 years of age for
voluntary service; an increasing percentage of the ranks are
"long-service" volunteer professionals; women were allowed to serve
in the armed forces beginning in early 1980s when the Brazilian Army
became the first army in South America to accept women into career
ranks; women serve in Navy and Air Force only in Women's Reserve
Corps (2001)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 19-49: 45,586,036
females age 19-49: 45,728,704 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 19-49: 33,119,098
females age 19-49: 38,079,722 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 1,785,930
females age 19-49: 1,731,648 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$9.94 billion (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.3% (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues Brazil
Disputes - international:
unruly region at convergence of Argentina-Brazil-Paraguay borders
is locus of money laundering, smuggling, arms and illegal narcotics
trafficking, and fundraising for extremist organizations;
uncontested dispute with Uruguay over certain islands in the
Quarai/Cuareim and Invernada boundary streams and the resulting
tripoint with Argentina; in 2004 Brazil submitted its claims to the
United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) to extend
its maritime continental margin
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Brazil is a source and destination country for
women and girls trafficked for sexual exploitation within Brazil and
to destinations in South America, the Caribbean, Western Europe,
Japan, the US, and the Middle East, and for men trafficked within
the country for forced agricultural labor; child sex tourism is a
problem within the country, particularly in the resort areas and
coastal cities of Brazil's northeast; foreign victims from Bolivia,
Peru, China, and Korea are trafficked to Brazil for labor
exploitation in factories
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Brazil has failed to show evidence
of increasing efforts to fight trafficking, specifically for its
failure to apply effective criminal penalties against traffickers
who exploit forced labor
Illicit drugs:
illicit producer of cannabis; trace amounts of coca cultivation in
the Amazon region, 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 Europe; also used by traffickers as a way station for
narcotics air transshipments between Peru and Colombia; upsurge in
drug-related violence and weapons smuggling; important market for
Colombian, Bolivian, and Peruvian cocaine; illicit narcotics
proceeds earned in Brazil are often laundered through the financial
system; significant illicit financial activity in the Tri-Border Area
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
======================================================================
@British Indian Ocean Territory
Introduction British Indian Ocean Territory
Background:
Established as a territory of the UK in 1965, a number of the
British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) islands were transferred to
the Seychelles when it attained independence in 1976. Subsequently,
BIOT has consisted only of the six main island groups comprising the
Chagos Archipelago. The largest and most southerly of the islands,
Diego Garcia, contains a joint UK-US naval support facility. All of
the remaining islands are uninhabited. Former agricultural workers,
earlier residents in the islands, were relocated primarily to
Mauritius but also to the Seychelles, between 1967 and 1973. In
2000, a British High Court ruling invalidated the local immigration
order that had excluded them from the archipelago, but upheld the
special military status of Diego Garcia.
Geography British Indian Ocean Territory
Location:
archipelago in the Indian Ocean, south of India, about one-half the
way from Africa to Indonesia
Geographic coordinates:
6 00 S, 71 30 E; note - Diego Garcia 7 20 S, 72 25 E
Map references:
Political Map of the World
Area:
total: 54,400 sq km
land: 60 sq km; Diego Garcia 44 sq km
water: 54,340 sq km
note: includes the entire Chagos Archipelago of 55 islands
Area - comparative:
land area is about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
698 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 3 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical marine; hot, humid, moderated by trade winds
Terrain:
flat and low (most areas do not exceed two meters in elevation)
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Diego Garcia 15 m
Natural resources:
coconuts, fish, sugarcane
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2005)
Irrigated land:
0 sq km
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
NA
Geography - note:
archipelago of 55 islands; Diego Garcia, largest and southernmost
island, occupies strategic location in central Indian Ocean; island
is site of joint US-UK military facility
People British Indian Ocean Territory
Population:
no indigenous inhabitants
note: approximately 1,200 former agricultural workers resident in
the Chagos Archipelago, often referred to as Chagossians or Ilois,
were relocated to Mauritius and the Seychelles in the 1960s and
1970s; in November 2000 they were granted the right of return by a
British High Court ruling, though no timetable has been set; in
November 2004, there were approximately 4,000 UK and US military
personnel and civilian contractors living on the island of Diego
Garcia (July 2006 est.)
Government British Indian Ocean Territory
Country name:
conventional long form: British Indian Ocean Territory
conventional short form: none
abbreviation: BIOT
Dependency status:
overseas territory of the UK; administered by a commissioner,
resident in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London
Legal system:
the laws of the UK, where applicable, apply
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
head of government: Commissioner Tony CROMBIE (since January 2004);
Administrator Tony HUMPHRIES (since February 2005); 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 six blue wavy horizontal stripes; the flag of the UK is
in the upper hoist-side quadrant; the striped section bears a palm
tree and yellow crown centered on the outer half of the flag
Economy British Indian Ocean Territory
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. When the Ilois
return, they plan to reestablish sugarcane production and fishing.
The country makes money by selling fishing licenses and postage
stamps.
Electricity - production:
NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by the US military
Electricity - consumption:
NA kWh
Currency (code):
both the British Pound (GBP) and the US Dollar (USD) are accepted
Communications British Indian Ocean Territory
Telephones - main lines in use:
NA
Telephone system:
general assessment: separate facilities for military and public
needs are available
domestic: all commercial telephone services are available, including
connection to the Internet
international: international telephone service is carried by
satellite (2000)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
NA
Television broadcast stations:
1 (1997)
Televisions:
NA
Internet country code:
.io
Internet hosts:
65 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)
Transportation British Indian Ocean Territory
Airports:
1 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2006)
Roadways:
total: NA
paved: short section of paved road between port and airfield on
Diego Garcia
Ports and terminals:
Diego Garcia
Military British Indian Ocean Territory
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the UK; the US lease on Diego
Garcia expires in 2016
Transnational Issues British Indian Ocean Territory
Disputes - international:
Mauritius and Seychelles claim the Chagos Archipelago including
Diego Garcia; in 2001 the former inhabitants of the Chagos
Archipelago, evicted in 1965 and now residing chiefly in Mauritius,
were granted UK citizenship and the right to repatriation; the UK
resists the Chagossians' demand for an immediate return to the
islands; repatriation is complicated by the exclusive US military
lease of Diego Garcia that restricts access to the largest island in
the chain;
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
======================================================================
@British Virgin Islands
Introduction British Virgin Islands
Background:
First inhabited by Arawak and later by Carib Indians, the Virgin
Islands were settled by the Dutch in 1648 and then annexed by the
English in 1672. The islands were part of the British colony of the
Leeward Islands from 1872-1960; they were granted autonomy in 1967.
The economy is closely tied to the larger and more populous US
Virgin Islands to the west; the US dollar is the legal currency.
Geography British Virgin Islands
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: 153 sq km
land: 153 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: comprised of 16 inhabited and more than 20 uninhabited
islands; includes the islands of Tortola, Anegada, Virgin Gorda,
Jost van Dyke
Area - comparative:
about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
80 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 3 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 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: 6.67%
other: 73.33% (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
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 catchments)
Geography - note:
strong ties to nearby US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico
People British Virgin Islands
Population:
23,098 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 20.5% (male 2,403/female 2,331)
15-64 years: 74.3% (male 8,811/female 8,340)
65 years and over: 5.3% (male 636/female 577) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 31.4 years
male: 31.6 years
female: 31.2 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.97% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
14.89 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
4.42 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
9.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.1 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 16.72 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 19.5 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 13.79 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 76.68 years
male: 75.56 years
female: 77.84 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.72 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: British Virgin Islander(s)
adjective: British Virgin Islander
Ethnic groups:
black 83%, white, Indian, Asian and mixed
Religions:
Protestant 86% (Methodist 33%, Anglican 17%, Church of God 9%,
Seventh-Day Adventist 6%, Baptist 4%, Jehovah's Witnesses 2%, other
15%), Roman Catholic 10%, none 2%, other 2% (1991)
Languages:
English (official)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.8% (1991 est.)
male: NA%
female: NA%
Government British Virgin Islands
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: British Virgin Islands
abbreviation: BVI
Dependency status:
overseas territory of the UK; internal self-governing
Government type:
NA
Capital:
name: Road Town
geographic coordinates: 18 27 N, 64 37 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
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, amended in 2000
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 PEAREY (since 18 April 2006)
head of government: Chief Minister Dr. Orlando D. SMITH (since 17
June 2003)
cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor from members of
the Legislative Council
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by
the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the
majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually
appointed chief minister by the governor
Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislative Council (13 seats; members are elected by
direct popular vote, 1 member from each of nine electoral districts,
4 at-large members; members serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 16 May 2003 (next to be held in 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
NDP 8, VIP 5
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:
Concerned Citizens Movement or CCM [Ethlyn SMITH]; National
Democratic Party or NDP [Orlando SMITH]; United Party or UP [Gregory
MADURO]; Virgin Islands Party or VIP [Ralph T. O'NEAL]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, OECS
(associate), UNESCO (associate), UPU
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 British Virgin Islands
Economy - overview:
The economy, one of the most stable and prosperous in the
Caribbean, is highly dependent on tourism, generating an estimated
45% of the national income. An estimated 350,000 tourists, mainly
from the US, visited the islands in 1998. Tourism suffered in 2002
because of the lackluster US economy. 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. Roughly 400,000 companies were on the offshore
registry by yearend 2000. 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,
made 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
US dollar as its currency since 1959.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$853.4 million (2004 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$839.7 million
GDP - real growth rate:
1% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$38,500 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1.8%
industry: 6.2%
services: 92% (1996 est.)
Labor force:
12,770 (2004)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 0.6%
industry: 40%
services: 59.4%
Unemployment rate:
3.6% (1997)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2% (2005)
Budget:
revenues: $204.7 million
expenditures: $180.4 million; including capital expenditures of
$33.8 million (1997)
Agriculture - products:
fruits, vegetables; livestock, poultry; fish
Industries:
tourism, light industry, construction, rum, concrete block,
offshore financial center
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
34.55 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
32.13 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2003)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2003)
Oil - consumption:
410 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Current account balance:
$134.3 million
Exports:
$25.3 million (2002)
Exports - commodities:
rum, fresh fish, fruits, animals; gravel, sand
Exports - partners:
Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US (2004)
Imports:
$187 million (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
building materials, automobiles, foodstuffs, machinery
Imports - partners:
Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US (2004)
Debt - external:
$36.1 million (1997)
Economic aid - recipient:
$NA
Currency (code):
US dollar (USD)
Currency code:
USD
Exchange rates:
the US dollar is used
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
Communications British Virgin Islands
Telephones - main lines in use:
11,700 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
8,000 (2002)
Telephone system:
general assessment: worldwide telephone service
domestic: NA
international: country code - 1-284; submarine cable to Bermuda
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 0 (2004)
Radios:
9,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (plus one cable company) (1997)
Televisions:
4,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.vg
Internet hosts:
525 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
16 (2000)
Internet users:
4,000 (2002)
Transportation British Virgin Islands
Airports:
3 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)
Roadways:
total: 177 km
paved: 177 km (2002)
Merchant marine:
registered in other countries: 1 (North Korea 1) (2006)
Ports and terminals:
Road Town
Military British Virgin Islands
Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 6,410 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 5,295 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 201 (2005 est.)
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues British Virgin Islands
Disputes - international:
none
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the
US and Europe; large offshore financial center makes it vulnerable
to money laundering
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
======================================================================
@Brunei
Introduction Brunei
Background:
The Sultanate of Brunei's influence peaked between the 15th and
17th centuries when its control extended over coastal areas of
northwest Borneo and the southern Philippines. Brunei subsequently
entered a period of decline brought on by internal strife over royal
succession, colonial expansion of European powers, and piracy. In
1888, Brunei became a British protectorate; independence was
achieved in 1984. The same family has ruled Brunei for over six
centuries. Brunei benefits from extensive petroleum and natural gas
fields, the source of one of the highest per capita GDPs in the
developing world.
Geography Brunei
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:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm or to median line
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: 2.08%
permanent crops: 0.87%
other: 97.05% (2005)
Irrigated land:
10 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:
typhoons, earthquakes, and severe flooding are rare
Environment - current issues:
seasonal smoke/haze resulting from forest fires in Indonesia
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, 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 within Malaysia
People Brunei
Population:
379,444 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 28.1% (male 54,411/female 52,134)
15-64 years: 68.8% (male 138,129/female 123,017)
65 years and over: 3.1% (male 5,584/female 6,169) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 27.4 years
male: 28 years
female: 26.7 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.87% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
18.79 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
3.45 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
3.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.12 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.91 male(s)/female
total population: 1.09 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 12.25 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 15.46 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 8.86 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.01 years
male: 72.57 years
female: 77.59 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.28 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
less than 200 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 200 (2003 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Bruneian(s)
adjective: Bruneian
Ethnic groups:
Malay 67%, Chinese 15%, indigenous 6%, other 12%
Religions:
Muslim (official) 67%, Buddhist 13%, Christian 10%, indigenous
beliefs and other 10%
Languages:
Malay (official), English, Chinese
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93.9%
male: 96.3%
female: 91.4% (2002)
Government Brunei
Country name:
conventional long form: Negara Brunei Darussalam
conventional short form: Brunei
local long form: Negara Brunei Darussalam
local short form: Brunei
Government type:
constitutional sultanate
Capital:
name: Bandar Seri Begawan
geographic coordinates: 4 52 S, 114 55 E
time difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
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); note - 1 January 1984 was the
date of independence from the UK, 23 February 1984 was the date of
independence from British protection
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 Sir HASSANAL Bolkiah
(since 5 October 1967); note - the monarch is both the chief of
state and head of government
head of government: Sultan and Prime Minister Sir HASSANAL Bolkiah
(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:
Legislative Council met on 25 September 2004 for first time in 20
years with 21 members appointed by the Sultan; passed constitutional
amendments calling for a 45-seat council with 15 elected members;
Sultan dissolved council on 1 September 2005 and appointed a new
council with 29 members as of 2 September 2005
elections: last held in March 1962 (date of next election NA)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court - chief justice and judges are sworn in by monarch
for three-year terms; Judicial Committee of Privy Council in London
is final court of appeal for civil cases; Shariah courts deal with
Islamic laws (2006)
Political parties and leaders:
Brunei Solidarity National Party (PPKB) [Haji Mohd HATTA bin Haji
Zainal Abidin]; National Development Party (NDP) [YASSIN Affendi];
People's Awareness Party (PAKAR) [Awang Haji MAIDIN bin Haji Ahmad]
note: parties are small and have limited activity (2005)
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
APEC, APT, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, C, EAS, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDB,
IFRCS, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OIC,
OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Pengiran Anak Dato PUTEH
chancery: 3520 International Court NW #300, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 237-1838
FAX: [1] (202) 885-0560
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Emil SKODON
embassy: Third Floor, Teck Guan Plaza, Jalan Sultan, Bandar Seri
Begawan, BS8811
mailing address: PSC 470 (BSB), FPO AP 96507; P.O. Box 2991, Bandar
Seri Begawan BS8675, Negara Brunei Darussalam
telephone: [673] 222-0384
FAX: [673] 222-5293
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 Brunei
Economy - overview:
This small, well-to-do economy encompasses a mixture of foreign and
domestic entrepreneurship, government regulation, welfare measures,
and village tradition. Crude oil and natural gas production account
for nearly half of GDP and more than 90% of government revenues. 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 free education through the university level and
subsidizes rice and housing. Brunei's leaders are concerned that
steadily increased integration in the world economy will undermine
internal social cohesion, although it became a more prominent player
by serving as chairman for the 2000 APEC (Asian Pacific Economic
Cooperation) forum. Plans for the future include upgrading the labor
force, reducing unemployment, strengthening the banking and tourist
sectors, and, in general, further widening the economic base beyond
oil and gas.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$6.842 billion (2003 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$5.486 billion
GDP - real growth rate:
1.7% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$23,600 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 3.6%
industry: 56.1%
services: 40.3% (2004 est.)
Labor force:
146,300
note: includes foreign workers and military personnel; temporary
residents make up about 40% of labor force (2003 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 2.9%
industry: 61.1%
services: 36% (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate:
4.8% (2004)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
0.9% (2004)
Budget:
revenues: $3.765 billion
expenditures: $4.815 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2004 est.)
Agriculture - products:
rice, vegetables, fruits; chickens, water buffalo, eggs
Industries:
petroleum, petroleum refining, liquefied natural gas, construction
Industrial production growth rate:
7.3% (2003 est.)
Electricity - production:
2.906 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
2.726 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)
Oil - production:
200,800 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - consumption:
10,770 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - exports:
192,700 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day
Oil - proved reserves:
1.255 billion bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:
11.4 billion cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
1.73 billion cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
9 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
390.8 billion cu m (1 January 2002)
Exports:
$4.514 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:
crude oil, natural gas, refined products
Exports - partners:
Japan 36.8%, Indonesia 19.3%, South Korea 12.7%, US 9.5%, Australia
9.3% (2005)
Imports:
$1.641 billion c.i.f. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food,
chemicals
Imports - partners:
Singapore 32.7%, Malaysia 23.3%, Japan 6.9%, UK 5.3%, Thailand
4.5%, South Korea 4.1% (2005)
Debt - external:
$0 $NA
Economic aid - recipient:
$770,000 (2004)
Currency (code):
Bruneian dollar (BND)
Currency code:
BND
Exchange rates:
Bruneian dollars per US dollar - 1.6644 (2005), 1.6902 (2004),
1.7422 (2003), 1.7906 (2002), 1.7917 (2001)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Brunei
Telephones - main lines in use:
90,000 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
205,900 (2004)
Telephone system:
general assessment: service throughout the country is excellent;
international service is good to East Asia, Europe, and the US
domestic: every service available
international: country code - 673; satellite earth stations - 2
Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean); digital submarine
cable links to Malaysia, the Philippines, and Singapore (2001)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 2 (transmitting on 18 different frequencies), shortwave 0
note: British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) station transmits
two FM signals with English and Nepali service (2006)
Radios:
329,000 (1998)
Television broadcast stations:
4; note - including two UHF stations broadcasting a subscription
service (2006)
Televisions:
201,900 (1998)
Internet country code:
.bn
Internet hosts:
27 (2005)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
2 (2000)
Internet users:
56,000 (2005)
Transportation Brunei
Airports:
2 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)
Heliports:
3 (2006)
Pipelines:
gas 672 km; oil 463 km (2006)
Roadways:
total: 2,525 km
paved: 2,338 km
unpaved: 187 km (2000)
Waterways:
209 km (navigable by craft drawing less than 1.2 m) (2005)
Merchant marine:
total: 8 ships (1000 GRT or over) 465,937 GRT/413,393 DWT
by type: liquefied gas 8
foreign-owned: 8 (UK 8) (2006)
Ports and terminals:
Lumut, Muara, Seria
Military Brunei
Military branches:
Royal Brunei Armed Forces: Royal Brunei Land Forces, Royal Brunei
Navy, Royal Brunei Air Force (Tentera Udara Diraja Brunei) (2005)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age (est.) (2004)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 103,885
females age 18-49: 93,024 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 85,045
females age 18-49: 77,436 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 3,478
females age 18-49: 3,342 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$290.7 million (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
5.1% (2003 est.)
Transnational Issues Brunei
Disputes - international:
in 2003 Brunei and Malaysia ceased gas and oil exploration in their
disputed offshore and deepwater seabeds and negotiations have
stalemated prompting consideration of international legal
adjudication; Malaysia's land boundary with Brunei around Limbang is
in dispute; Brunei established an exclusive economic fishing zone
encompassing Louisa Reef in southern Spratly Islands in 1984 but
makes no public territorial claim to the offshore reefs; the 2002
"Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea" has
eased tensions in the Spratly Islands but falls short of a legally
binding "code of conduct" desired by several of the disputants
Illicit drugs:
drug trafficking and illegally importing controlled substances are
serious offenses in Brunei and carry a mandatory death penalty
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
======================================================================
@Bulgaria
Introduction Bulgaria
Background:
The Bulgars, a Central Asian Turkic tribe, merged with the local
Slavic inhabitants in the late 7th century to form the first
Bulgarian state. In succeeding centuries, Bulgaria struggled with
the Byzantine Empire to assert its place in the Balkans, but by the
end of the 14th century the country was overrun by the Ottoman
Turks. Northern Bulgaria attained autonomy in 1878 and all of
Bulgaria became independent from the Ottoman Empire in 1908. Having
fought on the losing side in both World Wars, Bulgaria fell within
the Soviet sphere of influence and became a People's Republic in
1946. Communist domination ended in 1990, when Bulgaria held its
first multiparty election since World War II and began the
contentious process of moving toward political democracy and a
market economy while combating inflation, unemployment, corruption,
and crime. The country joined NATO in 2004 and is slated to join the
EU in 2007.
Geography Bulgaria
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, Macedonia 148 km, Romania 608 km,
Serbia 318 km, Turkey 240 km
Coastline:
354 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 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: 29.94%
permanent crops: 1.9%
other: 68.16% (2005)
Irrigated land:
5,880 sq km (2003)
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-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85,
Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental
Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty,
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Sulfur 94
Geography - note:
strategic location near Turkish Straits; controls key land routes
from Europe to Middle East and Asia
People Bulgaria
Population:
7,385,367 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 13.9% (male 527,881/female 502,334)
15-64 years: 68.7% (male 2,496,054/female 2,579,680)
65 years and over: 17.3% (male 527,027/female 752,391) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 40.8 years
male: 38.7 years
female: 42.9 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
-0.86% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
9.65 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
14.27 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
-4.01 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 19.85 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 23.52 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 15.95 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 72.3 years
male: 68.68 years
female: 76.13 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.38 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
346 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
100 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Bulgarian(s)
adjective: Bulgarian
Ethnic groups:
Bulgarian 83.9%, Turk 9.4%, Roma 4.7%, other 2% (including
Macedonian, Armenian, Tatar, Circassian) (2001 census)
Religions:
Bulgarian Orthodox 82.6%, Muslim 12.2%, other Christian 1.2%, other
4% (2001 census)
Languages:
Bulgarian 84.5%, Turkish 9.6%, Roma 4.1%, other and unspecified
1.8% (2001 census)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.6%
male: 99.1%
female: 98.2% (2003 est.)
Government Bulgaria
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Bulgaria
conventional short form: Bulgaria
local long form: Republika Balgariya
local short form: Balgariya
Government type:
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
name: Sofia
geographic coordinates: 42 41 N, 23 19 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October
Administrative divisions:
28 provinces (oblasti, singular - oblast); Blagoevgrad, Burgas,
Dobrich, Gabrovo, Khaskovo, Kurdzhali, Kyustendil, Lovech, Montana,
Pazardzhik, Pernik, Pleven, Plovdiv, Razgrad, Ruse, Shumen,
Silistra, Sliven, Smolyan, Sofiya, Sofiya-Grad, Stara Zagora,
Turgovishte, Varna, Veliko Turnovo, Vidin, Vratsa, Yambol
Independence:
3 March 1878 (as an autonomous principality within the Ottoman
Empire); 22 September 1908 (complete independence from the Ottoman
Empire)
National holiday:
Liberation 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 Georgi PURVANOV (since 22 January 2002);
Vice President Angel MARIN (since 22 January 2002)
head of government: Prime Minister Sergei STANISHEV (since 16 August
2005); Deputy Prime Ministers Ivaylo KALFIN, Daniel VULCHEV, and
Emel ETEM (since 16 August 2005)
cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister and
elected by the National Assembly
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket
by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term);
election last held 22 and 29 October 2006 (next to be held in 2011);
chairman of the Council of Ministers (prime minister) nominated by
the president and elected by the National Assembly; deputy prime
ministers nominated by the prime minister and elected by the
National Assembly
election results: Georgi PURVANOV reelected president; percent of
vote - Georgi PURVANOV 77.3%, Volen SIDEROV 22.7%; Sergei STANISHEV
elected prime minister, result of legislative vote - 168 to 67
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Narodno Sobranie (240 seats;
members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 25 June 2005 (next to be held June 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - CfB 31.1%, NMS2 19.9%,
MRF 12.7%, ATAKA 8.2%, UDF 7.7%, DSB 6.5%, BPU 5.2%; seats by party
- CfB 83, NMS2 53, MRF 33, UDF 20, ATAKA 17, DSB 17, BPU 13,
independents 4
Judicial branch:
Supreme Administrative Court; Supreme Court of Cassation;
Constitutional Court (12 justices appointed or elected for nine-year
terms); Supreme Judicial Council (consists of the chairmen of the
two Supreme Courts, the Chief Prosecutor, and 22 other members;
responsible for appointing the justices, prosecutors, and
investigating magistrates in the justice system; members of the
Supreme Judicial Council elected for five-year terms, 11 elected by
the National Assembly and 11 by bodies of the judiciary)
Political parties and leaders:
ATAKA (Attack Coalition) (coalition of parties headed by the Attack
National Union); Attack National Union [Volen Siderov]; Bulgarian
Agrarian National Union-People's Union or BANU [Anastasia MOZER];
Bulgarian People's Union or BPU (coalition of UFD, IMRO, and BANU);
Bulgarian Socialist Party or BSP [Sergei STANISHEV]; Coalition for
Bulgaria or CfB (coalition of parties dominated by BSP) [Sergei
STANISHEV]; Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria or DSB [Ivan KOSTOV];
Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization or IMRO [Krasimir
KARAKACHANOV]; Movement for Rights and Freedoms or MRF [Ahmed
DOGAN]; National Movement for Simeon II or NMS2 [Simeon
SAXE-COBURG-GOTHA]; New Time [Emil KOSHLUKOV]; Union of Democratic
Forces or UDF [Petar STOYANOV]; Union of Free Democrats or UFD
[Stefan SOFIYANSKI]; United Democratic Forces or UtDF (a coalition
of center-right parties dominated by UDF)
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Confederation of Independent Trade Unions of Bulgaria or CITUB;
Podkrepa Labor Confederation; numerous regional, ethnic, and
national interest groups with various agendas
International organization participation:
ACCT, Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EU
(applicant), FAO, G- 9, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IFC,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM
(guest), NATO, NSG, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, SECI, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIL, UNMIS, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU
(associate affiliate), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Elena B. POPTODOROVA
chancery: 1621 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 387-0174
FAX: [1] (202) 234-7973
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador John Ross BEYRLE
embassy: 16 Kozyak Street, Sofia 1407
mailing address: American Embassy Sofia, US Department of State,
5740 Sofia Place, Washington, DC 20521-5740
telephone: [359] (2) 937-5100
FAX: [359] (2) 937-5320
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of white (top), green, and red; note -
the national emblem, formerly on the hoist side of the white stripe,
has been removed
Economy Bulgaria
Economy - overview:
Bulgaria, a former communist country soon to enter the European
Union, has experienced macroeconomic stability and strong growth
since a major economic downturn in 1996 led to the fall of the then
socialist government. As a result, the government became committed
to economic reform and responsible fiscal planning. Minerals,
including coal, copper, and zinc, play an important role in
industry. In 1997, macroeconomic stability was reinforced by the
imposition of a fixed exchange rate of the lev against the German
D-mark - the currency is now fixed against the euro - and the
negotiation of an IMF standby agreement. Low inflation and steady
progress on structural reforms improved the business environment;
Bulgaria has averaged 4% growth since 2000 and has begun to attract
significant amounts of foreign direct investment. Corruption in the
public administration, a weak judiciary, and the presence of
organized crime remain the largest challenges for Bulgaria.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$71.67 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$25.79 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
5.5% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$9,600 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 9.3%
industry: 30.4%
services: 60.3% (2005 est.)
Labor force:
3.34 million (2005 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 11%
industry: 32.7%
services: 56.3% (3rd qtr. 2004 est.)
Unemployment rate:
9.9% (2005)
Population below poverty line:
Below $2.15 per day (PPP) 4% (2003)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.4%
highest 10%: 23.7% (2001)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
31.9 (2001)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
5% (2005)
Investment (gross fixed):
23.8% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $11.18 billion
expenditures: $10.9 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2005 est.)
Public debt:
31.9% of GDP (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:
vegetables, fruits, tobacco, wine, wheat, barley, sunflowers, sugar
beets; livestock
Industries:
electricity, gas, water; food, beverages, tobacco; machinery and
equipment, base metals, chemical products, coke, refined petroleum,
nuclear fuel
Industrial production growth rate:
7.9% (2005)
Electricity - production:
45 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 47.8%
hydro: 8.1%
nuclear: 44.1%
other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
25.1 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:
6.8 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:
1.3 billion kWh (2003)
Oil - production:
1,000 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - consumption:
98,000 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:
85,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - proved reserves:
15 million bbl (1 January 2005)
Natural gas - production:
1.13 million cu m (2003)
Natural gas - consumption:
3.1 billion cu m (2004)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2003)
Natural gas - imports:
2.9 billion cu m (2004)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
5.67 billion cu m (1 January 2005)
Current account balance:
$-3.919 billion (2005)
Exports:
$11.67 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:
clothing, footwear, iron and steel, machinery and equipment, fuels
Exports - partners:
Italy 12%, Turkey 10.5%, Germany 9.8%, Greece 9.5%, France 4.6%
(2005)
Imports:
$16.78 billion f.o.b. (2005)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment; metals and ores; chemicals and plastics;
fuels, minerals, and raw materials
Imports - partners:
Russia 15.6%, Germany 13.6%, Italy 9%, Turkey 6.1%, Greece 5%,
France 4.7% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$8.695 billion (2005)
Debt - external:
$15.32 billion (2005 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$475 million per year in EU pre-accession aid (2004-06)
Currency (code):
lev (BGL)
Currency code:
BGN
Exchange rates:
leva per US dollar - 1.5741 (2005), 1.5751 (2004), 1.7327 (2003),
2.077 (2002), 2.1847 (2001)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Bulgaria
Telephones - main lines in use:
2,483,500 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
6.245 million (2005)
Telephone system:
general assessment: extensive but antiquated
domestic: more than two-thirds of the lines are residential;
telephone service is available in most villages; a fairly modern
digital cable trunk line now connects switching centers in most of
the regions, the others are connected by digital microwave radio
relay
international: country code - 359; direct dialing to 58 countries;
satellite earth stations - 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region); 2
Intelsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 31, FM 63, shortwave 2 (2001)
Radios:
4.51 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
39 (plus 1,242 repeaters) (2001)
Televisions:
3.31 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.bg
Internet hosts:
184,975 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
200 (2001)
Internet users:
2.2 million (2005)
Transportation Bulgaria
Airports:
217 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 132
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 19
1,524 to 2,437 m: 15
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 96 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 85
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 72 (2006)
Heliports:
4 (2006)
Pipelines:
gas 2,505 km; oil 339 km; refined products 156 km (2006)
Railways:
total: 4,294 km
standard gauge: 4,049 km 1.435-m gauge (2,710 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 245 km 0.760-m gauge (2005)
Roadways:
total: 102,016 km
paved: 93,855 km (including 328 km of expressways)
unpaved: 8,161 km (2003)
Waterways:
470 km (2006)
Merchant marine:
total: 75 ships (1000 GRT or over) 872,653 GRT/1,294,877 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 40, cargo 17, chemical tanker 4, container 6,
passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 3, roll on/roll off 4
foreign-owned: 2 (Germany 1, Russia 1)
registered in other countries: 41 (Cambodia 1, Comoros 1, Malta 13,
Panama 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 17, Slovakia 7, unknown
1) (2006)
Ports and terminals:
Burgas, Varna
Military Bulgaria
Military branches:
Bulgarian Armed Forces: Ground Forces, Naval Forces, Bulgarian Air
Force (2006)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service;
conscript service obligation - 9 months; as of May 2006, 67% of the
Bulgarian Army comprised of professional soldiers; conscription into
the Army to end as of 1 January 2008; Air and Air Defense Forces and
Naval Forces will become fully professional by end of 2006 (2006)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 1,661,211
females age 18-49: 1,660,982 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 1,302,037
females age 18-49: 1,365,126 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 51,023
females age 18-49: 48,651 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$356 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
2.6% (2003)
Transnational Issues Bulgaria
Disputes - international:
none
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; some money laundering of
drug-related proceeds through financial institutions
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
======================================================================
@Burkina Faso
Introduction Burkina Faso
Background:
Burkina Faso (formerly Upper Volta) achieved independence from
France in 1960. Repeated military coups during the 1970s and 1980s
were followed by multiparty elections in the early 1990s. Burkina
Faso's high population density and limited natural resources result
in poor economic prospects for the majority of its citizens. Recent
unrest in Cote d'Ivoire and northern Ghana has hindered the ability
of several hundred thousand seasonal Burkinabe farm workers to find
employment in neighboring countries.
Geography Burkina Faso
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: 3,193 km
border countries: Benin 306 km, Cote d'Ivoire 584 km, Ghana 549 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, phosphates,
pumice, salt
Land use:
arable land: 17.66%
permanent crops: 0.22%
other: 82.12% (2005)
Irrigated land:
250 sq km (2003)
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, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation,
Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
landlocked savanna cut by the three principal rivers of the Black,
Red, and White Voltas
People Burkina Faso
Population:
13,902,972
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the
effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower
life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower
population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 46.8% (male 3,267,202/female 3,235,190)
15-64 years: 50.7% (male 3,513,559/female 3,538,623)
65 years and over: 2.5% (male 140,083/female 208,315) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 16.5 years
male: 16.3 years
female: 16.7 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
3% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
45.62 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
15.6 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
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: 0.67 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 91.35 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 99.17 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 83.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 48.85 years
male: 47.33 years
female: 50.42 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
6.47 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
4.2% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
300,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
29,000 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria is a high risk in some locations
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis (2005)
Nationality:
noun: Burkinabe (singular and plural)
adjective: Burkinabe
Ethnic groups:
Mossi over 40%, Gurunsi, Senufo, Lobi, Bobo, Mande, Fulani
Religions:
Muslim 50%, indigenous beliefs 40%, Christian (mainly Roman
Catholic) 10%
Languages:
French (official), native African languages belonging to Sudanic
family spoken by 90% of the population
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 26.6%
male: 36.9%
female: 16.6% (2003 est.)
Government Burkina Faso
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Burkina Faso
local long form: none
local short form: Burkina Faso
former: Upper Volta, Republic of Upper Volta
Government type:
parliamentary republic
Capital:
name: Ouagadougou
geographic coordinates: 12 22 N, 1 31 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
45 provinces; Bale, Bam, Banwa, Bazega, Bougouriba, Boulgou,
Boulkiemde, Comoe, Ganzourgou, Gnagna, Gourma, Houet, Ioba, Kadiogo,
Kenedougou, Komondjari, Kompienga, Kossi, Koulpelogo, Kouritenga,
Kourweogo, Leraba, Loroum, Mouhoun, Nahouri, Namentenga, Nayala,
Noumbiel, Oubritenga, Oudalan, Passore, Poni, Sanguie, Sanmatenga,
Seno, Sissili, Soum, Sourou, Tapoa, Tuy, Yagha, Yatenga, Ziro,
Zondoma, Zoundweogo
Independence:
5 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday:
Republic Day, 11 December (1958)
Constitution:
2 June 1991 approved by referendum, 11 June 1991 formally adopted;
amended April 2000
Legal system:
based on French civil law system and customary law
Suffrage:
universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Blaise COMPAORE (since 15 October 1987)
head of government: Prime Minister Paramanga Ernest YONLI (since 6
November 2000)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the
recommendation of the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held 13 November 2005
(next to be held in 2010); in April 2000, the constitution was
amended reducing the presidential term from seven to five years,
enforceable as of 2005; prime minister appointed by the president
with the consent of the legislature
election results: Blaise COMPAORE reelected president; percent of
popular vote - Blaise COMPAORE 80.3%, Benewende Stanislas SANKARA
4.9%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (111 seats;
members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: National Assembly election last held 5 May 2002 (next to
be held May 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
CDP 57, RDA-ADF 17, PDP/PS 10, CFD 5, PAI 5, other 17
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; Appeals Court
Political parties and leaders:
African Democratic Rally-Alliance for Democracy and Federation or
RDA-ADF [Herman YAMEOGO]; Confederation for Federation and Democracy
or CFD [Amadou Diemdioda DICKO]; Congress for Democracy and Progress
or CDP [Roch Marc-Christian KABORE]; Movement for Tolerance and
Progress or MTP [Nayabtigungou Congo KABORE]; Party for African
Independence or PAI [Philippe OUEDRAOGO]; Party for Democracy and
Progress or PDP [Joseph KI-ZERBO]; Socialist Party or PS; Union of
Greens for the Development of Burkina Faso or UVDB [Ram OVEDRAGO]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Burkinabe General Confederation of Labor or CGTB; Burkinabe
Movement for Human Rights or MBDHP; Group of 14 February; National
Confederation of Burkinabe Workers or CNTB; National Organization of
Free Unions or ONSL; watchdog/political action groups throughout the
country in both organizations and communities
International organization participation:
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, MONUC, NAM,
OIC, OIF, ONUB, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOCI, UPU,
WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Tertius ZONGO
chancery: 2340 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 332-5577
FAX: [1] (202) 667-1882
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Jeanine E. JACKSON
embassy: 602 Avenue Raoul Follereau, Koulouba, Secteur 4
mailing address: 01 B. P. 35, Ouagadougou 01; pouch mail - US
Department of State, 2440 Ouagadougou Place, Washington, DC
20521-2440
telephone: [226] 50-30-67-23
FAX: [226] 50-30-38-90, 50-31-23-68
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 Burkina Faso
Economy - overview:
One of the poorest countries in the world, landlocked Burkina Faso
has few natural resources and a weak industrial base. About 90% of
the population is engaged in subsistence agriculture, which is
vulnerable to harsh climatic conditions. Cotton is the key crop and
the government has joined with other cotton producing countries in
the region to lobby for improved access to Western markets. GDP
growth has largely been driven by increases in world cotton prices.
Industry remains dominated by unprofitable government-controlled
corporations. Following the CFA franc currency devaluation in
January 1994, the government updated its development program in
conjunction with international agencies; exports and economic growth
have increased. The government devolved macroeconomic policy and
inflation targeting to the West African regional central bank
(BCEAO), but maintains control over fiscal and microeconomic
policies, including implementing reforms to encourage private
investment. The bitter internal crisis in neighboring Cote d'Ivoire
continues to hurt trade and industrial prospects and deepens the
need for international assistance.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$16.66 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$5.405 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.5% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$1,200 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 32.2%
industry: 19.6%
services: 48.2% (2004 est.)
Labor force:
5 million
note: a large part of the male labor force migrates annually to
neighboring countries for seasonal employment (2003)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 90%
industry and services: 10% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Population below poverty line:
45% (2003 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2%
highest 10%: 46.8% (1994)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
48.2 (1998)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
6.4% (2005 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
20.7% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $1.033 billion
expenditures: $1.382 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:
cotton, peanuts, shea nuts, sesame, sorghum, millet, corn, rice;
livestock
Industries:
cotton lint, beverages, agricultural processing, soap, cigarettes,
textiles, gold
Industrial production growth rate:
14% (2001 est.)
Electricity - production:
375.6 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 69.9%
hydro: 30.1%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
349.3 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2003)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2003)
Oil - consumption:
8,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Current account balance:
$-460 million (2005 est.)
Exports:
$395 million f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:
cotton, livestock, gold
Exports - partners:
China 38.3%, Singapore 12.6%, Thailand 5.7%, Ghana 5.2%, Taiwan
4.4% (2005)
Imports:
$992 million f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:
capital goods, foodstuffs, petroleum
Imports - partners:
France 24.2%, Cote d'Ivoire 23.7%, Togo 6.8% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$764 million (2005 est.)
Debt - external:
$1.85 billion (2003)
Economic aid - recipient:
$468.4 million (2003)
Currency (code):
Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note - responsible
authority is the Central Bank of the West African States
Currency code:
XOF
Exchange rates:
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 527.47
(2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99 (2002), 733.04 (2001)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Burkina Faso
Telephones - main lines in use:
97,400 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
572,200 (2005)
Telephone system:
general assessment: all services only fair
domestic: microwave radio relay, open-wire, and radiotelephone
communication stations
international: country code - 226; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 3, FM 17, shortwave 3 (2002)
Radios:
394,020 (2000)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (2002)
Televisions:
131,340 (2002)
Internet country code:
.bf
Internet hosts:
399 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2002)
Internet users:
64,600 (2005)
Transportation Burkina Faso
Airports:
34 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 32
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 18 (2006)
Railways:
total: 622 km
narrow gauge: 622 km 1.000-m gauge
note:: another 660 km of this railway extends into Cote D'Ivoire
(2005)
Roadways:
total: 12,506 km
paved: 2,001 km
unpaved: 10,505 km (1999)
Military Burkina Faso
Military branches:
Army, Air Force of Burkina Faso (Force Aerienne de Burkina Faso),
National Gendarmerie (2006)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for compulsory military service; 20 years of age
for voluntary military service (2001)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 2,651,687 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 1,530,324 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$74.83 million (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.3% (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues Burkina Faso
Disputes - international:
two villages are in dispute along the border with Benin; Benin
accuses Burkina Faso of moving boundary pillars; Burkina Faso border
regions remain a staging area for Liberia and Cote d'Ivoire rebels
and an asylum for refugees caught in local fighting; the Ivoirian
Government accuses Burkina Faso of sheltering Ivoirian rebels
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
======================================================================
@Burma
Introduction Burma
Background:
Britain conquered Burma over a period of 62 years (1824-1886) and
incorporated it into its Indian Empire. Burma was administered as a
province of India until 1937 when it became a separate,
self-governing colony; independence from the Commonwealth was
attained in 1948. Gen. NE WIN dominated the government from 1962 to
1988, first as military ruler, then as self-appointed president, and
later as political kingpin. Despite multiparty legislative elections
in 1990 that resulted in the main opposition party - the National
League for Democracy (NLD) - winning a landslide victory, the ruling
junta refused to hand over power. NLD leader and Nobel Peace Prize
recipient AUNG SAN SUU KYI, who was under house arrest from 1989 to
1995 and 2000 to 2002, was imprisoned in May 2003 and subsequently
transferred to house arrest, where she remains virtually
incommunicado. In November 2005, the junta extended her detention
for at least another six months. Her supporters, as well as all
those who promote democracy and improved human rights, are routinely
harassed or jailed.
Geography Burma
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:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
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,
hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 14.92%
permanent crops: 1.31%
other: 83.77% (2005)
Irrigated land:
18,700 sq km (2003)
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, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, 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 Burma
Population:
47,382,633
note: estimates for this country take into account the effects of
excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life
expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower
population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 26.4% (male 6,335,236/female 6,181,216)
15-64 years: 68.5% (male 16,011,723/female 16,449,626)
65 years and over: 5.1% (male 1,035,853/female 1,368,979) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 27 years
male: 26.4 years
female: 27.6 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.81% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
17.91 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
9.83 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 61.85 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 72.68 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 50.38 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 60.97 years
male: 58.07 years
female: 64.03 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.98 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
1.2% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
330,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
20,000 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria are high risks in
some locations (2005)
Nationality:
noun: Burmese (singular and plural)
adjective: Burmese
Ethnic groups:
Burman 68%, Shan 9%, Karen 7%, Rakhine 4%, Chinese 3%, Indian 2%,
Mon 2%, other 5%
Religions:
Buddhist 89%, Christian 4% (Baptist 3%, Roman Catholic 1%), Muslim
4%, animist 1%, other 2%
Languages:
Burmese, minority ethnic groups have their own languages
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 85.3%
male: 89.2%
female: 81.4% (2002)
Government Burma
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
note: since 1989 the military authorities in Burma have promoted the
name Myanmar as a conventional name for their state; this decision
was not approved by any sitting legislature in Burma, and the US
Government did not adopt the name, which is a derivative of the
Burmese short-form name Myanma Naingngandaw
Government type:
military junta
Capital:
name: Rangoon (Yangon)
geographic coordinates: 16 47 N, 96 10 E
time difference: UTC+6.5 (11.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
note: Naypyidaw is being established as a government center
Administrative divisions:
7 divisions (taing-myar, singular - taing) and 7 states (pyi
ne-myar, singular - pyi ne)
divisions: Ayeyarwady, Bago, Magway, Mandalay, Sagaing, Tanintharyi,
Yangon
states: Chin State, Kachin State, Kayah State, Kayin State, Mon
State, Rakhine State, Shan State
Independence:
4 January 1948 (from UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 4 January (1948); Union Day, 12 February (1947)
Constitution:
3 January 1974; suspended since 18 September 1988; national
convention convened in 1993 to draft a new constitution but
collapsed in 1996; reconvened in 2004 but does not include
participation of democratic opposition
Legal system:
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council
(SPDC) Sr. Gen. THAN SHWE (since 23 April 1992)
head of government: Prime Minister, Gen SOE WIN (since 19 October
2004)
cabinet: Cabinet is overseen by the SPDC; military junta, so named
15 November 1997, assumed power 18 September 1988 under the name
State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC)
elections: none
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 allowed by
junta to convene
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
NLD 392 (opposition), SNLD 23 (opposition), NUP 10 (pro-government),
other 60
Judicial branch:
remnants of the British-era legal system are 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 League for Democracy or NLD [AUNG SHWE, chairman, AUNG SAN
SUU KYI, general secretary]; National Unity Party or NUP
(pro-regime) [THA KYAW] (at last report); Shan Nationalities League
for Democracy or SNLD [HKUN HTUN OO]; and other smaller parties
Political pressure groups and leaders:
National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma or NCGUB
(self-proclaimed government in exile) ["Prime Minister" Dr. SEIN
WIN] consists of individuals, some legitimately elected to the
People's Assembly in 1990 (the group fled to a border area and
joined insurgents in December 1990 to form parallel government in
exile); Kachin Independence Organization or KIO; Karen National
Union or KNU; several Shan factions; United Wa State Army or UWSA;
Union Solidarity and Development Association or USDA (pro-regime, a
social and political mass-member organization) [HTAY OO, general
secretary]
International organization participation:
APT, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, BIMSTEC, CP, EAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OPCW (signatory), UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires MYINT LWIN
chancery: 2300 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 332-3344
FAX: [1] (202) 332-4351
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Shari
VILLAROSA
embassy: 581 Merchant Street, Rangoon (GPO 521)
mailing address: Box B, APO AP 96546
telephone: [95] (1) 379-880, 379-881
FAX: [95] (1) 256-018
Flag description:
red with a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing,
14 white five-pointed stars encircling a cogwheel containing a stalk
of rice; the 14 stars represent the seven administrative divisions
and seven states
Economy Burma
Economy - overview:
Burma, a resource-rich country, suffers from pervasive government
controls, inefficient economic policies, and rural poverty. The
junta took steps in the early 1990s to liberalize the economy after
decades of failure under the "Burmese Way to Socialism," but those
efforts stalled, and some of the liberalization measures were
rescinded. Burma does not have monetary or fiscal stability, so the
economy suffers from serious macroeconomic imbalances - including
inflation, multiple official exchange rates that overvalue the
Burmese kyat, and a distorted interest rate regime. Most overseas
development assistance ceased after the junta began to suppress the
democracy movement in 1988 and subsequently refused to honor the
results of the 1990 legislative elections. In response to the
government of Burma's attack in May 2003 on AUNG SAN SUU KYI and her
convoy, the US imposed new economic sanctions against Burma -
including a ban on imports of Burmese products and a ban on
provision of financial services by US persons. A poor investment
climate further slowed the inflow of foreign exchange. The most
productive sectors will continue to be in extractive industries,
especially oil and gas, mining, and timber. Other areas, such as
manufacturing and services, are struggling with inadequate
infrastructure, unpredictable import/export policies, deteriorating
health and education systems, and corruption. A major banking crisis
in 2003 shuttered the country's 20 private banks and disrupted the
economy. As of December 2005, the largest private banks operate
under tight restrictions limiting the private sector's access to
formal credit. Official statistics are inaccurate. Published
statistics on foreign trade are greatly understated because of the
size of the black market and unofficial border trade - often
estimated to be as large as the official economy. Burma's trade with
Thailand, China, and India is rising. Though the Burmese government
has good economic relations with its neighbors, better investment
and business climates and an improved political situation are needed
to promote foreign investment, exports, and tourism.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$80.11 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$7.464 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
5.2% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$1,700 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 56.4%
industry: 8.2%
services: 35.3% (2005 est.)
Labor force:
27.75 million (2005 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 70%
industry: 7%
services: 23% (2001)
Unemployment rate:
5% (2005 est.)
Population below poverty line:
25% (2000 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.8%
highest 10%: 32.4% (1998)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
20.2% (2005 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
11.5% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $473.3 million
expenditures: $716.6 million; including capital expenditures of NA
(FY04/05 est.)
Agriculture - products:
rice, pulses, beans, sesame, groundnuts, sugarcane; hardwood; fish
and fish products
Industries:
agricultural processing; knit and woven apparel; wood and wood
products; copper, tin, tungsten, iron; construction materials;
pharmaceuticals; fertilizer; cement; natural gas
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
7.393 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 44.5%
hydro: 43.4%
nuclear: 0%
other: 12.1% (2002)
Electricity - consumption:
6.875 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)
Oil - production:
18,500 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - consumption:
32,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:
3,356 bbl/day (2003)
Oil - imports:
49,230 bbl/day (2003)
Oil - proved reserves:
less than 1 billion bbl (2005)
Natural gas - production:
9.98 billion cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
1.569 billion cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
8.424 billion cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
283.2 billion cu m (2005)
Current account balance:
$700 million (2005 est.)
Exports:
$3.111 billion f.o.b.
note: official export figures are grossly underestimated due to the
value of timber, gems, narcotics, rice, and other products smuggled
to Thailand, China, and Bangladesh (2004)
Exports - commodities:
clothing, gas, wood products, pulses, beans, fish, rice
Exports - partners:
Thailand 44.3%, India 12.3%, China 6.8%, Japan 5% (2005)
Imports:
$3.454 billion f.o.b.
note: import figures are grossly underestimated due to the value of
consumer goods, diesel fuel, and other products smuggled in from
Thailand, China, Malaysia, and India (2004)
Imports - commodities:
fabric, petroleum products, plastics, machinery, transport
equipment, construction materials, crude oil; food products
Imports - partners:
China 28.8%, Thailand 21.8%, Singapore 18.3%, Malaysia 7.6% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$763 million (2005 est.)
Debt - external:
$6.99 billion (2005 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$127 million (2001 est.)
Currency (code):
kyat (MMK)
Currency code:
MMK
Exchange rates:
kyats per US dollar - 5.761 (2005), 5.7459 (2004), 6.0764 (2003),
6.5734 (2002), 6.6841 (2001)
note: these are official exchange rates; unofficial exchange rates
ranged in 2004 from 815 kyat/US dollar to nearly 970 kyat/US dollar,
and by year-end 2005, the unofficial exchange rate was 1,075 kyat/US
dollar
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
Communications Burma
Telephones - main lines in use:
476,200 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
183,400 (2005)
Telephone system:
general assessment: barely meets minimum requirements for local and
intercity service for business and government; international service
is fair
domestic: NA
international: country code - 95; satellite earth station - 2,
Intelsat (Indian Ocean), and ShinSat
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 1 (2004)
Radios:
4.2 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
2 (2004)
Televisions:
320,000 (2000)
Internet country code:
.mm
Internet hosts:
42 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1
note: as of September 2000, Internet connections were legal only for
the government, tourist offices, and a few large businesses (2000)
Internet users:
78,000 (2005)
Transportation Burma
Airports:
85 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 21
over 3,047 m: 8
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 64
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 13
914 to 1,523 m: 18
under 914 m: 32 (2006)
Heliports:
1 (2006)
Pipelines:
gas 2,224 km; oil 558 km (2006)
Railways:
total: 3,955 km
narrow gauge: 3,955 km 1.000-m gauge (2005)
Roadways:
total: 27,000 km
paved: 3,200 km
unpaved: 23,800 km (2005)
Waterways:
12,800 km (2005)
Merchant marine:
total: 34 ships (1000 GRT or over) 402,699 GRT/620,642 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 8, cargo 20, passenger 2, passenger/cargo 3,
specialized tanker 1
foreign-owned: 9 (Germany 5, Japan 4) (2006)
Ports and terminals:
Moulmein, Rangoon, Sittwe
Military Burma
Military branches:
Myanmar Armed Forces (Tatmadaw): Army, Navy, Air Force (2005)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service for both sexes (2004)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 12,268,850
females age 18-49: 12,469,771 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 7,946,701
females age 18-49: 8,543,705 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 469,841
females: 455,689 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$39 million (FY97)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
2.1% (FY97)
Transnational Issues Burma
Disputes - international:
over half of Burma's population consists of diverse ethnic groups
with substantial numbers of kin beyond its borders; despite
continuing border committee talks, significant differences remain
with Thailand over boundary alignment and the handling of ethnic
rebels, refugees, and illegal cross-border activities; ethnic Karens
flee into Thailand to escape fighting between Karen rebels and
Burmese troops; in 2005 Thailand sheltered about 121,000 Burmese
refugees; Karens also protest Thai support for a Burmese
hydroelectric dam on the Salween River near the border;
environmentalists in Burma and Thailand continue to voice concern
over China's construction of hydroelectric dams upstream on the
Nujiang/Salween River in Yunnan Province; India seeks cooperation
from Burma to keep Indian Nagaland separatists from hiding in remote
Burmese uplands
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
IDPs: 550,000-1,000,000 (government offensives against ethnic
insurgent groups near borders; most IDPs are ethnic Karen, Karenni,
Shan, Tavoyan, and Mon) (2005)
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Burma is a source country for men, women, and
children trafficked to East and Southeast Asia for sexual
exploitation, domestic service, and forced commercial labor; a
significant number of victims are economic migrants who wind up in
forced or bonded labor and forced prostitution; to a lesser extent,
Burma is a country of transit and destination for women trafficked
from China for sexual exploitation; internal trafficking of persons
occurs primarily for labor in industrial zones and agricultural
estates; internal trafficking of women and girls for sexual
exploitation occurs from villages to urban centers and other areas;
the military junta's economic mismanagement, human rights abuses,
and policy of using forced labor are driving factors behind Burma's
large trafficking problem
tier rating: Tier 3 - Burma does not fully comply with the minimum
standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making
significant efforts to do so
Illicit drugs:
remains world's second largest producer of illicit opium (estimated
production in 2004 - 292 metric tons, down 40% from 2003 due to
eradication efforts and drought; cultivation in 2004 - 30,900
hectares, a 34% decline from 2003); lack of government will to take
on major narcotrafficking groups and lack of serious commitment
against money laundering continues to hinder the overall antidrug
effort; major source of methamphetamine and heroin for regional
consumption; currently under Financial Action Task Force
countermeasures due to continued failure to address its inadequate
money-laundering controls (2005)
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
======================================================================
@Burundi
Introduction Burundi
Background:
Burundi's first democratically elected president was assassinated
in October 1993 after only 100 days in office, triggering widespread
ethnic violence between Hutu and Tutsi factions. Over 200,000
Burundians perished during the conflict that spanned almost a dozen
years. Hundreds of thousands of Burundians were internally displaced
or became refugees in neighboring countries. An internationally
brokered power-sharing agreement between the Tutsi-dominated
government and the Hutu rebels in 2003 paved the way for a
transition process that led to an integrated defense force,
established a new constitution in 2005, and elected a majority Hutu
government in 2005. The new government, led by President Pierre
NKURUNZIZA, signed a South African brokered ceasefire with the
country's last rebel group in the summer of 2006 but still faces
many challenges.
Geography Burundi
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 2,670 m above sea level); 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; two wet seasons (February to May and
September to November), and two dry seasons (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: Heha 2,670 m
Natural resources:
nickel, uranium, rare earth oxides, peat, cobalt, copper, platinum,
vanadium, arable land, hydropower, niobium, tantalum, gold, tin,
tungsten, kaolin, limestone
Land use:
arable land: 35.57%
permanent crops: 13.12%
other: 51.31% (2005)
Irrigated land:
210 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:
flooding, landslides, drought
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, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes,
Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:
landlocked; straddles crest of the Nile-Congo watershed; the
Kagera, which drains into Lake Victoria, is the most remote
headstream of the White Nile
People Burundi
Population:
8,090,068
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the
effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower
life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower
population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 46.3% (male 1,884,825/female 1,863,200)
15-64 years: 51.1% (male 2,051,451/female 2,082,017)
65 years and over: 2.6% (male 83,432/female 125,143) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 16.6 years
male: 16.4 years
female: 16.9 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
3.7% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
42.22 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
13.46 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
8.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
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: 0.67 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 63.13 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 70.26 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 55.79 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 50.81 years
male: 50.07 years
female: 51.58 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
6.55 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
6% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
250,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
25,000 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and
typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria (2005)
Nationality:
noun: Burundian(s)
adjective: Burundian
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 23%, Muslim 10%
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: 51.6%
male: 58.5%
female: 45.2% (2003 est.)
Government Burundi
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Burundi
conventional short form: Burundi
local long form: Republique du Burundi/Republika y'u Burundi
local short form: Burundi
former: Urundi
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Bujumbura
geographic coordinates: 3 23 S, 29 22 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
17 provinces; Bubanza, Bujumbura Mairie, Bujumbura Rurale, Bururi,
Cankuzo, Cibitoke, Gitega, Karuzi, Kayanza, Kirundo, Makamba,
Muramvya, Muyinga, Mwaro, Ngozi, Rutana, Ruyigi
Independence:
1 July 1962 (from UN trusteeship under Belgian administration)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 1 July (1962)
Constitution:
28 February 2005; ratified by popular referendum
Legal system:
based on German and Belgian civil codes and customary law; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
NA years of age; universal adult
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Pierre NKURUNZIZA (since 26 August 2005);
First Vice President Martin NDUWIMANA - Tutsi (since 29 August
2005); Second Vice President Marina BARAMPAMA - Hutu (since 8
September 2006)
head of government: President Pierre NKURUNZIZA (since 26 August
2005); First Vice President Martin NDUWIMANA - Tutsi (since 29
August 2005); Second Vice President Marina BARAMPAMA - Hutu (since 8
September 2006)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by president
elections: the president is elected by popular vote to a five-year
term (eligible for a second term); note - the constitution adopted
in February 2005 permits the post-transition president to be elected
by a two-thirds majority of the parliament; vice presidents
nominated by the president, endorsed by parliament
election results: Pierre NKURUNZIZA was elected president by the
parliament by a vote of 151 to 9; note - the constitution adopted in
February 2005 permits the post-transition president to be elected by
a two-thirds majority of the legislature
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament or Parlement, consists of a National Assembly
or Assemblee Nationale (minimum 100 seats - 60% Hutu and 40% Tutsi
with at least 30% being women; additional seats appointed by a
National Independent Electoral Commission to ensure ethnic
representation; members are elected by popular vote to serve
five-year terms) and a Senate (54 seats; 34 by indirect vote to
serve five year terms, with remaining seats assigned to ethnic
groups and former chiefs of state)
elections: National Assembly - last held 4 July 2005 (next to be
held in 2010); Senate - last held 29 July 2005 (next to be held in
2010)
election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party -
CNDD-FDD 58.6%, FRODEBU 21.7%, UPRONA 7.2%, CNDD 4.1%,
MRC-Rurenzangemero 2.1%, others 6.2%; seats by party - CNDD-FDD 59,
FRODEBU 25, UPRONA 10, CNDD 4, MRC-Rurenzangemero 2; Senate -
percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - CNDD-FDD 30,
FRODEBU 3, CNDD 1
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; Constitutional Court; Courts of
Appeal (there are three in separate locations); Tribunals of First
Instance (17 at the province level and 123 small local tribunals)
Political parties and leaders:
the three national, mainstream, governing parties are: Burundi
Democratic Front or FRODEBU [Leonce NGENDAKUMANA, president];
National Council for the Defense of Democracy, Front for the Defense
of Democracy or CNDD-FDD [Hussein RADJABU, president]; Unity for
National Progress or UPRONA [Aloys RUBUKA, president]
note: a multiparty system was introduced after 1998, included are:
National Council for the Defense of Democracy or CNDD; National
Resistance Movement for the Rehabilitation of the Citizen or
MRC-Rurenzangemero [Epitace BANYAGANAKANDI]; Party for National
Redress or PARENA [Jean-Baptiste BAGAZA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
none
International organization participation:
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, CEPGL, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt,
ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM
(observer), IPU, ISO (subscriber), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Celestin NIYONGABO
chancery: Suite 212, 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 342-2574
FAX: [1] (202) 342-2578
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Patricia Newton MOLLER
embassy: Avenue des Etats-Unis, Bujumbura
mailing address: B. P. 1720, Bujumbura
telephone: [257] 223454
FAX: [257] 222926
Flag description:
divided by a white diagonal cross into red panels (top and bottom)
and green panels (hoist side and fly 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 Burundi
Economy - overview:
Burundi is a landlocked, resource-poor country with an
underdeveloped manufacturing sector. The economy is predominantly
agricultural with more than 90% of the population dependent on
subsistence agriculture. Economic growth depends on coffee and tea
exports, which account for 90% of foreign exchange earnings. The
ability to pay for imports, therefore, rests primarily on weather
conditions and international coffee and tea prices. The Tutsi
minority, 14% of the population, dominates the government and the
coffee trade at the expense of the Hutu majority, 85% of the
population. An ethnic-based war that lasted for over a decade
resulted in more than 200,000 deaths, forced more than 48,000
refugees into Tanzania, and displaced 140,000 others internally.
Only one in two children go to school, and approximately one in 10
adults has HIV/AIDS. Food, medicine, and electricity remain in short
supply. Political stability and the end of the civil war have
improved aid flows and economic activity has increased, but
underlying weaknesses - a high poverty rate, poor education rates, a
weak legal system, and low administrative capacity - risk
undermining planned economic reforms.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$5.404 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$730 million (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1.1% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$700 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 46.3%
industry: 20.3%
services: 33.4% (2005 est.)
Labor force:
2.99 million (2002)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 93.6%
industry: 2.3%
services: 4.1% (2002 est.)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Population below poverty line:
68% (2002 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.8%
highest 10%: 32.9% (1998)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
33.3 (1998)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
16% (2005 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
11.6% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $215.4 million
expenditures: $278 million; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:
coffee, cotton, tea, corn, sorghum, sweet potatoes, bananas, manioc
(tapioca); beef, milk, hides
Industries:
light consumer goods such as blankets, shoes, soap; assembly of
imported components; public works construction; food processing
Industrial production growth rate:
18% (2001)
Electricity - production:
141.3 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 0.6%
hydro: 99.4%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
141.4 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:
10 million kWh; note - supplied by the Democratic Republic of the
Congo (2003)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2003)
Oil - consumption:
3,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Current account balance:
$-29 million (2005 est.)
Exports:
$52 million f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:
coffee, tea, sugar, cotton, hides
Exports - partners:
Germany 24.4%, Belgium 11.1%, Netherlands 8%, Switzerland 5.8%, US
4.6%, Pakistan 4% (2005)
Imports:
$200 million f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:
capital goods, petroleum products, foodstuffs
Imports - partners:
Kenya 12.9%, Tanzania 10.6%, Belgium 10.4%, Italy 8.1%, France
5.4%, Uganda 5.3%, China 5%, India 4.1% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$105 million (2005 est.)
Debt - external:
$1.2 billion (2003)
Economic aid - recipient:
$105.5 million (2003)
Currency (code):
Burundi franc (BIF)
Currency code:
BIF
Exchange rates:
Burundi francs per US dollar - 1,138 (2005), 1,100.91 (2004),
1,082.62 (2003), 930.75 (2002), 830.35 (2001)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Burundi
Telephones - main lines in use:
27,700 (2004)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
153,000 (2005)
Telephone system:
general assessment: primitive system
domestic: sparse system of open-wire, radiotelephone communications,
and low-capacity microwave radio relay
international: country code - 257; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 0, FM 4, shortwave 1 (2001)
Radios:
440,000 (2001)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (2001)
Televisions:
25,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.bi
Internet hosts:
160 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)
Internet users:
25,000 (2005)
Transportation Burundi
Airports:
8 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 3 (2006)
Roadways:
total: 14,480 km
paved: 1,028 km
unpaved: 13,452 km (1999)
Waterways:
mainly on Lake Tanganyika (2003)
Ports and terminals:
Bujumbura
Military Burundi
Military branches:
National Defense Force (Forces de Defense Nationales, FDN): Army
(includes Naval Detachment and Air Wing), National Gendarmerie
(being disbanded) (2006)
Military service age and obligation:
16 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service (2001)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,676,855
females age 16-49: 1,656,366 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 955,616
females age 16-49: 932,767 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 91,331
females age 16-49: 90,685 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$43.9 million (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
5.6% (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues Burundi
Disputes - international:
Tutsi, Hutu, other conflicting ethnic groups, associated political
rebels, armed gangs, and various government forces continue fighting
in the Great Lakes region, transcending the boundaries of Burundi,
Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda in an effort to
gain control over populated and natural resource areas; government
heads pledge to end conflict, but localized violence continues
despite the presence of about 6,000 peacekeepers from the UN
Operation in Burundi (ONUB) since 2004; although some 150,000
Burundian refugees have been repatriated, as of February 2005,
Burundian refugees still reside in camps in western Tanzania as well
as the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 48,424 (Democratic Republic of the
Congo)
IDPs: 145,000 (armed conflict between government and rebels; most
IDPs in northern and western Burundi) (2005)
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
======================================================================
@Cambodia
Introduction Cambodia
Background:
Most Cambodians consider themselves to be Khmers, descendants of
the Angkor Empire that extended over much of Southeast Asia and
reached its zenith between the 10th and 13th centuries. Attacks by
the Thai and Cham (from present-day Vietnam) weakened the empire
ushering in a long period of decline. The king placed the country
under French protection in 1863. Cambodia became part of French
Indochina in 1887. Following Japanese occupation in World War II,
Cambodia gained full independence from France in 1953. In April
1975, after a five-year struggle, Communist Khmer Rouge forces
captured Phnom Penh and evacuated all cities and towns. At least 1.5
million Cambodians died from execution, forced hardships, or
starvation during the Khmer Rouge regime under POL POT. A December
1978 Vietnamese invasion drove the Khmer Rouge into the countryside,
began a 10-year Vietnamese occupation, and touched off almost 13
years of civil war. The 1991 Paris Peace Accords mandated democratic
elections and a ceasefire, which was not fully respected by the
Khmer Rouge. UN-sponsored elections in 1993 helped restore some
semblance of normalcy under a coalition government. Factional
fighting in 1997 ended the first coalition government, but a second
round of national elections in 1998 led to the formation of another
coalition government and renewed political stability. The remaining
elements of the Khmer Rouge surrendered in early 1999. Some of the
remaining leaders are awaiting trial by a UN-sponsored tribunal for
crimes against humanity. Elections in July 2003 were relatively
peaceful, but it took one year of negotiations between contending
political parties before a coalition government was formed.
Geography Cambodia
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:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 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:
oil and gas, timber, gemstones, some iron ore, manganese,
phosphates, hydropower potential
Land use:
arable land: 20.44%
permanent crops: 0.59%
other: 78.97% (2005)
Irrigated land:
2,700 sq km (2003)
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 have
resulted in habitat loss and declining biodiversity (in particular,
destruction of mangrove swamps threatens natural fisheries); soil
erosion; in rural areas, most of the population does not have access
to potable water; declining fish stocks because of illegal fishing
and overfishing
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes,
Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:
a land of paddies and forests dominated by the Mekong River and
Tonle Sap
People Cambodia
Population:
13,881,427
note: estimates for this country take into account the effects of
excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life
expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower
population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 35.6% (male 2,497,595/female 2,447,754)
15-64 years: 61% (male 4,094,946/female 4,370,159)
65 years and over: 3.4% (male 180,432/female 290,541) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 20.6 years
male: 19.9 years
female: 21.4 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.78% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
26.9 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
9.06 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 68.78 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 77.35 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 59.84 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 59.29 years
male: 57.35 years
female: 61.32 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.37 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
2.6% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
170,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
15,000 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever, malaria, and Japanese
encephalitis are high risks in some locations
note: at present, H5N1 avian influenza poses a minimal risk; during
outbreaks among birds, rare cases could occur among US citizens who
have close contact with infected birds or poultry (2005)
Nationality:
noun: Cambodian(s)
adjective: Cambodian
Ethnic groups:
Khmer 90%, Vietnamese 5%, Chinese 1%, other 4%
Religions:
Theravada Buddhist 95%, other 5%
Languages:
Khmer (official) 95%, French, English
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 73.6%
male: 84.7%
female: 64.1% (2004 est.)
Government Cambodia
Country name:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Cambodia
conventional short form: Cambodia
local long form: Preahreacheanachakr Kampuchea (phonetic
pronunciation)
local short form: Kampuchea
former: Kingdom of Cambodia, Khmer Republic, Democratic Kampuchea,
People's Republic of Kampuchea, State of Cambodia
Government type:
multiparty democracy under a constitutional monarchy
Capital:
name: Phnom Penh
geographic coordinates: 11 33 N, 104 55 E
time difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
20 provinces (khaitt, singular and plural) and 4 municipalities*
(krong, singular and plural)
provinces: Banteay Mean Cheay, Batdambang, Kampong Cham, Kampong
Chhnang, Kampong Spoe, Kampong Thum, Kampot, Kandal, Kaoh Kong,
Krachen, Mondol Kiri, Otdar Mean Cheay, Pouthisat, Preah Vihear,
Prey Veng, Rotanah Kiri, Siem Reab, Stoeng Treng, Svay Rieng, Takev
municipalities: Keb, Pailin, Phnum Penh, Preah Seihanu
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; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: King Norodom SIHAMONI (since 29 October 2004)
head of government: Prime Minister HUN SEN (since 14 January 1985)
and Deputy Prime Ministers SAR KHENG (since 3 February 1992); SOK
AN, LU LAY SRENG, TEA BANH, HOR NAMHONG, NHEK BUNCHHAY (since 16
July 2004); KEV PUT REAKSMEI (since 24 October 2006)
cabinet: Council of Ministers in theory appointed by the monarch; in
practice named by the prime minister
elections: none; the monarch is chosen by a Royal Throne Council;
following legislative elections, a member of the majority party or
majority coalition is named prime minister by the Chairman of the
National Assembly and appointed by the king
Legislative branch:
bicameral, consists of the National Assembly (123 seats; members
elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and the Senate (61
seats; 2 members appointed by the monarch, 2 elected by the National
Assembly, and 57 elected by parliamentarians and commune councils;
members serve five-year terms)
elections: National Assembly - last held 27 July 2003 (next to be
held in July 2008); Senate - last held 22 January 2006 (next to be
held in January 2011)
election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party - CPP
47%, SRP 22%, FUNCINPEC 21%, other 10%; seats by party - CPP 73,
FUNCINPEC 26, SRP 24; Senate - percent of vote by party - CPP 69%,
FUNCINPEC 21%, SRP 10%; seats by party - CPP 45, FUNCINPEC 10, SRP 2
(January 2006)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Council of the Magistracy (provided for in the constitution
and formed in December 1997); Supreme Court (and lower courts)
exercises judicial authority
Political parties and leaders:
Cambodian Pracheachon Party (Cambodian People's Party) or CPP [CHEA
SIM]; National United Front for an Independent, Neutral, Peaceful,
and Cooperative Cambodia or FUNCINPEC [KEV PUT REAKSMEI]; Sam Rangsi
Party or SRP [SAM RANGSI]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACCT, APT, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, EAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt,
ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU,
ISO (subscriber), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIS, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador EK SEREYWATH
chancery: 4530 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
telephone: [1] (202) 726-7742
FAX: [1] (202) 726-8381
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph A. MUSSOMELI
embassy: #1, Street 96, Sangkat Wat Phnom, Khan Daun Penh, Phnom Penh
mailing address: Box P, APO AP 96546
telephone: [855] (23) 728-000
FAX: [855] (23) 728-600
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; only national flag to
incorporate an actual building in its design
Economy Cambodia
Economy - overview:
In 1999, the first full year of peace in 30 years, the government
made progress on economic reforms. The US and Cambodia signed a
Bilateral Textile Agreement, which gave Cambodia a guaranteed quota
of US textile imports and established a bonus for improving working
conditions and enforcing Cambodian labor laws and international
labor standards in the industry. From 2001 to 2004, the economy grew
at an average rate of 6.4%, driven largely by an expansion in the
garment sector and tourism. With the January 2005 expiration of a
WTO Agreement on Textiles and Clothing, Cambodia-based textile
producers were forced to compete directly with lower-priced
producing countries such as China and India. Although initial 2005
GDP growth estimates were less than 3%, better-than-expected garment
sector performance led the IMF to forecast 6% growth in 2005. Faced
with the possibility that its vibrant garment industry, with more
than 200,000 jobs, could be in serious danger, the Cambodian
government has committed itself to a policy of continued support for
high labor standards in an attempt to maintain favor with buyers.
The tourism industry continues to grow rapidly, with foreign
visitors surpassing 1 million for the year by September 2005. In
2005, exploitable oil and natural gas deposits were found beneath
Cambodia's territorial waters, representing a new revenue stream for
the government once commercial extraction begins in the coming
years. The long-term development of the economy remains a daunting
challenge. The Cambodian government continues to work with bilateral
and multilateral donors, including the World Bank and IMF, to
address the country's many pressing needs. In December 2004,
official donors pledged $504 million in aid for 2005 on the
condition that the Cambodian government implement steps to reduce
corruption. The major economic challenge for Cambodia over the next
decade will be fashioning an economic environment in which the
private sector can create enough jobs to handle Cambodia's
demographic imbalance. More than 50% of the population is 20 years
or younger. The population lacks education and productive skills,
particularly in the poverty-ridden countryside, which suffers from
an almost total lack of basic infrastructure. Fully 75% of the
population remains engaged in subsistence farming.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$34.08 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$4.729 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
13.4% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$2,500 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 35%
industry: 30%
services: 35% (2004)
Labor force:
7 million (2003 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 75%
industry: NA%
services: NA% (2004 est.)
Unemployment rate:
2.5% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line:
40% (2004 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.9%
highest 10%: 33.8% (1997)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
40 (2004 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
5.8% (2005 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
23.3% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $559.4 million
expenditures: $772 million; including capital expenditures of $291
million (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:
rice, rubber, corn, vegetables, cashews, tapioca
Industries:
tourism, garments, rice milling, fishing, wood and wood products,
rubber, cement, gem mining, textiles
Industrial production growth rate:
22% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
123.7 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 65%
hydro: 35%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
115 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2003)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2003)
Oil - consumption:
3,700 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Current account balance:
$-166 million (2005 est.)
Exports:
$2.663 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:
clothing, timber, rubber, rice, fish, tobacco, footwear
Exports - partners:
US 48.6%, Hong Kong 24.4%, Germany 5.6%, Canada 4.6% (2005)
Imports:
$3.538 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:
petroleum products, cigarettes, gold, construction materials,
machinery, motor vehicles, pharmaceutical products
Imports - partners:
Hong Kong 16.1%, China 13.6%, France 12.1%, Thailand 11.2%, Taiwan
10.2%, South Korea 7.5%, Vietnam 7.1%, Singapore 4.9%, Japan 4.1%
(2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$1.145 billion (2005 est.)
Debt - external:
$800 million (2003 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$504 million pledged in grants and concessional loans for 2005 by
international donors
Currency (code):
riel (KHR)
Currency code:
KHR
Exchange rates:
riels per US dollar - 4,092.5 (2005), 4,016.25 (2004), 3,973.33
(2003), 3,912.08 (2002), 3,916.33 (2001)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Cambodia
Telephones - main lines in use:
36,400 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
1.062 million (2005)
Telephone system:
general assessment: adequate landline and/or cellular service in
Phnom Penh and other provincial cities; mobile phone coverage is
rapidly expanding in rural areas
domestic: NA
international: country code - 855; 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 2, FM 17 (2003)
Radios:
1.34 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
11 (including two TV relay stations with French and Vietnamese
broadcasts); 12 regional low power TV stations (2006)
Televisions:
94,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.kh
Internet hosts:
1,378 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
2 (2000)
Internet users:
41,000 (2005)
Transportation Cambodia
Airports:
20 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 6
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 14
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 1 (2006)
Heliports:
2 (2006)
Railways:
total: 602 km
narrow gauge: 602 km 1.000-m gauge (2005)
Roadways:
total: 12,323 km
paved: 1,996 km
unpaved: 10,327 km (2000)
Waterways:
2,400 km (mainly on Mekong River) (2005)
Merchant marine:
total: 544 ships (1000 GRT or over) 1,777,907 GRT/2,529,708 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 41, cargo 443, chemical tanker 11, container
10, livestock carrier 3, passenger/cargo 4, petroleum tanker 9,
refrigerated cargo 19, roll on/roll off 2, specialized tanker 1,
vehicle carrier 1
foreign-owned: 407 (Bulgaria 1, Canada 6, China 128, Cyprus 12,
Egypt 8, Gabon 1, Greece 8, Hong Kong 15, Indonesia 1, Japan 4,
South Korea 23, Latvia 2, Lebanon 6, Nigeria 2, Norway 1,
Philippines 1, Russia 105, Singapore 4, Spain 1, Syria 20, Taiwan 2,
Turkey 26, UAE 1, Ukraine 17, US 8, Yemen 3, unknown 1) (2006)
Ports and terminals:
Phnom Penh
Military Cambodia
Military branches:
Royal Cambodian Armed Forces: Royal Cambodian Army, Royal Khmer
Navy, Royal Cambodian Air Force (2005)
Military service age and obligation:
conscription law made effective in October 2006 requires all males
between 18-30 to register for military service; service obligation
is 18 months (2006)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 3,002,718
females age 18-49: 3,108,254 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 1,955,141
females age 18-49: 2,048,611 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 175,497
females age 18-49: 172,788 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$112 million (FY01 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
3% (FY01 est.)
Transnational Issues Cambodia
Disputes - international:
Southeast Asian states have enhanced border surveillance to check
the spread of avian flu; Cambodia and Thailand dispute sections of
boundary with missing boundary markers and Thai encroachments into
Cambodian territory; maritime boundary with Vietnam is hampered by
unresolved dispute over offshore islands; Cambodia accuses Thailand
of obstructing access to Preah Vihear temple ruins awarded to
Cambodia by ICJ decision in 1962; in 2004, Cambodian-Laotian and
Laotian-Vietnamese boundary commissions re-erected missing markers
completing most of their demarcations
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Cambodia is a source, destination, and transit
country for men, women, and children trafficked for the purposes of
sexual exploitation and forced labor; a significant number of women
and children are trafficked to Thailand and Malaysia for commercial
sexual exploitation and forced labor; men are trafficked primarily
to Thailand for forced labor in the construction and agricultural
sectors, particularly the fishing industry, while women and girls
are trafficked for factory and domestic work; children are
trafficked to Vietnam and Thailand for the purpose of forced
begging; Cambodia is a transit and destination point for women from
Vietnam trafficked for sexual exploitation; trafficking for sexual
exploitation also occurs within Cambodia's borders, from rural areas
to the cities
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Cambodia does not fully comply with
the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however,
it is committed to making significant efforts to sustain progress
over the coming year
Illicit drugs:
narcotics-related corruption reportedly involving some in the
government, military, and police; possible small-scale heroin and
methamphetamine production; vulnerable to money laundering due to
its cash-based economy and porous borders
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
======================================================================
@Cameroon
Introduction Cameroon
Background:
The former French Cameroon and part of British Cameroon merged in
1961 to form the present country. Cameroon has generally enjoyed
stability, which has permitted the development of agriculture,
roads, and railways, as well as a petroleum industry. Despite a slow
movement toward democratic reform, political power remains firmly in
the hands of an ethnic oligarchy headed by President Paul BIYA.
Geography Cameroon
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 (on Mt. Cameroon)
Natural resources:
petroleum, bauxite, iron ore, timber, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 12.54%
permanent crops: 2.52%
other: 84.94% (2005)
Irrigated land:
260 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:
volcanic activity with periodic releases of poisonous gases from
Lake Nyos and Lake Monoun volcanoes
Environment - current issues:
waterborne diseases are prevalent; deforestation; overgrazing;
desertification; poaching; overfishing
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law
of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical
Timber 94
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
sometimes referred to as the hinge of Africa; throughout the
country there are areas of thermal springs and indications of
current or prior volcanic activity; Mount Cameroon, the highest
mountain in Sub-Saharan west Africa, is an active volcano
People Cameroon
Population:
17,340,702
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the
effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower
life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower
population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 41.2% (male 3,614,430/female 3,531,047)
15-64 years: 55.5% (male 4,835,453/female 4,796,276)
65 years and over: 3.2% (male 260,342/female 303,154) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 18.9 years
male: 18.7 years
female: 19 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.04% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
33.89 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
13.47 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 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 (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 63.52 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 67.38 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 59.53 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 51.16 years
male: 50.98 years
female: 51.34 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.39 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
6.9% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
560,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
49,000 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and
typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria and yellow fever are high risks in
some locations
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis (2005)
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 40%, Christian 40%, Muslim 20%
Languages:
24 major African language groups, English (official), French
(official)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 79%
male: 84.7%
female: 73.4% (2003 est.)
Government Cameroon
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Cameroon
conventional short form: Cameroon
local long form: Republique du Cameroun/Republic of Cameroon
local short form: Cameroun/Cameroon
former: French Cameroon, British Cameroon, Federal Republic of
Cameroon, United Republic of Cameroon
Government type:
republic; multiparty presidential regime
Capital:
name: Yaounde
geographic coordinates: 3 52 N, 11 31 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
10 provinces; Adamaoua, Centre, Est, Extreme-Nord, Littoral, Nord,
Nord-Ouest, Ouest, Sud, Sud-Ouest
Independence:
1 January 1960 (from French-administered UN trusteeship)
National holiday:
Republic Day (National Day), 20 May (1972)
Constitution:
20 May 1972 approved by referendum, 2 June 1972 formally adopted;
revised January 1996
Legal system:
based on French civil law system, with common law influence;
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
20 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Paul BIYA (since 6 November 1982)
head of government: Prime Minister Ephraim INONI (since 8 December
2004)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from proposals submitted
by the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held 11 October 2004
(next to be held by October 2011); prime minister appointed by the
president
election results: President Paul BIYA reelected; percent of vote -
Paul BIYA 70.9%, John FRU NDI 17.4%, Adamou Ndam NJOYA 4.5%, Garga
Haman ADJI 3.7%
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 23 June 2002 (next to be held in 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
RDCP 133, SDF 21, UDC 5, other 21
note: the constitution calls for an upper chamber for the
legislature, to be called a Senate, but it has yet to be established
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president); High Court
of Justice (consists of nine judges and six substitute judges,
elected by the National Assembly)
Political parties and leaders:
Cameroonian Democratic Union or UDC [Adamou Ndam NJOYA]; Democratic
Rally of the Cameroon People or RDCP [Paul BIYA]; Movement for the
Defense of the Republic or MDR [Dakole DAISSALA]; Movement for the
Liberation and Development of Cameroon or MLDC [Marcel YONDO];
Movement for the Youth of Cameroon or MYC [Dieudonne TINA]; National
Union for Democracy and Progress or UNDP [Maigari BELLO BOUBA];
Social Democratic Front or SDF [John FRU NDI]; Union of Cameroonian
Populations or UPC [Augustin Frederic KODOCK]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Southern Cameroon National Council [Ayamba Ette OTUN]; Human Rights
Defense Group [Albert MUKONG, president]
International organization participation:
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, C, CEMAC, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITU, MIGA, MONUC,
NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Jerome MENDOUGA
chancery: 2349 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 265-8790
FAX: [1] (202) 387-3826
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Niels MARQUARDT
embassy: Rue Nachtigal, Yaounde
mailing address: P. O. Box 817, Yaounde; pouch: American Embassy, US
Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-2520
telephone: [237] 220 15 00; Consular: [237] 220 16 03
FAX: [237] 220 16 20; Consular FAX: [237] 220 17 52
branch office(s): Douala
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 Cameroon
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. In June 2000, the government completed an
IMF-sponsored, three-year structural adjustment program; however,
the IMF is pressing for more reforms, including increased budget
transparency, privatization, and poverty reduction programs.
International oil and cocoa prices have considerable impact on the
economy.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$39.75 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$15.35 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2.4% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$2,300 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 44.8%
industry: 17%
services: 38.2% (2005 est.)
Labor force:
6.86 million (2005 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 70%
industry: 13%
services: 17%
Unemployment rate:
30% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
48% (2000 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.9%
highest 10%: 36.6% (1996)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
44.6 (2001)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2% (2005 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
17.3% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $3.263 billion
expenditures: $2.705 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2005 est.)
Public debt:
65.9% of GDP (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:
coffee, cocoa, cotton, rubber, bananas, oilseed, grains, root
starches; livestock; timber
Industries:
petroleum production and refining, aluminum production, food
processing, light consumer goods, textiles, lumber, ship repair
Industrial production growth rate:
4.2% (1999 est.)
Electricity - production:
2.988 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 2.7%
hydro: 97.3%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
2.779 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2003)
Oil - production:
82,300 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - consumption:
23,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day
Oil - proved reserves:
85 million bbl (2005 est.)
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m NA cu m
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m NA cu m
Natural gas - proved reserves:
110.4 billion cu m (2005)
Current account balance:
$39 million (2005 est.)
Exports:
$3.236 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:
crude oil and petroleum products, lumber, cocoa beans, aluminum,
coffee, cotton
Exports - partners:
Spain 17.2%, Italy 13.7%, France 9.4%, South Korea 8.1%, UK 8%,
Netherlands 7.8%, Belgium 4.8%, US 4.3% (2005)
Imports:
$2.514 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery, electrical equipment, transport equipment, fuel, food
Imports - partners:
France 25%, Nigeria 12.5%, Belgium 6.6%, China 5.8%, US 5.3%,
Thailand 4.7%, Germany 4.4% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$964.8 million (2005 est.)
Debt - external:
$9.168 billion (2005 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
in January 2001, the Paris Club agreed to reduce Cameroon's debt of
$1.3 billion by $900 million; debt relief now totals $1.26 billion
Currency (code):
Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF); note - responsible
authority is the Bank of the Central African States
Currency code:
XAF
Exchange rates:
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar - 527.47
(2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99 (2002), 733.04 (2001)
Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June
Communications Cameroon
Telephones - main lines in use:
99,400 (2004)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
2.259 million (2005)
Telephone system:
general assessment: available only to business and government
domestic: cable, microwave radio relay, and tropospheric scatter
international: country code - 237; satellite earth stations - 2
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); fiber optic submarine cable (SAT-3/WASC)
provides connectivity to Europe and Asia
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 3 (2002)
Radios:
2.27 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (2002)
Televisions:
450,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.cm
Internet hosts:
39 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2002)
Internet users:
167,000 (2005)
Transportation Cameroon
Airports:
47 (2006)
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 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 36
1,524 to 2,437 m: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 20
under 914 m: 9 (2006)
Pipelines:
gas 70 km; liquid petroleum gas 9 km; oil 1,107 km (2006)
Railways:
total: 987 km
narrow gauge: 987 km 1.000-m gauge (2005)
Roadways:
total: 80,932 km
paved: 5,398 km
unpaved: 75,534 km (2002)
Waterways:
navigation mainly on Benue River; limited during rainy season (2005)
Merchant marine:
total: 1 ship (1000 GRT or over) 38,613 GRT/68,820 DWT
by type: petroleum tanker 1
foreign-owned: 1 (France 1) (2006)
Ports and terminals:
Douala, Limboh Terminal
Military Cameroon
Military branches:
Cameroon Armed Forces: Army, Navy (includes naval infantry), Air
Force (Armee de l'Air du Cameroun, AAC) (2006)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription
(1999)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 3,525,307
females age 18-49: 3,461,406 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 1,946,767
females age 18-49: 1,834,600 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 191,619
females age 18-49: 187,082 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$230.2 million (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.5% (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues Cameroon
Disputes - international:
ICJ ruled in 2002 on the entire Cameroon-Nigeria land and maritime
boundary but the parties formed a Joint Border Commission, which
continues to meet regularly to resolve differences bilaterally and
have commenced with demarcation in less-contested sections of the
boundary, starting in Lake Chad in the north; implementation of the
ICJ ruling on the Cameroon-Equatorial Guinea-Nigeria maritime
boundary in the Gulf of Guinea is impeded by imprecisely defined
coordinates and a sovereignty dispute between Equatorial Guinea and
Cameroon over an island at the mouth of the Ntem River; Nigeria
initially rejected cession of the Bakassi Peninsula, then agreed,
but much of the indigenous population opposes cession; only Nigeria
and Cameroon have heeded the Lake Chad Commission's admonition to
ratify the delimitation treaty which also includes the Chad-Niger
and Niger-Nigeria boundaries
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 39,290 (Chad) 16,686 (Nigeria) 9,634
(Cote d'Ivoire) (2005)
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
======================================================================
@Canada
Introduction Canada
Background:
A land of vast distances and rich natural resources, Canada became
a self-governing dominion in 1867 while retaining 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. Canada's paramount political problem is
meeting public demands for quality improvements in health care and
education services after a decade of budget cuts. Canada also faces
questions about integrity in government following revelations
regarding a corruption scandal in the federal government that has
helped revive the fortunes of separatists in predominantly
francophone Quebec.
Geography Canada
Location:
Northern North America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean on the
east, North Pacific Ocean on the west, and the Arctic Ocean on the
north, north of the conterminous US
Geographic coordinates:
60 00 N, 95 00 W
Map references:
North America
Area:
total: 9,984,670 sq km
land: 9,093,507 sq km
water: 891,163 sq km
Area - comparative:
somewhat larger than the US
Land boundaries:
total: 8,893 km
border countries: US 8,893 km (includes 2,477 km with Alaska)
Coastline:
202,080 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
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 5,959 m
Natural resources:
iron ore, nickel, zinc, copper, gold, lead, molybdenum, potash,
diamonds, silver, fish, timber, wildlife, coal, petroleum, natural
gas, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 4.57%
permanent crops: 0.65%
other: 94.78% (2005)
Irrigated land:
7,850 sq km (2003)
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 east of the mountains
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-Sulfur 85,
Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol,
Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic
Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94,
Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note:
second-largest country in world (after Russia); strategic location
between Russia and US via north polar route; approximately 90% of
the population is concentrated within 160 km of the US border
People Canada
Population:
33,098,932 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 17.6% (male 2,992,811/female 2,848,388)
15-64 years: 69% (male 11,482,452/female 11,368,286)
65 years and over: 13.3% (male 1,883,008/female 2,523,987) (2006
est.)
Median age:
total: 38.9 years
male: 37.8 years
female: 39.9 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.88% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
10.78 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
7.8 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
5.85 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.75 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 4.69 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 5.15 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.22 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 80.22 years
male: 76.86 years
female: 83.74 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.61 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.3% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
56,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
1,500 (2003 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Canadian(s)
adjective: Canadian
Ethnic groups:
British Isles origin 28%, French origin 23%, other European 15%,
Amerindian 2%, other, mostly Asian, African, Arab 6%, mixed
background 26%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 42.6%, Protestant 23.3% (including United Church
9.5%, Anglican 6.8%, Baptist 2.4%, Lutheran 2%), other Christian
4.4%, Muslim 1.9%, other and unspecified 11.8%, none 16% (2001
census)
Languages:
English (official) 59.3%, French (official) 23.2%, other 17.5%
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)
Government Canada
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Canada
Government type:
constitutional monarchy that is also a parliamentary democracy and
a federation
Capital:
name: Ottawa
geographic coordinates: 45 25 N, 75 40 W
time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard
Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins second Sunday in March; ends
first Sunday in November
note: Canada is divided into six time zones
Administrative divisions:
10 provinces and 3 territories*; Alberta, British Columbia,
Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest
Territories*, Nova Scotia, Nunavut*, Ontario, Prince Edward Island,
Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon Territory*
Independence:
1 July 1867 (union of British North American colonies); 11 December
1931 (independence recognized)
National holiday:
Canada Day, 1 July (1867)
Constitution:
made up of unwritten and written acts, customs, judicial decisions,
and traditions; the written part of the constitution consists of the
Constitution Act of 29 March 1867, which created a federation of
four provinces, and the Constitution Act of 17 April 1982, which
transferred formal control over the constitution from Britain to
Canada, and added a Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms as well
as procedures for constitutional amendments
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 Michaelle JEAN (since 27 September
2005)
head of government: Prime Minister Stephen HARPER (since 6 February
2006)
cabinet: Federal Ministry chosen by the prime minister usually from
among the members of his own party sitting in Parliament
elections: none; the monarchy 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 or the leader of the majority coalition in the House
of Commons is automatically designated prime minister by the
governor general
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament or Parlement consists of the Senate or Senat
(members appointed by the governor general with the advice of the
prime minister and serve until reaching 75 years of age; its normal
limit is 105 senators) and the House of Commons or Chambre des
Communes (308 seats; members elected by direct, popular vote to
serve for up to five-year terms)
elections: House of Commons - last held 23 January 2006 (next to be
held in 2011)
election results: House of Commons - percent of vote by party -
Conservative Party 36.3%, Liberal Party 30.2%, New Democratic Party
17.5%, Bloc Quebecois 10.5%, Greens 4.5%, other 1%; seats by party -
Conservative Party 124, Liberal Party 103, New Democratic Party 29,
Bloc Quebecois 51, other 1
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court of Canada (judges are appointed by the prime minister
through the governor general); Federal Court of Canada; Federal
Court of Appeal; Provincial Courts (these are named variously Court
of Appeal, Court of Queens Bench, Superior Court, Supreme Court, and
Court of Justice)
Political parties and leaders:
Bloc Quebecois [Gilles DUCEPPE]; Conservative Party of Canada (a
merger of the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative
Party) [Stephen HARPER]; Green Party [Elizabeth MAY]; Liberal Party
[Stephane DION]; New Democratic Party [Jack LAYTON]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACCT, AfDB, APEC, Arctic Council, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN (dialogue
partner), Australia Group, BIS, C, CDB, CE (observer), EAPC, EBRD,
ESA (cooperating state), FAO, G-7, G-8, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,
IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUC,
NAFTA, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS, OECD, OIF, OPCW, OSCE,
Paris Club, PCA, PIF (partner), SECI (observer), UN, UNAMSIL,
UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNMOVIC, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Michael WILSON
chancery: 501 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20001
telephone: [1] (202) 682-1740
FAX: [1] (202) 682-7701
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Buffalo, Chicago, Dallas,
Denver, Detroit, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, New York, Phoenix,
San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Tucson
consulate(s): Anchorage, Houston, Philadelphia, Princeton (New
Jersey), Raleigh, San Jose (California)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador David H. WILKINS
embassy: 490 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 1G8
mailing address: P. O. Box 5000, Ogdensburgh, NY 13669-0430
telephone: [1] (613) 238-5335, 4470
FAX: [1] (613) 688-3082
consulate(s) general: Calgary, Halifax, Montreal, Quebec, Toronto,
Vancouver, Winnipeg
Flag description:
two vertical bands of red (hoist and fly side, half width), with
white square between them; an 11-pointed red maple leaf is centered
in the white square; the official colors of Canada are red and white
Economy Canada
Economy - overview:
As an affluent, high-tech industrial society in the trillion dollar
class, Canada resembles the US in its market-oriented economic
system, pattern of production, and affluent 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. The 1989 US-Canada
Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and the 1994 North American Free Trade
Agreement (NAFTA) (which includes Mexico) touched off a dramatic
increase in trade and economic integration with the US. Given its
great natural resources, skilled labor force, and modern capital
plant, Canada enjoys solid economic prospects. Top-notch fiscal
management has produced consecutive balanced budgets since 1997,
although public debate continues over how to manage the rising cost
of the publicly funded healthcare system. Exports account for
roughly a third of GDP. Canada enjoys a substantial trade surplus
with its principal trading partner, the US, which absorbs more than
85% of Canadian exports. Canada is the US' largest foreign supplier
of energy, including oil, gas, uranium, and electric power.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$1.111 trillion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$1.035 trillion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2.9% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$33,900 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 2.2%
industry: 29.4%
services: 68.4% (2005 est.)
Labor force:
16.3 million (December 2005)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 2%, manufacturing 14%, construction 5%, services 75%,
other 3% (2004)
Unemployment rate:
6.8% (2005 est.)
Population below poverty line:
15.9%; note - this figure is the Low Income Cut-Off (LICO), a
calculation that results in higher figures than found in many
comparable economies; Canada does not have an official poverty line
(2003)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.8%
highest 10%: 23.8% (1994)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
33.1 (1998)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.2% (2005 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
20.5% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $159.6 billion
expenditures: $152.6 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2004)
Public debt:
69.6% of GDP (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:
wheat, barley, oilseed, tobacco, fruits, vegetables; dairy
products; forest products; fish
Industries:
transportation equipment, chemicals, processed and unprocessed
minerals, food products, wood and paper products, fish products,
petroleum and natural gas
Industrial production growth rate:
2.6% (2005 est.)
Electricity - production:
566.3 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 28%
hydro: 57.9%
nuclear: 12.9%
other: 1.3% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
520.9 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:
22 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports:
33 billion kWh (2004)
Oil - production:
2.4 million bbl/day (2004)
Oil - consumption:
2.3 million bbl/day (2004)
Oil - exports:
1.6 million bbl/day (2004)
Oil - imports:
963,000 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - proved reserves:
178.9 billion bbl
note: includes oil sands (2004 est.)
Natural gas - production:
165.8 billion cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
90.95 billion cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
91.52 billion cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
8.73 billion cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
1.673 trillion cu m (2004)
Current account balance:
$24.96 billion (2005 est.)
Exports:
$364.8 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:
motor vehicles and parts, industrial machinery, aircraft,
telecommunications equipment; chemicals, plastics, fertilizers; wood
pulp, timber, crude petroleum, natural gas, electricity, aluminum
Exports - partners:
US 84.2%, Japan 2.1%, UK 1.8% (2005)
Imports:
$317.7 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, motor vehicles and parts, crude oil,
chemicals, electricity, durable consumer goods
Imports - partners:
US 56.7%, China 7.8%, Mexico 3.8% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$33.02 billion (2005 est.)
Debt - external:
$439.8 billion (30 November 2005)
Economic aid - donor:
ODA, $2.6 billion (2004)
Currency (code):
Canadian dollar (CAD)
Currency code:
CAD
Exchange rates:
Canadian dollars per US dollar - 1.2118 (2005), 1.301 (2004),
1.4011 (2003), 1.5693 (2002), 1.5488 (2001)
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
Communications Canada
Telephones - main lines in use:
18.276 million (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
16.6 million (2005)
Telephone system:
general assessment: excellent service provided by modern technology
domestic: domestic satellite system with about 300 earth stations
international: country code - 1-xxx; 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 245, FM 582, shortwave 6 (2004)
Radios:
32.3 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
80 (plus many repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:
21.5 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.ca
Internet hosts:
3,934,223 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
760 (2000 est.)
Internet users:
21.9 million (2005)
Transportation Canada
Airports:
1,337 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 509
over 3,047 m: 18
2,438 to 3,047 m: 15
1,524 to 2,437 m: 151
914 to 1,523 m: 248
under 914 m: 77 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 828
1,524 to 2,437 m: 66
914 to 1,523 m: 355
under 914 m: 407 (2006)
Heliports:
319 (2006)
Pipelines:
crude and reined oil 23,564 km; liquid petroleum gas 74,980 km
(2005)
Railways:
total: 48,467 km
standard gauge: 48,467 km 1.435-m gauge (2005)
Roadways:
total: 1,042,300 km
paved: 415,600 km (including 17,000 km of expressways)
unpaved: 626,700 km (2005)
Waterways:
631 km
note: Saint Lawrence Seaway of 3,769 km, including the Saint
Lawrence River of 3,058 km, shared with United States (2003)
Merchant marine:
total: 173 ships (1000 GRT or over) 2,129,243 GRT/2,716,340 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 62, cargo 10, chemical tanker 9, container 2,
passenger 6, passenger/cargo 63, petroleum tanker 13, roll on/roll
off 8
foreign-owned: 7 (Germany 3, Netherlands 1, Norway 1, US 2)
registered in other countries: 111 (Australia 1, Bahamas 18,
Barbados 8, Cambodia 6, Cyprus 2, Denmark 1, Honduras 1, Hong Kong
28, Liberia 2, Malta 18, Marshall Islands 6, Panama 4, Russia 1,
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 6, US 4, Vanuatu 5) (2006)
Ports and terminals:
Fraser River Port, Halifax, Montreal, Port Cartier, Quebec, Saint
John's (Newfoundland), Sept Isles, Vancouver
Military Canada
Military branches:
Canadian Forces: Land Forces Command, Maritime Command, Air
Command, Canada Command (homeland security) (2006)
Military service age and obligation:
16 years of age for voluntary military service; women comprise
approximately 11% of Canada's armed forces (2001)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 8,216,510
females age 16-49: 8,034,939 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 6,740,490
females age 16-49: 6,580,868 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 223,821
females age 16-49: 212,900 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$9,801.7 million (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.1% (2003)
Transnational Issues Canada
Disputes - international:
managed maritime boundary disputes with the US at Dixon Entrance,
Beaufort Sea, Strait of Juan de Fuca, and around the disputed
Machias Seal Island and North Rock; working toward greater
cooperation with US in monitoring people and commodities crossing
the border; uncontested sovereignty dispute with Denmark over Hans
Island in the Kennedy Channel between Ellesmere Island and Greenland
Illicit drugs:
illicit producer of cannabis for the domestic drug market and
export to US; use of hydroponics technology permits growers to plant
large quantities of high-quality marijuana indoors; transit point
for ecstasy entering the US market; vulnerable to narcotics money
laundering because of its mature financial services sector
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
======================================================================
@Cape Verde
Introduction Cape Verde
Background:
The uninhabited islands were discovered and colonized by the
Portuguese in the 15th century; Cape Verde subsequently became a
trading center for African slaves and later an important coaling and
resupply stop for whaling and transatlantic shipping. Following
independence in 1975, and a tentative interest in unification with
Guinea-Bissau, a one-party system was established and maintained
until multi-party elections were held in 1990. Cape Verde continues
to exhibit one of Africa's most stable democratic governments.
Repeated droughts during the second half of the 20th century caused
significant hardship and prompted heavy emigration. As a result,
Cape Verde's expatriate population is greater than its domestic one.
Most Cape Verdeans have both African and Portuguese antecedents.
Geography Cape Verde
Location:
Western Africa, group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, west
of Senegal
Geographic coordinates:
16 00 N, 24 00 W
Map references:
Political Map of the World
Area:
total: 4,033 sq km
land: 4,033 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
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 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, limestone, kaolin, fish, clay, gypsum
Land use:
arable land: 11.41%
permanent crops: 0.74%
other: 87.85% (2005)
Irrigated land:
30 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:
prolonged droughts; seasonal harmattan wind produces obscuring
dust; volcanically and seismically active
Environment - current issues:
soil erosion; deforestation due to demand for wood used as fuel;
desertification; environmental damage has threatened several species
of birds and reptiles; illegal beach sand extraction; overfishing
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine
Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection
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 Cape Verde
Population:
420,979 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 37.9% (male 80,594/female 79,126)
15-64 years: 55.3% (male 113,450/female 119,423)
65 years and over: 6.7% (male 10,542/female 17,844) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 19.8 years
male: 19 years
female: 20.7 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.64% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
24.87 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
6.55 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
-11.91 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.59 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 46.52 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 51.63 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 41.26 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 70.73 years
male: 67.41 years
female: 74.15 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.38 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.035% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
775 (2001)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
225 (as of 2001)
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 Portuguese and West African words)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 76.6%
male: 85.8%
female: 69.2% (2003 est.)
Government Cape Verde
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
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Praia
geographic coordinates: 14 55 N, 23 31 W
time difference: UTC-1 (4 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
17 municipalities (concelhos, singular - concelho); Boa Vista,
Brava, Maio, Mosteiros, Paul, Praia, Porto Novo, Ribeira Grande,
Sal, Santa Catarina, Santa Cruz, Sao Domingos, Sao Filipe, Sao
Miguel, Sao Nicolau, 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; underwent a
major revision on 23 November 1995, substantially increasing the
powers of the president; a 1999 revision created the position of
national ombudsman (Provedor de Justica)
Legal system:
derived from the legal system of Portugal
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Pedro Verona PIRES (since 22 March 2001)
head of government: Prime Minister Jose Maria Pereira NEVES (since 1
February 2001)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the
recommendation of the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held 12 February 2006
(next to be held February 2011); prime minister nominated by the
National Assembly and appointed by the president
election results: Pedro PIRES reelected president; percent of vote -
Pedro PIRES (PAICV) 51.2%, Carlos VIEGA (MPD) 48.8%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Assembleia Nacional (72 seats;
members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 22 January 2006 (next to be held in January
2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - PAICV 52.3%, MPD 44%,
UCID 2.7%; seats by party - PAICV 41, MPD 29, ADM 2
Judicial branch:
Supreme Tribunal of Justice or Supremo Tribunal de Justia
Political parties and leaders:
African Party for Independence of Cape Verde or PAICV [Jose Maria
Pereira NEVES, chairman]; Democratic Alliance for Change or ADM [Dr.
Eurico MONTEIRO] (a coalition of PCD, PTS, and UCID); Democratic
Christian Party or PDC [Manuel RODRIGUES, chairman]; Democratic
Renovation Party or PRD [Victor FIDALGO, president]; Democratic and
Independent Cape Verdean Union or UCID [Antonio MONTEIRO]; Movement
for Democracy or MPD [Agostinho LOPES, president]; Party for
Democratic Convergence or PCD [Dr. Eurico MONTEIRO, president];
Party of Work and Solidarity or PTS [Isaias RODRIGUES, president];
Social Democratic Party or PSD [Joao ALEM, president]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt
(signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Jose BRITO
chancery: 3415 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 965-6820
FAX: [1] (202) 965-1207
consulate(s) general: Boston
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Roger D. PIERCE
embassy: Rua Abilio Macedo n6, Praia
mailing address: C. P. 201, Praia
telephone: [238] 2-60-89-00
FAX: [238] 2-61-13-55
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 Cape Verde
Economy - overview:
This island economy suffers from a poor natural resource base,
including serious water shortages exacerbated by cycles of long-term
drought. The economy is service-oriented, with commerce, transport,
tourism, and public services accounting for 66% of GDP. Although
nearly 70% of the population lives in rural areas, the share of
agriculture in GDP in 2004 was only 12%, of which fishing accounted
for 1.5%. About 82% 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 supplement GDP by more than 20%.
Economic reforms are aimed at developing the private sector and
attracting foreign investment to diversify the economy. Future
prospects depend heavily on the maintenance of aid flows, the
encouragement of tourism, remittances, and the momentum of the
government's development program.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$2.99 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$1.128 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
5.5% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$6,200 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 12.1%
industry: 21.9%
services: 66% (2004 est.)
Labor force:
120,600
Unemployment rate:
21% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line:
30% (2000)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
0.4% (2005 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
24.8% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $328.1 million
expenditures: $393.1 million; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:
bananas, corn, beans, sweet potatoes, sugarcane, coffee, peanuts;
fish
Industries:
food and beverages, fish processing, shoes and garments, salt
mining, ship repair
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
44.15 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
41.06 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2003)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2003)
Oil - consumption:
1,200 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Current account balance:
$-82 million (2005 est.)
Exports:
$73.35 million f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:
fuel, shoes, garments, fish, hides
Exports - partners:
Spain 38.2%, Portugal 33.2%, US 9.2%, Morocco 5.4% (2005)
Imports:
$500 million f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, industrial products, transport equipment, fuels
Imports - partners:
Portugal 41.5%, Italy 8%, Netherlands 7.3%, Spain 5.5%, France
4.8%, Belgium 4.7%, Brazil 4.3% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$150 million (2005 est.)
Debt - external:
$325 million (2002)
Economic aid - recipient:
$136 million (1999)
Currency (code):
Cape Verdean escudo (CVE)
Currency code:
CVE
Exchange rates:
Cape Verdean escudos (CVE) per US dollar - 88.67 (2005), 88.808
(2004), 97.703 (2003), 117.168 (2002), 123.228 (2001)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Cape Verde
Telephones - main lines in use:
71,400 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
81,700 (2005)
Telephone system:
general assessment: effective system, extensive modernization from
1996-2000 following partial privatization in 1995
domestic: major service provider is Cabo Verde Telecom (CVT); fiber
optic ring, completed in 2001, links all islands providing Internet
access and ISDN services; cellular service introduced in 1998
international: country code - 238; 2 coaxial submarine cables; HF
radiotelephone to Senegal and Guinea-Bissau; satellite earth station
- 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 0, FM 22 (and 12 low power repeaters), shortwave 0 (2002)
Radios:
100,000 (2002 est.)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (and 7 repeaters) (2002)
Televisions:
15,000 (2002 est.)
Internet country code:
.cv
Internet hosts:
234 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2002)
Internet users:
25,000 (2005)
Transportation Cape Verde
Airports:
7 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 7
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 1 (2006)
Roadways:
total: 1,350 km
paved: 932 km
unpaved: 418 km (2000)
Merchant marine:
total: 7 ships (1000 GRT or over) 12,300 GRT/7,726 DWT
by type: cargo 2, chemical tanker 1, passenger/cargo 4
foreign-owned: 2 (Spain 1, UK 1) (2006)
Ports and terminals:
Mindelo, Praia, Tarrafal
Military Cape Verde
Military branches:
People's Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARP): Army, Coast Guard
(includes maritime air wing)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 84,641
females age 18-49: 87,310 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 65,614
females age 18-49: 73,662 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$7.18 million (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
0.7% (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues Cape Verde
Disputes - international:
none
Illicit drugs:
used as a transshipment point for illicit drugs moving from Latin
America and Asia destined for Western Europe; the lack of a
well-developed financial system limits the country's utility as a
money-laundering center
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
======================================================================
@Cayman Islands
Introduction Cayman Islands
Background:
The Cayman Islands were colonized from Jamaica by the British
during the 18th and 19th centuries, and were administered by Jamaica
after 1863. In 1959, the islands became a territory within the
Federation of the West Indies, but when the Federation dissolved in
1962, the Cayman Islands chose to remain a British dependency.
Geography Cayman Islands
Location:
Caribbean, three island (Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, Little Cayman)
group in Caribbean Sea, 240 km south of Cuba and 268 km northwest of
Jamaica
Geographic coordinates:
19 30 N, 80 30 W
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 262 sq km
land: 262 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:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 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 (Cayman Brac) 43 m
Natural resources:
fish, climate and beaches that foster tourism
Land use:
arable land: 3.85%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 96.15% (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Natural hazards:
hurricanes (July to November)
Environment - current issues:
no natural fresh water resources; drinking water supplies must be
met by rainwater catchments
Geography - note:
important location between Cuba and Central America
People Cayman Islands
Population:
45,436
note: most of the population lives on Grand Cayman (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 20.7% (male 4,708/female 4,700)
15-64 years: 70.9% (male 15,707/female 16,504)
65 years and over: 8.4% (male 1,793/female 2,024) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 37.2 years
male: 36.8 years
female: 37.5 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.56% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
12.74 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
4.89 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
17.78 migrant(s)/1,000 population
note: major destination for Cubans trying to migrate to the US (2006
est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 8 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 9.16 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 6.81 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 80.07 years
male: 77.45 years
female: 82.74 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.9 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
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,
Church of God, other Protestant, Roman Catholic
Languages:
English
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 98%
male: 98%
female: 98% (1970 est.)
Government Cayman Islands
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Cayman Islands
Dependency status:
overseas territory of the UK
Government type:
British crown colony
Capital:
name: George Town (on Grand Cayman)
geographic coordinates: 19 20 N, 81 23 W
time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard
Time)
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 1962, 1972, and 1994
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);
Governor Stuart JACK (since 23 November 2005)
head of government: Leader of Government Business Kurt TIBBETTS
(since 18 May 2005)
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; following legislative elections, the
leader of the majority party or coalition is appointed by the
governor Leader of Government Business
Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislative Assembly (18 seats, 3 appointed members from
the Executive Council and 15 elected by popular vote; members serve
four-year terms)
elections: last held 11 May 2005 (next to be held in 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
PPM 9, UDP 5, independent 1
Judicial branch:
Summary Court; Grand Court; Cayman Islands Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders:
no national teams (loose groupings of political organizations) were
formed for the 2000 elections; United Democratic Party or UDP
[leader McKeeva BUSH]; People's Progressive Movement or PPM [leader
Kurt TIBBETTS]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, UNESCO
(associate), UPU
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 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 Cayman Islands
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 1998, 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 in 1997, with
600,000 from the US. 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):
$1.939 billion (2004 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
NA
GDP - real growth rate:
0.9% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$43,800 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1.4%
industry: 3.2%
services: 95.4% (1994 est.)
Labor force:
23,450 (2004)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 1.4%
industry: 12.6%
services: 86% (1995)
Unemployment rate:
4.4% (2004)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4.4% (2004)
Budget:
revenues: $423.8 million
expenditures: $392.6 million; including capital expenditures of $NA
(1997)
Agriculture - products:
vegetables, fruit; livestock; turtle farming
Industries:
tourism, banking, insurance and finance, construction, construction
materials, furniture
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
441.9 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
411 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2003)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2003)
Oil - consumption:
2,450 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Exports:
$2.52 million (2004)
Exports - commodities:
turtle products, manufactured consumer goods
Exports - partners:
mostly US (2004)
Imports:
$866.9 million (2004)
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, manufactured goods
Imports - partners:
US, Netherlands Antilles, Japan (2004)
Debt - external:
$70 million (1996)
Economic aid - recipient:
$390,000 $NA
Currency (code):
Caymanian dollar (KYD)
Currency code:
KYD
Exchange rates:
Caymanian dollars per US dollar - 0.82 (29 October 2001), 0.83 (3
November 1995), 0.85 (22 November 1993)
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
Communications Cayman Islands
Telephones - main lines in use:
38,000 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
17,000 (2002)
Telephone system:
general assessment: reasonably good system
domestic: liberalization of telecom market in 2003 reflected in
falling prices and improving services
international: country code - 1-345; 2 submarine fiber optic cables
(Maya-1, Cayman-Jamaica); satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat
(Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 0 (2004)
Radios:
36,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
4 with cable system (2004)
Televisions:
7,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.ky
Internet hosts:
8,611 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
16 (2000)
Internet users:
9,909 (2003)
Transportation Cayman Islands
Airports:
3 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)
Roadways:
total: 785 km
paved: 785 km (2002)
Merchant marine:
total: 132 ships (1000 GRT or over) 2,746,290 GRT/4,366,790 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 32, cargo 14, chemical tanker 42, liquefied
gas 1, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 14, refrigerated cargo 23, roll
on/roll off 3, specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 1
foreign-owned: 130 (Denmark 5, Germany 13, Greece 21, Italy 12,
Japan 1, Malaysia 1, Netherlands 4, Norway 2, Philippines 1,
Singapore 10, Sweden 9, UK 10, US 41) (2006)
Ports and terminals:
Cayman Brac, George Town
Military Cayman Islands
Military branches:
no regular military forces; Royal Cayman Islands Police Force
Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 10,703 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 8,600 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 257 (2005 est.)
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues Cayman Islands
Disputes - international:
none
Illicit drugs:
offshore financial center; vulnerable to drug transshipment to the
US and Europe
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
======================================================================
@Central African Republic
Introduction Central African Republic
Background:
The former French colony of Ubangi-Shari became the Central African
Republic upon independence in 1960. After three tumultuous decades
of misrule - mostly by military governments - civilian rule was
established in 1993 and lasted for one decade. President Ange-Felix
PATASSE's civilian government was plagued by unrest, and in March
2003 he was deposed in a military coup led by General Francois
BOZIZE, who established a transitional government. Though the
government has the tacit support of civil society groups and the
main parties, a wide field of candidates contested the municipal,
legislative, and presidential elections held in March and May of
2005 in which General BOZIZE was affirmed as president. The
government still does not fully control the countryside, where
pockets of lawlessness persist.
Geography Central African Republic
Location:
Central Africa, north of Democratic Republic of the Congo
Geographic coordinates:
7 00 N, 21 00 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 622,984 sq km
land: 622,984 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, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 3.1%
permanent crops: 0.15%
other: 96.75% (2005)
Irrigated land:
20 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:
hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds affect northern areas; floods are
common
Environment - current issues:
tap water is not potable; poaching has diminished the country's
reputation as one of the last great wildlife refuges;
desertification; deforestation
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 94
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:
landlocked; almost the precise center of Africa
People Central African Republic
Population:
4,303,356
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the
effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower
life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower
population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 41.9% (male 907,629/female 897,153)
15-64 years: 53.9% (male 1,146,346/female 1,173,268)
65 years and over: 4.2% (male 71,312/female 107,648) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 18.4 years
male: 18 years
female: 18.8 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.53% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
33.91 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
18.65 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.66 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 85.63 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 92.44 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 78.61 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 43.54 years
male: 43.46 years
female: 43.62 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.41 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
13.5% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
260,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
23,000 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and
typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria
respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis (2005)
Nationality:
noun: Central African(s)
adjective: Central African
Ethnic groups:
Baya 33%, Banda 27%, Mandjia 13%, Sara 10%, Mboum 7%, M'Baka 4%,
Yakoma 4%, other 2%
Religions:
indigenous beliefs 35%, Protestant 25%, Roman Catholic 25%, Muslim
15%
note: animistic beliefs and practices strongly influence the
Christian majority
Languages:
French (official), Sangho (lingua franca and national language),
tribal languages
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 51%
male: 63.3%
female: 39.9% (2003 est.)
Government Central African Republic
Country name:
conventional long form: Central African Republic
conventional short form: none
local long form: Republique Centrafricaine
local short form: none
former: Ubangi-Shari, Central African Empire
abbreviation: CAR
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Bangui
geographic coordinates: 4 22 N, 18 35 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
14 prefectures (prefectures, singular - prefecture), 2 economic
prefectures* (prefectures economiques, singular - prefecture
economique), and 1 commune**; Bamingui-Bangoran, Bangui**,
Basse-Kotto, Haute-Kotto, Haut-Mbomou, Kemo, Lobaye, Mambere-Kadei,
Mbomou, Nana-Grebizi*, Nana-Mambere, Ombella-Mpoko, Ouaka, Ouham,
Ouham-Pende, Sangha-Mbaere*, Vakaga
Independence:
13 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday:
Republic Day, 1 December (1958)
Constitution:
ratified by popular referendum 5 December 2004; effective 27
December 2004
Legal system:
based on French law
Suffrage:
21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Francois BOZIZE (since 15 March 2003 coup)
head of government: Prime Minister Elie DOTE (since 13 June 2005);
note - Celestin GAOMBALET resigned 11 June 2005
cabinet: Council of Ministers
elections: under the new constitution, the president elected to a
five-year term (eligible for a second term); elections last held 13
March and 8 May 2005 (next to be held in 2010); prime minister
appointed by the political party with a parliamentary majority
election results: Francois BOZIZE elected president; percent of
second round balloting - Francois BOZIZE (KNK) 64.6%, Martin ZIGUELE
(MLPC) 35.4%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (109 seats;
members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 13 March 2005 and 8 May 2005 (next to be held
NA 2010)
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 8, FPP 7, PSD
6, ADP 5, PUN 3, FODEM 2, PLD 2, UPR 1, FC 1, independents 7
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; Constitutional Court (3 judges
appointed by the president, 3 by the president of the National
Assembly, and 3 by fellow judges); Court of Appeal; Criminal Courts;
Inferior Courts
Political parties and leaders:
Alliance for Democracy and Progress or ADP [Jacques MBOLIEDAS];
Central African Democratic Assembly or RDC [Andre KOLINGBA]; Civic
Forum or FC [Gen. Timothee MALENDOMA]; Democratic Forum for
Modernity or FODEM [Charles MASSI]; Liberal Democratic Party or PLD
[Nestor KOMBO-NAGUEMON]; Movement for Democracy and Development or
MDD [David DACKO]; Movement for the Liberation of the Central
African People or MLPC [Ange-Felix PATASSE] (the party of deposed
president); National Convergence or KNK; Patriotic Front for
Progress or FPP [Abel GOUMBA]; People's Union for the Republic or
UPR [Pierre Sammy MAKFOY]; National Unity Party or PUN [Jean-Paul
NGOUPANDE]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Enoch LAKOUE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC,
ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC (observer), OIF, OPCW, OPCW (signatory), UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Emmanuel TOUABOY
chancery: 1618 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 483-7800
FAX: [1] (202) 332-9893
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires James PANOS
embassy: Avenue David Dacko, Bangui
mailing address: B. P. 924, Bangui
telephone: [236] 61 02 00
FAX: [236] 61 44 94
note: the embassy is currently operating with a minimal staff
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 Central African Republic
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 40%.
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. Factional fighting between the government and its
opponents remains a drag on economic revitalization, with GDP growth
at only 0.5% in 2004 and 2.5% in 2005. Distribution of income is
extraordinarily unequal. Grants from France and the international
community can only partially meet humanitarian needs.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$4.677 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$1.462 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2.2% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$1,100 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 55%
industry: 20%
services: 25% (2001 est.)
Labor force:
NA
Unemployment rate:
8% (23% for Bangui) (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 0.7%
highest 10%: 47.7% (1993)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
61.3 (1993)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.6% (2001 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA
Agriculture - products:
cotton, coffee, tobacco, manioc (tapioca), yams, millet, corn,
bananas; timber
Industries:
gold and diamond mining, logging, brewing, textiles, footwear,
assembly of bicycles and motorcycles
Industrial production growth rate:
3% (2002)
Electricity - production:
106 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 19.8%
hydro: 80.2%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
98.58 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2003)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2003)
Oil - consumption:
2,400 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Exports:
$131 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:
diamonds, timber, cotton, coffee, tobacco
Exports - partners:
Belgium 34.1%, France 9.5%, Spain 8.5%, Italy 7.9%, China 6.9%,
Indonesia 6.2%, Democratic Republic of the Congo 4.6%, US 4.4%,
Turkey 4.4% (2005)
Imports:
$203 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:
food, textiles, petroleum products, machinery, electrical
equipment, motor vehicles, chemicals, pharmaceuticals
Imports - partners:
France 16.7%, Netherlands 10.4%, Cameroon 9.8%, US 7.4% (2005)
Debt - external:
$1.06 billion (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
ODA, $59.8 million; note - traditional budget subsidies from France
(2002 est.)
Currency (code):
Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF); note - responsible
authority is the Bank of the Central African States
Currency code:
XAF
Exchange rates:
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar - 527.47
(2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99 (2002), 733.04 (2001)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Central African Republic
Telephones - main lines in use:
10,000 (2004)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
60,000 (2004)
Telephone system:
general assessment: fair system
domestic: network consists principally of microwave radio relay and
low-capacity, low-powered radiotelephone communication
international: country code - 236; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 1 (2002)
Radios:
283,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (2001)
Televisions:
18,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.cf
Internet hosts:
10 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2002)
Internet users:
9,000 (2005)
Transportation Central African Republic
Airports:
50 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 47
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 10
914 to 1,523 m: 23
under 914 m: 13 (2006)
Roadways:
total: 23,810 km (1999)
Waterways:
2,800 km (primarily on the Oubangui and Sangha rivers) (2005)
Ports and terminals:
Bangui, Nola, Salo, Nzinga
Military Central African Republic
Military branches:
Central African Armed Forces (FACA): Ground Forces, Military Air
Service; General Directorate of Gendarmerie Inspection (DGIG),
Republican Guard, National Police (2006)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary and compulsory military service;
conscript service obligation is two years (2005)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 853,760
females age 18-49: 835,426 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 416,091
females age 18-49: 383,056 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$16.37 million (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1% (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues Central African Republic
Disputes - international:
about 30,000 refugees fleeing the 2002 civil conflict in the CAR
still reside in southern Chad; periodic skirmishes over water and
grazing rights among related pastoral populations along the border
with southern Sudan persist
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 19,470 (Sudan) 1,864 (Chad) 6,484
(Democratic Republic of the Congo)
IDPs: 200,000 (unrest following coup in 2003) (2005)
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Central African Republic is a source and
destination country for children trafficked for domestic servitude,
sexual exploitation, and forced labor in shops and commercial labor
activities; while the majority of child victims are trafficked
within the country, some are also trafficked to and from Cameroon
and Nigeria
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - the Central African Republic failed
to provide evidence of increasing efforts to combat trafficking in
persons during 2005, specifically its inadequate law enforcement
response to trafficking crimes
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
======================================================================
@Chad
Introduction Chad
Background:
Chad, part of France's African holdings until 1960, endured three
decades of civil warfare as well as invasions by Libya before a
semblance of peace was finally restored in 1990. The government
eventually drafted a democratic constitution, and held flawed
presidential elections in 1996 and 2001. In 1998, a rebellion broke
out in northern Chad, which sporadically flares up despite several
peace agreements between the government and the rebels. In 2005 new
rebel groups emerged in western Sudan and have made probing attacks
into eastern Chad. Power remains in the hands of an ethnic minority.
In June 2005, President Idriss DEBY held a referendum successfully
removing constitutional term limits.
Geography Chad
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, uranium, natron, kaolin, fish (Lake Chad), gold,
limestone, sand and gravel, salt
Land use:
arable land: 2.8%
permanent crops: 0.02%
other: 97.18% (2005)
Irrigated land:
300 sq km (2003)
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, 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 Chad
Population:
9,944,201 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 47.9% (male 2,396,393/female 2,369,261)
15-64 years: 49.3% (male 2,355,940/female 2,550,535)
65 years and over: 2.7% (male 107,665/female 164,407) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 16 years
male: 15.3 years
female: 16.6 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.93% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
45.73 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
16.38 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
-0.11 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 91.45 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 100.12 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 82.43 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 47.52 years
male: 45.88 years
female: 49.21 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
6.25 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
4.8% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
200,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
18,000 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis (2005)
Nationality:
noun: Chadian(s)
adjective: Chadian
Ethnic groups:
200 distinct groups; in the north and center: Arabs, Gorane
(Toubou, Daza, Kreda), Zaghawa, Kanembou, Ouaddai, Baguirmi,
Hadjerai, Fulbe, Kotoko, Hausa, Boulala, and Maba, most of whom are
Muslim; in the south: Sara (Ngambaye, Mbaye, Goulaye), Moundang,
Moussei, Massa, most of whom are Christian or animist; about 1,000
French citizens live in Chad
Religions:
Muslim 51%, Christian 35%, animist 7%, other 7%
Languages:
French (official), Arabic (official), Sara (in south), more than
120 different languages and dialects
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write French or Arabic
total population: 47.5%
male: 56%
female: 39.3% (2003 est.)
Government Chad
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Chad
conventional short form: Chad
local long form: Republique du Tchad/Jumhuriyat Tshad
local short form: Tchad/Tshad
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: N'Djamena
geographic coordinates: 12 07 N, 15 03 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
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
note: instead of 14 prefectures, there may be a new administrative
structure of 28 departments (departments, singular - department) and
1 city*; Assongha, Baguirmi, Bahr El Gazal, Bahr Koh, Batha
Oriental, Batha Occidental, Biltine, Borkou, Dababa, Ennedi, Guera,
Hadjer Lamis, Kabia, Kanem, Lac, Lac Iro, Logone Occidental, Logone
Oriental, Mandoul, Mayo-Boneye, Mayo-Dallah, Monts de Lam,
N'Djamena*, Ouaddai, Salamat, Sila, Tandjile Oriental, Tandjile
Occidental, Tibesti
Independence:
11 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 11 August (1960)
Constitution:
passed by referendum 31 March 1996; a June 2005 referendum removed
constitutional term limits
Legal system:
based on French civil law system and Chadian customary law; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY Itno (since 4
December 1990)
head of government: Prime Minister Pascal YOADIMNADJI (since 3
February 2005)
cabinet: Council of State, members appointed by the president on the
recommendation of the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote to serve five-year
term; 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 3 May 2006 (next to be held by May 2011);
prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY Itno reelected president;
percent of vote - Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY 64.7%, Delwa Kassire
COUMAKOYE 15.1%, Albert Pahimi PADACKE 7.8%, Mahamat ABDOULAYE 7.1%,
Brahim KOULAMALLAH 5.3%; note - a June 2005 national referendum
altered the constitution removing presidential term limits and
permitting Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY Itno to run for reelection
Legislative branch:
bicameral according to constitution, consists of a National
Assembly (155 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve
four-year terms) and a Senate (not yet created and size unspecified,
members to serve six-year terms, one-third of membership renewable
every two years)
elections: National Assembly - last held 21 April 2002 (next to be
held by April 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
MPS 110, RDP 12, FAR 9, RNDP 5, URD 5, UNDR 3, other 11
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; Criminal Courts; Magistrate Courts
Political parties and leaders:
Federation Action for the Republic or FAR [Ngarledjy YORONGAR];
National Rally for Development and Progress or RNDP [Delwa Kassire
COUMAKOYE]; National Union for Democracy and Renewal or UNDR [Saleh
KEBZABO]; Party for Liberty and Development or PLD [Ibni Oumar
Mahamat SALEH]; Patriotic Salvation Movement or MPS [Mahamat Saleh
AHMAT, chairman]; Rally for Democracy and Progress or RDP [Lol
Mahamat CHOUA]; Union for Democracy and Republic or UDR [Jean
ALINGUE]; Union for Renewal and Democracy or URD [Gen. Wadal
Abdelkader KAMOUGUE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
Interpol, IOC, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OIF, ONUB, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOCI, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Mahamat Adam BECHIR
chancery: 2002 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 462-4009
FAX: [1] (202) 265-1937
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Marc M. WALL
embassy: Avenue Felix Eboue, N'Djamena
mailing address: B. P. 413, N'Djamena
telephone: [235] 516-211
FAX: [235] 515-654
Flag description:
three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red;
similar to the flag of Romania; also similar to the flags of Andorra
and Moldova, both of which have a national coat of arms centered in
the yellow band; design was based on the flag of France
Economy Chad
Economy - overview:
Chad's primarily agricultural economy will continue to be boosted
by major foreign direct investment projects in the oil sector that
began in 2000. Over 80% of Chad's population relies on subsistence
farming and livestock raising for its livelihood. Chad's economy has
long been handicapped by its landlocked position, high energy costs,
and a history of instability. Chad relies on foreign assistance and
foreign capital for most public and private sector investment
projects. A consortium led by two US companies has been investing
$3.7 billion to develop oil reserves - estimated at 1 billion
barrels - in southern Chad. The nation's total oil reserves has been
estimated to be 2 billion barrels. Oil production came on stream in
late 2003. Chad began to export oil in 2004. Cotton, cattle, and gum
arabic provide the bulk of Chad's non-oil export earnings.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$13.98 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$4.799 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
6% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$1,400 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 33.5%
industry: 25.9%
services: 40.6% (2005 est.)
Labor force:
2.719 million
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 80% (subsistence farming, herding, and fishing)
industry and services: 20%
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Population below poverty line:
80% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3% (2005 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
18.2% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $765.2 million
expenditures: $653.3 million; including capital expenditures of $146
million (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:
cotton, sorghum, millet, peanuts, rice, potatoes, manioc (tapioca);
cattle, sheep, goats, camels
Industries:
oil, cotton textiles, meatpacking, beer brewing, natron (sodium
carbonate), soap, cigarettes, construction materials
Industrial production growth rate:
5% (1995)
Electricity - production:
120 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
111.6 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2003)
Oil - production:
225,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - consumption:
1,450 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Current account balance:
$-602 million (2005 est.)
Exports:
$3.016 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:
cotton, cattle, gum arabic, oil
Exports - partners:
US 78.1%, China 9.9%, Taiwan 4.1% (2005)
Imports:
$749.1 million f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and transportation equipment, industrial goods,
foodstuffs, textiles
Imports - partners:
France 21.1%, Cameroon 15.5%, US 12.1%, Belgium 6.8%, Portugal
4.6%, Saudi Arabia 4.3%, Netherlands 4.1% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$297 million (2005 est.)
Debt - external:
$1.5 billion (2003 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$238.3 million received; note - $125 million committed by Taiwan
(August 1997); $30 million committed by African Development Bank;
ODA $246.9 million (2003 est.)
Currency (code):
Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF); note - responsible
authority is the Bank of the Central African States
Currency code:
XAF
Exchange rates:
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar - 527.47
(2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99 (2002), 733.04 (2001)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Chad
Telephones - main lines in use:
13,000 (2004)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
210,000 (2005)
Telephone system:
general assessment: primitive system
domestic: fair system of radiotelephone communication stations
international: country code - 235; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 2, FM 4, shortwave 5 (2002)
Radios:
1.67 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (2002)
Televisions:
10,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.td
Internet hosts:
9 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2002)
Internet users:
35,000 (2005)
Transportation Chad
Airports:
52 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 7
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 45
1,524 to 2,437 m: 14
914 to 1,523 m: 21
under 914 m: 10 (2006)
Pipelines:
oil 205 km (2006)
Roadways:
total: 33,400 km
paved: 267 km
unpaved: 33,133 km (1999)
Waterways:
Chari and Legone rivers are navigable only in wet season (2002)
Military Chad
Military branches:
Chadian National Army (Armee Nationale Tchadienne, ANT), Air Force,
Gendarmerie (2004)
Military service age and obligation:
20 years of age for conscripts, with three-year service obligation;
18 years of age for volunteers; no minimum age restriction for
volunteers with consent from a guardian; women are subject to one
year of compulsory military or civic service at age of 21 (2004)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 20-49: 1,527,580
females age 20-49: 1,629,510 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 20-49: 794,988
females age 20-49: 849,500 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 94,536
females age 20-49: 93,521 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$68.95 million (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1% (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues Chad
Disputes - international:
since the expulsions of residents from Darfur in 2003 by Janjawid
armed militia and Sudanese military, about 200,000 refugees remain
in eastern Chad; Chad remains an important mediator in the Sudanese
civil conflict, reducing tensions with Sudan arising from
cross-border banditry; Chadian Aozou rebels reside in southern
Libya; only Nigeria and Cameroon have heeded the Lake Chad
Commission's admonition to ratify the delimitation treaty, which
also includes the Chad-Niger and Niger-Nigeria boundaries
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 224,924 (Sudan), 29,683 (Central
African Republic) (2005)
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
======================================================================
@Chile
Introduction Chile
Background:
Prior to the coming of the Spanish in the 16th century, northern
Chile was under Inca rule while Araucanian Indians inhabited central
and southern Chile; the latter were not completely subjugated by
Spain until the early 1880s. Although Chile declared its
independence in 1810, decisive victory over the Spanish was not
achieved until 1818. In the War of the Pacific (1879-84), Chile
defeated Peru and Bolivia and won its present northern lands. A
three-year-old Marxist government of Salvador ALLENDE was overthrown
in 1973 by a dictatorial military regime led by Augusto PINOCHET,
who ruled until a freely elected president was installed in 1990.
Sound economic policies, maintained consistently since the 1980s,
have contributed to steady growth and have helped secure the
country's commitment to democratic and representative government.
Chile has increasingly assumed regional and international leadership
roles befitting its status as a stable, democratic nation.
Geography Chile
Location:
Southern South America, bordering the 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: 6,339 km
border countries: Argentina 5,308 km, Bolivia 860 km, Peru 171 km
Coastline:
6,435 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200/350 nm
Climate:
temperate; desert in north; Mediterranean in central region; 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: Nevado Ojos del Salado 6,880 m
Natural resources:
copper, timber, iron ore, nitrates, precious metals, molybdenum,
hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 2.62%
permanent crops: 0.43%
other: 96.95% (2005)
Irrigated land:
19,000 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:
severe earthquakes; active volcanism; tsunamis
Environment - current issues:
widespread deforestation and mining threaten natural resources; air
pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution
from raw sewage
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living
Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate
Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
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 Chile
Population:
16,134,219 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 24.7% (male 2,035,278/female 1,944,754)
15-64 years: 67.1% (male 5,403,525/female 5,420,497)
65 years and over: 8.2% (male 555,075/female 775,090) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 30.4 years
male: 29.5 years
female: 31.4 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.94% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
15.23 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
5.81 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.72 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 8.58 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 9.32 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 7.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 76.77 years
male: 73.49 years
female: 80.21 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.3% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
26,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
1,400 (2003 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 NEGL%
Languages:
Spanish
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96.2%
male: 96.4%
female: 96.1% (2003 est.)
Government Chile
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Chile
conventional short form: Chile
local long form: Republica de Chile
local short form: Chile
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Santiago
geographic coordinates: 33 27 S, 70 40 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins second Sunday in October; ends
second Sunday in March
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
(Santiago), 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 1989, 1991,
1997, 1999, 2000, 2003, and 2005
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; has not accepted compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction; note - in June 2005, Chile completed overhaul of
its criminal justice system to a new, US-style adversarial system
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Michelle BACHELET Jeria (since 11 March
2006); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Michelle BACHELET Jeria (since 11
March 2006)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a single four-year
term; election last held 11 December 2005, with runoff election held
15 January 2006 (next to be held December 2009)
election results: Michelle BACHELET Jeria elected president; percent
of vote - Michelle BACHELET Jeria 53.5%; Sebastian PINERA Echenique
46.5%
Legislative branch:
bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of the
Senate or Senado (38 seats 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 2005 (next to be held
December 2009); Chamber of Deputies - last held 11 December 2005
(next to be held December 2009)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - CPD 20 (PDC 6, PS 8, PPD 3, PRSD 3), APC 17 (UDI 9, RN 8),
independent 1; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA;
seats by party - CPD 65 (PDC 21, PPD 22, PS 15, PRSD 7), APC 54 (UDI
34, RN 20), independent 1
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or 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 every three years by the 20-member court); Constitutional
Tribunal
Political parties and leaders:
Alliance for Chile ("Alianza") or APC (including National Renewal
or RN [Sergio DIEZ Urzia] and Independent Democratic Union or UDI
[Jovino NOVOA Vasquez]); Coalition of Parties for Democracy
("Concertacion") or CPD (including Christian Democratic Party or PDC
[Adolfo ZALDIVAR Larrain], Socialist Party or PS [Ricardo NUNEZ],
Party for Democracy or PPD [Victor BARRUETO], Radical Social
Democratic Party or PRSD [Jose Antonio GOMEZ Urrutia]); Communist
Party or PC [Guillermo TEILLIER]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
revitalized university student federations at all major
universities; Roman Catholic Church; United Labor Central or CUT
includes trade unionists from the country's five largest labor
confederations
International organization participation:
APEC, BIS, CAN (associate), CSN, FAO, G-15, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA,
Mercosur (associate), MIGA, MINUSTAH, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA,
RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMOGIP, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Mariano FERNANDEZ
chancery: 1732 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 530-4104, 530-4106, 530-4107
FAX: [1] (202) 887-5579
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New
York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Craig A. KELLY
embassy: Avenida Andres Bello 2800, Las Condes, Santiago
mailing address: APO AA 34033
telephone: [56] (2) 232-2600
FAX: [56] (2) 330-3710
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 representing a guide to progress and honor; blue symbolizes
the sky, white is for the snow-covered Andes, and red stands for the
blood spilled to achieve independence; design was influenced by the
US flag
Economy Chile
Economy - overview:
Chile has a market-oriented economy characterized by a high level
of foreign trade. During the early 1990s, Chile's reputation as a
role model for economic reform was strengthened when the democratic
government of Patricio AYLWIN - which took over from the military in
1990 - deepened the economic reform initiated by the military
government. Growth in real GDP averaged 8% during 1991-97, but fell
to half that level in 1998 because of tight monetary policies
implemented to keep the current account deficit in check and because
of lower export earnings - the latter a product of the global
financial crisis. A severe drought exacerbated the recession in
1999, reducing crop yields and causing hydroelectric shortfalls and
electricity rationing, and Chile experienced negative economic
growth for the first time in more than 15 years. Despite the effects
of the recession, Chile maintained its reputation for strong
financial institutions and sound policy that have given it the
strongest sovereign bond rating in South America. By the end of
1999, exports and economic activity had begun to recover, and growth
rebounded to 4.2% in 2000. Growth fell back to 3.1% in 2001 and 2.1%
in 2002, largely due to lackluster global growth and the devaluation
of the Argentine peso. Chile's economy began a slow recovery in
2003, growing 3.2%, and accelerated to 6.1% in 2004-05, while Chile
maintained a low rate of inflation. GDP growth benefited from high
copper prices, solid export earnings (particularly forestry,
fishing, and mining), and stepped-up foreign direct investment.
Unemployment, however, remains stubbornly high. Chile deepened its
longstanding commitment to trade liberalization with the signing of
a free trade agreement with the US, which took effect on 1 January
2004. Chile signed a free trade agreement with China in November
2005, and it already has several trade deals signed with other
nations and blocs, including the European Union, Mercosur, South
Korea, and Mexico. Record-high copper prices helped to strengthen
the peso to a 5½-year high, as of December 2005, and will boost GDP
in 2006.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$189.9 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$115.6 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
6.3% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$11,900 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 6%
industry: 49.3%
services: 44.7% (2005 est.)
Labor force:
6.3 million (2005 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 13.6%
industry: 23.4%
services: 63% (2003)
Unemployment rate:
8.1% (2005 est.)
Population below poverty line:
18.2% (2005)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.2%
highest 10%: 47% (2000)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
57.1 (2000)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.1% (2005 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
22.1% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $29.2 billion
expenditures: $24.75 billion; including capital expenditures of
$3.33 billion (2005 est.)
Public debt:
7.5% of GDP (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:
grapes, apples, pears, onions, wheat, corn, oats, peaches, garlic,
asparagus, beans; beef, poultry, wool; fish; timber
Industries:
copper, other minerals, foodstuffs, fish processing, iron and
steel, wood and wood products, transport equipment, cement, textiles
Industrial production growth rate:
3.4% (2005 est.)
Electricity - production:
45.3 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 47%
hydro: 51.5%
nuclear: 0%
other: 1.4% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
44.13 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:
2 billion kWh (2003)
Oil - production:
4,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - consumption:
228,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day
Oil - imports:
221,500 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - proved reserves:
150 million bbl (1 January 2004)
Natural gas - production:
1 billion cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
7.06 billion cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2002)
Natural gas - imports:
5.337 billion cu m (2002 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
97.98 billion cu m (1 January 2004)
Current account balance:
$702.7 million (2005 est.)
Exports:
$38.03 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:
copper, fruit, fish products, paper and pulp, chemicals, wine
Exports - partners:
US 15.8%, Japan 11.5%, China 11.1%, Netherlands 5.8%, South Korea
5.5%, Brazil 4.4%, Italy 4.2%, Mexico 4% (2005)
Imports:
$30.09 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:
petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, electrical and
telecommunications equipment, industrial machinery, vehicles,
natural gas
Imports - partners:
Argentina 14.8%, US 14.6%, Brazil 11.7%, China 7.8%, South Korea
4.8%, Yemen 4.4% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$16.93 billion (2005 est.)
Debt - external:
$47.45 billion (2005 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$0 (2002)
Currency (code):
Chilean peso (CLP)
Currency code:
CLP
Exchange rates:
Chilean pesos per US dollar - 560.09 (2005), 609.37 (2004), 691.43
(2003), 688.94 (2002), 634.94 (2001)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Chile
Telephones - main lines in use:
3,435,900 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
10.57 million (2005)
Telephone system:
general assessment: modern system based on extensive microwave
radio relay facilities
domestic: extensive microwave radio relay links; domestic satellite
system with three earth stations
international: country code - 56; satellite earth stations - 2
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 180 (eight inactive), FM 64, shortwave 17 (one inactive) (1998)
Radios:
5.18 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
63 (plus 121 repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:
3.15 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.cl
Internet hosts:
506,055 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
7 (2000)
Internet users:
6.7 million (2005)
Transportation Chile
Airports:
363 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 73
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 22
914 to 1,523 m: 22
under 914 m: 17 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 290
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 11
914 to 1,523 m: 58
under 914 m: 216 (2006)
Pipelines:
gas 2,567 km; gas/lpg 42 km; liquid petroleum gas 539 km; oil 1,003
km; refined products 757 km; unknown (oil/water) 97 km (2006)
Railways:
total: 6,585 km
broad gauge: 2,831 km 1.676-m gauge (1,317 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 3,754 km 1.000-m gauge (2005)
Roadways:
total: 79,605 km
paved: 16,080 km (including 407 km of expressways)
unpaved: 63,525 km (2001)
Merchant marine:
total: 46 ships (1000 GRT or over) 649,091 GRT/898,110 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 10, cargo 6, chemical tanker 10, container 1,
liquefied gas 2, passenger 4, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 7,
roll on/roll off 1, vehicle carrier 3
foreign-owned: 1 (Argentina 1)
registered in other countries: 17 (Argentina 6, Brazil 1, Marshall
Islands 1, Panama 9) (2006)
Ports and terminals:
Antofagasta, Arica, Huasco, Iquique, Lirquen, San Antonio, San
Vicente, Valparaiso
Military Chile
Military branches:
Army of the Nation, National Navy (Armada de Chile, includes naval
air, marine corps, and Maritime Territory and Merchant Marine
Directorate (Directemar)), Chilean Air Force (Fuerza Aerea de Chile,
FACh), Chilean Carabineros (National Police) (2006)
Military service age and obligation:
all male citizens 18-45 are obligated to perform military service;
conscript service obligation - 12 months for Army, 24 months for
Navy and Air Force (2004)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 3,815,761
females age 18-49: 3,780,864 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 3,123,281
females age 18-49: 3,128,277 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 140,084
females age 18-49: 134,518 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$3.91 billion (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
3.5% (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues Chile
Disputes - international:
Chile rebuffs Bolivia's reactivated claim to restore the Atacama
corridor, ceded to Chile in 1884, offering instead unrestricted but
not sovereign maritime access through Chile to Bolivian gas and
other commodities; Peru proposes changing its latitudinal maritime
boundary with Chile to an equidistance line with a southwestern
axis; territorial claim in Antarctica (Chilean Antarctic Territory)
partially overlaps Argentine and British claims; action by the joint
boundary commission, established by Chile and Argentina in 2001, for
mapping and demarcating the disputed boundary in the Andean Southern
Ice Field (Campo de Hielo Sur) remains pending
Illicit drugs:
important transshipment country for cocaine destined for Europe;
economic prosperity and increasing trade have made Chile more
attractive to traffickers seeking to launder drug profits,
especially through the Iquique Free Trade Zone, but a new
anti-money-laundering law improves controls; imported precursors
passed on to Bolivia; domestic cocaine consumption is rising
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
======================================================================
@China
Introduction China
Background:
For centuries China stood as a leading civilization, outpacing the
rest of the world in the arts and sciences, but in the 19th and
early 20th centuries, the country was beset by civil unrest, major
famines, military defeats, and foreign occupation. After World War
II, the Communists under MAO Zedong established an autocratic
socialist system that, while ensuring China's sovereignty, imposed
strict controls over everyday life and cost the lives of tens of
millions of people. After 1978, his successor DENG Xiaoping and
other leaders focused on market-oriented economic development and by
2000 output had quadrupled. For much of the population, living
standards have improved dramatically and the room for personal
choice has expanded, yet political controls remain tight.
Geography China
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: 22,117 km
border countries: Afghanistan 76 km, Bhutan 470 km, Burma 2,185 km,
India 3,380 km, Kazakhstan 1,533 km, North Korea 1,416 km,
Kyrgyzstan 858 km, Laos 423 km, Mongolia 4,677 km, Nepal 1,236 km,
Pakistan 523 km, Russia (northeast) 3,605 km, Russia (northwest) 40
km, Tajikistan 414 km, Vietnam 1,281 km
regional borders: Hong Kong 30 km, Macau 0.34 km
Coastline:
14,500 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
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 8,850 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: 14.86%
permanent crops: 1.27%
other: 83.87% (2005)
Irrigated land:
545,960 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:
frequent typhoons (about five per year along southern and eastern
coasts); damaging floods; tsunamis; earthquakes; droughts; land
subsidence
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, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,
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: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
world's fourth largest country (after Russia, Canada, and US);
Mount Everest on the border with Nepal is the world's tallest peak
People China
Population:
1,313,973,713 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 20.8% (male 145,461,833/female 128,445,739)
15-64 years: 71.4% (male 482,439,115/female 455,960,489)
65 years and over: 7.7% (male 48,562,635/female 53,103,902) (2006
est.)
Median age:
total: 32.7 years
male: 32.3 years
female: 33.2 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.59% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
13.25 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
6.97 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
-0.39 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.12 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.13 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.91 male(s)/female
total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 23.12 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 20.6 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 25.94 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 72.58 years
male: 70.89 years
female: 74.46 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.73 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
840,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
44,000 (2003 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:
Daoist (Taoist), Buddhist, Christian 3%-4%, Muslim 1%-2%
note: officially atheist (2002 est.)
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 groups entry)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 90.9%
male: 95.1%
female: 86.5% (2002)
Government China
Country name:
conventional long form: People's Republic of China
conventional short form: China
local long form: Zhonghua Renmin Gongheguo
local short form: Zhongguo
abbreviation: PRC
Government type:
Communist state
Capital:
name: Beijing
geographic coordinates: 39 56 N, 116 24 E
time difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
note: despite its size, all of China falls within one time zone
Administrative divisions:
23 provinces (sheng, singular and plural), 5 autonomous regions
(zizhiqu, singular and plural), and 4 municipalities (shi, singular
and plural)
provinces: Anhui, Fujian, Gansu, Guangdong, Guizhou, Hainan, Hebei,
Heilongjiang, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Jilin,
Liaoning, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Shandong, Shanxi, Sichuan, Yunnan,
Zhejiang; (see note on Taiwan)
autonomous regions: Guangxi, Nei Mongol, Ningxia, Xinjiang, Xizang
(Tibet)
municipalities: Beijing, Chongqing, Shanghai, Tianjin
note: China considers Taiwan its 23rd province; see separate entries
for the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau
Independence:
221 BC (unification under the Qin or Ch'in Dynasty); 1 January 1912
(Manchu Dynasty replaced by a Republic); 1 October 1949 (People's
Republic established)
National holiday:
Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China, 1
October (1949)
Constitution:
most recent promulgation 4 December 1982
Legal system:
based on civil law system; derived from Soviet and continental
civil code legal principles; legislature retains power to interpret
statutes; constitution ambiguous on judicial review of legislation;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President HU Jintao (since 15 March 2003) and Vice
President ZENG Qinghong (since 15 March 2003)
head of government: Premier WEN Jiabao (since 16 March 2003);
Executive Vice Premier HUANG Ju (since 17 March 2003), Vice Premiers
WU Yi (17 March 2003), ZENG Peiyan (since 17 March 2003), and HUI
Liangyu (since 17 March 2003)
cabinet: State Council appointed by the National People's Congress
(NPC)
elections: president and vice president elected by the National
People's Congress for a five-year term (eligible for a second term);
elections last held 15-17 March 2003 (next to be held mid-March
2008); premier nominated by the president, confirmed by the National
People's Congress
election results: HU Jintao elected president by the 10th National
People's Congress with a total of 2,937 votes (four delegates voted
against him, four abstained, and 38 did not vote); ZENG Qinghong
elected vice president by the 10th National People's Congress with a
total of 2,578 votes (177 delegates voted against him, 190
abstained, and 38 did not vote); two seats were vacant
Legislative branch:
unicameral National People's Congress or Quanguo Renmin Daibiao
Dahui (2,985 seats; members elected by municipal, regional, and
provincial people's congresses to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held December 2002-February 2003 (next to be held
late 2007-February 2008)
election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - NA
Judicial branch:
Supreme People's Court (judges appointed by the National People's
Congress); Local Peoples Courts (comprise higher, intermediate, and
local courts); Special Peoples Courts (primarily military, maritime,
and railway transport courts)
Political parties and leaders:
Chinese Communist Party or CCP [HU Jintao]; eight registered small
parties controlled by CCP
Political pressure groups and leaders:
no substantial political opposition groups exist, although the
government has identified the Falungong spiritual movement and the
China Democracy Party as subversive groups
International organization participation:
AfDB, APEC, APT, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN (dialogue partner), BCIE, BIS,
CDB, EAS, FAO, G-24 (observer), G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM
(observer), IPU, ISO, ITU, LAIA (observer), MIGA, MINURSO, MONUC,
NAM (observer), NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW, PCA, PIF (partner), SAARC
(observer), SCO, UN, UN Security Council, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,
UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNITAR, UNMEE, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNMOVIC, UNOCI, UNTSO,
UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador ZHOU Wenzhong
chancery: 2300 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 328-2500
FAX: [1] (202) 328-2582
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San
Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Clark T. RANDT, Jr.
embassy: Xiu Shui Bei Jie 3, 100600 Beijing
mailing address: PSC 461, Box 50, FPO AP 96521-0002
telephone: [86] (10) 6532-3831
FAX: [86] (10) 6532-3178
consulate(s) general: Chengdu, Guangzhou, Hong Kong and Macau,
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 China
Economy - overview:
China's economy during the last quarter century has changed from a
centrally planned system that was largely closed to international
trade to a more market-oriented economy that has a rapidly growing
private sector and is a major player in the global economy. Reforms
started in the late 1970s with the phasing out of collectivized
agriculture, and expanded to include the gradual liberalization of
prices, fiscal decentralization, increased autonomy for state
enterprises, the foundation of a diversified banking system, the
development of stock markets, the rapid growth of the non-state
sector, and the opening to foreign trade and investment. China has
generally implemented reforms in a gradualist or piecemeal fashion.
The process continues with key moves in 2005 including the sale of
equity in China's largest state banks to foreign investors and
refinements in foreign exchange and bond markets. The restructuring
of the economy and resulting efficiency gains have contributed to a
more than tenfold increase in GDP since 1978. Measured on a
purchasing power parity (PPP) basis, China in 2005 stood as the
second-largest economy in the world after the US, although in per
capita terms the country is still lower middle-income and 150
million Chinese fall below international poverty lines. Economic
development has generally been more rapid in coastal provinces than
in the interior, and there are large disparities in per capita
income between regions. The government has struggled to: (a) sustain
adequate job growth for tens of millions of workers laid off from
state-owned enterprises, migrants, and new entrants to the work
force; (b) reduce corruption and other economic crimes; and (c)
contain environmental damage and social strife related to the
economy's rapid transformation. From 100 to 150 million surplus
rural workers are adrift between the villages and the cities, many
subsisting through part-time, low-paying jobs. One demographic
consequence of the "one child" policy is that China is now one of
the most rapidly aging countries in the world. Another long-term
threat to 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. China has benefited from a huge
expansion in computer Internet use, with more than 100 million users
at the end of 2005. Foreign investment remains a strong element in
China's remarkable expansion in world trade and has been an
important factor in the growth of urban jobs. In July 2005, China
revalued its currency by 2.1% against the US dollar and moved to an
exchange rate system that references a basket of currencies. Reports
of shortages of electric power in the summer of 2005 in southern
China receded by September-October and did not have a substantial
impact on China's economy. More power generating capacity is
scheduled to come on line in 2006 as large scale investments are
completed. Thirteen years in construction at a cost of $24 billion,
the immense Three Gorges Dam across the Yangtze River will be
essentially completed in 2006 and will revolutionize electrification
and flood control in the area. The Central Committee of the Chinese
Communist Party in October 2005 approved the draft 11th Five-Year
Plan and the National People's Congress is expected to give final
approval in March 2006. The plan calls for a 20% reduction in energy
consumption per unit of GDP by 2010 and an estimated 45% increase in
GDP by 2010. The plan states that conserving resources and
protecting the environment are basic goals, but it lacks details on
the policies and reforms necessary to achieve these goals.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$8.883 trillion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$2.225 trillion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
10.2% (official data) (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$6,800 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 12.5%
industry: 47.3%
services: 40.3%
note: industry includes construction (2005 est.)
Labor force:
791.4 million (2005 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 49%
industry: 22%
services: 29% (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate:
9% official registered unemployment in urban areas in 2004;
substantial unemployment and underemployment in rural areas; an
official Chinese journal estimated overall unemployment (including
rural areas) for 2003 at 20% (2005 est.)
Population below poverty line:
10% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.4%
highest 10%: 30.4% (1998)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
44 (2002)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.8% (2005 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
44.4% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $392.1 billion
expenditures: $424.3 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2005 est.)
Public debt:
24.4% of GDP (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:
rice, wheat, potatoes, corn, peanuts, tea, millet, barley, apples,
cotton, oilseed; pork; fish
Industries:
mining and ore processing, iron, steel, aluminum, and other metals,
coal; machine building; armaments; textiles and apparel; petroleum;
cement; chemicals; fertilizers; consumer products, including
footwear, toys, and electronics; food processing; transportation
equipment, including automobiles, rail cars and locomotives, ships,
and aircraft; telecommunications equipment, commercial space launch
vehicles, satellites
Industrial production growth rate:
29.5% (2005 est.)
Electricity - production:
2.19 trillion kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 80.2%
hydro: 18.5%
nuclear: 1.2%
other: 0.1% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
2.17 trillion kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:
10.6 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:
1.546 billion kWh (2003)
Oil - production:
3.504 million bbl/day (2004)
Oil - consumption:
6.391 million bbl/day (2004)
Oil - exports:
340,300 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - imports:
3.226 million bbl/day (2004)
Oil - proved reserves:
18.26 billion bbl (2004)
Natural gas - production:
35.02 billion cu m (2003)
Natural gas - consumption:
33.44 billion cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
2.79 billion cu m (2004)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2004)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
2.53 trillion cu m (2004)
Current account balance:
$160.8 billion (2005 est.)
Exports:
$752.2 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, plastics, optical and medical equipment,
iron and steel
Exports - partners:
US 21.4%, Hong Kong 16.3%, Japan 11%, South Korea 4.6%, Germany
4.3% (2005)
Imports:
$631.8 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, oil and mineral fuels, plastics, optical
and medical equipment, organic chemicals, iron and steel
Imports - partners:
Japan 15.2%, South Korea 11.6%, Taiwan 11.2%, US 7.4%, Germany 4.6%
(2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$825.6 billion (2005 est.)
Debt - external:
$252.8 billion (2005 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$NA
Currency (code):
yuan (CNY); note - also referred to as the Renminbi (RMB)
Currency code:
CNY
Exchange rates:
yuan per US dollar - 8.1943 (2005), 8.2768 (2004), 8.277 (2003),
8.277 (2002), 8.2771 (2001)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications China
Telephones - main lines in use:
350.433 million (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
393.428 million (2005)
Telephone system:
general assessment: domestic and international services are
increasingly available for private use; unevenly distributed
domestic system serves principal cities, industrial centers, and
many towns
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: country code - 86; 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 (2000)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 369, FM 259, shortwave 45 (1998)
Radios:
417 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
3,240 (of which 209 are operated by China Central Television, 31
are provincial TV stations, and nearly 3,000 are local city
stations) (1997)
Televisions:
400 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.cn
Internet hosts:
232,780 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
3 (2000)
Internet users:
123 million (2006)
Transportation China
Airports:
486 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 403
over 3,047 m: 56
2,438 to 3,047 m: 127
1,524 to 2,437 m: 138
914 to 1,523 m: 22
under 914 m: 60 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 83
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 13
914 to 1,523 m: 25
under 914 m: 39 (2006)
Heliports:
32 (2006)
Pipelines:
gas 22,664 km; oil 15,256 km; refined products 6,106 km (2006)
Railways:
total: 74,408 km
standard gauge: 74,408 km 1.435-m gauge (19,303 km electrified)
(2004)
Roadways:
total: 1,809,829 km
paved: 1,447,682 km (with at least 29,745 km of expressways)
unpaved: 362,147 km (2003)
Waterways:
123,964 km (2003)
Merchant marine:
total: 1,723 ships (1000 GRT or over) 21,405,633 GRT/32,411,260 DWT
by type: barge carrier 2, bulk carrier 387, cargo 695, chemical
tanker 45, combination ore/oil 1, container 152, liquefied gas 31,
passenger 8, passenger/cargo 83, petroleum tanker 261, refrigerated
cargo 30, roll on/roll off 8, specialized tanker 6, vehicle carrier
14
foreign-owned: 13 (Hong Kong 7, Japan 3, South Korea 2, Norway 1)
registered in other countries: 1,191 (Bahamas 3, Bangladesh 1,
Belize 103, Bolivia 1, Cambodia 128, Cyprus 11, Georgia 2, Honduras
3, Hong Kong 274, India 2, North Korea 1, Liberia 35, Malaysia 1,
Malta 14, Mongolia 4, Norway 3, Panama 420, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines 103, Sierra Leone 2, Singapore 23, Thailand 1, Tuvalu 23,
unknown 33) (2006)
Ports and terminals:
Dalian, Guangzhou, Nanjing, Ningbo, Qingdao, Qinhuangdao, Shanghai
Military China
Military branches:
People's Liberation Army (PLA): Ground Forces, Navy (includes
marines and naval aviation), Air Force (includes airborne forces),
and II Artillery Corps (strategic missile force); People's Armed
Police (PAP); Reserve and Militia Forces (2006)
Military service age and obligation:
18-22 years of age for compulsory military service, with 24-month
service obligation; no minimum age for voluntary service (all
officers are volunteers); 18-22 years of age for women who meet
requirements for specific military jobs (2006)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 342,956,265
females age 18-49: 324,701,244 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 281,240,272
females age 18-49: 269,025,517 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 13,186,433
females age 18-49: 12,298,149 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$81.48 billion (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
4.3% (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues China
Disputes - international:
in 2005, China and India began drafting principles to resolve all
aspects of their extensive boundary and territorial disputes
together with a security and foreign policy dialogue to consolidate
discussions related to the boundary, regional nuclear proliferation,
and other matters; recent talks and confidence-building measures
have begun to defuse tensions over Kashmir, site of the world's
largest and most militarized territorial dispute with portions under
the de facto administration of China (Aksai Chin), India (Jammu and
Kashmir), and Pakistan (Azad Kashmir and Northern Areas); India does
not recognize Pakistan's ceding historic Kashmir lands to China in
1964; about 90,000 ethnic Tibetan exiles reside primarily in India
as well as Nepal and Bhutan; China asserts sovereignty over the
Spratly Islands together with Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan,
Vietnam, and possibly Brunei; the 2002 "Declaration on the Conduct
of Parties in the South China Sea" has eased tensions in the
Spratlys but is not the legally binding "code of conduct" sought by
some parties; Vietnam and China continue to expand construction of
facilities in the Spratlys and in March 2005, the national oil
companies of China, the Philippines, and Vietnam signed a joint
accord on marine seismic activities in the Spratly Islands; China
occupies some of the Paracel Islands also claimed by Vietnam and
Taiwan; China and Taiwan have become more vocal in rejecting both
Japan's claims to the uninhabited islands of Senkaku-shoto (Diaoyu
Tai) and Japan's unilaterally declared equidistance line in the East
China Sea, the site of intensive hydrocarbon prospecting; certain
islands in the Yalu and Tumen rivers are in an uncontested dispute
with North Korea and a section of boundary around Mount Paektu is
considered indefinite; China seeks to stem illegal migration of tens
of thousands of North Koreans; China and Russia prepare to demarcate
the boundary agreed to in October 2004 between the long-disputed
islands at the Amur and Ussuri; demarcation of the China-Vietnam
boundary proceeds slowly and although the maritime boundary
delimitation and fisheries agreements were ratified in June 2004,
implementation has been delayed; environmentalists in Burma and
Thailand remain concerned about China's construction of
hydroelectric dams upstream on the Nujiang/Salween River in Yunnan
Province
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 299,287 (Vietnam) estimated
30,000-50,000 (North Korea) (2005)
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: China is a source, transit, and destination
country for women, men, and children trafficked for purposes of
sexual exploitation and forced labor; the majority of trafficking in
China is internal, but there is also international trafficking of
Chinese citizens; women are lured through false promises of
legitimate employment into commercial sexual exploitation in Taiwan,
Thailand, Malaysia, and Japan; Chinese men and women are smuggled to
countries throughout the world at enormous personal expense and then
forced into commercial sexual exploitation or exploitative labor to
repay debts to traffickers; women and children are trafficked into
China from Mongolia, Burma, North Korea, Russia, and Vietnam for
forced labor, marriage, and sexual slavery; most North Koreans enter
northeastern China voluntarily, but others reportedly are trafficked
into China from North Korea; domestic trafficking remains the most
significant problem in China, with an estimated minimum of
10,000-20,000 victims trafficked each year; the actual number of
victims could be much greater; some experts believe that the serious
and prolonged imbalance in the male-female birth ratio may now be
contributing to Chinese and foreign girls and women being trafficked
as potential brides
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - China failed to show evidence of
increasing efforts to address transnational trafficking; while the
government provides reasonable protection to internal victims of
trafficking, protection for Chinese and foreign victims of
transnational trafficking remain inadequate
Illicit drugs:
major transshipment point for heroin produced in the Golden
Triangle; growing domestic drug abuse problem; source country for
chemical precursors and methamphetamine
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
======================================================================
@Christmas Island
Introduction Christmas Island
Background:
Named in 1643 for the day of its discovery, the island was annexed
and settlement began by the UK in 1888. Phosphate mining began in
the 1890s. The UK transferred sovereignty to Australia in 1958.
Almost two-thirds of the island has been declared a national park.
Geography Christmas Island
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 three-quarters the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
138.9 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical with a wet and dry season; heat and humidity moderated by
trade winds; wet season (December to April)
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, beaches
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (mainly tropical rainforest; 63% of the island is a
national park) (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Natural hazards:
the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime
hazard
Environment - current issues:
loss of rainforest; impact of phosphate mining
Geography - note:
located along major sea lanes of Indian Ocean
People Christmas Island
Population:
1,493 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
0% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
NA
Death rate:
NA
Net migration rate:
NA
Sex ratio:
NA
Infant mortality rate:
total: NA
male: NA
female: NA
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA
Total fertility rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Christmas Islander(s)
adjective: Christmas Island
Ethnic groups:
Chinese 70%, European 20%, Malay 10%
note: no indigenous population (2001)
Religions:
Buddhist 36%, Muslim 25%, Christian 18%, other 21% (1997)
Languages:
English (official), Chinese, Malay
Literacy:
NA
Government Christmas Island
Country name:
conventional long form: Territory of Christmas Island
conventional short form: Christmas Island
Dependency status:
non-self governing territory of Australia; administered by the
Australian Department of Transport and Regional Services
Government type:
NA
Capital:
name: The Settlement
geographic coordinates: 18 44 N, 64 19 W
time difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
none (territory of Australia)
Independence:
none (territory of Australia)
National holiday:
Australia Day, 26 January (1788)
Constitution:
Christmas Island Act of 1958-59 (1 October 1958) as amended by the
Territories Law Reform Act of 1992
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 Neil LUCAS (since 30 January 2006)
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 four-year terms)
elections: held every two years with half the members standing for
election; last held in May 2005 (next to be held in May 2007)
election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 9
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; District Court; Magistrate's Court
Political parties and leaders:
none
Political pressure groups 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:
territorial flag; divided diagonally from upper hoist to lower fly;
the upper triangle is green with a yellow image of the Golden Bosun
Bird superimposed, while the lower triangle is blue with the
Southern Cross constellation, representing Australia, superimposed;
a centered yellow disk displays a green map of the island; the flag
of Australia is used for official purposes
Economy Christmas Island
Economy - overview:
Phosphate mining had been the only significant economic activity,
but in December 1987 the Australian Government closed the mine. In
1991, the mine was reopened. With the support of the government, a
$34 million casino opened in 1993. The casino closed in 1998. The
Australian Government in 2001 agreed to support the creation of a
commercial space-launching site on the island, projected to begin
operations in the near future.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$NA
Labor force:
NA
Budget:
revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA
Agriculture - products:
NA
Industries:
tourism, phosphate extraction (near depletion)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: NA
hydro: NA
nuclear: NA
other: NA
Exports:
$NA
Exports - commodities:
phosphate
Exports - partners:
Australia, NZ (2004)
Imports:
$NA
Imports - commodities:
consumer goods
Imports - partners:
principally Australia (2004)
Economic aid - recipient:
$NA
Currency (code):
Australian dollar (AUD)
Currency code:
AUD
Exchange rates:
Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.3095 (2005), 1.3598 (2004),
1.5419 (2003), 1.8406 (2002), 1.9334 (2001)
Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June
Communications Christmas Island
Telephones - main lines in use:
NA
Telephones - mobile cellular:
NA
Telephone system:
general assessment: service provided by the Australian network
domestic: GSM mobile telephone service replaced older analog system
in February 2005
international: country code - 61-8; satellite earth stations - one
INTELSAT earth station provides telephone and telex service (2005)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (2006)
Radios:
1,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
0; note - TV broadcasts received via satellite from mainland
Australia (2006)
Televisions:
600 (1997)
Internet country code:
.cx
Internet hosts:
2,368 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
2 (2000)
Internet users:
464 (2001)
Transportation Christmas Island
Airports:
1 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)
Roadways:
total: 142 km
paved: 32 km
unpaved: 110 km (2006)
Ports and terminals:
Flying Fish Cove
Military Christmas Island
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of Australia
Transnational Issues Christmas Island
Disputes - international:
none
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
======================================================================
@Clipperton Island
Introduction Clipperton Island
Background:
This isolated island was named for John CLIPPERTON, a pirate who
made it his hideout early in the 18th century. Annexed by France in
1855, it was seized by Mexico in 1897. Arbitration eventually
awarded the island to France, which took possession in 1935.
Geography Clipperton Island
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:
Political Map of the World
Area:
total: 6 sq km
land: 6 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
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical; humid, average temperature 20-32 degrees C, wet season
(May to October)
Terrain:
coral atoll
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Rocher Clipperton 29 m
Natural resources:
fish
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (all coral) (2005)
Irrigated land:
0 sq km
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
NA
Geography - note:
reef 12 km in circumference
People Clipperton Island
Population:
uninhabited (July 2006 est.)
Government Clipperton Island
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
Dependency status:
possession of France; administered by France from French Polynesia
by a high commissioner of the Republic
Legal system:
the laws of France, where applicable, apply
Flag description:
the flag of France is used
Economy Clipperton Island
Economy - overview:
Although 115 species of fish have been identified in the
territorial waters of Clipperton Island, the only economic activity
is tuna fishing.
Transportation Clipperton Island
Ports and terminals:
none; offshore anchorage only
Military Clipperton Island
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues Clipperton Island
Disputes - international:
none
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
======================================================================
@Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Introduction Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Background:
There are 27 coral islands in the group. Captain William KEELING
discovered the islands in 1609, but they remained uninhabited until
the 19th century. Annexed by the UK in 1857, they were transferred
to the Australian Government in 1955. The population on the two
inhabited islands generally is split between the ethnic Europeans on
West Island and the ethnic Malays on Home Island.
Geography Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Location:
Southeastern Asia, group of islands in the Indian Ocean, southwest
of Indonesia, about halfway 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:
26 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical with high humidity, moderated by the southeast trade winds
for about nine months of the year
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: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Natural hazards:
cyclone season is October to April
Environment - current issues:
fresh water resources are limited to rainwater accumulations in
natural underground reservoirs
Geography - note:
islands are thickly covered with coconut palms and other vegetation
People Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Population:
574 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
0% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
NA
Death rate:
NA deaths/1,000 population
Net migration rate:
NA
Infant mortality rate:
total: NA
male: NA
female: NA
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA
Total fertility rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Cocos Islander(s)
adjective: Cocos Islander
Ethnic groups:
Europeans, Cocos Malays
Religions:
Sunni Muslim 80%, other 20% (2002 est.)
Languages:
Malay (Cocos dialect), English
Literacy:
NA
Government Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Country name:
conventional long form: Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands
conventional short form: Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Dependency status:
non-self governing territory of Australia; administered from
Canberra by the Australian Department of Transport and Regional
Services
Government type:
NA
Capital:
name: West Island
geographic coordinates: 12 10 S, 96 55 E
time difference: UTC+6.5 (11.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
none (territory of Australia)
Independence:
none (territory of Australia)
National holiday:
Australia Day, 26 January (1788)
Constitution:
Cocos (Keeling) Islands Act of 1955 (23 November 1955) as amended
by the Territories Law Reform Act of 1992
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 (nonresident) Neil LUCAS (since 30
January 2006)
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 (7 seats)
elections: held every two years with half the members standing for
election; last held in May 2005 (next to be held in May 2007)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; Magistrate's Court
Political parties and leaders:
none
Political pressure groups 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 Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Economy - overview:
Grown throughout the islands, coconuts are the sole cash crop.
Small local gardens and fishing contribute to the food supply, but
additional food and most other necessities must be imported from
Australia. There is a small tourist industry.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$NA
Labor force:
NA
Labor force - by occupation:
note: the Cocos Islands Cooperative Society Ltd. employs
construction workers, stevedores, and lighterage workers; tourism
employs others
Unemployment rate:
60% (2000 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA
Agriculture - products:
vegetables, bananas, pawpaws, coconuts
Industries:
copra products and tourism
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: NA
hydro: NA
nuclear: NA
other: NA
Exports:
$NA
Exports - commodities:
copra
Exports - partners:
Australia (2004)
Imports:
$NA
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs
Imports - partners:
Australia (2004)
Economic aid - recipient:
$NA
Currency (code):
Australian dollar (AUD)
Currency code:
AUD
Exchange rates:
Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.3095 (2005), 1.3598 (2004),
1.5419 (2003), 1.8406 (2002), 1.9334 (2001)
Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June
Communications Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Telephones - main lines in use:
287 (1992)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
note - analog cellular service available
Telephone system:
general assessment: connected within Australia's telecommunication
system
domestic: NA
international: country code - 61; telephone, telex, and facsimile
communications with Australia and elsewhere via satellite; 1
INTELSAT satellite earth station
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (2004)
Radios:
300 (1992)
Television broadcast stations:
NA
Televisions:
NA
Internet country code:
.cc
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
2 (2000)
Internet users:
NA
Transportation Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Airports:
1 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)
Roadways:
total: 22 km
paved: 10 km
unpaved: 12 km (2006)
Ports and terminals:
Port Refuge
Military Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of Australia; the territory has a
five-person police force
Transnational Issues Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Disputes - international:
none
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
======================================================================
@Colombia
Introduction Colombia
Background:
Colombia was one of the three countries that emerged from the
collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others are Ecuador and
Venezuela). A 40-year conflict between government forces and
anti-government insurgent groups and illegal paramilitary groups -
both heavily funded by the drug trade - escalated during the 1990s.
The insurgents lack the military or popular support necessary to
overthrow the government, and violence has been decreasing since
about 2002, but insurgents continue attacks against civilians and
large swaths of the countryside are under guerrilla influence.
Paramilitary groups challenge the insurgents for control of
territory and the drug trade. Most paramilitary members have
demobilized since 2002 in an ongoing peace process, although their
commitment to ceasing illicit activity is unclear. The Colombian
Government has stepped up efforts to reassert government control
throughout the country, and now has a presence in every one of its
municipalities. However, neighboring countries worry about the
violence spilling over their borders.
Geography Colombia
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
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, and Serrana Bank
Area - comparative:
slightly less than twice the size of Texas
Land boundaries:
total: 6,004 km
border countries: Brazil 1,643 km, Ecuador 590 km, Panama 225 km,
Peru 1,496 km (est.), Venezuela 2,050 km
Coastline:
3,208 km (Caribbean Sea 1,760 km, North Pacific Ocean 1,448 km)
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
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: Pico Cristobal Colon 5,775 m
note: nearby Pico Simon Bolivar also has the same elevation
Natural resources:
petroleum, natural gas, coal, iron ore, nickel, gold, copper,
emeralds, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 2.01%
permanent crops: 1.37%
other: 96.62% (2005)
Irrigated land:
9,000 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:
highlands subject to volcanic eruptions; occasional earthquakes;
periodic droughts
Environment - current issues:
deforestation; soil and water quality damage from overuse of
pesticides; air pollution, especially in Bogota, from vehicle
emissions
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection,
Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:
only South American country with coastlines on both the North
Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea
People Colombia
Population:
43,593,035 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 30.3% (male 6,683,079/female 6,528,563)
15-64 years: 64.5% (male 13,689,384/female 14,416,439)
65 years and over: 5.2% (male 996,022/female 1,279,548) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 26.3 years
male: 25.4 years
female: 27.2 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.46% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
20.48 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
5.58 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
-0.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.78 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 20.35 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 24.25 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 16.31 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 71.99 years
male: 68.15 years
female: 75.96 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.54 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.7% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
190,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
3,600 (2003 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 90%, other 10%
Languages:
Spanish
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.5%
male: 92.4%
female: 92.6% (2003 est.)
Government Colombia
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Colombia
conventional short form: Colombia
local long form: Republica de Colombia
local short form: Colombia
Government type:
republic; executive branch dominates government structure
Capital:
name: Bogota
geographic coordinates: 4 36 N, 74 05 W
time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard
Time)
Administrative divisions:
32 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento) and 1
capital district* (distrito capital); Amazonas, Antioquia, Arauca,
Atlantico, Bogota*, 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, 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 into law in 2004 and is gradually being
implemented; judicial review of executive and legislative acts
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Alvaro URIBE Velez (since 7 August 2002);
Vice President Francisco SANTOS (since 7 August 2002); note - the
president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Alvaro URIBE Velez (since 7 August
2002); Vice President Francisco SANTOS (since 7 August 2002)
cabinet: Cabinet consists of a coalition of the two dominant parties
- the PL and PSC - and independents
elections: president and vice president elected by popular vote for
a four-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 28
May 2006 (next to be held in May 2010)
election results: President Alvaro URIBE Velez reelected president;
percent of vote - Alvaro URIBE Velez 62%, Carlos GAVIRIA Diaz 22%,
Horacio SERPA Uribe 12%, other 4%
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
(166 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year
terms)
elections: Senate - last held 12 March 2006 (next to be held in
March 2010); House of Representatives - last held 12 March 2006
(next to be held in March 2010)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - PSUN 20, PC 18, PL 17, CR 15, PDI 11, other parties 21;
House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - PL 36, PSUN 30, PC 29, CR 20, PDA 42, other parties 42
Judicial branch:
four roughly coequal, supreme judicial organs; Supreme Court of
Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (highest court of criminal law;
judges are selected by their peers from the nominees of the Superior
Judicial Council for eight-year terms); Council of State (highest
court of administrative law; judges are selected from the nominees
of the Superior Judicial Council 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); Superior Judicial Council
(administers and disciplines the civilian judiciary; resolves
jurisdictional conflicts arising between other courts; members are
elected by three sister courts and Congress for eight-year terms)
Political parties and leaders:
Clandestine Communist Party of Colombia or PCC [Jaime CAICEDO];
Colombian Conservative Party or PC [Carlos HOLGUIN Sardi];
Alternative Democratic Pole or PDA [Samuel MORENO Rojas]; Liberal
Party or PL [Cesar GAVIRIA]; Social National Unity Party or PSUN
[Juan Manuel SANTOS]
note: Colombia has about 60 formally recognized political parties,
most of which do not have a presence in either house of Congress
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; largest illegal paramilitary group, a roughly organized
umbrella group of disparate paramilitary forces, is United
Self-Defense Groups of Colombia or AUC
International organization participation:
BCIE, CAN, CDB, CSN, FAO, G-3, G-15, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF,
IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur
(associate), MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Carolina BARCO Isakson
chancery: 2118 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 387-8338
FAX: [1] (202) 232-8643
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los
Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico),
Washington, DC
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador William B. WOOD
embassy: Calle 22D-BIS, numbers 47-51, Apartado Aereo 3831
mailing address: Carrera 45 #22D-45, Bogota, D.C., APO AA 34038
telephone: [57] (1) 315-0811
FAX: [57] (1) 315-2197
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 Colombia
Economy - overview:
Colombia's economy has been on a recovery trend during the past two
years despite a serious armed conflict. The economy continues to
improve thanks to austere government budgets, focused efforts to
reduce public debt levels, an export-oriented growth strategy, and
an improved security situation in the country. Ongoing economic
problems facing President URIBE range from reforming the pension
system to reducing high unemployment. New exploration is needed to
offset declining oil production. On the positive side, several
international financial institutions have praised the economic
reforms introduced by URIBE, which succeeded in reducing the
public-sector deficit below 1.5% of GDP. The government's economic
policy and democratic security strategy have engendered a growing
sense of confidence in the economy, particularly within the business
sector. Coffee prices have recovered from previous lows as the
Colombian coffee industry pursues greater market shares in developed
countries such as the United States.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$341.1 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$97.73 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
5.2% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$7,900 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 12.5%
industry: 34.2%
services: 53.3% (2005 est.)
Labor force:
20.52 million (2005)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 22.7%
industry: 18.7%
services: 58.5% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:
11.8% (2005 est.)
Population below poverty line:
49.2% (2005)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 7.9%
highest 10%: 34.3% (2004)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
53.8 (2005)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
5% (2005 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
18.6% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $46.82 billion
expenditures: $48.77 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2005 est.)
Public debt:
49.5% of GDP (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:
coffee, cut flowers, bananas, rice, tobacco, corn, sugarcane, cocoa
beans, oilseed, vegetables; forest products; shrimp
Industries:
textiles, food processing, oil, clothing and footwear, beverages,
chemicals, cement; gold, coal, emeralds
Industrial production growth rate:
3.7% (2005 est.)
Electricity - production:
50.43 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 26%
hydro: 72.7%
nuclear: 0%
other: 1.3% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
48.83 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:
1.082 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:
48.4 million kWh (2003)
Oil - production:
512,400 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - consumption:
270,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day
Oil - proved reserves:
1.492 billion bbl (2005 est.)
Natural gas - production:
6.08 billion cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
6.08 billion cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
127.6 billion cu m (2005)
Current account balance:
$-1.931 billion (2005 est.)
Exports:
$19.3 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:
petroleum, coffee, coal, apparel, bananas, cut flowers
Exports - partners:
US 41.8%, Venezuela 9.9%, Ecuador 6.3% (2005)
Imports:
$18 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:
industrial equipment, transportation equipment, consumer goods,
chemicals, paper products, fuels, electricity
Imports - partners:
US 28.5%, Mexico 8.3%, China 7.6%, Brazil 6.5%, Venezuela 5.7%
(2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$14.96 billion (2005 est.)
Debt - external:
$32.35 billion (2005 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$NA
Currency (code):
Colombian peso (COP)
Currency code:
COP
Exchange rates:
Colombian pesos per US dollar - 2,320.75 (2005), 2,628.61 (2004),
2,877.65 (2003), 2,504.24 (2002), 2,299.63 (2001)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Colombia
Telephones - main lines in use:
7,678,800 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
21.85 million (2005)
Telephone system:
general assessment: modern system in many respects
domestic: nationwide microwave radio relay system; domestic
satellite system with 41 earth stations; fiber-optic network linking
50 cities
international: country code - 57; satellite earth stations - 6
Intelsat, 1 Inmarsat; 3 fully digitalized international switching
centers; 8 submarine cables
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 454, FM 34, shortwave 27 (1999)
Radios:
21 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
60 (includes seven low-power stations) (1997)
Televisions:
4.59 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.co
Internet hosts:
581,877 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
18 (2000)
Internet users:
4.739 million (2005)
Transportation Colombia
Airports:
984 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 101
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 9
1,524 to 2,437 m: 38
914 to 1,523 m: 40
under 914 m: 12 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 883
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 35
914 to 1,523 m: 275
under 914 m: 572 (2006)
Heliports:
2 (2006)
Pipelines:
gas 4,360 km; oil 6,140 km; refined products 3,158 km (2006)
Railways:
total: 3,304 km
standard gauge: 150 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 3,154 km 0.914-m gauge (2005)
Roadways:
total: 110,000 km
paved: 26,000 km
unpaved: 84,000 km (2000)
Waterways:
18,000 km (2005)
Merchant marine:
total: 17 ships (1000 GRT or over) 42,413 GRT/58,737 DWT
by type: cargo 13, liquefied gas 1, petroleum tanker 3
registered in other countries: 7 (Antigua and Barbuda 2, Panama 5)
(2006)
Ports and terminals:
Barranquilla, Buenaventura, Cartagena, Muelles El Bosque, Puerto
Bolivar, Santa Marta, Turbo
Military Colombia
Military branches:
Army (Ejercito Nacional), National Navy (Armada Nacional, includes
naval aviation, marines, and coast guard), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea
Colombiana) (2006)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service;
conscript service obligation - 24 months (2004)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 10,212,456
females age 18-49: 10,561,562 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 6,986,228
females age 18-49: 8,794,465 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 389,735
females age 18-49: 383,146 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$3.3 billion (FY01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
3.4% (FY01)
Transnational Issues Colombia
Disputes - international:
Nicaragua filed a claim against Honduras in 1999 and against
Colombia in 2001 at the ICJ over disputed maritime boundary
involving 50,000 sq km in the Caribbean Sea, including the
Archipelago de San Andres y Providencia and Quita Sueno Bank;
dispute with Venezuela over maritime boundary and Los Monjes Islands
near the Gulf of Venezuela; Colombian-organized illegal narcotics,
guerrilla, and paramilitary activities penetrate all of its
neighbors' borders and have created a serious refugee crisis with
over 300,000 persons having fled the country, mostly into
neighboring states
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
IDPs: 2,900,000 - 3,400,000 (conflict between government and FARC;
drug wars) (2004)
Illicit drugs:
illicit producer of coca, opium poppy, and cannabis; world's
leading coca cultivator (cultivation of coca in 2004 was 114,100
hectares, virtually unchanged from 2003, but down one-third from its
peak of 169,800 ha); producing a potential of 430 mt of pure
cocaine; the world's largest producer of coca derivatives; supplying
most of the US market and the great majority of cocaine to other
international drug markets; important supplier of heroin to the US
market; opium poppy cultivation fell 50% between 2003 and 2004 to
2,100 hectares yielding a potential 3.8 metric tons of pure heroin,
mostly for the US market; in 2004, aerial eradication treated over
130,000 hectares of coca but aggressive replanting on the part of
growers means Colombia remains a key producer; a significant portion
of non-US narcotics proceeds are either laundered or invested in
Colombia through the black market peso exchange
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
======================================================================
@Comoros
Introduction Comoros
Background:
Comoros has endured 19 coups or attempted coups since gaining
independence from France in 1975. In 1997, the islands of Anjouan
and Moheli declared independence from Comoros. In 1999, military
chief Col. AZALI seized power. He pledged to resolve the
secessionist crisis through a confederal arrangement named the 2000
Fomboni Accord. In December 2001, voters approved a new constitution
and presidential elections took place in the spring of 2002. Each
island in the archipelago elected its own president and a new union
president took office in May 2002.
Geography Comoros
Location:
Southern Africa, group of islands at the northern mouth of 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:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 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: 35.87%
permanent crops: 23.32%
other: 40.81% (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
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,
Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
important location at northern end of Mozambique Channel
People Comoros
Population:
690,948 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 42.7% (male 148,009/female 147,038)
15-64 years: 54.3% (male 185,107/female 190,139)
65 years and over: 3% (male 9,672/female 10,983) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 18.6 years
male: 18.4 years
female: 18.9 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.87% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
36.93 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
8.2 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.88 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 72.85 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 81.27 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 64.19 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 62.33 years
male: 60 years
female: 64.72 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
5.03 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.12% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Comoran(s)
adjective: Comoran
Ethnic groups:
Antalote, Cafre, Makoa, Oimatsaha, Sakalava
Religions:
Sunni Muslim 98%, Roman Catholic 2%
Languages:
Arabic (official), French (official), Shikomoro (a blend of Swahili
and Arabic)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 56.5%
male: 63.6%
female: 49.3% (2003 est.)
Government Comoros
Country name:
conventional long form: Union of the Comoros
conventional short form: Comoros
local long form: Union des Comores
local short form: Comores
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Moroni
geographic coordinates: 11 41 S, 43 16 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
3 islands and 4 municipalities*; Grande Comore (Njazidja), Anjouan
(Nzwani), Domoni*, Fomboni*, Moheli (Mwali), Moroni*, Moutsamoudou*
Independence:
6 July 1975 (from France)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 6 July (1975)
Constitution:
23 December 2001
Legal system:
French and Sharia (Islamic) law in a new consolidated code
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Ahmed Abdallah SAMBI (since 26 May 2006);
head of government: President Ahmed Abdallah SAMBI (since 26 May
2006);
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: as defined by the 2001 constitution, the presidency
rotates every four years among the elected presidents from the three
main islands in the Union; election last held 14 May 2006 (next to
be held by May 2010); prime minister appointed by the president;
note - the post of Prime Minister has been vacant since May 2002
election results: Ahmed Abdallah SAMBI elected president; percent of
vote - Ahmed Abdallah SAMBI 58.0%, Ibrahim HALIDI 28.3%, Mohamed
DJAANFAMI 13.7%
Legislative branch:
unicameral Assembly of the Union (33 seats; 15 deputies are
selected by the individual islands' local assemblies and the 18 by
universal suffrage; deputies serve for five years);
elections: last held 18 and 25 April 2004 (next to be held in 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
CdIA 12, CRC 6; note - 15 additional seats are filled by deputies
from local island assemblies
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Cour Supremes (two members appointed by the
president, two members elected by the Federal Assembly, one elected
by the Council of each island, and others are former presidents of
the republic)
Political parties and leaders:
Convention for the Renewal of the Comoros [AZALI Assowmani]; Camp
of the Autonomous Islands (a coalition of parties organized by the
island Presidents in opposition to the Union President); Front
National pour la Justice or FNJ [Ahmed RACHID] (Islamic party in
opposition); Mouvement pour la Democratie et le Progress or MDP-NGDC
[Abbas DJOUSSOUF]; Parti Comorien pour la Democratie et le Progress
or PCDP [Ali MROUDJAE]; Rassemblement National pour le Development
or RND [Omar TAMOU, Abdoulhamid AFFRAITANE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AMF, AU, COMESA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt,
ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC, Interpol,
IOC, ITU, LAS, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW (signatory), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Representative to the US and Ambassador to the UN
Mahmoud M. ABOUD
chancery: Mission to the US, 336 East 45th Street (2nd floor), New
York, NY 10017
telephone: [1] (212) 750-1637
Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US does not have an embassy in Comoros; the ambassador to
Madagascar is accredited to Comoros
Flag description:
four equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), white, red, and blue
with a green isosceles triangle based on the hoist; centered within
the triangle is a white crescent with the convex side facing the
hoist and four white, five-pointed stars placed vertically in a line
between the points of the crescent; the horizontal bands and 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 crescent, stars, and color
green are traditional symbols of Islam
Economy Comoros
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, 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 -
which is hampered by internal political disputes - is struggling to
upgrade education and technical training, privatize commercial and
industrial enterprises, improve health services, diversify exports,
promote tourism, and reduce the high population growth rate.
Increased foreign support is essential if the goal of 4% annual GDP
growth is to be met. Remittances from 150,000 Comorans abroad help
supplement GDP.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$441 million (2002 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$402 million (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$600 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 40%
industry: 4%
services: 56% (2001 est.)
Labor force:
144,500 (1996 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 80%
industry and services: 20%
Unemployment rate:
20% (1996 est.)
Population below poverty line:
60% (2002 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3% (2005 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $27.6 million
expenditures: $NA (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products:
vanilla, cloves, perfume essences, copra, coconuts, bananas,
cassava (tapioca)
Industries:
tourism, perfume distillation
Industrial production growth rate:
-2% (1999 est.)
Electricity - production:
18 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 90.6%
hydro: 9.4%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
16.74 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2003)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2003)
Oil - consumption:
700 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Current account balance:
$-17 million (2005 est.)
Exports:
$34 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:
vanilla, ylang-ylang (perfume essence), cloves, copra
Exports - partners:
France 27.7%, Singapore 16.8%, Japan 15.1%, Germany 13.7%, US 5.8%,
Netherlands 5.1% (2005)
Imports:
$115 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:
rice and other foodstuffs, consumer goods, petroleum products,
cement, transport equipment
Imports - partners:
France 20.5%, South Africa 11.7%, UAE 9.1%, Kenya 8%, Pakistan 5%,
Mauritius 4.4%, Belgium 4.3%, India 4.1% (2005)
Debt - external:
$232 million (2000 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$24 million (2003 est.)
Currency (code):
Comoran franc (KMF)
Currency code:
KMF
Exchange rates:
Comoran francs (KMF) per US dollar - 395.6 (2005), 396.21 (2004),
435.9 (2003), 522.74 (2002), 549.78 (2001)
note: the Comoran franc is pegged to the euro at a rate of 491.9677
Comoran francs per euro
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Comoros
Telephones - main lines in use:
16,900 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
16,100 (2005)
Telephone system:
general assessment: sparse system of microwave radio relay and HF
radiotelephone communication stations
domestic: HF radiotelephone communications and microwave radio relay
international: country code - 269; HF radiotelephone communications
to Madagascar and Reunion
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 1 (2001)
Radios:
90,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
NA
Televisions:
1,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.km
Internet hosts:
5 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)
Internet users:
20,000 (2005)
Transportation Comoros
Airports:
4 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2006)
Roadways:
total: 880 km
paved: 673 km
unpaved: 207 km (1999)
Merchant marine:
total: 121 ships (1000 GRT or over) 564,882 GRT/801,238 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 10, cargo 85, chemical tanker 1, container 1,
livestock carrier 1, passenger 2, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum
tanker 9, refrigerated cargo 5, roll on/roll off 5, specialized
tanker 1
foreign-owned: 72 (Bangladesh 1, Bulgaria 1, Greece 10, India 1,
Kenya 1, Kuwait 1, Lebanon 6, Nigeria 2, Norway 1, Pakistan 2,
Philippines 1, Russia 4, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1, Saudi
Arabia 3, Syria 4, Turkey 11, UAE 6, Ukraine 14, US 2) (2006)
Ports and terminals:
Mayotte, Moutsamoudou
Military Comoros
Military branches:
Comoran Defense Force: Comoran Security Force (includes Gendarmerie
and Army), Comoran Federal Police (2006)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 138,940
females age 18-49: 139,491 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 98,792
females age 18-49: 106,415 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$12.87 million (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
3% (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues Comoros
Disputes - international:
claims French-administered Mayotte
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
======================================================================
@Congo, Democratic Republic of the
Introduction Congo, Democratic Republic of the
Background:
Established as a Belgian colony in 1908, the Republic of the Congo
gained its independence in 1960, but its early years were marred by
political and social instability. Col. Joseph MOBUTU seized power
and declared himself president in a November 1965 coup. He
subsequently changed his name - to MOBUTU Sese Seko - as well as
that of the country - to Zaire. MOBUTU retained his position for 32
years through several subsequent sham elections, as well as through
the use of brutal force. Ethnic strife and civil war, touched off by
a massive inflow of refugees in 1994 from fighting in Rwanda and
Burundi, led in May 1997 to the toppling of the MOBUTU regime by a
rebellion led by Laurent KABILA. He renamed the country the
Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), but in August 1998 his
regime was itself challenged by an insurrection backed by Rwanda and
Uganda. Troops from Angola, Chad, Namibia, Sudan, and Zimbabwe
intervened to support the Kinshasa regime. A cease-fire was signed
in July 1999 by the DRC, Congolese armed rebel groups, Angola,
Namibia, Rwanda, Uganda, and Zimbabwe but sporadic fighting
continued. Laurent KABILA was assassinated in January 2001 and his
son, Joseph KABILA, was named head of state. In October 2002, the
new president was successful in negotiating the withdrawal of
Rwandan forces occupying eastern Congo; two months later, the
Pretoria Accord was signed by all remaining warring parties to end
the fighting and establish a government of national unity. A
transitional government was set up in July 2003; Joseph KABILA
remains as president and is joined by four vice presidents
representing the former government, former rebel groups, and the
political opposition. The transitional government held a successful
constitutional referendum in December 2005, and plans to hold a
series of elections in 2006 to determine the presidency and National
Assembly seats.
Geography Congo, Democratic Republic of the
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: 10,730 km
border countries: Angola 2,511 km (of which 225 km is the boundary
of Angola's discontiguous Cabinda Province), Burundi 233 km, Central
African Republic 1,577 km, Republic of the Congo 2,410 km, Rwanda
217 km, Sudan 628 km, Tanzania 459 km, Uganda 765 km, Zambia 1,930 km
Coastline:
37 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: boundaries with neighbors
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, niobium, tantalum, petroleum, industrial and gem
diamonds, gold, silver, zinc, manganese, tin, uranium, coal,
hydropower, timber
Land use:
arable land: 2.86%
permanent crops: 0.47%
other: 96.67% (2005)
Irrigated land:
110 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:
periodic droughts in south; Congo River floods (seasonal); in the
east, in the Great Rift Valley, there are active volcanoes
Environment - current issues:
poaching threatens wildlife populations; water pollution;
deforestation; refugees responsible for significant deforestation,
soil erosion, and wildlife poaching; mining of minerals (coltan - a
mineral used in creating capacitors, diamonds, and gold) causing
environmental damage
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone
Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
Geography - note:
straddles equator; has 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 Congo, Democratic Republic of the
Population:
62,660,551
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the
effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower
life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower
population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 47.4% (male 14,906,488/female 14,798,210)
15-64 years: 50.1% (male 15,597,353/female 15,793,350)
65 years and over: 2.5% (male 632,143/female 933,007) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 16.2 years
male: 16 years
female: 16.4 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
3.07% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
43.69 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
13.27 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
0.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population
note: fighting between the Congolese Government and Uganda- and
Rwanda-backed Congolese rebels spawned a regional war in DRC in
August 1998, which left 2.33 million Congolese internally displaced
and caused 412,000 Congolese refugees to flee to surrounding
countries (2006 est.)
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: 0.68 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 88.62 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 96.9 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 80.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 51.46 years
male: 50.01 years
female: 52.94 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
6.45 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
4.2% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
1.1 million (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
100,000 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria, plague, and African trypanosomiasis
(sleeping sickness) are high risks in some locations
water contact disease: schistosomiasis (2005)
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 indigenous 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: 65.5%
male: 76.2%
female: 55.1% (2003 est.)
Government Congo, Democratic Republic of the
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: Congo Free State, Belgian Congo, Congo/Leopoldville,
Congo/Kinshasa, Zaire
abbreviation: DRC
Government type:
transitional government
Capital:
name: Kinshasa
geographic coordinates: 4 18 S, 15 18 E
time difference: UTC+1 (six hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
10 provinces (provinces, singular - province) and 1 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:
Independence Day, 30 June (1960)
Constitution:
18 February 2006
Legal system:
a new constitution was adopted by referendum 18 December 2005;
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Joseph KABILA (since 26 January 2001);
note - following the assassination of his father, Laurent Desire
KABILA, on 16 January 2001, Joseph KABILA succeeded to the
presidency; the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Joseph KABILA (since 26 January 2001);
note - following the assassination of his father, Laurent Desire
KABILA, on 16 January 2001, Joseph KABILA succeeded to the
presidency; the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
cabinet: National Executive Council appointed by the president
elections: under the new constitution the president is elected by
popular vote to a five-year term (eligible for a second term);
elections last held 30 July 2006 with a second round held on 29
October 2006 (next to be held in 2011)
election results: results of 29 October 2006 elections (second
round); Joseph KABILA 58%, Jean-Pierre BEMBA Gombo 42%
note: Joseph KABILA succeeded his father, Laurent Desire KABILA,
following the latter's assassination in January 2001; negotiations
with rebel leaders led to the establishment of a transitional
government in July 2003 with free elections held on 30 July 2006 and
29 October 2006 where the poplar vote confirmed Joseph KABILA as
president
Legislative branch:
bicameral legislature consists of a National Assembly (500 seats;
60 elected by majority vote and 440 by open list proportional
representation; members serve 5-year terms) and a Senate (120 seats;
members elected by indirect vote to serve 5-year terms)
elections: NA; members of the National Assembly were appointed by
leaders in the factions integrated into the new government;
elections scheduled for 30 July 2006 will establish a new
legislature under the February 2006 constitution
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Cour Supreme
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Social Christian Party or PDSC [Andre BO-BOLIKO]; Forces
for Renovation for Union and Solidarity or FONUS [Joseph
OLENGHANKOY]; National Congolese Lumumbist Movement or MNC [Francois
LUMUMBA]; Popular Movement of the Revolution or MPR (three factions:
MPR-Fait Prive [Catherine NZUZI wa Mbombo]; MPR/Vunduawe [Felix
VUNDUAWE]; MPR/Mananga [MANANGA Dintoka Mpholo]); Unified Lumumbast
Party or PALU [Antoine GIZENGA]; Union for Democracy and Social
Progress or UDPS [Etienne TSHISEKEDI wa Mulumba]; Union of
Federalists and Independent Republicans or UFERI (two factions:
UFERI [Lokambo OMOKOKO]; UFERI/OR [Adolph Kishwe MAYA])
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, CEPGL, COMESA, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO (suspended),
ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIF,
OPCW, PCA, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Faida MITIFU
chancery: 1800 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009: note -
Consular Office at 1726 M Street, NW, Washington, DC, 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 234-7690, 7691
FAX: [1] (202) 234-2609
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Roger MEECE
embassy: 310 Avenue des Aviateurs, Kinshasa
mailing address: Unit 31550, APO AE 09828
telephone: [243] (88) 43608
FAX: [243] (88) 43467
Flag description:
sky blue field divided diagonally from the lower hoist corner to
upper fly corner by a red stripe bordered by two narrow yellow
stripes; a yellow, five-pointed star appears in the upper hoist
corner
Economy Congo, Democratic Republic of the
Economy - overview:
The economy of the Democratic Republic of the Congo - a nation
endowed with vast potential wealth - has declined drastically since
the mid-1980s. The war, which began in August 1998, dramatically
reduced national output and government revenue, increased external
debt, and resulted in the deaths of perhaps 3.5 million people from
violence, famine, and disease. Foreign businesses curtailed
operations due to uncertainty about the outcome of the conflict,
lack of infrastructure, and the difficult operating environment.
Conditions improved in late 2002 with the withdrawal of a large
portion of the invading foreign troops. The transitional government
has reopened relations with international financial institutions and
international donors, and President KABILA has begun implementing
reforms. Much economic activity lies outside the GDP data. Economic
stability improved in 2003-05, although an uncertain legal
framework, corruption, and a lack of openness in government policy
continues to hamper growth. In 2005, renewed activity in the mining
sector, the source of most exports, boosted Kinshasa's fiscal
position and GDP growth. Business and economic prospects are
expected to improve once a new government is installed after
elections.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$40.67 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$7.328 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
7.1% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$700 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 55%
industry: 11%
services: 34% (2000 est.)
Labor force:
14.51 million
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
9% (2004 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $700 million
expenditures: $750 million; including capital expenditures of $24
million (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products:
coffee, sugar, palm oil, rubber, tea, quinine, cassava (tapioca),
palm oil, bananas, root crops, corn, fruits; wood products
Industries:
mining (diamonds, copper, zinc), mineral processing, consumer
products (including textiles, footwear, cigarettes, processed foods
and beverages), cement, commercial ship repair
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
6.036 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 1.8%
hydro: 98.2%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
4.324 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:
1.3 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:
10 million kWh (2003)
Oil - production:
22,000 bbl/day (2003)
Oil - consumption:
8,300 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day
Oil - proved reserves:
1.538 billion bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
991.1 million cu m (1 January 2002)
Exports:
$1.108 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:
diamonds, copper, crude oil, coffee, cobalt
Exports - partners:
Belgium 38.2%, US 17.9%, China 11.7%, France 8%, Finland 7.8%,
Chile 4.3% (2005)
Imports:
$1.319 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, mining and other machinery, transport equipment, fuels
Imports - partners:
South Africa 16.5%, Belgium 16.1%, France 9.1%, Zambia 6.9%, Kenya
5.7%, Germany 4.6%, US 4.5%, Cote d'Ivoire 4.3%, Netherlands 4.1%
(2005)
Debt - external:
$10.6 billion (2003 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$2.2 billion (FY03/04)
Currency (code):
Congolese franc (CDF)
Currency code:
CDF
Exchange rates:
Congolese francs per US dollar - 437.86 (2005), 401.04 (2004),
405.34 (2003), 346.49 (2002), 206.62 (2001)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Congo, Democratic Republic of the
Telephones - main lines in use:
10,600 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
2.746 million (2005)
Telephone system:
general assessment: poor
domestic: barely adequate wire and microwave radio relay service in
and between urban areas; domestic satellite system with 14 earth
stations
international: country code - 243; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 3, FM 11, shortwave 2 (2001)
Radios:
18.03 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
4 (2001)
Televisions:
6.478 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.cd
Internet hosts:
1,778 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2001)
Internet users:
140,600 (2005)
Transportation Congo, Democratic Republic of the
Airports:
234 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 25
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 16
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 1 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 209
1,524 to 2,437 m: 18
914 to 1,523 m: 94
under 914 m: 97 (2006)
Pipelines:
gas 54 km; oil 78 km (2006)
Railways:
total: 5,138 km
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 (2005)
Roadways:
total: 157,000 km (including 30 km of expressways) (1999)
Waterways:
15,000 km (2005)
Merchant marine:
total: 1 ship (1000 GRT or over) 1,004 GRT/1,640 DWT
by type: petroleum tanker 1
foreign-owned: 1 (Congo, Republic of the 1) (2006)
Ports and terminals:
Banana, Boma, Bukavu, Bumba, Goma, Kalemie, Kindu, Kinshasa,
Kisangani, Matadi, Mbandaka
Military Congo, Democratic Republic of the
Military branches:
Army, Navy, Air Force
Military service age and obligation:
18-45 years of age for military service
Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 11,365,610 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 6,464,223 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$103.7 million (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.5% (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues Congo, Democratic Republic of the
Disputes - international:
heads of the Great Lakes states and UN pledge to end conflict but
unchecked tribal, rebel, and militia fighting continues unabated in
the northeastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo,
drawing in the neighboring states of Burundi, Rwanda and Uganda; the
UN Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
(MONUC) has maintained over 14,000 peacekeepers in the region since
1999; thousands of Ituri refugees from the Congo continue to flee
the fighting primarily into Uganda; 90,000 Angolan refugees were
repatriated by 2004 with the remainder in the DRC expected to return
in 2005; in 2005, DRC and Rwanda established a border verification
mechanism to address accusations of Rwandan military supporting
Congolese rebels and the DRC providing rebel Rwandan "Interhamwe"
forces the means and bases to attack Rwandan forces; the location of
the boundary in the broad Congo River with the Republic of the Congo
is indefinite except in the Pool Malebo/Stanley Pool area
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 5,277 (Republic of Congo) 11,816
(Rwanda) 18,953 (Uganda) 19,400 (Burundi) 45,226 (Sudan) 98,383
(Angola)
IDPs: 2.33 million (fighting between government forces and rebels
since mid-1990s; most IDPs are in eastern provinces) (2005)
Illicit drugs:
illicit producer of cannabis, mostly for domestic consumption;
while rampant corruption and inadequate supervision leaves the
banking system vulnerable to money laundering, the lack of a
well-developed financial system limits the country's utility as a
money-laundering center
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
======================================================================
@Congo, Republic of the
Introduction Congo, Republic of the
Background:
Upon independence in 1960, the former French region of Middle Congo
became the Republic of the Congo. A quarter century of
experimentation with Marxism was abandoned in 1990 and a
democratically elected government took office in 1992. A brief civil
war in 1997 restored former Marxist President Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO,
and ushered in a period of ethnic and political unrest.
Southern-based rebel groups agreed to a final peace accord in March
2003, but the calm is tenuous and refugees continue to present a
humanitarian crisis. The Republic of Congo was once one of Africa's
largest petroleum producers, but with declining production it will
need to hope for new offshore oil finds to sustain its oil earnings
over the long term.
Geography Congo, Republic of the
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); persistent 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,
gold, magnesium, natural gas, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 1.45%
permanent crops: 0.15%
other: 98.4% (2005)
Irrigated land:
20 sq km (2003)
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, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber
94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:
about 70% of the population lives in Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, or
along the railroad between them
People Congo, Republic of the
Population:
3,702,314
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the
effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower
life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower
population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 46.4% (male 864,407/female 853,728)
15-64 years: 50.7% (male 930,390/female 945,545)
65 years and over: 2.9% (male 44,430/female 63,814) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 16.6 years
male: 16.4 years
female: 16.9 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.6% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
42.57 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
12.93 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
-3.62 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 85.29 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 91 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 79.41 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 52.8 years
male: 51.65 years
female: 53.98 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
6.07 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
4.9% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
90,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
9,700 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and
typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria (2005)
Nationality:
noun: Congolese (singular and plural)
adjective: Congolese or Congo
Ethnic groups:
Kongo 48%, Sangha 20%, M'Bochi 12%, Teke 17%, Europeans and other 3%
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 is
the most widespread)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 83.8%
male: 89.6%
female: 78.4% (2003 est.)
Government Congo, Republic of the
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of the Congo
conventional short form: Congo (Brazzaville)
local long form: Republique du Congo
local short form: none
former: Middle Congo, Congo/Brazzaville, Congo
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Brazzaville
geographic coordinates: 4 16 S, 15 17 E
time difference: UTC+1 (six hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
10 regions (regions, singular - region) and 1 commune*; Bouenza,
Brazzaville*, Cuvette, Cuvette-Ouest, Kouilou, Lekoumou, Likouala,
Niari, Plateaux, Pool, Sangha
Independence:
15 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 15 August (1960)
Constitution:
approved by referendum 20 January 2002
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: 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
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held 10 March 2002 (next
to be held in 2009)
election results: Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO reelected president; percent
of vote - Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO 89.4%, Joseph Kignoumbi Kia MBOUNGOU
2.7%
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (66 seats; members are
elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and the National
Assembly (137 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve
five-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 11 July 2002 (next to be held July
2007); National Assembly - last held 27 May and 26 June 2002 (next
to be held by May 2007)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - FDP 56, other 10; National Assembly - percent of vote by
party - NA; seats by party - FDP 83, UDR 6, UPADS 3, other 45
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Cour Supreme
Political parties and 